I studied in modern times

Chapter 1054 The Liao people have launched a westward expedition, which means the Song Dynasty has launched a westward expedition! It's all about honor!

The next day, Xing Shu entered the palace and reported to Zhao Xu in the Jiying Hall the results of his communication with Yelü Ju and Yelü Yongchang.

Zhao Xu remained silent for a long time after listening.

After a long silence, he sighed, "It seems the Northern barbarians are truly interested in the Western Regions!"

To persuade the Bubu people to travel west, the Liao emperor personally intervened, sending people to contact the Song Dynasty and create momentum.

Meanwhile, they also sent people to the Tanguts to coerce and entice them.

"Your Majesty..." Xing Shu asked, "How should our dynasty respond?"

"Should I go and meet with the Western envoy to explain to him that our dynasty has no intention of allying with the Northern barbarians? That way, the Western barbarians can feel at ease and deal with the Northern barbarians?"

Zhao Xu smiled and shook his head: "No!"

Under normal circumstances, the actions taken by the Song Dynasty should indeed be as Xing Shu suggested.

They tried every means to sabotage and sabotage what the Liao people were doing.

As long as it annoys the people of Liaoning, it's a win!
Similarly, the Liao people held the same attitude towards matters concerning the Song Dynasty.

This has been the dominant theme in Northeast Asia for the past century.

The Song and Liao dynasties were constantly undermining each other.

They desperately create obstacles for the other side and try every means to undermine their national policies.

This is because both the Song and Liao dynasties regarded each other as their biggest rivals and obstacles to unifying the world.

They were both determined to eliminate each other and then establish a unified dynasty.

For example, Zhao Xu's father, the emperor, had just ascended the throne when he went to see Cisheng Guangxian wearing armor.

He also revealed his ambitions to those around him—to wage war behind the mountains and recover the Yan and Yun regions.

After Zhao Xu assumed power in his previous life, he immediately expressed his ambition to 'unify the world' to his close confidants.

Such was the case with the Zhao officials.

The emperors of the Yelü family should have been the same.

This is an ideological imprint that has been formed since the Han Dynasty—the first month of the reign of the king, the great unification!
but……

Meeting Xing Shu's questioning gaze, Zhao Xu slowly said, "Scholar, go and inform the Xia envoy..."

"Just say that I have decided to form a marriage alliance with the Liao Dynasty, take a Liao princess as my concubine, and then the Song and Liao armies will join forces to destroy the Xia Kingdom and divide its territory!"

"If they are wise enough to surrender, they can do so with courtesy, and in doing so, they will not lose the opportunity to be granted a noble title and a fine mansion!"

"Huh?" Xing Shu was dumbfounded. The Emperor was creating conditions for the Northern Barbarians to extort money from the Western Bandits!
The crucial point is that it brings absolutely no benefit to the Song Dynasty!

If things go wrong, the Western bandits might find out the truth in the future and hate the Song Dynasty to the core!

It's a pure tragedy that causes pain to loved ones and joy to enemies!

I cannot understand the concept of leniency!

Just as he was about to offer his advice, he heard the emperor at the head of the table resolutely say, "Scholar, please carry out the imperial decree!"

Upon hearing this, Xing Shu looked up and saw the resolute expression on the young emperor's face. He immediately knew that the emperor's mind was made up.

No matter how much you try to persuade them, it's no use!
Xing Shu has been serving this young master for almost four years.

Four years had allowed him to basically understand His Majesty's way of doing things—he was willing to consult with others on most matters.

However, on the few things he has made up his mind to do so...

He has always been autocratic and independent!
Moreover, he won't listen to any opinions!

The key point is that these few arbitrary decisions all proved that His Majesty was right!
Left with no other option, Xing Shu could only bow and say, "Your subject respectfully obeys the imperial edict!"

Seeing Xing Shu's appearance, Zhao Xu thought for a moment and decided that he should explain things to him.

After all, the most crucial element within a ruling group is unity.

A disunited ruling group wastes countless energy and resources on daily internal strife.

Therefore, Zhao Xu persisted in communicating with the chief ministers of the capital.

Even if they disagree with your decision, you will try your best to explain to them why you are doing it, what the purpose is, and what effect you hope to achieve.
That is precisely why the current capital can operate smoothly and steadily.

otherwise……

In the current capital, the New Party and the Old Party are evenly matched.

They've already beaten me senseless!

Do you really think that Lü Gongzhu and Pu Zongmeng were good people who could tolerate each other for the sake of the country?
Ha ha!

Not to mention that as early as the Xining and Yuanfeng eras, the old and new factions had already clashed fiercely in the imperial court and in local areas.

Over the years, huge conflicts have accumulated between the two sides at all levels.

If Zhao Xu hadn't personally stepped in to endorse, mediate, and offer a way out...

How could the high-ranking officials possibly hold their noses and eat from the same pot?!

Even so, officials from both the old and new parties remained irreconcilable enemies, both inside and outside the imperial court and at the county and prefecture levels!
Even with Zhao Xu in charge of the court, problems would occasionally arise.

If Zhao Xu hadn't been so attentive and nipped the problem in the bud several times, the great battle between the old and new parties would have already broken out!

Putting aside other matters, if Zhao Xu hadn't found an excuse beforehand to demote those radical members of the old party to remote military prefectures...

Otherwise, given the level of instigation skills of people like Liu Zhi...

The imperial court was already in an uproar!
However, in the past, Zhao Xu usually only gave private explanations to the chief ministers.

Remarkable! Add to that Zhang Heng, who was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, and Wang Zishao, who was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel—the importance of their positions as money bags and official seals goes without saying!

This was the first time he had explained this to other court officials.

Therefore, Zhao Xu hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Does the scholar not understand?"

Xing Shu quickly lowered his head: "Your subject is foolish and dares not presume to guess His Majesty's intentions!"

In front of the emperor, one certainly cannot admit to being stupid, nor can one admit to not following the emperor's train of thought—

If I admit that I'm stupid, how will the officials give me more responsibilities in the future?
It should be noted that the Emperor himself said: "The prime minister must be a good minister!"

Even more so, one must not admit that one has not followed the Emperor's line of thought—this is a grave taboo! Not following the Emperor's line of thought is tantamount to not being of one mind with the Emperor!

He is a treacherous minister with disloyal intentions!
Therefore, the best explanation is that we "dare not presume to guess the Emperor's intentions."

This demonstrates both loyalty and the underlying message of wanting to hear the Hadith.

Xing Shu's years as a middleman have certainly paid off!
Zhao Xu chuckled and said, "Scholar, there's no need to belittle yourself!"

"Hanlin Academician, my inner advisor, on both sides! In charge of drafting imperial edicts, issuing and receiving royal orders, and conveying my will, you are truly my arms and mouthpiece!"

"Moreover, I have entrusted the scholar with a great responsibility, enabling him to manage internal and external communications and to be in charge of receiving tributes from all nations!"

"Therefore, there are some things I must tell the scholar!"

Upon hearing this, Xing Shu immediately declared, "I am but a humble subject, yet I have been deeply grateful for Your Majesty's kindness and repeated promotions, ultimately being appointed as a Hanlin Academician and serving as a close attendant. I am truly humbled and humbled, for the grace of Your Majesty is truly difficult to repay!"

"Today I am fortunate enough to hear your virtuous teachings... I am truly grateful and will remember them diligently, working tirelessly day and night..."

As he spoke, he bowed deeply.

He truly meant what he said.

Because Zhao Xu was indeed the one who promoted him!
In medieval society, such a profound favor, coupled with the relationship between ruler and subject, truly embodies the boundless grace of the emperor.

That’s it!

Back in the Qin and Han dynasties, such kindness and loyalty would have been enough to make people willing to die for their country!
Even though moral standards have declined somewhat these days.

But it is still enough to make one grateful for a lifetime.

Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness—these are the ideological imprints of the scholar-officials!

After hearing Xing Shu's statement, Zhao Xu nodded in satisfaction: "Scholar, your loyalty is as clear as a mirror!"

Then he asked, "Scholar, do you know why I would cooperate with the Northern barbarians?"

Xing Shu shook his head.

Zhao Xu's gaze became unfocused: "Since the first year of the Yuan You era, the Northern barbarians first attacked Goryeo, and then conquered Japan..."

"Winning battle after battle, his reputation spread throughout the world!"

"However, what appears to be a flourishing scene is actually a case of overheating and burning!"

"The northern barbarians' national strength, military strength, and people's strength have all been depleted!"

"Now, the Northern Barbarian ruler wants to wage war in the Western Regions again, and has launched a large-scale attack on the Zubu tribes. It is said that the vanguard of the Zubu tribes' allied forces alone consists of several thousand elite cavalry!"

"Those who followed are countless!"

At this point, a look of envy flashed in Zhao Xu's eyes.

The Liao Dynasty at that time had an incredibly strong appeal and influence in the grasslands and the Western Regions!
At Yelü Hongji's command, the various tribes of the Zubu responded and sent troops!

Even after the Liao Dynasty collapsed, that happened.

But Yelü Dashi, with only a few hundred remnants of his army, ran to the grasslands and immediately gathered tens of thousands of cavalry!

Moreover, the organization and structure were quickly rebuilt.

Later, during the westward expedition to the Western Regions, the army grew larger and larger with each battle.

There are always groups of self-proclaimed loyal subjects of the Liao Dynasty/descendants of the Khitan who emerge in some obscure corners to respond.

Thus, a vast empire spanning thousands of miles was established in Central Asia!

This extended the Liao Dynasty's reign by over a hundred years!

Who are you going to reason with about this?

Now, Yelü Hongji is making a big fuss to stop Bu's western expedition.

Zhao Xu understood that as long as his goods were continuously transported over, things would be fine.

Yelü Hongji's western expedition will surely be victorious!

why?
Because the grasslands are never short of herders who are so poor they have nothing left but their lives!
As long as he has enough wealth, Yelü Hongji can continuously recruit Zubu cavalry from the grasslands to launch westward expeditions!
The Liao emperor's western expedition will not stop until the last Zubu is killed in battle!
Faced with such a Liao dynasty, what could the Seljuks possibly use to fight?

Doomed to fail!

But after the Zubu people went west to the Western Regions, especially after entering the Ili River Valley, would they still leave?

As a result, large numbers of Zubu tribes migrated westward, settling in the fertile Ili River Valley and even crossing the Pamir Mountains into the Central Asian steppes!

This is equivalent to the Liao people using a mild population reduction policy to reduce the population of the grasslands.

In this way, for the next few decades or even centuries, the people of Liao will not have to worry about the threat to the grasslands!
The Zubu people might even thank the Liao people!

If it weren't for the Liao emperor, how could they have gotten such good pastures?

Under these circumstances, Yelü Hongji might really become the Heavenly Khan!
If this happens, the influence of the Liao people will extend from the grasslands all the way to the Western Regions, and even penetrate into Central Asia and West Asia.

Three hundred years after the Battle of Talas, the prestige of the Chinese emperor will once again shake the Abbasid Caliphate, the Fulin Kingdom, and even reach the Catholic countries of Europe!
Furthermore, the Liao people defeated the Seljuks.

Who knows, the legend of Elder King John might just cause a sensation across Europe!

Europeans, long accustomed to the harshness of the West, probably dream of kissing the feet of the legendary Eastern Christian King, Presbyterian King John.

To be honest, if Zhao Xu hadn't studied abroad in modern times...

Knowing that as soon as Yelü Hongji dies, the one who will take the throne will be Yelü Yanxi, the super spendthrift who is known as the "Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix" alongside Zhao Ji.

Meanwhile, the firearms technology in the Song Dynasty was constantly evolving.

otherwise……

Zhao Xu really has no chance of cooperating with the Liao people!
This is precisely why Zhao Xu is so supportive of Yelü Hongji's cause.

Did the Liao people mobilize to stop Bu's westward expedition?

very good!

I fully support you!
Because...

When the Liao people went west, it meant the Song Dynasty was going west!
These are all honors, and all ways to spread China's prestige and influence!

(End of this chapter)