September of the second year of Jin Zhengda, Kaifeng, Henan, the imperial palace.
Above the main hall, the faces of all the officials in the hall were solemn, and the atmosphere was dull, even a little depressing. Someone secretly looked at the emperor on the throne, his brows furrowed and his face as dark as water.
Ever since the news came that the Mongol army had returned from the Western Expedition, Emperor Wanyan Chengxu of the Jin Dynasty had lost his former composure. He was in a state of panic all day long and his temper had become much louder. If the palace maids and eunuchs did not pay attention, they would be scolded, or The spine of the cane was whipped, or beaten to death.
The arrival of the Xixia envoy seemed to aggravate the emperor's worries.
Everyone knew that when the Xixia envoy came at this time, he must have asked for an alliance with Dajin to fight the Tatar army together.
"Li Zhong'e, the chief envoy of the Daxia Kingdom and the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Daxia, Luo Shichang, the deputy envoy and the envoy of Xuanhui of the South Academy, and a group of Xia ministers presented Daxia's credential to meet the Emperor of Jin!"
The eunuch's soft voice came, Wanyan Shouxu composed himself, and his face regained its composure.
"Xuanxia envoy enters the palace."
In front of foreign ministers, the state body cannot be lost.
Under the guidance of the eunuchs, a group of Xixia envoys entered the main hall holding letters of credence and knelt down in front of the palace. Li Zhonge, the Xixia envoy and the official secretary, read aloud in a serious voice:
"The Emperor of Daxia writes to the Emperor of Dajin! Long live the Emperor of Dajin! Long live the Emperor of Dajin!"
As all the Jin ministers in the hall watched, Wanyan Saibu, the former Prime Minister of Pingzhang and now the Prime Minister of Pingzhang, took the letter of credence and read it loudly.
"...the two countries are at odds with each other, and the attacks are endless, and the Tatars are reaping the benefits. Now we have sent envoys to negotiate for peace between the two countries. Xia has made money as a brother, and each uses his country's reign name, and we are a country of brothers..."
Xia and Jin continued to attack each other year after year, and the two countries had already severed diplomatic relations. Now that the country is about to be destroyed, the new kings of the two countries have come to the throne. They all feel sorry for each other, and finally shake hands and make peace.
"Your Majesty, please get up!"
Wanyan Shouxu said softly, feeling extremely satisfied mentally.
Since the Jin Dynasty moved its capital to the south of the Yellow River, state affairs have been difficult and he has been worried all day long. It has been a long time since he felt like he was ruling the world.
The glory of the Jurchen ancestors seems to have been in distant ancient times.
"Your Majesty, we are here today in compliance with the imperial edict of the Emperor of Great Xia, and I would like to serve as my brother with the letter of my country. The two countries will never stop fighting and fight against foreign aggression together!"
The chief and deputy envoys of Xixia, Li Zhong'e and Luo Shichang, paid homage and observed the behavior secretly.
This was the purpose of their trip to persuade their financial backer Wanyan Shouxu to fight against the Tatars together.
Let’s fight against foreign aggression!
Wanyan Shouxu's face turned ugly and he didn't know how to answer.
Mongolian cavalry dominates the world, who can compete with them? Xixia people, are you asking Dajin to be buried with him?
"Emperor Dajin, Dajin and Daxia are at odds with each other. If the Tatar army goes south, I hope the Emperor of Dajin will send reinforcements to avoid being defeated by the Tatars one by one!"
Luo Shichang, deputy envoy of Xixia, followed suit.
When the Mongolian army goes south, it will definitely destroy Xixia first, cut off its flanks, and then continue to conquer gold. Even children know such a simple truth, and it is impossible for the mighty Emperor Jin not to understand it.
What was he hesitating about? Were you frightened by the Mongolian army?
Luo Shichang couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
"Respected envoys, we will fight against foreign aggression together. This is a serious matter. Let me, Emperor Jin, consider it and give you a reply to Daxia!"
Wanyan Sai broke the dullness by coughing.
"Yes! The envoys will go back to the posthouse to rest. I will reply to the envoys after I discuss it with all the ministers."
Wanyan Shouxu nodded repeatedly, as if suddenly enlightened.
"Thank you so much, Emperor Dajin! I'll take my leave!"
Li Zhong'e and Luo Shichang looked at each other, bowed to Wanyan Shouxu, and the Xixia envoys exited the hall one after another.
After Li Zhonge and others left the hall, Wanyan Shouxu wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a sigh of relief.
"Your Majesty, Xixia wants to fight the Tatars with me, Dajin. What is your Majesty's will?"
There was no way to hide, so Wanyan Saibu had no choice but to speak.
It seems that the emperor lacks enthusiasm for uniting Xixia to fight against the Tatars.
"The Tatar army has returned from the Western Expedition? Has that old traitor Temujin returned as well?"
Sure enough, when the Tatar army was mentioned, Wanyan Shouxu's face turned ugly again.
Temujin, Subotai, Ogedei, Tore...
These guys, the murderous and cruel Mongolian cavalry that come and go like the wind, are all his nightmares that he can't get rid of.
"Returning to Your Majesty, I got the news from the merchants who returned from the Western Regions. The Tatar army destroyed Khwarezm and returned from the great victory. Temujin divided his brothers and several sons outside the Great Wall. I think he will go south to use his troops soon. "
Chi Zhan, another deputy privy envoy who was involved in political affairs, presented the memorial together with great joy.
Seeing the emperor's nervous look, he was moving here and there, whether it was war or peace, he had to make up his mind.
The emperor doesn't know why, so how can the ministers deal with themselves?
"In the opinion of all the ministers, will the Tatar army attack Xia or attack me first, Daijin? How should our government respond?"
Wanyan Shouxu looked solemn and kicked the ball to the ministers in the palace.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars hate Xixia for not sending troops to the west, and they also know that the Xia Lord conspired to send envoys to the Mobei tribes as foreign aid to reject the Tatars. The Tatars will definitely destroy Xixia first, and then try to make money for me!"
Li Qi, who was involved in political affairs, frowned and stepped forward to report.
Emperor Li Dewang of Xixia came to the throne, changed Xixia's long-standing policy of supporting Mongolia, and tried to fight against Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan led his army on an expedition to the Western Regions. Li Dewang sent envoys to contact the tribes in Mobei that had not been conquered by Genghis Khan and formed a foreign aid alliance to jointly fight against Genghis Khan.
Now that Genghis Khan has returned from his expedition to the Western Regions, with his vengeful character, he will definitely use troops against Xixia.
However, due to the feud between Meng and Jin, Genghis Khan destroyed Xixia, and the Kingdom of Jin was next.
"Your Majesty, do you want to send an envoy to the grassland to find out what the Tatars think?"
Yan Zhanshilu, the prime minister on the left of Shangshu, observed the words and expressions and said tentatively.
The Tatars were powerful, and the emperor did not want to have any more grudges with the Tatars. Most of the ministers in the palace did not want to have another conflict with the Tatars.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are tigers and wolves who are afraid of being avoided, let alone enmity with them. If we are asking for peace with the Tatars, it is better to make a marriage. Perhaps this way, the Tatars will not go south to use troops against me, Dajin."
Hou Zhi, the political minister of Pingzhang, was full of pessimism and disappointment about the resistance against the Tatars.
Although most of the ministers in the palace usually looked down on the new prime minister, at this moment they all agreed with Hou Zhi.
"I wish to make peace with the Tatars. I second the proposal to the Prime Minister!"
"The Tatars are invincible, and I second the proposal to the Marquis!"
The ministers all commented one after another, and Emperor Wanyan Shouxu nodded slightly, his expression much kinder.
It can be seen that he does not want to become enemies of the Tatars.
"Your Majesty, the Tatar tigers and wolves have a human face and an animal heart. You must not get married. The princess is young and beautiful. If you let her go to the grassland, it is self-evident what her fate will be. Besides, Princess Wen has a fiery temperament. It would be better not to get married. Once she goes On the grassland, the consequences are unpredictable. Please take back your Majesty's orders and not make peace with the Tatars."
Li Qi, who was involved in political affairs, presented the report coldly, and all the ministers in the palace immediately became quiet.
Princess Wen, the emperor's biological sister, who dares to talk about marriage lightly.
But after careful calculation, it seems that there is no young woman of the right age and outstanding appearance in the clan.
"Your Majesty, what Xianggong Li said is true. The Tatars and Dajin are world enemies. How could they not invade Dajin? The current plan can only be fought. Your Majesty must not be indecisive and chill the hearts of the soldiers of the six armies!"
Wanyan Heda, who was involved in political affairs and a general of the main war faction, couldn't help but said loudly
The Tatars will definitely retaliate and will definitely destroy Dajin. What's more, the Tatar army is at its peak and there is no enemy in the world, and there is no reason to let the Jin country go.
"Heda, the Tatar soldiers and horses are strong. To contend with them is a disaster. If it is a fierce battle on the battlefield, I am afraid that I, Dajin, will not be a match for the Tatar army! By then, you will be my eternal sinner, Dajin!"
Pingzhang's political minister Hou Zhi refuted Wanyan Heda with a dark face.
"Is there a wolf that doesn't eat sheep? Temujin and his men have killed many of my people. Have they ever hesitated? Your Majesty, for this plan, we must prepare for the defense of Shaanxi in preparation for the arrival of the Tatar army. guilty."
Wanyan Heda said sternly, looking down upon the weaklings of Hou Zhi and others.
The ministers were chattering, and Wanyan Shouxu coughed twice. After the palace became quiet, he said with a grimace:
"Gentlemen, are you saying that this fierce battle is unavoidable?"
In just ten years, the Kingdom of Jin was forced to the south of the Yellow River by the Mongolian army. In such a large Jin Kingdom, only Henan and Shaanxi were left. The country is short of power and the people are in dire straits. What else can they do to compete with the Mongolian army?
"Your Majesty, the current plan is to form a brotherly kingdom with Xixia, send envoys back, and station troops in Jingzhao Mansion and Fengxiang. As for whether to send reinforcements to fight against the Tatars, we can only wait and see. "
Prime Minister Wanyan, the Prime Minister on the right side of the Secretariat, proposed that he would not leave the job.
"I second my opinion, Prime Minister Right!"
"I second my opinion, Prime Minister Right!"
The ministers all spoke one after another, and Wanyan Shouxu hesitated for a moment before making a decision.
"Wanyan Heda is stationed in Jingzhao Prefecture, and the Zhongxiao Army is guarding the Fengxiang line. I replied to the Xia envoy and agreed to be a country of brothers. I sent the envoy back to hire. As for sending troops to reinforce the Xia people, we will discuss it later."
The ministers accepted the decree without any objection.
A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. It is reasonable for Dajin to be unable to reinforce Xixia because of its weakened national power and too much time to take care of itself.
"Your Majesty, once the Tatar army invades the south, it is inevitable that they will use troops against our country, Dajin. We should also send envoys to express peace to the Southern Emperor, so as to ensure that we, Dajin, have a safe future."
Li Qi, who was involved in political affairs, presented the memorial again.
Both sides of the Southern Song Dynasty court contacted the Tatars to jointly deal with Dajin. Once Dajin goes to war with the Tatars, the Southern Song Dynasty cannot take the opportunity to make a sneak attack.
The current emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Hong, was almost burned to death in the posthouse when he was on a mission to the Kingdom of Jin as a prince. Who knows if Zhao Hong will take the opportunity to take revenge.
"Ms. Li, please be patient and don't be impatient."
Wanyan Shouxu looked at the ministers in the palace, with a hint of pride in his expression.
"The Tatar army has not yet gone south. It is not yet known whether they will use troops against me, Dajin. At this time, they are rushing to show weakness to the southerners. Is it too hasty? Will the southerners look down on me, Dajin? This matter Let’s discuss it again. That’s it for today.”
Wanyan Shouxu stood up and walked towards the side hall.
It may be difficult for Dajin to deal with the Tatar cavalry, but it is not enough to deal with the weak Song people.
After coming out of the palace, Li Zhong'e, the envoy of Xixia, asked worriedly.
"Ms. Zhang, can you guess what the Emperor Jin's will is?"
"Xiangong Zhang, the Emperor of Jin is not aware of the truth that the lips are dying and the teeth are cold, right? If you continue to be indecisive, disaster will be imminent!"
Li Shaoying, the doctor in Zuosi of Xixia Shangshu Province, was weak and seemed not optimistic about the alliance between the two countries.
Luo Shichang, the Xuanhui envoy of the Southern Academy of Xixia, shook his head secretly. The financial owner was indecisive and sent troops to reinforce Xixia. I'm afraid it was just a dream.
"Guys, please wait patiently. Perhaps, my lord will agree to this."
Zhang Tiangang, the Minister of Rites of the Kingdom of Jin, smiled bitterly, feeling extremely guilty.
Wanyan Shouxu has a changeable personality, is indecisive, and is not a ruthless person. He is wary of the Tatar cavalry and may not easily send troops to aid Xixia.
Seeing Zhang Tiangang's reaction, Luo Shichang and others felt even more chilled.
The results of this peace negotiation may not meet expectations, and Xixia may have to fight alone.
"Dear envoys, the Tatar army is at its peak and it is difficult to contend with it. I hope you will understand."
Zhang Tiangang's meaningless words made Luo Shichang and others stunned.
"Ms. Zhang, what do you mean..."
Li Zhong'e couldn't help but be confused for a while. Has the Kingdom of Jin given up on reinforcing Daxia?
"Everyone, please be patient. It will not be too late for you to make a decision when our Lord's Holy Will comes down. The "Bianjing Bookstore" on Yu Street has many good books, and the shopkeeper is a strange person. Maybe you will find something unexpected. surprise."
Zhang Tiangang stroked his white beard and said something meaningful.
