I, Han Gaozu, actually traveled through Song Gaozong?

Chapter 170 Li Qiong
Bozhou City, Laojun Temple.

Different from Suzhou which is not far away, the Daoism here is more prosperous than many famous Dongtian blessed places. Apart from the troops stationed there, every household of the local people worships Laojun.

There is no other, just because this place is the birthplace of Lao Tzu in the legend.

There is a statue of Laojun more than ten feet high in the temple. There is a couplet on the left that reads "the soil of Qiaodu, the shore of the vortex", and a couplet on the right that reads "it is a blessed land, and the holy king is a real Christmas". On the wall, there is also a poem left by Sima Guang, the former prime minister:
"That is to say who is the son, and then to say that the emperor is the first"

'Since the division of heaven and earth, there has been a biography of the master sage'

And in front of the Laojun statue, the middle-aged man wearing a white robe offering incense is Li Qiong, the rebel general of the Song Dynasty, the current military governor of the Taining Army of the Jin Kingdom, and Li Qiong who knows the affairs of Bozhou.

Speaking of which, from the appeasement envoy of one state in the Song Dynasty to the Jiedu envoy in one town of Jin State, this person is even one year younger than Yue Fei, who has already been regarded as a rising star... I don’t know if it’s Laojun here. My heart is at ease, anyway, this person doesn't have the hostility that he has been in the army for more than ten years, on the contrary, he is very peaceful and gentle.

After the three sticks of incense were plugged in, this man, like a teacher, nodded his head and remained silent for a long time. He didn't know what wish he had made in his heart, and finally made a deep bow to the statue with kind eyebrows and kind eyes. He turned around and looked at the people in front of him.

The first two were Wang Shizhong and Jin Sai, who accompanied him in the Beitou back then, and there were many generals behind him, plus the officials of Bozhou City. Almost all the high-ranking people in the city arrived.

"Tell me, what's the matter."

While Li Qiong was straightening her skirt, she asked the visitor a question. Wang Shizhong and Jin Sai exchanged glances, then stepped forward and said:

"Marshal, Emperor Song has arrived in Suzhou."

Although there had been news that the emperor of the Zhao family had conscripted himself, Li Qiong never believed it.

Even if the city of Yingzhou was destroyed last year and the Kingdom of Jin lost the three kings at once, Li Qiong would only think that it was Uncle Liu Xin's ability, and Emperor Zhao was just a borrower.

Just like what he said to Wanyan Wushu back then:

"Marshal King Jin came to the front line to supervise the battle. His expression was calm, and he used his troops to win. He was similar to Sun Tzu and Wu Qi. He was really a man of life. If this is the case, what can soldiers do? Therefore, Jin can defeat Song. It can be done in one day. It is not surprising that they have opened up thousands of miles of land."

"And the commanders in Jiangnan are not as talented as ordinary people. Whenever they send troops, they must be hundreds of miles away from the battlefield, which is called so-called prudence. Some supervisors call the army, replace generals and officers, and only use one soldier to take orders to announce The decisive victory against the enemy actually entrusted the deputy general, so the clever ones were scattered, and the stupid ones were wiped out. Occasionally, if you are lucky enough to win a small battle, the success will be repeated frequently, and you will increase the number of prisoners as your credit, and you will also restrain the soldiers. Resentment. Even if some generals come to the battlefield in person, but the momentum is wrong, they will be the first to flee. Moreover, the Jiangnan state government has no program, and they will be rewarded heavily for only minor contributions. , is already a blessing, how can it be cheered up?"

These words seem to be flattering the Jin people, but they are indeed his sincere words, and they are also some trivial experiences he has summed up after serving the Song country for more than ten years.

Wanyan Wushu is currently in charge of the state of Jin, and he is a real and unknown emperor. He likes Li Qiong very much, just like Wanyanchang, who is in charge of harmony, likes Qin Hui. My confidant, the last time I was going to massacre the city, no one could speak well, but Li Qiong who abandoned Bozhou persuaded him, if not for Li Qiong who was almost forty, then the fourth prince of the Kingdom of Jin would marry someone daughter to him.

With such a background, Li Qiong can be regarded as under one person in the land of Lianghuai.

So Li Qiong was very clear about Song's weakness and why Jin was able to win.

When he confirmed the news that the old master was in Suzhou at this time, Li Qiong still had no expression on his face, but in his heart... there were indeed some other feelings.

When the Song Dynasty has no reason to continue to fail, then, do they still have a reason to continue to fail?

"How many people came?"

At this time, it was Jin Sai who answered him. They were supposed to be good, otherwise they wouldn't have risked the danger of the Yi people and defected with Li Qiong. They got along very well these years. They were called subordinates, but they were actually brothers.

"It should be Zhang Jun's troops... about 13 to [-], and the tens of thousands brought by Han Chang, plus Zhao Mi and Yang Yizhong's troops, this time, I am afraid that there are about [-]."

This number is only an estimate, and it will certainly not be completely correct, but the difference is not much different.

Logically speaking, when the officials here heard this number, not to mention panicked, they would have to be a little bit astonished no matter what happened. These are not ants, but living people.

But they didn't, not even whispering to each other. The only old man who got a little excited was an instructor in charge of local students. He came from Shanghai three years ago, so he was considered a local.

Seeing that Li Qiong fell silent, Wang Shizhong went on to find something to say:
"Marshal...do you want to talk to the fourth prince and ask him to send some people over... After all, Emperor Song is here, and the elites of the Song Kingdom are bound to follow him, in case something happens..."

Li Qiong interrupted him directly: "Yue Pengju is in Zhengzhou, and Tokyo is already within reach, so don't cause trouble with him."

"Come and come, Zhang Jun's soldiers have never been elite. Bozhou City is here, and they can't take it down."

He didn't even give half a reason, and directly said that the Song army could not attack Bozhou, but everyone trusted him extremely, and they all agreed.

But having said that, Li Qiong still didn't dare to be careless, and ordered:

"It will be spring plowing soon, let everyone rest first, don't be busy with planting rice seedlings... If there is no food to cook, you can go to the government office to get some emergency food."

"Let's close the city first, so that the common people don't want to intervene in the war anymore... This has nothing to do with them."

The first thing, although there is not much food in Bozhou, but everyone has no objection, but the second thing... Wang Shizhong is a little embarrassed:

"I have said it many times, and I have persuaded it many times, but everyone just doesn't listen. They are doing things for our sake, and they dare not speak seriously. It chills the hearts of the people."

"This is not a child's play," Li Qiong said in a non-negotiable tone, "If there are people who want to deceive the Song army on their own initiative, those who are unwilling to enter the city and want to go all out, and those who still set traps outside the city,"

"Shut up all of them first."

"But……"

"Just do it!"

Wang Shizhong sighed, and finally agreed.

"Emperor Song was good at killing ministers. Even the officials of Song State said he was a king of Jie and Zhou. How could such a person care about the lives of the people?"

Li Qiong's tone softened a bit: "Don't bear it, it's for their own good."

After saying this, everyone discussed for a while about strengthening the city wall and building fortifications. When it started to drizzle outside and it was time for dinner, they all dispersed.

This is a major event that is well known in Bozhou City. No one dares to neglect it, let alone add to the chaos. It is just that everyone does their own errands well, and the rest...

Always wins.

Marshal Li said he would win, so he would win.

When everyone was almost gone, Li Qiong looked at the old man who was standing still, and asked:
"Mr. Xin, what else do you need?"

Before he brought people to Zongze, he was just a student in Xiangzhou. He learned how to use the sword, draw the bow and ride a horse later, and he had an inexplicable sense of belonging to these literati.

What's more, this Xin Zan was a teacher from Shangjing. He heard that he was originally going to Kaifeng to be the magistrate, but he was worried about the talents of the Jin Kingdom, so he went to Bozhou first to work as a teacher.

So Li Qiong did have some respect when facing him.

Xin Zan applauded and said: "It's not a big deal, it's just the name of layman Yingning, I wonder if the Marshal has heard of it?"

Liu Zhan of Bozhou is a well-deserved famous scholar in Lianghuai. , You can find teachers and friends everywhere. Many people have heard of his name.

At this time, Li Qiong was not surprised to hear Xin Zan mention it:

"Lady Yingning, Wansheng naturally knows about it, but he has lived away from Bozhou for many years, and Wansheng has never met him so far. Mister mentioned him, but what's the matter?"

Xin Zan nodded and said: "The marshal also knows about my family. My son died young, leaving only a wife and a son to take care of me. The daughter-in-law there is virtuous and generous, and the grandson is still healthy. His Majesty trusts me again and let me take care of him." To do this job of teaching and educating people and blessing the younger generation, logically speaking, I should be content and not expect anything else."

"But people live a lifetime, most of them are involuntary. My grandson is already two years old, and he will soon reach the age of speaking and reading, so I want to find a good teacher for him. Fortunately, after I die, he will not want to enter the school." gone astray."

Li Qiong was a little puzzled: "It's just a two-year-old child, is Mr. impatient?"

Having said that, Xin Zan couldn't help sighing:
"The marshal doesn't know me, but he's normal. I'm already sixty years old, and I've wasted dozens of years. I don't know when I will let go like my useless son."

"It's good to think more about it after all."

I probably guessed what he meant, but I really don't have much contact with Liu Zhan... Take a step back and say, even if there is friendship, the student is so easy to accept?
This is not something that can be settled at the mouth, it is a matter of a lifetime.

So Li Qiong was very honest: "Sir, don't blame me, Lay Ying Ning is not in Bozhou, and Wansheng has no contact with him... You came to find me, I'm afraid you paid by mistake."

"That's not true!" Xin Zan waved his hand, "I dare not bother the marshal to worry about this. I have already told him about the apprenticeship, and he has already agreed."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't dare to hide it. He was already on his way back to Bozhou a few days ago. When he came back this time, he also wanted to work with me to teach the talents of this blessed land."

"If this is the case, it is really a great thing! It is the blessing of the Bozhou students to have you and the layman here! Mister, you should be respected by the students!"

With that said, Li Qiong didn't move slowly, and directly bowed to Xin Zan.

The man couldn't be dissuaded, so he accepted Li Qiong's bow abruptly, and then continued to talk about himself:
"But this time the Marshal ordered the door to be closed, and Lay Ying Ning might not be able to come in... This man is weird, and it took me a long time to persuade him to come here. In case he has other plans, whether it is for me Grandson is still a student here in Bozhou, I'm afraid it's not very good."

"That's why I gave up my old face and wanted to ask the marshal, is there any way to let him into the city?"

"You mean..." Li Qiong hesitated, "The layman has arrived near Bozhou?"

Xin Zan nodded: "Yes."

"Where is that other person?"

"Suzhou."

I didn't expect it to be in Suzhou, but Suzhou was occupied by the Song people, even their emperor was there.

Even if I have great abilities, even if Liu Zhan is a character like Su Shi and Li Qingzhao, no matter how great the benefits are to Bozhou, I can't take it!

"Sir, I heard just now that Emperor Zhao has arrived in Suzhou. I'm afraid..."

He could clearly see the disappointment flashing across Xin Zan's face, but he didn't dare to bet the lives of the whole city on one of them, so even though he felt it was a pity, he still couldn't agree to Xin Zan.

"If Bozhou really doesn't have a relationship with Lay Ying Ning, I will admit it later. I only hope that the husband can tell the lay people his difficulties in the future. I hope that after the withdrawal of the army in the Southern Dynasty, the husband and the lay people can teach Bozhou students together."

"At that time, there will be no one to stop the two of you, and the city gate of Bozhou will always be open for the two of you."

Xin Zan sighed: "I hope, I hope there will be such a day."

The temple fell silent, a Taoist priest came out and lit a candle. Although the rain outside was thin, it was enough to wash away the world outside.

The green ones are greener, the red ones are redder, and the bluestone slabs under the steps outside have become like pieces of emerald jade, making it hard to bear to step on.

"Can Bozhou really survive?"

Xin Zan has been here for several years, and for the first time asked about things other than teaching.

Li Qiong stretched out her hand, letting the rain fall between her fingers, bringing a little coolness.

Spring is here.

"I will definitely be able to defend it," Li Qiong was very determined, "If Yue Pengju and Uncle Liu Xin didn't come, I will definitely be able to defend it."

Both he and Yue Fei worked under Zong Ze back then, and later the emperor gave up Liu Guangshi's military power on Zhang Jun's suggestion. I said everything, but I regretted it later, the Zhao family is used to repeating.

If it was Yue Fei who came to withdraw troops at that time, I am afraid he is still a general of Song Dynasty now.

And Liu Kai... When Uncle Liu Xin was fighting against the enemy in Yingzhou the year before last, Wanyan Wushu was not only by Han Chang's side, he was also there.

He only admired these two, the others, whether it was Han Shizhong or the dead Wu Jie, Li Qiong looked down on none of them.

Xin Zan then asked: "What if they come?"

"If they come and Bozhou falls into their hands, it will not be a bad thing after all."

The two fell silent again, Xin Zan didn't understand the meaning of his words.

"marshal!"

A soldier trotted in, saluted the two of them, and then handed over a letter with both hands.

Li Qiong took it, read it back and forth several times, and then clutched the letter in her hands, clenching her fists tightly, as if she wanted to crush the letter.

I don't know what happened, but Xin Zan knew that he shouldn't care about this matter, so he kept silent. After a while, he heard Li Qiong say:
"Sir, Lay Ying Ning...should be able to come back."

His tone was sad and joyful, and for a while, Xin Zan couldn't figure out what kind of mood he was in.

(End of this chapter)