The famous book tour starting from the Red House

Dingxiang army camp.

After breakfast, Mu Xu took Yue Fei and Zhe Yanwen to inspect the barracks. While looking around, he asked the two behind him, "From yesterday's observation, what do you think of the strength of the Jin army?"

Zhe Yanwen replied, "Only in terms of personal bravery, we soldiers cannot compare with the Jurchens."

Mu Xu didn't comment, and then asked Yue Fei, "What did Pengju say?"

Yue Fei said sternly, "During the battle yesterday, the enemy general died in the hands of the envoy as soon as he met him. If ordinary enemy troops encountered such a thing, they would have been defeated at the first touch, but most of the Jin army still chose to fight desperately. It can be seen that It is indeed the world's first-class powerful army."

Mu Xu nodded and sighed, "That's right, our army has been rectified by military meritorious officials and has the upper hand, but even so, it's only a small advantage. If we fight with the same number of people in a fair , we are the losers."

Hearing the displeasure in Mu Xu's tone, Zhe Yanwen quickly comforted him, "Don't worry about it, our soldiers have improved a lot since the announcement of military merits. The fierce beasts fight their lives, and they have cultivated their abilities since they were young."

Of course Mu Xu knew this truth. The Jurchens of this generation were indeed powerful, but after they got away from the harsh environment of Baishan Heishui and saw the colorful world outside, they gradually lost their bravery.

The same is true for the Mongols of later generations, but compared to the Jurchens who fell faster, because the Mongols continued to expand, their ancestors maintained their bravery for two more generations.

This is not what Mu Xu was thinking about right now. He was thinking about whether to fundamentally change the status quo of the Han people.

Yes, in Mu Xu's view, people who say that Han people are inherently inferior to those prairie barbarians are purely farting.

If the Han people were really not as brave as the nomadic peoples, why did the Han Dynasty have one Han as five nonsense, and why did the Tang army often win more with less before the Anshi Rebellion in the Tang Dynasty?
There are many reasons for this, but in Mu Xu's view, the most fundamental reason is the disappearance of folk martial arts.

After all, in the Han Dynasty and the early Tang Dynasty, the Central Plains Dynasty adopted the Fubing system. At that time, most of the Fubing were peasant children. Fighting on the battlefield was not only for making meritorious deeds, but also everyone's obligation.

Under this premise, in addition to farming the fields, these farmers also need to practice fighting skills from time to time.If things go on like this, martial arts will naturally prevail among the whole folk.

Of course, this does not mean that the government military system is superior to the recruitment system.

On the contrary, looking at the historical development of China and the world in ancient and modern times, the recruitment system and compulsory military service system are the trend of the future.

Mu Xu also thought about whether to promote compulsory military service, but in the end he gave up this idea because of the constraints of transportation and productivity in ancient times.

But after yesterday's battle, he suddenly felt that even if the compulsory military service system is not promoted, it is entirely possible to consider establishing a militia system, so that the people under the rule can have one more choice, such as joining the militia instead of corvee service.

It's totally doable, and the benefits are obvious.

First, with a large number of militias, and the establishment of a set of channels for militias to be promoted to soldiers, the country does not need to maintain so many standing troops. Not only can it relieve financial pressure, but it can also ensure the metabolism of the army and maintain combat effectiveness to the greatest extent. .

The two can imperceptibly restore the martial arts style that has been gradually lost among the people since the mid-Tang Dynasty.This is particularly important, because it was from the Song Dynasty that due to the rulers, the entire Han society vigorously promoted culture and education, and increasingly discriminated against warriors.

This formed a vicious circle, which made the following dynasties strong at the time of founding, and after one or two generations, the army had problems and gradually lost its combat effectiveness.

Mu Xu understands that each dynasty has its own life cycle and cannot escape perdition, but he sincerely hopes that the dynasty he will establish in the future will perish with strength like the Han Dynasty, not the Song or Ming dynasties. Law.

As for whether there will be another random incident, Mu Xu has no such worries at all.

The reason is very simple. Since the Tang Dynasty, the climate in East Asia has been getting colder and colder. As a result, the grasslands in the north and south of Mobei can no longer support so many nomads.

From the Khitan people to the Manchurians, only the Mongols rose up in Monan, and the birthplaces of other ethnic groups shifted to the east.

For the Central Plains dynasty, this has a great advantage, that is, it only needs to deal with threats from one direction, and does not need to face threats from nomadic peoples from the northeast, the north, and the northwest as in the Han and Tang Dynasties. pressure.

Therefore, Mu Xu firmly believed that if the people of the Han family regained the bravery of the Han Dynasty, even if they encountered the situation in the late Ming Dynasty, there would be no such thing as Manchurians swallowing the world with a corner of their land.

When the meat rots, it will also rot in the pots of the Han people.

This is really not Mu Xu's whimsy, but a precedent in history.Don't you see that at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, nomads such as Wuhuan and Xianbei could never set foot in the Central Plains even if the princes of the Central Plains fought in full swing.

At that time, princes such as Gongsun Zan and Cao Cao all had the experience of beating these nomadic peoples with their own strength.

Just when Mu Xu thought further and further, a soldier came to report, "Master, the Jin people have envoys to see you."

Mu Xu was taken aback when he heard this, and said to himself, "What is the meaning of Wanyan Aguda, do you want to declare war in person?"

Yue Fei suggested, "No matter what the Jin people's purpose is, the Lord will know when he summons his envoy."

"That's right, then meet this envoy and see what Wanyan Aguda's plan is."

Mu Xu nodded, and immediately ordered the Jin envoy to meet him.

A moment later, inside the big tent of the Chinese army.

Gao Qingyi bowed and saluted, "Daijin envoy Gao Qingyi has seen the general."

Mu Xu nodded lightly, "You don't need to be too polite, I don't know why the gold master sent an envoy here?"

Gao Qingyi replied, "My Majesty would like to have a meeting with the general before the battle, but I don't know what the general wants?"

"Huh! Wanyan Aguda wants to see me?" Mu Xu was really taken aback and couldn't help saying.

Hearing Mu Xu call Wanyan Aguda's name directly, Gao Qingyi said angrily, "I have heard for a long time that the Central Plains is a country of etiquette, how can the general be so rude to my majesty!"

Mu Xu narrowed his eyes, and fixedly looked at Gao Qingyi, Gao Qingyi only felt an aura rushing towards him, as if he was fighting against Wanyan Agu alone, he couldn't help being shocked, but he still insisted on looking back at Mu Xu, refusing to There is no sign of weakness.

Seeing Gao Qingyi's strengths, Mu Xu had a good impression of him, so he smiled and said, "It's a certain family's rudeness, don't blame your envoy!"

Gao Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief, and asked again, "General, can you give me a clear answer, so that I can go back and give orders to my majesty."

"I just want to meet the emperor of your country, and I have no intention of refusing it. I would like to ask your envoy to explain the time and place. What are your requirements for the meeting?"

"It will be at the center of the two armies at a quarter of noon. Each side will bring two entourages and ten guards."

"Okay, then it's settled."

After Gao Qingyi was sent away, Zhe Yanwen was somewhat skeptical, "Master, could this be a conspiracy by the Jin people?"

Mu Xu thought for a moment, and said with certainty, "Probably not. If the person who brought up the matter was a person from Jin Kingdom, it might be possible, but Wanyan Aguda would not. No matter how you say it, this person is a hero of a generation. As for the behavior of such a villain."

Yue Fei didn't know why Mu Xu said this, but he still suggested, "Be careful, there is no big mistake, my subordinates are willing to take someone to investigate in advance."

Mu Xu didn't want to brush off his good intentions, and said, "Then Lao Pengju will go to the trouble."

……

It was noon soon, and Mu Xu rode to the meeting place with Zhe Yanwen and ten personal guards a quarter earlier.

Coincidentally, Wanyan Aguda also chose to come a little earlier.

The two looked at each other more than ten meters away.

In Mu Xu's eyes, Wanyan Aguda didn't have the air of an emperor at all. He was dressed plainly, his face was covered with wrinkles, and he sat crookedly on his horse. He looked like an ordinary old farmer in the field. People dare not take it lightly.

But the scene that caught Wanyan Aguda's eyes was completely opposite.In his eyes, Mu Xu was dressed in a brocade robe and a jade crown, with a slender figure, exuding unparalleled vigor and confidence.

While Wanyan Aguda praised Mu Xu's demeanor in his heart, he was also saddened by his old age, and secretly sighed, "If I were twenty years younger, I would definitely fight this person on the battlefield."

The two looked at each other, as if they had a tacit understanding, each left the guards in place, Mu Xu took Zhe Yanwen, Wanyan Aguda took Wanyan Zongbi and Gao Qingyi, and rode to the middle open space.

Leaving aside the national feelings, Mu Xu admired Wanyan Aguda very much. This person is the most outstanding person in this era. If he hadn't died early, the first foreign emperor who truly ruled the Central Plains might not be Kublai Khan. .

Because of this thought, Mu Xu first cupped his fists and saluted, "I have seen the emperor of the Jin Kingdom, and Mu is so polite!"

Wanyan Aguda also bowed back with his fists clasped, and said with a smile, "Little friend, you should salute me, you made me lose one of my favorite generals yesterday."

"Hearing what your Majesty said, are you trying to find my bad luck today?"

"On the battlefield, the sword has no eyes, and I'm not that stingy, but if my little friend is willing to join me in Dajin, then I will certainly wish for it!"

Mu Xu laughed out loud, and the sound spread far away.After laughing, he resolutely refused, "I am a majestic Yanhuang Miao descendant, how can I serve the king of a foreign race!"

Hearing Mu Xu's words, Wanyan Aguda's expression remained the same, but Wanyan Zongbi said sarcastically, "I thought General Mu was a hero, but I didn't want to, but his knowledge is so shallow, and he is like ordinary people, sticking to the opinions of sectarians."

Mu Xu looked around and asked, "Who is your Excellency?"

Wanyan Zongbi puffed up his chest and replied, "I, Wanyan Zongbi, I don't know what General Mu has to teach you!"

As soon as Mu Xu heard that this person was Jin Wushu, he immediately became interested, and couldn't help but look at him carefully, and couldn't help regretting, if he knew that he would see this guy, he should bring Yue Fei here, so that their pair Enemies in official history, get to know each other in advance.

"I don't dare to be taught, but Confucius said that it is better for the barbarians to have a king than the death of the Xia! Although Mu is not talented, he dare not forget the teachings of the sages."

Although Wanyan Zongbi came from a different race, he had also read the classics of the Han family. How could he not hear that Mu Xu was mocking Wanyan Aguda as a barbarian king, not a legitimate emperor?

He was furious immediately and wanted to argue with Mu Xu, but he didn't want Wanyan Aguda to wave his hand to signal him not to be impatient, so he had no choice but to stand back sullenly and see how his father would answer.

After listening to Yan Aguda asked, "Little friend's integrity is admirable, but I would like to ask, the emperor of the Zhao family is a wise king, how is he compared to me?"

Without even thinking about it, Mu Xu said, "Official Zhao's family is undoubtedly a fool. He is not even worthy of carrying shoes for His Majesty in terms of his ability to govern the country."

Wanyan Agu said happily, "Ah, since my friend said so, why do you work hard for the Zhao family? Don't you hear that a good bird chooses a tree to live in, and a good minister chooses a master to serve?"

"Hmph, when did Mu say that he wanted to work for Song Ting? I opposed you, Jin Kingdom, for the people of China!"

Seeing that Wanyan Aguda still wanted to recruit himself, Mu Xu simply made his words clear to dispel his unrealistic illusions, "You Jin people are cruel and heartless, and every time you capture a place, you either massacre or demote the people into slaves. I am ashamed to be with you."

In the grassland, the weak prey on the strong, so Wanyan Aguda didn't take Mu Xu's words to heart at all, and even asked, "The Liao people have oppressed my Jurchen for generations, so what's wrong with our revenge?"

Mu Xu pointed at Gao Qingyi and said, "This Mr. Gao is from Bohai. Your Majesty might as well ask him how your Jurchens have treated other ethnic groups in Liaodong. I'm afraid it's even worse than the Khitan people!"

Seeing that his family was involved, Gao Qingyi wanted to defend the Jurchen a few words, but facing Mu Xu's scorching gaze, he couldn't say the words anymore, so he had to lower his head, obviously acquiescing to this statement.

Wanyan Agu cast a glance at Gao Qingyi, and promised Mu Xu, "As long as my little friend is willing to submit to my Dajin, I can swear to heaven that I will make you a king with a different surname. How about invading the Song Dynasty and treating the Han children well?
How could Mu Xu believe this, he mercilessly exposed the loopholes in Wanyan Agu's chatter.

"Your Majesty is also a hero of the generation, why do you lie to me?"

"Why did you say that, little friend? You must know that I have never broken my promise in my life, and I have always nailed it with one spittle."

Mu Xu sneered and said, "My humble mastery of Qi and Huang, judging from His Majesty's expression, you are clearly at the end of your life, isn't that considered deceiving me?
To put it bluntly, after His Majesty dies, the successor of your Kingdom of Jin might be impatient to invade Song, right? "

The conversation stopped here, Mu Xu saw that Wanyan Aguda seemed to have something to say, so he continued, "Your Majesty, don't deny it in a hurry, you might as well ask Brother Zong Bi what he thinks first."

Wanyan Agu turned his head to look at his son, but seeing his eyes turned aside unnaturally, knowing that what Mu Xu said was true, he couldn't help sighing, "Yes, who would be willing to give up the splendid country in the Central Plains? I have lost my word!"

After finishing speaking, he glanced at Mu Xu again, without saying a word, he turned his horse's head and went back and forth, and disappeared in the distance not long after.