When Bitu left, no one said a word in the hall, and there was a dead silence.
Everyone knows that a national war is coming. But no one has any reason to complain or accuse Asha of not being able to fight with the war-fighting generals like Wei Minglinggong.
The Tatars are ambitious and have been plotting to invade Xixia for a long time. No matter how hard Xixia tries to make ends meet, it can't change the other party's intention to destroy Xixia.
Only by destroying Xixia and cutting off the flanks of the Jin people can we concentrate our efforts on dealing with the Jin Kingdom. The Tatars' wishful thinking is known to everyone on the road.
"Li... Qing, once the Tatars attack, will the Jin people send reinforcements?"
Li Dewang coughed lightly and turned his eyes to Li Zhong'e, the Minister of Civil Affairs.
After Li Dewang ascended the throne, he rectified the national affairs and tried to revitalize Xixia. In August last year, Li Dewang sent Li Zhong'e, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Luo Shichang, the Xuanhui envoy of the Southern Academy, and Li Shaoying, the doctor of Zuosi of the Shangshu Province, to the Jin Dynasty and concluded a peace treaty with the Jin Dynasty. The purport of the peace treaty is:
Jin Xia is a country of brothers, and the Xia Dynasty serves the Jin Kingdom as brothers; the two countries each use their own country's reign name, but the Jin Dynasty does not grant annual coins to the Xia Kingdom. Since then, Xia Jin has reconciled.
In December of the same year, Li Dewang sent Li Bian, a bachelor of Huiyouge, to the Jin Dynasty to request the resumption of mutual trade between the two parties. After several twists and turns, a mutual trade agreement was signed. Li Dewang also sent an envoy to the Kingdom of Jin to congratulate Zhengdan, who had been interrupted for many years due to the Jinxia War.
Xixia has entered a dead end. If there is no external force to break the wall, Xixia will not survive.
And Jin Chao seemed to be his only strong support.
"Your Majesty, I didn't know until the Jin Dynasty that the people's livelihood in the Jin Dynasty was in decline, and the soldiers and wealth were exhausted. The Jin people had been forced to the front lines of Henan and Shaanxi by the Mongols. They had no time to take care of themselves and were unable to help Xia to fight against the Mongols. I, Daxia, I am afraid I can only It’s up to you!”
As an envoy to the Jin Dynasty, Li Zhong'e, the Minister of Civil Affairs, first gave Li Dewang a brick.
He had already reported to the emperor about his mission to the Kingdom of Jin. It seemed that the emperor was still determined to get reinforcements from the Kingdom of Jin.
"Your Majesty, I see that the Jin Emperor is indecisive and has two sides, so I am afraid it will be difficult to send troops to reinforce Daxia. The current plan is to work together to fight against the Tatars!"
Li Bian, a bachelor of Huiyou Pavilion, came out to report.
The new Jin emperor came to the throne. Although he negotiated peace with Xixia, he hesitated to decide whether to fight or make peace with the Mongols. He stayed on the sidelines and watched, and in all likelihood there was no hope.
"Your Majesty took in the son of King Han of the Kerei Tribe and assassinated Sangkun. Genghis Khan and King Han of the Kerei Tribe are feuding men. Your Majesty's move is tantamount to setting fire to yourself. Your Majesty is unwise! It is better to sacrifice Sangkun to seek forgiveness from the Tatars. , we can stop the troops!"
The newly promoted Yushi Zhongcheng, Zhang Gongfu, bluntly expressed his advice with a dark face, but it was just related to other matters.
"I never dare to give up the loyalty of friends. Do you think that if I don't take Sangkun in, Temujin will let me go to Daxia? The Tatars have sent troops to Daxia several times. Daxia is not what it used to be, and its troops are weak. Genghis Khan How could you miss it?"
Li Dewang smiled bitterly, couldn't help coughing, and quickly covered his mouth with a handkerchief.
Genghis Khan wanted to use troops against Xixia. What excuse was not the reason?
"Zhang Gongfu, what do you mean by these words? If a wolf wants to eat a sheep, do you need a reason? The hands of the Tatars are stained with the blood of many of my people in Great Xia. Don't you know? Even if we live in an ignoble way, Genghis Khan will Can you let us go? If you stand, you will die, if you kneel, you will die, so why not fight, maybe there is a way out!"
Ah Sha dared not to shout angrily at Zhang Gongfu.
Giving away Sangkun will make the Tatars look down upon him even more. Continuing to compromise will only encourage the Tatars' arrogance.
"Asha, don't you dare? Everyone knows that the Mongols are ambitious. However, once they lead a large army to attack, my people in Daxia will definitely suffer countless casualties!"
Zhang Gongfu shook his head and sighed.
The Tatar army is at its peak, and no one in the world can compete with it. Once the Tatar cavalry invades, not only will there be countless casualties, but the country will be destroyed.
"Your Majesty, the Tartars are a country of tigers and wolves. Even though I, Daxia, are obedient and obedient, I am still afraid of their wolfish nature. Being so tough today is probably a self-defense attack. The Jin Dynasty is in decline and cannot defend itself. How can it help me, Daxia? It is better to quickly recall the Mongolian envoys, bow down and ask the Tatars to withdraw."
Li Zhong'e spoke again and begged.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are powerful and their military is in full swing. It is better to send envoys and then go to seek peace. Choose another son of my Daxia clan, give him the title of king, give him a chariot and flag, and send the hostage to the desert to marry him, saying Maybe it can eliminate a national disaster.”
Privy Councilor Li Yuanji also urged the emperor to compromise and try to give Xixia a glimmer of hope.
In fact, he also knew in his heart that trying to prevent the invasion of the Mongolian army was tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger.
"A hundred thousand Tatar troops are stationed in the north of Helan Mountain. Do you think they have nothing to do when they come out to hunt? You'd better be on guard!"
Asha dared not to bow to the bloodless Li Dewang on the throne, with a solemn look on his face.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are watching eagerly. I will go to Keyi Gate to garrison. If I can't come back, please your Majesty to stick to Zhongxing Mansion and never surrender, so as to protect the great Xia Kingdom Zuo forever."
Keyi Gate is the northern gateway of Zhongxing Prefecture. It has two mountains facing each other and a path in the middle, making it a natural and dangerous barrier. As long as Keyi Gate can be defended, the northern Xixia barrier can be protected.
Asha dared not finish his words, so he knelt down and kowtowed heavily several times before standing up.
"Go. That's the end of the matter. Let's face the national crisis together, our monarchs and ministers."
Li Dewang said solemnly, waved his hand gently, and took off the handkerchief, his face full of desolation.
Now that the matter has come to this, we can only respond to the enemy.
Perhaps, the challenge can be solved once and for all and Xixia can survive for a few years.
"Your Majesty, the only plan now is to face the difficulties. I hope that Your Majesty will issue an imperial edict and inform the military offices of all states to fight against the Tatars and protect the country of Daxia forever!"
Weiming Linggong saw that Li Dewang was not very happy, so he quickly advised him.
If the king of a country lacks the will to fight, how will the ministers and soldiers below deal with themselves?
Li Dewang reacted and summoned up some energy and dignity.
"My lords, the Tatars are fearful of power and unethical, and they even deceive. If I send protons to the Tatar army, but are restrained by them, I can only throw a rat into a trap, and I will regret it later. Instead of lingering on the last breath, it is better to give it a try. !”
Li Dewang raised his voice, but the ministers were worried and found it difficult to smile.
Since the emperor had decided to go to war, he could only fight the Tatar army. As for whether God can fulfill people's wishes, we can only ask God.
"Immediately pass down an edict, ordering all the troops to prepare for the battle and not to take it lightly. The former prince Li De is ordered to be the garrison of Lingzhou to prepare for the attack of the Tatar army."
With Helan Mountain and the Yellow River as its back, Lingzhou is the southern barrier of Zhongxing Prefecture. As long as Lingzhou City is defended, Zhongxing Mansion, the capital, will have no worries.
After Li Dewang's imperial edict was issued, he felt a little more relaxed.
It remains to be seen how the war will end.
Li Dewang retreated to the side hall and couldn't bear it anymore. A large mouthful of blood spurted out, and plum blossoms were dotted, which was shocking.
"Your Majesty, you must take care of your dragon body!"
Li Zhong'e arrived at the request, worried and frightened.
A powerful enemy invaded, the emperor's health was in danger, and state affairs were difficult to deal with.
The Supreme Emperor Li Zunxu has been on the bed for a long time and is about to die. Emperor Li Dewang is seriously ill again. The Mongols are about to attack in a large scale. Xixia is really an unlucky year, and misfortunes never come singly.
Could it be said that Xixia's energy is exhausted?
Li Dewang's face was pale, there were bloodshot eyes at the corners of his mouth, and his handkerchief was blood red. Li Zhong'e began to persuade him worriedly.
"Your Majesty, take good care of yourself. I will retire for the time being."
"Life or death is a matter of fate. I'm afraid my body and bones won't last long."
Li Dewang stopped Li Zhong'e who was about to retreat and suddenly lowered his voice.
"Li Zhong'e, please tidy up and immediately send an envoy to make a deposit. You must meet the Emperor of Jin in person and tell him that he is dying and his teeth are cold, so that he should not just sit back and watch, lest he be defeated by the Tatars one by one!"
Li Dewang was shocked and quickly accepted the order.
The emperor still never forgets the reinforcement of the Kingdom of Jin!
He was not Mao Sui from the Warring States Period, and the Jin Emperor was not the King of Chu. He had no confidence that he could persuade the indecisive Jin Emperor Wanyan Shouxu to rescue Xixia.
"Luo Shichang and the others haven't come back yet?"
Noticing Li Zhong'e's expression, Li Dewang's heart sank, and his words returned to Luo Shichang and others who were on an envoy to the Song Dynasty.
Li Zhonge, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Luo Shichang, the Xuanhui envoy of the Nanyuan, and Li Shaoying, the minister of Zuosi of the Shangshu Province, went to the Jin Dynasty as envoys. Li Zhonge and Li Shaoying returned to the country first, while Luo Shichang and other Han envoys went with Princess Wen. Song Dynasty.
Princess Wen did this because the messenger's bun was too obvious to prevent the tree from drawing attention to the wind. Li Zhonge and others had no choice but to agree.
Luo Shichang was a great Confucian in the Xixia Kingdom, with a comprehensive knowledge of classics and history. Letting him go might be more in line with Emperor Song's taste and make it easier to bring reinforcements.
Calculating the time, more than three months have passed, and Luo Shichang should be back.
"Back to Your Majesty, Xianggong Luo went to the Song Dynasty, and I don't know if he saw the Song Emperor. The Tatar army occupied Xiazhou. Even if Luo Xianggong wants to come back, I'm afraid he will have to go back. Your Majesty, please wait patiently."
Li Zhong'e's words made Li Dewang involuntarily feel upset and cough violently.
Those weak Song people can't even defeat the Jin people. Even if they form an alliance with Xixia, even if they send troops for reinforcements, what's the point?
"Go and prepare to be sent as envoy to the Kingdom of Jin. At this point in Daxia, if we don't have strong support, I'm afraid it will be difficult to cope with the Tatar invasion. Do you understand?"
Li Dewang was very meaningful, with a big "Chuan" character between his eyebrows.
What Li Dewang didn't know was that Genghis Khan was already seriously injured at this time. As long as he lowered his head, Xixia might still survive for a few years.
Unfortunately, there are no ifs in history. History still follows a step-by-step process and rolls forward according to its inherent trajectory without giving people a chance to regret.
At the beginning of the fourth year of Qianding in Xixia, the Mongolian envoy Bitu and others returned to the Mongolian military camp, adding fuel to the fire and reporting the Xixia people's rudeness to Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan, who was ill, became furious and ordered two armies to attack Xixia, vowing to destroy Xixia's imperial food. .
A war to destroy a country that will go down in history slowly opened its heavy curtain.
