When it comes to civil affairs, it will always cause civil and military conflicts in the Song Dynasty. To be precise, is it a rule of force, or a return to the previous era of using culture to control force.
The army is all disciples of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, so the disaster of feudal towns can be put to rest. But it is questionable whether it should still be so strong in martial arts, or even resort to militarism.
"What's going on over there in the Western Region now? How many immigrants are there, how many troops are stationed there, and are there any troops harassing Wo Kuotai?"
Zhao Hong finally broke the silence and returned to the border of Beidi.
The Mongolian army withdrew from the Central Plains. For two years, the two sides had not sent envoys to communicate with each other. There are constant wars on the border, large and small, but there are no major wars.
"Your Majesty, in two years, our Song court has immigrated more than 1.3 million people to the Western Regions. The population ratio is already larger than the local residents of the Western Regions. Our army has 30,000 troops stationed and 50,000 Xiang troops, which is enough to deal with the intrusion of the Tatar army."
Wei Liaoweng, the Minister of War, said firmly.
Nowadays, the Song Dynasty has deployed hundreds of thousands of troops in the west and north directions, and Mongolia, which has been severely weakened, is no longer in danger.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are no longer what they used to be. Mobei is a bitter cold land, and without plunder, even if the Tatar army wants to march westward and south, there will be no food and supplies. There will be no five or ten years of hard work. , the Tatars will never have a big war."
Yelu Chucai followed, not shying away from his relationship with Wo Kuotai.
"Your Majesty, Ogedai Khan is addicted to alcohol. He likes to hunt and drink. His body and bones have always been ailing and he has been idle in government affairs. Among the younger generation of Tatars, Kublai Khan, Badar, and even the gentle talker were all killed in battle, and Meng Ge was injured. Kuo Kuo. Although Chu and Batu are brave, their tribal power is weak. I speculate that there will be no major war in the next three to five years."
Judging from the meaning in his words, Wokuotai seemed to have no intention of using troops externally, and it seemed that he didn't need to care too much.
There has been no major war for three to five years...
Zhao Hong frowned and said nothing.
Without food and clothing, the Mongolian army will naturally move south. It seems that the war in the North will continue in the future.
The cavalry, artillery, and muskets shook the sky and thunder, and the Song Dynasty frontier army lacked nothing. Perhaps, the Song Dynasty's border troops could take the initiative to use troops to defend the enemy from outside the country.
"Send an order to Yu Jie, Meng Gong, Lu Wende and others to reorganize their troops and wait for the opportunity to use troops against Mobei. Once the Tatar army invades, they will be severely beaten!"
Zhao Hong looked gloomy and conveyed his message.
Those who dare to invade, burn, kill and loot will be killed without mercy.
"Your Majesty, go up and attack the Tatars. For the Tatars, we can divide and win over the Tatar nobles to make them fight among themselves. I will just sit back and reap the benefits."
Yelu Chucai was familiar with the forces of the grassland tribes and knew how to weaken them, and his suggestions were quite pertinent.
"The Tatar nobles and tribal leaders are afraid of power and have no morals. They will fight each other for ten or eight years first, and then they will divide them."
Zhao Hong was unmoved and still insisted on killing first and then pacifying.
Again, the war between the two countries depends on national strength. The Song Dynasty can afford to consume energy, and it depends on whether Mongolia can bear it.
"Your Majesty, it will take several years to complete the diversion of the Yellow River. However, the Suez Canal in Africa has been completed. Will Your Majesty come to the canal in person to observe this grand event? At that time, Your Majesty can also take a look at overseas and African operations."
Although Wu Qian's voice was calm, he was a little excited in his heart.
With the Suez Canal connected, the Song Dynasty controlled the main transportation routes to Africa, Asia, and Europe. From now on, the merchant warships of the Song Dynasty no longer need to make a large circle, passing through the dangerous Storm Cape, and can enter the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal and directly enter Europe.
In fact, he never understood why the canal had such an awkward name.
Is that a beauty that the emperor will never forget?
"Of course! I will definitely go!"
Zhao Hong nodded slightly, feeling excited.
After the Suez Canal was opened, the next step was to immigrate to North and South America, and then to invade Europe. The East overwhelms the West and unifies the entire world. This is the best era.
First, use cheap goods to attack its market, causing a large number of people at the bottom to become unemployed, and then use troops to encroach. If it fails in ten years, it will take thirty to fifty years, until the European continent is completely conquered and placed under the rule of the Song Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, the canal is open. Our warships and merchant ships from the Song Dynasty can enter the Mediterranean at any time, and our goods from China can also enter Europe at any time. However, Venetian merchants are extremely powerful in Europe. If our goods are to be sold in Europe, they must go through these merchants. . Otherwise, there will be a language barrier and it will be difficult to sell.”
The Merchant of Venice?
Zhao Hong couldn't help but think of Shakespeare's work.
Since the Middle Ages, Venice has become one of the most significant maritime trading powers in the Mediterranean. The trading stations and commercial strongholds established by Venetian merchants in the Mediterranean and surrounding areas formed a complex and close trade network, which enabled Venetian maritime commerce to expand rapidly and occupy a dominant position in Mediterranean trade.
It is indeed not easy for merchants from the Song Dynasty who do not understand the language and are unfamiliar with the place to enter Europe.
The Latin Empire that occupied Constantinople, also called the Romanian Empire, was founded by the Venetians.
The feudal lords of Western Europe had long coveted the wealth of Byzantium. Venice, in particular, made various instigations to seize Byzantium's commercial interests, prompting the Fourth Crusade to change its original route of attacking Egypt and instead attack Constantinople. After the Crusaders occupied most of the Byzantine Empire, according to the agreement between the Crusaders and the Venetians, the Venetians occupied 3/8 of the Byzantine land. Soon they established the Latin Empire on this conquered territory and occupied the king. Constantinople and a small part of its surrounding territory.
However, the Latin Empire now only has Constantinople left, which cannot make ends meet, otherwise Emperor Baldwin II would not have robbed the officials of the Song Dynasty in the Suez Canal.
"Your Majesty, if you don't occupy Constantinople, you can't truly control the Eurasian continent. But if you occupy Constantinople, you will have enmity with the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire will definitely try its best to take back Constantinople."
Many years of overseas business and coastal establishment have given Wu Qian a deep understanding of the situation in the Mediterranean and European countries.
Constantinople, later known as Istanbul, is located at the eastern end of the Balkan Peninsula, facing the Bosphorus Strait and the gateway to the Black Sea. It is a transportation hub between Europe and Asia, and its strategic position is very important.
From the mid-4th century AD to the early 13th century AD, Constantinople was the largest and most prosperous city in Europe. It's just that the Crusades declined after they were defeated.
"Constantinople is full of chaos, several cultures, and various forces, making it a headache."
Zhao Hong shook his head and frowned.
If you don’t take it, someone else will. The law of the jungle, the law of the jungle, the gateway to the Black Sea, the bridgehead into Europe, it seemed impossible for the Song Dynasty to abandon it.
However, compared to the vastness of North and South America, Constantinople is too small. The expansion of the Song Dynasty in recent decades, or nearly a hundred years, was in North and South America, not Europe, let alone the small Constantinople.
"Wu Qian, what's the situation in Japan? Can I, the King of the Song Dynasty, use troops against Japan?"
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Hong returned to the topic of Japan's use of troops.
When the Kingdom of Jin fell, Wan Yanchun chose to escape into Buddhism and break up with him. In front of the country and the nation, individuals are really insignificant.
Because the Central Plains and Northland needed to recover, he had to postpone sending troops for three years.
"Your Majesty, our Coastal Arms and Arms Department has 30,000 troops stationed in Hepu. If we use troops against Japan, we can deploy another 30,000 Jianghu Navy. The Coastal Arms and Arms Division will deploy another 20,000 Marines, plus 30,000 Koryo Navy, 110,000 The navy can use troops against Japan."
After years of operation, a hundred thousand troops were established along the coast. Coupled with the river and lake navy, with strong soldiers and horses, strong ships and cannons, Wu Qian was full of ambitions.
"How were the Kamakura shogunate's defenses in Hakata?"
Zhao Hong continued to ask, feeling a little dazed.
Nine years have passed since Zhou An was killed in Japan. It has been twelve years since he ascended the throne.
It’s been twelve years, so it’s time to use troops against Japan.
"Your Majesty, Japan built a stone wall about several miles long at Hakata Port to snipe the landing of the army. The Kamakura shogunate ordered Kyushu's guardians and locals to strengthen coastal defenses, and also ordered the imperial family stationed in the Kamakura shogunate to go west to reinforce Kyushu. The number of samurai stationed in Hakata has reached 50,000 to 60,000 at present. If our army waits until we send troops to Japan, I am afraid that there will be at least 100,000 troops stationed in Japan to fight with our army."
Wu Qian continued to report, and Zhao Hong nodded slightly.
One hundred thousand Japanese warriors sounds good, but it is a bit challenging. This time they must annihilate Japan's effective forces in one fell swoop and destroy this evil neighbor in the east.
"Have you figured out the turmoil between Hepu and Hakata?"
Recalling the "divine wind" encountered by Kublai Khan during his expedition to Japan in history, Zhao Hong continued to ask.
Historically, Kublai Khan launched two eastern expeditions in an attempt to conquer Japan and bring it under the control of the Yuan Dynasty. However, both Eastern Expeditions encountered typhoons. The Yuan army suffered heavy losses and had to return without success.
In fact, during the two eastern expeditions of the Yuan Army, the cavalry could not exert its strength, logistics could not be guaranteed, and the personnel in the army were complex and scattered. Even if there was no typhoon, it would probably be in vain.
"Your Majesty, in the past few years, our naval officers have been paying attention to the sea weather and have often practiced naval landings. They will never put the army in danger. Moreover, with our army's strong ships and powerful artillery, land warfare is the fundamental .Your Majesty, don’t worry!”
Wu Qian was steadfast in his vow and seemed to have full confidence in Japan's use of troops.
It was not easy for the Song Dynasty navy to deal with the Japanese warships without firearms with their powerful ships and cannons.
"Your Majesty, the Northern Territory of the Song Dynasty is recovering, and everything is waiting for improvement. At this time, it is better not to use troops against Japan. You can wait for a few more years."
Zhen Dexiu was very puzzled by Zhao Hong's "retribution" and persistence.
In order to avenge his brother-in-law, he used troops against Japan. This was too arbitrary.
Although Zhao Hong is fierce, he does not seem to be such a willful person.
"Your Majesty, please rest and recuperate for another three to five years before it is too late to use troops against Japan. Your Majesty, please think carefully."
Wei Liaoweng, the Minister of War, also persuaded the emperor.
"The navy will be ruined if we don't fight. Besides, the navy has been operating in Goryeo for so long, so it must be ready to make a move."
Zhao Hong put on a serious face.
"My lords, you don't have to persuade me to send troops to Japan. I'm not doing it for any great success, nor am I going to be aggressive. I have my own reasons for doing this, and I don't want to explain it."
Thinking of the crimes Japan committed against China in history, Zhao Hong's heart immediately hardened a lot.
If this evil neighbor from the east is immortalized, what is the point of his rebirth?
"Your Majesty, the navy officers and men are already waiting for your Majesty to use troops against Japan."
Wu Qian took the matter seriously and asked Zhao Hong for orders again.
"good!"
Zhao Hong said appreciatively and said sternly to Wu Qian.
"Wu Qian, ask the navy to transfer grain and grass to Hepu, Goryeo, and then mobilize Du Gao's army to march eastward together. Then tell the King of Goryeo to send the navy to assist. After this autumn, 200,000 troops will be sent to Japan! "
The Navy has been operating in Goryeo for so long, and half a year should be enough to transport food, grass and baggage.
Wu Qian accepted the decree with enthusiasm, and the ministers were helpless and no longer disobeyed the emperor's "obsession."
Two hundred thousand land and sea troops march eastward. Is the emperor going to launch a thrilling national war and destroy Japan in one fell swoop?
