The first year of Jianwu of the Song Dynasty, 1230 AD, Jiangnan, Jinling.
Standing on the bank of the Yangtze River, watching the surging water rushing and rolling away. The giant willows on the shore swayed in the wind, and the boats in the river came and went with thousands of sails. Ships gathered in the port, and the docks were bustling with cargo trucks.
Shiploads of rice, shiploads of sulfur, shiploads of saltpeter, shiploads of sugar, and shiploads of gold, silver, copper, and iron ore are constantly being unloaded at the Jinling City dock.
On the dock, Xuan Zhen, the Minister of War of the Song Dynasty, looked at the bustling port with emotion in his tone.
"Gaozong once said: The profit of the shipping industry can greatly help the country. If it is handled properly and millions of people are affected, wouldn't it be worth taking it from the people? Today, the profit of the shipping department is far greater than that of Gaozong's dynasty. We are the great Song Dynasty The prosperity of the country is astonishing!"
Not to mention anything else, overseas grain and gold, silver and copper mines alone have completely solved the frontier army's food problem. Moreover, overseas food has fed back into the Song Dynasty, and drought and flood relief in many places relied on overseas food.
"Our national power in the Song Dynasty is booming, and all the subjects in the Song Dynasty are grateful to the emperor. Now the emperor's prestige in the hearts of the people of the Song Dynasty is increasing day by day. When it comes to benefiting and caring for the people, the emperor can be the leader of the emperors in this dynasty."
Wang Gang, the envoy of Jiangnan East Road, nodded and said.
The emperor of this dynasty has done his best to ensure that the people have enough food and clothing. No wonder the emperors of this dynasty have done the best to ensure that the people have enough food and clothing. Those kings only care about their own thrones, who would care about the lives of ordinary people?
However, winning the hearts of the people is of no use! In the Song Dynasty, the scholar-bureaucrats and the kings jointly governed the world, and the common people were valued. Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?
Of course, I can only keep these words in my heart, but I dare not say them out.
"Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. The emperor of this dynasty has won the hearts of the people, and the officers and soldiers in the army are even more respected as gods. Using overseas to support the Song Dynasty, the emperor can control this big game with ease. This generous move, this share thought……"
Xuan Zhen clicked his tongue and praised that the emperor's overseas layout seemed foolish at first, but now he realizes that his farsightedness and far-sightedness are beyond the reach of others.
"Just like the motto of the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, serve the country and the people. The emperor benefits all people and has contributed to the reconstruction of the Song Dynasty! The national destiny of this dynasty is entrusted to your majesty. It is not easy for your majesty!"
Although he was dissatisfied with Zhao Hong's suppression of scholar-bureaucrats, and although he criticized Zhao Hong's promotion of martial arts and suppressed literature, Wang Gang was still impressed by the emperor's literary governance.
Not only was he strong in civil affairs, but also in martial arts, the emperor seemed to be ambitious and unafraid.
Even the Mongolian cavalry who dominated the world took the initiative to provoke him. The emperor's audacity was frightening to think about.
"When the emperor changed the Yuan Dynasty and established military affairs, I don't know if he will launch troops again? For example, against Japan, or against the Tatars."
Wang Gang looked at Xuan Zhen, wanting to get more information from the Minister of War of the Song Dynasty.
In total, this is already the sixth year of the emperor's accession to the throne, the fifth year of Xingqing, and this year, it is the change of Yuan Dynasty to Jianwu.
Jianwu, hegemony is built on force. Could it be said that the emperor wants to raise troops again?
Throughout the dynasties, emperors changed Yuan Dynasties because of major events. Droughts and floods, invasions by foreign enemies, and civil unrest were all reasons for changing Yuan Dynasties.
"Japan? I'm afraid not!"
Xuan Zhen shook his head gently.
"In His Majesty's mind, the restoration of the Central Plains is never forgotten. But looking at his daily words and deeds, he always regards the Tatars as a close enemy. It is not the best time to mobilize troops against Japan in response to the death of our uncle, and Your Majesty has not mobilized the army."
Uncle Zhou An was killed in Japan. Although the emperor was angry and some generals in the court requested to send troops, in the end the situation was calm and no action was taken.
"Then His Majesty rented places on the southeastern coast of Goryeo and Tamna (Jeju Island) and built docks to use Japan's troops?"
The emperor is so strong that it is impossible for Zhou An to be killed and act as if nothing happened. The Coastal Construction Department recruits troops year by year, and the navy moves north and south, across the ocean, and its maritime power is getting stronger and stronger. Wang Gang himself didn't believe it without force.
"I'm afraid so. Your Majesty has a fiery temperament, and the matter involving my uncle will probably be a national war."
Xuan Zhen said quietly, his face filled with sadness without realizing it.
In the future, the Song Dynasty will have to fight a lot of wars.
"Swordsmen and soldiers are ominous, and they are not a good way to govern the country. Tatars, Jins, Japan, Nanyang, who will be next? The Song Dynasty keeps using troops, which may not be a blessing to the people of the world."
Wang Gang frowned and said with a dark face.
After having many contacts with Zhao Hong, he really didn't understand why the emperor despised and hated Japan so much. I don’t understand why the emperor called Japan “Little Japan.”
"Little Japan", does it mean that Japanese people are short?
"Wang Gong, in a world of great strife, the weak will eat the strong. If you don't use troops, how can you deal with it calmly?"
At some point, Prime Minister Xue Ji came up. He met the two of them, stroking his white beard, and chatting eloquently.
"According to the news from the grassland, the Tatars have elected the new Great Khan Ogedai. The internal fighting among the Tatars has ended, and it is probably inevitable to send troops south."
In the autumn of last year (AD 1229), the Mongolian king and important ministers held the Khuliltai Conference to elect the new Mongolian Khan. The conference was controversial for 40 days. Some people in the palace adhered to the old system and advocated the establishment of a younger son, Tuolei, and opposed Genghis Khan's decree to establish Wokuotai. At this time, Genghis Khan's eldest son Shuchi was dead, and his second son Chagatai fully supported Ogedai. Genghis Khan's youngest son Tu Lei was alone and had no choice but to support Ogedai. After repeated urging and persuasion by the Mongolian nobles present at the meeting, Ogedei finally obeyed his father's will, accepted the advice of his brothers, and inherited the Mongolian Khanate.
"After Wokuotai succeeded the Tatar Khan, he tried to send troops at Keyi Gate in Xixia and Yumenguan in Hexi in the spring of a few years, but was repelled by our Song Dynasty border army and Xixia official army."
Xue Ji looked at the two of them and asked a question.
"My two gentlemen, there is peace among the Tatars. Do you think we, the Song Dynasty, can live in peace with the Tatar army?"
"The Tatars are determined to destroy the Xia Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty, so how can they give up halfway? Our country has made an appointment with the Tatars to destroy the Jin Dynasty. As I expected, the Tatars will send envoys to ask our country to give up reinforcements to Xixia and the Jin Dynasty."
Xuan Zhen nodded and agreed with Xue Ji's view.
Three years ago, although Mongolia and the Song Dynasty had several large and small wars on the northwest border, the two countries later negotiated a peace. Even if the Song army occupied Hexi, the two sides were basically in peace.
There are no eternal enemies between countries, only eternal interests. Presumably the Mongolian army went south to destroy Xia and conquer Jin, and they would not forget the Song Dynasty, their former "ally".
"In this case, isn't Xixia in danger? If the Tatars send envoys, I'm afraid Xixia and the Jin Dynasty will not be idle. I'm afraid the Xixia empress in the emperor's harem will not be idle either."
The border is not peaceful, and the storm is about to come. Wang Gang shook his head and sighed, feeling heavy.
"Not only will she not be idle, this virtuous concubine has already arrived at the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall, and I am afraid she is persuading Your Majesty to rescue Xixia again. Envoys from Xixia and the Jin Dynasty are already on the way. Family and state affairs are not easy for Your Majesty!"
Xue Ji's white beard trembled and his brows were furrowed.
Because Li Weiming gave birth to a prince, she has been promoted to the throne as a virtuous concubine. This time she followed the emperor to Jinling City, and she didn't know if she got some news in advance.
"What? Envoys from Xixia and Jin Dynasty are also here?"
Xuan Zhen and Wang Gang were both shocked.
The Mongolian cavalry was going south, and the Song people became an inevitable target. Whether it is attacking Xia or Jin, the Song army can attack at any time and threaten the Mongolian army's retreat.
Inadvertently, the Song Dynasty became a favorite, and also became the target of attraction from the Mongolia, Xixia, and Jin Dynasties.
"The border crossing is six hundred miles away. Envoys from Mongolia, Xixia, and Jin Dynasty are all on the way. I don't know what your Majesty will decide?"
Xue Ji stroked his beard and looked at the rolling river, thoughtfully.
The tiny land of Xixia is in danger of ruining the country. Will Your Majesty come to the rescue?
The Kingdom of Jin is the feudal enemy of the Song Dynasty. The Mongolian army and the Jin Dynasty are fighting fiercely, and the Song army will most likely stand aside.
As for Mongolia, the emperor regards it as a serious problem. I wonder how he will deal with it?
"What choice? Three years ago, when the country was weak, Your Majesty dared to challenge the Tatar army. Three years later, there are hundreds of thousands of border troops with strong soldiers and horses, sharp firearms, sufficient food, grass and ammunition, and the three armies are at their mercy. Will Your Majesty still be afraid of other countries?"
Xuan Zhen thought he knew the daring emperor well enough.
When it comes to boldness, the emperor says he is second, but no one in the world dares to say he is first. The emperor had a fiery temperament and would eat soft things rather than hard things. He was afraid that when the Mongolian envoys came, he would not be able to eat anything good.
“Mr.
Wang Gang pointed to some ships loaded with cargo that entered the port. They were escorted by naval warships in front and behind them. They were probably all military supplies.
"That's right! Nowadays, the rice used in Huaidong, Huguang, and Jiangnan West Road is imported from overseas. The crops produced in Hanzhong's fields are enough for Lizhou Road and Lintao Prefecture. Not to mention Hexi's self-sufficiency, by next year, it will be Feed back Lintao Road. Our army has sufficient ammunition, food and pay, enough to support a big war!"
Sulfur came from Liuqiu and Java Island, saltpeter came from Ceylon and Bombay in the Indian Ocean, grain mainly came from Champa and Borneo, and gold and copper came from Australia and South Africa. The grain and other strategic materials shipped from overseas ensured the supply of food, grass and ammunition for the Song Dynasty's border army, and Xuan Zhen was also excited.
War is about national strength and logistics. The Song Dynasty now has a large number of soldiers and well-prepared food and grass. I am afraid that the frontier soldiers are already ready to move.
What's more important is that today's Song Dynasty has a strong martial arts culture, and there are many people practicing martial arts among the people. He suspected that once the imperial court ordered the expansion of troops, young people among the people would actively participate. Not to mention hundreds of thousands of troops, even millions, it would not be easy to get them at your fingertips.
There are fierce warriors everywhere, and once this warlike wind starts blowing, it is not easy to suppress it.
"Two gentlemen, the Xixia court has sent envoys here. I dare to ask, will your Majesty send troops to rescue Xixia?"
Wang Gang couldn't help but asked again.
Today is different from the past. Xixia no longer has the ability to resist and protect itself. The Song Dynasty can't send troops to Zhongxing Mansion, right?
"Your Majesty has always been ruthless in major matters, and puts the interests of the Song Dynasty as the first priority. If your Majesty wants to revive the Song Dynasty, will you tolerate a country within a country? I don't believe it."
"What Duke Xuan said is true! At this moment, Xixia sent envoys here. One is to ask the Song Dynasty to send troops to save Xia, and the other is to surrender. From this point of view, I am afraid that the second one seems to be more pragmatic. Could it be said that Xixia has two Do you want the Song Dynasty to save the city endlessly? Aren't they afraid of being destroyed by the Tatars at any time?"
Xuan Zhen and Xue Ji said one after the other.
Three years ago, Xixia was already in ruins. Now that the Mongolian army can invade the south at any time, the people will definitely flee. Without the people, Xixia would have no reason to exist.
"Everyone, I'm old and low on energy. I'm afraid I'm going to be an official next year. I'm afraid I won't be able to see the Western Regions and the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun. However, if I can go to Yumen Pass and see the Yellow River, I'll I am satisfied.”
Xue Ji said while stroking his beard while looking at the river, his white hair moving in the wind.
Go to Yumenguan to have a look? Who doesn't want to?
However, thinking about the future war, he couldn't help but feel worried and frowning.
