Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 329 Eighty Years Old

The 52nd year of the Li Yuan Dynasty.

While Zhao Xin was preparing to quell the rebellion, news also came from the Ghaznavid Empire in the west.

Masood III died of illness, and his princes are unwilling to submit to each other, so I am afraid that there may be a civil war next.

For Zhao Xin's think tanks, of course, it was at this time that they tried their best to persuade Zhao Xin to take advantage of the opportunity to take down the entire Ghaznavid Empire.

Because taking over the entire Ghazni was equivalent to establishing a Yanshan defense line in their west.

"Sir, I believe that now is the time to capture Ghazni."

Zhao Xin then looked at the ministers on Solange's side.

Then he asked, “What do you think?”

The ministers on Solangi's side also said: "If we take it down, we will inevitably have to face the Seljuk Dynasty directly, and the Seljuk Dynasty has an alliance with the Ghaznavid Dynasty. In this way, they may have an excuse to invade India."

After listening to this, Zhao Xin agreed.

Alas, Masood III chose to die at this time.

but……

It doesn’t matter anymore.

Zhao Xin continued to follow the original arrangement.

Let others quell the rebellion first, while on his side, he will promote the imperial examination as much as possible.

otherwise……

You city lords and chiefs all have hereditary titles, so what's the difference between you and local chieftains?

This year, Zhao Xin is already seventy-seven years old.

There isn't much time left for him.

I can only do more while I am still alive.

As Zhao Xin's order was issued, the operation to quell the rebellion was soon launched.

The initial operation went smoothly.

After all, a rebellion of a few hundred or thousands of people is relatively easy to resolve.

But the Pala dynasty and the Sena dynasty also sent people to join the battlefield and launched sneak attacks.

The battle situation is a little out of control.

Zhao Xin also vigorously supported the local nobles.

Tell them who can solve the rebellion, deal with the invasion of the Pala dynasty and the Sena dynasty.

Just let them be the city lord.

Now, I heard that I could get a job if I worked for him.

These legitimate sons, second-born sons, and illegitimate sons also took action upon hearing the news.

At this time, they still had soldiers on hand.

Even if the legitimate son, the second son, or the illegitimate son themselves do not have it, their fathers do have it.

So... one brought five hundred men, another brought a thousand, and they put them together and casually formed an army of forty to fifty thousand men.

Although it looks a bit of a no-name brand, it is really impressive that it can attract 40,000 to 50,000 people in an instant.

Then, he fought many battles with the Pala Dynasty and the Sena Dynasty.

During this time, the two sides were fighting back and forth.

Zhao Xin simply gave up their power.

Tell them that whoever first captures the cities of the Pala and Senna dynasties will become the lord of that city.

This time...

This group of people became even more excited.

Today, someone reported to Zhao Xin that they had captured a city.

The next day, someone reported to Zhao Xin that they had also captured a city.

A large number of the nobles' second sons and illegitimate sons fled to the east.

of course!

Many people also had to be displaced because of the war.

Zhao Xin also sent people to tell the soldiers on the front line that they came for peace and should try their best not to massacre the local people.

But the people below don’t care so much.

Just ignore Zhao Xin's words.

The Pala dynasty, which originally had a population of several million, was displaced by the outbreak of war in just one year, and was forced to migrate eastward again.

Since most of the Pala dynasty believed in Buddhism, the Hindus who invaded the local area took this opportunity to kill all the pagans.

Many monks died in accidents.

Zhao Xin was also speechless.

Your Pala Dynasty is so weak, why do you want to provoke me?

It makes me seem like I'm a bloodthirsty person.

When the ministers he sent out came back to report the situation on the front line.

Zhao Xin also had to stop immediately.

Then negotiate with the other king.

If the other party surrenders, the Song Dynasty will no longer attack the local area and will take over the other party's land in a peaceful way.

As for how to deal with the other party’s royal family.

Of course we can't keep the other party there anymore.

therefore……

There is a high probability that he will be sent to Zhu Luo, where he will be provided with good food and drink.

The Pala dynasty was also in decline at this time.

Although Ramapala, the last wise ruler of the Pala dynasty, also made some attempts to reduce taxes during the decline of the dynasty.

But generally speaking, reforms like this do not have much significance for a dynasty that is in decline as a whole.

At last……

Ramapala also sent a senior monk to Solangi to negotiate with Zhao Xin.

When he heard that only he and his royal family members were needed, Ramapala was of course not willing to do so.

Then we can only continue to fight.

the second year.

On the Ghaznavid side, the struggle among the princes had also reached a fever pitch.

When you can't win, you have to look for external help.

And this foreign aid.

Either the Seljuk Dynasty or Zhao Xin.

When one of the princes chose the Seljuk Dynasty, the other prince would definitely choose Zhao Xin.

Zhao Xin also had to communicate with the Seljuk Sultan again.

only……

This time, the person who communicated with Zhao Xin was not the previous Muhammad I, but another Seljuk Sultan, Sanjar, who was also from the Seljuk Dynasty but occupied the Khorasan region.

Because the current Seljuk Empire has long been divided into three parts.

The first part is the princes along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, who are fighting against the Crusaders.

The second part is the core area of ​​the Seljuk Empire, ruled by Muhammad I.

The third part is the Khorasan region to the east of Muhammad I and Sanjar in the Transoxiana region.

The relationship between Sanjar and Muhammad I was probably that of a brother.

The former was the youngest son of Malik Shah, while the latter was the third son of Malik Shah.

Anyway...

The current situation of the Seljuk Dynasty is that uncles and nephews are fighting for power, and princes are fighting for power, and the fighting is fierce.

Even if the Crusaders have already arrived.

The entire Seljuk Empire was not in a hurry and had no intention of uniting to fight against foreign enemies.

natural!

At this time, Sanjar's brother Muhammad I was still alive, so Sanjar would definitely not go to aid Ghazni while the other party was still alive.

Sanjar rejected Ghazni's request for help and also communicated with Zhao Xin.

Mainly to express his goodwill to Zhao Xin.

By the way...

If possible, take a look at what Zhao Xin's soldiers are like.

For example, what is their mental outlook and military discipline like?
I won’t fight with Zhao Xin, but I can’t bring trouble to myself either.

As for what you said...

What if Zhao Xin annexed Ghazni?
Be reasonable!
He didn't have any good solution.

But come to think of it...

It was impossible for Zhao Xin to annex Ghazni.

after all……

Ghazni is now asking for reinforcements, not for you to occupy their land. Even if they want to send troops to Ghazni, in the end, they will definitely withdraw their troops and at most ask Ghazni for more money every year as compensation.

After the envoy toured Solangi, he told Sanjar all the information he could know.

how to say.

Even though northern India is a weak country, the current Song Dynasty is able to conquer almost all of India, and its strength should not be underestimated.

and so……

It is better not to make another enemy for yourself.

and……

Their real enemy should be Muhammad I.

After the other envoy left, Zhao Xin was also thinking about the situation in the northwest.

to be frank!
He felt that he could still help one of the princes of Ghazni.

only……

After thinking about it, I decided to forget it!

After all, a chaotic Ghazni might be more beneficial to him than a peaceful Ghazni.

therefore……

Faced with the requests for help from the princes of the Ghaznavid Empire, Zhao Xin could only say that it was not appropriate for him to interfere in your internal strife.

After all, I am an outsider.

But Zhao Xin still made a proposal to them.

That is……

Wouldn't it be nice if each of you took charge of an area?

We are all brothers, why fight?

The older ones are in charge of the capital area, and the younger ones are in charge of the areas further south.

After Zhao Xin's mediation.

Even if these brothers wanted to kill each other immediately, they had to act according to Zhao Xin's mood.

At last……

There was also some discussion on the boundary demarcation issue.

After all, although the south is a large area, the natural conditions are not that good.

Then we must make the territory larger so that we can feel balanced.

After Zhao Xin's operation.

The Ghaznavid Empire was suddenly divided into two parts, north and south.

Regardless of whether the parties are satisfied or not.

At least……

Muhammad I was satisfied with this.

Zhao Xin did not take the opportunity to annex Ghazni's land, which provided a buffer zone for both sides.

To be honest, Sanjar didn't have any major problems with this solution.

after all……

His gaze was never towards the southeast.

This year.

A large number of Han people, Liao people, Xixia people, Zhubu people, Ugundile people, and even Jurchen people once again arrived in Srivijaya, Thanjavur, and Solangi.

Unfortunately……

It’s still a little short of the amount Zhao Xin wants.

It would be great if Solange could have one or two million Han Chinese at this time.

at the same time……

Zhao Xin is also considering whether to relocate some of India's poor people.

Sending a few hundred or a thousand of them back to dig coal for the Song Dynasty would not be bad either.

It can also reduce the birth rate of Indians.

can only say……

You might as well give it a try.

For the Shudras in India, since their status is too low, it is not difficult for them to do business.

Zhao Xin then paid money to buy 500 of them and had them sent back to the Song Dynasty.

As for the implementation of the imperial examination system...

To be honest, even if you want to promote it, you have to adapt to local conditions.

However, regardless of whether it can be implemented or not, the military power must be taken back in full.

By the end of the second year.

The Pala dynasty and the Sena dynasty seemed to be gradually becoming untenable.

The main reason was that due to improper strategy, both the Pala Dynasty and the Senna Dynasty chose to fight a field battle with Zhao Xin's people.

In this battle in the wild, of course, Zhao Xin has a great advantage.

People from several countries are attacking your two countries.

The Pala and Sena dynasties were not at an advantage in terms of numbers.

But once the Pala dynasty, as well as the Sena dynasty, chose to close the city for defense.

Then the people on Zhao Xin's side all started to give up.

After all, the losses in a siege would definitely be much greater than in a field battle.

No one wants to be someone else's stepping stone.

As for the cities you mentioned above, how did they capture them?

In a word, by cheating, sneaking in, and then cooperating with others inside and outside.

But now, both the Pala dynasty and the Sena dynasty have strengthened their vigilance in related aspects.

This results in the current coalition forces being exactly like the eighteen princes during the Three Kingdoms period.

at this time……

Zhao Xin couldn't just let them waste time like this.

After resolving the civil strife in Ghazni and temporarily restoring peace.

Zhao Xin then ordered the navy to go directly from the northwest of India to the northeast of India via the sea.

In the 54th year of the Yuan Dynasty, he attacked the coastal Sena Dynasty from the sea.

The process went smoothly.

It only took one month to take down the Senna Dynasty.

after that……

Then he turned to the Pala dynasty.

All in all, it only took two or three months.

of course!

Zhao Xin only captured their capital, and for other cities that were not the capital, he mainly relied on persuasion to surrender.

After the fight.

Another rainy season of rest.

It happened that in the winter of that year, the royal families of the two countries were escorted to the Chola city of Thanjavur by the monsoon.

after that……

Back to Solange.

When the navy returned to Solangi, something happened in the Seljuk Dynasty that was enough to shake the peace in Central and West Asia and even northern India.

The Seljuk sultan, Mehmed I, dies.

Muhammad I had five sons, but even his eldest son was only fourteen years old.

At this time, the young ruler succeeding to the throne is undoubtedly like a child carrying gold through the market.

Naturally, their cousins, uncles and so on would want to stir up some trouble.

Even the emirs under these princes wanted to get a piece of the pie.

The so-called emirs are the people in power in the region, equivalent to feudal lords.

After the death of the previous emperor, these feudal lords might support a prince they like.

This also led to the fact that once the previous emperor passed away, the princes below would not submit to each other because they all had the support of the Emir, and the country would immediately split, causing the entire country to become divided and the unified situation would no longer exist.

Spring, the 55th year of the Li Yuan period.

Faced with this complicated situation, Zhao Xin didn't know whether the third brother would be able to control it after his death.

This year……

Zhao Xin is already eighty years old.

Now even if you ask him to go to war, Zhao Xin is unwilling to move.

I’m afraid that I’ll get a serious illness after I go out.

Faced with the complex situation in Central Asia and North India, the third brother might be at a loss without me.

(End of this chapter)