Zhao Hong did not want to get involved in the Arabian Peninsula, and there was already a supply center in Zufar. But for the Song Navy, the Persian Gulf was an excellent seaport, which was definitely a good thing.
Not to mention, the rich oil resources there will one day be used by future generations of China.
"Your Majesty, how should Dai Viet respond?"
Wei Liaoweng went to the memorial hall uneasily.
Could it be that because of his words, the Dai Viet envoy left without saying goodbye and returned directly to his country?
"Didn't the envoy from Dai Viet come?"
After receiving Wei Liaoweng's affirmative reply, Zhao Hong snorted coldly.
"Since the beginning of the First Emperor, this nonsense of Dayue belongs to me, China, and it has been repeated over and over again, which is really annoying. Wei Qing, go tell the Dayue envoy to surrender to the Song Dynasty as soon as possible, otherwise the king's army will go south and we will be destroyed!"
Language is the same. Every year and festival is a time. You have to create your own words, abandon your own history, and be nondescript.
How should we deal with such a small country, which is full of rebellion?
Zhao Hong's words made Wei Liaowen feel relieved.
The emperor hated the Dai Viet Kingdom deeply, and if he offended him, he would be offended, and it was not a big deal.
"Your Majesty, we need to be cautious about the affairs of Gaochang Kingdom. Once our army enters the Western Region, we will have a head-on confrontation with the Tatars, and there will be no room for relaxation."
Wei Liaowen hesitated for a moment, then continued to speak, making insinuations.
Gaochang is located in the Western Region, far away from the mainland of the Song Dynasty and bordering the grasslands. Even if it is occupied, it may be difficult to hold it.
Civil servants are cautious, but military generals do not show weakness. Meng Gong and Yu Jie stood up one after another and asked for orders to use troops.
"Your Majesty, our army in the northwestern frontier of the Song Dynasty is well-trained, with tens of thousands of cavalry and sufficient firearms. Everyone among the officers and soldiers wants to kill the enemy and serve the country. I would like to ask your Majesty to issue an order immediately. Our army will immediately march westward and take over Beelse Bali and Gaochang. Land, wait for the Tatar army to invade!"
"Your Majesty, by occupying the Gaochang Kingdom, we have blocked the main route for the Tatars to advance westward. Without plunder, the Tatars will naturally weaken. This opportunity must not be missed, and it will never come back. Your Majesty, think twice!"
Zhen Dexiu frowned and sighed secretly.
The martial artist is fierce, and once he gets involved in political affairs, he will immediately become full of violence.
"Gaochang is just here to show goodwill, and has no intention of surrendering to the Song Dynasty. If we send troops at this time, if the Tatars and Gaochang are involved in the alliance, won't our Song Dynasty border army suffer heavy losses? Your Majesty, it is better to restore the Central Plains first, and then plan the Western Regions. .”
Zhen Dexiu couldn't help it, and confronted Yu Jie tit for tat.
Zhao Hong pressed his hands, and the quarreling ministers all fell silent.
"Gaochang, Dongliao, Dali, etc., like Gaochang, are sitting on the wall and watching, and have not truly surrendered. Therefore, the top priority of the Song Dynasty is to restore the Central Plains through the Northern Expedition. First, it will shock Xiaoxiao, and secondly, it will severely attack the Tatars. Tatar, cut off the food and fodder supply of the Tatar army!"
Facing the ministers, Zhao Hong continued.
"The Navy has important responsibilities on its shoulders. First, it is to continue to immigrate and colonize beyond Southeast Asia and organize manpower to open the Suez Canal. Second, it is to actively prepare food and fodder to build up strength for the Northern Expedition. The Information Department publicized the Northern Expedition in newspapers, and the generals went down to mobilize the three armies and prepare for the Northern Expedition. The Northern Expedition is over."
"Your Majesty, if the Northern Expedition is too loud and the Tatars know about it, it will be a little bad."
Wei Liaoweng said something uneasy, and Zhao Hong shook his head gently.
"The purpose is to let the Tatars know that we will send more troops to the two rivers. The northern expedition of the army is to have a vigorous national war in the land of the two rivers, and the outcome will be decided in one battle!"
The purpose of war is to destroy the opponent as much as possible! The same was true for the Northern Expedition.
"Your Majesty, in this dynasty, our Song Dynasty seems to be too sharp and has made enemies on all sides. I'm afraid it's not good governance?"
Wei Liaoweng frowned and spoke first.
After this diplomatic trip, Dai Viet, Dali, Dong Xia, and other countries in the South and Indian Ocean were offended.
"Wei Qing, it seems you have something to say."
Zhao Hong laughed and was noncommittal.
Offending a few small and insignificant countries and wooing a few larger countries in the Arabian Peninsula would have both advantages and disadvantages for the Song Dynasty.
Weak countries have no diplomacy. Facing the absolute strength of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Hong was not worried about the reactions of other countries.
"Your Majesty, small countries such as Balni, Srivijaya, and even Delhi are not worth mentioning because their soldiers are weak. But the Ayyubid Dynasty is different, the Abbasid Dynasty is not weak, and the Roman Empire is even more powerful. "
Wei Liaoweng's topic pointed directly at the canal that is about to be dug in Egypt.
"Your Majesty, I think it's a bit risky to spend huge manpower and material resources to dig such a canal that I don't know whether it will be successful, and possibly offend the Roman Empire at the same time?"
Prime Minister Zhen Dexiu followed Wei Liaoweng and said it directly.
"Zhenqing, Wei Qing, dear friends, from the current perspective, I do have some militaristic intentions. However, if you look at it ten or twenty years later, you will see its huge value. This is I hope you will understand this great event that will bring blessings to generations to come."
Zhao Hong took the matter seriously and began his sermon.
"Five years ago, our country, Song Dynasty, started reclamation in South Africa. Five years later, in West Africa alone, our country, Song Dynasty, has cultivated more than one million people and cultivated more than 5 million acres of land. As our country, Song Dynasty, continues to cultivate People immigrate to Africa. As the number of immigrants increases day by day, what will Africa look like in five years, or even ten or twenty years from now? What will this canal look like? Can you imagine? "
The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and is the throat of Asia, Africa and Europe. How important it is.
Rather than falling into the hands of others, it is better to occupy it early when the Song Dynasty has the strength.
"Your Majesty is saying that for the construction of the canal, our Song Dynasty will only increase food and expenses. With our business in Africa, our Song Dynasty can already afford it without any big expenses."
Meng Gong frowned and immediately understood what the emperor meant.
To dig the canal, the labor was all local, and the food was imported from nearby South Africa and East Africa. The Song Dynasty did not need to spend much manpower and material resources.
"Starting from this year, the imperial court will increase the number of African immigrants. It must reach 2 million within 10 years, and at least 3 million or more in 20 years. Now our Song Dynasty has military ports in Africa and troops stationed there, so food is not a problem , should the excavation of the canal be abandoned halfway?”
The Song people colonized Africa and brought advanced farming civilization with them. Food could reach the city of Suez in a few days by sea. As for the needed silver coins, just open the furnace and cast them. With the current reserves of the Song Dynasty, it should not be a problem to cope with the construction of small canals.
Not to mention, with the development of the Song Dynasty navy and immigration and colonization, various mineral deposits will continue to flow, so there is no need to worry about running out of money.
"What your Majesty said is absolutely true!"
Wei Liaowen relaxed his brows slightly.
"My navy of the Song Dynasty went south and now cultivated in Australia, and also discovered iron ore, coal mines and gold mines. Australia's area is larger than the entire Song Dynasty. Just the food cultivated and the iron ore, coal and gold mines discovered have already made me The Song Dynasty can’t enjoy it enough!”
What he didn't know was that the area of several colonies cultivated in Africa was almost the same as that of the Southern Song Dynasty today.
"It is larger than the current mainland area of the Song Dynasty. If the Song Dynasty regains its lost territory and brings the Western Region under its control, the Song Dynasty's domestic territory will basically be considered complete."
Zhao Hong smiled slightly and corrected Wei Liaoweng.
The hometown of China is at least 10 million square kilometers, which is naturally larger than Australia, which is more than 7 million square kilometers.
"Your Majesty, the Western Region and beyond are deserts and wastelands, which are conducive to the Tatar cavalry. It may not be possible to restore the Western Region overnight."
Mentioning the Western Regions and thinking of Gaochang Kingdom, Wei Liaoweng advised again.
I heard that the envoy from Gaochang is a young beauty from the Western Regions. The emperor should not be tempted by this.
"We, the Song Dynasty, also have strong soldiers and horses. Are we still afraid of the Tatars? As long as His Majesty gives the order, we and the northwest soldiers will immediately march westward, destroy the Gaochang Kingdom, and restore the Western Regions!"
Yu Jie has no doubt about the strength of the northwest frontier army.
With the Tatar cavalry's assault capabilities, it may take some time to restore the Western Region.
"Your Majesty, once the Tatars march westward and reach Baghdad, do we, the Song Dynasty, really want to compete with them? Is it too risky?"
Wei Liaoweng calmed down for a while, and Zhen Dexiu asked again.
Is it necessary to become enemies with the Tatars again for the so-called Abbasid dynasty in the Arabian Peninsula?
"The navy has warships and can be self-sufficient. But the vast land also needs war horses. Especially in Australia and Africa, the climate is dry and harsh, and it is impossible without war horses. The food war horses are famous all over the world, and they are exactly what we need in the Song Dynasty. Moreover, I, the Song Dynasty, also need war horses."
There were no cars or trains in this era, so war horses were indispensable.
The Arabian horse breed is excellent, and its origin is mostly in the desert. The climate is dry and hot, and the pasture grows poorly. Arabian horses live in such a difficult environment and can endure hardships, run fast, and have strong endurance, which is exactly what the Song Dynasty officials and troops overseas need.
Zhao Hong looked at the silent ministers and his tone became deeper.
"The Abbasid Dynasty is located in the Mesopotamia, with a splendid culture and a long history. Do you know what it will be like once the Tatar army captures Baghdad?"
In history, during the Mongolian army's western expedition, Baghdad was looted by the Mongolian army. A large number of architectural monuments and cultural relics were destroyed. All the classics collected in Baghdad were thrown into the river, and the ink dyed the river black.
Thousands of years of civilization deserved his helping hand.
"Your Majesty, do you really want to sell firearms to them?"
This time, even generals like Meng Gong couldn't help but ask.
"Dozens of baskets of thunderbolts are exchanged for hundreds of war horses, and a dozen artillery pieces are exchanged for a ship of food. Why refuse such a good thing? What's more..."
Zhao Hong paused and smiled:
"The formula of gunpowder is in our hands, the tube-type Thunderbolt is being equipped in the army, and the breech-loading cannon has also been launched. Of course, the old ones must be sold, but they cannot be dismantled and re-melted? You must understand one thing, you are not selling, The other party will make it themselves. So, selling is better than not selling.”
With the core technology in hand and technical barriers set up, the initiative will always be in your own hands.
All the ministers nodded, convinced. A few years ago, the Mongolian army and the Jin Kingdom had thunder and artillery. The other party will definitely consider good things, regardless of whether they can be successful or not.
"Since our Song Dynasty Navy has occupied Africa, Australia and other places, it is under the rule of our Song Dynasty. Africa and Australia are the territory of our Song Dynasty. I named Australia "New Central Plains", and the place where my people of the Song Dynasty gathered was called "New Central Plains". "Tokyo"; Africa is named "New Jiangnan", the southern agglomeration is called "New Jinling", West Africa is called "New Guangzhou", and North Africa is called "New Luntai". What do you think?"
Zhao Hong changed the topic and named it with great interest.
The Chinese have built several highways and high-speed railways, and we are still studying the naming of highways here.
Thinking of the words of a certain American politician in later generations, Zhao Hong couldn't help but smile.
Is the reputation of being an infrastructure maniac a waste of money?
All ministers admired and obeyed. Naturally, the emperor had the final say on the matter of naming.
""New Central Plains", "New Tokyo"! Your Majesty has never forgotten to restore the old land of the Central Plains and worked hard to achieve it. I am ashamed!"
Zhen Dexiu bowed solemnly, his expression gloomy.
"Send you off at the east gate of Luntai. When you go, the Tianshan Mountain Road is covered with snow. Your Majesty has a pure heart, and I am sincerely convinced!"
Wei Liaoweng bowed deeply and couldn't help but shed tears.
