HLnovel Chapter 366 When I am ready for the Northern Expedition and counterattack, I will behead them as a s
Chapter 366 When I am ready for the Northern Expedition and counterattack, I will behead them as a s
In the sky.
With the Jin envoy's tragic death in the Song army camp, both the Song and Jin armies understood one thing.
The war between the Song and Jin dynasties will no longer end in peace negotiations as it has in the past.
Although the Jurchens did not immediately launch an attack, they ceased their looting activities in the Huai River region and instead concentrated their forces.
Everyone knew this was the calm before the storm.
After setting up the defenses, Yu Yunwen did not rest.
He knew perfectly well that the Song army had not clashed head-on with the Jin people for far too long, at least not in such a desperate battle that even the possibility of peace negotiations had been completely severed!
Although Yue Fei's encouragement and the sacrifice of the three Jurchen envoys awakened the fighting spirit in most people's hearts, it was not easy to maintain this determination.
Especially at this time when the atmosphere is becoming increasingly tense.
Besides his daily patrols, he would also try to take time to tell those around him about his experience of defeating the Jin people in the quarry.
Before the flames of war fully ignited, he did everything in his power to dispel the fear of the Jurchens in everyone's hearts!
"Yu Yunwen is quite good too!"
Emperor Taizong of Tang couldn't help but praise the Tang Dynasty.
His on-the-spot command is not yet apparent, but judging from his defensive arrangements and the various methods he devises to maintain the morale of his soldiers, it can be concluded that he is a top-notch general in defense!
"?"
"Not bad?"
Old Zhu slowly typed out a question mark.
"His military prowess, brilliant strategies, loyalty, and bravery made him the foremost figure in the Southern Song Dynasty. This is how history records his evaluation of Yu Yunwen. You describe such a person as merely 'not bad'?"
"So fierce!?"
Li Er was amazed.
So does everyone else.
So far, at least, they haven't seen Yu Yunwen shine.
"Is this old man really that strong?"
Even if he seems to have some ability now, Old Zhu's words are far too exaggerated!
Most people began to scrutinize the old man on the sky with skeptical eyes.
However, it was clear that he was not the main character of this challenge, and the scene on the screen quickly returned to the main topic.
Inside the imperial palace in Lin'an City.
Yue Fei, who had rushed back, was about to report on the situation at the border when he saw Zhao Shen looking worried and depressed.
"General Yue, have I done something wrong?"
Yue Fei: "?"
"Why do you say that, Your Majesty?"
He couldn't understand how things could have changed so much after he went on a long trip!
Give me back my staunchly pro-war emperor!
"The prime minister told me that the Jin Kingdom also longed for peace. If I hadn't insisted on the northern expedition, which allowed the Jin people to see the immortals' inventory, they wouldn't have started the war."
He said that the current national strength of our Great Song Dynasty is not enough to compete with the Jin Dynasty. The only way to survive is to seek peace. Otherwise, relying solely on natural defenses will probably not be enough to stop the Jin army.
The more Zhao Shen spoke, the more frustrated he became.
It's as if the words "I am a sinner" are practically engraved on his forehead.
"Has Your Majesty forgotten how the Jingkang Incident came about?"
"The Jin Kingdom yearns for peace? This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life!"
Yue Fei was furious.
He realized that Tang Situi must have said those ridiculous things after he left, in order to buy himself a way out.
"But what the Prime Minister said..."
Based on Zhao Shen's perspective and his own experiences, most of what Tang Situi said was indeed true.
Even before he initiated the Northern Expedition, the Song and Jin dynasties had maintained peace for decades.
"Tang Situi only said that the Song and Jin dynasties maintained peace for several decades, but this peace was obtained by the Song dynasty becoming a vassal state and paying tribute!"
"The Jin state has occupied the former territory of our Great Song Dynasty, enslaved our Great Song people, and used the silver paid by our Great Song Dynasty to develop its military strength."
"Even without His Majesty's initial northern expedition, they would never have remained peaceful forever!"
"Tang Situi is a traitor. He has long since surrendered to the Jin people, so naturally he wouldn't say a bad word about the Jin. Your Majesty, just listen to his words and don't believe them!"
Yue Fei listed out each and every one of the incidents.
Zhao Shen was still young after all. Although he was a man of great talent and ambition, he was sometimes easily deceived and misled.
In his original historical experience, he also had times when he wavered between the two sides.
Yue Fei was neither surprised nor disappointed by this.
With Tang Situi's eloquence, he could make the dead seem alive, and it wouldn't be difficult for him to fool Zhao Shen for a short time.
He was just glad that he had returned in time.
"You mean that even if I don't launch a northern expedition, the Jin Kingdom won't let go of the opportunity to invade the south?"
Zhao Shen frowned, as if he had figured something out, but he wasn't sure.
"The Jurchens' southward advance shows that they have long been prepared for this battle. I would even say that they have already thought of the terms for peace negotiations."
"Ever since the destruction of the Liao Dynasty, the Jin Dynasty has been doing this, gradually eroding the Song Dynasty and using military force to coerce our court into seeking peace, thus giving them the upper hand in negotiations."
"I still hold the same view. Their failure to send troops has never meant that they are willing to coexist peacefully with the Song Dynasty. It only means that they are accumulating strength, and when they are confident that they can swallow the Song Dynasty whole, they will show their fangs!"
"Throughout history, the premise of peace negotiations has always been that the two sides are of equal strength. I have never heard of disarming one's own side and eliminating all threats to the enemy in order to show sincerity."
"Peace can never be obtained through groveling. I believe that peace can only be achieved through military force!"
Yue Fei's resolute tone enlightened Zhao Shen.
He had only been fooled by Tang Situi's fallacious reasoning, and now that he had been enlightened, he would not hesitate for a moment longer!
"General Yue is absolutely right. I was too trusting of a villain!"
"So, according to General Yue, how should we deal with those disgraced officials like Tang Situi?"
"When I am ready for the Northern Expedition and counterattack, I will behead them and offer them as a sacrifice to my flag!"
……
Yue Fei kept his promise and pardoned all three members of the surrender faction whose crimes were relatively minor.
At the same time, he issued a conscription edict on behalf of Zhao Shen to the world, indicating that the court was about to launch a northern expedition to counterattack the Jin people. He also wrote that all those who enlisted could exchange military merits for titles, official positions, and other benefits.
In the ancient Qin Dynasty, the merit of taking the head of an enemy soldier was enough to easily support a family.
The imperial edict that Yue Fei requested to be issued now bestows even greater rewards!
Anyone who kills an enemy soldier can be appointed as a squad leader, receive an additional two taels of silver per month, and his family can receive a monthly allowance for five people.
The one who kills three enemies can be appointed as a squad leader, his monthly salary will increase by five taels of silver, his family members will receive a monthly allowance for ten people, and the court will provide his family with a servant.
Anyone who kills ten enemies can be appointed as a centurion in the army, and his monthly salary and rewards will be enough to make most people envious!
Most importantly, those who make military contributions can be exempted from taxes for three years!
As soon as the edict was issued, officials knelt outside Zhao Shen's palace gates.