Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 483 Seeking the right to do things conveniently

After Zhezong drank all the wine in the cup, he said: "Since everything is ready, we in the Song Dynasty might as well choose an auspicious day and start the army as soon as possible."

Zhao Mu said at this time: "Well, Wei Chen is only worried about one thing now."

Before Zhao Mu finished speaking, Zhe Zong smiled and said, "Is the emperor afraid that he will be unknown when he becomes a disciple?"

Zhao Mu nodded and said: "Exactly, although our Song Dynasty now has strong troops and horses, the most taboo thing since ancient times is to have unknown troops in battles. Back then, Li Yuanhao professed vassalage to our Song Dynasty. Although he has not paid tribute for many years, he is also our nominal vassal state. . It is somewhat difficult to find a reason to start a war."

Zhezong smiled when he heard this, and then said: "Haha, what happened to the emperor's uncle? Where has the courage that the emperor's uncle had to deliberately instigate the Liao envoys to go to war? Why do you still care about such a trivial matter? Could it be that the emperor's uncle has fallen into that trap? The princess is so poisonous that she can’t bear to attack Xixia?”

Zhao Mu chuckled and said: "What are you talking about, Your Majesty? I can still distinguish between children's personal relationships and family and country affairs. It's just that Wei Chen feels that Xixia and Liao are still different. Xixia is far away. Weaker than the Liao Kingdom. The Liao Kingdom has often made small moves against the Song Dynasty. Our attack on the Liao Kingdom can be regarded as having a basis in public opinion. But if we attack Xixia, if there is no reason to convince the soldiers, I am afraid that we will be defeated. Morale will be very low, which cannot be compensated by just a small monetary reward.”

Zhezong replied: "The emperor is the emperor. Whenever he considers things, he does not act impetuously and is very comprehensive. But don't worry, uncle, I have already thought about this reason. Now if I count the time, I, the Song Dynasty The envoy has already left Tongguan and will see the leader of the Xixia Kingdom soon. When he comes back, it will be time for us to go to war. Or if he cannot come back, then we will have more reason to go to war. "

Zhao Mu saw the smile on Zhe Zong's face, and now he felt that his Majesty was much more sinister than him. At best, he is arrogant and unreasonable, while his Majesty simply "offers his head to the prince".

Zhao Mu asked: "Oh? I just don't know what reason your Majesty wants to use to start the war?"

Zhezong drank the wine in the cup again, and then said: "It's very simple. Make a condition that is absolutely unacceptable to the Xixia Kingdom. That is to let them really become a vassal and pay tribute. Now I, the Song Dynasty, even the Liao Kingdom, are free of annual coins. , I also want to give these barbarians a year's worth of coins, they don't deserve it."

Zhao Mu revealed the truth and said: "Oh! I understand. Your Majesty sent envoys to renegotiate the terms of surrender and peace with the Xixia Kingdom. If we want to waive the annual coins and allow these barbarians to become vassals, even if the King of Xixia is willing to agree , then the militant faction in Xixia will not agree. "

Zhezong shook his head and said: "Not only. I also asked the envoy to tell the King of Xixia to return the territory of the Song Dynasty invaded by Li Yuanhao of the Renzong Dynasty, and redefine the territory with the Yellow River as the boundary. I think that even if the King of Xixia is a coward again, he can accept it. The conditions of exemption of annual coins, payment of tribute, and submission of vassalage are not considered acceptable. As long as this matter fails, then we will have a reason to send troops. And if he kills the envoy in anger. There is no need to continue talking. Now I am waiting for the return of the messenger."

Zhao Mu smiled and said: "Haha, your majesty is wise."

Zhezong said: "Then it's time for the emperor to talk about our plan to attack Xixia."

Zhao Mu replied: "Your Majesty, I and King Zhongxiao have already formulated the plan to attack Xixia. This time we in the Song Dynasty will mainly use cavalry and chariots and strive to advance quickly. We will surround Lingzhou City in the shortest time and then force Xixia to The king surrenders. As for the rest of the infantry, we can just place them at dangerous places on the Song-Liao border to guard against the Liao Kingdom."

Zhezong nodded and said: "What about Dali Kingdom?" Zhao Mu said: "As for Dali Kingdom, I haven't informed you yet. But before I left Dali, the leader of Dali Kingdom, Prince Duan Yu, and Prime Minister Gao Shengtai also Weichen vowed to help us, and we didn't need to inform Dali. Weichen's agreement with Dali was that as long as we attacked Xixia, Dali would immediately send troops north to attack Tubo. How long will it take before they take action?”

Zhe Zong smiled and said: "Okay! That's good! If that's the case, then I will wait for the 'good news' from the Xixia Kingdom. Uncle Emperor, how about you continue to be fully responsible for this expedition?"

Zhao Mu said: "Thanks to your majesty's trust, I will definitely live up to my mission. It's just that"

Zhe Zong asked: "Oh? Uncle Huang, just say whatever conditions you have!"

Zhao Mu replied: "It's nothing for Wei Chen to lead the troops this time, but this war is different from the previous war against Liao. Before, Wei Chen took advantage of the Liao army's mentality of underestimating the enemy to win. And at that time, he just wanted to re-enter the Liao Dynasty. To build up the national prestige of the Song Dynasty, we did not intend to conquer the territory of the Liao Kingdom. It was an unexpected surprise that we could completely destroy the Xixia Kingdom this time. of."

Zhe Zong murmured: "Uncle Huang, do you want me to send you a deputy? However, Uncle Huang will be the commander this time, King Zhongxiao will be the deputy commander, General Yang and Xiaowei Wang will be the center and forward. With them here "What worries does the emperor have?"

Zhao Mu drank a glass of wine and sighed and said, "Oh! It's not that I'm being petty. It's just that I feel that some people are really unworthy. For example, Lieutenant Wang, who relies on women's nepotism, is not a war material. . And Cai Chang, the son of Prime Minister Cai’s family, is an ignorant and ignorant person. These people serve in the army and are really weak."

Zhezong also heard that this was Zhao Mu's complaint against him, because he was the one who put these people there.

Zhezong said at this time: "I know that the emperor's uncle has complaints, but I also share my difficulties. The military post of Taiwei Wang was obtained by the emperor's sister after begging the queen mother. Although the queen mother no longer has monopoly power, her words, I There are still things to consider. As for the sons of Prime Minister Cai's family and some of the sons of ministers who I have sent in, they will be sent to serve in the army. The civil servants in charge of the army's food and grass operations will not be used by the emperor's uncle. "

"The same mistakes made by the old King Dongping and Marshal Di cannot happen again. After all, the emperor's uncle won the battle, and their heirs can also get rewards for their merits. But if the emperor's uncle loses, then the first to die will be It’s their child.”

Zhao Mu also sighed and said: "Alas! Of course I understand your Majesty's helplessness. It's just that I think there is something wrong with putting such a few people in each camp as supervisors. Firstly, I am afraid that they will delay the war, and secondly, I am afraid that they will delay the war. "We have formulated strict military regulations that prohibit soldiers from looting, raping, and killing innocent people. If someone neglects discipline and commits robbery, the image of our 'Heavenly Army' will be completely destroyed by them."

"If it destroys the impression of the people of Xixia Kingdom, then the people of Xixia Kingdom may resist to the end. What we want in this war is a quick war, and we must end the war before the Liao Kingdom is fully mobilized. If it is dragged into a protracted war , or the main force of the Xixia Kingdom fled to the west, then I am afraid that the situation will be unfavorable to us. "

Zhao Mu looked at Zhe Zong and said, "To ensure my safety, I would like to ask your Majesty to grant me the right to act expediently. All rewards and punishments for the Pingxia War will be dealt with by myself. If these officials and disciples cannot do well, I can also do it according to military law." ”

(End of this chapter)