What's going on?

The saints and ministers in Chongzheng Hall were all dumbfounded. If the possibility of Wu Haowen being crazy was ruled out, then he and Su Che and Lin Rong must have learned from the Liao Kingdom that the war began in the northwest.

The Liao people shouldn't joke about such things, right?

However, generals from Shuo such as Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, Wu Haogu did not mention the war with the Liao army at all. So what happened?

Could it be that Gao Qiu deliberately concealed the news of the war? This terrible idea was immediately dispelled when it turned into Zhao Ji's head.

According to Wu Haowen's report, it was a war between 20,000 Song troops and more than 10,000 Liao troops! How could it be hidden and not reported? Even if Gao Qiu didn't want to report, there were Tong Guan, the commander of the strategic appeasement and control, Xue Sichang, the commander of the transfer, Su Chi, the governor of Yinzhou, and the three-director-master Yu Hou Wu Haogu, and others, as well as the Zouma sent out of the palace to bear it. Could these people be blind and deaf?

It was not a friction between hundreds of people, but a battle between 30,000 and 40,000 people on both sides. Anyone who has seen the military review knows that there are more than 10,000 people, and it is boundless! How could this momentum be hidden from the court's eyes and ears in the army by dispatching 20,000 soldiers and horses? If Gao Qiu could cover the sky with one hand in the Shuofang Army, that would be terrible! Didn't the Shuofang Army become the Gao family army?

"Your Majesty, is this a trick of the Liao people?" Right Prime Minister Su Dongpo touched his snow-white beard and thought, "Maybe it was just a friction on the border that was told by the Liao people."

Mostly this is the case! Zhao Ji thought to himself: Gao Qiu recruited 500 black armored front-strike cavalry from the Hedong Army, and wanted to turn them into knights. If he used this army, it would be possible to hide it from Tong Guan and Wu Haogu.

Left Prime Minister Cai Jing said in a deep voice: "Even if there are hundreds of people who are in conflict with hundreds of people, they must be reported! That is a confrontation with the Liao Kingdom! It is actually concealed and not reported. Is it true that the court has no laws?"

Zhang Kangguo, the official of the Privy Council, reported: "Your Majesty, this matter must be thoroughly investigated! If Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, Wu Haogu and others really conceal the incident of the Liao Dynasty's quarrel, they should be severely punished to serve as a warning!"

"Your Majesty," Liu Kui, Minister of War, also replied, "This matter is not a small matter and must be investigated strictly! I suggest that Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, Wu Haogu and others be replaced immediately, and choose another capable minister to go there so that the truth can be found."

Li Gefei, the right chief of the Shangshu, said coldly: "Just because of the Liao people's one-sided words, we have to replace the front-line generals? The Western thieves are still resisting stubbornly. What if the situation of the war is reversed by the replacement of the general, wouldn't it be a waste?"

Zhao Ji nodded slightly when he heard this. Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, and Wu Haogu can still fight! Even Wu Haogu, the weakest of them, cannot fight in the field, is also a good player in siege and building cities.

Zhong Fu and Gao Yongnian are far behind him. Wu Haogu took more than ten days to explode the Tongwanjian City. However, Gao Yongnian had no choice but to do anything to a small Qin Wangchuan City. The two of them were really judging the level of siege!

Moreover, Wu Hao was even more skilled in building a city in ancient times. He repaired the dilapidated Yinzhou City in one night. If it weren't for his help, how could Su Chi and a scholar, how could he build several golden cities on Shuofang Road?

Of course, Zhao Ji's expression could not escape Cai Jing's gaze. He immediately replied: "It is too early to discuss replacing the general of Shuofang Road. I suggest that I ask the Liao delegation first. If the Liao delegation also learns about the war in Hetao, then we should explain to them that we are not aware of the situation and are unwilling to go to war with the Liao Kingdom, so as not to have another misunderstanding.

In addition, defenses in Shuofang, Hedong, Hebei and other places also need to be completed as soon as possible, especially Jiehe, Baigou (Jimahe, located in the upper reaches of Jiehe), Ansu Army, Guangxin Army, Baozhou, Dingzhou and other Hebei border prefectures and counties, which must be closely guarded."

Su Dongpo knew that Cai Jing wanted to take the opportunity to get involved in the oily Jiehe Market, so he followed his words and said: "Your Majesty, I suggest that Jiehe Maritime Bureau be upgraded to the Coastal Maritime Bureau, responsible for the defense of Hebei East Road, Jiehe, Juma River, Bohai, Donghai and other sea routes."

The upgrade of Jiehe Maritime Manufacturing Department to the Coastal Maritime Manufacturing Department was of course Wu Haogu's suggestion, which was proposed by Wu Haogu in a private message to Su Dongpo.

The coastal ship commander is of course the new position Wu Haogu wants to get! With his current official position, it is not appropriate to be the director of the Maritime Bureau. However, it is not what he wants to be the chief officer of Cangzhou and the military commander, because the prefect of the Song Dynasty did not have much real power, and his term of office is usually very short, and most of the people had to be replaced after working for the rest of the year.

Moreover, Wu Haogu knew Cai Jing’s plan very well. He wanted to turn the autonomous Jiehe Commercial City into a semi-autonomous Commercial City like Jingdong Commercial City.

This matter is not something that anyone can do. The Jiehe Market is now in a big way, and it also involves diplomacy with the Liao Kingdom.

In addition, most of the shareholders in the market are very difficult to mess with. If they are not handled well, they are likely to be regarded as the target of public criticism. There are too many charges that can make people unable to take advantage of it. Even Cai Jing dare not act rashly.

The tension in the relationship between Song and Liao dynasties actually gave him an opportunity to "nationalize" the market.

But Wu Haogu also has his own plan! He doesn't want to stay in the northwest endlessly. After all, Jiehe Commercial Market is his foundation, and it is always uneasy to stay away from the fundamentals for a long time.

The tea is cold when people leave, sooner or later it will happen in Jiehe Market.

Therefore, while deliberately provoking military conflicts between the Song and Liao dynasties, Wu Haogu also wrote a letter to Su Dongpo, seeking to upgrade the Jiehe Maritime Ware Division to the Coastal Maritime Ware Division.

When Cai Jing heard Su Dongpo's suggestion, he knew that he was planning to set up the position of the commander of the Maritime Mansion for Wu Haogu. According to his own suggestions, he could be appointed for a long time. Then the coastal Maritime Mansion Commander who was promoted from the Maritime Mansion Commander may be able to hold a long term position for a long time without allowing Wu Haogu to hold a long term position, and he would not be able to settle it if others go! The Song Dynasty court could not allocate funds for the coastal Maritime Mansion Commander to set up a large-scale naval army, so he had to rely on Wu Haogu to organize armed merchant ships to help the war. He could send a civil servant over there and who would command?

However, Cai Jing still had to sing a counter-tune with Su Dongpo, so he asked: "I wonder if the coastal shipbuilding department can manage the troops on land?"

"The coastal system should naturally be dominated by naval forces," Su Shi replied, "but the naval forces are not necessarily on the ship. The soldiers stationed along the river, coastal fortresses, and islands can all be placed into the coastal system naval forces.

In addition, the defense of sea and water cannot all rely on naval warships. Merchant ships registered in Jiehe Maritime Bureau can also be used by the country. After all, the number of naval warships is rare and the number of merchant ships is large. Most of them are equipped with weapons like warships. The sailors on the ship are brave and good at fighting. As long as weapons and rewards are given appropriately, they can take on the water battle."

The Song Dynasty followed a restrictive and additional use of the people's military force. There were Baojia, archers, and effective soldiers among the people. Now it is not impossible to have an "armed merchant ship".

In fact, it is an open secret that sea ships have armed forces, and the Song Dynasty government did not care much about it. Compared with the harm of maritime armed forces, the income of maritime ships and markets is even more attractive.

Now Su Dongpo proposed to turn maritime merchant armed forces into militias like Baojia and archers to fight against Liao, which is more in line with the consistent policy of the Song Dynasty over the past few decades. It uses more militias and less recruiting troops to save expenses.

"Su Qing, can the Coastal Maritime Control Department defend the river after the boundary river and the Jima River are frozen in winter?" Zhao Ji asked.

"The river defense is prevented in spring, summer and autumn, and the winter is block defense." Su Shi replied, "And the rivers and the rivers of Jiema have river embankments. As long as they are used well, they can turn into long walls in winter."

"Then who do you think will be the best place to serve as the commander of the coastal ship?" Zhao Ji asked again.

"This matter should be judged by Your Majesty." Su Dongpo would never name it. Although everyone knows that he wants to nominate Wu Haogu, it is unnecessary to say it out. "From the view of it, it is better to be a person who is well-known in Jiehe Shangshi City, is well-versed in military affairs, and is good at creators."

"That's Wu Haogu." Zhao Ji smiled, "He is now a full-time official, so he should be qualified to serve as the commander."

Seeing Zhao Ji's expression, Cai Jing's heart skipped a beat.

Zhao Ji still believes in Wu Haogu!

"Your Majesty," Cai Jing replied, "The war between Hetao and Song and Liao dynasties also needs to be thoroughly investigated! I suggest that Wu Haogu participate in the investigation, and after the whole story is found out, he will be appointed as the commander of the coastal civilian ship."

Let Wu Haogu investigate "Hetao's unscrupulous border provocation"! Not to mention, Cai Jing is still a world-wide who knows people and responsibilities. If anyone can find out this matter, then it is Wu Haogu!

"Okay." Zhao Ji nodded, "But he can't check it alone... Can anyone go to Shuofang Road?"

"I am willing to go to Shuofang." The one who stood up was Hou Meng.

In the Northern Song Dynasty, illegal affairs of officials were under the jurisdiction of the Censorate and Dali Temple, but not the Kaifeng Prefecture of Bao Qingtian. So this matter is about to be misleading!

Zhao Ji looked at Hou Meng and saw that he looked righteous and knew that this man had never made friends and was famous for his good litigation. So he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll have to bother Hou Qing.

I will add another servant to Hou Qing to enhance his reputation.”

"I received the order."

Zhao Ji paused, "Who will go to investigate the Liao envoy?"

"Go to me, old minister." Su Dongpo asked.

The Liao envoy who visited this time was extraordinary. The official title of the Tongzhi Privy Council Privy Councilor of the Northern Court was the Liao Dynasty, and the Privy Councilor was the prime minister. The Tongzhi Privy Councilor of the Northern Court was equivalent to the right prime minister or deputy prime minister of the Song Dynasty (the southern officials of the Liao Dynasty were mainly civil affairs, so the status of the Southern Court Privy Councilor of the Northern Court was very different, which was different from the left and right prime ministers of the Song Dynasty). Su Dongpo and him were equal.
Chapter completed!