The sun was blazing in the sky, and there was no place to hide in the bare sky. The sun is scorching the earth, seeming to melt everything in the world.
Zhang Tiangang, the envoy of the Kingdom of Jin, Guo Xiabao, the deputy envoy of the Kingdom of Jin, and a group of envoys and followers stood not far outside the gate of Lanzhou City. Although Zhang Tiangang and Guo Xiabao were sweating profusely, their hearts felt cold.
The Song army at the gate of the city stood motionless. Although there was a pergola above to cover it, they were still sweating profusely and looked solemn. Under the pergola next to the city gate, more than a dozen artillery pieces looked like crouching beasts, which was chilling.
There was an endless stream of large trucks loaded with corpses, being transferred from the city to the outside. The people pulling the cart were obviously Jin people. They were sweating profusely and trudging forward.
"These Song soldiers are really abominable, how dare they abuse our Dajin people like this!"
The deputy envoy of the Kingdom of Jin, Guo Xiabao, looked angry and cursed fiercely.
"Brothers, don't you feel hot doing this work on a hot day?"
A follower couldn't help but asked loudly.
"If I don't pull it out and bury it, I'm afraid it will cause an epidemic!"
A young man replied. He looked at Zhang Tiangang and his group and asked suspiciously:
"Are you... golden people?"
"That's right! We are envoys from the Kingdom of Jin, and we are here to ask the Song people to return Lanzhou City and Lintao Mansion!"
Guo Xiabao's words surprised the coachmen, and the young man who spoke immediately began to curse with a black face.
"You thieves, you didn't save the Tatars from attacking Xixia, we fled to Lanzhou, and you idiots came to take the city again. Do you still want to lose face?"
It turned out that the young man was a refugee from Xixia, and he started to curse.
"Go back! If you can't protect your own people, why do you still have the nerve to claim the city?"
"Stop harming us! We still have food to eat under the hands of the Song people. When you come, we will all starve to death!"
"Get out of here!"
Several other coachmen started making noises one after another. After they vented their anger, they pushed and pulled the cart and left angrily.
"These ignorant fools!"
Guo's face was red and white, and he felt guilty when he got angry.
"Let's go into town."
Zhang Tiangang glanced at the orderly people waiting for porridge at the porridge shed opposite, and shook his head listlessly.
The Song army gathered on the front line of Lintao Mansion. It may not be easy to take it back.
After entering the city and arriving at the Lanzhou Yamen, they happened to meet the Xixia envoys Li Zhonge and Luo Shichang coming over. Zhang Tiangang gritted his teeth and stepped forward to greet them.
"Xianggong Li and Xianggong Luo, we haven't seen each other for a few years. How are you two Xianggongs?"
"Mr. Zhang, I'm sorry to trouble you. It's been a long time."
Luo Shichang forced a smile and returned the salute.
The Mongolian army attacked Xia, but the Jin people ignored it. The alliance between the two countries was already in name only.
"Xiangong Zhang, Jin Xia is a country of brothers. When my life and death in Da Xia are at stake, your country just stands aside and does not send a single soldier. Isn't it too unkind?"
Another Xixia envoy, Li Zhong'e, was not polite and broke out with a cold voice.
Being abandoned on the verge of life and death, one can imagine Li Zhong'e's anger.
"Envoys, please chat for now while I wait to report to His Majesty."
Several Song officials left one after another and entered the Yamen.
"Xiangong Li, the situation is like this. The country is lacking in power. We want to reinforce Daxia, but we are stretched thin and blocked by all kinds of obstacles. This makes Xianggong Li laugh."
Zhang Tiangang said with a wry smile, his face full of embarrassment.
If the benefactor doesn't send troops to rescue Xia, what can he, a small civil servant, do?
"Xiangong Li, haven't you seen that I, Dajin, fought several bloody battles with the Tatar army, resulting in numerous casualties among soldiers and civilians, and that Fengxiang Mansion was lost and recovered? I, Dajin, have tried my best!"
The deputy envoy of the Kingdom of Jin, Guo Xiabao, said angrily with a dark face.
This Zhang Tiangang, a dignified imperial envoy, represents the face of Dajin. Why should he be so servile to a small Xixia envoy?
"Try your best?"
Li Zhong'e smiled coldly and said jokingly:
"The border between Jin and Xia is adjacent, don't you understand? The country of brothers is not as good as the people of Song! The Emperor of Song sent reinforcements to fight in Xia, defeated the Tatar army in the land of Xingling, and then he personally conquered and unified Hundreds of thousands of warriors came to the rescue. Afterwards, hundreds of thousands of dan of grain were sent to Xia. If not for this, our country would have died, and the people would have died of hunger and disease. You, Dajin, can sit back and relax!"
Sitting on the sidelines, without sending a single soldier, without a grain of food for rescue, the Jin man's behavior made him extremely heartbroken. It also made him too lazy to be polite to Jin people anymore.
"What bullshit Song people, none of them are good! Xianggong Li, Xianggong Luo, do you know that the place where Emperor Song is stationed is my land of Dajin. What is the purpose of the Song army if they occupy it and refuse to return it? This is not the same as banditry. Really? If Emperor Song doesn’t retreat, I will drive them out!"
Guo Xiabao cursed bitterly, his face turning red.
"Deputy Envoy Guo, be careful what you say! It's an important matter!"
Zhang Tiangang was anxious to stop Guo Xiabao. This is the Lanzhou Prefectural Government Office, the seat of the Song Emperor. If the soldiers of the Song Army heard it, wouldn't it expand the dispute? How would the talks proceed later?
"Dajin's land?"
Li Zhong'e smiled coldly, his eyes full of sarcasm.
"Your Majesty, please don't forget that every inch of land in your Jin Kingdom was snatched from the hands of the Song Dynasty. If I were you, I would not come here to humiliate yourself. Is Jingkang unforgettable? I will say one more thing. With the current national strength of your country, if you want to use troops against the Song Dynasty, do you have the strength? Look at the Song army, these tigers and wolves, can you compete with them?"
Perhaps because he was abandoned by the other party at the critical moment of life and death, Li Zhong'e, who was usually a humble gentleman, was looking at each other angrily, with fire in his eyes.
"Okay, Xianggong Li, please calm down. These important matters in the court cannot be decided by me and other humble ministers. The Emperor of Song is inside. Let's just be patient and wait for the Emperor of Song to summon us."
Zhang Tiangang complained secretly and began to persuade him with a guilty conscience.
"Ms. Zhang, what nonsense are you talking to them about! Go directly in to see Emperor Song and go back to Lanzhou!"
Guo Xia Tou became angry and fought back angrily.
"Go back quickly! Don't humiliate yourself!"
Li Zhong'e's voice became high-pitched, and the Song army guards outside the Yamen all turned their heads to look at him. Zhang Tiangang was frightened and quickly persuaded him.
"Ms. Li, I heard that Princess Anguo came to Lanzhou. Should we prepare some gifts and go visit the princess?"
Luo Shichang said softly, and Li Zhong'e looked away angrily, nodded slightly, and did not get angry with Guo Xia Toad anymore.
In fact, there is no need to argue with these Jin envoys.
"Deputy Envoy Guo, don't forget our mission!"
Seeing that Guo Xiadou was blushing and seemed to be going forward to speak eloquently, Zhang Tiangang quickly advised him.
Several Jin envoys nearby also whispered to dissuade him, but Guo Xiadou had a dark face and finally did not speak.
"Envoy from the Kingdom of Xia, I, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, are waiting in the lobby. Please follow me in."
Song officials came out with pleasant faces and led the Xixia envoys such as Li Zhonge and Luo Shichang into the Yamen lobby.
"Isn't this reasonable? Our envoy from the Great Jin Kingdom has already arrived, why not summon him first?"
The deputy envoy of the Kingdom of Jin, Guo Xiabao, had a black face and turned red, and he shouted at the top of his voice.
The guards at the Yamen Gate looked over, gave him a cold glance, and then looked back, unmoved by Guo Xia Toad's thunderous behavior.
"Deputy Envoy Guo, you have to bow your head when you are under the eaves. Just bear with it!"
Zhang Tiangang sighed, his face full of helplessness.
"Ms. Zhang, Emperor Song is so rude, Lanzhou and other places may not come back. It's better to go back and report to the emperor and prepare for war!"
Guo Xiazhao burst into anger.
"War?"
Zhang Tiangang looked at Guo Xiabao in astonishment and shook his head slightly.
"Deputy Envoy Guo, look at these tiger and wolf warriors of the Song Army. Are you sure of victory?"
Guo Xiabao was stunned. Facing the cold eyes of the Song Army soldiers in front of him, everything he wanted to say was stuck in his neck.
Luo Shichang and Li Zhong'e came in and thanked Zhao Hong on the high seat together.
"Your Majesty, I would like to express my gratitude to the Song Dynasty for rescuing the Xia Dynasty!"
Zhao Hong occupied Lanzhou and other places in the Kingdom of Jin. Is this a joke?
Isn't he worried about meeting Jin Kingdom's swordsmen?
"You two gentlemen, you are welcome. Is everything okay in Daxia Kingdom?"
Zhao Hong is smiling and friendly.
"Back to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the Tatar army retreated, and the land of Xingling was devastated by the war. There were not even a tenth of the people left, and the people's livelihood was in ruins. Thanks to your majesty for your help, our people of Daxia have escaped this disaster."
Li Zhong'e bowed again.
"The Mongolian army burned, killed, and looted. The land was in ruins and the people of Daxia were miserable."
Zhao Hong raised his eyelids, and Yu Jie on the side knew it well and asked softly.
"Two distinguished envoys, Daxia escaped unscathed in this battle. However, Xiamen and Mongolia border the country. If the Tatar army attacks next time, I wonder how Daxia should respond?"
Between countries, there are only eternal interests but no eternal friendship.
This sentence of the emperor can be described as a wise saying.
The Song Dynasty saved Xixia and took the opportunity to seize the Hexi Corridor. This is the decision that a great country should make.
"Xianggong Luo, the Tatar army is attacking the city in Daxia. The people of Daxia are covered with bones and corpses. The remaining soldiers and civilians are only three to four hundred thousand. If the Tatar army comes again, how should Daxia respond?"
Cao Youwan, an old acquaintance in the hall, also said seriously.
With the few soldiers in Xixia, the people's hearts are scattered and the military morale is difficult to use. It is probably in vain to try to defend it again.
Luo Shichang and Li Zhong'e looked at each other again, both looking ugly.
When the country is in such decline, how can we relieve our worries?
Where will Xixia go tomorrow?
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, if the Tatar army comes again, I hope that your majesty will send troops to rescue them, relieve the people, and save hundreds of thousands of people in Daxia!"
Li Zhonger bowed solemnly and begged Zhao Hong.
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, Song Xia is already a good friend of the Qin and Jin Dynasties. If Da Xia is in trouble, I hope your majesty will save Da Xia for the sake of Princess An Guo!"
Luo Shichang was worried and continued.
From ancient times to the present, all surviving dynasties have relied on themselves to save themselves. It is probably futile to rely solely on external forces.
"Two distinguished envoys, aren't you trying to embarrass me, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty?"
Fan Zhong shook his head, took over the conversation, and started talking.
"In order to save Daxia this time, we, the Song Dynasty, have depleted our national strength and killed many soldiers. There was a lot of opposition in the court and the people complained. If we send troops to save Xia again, I am afraid that there will be turmoil in the government and the public, and the unrest of the soldiers and the people, which will make me, the emperor of the Song Dynasty, Embarrassed!"
"That's true. Your Majesty went on a personal expedition to save Daxia from the crisis, and the entire Daxia royal family has done the utmost in benevolence. What will happen in the future, I'm afraid Daxia will have to fend for itself."
Yu Jie was unceremonious and forthright.
In order to save Xixia, Zhao Hong personally led the troops. The soldiers suffered numerous casualties and forced the Mongolian army to retreat. Emperor Li Sui of Xixia did not know that he came to Lanzhou to meet with the Emperor of Song Dynasty.
Could it be said that just a few hundred miles away made the Xixia Emperor suffer?
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, I hope you can make your own decisions and save Daxia from the incompatibility of water and fire."
Luo Shichang frowned and sighed, begging hard.
There are only interests at all between countries. It is indeed not easy for Zhao Hong to save Xia.
"Two gentlemen, please forgive me. With a population of three to four hundred thousand, two cities, the tiny land of Daxia has ceased to exist in name only. If I were the emperor of Daxia, what I can do now is to find a way for all the people of Daxia. A way out, a way to survive, rather than being greedy for authority and putting hundreds of thousands of people in Daxia in danger."
Fan Zhong's words were murderous and heart-wrenching. Both Luo Shichang and Li Zhong'e looked solemn and miserable and were speechless for a long time.
Although the words are ugly, they are the real dilemma of Daxia Kingdom.
"Don't scare the two gentlemen with your alarmist talk."
Zhao Hong finally spoke, holding up the teacup with a smile.
"The Tatar army has retreated, and the people of Daxia have experienced hardships. This is a good thing, a happy event, and you should be happy. Don't be sad, everyone, pick up your teacups, drink tea instead of wine, and celebrate today's hard-won success together."
Fan Zhong is right. Today's Xixia has a small population and a small area, which is not as good as a large county in the Song Dynasty. With the Mongolian cavalry surrounding them, there is no possibility of their continued existence.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Luo Shichang and Li Zhong'e toasted together, with a rare smile on their faces.
"You two gentlemen, please listen to me."
Zhao Hong said it seriously and slowly.
"If the Tatar army comes to invade Xia again, I will definitely send troops to rescue them. However, Tatar and Daxia borders on the border, and the attack is coming in the morning and evening. Even if I, the Song Dynasty, want to send troops to rescue, I am afraid it will be too late. Besides, Daxia is indeed It exists in name only, how to deal with oneself and how to save oneself are the fundamentals.”
He didn't care at all whether Emperor Li Sui of Xixia came to meet with him. And when the Song army advanced to Hexi, he would not inform the Xixia monarchs and ministers.
If God doesn't take it, he will be punished. He has determined the Hexi Corridor, the west gate of the Han Dynasty, without any guilt.
Li Zhong'e and Luo Shichang came out of the lobby, both worried.
"Ms. Luo, can it be said that I, Daxia, am really dead?"
Li Zhong'e sighed and said it.
The Song people were right. Is there a country with 300,000 to 400,000 people in the world? A small country with two cities and a dozen forts needs to consider its future path.
"I, the Emperor of Daxia, are stubborn and refuse to come to meet Emperor Song in person. I have to compromise. Emperor Song is indifferent and it is difficult to guess what is on his mind. Now that things have happened, there is no other way. Daxia can only seek happiness for itself."
Luo Shichang's faint words were full of emotion.
If the Mongolian army makes a comeback, what will be the way forward for Daxia?
"Ms. Luo, you are right. Today there is wine to get drunk, and tomorrow's worries will bring tomorrow's worries. At least, you and I are still alive now, and hundreds of thousands of Daxia people are still alive. This is already the greatest gift from God!"
Li Zhong'e laughed and became excited.
The dead horse has been healed into a living horse. These ministers are worthy of their conscience and worthy of the monarchs and people of Daxia.
"Ms. Luo, Princess Anguo has come to Lanzhou. Let's go meet the princess and discuss some ideas?"
Li Zhong'e pondered for a moment and then asked.
"Of course I want to go. However, I'm afraid Princess Anguo can't do anything. If Daxia wants to survive, she still has to rely on self-rescue."
Thinking of Zhao Hong's impersonal words, Luo Shichang felt a shiver in his heart.
The loyal and benevolent Emperor of the Song Dynasty was not as old-fashioned and warm-hearted as he seemed. In his heart, the first priority was always the interests of the Song Dynasty.
The emperor's heart is unpredictable. This emperor of the Song Dynasty, who knows everything, is decisive and ruthless in killing. Who knows if he has another plan?
