That's right, what really aroused Emperor Zhao's anger today, or what aroused Zhao Jiu's greatest anger today, was also because the ministers were willing to be a little tolerant of Emperor Zhao, and also because Qu Duan did not act weird in the dispute between civil and military officials just now. It was right here... The 15,000-strong imperial cavalry was established after more than half a year, but only 8,000 were recruited. Without large-scale war horses and cavalry, how could the Northern Expedition be carried out?
Use a donkey?!
"Your Majesty, it's not that I'm incompetent. I've already plundered all the cavalry in Guanxi that I could." No matter what, when asked about his head, the others could 'keep silent' and 'lower their heads', but Qu Da couldn't avoid it, so he opened his mouth for a long time, and in the end he could only bite the bullet and face it. "Your Majesty..."
"After all the looting, you only have more than 8,000? I remember that you personally promised the quota of 15,000 cavalry in the imperial camp in the letter you submitted that day, right? And you thought it was too little at that time?" Zhao Jiu interrupted him and said coldly. "General Qu, get me 8,000 out of the quota of 15,000... Do you know that even when Zhang Boying was at his most absurd, he didn't dare to give me such a vacant quota?"
The Yuetai platform has existed since the Wei Dynasty during the Warring States Period. After the Song Dynasty established its capital in Bianliang, this place became the place where Song Taizu inspected the troops, raised cavalry, and practiced horseback archery. It was theoretically the first general platform of the royal family, and its regulations were self-evident. However, since Emperor Zhao returned to this platform, the atmosphere has not been good, and as Emperor Zhao's words became more and more harsh, it was even more silent. Even the moral model Wanqi Xie did not dare to rush to rescue his own ally at this time.
"I'm asking you a question." After a long while, Zhao Jiu sighed helplessly. "Did you brag about Haikou and deceive the emperor that day, or are you incompetent today?"
Qu Duan raised his head and said helplessly: "Let the emperor know that I don't dare to deceive the emperor, nor am I incompetent, but I did exaggerate before, and I am indeed in some difficulties now..."
"I don't understand your eloquent words. Say something understandable." Zhao Jiu leaned in his seat, unable to urge him.
"What I was thinking at that time was that if we could plunder Guanxi completely, we would still have 20,000 cavalrymen..." Qu Duan replied carefully.
"Twenty thousand cavalry?" Zhao Jiu laughed out loud.
"But the emperor has ordered that the cavalry of the imperial camp should not be moved, and Liu Qi's few cavalry should be left to Wu Jie, so I can't snatch them away."
"You originally had this idea...what else?"
"And then there are the foreign cavalry." Qu Duan finally got to the point. "I thought about it at the time. Lou Shi swept Guanzhong twice before, and the Western Army cavalry was wiped out. All the remaining horses in Guanxi were also taken away. War horses had to be purchased temporarily from Qingtang. Qingtang also had limited supplies, and only 10,000 horses a year would be enough. Some had to be distributed to the other camps in the Imperial Camp. How could we get 15,000 cavalry? In addition, the emperor promised Li Shifu to lead the foreign cavalry into the Imperial Camp. Therefore, I had the intention of going to Hengshan, Douling, and Roulangshan to recruit Dangxiang foreign cavalry. Those places could definitely recruit the full quota of 15,000 cavalry..."
Zhao Jiu glanced at Li Shifu, who didn't even dare to raise his head, and realized something, but was still puzzled: "Why didn't I recruit him?"
"So that the emperor knows that the incident with Li Shifu and his son has made Xixia somewhat alert, and the battle of Yaoshan has also shaken Xixia, so the border has been much stricter." Qu Duan shook his head. "Although the emperor has given a lot of money and silk, those foreign cavalry are eager to come, but the main mountain road is blocked, so they really can't get through... But the emperor, the Xixia people will relax sooner or later. Give me another half a year, and I will definitely be able to gather enough people for the emperor!"
"Cavalry! Western Xia...Jin Kingdom..." Zhao Jiu sighed to the sky, and then remained silent for a long time without saying anything.
Seeing the emperor's expression, the Privy Councilor Zhang Jun stepped forward and tried to explain: "Your Majesty, according to Yue Pengju and Lü Anlao's (Lü Zhi) strategy to pacify Jin, they must first recover Jingdong and northern Shaanxi... Even if we launch a northern expedition, it may take until next year or the year after to cross the river. By then, the cavalry will not be afraid of delays."
Zhao Jiu looked up at the dragon banner floating slightly above his head, but shook his head repeatedly: "Deyuan thinks too lightly. How can the newly recruited cavalry be the same as the cavalry that has been trained for a year? Even the cavalry that has been trained for one year and two years are not the same... The foreign cavalry are familiar with horsemanship but do not abide by discipline, while the Han cavalry have just mounted horses and need training. Qu Da, let me ask you, with your current 8,000 cavalry, can they withstand Wanyan Loushi's charge in the battle of Yaoshan?"
Qu Duan's face turned from red to white, and then from white to red. In the end, he said something truthful: "I dare not lie. Not to mention now, even if we really train and prepare for another year or two, how can these 8,000 cavalrymen withstand the fierce charge of Wanyan Loushi's 7,000 cavalrymen that day? If they could stop them, Li Yongqi would not have died, and Liu Xi would not be the helmsman on the Yellow River now..."
The scene froze for a moment. Liu Qi and Li Shifu raised their heads once, but then both lowered them in fear.
After a while, the breeze gradually rose on the Yuetai, and the flags were unfurled without anyone noticing. It was really majestic, but Emperor Zhao said nothing, and the stage was still silent. The emperor, his ministers, and the military officers could only stare at the dragon banners above their heads and the various flags around them in a daze. However, in the cavalry formation not far away, some foreign cavalry had already gradually lost their patience and were whispering to each other, walking around and asking questions, and the scene gradually became lively.
Qu Duan couldn't bear to watch it any longer. He wanted to speak up several times and volunteer to go and tidy up the team, but he didn't dare to open his mouth every time.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, the stalemate was finally broken... Liu Yan, who had left Yuetai at some point, suddenly came galloping with dozens of Red Heart Cavalrymen. All of the Red Heart Cavalrymen were armored, and their armors reflected dazzlingly in the midday sun, shocking the foreign cavalrymen and causing them to give way. Liu Yan ignored the atmosphere and went directly onto the stage, then presented Emperor Zhao with a wooden box specially used for holding notes.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
