1240, New Year.
This is the most relaxing and enjoyable New Year that Zhao Tai has had since he started his army.
At the end of last year, Qi State was still in danger of being united by Mongolia and Song Dynasty to seize Huainan. However, in the blink of an eye, not only was the crisis resolved, but the situation also began to develop in a direction favorable to Qi State.
At the mouth of the Yangtze River, Zhao Tai used Qi Navy gunboats to frighten Song Emperor Zhao Yun, and the Southern Song Dynasty transferred the troops stationed along the Yangtze River back to Lin'an.
After solving the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Tai set his mind on Mongolia.
Seeing that the ice age in the north was approaching, Zhao Tai prepared to welcome the attack of the Mongolian cavalry. However, the Qi army waited until the end of the twelfth lunar month and did not wait for the attack of the Mongolian cavalry.
This made Zhao Tai wonder, did Batu and Meng Ge retreat because of the Southern Song Dynasty?
In Zhao Tai's view, this winter is the last chance for Mongolia to attack. Even if the Southern Song Dynasty retreats, Mongolia can still use the tactics used last winter to invade Qi's territory and cause trouble for Qi.
Just when Zhao Tai was puzzled, Yang You came to report that Xi Zuo around Kublai Khan had returned extremely important news.
After Yang You escaped from Kublai Khan, he informed Zhao Tai that with the help of Liu Yun, he successfully escaped from the Mongolian Western Expeditionary Army.
Zhao Tai immediately asked Yang You to be responsible for getting in touch with Liu Yun so that Qi could continue to obtain news from Mongolia.
In the study, Zhao Tai listened to Yang You's report, his face changed with surprise and joy, "Wokuotai is dead?"
In Zhao Tai's memory, Wo Kuotai should have lived for more than a year, but he did not expect that he died early.
Zhao Tai's original plan was to defend the existing territory, develop internal affairs, wait for the transfer of power in Mongolia, and take advantage of Mongolia's internal instability to launch a counterattack against Mongolia.
Zhao Tai didn't expect that Wokuotai would be gone before he was ready.
This undoubtedly disrupted Zhao Tai's deployment.
Now that the Qi army was unprepared, Zhao Tai could only miss this opportunity.
Yang You said: "The news should be correct. Wo Kuotai should have died suddenly in early November last year."
Zhao Tai realized that no wonder Batu and Meng Ge did not launch an attack. It turned out to be because Wo Kuotai was dead.
Zhao Tai stood up excitedly, walked a few steps back and forth in the study, and finally burst into laughter.
Although Wokuotai's death disrupted Zhao Tai's plans, it also gave Qi a chance to breathe and develop.
When it comes to development and farming, Zhao Tai feels that he has obvious advantages.
After the Battle of Langshan, Wokuotai's body collapsed, and soon he recalled Guiyu to the grassland to prevent any unexpected events.
At the beginning of November, Wokuotai died suddenly. Queen Naima Zhen summoned Yelu Chucai, the Prime Minister, to discuss the matter of establishing a Khan. She immediately summoned many Mongolian princes and asked them to support Guyou as the Great Khan of Mongolia.
According to the rules set by Genghis Khan during his lifetime, the successor of the Great Khan must be elected and decided by Khuliltai.
Naima Zhen and Guiyu immediately rewarded many Mongolian princes. After wooing everyone, everything was ready before informing Batu, Meng Ge and others.
After Batu and Meng Ge heard the news, they quickly led their troops back to the grassland and went to Helin to attend the conference.
On the way to Batu, he heard that Guiyou was to be promoted to Khan. He was dissatisfied and turned back to Xi'an halfway. He refused to attend the meeting on the pretext of being ill and sent his younger brother Bierge to attend instead.
When Meng Ge returned to the grassland, since all the kings and officials present at the meeting had already been won over by the queen, Meng Ge could only agree with Guiyou to take over the throne.
Guyuk became the Great Khan of Mongolia, and the transfer of power in Mongolia was relatively smooth, but Guyuk's prestige was far less than that of Ogodei.
Even Wokuotai could not intimidate Batu and Meng Ge, let alone Guiyou, a peer.
Although Guyuk became the Great Khan at this time, hidden dangers within Mongolia were also coming.
During the Western Expedition, Batu was unhappy with Guyuk. When he saw Guyuk professed to be Khan, he wanted to lead his army to the west, and his desire to establish a khanate in Eastern Europe became even stronger.
As the eldest son of Genghis Khan, they were assigned the smallest territory and had to fight it all on their own.
Now he stays in the Central Plains to help Guiyou fight, and there is no benefit at all.
Meng Ge has a large territory and many troops, but he has to be controlled by Guiyou, and he feels aggrieved.
In 1240, throughout the spring, Zhao Tai smiled from ear to ear.
With Wo Kuotai's death, Zhao Tai had a premonition that the time for Qi's counterattack was coming.
The general trend of the world was waxing and waning. When Mongolia entered a period of decline, Zhao Tai was not idle. He stepped up his efforts to encourage people to do spring farming and support commercial development.
Because the Southern Song Dynasty was intimidated by the Qi State and did not dare to act rashly, and Mongolia was facing various internal disputes, the Qi State experienced a very stable and peaceful year throughout 1240.
There were no major events during the Taiping years. The only thing worth mentioning in Qi State was that the princess gave birth to a son for Zhao Tai.
Soon, by the end of 1240, after a full year of cultivation, Qi State had completely restored its strength.
Now Zhao Tai wants money and soldiers, so he wants to take action.
At the same time, the Mongolian royal court and after a year of internal competition in Mongolia, in order to stabilize Batu and Mengge, Guyu could only enfeoff the Central Plains, Guanzhong, and Hedong to the two.
In order to stay in Batu, Guyu gave Guanzhong and the Central Plains to Batu, and gave Hedong to Meng Ge.
The two obtained fiefs in the Khan Land, but at the same time they also took on the heavy responsibility of resisting Qi.
After Meng Ge obtained the Han land east of Hedong, he did not forget his brother Kublai Khan.
Because he did not know how to govern Han territory, Meng Ge handed over the government affairs of Hedong to Kublai Khan.
And this news, as expected, came to Zhao Tai's head again.
In the study, Zhao Tai read the information and summoned several ministers for discussion.
Wang Wentong said: "It seems that Mongolia has gradually eliminated the chaos after Ogedai's death. Guyu, Batu, and Meng Ge have redistributed their interests."
Zhao Tai said in a deep voice: "Now they have just redefined their interests, and the redistribution will inevitably lead to a certain degree of chaos. I thought this would be a key opportunity for our Daqi to launch a counterattack. If Batu and Meng Ge are allowed to be in Han If the rule of the land becomes stable, then it will take a lot more effort to attack."
Wang Bin said: "I agree with the king's decision. Now that the Mongolian nobles are carving up the sweaty land, the princes in Hedong, the Central Plains, and Guanzhong will inevitably have their hearts turbulent. After two years of recuperation, we, the Qi Dynasty, now have strong soldiers and horses and sharp weapons. We should take the opportunity to seize Hedong or the Central Plains. place."
Zhao Tai asked: "Where should I choose first between Hedong and the Central Plains?"
Wang Bin said: "The four fortresses in the east of the river are surrounded by mountains and rivers, so it is quite difficult to attack. I thought we could capture the Central Plains first, and then send troops to seize the east of the river."
Zhao Tai stroked his beard and said, "Ai Qing, when do you think it's appropriate to take action?"
Wang Bin said: "Most of the cities in the Central Plains have been destroyed. I think that only one battle can determine the ownership of the Central Plains. I suggest that troops be sent out immediately after the spring plowing is completed to end the war before the autumn harvest, so that the people can go back to harvest wheat."
