Zhao Ji also asked about the battle between He Ji and Han Shizhong.

Gao Yanei recounted the story of their battle.

Gao Yanei spoke eloquently and brilliantly, describing how Han Shizhong attacked continuously, making Tou Shouhua exhausted; how He Ji set up a horse-barrier formation to block the enemy at Qiligang, and how he joined forces with Han Shizhong to surround and annihilate Tou Shouhua.

Zhao Ji was very satisfied with what he heard.

The ministers were also very satisfied with what they heard.

Gao Qiu looked at his son in surprise. This child had always spoken incoherently since he was young. When did his articulation become so eloquent?

What he didn't know was that his son's rhetoric was all taught by Zhang Shixun.

At this time, Wang Fu suddenly asked, "Gao Chengzong, when you were fighting Toushouhua on the battlefield, where was Zhang Shixun?"

When these words came out, everyone was stunned.

Yes, the soldiers of the First Army were fighting fiercely with Toushouhua. As the leader of the army, what about Zhang Shixun?

"The military commander..."

When talking about Zhang Shixun, Gao Yanei seemed a little embarrassed.

"Tell me quickly! Where did Zhang Shixun run to?" Zhao Ji urged.

"The commander didn't go anywhere. He just sat in his tent inside the camp, drinking tea and playing the zither."

Everyone looked at each other.

Zhao Ji's face darkened as he snorted coldly, "His men are fighting outside, and he's sitting in the barracks doing this?"

"Yes, the military commander said..."

"What did he say?"

Gao Yanei hesitated for a moment before saying, "The military commander said this is called planning from within the tent, and winning a battle a thousand miles away... dozens of miles away."

"This..." Zhao Ji was dumbfounded.

Wang Fu became excited and shouted, "What nonsense! He's just afraid of death and war!"

Zhao Ji's face was gloomy. He was about to speak, but he saw Tong Guan frowning and thinking deeply, so he asked, "Tong Guan, what do you think of what Zhang Shixun did?"

The emperor asked, and Tong Guan dared not fail to answer, "Your Majesty, Gao Chengzong led his troops and made a grand march to Chengzhai; He Ji quietly set up an ambush at Qiligang; and Han Shizhong's cavalry continuously harassed the enemy. Without Zhang Shixun's command, would they have dared to act on their own?"

This one sentence stumped Zhao Ji.

Yes, if there was no one directing them from behind, it would be impossible for the three of them to cooperate so perfectly.

Wang Fu's face was filled with embarrassment.

Gao Yanei was secretly proud of himself. This set of rhetoric was a trap set for Wang Fu, and Zhang Shixun calculated that he would jump into it.

Zhao Ji glared at Wang Fu and said, "You don't understand military affairs, so stop making irresponsible remarks."

This sentence is very serious.

Wang Fu was the Shao Prime Minister. Apart from Cai Jing, his official position was the highest among all the others. Now that Cai Jing was not attending court, he was the Chief Minister and had the right to participate in both military and civil affairs.

Now, the government doesn't allow him to make any remarks.

what does that mean?

Everyone present knew that Wang Fu had fallen out of favor.

Zhao Ji looked at Gao Yanei and said with a pleasant expression: "Gao Chengzong, you have made great contributions this time. You will be rewarded later. Go down first."

Gao Yanei grinned and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am wearing armor and it is not appropriate for me to salute. I will give you a military salute."

After saying this, he put his heels together, raised his right hand and saluted.

Everyone watched and was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

The military salute of the Song Dynasty was not like this. This was probably the military salute promoted by Zhang Shixun.

However, this strange military salute looks quite spirited.

After Gao Yanei saluted, he said hello to his father and said, "Dad, I'm going home first."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the hall.

Gao Qiu hurriedly explained to the emperor: "Your Majesty, my son has been naughty since he was young and does not know the rules of etiquette. Please forgive him for being frivolous."

Zhao Ji waved his hand and said with a smile, "I summoned him urgently, and the cabinet officials didn't have time to teach him etiquette... Chengzong is innocent and naive, so being a small military officer is no problem. But when he gets a higher position in the future, he will still have to observe etiquette."

Gao Qiu heard the hidden meaning in the official's words, which was that he wanted to promote his son.

He secretly suppressed his surprise and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is right. I will teach him well."

Zhao Ji sat on the dragon throne for a long time, feeling a little tired, and said, "Let's stop here today."

Wang Fu said, "Your Majesty, I have something else to report."

Zhao Ji frowned, "What else do you want to say?"

"Although Toushouhua was wiped out, Heavenly King Yang gathered two thousand men and fled from Weishi last night. They fled to the Yongqiu area early this morning." As he spoke, he took out a memorial and said, "This is a memorial submitted by the Yongqiu County Magistrate. They have closed the four gates and are recruiting local militia and garrison troops to defend the county."

Liang Shicheng took the memorial.

After reading the memorial, Zhao Ji pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Wang Fu, where is Heavenly King Yang planning to escape to?"

"He absolutely wouldn't dare flee to Huainan East Road. It's by the sea, and there's very little room for maneuver. Fleeing there would only lead to death. So, he should flee to Hebei Road, Shandong Road, or Shandong West Road."

Everyone shook their heads after hearing this. Wang Fu's scope was too broad, and it was as good as saying nothing.

Zhao Ji then asked, "Where are Liang Fangping's troops?"

"They are stationed in Xijiang Village."

"Where did he go?"

"The day before yesterday, Toushou slipped and fled north. Liang Fangping was afraid that he would harass the capital, so he transferred the troops to Xijiangzhai."

"Intend to recruit, order Liang Fangping... No! Order Zhang Shixun to lead his troops to pursue Heavenly King Yang. There must be no mistakes."

After Zhao Ji issued this decree, he felt secretly proud.

Aren’t you Zhang Shixun capable?

King Yang is looking for you. If King Yang doesn't eliminate you, you will stay outside forever and never come back.

Tong Guan frowned after hearing the imperial decree.

There is nothing wrong with two thousand elite soldiers chasing two thousand bandits, but why not send troops to block them in front?

He was about to leave when someone pulled his sleeve.

Looking back, it was Cai You.

Cai You winked at him secretly.

Tong Guan was stunned and immediately understood Cai You's intention.

What the government is doing is killing two birds with one stone.

After the court was dismissed, Tong Guan walked out of the palace while whispering to Cai You: "Just now in the court, thank you for the reminder from Duke Ying. Otherwise, I would have made a big mistake."

Cai You said, "Your Highness is too polite."

Tong Guan glanced around and saw no one nearby. He continued, "Zhang Shixun is a man with some real magical powers. The emperor is wary of him, which is the proper precaution for an emperor. However, it's best for us not to get involved in a fight between gods."

Cai You agreed. "You said Zhang Shixun has real magical powers, and I deeply agree... Prince, that day Zhang Shixun demonstrated the art of summoning heavenly thunder in front of the emperor. My father saw it with his own eyes. Zhang Shixun casually pointed his finger, and the mule fell to the ground with a small hole the size of a finger on its head. We should not provoke such a person. We can't afford to provoke him."

Tong Guan corrected him: "It's not that we can't afford to provoke him, but that there's no need to provoke him."