Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 515 Confucianism (Special thanks to my friend Brother Fu Yuan for his 2 monthly tickets!)

The emperor and his ministers discussed for a long time and realized that it was impossible to withdraw troops from other places, and the two troops stationed in Bianliang must not be moved.

In the end, Chai Jiyu decided to withdraw one corps of troops from Beiming, and after the two corps that were currently marching south to Angkor returned triumphantly, he would send another corps of troops to Beiming.

The troops currently conquering Angkor are Gaohua Division of the 9th Corps of the Longxiang Army and Liangying Division of the 12th Corps.

Since the end of the 36th year of Kaixi, when they went to Dali and Annan to wage war against Angkor, after more than two years of fighting, they had conquered most of Angkor's northern and eastern territories, nearly half of its total territory.

In comparison, the combat effectiveness of Angkor's army, which was mainly composed of infantry and equipped with swords, spears, arrows and halberds, was far inferior to the Xingxing Sect's scimitar cavalry. How could it be a match for the Great Zhou army?

The Zhou army's biggest enemy in the battle was the hot, humid and miasma-filled climate on the southeast peninsula.

In order to reduce non-combat casualties among soldiers, Gao Hua and Liang Ying both chose to go on the expedition when the weather was cooler, and stayed in the city to rectify the internal affairs of the occupied territories when it was too hot.

After the imperial edict was issued, the court's call for voluntary immigration from the people to the Mayan continent became a hot topic among the people.

"I heard that your majesty has led the army to capture the Liao Kingdom's Xinshangjing and occupied a large area of ​​the Mayan continent. We are in urgent need of immigration to consolidate the local rule.

Where exactly is this Maya continent? I only heard that it would take at least half a year to get there by land.”

"The welfare provided to immigrants to the Maya Continent in the imperial decree is the best ever. When they arrive, each household will be allocated 500 mu of land!

Wouldn't it be possible to become a big landlord once you go there?"

"The welfare provided by His Majesty is good, but the Mayan continent is too far away. Once you immigrate there, it will be difficult to return home."

"I heard that His Majesty has asked the Ministry of Works to arrange many craftsmen to go to Maya, and also plans to build a "railway car" from our Great Zhou to Maya.

If there were rail cars, it would only take four or five months to travel between the two places, so it wouldn’t be that difficult to communicate.”

"Since it is your majesty's call, how can we, the people of the Great Zhou, not give our full support? Moreover, if the distance is not so far, how can you give so much land at once?
I have discussed this with my family, and San'er and his family will respond to your majesty's call and immigrate to Maya to protect your majesty's country!"

“I heard that His Majesty ordered the Royal Navy to send warships to transport immigrants to Maya, which is much easier than traveling by land.

My sons Xiaowu and Xiaoliu had just married, and when they heard that the court would give each family 500 acres of land, they decided to apply for immigration. "

In more than three months, many families from populous states of the Great Zhou signed up to immigrate to Maya. After all, compared to the overcrowded inland areas where each household had only a dozen acres of land, going to the Maya continent would allow them to immediately become large landowners with 500 acres of land. The temptation was huge.

After receiving the order, the Royal Navy Grand Admiral Guan Mao, in order to successfully complete the emperor's will, personally led the First and Second Fleets, totaling thousands of warships, to sail from Yangzhou to the sea in September of the 39th year of Kaixi, and went north along the coastline through Fuso to try out the sea route.

It was not until November that they sailed hundreds of miles north of Sakhalin Island and saw the sea was frozen, so they returned.

On October 5, the 39th year of Kaixi, Lu Duosun, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, returned to his mansion in a depressed mood after retiring from court.

Lu Duosun, a native of Henei, Huaizhou, was born in the first year of Yingshun in the Later Tang Dynasty (934).

He became a Jinshi in the early years of Xiande in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and served successively as Secretary Lang, Jixian School Manager, Zuo Shiyi, Jixian Hall Editor, and Prince's Lecturer.

In the 33rd year of Kaixi, he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of War because of his profound knowledge and excellent test results.

In the afternoon, when Lu Duoxun was reading the Book of Documents in his study, a servant reported that the clerk Zhao Bai was visiting. Lu Duoxun immediately summoned Zhao Bai.

After greeting and looking for a seat, Zhao Bai saw a copy of Shangshu on Lu Duoxun's desk and said with a smile:

"Lord Lu still has the leisure to read the Book of Shangshu?
It should be noted that in today's world, the books of Confucius have gradually declined, and instead, the business studies such as "Guan Zi", "Fan Li's Business Classics" and "Qimin Yaoshu" are very popular. "Lu Duosun said disdainfully:

"The art of business is the learning of the mean people. If you use it to govern the people, it will only make them pursue profit and forget the great principles of the saints' teachings!"

Zhao Bai sighed:

“Having said that, it is a pity that among the people of the Great Zhou today, how many people still take officials like us who are well-read in the books of sages seriously?
Lord Lu, although you and I are officials of the imperial court, our wealth and expenses are far less than those of the big businessmen who have been running industries and commerce in recent years. How can they look up to us?"

Ludoson was furious, slapped his hand on the table and said:
"If it weren't for officials like us who are well-read in the books of sages and saints taking charge of the country and bringing peace to the country, how could these common people who are obsessed with money live a comfortable life?

They are all people who have forgotten their roots!"

After a while, Ludoson smiled and said:
"Brother Zhao, you came to visit me today just to hear me lose my temper, didn't you?"

Zhao Bai smiled mysteriously, lowered his voice and whispered in Ludoson's ear:
"Lord Lu, what do you think of His Majesty's call for four Dragon Army regiments to go to Maya?"

Lu Dosun pondered for a moment and said:
"With the combat power of our Great Zhou Royal Army, how can the fleeing Liao people and Maya be our opponents?
But the Maya continent is so vast that we have to send more troops to conquer it."

Zhao Baidao:
"That's what I said, but I heard a rumor that the Liao generals, Yelu Xizhen and Yelu Moge, who fled to Maya, led their troops to fight to the death and frequently harassed the prefectures that our army had just occupied, causing Your Majesty a lot of headaches."

Ludoson said:

"Brother, what you mean is that Your Majesty will not be able to return to Bianjing in the short term?"

Zhao Bai nodded and said:

"Your Majesty refused to listen to the advice of the civil and military officials, and insisted on leading the army in person, disregarding the country.

As the saying goes, “A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day.” Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has taken over the country, he has governed wisely and his prestige has grown.

Lord Lu once taught the Crown Prince and had a teacher-student relationship with His Royal Highness. Hasn't he ever thought about doing something to protect the sage's orthodoxy?"

Ludoson said hurriedly:
"My dear brother, please don't talk nonsense. I have only taught the Four Books to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for half a year. How dare I call myself the Crown Prince's teacher?

Besides, it has only been less than two years since your Majesty left the country. Who would listen to your Highness the Crown Prince?!"

Zhao Bai heard the music and understood the elegant meaning, saying:

"I understand. For now, we can discuss this with like-minded people in the government and the public. When the time comes, we will follow Lord Lu's lead!"

Ludoson nodded slowly...

Throughout the 39th year of Kaixi, the war on the Mayan continent was in a stalemate.

Whenever Zhang Ning and Cao Kefan launched a large-scale attack on the Mayan Empire in the east, the Liao army led by Yelu Xizhen and Yelu Moge, who were hiding in the mountains and fields, would send troops to harass the Zhou army's rear food routes and raid the county garrisons, forcing the Zhou army to return to respond, and thus unable to compete for complete military success against the Mayan Empire.

In view of this, Chai Zongxun sent envoys several times to persuade Yelu Xizhen, Yelu Moge and the Mayan Empire Emperor Kamu to surrender.

The Liao people did not respond, but Kamu was slightly moved. He replied to Chai Zongxun, demanding that the two countries demarcate the border and stop fighting, but he did not agree to surrender.

(End of this chapter)