After listening to Han Dewei's detailed report and confirming that there was a rebellion in the Song Dynasty and that Daliao was profitable, Xiao Chuo, the empress dowager of Daliao Chengtian who was sitting high in the hall with her eyes closed, raised her phoenix eyes and looked at her. As soon as it lit up, I was calculating the gains and losses in my mind.
Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty, who was sitting next to her, frowned slightly when he heard this. The two brothers of the Han family, one in the court and one in the army, were both very domineering. Last time, it was because Han Dewei falsely spread military information and said that Song Dynasty If there is any abnormal movement of the army at the border, the army must be prepared for war. In fact, it is to use the opportunity of army reorganization to eliminate dissidents in the army. If the Song army had not been prepared at that time, another fierce battle between Song and Liao would have been inevitable.
Now seeing Han Dewei coming to ask the imperial court to send troops to start a war with Song Dynasty, Yelu Longxu naturally did not believe what he said. But seeing the look on his mother's face, Han Dewei seemed to be convinced, so he could only suppress his unhappiness secretly and wait for his mother's decision. After all, the military and political power of the Liao Kingdom was still firmly in the hands of his mother. He could only wait and wait for his moment.
Although Empress Dowager Xiao is a female, her determination is better than that of men. Once she decides on something, she will do it resolutely. It was precisely because of her decisive character that the Liao Kingdom was put to death during the two Northern Expeditions of the Song Dynasty. The monarch and ministers worked together to defeat the Song army.
But this time, when it was about the rise and fall of the Liao Dynasty, Empress Dowager Xiao hesitated. This is because when facing the Northern Expedition of the Song Army twice before, the Liao Kingdom had no choice but to make a desperate move. But this time the Liao Kingdom is the party that has the initiative. Once people have room and retreat, they will not be so decisive when making decisions.
Just when the war between heaven and man was going on in the heart of Empress Dowager Xiao, Yelv Zhigu, the leader of the Imperial Guards outside the palace who was responsible for the security of the palace, walked straight into the palace and bowed down to report: "To the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty, King Li Jiqian of Xixia has sent an envoy. I’m here to meet you, and I’m waiting outside the hall right now.”
Everyone was talking a lot after hearing this, speculating about what the King of Xixia, who had just been canonized by the Liao Kingdom not long ago, was sending envoys to do.
Queen Mother Xiao was stunned when she heard this. She didn't know the purpose of the new son-in-law's sending people here, but based on Han Dewei's previous information, she could probably guess a thing or two. Then he asked Yelu Zhiguxuan Xixia envoy to come to see him.
In order to support Li Jiqian against the Song Dynasty, the Liao State Empress Dowager Xiao adopted the daughter of Jiedushi Yeluxiang as her adopted daughter last year, named her Princess Yicheng, married Li Jiqian as the princess, and sent a large amount of dowry and property as Li Jiqian's uprising. capital.
Li Jiqian used his status as the son-in-law of the Liao Kingdom to gather a large number of Dangxiang tribes near Hengshan, constantly intruding on the northwest border of the Song Dynasty, and once breached the border state capital city. He also robbed the grain and grass shipped by the Song Dynasty to Lingzhou a few months ago.
Under Li Jiqian's repeated intrusions, the Song Dynasty was so annoyed that it finally decided to send a large army to arrest Li Jiqian. Song Ting sent veteran general Li Jilong as the main general to lead the elite imperial army to attack Li Jiqian.
After the Song Dynasty court sent a country-destroying army, Li Jiqian knew that he could not resist it no matter what. He sized up the situation and decided to cut off his own strength, abandon the newly acquired Yinzhou City, and quickly flee to the depths of the desert. He originally wanted to spend a few months with the Song Army in the desert. The Song Army could not stay in the northwest for a long time. After a long time, the Song Army could not catch him and they would naturally retreat.
But what he didn't know was who he was facing, the famous Shangdang general Li Jilong! This veteran general, who was nearly sixty years old, had been fighting for decades, so he had naturally seen through Li Jiqian's thoughts. He did not follow Li Jiqian blindly running around in the desert. He understood that the Song soldiers here were not familiar with the place and were definitely not as familiar with the terrain as the Dangxiang people who had lived here all year round, so he had to change his approach.
The veteran general Li Jilong first placed a high reward on Li Jiqian's head nearby and explained the court's policy to the nearby Dangxiang tribes. He only punished the culprits and ignored the threats. On the other hand, a fortress was built nearby. Step by step, he eroded Li Jiqian's sphere of influence, forcing Li Jiqian to have nowhere to escape.
Li Jiqian had no choice but to prepare to ask for help from the Liao Kingdom. Although he knew that the Liao Kingdom would not go to war with the Song Dynasty for him, he still held on to a little fantasy, hoping that Empress Dowager Xiao could put some pressure on the Song Dynasty for the sake of Princess Yicheng. .
Li Jiqian was forced to retreat and was about to collapse. Just when he was about to send envoys to the Liao Kingdom to ask for help, he suddenly received important information. A refugee rebellion broke out in Xichuan, the hinterland of the Song Dynasty. The insurgents were like wildfire starting a prairie fire, and they were unstoppable. It has occupied Chengdu Prefecture, an important place in Shu, and launched an initiative to attack the Song Dynasty from three sides to the Liao Kingdom and the Xixia Party.
Li Jiqian, who was in desperate situation, suddenly felt that there was a bright future in front of him. He immediately sent his brother Li Jichong and Han adviser Zhang Pu to the Liao Kingdom to discuss jointly conquering the Song Dynasty.
In the main hall of Youzhou Mansion, Li Jichong, the brother of the King of Xixia, and Zhang Pu, his counselor, leaned down and kowtowed: "Foreign Minister Li Jichong, Foreign Minister Zhang Pu, pay homage to Your Majesty, Empress Dowager Chengtian!"
Empress Dowager Xiao looked at the two highnesses, raised her head, and said, "You two gentlemen, please be humble and grant me a seat."
After the two sat down, Queen Mother Xiao began to look at the two of them with her eyes. She had met Zhang Pu several times. The last time she married Princess Yicheng to Li Jiqian, it was Zhang Pu who came to pick up the bride. She still had some impressions.
Zhang Pu was a poor man from the Han Dynasty in his early years. He failed in scientific examinations for many years, which made him gradually dissatisfied with the world of the Song Dynasty. He felt that his wealth of knowledge was of no use in the Song Dynasty. Finally, he abandoned his family and country and came to the Dangxiang tribe in the northwest. , was eventually discovered by Li Jiqian, who had a sharp eye, and took it for his own use.
Zhang Pu also lived up to Li Jiqian's expectations, and made suggestions time and time again to help Li Jiqian turn danger into danger, and finally established a force that could take charge of his own affairs.
Empress Dowager Xiao looked at Li Jichong aside again. She had a good impression of this young man whom she met for the first time. Li Jichong also had a tall figure like his brother Li Jiqian. Unlike Li Jiqian, his face was more delicate. More attractive than Li Jiqian's rough face.
"The two ministers have come from thousands of miles away. What do you mean?" Queen Mother Xiao was the first to ask.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Pu stood up from his seat and cupped his hands and replied: "Reporting to the Queen Mother, the King of Xixia ordered his ministers to pay their respects to the Queen Mother and Your Majesty. Princess Yicheng also misses the Queen Mother and Your Majesty very much."
"In addition... I'm afraid the Queen Mother and Your Majesty have already received the news. A rebellion broke out within the Song Dynasty. Nine out of ten prefectures and counties in Shu have been captured by the rebels. The southwest of the Song Dynasty has changed. My king sent me to wait. It's In order to discuss with Daliao about taking the opportunity to attack the Song Dynasty..." Zhang Pu said excitedly.
No wonder he was so excited. He was originally a failed candidate in the Han Dynasty who was not taken seriously, but now he could take advantage of the situation and participate in the great event of destroying the Song Dynasty. How could he not be excited? ,
