Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 512: The Thirty-Ninth Year of Kaixi (Special thanks to the book friend Youhai Fengwu for 2 monthly tickets!)

Chai Zongxun muttered:

"Liao people are different from the Jurchens and Shiwei. They have always admired Chinese culture. In the past, the Han people in the conquered Yanyun area were not concerned about the Yao people and had light taxes.

Moreover, it is normal for people to yearn for a better life.

As long as the rule of our Great Zhou government can make the Liao people live better and with more dignity than before, even if Yelu Longxu is still alive, why would the people follow him in rebellion?

The right thing to do is to eliminate the Liao army as soon as possible."

After a discussion between the emperor and his ministers, Chai Zongxun decided to send Chen Jixing to lead 60,000 imperial guards, Zhang Ning's Fifth Corps, and Cao Kefan's Tenth Corps, a total of 240,000 troops to go on an expedition, first to capture the central city of Nakbe, then to attack and destroy the Mayan Empire, and finally to hunt down Yelu Longxu and Yelu Xizhen.

Thirty thousand imperial guards and thirty thousand Wudesi soldiers were left to guard Emperor Chai Zongxun.

The plan was decided, and the generals went down to prepare.

After the court was dismissed, seeing that it was still noon, Chai Zongxun got up and went to the side hall to handle government affairs.

The Great Zhou's government offices in various parts of the Liao Kingdom had only been established for a few months, and at this time, only Chai Zongxun could personally review and inspect almost all the government reports to be assured.

The only ones who could help Chai Zongxun deal with memorials on weekdays were the five eunuchs including He Yao, the chief eunuch of the palace, who acted as the temporary "Tianjichu" and Ding Wei, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who acted as the temporary "cabinet".

Chai Zongxun had just sat down to read the memorial for a quarter of an hour when the eunuch outside the palace came to report:

Concubine Shu, Yelu and Gudian, brought Xiao Chuo to ask for a meeting.

Chai Zongxun had an idea and immediately summoned the two men to see the emperor.

After greeting, Yelu and Gudian said:

"Your Majesty, your majesty, your concubine and your sister-in-law have come to you to apologize!

Yelu Xizhen and others used Yelu Longxu to raise an army to resist Zhou, which was beyond the expectation of the emperor's sister-in-law! I hope Your Majesty can spare the emperor's sister-in-law and spare the Liao subjects who have surrendered. "

Chai Zongxun thought:
"It seems that the last time I slaughtered the Jurchens and Shiwei people in Beiming, I left many people with the impression that I am bloodthirsty."

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"Don't worry, my beloved concubine and my beloved minister Xiao! How could I blame the innocent for such a small matter?

Yelu Xizhen took Yelu Longxu hostage and rebelled against Zhou because they did not listen to the instructions of Xiao Aiqing. This was entirely their own idea. How could I blame Xiao Aiqing and the Liao people?
In the past during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there were many cases of fathers serving the State of Chu and sons serving the State of Jin, but there was no case of the monarch punishing his subjects for this.

For example, during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang and his three brothers each served in a country. "Shu got a dragon, Wu got a tiger, and Wei got a dog." The monarchs of the three kingdoms did not blame them and entrusted them with important tasks.

Isn't my mind much broader than those of the rulers of the three small countries of Wei, Shu and Wu?

Don't worry, my two beloved ministers, as long as Yelu Xizhen and others don't kill innocent people, I will not kill them after we finally pacify them."

Yelu Hegudian and Xiao Chuo were overjoyed. They heard today that Yelu Xizhen had taken Yelu Longxu hostage in rebellion against Zhou, and they were afraid of angering Chai Zongxun. If they blamed Xiao Chuo and the surrendered Liao subjects for this, it would be a disaster.

At this moment, he heard Chai Zongxun, who always kept his word, say that after pacifying Yelu Xizhen and others in the future, he would not kill them as long as they did not commit serious crimes, which made him feel relieved.

After Chai Zongxun chatted with the two girls for a while, they took their leave.

After several days of preparation, on December 1, the 38th year of Kaixi, Chen Jixing, Zhang Ning, and Cao Kefan led an army of 240,000 and more than several hundred officials to march eastward to attack Nakbei.

All the counties and prefectures of the Liao State, which had few soldiers and generals left along the way, surrendered upon hearing the news. The three generals left behind officials such as the governor and the garrison and continued to move eastward, arriving at Nakbe, a major city in central Maya, on December 26.

Han Derang, the prime minister of Liao, led hundreds of ministers and opened the west gate to welcome the enemy five miles outside the city.

After greeting, Han Derang held up the household register of the government treasury and said:

"We, the ministers, are willing to obey the Queen Mother's order. Since we have surrendered to the Great Zhou, we pray that the generals will treat our Liao people well!"

Chen Jixing said: "Don't worry, Lord Han! His Majesty has ordered that you only need to submit to our Great Zhou, and the entire army is not allowed to kill anyone indiscriminately!"

The three generals took over the register, led the army into the city, and took over the entire city.

The next day, the Zhou army, which had completely controlled the city defenses, summoned all Liao ministers to the governor's office and read out the rewards given to everyone by Emperor Chai Zongxun.

The Liao people were very pleased and the Zhou emperor quickly established his rule in the Nakbe area.

New Year's Eve of the 39th year of Kaixi arrived as officials from various prefectures were busy arranging garrison troops every day.

Chai Zongxun issued an edict, according to the laws of the Great Zhou, to give a half-month holiday and not to return to work until after the Lantern Festival, which made all the people happy.

After all, according to the previous Liao Dynasty laws, there were only six days of holidays for New Year's Eve and New Year.

On the evening of New Year's Eve, Chai Zongxun held a "New Year's Eve Banquet" at the temporary Shangjing Palace. Participants included Concubine Yi Zhou Nuying, Concubine Shu Yelu Hegudian, Prince Ya Chai Jijun and his wife Zhao Zhen, as well as Empress Dowager Xiao.

There were dozens of Liao and Mayan singing and dancing troupes performing in the main hall. The atmosphere of the "New Year's Eve Banquet" was as cheerful as in Bianliang, but it was far less lively.

Chai Zongxun raised his glass and said:

"I was able to pacify most of the Maya in one fell swoop, and now we can have the initial signs of national peace and prosperity, all thanks to Queen Mother Xiao's benevolent heart that puts the people first. My dear ministers, drink this cup to your heart!"

Xiao Chuo quickly said a few words of humility, and everyone drank a glass together.

After several rounds of drinking, Zhou Nuying said:

“Your Majesty, now in the Mayan land of my Great Zhou Empire, the people are all Liao people and Mayan people.

Next year, when we have pacified the Mayan Empire and the remnants of the Liao Kingdom, Your Majesty will grant Juner the title of king here. However, I am afraid that there are too few Han people in our country to ensure a stable rule."

Chai Zongxun said:

“I have also considered this point.

However, the distance from our Great Zhou to the Mayan continent is too far, crossing mountains and seas. It is very difficult to move Han people here.

I will consider this matter for some time, and when it is settled, I will issue an imperial decree back to Bianjing."

Chai Jijun said:

"Thank you, father, for your grace!
However, I think that in order to strengthen the connection between the Mayan continent and our Great Zhou mainland, we need to overhaul the rail cars as we do in our country.

With convenient transportation, the two places will naturally become closer in terms of migration and trade.”

Chai Zongxun said happily:

“Jun Er is right.

Then when I send an order back to Bianjing this time, I will ask the Ministry of Works to select a team of craftsmen capable of commanding the construction of the "railway car" to accompany the immigrants."

During the New Year's Eve holiday, the Liao and Mayan people found it novel and interesting, and gradually became supportive of the Great Zhou government's long holiday, various measures to encourage people to do business, and many folk celebrations such as lion dancing, community operas, and Lantern Festivals.

On January 18th of the 39th year of Kaixi, the eastern expedition army had completed its garrison deployment in the newly occupied states. General Chen Jixing and three other generals led an army of 160,000 to attack the eastern Mayan Empire.

Yelu Xizhen and other 200,000 Liao troops hiding in the mountains and forests in the central and eastern part of the Mayan continent, upon learning that the main force of the Zhou army had been dispatched, rushed to attack the various prefectures of the Great Zhou, intending to destroy the Zhou army in one battle.

Unexpectedly, the Zhou army stationed 3,000 troops in each province, with 70 to 100 "Yan Su cannons" and more than 200 "Hu Dun cannons".

Seeing that the Liao army was too large in number, the garrisons of the various prefectures of the Great Zhou refused to leave the city to fight the Liao army. Instead, they closed the city gates early and held their ground with firearms.

(End of this chapter)