Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 342 Arabia

Actually...

During the time when Zhao Xin was away from North India, a lot of things happened in the Seljuk Empire.

Anyway...

After the death of Muhammad I, who originally controlled the core area of ​​the Seljuk Empire, the core area of ​​the Seljuk Empire continued to fight many battles with the Caliph of Baghdad in the west and other emirs, or princes.

This means that Sanjar, who is far away in the northeast, can watch them constantly consume their strength bit by bit without having to worry about being attacked next.

of course!

You said that the Song Dynasty could come over from the Ghaznavid Empire and northern India to take advantage of him. In fact...

There is definitely such a possibility.

And this is the most troublesome thing for Sanjar now.

After all, no one wants someone to stab him from behind when he is out on a military expedition.

He has also collected some intelligence over the years.

For example...

Zhao Xin has left Solange and now a grandson of Zhao Xin is controlling North India.

and so……

He might need to numb the attention of the current ruler of North India, although even the Crusaders were said to have heard of Zhao Xin's reputation.

But Zhao Xin is Zhao Xin, Zhao Xin’s grandson, Zhao Xin’s grandson.

The fathers and grandfathers are very wise, but there are many grandchildren and sons who are losers.

at the same time……

He had secretly reached an agreement with the Ghaznavids.

We must assist the people of the Ghaznavid Empire in fighting against the Song Dynasty.

of course!

Do you think the people of the Ghaznavid dynasty would have any second thoughts?
That shouldn't happen.

At least……

Before Zhao Xin converted to Islam, the Ghaznavid Empire probably would not have dared to help an outsider like Zhao Xin to attack their Muslim brothers.

If the Ghaznavid Empire really did this, it would incur public anger in the future.

Considering that they are all Turks and believe in Islam.

Besides, he had no hatred towards the Ghaznavid Empire.

Sanjar felt that the Ghaznavid Empire could still be controlled by him.

nowadays……

The Ghaznavid Empire could be used to block the Song Dynasty and prevent them from sending troops from northern India.

at the same time……

He must fight a decisive battle with the Song Dynasty on the grasslands of Northeast China as quickly as possible.

Sanjar naturally understood that the Song Dynasty had advanced technology.

But since he had never seen it with his own eyes, he felt that those things might just be like that.

On the battlefield, he prefers the courage of his soldiers.

soon……

Sanjar then made arrangements for his men.

Let Ghazni resist northern India. Of course, he would definitely send people to monitor it, and Ghazni would definitely do so.

then……

It’s definitely not possible to fight alone.

More people need to be called together, especially more people from the Seljuk Dynasty.

Then they use the name of religion to say that the Song Dynasty does not respect Islam at all, and that the Song Dynasty's wolfish ambitions have been clearly revealed.

If the Song Dynasty really invades, then Islam will definitely have difficulty gaining a foothold.

Then, use this to make more military nobles support him.

Sanjar directly lied that the Song Dynasty was coming to destroy them.

Now they have reached their vassal state, the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate.

Moreover, he wanted to attack the Western Karakhanid Khanate next.

Brothers in Islam, now you should know what to do next?

After Sanjar's mobilization, everything was put together.

soon……

He assembled a coalition force of 70,000 men.

In fact...

The entire Seljuk Empire was so large that there must be more than just these few people.

The problem is that the Seljuk Empire has often been in internal turmoil over the years, and many forces have been unable to work together.

And many people died during the war.

and so……

It is already very good to be able to mobilize 70,000 regular troops at once.

it's over...

Of course, 70,000 people are not enough.

Sanjar also asked Mahomet II to recruit more Qarluk people from the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate to join their army.

With more people joining together, the number of people suddenly increased by another 10,000 or 20,000.

Gaochang side...

Naturally, Mahemu II's little tricks were also heard by the main general of the Li Yuan Army, as well as Han Shizhong and Yue Fei.

In fact...

Today, the Song Dynasty’s influence in the Western Regions has not yet reached Central Asia.

I can only say that it just touched the edge.

therefore……

If you ask me, how much influence does the Song Dynasty have outside the Tarim Basin, or outside the Tianshan Mountains, or outside the Junggar Basin?

That can only be said...

Almost nothing.

of course!

It doesn’t mean there won’t be any in the future.

and so……

The main generals of the Li Yuan army, including Han Shizhong and Yue Fei, were carrying out reforms and governance in these places at this time.

Since the area is so large, even if we want to carry out reforms and transform it into counties, it will take some time.

It just so happened that during the period of their reform, news frequently came from the west that Mahakamu II was making small moves.

Although the Song Dynasty had nominally accepted the legacy of the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate.

But you have to know that a considerable number of people in the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate were nomadic.

So, are these nomads more willing to accept the rule of the Song Dynasty or Mahemu II?
can only say……

This is a bit difficult to say.

Some city lords and chiefs of the former Eastern Karakhanid Khanate said that Mahomet II had recently come to see him and hoped that he would return to the Western Karakhanid Khanate.

After all, five hundred years ago, we were all one family.

But what about the Song Dynasty?

What does it have to do with you?
Right!

The reason why these city lords and chiefs reported this matter to the Song Dynasty was obviously because they knew that the Song army was not easy to mess with.

But it is really difficult for them to make a choice between the two sides.

It feels like I'm going to die anyway.

However, some people with simple brains and well-developed muscles are said to have quickly agreed to Makumu II.

After all, if you really want to say it, they may not be familiar with the Song Dynasty.

Han Shizhong heard this and said, "This Mahemu really doesn't take us seriously, does he? If we don't teach Mahemu a lesson, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate to accept it completely."

Yue Fei said: "The Crown Prince did not allow us to attack the Western Karakhanid Khanate, but since the Western Karakhanid Khanate is making such a small move, can we just attack them directly?" In the blink of an eye...

More than half a year has passed.

But North India is still too far away from Central Asia.

To be honest, this intelligence work is not easy to do.

If Zhao Xin had not been prepared, Solangi was 6,000 miles away from the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate, and the news would probably take at least one or two years to get back, even after the war was over.

Zhao Xin saw the servant who was sent by the merchant from the Seljuk Dynasty to deliver the letter.

The servant said to Zhao Xin: "It seems that the Song Dynasty has started a war with the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate because there was a civil strife in the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate, and...now the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate has been conquered."

Because I am just a businessman.

There won't be much information available.

That is, some superficial things.

Zhao Xin also said: "Go on, what other information do you have?"

The servant said, "And I heard that the Western Karakhanid Khanate seems to be preparing for a war with the Song Dynasty."

Zhao Xin: "Anything else?"

The servant said, "No more."

Zhao Xin said, "Go down and claim your reward."

The servant was delighted: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Having said this, he happily went to receive the reward.

Zhao Xin then looked at everyone.

Although to be honest, he was a little worried about whether the Song Dynasty could succeed, but... the distance between Solangi and the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate was like the distance from Goryeo to Yunnan.

At this distance, even if he was worried, it would be useless to tell the truth.

Then he said to everyone: "Let's talk about business matters next."

Originally, Zhao Xin wanted to say, isn’t the Western Karakhanid Khanate a vassal of Sanjar of the Seljuk Dynasty?

So is it possible to put some pressure on Sanjar?
of course!

After thinking about it, I felt it was unnecessary.

After discussing business, Zhao Xin then kept a few important officials.

Discuss with them how to better establish an intelligence system in Central and West Asia.

If the Song Dynasty really reached Central Asia.

Then they can no longer turn a blind eye to Central Asia.

The third brother also said to Zhao Xin: "Grandfather, over the years, the Caliph of the Seljuk side has been trying to contact us, wanting us to intervene in their war and help them regain the military and political power that originally belonged to the Caliph. If we can have their help, then we should not be completely in the dark about the intelligence in the west, right?"

Zhao Xin also replied: "This is indeed a way to increase our information sources. And the water route is also very convenient. But... he should have also said that he persuaded us to join their sect, right?"

The third brother also said: "The other party said that it is okay not to join."

Zhao Xin said, "They just want to use us as thugs. I can only say... this sect is too extreme. Be careful of their people. Their people always like to assassinate other people's monarchs. And if we don't join their sect, they won't really regard us as brothers. What's more... they even stab their own brothers."

An official from the Song Dynasty who came from the Great Song Dynasty also said: "My head hurts every time I see these sects. The key is that we don't seem to have anything to offer. When I talk to them about Confucianism, they won't listen."

Zhao Xin also said: "This is our disadvantage."

“Speaking of which… you should also be on guard against the merchants here, including our own merchants in Solange.”

"Because businessmen, for the sake of profit, are often willing to sell out the country."

Zhao Xin still remembers that there was a Jew in later generations.

And North India is actually very close to the Jewish hometown.

only……

To be honest, the Jews nowadays should not be called Jews. Anyway, Zhao Xin had never heard of such a kind of people.

of course!

Zhao Xin could roughly guess what they were by looking at their appearances.

It’s just that Zhao Xin knows very little about Jewish customs, so he can’t be sure.

Then...

I also studied the Jews with the third brother and told him to be wary of these guys.

and……

He also asked the third brother to pay attention to business.

In business activities, they must take the lion's share.

If you want to control the world, all you need is money and power.

Money is business, and power is the military.

at the same time……

Zhao Xin believes that a more complete customs system should be established.

As for what you said...

Should we interfere in the internal affairs of the Seljuk Empire?

To be honest, since the Caliph has sent an invitation, it is indeed a very good opportunity.

But Zhao Xin always felt that it would be difficult for these places to become his own territory.

After all, Islam is too extreme and often excludes other religions. And once others do not obey them, they will kill them.

Then...

Zhao Xin looked at the map of the Arab region in his hand again.

did not expect……

Nowadays, it is called Dubai.

As soon as Zhao Xin heard this name, he couldn't help but think of the rich people in Dubai.

only……

Today's Dubai is not the Dubai of later generations. Now they are mainly engaged in fishing, pearl collecting, and some shipbuilding.

to be honest!
It's basically a small fishing village.

People in the Song Dynasty liked pearls, especially women, who liked to use them as facial decorations.

Apply the pearls directly to your face, forehead, etc.

Needless to say, those that are worn around the neck or placed on women's crowns.

I can only say... this project is worth doing.

of course!

Nowadays, all pearls are natural, and very few are artificially cultivated. If you really want to get the best pearls all the time, it is actually not an easy thing to do.

The years since Zhao Xin left.

The third brother was not idle either.

The main task was to send people to explore and draw maps of the Arabian region, the Iranian Plateau, and other areas.

Today, almost all of Arabia is under the rule of the Turkic nobles of the Seljuk Dynasty.

It is said that perhaps because the Turkic nobles of the Seljuk Dynasty were too unhuman, an Assassin sect emerged in recent decades.

To put it bluntly, the people in this faction are assassins and troublemakers who specialize in assassinations, and they specifically target the Seljuk Sultan, some other military nobles, and important figures.

They also encountered the Crusaders.

But in general...

Their main actions were directed against the Seljuk Turkic nobles, and in the process they took action, they often unknowingly helped the Crusaders who came to the East.

can only say……

Whether it is the Iranian Plateau, the Arab region, or the Crusaders who marched eastwards, the waters in the west are too deep.

of course!

If you must say, the southern region of Arabia is relatively okay.

At most, they were exploited by some Seljuk Turkic nobles.

now……

Zhao Xin’s main business is also to do business with these people.

Then, where these people sell the goods will no longer be Zhao Xin’s concern.

Moreover, they control the trade routes and won't let you interfere.

(End of this chapter)