People in the Song Dynasty were lawless

Chapter 298 Li Yuanhao voluntarily surrenders

Xishizhen, later Yuzhong County.

Because it is located on the border between Qingtang and the Song Dynasty, it has increasingly become an important commercial town.

Before Xixia opened the Hexi Corridor and became a middleman between the Song Dynasty and the Western Regions, many merchants from the Western Regions had to take a long way to come through the Hehuang Corridor.

And across the Hehuang Corridor is Lanzhou.

Therefore, Xining and Lanzhou City, where the Qingtang regime was located, became places where businessmen gathered.

Along with this prosperity, Xishi Town slowly prospered.

Especially in recent years, the Song Dynasty has become more enthusiastic about foreign trade. Since then, Xishi has become an important transportation hub connecting commerce in the Western Regions.

At this moment, outside the town, there are endless tents as far as the eye can see. On the left bank of the Qingshui River, less than a mile away from the town, there are more than a dozen campsites of various sizes forming a fortress.

Soil and water erosion in the northwest is serious, and vegetation is becoming increasingly scarce. Therefore, Yang Kai used local materials, poured soil with water, and built the wall into a village wall, which was built against the hilly slopes in the west.

There are several camps on the top of the mountain, with dozens of steel cannons shining brightly above them. Their bright silver colors shine brightly under the setting sun in winter.

In the main camp below, Yang Kai threw away the documents in his hand and said, "What is Zhao Yuanhao doing?"

He had just met with Li Yuanhao's envoy at the front camp. In addition to Li Yuanhao's letter, the envoy also brought a box with a person's head in it. After opening it, he could see that the person died with his eyes open.

Yang Kai was speechless and had to let the envoy go down first while he discussed with many of his subordinates in the rear camp.

He had just finished reading Li Yuanhao's letter, looked around at the generals sitting on the chairs on both sides, and said: "He sent Zhang Yuan's head over, saying it was a sincerity to the Song Dynasty, but he couldn't understand human speech, right? "

Ren Fu, deputy general manager of the Qin Feng Road and Yan Road Ma Infantry, scratched his head and said, "Could it be that the commander-in-chief didn't make it clear? Let them mistakenly think that taking Zhang Yuan's head can calm the anger of the court?"

"Bullshit."

Yang Kai rolled his eyes and said, "I have already made it clear. If Zhao Yuanhao doesn't understand, he will be extremely stupid."

As he spoke, he touched his goatee under his chin, narrowed his eyes and said, "In my opinion, this Li Yuanhao is just pretending to understand. He thinks he wants to use Zhang Yuan's head to fool me."

Ren Fu thought for a while and said: "Why don't you go directly and tell the envoy that you Xixia are so arrogant and harassing our Song Dynasty, the court is furious. You are so ungrateful. If you don't pay money to compensate, our heavenly army of Song Dynasty will inevitably give way." You know how powerful it is.”

"You're a lump of wood."

Yang Kai hated the fact that iron cannot be made into steel and said: "We, China, are a country of etiquette and have always convinced people with virtue. How can we take advantage of others and do anything wantonly?"

Ren Fu stared at him with a pair of intelligent eyes, looking at him blankly, not knowing why.

Jingtai, who was a Jinshi next to him and was promoted to the deputy transport envoy and general manager of troops and horses on Qinfeng Road due to his merits, said in a low voice: "You don't understand. This matter must be done in a straight and honest manner. Foreign countries cannot think that I, the great Chinese, are bullying others."

"Forehead"

Ren Fu still didn't understand.

None of them cared about Zhang Yuan's head.

Everyone is thinking about completing the task assigned by Zhao Jun - how to blackmail Xixia.

But it’s not easy to see clearly.

This is actually the difference between Chinese thinking and Western thinking.

Western thinking belongs to bandit logic. If I defeat you, I can plunder, rob, burn, kill, etc. and do whatever I want.

However, ancient Chinese Confucianism emphasizes benevolence and righteousness in dealing with the world, and persuading others with virtue.

Even if I am stronger than you, I will not bully you for no reason, I will only use appropriate reasons.

For example, when South Vietnam killed Han envoys, they slaughtered them into nine counties; when King Wan killed Han envoys, they headed to the north of the county; when North Korea killed Han envoys, they were immediately executed.

This is called a teacher's reputation.

Although Xixia invaded the border area, Li Yuanhao always emphasized that he was not an enemy of the Song Dynasty, but a feud with the Qingtang clan. It was reasonable for them to attack Qingtang.

It is understandable that the Song Dynasty would help based on its alliance with Qingtang, but it is difficult to use this excuse to attack Xixia.

After all, Xixia had already saved her face and didn't give too many excuses.

In fact, including Zhao Jun's request for compensation for Xixia's defeat, many people within the court felt that this was unreasonable.

Even if Greater China wins the war, it can just teach them a lesson, so why force them to make confessions to the court?

Even if they have to make offerings, they will do so on their own initiative. All nations will come to the court, and surrounding countries will offer some local specialties, and the court will give generous rewards.

Only in this way can the generosity of the court be demonstrated.

It sounds like these officials in the imperial court are outrageous and have something going on in their minds.

After all, from the perspective of reality and interests, the situation of the tribute system in ancient China is quite a bit about saving face and suffering.

But it is undeniable that it is this system that has constructed a set of East Asian values ​​with Confucianism as the core.

Just like the mold emperor of later generations spreads its values ​​of cooking in dishes and nourishing oil.

It is precisely because of the existence of this set of values ​​that the Chinese Empire can maintain its core position in East Asia.

Otherwise, the Liao Kingdom and later the Jin Kingdom would not be committed to competing with the Song Dynasty in terms of orthodoxy.

It can be said that if the Song Dynasty changed its thinking and started to learn Western thinking, when the bandits defeated the enemy, they would immediately start plundering.

This will inevitably dissatisfy other countries in East Asia that have always regarded the Song Dynasty as the celestial kingdom, and at the same time, their faith will collapse.

This is very unfavorable to building common values ​​in the future and then completing the Eastern Pole strategy of seeking to conquer the entire East Asia.

Therefore, Zhao Jun also mentioned in his letter to Yang Kai that Li Yuanhao should take the initiative to offer war compensation as much as possible. In this way, it would not be the Song Dynasty forcing the neighboring countries to submit confessions, but Xixia taking the initiative to compensate.

"It seems that I am too shameless, making Yuan Hao mistakenly think that I can be bullied."

Yang Kai looked around and said: "When Fan Xianggong was in the northwest, Jingyuan Road, Huanqing Road, Linyan Road, and even Yongxing Military Road were responsible for the heavy burden of food and grass in the rear. But I, Qin Feng Road, never had a chance to show my strength. Now we are here." it's time to."

Jingtai asked: "Who is the Commander-in-Chief?"

"Knock, knock, Yuan Hao."

Yang Kai pondered for a moment, glanced at the map on the table, and then said: "Go and send someone to tell Zun Siluo that we are going to march forward and meet him at the mouth of the river."

They are still stationing troops at Qingtang and the border of the Song Dynasty. It doesn't mean that they can't march, but they can't go without saying hello to Xisiluo.

Now is the honeymoon period between the Song Dynasty and Qingtang. If the Song Dynasty is too tough, too reckless, and directly breaks into their territory without any consultation with Zushiluo, it is very likely to cause resentment from Zushiluo.

Only by treating allies like the spring breeze turns into rain and treating enemies like the autumn wind and falling leaves can we establish surrounding international prestige and make surrounding countries feel that the Song Dynasty is the most reliable ally.

As for whether they will be annexed in the future, that is a matter for the future. Anyway, a comprehensive invasion of economy, culture, etc. will be just an excuse in the future, just like Zhezong later took over Qingtang.

Qinzhou Bingma Qianjun Jia Kui is a young general. He is only thirty-five years old this year. Five years ago, as the deputy commander of the front squad of Gongsheng Army Palace, he was transferred to the northwest to fight against Xixia. Due to his military merit, he was gradually promoted to the sixth rank of a state. He is a mid-level general with a good command of soldiers and horses.

He heard that Yang Kai was about to beat Li Yuanhao and said quickly: "Commander Commander, I have been to Lanzhou before and know a small road that can lead directly to Zhuolu City. If a large army comes to the city, I believe Yuan Hao will follow!"

"Oh?"

When Yang Kai learned about this, he thought for a moment and nodded slightly: "Well, okay, then I will make you the vanguard, leading 8,000 people, to attack the enemy's rear from the small road!"

"Yes!"

Jia Kui was overjoyed.

The small road he mentioned is actually the section from Lanzhou to Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport on the later Beijing-Tibet Expressway, which belongs to Zhongchuan Town, Lanzhou New District.

There are large hills and mountains to the west. Beyond these hills is Yongdeng County, which is now Zhuoluo City.

At present, Yang Kai was dispatching troops and generals while communicating with Xi Siluo.

Around late December, Yang Kai mobilized more than 30,000 people from the rear, bringing the total army to 50,000. Including the Huining garrison, there were about 60,000 Song troops who began to encircle and suppress Li Yuanhao's tribe.

Today's Song Army can be said to be carrying out military reforms while fighting wars. After eliminating a large number of old and weak, the original military population of northwest and Hebei was at least 200,000.

At present, there are only 180,000 people on the Northwest Fifth Road, and only about 240,000 people in Hebei. The rest of the Forbidden Army is distributed around Bianliang.

Therefore, Yang Kai mobilized one-third of the entire northwest force to fight Li Yuanhao this time.

It doesn't look like much, but don't forget that there is also Xisiluo.

Qingtang's territory is small, and even if all the people are soldiers, they can still gather 60,000 to 70,000 people. It has been so long since the war started in September, which is enough for them to mobilize their troops.

In this way, the combined forces of both sides totaled more than 100,000 people. After Yang Kai reunited with Xisiluo at the mouth of the river, he led the army northward and pressed on Zhuoluo City.

On December 26, in the northwest wilderness, snowflakes flew, flooding the entire world.

The soldiers were all wearing cotton-padded clothes and looking towards the north.

Amidst the flying snow, Zhuoluo City is located on the bank of the river. To the west is the surging river bank, and on the other side are the towering mountains.

There is a large plain on the east side, which is almost the county seat of Yongdeng County in later generations. But at the end of the plain ten miles away, there are high mountains, with a blanket of snow covering the top of the mountain, which is as beautiful as a picture scroll.

On the top of the mountain on the west side, about Woniu Mountain west of Yongdeng County in later generations, Li Yuanhao occupied a dangerous position on the mountain and set up camp. There were also some cannons on the top of the mountain.

The Song army did not dare to get too close, so they camped twenty miles outside the city and began to occupy nearby mountains.

On the top of the city, Li Yuanhao looked sadly outside the city. When the messenger came to report, even though he took Zhang Yuan's head, Yang Kai refused the Xixia peace negotiation and instead criticized Xixia's behavior righteously.

Use this to test the Song Dynasty?

Obviously, the Song Dynasty no longer cared about the death of Zhang Yuan, a traitor and traitor. What they wanted was that Xixia had to pay a heavy price for this matter.

"Your Majesty, what do the Song Kingdom want from us? Zhang Yuan's head has been sent to us, are they still not satisfied?"

Fei Tingguxi, who accompanied Li Yuanhao on patrol at the top of the city, said angrily.

How do they know what Song Dynasty wants?

Li Yuanhao didn't say it clearly, and he was very confused now. Song Dynasty obviously wanted to teach him a lesson. The envoy had understood Yang Kai's meaning and conveyed it to him. It was up to him to make his own decision. But asking the nomads to cede land and pay compensation was obviously a bit unwilling. When he first launched his army to attack the Song Dynasty, he planned to annex the entire Shaanxi Road of the Song Dynasty.

No matter how bad it is, let the Song Dynasty give you coins as it did to the Liao Kingdom.

How can you be so cowardly?

But the situation is stronger than the people, and Li Yuanhao doesn't know what to do now.

He looked into the distance and was thinking about whether to continue to resist stubbornly in the face of the alliance between the Song Army and Xisiluo.

Qiu Hu, the roommate next to him, suddenly pointed to the distance and said in horror: "Your Majesty, look over there."

"what happened?"

Li Yuanhao was shocked and quickly turned his head to look east.

I saw countless figures vaguely appearing on the top of the mountain to the east, amidst the snow in winter.

Although I can't see clearly what is over there, I can tell with my toes that the Song Army must have occupied the top of the mountain and may be installing cannons.

"How could this happen? How did Song Jun go to the mountain over there?"

Li Yuanhao was shocked.

It would be impossible for the Song army to take a detour. There are hundreds of miles of mountains to the east, and there is no way for them to go.

As for going to Dongshan from under their noses, that is even more impossible.

"Does the Song Army have heavenly soldiers?"

The other generals were also shocked.

Little did they know that Jia Kui had detoured hundreds of kilometers from the north side of Lanzhou.

Just when everyone was at a loss, Jia Kui said to the surrounding artillerymen on the mountain in the distance: "Are you ready?"

"General, it's been installed."

"Give his mother a shot."

"Yes!"

Immediately, an artillery team began loading ammunition.

Then ignite and launch.

"boom!"

A loud bang.

More than ten miles away, on top of the mountains, a black iron egg drew a perfect parabola in the air.

Then, in everyone's eyes, it fell down in less than a few seconds and headed straight towards Zhuoluodong City Gate.

"boom!"

There was another loud noise, and the cannonball hit the city wall. Although the city wall did not collapse in an instant, the entire east city gate seemed to be shaken. The soldiers above could feel the vibration under their feet.

And that cannonball was embedded in the city wall!

The soldiers in the entire city stared at this scene in stunned silence, and the city was silent.

Only Li Yuanhao's originally livid face turned blue to purple. After a long time, he squeezed out a few words from between his teeth and said: "Call A'Tuo."

A'Tuo, from the Mi Qin family, was the deputy chief chamberlain of Li Yuanhao's palace and the envoy on this mission.

He came in a hurry.

Li Yuanhao dispersed the surrounding generals and said to him alone: ​​"Go out of the city to the Song camp and tell Yang Kai that Da Xia is willing to provide 3,000 cattle, 5,000 sheep, 800 horses, and 1,000 camels every year in exchange for Song's retreat. "

"Yes."

Mi Qin A'Tuo quickly accepted.

When the south city gate opened, Mi Qin'atuo led the envoy to the Song camp again as an envoy.

At this time, the army of the Song Dynasty had set up camp outside Nancheng, with numerous tents.

Mi Qin A'Tuo's envoys waited outside the stronghold in the snow for almost half an hour before being allowed in.

In the tent of General Song Camp, Yang Kai saw him and said calmly: "I have kept Envoy Xia waiting for a long time. I am busy with official duties. I am mobilizing troops and generals to prepare to attack the city, but I have neglected Envoy Xia."

He said this with a gun and a stick, but Mi Qin A'Tuo didn't dare to criticize him, so he quickly said: "Wait soon, wait soon, the commander-in-chief is busy with official duties, and it is a villain who is interrupting."

"hehe."

Seeing his respectful attitude, Yang Kai said with a smile: "What is the purpose of the Xia envoy coming again? Didn't I tell you? If I can't teach you a lesson, how can I explain to the court?"

Mi Qin A'tuo immediately raised his hand and said: "Commander Commander, our king has never wanted to invade the border of the Song Dynasty. This is a misunderstanding. In order to appease the anger of the Song Dynasty, the king is willing to give 800 cattle, 2,000 sheep, and 300 horses. , five hundred camels in exchange for the retreat of the Song Dynasty."

"Oh?"

Yang Kai raised his eyes and said, "Do you want to exchange this little thing for the Song Dynasty to withdraw its troops?"

"Of course not."

Mi Qin A'Tuo said hurriedly: "It is offered to the Song Dynasty every year."

These things may not seem like much, but based on the price, they are actually quite a lot.

In the Song Dynasty, the price of a cow was generally around 5-7 guan, and war horses were much more expensive. By the Renzong Dynasty, the price had reached - guan per horse.

The value of sheep and camels ranged from 1 to 3 guan and 20 to 40 guan respectively, so adding up all of them, the conditions given by Li Yuanhao were almost an annual tribute of guan.

However, this kind of thing naturally requires bargaining. The main reason is that after the defeat of Xixia, the contract signed by Li Yuanhao included an agreement to supply 1,000 sheep, 500 cattle, 500 war horses, and 300 camels.

It's just that Zhao Zhen had to maintain the tribute system, so he gave back more or less whatever Li Yuanhao gave.

Now it is a war compensation, so there will naturally be no rebates. As Mi Qin A Tuo's envoy, he will naturally try to keep the price as low as possible, so as to recover some losses for Daxia.

"Humph!"

After Yang Kai heard this, he slapped the table angrily and said: "I'm sending you a beggar. Waiting for the military expenditure of the Song Dynasty. You don't want to compensate me for the huge military expenditures of the Song Dynasty? Then I'll beat you and Xixia will compensate you!"

"Sishuai, calm down, Sishuai, calm down!"

Mi Qin A'tuo repeatedly raised his hands in salute and said: "Si Shuai also knows that our Xixia country is poor and far from being as rich as the Song Dynasty. How can we afford a high price? Si Shuai, for the sake of our small country and few people, please give me a high price." Bear with me, bear with me.”

He was also educated, otherwise he would not have been sent as an envoy by Li Yuanhao.

Seeing him bowing repeatedly, Yang Kai pretended to calm down his anger and said calmly: "As a small country with few people, you should stay safe and keep to yourself. You should never use weapons wantonly. Don't you hear that "a country is small but does not feel humble? Those who are young and fearless of the strong, who are rude and insult their neighbors, who are greedy and clumsy in friendship, will they perish? "."

"Yes Yes Yes."

Mi Qin A'Tuo said respectfully: "As long as the Song Dynasty is willing to withdraw its troops, the king will never dare to use weapons rashly again."

"so be it."

Yang Kai thought for a while and said: "Every year, there are five thousand cattle, ten thousand sheep, three thousand horses, and five thousand camels."

"Sishuai, Sishuai, you can't do it."

Mi Qin A'Tuo burst into tears and said: "I am poor and weak in Xixia. If we can afford so many livestock and spread the news, won't the Song Dynasty be known as bullying the weak? Please think again, Commander-in-chief."

Yang Kai is a lion with a big mouth, and this series of things will be worth more than 300,000 yuan.

Not everyone is a Song Dynasty. Even though Xixia has made a lot of money relying on the Silk Road in recent years, the total amount is so high that their annual profits are only about ten or two hundred thousand dollars.

To take it seriously would cost Xixia half his life.

So seeing how pitiful he was, Yang Kai walked down the slope and said, "Then according to the envoy's opinion, what's the most?"

"I, Xixia, can only give you at most 1,200 cows, 3,000 sheep, 500 horses, and 500 camels. Please, Commander-in-Chief, for the sake of my Xixia serving the Song Dynasty as the sect master for many years, please bypass me Xixia." Bar."

Mi Qin A Tuo said pitifully.

Yang Kai narrowed his eyes.

These things are worth a lot, probably worth about 100,000 guan.

But Yang Kai was still not satisfied and immediately said: "I want three thousand cattle and five thousand sheep."

The purpose of ordering more cattle is to bring them back to Shaanxi and use them as farm cattle.

"Yes."

Mi Qin A'Tuo pretended to be in trouble, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "Xixia is a poor country, so it can only use all its strength to win over the Song Dynasty."

Compared with cattle and sheep, war horses are the most expensive, followed by camels. It can save 300 war horses and 500 camels, which is equivalent to a reduction of more than 40,000 guan, which can be regarded as being able to go back to the king on mission.

Yang Kai said calmly: "Why do you use all your strength to please me, the Song Dynasty? It sounds like I, the Song Dynasty, are bullying the weak. This is obviously a gift that you Xixia voluntarily provided to me, the Song Dynasty. How can you say it so ugly? You say Yes or no."

Mi Qin A'Tuo said with tears: "Yes, it is a gift that I, Xixia, "voluntarily" gave to the Song Dynasty."

"Okay, so be it."

Yang Kai waved his hand and said to Jingtai beside him: "A contract must be written in white and black."

At that time, the Song Dynasty signed a contract and asked the envoy to go back and sign it for Li Yuanhao.

From then on, Li Yuanhao had to pay more than 100,000 yuan of annual coins to the Song Dynasty every year. In this battle, he lost his wife and soldiers, which was a huge loss.

(End of this chapter)