Zhu Xiaoqing, as Zhao Huan's brother-in-law, I don't have much contact with him.
The Queen was quite a stickler for duty and did not allow her family to cling to power. She knew that few people who had relatives outside the family involved in politics had a good ending in history.
It would be better for her to rely on her supreme status as the Queen Mother to let her relatives enjoy wealth and glory. Power will only inflate people's desires.
The Empress's family was relatively low-key. This was also related to Zhu Lian's daily teachings. Think of the Han Dynasty's relatives who were notorious for their crimes, and the prosperous Tang Dynasty's martial arts families were also despised by the world.
Zhu Xiaoqing was the Empress's younger brother. He rarely showed up in public and was not a person who liked to show off. Apart from those close to him, few people knew that he was the Emperor's brother-in-law and the Empress's younger brother.
But his keen sense of current affairs made Zhao Huan secretly call him a talented person, who had the ability to turn the tide in troubled times.
"Xiaoqing greets His Majesty." As soon as he entered the door, Zhu Xiaoqing did not show any fear of Zhao Huan. Instead, he exuded confidence in his bones.
"Well, Xiaoqing. Let me ask you, Mongolia has already declared war, what do you think of the war situation?" Zhao Huan was expecting to get a different answer from him.
"Your Majesty, I don't think it's difficult. If the water comes, we will block it with earth; if the soldiers come, we will fight them back. If the Mongols come in, we will fight back." Zhu Xiaoqing said.
Zhao Huan was disappointed. He had expected to hear a brilliant and insightful speech. Unexpectedly, Zhu Xiaoqing was just talking nonsense. Zhao Huan grew impatient and glanced at the Queen. "Yes, Xiaoqing is right. You should come to the palace less often. Now that you are here, spend more time with the Queen." Zhao Huan changed the subject.
Zhu Lian also noticed that Zhao Huan was unhappy, so he also advised: "Brother Qing, please accompany me back to Renming Hall to see Xin'er."
Unexpectedly, Zhu Xiaoqing continued, "Tactics are nothing but wisdom and courage. Yue Fei and Han Shizhong are enough. Your Majesty should consider recruiting talents regardless of their background."
Zhao Huan's eyes lit up: "Oh, tell me about it."
"Sometimes the victory or defeat of a battle is not determined by the quality of equipment or the disparity in numbers, but by the courage of the leader. An excellent general can lead an excellent team. Your Majesty, as long as you select a few talented and capable fighters, Mongolia will be nothing to worry about." Zhu Xiaoqing said arrogantly, with the frivolity unique to his age.
"Do you have a suitable candidate?" Zhao Huan asked.
Zhu Xiaoqing nodded: "Your Majesty, I recommend a man. As long as he is given 20,000 cavalry, he can sweep across Mobei."
Zhao Huan frowned. He had originally thought Zhu Xiaoqing would have some unique insights. Now it seemed he was just a child talking nonsense and talking nonsense. He smiled slightly and said, "I understand. You can leave first."
Zhu Xiaoqing didn't want to leave: "Your Majesty, the person I'm talking about is me. Myself! Give me 20,000 cavalry, and I can sweep across the northern desert!"
"Queen, take Xiaoqing away." Zhao Huan waved his hand.
Zhu Xiaoqing wanted to argue, but Zhu Lian came over and pulled him aside: "Brother Qing, let's go. Xin'er hasn't seen his uncle for a long time."
Zhu Xiaoqing grabbed Zhu Lian's arm and said, "Sister, please talk to His Majesty. Just give me 20,000 cavalrymen and I will definitely be able to defeat the Mongols."
"Are your teeth inlaid with gold diamonds?" Zhao Huan asked angrily.
If he had been patient just now, it was because he was young and ignorant of the immensity of the world, and also because he was his brother-in-law.
Now Zhao Huan could no longer bear it. He looked at his brother-in-law and said, "Twenty thousand cavalrymen destroyed the Mongols, and you're not going to fight for the throne! You want me to entrust the lives of twenty thousand soldiers to a child like you who's still wet behind the ears?"
"Your Majesty! Don't look down on the young for their immaturity. The Mongols are not numerous, but why are they so good at fighting? Fighting a war relies on wisdom and courage, as well as the personal charm of the leader, not victory simply by having more numbers. From the Xiongnu in the Han and Tang Dynasties, to the Khitan and Jurchens in the Song Dynasty, to the Mongols today, which of their armies had more people? Didn't they all still dominate the world and be invincible? Why? We always boast that we are a nation that endures hardships and hardship, but enduring hardships and hardship means more than just going hungry," Zhu Xiaoqing argued.
Zhao Huan was so angry that he threw the teacup: "Do you know what you are talking about?"
Zhu Lian shuddered with fear. If anyone else dared to speak to the emperor like that, he would have lost all ten heads.
"Hmph!" Zhu Xiaoqing angrily flicked his sleeves and walked away.
Zhao Huan was almost furious. The only one who dared to ignore him was his brother-in-law.
"I'll take my leave." Zhu Lian was a smart person. She knew that the more she tried to persuade Zhao Huan, the angrier he would get. So she simply said nothing and quietly retreated.
Only Zhao Huan and Cao Dongsheng were left in the entire Wende Hall.
When talking about political affairs, Cao Dongsheng would treat himself as air, but Zhao Huan would take notice of him.
"Cao Dongsheng, tell me, I thought he was so capable! He's just talking about military strategy with me. If I hand over 20,000 cavalry to him, wouldn't that mean the lives of these 20,000 soldiers will be in jeopardy!"
Cao Dongsheng was puzzled: "Why is Your Majesty so angry?"
"What?" Zhao Huan was stunned.
"He was just discussing it with His Majesty. Is it necessary?"
Zhao Huan was also puzzled as to why he was so angry. He was just a child, merely arguing about something he believed was right.
Humans always like to simplify complex things and complicate simple things. But Zhao Huan didn't know that the brutal war between Song and Mongolia later turned out to be just as simple as Zhu Xiaoqing said.
Later, Zhu Xiaoqing did as he said, and his 20,000 cavalry swept across the northern desert, with the same spirit as Wei Qing and Huo Qubing in the past.
The next day, morning court session in the Purple Palace.
"My dear ministers, you may have heard that the Mongol Empire has betrayed our loyalty and declared war on our Song Dynasty. They have frequently harassed our borders, killed our citizens, and seized their property. This is intolerable!"
Zhao Huan looked coldly at his ministers and continued, "There's one thing I don't understand. Why are the Mongols so aware of the border guards' deployment? How can they easily evade the guards and plunder, burn, and kill at will? Why is that?"
This is why everyone knew that the emperor was just throwing out some ideas. Then someone jumped out, and Li Qingyuan, the Minister of War, stood up and said: "Your Majesty, it is obvious that there are spies in our Song Dynasty. We have traitors, and our first priority is to catch these traitors and traitors!"
"Well said!" Zhao Huan stood up. "Why couldn't hundreds of thousands of soldiers at the border stop the Mongol cavalry? It's because of the spies. These people are selling out the interests of the country for their own selfish gains and their crimes are unforgivable. Who is willing to go to the border and help me deal with these bad apples, capture these spies, and bring them to justice?"
Zhao Huan asked twice but no one answered. Who the hell would want to live a comfortable life in the capital and go to the border where it is full of wind and sand to eat sand?
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