Chapter 109: Night Talk on State Affairs
Zhao Yulin said: "Of course we should strengthen ourselves and compete with them."
After Mongolia destroyed the Jin Dynasty, it would certainly accept a lot of surrendered soldiers and generals, and its strength would naturally increase greatly. He suggested that Cao should accept the surrendered generals of the Jin Dynasty.
Cao Youwen told him that Wang Shixian had written him a letter expressing his intention to surrender, but his demands were too high and Lin'an did not respond.
He said that under the current situation, these people are panicking and will follow whoever gives them benefits. This is the truth as the saying goes, whoever gives you milk is your mother.
If we don't surrender them, they will become our enemies.
Lao Cao said helplessly that if this really happened, they would have to fight to the death. The Jin people bought the mines of the Shenwei Army from Han Yongchao, and they made thunder bombs. The Mongolian army still had to attack desperately and climb the wall.
However, he now has fewer and fewer soldiers and horses. Every time he fights a battle, he loses a group of soldiers. A large number of refugees come to the Shenwei Army to serve as soldiers and get food.
Lao Cao sighed and said that the Shenwei Army would have to take the lead in the future.
Zhao Yulin offered him tea instead of wine, and assured that the Shenwei Army would follow the general's lead.
It would definitely cost money to raise troops. He couldn't just give his own money to others to spend. In fact, there were still many wealthy families in Nanzheng who wanted to raise funds. Lao Cao was unwilling to do it as drastically as Zhao Yulin did. How could he support the army with just his own property?
At this time, great changes were also taking place in the freezing north. The Mongol Khan fell ill as soon as he returned to Karakoram. When Toure arrived, he and the wizard designed a plan to force the virus in his body into his foot washing water. Toure swore in front of Changshengtian that he would take the initiative to bear the pain for the Khan and drank his foot washing water.
The Khan's illness was cured immediately, but Toure took over the Khan's illness and was soon taken away by Changshengtian.
This was just a fool's lie, but after the method was implemented, people actually believed it. If it was Zhao Yulin, he would never believe it even if he was beaten to death.
Not to mention asking him to drink foot washing water that was poisoned.
The Mongolian Khan was in a good mood after dealing with Ture. In order to divert the conflict, he summoned the kings to the big tent and decided that his eldest son would march west and unite with the Song Dynasty to destroy the Jin Dynasty, and then quietly waited for the spring flowers to bloom next year.
On the first day of the new year, Zhao Yulin got up early and invited Cao Youwen to Xinjie to eat Yibin Yanmian. He transferred the master from Hanzhong back and opened Yibin Yanmian and Dali Rice Noodles in Xinjie, Yangshui.
Lao Cao was eating the noodles that the chef had added shredded chicken to, and he felt the taste was different and refreshing.
He laughed and said that it was exactly the same as what was made in Nanzheng, except that the time and place of eating were different.
The two of them burst into laughter.
Zhao Yulin saw Cao Youwen off and went to sit in the study. Fenghuang came in and fell into his arms.
He asked why he had no energy so early in the morning?
The woman sat up and said he was really boring. She said she would lead the troops to Yangzhou in two days and she had to enjoy herself. Then she hugged his neck and kissed him.
The couple had enough fun and finally calmed down.
Zhao Yulin told her to obey Yang Xingyun's orders and be careful.
Fenghuang was nodding and lingering on him, and Zhao Yulin told her that the Jin army was at the end of its rope. Three hundred miles east of Gucheng, there was a huge landlord group called Wuxian who would soon gather a force of two hundred thousand men, and their target was Hanzhong.
Fire Phoenix woke up immediately, stood up and sat opposite him, listening to him attentively.
He smiled and said there was no need to be afraid, as they were just refugees and defeated soldiers, but we must do a good job of dividing and disintegrating them and pull them into our team.
He asked Huo Fenghuang, what do these people want most?
Fenghuang muttered, "Silver, land, and official position." Then he shook his head.
Zhao Yulin said three words: "sense of belonging."
These survivors of the Great Jin have lost the support of their country, and what they want most is a home. We should take them in, recognize them as citizens of the Great Song, and brothers and sisters of our Shenwei Army.
Fire Phoenix nodded continuously as she listened.
He said that empty words alone were not enough, and the refugees should be settled down, those who were willing to serve in the army and eat food should be recruited into the army, and land should be distributed to them for farming. If they have food, clothing and shelter, then isn't that a home?
Phoenix nodded again.
"But if we are going to fight him, we must make sure he hurts." Zhao Yulin spoke seriously. He said that Wu Xian thought that they could not defeat the Mongolian army and could easily defeat our Song army, so he wanted to come to my place to eat rice and find a comfortable home. If he was not beaten painfully, he would not remember it.
Phoenix asked him in surprise: How do you know so much?
He said with a smile: "We have a favorable wind."
Half a month later, the 3rd Column marched through the snow and entered Jinzhou.
After receiving the letter, Zhao Yulin went west to Qingyeyuan to discuss the matter.
It turned out that the court promoted Zhao Yanna to serve in the Privy Council in Lin'an and promoted Cao Youwen to be the person in charge.
Zhao Yan said with a laugh that the court had promoted his brother to be the governor of Xingyuan Prefecture and rewarded him with 50,000 silver coins.
Damn, when did Lin'an become so generous?
Zhao Yulin accepted the reward with great respect.
Lao Cao said that Lord Zhao and the imperial envoy were about to set off eastward.
He immediately said that they could no longer take the Han River, as Wu Xian from Nanyang wanted to invade Hanzhong to eat rice, so this route might not be safe.
The imperial envoy smiled and persuaded the guest to go to Lin'an. If the east was not a good choice, then they should go by land through Lizhou, visit Chengdu and then return to Lin'an.
Zhao Yan must go with the imperial envoy, and the transfer must be arranged immediately.
The two men and all the generals escorted them to Xianren Pass and boarded the boat. After the boat disappeared, they returned to the central military tent and enjoyed their wedding banquet together.
During the banquet, Zhang Zhi, who had killed the Mongolian envoy Subuhan, came over to toast and directly asked Cao Cao to follow Zhao Yulin, to which Cao Cao readily agreed.
Then Feng Dayong and Yang Daquan also came and proposed to follow him.
Lao Cao was stunned for a moment and said: If they all leave, won’t the camp be empty?
Feng Dayong suggested that the brothers from Xingyuan Prefecture and Wuxi should be stationed in the camp as the central army, and they wanted to follow Deputy Envoy Zhao to fight the enemy.
Zhao Yulin immediately corrected him, saying that everyone doesn't want to go into battle and kill the enemy, it's just that the division of labor is different.
Seeing that these people had clearly put forward their demands, he also suggested to Lao Cao that some appropriate adjustments be made. Lao Cao was stationed in Qingyeyuan and was a pillar of the Hanzhong army, so he had to be well trained. Zhang Zhi and the others should be taken out by him to gain experience.
Seeing that things had come to this point, Lao Cao had no choice but to agree.
In this way, except for Dasan Pass, Fengzhou and Qingyeyuan, the Southern Song Dynasty’s garrison in Hanzhong was all carrying the flags of Zhao Yulin’s Shenwei Army.
After Lao Cao finished making the arrangements, he invited Zhao Yulin to stay for tea and a chat. He said that it was up to the two of us to protect Hanzhong. Young man, you have to put in more effort.
Zhao Yulin said that everything else could be done, but the repair of the Lianyun Plank Road would take some time.
Lao Cao asked him why?
"Once the repairs are started, people on the other side of the mountain will know that we have nothing to worry about." Zhao Yulin raised his hand and pointed at Qinling Mountains.
Cao Youwen immediately looked at him in surprise and asked, "Young man, do you want to enter Guanzhong?"
"I will definitely go if I have the chance, but right now I have to solve the trouble in Gongchang Prefecture first."
Lao Cao became suspicious after hearing what he said.
He asked: Didn’t they say that Wu Xian wanted to invade? Why did it involve Gongchang Prefecture in the west?
Zhao Yulin told him: Wu Xian is as panic-stricken as a dog that has lost its home, but Gongchang Prefecture is a big and strong tiger. If we don't make arrangements in advance, when he comes east and joins forces with the Mongolian army, Hanzhong will be in great danger.
Lao Cao gradually understood what he meant and asked the young man what he wanted to do.
He cut a knife on his waist and whispered that he would advance into the river valley to cause trouble and occupy Beitianshui, the old territory of the Jin people. He would build a bridgehead there and cut off the connection between Gongchangfu and the Mongolian army in Guanzhong.
Lao Cao said that there is the Wuxian Group in the east and Gongchang Prefecture in the west with at least 100,000 troops, and neither should be underestimated.
He nodded and said yes, and now the Mongolian army wants to join forces with our Song Dynasty to destroy the Jin Dynasty, so they will not attack us easily. This is a rare opportunity that must be seized.
At least we have to force out Gongchang Mansion’s attitude. Who are they following?
Cao Youwen began to hesitate. This was Zhao Yulin of the Shenwei Army. He would not tie himself down and settle for the status quo. Zhao Yan summoned Cao Youwen in advance just to explain this matter. The court issued a secret decree, granting Qingyeyuan the privilege to assassinate Zhao Yulin.
Once he believes that the Shenwei Army is not under control and Zhao Yulin shows signs of rebellion, he can order a secret execution.
He now has less than 20,000 troops under his command, and it can be said that they exist only to monitor the Shenwei Army.
Seeing that Lao Cao was silent and lost in deep thought, Zhao Yulin picked up the teacup and drank some tea.
After a short rest, Lao Cao drank two sips of tea before saying that when his brother went to war, he would report to Lin'an the Jin army had invaded the border, and Xingyuan Prefecture would fight back in self-defense.
He raised his glass to thank him and invited Lao Cao to have tea.
The next day, Zhao Yulin said goodbye and returned to Yangzhou. After two days' journey, he returned home early. As soon as he entered the door, Ma Ling came forward and hugged him, gave him a shampoo, and asked the kitchen to add a few dishes to congratulate Zhao Yulin on his promotion.
He asked his guards to invite Lai Chuanfang over for a drink, and instructed the logistics officer Yu Fuming to prepare to move to Nanzheng.
Lai Chuanfang came in a hurry, and Ma Ling immediately ordered food and wine to be served.
After some congratulations, Lai Chuanfang began to feel depressed, saying that he came to Hanzhong to open up mountains, but after more than two years there had been no results .
Zhao Yulin said that only by keeping the original aspiration in mind can we achieve our goal. Now we are the pioneers of the entire mountain in the north, and we will surely achieve unprecedented achievements one day.
He stomped the ground under his feet and said: From now on, Yangzhou will be handed over to Chuanfang for governance, and the mountain roads in Qinling Mountains will be taken over by the First Column.
After seeing Lai Chuanfang off, Ma Linger excitedly pulled him into the house and undressed. The couple spent the whole night together and fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke up, he saw Ma Ling sitting by the bed with a smile on her face, holding a fried egg. Zhao Yulin sat up apologetically and reached out to take the bowl, but the woman wanted to feed him with her own hands. The couple showed their love to each other sincerely.
Zhao Yulin dressed neatly and went for a walk in the yard. The weather was still cold. Ma Linger took him to look at Tianwang Mountain and asked him if he was reluctant to leave.
Zhao Yulin smiled and said that he had lived here since he came to Hanzhong, and it has been almost three years.
The woman told him that the new street had been built and that the houses were either for sale or rented out, all of which were put to use.
He told Ma Ling that he planned to take his second brother Zhao Yujiang to Nanzheng to establish a provincial school and report to the court to restore social governance in Yangzhou and Jinzhou. The court should appoint officials at all levels.
The woman put her head on his shoulder and said gently: I will follow my husband's arrangements.
