I studied in modern times

Chapter 575 Chaotic Southeast Asia (1)

"Your Majesty, I respectfully ask the Emperor if he is well."

Li Taide was brought to the Chongzheng Hall and bowed immediately without any hesitation.

Zhao Xu sat upright and looked at the man prostrate on the ground in the hall: "Li Qing is exempt from the courtesy."

"Give me a seat!" After Li Taide got up, Zhao Xu ordered the people around him.

As a result, a chair was moved behind Li Taide.

When he sat down, Zhao Xu asked, "How is Li Qing doing during these days in Beijing?"

Li Taide immediately replied in a standard rhyme: "Your Majesty cares about me. I am in the capital and receive courtesy from everyone. Everything is fine."

He didn't dare not say yes.

He still wants to go home, but he doesn't want to be left in Bianjing forever.

And there are eight states in the north of Cochin, which directly turns Thang Long, the capital of Cochin, into a front line.

Meng Chang and Li Yu are both living examples.

Zhao Xu chuckled.

"Let's get back to the topic. What do you think will happen to the Song Dynasty and Jiaozhi in the future?" Zhao Xu continued to ask.

"Good!" Zhao Xu nodded: "That's good."

At the same time, he really didn't know what the little emperor of the Southern Dynasty wanted to talk to him about?
Zhao Xu didn't care and said directly: "What I mean is, how will Jiaozhi view the Song Dynasty in the future?"

If Li Taide is not afraid, that would be abnormal!
Of course, this guy might be pretending or covering up.

So, you can take whatever you want.

He didn't dare to speculate casually.

"I invite Aiqing into the palace this time because I want to talk to Aiqing about the future of the Song Dynasty and Jiaozhi." Zhao Xu looked at Li Taide in the palace. Although he is still young, because he sits high up, he is very condescending. You can easily see that Li Taide's expression was panicked at this moment, and his body was even trembling.

Apart from that, won’t Zhao Xu’s own precious brother Zhao Ji perform a humiliating show for the whole world in the future?

Li Taide knew very well in his heart - if he was forced to stay in Bianjing by the Southern Dynasty, his brother would probably rise up and thank the Southern Dynasty for its great kindness.

"Yes...yes..." Li Taide lowered his head and said repeatedly: "I understand, I understand!"

Especially the relationship with Champa is extremely bad!

This is not surprising.

As an imperialist and a staunch supporter of free trade.

The Song Dynasty's record in dealing with the leaders of enemy countries was not very good.

"Especially the Champa Kingdom, which has been accusing me of the crimes of Jiaozhi, invading its land, plundering its people, and even imprisoning its monarch!"

The country of Jiaozhi has been expanding and fighting everywhere since it split from the Tang Dynasty.

Since ancient times, the more powerful a person is, the more timid and afraid of death he is.

Come to the DPRK on time?

Therefore, Zhao Xu began to beat without politeness, hoping to make the other party wake up: "So, Qing and Jiaozhi, what do you think of Zhenla and Champa?"

"To be precise, what will you do after returning to China to maintain the vassal relationship between Jiaozhi and the Song Dynasty and promote business exchanges between the two countries?"

The corners of Zhao Xu's mouth turned up slightly, and he was not surprised by this.

If this is the case, then all his ambitions will be in vain.

Zhao Xu naturally only cares about these two things.

But other things?

This is like putting a knife on Jiaozhi's neck.

Li Taide thought about it for a moment, then looked up at the small figure on the throne in the palace, and then said: "I am stupid, I don't know what your majesty means?"

The Cochins might be able to do it.

Play the trick of bearing the humiliation and pretending to be crazy.

But Zhao Xu doesn’t care at all!
Because of the huge disparity in national power, and because the Song Dynasty has now completely taken the initiative strategically.

Li Taide's answer sounded completely insincere to him.

Just don't count on it.

There are countless examples at home and abroad.

"You don't need to be nervous." Zhao Xu comforted the other party: "I just want to talk to you today."

If forced by the situation to pay tribute rice as agreed, there is a high probability that he will do it.

He was really afraid of being detained in Bianjing and turned into a hostage.

Once the Cochin people stabilize the situation and gain a firm foothold, they may even tear up the peace treaty directly.

Li Taide listened and turned around in his heart. He immediately stood up and worshiped: "I want to inform your majesty that after I return to the country, I will definitely urge my brother to come to court on time and pay the tribute rice as agreed. In addition, I will also persuade the country to Among them, treat the merchants of the Song Dynasty with courtesy."

What's more, Li Taide is now in Bianjing, and his life is not under his control.

The Jiaozhi people continued to invade the south and defeated the Champa state, which collapsed for a time.

The reason why the country of Champa can still continue to this day is thanks to the Southern Expedition of the Song Dynasty during the Xining period. Before the Southern Expedition of the Song Army, Champa was almost destroyed. Not only was the king captured by Jiaozhi, but a large area of ​​the country was occupied by Jiaozhi, and its military strength was even more defeated. collapsed.

The Southern Expedition of the Song Dynasty forced the Jiaozhi people to return to the north, which allowed the Champa Kingdom to breathe.

Therefore, the Champa people are the most submissive country to the Song Dynasty in Southeast Asia today.

"In addition, the Chenla Kingdom is also complaining to me about Jiaozhi invading its land and killing its people in the past."

"Both these two countries are my vassals, but Jiaozhi has repeatedly used troops..." Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes, began to exert maximum pressure, and suddenly increased his voice: "Do you think China has no one?"

Following Zhao Xu's words, the imperial guard who had been standing silently in the palace suddenly raised the bone in his hand, walked heavily to the ground, and looked at Li Taide with a fierce look, as if he wanted to eat someone. Look!
Seeing this situation, Li Taide quickly kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, calm down! Your Majesty, calm down!"

"Your Majesty doesn't know something, there is something inside of this!"

"Huh?" Zhao Xu rubbed his hands and asked: "If there is an inside story, how can it be more serious, and you attack my subjects without getting the order?"

Li Taide was forced by Zhao Xu, so he bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, the Zhenla Kingdom is bullying the emperor."

"Jiaozhi has never sent troops to invade Chenla even an inch, and it has never killed a single person in Chenla's territory."

"Oh!" Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes: "Is this the case?"

But the voice was full of distrust.

Li Taide had no choice but to bow: "Your Majesty does not know that the war between Jiaozhi and Zhenla is all within the Champa Kingdom..."

"Jiaozhi didn't have a single soldier enter the territory of Zhenla. How could it invade Zhenla and kill and plunder its people?"

"I beg Your Majesty to take a closer look!"

Of course Zhao Xu knows!

Although he has not systematically studied the history of Southeast Asia in modern times, let alone researched it.

But he still knew that Champa was in modern southern Vietnam, and Chenla was the Angkor Dynasty that left behind the famous Angkor Wat ruins.

In fact, the current Three Kingdoms of Jiaozhi, Champa, and Chenla are just a small-scale chaos among the Three Kingdoms.

In this brawl, Champa was the weakest and the most pitiful one - it was beaten by a mixed double of Jiaozhi and Zhenla, and its territory continued to decline.

Today's Chenla is at the peak of its Angkor Dynasty's national power.

With the construction of a series of water conservancy projects and the right climate, the Angkor Dynasty gradually became strong and expanded externally.

The current Angkor Wat is not the modern abandoned temple in the dense forest. It was the capital of a powerful feudal dynasty.

According to modern history books, in the future it will compete with Cochin for Champa, and at the same time go north to Thailand and Malaya, continue to annex and control city-states, and eventually become a powerful country that dominates one side!

Precisely because he knew these things, Zhao Xu deliberately took advantage of the opportunity when the envoys from the three countries gathered in Bian Jing and ordered Xing Shu to arrange for the envoys from the three countries to live in three adjacent courtyards of Duting Posthouse.

Let them see each other right out of the house.

This arrangement really worked wonders.

The envoys of the Three Kingdoms kept causing trouble in Duting Post, and fights and armed fights often occurred.

Through this, the Song Dynasty was able to learn more unknown things about the three countries through investigations, interrogations and other methods.

"As for Zhenla, please trust me for the time being."

"What about Zhancheng?" Zhao Xu squinted his face and spoke righteously, as if he wanted to bring justice to Zhancheng: "Zhancheng is not framed by Jiaozhi, right?"

"Chapter the city, my vassal!"

"The king pays tribute on time and regards the Song Dynasty as the suzerain. Since he is my vassal, I cannot ignore him!"

"When you return, please tell everyone in Jiaozhi that from now on, no one can attack the city without guilt!"

"Even if you are guilty, you should ask for my order! If you attack Champa without getting my order, then... I can only follow the teachings of the saints and send troops to help."

"One hundred thousand soldiers from the eight Annan states can gather together day and night!"

Following Zhao Xu's words, everyone in the palace took a step forward one after another. Each of them, a strong man like an iron tower, stared at Li Taide eagerly, putting great pressure on him.

Li Taide suddenly lost his composure. In desperation, he could only treat a dead horse as a living horse doctor, bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, calm down! Your Majesty, calm down!"

"My country's attack on the city was not without reason, but because it was a crime to occupy the city..."

"Is it a crime to occupy the city?" Zhao Xu snorted: "The ruler of the country comes to court according to the rules and has always been respectful. What crime is there?"

Li Taide paid his respects and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know something. The country that occupied the city originally belonged to the barbarian tribe of Yi and Di. The country did not respect the teachings of the saints, but used the imported Yi and Di methods to classify people into high and low, and to judge their castes..."

There is nothing he can do!

He must be in Bianjing to win the understanding of the Southern Dynasty.

Let the monarchs and ministers of the Southern Dynasty open the door for the southern expedition and capture the city of Jiaozhi.

The reason is simple - Jiaozhi now faces the task of paying tribute of two million stones of rice every year.

It can only be compensated from Champa.

Only by continuing the northern expedition to Champa and Chenla, and using the population and wealth of these two countries for our own purposes, can we win living space for the Cochin country.

Otherwise, as time goes by, it will be Jiaozhi who is beaten by mixed doubles!

"Oh!" Zhao Xu sat back: "Is this true?"

"How dare I deceive Your Majesty?" Li Taide, as if grasping a life-saving straw, began to accuse the Champa people of various systems that were very different from those in the Central Plains.

Zhao Xu listened and just smiled.

The state of Champa is the ancient forest city and belongs to the Hindu country.

In other words, this is a little Ah San in Southeast Asia.

As for the Jiaozhi people, they took advantage of the war in the late Tang Dynasty and took the opportunity to go out independently.

But it is still generally a traditional Confucian society.

This is also the reason why Jiaozhi and Champa became feuding and mortal enemies.

These two countries not only have geographical conflicts.

Cochin wants to expand, and Champa is a stumbling block on its way to the Mekong Delta.

Without destroying Champa, Cochin will never be able to obtain the rich Mekong River Basin.

At the same time, the two countries are completely different in culture, system, and belief, and are naturally hostile!

Therefore, conquering Champa was the mission of the Cochin people.

Since its founding, all dynasties of the Cochin Dynasty have never given up on this mission.

After Li Taide finished speaking, Zhao Xu said cooperatively: "If this is indeed the case, this city occupier is indeed guilty."

This sentence gave Li Taide great encouragement.

He immediately began to continue his accusation against Champa, and his words were extremely exaggerated, almost describing Champa as a country of beasts with green faces and fangs, and human faces and beast hearts.

Zhao Xu listened quietly to Li Taide's words, and then said leisurely: "Even so, if you are guilty of occupying the city, you should attack it as a king."

Li Taide's mood suddenly hit rock bottom.

"But..."

"The Song Dynasty now has no intention of spending time on expeditions."

"If things are as you say, it would make sense for Jiaozhi to attack and investigate the crime on your behalf."

Li Taide, who had originally intended to give up, became inspired again.

"It's just..." Zhao Xu looked at him and saw: "Does Jiaozhi still have the strength to conquer the city now?"

This is the key!

This year's Song army marched south, dealing a devastating blow to the already weak Jiaozhi military strength!

Li Changjie's entire army was wiped out, and the entire area north of the Fuliang River fell into the hands of the Song Dynasty and became a paradise for chieftains and wealthy families.

It doesn't stop there.

As the Song army approached Fuliang River, Thanglong Mansion was exposed to the Song army.

This forced Jiaozhi to bring back a large number of its troops in the south to guard Thang Long Palace.

As a result, Champa and Chenla cheered and continued to move south.

Champa wanted to regain the lost territory, while Chenla wanted to get rid of the enemy once and for all that stopped him from running towards the sea.

This is why Jiaozhi was so obedient and began to deliver the first batch of tribute rice in accordance with the treaty.

No more easing the relationship with the Song Dynasty.

Then, the southern defense line of the Cochin Kingdom may be penetrated by Champa and Chenla.

At the same time, this is also the reason why Champa and Chenla are so eager to enter the DPRK.

They wanted to persuade the Song Dynasty to continue the conquest of Jiaozhi. It was best to let the Song Dynasty do the dirty work for them, and then they would pick peaches.

Zhao Xu had foreseen this early. As soon as the first batch of rice was delivered to the Jiaozhi people, he ordered Zhang Dun to release more than a hundred captured Jiaozhi generals.

At the same time, Zhang Dun was asked to write to Shenglong Mansion, guaranteeing that as long as Jiaozhi delivered tribute rice on time, the Song Dynasty would never cross the Furiang River.

To show his sincerity, Zhang Dun also stated that the Song Dynasty would not build ships along the Fuliang River.

With Zhang Dun's guarantee, Jiaozhi people were able to take a breather and organized an army of more than 30,000 from around Shenglong Palace to go north. They appointed the released generals as officers and let these people with rich experience in fighting Champa and Chenla lead the army. , thereby stabilizing the line of defense.

But that's about it.

Today's Jiaozhi, let alone taking the initiative to attack, is struggling to defend.

When Li Taide heard Zhao Xu's question, he was suddenly filled with happiness. He immediately bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to extend your grace to Jiaozhi!"

"If I receive His Majesty's grace, I will die a hundred times to repay it!"

Zhao Xu looked at it and praised in his heart: "Shangdao! He is a good comprador seedling!"

(End of this chapter)