The struggle of the reborn prince

In the blink of an eye, in February of the 11th year of Xingguo, Bianjing has entered the spring, and people in the city have gone out of the city to enjoy this wonderful time.However, as the king of a country, Zhao Tun did not have this leisure time. He issued an edict to order the whole country to do a good job of spring plowing, and the household department sent people to Jingji [-]th Road, Yanjing, Xijing [-]nd Road and other places to promote corn, sweet potatoes and peanuts on a large scale. Planting, and began to test planting in the northwest, to accumulate experience and cultivate fine varieties.

At this time, Gao Chong said that the Western Expeditionary Army had completed its training and asked for an order to go out.Speaking of which, Gaochang is really trying to die. Not only did he not send New Year's emissaries to Bianjing to pay tribute to Bianjing on New Year's Day this year, but he also imposed heavy taxes on caravans from various countries that came to the Song Dynasty through its borders, and prevented the caravans of the Song Dynasty from passing through the border, falsely claiming that they have control over the border. Controlling the westward passage of the Great Song Dynasty, controlling the economic lifeline of the Great Song Dynasty, and completely closing the trade route if it does not agree to its conditions.

Zhao Tong was very amused by Gao Chang's wild words. Now with the development of the Dasong Sea Road, merchant ships can reach the Persian Gulf directly, and the "Maritime Silk Road" has been opened.Moreover, compared with the land route, the sea route has the advantages of larger transportation volume and less risk. The trade volume of the Northwest land route has been shrinking day by day. Gaochang actually wants to threaten him with this, which is really a bit of a dream.And its refusal to pay tribute also meant that they closed the last door to reconciliation with Song Dynasty, which made Zhao Tuo determined to destroy his country.

According to the plan, the Song army would go out in two ways, but when discussing with Xixia to borrow Liangzhou, the leader of the country, Li Qianshun, expressed that Xixia was willing to undertake the attack task on the south road alone.Zhao Tong understood very well after hearing this. Although the two countries are relatives now, tens of thousands of troops passed by his house. Zhao Tun did not treat them badly when he sent troops to assist Song Dynasty.A lot of benefits have been given, so they are also willing to send troops to help.

After several messenger exchanges.The two countries agreed that Xixia would send [-] troops and march westward from Liangzhou.From Guazhou and Shazhou, they invaded Gaochang State and captured Yizhou. After the two armies joined forces to attack Gaochang City, they went south to capture Yanqi and Qiuci.After the country was destroyed, the area south of the Sihun River was assigned to Xixia.This area is vast, equivalent to half the area of ​​Xixia, and the defense depth has been increased. Although most of it is Gobi, there are countless oases along the river, which can be used for planting and grazing.Xixia has coveted this for a long time.For this reason, the two countries also fought countless battles, but they were still unable to succeed. Now that they succeeded easily, Li Qianshun repeatedly praised his son-in-law for his generosity.

Since the South Road was handled by Xixia, the Song Army sent troops all the way, saving a lot of things and reducing the number of troops used.The expeditionary force consisted of three desert brigades as the main force, and was organized into two dragon cavalry brigades in Chang'an Town Fusi and two infantry brigades in Datong Town Fusi.An artillery brigade and a hunting cavalry brigade were strengthened, and a total of nine brigades of the imperial army were dispatched.3 archers from Jimi tribes such as Mengwu, Wanggu, Khitan and Dangxiang were recruited to fight together.

Because this expedition is far away from the mainland and has to cross thousands of miles of Gobi, logistical supplies are difficult.Therefore, two more transportation brigades were transferred to form a support detachment with the three thousand prefecture armies in Hedong and Dading, which was responsible for collecting and transporting food, grass and supplies, without recruiting a civilian.

Wars cost money.In order to ensure the needs of this expedition, Zhao Tama collected 50 shi of grain from the summer and autumn taxes on the three roads of Datong Road, Hedong Road, and Shaanxi Road.In addition, the salt tax of 500 million yuan collected by the salt ponds in Yanzhou was handed over to the Western Expeditionary Corps for military supplies, which can be said to be a sufficient capital.The aim is to pack up a chicken to subdue the heroes of the desert, to build momentum for the collection of Mobei, and to warn all the forces in the Western Regions not to be enemies of the Song Dynasty.

Although the northwest is still ice and snow in February, with the arrival of warm air after April, there will be strong winds and sandstorms will easily form. This will be a disaster for people walking in the desert. Therefore, the Western Expeditionary Army must cross before the strong wind arrives. desert.Zhao Tong issued a decree to appoint Yuhou Gaochong, the capital of the Forbidden Army, as the marshal of the Western Expeditionary Army, and Zhao Li, the governor of Hedong Township, was the supervisor of the army to conquer Gaochang.

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After sending off the Western Expeditionary Army, Zhao Tun, who had finished his busy spring plowing, had not been free for two days when he suddenly received a report from Pingzhou Mansion saying that Jin Guo sent an envoy to ask for peace talks with Song Dynasty, because the two countries are still at war Therefore, the Pingzhou government did not dare to let him enter Beijing without authorization, and could only stay in Pingzhou for the emperor to dispose of.

This sudden incident made Zhao Tong a little strange. Since the two countries exchanged Yan Xiyin and failed to send Zhao Huan back as agreed because of Jin Guo's dishonesty, they have returned to a state of hostility. In the stage of small fights, but the war between the two sides has not stopped, but the Kingdom of Jin is demanding peace, which can't help but make people worry.

"Your Majesty, the Jurchens are not trustworthy, and breaking the contract many times is no longer credible, just expel them!" Xu Jingheng said, not counting the several peace talks between Song and Jin before Jingkang, even after the Xingguo year. Three times, but the Jurchens said it again and again, and the peace talks also came to an anticlimactic end.

"Ms. Xu is right. Now that our army has defeated the Jin army in Koryo, the army is in full swing. The Jurchens are trying to play tricks to slow down the troops. Your Majesty ignores it!" Zhao Ren also agreed, and just as Wu Shu expected, he didn't want to talk to them at all.

"I'm a little puzzled, Wu Shu has always been eyeing me and insisting on using troops, but now he's asking us for peace, don't you think it's strange?" Zhao Tang looked at the people in the hall and asked.

"Your Majesty, is that what Jin Chief Wanyan Quan meant?" Chen Gongbo guessed.

"No, after Wanyan Xiyin's death, Wushu took control of the government and monopolized the power. If Wanyan Quan wants to make peace, he can't get around it, it should be Wushu's idea!" Li Gang shook his head.

"Your Majesty, please see the King of Zhongshan County!" Just as everyone was guessing the intention of Jin Guo's peace negotiation, Wang Fu entered the hall and reported.

"I'm discussing something, I'll call you later!" Zhao Tang frowned and said, after returning to China, his eldest nephew may also realize that his status is special, and he has been living in a simple place, except for the big court meeting, he has never asked to see him Himself, today's sudden request to see him made him very abrupt.

"Your Majesty, save my father..." Not long after Wangfu went out, Zhao Xie's cry came from outside the hall, causing everyone to look out of the hall.

"Your Majesty, the King of Zhongshan County refused to leave, saying that if he didn't see him, he would kneel outside the hall and get up." Wangfu hurried into the hall to report again.

"Bring him in!" The prince's cry in the palace itself is a big event, and the content of the cry is extremely sensitive, Zhao Tong said with a sigh.

"Your Majesty, my father has been traveling northward for more than ten years, and I want to return every day. I beg your majesty to be kind enough to rescue my father. The father and son are willing to abandon their titles and live in the countryside. They will never set foot in the capital for the rest of their lives!" Zhao Xie knelt down as soon as he entered the palace. Cried in the hall.

"Xie'er get up quickly, why is this? Brother Wang suffered far away in the Northeast, and I will never forget it!" After hearing this, Zhao Tong hurriedly asked his servant to help him up and said.

"Your Majesty, I received a handwritten letter from my father a few days ago. I thought of my rich clothes and fine food, but my father was starving in that bitter cold place and couldn't control himself. He entered the palace without authorization. Please forgive me!" Zhao Xie wiped his tears with his sleeve. , sobbing.

"Oh, you received the handwritten letter from Brother Wang?! Can you let me have a look!" Zhao Tun said in amazement. The matter itself was too weird, and he had to check it out.

Not to mention, there really are, and Zhao Xie happened to be carrying it with him, so he took out the letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands, Zhao Tun opened it up and saw that the handwriting was indeed Zhao Huan's, and there was also a drawing of the imperial seal he used when he was emperor. bet.But looking at the content again, Zhao Tong was very happy. This is not a letter written by his elder brother to his son. It was clearly written by his mother to himself. Get him back from the Kingdom of Jin.

"Let's pass it on, dear friends!" After reading it, Zhao Tun sighed and handed Zhao Huan's letter to the officials in the palace. This letter from home was actually written under the behest of the Jurchens.

Although Zhao Tong failed to rescue Zhao Huan, he understood the situation very well. After Wanyan Quan ascended the throne, in order to realize his ambition, he started the peace talks with Song Dynasty. Many times, Zhao Huan was also named the king of Tianshui County, and his life and material treatment have been greatly improved compared to before. In addition to the subjects of the Song Dynasty, two servants were specially assigned to serve them. Although they were thousands of miles behind when they were emperors, they were also a hundred times stronger than when they first arrived in the Kingdom of Jin.

Furthermore, the timing of this letter was too coincidental, and it happened at the very moment when the Kingdom of Jin sent an envoy for peace, which made people suspect that the Jurchens had ulterior motives.Therefore, Zhao Tong concluded that Wu Shu had expected that Song would refuse the peace talks, and even shut out his envoy, not giving him a chance at all.So he asked Zhao Huan to write a letter from the family and sent it to Zhao Xie quietly, using this as a bait to use his filial piety to stage today's "force the palace" drama, forcing himself to submit.And this trick can also be said to have hit the hearts of the emperors and ministers of the Song Dynasty!

"Your Majesty, the King of Liao has been traveling north for more than ten years, but he has not been able to welcome him back. This is the pain of our Great Song Dynasty!" Sure enough, Li Gang, the prime minister of the previous dynasty, first said, "Your Majesty, I think that since the Kingdom of Jin I, Song Dynasty, seek peace, so why not take the opportunity to welcome King Liao back!"

"My minister seconded the proposal. Since Jin Guo intends to seek peace, I think I can take this opportunity to try!" Xu Jingheng also said.

"Your Majesty, the ministers are waiting for your second opinion!" All the prime ministers in the hall said in unison.

"Zunzuo, Chen Gongbo, the right minister, will be the envoy to negotiate peace, and Zhang Suo, the minister of rites, will be the deputy envoy to preside over this matter. You must welcome back the king of Liao to comfort my heart and the wishes of all the people in the world!" Zhao Tuo immediately issued an edict. If you want to, you will all be loyal ministers and righteous men. If I don’t agree, wouldn’t it be a blow to the brand of benevolence and filial piety? In this case, let’s all be good people together...