Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 524: Pacification of the Mayan Continent (Special thanks to book friend 2022…7233 for the monthly ticket!)

On July 4, the 41st year of Kaixi, Chai Zongxun received a memorial at his temporary residence in Xinshangjing to wipe out the remnants of the Liao army.

On the way to escape to the southern continent, the Liao army was blocked by Zhang Ning's unit of the Fifth Corps of the Longxiang Army at the entrance of the mountains in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula. Yelu Xizhen and Yelu Moge led 60,000 Liao troops to attack for a day and a night, but were unable to break through, and most of the soldiers were killed or wounded.

On the evening of June 7, the sky was full of rosy clouds. The Liao general Yelu Xizhen stood wounded in front of the battle line and said to Zhang Ning:

“I have heard that those who govern the world with filial piety do not harm people’s relatives; those who govern the world with benevolence do not cut off people’s sacrifices.

His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Zhou is truly a man of great talent and strategy, unrivaled in the world, and we Liao people cannot rival him.

However, it was me who held the Liao Emperor hostage and raised an army to fight against the Great Zhou. All the sins are mine, and Your Majesty is innocent!

Now that I have been defeated and exhausted, I am willing to commit suicide to apologize to the Emperor of Zhou. I only ask that the Emperor of Zhou will not punish our emperor!
The rest of the soldiers are willing to surrender to Commander-in-Chief Zhang, and we ask that Commander-in-Chief Zhang speak a few good words for us in front of Your Majesty!

"I will be grateful to Commander Zhang even in my grave!"

Yelu Moge, who was standing behind him, said anxiously:

"General! Today, you and I will just fight to the death!

How can you beg for mercy from General Zhou and damage the reputation of the Liao Dynasty? ! "

The two had been generals in the Liao Kingdom thirty years ago and had led the army into battle together many times. After migrating to the Mayan continent with Emperor Jingzong of Liao, they became the two pillars of the Liao Kingdom's army, going through hardships together and becoming like brothers.

Yelu Xizhen turned his head and whispered:
"My dear brother, the Queen Mother sent an order that day, ordering us to lead the army and the people to surrender to the Great Zhou. If the two of us had obeyed the Queen Mother's order, there wouldn't be so many casualties today!

If your Majesty dies and the Liao royal family becomes extinct because of the rebellion started by the two of us, we will be guilty of a great crime. How can we face our ancestors and the late emperor?
I am exhausted, my dear brother, you should cherish your life, because His Majesty still needs your escort to the new capital. After entering Zhou, you also need your dear brother to protect His Majesty and his family everywhere!"

Yelu Moge knew that Yelu Xizhen was about to commit suicide, and just waited for Zhang Ning's reply. Tears welled up in his eyes and he choked up:

"Big brother!"

After listening to the personal soldiers' translation into Liao language, Zhang Ning also admired Yelu Xizhen's heroic spirit and said:
"General Yelu, there is no need to do this. His Majesty the Emperor of our country has always admired the courage of Emperor Jingzong of Liao to create new territories thousands of miles away. Moreover, Concubine Shu has always been favored by His Majesty and is the sister of Emperor Jingzong of Liao. She will not kill your emperor.

As long as General Yelu leads his army to surrender immediately and goes with me to the new capital to meet Your Majesty, you will not be sentenced to death!"

Yelu Xizhen saluted Zhang Ning from a distance and said:

"Thank you, Commander-in-Chief Zhang! I have no regrets after hearing what you said!

It was all up to me to raise an army to fight against Zhou. Now that so many soldiers have lost their lives, how can I face the Emperor of Zhou?"

Yelu Xizhen held the long knife in his hand across his neck, blood splattered like rain, his body shook a few times and then fell to the ground.

Yelu Moge threw himself on him and burst into tears.

When the remaining 10,000-plus Liao soldiers saw that their commander was dead, they threw their weapons to the ground one after another.

After Zhang Ning sent his soldiers to surrender all the Liao troops and the Liao emperor Yelu Longxu and others in the rear army, he did not kill anyone. He immediately submitted a memorial to the Emperor Chai Zongxun and set out north to Xinshangjing the next day.

Chai Zongxun was overjoyed after reading the memorial. He launched an expedition to the Mayan continent in the 4th year of Kaixi, which lasted nearly years before he finally pacified all the territory.

At the dinner that day, Chai Zongxun summoned Prince Ya Chai Jijun to take a seat.

During the dinner, Chai Zongxun briefly described the military situation on the front line and said:
"The Maya continent has finally been completely pacified by me.

Yelu Longxu, I will not kill him. After all, Liao is a respectable rival of my Great Zhou. I will confer him the title of Duke and bring him back with me.

In a few months, when Maya's political decrees are smooth, I will lead the army back to the country, and leave Jun'er as the "King of Ya" to rule the Maya continent!

This new Shangjing Imperial Palace will serve as Jun'er's palace."

Concubine Shu, Yelu and Gudian were overjoyed and said:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace in forgiving the sins of my nephew Yelu Longxu!" Chai Zongxun nodded with a smile.

Chai Jijun thought that he would be separated from his father, the emperor, and his mother soon, and he felt reluctant to leave. He said:
"Thank you, father, for your grace!
Father, the Mayan continent is far away from our Great Zhou. If there is a sudden change that endangers our Great Zhou, can I command the army here and make a decision on the spot? "

Chai Zongxun pondered for a moment, thinking that the Mayan continent was too far away from the mainland of the Great Zhou. If Chai Jijun was given too much power, it would be easy for him to support his army and become independent.

In order to strengthen the connection between the two places, because the "Zhang Yong Strait" area is located in the extreme north and is too cold, it is extremely difficult to build the "Da Zhou Track". It will take at least half a year to travel by land.

It seems that the only way to strengthen the emotional connection between trade and the people is to speed up the development of sea trade routes between the two places and allow more and more large sea vessels to pass through the two places.

Currently, the sea route first opened by the Great Zhou Royal Navy takes about four months for a one-way trip. I believe that in the future, with the increase in the number of ships and the development of shipbuilding technology, the time can be shortened.

Chai Zongxun said:

"To rule the land of Maya, all we need is for the officials to be honest and to execute benevolent policies, just as we did in our native land, and we will be able to keep the country peaceful and the people safe.

Jun'er must remember the teachings of his father, put the people first, cherish the people, and monitor the subjects for me on a daily basis.

Only when an emergency situation occurs in Maya that threatens the rule of our Great Zhou, can Jun'er control the Longxiong garrison.

I hope this never happens.”

Concubine Yi, Zhou Nuying, said:
"Your Majesty, this place in Maya is where our Great Zhou rule has just begun, and there are too many variables.

After your majesty leads the army and us back to the country, Jun'er will be in charge of Maya alone. If there is no control over the military power here, how can your majesty and I rest assured?"

Chai Zongxun said:

"Don't worry, my dear!
Now that the Liao Kingdom has been pacified and the Mayan Empire has surrendered long ago, and their weapons are backward, as long as the government exercises benevolent governance, there will never be any major rebellion.

I will leave four Dragon Army regiments stationed in Maya, and transfer them from the empire every five years."

Zhou Nuying said in a tender voice:

"Your Majesty, after we return home this time, we won't be able to see Jun'er for a long time.

Your Majesty, please give Jun'er the power to control the Mayan garrison. In this way, Jun'er can continue to expand the territory for Your Majesty while staying in Maya, such as occupying the vast territory north of the Great Lakes, or the continent south of the peninsula!"

Chai Zongxun said displeasedly:

"My dear, please don't say anything more.

If you want to expand your territory in the Mayan continent, I will issue an imperial decree to station troops in Longxiong.

I have granted Jun'er such a large piece of land, all you need to do is be a wise prince.

Insulting military power will only bring disaster to Jun'er!"

Before Zhou Nuying could beg again, Chai Jijun winked at her and she stopped talking.

Chai Jijun bowed and said:

"Thank you, father, for your grace!
We must protect the people of Maya, supervise the officials, and ensure that our Great Zhou’s rule in Maya will last forever!"

Chai Zongxun nodded and said:

"very good!
Jun'er is the "King of Ya" and is in charge of Maya. You should set a good example for your family. I will reward you from time to time and hope that your descendants will become wise kings of Maya for generations."

(End of this chapter)