I studied in modern times

Chapter 1055 Arrangement
Of course, these were just Zhao Xu's own thoughts.

What he said was too shocking and too frightening—back then, when Zhao Xu's father had just ascended the throne, he went to see Cisheng Guangxian wearing armor.

But the result caused an uproar throughout the court!
The chancellors were terrified!

Your Majesty, what are you going to do?
Fu Bi went even further, saying directly to Zhao Xu's father, the emperor: "Your Majesty has only been on the throne for a short time, so you should first spread your benevolence. I wish that you would refrain from speaking of war for the next twenty years, and also refrain from heavily rewarding those who have rendered meritorious service on the frontier. Once war breaks out, the consequences for your life and the consequences will be far-reaching."

Check it out!

Zhao Xu's father only dreamed of recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun (in reality, he knew it was impossible, and he spent his whole life fighting against the Western Xia).

The courtiers all jumped up!

One after another, pure-hearted Ah Qs!

Therefore, the Xining Reforms and Wang Anshi's rise to power were inevitable!

The old guys are just trying to bury their heads in the sand and pretend everything is peaceful.

How can you conduct politics while surrounded by these insects?

The scholar-officials of the Song Dynasty in the early years of the Xining era were quite a mess.

The literati of today are actually not much different!
Especially the extreme appeasement faction within the old party, let alone any talk of managing the Western Regions.

They don't even want Lanzhou!
They only wanted to return it to the Tangut people as soon as possible and stay away from trouble.

These insects... You should know that Zhao Xu was not only thinking about destroying Western Xia, but also planning to conquer the Western Regions after destroying Liao.

It would probably scare the soul out of its body!
Therefore, Zhao Xu can just keep some things to himself.

If I told you, it would scare the kids.

So, after a pause, Zhao Xu continued, "As the ancients said: 'To take, one must first give!'"

"The current ruler of the Northern Barbarians is ambitious, extravagant, and indulges in wars!"

"Conquering Goryeo, raiding Japan, and conquering the Western Regions..."

"His desires are insatiable!"

"What our dynasty needs to do is encourage him, guide him... to make him waste his energy and national strength on the Japanese islands and in the vast Gobi Desert of the Western Regions!"

"When their country is exhausted and their troops are weary, and the people's resentment is boiling over..."

"At that time, perhaps only a small force, under the banner of benevolence and righteousness, will be needed to pacify the Liaodong region with a single proclamation!"

This is pure, blatant lying!

However, Zhao Xu spoke with great confidence and with a clear conscience.

Even someone as shrewd as Xing Shu was persuaded at this moment.

The history of thousands of years seems to have proven that no matter how powerful an empire is, it may not last.

The more you win, the more likely you are to lose everything in the end!
Xing Shu then bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

The government's strategy is indeed excellent!

It can be described as insightful and incisive!

As long as the Liao Dynasty remains mired in war, its national strength will inevitably be depleted day by day.

In this way, it is only a matter of time before the Liao emperor repeats the mistakes of Emperor Yang of Sui!

However, for some reason, Xing Shu still felt somewhat uneasy.

However, he dared not say it out loud, and instead began to praise and sing the praises of the emperor's wisdom in the palace!

At the same time, they automatically and consciously adjusted their mindset to prepare for the implementation of official policies.

Zhao Xu listened to Xing Shu's flattery and was very pleased.

That's just how this person is; they enjoy being praised.

Even if you know perfectly well that others are just saying it, they might actually be cursing you inside.

And yet, I still find it sweet!

Once Xing Shu's flattery had come to an end, Zhao Xu waved his hand and said, "Alright, Scholar, if you have nothing else to do, please go and get on with your work!"

Xing Shu bowed respectfully, then suddenly remembered the Hu monk from the previous night, and decided to report the whole story to Zhao Xu.

After hearing this, Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes: "Tusha?"

"But was that righteous monk who was granted a title by the Ministry of Rites?"

He still had some impression of this foreign monk!
After all, when Huainan suffered a severe drought, he was the first Hu monk to step forward and call on believers to donate.

At the same time, it was precisely because of this person's actions that Zhao Xu had an excuse to put pressure on the senior monks.

Finally, they forced the senior monks to hand over the pawnshop, thus completing the initial capital accumulation of the pawnshop.

Zhao Xu made a huge fortune!
At the same time, this incident allowed them to successfully bring a large number of powerful figures, local gentry, and wealthy families onto their side.

“Exactly!” Xing Shu replied, “This monk was bestowed the title of ‘True Man Who Saves Life and Protects from Calamity’ by the Ministry of Rites…”

"Oh!" Zhao Xu nodded, subconsciously rubbing his small hands together, and said, "Scholar, go and confirm first!"

"Let's see if there really is a Fulin mission?"

Fulin!
Byzantium!
Constantinople!
A fortress on the Eurasian land bridge!

These sophisticated terms flashed through Zhao Xu's mind.

Then he laughed.

Because he remembered that in a few years, the European countries would launch the First Crusade.

The crusades seem to have been initiated by the Byzantine emperors seeking aid from European countries and by the Catholic popes.
However, Zhao Xu couldn't recall whether the Crusades were already being organized or hadn't started yet.

However, it is certain that Dongluo has had a very difficult time in recent years.

At the same time, Zhao Xu also recalled that in his previous life, a Fulin delegation had arrived in the Song Dynasty during the Yuanyou era.

It seems to be the sixth year of the Yuan You era, right?

Zhao Xu's memory of this incident is somewhat hazy.

He had even forgotten what the members of the Fulin delegation were dressed like. So much so that he wasn't even sure if it was truly the Fulin delegation.
But it's okay!

Zhao Xu leaned back on the cushion, closed his eyes, and began to instruct Xing Shu: "Scholar, please take note..."

"I hereby make the following arrangements regarding this matter..."

"If the news from the Fulin mission is true..."

"I hereby appoint the scholar as the accompanying envoy of the Fulin Pavilion, in charge of all matters concerning the reception of the Fulin delegation!"

The Byzantine Empire at that time was being thoroughly defeated by the Seljuks, suffering a humiliating loss of sovereignty and national dignity.

But its wealth is common knowledge!
It is no exaggeration to say that, apart from the Song Dynasty, the richest country on Earth today is the one that occupies Constantinople, a vital trade route between Europe and Asia.

If a Fulin delegation were to actually come to the Song Dynasty.

This was very helpful in strengthening exchanges between East and West, and in opening up markets for Song Dynasty goods in Europe.

Besides, friendship is about give and take.

The Song Dynasty could send an envoy to accompany the Fulin people back to Constantinople in return.

While we're at it, let's visit the various countries along the way.

Let merchants from all nations know that the Peach Blossom Stone Emperor of the East highly values ​​commerce and is a defender of free trade!
This is very crucial.

"If it's confirmed that there was no Fulin delegation..." Zhao Xu clasped his hands together: "This is deceiving the emperor!"

"The crime of deceiving the emperor deserves to be cut in half at the waist!"

"However, I am not a cruel and heartless monarch!"

"We are still willing to give them a chance to redeem themselves!"

"That Hu monk and his followers should go to Fulin on my behalf and invite the Fulin delegation to the Great Song!"

As for whether he's willing to go or not?

Then he has no choice!
They detained their wives, parents, brothers, and children.

Your whole family should die!
If they go and don't come back, their whole family will be imprisoned for life!
Who told them to deceive the emperor first?

……

Xing Shu walked out of the Jiying Hall, looked up at the sky above, then looked back at the hall's entrance. A struggle flickered across his face. He let out a soft sigh: "The Emperor's plans are indeed wise..."

"But... even if the northern barbarians march west..."

"How can we be sure it won't be another Zheng Guo Canal?"

During the Warring States period, the State of Han was struggling to breathe under the military pressure from the State of Qin.

Therefore, the Korean court came up with a good strategy to weaken Qin – sending Zheng Guo, a famous Korean water conservancy expert, to Qin and proposing a grand engineering project to the Qin people: to dig an artificial canal between the Jing River and the Luo River!

Once the canal is completed, the Guanzhong Plain, stretching for eight hundred li, will become a fertile land!
The people of Qin were overjoyed and immediately began construction. After twenty years, they finally completed this water conservancy marvel.

Their national strength was indeed constrained by this spectacle, and they did not venture eastward for twenty years.

However, on the day the canal was completed, the Qin army, with its fierce and powerful forces, began its war to destroy the other six states.

It is thanks to the fertile land irrigated by the Zheng Guo Canal that a continuous supply of grain is produced.

The Qin army swept across the six kingdoms, achieving unification!
How similar this is to the Liao people today!

Others may not know, but Xing Shu doesn't?

The Liao Dynasty, in its eastward expedition against Goguryeo, not only gained control of half of Goguryeo's territory but also forced the Goguryeo people to sign a humiliating treaty.

Furthermore, through war, they subdued the previously unruly Bohai tribes and brought the previously unruly and arrogant Jurchen tribes to their submission.

Today, there are a large number of Jurchen loyalists in the Liao army in Japan!
These Jurchen people served the Liao people and were extremely brave and fierce.

According to Yelü Ju and Yelü Yongchang, in the Liao army's field battles in Japan, they generally sent Jurchen warriors to charge first.

The Japanese army was often easily overwhelmed by the Jurchens.

Often, thousands of people would be broken through by a few hundred Jurchen warriors and driven to collapse.

The Liao cavalry only needed to pursue and kill them.

In this way, the Liao Dynasty basically stabilized its northeastern border.

Especially after the discovery of silver mines in Japan, both the Jurchen and Bohai people were convinced of the Liao people's authority.

There's no way around it, the people of Liaoning are rich now!

With money, you can throw money around, and throwing money around can win people's hearts!
Under such circumstances, if the Liao people were to be called upon again, they would stabilize the Western Regions and open up the Silk Road.

They can eat from both ends!
By then, the Liao Dynasty held the profits from Silk Road trade in its left hand and Japan's gold and silver mountains in its right.

From the Bohai Sea and the Jurchen people of the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region, to the Zubu people on the vast grasslands and the Uyghurs of the Western Regions...

They will all be under the command of the Liao ruler!
by that time……

Can the Song Dynasty still resist?
Xing Shu lowered his head.

Suddenly, Shen Kuo's face flashed through his mind.

He recalled the firearm demonstration he had seen last month at the Gunpowder Department, which featured a weapon called the "Tiger Crouching Cannon."

The bronze-cast cannon muzzle flashed with smoke and fire, and after a deafening roar, it shattered the scarecrows and wooden planks used as targets.

As for the Tiger Crouching Cannon, all you need is a donkey to pull it.

It is said that the Gunpowder Division is also tasked with developing cannons weighing several thousand kilograms for city defense.

It is said that such cannons could 'destroy dozens of steps' with just one shot!
and so……

Is that the source of the government's confidence?
With this thought in mind, Xing Shu walked forward and returned to the Academy.

He immediately summoned his trusted confidants and ordered them to inform Yelü Ju and Yelü Yongchang.

To truly terrify and intimidate the Western bandits, it would be best to involve the Liao people in creating momentum together!

(End of this chapter)