Originally, it was a happy event for several envoys from the Tibetan Kingdom to come to court, but now, although Zhao Zhen was also very happy, he was not in the mood because of the shadow of the upcoming war. After receiving him the next day, he was arranged to stay at the post office.
The museum will be visited by members of the North Room of the Privy Council.
A few days later, an edict was issued, urgently recruiting Fan Zhongyan, who was the magistrate of Dengzhou, and Han Qi, who was the magistrate of Yangzhou, to return to Beijing. Su Jin also headed to the northwest without stopping, preparing his army for war and discussing with Xia Guo about borrowing the road.
A series of movements of the Liao people on the border between Song and Liao had already aroused the interest of the Xia State. Su Jin's visit made the Xia State quite nervous. The trade between the Song and Xia resumed for more than a year, including leather goods, medicinal materials, green salt, etc.
In exchange for a large amount of urgently needed food, cloth, tea and other materials, Daxia regained a lot of vitality in just one year. The rebellious small tribes no longer made trouble, and they fought with Tubo in the west and the Liao Kingdom in the east.
There was no friction or conflict between the Song Dynasty in the south. For the first time, the imperial court felt the benefits of peace to the Xia Dynasty. The disputes between the imperial court and the Song Dynasty regarding the peace negotiations also disappeared. The original discussion of empress dowager Yeli's humiliation of power and humiliation of the country disappeared.
, and immediately turned into words of praise with far-reaching and far-sighted vision.
Su Jin arrived at Xingqing Mansion, the capital of Xia, in mid-April. He traveled in a light carriage with only a dozen personal followers, mainly because he did not want to attract the attention of Liao spies in Xia. At noon the next day after arriving, Queen Mother Yeli
A banquet was held in Tianyi Pavilion to summon Su Jin, and the Prime Minister Zhang Yuan was invited to accompany him.
Su Jin briefly explained his future intentions to the Queen Mother Yeli. She thought that Su Jin was here to coerce the Xia Kingdom to send troops. Queen Mother Yeli and Zhang Yuan even thought of a way to deal with it, but they did not expect that the Song Dynasty people would just take advantage of the situation.
It's just a battle.[
Zhang Yuan greatly appreciated Su Jin's plan. He had seen Su Jin command a large army in battle, and he never dared to underestimate Su Jin. This time the Liao people gathered a large army to attack the Song Dynasty. Zhang Yuan also and Xia Guo
The courtiers studied war strategies several times, and everyone finally felt that the Song people could only stick to the border defenses, and the odds of victory or defeat were 50 to 50. The Song people's chances of winning were even smaller, let alone being able to counterattack; but Su Jinjiao
Dao Yice's proposal completely overturned his view. The Song people not only wanted to counterattack, but also seemed to take the opportunity to destroy the Liao Xinqi.
"Master Su, are your country planning to fight to the death with the Liao people? Although it would be great to take advantage of Daxia to penetrate into the hinterland of the Liao army, but once the Liao people mobilize their troops to encircle you, your northwest army will be surrounded and annihilated. It will be extremely dangerous.
Be careful." Zhang Yuan reminded kindly.
Su Jindao: "I didn't want to withdraw at all. They didn't come to take care of me, which means that I didn't play my role fully. I just need them to turn around and deal with me, so that my border army can take the opportunity to move north."
Zhang Yuan said with emotion: "Does your country plan to destroy the Liao Kingdom in one fell swoop this time?"
Su Jin smiled, showing his neat white teeth and said, "Do you, the Xia Kingdom, want to take a share of the pie?"
Zhang Yuan glanced at Queen Mother Yeli, who shook her head slightly. Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "My army in Daxia is weak now, so I'm afraid I won't be able to help much, but I'm still allowed to use the passage. Maybe I can provide a little help."
, it can be regarded as the wishes of my vassal country."
Su Jin had known this, so he wouldn't be surprised. The battle between Liao and Song was 50-50. If it wasn't an absolute crushing victory, how could the Xia people be willing to wade into this muddy water? It would be good for the Song people to win, but it would be better for the Liao people to win.
Regardless, they pose no threat to the Xia State. The Liao people cannot destroy the Song State, and the Song people cannot destroy the Liao State. The harder the two beasts fight, the better. Xia Guole survives in the cracks and works hard to restore the national strength.
"Zhang Xiangguo is right, Mr. Su, the Ai family agrees to your request to borrow the road. In addition, Mr. Su can make some requests that our Xia country can fulfill, and the Ai family will provide assistance, as long as it does not involve sending troops. At present, our Daxia military strength
It’s not enough to protect yourself, let alone attack another country.”
Su Jin smiled and said: "The Queen Mother doesn't need to explain. I understand very well. Originally, I was just borrowing a way to come here. Since the Queen Mother and Prime Minister Zhang are so kind and want to help, then I'm welcome. I want to use the city of Ketun as my food and fodder."
I don’t know if it’s possible to carry out a large baggage camp.”
"Yes, the Ai family has promised you." Yeli Dulan agreed wholeheartedly. It is not a big deal to borrow a small city as a camp.
"Besides, I also want to borrow something, which is very important to me."
"What is it? Master Su, please explain it clearly."
"I want to borrow some war horses to improve the mobility of my army. Only you can help with this." Su Jin said with a smile.
"This... how much does it cost?" Yeli Dulan thought that since Su Jin had spoken, he naturally had to give face. It would not be a problem to borrow more than 10,000 war horses, as long as he did not take them by force, died in the battle, or returned them in the future.
, are all acceptable.
"I want 150,000 horses...!" Su Jin said with a smile.
"What"
"Nonsense!"
Empress Dowager Yeli and Zhang Yuan did not expect that Su Jinshizi would open his mouth. The number of war horses currently being compiled in Daxia is only 300,000, and there are still horses that have not yet reached the standard of war horses. How many war horses are needed from adulthood to being able to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy?
Months of domestication required a lot of energy and financial resources. It was good for Su Jin to treat the war horse as a chicken or dog.
"Why are there so many?" Su Jin said.[
"I'm sorry, but I will lend you ten thousand horses at most." Queen Mother Yeli's little face turned red with anger.
"You're sending 10,000 yuan to beggars. You have the nerve to pay for it. How about you give me 120,000 yuan?"
"Twenty thousand, not one more horse."
"One hundred thousand, it's done. I haven't asked anyone for anything. You have lost my face. Don't blame me for not giving you face in the future." Su Jin began to threaten.
"No matter what you say, we don't have that many war horses. The Ai family went out of their way to discuss with the courtiers and lend you 50,000 war horses. No more. They must be returned after the war. If you die in battle, you will have to pay compensation." Yeli Dulan
I hate myself for being so meddlesome, Su Jin just came here to show my sincerity in whatever I do, and now I am in trouble.
Su Jin was so happy. He never expected that he could get 50,000 war horses from the Xia Kingdom at once. This was simply a blessing from heaven. The 200,000-strong army penetrated deep into the hinterland of the Liao Kingdom. They must have strong mobility, otherwise they would be destroyed.
He is not very strong and will be surrounded and intercepted. He is worried about the problem of mobility. The Northwest Army only has 30,000 horses, which is not enough.
Su Jin looked at Ye Lidulan's furious look and smiled: "Okay, fifty thousand is fifty thousand. The Queen Mother has done her best. Su Jin, on behalf of me, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, would like to thank the Queen Mother for her generosity. The Emperor also mentioned you before I came."
Woolen cloth."
Yeli Dulan said angrily: "What are the Tiai family doing?"
Su Jin smiled and said: "My emperor praised Queen Mother Yeli for her noble temperament, beauty and courage. I admire you very much."
"Bah!" Yeli Dulan blushed and spat: "Don't come here to drink the soup." She felt very happy in her heart.
Zhang Yuan heard the joke, covered his mouth with his hand and coughed twice, reminding Su Jin to remain dignified. Su Jin said again: "Can you please also ask the Queen Mother to lend me tens of thousands of livestock in addition to the 50,000 horses? What?"
Even bad horses and lame horses will do, as will mules and oxen. My supply line is too long, so I have to have a convoy to transport food."
Yeli Dulan said: "Where can I get tens of thousands of cattle, horses and livestock... The Ai family can help with the supply problem. If you are not afraid of being intercepted by Daxia, you only need to transport the grain and grass supplies to Youzhou. Then I will send Daxia
How about we transport the soldiers and horses to Kodun City for you?"
Su Jin shook his head and said: "No, if your men and horses are delayed, I won't be able to punish you. I have to transport them myself. How about this? How about I exchange 3,000 barrels of kerosene for your 10,000 retired horses? You know how to use kerosene?"
Oil is precious in this place. If the situation does not force me to do it, I would not do it even if I were killed."
Yeli Dulan was overjoyed. He finally took advantage of this kid. Kerosene is so valuable. A retired horse is worthless just waiting to be slaughtered. If this kid hadn't jumped over the wall in a hurry, he wouldn't have done this.
A loss-making business.
"It's a deal, let's do this. To show support, how about the Ai family gives you an additional thousand untrained adult horses for you to haul food and supplies?"
Su Jin quickly thanked him. He was also very satisfied with this business. The kerosene reserve was already 15,000 barrels. The court had no money to collect it, and he was reluctant to give up all his private contributions. This war will naturally consume some, and a small amount will not be enough to reverse the situation.
It would also be great to replace the number of battle situations with something practical.
At that moment, Su Jin drew a route and asked for unobstructed traffic along the way, and reminded Zhang Yuan and Empress Dowager Yeli to keep their mouths shut so that the Liao people would not be aware of their strategic intentions.
In the afternoon of the same day, Su Jin hurried back to the northwest of Song Dynasty. After Su Jin left, Zhang Yuan and Queen Mother Yeli had a conversation worth mentioning.
Yeli Dulan asked Zhang Yuan: "If the Song Dynasty really destroys the Liao Kingdom this time, will the situation be good or bad for me in Daxia?"
Zhang Yuandao said: "The Han people have kept their promise. The Emperor of Song has publicly promulgated a treaty of friendship with Daxia, and he will not deal with Daxia after the destruction of Liao. However, after the destruction of Liao, our Xia will not be able to do what he wants from now on."
Serving as a vassal state of the Song Dynasty honestly will be a serious problem."
Yeli Dulan said: "Do you think the Song Dynasty can succeed?"
Zhang Yuandao: "I thought the number was five to five, but with Su Jin as a variable in Song Dynasty, the outcome is really hard to predict. You don't know what Su Jin does. Things that seem uncontrollable will turn out differently in his hands. Song
If it weren't for him, the country would probably not be what it is today."[
Yeli Dulan nodded slowly and said: "The Ai family has been to Pearl City, and the city was refreshing to the Ai family. I heard that it was the city built by Su Jin, but I didn't expect that there is such a city in the world. According to reports,
Merchants and envoys returned to the country to express their opinions. National highways were being built in the Song Dynasty. Thousands of small market entrances marked by Pearl City were also being built. There were also various strategies to benefit the people and strengthen the country, all of which came from the Development and Reform Department led by Su Jin.
, where did Su Jin come up with so many tricks? It’s really puzzling.”
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "Don't be confused, Queen Mother. You should remain unchanged and adapt to all changes. After all, Su Jin is our son-in-law of Daxia. No matter how powerful he is in the Song Dynasty, he will not turn against me, Daxia; but there is one thing
The Queen Mother must consider this matter. Once the Song Dynasty becomes the leader, I suggest that we immediately send troops to help. This is not to grab the credit, but to show off so that we can have some capital in the future."
Yeli Dulan chuckled and said: "Prime Minister Zhang knows this, isn't it because you Han people have more intestines in your stomach than others?"
Zhang Yuan looked at Yeli Dulan's charming smile and was so frightened that he quickly lowered his head, not daring to take another look.