Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 328 Imperial Examination
Perhaps Ghazni believed in Islam, so naturally he had no intention of integrating with India.

Apparently, these Turks did not care at all about the management of North India, so much so that when the Seljuk Empire cut off their northwest channel for purchasing slave warriors.

The national strength of Ghazni was declining again and again.

It can be said that for every soldier they died, there was one less, and it was difficult to get replacements.

Now we have experienced another failure, although it has not yet reached the point where we suffer heavy casualties.

However, his own soldiers were already somewhat untrustworthy, so Masood III had to consider making peace with Zhao Xin.

after all……

This is better than the destruction of the country, right?
Zhao Xin, on the other side, naturally made a sky-high offer to the other envoy, saying: "You want to surrender, fine, but you have to hand over the entire Lahore area and the Sindh area to us. And... you have to withdraw from India. At that time, we will use the mountain pass over Peshawar as the boundary. The west is your land, and the east is the Song Dynasty's."

The envoy frowned, then said, "I am undecided about this. I need to go back and discuss it with our Sultan."

Zhao Xin let the other person go back.

The other party also went back and told Masood III about this matter.

Masood III was not a fool. You have to know that the Lahore area, that is, the Indus River area, is not the most suitable in the whole of India, but at least it is one of the best farming areas.

Whether the soldiers of the Ghaznavid Empire could have enough food depended on the agricultural products in the Lahore area.

Of course, Masood III could not accept such harsh conditions.

But I feel like I can’t win in the fight. What should I do?
to this end……

The other side then sent another envoy to negotiate terms with Zhao Xin, saying that the place could not be given to Zhao Xin, but an annual tribute could be paid to Zhao Xin.

Zhao Xin was too lazy to pay attention to the other party.

Next, he led his army directly to attack the Indus River Basin.

Within a month, the Lahore area in the Five Rivers region in the upper reaches of the Indus River was occupied.

If you were to make a metaphor, this place is similar to the Hebei and Henan regions of the Song Dynasty. You could even compare it to Kaifeng.

After taking the Lahore area, Zhao Xin sent people to fight westward and southward.

It's almost all plains here.

At a glance, there is no end in sight.

Fighting while persuading them to surrender.

period……

Masood III was unwilling to let this area be occupied by Zhao Xin, so he sent out thousands of elite cavalry to try to prevent Zhao Xin from retaking the area.

of course!

All struggles are in vain.

Even...the mercenaries of the Ghaznavid Empire seemed to have no intention of following Masood III anymore.

The main thing is that anyone with a discerning eye can see that Masood III is doomed.

It would be better to find an opportunity as soon as possible and look for a wise leader.

Zhao Xin also had a very successful attack on the Lahore area.

It was almost like when Liu Bang entered Xianyang, the people of Xianyang all prepared food and drink to welcome the royal army.

after all……

They have learned from officials and scholars in Solangi that Zhao Xin is a peace-loving person. Compared with those brutal Ghaznavid Turks, they can only say that they should not be too civilized, and Zhao Xin will not care about your religious beliefs.

I won't force you to convert to Islam, but...

Zhao Xin also had a request, which was that for the sake of future peace in India, there could only be one supreme ruler in India, and all the nobles, common people, and slaves in India would be the subjects of this supreme ruler.

If you can accept it, Zhao Xin might keep you there and give you an official position. But if you don't accept it, and you say that you still want to be king and establish your own dynasty, then I'm sorry, you will definitely be captured by Zhao Xin as a prisoner like the royal families of other dynasties.

in fact……

Zhao Xin’s proposal cannot be said to be the best.

But compared to being ruled and abused by the Ghazni people, it can be said to be not bad.

At last……

After some persuasion to surrender.

The nobles in the city began to assist Zhao Xin in capturing the city. After all, there were naturally Masood III's men in the city at this time.

only……

These people were simply unable to resist the internal and external cooperation between the nobles in the city and Zhao Xin.

In addition to the city of Lahore, Zhao Xin used the same method to acquire Birla, Takshilo, Nandana, Bakr, Vahind, Peshawar to the west, and Multan, Uchi and other places to the south.

In Peshawar, Zhao Xin's army met Masood III's army again.

only……

Masood III's army was no match for the Song army in terms of firepower and was defeated again.

Until March of the 51st year of the Li Yuan Dynasty.

Masoud III's regular army and elite troops were already very few.

It would be difficult to support a big battle anymore, which made Zhao Xin feel a little worried.

at this time……

Masood III had no choice but to admit that they were indeed defeated and had to retreat back to the plateau and back to the city of Ghazni.

Then he sent out more people to negotiate peace with Zhao Xin.

He expressed his agreement with all the conditions Zhao Xin had previously stated.

At this time, the Ghaznavid Empire had reached a point where almost anyone could overthrow it.

Moreover, in its capital, Ghazni, it seemed that if it could provide 20,000 soldiers, it would be considered good.

Of course Zhao Xin did not make things difficult for the other party. After all, Zhao Xin knew very well that if he really pushed the other party into a corner.

The other party might defect to the Seljuk Dynasty, which would not be a good deal for Zhao Xin.

After all, they are Turks, just like the Seljuk Dynasty.

So far...

Before the rainy season arrived this year, Zhao Xin had already taken the entire Wuhe area into his hands.

I can only say that this place is definitely a good place for grain production.

Although the climate is somewhat arid, it is supplemented by melting glaciers from the Himalayas to the north.

Even if the rainfall is scarce, it is enough.

As for the mountain pass that was often attacked by nomadic peoples, Zhao Xin also sent people to conduct an investigation.

Moreover, Zhao Xin also asked some local nobles.

Their answer was: "If the supreme emperor wants to build the Great Wall there, it's not impossible, but... there are small paths everywhere from north to south in this mountain range. Although some of the paths are not suitable for a large army to pass through, people like shepherds can pass through them at will."

therefore……

How do I say this?

It feels a bit like the Yanshan Mountains and the Taihang Eight Paths.

Anyway...

You can build the Great Wall for defense, but that will be a large-scale systematic project.

It's like building another Great Wall.

And there will be no fewer soldiers left there to defend.

Such a large project could only be accomplished by a unified and centralized dynasty.

The key is that to the south of North India, there is a sea route to invade India, so...

If you insist on building the Great Wall in the northwest of India, we cannot say no.

only……

This seems a bit like a waste of money and doesn't seem to be of much use.

After listening to their words, Zhao Xin temporarily gave up the plan to build the Great Wall in the northwest.

After three months of rainy season.

Zhao Xin also rearranged the administration of the area. After the rainy season ended, Zhao Xin left some managers to open up the transmission of information at the post station, reorganized the local army, and had his own people command and lead it, and then returned to Solangi.

at the same time……

People were also sent to take over the Sindh region.

This year……

Eighty percent of the land in northern India has fallen into Zhao Xin's hands.

And in the northeast of North India, there were two kingdoms at that time.

can only say……

Wait until you digest what you ate earlier.

After Zhao Xin returned from Lahore, the news that Zhao Xin had conquered Lahore and driven out the Ghaznavid dynasty began to spread throughout India little by little.

Zhao Xin also began to mobilize public opinion to get more people to publicize his wisdom and bravery, as well as the kindness he showed.

Be reasonable!
Zhao Xin really wants people to say that he is actually Vishnu, or the incarnation of Shiva.

But it’s best not to touch religion for now.

and……

If you, a yellow-skinned person, say that you are Vishnu or Shiva, I'm afraid no one will believe you.

I'm afraid it will just make people laugh.

it's over...

This year, Zhao Xin also summoned all the nobles with a certain status in northern India and discussed with them how to reduce war and maintain peace.

in fact……

It is to force them to admit that northern India must be unified next.

During this period, of course, one must also guard against assassination.

After all, if you are not careful, someone who doesn't care about his life might suddenly appear and fight you to the death.

But the good thing is...

Their security check was pretty good and there wasn't much chaos during the entire meeting.

Zhao Xin put forward the view that the reason why there were frequent wars in northern India and the reason why countries attacked each other was because there were too many countries.

If there was only one country, this wouldn't have happened.

Although not all the people below agreed, when they heard that Zhao Xin was willing to manage the country together with them, they still felt that they could continue listening.

at the same time……

Zhao Xin also proposed the imperial examination system to them.

However, in northern India, the caste system is strict. If you say that a person who may be of a lower caste than me can change his destiny by passing the imperial examination, they naturally cannot accept it.

Zhao Xin also had to say that it was impossible for ordinary people to read and write, and people of low castes even had problems with food and clothing.

of course!

It is undeniable that there will definitely be people of lower castes who may pass the exam.

But this is a one in a million situation. At most, when it comes to holding an official position, the other party cannot be given a very high position. There is a maximum rank limit.

Obviously, Zhao Xin's policies have made some people happy and others worried.

Those who are worried are naturally those who are already in high positions, while those who are happy are those who may not have a good background but can gain huge benefits.

The first unanimous vote resulted in one-third in favor and two-thirds against.

Zhao Xin also explained that the imperial examination system was to select talents for the country, and you can't choose a fool to govern the country.

therefore……

It makes perfect sense to choose people who can govern the country from among the intelligent people.

it's over...

Next, we will let them go back and think carefully about it, and then vote again after a few months.

Zhao Xin subsequently sent people to local areas to publicize the benefits of the imperial examination system.

It is mainly aimed at the second sons and illegitimate sons of the nobles.

After all, the eldest son can often directly inherit the family business.

The imperial examination system is definitely harmful to them.

But it is absolutely beneficial to the legitimate second son and the illegitimate sons.

As for what you said, isn’t Zhao Xin afraid that some people will feel that their interests have been harmed and thus rebel?

to be frank.

At this time, Zhao Xin still complained that India’s population was too large.

If someone really wanted to rebel, once discovered, Zhao Xin could just implement a population clearance plan.

After the nobles returned, they were all sad.

However, as long as one's butt is not too crooked, one can find that this system is definitely a great invention.

at the same time……

The remaining two dynasties in northern India probably also heard the news.

Then shouldn't they interfere and try to win over those who disagree with the imperial examination system and the unified system?

then……

There were actually some people who turned to these two dynasties.

But of course, they dared to do this because their territories were close to these two dynasties and they were ignorant.

Zhao Xin also let the person in front of him take the responsibility first.

On the one hand, observe their faithfulness.

On the other hand, local Indian troops were slowly being mobilized to quell the rebellion.

Why not use your own troops?
Because nowadays...

For Zhao Xin, the most important thing is to unify the Johann Dynasty and the Balamala Dynasty which are closest to them.

As for the matter of suppressing the rebellion...

All I can say is take your time, there's no rush.

of course!

Zhao Xin did not send out his own troops to quell the rebellion, but it cannot be said that Zhao Xin did not take these rebellions seriously at all.

only……

He also considered what would happen if his own troops escaped and dynasties like the Johann Dynasty and the Balamala Dynasty failed to unify.

You have to know that it takes at least two months to walk from Solangi to the place where the rebellion is suppressed, and at least four months to go back and forth.

At this time, if the nobles of the Chauhan Dynasty and Balamala and other countries rebelled, he might be attacked from both sides.

therefore……

The best thing would be to keep his own troops still and let the Indian soldiers from the Chauhan Dynasty, the Paramala Dynasty and other dynasties to quell the rebellion for him.

But in fact, the Chauhan Dynasty and Balamala are far away.

It would actually be most appropriate to let the closer cities of Kalachuli, Gahadavala, and Chandratria quell the rebellion.

soon……

From the reports from the front, Zhao Xin was also able to see some names that seemed to want to be loyal to him.

can only say……

This is a good thing.

Since it was just a rebellion, the scale at the beginning was not very large, only a few hundred or a thousand people.

of course!

With the intervention of two dynasties in the northeast corner, the Pala Dynasty and the Sena Dynasty, this rebellion suppression gradually evolved into a larger-scale national war.

(End of this chapter)