Chapter 300 Zhao Yingluo decides to support
Following Zhao Yingluo's order, the debate in the court gradually subsided.
At the same time, Jin envoy Wanyan Zongmei, who was waiting for news in the post house, was also extremely anxious.
He kept pacing back and forth, looking out the door from time to time. He knew that the decision of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty would be directly related to the future destiny of his brother Wanyan Zongyi.
After the court dispersed, Her Royal Highness Princess Zhao Yingluo left several important court officials alone to continue discussions in the pavilion in the imperial garden.
The sun shone dappledly in the pavilion, and the princess's face was looming in the light and shadow, looking majestic and mysterious.
"Everyone," Zhao Yingluo spoke slowly, her voice clear but with an unquestionable majesty, "Now that the Jin Dynasty is in civil strife, Wanyan Zongyi has asked us, the Song Dynasty, for help. His intention is very clear. He hopes that we will send troops to help. But how to help? We need to carefully consider when to send troops. I am here to listen to everyone’s opinions.”
General Yue Fei was the first to come out. His face was full of anxiety and expectation: "Your Highness, if we don't send troops now, when will we wait? The Jin Dynasty is in civil strife, Wanyan Zonghan's main army is contained, we just take the opportunity to regain the lost territory, Yang The power of our country!”
"General Yue's words make sense," another general Wang Zaixing said eagerly, "We should act quickly to give the Kingdom of Jin a fatal blow. Your Highness, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
However, civil servants did not think so.
"Your Highness, I believe you should not act rashly." Left Prime Minister Lu Yihao said calmly, "Wanyan Zongyi's request for help is just to use our Song Dynasty to contain Wanyan Zonghan. If we rush to send troops, I am afraid we will fall into unnecessary disputes."
"Mr. Lu is right," Privy Councilor Zhu Shengfei also echoed, "We should act cautiously and not be taken advantage of by Wanyan Zongyi. Moreover, even if we want to send troops, we must do so with a reputation and cannot leave anyone with a reputation."
Taishi Zongze also nodded in agreement: "I also believe that we should observe the situation secretly and wait for the opportunity. Jin is currently in civil strife, but its strength cannot be underestimated. If we act rashly, we may lose more than we gain."
The generals were obviously not satisfied with the views of the civil servants, and the two sides began to argue fiercely.
"You civil servants are just timid and afraid of getting into trouble!" Wang Zaixing angrily scolded, "Now that the Jin Dynasty is in civil strife, it is a great opportunity for us to regain our lost territory. But you are timid here, which is really disappointing!"
"We are not timid and afraid of getting into trouble," Lu Yihao retorted calmly, "but we have to be responsible for the country and the people. You generals only know how to fight, but you ignore the complex relationships behind the war. We must act cautiously and cannot blindly send troops."
Both sides held their own opinions and argued endlessly. Zhao Yingluo listened to their argument quietly, weighing the pros and cons in her heart. She knew that this decision was crucial to the future of the Song Dynasty and she had to be cautious.
"That's enough!" Zhao Yingluo gently raised her jade hand. At that moment, the fierce arguments in the court gradually subsided like mist blown away by the cold wind.
Her eyes, as deep as autumn water, calmly swept over the faces of each courtier. Finally, her eyes paused on Lu Yihao for a moment, her red lips parted lightly, and her voice was like a lingering spring breeze, but with an unmistakable tone. "I know you are worried about the costs and risks of war. However, we cannot wait forever. Wanyan Zongyi's request for help is an opportunity, and we can use this opportunity to seek more benefits."
She then turned to Yue Fei and other generals: "I understand your desire to regain lost territory and enhance the prestige of our country. However, we must have sufficient preparations and plans before we can act. We cannot let the sacrifice of our soldiers be in vain. Prime Minister Lu's analysis is insightful. We in the Song Dynasty should not act rashly at this time. Therefore, we will secretly support Wanyan Zongyi according to Lu Xiang’s strategy and wait for a better opportunity. "
Yue Fei frowned when he heard this, obviously still thinking about the feasibility of this strategy.
It's not that he doesn't trust Lu Yihao's judgment, but he is worried about the difficulties that may be encountered in actual operation. He pondered for a moment and finally stepped forward, with a bit of worry and determination in his voice: "Your Highness, if you follow Prime Minister Lu's plan to support Wanyan Zongyi, the material transportation must pass through the territory of the Jin Kingdom controlled by Wanyan Zonghan. However, now that the roads are heavily blocked, we How to ensure that supplies can be delivered safely and on time?”
Zhao Yingluo nodded, she understood Yue Fei's concerns very well.
Road blockades and numerous checkpoints are indeed a major difficulty in implementing the support plan.
However, just as everyone was deep in thought, Si Wen Boyuan of the Imperial City slowly stepped out of the queue, with calmness and confidence on his face, and the light of wisdom shining in his eyes.
He bowed slightly, saluted Zhao Yingluo and the courtiers, and then slowly said: "Your Highness the Princess, gentlemen, we may consider starting by water."
As soon as these words came out, whispers suddenly broke out in the court.
The waterway is a vast and deep battlefield, full of opportunities and challenges.
Wen Boyuan continued to explain: "We can go to sea from Dengzhou, bypass Wanyan Zonghan's blockade, land in Pingzhou, and then transport the supplies to Shangjing via land. In this way, we can not only avoid Wanyan Zonghan's many checkpoints, but also It can ensure the safety and timely delivery of supplies.”
When Zhao Yingluo heard this, her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she saw the dawn of hope.
She couldn't help but ask: "Commander Wen, this plan is indeed a clever one. However, maritime transportation is full of risks. Are we adequately prepared to deal with various situations that may arise?"
Wen Boyuan smiled slightly, with a confident and calm expression: "Your Highness, please rest assured that our Song Dynasty has invested a lot of energy and resources in raising naval forces in recent years. In particular, significant progress has been made in the development and construction of ironclad ships. These The ironclad ship is not only strong and durable, but also equipped with advanced navigation equipment and weapon systems. We are confident to ensure the safety and stability of maritime transportation.”
"Oh? What is the material transportation capacity of the armored ship now?" Zhao Yingluo asked further. She needed more specific data to evaluate the feasibility of this plan.
Wen Boy was confident and answered in detail: "To return to your highness the princess, the Song Dynasty has successfully developed and built ten ironclad ships. These ironclad ships are well designed and each ship has a strong carrying capacity. As far as food and grass are concerned, each ship has a strong carrying capacity. A ship can transport at least a critical mass; as for artillery and other military supplies, it can also carry a considerable amount. Therefore, from the perspective of carrying capacity, the ironclad ship is fully capable of this support mission."
Hearing this, Zhao Yingluo finally showed a satisfied smile on her face.
She knew very well that this maritime transportation was not only a material support, but also an important opportunity to demonstrate the maritime strength of the Song Dynasty.
So, she made a decisive decision: "Okay! Then we will act according to Lord Wen's plan. General Yue Fei, you are responsible for selecting elite people to escort the supplies on the ship and ensure the safety of the journey."
"General, take your orders!" Yue Fei bowed and responded, with a firm look on his face.
Lu Yihao also nodded and praised: "Her Royal Highness the Princess is wise and decisive, and Master Wen Boyuan is extremely resourceful. If this plan is successful, it will not only solve Yan Zongyi's dilemma, but also further demonstrate the maritime strength and majesty of our Song Dynasty."
"That's right," Zhao Yingluo added, "this operation is not only to ensure that the materials are safely delivered to the destination, but also to demonstrate the national prestige and naval strength of our Song Dynasty. Therefore, Lord Zhu Shengfei and the Privy Council also need to fully cooperate with this operation action."
"Yes!" Zhu Shengfei bowed and responded, "The Privy Council will go all out to support this maritime transportation mission. From the deployment of ships, the planning of routes to the deployment of escort fleets, all aspects will be carefully arranged and coordinated. Live up to His Highness’s instructions.”
