At the beginning of March, although the spring cold was severe, Zhongxing Mansion, located on the side of Helan Mountain, had already escaped the bitter cold season. The wind and sand from the north invaded the capital from time to time. The sky was filled with dust, and the soldiers and civilians complained endlessly and suffered unspeakably.
At the beginning of the year, Mongol Khan Temujin led an army of 100,000 troops on the grounds that Xixia had broken its promise to conquer the Western Regions. His third son Ogootai and fourth son Tole accompanied him in the expedition, and his second son Chagatai served as backup to attack Xixia again.
Genghis Khan led the main force of the Mongolian Eastern Route Army and attacked Heishui City, an important town in northern Xixia. The Mongolian general Ashulu led the army on the west route and headed straight to the west of Hexi. The two Mongolian armies were murderous and fierce, threatening to destroy Xia in one fell swoop.
When the news of the Mongol invasion came, everyone in the city, from the emperor, princes and ministers to the traffickers and soldiers, was in panic. The Supreme Emperor Li Zunxu was seriously ill and bedridden with fear. Emperor Li Dewang was worried all day long and became ill due to overwork. He had not been in court for many days and was looking very sick.
The father and son fell ill one after another, and people in the government and the public were in disarray. With the news that Heishui City, an important border town in Xixia, had been breached, the chaos in Zhongxing Mansion City was exacerbated.
Teahouses, restaurants, alleys and streets are full of people, all talking about the current situation, and everyone has a sad look on their face.
For Li Dewang, the Emperor of Western Xia, who was on the sickbed, his panic and worry worsened, as the disease had entered his body and he was dying.
Genghis Khan led the army from the east to attack Heishui City in Xixia, stationed troops in the north of Suzhou, and went out to plunder. The Mongolian army on the west route marched eastward from the fear of the Wuer territory, captured Sha, Su and Gan states, and approached Xiliang Prefecture with great momentum.
To follow the Mongols is to die, and to fight against them is also to die. Li Dewang finally rose to prominence, but Xixia was about to perish.
Li Zhong'e and others went on an envoy to the Kingdom of Jin, pleading in every possible way, but the Kingdom of Jin refused to comment. More than two months passed, but not a single soldier was sent to Xia for reinforcements.
Xixia, with its weak military, could only face the brutal and murderous Tatar army alone.
With Genghis Khan's unyielding character, Xixia will not only perish as a country, but also probably as a species.
The past events kept popping up in his mind like smoke, and Li Deren couldn't help but burst into tears on his bed.
Xixia's energy is exhausted, and Li Dewang is about to die.
How could he be worthy of the ancestors of Daxia?
"Your Majesty, Luo Shichang, the Nanyuan Hui Envoy, and Nanping King Li Sui are asking for an audience outside the palace."
The chamberlain came in and reported in a low voice.
"Luo Shichang! Quick! Tell them to come in!"
Li Dewang was helped up by the palace maid and leaned back.
After being gone for so long, Luo Shichang finally came back.
It’s hard to be an uncle or a nephew, so why bother.
"I'm going to pay homage to Your Majesty!"
Luo Shichang and Li Sui came in and bowed together.
Nanping King Li Sui is his nephew, and his heir is young. If Xixia is destined to be lucky, Li Sui will be the next emperor of Xixia.
Considering that he was not going to die soon, Li Dewang had nothing to hide or avoid from his nephew and heir.
"Luo Qing, King Nanping, why are you here?"
There was a trace of enthusiasm in Li Dewang's eyes.
Luo Shichang went to the Song Dynasty to meet the Emperor of Song. It took him so long to come to meet the Emperor. I don't know if he and the Emperor of Song had reached some kind of compromise?
"Your Majesty, I was on a mission to the Kingdom of Jin and the Kingdom of Song. When I came back, I passed through Yinzhou, only to find that it was occupied by the Tatar army and the road was blocked. I and others had to avoid the Mongolian horsemen and had to turn back to the territory of the Kingdom of Jin and crush them from the northwest. Transferred back to Zhongxing Mansion."
Thinking of the difficulties and obstacles along the way, Luo Shichang was also horrified.
He left Jinling and returned to Bianliang City via the old Huai River Road. He originally wanted to pass through Yinzhou, but he didn't know that the entire territory of Yinzhou had been occupied by the Mongolian army. He had to return to Shaanxi and travel westward from Xiaoguan in the Kingdom of Jin to Xia.
"It'll be good to come back, it'll be good to come back."
Li Deren nodded weakly and coughed violently.
"Your Majesty, take care of it!"
Luo Shichang and Li Sui were frightened when they saw that Li Dewang's face was as thin as gold paper and he had lost his human form.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on for long with my body."
Li Dewang stopped coughing and continued.
"Luo Shichang, please feel my pulse."
At this time, Li Dewang could hold back his temper.
Luo Shichang will naturally report what happened when he went on a mission to the Song Dynasty. If you return without success, that's to be expected.
"I obey the order."
Luo Shichang stepped forward to check Li Dewang's pulse. After a long time, he stood up with a solemn expression.
"Your Majesty's pulse is slow and astringent, and your yang energy is deficient, which should be evidence of deficiency and cold. Your Majesty should rest well and rest, and do not get angry or angry. Otherwise..."
Luo Shichang spoke slowly, but Li Dewang interrupted him with a slight smile.
"Otherwise your life is at risk."
Li Dewang looked at Luo Shichang and smiled miserably.
"I am still alive, but I still have people to take care of me. I have food, drink, and a doctor. I have pity on my people in Daxia. The war is coming, the water is dire, and the people are in dire straits!"
Luo Shichang is a national player in Xinglin. He is not optimistic about his condition. It seems that he is terminally ill and will not be able to hold on for much longer.
"Your Majesty, don't give up hope until the last moment. I went to the Song Dynasty and met with Emperor Song in Jinling City. I want to report the reasons to Your Majesty."
Luo Shichang felt depressed and hurriedly played.
The Mongolian army attacked the city and captured the territory. Li Zhonge, the Minister of Rites, sent an envoy to the Kingdom of Jin, but the Kingdom of Jin did not send any troops. People in both the government and the public were in panic, and even the seriously ill king seemed to have lost the confidence to fight against the Tatar army.
"Luo Shichang, how was your mission? Is the Song Dynasty unwilling to send troops?"
The war is raging, and until now, the Jin Kingdom has not sent a single soldier, and the Xia people have given up any hope of reinforcements from the Jin Kingdom.
The people of the Song Dynasty were weaker than the people of the Jin Dynasty, and they were separated by thousands of mountains and rivers. It would be fanciful to expect them.
"Your Majesty, I met with the Emperor of Song in Jinling. The Emperor of Song said that the Tatars are powerful and are determined to destroy Daxia. If Your Majesty leads his people southward into the Song Dynasty, the Song people will definitely take them in and place them properly."
Luo Shichang's words made Li Dewang stunned for a long time, then he shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"Fleeing south. Even if I were willing, those soldiers and people might not go with me. It's hard to leave my homeland. Even if I want to be the king of subjugation, I can't leave my people in Daxia and escape from Daxia."
The Xixia people fled to the Southern Song Dynasty. What does this mean? Relocation of the whole country?
Neither the Jin nor the Song Dynasty were willing to send troops for Xixia, and the Mongolian army was overwhelming. The fate of the Xixia Kingdom seemed to be doomed.
Li Dewang's face was miserable and his eyes were empty.
"Your Majesty, I have something else to say."
Luo Shichang looked around and hesitated to speak.
Li Dewang waved his hand gently, and the eunuchs and maids retreated.
"Luo Qing, if you have anything to say, just say it."
Luo Shichang said nothing, and Li Sui said from the side:
"Your Majesty, Mr. Luo once met with Emperor Song in Jinling. On that day, Emperor Song personally promised that if Xixia was in trouble, he would send troops to rescue him."
"Really?"
Li Dewang turned around and looked at Luo Shichang in surprise.
"Emperor Song? The new emperor Zhao Hong who took office in the second year of Qian Ding? Is he willing to send troops to reinforce Daxia?"
Emperor Song was willing to send troops to rescue him, which was beyond his expectation.
"Your Majesty, this matter is absolutely true. I dare not deceive Your Majesty!"
Luo Shichang spoke quickly.
"The Song people are weak and surrounded by thousands of mountains and rivers. Even if they send troops to rescue them, I'm afraid they won't be of much use."
Li Dewang was surprised and shook his head slightly.
The Song soldiers were weak. Even if they came with troops, how could they withstand the brutal and murderous Mongolian army?
"Your Majesty, the Song Dynasty is not what it used to be. The soldiers trained by the Song Emperor are all tigers and wolves, and they are also sharp with firearms. They are no longer the Amen of Wu in the past. If your Majesty is willing, I can travel to the Song Dynasty at night and starry to bring reinforcements to defend the country. summer."
Luo Shichang said it bravely.
In fact, he was also worried about whether Zhao Hong would come to the northwest frontier as promised, and whether he had prepared reinforcements?
When they were in Jinling City, both parties didn't even sign a single document, so who knows if this matter will count.
"Your Majesty, what Xianggong Luo said is true. Now our Great Xia is in crisis and has reached the edge of national subjugation. The surrounding Mongolian tribes, including the Jin people, are just watching from the sidelines. Only the Song people are willing to help. Your Majesty, don't hesitate any longer. , so as not to miss the opportunity and regret it!"
Li Sui did the same and advised softly.
Li Dewang was startled for a moment, and then he said:
"Having said that, from Lin'an City to Zhongxing Mansion, it's thousands of miles away. I'm afraid..."
What the so-called firearm was, he didn't even bother to ask.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor of Song has made an appointment with me. He will wait for me at the Shukou border fortress in March. I will leave tomorrow. I can meet the Emperor within ten days at most, and he can bring in reinforcements in two or three months."
Luo Shichang hurriedly reported. I began to whisper in my heart again, could Zhao Hong be in Sichuan at this moment? Can he bring in reinforcements?
But the king of a country, and Princess Wen of the Jin Kingdom is a lesson, I am afraid that he is not just talking nonsense.
That Song Emperor Zhao Hong was gentle, calm, and talented, which inexplicably convinced him and gave him confidence.
"Song and Xia are separated by the Kingdom of Jin, a border of hundreds of miles. The Song army is coming over. Will there be any inconvenience on the side of the Kingdom of Jin?"
Li Dewang hesitated for a moment and continued to ask.
After all, the Song Dynasty and Xia Dynasty were separated by the territory of the Jin Kingdom ranging from 400 to 700 to 800 miles. Without the permission of the Kingdom of Jin, could the Song army forcefully cross the border?
However, it is always a good thing to have reinforcements coming. They may be able to save Xixia, which is about to collapse.
"Your Majesty has no worries. On that day, the alliance was concluded with the presence of Princess Wen from the Kingdom of Jin. When the time comes to borrow troops from the Song Dynasty, Your Majesty also requested to write a letter in his own handwriting to the Lord of Gold and Princess Wen. On the other side of the Kingdom of Jin, there is the Kingdom of Wen. The princess mediates up and down."
Luo Shichang explained immediately.
"Princess Wen Guo? Are she and Emperor Song an old acquaintance?"
The fire of gossip in Li Dewang's heart was burning unconsciously.
From what Luo Shichang said, he felt that the relationship between Princess Wen and Zhao Hong was extraordinary.
"Your Majesty, Princess Wen of the Kingdom of Jin is in her prime. She is an old acquaintance with Emperor Zhao Hong of the Song Dynasty. Their relationship is extraordinary. In my opinion, these two may have feelings for each other, but what is the real situation? , I don’t know, and the officials of the Song Dynasty don’t know either.”
Luo Shichang reported it according to the facts. Who hasn't been young? Zhao Hong looked at Wan Yanchun's eyes, and he thought he could still see the ambiguity in them clearly.
"Your Majesty, there is a feud between the Song and Jin Dynasties. How can the princess of the Jin people marry the emperor of the Song people? In my opinion, the Jin Kingdom is also willing to promote the alliance of the three kingdoms because of the loss of lips and teeth. In any case, with the help of Princess Wen of the Jin people , things will be much easier to handle.”
Li Sui played on the side, but he hit the nail on the head about the relationship between Zhao Hong and Wan Yanchun.
The shame of Jingkang and the hatred of losing their land and subjugating their country are unforgettable among the Song people. The Emperor of Song and the Princess of Jin will definitely not get along.
However, the Song soldiers' rescue of Xixia still required the mediation of the Princess of Jin, so that the Song soldiers could "borrow the road" to go north smoothly.
"So that's it. I didn't expect that Emperor Song was still a romantic emperor."
Li Dewang suddenly understood and asked softly.
"Emperor Song, do you have any requirements?"
Between countries, interests come first. If the Song Dynasty is willing to send troops to rescue, it will not be without reason, and there must be requirements.
When the building is about to collapse, he can accept it as long as it does not separate the territory and the territory.
