After Yelu Dashi took the military talisman given by Yelu Yanxi, he led his 30,000 troops to station on the left wing of Nanjing City. He and Xiao Qian's right-wing army formed horns with each other, and the defense of Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures was impregnable.
However, while Yelu Yanxi, Xiao Fengxian, Zhang Lin and others were still hunting in Xijing, bad news came that the truce agreement between Yelu Nuge, Yelu Xinilie and Jin Dynasty failed.
There was an uproar in the Liao court, and the civil and military officials in the court were frightened and frightened. Yelu Yanxi no longer returned to Beijing, but made Xijing the capital of the Liao Dynasty to avoid the sharpness of the Liao cavalry.
Yelu Dashi felt deeply that something was not good. In order to avoid being attacked by enemies from both sides, not to mention being attacked by the Dajin cavalry, he could no longer be harassed by the Song Dynasty. Therefore, he decisively wrote to the Liao Emperor Yelu Yanxi and went as an envoy to the Song Dynasty alone to prevent the Song and Jin alliances.
At the same time, after the Song Dynasty learned that Wanyan Aguda had re-enthroned the throne in Huining and proclaimed himself emperor, and was officially recognized by the Liao Dynasty and announced to the world, Song Huizong once again thought about the previous arrangements of Tong Guan and Zhao Liangsi in the Song and Jin Dynasties. Form a maritime alliance and jointly plan to destroy Liao.
Therefore, in the past few days, Song Huizong was restless. He wanted to achieve what Emperor Taizu, Emperor Taizong and other ancestors had not accomplished for hundreds of years. The feat that was about to be achieved was to take back the sixteen states of Yanyun. However, the different voices of civil and military officials in the dynasty made it difficult for him to make up his mind.
Especially Cai Jing, who had always been the main battler, was indifferent to such a golden opportunity and had different views on the alliance between Song and Jin. This made Song Huizong hesitant.
That day, he walked back and forth in the palace, thinking constantly, always undecided and hesitant. So, he immediately summoned Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, Zongze and other civil and military ministers to discuss the matter.
"I see you, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty."
"Dear ladies, please rise."
After everyone paid homage, the restless Song Huizong said solemnly:
"Zhao Liangsi's letter stated that Wanyan Aguda had re-enthroned the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, and announced to the world that he would replace Daliao as the orthodox North Xinjiang. From this point of view, the Jin Kingdom is at its peak, and the Liao Kingdom is declining, and it is likely to be destroyed by the Great Jin Kingdom. ".
"The Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun in the north has been the land of the Han people in the Central Plains since ancient times. It was only because of the incompetence of the later Jin Dynasty that the great rivers and mountains of the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun were ruined. Now the opportunity is rare, so I want to form a maritime alliance with the Jin Kingdom. Alliance, united with gold to destroy Liao, and take back the sixteen states of Yanyun, I don’t know what you think.”
After Song Huizong finished speaking, Tong Guan immediately said:
"Your Majesty, Zhao Liangsi, our minister, has made good friends with Wanyan Wu Qingmai, the fourth brother of Emperor Wanyan Aguda of the Jin Kingdom. He sent word that Wanyan Aguda has agreed to form an alliance with the Song Dynasty and jointly send troops to destroy the Liao Dynasty. ".
"Your Majesty, Wanyan Aguda has torn up the credential of the Liao Dynasty. The armistice peace talks between Liao and Jin have failed. Wanyan Aguda will soon lead a large army to attack the Liao Dynasty. We, the Song Dynasty, will not form an alliance with the Jin Kingdom when it is weak. If it is destroyed. After defeating the Liao Dynasty, we, the Song Dynasty, are trying to seize the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun, so we have no chance."
After Tong Guan finished speaking, Song Huizong was surprised again and said loudly:
"Is what Tong Aiqing said true? Have the armistice negotiations between Liao and Jin been terminated? In this way, the war between Liao and Jin will resume, and it is time for Song and Jin to form an alliance."
"No, no, no, not so, Your Majesty. The King of Goryeo is on good terms with his ministers, and he often writes letters saying: Liao is a country of brothers, and we can make peace with it; Jin is a country of tigers and wolves, and we cannot make friends with them!"
"Your Majesty, if Daliao exists, it can defend the border of Song Dynasty to prevent the invasion of Jin. If Daliao is gone, Jin can march straight in and attack Bianjing."
"Humph, Lord Cai Jing. Isn't it true that the Liao Kingdom has invaded our territory so often? The Liao Kingdom has been eyeing our Northern Territory of the Song Dynasty for more than a hundred years. If the Liao Dynasty destroys the Jin Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty rises, the Song Dynasty will not take this opportunity to make good relations with the Jin Dynasty. When the border is changed to the Kingdom of Jin, can war be avoided?"
"Therefore, we will give the Jin Kingdom a helping hand while its strength is still weak. In the future, when the Jin Kingdom destroys the Liao Dynasty, it will surely be an alliance with the Song Dynasty forever."
"Therefore, I think that the Liao Dynasty is the feud of the Song Dynasty and cannot be changed, but the Jin Dynasty can still develop into the country of our brothers in the Song Dynasty. Today, the Liao and Jin are evenly matched. If we do not form an alliance with the Jin Dynasty, what will happen to us?" A country of brothers will surely become an enemy country in the future."
"Your Majesty, I think Tong Guan needs to urge Zhao Liangsi, Wang Shizhong, Ma Zheng and others as soon as possible to agree to the conditions of the Jin Kingdom's alliance and sign the alliance immediately."
After Tong Guan finished speaking, Cai Jing looked helpless.
At this moment, Dazai Zheng Juzhong, who had not spoken for a long time, said loudly:
"Your Majesty, the Chanyuan Alliance has been in the Alliance for more than a hundred years. The soldiers have not learned how to use swords, and the farmers have not increased their service. Although the Han and Tang Dynasty's peacemaking policy is not as good as our court's Anbian policy. Now there is no danger in all directions, but we have to rush Breaking the contract may lead to the wrath of heaven and the resentment of people.”
"If we win, the treasury will be depleted and the people will be trapped; if we lose, the damage will be countless. With Taizong's bravery, he regained Yanyun and lost both battles. How can we start the war lightly today!"
After Dazai Zheng Juzhong finished speaking, Song Huizong changed from joy to anger. He looked at the civil and military ministers in the hall again, but Tong Guan hesitated to speak.
After a moment of silence, Deng Xunwu, the governor of the Privy Council, said:
"Reporting to your Majesty, I think that the Song Dynasty should support the weak and restrain the strong. Nowadays, the country's military strength is weak, its financial resources are scarce, and its people's strength is withered. Everyone knows this situation, but no one dares to say it. I don't understand: being a neighbor with a strong gold , is it better to be next to a weak Liao?"
Everyone was talking about it, and Song Huizong was undecided. Tong Guan said loudly:
"Hmph, since ancient times, scholars have misled the world. I think you are obviously greedy for life and afraid of death. Your Majesty, if our government does not join forces with the Jin Dynasty at this moment. If the Jin Dynasty destroys the Liao Dynasty, I am afraid that I will be angry with the Song Dynasty, and the Northern Territory will inevitably suffer. Why not form an alliance with Dajin now to regain the lost territory and save the people on the border from suffering."
The uncertain Song Huizong looked at Tong Guan and then at Cai Jing, still undecided.
Suddenly, the silent Generalissimo Zongze coughed. Tong Guan beside him suddenly changed the topic and asked Zongze:
"Marshal Zongze, you are leading the troops. Do you think it is feasible to unite the Jin Dynasty to destroy the Liao Dynasty?"
"Your Majesty, Lord Qi Tong, all my lords: I, Zongze, am a military general and only know how to lead troops to fight. However, if the Kingdom of Jin, which is at its peak, intends to form an alliance with me, I, the Song Dynasty, have no choice. Your Majesty, we should make an alliance with Dajin as soon as possible. Let’s form an alliance.”
After Zongze finished speaking, Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, Zheng Juzhong, Deng Xunwu and others all looked at Zongze, who had always been silent. Song Huizong was also shocked.
However, Zheng Juzhong, Deng Xunwu, Cai Jing and others were puzzled, so they all accused Zongze of wronging the country and the people. They scolded Zongze, but only Tong Guan defended him everywhere.
After a moment of quarrel, Song Huizong finally made up his mind and ordered Gao Qiu to draft a letter of credence, and Tong Guan would represent the Song Dynasty to go to sea and form a maritime alliance with the Jin Kingdom.
After everyone retreated, Zongze left the hall thoughtfully and returned to the mansion alone. Completely ignoring the pointing fingers of Zheng Juzhong, Deng Xunwu, Cai Jing and others behind him, Zongze continued to curse, saying that he had wronged the country and the people.
After enduring the accusations for half a day, Zongze finally turned around, looked at Zheng Juzhong, Deng Xunwu and Cai Jing behind him with an innocent face, shook his head helplessly, and left with a long sigh.
Suddenly, Zheng Juzhong suddenly spoke:
"Marshal Zongze, you have always understood the great cause, understood the general situation, and taken the overall situation into consideration. Why are you like Tong Guan today, instigating the emperor to join forces with the Jin Dynasty to destroy the Liao Dynasty? Doesn't this make me, the Song Dynasty, drive away the wolves and summon the wild beasts?" .
Zongze hesitated to speak, shook his head again, sighed and was about to leave. Unexpectedly, Deng Xunwu blocked his way. Deng Xunwu said angrily:
"I, Deng Xunwu, am also a military general. I have always admired Marshal Zongze's actions in resisting the Liao Dynasty. But now is the time to support the weak and suppress the strong. How could Marshal Zong be so confused?"
Zongze looked at Deng Xunwu, then at Cai Jing and Zheng Juzhong, and said weakly:
"Alas, my lords, this is called a weak country without diplomacy."
"The three adults should know better than I, Zongze, that it will not be long before the Liao Dynasty is destroyed, and it is not far away for the Jin Dynasty to unify the north. Our Song Dynasty's military is weaker than that of the Liao Dynasty, not to mention the victorious Jin cavalry. ".
"Therefore, in order to avoid Jin from attacking Song after destroying Liao, we have no choice but to form an alliance with Jin now."
"Weak countries have no diplomacy; weak countries have no diplomacy. Alas, that's all."
After Zongze finished speaking, Deng Xunwu said to himself.
