Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 446: Man Conquers Nature (Special thanks to book friend 2017…8585 for the six monthly tickets!)

Chai Zongxun said:

“Sure enough, everything has its pros and cons.

At the beginning, our Great Zhou traveled thousands of miles to sign an alliance with the Eastern Roman Empire to fight against the Star Religion world. The Eastern Roman Empire still played a role, attracting at least 700,000 to 800,000 troops from the Star Religion countries.

Now that our Great Zhou Empire is winning victory after victory and is about to completely conquer the land of the Star Religion, the conflict of interests with the Eastern Roman Empire has begun to surface again!"

Minister of Rites Kou Zhun came out and said:
“Your Majesty, I have been an envoy to the Eastern Roman Empire and know a little about its customs and people.

This country is also vast, with a population of more than 20 million. Nestorianism is its state religion and has many believers.

Although they do not force others to believe in religion, the believers are very enthusiastic about preaching and often spread their doctrines. "

Minister of Revenue Wang Dan came out and said:
“Your Majesty, although Yang Ye was anxious to achieve victory, he ordered his soldiers to seize food from the local people, which violated your Majesty’s military discipline.

I think he should be severely punished according to military discipline!"

As soon as this was said, many important officials in the court seconded the opinion. Even the chief minister Li Hang and the cabinet minister Kou Zhun, two of Chai Zongxun's close confidants, remained silent.

Many ministers cited classics and made the case that military generals were tyrannical and warlords were separatist in the late Tang Dynasty. They talked about how, under the wise rule of Emperor Chai Zongxun, the Great Zhou Dynasty had unified China and expanded its territory for more than 30 years, and had bestowed too many honors on the military generals.

Now that the world is at peace and all wars are outside the national borders, military generals are becoming more and more arrogant and the emperor should restrict them.

Chai Zongxun remained silent, knowing that this was the second time the civil officials in the court took the opportunity to attack the military generals.

The first time was when Huyan Zan, leading five corps of the Second Front Army, destroyed the Ghaznavid Empire. He arbitrarily let go of more than 2,000 beauties from the palace and harem who had fled.

However, because Huyan Zan was a native of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the top military scholar in the first year of Kaixi, he was deeply trusted by the Emperor Chai Zongxun, so only a few people came out to criticize him at that time.

Yang Ye was originally a surrendered general of the Northern Han Dynasty and had very shallow roots in the Great Zhou Dynasty. It can be said that he relied entirely on the Emperor Chai Zongxun for his trust in him.

At the moment, Yang Ye's troops were taking a risky move and launching a surprise attack on Khwarezm's capital, Khotan. In order to ensure long-term rations for the army, he allowed his soldiers to "borrow" food, cattle and sheep from the local people. This was a violation of the Longxiang military discipline set by Emperor Chai Zongxun, so almost most of the civil officials spoke out to criticize him this time.

Cao Bin, the only military officer left in Bianjing at the moment, naturally wanted to protect the interests of the military officers, so he immediately stepped out and said:

"Your Majesty, I have heard that 'a general shall not be granted orders from the king when he is away from home'.

Moreover, given the current situation in Khwarezm, if Governor Yang fails to seize the credit, the Eastern Roman Empire will surely take advantage of the situation to advance eastwards and occupy a large amount of Khwarezmian territory, thus stealing the victory of our Great Zhou.
Governor Yang naturally couldn't stand it, he was also loyal to his emperor and his country!"

Chai Zongxun pondered for a moment and said:
“Yang Ye is right to worry.

If we do not quickly capture Khwarezm's capital, Kotim, and the war between our Great Zhou and Khwarezm is protracted, in order to protect the capital, Zalan will have to transfer troops from the western front to defend against the Eastern Roman Empire, which will only give the Eastern Roman Empire an advantage.

Moreover, before Yang Ye took action, he had submitted a memorial to me, stating that he would return the food, cattle and sheep borrowed from the people afterwards. Things change rapidly on the battlefield, and this was an emergency measure. It cannot be regarded as looting the people, and naturally it did not violate the military discipline set by me.

If Yang Ye breaks his promise and fails to return the people's supplies, this would be a violation of military discipline, and I will naturally not be lenient with him!
Civil servants can govern the country, and military servants can maintain peace. Only when both civil and military affairs are prosperous can the country be blessed.

"So far, none of the generals of our Great Zhou have dared to disobey my imperial edict. My dear ministers, you say that the generals are "arrogant and domineering", but you are worrying too much."

The civil officials saw the emperor's intention in his words, which was obviously that he favored Yang Ye and did not want to weaken the power of the military generals, so they dared not say anything more. After the lunch break that day, Chai Zongxun walked to the Yangxin Palace to handle government affairs.

After dealing with some urgent memorials on hand, Chai Zongxun ordered Tang Qi to draft an imperial edict to Yang Ye who was fighting on the front line in Khwarezm.

Chai Zongxun first affirmed that Yang Ye's decision was appropriate, and told him to command the army to attack without worrying about future troubles.

Secondly, he informed Yang Ye that Chai Zongxun had ordered the Ministry of War to urgently transport food and fodder to Khitan. If necessary, he would order Cao Can, who was stationed in Khitan, to lead 60,000 Longxiang troops to attack Khwarezm to provide Yang Ye with food and fodder.

Third, after Yang Ye conquered Khwarezm's capital, Khotan, he should use the spoils from the treasury to repay the borrowed grain from the people as soon as possible to avoid being attacked by the civil officials.

Fourth, he informed Yang Ye that the limit of the Khwarezmian territory that the Eastern Roman Empire could occupy was limited to the five western states of Donkhov that it had fought with Khwarezm for the past two years.

If the Eastern Roman Empire took advantage of the critical situation in Khwarezm to seize other provinces, he ordered Yang Ye and Jingsheng to join forces and go to war with the Eastern Roman Empire to seize them back.

After drafting the imperial edict, Chai Zongxun ordered it to be sent immediately by express horse to Yang Ye at the front line of Khwarezm.

This imperial edict was delivered to Yang Ye in mid-January of the 33rd year of Kaixi. It was at that time that Yang Ye had led the Eighth Corps to attack Keti City for more than three months and had used up more than half of the food and grass. He was hesitating whether to continue the siege or withdraw to Khitan.

After seeing the imperial edict, Yang Ye and the soldiers of the Eighth Corps were overjoyed and all their worries were swept away.

He then attacked the city of Keti with all his might and captured it three months later.

After seeing the imperial edict, Chai Zongxun pondered for a moment and set off for the "Chunlin Palace", the bedroom of Anna, the princess and concubine of the Eastern Roman Empire.

"Chunlin Palace" was not originally the name of the concubine's old palace. It was in recent years that Chai Zongxun's harem of beauties became so numerous that the original palace in the Bian Jing Imperial Palace could no longer accommodate them, so a larger unnamed palace was temporarily renamed this name.

When Chai Zongxun arrived at the gate of "Chunlin Palace", Concubine Anna was already waiting there with her personal maids and eunuchs.

After the greeting, Chai Zongxun took Anna's hand and walked into the hall.

Looking at the statue of the Virgin Mary enshrined in the lobby, Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"My beloved concubine is really diligent in serving the Lord. In addition to going to the inner city church to worship every Sunday, she also worships in the palace every day."

Anna said:
"Your Majesty, I worship the Lord every day and pray for Your Majesty all the time.

In my Nestorian teachings, one should be monogamous and only then can one enter heaven after death.

Now I have violated the teachings, and I pray that God will punish me only."

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"Our Chinese civilization has a long history. Since ancient times, people have worshipped "Heaven, Earth, King, Parents, and Teachers", as well as the three talents of "Heaven, Earth, and Man", and the three lights of "Sun, Moon, and Stars".

People have never been superstitious about ghosts and gods, and they believe that everything is man-made and man can conquer nature. A good life is achieved through the joint efforts of the people. There are legends such as "Yu the Great's Flood Control", "Jingwei Filling the Sea", and "Yugong Moves the Mountains", as well as great deeds such as "Dujiangyan", the Grand Canal, and the Great Zhou Straight Road.

The Chinese are the most hardworking and intelligent nation in the world.

My beloved concubine, marry me now and you will be a Chinese from now on. You don’t have to care too much about the constraints of Nestorianism.”

Anna didn't dare to argue anymore. After they chatted about the customs and culture of the Eastern Roman Empire, they went into the backyard together, took a bath, and then lay down on the bed.

(End of this chapter)