I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 554: General Attack on Liao! The Rise of the Raw Jurchens and the Mature Jurchens

It was the afternoon of the third day of August and the sun was shining brightly.

Danzhou, on the city gate tower.

Zhao Zhen, Fu Bi, Pang Ji, Su Liang, Han Qi and Liang Shi all changed into clean clothes at the same time.

The six people looked straight ahead, all with smiles on their faces.

It's like a dream.

In the blink of an eye, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun had all returned to the Song Dynasty.

The unfinished work of Taizu and Taizong was completed almost perfectly by this group of people.

They will go down in history and occupy a large section of history books. They are about to create a prosperous era for the Song Dynasty.

This battle.

Of the Liao Kingdom's 50,000 Pi Shi troops, more than 30,000 were killed or wounded; of the 100,000 tribal soldiers, more than 60,000 were killed or wounded; and of the remaining 50,000 miscellaneous soldiers, more than half were killed or wounded.

The Liao people at that time no longer had the ability to engage in a war with the Song Dynasty involving more than 100,000 people.

The destruction of Liao became a matter of time.

At this time.

Zhao Zhen said, "Tonight, the whole army will have an extra meal. After eating and drinking enough, everyone will have a good sleep. Tomorrow we will begin to discuss how to further destroy Liao."

"Yes, official."

All the ministers bowed their hands in unison, looking forward to the upcoming battle.

……

the next morning.

The king and his ministers gathered in the central military tent.

At the forefront, the Yanyun map was removed and replaced by a map of the entire Liao area.

The Liao Kingdom was very large.

It is said to have an area of ​​thousands of miles, with five capitals, six prefectures, and more than 150 states.

However, the main population is concentrated in the northeast, while other places are sparsely populated and extremely poor.

Zhao Zhen picked up a small stick and pointed to a place on the map.

"At present, the Khitans are mainly concentrated in this area. According to the strategy we discussed years ago, the first step to destroy Liao is to take over these four prefectures and two states."

Four prefectures and two states.

That is, Shangjing Linhuang Prefecture, Zhongjing Dading Prefecture, Dongjing Liaoyang Prefecture, Liaoxi Road Xingzhong Prefecture, Pingzhou Road Pingzhou and Changchun Road Changchun Prefecture.

These six cities were the political, commercial, and military centers of the Liao Kingdom, and were also the places where the largest number of Khitans gathered.

"If we take over these four prefectures and two states, capture Yelu Hongji and the Khitan nobles, and then take over the powerful clans of the Jurchens, it will be equivalent to successfully destroying the Liao Dynasty. We can then gradually weaken and nibble away at them."

All the ministers nodded.

To destroy Liao was actually to destroy the Khitan court.

After occupying the important cities of Liao, and capturing or killing Yelu Hongji and the Khitan nobles, Liao entered a state without a court.

Then take down the Jurchens along the northeastern coast.

The remaining people of Liao would naturally surrender to the Song Dynasty quickly.

immediately.

The emperor and his ministers began to discuss the candidates for the capture of the four prefectures and two states and the conquest of the Jurchens.

About half an hour later.

Zhao Zhen concluded: "Okay, next, I, Liang Qing, Pang Qing and I will garrison Yanyun. Two days later, Fu Qing and Han Qing will each lead three groups of soldiers to capture four prefectures and two states."

"Su Qing, Cao Hu is about to occupy Dongying Island. I order you to lead the East China Sea Navy. First, land on Goryeo Island, and then head towards the northeast coast to persuade the Jurchens to surrender. If they don't surrender, we will attack them again! The Longyu Army will also go with you..."

"Also, spread the news quickly in Liao territory, saying that the main reason for Yelu Hongji's defeat in Tanzhou was that he overestimated the combat effectiveness of the Pishi Army, causing the soldiers of various tribes of Liao to serve as human shields and sacrifice in vain."

……

After Zhao Zhen finished his arrangements, he emphasized again: "Except for the four prefectures and two states of Liao, which must be conquered, if other cities sincerely surrender, they will be taken in. The less the war, the better. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for us to transform such a large territory in the future."

At this time.

Han Qi asked, "Sir, if they surrender, can we promise that after we destroy Liao, we will implement a policy where Khitans rule Khitans and Jurchens rule Jurchens, and guarantee their relative independence and freedom?"

Zhao Zhen became hesitant.

The Liao Dynasty's way of managing the Han people and the Jurchens in Yanyun was: using the Han people to govern the Han people, and using the Jurchens to govern the Jurchens.

This method can indeed maintain stability.

But the impression given is that the Liao Kingdom was composed of three parts, and these three parts could split at any time.

"This strategy has both advantages and disadvantages. In order to persuade them to surrender, we can first commit to this strategy!" Zhao Zhen said after thinking about it.

Hearing this, Su Liang immediately stood up.

"Official, no!"

"Back then, the Liao Dynasty used the Jurchens to rule the Jurchens, and the Han people to rule the Han people. It seemed that governance was more convenient, but in fact it divided the people into different levels. Levels mean unfairness, and unfairness will definitely cause problems in the future."

"I suggest that whether they are Khitans or Jurchens, after becoming citizens of the Great Song Dynasty, they must learn Chinese etiquette and Chinese law, and everything must be based on the Song Dynasty Criminal Code. We will not overturn their customs and rules, but their customs and rules must be subject to our rule of law. If there is a conflict, they must follow the Song Dynasty law!"

"In the future, when we transform the Liao Kingdom, it will definitely be a process of comprehensive sinicization. Only in this way can there be equality and the people of the Song Dynasty can be the same. Even if there is civil unrest in the future, it will be a conflict within the family, not because of 'those who are not of my race must have different hearts'."

"If the Song Dynasty wants to unify and create a thousand-year foundation, it must respect our Han rituals and Song laws. Other rituals and customs must be obeyed. There is no room for discussion!"

……

"I second your proposal. According to Jingming's words, persuading them to surrender may increase the difficulty, but the way to benefit future generations and make the Khitans and Jurchens share the same mind and will with us is to pass on the same tradition. The customs may be different, but the most important Han etiquette and Song law must be followed by every citizen of the Song Dynasty."

Fu Bi agreed with Su Liang's opinion very much.

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

Everyone else nodded.

"Okay, let's take this as the guideline and don't go beyond it!" Zhao Zhen also nodded.

Su Liang's words, "Even if there is civil unrest in the future, it will be a conflict within one family, not because they are not of the same race and their hearts must be different" completely moved him.

At present, it is not difficult to completely sinicize the Khitans.

They have been highly sinicized, especially some Khitan nobles, who are no longer pure nomadic people.

As for the Jurchens.

It may be a little difficult, but they must be absolutely obedient.

Only by abiding by the rites of Han and the laws of Song can we be one family; otherwise, sooner or later we will develop disloyalty.

Two days later.

Fu Bi and Han Qi led the army to the Khitan homeland.

Su Liang led 500 soldiers of the Longyu Army and planned to head east to meet Cao Hu on the sea. He would then command the East China Sea navy, first land on Goryeo Island, and then persuade the Jurchens to surrender. If they did not surrender, he would attack them.

……

The fifth day of August.

The news that the Song army had recaptured the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun reached the city of Bianjing.

When the people of Bianjing City learned that the Song Dynasty had won every battle, they were so excited that they ran around to tell each other and killed chickens and sheep.

The rich entertain guests every day, while the poor drink at every meal.

Some teahouses put up signs saying tea is free and cakes are half-price; some restaurants announced that the first 100 customers a day will get a pound of wine for free, and some inns directly said they would treat guests at half price...

The storytellers in the brothels, based on hearsay, compiled more than ten scripts about the Song-Liao War in less than three days.

Each one is brilliant and detailed, as if you saw it with your own eyes.

With the secret intervention of the Imperial City Administration, there are many praises about Zhao Zhen in the storybook.

This was not Zhao Zhen's intention, but the intention of Prime Minister Wen Yanbo who was in Bianjing. He understood that one of the most effective ways to stabilize the country was to make the people worship the monarch.

And Zhao Zhen did a great job in this expedition, his achievements far surpassing those of Emperor Taizong and the previous emperor, and he fully deserves such praise.

The happiest people were the scholars.

In the past, when discussing the orthodoxy of the world, Liao and Song were often given equal weight.

Because their poetry and calligraphy education and imperial examination system have the same origin as the Song Dynasty and were all inherited from the Tang Dynasty.

However, after the recovery of Yanyun, it meant that the Song Dynasty's destruction of Liao was almost a foregone conclusion.

From then on, history books would record that the Song Dynasty was the unified dynasty that succeeded the Han and Tang dynasties.

Everyone is proud of this title.

……

August 15th, Mid-Autumn Festival, night falls.

The moon is as full as a mirror.

After more than ten days of traveling, Su Liang finally got on the boat.

He will pass through the Dengzhou waters and meet up with the East China Sea navy led by Cao Hu in the waters southwest of Goryeo Island.

It was Su Liang who took the initiative to apply to conquer the Jurchens.

He was well aware of the terrible power of the Jurchens.

This time we must govern this nation so that they can put down their bows and arrows, pick up their brushes, and eliminate the barbarity and violence in them.

……

And this time.

Wang Anshi led thousands of officials and was working hard in the Yanyun area.

People like him like to challenge difficult things the most.

If an ordinary official came to Yanyun and saw the gap between this place and other prefectures in the Song Dynasty, saw the ignorance of the people, the backwardness of the system, and the deformed customs, he would certainly feel overwhelmed.

But Wang Anshi was full of excitement, feeling that he had come to a treasure land that could give birth to any miracle.

……

now.

The one who had the hardest time was the Liao emperor, Yelu Hongji.

He led the army in person but suffered a disastrous defeat, resulting in more than half of the Liao's elite troops being killed or wounded, and the Liao completely lost the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

Looking at all the emperors of the Liao Dynasty, he has become the most shameful one.

at the same time.

Many tribes of the Liao Kingdom began to put pressure on Yelu Hongji, saying that he overestimated the combat effectiveness of the Pi Shi Army, causing heavy casualties among the tribal soldiers, and that he must admit his mistake.

While admitting your mistakes, you must also swear a solemn oath.

He promised that even if all the imperial soldiers were killed, they would defend the first big city closest to Yanyun: Zhongjing Dading Prefecture.

Yelu Hongji had no choice but to garrison in Zhongjing Dading Prefecture in person in order to obtain food and tribal soldiers.

At this moment, he has lost confidence in himself. If he can't win again, he might give up on himself.

into the night.

A burst of lascivious music came from Yelu Hongji's tent.

present.

When he was under great pressure, he chose to relieve stress with alcohol and women.

Drinking easily leads to hangovers, and he gradually became addicted to women.

Just as he was making love with four Khitan women, one of his personal guards rushed in.

"Your Majesty, this is bad, this is bad! The mature women are really rebelling, they... they are going to occupy the Bin Mansion!"

Hear this.

Yelu Hongji pushed a woman aside, stood up and picked up the intelligence in the hand of the guard. After reading it, he said coldly: "Immediately send 50,000 tribal soldiers to encircle and suppress them. Anyone who resists will be killed immediately!"

The guard said timidly, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid that the tribe can only mobilize 20,000 soldiers. You...you ordered 50,000 tribal soldiers to destroy the Jurchens this morning!"

Yelu Hongji frowned.

"Then...then first order 20,000 tribal soldiers to destroy the Jurchens."

"Your Majesty, the Dansheng Jurchens have occupied Huanglongfu. Is it possible that they will unite with the Shu Jurchens and then attack the south? Should we persuade them to surrender first, and then destroy them if they refuse? Otherwise... we... I'm afraid we don't have enough troops!"

Snapped!
As soon as the guard finished speaking, Yelu Hongji slapped him to the ground.

"When will it be your turn to teach me how to do things? Those who rebel will be killed. It is useless to persuade them to surrender!"

All Yelu Hongji could think of was killing.

"Yes... yes... yes!" The guard got up and ran away immediately.

Yelu Hongji looked gloomy.

Huanglongfu and Shubinfu are separated by Changbai Mountain. If the two sides unite, most of the northern part of Liao territory will be lost.

pity.

At this time, he could not think of any good strategy, and he could not even get enough food and fodder to support his troops.

He could only secretly order his soldiers to become thieves and steal the wealth of the rich people.

"I don't want to think about it anymore! I don't want to think about it anymore! Let's talk about it tomorrow!" Yelu Hongji shook his head, took off his clothes, and said to the woman in the curtain in front of him: "My beauty, I'm here!"

Yelu Hongji, who once aspired to unify the world and surpass the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor, has now become a waste.

……

Another day.

Above the East China Sea, the sun was shining brightly and a warship was moving quickly.

Su Liang sat on the deck, feeling the sea breeze, holding the information that "Mature women rebelled and occupied the Lubin Mansion" in his hand, and couldn't help but frowning.

There are two types of Jurchens today.

One is called Raw Jurchen, and the other is called Cooked Jurchen.

The Sheng Jurchens were the Jurchens who lived in the Baishan and Heishui regions. They made a living by hunting, lived in poor conditions, had no laws or moral constraints, and behaved extremely barbarically.

At present, the leader of the Shengnuzhen is Li Ji of the Black Water Tribe, who had once been to Bian Jing and met Su Liang.

Rigid has nearly 10,000 men under his command.

They burned, killed, looted and committed all kinds of atrocities. After several encirclement and suppression campaigns by the Liao army, their power grew only to grow.

The Jurchens were the Jurchens who lived near the East China Sea.

They were all powerful families, and now seeing that the Liao Dynasty was on its last legs, they also rose up and chose to rebel.

At present, the Raw Jurchens and the Cooked Jurchens are separated only by the Changbai Mountain.

If they formed an alliance, the Liao Kingdom would soon lose half of its territory in the north, and then would also pose a threat to the Song Dynasty, which wanted to destroy the Liao Kingdom.

Su Liang frowned because he was worried that the Jurchens would unite.

Although the self-proclaimed aristocratic Jurchens looked down on the barbaric and beastly Sheng Jurchens, the Sheng Jurchens also disdained the Jurchens' licking of the Khitans.

But if there are a few sensible people on both sides who facilitate a joint alliance and seize the northern border of Liao, it will cause great trouble for the Song Dynasty to occupy the entire territory of Liao.

Su Liang thought about it, picked up the pen and dipped it in ink, preparing to write a letter of surrender to the leader of Shunuzhen.

At this time, the other party will definitely not surrender.

Su Liang's real purpose was not to persuade them to surrender, but to elevate the status of the mature Jurchens and belittle the raw Jurchens, thereby increasing the conflict between them and making it difficult to form an alliance in the end.

In Su Liang's eyes, if they were educated by mature women, they could be obedient and honest citizens of the Song Dynasty.

But it is not the case with the Shengnuzhen.

They must be beaten so hard that they are afraid to fight, or until there are no adult males left in the tribe, only then will they surrender.

(End of this chapter)