Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 867 Tang Xingwu Offers Again
It is extremely rare for a low-level military officer to accompany His Majesty the Emperor to watch the game together with many important court officials, even if he is standing, and not everyone can have it.I really don't know how many people are envious and jealous.The teachers and students of the Military Academy and Xiangfu Academy who were watching the game on the south side of the stadium, as long as they glanced at this low-level military officer, they would have mixed emotions of envy, jealousy, and admiration in their hearts.Of course, there are people who will hide their jealousy with disdain at any time.

No one could tell what kind of emotion it was, but everyone knew that this person's name was Tang Xingwu!
Since he recommended himself to His Majesty during the battle with the Liao army in October last year, after he became the junior staff officer of the military pivot department from the ninth rank, he was promoted from the sixth rank to the head of the intelligence analysis department of the Ministry of Security in just five months. He was given the title of male in Lintao County.Such a promotion speed can only be matched by Kou Zhun, who is a direct disciple of His Majesty and also has extraordinary abilities.Even Zhong Sanhe, who captured alive Xiao Dage, the great king of the South Court of Liao Kingdom, and also the "dark horse upstart" of Xiangfu Kingdom, was inferior.

Of course, even so, Tang Xingwu should not be qualified to accompany His Majesty to watch the game. The reason why he is able to stand on the stage now is because he has just solved the shocking assassination case of the Imperial City Square and dug up four temples in one fell swoop. The secret stronghold, in cooperation with the Operation Department of the Ministry of Security Zheng Bao, killed and captured more than 20 sects from the temple, including a civil servant from the eighth rank and a military officer from the seventh rank, which shocked the ruling and opposition parties.

The senior officials of Xiangfu Kingdom knew that the holy hall was the thing His Majesty feared and hated the most. It was reasonable and reasonable for Tang Xingwu to have made such great achievements.

Before the Cuju competition started, all the teachers and students of the two schools and all the people knelt down to the high platform where the emperor was, shouting long live, and all the ministers beside Ye Chen also knelt down together, Ye Chen said: "Be flat!"

The audience shouted: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Ye Chen said again, "In the future, there will be no need to kneel and worship in any similar arenas. The Ministry of Rites will inform the whole country of my will." Ye Chen clearly said it softly, but everyone in the audience could clearly hear it, but this kind of Miraculous things, but everyone in the audience took them for granted. Who didn't know that His Majesty has great powers, and this kind of thing that seems miraculous to others is just a trivial matter to His Majesty.

Yu Jiangang, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, hurriedly claimed that it was.

After everyone sat down, the first person to enter the arena was a team of people holding Geshu sticks. When these people entered the arena, they also knelt down to Ye Chen first. Everyone returns to their own positions and does their own thing, and there is no need to salute anyone."

"Thank you, Lord Ron." These people took Geshu sticks and ran around the field, standing around the field or entering the field.

Although Xu Xuan knew that Ye Chen was very familiar with Cuju competitions, he still leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is the guard responsible for maintaining order in the stadium."

Ye Chen nodded slightly, expressing his understanding.

Immediately afterwards, in a certain brisk and vigorous tune, two referees holding red flags walked into the arena, followed by a total of 22 players from the two teams running in from the east and west sides of the court, and Ye Chen was about to salute His Majesty again. Some impatiently said: "Okay, let's start the game now!"

Everyone didn't dare to disobey the order, so they listened to the beating of drums, and the competition officially started.

The red cuju is flying in the air, and the scarlet clothes and the green clothes are interspersed. Whether it is the emperor and his ministers in the north, the teachers and students of the two schools in the south, or the [-] people on both sides, they are all immediately attracted by the exciting competition. , from time to time let out a sound of exclamation.

Ye Chen had a rare football game to watch, so he didn't think about it, he paid attention to the game on the field, and after a while, the Xiangfu Academy team had already scored one point...

Because Ye Chen took the lead in applauding, and the ministers also knew that Ye Chen often had no airs, so the ministers on the stage gradually let go, started discussions enthusiastically and even applauded continuously.

Ye Chen is more inclined to support the Xiangfu Academy team.But in his capacity, it is inconvenient to show too much inclination, so he only applauds and applauds occasionally.On the contrary, Tang Xingwu seemed to be acquainted with Zhong Sanhe, Chang Podao, and Shi Lang, and these three also happened to be in the military academy team, so they shouted more brazenly.

Seeing Tang Xingwu's preference for the Military Academy team, Ye Chen said with a smile, "Tang Xingwu, who do you think will win this match?"

"I believe that the Military Academy won." Tang Xingwu replied bluntly.

Ye Chen smiled deliberately: "I thought it would be the Xiangfu Academy team that won. Do you dare to bet with me?"

Tang Xingwu never expected that His Majesty would ask him to make a bet. He acted cautiously and did not dare to be too presumptuous, so he pretended to hesitate and said: "This humble minister really dare not."

"I have a sword with fish intestines, so I thought it was a bet. If Qing wins, the sword with fish intestines will belong to Qing."

Seeing that His Majesty the Emperor was in high spirits, Tang Xingwu didn't dare to delay any longer.He leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, if I win, I dare not ask for the Fish Intestine Sword. I have a clever strategy for the Liao Kingdom, and I ask Your Majesty to allow it, and leave this matter to me."

Ye Chen became interested and said, "Tell me your clever strategy first, and let me hear it."

Tang Xingwu cheered up and said: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, although the Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Kingdom is a woman, she is decisive in killing and attacking, appointing talents and talents, and working hard to govern, so she must be taken lightly. Although this time in our Xiangfu Kingdom I have suffered a great loss in my hand, but the Liao Kingdom will recover its vitality after a few years, and it will inevitably retaliate with troops, and the minister intends to deploy this matter in advance to prevent problems before they happen."

What Tang Xingwu said was the consensus between Ye Chen and his subordinates, and there was nothing surprising about it, but Tang Xingwu's insight is indeed extraordinary, Ye Chen nodded and said: "In your opinion, how can we prevent problems before they happen? "

Tang Xingwu said: "For the matter of Khitan, please follow the story of Jin and Chu's struggle for hegemony in the Spring and Autumn Period."

"Jin and Chu fight for hegemony?" Ye Chen thought for a while, and immediately understood Tang Xingwu's meaning, and asked, "But who do you think can be Wu?" In the past when Jin and Chu were fighting for hegemony, Jin sent people deep into Chu In the rear, the Wu people who had an enmity with the Chu State taught the art of smelting chariot warfare. After the Wu State became stronger, it often fought against the Chu State, which caused the exhaustion of the Chu State's national strength and could no longer pose a great threat to the Central Plains.Ye Chen also knew this story.

"In addition to Song, there is Goryeo that is completely different from Liao." Before Tang Xingwu could answer, Ye Chen deliberately analyzed it on his own, "Song's monarchs and ministers hate me like bones, and they will never be used by me. Needless to say. The Koreans are not good at fighting, and the Ministry of Security’s memorials have already been analyzed, so it is estimated that it is difficult to take on this role.”

"Your Majesty's words are very sage. What I call Wu Guo is someone else!" Tang Xingwu said confidently.

"Anyone else?" Ye Chen narrowed his eyes and thought for a while that Tang Xingwu's level is not enough to know about the Jurchen clan.

"I heard that Khitan ruled all the tribes in the country with harsh policies. The tribes rebelled repeatedly, but they were defeated repeatedly because of their lack of strength. However, the tribes surrendered and rebelled, but they never stopped. If the Ministry of Security chooses to Those who go deep into the various ministries, secretly contact, and provide assistance, the minister will say that there is no peace in Khitan."

Ye Chen took a deep look at Tang Xingwu, frowned and said: "Although that's the case, most of the ministries are far away from our Xiangfu country, and they may be relatives or betray Khitan. It's unpredictable."

Tang Xingwu laughed and said: "Your Majesty, the things in the world are difficult and easy. In the northwestern territory of Khitan, there are hundreds of tribes of Shubugu, all of whom are afraid of the violence of Khitan, so they have to swallow their anger. How can there be such a thing in the world?" Willing to be a mermaid? I, Xiangfu Kingdom, don’t need to help too much. If it really makes it too strong, it will drive wolves at the front door and tigers at the back door. However, the Ministry of Security will take the lead, organize a cavalry team, sneak into it, and trade with them.”

"Mutual market?" Ye Chen thought of what he had done with the Jurchen tribe, and secretly praised Tang Xingwu for his extraordinary intelligence.

"It's the mutual market." Tang Xingwu said with a smile, "I heard that Shubugu's ministries are short of iron, so the imperial court sells them weapons and armor, so what's the problem?"

Ye Chen smiled and said: "It really is a clever plan." After he finished speaking, he thought for a while, then became puzzled again, and said: "It's just that it's not difficult for the spies from the Ministry of Security to investigate and find out which tribes do not agree with Xiao Chuo, but the Ministry of Security And how can I get familiar with the local customs? I’m afraid it won’t be easy.”

"Your Majesty forgot that our Xiangfu Kingdom also has more than [-] people from the Liao Kingdom. I think that it is feasible to recruit people who are loyal to our Xiangfu Kingdom and have outstanding martial arts skills among them, and the Ministry of Security will train them. , for my use."

Ye Chen thought for a while, nodded and said, "That's right, I also think this is feasible. Qing is indeed very resourceful."

Tang Xingwu smiled slightly and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, I think that there are many tribes in Liao Kingdom who believe in Buddhism, if we can send people pretending to be monks to go to various tribes to spread dissatisfaction with Khitan, it will be more effective than spies from the Ministry of Security spreading rumors. Given time, I expect that Khitan will have trouble in his heart."

Ye Chen couldn't help clapping his hands and said with a smile: "It really is a clever plan!"

It is not easy to implement these strategies. If they really want to be effective, I am afraid that they will have to be done in a year or even three to five years. However, this is a long-term plan, so it can be regarded as a poisonous plan.

The strategy of the Liao State has always been to be gentle with the Xi and Han tribes, and to rule the tribes with the Khitan, Xi, and Han tribes as the foundation.Therefore, cruelty to the tribes is almost unavoidable.Therefore, contradictions always exist, and if they are exploited, it will indeed become a big trouble for Khitan.

Previously, Ye Chen only thought of feeding the hungry wolf of Jurchen slowly because he knew the horror of the Jurchen tribe in a hundred years later, as a trump card in the life-and-death battle with the Liao Kingdom in the future.As for spreading rumors in the Liao Kingdom that are unfavorable to the Liao Dynasty court, Hu Sanguang has also asked the Ministry of Security to do it.But these are obviously less rigorous and in-depth than what Tang Xingwu said today.

(End of this chapter)