The war between Liao and Xia caused by the conflict between border guards entered the stage of diplomatic communication, and the use of swords and guns between the two sides temporarily stopped. However, the war between Song and Xia became active, and both sides continued to conduct exploratory attacks. On the front lines of both sides,
There is a small outpost, and each side has a small team of about a hundred people stationed. Because of the steep terrain, it is not suitable for large troops to enter and exit, and the military location is not very important. Therefore, apart from exchanging fire, the two sides have never had direct contact.
During the change of defense, this small post with zero war casualties first quietly changed the guard captain, and then the soldiers here were also replaced batch by batch. The post, which originally had only a hundred people, was replaced in more than ten days.
There has been a complete change of blood during this time, and all
Everyone had been replaced. Immediately afterwards, a line of footprints from Song Camp to Summer Camp appeared on the snow-covered mountain ridge between the two outposts. The footprints were soon covered by falling snowflakes and snow blown by the mountain wind.
It was covered with dust, but soon, two more lines of returning footsteps appeared there.
There are more and more footprints, and they are getting denser. A solid path gradually formed on the snow on the mountain ridge. The wind and snow can no longer cover it up. The secret contact between Song and Liao was covered by the large and small wars launched by both sides.
Next, it starts from here.
The first letter delivered to Yang Hao in Xiazhou via this outpost was a handwritten letter written by Zhang Ji and polished by Lu Duoxun.
"... The Zhe family in Fuzhou was devoted to the imperial court. As soon as I came to the throne, I went to the court to see him. Taizu was pleased and relied on him as his confidant, so he entrusted him with important tasks and ordered the Zhe family to stay in Yunzhong for the rest of his life and to control his tribe. He thought that
National barriers. Taipingxing
In the seventh year of the reign of the Kingdom, he colluded with the rebel general Chi Zhong in Yunzhong and raised troops to seize the prefecture. Zhejiedu and his family fled and begged for help in the capital. The emperor raised troops to attack Hexi, which was actually to protect the Zhe family and punish the disrespectful people. There was no intention to punish them.
.
However, he was so stubborn that he did not know the creation of heaven and earth. He stood up brazenly and used his ministers to attack the emperor. This was a treasonous and unethical act. The rebellion in Hexi shocked China and foreign countries. Everyone who heard about it was indignant and sent letters one after another asking for orders to send troops. Please punish me.
Rebellion. However, the emperor, with his civil and military virtues, was gentle and far-sighted, and always had a compassionate heart, so he said to his left and right: The imperial court must not
The strength of the four seas supports one side. I only remember the original intention of the late emperor to show his love for me, and my efforts to open up Hexi and pacify the barbarians. I am not willing to die suddenly with a single loss, and I am not willing to destroy thousands of people in Hexi for the sake of one person.
The people were in ruins, so even though he ordered Pan Mei to raise troops, he still said: "There is no war, no fighting, no killing of innocent people, this is the king's army."
The Holy Sage governs the world with benevolence and carries great virtues, which is the style of ancient sages and sages. If all the leaders of the Tibetan people resist the courtesy at his feet, how can he be so tolerant of the Holy Sage? After thinking about it for the first time, how can the emperor ever fail in one place?
What can I do to repay Your Majesty with this step? Now that there is a confrontation in Hexi, the Liao people took the opportunity to cause chaos and raised troops in Fengtai. They had ulterior motives and planned to seize millet from the fire.
Lu Duoxun, Zhang Ji, and their subordinates worked together in the court. To the emperor, they were parents, and to their subordinates, they were brothers. How could one be filial to parents but not loving brothers? Therefore, they were listed one by one. Since ancient times, names have not been correct.
If words are not obeyed, things will not be accomplished. I am here to serve as pastor.
Western land, even though it governs thousands of miles and controls millions, should still adhere to the courtesy of ministers and be equal to the emperor? Is the name just right? Is it just right? If you persist in your stubbornness and do not know how to repent, you will only destroy the people and harm the benevolence of heaven and earth.
, and was taken advantage of by barbarians, which caused pain to relatives and pleasure to enemies.
As long as you have the intention to love the people and the heart of loyalty to the emperor, you should remove the imperial crown and title, bow your head and ears, and apologize. The first time you stood up for yourself was because of the crowd's request, and you were confused for a while and went astray. The emperor must be benevolent and virtuous.
Without aggravating the crime, one can still restore the difficult situation with a single step. Hexi Long
The position of Marshal on the Right is like this. If you lose a title and keep the peace of the country, if you lose an imperial crown but keep the title and head, why not do it? Who in the world does not praise the virtuous one? When you pay tribute to the country, you can't do it.
Calling out the resentment of the world will not trap the people of the world, and the people in the border areas will be well off again.
If you listen to it, you will benefit from it, and the troubles of the border people will be relieved. If you don't listen, even if you ask the court in the future, you will regret it. Lu Zhang's words today are not only beneficial to the king, but also to the king.
Following the instructions of the emperor and his relatives, saving the people from suffering is just a matter of the benevolence of heaven and earth. It is only a matter of one's own decision."
Yang Hao couldn't help but laugh heartily after reading the succinct letter from Lu Duoxun and Zhang Ji. He told the people around him and said: "The dawn has appeared. The imperial court does not want to get stuck in the quagmire of Hexi. It has already decided to negotiate peace. Take a look.
, this is a letter from Lu Duoxun and Zhang Jie, the prime ministers of the Song Dynasty,
The letter said that as long as I abdicate my title as emperor and bow my head as a minister, the imperial court will still recognize my status as the envoy of Dingnan, and I will lead the land of Hexi, control the people of Hexi, and lead the troops of Hexi. Haha, Hexi is already there.
In my hands, the Zhao Guan family is really generous to others."
Ding Chengzong smiled and said: "Our efforts have finally been in vain. Now that the Song Dynasty has made a gesture, it will be easier to handle. However, this imperial title can be removed, but we cannot accept the post of reinstatement of the Difficult Jiedushi Envoy."
, Your Majesty must retain a royal title, so as to maintain the complete independence of Hexi's political system. Regarding this, Song Ting is afraid that he will not agree easily, and it seems that he will have to bargain a lot."
Zhong Fang said: "The Song Dynasty has annexed the two prefectures of Linfu. If we want to negotiate a peace, we should have a good talk with them about the ownership of the two prefectures of Linfu. Linzhou has long been owned by the Holy Emperor. Now we want to surrender to Song Dynasty.
If the flag of the Song Dynasty is still honored, then is this Linzhou?
Is it time to return it to us? There is also the stupid debt in Fuzhou. Chi Zhong is dead, and the court just puts a shit basin on his head. It can’t be explained anyway, but we cannot admit this crime. This mouthful
The battle must be fought clearly."
Yang Hao smiled and said thoughtfully: "Removing the title of emperor and becoming king, returning Linzhou, and settling disputes between prefectures and prefectures. I'm afraid it will not be so easy for him to make concessions on any of these, especially Lin Prefecture."
As for the ownership of the two states, the Song Dynasty lost its troops and generals at Black Snake Ridge and lost face.
Talk about being able to masturbate. They occupy the two states of Linfu. Now let them hand it over? Difficult! Difficult! When it comes to the fat in Zhao Guangyi's mouth, if you want him to spit it out, it will be as difficult as heaven. But..., this
You might as well put forward the conditions, ask for an exorbitant price, and pay back the money on the spot."
He glanced at Zhong Fang and Ding Chengzong and ordered: "Zhao Guangyi asked Lu Duoxun and Zhang Jie to take charge of the peace negotiation. Let us take the lead here. Before the matter is clear, it must be kept absolutely confidential and must not be let go."
The Liao people have some information."
Zhong Fang and Ding Chengzong responded in unison: "I obey the decree."
After that, Yang Hao handed over the peace negotiations to Zhong Fang and Ding Chengzong. The two sent letters to Lu Duoxun and Zhang Jie Hongyan and started secret negotiations. In order to hide their eyes from others, Yang Hao still often entertained Liao envoys at banquets.
In an attempt to peacefully resolve the military conflict between Song and Liao, Xia and Liao still maintained a state of confrontation on the Hengshan line.
Although Pan Mei and Yang Jiye, the leading generals of the Song and Liao Dynasties, knew that the two courts were negotiating peace, in order to use smoke screens and cover, the conflicts between the two sides continued. When messengers shuttled back and forth along the secret mountain trail,
In other places, the king's flag is still changing on the city wall. After you sing, I will appear on the stage, and the fight will be a real joy.
Xia Guo's reply was quickly sent back to Bianliang. Now is not the time to break up with Song Ting. For this day, when Yang Hao became independent, he did not directly charge Song Guotou with the crime of attacking the two states of Linfu.
Instead, they pretended that Wang Jien colluded with Chi Zhong in order to provoke a war and gain military exploits, thus causing the Lin Mansion Rebellion.
Although the Song court thief shouted to catch the thief, he always insisted that it was Yang Hao who colluded with Chi Zhong and plotted against the state. Now that the two parties had the intention to negotiate together, Yang Hao retorted. Naturally, he could not blame the crime on the Song Dynasty, so he dismissed it all
Chi Zhong, the dead ghost, still insisted that he was bewitched by the eunuch Wang Ji'en and deliberately caused trouble to deceive the court. Yang Hao himself was leading an army to march westward to Yumen at that time, without knowing anything about it, and he was also a victim.
Of course, it is no longer the point whether the two sides are right or wrong. The two sides just need a step down. As expected, as long as the two sides can reach a reconciliation, the guilt of provoking the Linfu Rebellion will inevitably be solved under the joint planning of the advisers and wise men of both sides.
All the blame rests on the headless horseman, General Chizhong. The core issue in the current peace talks between the two parties is the conditions for peace.
Zhao Guangyi heard that Yang Hao asked the court to return the two prefectures of Linfu and to claim the kingship after removing the imperial title. Sure enough, he refused. Although he has now determined the policy of pacifying Xichuan first and then seeking the northwest, even if peace cannot be negotiated, he will temporarily suspend the control of Hexi.
It is still possible to attack and maintain the status quo. The imperial court can afford it, but the small Xia Kingdom may not be able to afford it. Zhao Guangyi is full of confidence and naturally refuses to make concessions easily.
However, the main purpose of the court's peace negotiation was not only to free up its hands to pacify Xichuan first, but more importantly, to prevent the Xia Kingdom from being desperate and defecting to the Liao Kingdom, to divide the relationship between Xia and Song Dynasty, and to create conditions for the future Northern Expedition. The imperial court made a surprise attack on Lin Mansion to
The military plan of blitzkrieg to seize Hexi has been completely bankrupt, and the attempt to control Hexi has come to nothing under the eyes of the Liao Kingdom. In order to control Hexi, the strategic purpose of keeping Hexi at least neutral in the future Northern Expedition cannot be avoided without making the slightest concession.
The conversation broke down.
In view of this, Lu Duoxun and Zhang Ji racked their brains to find a balance point acceptable to both parties. Finally, Lu Duoxun wrote the reply and said that Yang Hao was plotting against Lin Mansion. In hindsight, it was indeed doubtful.
There are many problems, and the court will verify this. As for the ownership of the two prefectures of Linfu, the situation is very complicated. First of all, let’s talk about Fuzhou. Fuzhou is the jurisdiction of the Yunzhong Zhe family, and the Zhe family has moved away with his family.
Fuzhou has now become General Niu Qianwei and serves as an official in Beijing. Under such circumstances, Fuzhou will naturally have to be stationed as an official by the imperial court, and there is absolutely no reason to hand it over to Yang Hao.
As for Linzhou, the situation is even more complicated. Linzhou was originally under the jurisdiction of the Zhe family in Fuzhou. When the Volcano King Yang Gun established himself as governor, he was entrusted by the Zhe family to guard Linzhou because he was married to the Zhe family.
If Linzhou was not recognized as belonging to the Yang family, so the family was admitted to the court as an official, and the Fuzhou was handed over to the imperial court for governance, then the ownership of Linzhou was self-evident, and it would naturally be under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court.
At the same time, Lu and Zhang also politely rejected Yang Hao's request to remove the title of emperor and become king, saying that there is only one king with a different surname in the court now, and that is Qian Chu, the king of Wuyue, and Qian Chu was granted the title of county king because
He presented the Wuyue Kingdom to the imperial court, which was an unparalleled achievement. If Yang Hao asked for a royal title, he would have to follow Qian Chu's example and first hand over all the land in the eighteen states in Hexi to the imperial court, and then settle in Bianliang, and then he could be granted the title.
Be king.
Of course Yang Hao refused to go. Zhao Guangyi's reputation was too bad. He didn't want to be like those subjugated kings who died mysteriously and suddenly around their birthdays. Every year on his birthday, he held the imperial wine given by Zhao Guangyi and gambled on it with trepidation. Besides,
, my wives are all charming and beautiful in the world. Who knows if Zhao Laoer, the wife-controller, will have evil intentions? In the future, there will be several "Pictures of Xiling's Happy Winter" and "Xiling's Pictures of Happy Flames".
Didn’t he want his cuckold to be worn forever for eternity? So he refused without hesitation.
Because the distance between the two places was too long, it was too time-consuming to go back and forth. When Yang Hao wrote back, he suggested that both sides send plenipotentiary envoys to negotiate directly at the front of Hengshan and ask Tokyo for instructions on major matters. So Zhang Jie took a leave of absence and quietly rushed to Hengshan to meet with Ding Chengzong.
He moved directly into the border posts on both sides of the mountain ridge and began a more intensive negotiation process.
The possibility of returning the imperial court to the Lin Mansion was almost zero. Ding Chengzong decided to leave this hard nut until the end. The first issue of the peace talks between the two parties focused on Yang Hao's position after he removed the imperial title. On the Xia Kingdom's side
He persisted in claiming the title of king, and cited extensive evidence to refute Yang Hao based on the territory he occupied, the people he ruled, and the nature of the army he commanded.
Faced with the Xia State's tough attitude and its refusal to make any more concessions, Zhang Jie cited scriptures and actually found a way that Zhao Guangyi could accept. He told Ding Chengzong that Hexi was a place where all kinds of barbarians lived together, and what Ding Chengzong said was true.
The relationship between this place, this people, this army and the imperial court is indeed very small. Therefore, the imperial court can follow the story of the Han and Tang Dynasties and confer Yang Hao as Hexi Chanyu or Hexi Khan. This will be used as a reference, and in the future, he will pay tribute to the state as a foreign minister.
Preserve Chinese and foreign systems.
Removing the title of emperor in favor of Chan Yu and Khan did indeed maintain the independence of the regime. Ding Chengzong felt that this method had achieved practical benefits and there was no need to worry too much about the reputation, so he immediately reported this progress to Yang Hao
Report, unexpectedly, Zhong Fang saw the trap at a glance, and pointed out to Yang Hao that in this way, Yang Hao would classify himself as a Yi and Di clan, and he would no longer be able to treat hundreds of people in Hexi like before.
Tens of thousands of Han people have generated such great appeal, and will be clearly separated from the Central Plains from now on. If the Song Dynasty breaks out and attacks Hexi in the future, there will be no excuses, and its internal resistance will be minimal.
When Yang Hao heard Ding Chengzong's reply, he did not expect that the imperial court had such sinister intentions. He broke out in a cold sweat and quickly ordered Ding Chengzong to refuse. At the same time, he once again offered a powerful temptation: tribute war horses. Li Guangrui appointed Dingnan Jiedu.
During the mission, the tribute horses were extremely limited. When his father went to Bianjing for pilgrimage, he only brought 500 tribute horses. This made the court overjoyed, and he was promoted to a noble title and given a jade belt. If the court
If we can reach a consensus with Xia State, Xia State is willing to pay tribute to one thousand horses, and one thousand horses every year.
When this condition reached Tokyo, Zhao Guangyi was really jealous. However, Zhao Guangyi's civil and military skills were not simple. Cao Bin and Xue Juzheng immediately pointed out to the emperor that due to the lack of horses in the court, the Song army's organization had always been based on infantry, and the army needed
Horses can usually be purchased from private parties. When the imperial court is at odds with the Liao Kingdom, it will be purchased from Hexi. When the imperial court is at odds with Hexi, it will be purchased from the Liao Kingdom.
Supplements were obtained from the Tubo people in Dali and Longyou in western Sichuan. In this way, the necessary supply of war horses was maintained, and their sources would not be threatened by others.
Now, unless the Song Army wants to form a large-scale cavalry team, it does not need to purchase a large number of horses. However, to form a large number of cavalry, it requires not only war horses, but also many supporting equipment and training issues. Raising a cavalry can at least raise
Three infantrymen, after such a huge investment, once a cavalry regiment is really established, the loss of horses, old diseases, and replacements cannot be solved by the traditional methods used before. It will inevitably rely entirely on Xia State. In this way
Once the Xia State stopped importing troops from the Xia State, the army of the Song State was effectively in the hands of the Xia State. The cavalry regiment built at a huge cost would become useless. Is this putting one's own army in the hands of others?
No country would undertake such a strategic adventure. Rather than doing so, it would be better to adapt measures to local conditions and focus on developing infantry. Moreover, the Song State had no land to raise horses. It imported a large number of war horses and formed a cavalry corps, and raising them was also a big problem.
What is the difference between cultivating a cavalry corps without a place to raise horses, and a completely landlocked country spending great efforts to cultivate a navy?
Zhao Guangyi suddenly realized it and immediately replied to Zhang Ji to see what his interests were. Only then did Zhang Ji realize that he had almost fallen into Yang Hao's trap, so he politely wrote back a rejection letter, saying: "The Central Plains is beautiful and rich all over the world.
To the foreign vassals, the imperial court must give generous gifts of materials and silk every year. Hexi is barren and has nothing to do except war horses. If you submit to the imperial court and pay tribute to horses every year, how can the emperor be so generous when money is scarce?
Is there any gift that should not be given? How can this act of reciprocating the favor be used to blackmail the court?
Yang Hao originally thought that Zhao Guangyi would take the bait once the condition of supplying war horses was raised. He did not expect that such an attractive war horse would be rejected by the court. He couldn't help but be greatly surprised. After listening to General Zhang Chongwei's explanation of the reason, Yang Hao finally understood.
, I dare to think that my previous thinking was too simple. I always thought that the Song State lacked war horses, but I forgot why the Song State lacked war horses. Unless the Song State owns the land to raise horses, otherwise you really have unlimited supply of war horses, and he also
Can't afford it.
In this case, the only way is to use the secret weapon of the Jade Seal of the Kingdom. Zhao Guangyi can refuse the temptation of the war horse, but Yang Hao does not believe that he can refuse the powerful charm of the Jade Seal of the Kingdom. Zhao Guangyi is the emperor and is aloof, something that ordinary people can only dream of in life.
He has everything at his fingertips. As an emperor, his only pursuit is fame, and as the owner of the Imperial Seal, this is an extremely glorious fame.
Therefore, Yang Hao recalled Ding Chengzong, and after some detailed planning, Ding Chengzong personally rushed to Bianliang, Tokyo, with the news of the great murderous weapon of the national jade seal...
