The Korean envoy stood up, with a blue forehead, and bowed to Zhao Hongsu on the throne.
"The foreign minister thanks the Emperor of the Song Dynasty!"
"Messenger from Goryeo, you don't need to say more, just step aside and I will make my own decision!"
Zhao Hong said warmly, and the Korean envoy quickly thanked him and stood aside.
The Dongxia envoy looked ugly, but he did not dare to say anything.
He vaguely felt that the Emperor of the Song Dynasty was not kind to him and seemed to favor Goryeo.
Think about it, Goryeo and the Song Dynasty share the same culture and race, and they regard themselves as "little China". Of course, the emperor of the Song Dynasty was close to Goryeo and alienated Dongxia.
"The Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the Tatars were brutal, civilians were slaughtered, cities were turned into ruins, and fertile fields became wastelands. Now, the Tatar army is ready to move and seems to be invading the west again. The only one who can defeat them is the invincible Song army. Please also ask Your Majesty sends troops to defeat the Tatar army!"
The envoy from the Kingdom of Khwarezm came out, caressed his chest and saluted.
Zhao Hong nodded slightly, his heart moving slightly.
Every time the Mongolian army went out, it was to plunder more supplies, even if they went south to invade Xia and harvest gold. Now that he has suffered a setback in his journey south, he probably wants to go west again to compensate.
At this time, the Northern Expedition seems to be a good time.
Of course, even if the Song Dynasty sent troops, it would only send troops to the Northern Expedition to restore the old land. It was impossible to send troops thousands of miles away.
The Song Dynasty did not seem to have such national strength and confidence.
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, please fight against the Tatars together!"
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, please fight against the Tatars together!"
Envoys from Dashi and other countries came out one after another, saluted and begged Zhao Hong.
"Dear envoys, today is the dynasty, so don't talk about state affairs. Everyone, please go back to your seats to drink and celebrate the festival together!"
Prime Minister Zhen Dexiu quickly stood up and picked up the wine glass.
During the Great Dynasty, why was everything involved in the diplomatic matter of dealing with the Tatars? Isn't this a joke?
On the throne, Zhao Hong still smiled and said nothing, watching the performances of the envoys from various countries below.
Please tell your story and start your performance.
The ministers and envoys quarreled, and the Song Dynasty became the savior of the world. His hidden ambition to unify China was also ignited.
Once upon a time, he felt that he was a little lost, a little tired of the power disputes, the evil people's hearts, and the killings on the battlefield.
Now his blood is boiling and he seems to have recovered again.
The original intention is still there, and the original intention of restoring the Song Dynasty to the top of the world is still there. There is no need for these guys to make irresponsible remarks. The Song Dynasty will rise up and restore the country that belongs to the Han people.
At the very least, under the iron heel, the drastic population decline will never happen again.
Life is short, and those people who live too hard and tired, who have they offended?
"The truth, please forgive me for being presumptuous. The Tatar army is ready to move, and the cavalry will trample our country again. By then, Goryeo will be in ruins, with rivers of blood, and the country will be destroyed. Do you think I still have the heart to drink here?"
It was the Korean envoy again who knelt down and spoke first, then kowtowed to Zhao Hong again and again.
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the survival of Goryeo is closely related, please save your subjects!"
The Korean envoy spoke standard Chinese, which made Zhao Hong feel very friendly for a moment.
Are the people of the country sharing the same culture and race?
In this era of Goryeo, everyone is proud to speak Chinese, and the sense of belonging to Han culture should not be too strong.
Compared with the jabbering stuff created by later generations after the 1940s, Chinese sounds more comfortable.
My China, why have you declined?
You know, your people are still suffering!
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the Tatars are ferocious. Once the iron cavalry marches westward, there will be rivers of blood and corpses everywhere. Please save us!"
Envoys from various countries, including Khwarezm, gave speeches with various rituals and dialects.
Looking at them, it seems that in the whole world, only the savior of the Song Dynasty can save them from suffering.
On the other hand, the countries in Southeast Asia, such as the Balni Kingdom, the Mayi Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Delhi in India, did not say a word, as if they were watching a show from the sidelines.
There is also the envoy of the Ayyubid Dynasty, who is still smiling and calm, as if watching the fire from the other side.
Maybe, in private, this guy will come and talk about digging the canal. Having received millions of dollars for nothing, as well as 30 to 50% of the canal tariff, these Egyptian slave owners should be satisfied.
"Your Majesty, today is the New Year's Day. It is not appropriate to discuss state affairs during the assembly. Envoys, by doing this, you are overestimating the guest and making things difficult for others!"
Prime Minister Zhen Dexiu stood up quickly and played.
"Your Majesty, the Northern Expedition is a major military and national event. Moreover, the Jin Kingdom has not yet been destroyed and is limited. Although the Tatars were defeated in Shaanxi, their vitality has not been damaged and their military power is still strong. Your Majesty, please consider it carefully and don't be impulsive!"
Wei Liaoweng, the Minister of War, also came out at this moment and reported to Zhao Hong.
The world is so big, and the people of Song Dynasty have not yet recovered their homeland, so how can they save the world?
Don't be impulsive!
Wei Liaoweng's words made Zhao Hong laugh softly, and his eyes unknowingly looked at the military general Bian Chen in the main hall.
These people have been at the frontier for a long time, especially the military generals. They are all proud and fearless soldiers. Listening to their words, you may have different opinions from the civil servants.
"Your Majesty, regaining lost territory and restoring the Central Plains is the aspiration of thousands of people in our Song Dynasty. Furthermore, if our army has ceased its activities, won't the Tatar army go south to attack our Song Dynasty? The Dinghai Incident six years ago, In the Battle of Xinmao two years ago, the Tatars fought undeclared, and our Song Dynasty soldiers and civilians suffered numerous casualties. Only by driving the Tatar forces out of the Central Plains can our Song Dynasty achieve long-term peace and stability!"
Sure enough, Cao Youwen came out with a dark face, dignified appearance, majestic and generous.
This unsmiling tough man, the "Cao Bold" in history, is full of feelings for his family and country, which cannot be stopped.
"Your Majesty, now that our Song Dynasty border is bordering the Tatars, it is absolutely impossible to live in peace with each other. Now that our Song Dynasty border army is elite, our soldiers are eager to fight, and the six armies are at their wits end, it would be better to make an immediate Northern Expedition and restore the Central Plains. This is a positive move. This is a strategy. Your Majesty, please think twice!"
Fan Zhong, the Hexi Road pacifier, had a dark and thin face and was unusually solemn, and his voice echoed in the hall.
Zhao Hong was slightly surprised. This Fan Zhong has been an official in the frontier for a long time and is used to seeing bloodshed. His courage is not ordinary.
Shaanxi is devastated and devastated. Can it support a Northern Expedition?
In other words, can Shaanxi support the transportation of grain and grass for the Western Route Army of the Northern Expedition?
"Your Majesty, please issue an order to end the Northern Expedition and restore the Central Plains. I am willing to be the vanguard to eliminate the defilements and filth of the world and return the world to a bright and prosperous world!"
Lu Wende, the governor of Lizhou West Road, also came out and spoke generously.
After seven years at the frontier, this guy grew a beard, matured a lot, and became more powerful.
"Your Majesty, give me the decree!"
"Your Majesty, the officers and soldiers of the three armies are all waiting for Your Majesty to launch the Northern Expedition!"
Wang Jian, Meng Gong and other generals were very impassioned and stood up one after another with fists clasped to ask for orders. Everyone was scrambling to be the first.
In a great battle in Hanzhong, all the generals fought bloody battles, and no one in the palace flinched or feared the battle.
Wei Liaoweng, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, wanted to stop him. When he saw the admiration in Zhao Hong's eyes, he seemed to be nodding lightly. After hesitation, he came out to play and changed his words.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are a country of tigers and wolves, with strong soldiers and horses, and taking plunder as a national policy. They are a serious problem for us in the Song Dynasty. We must deal with them sooner or later. Strike first and control others later. I second the advice to General Cao to use troops against the Tatars earlier. Restore the Central Plains to avoid future troubles!"
The war is about national strength and logistics. The Song Dynasty had sufficient food and grass, strong soldiers and horses, new firearms were gradually equipped in the army, and morale was at its peak. There seemed to be no reason to retreat.
"I second my opinion, General Cao!"
"I support the Northern Expedition, and I second my advice to General Cao!"
"I also support the Northern Expedition!"
Zhao Hong glanced at the ministers and generals in the palace. There were few responses from the civil servants, and the military generals walked out to ask for orders.
Fierce battles and victories turned the generals of the Song Dynasty's border army into fanatical militants. Not to mention restoring the Central Plains, a national event that will go down in history.
"Your Majesty, only by restoring the Central Plains can we send troops to Liaodong and the Western Regions! Your Majesty, we must not hesitate to move forward and give up halfway!"
Meng Gong's voice sounded so impassioned that the officials were astonished, and Zhao Hong couldn't help but smile.
Just hesitate for a moment and give up halfway?
The Central Plains and Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures have not yet been recovered, and they already want to encroach on Liaodong and the Western Regions. Meng Gong is also very courageous.
"Your Majesty, Shaanxi has just been pacified. It is uninhabited for thousands of miles, bandits are rampant, many wastes are waiting to be renovated, and the people are scarce. If we start the Northern Expedition at this time, I am afraid that there will be insufficient food and grass, and the post roads will be blocked, and it will be difficult to support the army's Northern Expedition!"
The newly appointed Shaanxi pacification envoy Chen Longzhi came out and played loudly.
To restore the two rivers, the West Route Army must pass through Shaanxi. It has only been a year since Shaanxi returned to China, and the local area has not yet recovered. It may be difficult to provide food and grass for the Northern Expedition.
Chen Longzhi's words made the noise in the palace suddenly quiet.
"Your Majesty, there were floods and droughts in various parts of the south last year. There were floods in eastern Zhejiang, severe drought in Jiangxi, and rebels in Guangdong. People's livelihood is in ruins, and there is unrest in all directions. At this time, the Northern Expedition, I am afraid that the national strength is not enough to support it. Your Majesty, think twice!"
After a while, Li Zongmian, the censor Zhongcheng, also came out to play.
Although he knew that his point of view was untenable. But the situation is ominous, so don’t go to war rashly.
"Your Majesty, the Northern Territory is in ruins, with a population of only two to three million. Even if the Northern Expedition succeeds, not only will the soldiers bleed into rivers, but immigrants from the Jianghuai River will still have to fill it, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers will be sent to guard it. It will cost tens of millions to obtain a devastated land. , What benefit is it to our Great Song Dynasty? Our Great Song Dynasty suffers from frequent internal troubles and lacks national strength. Your Majesty must not use troops hastily!"
Wu Yuan, the minister of official affairs, finally spoke.
Zhao Hong glanced at the brother of Song Dynasty Navy coach Wu Qian and snorted in his heart.
Many of these Jiangnan scholar-bureaucrats are driven by interests and have no country in their hearts. Now they have finally come out.
The son does not think the mother is ugly. We got a devastated land, which was the hometown of the Song Dynasty and the northern barrier of the Song Dynasty.
Could it be said that we have to look at our hometown in the north every day, groan without any illness, or wash our faces with tears?
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are powerful and their cavalry are galloping freely. The border of our Song Dynasty is too long, and the Tatars can break into the country at will. Now the Jin people are still in Henan, and they are constrained. It is better to restore the three capitals first, and then slowly advance to the north."
Zou Yinglong, the ruling minister, carefully preached and pointed directly at the restoration of the Central Plains.
The emperor was so courageous that with a wave of his hand, he could conquer thousands of miles of land between the two rivers. If they fail to succeed and look north in a hurry, the future of the Song Dynasty will be unimaginable.
"Your Majesty, soldiers, important matters of the country, must not be acted upon in haste!"
"Your Majesty, the northern land is in ruins. If you use troops rashly, it will be difficult to sustain the supplies and food. Your Majesty, please be careful!"
The civil servants began to play one after another, and the palace was buzzing again.
The envoys from various countries looked at each other, and many of them looked at Zhao Hong on the throne.
Perhaps, only the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, who sits on a high throne, can decide whether to conduct the Northern Expedition or not.
"Your Majesty, today is a great meeting for the emperor and the world to congratulate each other. The Northern Expedition is a state matter. It is a big matter and it is not as good to discuss it later. Making a hasty decision is not the behavior of a wise and sage king!"
Zhen Dexiu is another courtesy and abides by his duty as prime minister.
"Everyone, we will discuss the Northern Expedition after the meeting. Please take a seat and celebrate the festival together!"
Wei Liaoweng spoke loudly, urging envoys from various countries to restore order.
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the Tatars may use troops at any time. Please send troops to fight against the Tatars!"
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, now that all the countries are in decline, only the Song Dynasty can resist the Tatars. I beg the Emperor of the Song Dynasty to send troops to attack the Tatars in the north!"
Envoys from various countries made noises one after another, and the hall became a mess.
"Dear envoys and noble families, please listen to what I have to say!"
Zhao Hong raised his head, looked at the envoys and ministers in the hall, and said loudly.
The palace immediately returned to silence, and there was no sound for a while.
Zhao Hong looked at the crowd and spoke loudly, so powerfully that it spread far across the hall.
"Dear envoys and ministers, please rest assured. The Tatars are a serious concern of our Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty and the Tatars are in conflict, and we will definitely win or lose. I will carefully consider the matter of the Northern Expedition, deploy troops and generals, and transport food and grass. , I will make my own decision in the future.”
He will not express his position immediately, but it is still necessary to give other countries peace of mind.
The Mongolian cavalry gallops freely and is cruel and murderous, making the world fearful.
The Song Dynasty will do its best to protect itself. The reason for saying this is to give all countries hope and confidence in fighting Mongolia.
The availability of military morale is his greatest strength.
"The Emperor of the Song Dynasty is Shengming!"
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
The envoys from all over the palace, whether they were from Dashi or other places or Dali Kingdom, including Korea and Dongxia Kingdom, all saluted together.
The Emperor of the Song Dynasty did not say when the Song Dynasty, which was at its peak of military power, would take action, and they could not ask. But based on the attitude of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty towards Mongolia, the Northern Expedition seemed inevitable.
"Messengers, we can only fight against the Tatars if we work together. When the time comes when my army, the King of the Song Dynasty, goes north to regain the lost territory, I will ask all the countries to help me. I hope you will not refuse when the time comes."
Zhao Hong smiled kindly and glanced at the envoys.
Who doesn’t know how to talk big words and empty words in diplomacy?
Apart from anything else, if you want to regain the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures, you have to Dongxia and Goryeo to contain the main force of the Mongolian army in Liaodong.
"We'll wait and see what the Song Dynasty will do!"
Envoys from various countries shouted and quickly stood in line to express their stance.
As for those who did not express their opinions and had nothing to do with themselves, Zhao Hong saw them in his eyes.
"Envoys from various countries and colleagues, please!"
Zhao Hong said goodbye and left. Zhen Dexiu, on behalf of the Song Dynasty court, hosted a banquet for the ministers.
"please!"
The envoys from various countries and the ministers of Song Dynasty raised their glasses and drank happily, but they all had their own thoughts.
