Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 354 Eastern Roman Empire (Thanks to book friend Shuxianmochiguairen/Mutouren 131400 monthly votes!)
The Deputy Minister and Minister of Personnel Li Hang came out and said:

"Your Majesty, this time the alliance of more than 20 countries in the Star Sect world is using military force against our Great Zhou. I made a rough estimate and found that the total population of these countries is 50 million, with millions of soldiers, which is far from comparable to the Liao Kingdom in the past.

In my opinion, the five corps of the Dragon Army stationed in Bianjing, namely the 3rd Corps Jingsheng, the 5th Corps Zhang Ning, the 7th Corps Guan Lin, the 11th Corps Cao Guangshi, and the 12th Corps Liang Ying, should all be deployed in full force to Central Asia to fight against the Star Cult world. "

Currently, the Great Zhou Longxiang Army has sixteen corps. In addition to the four deployed as local garrisons mainly on the border, the first to twelfth corps are available for maneuver.

In order to save manpower, the garrisons in various states in the interior where public security is good and bandits are non-existent have been disbanded, and the government constables are sufficient.

Zhang Ning's 5th Corps and Cao Guangshi's 11th Corps, which had led the expedition against Dali, had returned to Bian Jing half a month ago and had rested after being rewarded for their merits.

Chai Zongxun nodded slightly and said:

“What you two nobles said are both good ideas.

I will first dispatch the five Longxiang Army regiments in Bianliang to rush to the Central Asian territory to defend against the enemy. Later, when the three regiments that went on the expedition to the North Sea and the two regiments that conquered the Tibetan tribes return to Bianliang, I will seize the opportunity to send additional reinforcements.

Our Great Zhou Empire must win this battle against the Xingxing Sect no matter what! I just hope that Cao Bin and Yang Ye's two armies can hold out until the reinforcements arrive!"

The distance from Bian Jing to Basharagun in Central Asia is 30,000 miles. Even if the cavalry of the Longxiang Army traveled day and night, it would take at least four months to reach the destination.

Even though the "Great Zhou Straight Road" has now been built to Zhangye Prefecture on the Hexi Corridor, it can only save two months at most.

The emperor and his ministers were worried whether Cao Bin and Yang Ye, who had only two corps of troops, could hold out against the Samanids and other enemies of the Star Sect that were ten times their number.

Minister of Rites Kou Zhun came out and said:
"Your Majesty, if the enemy can form an alliance, so can I.

A few days ago, on behalf of the Ministry of Rites, I met with some Qin merchants who were stationed in my Bian Jing. According to them, the Qin Empire adopted Nestorianism as its state religion. Since its founding more than 400 years ago, it has been at odds with the Nestorian countries due to different religious beliefs, and the two countries have been at war for many years.

The people of the Qin Empire called themselves the "Roman Empire" and the Romans.

According to these Roman merchants, the current monarch of the country is Basil II, who succeeded to the throne at the age of five and is also a wise and capable monarch.

The country has a vast territory, spanning three Mediterranean continents, with a population of 20 million, and is also a major power in the world.

Your Majesty, it would be better for you to form an alliance with the Roman Empire and jointly deal with the Star Religious Alliance. With their help, victory will be much easier.

In order for our Great Zhou Empire to defeat the Star Religion National Alliance as soon as possible, I am willing to serve as an envoy to the Roman Empire on behalf of Your Majesty!"

Because Chai Zongxun has vigorously encouraged the development of foreign trade over the past twenty years, the trade between Great Zhou and other countries has prospered, and the understanding of the world has also increased.

Byzantium originally referred to the ancient city of Byzantium located on the Bosphorus Strait. In the 4th century, Constantine the Great expanded the eastern capital of the Roman Empire on the site of the ancient city, making it the capital of the empire.

However, there was no so-called "Byzantine Empire" or "Byzantines" in medieval Europe. At that time, the eastern part of the former Roman Empire was called the "Eastern Roman Empire", its monarch called himself the "Roman Emperor", and the local residents called themselves "Romans", and even their capital was named "New Rome".

Fulin is the name of the Eastern Roman Empire in Chinese Han and Tang history books. In ancient times, it was also called Daqin or Haixi Kingdom.

Depending on the historical period, this name sometimes also refers to the eastern Mediterranean coast areas such as the State of Tang (Syria in Chai Zongxun's previous life).

This name is "Pu Lan" in "Wei Shu·Gao Zong Ji" and "Xian Zu Ji". "Fu Lu Ni" in "Bei Shi·Xi Yu Zhuan". Since the Zhou Shi Zu Chai Zongxun, the Chinese have called Da Qin the Eastern Roman Empire.

In Chai Zongxun's previous life, the Eastern Roman Empire was established in 12 AD and lasted until its demise in . It went through dynasties and lasted for more than a thousand years.

When Basil II, the Eastern Roman Emperor, was 5 years old in , his father, Romanus II, died. He succeeded to the throne and his mother, Queen Fivonna, served as regent.

Over the next ten years, the military aristocracy promoted three co-ruling emperors until Basil II put down the rebellion and took power in 976.

Basil ascended the throne at the age of 5, took power at the age of 18, and finally pacified all hostile forces and truly seized power at the age of 31. Although he was born in the deep palace and raised by women, he had become a mature and experienced monarch after several trials of palace power grabs and rebellions.

After Basil came to power in 983, he keenly saw the great harm that the land annexation and polarization of the Roman Empire posed to the empire's rule, and implemented a series of measures to suppress the powerful and increase the income of the people, but with little success.

Generally speaking, a society will spontaneously polarize into the rich and the poor without intervention. Usually only the strong emperors in the early stages of a dynasty are capable of reversing this trend, while the efforts of emperors in the middle stages of a dynasty often fail to produce the desired results.

After listening to what Kou Zhun said, Chai Zongxun felt somewhat moved.

It should be noted that the Great Zhou Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire were located at the eastern and western poles respectively, and the distance between them was extremely far. Kou Zhun was willing to go on a diplomatic mission for the country, which shows his loyalty to Emperor Chai Zongxun and the country.

Chai Zongxun pondered in his heart: With the current population of the Xingxing Sect National Alliance of 50 million and an army of millions, almost all of which are plate-armored cavalry, and the "Huihui Cannon" whose power is second only to the "Yansu Cannon", it will not be easy for his Great Zhou Empire to win a decisive victory in two or three years like it did in conquering the Liao Dynasty or the Karakhanid Khanate against such a huge opponent.

The war between the Great Zhou and the Star Sect will surely be a protracted war.

Therefore, finding a powerful ally is a necessary strategy for ultimately defeating the Star Religion country.

Chai Zongxun said:

"My dear Lord Kou, you are loyal to your emperor and your country. You are such a rare talent. I will allow you to represent my Great Zhou Empire as an envoy to the Roman Empire!
The journey is extremely long and the road is dangerous. I will order Hu Lian, the Longxiang Guard pacification envoy stationed in Gaochang and the Uighur area, to lead a thousand soldiers to escort you back and forth.

I hope that Lord Kou will complete his mission soon and return safely. I am eagerly waiting for you in Bianjing!"

Kou Zhun bowed deeply to express his gratitude, tears welling up in his eyes, and said:

"I have received such great kindness from Your Majesty, even if I die, I will have no regrets!"

Chai Zongxun sighed:
“Don’t say such things.

I am the true dragon emperor, blessed by heaven.

My dear minister, you are also my "lucky minister". Although the journey to Rome is long and difficult, I believe you will return with a full load!"

After several days of hasty preparations, the five corps of the Longxiang Army in Beijing, totaling 450,000 people, set out in full force on July 16, the 27th year of Kaixi, from Bian Jing and headed for Central Asia.

Kou Zhun, who was sent as an envoy to the Roman Empire, was also among the army.

(End of this chapter)