Song Gexing

Chapter 280 The Surrendered Seljuq Empire
"Your Majesty, how about withdrawing to the south, how about withdrawing to Juzhanti?"

"Ji Zhanti?"

Zhao Fang looked at Fu Bi in surprise. Juzhanti was far away from Talas. Although they were both on the south bank of the Syr Darya River, one was in the north and the other was in the south.

The Syr Darya River is blocked by the Pamir Plateau, turns around at Juzhanti, and flows into the southern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains.

Of course, this is also a strategic location. The disadvantage is that it is on the south bank. To reinforce Talas and Balasagon, we need to cross the river before we can move forward.

Therefore, Zhao Fang never thought of setting up a military town here. Wouldn't it overlap with Shule? Although its location is closer to the front line than Shule, it has to cross the river after all.

Don't think that the drought in the northwest will mean that the river water will be stable. The water in large rivers like the Syr Darya River is turbulent, and it will be even worse in summer.

"No, Juzhan is too far away. I decided to expand Baishui City. This city is located between Nandala and Talas, but it is close to the upper reaches of the Tarim River in the south..."

After arguing for a long time, Zhao Fang finally made his decision. The officials saw that it made sense, so they stopped opposing and settled the matter.

However, Fu Bi's proposed Ju Zhan Ti was also strengthened. Although there was no plan to set up another military town, a thousand soldiers were added and two bastions were built with cement.

The ministers will take care of the rest, and Zhao Fang will face a large group of warblers and swallows next.

Although Zhang Dun was impeached and punished.But the person who sent them did not return. Now that they had arrived in Bianjing City, it was naturally impossible for Zhao Fang to take them all.

But he must choose first, just like a lion patrolling its territory, looking around the lionesses and picking out some that he likes, and the rest will be rewarded to the minister.

All those under the age of 12 were left behind to serve as maids in the palace. This was to protect them. He was very aware of the bad tastes of this era.

Whether it was the Liao Kingdom or the Song Dynasty, it was common for girls to get married in their teens, but he didn't like it. He rewarded these little girls, but it actually harmed them.

Xining's seven years in the Song Dynasty soon passed in joy. What he didn't know was that it was precisely because of his changes that Byzantium escaped disaster.

Originally, after the Seljuk Empire occupied Ani, the capital of the Byzantine Armenian province three years ago, it was planning to continue its conquest of the Byzantine Empire in a few years.

They would capture Jerusalem and Damascus in 1670, three years later, becoming a nightmare for the Byzantine Empire.

The helpless Byzantine Empire had no choice but to ask the Pope for help, which began the Crusades.

But this year's war caused the Seljuk Empire to suffer heavy losses. The result of the defeat and peace talks will naturally have to pay a price.

Originally, the Song army stopped at Congling, but Seljuk crossed Congling first. In order to prevent them from doing such a thing again in the future, the Song Dynasty included the entire Congling into its territory during this negotiation.

The Seljuk Empire was unwilling to give in, but it had no choice. The Song army in Tibet crossed Pangong Tso and captured northern Kashmir. It had already reached the south of Congling.

Arslan couldn't even object, because in the Song Dynasty, most of Kashmir belonged to Tibet.

At this time, Pakistan did not exist, and India was even more divided. The northern part was originally occupied by the Seljuq Empire.

Islam on the Indian subcontinent began during the rule of the Seljuk Empire, with the Indus River as the boundary. All the land west of the river was ruled by Seljuk, and there were dozens of vassal states east of the river.

It is said that the Seljuk Empire at this time is definitely strong enough to compete with the Liao Kingdom, Song Dynasty, etc., and it is impossible to admit defeat in one battle.But the problem is that the focus of the Seljuk Empire has always been on the west. Although the Byzantine Empire is exhausted, it is still a behemoth.

Moreover, the hatred between the two sides is as deep as the sea. As long as there is a chance, they would like to bite each other, because the war between them is not about other things, but because of faith.

This is a collision between Christian civilization and Islamic civilization, and it is an irreconcilable, life-and-death dispute.

Unlike the Song Dynasty or the Liao Dynasty, there is no such religious hatred between each other, there are only entanglements in interests, so no one wants to fight to the end.

Moreover, both sides agree that they have the same origin. The Seljuks are descendants of the Turks. They have always believed that they are noble descendants from the East and have the same ancestors as the Han people.

Of course, they recognized the descendants of Yan and Huang but not the descendants of the dragon. This was not until after the Manchus entered the customs that the Turks forgot that they were descendants of Emperor Yan and no longer insisted that they had the same origin as the Han people.

This is related to the fact that Turkey was conquered by Western civilization in later generations. Although its religious beliefs still maintained Islam, other aspects shifted to the West.

But before the Ming Dynasty, the Ottoman Empire still maintained respect for the Central Plains dynasty, and still believed that it was a descendant of Emperor Yan who came from the east.

The Rumi Gun was an improved version of the flintlock gun that Ottoman paid tribute to the Ming Emperor. You can say that he wanted to please the Ming Dynasty because of financial interests.

But it cannot be denied that at that time, they still had a yearning for the Central Plains Dynasty, and even awe.

Therefore, the Seljuk Empire did not want to fight to the death with the Song Dynasty. It had a good relationship with the Song Dynasty. If they did not feel a crisis, they would not go to war with the Song Dynasty.

After being defeated in the first battle, they were even more in awe of the Song Dynasty. They did not use all their strength, but the Song Dynasty did not use all its strength.

And this time they joined forces with the Liao Kingdom and the Black Khanate to take action. If they were defeated in this way, it would be a slap in the face. It would be wise to admit defeat quickly.

Arslan breathed a sigh of relief when he declared himself a vassal, paid tribute, and gave up the fight for Congling. The Song Dynasty also promised not to continue westward into the territory of the Seljuk Empire.

Although the oaths between countries were almost like farts, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty's promise was still credible in his opinion.

They have a criminal record. It has been more than 40 years since the Song and Liao alliance. The Song Dynasty has never attacked the Liao Kingdom first. Moreover, Zhao Zhen's benevolence has spread even in the Western Regions. How come they have never heard of it.

As Zhao Zhen's son, Zhao Fang was naturally trustworthy in his heart. Arslan even sent his successor Maliksha to Bianjing in person.

Of course, this was not a hostage, but the first tribute after the alliance. Zhao Fang personally summoned him, had a cordial conversation with him, and rewarded him generously.

Of course Zhao Fang had a purpose. As the most outstanding monarch in the history of the Seljuk Empire, Maliksha deserved to put down his arrogance and cultivate feelings.

In history, it was this man who moved the capital to Baghdad and expanded the territory of the Seljuq Empire to its largest period, reaching the Ukrainian steppes in the north, the Arabian Sea in the south, Syria in Asia Minor in the west, and Xinjiang in the east.

Malik Shah, who returned to Seljuk, was full of praise for Zhao Fang and suggested to Arslan that he send some royal children to study in Bianjing.

And bluntly said that the descendants of the golden wolf, how can they not know the oriental culture, it is a humiliation to the ancestors.

(End of this chapter)