After passing the Chugongmen, Shi Quanbin looked obviously relaxed and said to Du Zhongxiao: "This incident is urgent. As soon as we enter Beijing, we get to the right time. This is not a common thing. How many local officials have to wait ten days and half a month before they can meet the saint."

Du Zhongxiao nodded and said nothing.

The emperor's reception of officials is a procedure, and it will not be omitted unless it is a special reason. At the ceremony, this shows that the officials are sent by the emperor and the world is owned by the emperor. This procedure is also of practical significance. Officials can talk directly to the emperor to avoid isolating powerful officials from China and abroad.

All the way to Tianzhang Pavilion, Shi Quanbin whispered to Du Zhongxiao: "Tiju, have you been here before?"

Du Zhongxiao said: "I have been promoted to the post and have been officials from other places, so of course I have never been here."

"This place is dedicated to Emperor Zhenzong's imperial collection of imperial letters. If the ministers did not observe the imperial appearance of Emperor Taizong, there would be great things to summon here. During the Qingli period, the official family asked about the advice of Mr. Fan and Mr. Fu, so it would be here." As he said, Shi Quanbin was honored to be proud of him.

Of course, Du Zhongxiao knew where this place was and also the importance of it. The qualifications for some important positions are from the two major provinces or above. The two major provinces are from the counselors and officials, and furthermore are from the ministers, the ministers, and the top-level officials. The waiting system refers to the Tianzhang Pavilion waiting system and the Longtu Pavilion waiting system. Officials are assigned to positions and are called attendants together with the bachelor. A name is such an important thing, let alone this place itself. Meeting officials here is a courtesy.

As the little yellow gate entered Tianzhang Pavilion, Emperor Zhao Zhen read the book after the case, and Du Zhongxiao and Shi Quanbin performed rituals.

He gave him a seat and ordered Xiaohuangmen to come to tea. Zhao Zhen said, "He came from Suizhou. When he was in Yingtian, he started a mountain in Xinyang Army to grow tea and made this fried loose tea. This tea is simple and has a unique flavor, which is very good. This is the tribute tea this year, so I will use it."

Du Zhongxiao stood up and thanked her. After taking a sip, he felt a faint sweetness, and his lips and teeth were fragrant. He knew it was the best green tea. This was something he had made for farming and farming. Of course, Du Zhongxiao was extremely familiar with it.

After using tea, Zhao Zhen said: "This time you two were asked to enter the capital, because Tanglong Town under the volcanic army was besieged by the Khitan. Whether to rescue or not, the officials in the court discussed differently. He once knew the Volcanic Army. Tanglong Town was built by you, and now he is in charge of the army. I want to ask you what you think."

Du Zhongxiao held the scepter: "When you go back to your Majesty, I think that Tanglong Town is a place under the rule of the court. The Khitan is openly besieged, and there is no reason not to save it. They are surrounded by Tanglong Town today and the court will not save it. What about next time they surround the Volcanic Army? There are precedents in this matter, and there will be endless troubles!"

Zhao Zhen nodded: "Yes, all the officials of the Political Affairs Hall said this, intending to send troops to rescue the siege. However, the Privy Council's suggestion was strong, and the court's committee would not stop for a while. Two months ago, Di Qing led his troops south to Pingnong Zhigao, and many of his subordinates came from Shaanxi Road. At this time, the three major generals were few. The Khitan carried the power of the Khitan to besiege Tanglong Town, and they should not be underestimated. There were not many soldiers on the Linfu Road. If Tanglong Town was saved, they would not be able to resist Dangxiang, so they were in a dilemma. The Privy Council was in a dilemma. The Volcanic Army was recommended and they knew a lot about the geography and folk customs there. You said that Tanglong Town was going to be rescued, which was a place for the Hedong Road to besiege, and it was also the place of this dynasty. If Tanglong Town was not rescued, what should the Khitan do to surround other places?"

Speaking of this, Zhao Zhen stood up, walked a few steps after the case, and said, "But if you want to save it, you have to send troops. Where to dispatch troops, who will be the general, how to fight after arrival, and how to end the eventual end, it is embarrassing. The Dangxiang Rebellion lasted for several years, and the elite imperial guards were transferred to the northwest, and no one was available to the capital. The famous general in the northwest was taken to Guangnan by Di Qing. The Privy Council thought about it and felt embarrassed."

Du Zhongxiao stood up and said, "Your Majesty, if there is no general, I would like to lead the troops! If there is no elite army, I would like to take Yingtianxiang Army and go north to rescue Tanglong Town! Being besieged by the enemy for no reason and abandoned the land without fighting, what kind of face is the great country? If you don't save this example, once you open it, there will be endless troubles!"

Zhao Zhen looked at Du Zhongxiao and was silent for a while before saying, "You have trained a group of Yingtianxiang Army into elite troops for several years. Those who went to watch the formation praised them. They have no other words to do so. But can the Yingtianxiang Army deal with the Khitan cavalry?"

Du Zhongxiao said: "I have never fought, so I dare not speak nonsense. However, I have practiced the Tianxiang Army in the camp for several years, practiced countless drills, and practiced all kinds of situations. Tanglong Town is only more than 100 miles away from the Volcanic Army, surrounded by mountains and backed by a river, not a place where cavalry traveled. As long as I take the Tianxiang Army to the front, Tanglong Town will not be lost, I can save it. With Tanglong Town, I will lead the Tianxiang Army in the camp, and I will be able to guard it without any mistakes!"

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "The one who attacked Tanglong Town was Yelu Chongyuan, the Crown Prince of Khitan, reported from Hedong Road. He led 5,000 cavalry and more than 10,000 infantrymen. Also, there were artillery in his army—"

Du Zhongxiao was surprised: "How could there be artillery in the Khitan army?"

Zhao Zhen said: "How can this kind of heavy weapon in the army be hidden beyond our control? The Khitan has been used to imitate our artillery for many years. It has been incompetent and is not good at it. Their iron cannons cannot be used, and they often get hurt. Therefore, they only use copper cannons. The gunpowder is not very good, and they are far away from our artillery. Therefore, until now, the Tanglong defenders can still use the artillery to defend the city, which makes the Khitan cannons dare not approach it."

This is the difference between attack and defense. Even with the same cannon, the defending city can hit farther and more accurately. Not to mention, the Khitan cannon can be rough, but it can be used to attack Dangxiang, but it can't be used to face the Song army. The biggest use of the city cannon is to prevent the siege weapons from approaching. Without heavy weapons, the Khitan horses cannot fly to the top of the city, so they can only surround them.

When Tanglong Town was built, Du Zhongxiao built a military city alone, with extremely strong defenses. Almost all the surrounding flat grounds were threatened by the firepower on the city. As long as the defenders in the city did not cause trouble, relying on the city, Tanglong Town was enough to persevere until reinforcements arrived.

After returning to the case, he sat down and said, "I have recommended the Volcano Army in Zeng Zhi and trained a powerful brigade like Yingtianxiang Army. You have made the firearms in the army. I and both of them think that it is the most suitable for leadership."

Du Zhongxiao held the scepter: "If you order me to go to war, you will never let down your expectations!"

"The difficulty now is that your troops are 20,000 to 30,000 camps of Tianxiang Army. Although you teach, you are still xiang Army. Your army is powerful and everyone praises it. This is undoubtedly true. But the cavalry and infantry, the generals of the two governments and the three yamen think that they all use muskets and should not be able to fight in close combat or fight bloody battles. They don't know what to do with the Khitan cavalry. If you don't use the camps of Tianxiang Army, it will be easy to use the imperial guards, and you will waste your many years of hard work. What do you think?"

Du Zhongxiao said: "I used firearms instead of swords and guns. After countless drills, the army thought it was feasible. It was not a whim. Because this is a new army, I have to fight before I know that I am confident that I am not inferior to other armies."

Zhao Zhen looked at Shi Quanbin on the side and said, "I heard that the military system of Yingtianxiang Army has also changed?"

Du Zhongxiao said: "Your Majesty, it's a change. I used firearms in the army to reorganize the military system. The number of troops in the camp was originally 50,000, but there were not enough officers and insufficient elite troops, and it was difficult to obtain horses. In fact, there were only more than 20,000 people. The number of this army was thought to fight all the way and face the number of enemies. No matter how many people were, it would be of no use unless it was divided into several types."

Zhao Zhen said: "This dynasty has a complete formation of Pingrong, and it is formed by a large army of 100,000. In fact, it is similar to what you said. I don't know what the situation in your army is. Many people say that the artillery fire is powerful, and I think there is no need to be so many people. This rescue of Tanglong Town happened to be a whole army of troops, which is inconsistent with what you originally thought. As long as you have no objection to the officials in the court in Tanglong Town, you will be the commander and Shi Tuanjian as the deputy. I asked you this time, and I will ask you in person, do you have confidence in your own camp and Tianxiang Army?"

Du Zhongxiao held the scepter: "Your Majesty, I have confidence! I think that with my ability, I cannot save Tang Longzhen with the Yingtianxiang Army, so I cannot carry other troops. This is not a military crime. I am not talented and unable to meet my strength."

Zhao Zhen did not speak, pondered there for a while, and said, "What I want to hear most is victory, which is the morale of the general. After all, you are not from a military general, and you have never been willing to say these two words."

Du Zhongxiao said: "Your Majesty, the military power is inconsistent. Is there any difference between saying "I'm going to say" or not? Just be careful. I think it's not necessary. The Khitan attacked Dangxiang and Hebei with troops that swayed the country, and there was no large army on the other side. If I don't say these two words, the court was vigilant and could mobilize the surrounding troops to Tanglong Town just in case. Now there is a railway, it's not that difficult to mobilize troops."

Zhao Zhen shook his head: "There are no strong soldiers opposite Hebei Road, and it is not easy to transfer the troops and horses in the Khitan. Of course, if the Khitan army is in Datong Prefecture, facing Yanmen Pass, and the troops and horses in the Democratic Road cannot be moved. Because of this, the Privy Council advocates being steadfast. Although there are troops and horses in the Hebei Road, it is not easy to transfer the railways to Cizhou. Of course, if the Khitan army comes, it must fight for Tanglong Town, and the troops and horses in Hebei can naturally be adjusted."

In order to avoid arousing doubts from the Khitan, the railway on Hebei Road has been restricted, and it is still hundreds of miles away from the front line. The distance of hundreds of miles is still too far for the army. Unless it is a long-term war, it will not move easily. Now that the Khitan attacks Tanglong Town, the soldiers and horses in Hebei do not have time to support it, the disadvantages of slow railway construction are revealed. They are determined to paralyze the Khitan, but they put themselves in shackles.
Chapter completed!