Everyone around him was thinking about something, but Liu Ziyu finally couldn't bear it anymore and stepped forward to cup his hands: "Your Majesty, the restoration of Hebei is not a matter of a day or a night. We have to wait until the Song Dynasty has hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers who can cross the river and fight against hundreds of thousands of Jin people in the field. But there is no need to worry about the moment... In the long run, our army will surely win."
"I think so too." The new Privy Council editor Hu Quan couldn't help but speak out in support of his boss, or in other words, in support of "his own argument."
The rest of the civil and military officials, including several generals from Hebei, also nodded in agreement.
But Zhao Jiu still shook his head but said nothing.
All the civil and military officials did not know what he meant, so they did not say much.
In fact, Emperor Zhao was very confused at this time... because he always felt that after four or five years of war, the Jin people, who still maintained a considerable military advantage at this point, had no reason to give up this advantage.
Because that's not reasonable!
Zhao Jiu didn't believe that the decision-makers of the Jin people, who had only risen for more than 20 years, would be so corrupt that there were no heroes who could see the current situation thoroughly. He also didn't believe that the Jin people didn't know that the Song army would become stronger and stronger, and he didn't believe that the Jin people didn't realize that their army was becoming increasingly corrupt... In this case, if he were a member of the Jin people's decision-making group, he would not avoid war. Instead, he would definitely launch a large-scale invasion as much as possible while the military strength gap could be maintained, in order to establish a strategic advantage.
In other words, Emperor Zhao firmly believed that the Jin people would definitely come, and this time it would be an unprecedented war, a war that could not be avoided!
Therefore, even if there are many reasons, such as this year is a warm winter, the Yellow River is not frozen, and the Jin people are not sure to cross the river; the previous defeat in Yanling and the setback in Dongping, the Jin people and the pseudo-Qi have no intention of fighting; the defense line along the river is strong, the Jin people retreated in the face of difficulties; the Jin high-level officials are fighting for the throne, the struggle is fierce, and they have no time to look south...
Emperor Zhao knew very well that these reasons were all reasonable and that these things did exist. Even the fact that the Jin people had been silent was right in front of him, but he still could not accept it.
Because, putting aside these confusing details, from the perspective of the overall strategic situation between Song and Jin, and from the perspective of the two countries, it would be illogical for the Jin people not to come.
The times are calling for a war, an unprecedented war, a war that will determine whether the Song Dynasty can survive in the Yellow River Basin.
Zhao Jiu has always believed this.
In fact, Zhao Jiu came to the front line this time to avoid the trouble in the harem and to appease the anxious people, but didn't he also want to appease the most anxious heart...that is, his own heart?
This time he came to Tiantai Mountain to summon all the generals, largely because the official wanted these front-line generals to give him a definite answer... Will the Jin army come?
And it is obvious, there is no need to ask, these people came to a clear conclusion based on their own observations - they all felt that if the Yellow River had not frozen, the Jin people would not have come.
But it was obvious that Emperor Zhao was not appeased. Although he said nothing on the surface, he was forcibly suppressing his restlessness and anxiety in his heart.
But no matter what, although the mountain climbing that day seemed to be a success, it was actually fruitless for Emperor Zhao... Several local generals in Huazhou thought that the emperor's visit was just a routine summons and they were all speechless. However, close figures such as Xiaolin Xueshi and Yang Yizhong vaguely guessed what the emperor was thinking, but they didn't say much.
On the second day, which was the first day of the twelfth lunar month, as soon as it was light, the impatient Emperor Zhao got up early and went to the shooting range to shoot arrows... Archery was the only thing that could help him suppress his impatient mood, and after shooting a tube of arrows, the official had already made up his mind. After coming back to wipe his face after shooting, he would summon the four generals to have breakfast together, and then send them away and return to the palace... After all, his own judgment was his own, and as an official, he always had to remain calm on the surface.
After three arrows were shot from the second tube, Yang Yizhong came to report that Yu Yunwen had returned from the other side of the river.
The messenger had worked hard, so Zhao Jiu summoned him directly to the shooting range without hesitation.
"What did the Jin people say?" As the other party came up to him, Zhao Guanjia, who had just stopped exercising and was wiping his face with a hot towel, took the initiative to ask.
"The Jin people did not take it seriously and did not even let me enter Daming Prefecture. They sent me away directly in Puyang. I am ashamed and have failed my mission." Although he said he was ashamed, Yu Yunwen, who stood at the shooting range with his hands clasped, had a ruddy complexion and looked quite excited.
Of course, no one expected to bring the rebel generals here. The Jin people would only hand over the generals if they were crazy. They were just demonstrating. Therefore, Yu Yunwen, who "disgraced his mission", could not have really "disgraced his mission"... His return alive was a successful mission.
"As expected." Of course Emperor Zhao didn't care.
Just as Emperor Zhao put down the towel and prepared to continue to praise and encourage the other party, the newly-appointed Jinshi could not help but interrupt: "Your Majesty, the Jin people were careless, and I spied on the confidential military information!"
Zhao Jiu was stunned, and could not help but stand solemnly at the shooting range, holding the bow: "Tell me."
"When I was in Puyang, I did not see any Jin army ships. I was confused and worried, so when I returned, I used the excuse of seasickness to beg the Jin army Mouke who accompanied me to send me to try to let me cross the river from the upstream ferry... I followed him to Xiaowusha, the old intersection of the northern route of the Yellow River, 20 miles west of Puyang, and only boarded the ship. But after Xiaowusha, I saw countless inland ships!" Yu Yunwen was excited for a moment.
A shovel is something made of straw woven together with stones and wood, with long ropes on both sides. It is specially used for river control. As the name suggests, you can tell that this place is very suitable for the old entrance of the Yellow River.
The reason why ships can gather behind Xiaowusha is obviously because the Yellow River flooded and rushed into the old channel, forming a natural port at Xiaowusha with the old embankment as a shelter.
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