Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"Before the imperial decree arrives, the generals of the battalion and the guards of the cities will definitely do so."

"But the edict has already been issued. Once this happens, the border will be in jeopardy."

"That's why the prince wants to go even more, and it must be the prince."

Defang was taken aback when he heard this, "Prime Minister, what does this mean?"

"It is a bounden duty for generals to guard the frontiers and secure the land, so the generals and officers of the battalion will not sit back and watch the Liao people run rampant. Even if the edict is issued, some people will still ask for orders to fight."

"If this is the case, the general should not bear the crime of disobedience."

"My lord, the so-called general will not accept the order of the emperor."

"However, His Majesty has just granted Wang Ji'en's request to send the servants of the Zhonghuang sect to announce the edict. If any general goes to battle without authorization, they will stop it."

"They are just servants, how could the general take them seriously?"

"But there is still this king. Isn't the prime minister recommending this king because he is afraid that some generals will be difficult to control." De Fang frowned and sighed, "Prime Minister, you really put this king in a dilemma this time. It's hard to accept, let alone convince the generals, or even suppress them, hey!"

Zhao Pu shook his head, "My lord's words are wrong, how does your lord know that this is the intention of recommending you?"

Defang looked at Zhao Pu, "Prime Minister, have you forgotten what you said above the Golden Palace?"

"I haven't forgotten, but..." Zhao Pu smiled, "That's for His Majesty and the ministers."

"What? For His Majesty and the ministers?"

"Your Majesty has been unable to let go of the battle at the Gentleman's Pavilion for a long time, and he is deeply afraid of repeating the same mistakes. Now that the situation at the border is not good, the officials are also worried. Therefore, no matter what good strategies are used against the enemy, it is difficult to be effective at this time. It is better to follow His Majesty. Looking for other methods, there will be unexpected gains in this way."

"Find another way? What do you mean?"

"My lord, just now you are above the main hall, what is His Majesty's appointment to you?"

"Your Majesty has appointed this king as the Superintendent of the Army and Horses of the Frontier Battalion, and is in charge of the military administration. Anyone who disobeys will be severely punished by military law without reporting to the imperial court."

"That's right, the border guards are in charge of the army and horses, and you are in charge of the military administration. Your lord is no different from the commander of tens of thousands of troops at the border. Not to mention the guards of the cities, even the generals of the camp are just one of your subordinates. "

"So what? This king must obey the edict and not send troops without authorization."

"My lord, you are a general now, and..." Zhao Pu looked at De Fang and said, "Once you leave the capital, you will be a general."

"Will be outside..." Defang thought about Zhao Pu's words, and suddenly understood something. He looked at Zhao Pu in front of him, "Prime Minister, could it be...do you mean..."

Zhao Pu nodded, "Your Majesty, in the capital, it is useless for you to report anything to your Majesty about the fight against the Liao Dynasty, but as long as you leave the capital, your lord can see the scene of the battlefield with your own eyes. What do you want to do? It's all up to you, the lord."

"Prime Minister, this is a crime of resisting orders and deceiving the emperor..."

Zhao Pu shook his head, "The ones who proclaimed the imperial decree this time are Lin Yanshou and others from the Zhonghuang sect. The ones who accepted the emperor's order were the generals of the frontier camps, and the prince is neither the person who announced the decree nor the one who received the decree. How can he resist the order and deceive the emperor?" crime."

Defang thought for a while and nodded, but then shook her head again, "Prime Minister, these are just words of reassurance, His Majesty will not listen to these, and besides, this king's family is still in Beijing. Wouldn't it be..."