You have truly caused me great suffering!

Inside the brightly lit Grand Tutor's mansion, Chen Shao and Cai Jing talked, losing track of time for a moment.

He genuinely wanted the old man to live for several more decades.

But looking at Cai Jing's full head of white hair, Chen Shao knew that they should use him for as long as they could.

We must cultivate and find new talent ourselves.

But Chen Shao didn't believe that anyone could so quickly and thoroughly understand the system, bureaucracy, and relationship between the central and local governments of an empire.

Putting everything else aside, just considering the issuance of scenic spot tickets, without Cai Jing's help to identify and correct any shortcomings, I would have made at least four or five major mistakes.

It involves taking many detours.

Cai Jing became more and more engrossed in his speech, abandoning his old tricks of keeping things ambiguous and ambiguous to maintain an invincible position in officialdom.

The emperor before us, wielding absolute power, is able to restrain himself and refrain from abusing it.

He considered himself a national hero, and since he only had a few days left to live, he wanted to repay him once.

Although it's a pity we didn't meet when we were young and strong, fortunately we caught the last chance.

This generation of scholars read the classics and were taught the noblest and most upright character and integrity in the world.

Although the ups and downs of officialdom have worn down one's ideals and tarnished one's aspirations, who among us, in our youth, didn't harbor a heroic spirit of "willing to die for the emperor"?

Who wouldn't want to meet an enlightened ruler, to realize their ambitions, to serve the world, to benefit all, and to leave their name in history?

Seeing that it was getting late, the old steward came in to remind him, and Cai Jing remembered that it was time to eat.

Where will Your Majesty dine today?

Chen Shao laughed and said, "As long as the Grand Tutor doesn't kick me out, I'll stay here and bother you a bit more."

"This old minister would be more than happy to do so."

The two got up and went to the banquet hall, where they set out two small tables.

The food and drinks were simple this time. Chen Shao had heard the legend of the Cai family's cook, but he didn't ask.

Actually, if you think about it, how much can an old man spend on food?

It's common for treacherous officials to spread rumors like this: they only eat the heart of cabbage and only eat the tongue of chicken.

Cai Jing, Yan Song, and Nian Gengyao were all present in every dynasty, and they all used roughly the same rhetoric.

Chen Shao ate a few bites, then put down his chopsticks and said, "Cai Xing has been here for six months, so this is half a year now."

Speaking of this matter, Cai Jing was also somewhat worried, after all, it was a journey across the ocean, and no one knew what might happen.

But as long as he returns safely, this achievement will be enough for me to rest in peace.

Cai Jing couldn't imagine how much he would achieve upon his return.

"In September, the fleet arrived in Java and discovered two gold mines there," Chen Shao said with a smile. "I have already sent people to meet them, and a port will be built in Java soon."

This was the first time Cai Jing had heard of these things. He frowned slightly and said, "Among the Javanese kingdoms, Java is the strongest, and it may have already unified the country. Java has been fighting with Srivijaya for a hundred years, and in the early days of the previous dynasty, they each went to Bianjing to ask the Song Dynasty for help."

"Among them, Srivijaya (the Malay Peninsula) sent envoys 11 times in 23 years to ask the Song Dynasty to help it fight against Java."

"During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the previous dynasty, they even took the initiative to build Buddhist temples to celebrate Emperor Zhenzong's birthday and were awarded the 'Chengtian Wanshou' bell."

Chen Shao thought to himself, "This time, Emperor Zhenzong really got what he wanted. It's much more reassuring than going to perform the Fengshan ceremony in such a shameful manner."

Cai Jing said, "The trade between these two countries and the Central Plains is naturally something we would be very happy to do. They can exchange their beeswax, pearls, tortoiseshell, shell yarn, and coconut fiber mats for the celadon, white porcelain, iron pots, bronzeware, and silk of the Central Plains."

"However, I'm afraid they might not agree to send troops to garrison the area, build a military port, and mine for gold."

Chen Shao also learned of these matters from the maritime trade records and documents that Zhao Huan had given him, but he only smiled and said, "The craftsmen from Hedong previously discovered several copper mines in Mayi (the Philippines), north of the southern wilderness of Boni. I have already dispatched a navy to garrison there. In Mayi, I have a navy of 30,000 men, all recruited from the southeastern Fujian, Zhejiang, and Guangdong regions. The original plan was to rotate them every year, but later the naval generals proposed to rotate them every three years."

"From Mayi Kingdom southward, to Java and Srivijaya, the voyage is much shorter. With the elite navy I have newly recruited in the southeast, supplemented by the navy of Jiaozhi, there is nowhere in the southern wilderness we cannot go."

Although Chen Shao only briefly mentioned Jiaozhi, in his mind, Jiaozhi's role would become increasingly important in the future.

Despite its seemingly weak and vulnerable appearance in front of the Central Plains, Jiaozhi (Vietnam) was always the most severe father to other powers in Southeast Asia.

As long as it is not suppressed and contained by the Central Plains in the north, Angkor, Siam, Champa, and Zhenla will all tremble at the sight of it.

Now that they have the blood supply from Da Jing, they have no worries about food and drink, and no shortage of armor and weapons. They can fight and kick freely in the Southern Wilderness. He is truly a living father.

I'm more adapted to the climate here than you are, and my medical skills are more advanced than yours;
I can explore these mountains and forests better than you can;
My soldiers are more disciplined than you, more able to endure hardship, have a stronger sense of honor and shame, and are more organized than you;

As for Java and Srivijaya, I used to have trouble dealing with them because of the vast ocean and I was worried about the costs. Now, my Great Jing's warships are invincible. They transported me here and even gave me cannons, so I don't have to worry about the costs of war.
It's important to understand that back when Ma Yi Kingdom was still a loosely organized tribe the size of several villages, the Ly Dynasty of Dai Viet was already able to gather a million soldiers and civilians to guard the capital.

Even if the numbers are inflated, the total is probably around 500,000 to 600,000, which is something these small countries wouldn't even dare to dream of. A gathering of 500,000 people would be impossible for most small countries to control; half of them would likely be trampled to death in the crowd.

Moreover, once the Jiaozhi people have tasted the sweetness of success after receiving a slap in the face, and a combination of kindness and severity is applied, they won't dare to think about becoming independent again. They are different from other barbarians; they are genuinely of Han descent, not some Bai ethnic group from Dali that were forcibly dragged into the country.
Cai Jing listened with great interest. If there really were a naval port, these places alone would provide Da Jing with an immense amount of revenue every year.

In addition to Dajing's trade empire, there were also Goryeo and Japan.

He had a vague feeling that the cycle of land annexation and succession of dynasties in the past had ended, and the future would be very different.

Cai Jing couldn't help but gather his courage, determined to live a few more years to witness it with his own eyes!
Otherwise, how regrettable it would be when you die.

Thinking of this, he flipped through the dishes and picked out a piece of yam to eat.

The Shennong Materia Medica lists it as a superior medicine: "It can treat internal injuries, replenish deficiencies, eliminate cold and heat pathogens, strengthen the body and boost energy, build muscle, and with prolonged use, improve hearing and vision, lighten the body and reduce hunger, and prolong life."
-
mid-October.

Lulong Ridge of Yanshan Mountains.

A group of knights came from the west to the east, traversing this desolate land. The rugged mountain path had been somewhat smoothed by the trampling of people and warhorses.

Since the decline of the Khitan and the rise of the Jurchen, this region has witnessed numerous battles, resulting in the deaths of many prominent figures. Going back further back to the Tang Dynasty, this area has always been a place where great events converge.

The Yanshan Mountains form a natural rift valley here, which is one of the shortest land routes from North China to western and eastern Liaoning.

The grasses outside Lulong are just beginning to grow lush, and geese are feeding on the sandy shore as the sun has not yet set.

These riders, numbering about fifty or sixty, were part of the Great Jing Cavalry First Division.

Everyone was fully armored and rode on a packhorse, each holding a reins in their other hand as they slowly walked their horses.

These warhorses appeared to have been through a fierce battle; their bodies were covered in mud, their manes were soaked with rain and sweat, and their heads were no longer held high. They were slowly walking, their hooves sinking deep into the cold mud that had already submerged their hooves.

They were Yue Fei's subordinates, who had been chasing him all the way from Gubeikou. Although Zong Han was dead, some of his remaining troops had managed to escape.

The mounted knights also bore battle scars, and seven or eight knights were strapped across their horses, swaying slightly with their mounts' movements, clearly seriously injured. Judging from their appearance, they must have encountered Jurchen scouts.

Yue Fei's subordinates also inherited the fine tradition of the Jing Army—when scouts met, they fought to the death.

So the fact that they were able to come out and continue marching means that the Jurchen scouts had been completely wiped out.

Both the human and horse figures were covered in blood.

Beneath the heads of more than ten knights were the heads of Jurchens with their hair styled in the shape of a money rat's tail, all frozen in a pose, either shouting angrily or filled with fear and panic.

There seems to be someone ahead!

"It's one of our own!"

The three knights at the front were dressed almost identically to the others. One of them was tall and imposing, exuding an air of authority. He was none other than Zhang Xian, who had made a great contribution.

This time, he led eight hundred men to climb the cliff and burn the Tartars' granary, which was already a great achievement. Then, by a twist of fate, he ambushed and killed Wanyan Zonghan on both sides of the road.

If the final battle at Lulong Ridge goes smoothly, he will undoubtedly be promoted to the rank of military governor.

In just a few years, these people from Hebei have grown into elite troops and fierce generals.

As one side gains at the expense of the other, the Jurchen's true elite forces, the fierce generals and armored soldiers who followed the old emperor Wanyan Aguda in raising an army to destroy the Liao, have been largely wiped out in the life-and-death battles with the Dingnan Army.

With its troops exhausted and lacking successors, this most savage and bloodthirsty tribe in history, originating from the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River region, met its end a century early due to Chen Shao's ambush.

They were too ruthless. Fortunately in history, they encountered the Song Dynasty, which concentrated all the best resources of the Central Plains in Bianliang and fed them a great deal.

Otherwise, with its small size and its habit of killing wherever it goes, it would have already suffered a backlash.

Li Yanqi frowned as he looked at the dozens of riders in front of him and stepped forward, asking, "Which group of people are you from?"

"We are the vanguard under Commander Yue."

"Strikers? Is that all there is?"

Zhang Xian looked back and said, "We chased too fast, and they all got separated."

Li Yanqi nodded and said, "Our main camp is just one mile ahead. Let's go and settle the wounded soldiers first. When will Yue Fei's troops arrive?"

Zhang Xian looked around and, like his subordinates, shook his head in bewilderment.

Li Yanqi chuckled and muttered to himself, "It seems we were chasing too fast and have already separated ourselves from the rest of the group."

If this were under Commander Qu's command, he would be punished with a beating.

At this point, the two armies had joined forces, forcing the last remaining strength of the Jurchens deep into the Yanshan Mountains.

“I am Li Yanqi. When Yue Fei arrives, tell him to go to the central command headquarters to meet with our commander and discuss how to encircle and kill the Tartars.”

After saying this, he rode away to continue setting up camp and inspecting the various valley passages.

Niu Gao said to Zhang Xian beside him, "Look at him, how smug he is now, commanding our Marshal Yue."

Zhang Xian gave him a wink, signaling him not to talk nonsense, because this guy was a veteran of the Dingnan Army from the Northwest.

It's not easy to argue about!

Even among officials of the same rank, he was naturally superior, and Li Yanqi's rank was indeed not low; he was the second general of Pinglu Jiliao and the military commander of Liaodong Road.

Two days later, Yue Fei led his troops to the scene.

After breaking through Gubeikou, he did not pursue relentlessly like Zhang Xian. If he had known, he would have given this trusted confidant a good talking-to.

He first deployed his troops to search for Jurchen Tartar warehouses in the vicinity, in order to prevent them from fleeing north.

There is now a consensus that we must drive the Tartars together and finish them off in one battle.

After searching Gubeikou, Yue Fei led his troops eastward.

He knew in his heart that even if more Tartars escaped, it wouldn't matter.

The subsequent strategic order was issued by Qu Duan, who said that the Tartars should be besieged until they were killed, and that having a large number of people might not be a good thing.

For someone like Zhang Xian, who ran into a small squad of Tartars on the road, even if he fought well, he would only suffer five casualties and four wounded, which was an unnecessary loss of life.

Beside Yue Fei was Ma Kuo; the two rode side by side, discussing something along the way.

After volunteering for the battle before Chen Shao, he arrived at this place just in time for the final battle.

Ma Kuo was upright and honest, unafraid of being accused of seeking credit, and never hesitated to speak out. Instead, he participated in discussions and decision-making in a generous and open manner.

Wang Gui secretly rode closer, but what he heard was not about fighting the Jurchen Tartars, but about talking about the Shiwei, Khitan, and Bohai.

He suddenly felt a little bored, so he slowed down again and lazily dozed off on horseback.

Ma Kuo glanced ahead and saw another grain transport team carrying supplies to the camp. Someone recognized him and tossed him a sachet of wine from the cart with a smile.

"These are supplies from Lianghuai."

After Ma Kuo finished speaking, he felt a sense of emotion. He had never seen a war go so smoothly before.

The generals at the front need not worry about supplies, and the soldiers will not fight on empty stomachs; this is all thanks to His Majesty.

This condition arose because he did not rush into a coup but instead smoothly took over the foundation of the Song Dynasty.

Putting aside everything else, the Song Dynasty was indeed very wealthy; it just had fallen into a place it shouldn't have fallen into before.

Funding the enemy with tribute, building palaces, transporting precious stones and flowers, and creating redundant officials and troops—like giant mouths, they squandered all the wealth and prosperity of the Song Dynasty, leaving not a single drop for the soldiers to eat.

Yue Fei swayed his robust body, took the wine bag from Ma Kuo's hand, and also thought about having a good fight!
After this battle, there will be no strong enemies left in the north, and no one will dare to invade the south.

I heard that the imperial court has already built a city on Baidao Road to cut off Yinshan Mountain. This is a feat accomplished by the Tang Dynasty.

He felt somewhat lost about what to do after the war. Perhaps he should go back and cleanse himself of the blood and grime of the past few years of fighting, find a virtuous wife, have a few sons to continue the family line and expand the family.

He had learned this lesson the hard way, and this time he was forced to join the army by being scolded by his wife.

With their own thoughts, the two looked up again and found themselves at Qu Duan's central command post.

Qu Duan was extremely strict in disciplining his troops, and the camp was solemn. After dismounting, the two men walked towards the main tent. (End of Chapter)