Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 576: Green-clad Arabs surrender (Special thanks to the book friend who doesn’t want 5 monthly tickets!)

The next day, after the accompanying eunuch of the palace read out the imperial edict of Chaiziou's enfeoffment to the local officials who had rushed to Tehran, Chaiziou officially became the "King of Europe" and hosted a three-day banquet in the palace to entertain all officials.

On November 5, the 60th year of Kaixi, Chai Jiou summoned Yang Yanzhao, the commander-in-chief of the 4th Corps of the Longxiang Army, to the palace to discuss military and national affairs, and specially ordered Captain Di Qing to attend the meeting.

Chai Jiou said:

“Before I left the capital, my father specifically told me to pay close attention to the military movements of the Eastern Roman Empire after I was enfeoffed.

If the Eastern Roman Empire is allowed to conquer the Green Caliphate and Constantine VIII's ambition is fulfilled, there will be unrest in the Central and West Asian regions of our Great Zhou Empire in the future.

What is the current situation between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Green Caliphate?"

Yang Yanzhao said:

"Your Majesty, Constantine VIII sent 300,000 soldiers and 1,000 warships to attack the Green Caliphate five months ago.

The two sides fought in the Mediterranean for three months. The Green Arabs had won few victories and lost more. Now they have retreated to their home port and are being besieged by the Eastern Roman Empire.

I don’t think it will last for a few months.”

Chai Ji'ou pondered for a while and said:
"It seems that the Green Caliphs are no match for the Eastern Roman Empire.

If the Eastern Roman Empire defeated the Green Caliphate and gained its territory and population, Constantine VIII would become more ambitious and launch an attack on Bulgaria as his power would be greatly increased.

My father once accepted the request of the Eastern Roman Emperor Basil II to mediate the war between the Eastern Roman Empire and Bulgaria. If Constantine VIII attacks Bulgaria, our Great Zhou cannot sit idly by.

"Doctor Yang, do you have any good ideas?"

Yang Yanzhao said:

“Although we know that Constantine VIII is ambitious and may be detrimental to our Great Zhou in the future, the Eastern Roman Empire is now attacking our common enemy, the Green Caliphate, and our Great Zhou cannot stop it.

We have deployed heavy troops at the border between our country, Eastern Rome and Bulgaria. If Constantine VIII dares to disobey your Majesty's order and send troops to attack Bulgaria, our Great Zhou Longxiang Army will use the promise we made at that time as an excuse to quickly send troops to repel Eastern Rome!"

Chai Jiou received military education from famous imperial generals in the imperial palace school since he was a child. Although he had never led troops in actual combat, he still had strategic vision.

Chai Jiou pondered and said:

"As the saying goes, 'a storm starts from the tip of a green apple'." If the Eastern Roman Empire were to destroy the Green Caliphate, its power would increase greatly, which would only increase the uncertainty.

Why don't we, the Great Zhou, take the initiative?"

Yang Yanzhao hesitated and said:

"Your Majesty, the Green-clad Arabs have sent envoys to us, offering generous gifts to ask our Great Zhou to send troops to help us, but because they have been our enemies, our governor has refused to allow them to enter.

On the surface, our Great Zhou and Eastern Rome are still allies, so it is not appropriate to send troops to directly intervene in the war between Eastern Rome and the Green Caliphate. "

After two or three decades of full trade with the Great Zhou, the financial strength of the Eastern Roman Empire increased greatly, and almost the entire army was equipped with the Divine Arm Bow.

The Green Caliphate's economy developed slowly and its tax revenue was low. Compared with the Eastern Roman Empire, its national strength was much weaker.

Seeing the Eastern Roman Empire mobilizing a large army and coming with murderous intent, the Green Caliphate's king and his ministers had no choice but to pay money and ask for help from their former enemy, the Great Zhou Empire.

Chai Ji'ou also knew that the situation was indeed so difficult. He saw Di Qing eager to try and said immediately:

"Father, the Emperor often praises General Di as a young hero with both literary and military talents. Do you have any good ideas?" Di Qing immediately said:
"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, it would be best if we could curb Constantine VIII's ambitions at the very beginning.

Since the Green Caliphate has begged for help from our Great Zhou, and our Great Zhou has no port cities in the Mediterranean region, it would be better for us to ask the Green Caliphate to become our vassal and cede the southern Misir port city of Sardinia to us. Then, Your Majesty can come forward to mediate the war between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Green Caliphate.

If we take Sardinia, we can build a royal naval base here, and from then on our influence can penetrate deep into the Mediterranean."

Chai Jiou was overjoyed and said:
"General Di is truly a famous general! This strategy is excellent. Not only can it counterbalance the Eastern Roman Empire, but it can also expand the power of our Great Zhou into the Mediterranean.

This prince will immediately submit a memorial to the emperor, and Governor Yang can send someone to contact the Green-robed Arabs and order them to submit!"

It was mid-February of the 61st year of Kaixi when Chai Zongxun received the memorial from "Prince Ou" Chai Jiou in the Bianjing Palace.

After reading the memorial, Chai Zongxun also admired Di Qing's strategy very much.

On the morning of February 17, I discussed this matter with all the ministers.

The chief eunuch Tang Qi gave a detailed introduction to the situation in West Asia to all the ministers, but he paused twice due to coughing.

After Tang Qi finished his introduction, Chai Zongxun said:
"Manager Tang is not feeling well today, so please go back to the palace and rest for a day."

Tang Qi saluted and said:
"Your Majesty, I am of no use to you. I will take my leave now."

After Tang Qi left, the chief military minister Gao Hua came out and said:

“Your Majesty, over the years, the Eastern Roman Empire has been trading with our Great Zhou. During the reign of Basil II, the country’s national strength increased greatly, and its military strength far exceeded that of the Green Caliphate.

If Constantine VIII were allowed to conquer the Green Caliphate, it would be difficult to control their power.

I think Di Qing's strategy is excellent. It can make the Green-robed Arabs submit to our Great Zhou, and it can also provide a reason to send troops to suppress the Eastern Roman Empire. Our Great Zhou can also extend its power to the Mediterranean region. It is a good thing to achieve three goals at one stroke."

The chief minister of the cabinet, Ding Wei, came out and said:
"Your Majesty, the Green Arabs are a country of the Star Religion and have always been the mortal enemy of our Great Zhou. Although they have sent envoys to pay tribute and ask for help, if we ask them to cede land and become our vassal, I am afraid their ruler and ministers will not agree."

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"That's why I say Di Qing is a famous general. His strategies take all current situations into consideration.

In the more than 30 years since the Eastern Roman Empire formed an alliance with our Great Zhou, its national strength has greatly increased. Without external help this time, the Green Caliphate will almost certainly be defeated and destroyed.

Under the heavy pressure of the destruction of the country, if our Great Zhou is willing to help, how can the Green-robed Daqin monarch and his ministers still care about the old hatred? They will definitely come to surrender in a hurry.

The Green Caliphate will become a vassal state of our Great Zhou. I will order the Eastern Roman army to withdraw. If they refuse to obey, the army of our Great Zhou can teach them a lesson and thus nip Constantine VIII's ambition in the bud.

In this way, peace can be maintained in Central and West Asia for decades."

Most of the ministers came out to second the motion.

So Chai Zongxun conveyed his order to Yang Yanzhao, the commander-in-chief of the 4th Corps of the Longxiang Army stationed in West Asia, ordering him to act according to Di Qing's strategy. He also sent the Minister of Rites Xue Ying to West Asia. As soon as the Green-clad Arabs submitted to him, he would send an envoy to the Eastern Roman Empire to persuade them to withdraw their troops.

After receiving the news from the Great Zhou, King Hakim of the Green Caliphate discussed with his ministers for more than a month. Finally, because the Eastern Roman army attacked very quickly and occupied two large cities, he agreed to the Zhou people's request:
He ceded the southern Misir port city of Sardinia to the Great Zhou, pledged loyalty to the Great Zhou, and paid an annual tribute of 600,000 taels of silver and ten beautiful women.

In order to obtain the protection of Da Zhou.

After Yang Yanzhao sent troops to take over Sardinia in June of the 61st year of Kaixi, Xue Ying immediately went on a diplomatic mission from Tehran to the Eastern Roman Empire.

On July 3, Constantine VIII met with Xue Ying, the envoy of the Great Zhou Dynasty, in the Eastern Roman Palace. He was furious to see that the Green-clad Arabs had surrendered to the Great Zhou Dynasty, but the Great Zhou Dynasty ordered his country to withdraw its troops.

(End of this chapter)