I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 388 Man Jiang Hong - Heading West
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When news of Tong Guan and Yue Fei's triumphant return reached Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhao Yu issued an edict to hold a grand temple offering ceremony.

At the same time, Zhao Yu issued an edict ordering the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue to go north as soon as possible to tally up the war merits and bestow rewards, as well as to formulate a plan for the distribution of the spoils of war.

Zhao Yu and his ministers had already prepared a plan for the distribution of resources:
First and foremost, it's about long-term value conversion, avoiding short-term resource consumption.

Specifically, from these 200,000-plus warhorses, 50,000 high-quality mares and 2,000 stallions were selected and dispersed to various horse farms in the Song Dynasty far from the front lines to establish breeding bases. Dedicated personnel were assigned to these bases, and breeding was carried out in accordance with the local grassland environment, forming a virtuous cycle of "war losses-replenishment" and solving the long-standing problem of the Song Dynasty's reliance on purchasing warhorses from abroad.

Furthermore, the implementation of the "military settlement economy" was promoted: some cattle, sheep, mules, and donkeys were allocated to the Song army's settlement troops in Liaoning and Northwest China, using livestock to assist in farming and achieving "using war to support war." For example, cattle were used to plow the land to grow grain and fodder, and mules and donkeys were used to transport the output of the settlement, which not only reduced the pressure on the imperial court to supply the army with food and fodder, but also stabilized various strategic strongholds.

Furthermore, warhorses were distributed to various armies to improve their mobility; half of the cattle and sheep were distributed to each army so that they could send their own people to raise them, thereby improving the soldiers' diet; the other half of the cattle and sheep were transported to Tokyo to stabilize prices, breed and raise livestock, and stabilize the morale of the people in the capital.

Camels, mules, and donkeys were assigned to the logistics department to form specialized mule and donkey transport teams.

Tong Guan was specially granted the title of Grand Tutor for his overall command of the northern campaign and his role in the Battle of Langjuxu. He was also awarded a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of brocade, and his portrait was enshrined in the Zhaoxun Pavilion. Yue Fei was highly accomplished in battle. He first pacified the tribes around Khatun City, and then resisted the Tatar tribe on his return journey. He was promoted to Military Governor of Qingyuan Army, rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold, and appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Infantry. He was transferred to the northern front and served under Liu Fa. Other meritorious individuals were also promoted and rewarded.

For the surrendered leaders of the northern desert tribes, Zhao Yu adopted a policy of "combining kindness and severity" in their resettlement. He appointed the leaders of each tribe as "General Huaihua" or "General Guide," allowing them to retain their tribal structures, but requiring them to send their sons to the court as hostages. At the same time, he encouraged them to develop agriculture and animal husbandry, and to trade with the people of the Central Plains.

The tribal chiefs and leaders who surrendered to the Song Dynasty were grateful for Zhao Yu's kindness and knelt down to express their gratitude, promising to guard the border forever and never rebel again. Many clever chiefs and leaders even offered their daughters or beauties from their tribes to Zhao Yu.

Clearly, Zhao Yu's reputation for being a womanizer had spread to the northern deserts.

Having made such a great contribution, Tong Guan had the confidence to discuss the recovery of the Western Regions with Zhao Yu.

On this day, Tong Guan came alone to the Chuigong Hall and presented Zhao Yu with the "Strategy for Pacifying the Western Regions".

Your humble servant Guan Jin, disregarding the risk of death, submits this memorial:

I humbly believe that the Great Song Dynasty, in accordance with Heaven's will and the people's wishes, has pacified the Western Xia, pacified Liaodong, brought the Jin invaders to their knees, and instilled fear in the northern deserts. The opportunity for a revival bestowed by Heaven is now upon us.

Since the late Tang Dynasty, the Western Regions have been subjugated by foreign lands, with various tribes scattered and unable to be unified. Now, our Great Song Dynasty is stronger than ever before, and has already recovered Western Xia and Longyou. If we do not seize the opportunity to recover the Western Regions, we fear that powerful neighbors will covet them, and it will be too late for regrets.

The best course of action now is to proceed in three steps: First, consolidate the foundation. Increase the number of troops and cultivate the land, stockpile grain and train soldiers, so that we can be self-sufficient in provisions and expenses, without the need for transportation. Second, seek support. Send envoys to persuade the Western Regions countries that are friendly with our Great Song, promising them titles and rewards, and instructing them to send troops to assist in the war, thus launching a pincer attack on the rebellious tribes in the Western Regions. Third, formulate a strategy. Select valiant generals to lead elite troops, advance from the Hexi Corridor and Longyou, first capturing strategic locations such as Gaochang and Khotan, and then pacifying the remaining tribes, using both kindness and force to bring them under our control.

Our Great Song Dynasty has already recovered Longyou, Western Xia, Yanyun, and Liaoning. With the fall of Goryeo and Jurchen, we will surely gain control of the entire Northeast.

Once the Western Regions are pacified, troops can be stationed there, thus encircling the grasslands. The grassland tribes, isolated and without support, will dare not defy the imperial might again. Whether they are suppressed or appeased, the borders of the Great Song Dynasty will be secure forever, and the great cause of national revival will be accomplished.

Your subject Guan is filled with utmost fear and trepidation, awaiting your orders...

The Western Regions were the western gateway to the Central Plains. Controlling this area could extend the strategic defense line thousands of miles westward from the Hexi Corridor, effectively resisting nomadic tribes and preventing them from directly threatening the core area of ​​the Central Plains dynasty.

Furthermore, as a core hub of the land-based Silk Road, the Western Regions connected East Asia with Central Asia and Europe. Silk and porcelain from the Central Plains were exported through these regions, while grapes, alfalfa, and fine horses were introduced, creating a two-way complementary relationship between products and the economy. Once the Western Regions were recovered, the northwest region of the Song Dynasty could become prosperous.

The Western Regions were also rich in fine horses (such as the Ferghana horses), which solved a key shortcoming in the cavalry development of the Central Plains dynasties; at the same time, the mineral resources and oasis agricultural output of the Western Regions could provide the Song Dynasty with a stable supply of strategic materials.

Most importantly, as a time traveler, Zhao Yu traveled to an era in which the Central Plains dynasty might sweep across the world. He had the idea of ​​building a golden artery between East and West (that is, connecting East and West with railways) in this era.

In the original world, my country's promotion of this major project was often constrained by the complex political landscape, interest games, and institutional differences among the countries along the route. Despite the original intention of benefiting the world, it repeatedly encountered barriers during construction, and the smooth flow of trade channels often depended on the attitudes of other countries.

During this era, the Western Regions, Central Asia, and even Europe had not yet formed a unified and powerful regime. Most regions were fragmented, either by numerous tribes or by small city-states.

If the Song Dynasty had used its sweeping power across East Asia to push westward into the "Silk Road Economic Belt," the resistance it would have encountered would have been far less than in later dynasties.

Once the Western Regions were incorporated into the Song Dynasty, Zhao Yu could use the military settlement economy as a fulcrum to establish grain and forage bases in the oases of the Western Regions. At the same time, he could transform the concept of modern railway construction into a "official road + post station" system adapted to the times. He would first use mule and horse transport teams to open up land routes, and then gradually improve the roadbed to pave the way for a more efficient transportation network in the future.

Once this passage is completed, it will be far more than just a simple goods transport line; it will be a vital artery for the export of the Song Dynasty's economy and culture.

Silk, porcelain, and light and heavy industrial products from the Song Dynasty would be continuously transported to Central Asia and Europe along this route.

Compared to the simple flow of goods in modern trade, the Song Dynasty's exports had a more significant advantage – these were not just commodities, but also the achievements of a civilization ahead of its time. Central Asian tribes could improve their land with the Song Dynasty's agricultural techniques, European city-states could accelerate the spread of knowledge through movable type printing, and the Song Dynasty could obtain fine horses and minerals from the Western Regions, spices and gems from Central Asia, and furs, gold, silver, and mineral resources from Europe, forming a two-way complementary relationship of resources.

More importantly, economic exchanges will drive cultural integration and political identity.

The Song Dynasty could establish "mutual trade ports" along the route, allowing merchants from various countries to trade there, while also sending cultural envoys to spread Confucianism and Song Dynasty etiquette.

This international order, based on economic interests and cultural identity, is far more stable than later treaty-based cooperation.

At that time, the Song Dynasty would no longer be a dynasty confined to East Asia, but a core of civilization spanning East and West.

As the throat of this artery, the Western Regions must have been the bridge connecting the Song Dynasty to the world, and the key starting point for turning the golden artery between East and West from a concept into reality.

To realize the grand vision of connecting Central Asia and Europe by rail, the Western Regions are an essential passage. Geographically, the Western Regions lie between the Central Plains and Central Asia, serving as the only land route connecting the East and West. Without the Western Regions, the railway network would be severed, and the golden artery between East and West would turn from a blueprint into a pipe dream.

At the same time, although the Western Regions were no longer under the control of the Central Plains dynasties, they still retained the transportation relics and trade traditions of the Han and Tang dynasties. Controlling the Western Regions would allow for the rapid advancement of railway construction based on the existing infrastructure, reducing engineering costs and difficulties.

More importantly, the oasis city-states of the Western Regions could provide water and supplies along the railway line, ensuring the stable operation of the transportation route and becoming a logistical support base for this vital artery between East and West. Furthermore, for Zhao Yu, who aspired to absolute international influence, the Western Regions were an important stage to showcase the power of the Song Dynasty.

It is important to understand that because of the "weak Song Dynasty," the Song Dynasty was always at a disadvantage in its confrontation with the Liao and Jin Dynasties, and its international influence was limited to a corner of East Asia. It was not even as powerful as the Liao Dynasty at its peak (the fact that the Chinese have always been called "Khitan" internationally is one piece of evidence).

Of course, this is also because Yelü Dashi unified the Western Regions and occupied parts of Central Asia in history, becoming a representative of the East.

Therefore, the reconquest of the Western Regions means that the Song Dynasty will break out of its geographical predicament and extend its sphere of influence westward.

Through the Western Regions, the Central Plains dynasties could spread advanced agricultural techniques, handicrafts, and management systems to Central Asia and Europe, thereby building a new international order through economic and cultural influence.

When railways connect east and west, goods, culture, and institutions from the Central Plains will flow out continuously through this artery, while resources and technologies from Central Asia and Europe will flow in, forming a virtuous cycle of two-way interaction. In this process, the Central Plains dynasties, by controlling the core transportation lines, will naturally become the formulators of international rules and the dominant voice in international discourse.

Most importantly, Zhao Yu wanted to emulate the Mongol Empire and had the idea of ​​granting Central Asia, Europe, and Africa to his sons as well.

The Western Regions were both the starting point and the barrier to realizing this vision. If the Western Regions could not be firmly controlled, the military forces expanding westward would be in danger of fighting without a rear base, and the enfeoffed territories would become isolated enclaves.

In short, the Western Regions were not only a springboard for the Song Dynasty to advance into Central Asia and Europe, but also a strategic buffer zone to protect the core area of ​​the Song Dynasty.

Historical experience shows that the Mongol Empire relied on the Western Regions to gradually advance into Central Asia and Europe.

For Zhao Yu, after recovering the Western Regions, he could build an elite cavalry there, use the fine horses of the Western Regions to improve the army's combat effectiveness, and at the same time use the Western Regions as a base to gradually encroach on Central Asia, and then radiate to Europe and Africa.

In addition, the population and resources of the Western Regions could provide the Song Dynasty with manpower and material support for its expansion, and ensure the stable operation of the enfeoffment system.

If the Western Regions were lost, Zhao Yu's plan for enfeoffment would be like a castle in the air, difficult to realize.

In conclusion, the Western Regions were an indispensable core element in Zhao Yu's strategic plan. Whether it was building a golden artery between East and West, vying for international influence, or realizing the grand plan of enfeoffment, all of these required the acquisition of the Western Regions as a prerequisite.

That is precisely why Tong Guan's suggestion was exactly what Zhao Yu wanted.

After reading Tong Guan's "Strategy for Pacifying the Western Regions," Zhao Yu said, "Your strategy is in line with my thoughts. The Western Regions are the throat of the Silk Road and the only way to the land of the Abbasid Caliphate. How could I not plan to conquer them? However, the Jin invaders have not been eliminated, Goryeo has not surrendered, and the Tatar and other steppe tribes are also supporting the Jin. The court is already fighting on multiple fronts. If we launch an attack on the Western Regions at this time, we may be plunged into a bitter war and repeat the mistakes of the Han and Tang dynasties in exhausting their resources."

Tong Guan also knew that the Song Dynasty was currently fighting on multiple fronts and was under considerable pressure, so now was indeed not a good time to recover the Western Regions.

The key point is that Tong Guan didn't want to recover the Western Regions right now; what he wanted was to initiate a military operation to recover the Western Regions.

As a result, the Northwest region where Tong Guan was stationed would inevitably receive preferential treatment from the imperial court in terms of economy, policies, and talent.

Only in this way could Tong Guan make preparations to recover the Western Regions.

Once the Song Dynasty has completely destroyed Goguryeo and the Jin Dynasty and recovered the Northeast region, Tong Guan will be able to realize his grand ambitions.

Tong Guan bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise. I have also considered the constraints of military affairs. However, the Western Regions are vast and contain many small countries. If we are to plan for them, we must make preparations in advance. Otherwise, how can we settle things in one battle?"

Zhao Yu nodded, then remained silent for a long while before speaking:
"What you say is absolutely right, my lord. It is time to make preparations. Hmm... When you return to the Northwest this time, you can immediately begin a few tasks: First, select soldiers for the Northwest garrison, train them in horsemanship and archery, familiarize them with firearms, and teach them Gobi warfare tactics; second, find people skilled in raising warhorses, train fine horses, and buy as many horses as possible from the Western Regions; third, send people to explore along the ancient Silk Road, mark oases and water sources, and draw detailed maps of the Western Regions; fourth, continue to build official roads and railways to extend them into the Western Regions; fifth, send envoys to various countries and tribes in the Western Regions to recruit them through mutual trade and rewards; sixth, dredge waterways to ensure the smooth passage of grain, fodder, and warships; seventh, reorganize the grain supply in the Northwest, build granaries in key locations, model them after military settlements, and try planting alfalfa to supplement horse feed..."

Tong Guan realized that Zhao Yu truly wanted to take over the Western Regions, and all his actions were preparations for its reconquest.

Indeed, that was the case. Zhao Yu rose and paced back and forth, his tone growing increasingly somber: "Once we have pacified Goguryeo, annihilated the Jurchens, and recovered the Northeast, I will surely send 100,000 iron cavalry as your support to march into the Western Regions. This plan will remain with me for now. You shall make preparations in secret and not let the barbarians discover any clues."

Tong Guan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "Your subject obeys! I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust. When the army marches into the Western Regions one day, I will surely offer up the thousand miles of territory in Hexi to Your Majesty!"

Zhao Yu helped Tong Guan up and solemnly said, "My dear minister, the gains and losses in the Western Regions are related to the foundation of the Song Dynasty for a hundred years. The preparations must not be neglected."

Tong Guan left the Chuigong Hall, filled with ambition and ready to return to the Northwest to make a name for himself.

On his way back, Tong Guan also composed a poem, "Man Jiang Hong - Heading West," to express his aspirations:

Looking out over Guanzhong, one sees ancient sites from the Han and Tang dynasties amidst the wind and sand.

Leaning on the railing, though the young scholar has grown old, his ambition remains undiminished.

After two decades of planning and strategizing, he was suddenly ordered to plan for the Western Regions.

Prepare the armored soldiers and train the ten thousand fine horses, awaiting the opportune time.

They established post roads and fortified military strongholds; they united various tribes and facilitated trade.

With swords aimed at Kunlun, they pacify the tribes; with banners raised over the Pamir Mountains, they secure the nation.

When we achieve our goal, we will raise a glass to discuss heroes and write our story into history.

……

(End of this chapter)