Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 530: Attack Kievan Rus (Special thanks to book friend Bao Yu Wu Sheng for his 2 monthly tickets!)

After consultation between the emperor and his ministers, Chai Zongxun decided to send Yang Yanzhao's 4th Corps, Cao Can's 6th Corps, and Lin Wenshan's 8th Corps to attack Kievan Rus.

Considering that the prestige of Crown Prince Chai Jiyu might be damaged by his arrest of Lu and Zhao rebels, Chai Zongxun said:

“In the past few years since I went on an expedition to Maya, the crown prince has been in charge of the country and has managed domestic affairs in an orderly manner. Industry and commerce are prosperous, and the judiciary is fair, which shows that he is wise.

However, the prince still lacks experience in military campaigns.

I intend that the prince will lead the army in this expedition to Kievan Rus."

When the civil and military officials in the Chuigong Hall heard this, they all understood that Emperor Chai Zongxun was very satisfied with the performance of Crown Prince Chai Jiyu as regent during the second expedition to Maya, and he made a special effort to cultivate the crown prince's prestige through military achievements. It can be said that Chai Jiyu's position as crown prince is now indestructible.

After more than a month of preparation, the 4th, 6th and 8th Corps stationed in various provincial capitals were assembled in Bian Jing, and the garrison area was replaced by the 31st to 33rd Corps, which had been established for two years.

As for the newly captured Angkor area, Chai Zongxun sent Ma Zhijie's 10th Corps and Li Yunze's 34th Corps to garrison there.

Li Yunze, born in the third year of Guangshun (953), courtesy name Chuifan, was from Yu County, Taiyuan Prefecture. He was the son of Li Qianpu, the military commander of Jeju.

In the 19th year of Kaixi (978), he passed the military imperial examination and joined the Longxiang Army. In the 42nd year of Kaixi (1001), he was promoted to the commander-in-chief of the 34th Corps of the Longxiang Army due to his meritorious services.

On the afternoon of August 16, the 42nd year of Kaixi, the day before Lin Chai Jiyu led the army to attack Kievan Rus, Chai Zongxun summoned Crown Prince Chai Jiyu to the Yangxin Palace and instructed him on the expedition.

After seeing the ceremony, Chai Zongxun said:

"Yu'er, the way to lead an army is to enforce strict military discipline and clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments, so that orders can be carried out.

The territory of Kievan Rus is only one-tenth of the size of our Great Zhou, and its population is only one-thirtieth. With the elite soldiers and sharp weapons of our Great Zhou's Longxiang Army, we will surely defeat it.

This expedition to Kievan Rus is specially made for me to train your ability to lead troops in battle.

It doesn't matter if you have no experience in commanding large armies. Once you have determined the strategic goals, you can leave the specific tactical execution to the corps commander-in-chief who has rich experience in battle.

Don't try to take charge of everything yourself, no matter how big or small it is; this is the way to failure."

Chai Jiyu said:

"I will remember your father's teachings, thank you for your cultivation.

Father, what is the strategic goal of this expedition to Kievan Rus?"

Chai Zongxun said:

"Kievan Rus is a barbaric and aggressive country. I want you to destroy their country and demand a hundredfold repayment for their blood debt!
As for how to deal with the country's military and civilians, it will be up to Yu'er to decide on the spot."

At noon on the next day, Chai Zongxun offered sacrifices to heaven at the Altar of Land and Grain, and ordered Crown Prince Chai Jiyu to take command of the three regiments of the Longxiang Army to march to Kievan Rus, with 5,000 Longxiang Guards as his personal troops.

They carried a thousand "Yansu cannons", three thousand "Hudun cannons", two "Kaixi No. 33" guns per person, and countless swords, arrows and ammunition.

The streets of Bianjing City were filled with people watching the army go off, and there was a lot of discussion.

"The Kievan Rus devil dared to kill my Beiming people. I told you that once your majesty returns to the capital, you will definitely raise an army to attack it!

Now it is indeed the case!"

"How dare this Russian devil be so arrogant? How dare he attack our Great Zhou?
I heard that a few years ago, Kievan Rus went to war with the Eastern Roman Empire, and was defeated by Kievan Rus.

The Eastern Roman Empire is respectful to our Great Zhou, I wonder where the Kievan Rus devils get the courage from?" "These Kievan Rus devils are robbers by nature. As long as they are not completely scared, they will rob and kill the people of our Great Zhou Beiming at any opportunity!"

"This time, His Majesty sent three Dragon-Xiang Army regiments to fight, and ordered His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to lead the army. With such a large-scale battle, won't Kievan Rus be destroyed?
I heard that these Russian devils killed hundreds of thousands of our Beiming people. They are really courting death!"

One person said mysteriously:
"Hey, have you heard? In the month since His Majesty came back, the Wude Division has arrested many people in various prefectures!
There are many scholars who have achieved the title of Liberal Arts Scholar or Juren! "

"Look at how careful you are, with such a big commotion, how many people still don't know?

I heard that those arrested were all involved in the "Lu Zhao Rebellion"! "

"That day, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was the regent and suddenly issued an order to imprison Lu Duosun, Zhao Bai and their gang, saying that they were guilty of treason. Could it be that they wanted to rebel and become emperor?!"

"That's not the case. These two are just civil servants, without any soldiers or generals. How could they be so bold as to want to be emperor?

I heard that they actually wanted to persuade His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to follow the example of Emperor Taizong of Tang and seize the throne!"

"Wow! This Lu Zhao gang is really bold and fearless! No wonder His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has put them all in jail.

Your Majesty is a wise and enlightened emperor, unparalleled in history for his achievements in both civil and military affairs. And his kindness to us ordinary people is unprecedented!

Such a holy king, these two Lu and Zhao are both high officials, but they actually want to rebel against His Majesty? What is their reason?"

The people speculated for a long time, but no one could convince them.

One person said:

"Don't guess, I know the reason.

My cousin is from the Wude Division, and he told me that Lu Dosun and others were dissatisfied with Your Majesty's abolition of the "Enyin System" and the recommendation system, and they also resented Your Majesty's implementation of the retirement system for officials at the age of seventy.

They want to restore the lifelong, hereditary system of bureaucracy!"

When the people heard this, they were furious and said:

"These traitors really deserve to die! Your Majesty is so loving and benevolent, yet he has become the target of their opposition and destruction!

Before Your Majesty ascended the throne, the county magistrate of our county was controlled by a wealthy family for generations, and it has been passed down from generation to generation since the time of Emperor Dezong of Tang.

The days at that time were really dark! The county magistrate's family was corrupt and bullied men and women. If the people dared to resist, he would lead a group of yamen runners to beat them up. In serious cases, they would be imprisoned and beheaded. There was no place to seek justice!
Since your majesty ascended the throne, you have abolished the "Enfeoffment System" and the recommendation system, and created the Performance Evaluation System and the Township Talents Bureau. These bullies can no longer monopolize power and bully the people. The people can now live the life they deserve!"

"That's right!
Without your Majesty’s benevolent rule, how could we, the common people, have the good life we ​​have today with ample food and clothing, and plenty of wine and meat to satisfy our hunger!
These villains only think about restoring their privileges and bullying the people. They really deserve to be killed!"

……

From August to September in the 42nd year of Kaixi, Chai Zongxun was busy sorting out the internal affairs of the country. He enfeoffed the princes who had come of age during the years of sea expeditions as vassal kings and granted fiefs to the princesses.

A total of eleven princes were granted the title of vassal kings, including three from Han areas, two from Fuso, one from Annan, one from Dali, and two each from Central and West Asia.

By the third day of October, 320,000 rebels involved in the Lu-Zhao treason case were brought to execution in thousands of prefectures across the country.

Local governments posted notices detailing the rebels' crimes of treason to the local people, and then executed the criminals.

(End of this chapter)