Do you know: I am the crown prince

Chapter 419 Zhao Xing's Purpose

It would cost a lot to send out an army of 400,000 even if it was just to go north.

Before troops move out, food and fodder must be sent first. Civilians can be conscripted to transport food and fodder, but the food that the common people eat during the transportation process comes from the court.

Secondly, during wartime, soldiers’ salaries will be doubled, and they will eat more than usual.

The imperial court could support the deployment of 400,000 troops in a short period of time, but it would be difficult to sustain it for a long time.

What's more, Zhao Xing would not do anything like raising an army out of anger, and Zeng Gongliang would not agree so readily.

The reason for this scene was that before meeting the Liao envoy, Zhao Xing summoned all the ministers to discuss the purpose of the Liao envoy's dispatch.

Finally, we came to the conclusion that the main purpose of sending envoys from the Liao Kingdom was to test the situation.

Test whether the Song Dynasty has any intention of sending troops to the Liao Kingdom.

After all, Yelu Chongyuan is no longer a threat, and the only one who can help Yelu Chongyuan is the Song Dynasty.

Of course, all of this is speculation, and the details cannot be confirmed yet.

However, when Zhao Xing saw Yelu Xiu's fearless look, he knew that his guess should be true.

Logically speaking, if the Liao Kingdom did not want the Song Dynasty to send troops, it should have adopted a more humble attitude.

But doing so would likely make the Song Dynasty feel that the Liao Kingdom was weak and give it an opportunity to take advantage of it.

It is like a wounded wild beast that will keep roaring, with the purpose of scaring away those who approach and preventing them from discovering its weakness.

The Liao Kingdom had always been strong in the face of the Song Dynasty, so Yelu Xiu acted as if he didn't take the Song Dynasty seriously.

Of course, Yelu Xiu was not acting, he was actually a fool.

After all, acting in your true self is more realistic.

"enough!"

Zhao Xing shouted, "The Liao Kingdom took advantage of the war between the Song Dynasty and the Western Xia Dynasty to send troops to the border and forced the Song Dynasty to increase the annual tribute. Now they are bullying the Song Dynasty again. I can't stand this. This time, no matter what, I will send troops to vent my anger!"

The hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone was wondering if Zhao Xing was really enraged and was about to send troops.

After all, Zhao Xing had the idea of ​​sending troops after he learned of Yelu Chongyuan's proposal.

The most important thing is that when Zhao Xing summoned them before, he only discussed the purpose of sending envoys from the Liao Kingdom, and did not reconcile the lines in advance.

Zhao Xing's acting at this moment was too realistic, he looked like he was about to raise an army in anger.

They were a little unsure for a moment.

Seeing that no one spoke up to dissuade him, Zhao Xing became a little anxious.

He had his own purpose for acting furious, and it was not just for Yelu Xiu to see.

After all, Yelu Xiu was just a royal family member of the Liao Kingdom, so how could he be worthy of Zhao Xing performing for him?

If you don't persuade me, how can I continue acting?

Fortunately, Han Zhang stood up at the critical moment, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, sending troops is a serious matter, and a monarch should not raise troops out of anger. This is a taboo. I hope Your Majesty will think twice!"

"Your Majesty, please think again!"

The others also came to their senses, bowed and shouted in unison.

"Why should I think twice? Yelu Chongyuan has already promised that if the Song Dynasty sends troops to help and destroys the Liao Dynasty, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun will belong to the Song Dynasty and the grassland will belong to him. How can I miss such an opportunity? I have made up my mind. I will kill these three people as a sacrifice and send troops to destroy the Liao Dynasty!" Zhao Xing said calmly.

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of Yelu Xiu and the other two changed.

They already knew that Yelu Chongyuan had sent people to the Song Dynasty.

Originally, Yelu Xiu had planned to ask the Song Dynasty to hand over Nerugu to them once the Song Dynasty surrendered.

Although Yelu Nerugu is not Yelu Chongyuan's only son, he is the eldest son after all. If he can be brought back, it will be a great achievement.

But I didn't expect that Yelu Chongyuan would give the Song Dynasty such conditions.

"Your Majesty, Yelu Chongyuan is a traitor. How can we trust such a person?" Han Zhang retorted.

"Right, right, right!" Yelu Xiu said quickly, "Yelü Chongyuan is a man with evil ambitions. He said this just to trick the Song Dynasty into sending troops."

Zhao Xing was a little hesitant after hearing this, and after a while he said, "Even if he deceived me, it is not a problem to take back some cities. It is better than the Liao Kingdom. The Song Dynasty pays tribute to the Liao Kingdom every year, and the Liao Kingdom even sends people to show off in front of me!"

Yelu Xiu almost cried when he heard this. Although he was a little arrogant, he didn't go to the extent of showing off.

"Your Majesty, why not let the Liao Kingdom give up the annual tribute on the condition of not sending troops!" Han Zhang guessed Zhao Xing's purpose at this time and said.

"Will the Liao Kingdom agree?" Zhao Xing looked at Yelu Xiu and asked.

"I am an outsider and cannot make the decision on this matter. I have to ask for instructions." Yelu Xiu said hurriedly.

"Then ask for your instructions. Anyway, we have to send troops in the early spring of next year, so there is plenty of time. If the Liao Kingdom is willing to cancel the annual tribute, then I will not send troops. Otherwise, I will definitely send troops. Even if I cannot destroy the Liao Kingdom, I will at least take back a few cities!" Zhao Xing said with a determined look.

Zhao Xing's purpose in doing this was not to cancel the annual tribute.

After he ascended the throne, he did not pay the annual tribute, and the Liao Kingdom did not dare to send anyone to ask for it.

Even if he did not intervene and allowed Yelu Chongyuan to be destroyed, the Liao Kingdom would not be able to recover for several years. Zhao Xing did not give him the chance and did not believe that the Liao Kingdom would really dare to send troops.

He did this not only to temporarily paralyze the Liao Kingdom, but most importantly to resolve a knot in his father's heart.

Although it was not my father who paid annual tribute to the Liao Kingdom, he had to agree to increase the annual tribute under the pressure of the Liao Kingdom.

Although the amount was not large, another condition of the Liao Kingdom was to change the gift into a tribute.

Although the Song Dynasty paid annual tribute to the Liao Kingdom before, it said that it was a gift to the Liao Kingdom.

When it came to my father, the fig leaf was torn off and it became a real tribute.

Although anyone with a discerning eye knows that giving and receiving are actually the same, at least there was a fig leaf before.

Therefore, this matter has always been a knot in my father's heart.

"Yes, I will send someone to send a letter back to Liao for instructions!"

Yelu Xiu hesitated and said, "Then I wonder if the Emperor of Song can hand over the envoy of the traitor Yelu Chongyuan to the foreign minister? In this way, our emperor will feel the sincerity of the Emperor of Song and will definitely agree to the Emperor of Song."

"Let the Liao Emperor show his sincerity first."

Zhao Xing didn't look at him after he finished speaking, but looked at the Minister of the Honglu Temple and said, "Send them to the Honglu Temple and treat them well!"

"Yes!"

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites responded, smiled, and led Yelu Xiu and the other two away.

"Your Majesty, if the Liao Kingdom really agrees to your conditions and then publicizes the matter, it would be inappropriate for the Song Dynasty to send troops again." Han Zhang said.

Although the Song Dynasty would not really fight a life-and-death battle with the Liao Kingdom, according to their previous agreement, they still had to send troops to provide support.

It is true that the art of war is all about deception.

However, it is not appropriate to use it between countries.

There still needs to be some credibility between countries, otherwise other countries will not dare to believe the promises made by the Song Dynasty in the future.

"It doesn't matter, I will have my own way when the time comes!" Zhao Xing waved his hand.

At worst, the Duke of England can just send troops on his own, since he is old anyway.

After he 'sent out to war without authorization', it would be appropriate to let him return home to retire.

After all, the Duke of England is the father-in-law of the king, so he cannot be executed.

As for whether the Liao Kingdom believed it or not, that was its business.

However, Zhao Xing did not intend to tell this plan for the time being.

Moreover, the Duke of England must be recalled to Bian Jing to give a thorough explanation.

The Liao Kingdom cannot start a war in the short term. Even if they want to send troops to attack Yelu Chongyuan, it will be next year. Summoning Duke Ying back to Bianliang at this time will not affect anything.

(End of this chapter)