Zhao Xi didn't greet Han Jian at all, there was no need for that.

  Since the founding of our country, there has been no precedent for a military minister to serve as a commander-in-chief. Therefore, Han Jian's rebuttal at this time is not unexpected. Even if Han Jian remained silent, other officials and courtiers would also have refuted Pang Ji's proposal.

  It's probably no one would dare to take over if the civil official of the imperial court were to go on an expedition at this time.

  Just look at those civil officials who abandoned their posts and fled on Guangnan West Road...

  "Your Majesty, Di Han is a humble and unworthy subject who has been promoted due to his military achievements. If he were paired with a civil official, their orders would not be unified, which would be detrimental to the situation in Guangnan."

  This is a fact, Zhao Xi very much agrees with Pang Ji's statement. Everyone knows what the state of Wenwu in our country is like. Expedition to Guangnan, Wenwu is the commander... Perhaps at first, there will be a temporary harmony for changing the situation, but as soon as there is a slight change, disputes will arise and lead to the loss of previous efforts.

  This is not an alarmist statement, but a result that must be brought about by the current state of our country.

  "It has never been the case since the founding of the dynasty by Taizu that a military officer was solely in charge. Your Majesty, at present Guangnan is in a state of turmoil and it is not advisable to trust only military officers; once something unexpected happens, it will be difficult to control."

  Who is this? Does he have a feud with Di Qing? Is it necessary to make such vicious guesses? However, Zhao Xi seems to be waiting for these words.

  The old man's temperament is clear to him. He is most easily influenced by his subordinates, has a soft ear, and listens to whatever anyone says, which makes him indecisive and wavering.

  "I wish to cooperate with General Di to conquer Guangnan!"

  This... Zhao Xi's words not only stunned those who were still preparing to refute Pang Ji, but also stunned Pang Ji himself. Zhao Zhen was even more stunned and couldn't speak a word.

  The crown prince wants to go on an expedition? What a joke!

  "Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable!"

  Pang Ji was still stunned, and Han Jian stopped him first.

  "Your Highness, war is perilous, a gentleman does not stand under a precarious wall. Can your precious body be exposed to the dangers of the battlefield?"

  "Xī ér... this matter must not be mentioned!"

  The old man also spoke out, even disregarding the fact that this was the imperial court, and directly used a family member's title.

  "What's wrong with that? Why can't it be done? Your Majesty, you ministers, I didn't speak lightly. Let's not mention the founding emperor or Emperor Taizong's personal expeditions against Northern Han and the Khitan Liao."

  "It was said that since the Emperor personally led the expedition to Bianyuan, there have been several decades of peace in the northern borderlands, and it has also been twenty years since the current dynasty last spoke of military affairs."

  However, the imperial court focuses on internal governance and does not discuss military affairs, leading to the rampant behavior of the southeastern bandits. Now that the imperial court has appointed Di Han as commander, there is also fear of chaos caused by the military. Therefore, I think it would be a good strategy for me to follow Commander Di southward.

  As for the current and future situation of the Great Song Dynasty, Zhao Xi was very clear about it. Over the years, he had some ideas in his heart about how to change it.

  From a military perspective, he knew that change was inevitable, but his understanding of the current battlefield allowed him to make targeted changes.

  It's not easy to have such a war, and it's not easy to have a dispute in the imperial court. This opportunity must be seized.

  "What Your Highness said, the actions of Taizong and the previous emperor were all forced by circumstances, and they had no choice but to do so. Now, even the common people on the border are not yet at the point where they need to be personally led into battle."

  The imperial court of this dynasty is really unscrupulous, even the so-called "imperial expedition" was forced by circumstances, it's just short of saying that they were coerced.

  "What Han Zhongcheng said is absolutely right. It's not yet to the point of Your Majesty taking personal command, so as the Crown Prince, it's only fitting that I take charge of this expedition."

  Zhao Xi rarely debated with others, or rather, from a young age, he had always been gentle and elegant, refined and courteous, very warm and approachable as the crown prince.

  At least in the minds of the courtiers it was so.

  "Your Highness, your safety concerns the continuation of the imperial lineage, a matter of great importance to the state. This trip to Guangnan, although led by General Di Han, is still fraught with danger."

  "Putting aside the dangers of war, Guangnan has been a land of epidemics since ancient times. Many northerners who went there died from diseases due to the climate. Your Highness's actions show a lack of consideration and are indeed reckless."

  "What you said, Taizong and the previous emperor's campaigns against the outer barbarians, were all carried out by the Imperial Guards, with the entire country's strength mobilized for war. Now, are you thinking of abandoning the northwest and not caring about it, only focusing on Guangnan?"

  It has to be said that Pang Jie and Wen Yubo make a pretty good pair. One talks about the land of smoke and mist, while the other says past events cannot serve as a guide for the present.

  "Sir, Minister Wen, now that the imperial court has the surname Zhao, it is indeed our Zhao Song dynasty. Defending the borders and protecting the country are the duties of generals, soldiers, and troops. The Western Army consists of northerners, who do not resent the long distance of ten thousand li, and have come to the southern border without fear of malaria. How can I retreat in fear?"

  "The legacy of the state is not worth mentioning. Now that Your Majesty is in his prime, I have a three-year-old son, to say nothing of having no worries about accidents, even if there were, there would be no worries about inheritance."

  "Our dynasty has been at war with Khitan and Tanguts for many years, but there has never been a general who died for the country. Now that I am working together with General Di to go on an expedition, we shouldn't have any unfortunate worries either."

  "Father, I humbly request that you allow me to go to battle. The country and the world are built on the foundation of family; only with a strong family can there be a strong nation, and only with a strong nation can there be peace in the world. Our dynasty is the Zhao Song, the nation is our home, and our home is also our nation."

  "Soldiers and officers can leave their homes for the country, I also have a reason to rush forward on this trip."

  Isn't it just wearing a hat and shouting slogans? Zhao Xi is good at this.

  Zhao Zhen was already inarticulate, and being scolded by his son like this, he really had nothing to say. The family, the country, and the world, this generalization is good... but it's just not suitable for Xier to go on an expedition.

  Anyone can see that Xi'er has the makings of an emperor for the ages, and this expedition is unpredictable in fact, even with Di Qing, there are unpredictable possibilities for the Western army's southern campaign.

  If Xi'er makes a mistake... cannot think about it, dare not think about it.

  Zhao Zhen won't argue with others, he can only stare at the officials... Isn't he usually quite eloquent? You guys go ahead! Persuade the crown prince, don't let him have such thoughts again, and then get promoted...

  His Royal Highness entered the imperial court, and there were only a few officials who could truly debate with him in the imperial court. Others... even if they were speaking officials, it was also to criticize His Royal Highness's mistakes.

  It's not that the imperial court has restrictions on debating about status differences, but rather they usually scold people without reserve. If they also do so to the crown prince... will it be okay in the future?

  So, no one dares to make a sound, except for the husbands.

  "Your Highness, this time Di Han's southern expedition requires mobilization from various routes of the northwest garrison. Gathering two million is already the limit, otherwise it will shake the defense situation of the northwest border."

  "Now that Your Highness is going to war, it's necessary to send more troops. The Imperial Guard in the capital is the foundation of our dynasty and cannot be deployed unless the country is in danger. I beg you to reconsider, lest a momentary anger disrupt the border affairs."

  It can't be said from a moral standpoint, because Zhao Xi's words indeed occupy the moral high ground. It also can't be discussed from the perspective of cherishing life, as it can't be said that the lives of soldiers and generals are not on par with those of Your Highness before going into battle, even if this is the reality and everyone acknowledges it, but saying so in court and spreading the word would inevitably chill the hearts of the soldiers.

  Pang Ji understood Zhao Xi, after so many interactions, he knew what kind of person the Crown Prince was... and was afraid that this matter would be settled like this. But Wen Yanbo was unclear, he took a different approach, wanting to persuade the Crown Prince with the current state of the country.

  The so-called Forbidden Army doesn't move unless the country is in danger... In fact, it's just saying that even if they were sent out, they would be useless. What are the Imperial Guards like? Who on the court isn't clear about that?

  "Sir, I will follow the army on expedition, no need to send more troops, I only need to bring a guard battalion. The strength of an army is not in its numbers but in its quality."