"Peerless Killing Formation!"
The sky-shattering thunder roared for hundreds of breaths, completely shocking everyone in the Liao Kingdom.
The two warring parties have always been evenly matched. The attacking side has the numerical advantage, and the defending side has the wall advantage. The gap between the two sides is not that obvious, and the losses suffered during the siege are also within controllable range.
However, as soon as the Thunderous Thunder came out, the strength of the defenders increased dramatically, and they had to pay a heavy price if they wanted to attack.
The bastion plus the divine arm crossbow is a harvester of human lives. If this is the case, the human sea tactic can be used to attack the city at any cost.
And Zhentian Lei is the nemesis of the human sea tactic!
The more people there are, the more lethal the thunder will be.
"How many lives are needed to fill this!" Xiao Wuna said timidly.
The Liao Kingdom was a country united by multiple tribes. It would be fine if they fought a smooth battle, but if it were to be a tough battle involving death, no one would be willing to die.
It ends with a roar.
The Liao army remained silent, and even Yelv Zhangnu, who had been arrogant before, fell silent.
"No wonder Xixia was defeated!"
Yelu Hongji said with a solemn expression. With his eyes, he could naturally see that the divine arm crossbow combined with the special structure of the bastion greatly increased its lethality. As long as the thunderbolts could not be used up, it would be impossible to break through the city.
The Liao general also nodded helplessly. A small Pingxia city cost the lives of 50,000 Xia troops. Even if the Liao troops attacked in person, they would probably have the same ending.
"Grandson, what do you think?"
Yelu Hongji looked at the expressions of the generals, turned his gaze to the young man aside and asked.
This person was Yelu Yanxi, the only successor of Yelu Hongji and later Emperor Tianzuo.
"Da Liao must also have its own thunder." Yelu Yanxi said with a solemn expression.
The other Liao generals also agreed and nodded repeatedly.
The destructive power of the Sky Thunder is so great that the force that the Liao Army is famous for under the Thunder will be reduced to nothing. Only the Liao Army can compete with the Song Army if it has its own Thunder.
Yelu Hongji nodded and said: "The Sky-shaking Thunder is easy to handle. It's nothing more than gunpowder and a checkered iron shell. What I'm asking is whether the Song Dynasty betrayed its alliance and abolished the Sui coins. Will the Liao Kingdom be in war or peace?"
In order to make more thunderbolts, Fan Zheng mobilized blacksmiths from almost all cities from Kaifeng to the northwest. It was not difficult for the Liao Kingdom to obtain the manufacturing method of thunderbolts.
Yelu Yanxi stepped forward and said: "My grandson thinks that abolishing the Sui coins is just a temptation of the Song Dynasty!"
"Testing?" Yelu Hongji raised his eyebrows.
Yelu Yanxi nodded and said: "Yes, the Song Dynasty's defeat of Xixia greatly increased its confidence. In addition, it has the powerful city defense weapon Thunder Thunder in its hands. Although it is not enough to threaten the Liao Kingdom, the defense is more than enough. There is Yan Yun between Song and Liao Sooner or later, there will be a battle between the sixteen states. If we do not continue to weaken the Song State, one day it will become a serious problem for the Liao State."
"What do you think?" Yelu Hongji asked.
"In Sun's opinion, the Liao Kingdom must unite with Xixia to attack the Song Dynasty. The Liao Kingdom took advantage of the terrain of Yanyun's Sixteen Prefectures and used the Song Dynasty's betrayal of the alliance as an excuse to send out all its iron cavalry, avoid the city, plunder the Song Dynasty, and force The Song Dynasty bows its head, and the annual coins must not only be reduced, but also doubled, so that the Song Dynasty will continue to be weak." Yelu Yanxi said coldly.
"Great Sun Yingming!" Yelv Zhangnu and other Liao generals echoed.
In their view, the Song Dynasty's abolition of the Sui coins was a betrayal of the Chanyuan Alliance. The Liao Kingdom took the opportunity to plunder the Song Dynasty. Not only could they make a lot of money, but they could also force the Song Dynasty to bow their heads and suppress the Song Dynasty.
Yelu Nanyin on the side couldn't help but turned pale. Sure enough, as Fan Zheng said, no matter whether the Song Dynasty paid the annual coins or not, the Liao Kingdom would always suppress the Song Dynasty.
"Grandfather, think twice! Song and Xia have been at peace for a hundred years, how can they easily start war again? Although the Song Dynasty abolished the annual currency, the revenue from the Silk Road is enough to exceed the annual currency. The two countries will benefit from cooperation, and both will lose from war. This is the peace between the two countries. Way." Yelu Nanyin shouted.
Everyone knows that the Song Dynasty cannot always give the Liao Dynasty coins, and the Liao Kingdom cannot always suppress the Song Dynasty. There will be a war between the two countries. The benefits of the Silk Road are used to replace the income of the coins, and both Song and Liao will gain. It is only through interests that peace can be maintained.
"Nanyin, don't rely on your grandfather's love for you! You dare to be so presumptuous. This is a major matter of the country, how can you be allowed to act recklessly?" Yelu Yanxi angrily scolded Yelu Nanyin.
Yelu Nanyin knelt in front of Yelu Hongji's horse and said: "When my granddaughter was on a mission to the Song Dynasty, the imperial grandfather once said: As long as the evil doctor Fan Zheng can cure the child's facial disease, he will agree to one of my granddaughter's requests. My granddaughter's request is We must ask the imperial grandfather not to go south."
Yelu Yanxi sneered and said: "What an extremely cold place, extremely cold time, extremely cold moment! At first glance, it is the trick of the evil doctor Fan Zheng. Brother knows that you have always liked Han people's poetry, but you must not forget it. , you are the princess of Liao Kingdom."
Yelu Nanyin suddenly raised his head and said: "Nanyin is indeed the princess of the Liao Dynasty, but the Song Dynasty now has firearms that can shake the sky and thunder. Does my brother really think that the Liao Kingdom is sure of defeating the Song Dynasty? A Pingxia city lost 50,000 Xixia soldiers. There are countless cities in the Song Dynasty. Once Song and Liao go to war, how many men in Liao will die under the thunder."
Yelu Yanxi was immediately speechless. Facing the extremely powerful thunder, the Liao Kingdom was indeed not sure of victory. If the city cannot be captured, it may be difficult to make the Song Dynasty surrender by looting alone.
Today's Song Dynasty is like a fortress in front of us, with sharp thorns everywhere and extremely difficult to deal with.
"I would also like to ask the imperial grandfather to promise you a thousand pieces of gold, and don't let the lives of Song and Liao be destroyed." Yelu Nanyin kowtowed solemnly to Yelu Hongji.
Yelu Hongji looked at half of the face of Yelu Nanyin who looked like Xiao Guanyin wearing a gauze scarf, and couldn't help but sigh: "Are you sure Fan Zheng's evil prescription can cure your appearance?"
"The winter solstice is not far away now. Please wait patiently for a few months and we will find out." Yelu Nanyin said solemnly.
"Okay, I will let the Song Kingdom go for the time being. Someone comes and tells the Song Kingdom that if the revenue from the Silk Road cannot reach twice the annual coin, or how much less, the Song Dynasty will make up for it for me! Otherwise, the Liao Kingdom We will use all our troops to investigate the Song Dynasty's betrayal of the alliance," Yelu Hongji said loosely.
"Thank you, Grandfather!"
Yelu Nanyin was overjoyed when she heard this. She didn't expect that the emperor's grandfather would keep his promise for her.
"Grandfather, think twice! Don't let the Song Dynasty breathe! Otherwise, the Liao Dynasty will regret it."
Yelu Yanxi shouted.
Yelu Hongji looked at Yelu Yanxi and shook his head and said: "The Liao and Song Dynasties have been on good terms for nearly a hundred years. How can we lighten the flames of war and plunge the two countries into dire straits? I know you have a strong character, so don't cause trouble!"
Yelu Yanxi was immediately worried and quickly advised: "Today the Song Dynasty dares to abolish the Sui coins, and tomorrow it will dare to attack the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun. If the Song Dynasty is not killed in time, it will be a big trouble in the future."
"Your Majesty, think twice!"
Some leading Liao generals also tried to persuade Yelu Hongji.
However, Yelu Hongji ignored him and ordered his troops to retreat back to the camp.
Yelu Yanxi looked at Yanmen Pass not far away angrily, whipped his horse hard, and followed him.
That night!
In Yeluhong's tent.
"Imperial Grandfather! Nanyin is just a woman's opinion. Even if she looks like the Imperial Grandmother, you can't indulge her so much!" Yelu Yanxi said dissatisfied.
Yelu Hongji took a deep look at Yelu Yanxi and said, "Do you really think that your grandfather agreed to let Song go because he was greedy for the interests of the Silk Road or doting on Nanyin?"
Yelu Yanxi couldn't help but be stunned and looked at Yelu Hongji in confusion.
Yelu Hongji solemnly said: "On the grasslands of past dynasties, we have followed an iron law, that is, the strong are respected."
"The strong are respected?" Yelu Yanxi frowned.
Yelu Hongji looked south and solemnly said: "For a hundred years, the Liao Dynasty has been strong and the Song Dynasty has been weak! It is only natural for the Song Dynasty to pay tribute to the Liao Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty has always followed it. But now the Song Dynasty, which holds the thunder in its hands, has He has a trump card against the Liao State, so he is naturally unwilling to give the Liao State any more coins. I asked Nanyin to go as an envoy to the Liao State just to test the Song Dynasty's confidence."
"The Song Dynasty would rather let Nanyin search for the seeds of Artemisia versicolor than believe that Nanyin could bring peace between Song and Liao. It would rather borrow 5 million guan of national debt to defend the Liao Kingdom than give the Liao 500,000 guan of annual coins. Now the Song Dynasty is ready for war, but if the Liao Kingdom fights in a hurry, it may win less and lose more." Yelu Hongji said solemnly.
Yelu Yanxi was suddenly shocked. The Liao Kingdom was also unstable internally. Once the Liao army was defeated, the consequences would be disastrous.
"It just so happens that Nanyin brought back the Silk Road plan of the Song Dynasty. I first pretended to agree in the name of Nanyin, and the Liao Dynasty slowly planned it, secretly accumulating strength, uniting with Xixia, defeating the Song Kingdom in one battle, and then defeating Xixia to unify the world!" Yelu Hongji said coldly.
"Unify the world!" Yelu Yanxi couldn't help but be shocked. He had never thought that the seemingly mediocre imperial grandfather would have such ambitions.
"I have been waiting for a good opportunity. Unfortunately, during my reign, Song and Xia were at the height of their national power, and I never had the chance to take action."
Yelu Hongji couldn't help but sigh that the opportunity for the rise of the Liao Kingdom was to take advantage of the civil strife in the Central Plains to capture the sixteen states of Yanyun, which laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Liao Kingdom.
After he succeeded to the throne, he kept looking for flaws in the Song Dynasty. However, both Renzong and Shenzong were wise kings! He had no chance.
Furthermore, during his reign, he improperly employed people. The Yelv Chongyuan and Yelv Yixin rebellions occurred successively, which greatly damaged the vitality of the Liao Kingdom. Now that the Liao Kingdom's national power has declined, and the Song Dynasty has artifacts such as Thunder, the situation in the Song and Liao Dynasties has naturally become worse. Change.
"Grandfather is already old! He has done a lot of wrong things in the past. It is Grandfather who has to bear this reputation for being stupid!" Yelu Hongji said with a self-blaming look on his face.
During his reign, the unjust killing of Xiao Guanyin and the death of his son Yelu Jun were the pain of his life. Every time he thought about it, he regretted it. His doting on Yelu Nanyin was just to make up for his guilt!
Yelu Yanxi couldn't help but sigh. She had mixed feelings about the old man in front of her. His father, the king, and his mother and concubine both died because of him, and he personally raised her up, so he had the kindness to raise him.
"From today on, you will secretly organize your army to prepare for your funeral." Yelu Hongji solemnly entrusted him.
"Thank you, Grandfather!" Yelu Yanxi said solemnly.
At this point, the two men thawed and became intimate again.
"Xixia sent envoys to ask for peace with Nanyin and asked Liao and Xia to unite and divide the Song Dynasty. I wonder what the emperor's grandfather wants?" Yelu Yanxi said solemnly.
"Xi Xia asks for a marriage?"
Yelu Hongji couldn't help but smiled coldly and said: "This is what I mean by respecting the strong! If Xixia had not suffered a defeat and asked for help from me, Daliao, how could they be willing to humble themselves and ask for a marriage? Ignore him, Song Xiao The emperor has vowed not to make peace with each other, how can we, Daliao, be willing to lag behind and ignore Xixia?"
Yelu Hongji also disliked fighting in Xixia. There were also a lot of frictions between Liao and Xia in those years, especially the two empress dowagers of Liang who were aggressive and aggressive. Yelu Hongji was extremely disliked by them.
Yelu Yanxi nodded slightly and said: "The emperor is wise, but we still need to use Xixia to contain the Song Dynasty. We cannot directly reject the Liao Kingdom. It is better not to respond for the time being. Anyway, the little emperor of Xixia is still young and is far from getting married. age."
"Can!"
Yelu Hongji glanced at Yelu Yanxi approvingly. From this point of view, Yelu Yanxi was already a qualified prince.
However, in the dark corner outside the tent, the veiled Yelu Nanyin could hear all this clearly.
"Is it true that Song and Liao cannot coexist?"
Yelu Nanyin couldn't help but look sad.
Both the Song and Liao states have the same view, that is, there must be a war between Song and Liao.
"No! Maybe there is another party where Song and Liao can coexist."
Yelu Nanyin's heart moved, and he thought of Fan Zheng's Silk Road plan. As long as the Silk Road connected the two countries of Song and Liao, the huge entanglement of interests made no one able to bear the consequences of war. Only in this way can the two countries of Song and Liao be united. Last forever.
Of course, she also has her own selfish motives. Even if there is a war between Song and Liao, she still hopes to use the benefits of the Silk Road to make Daliao stronger.
………………
"Reporting to the Imperial Grandfather, Nanyin wants to personally take charge of the Silk Road Project!"
Day two! Yelu Nanyin asked to see Yelu Hongji and said firmly.
"You want to be in charge of the Silk Road?" Yelu Hongji said in surprise. Yelu Nanyin was the most favored princess. She had always had enough food and clothing, and she could get everything she wanted. How could you think of taking charge of the Silk Road project?
Yelu Nanyin nodded solemnly and said: "Yes, Nanyin is deeply loved by the emperor's grandfather and cannot repay him. He wants to be responsible for the Silk Road project and earn money for the Liao Kingdom to revitalize the Liao Dynasty."
"good!"
Yelu Hongji was very happy.
Although he pretended to agree to the Silk Road plan of the Song Dynasty in the name of favoring Nanyin, he still coveted the famous Silk Road.
If the Liao Kingdom can get a lot of benefits from the Silk Road, great things can be expected to revitalize Daliao in the future.
"My granddaughter will definitely live up to my grandfather's high expectations!" Yelu Nanyin said solemnly.
"The Silk Road project can be planned slowly. The most important thing now is to cure your portuguese nevus. My grandfather will be smiling in the future, and he can also get some forgiveness from your imperial grandmother." Yelu Hongji said emotionally.
"On the winter solstice, my granddaughter will recover." Yelu Nanyin said in a trembling voice.
As a woman, she doesn't want to have a peerless appearance, and now this dream that has been lingering on her for sixteen years is finally coming true.
Yelu Hongji lingered outside Yanmen Pass for several days, and finally retreated quietly.
"The Liao people have retreated!"
The scouts sent back the news that the Liao troops had withdrawn, and the Song troops at Yanmen Pass cheered!
The guard of Yanmen Pass also breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had lethal weapons such as Zhentianlei, he was still unwilling to start the war lightly. After all, the Liao army once gave the Song army great fear.
"Come here and convey the original words of Emperor Liao back to Bianjing."
At this moment, the Yanmen Pass guard was convinced that the Liao army had withdrawn. Then he remembered Yelu Hongji's words and quickly sent someone to report it back to the court.
(End of chapter)
