Back to the Song Dynasty as a tyrant

There are several rich places in the world in this era.

The first place is of course Da Song, and the second place may be Tianzhu, after all, the weather is so good.

The third place may be Rome, which is the historical East Rome.

The declining Arab Empire and the Seljuk Empire, which is about to decline at this time, are also considered good.

The Arabs, on the other hand, roamed the East and West seas, transporting goods back and forth for these countries.

A large number of commodities need to pass through the hands of Srivijaya, and he earns a lot of money.

If you have money and want to keep the scene down, then of course you have to prepare an army.

King Sanfoqi and Prime Minister Sanfoqi, who had a hundred warships in their hands, learned that the Song people captured the capital of King Boni, and first doubted its authenticity.

After questioning the sender carefully, they were shocked to confirm that the Song people had indeed captured the Boni Kingdom.

The Prime Minister said: "Your Majesty, we have no enmity with the Song State, and we have quite a business relationship with the Song people. Why the Song people captured the Boni Kingdom for no reason is beyond my comprehension."

"It may be related to our price reduction and collection of money in recent years." King Srivijaya said.

"You mean that the Song people are dissatisfied with the price of our silk and ceramics?"

"Not satisfied with tax collection!"

"The minister knows, we should send a support army to teach the Song people a lesson."

Chapter 953 The confrontation between the powerful countries in the South China Sea and the Celestial Dynasty (first update)

On February [-]th, Li Bao replenished a lot of materials in ancient Siam, including a large amount of medicinal materials.

Items such as medicinal materials and frankincense are the main products of the South China Sea.

These things were exported to the West and the Song Dynasty in large quantities.

At noon that day, Li Bao took a stroll in the ancient capital of Siam.

Pu Luoxin accompanied him.

Pu Luoxin said: "Director Li, if you have to go out for a walk in such a hot day, why not go to the pond in the back garden of the palace to escape the summer heat. The ancient king of Siam said that Director Li can go there at any time, and there are many beauties."

Li Bao wiped the sweat from his forehead. Li Bao's skin has been tanned rough and dark all these years in the South China Sea.

He sighed, and said: "The imperial court asked us to fight Sanfoqi. To tell you the truth, my understanding of Sanfoqi is very limited now."

Pu Luoxin said: "Samfoji is the strongest country in the South China Sea. It has been established for 400 years. Except for the surprise attack and defeat of Samfoqi's army by the Zhunian Kingdom 100 years ago, Sanfoqi has not been defeated since then."

Li Bao said: "I know all of these, and I have recorded them in official historical materials. Pengfeng, Dengyanong, Lingyasijia, Kelantan, Florian, Riluoting, Qianmai, Batta, Shanma Ling, Jialuoxi, Balingfeng, Xintuo, Jianbi, Lanwuli, and Xilan (Sri Lanka) are all affiliated to it."

"Director Li knows more than I do." Pu Luoxin said, "Is Director Li worried that we will not be able to defeat Srivijaya?"

"I haven't fought against Sanfoqi before, so I said that I have limited understanding of them. This refers to my understanding of their army."

"There has only been one powerful country in the South China Sea, that is Sanfoqi, but it has been established for 400 years. Under the attack of the Zhuren Kingdom 100 years ago, the country's power has declined slightly. We only need to defeat it. The countries in the South China Sea have not resisted. leeway."

Li Bao said: "I am puzzled by this point. Why haven't there been many powerful and powerful countries in the South China Sea?"

Pu Luoxin couldn't answer this question.

But it is true. For a long time before the appearance of Srivijaya, there was no power in the South China Sea.

Most of the countries in the South China Sea are located in the tropics and are near the sea.

The air is humid, summer is most of the year, and there are many tropical rainforests.

There is plenty of sunshine and rainfall, and of course there are many fruits.

In addition to the fruits that people can't finish eating, the rotten ones also have a certain fertile effect on the soil.

Unlike places like loess high slopes, the tropics are a gift from nature.

Once there are too many natural resources around, it is easy for the whole society to become unwilling to make progress.

People in the tropics do not need to think hard about weaving cloth like the Central Plains, engage in various farmlands, build roads, dig canals, build bridges, and play with various technologies to survive.

However, human society has a characteristic: the power of individuals is so small, and the power of organizations is so magical.

In the long primitive age, due to survival problems, individuals had to unite with others and form organizations to fight against the dangers of nature.

Since the life resistance of people in the tropics is relatively small, the internal drive to form an organization is naturally relatively small.

This is also the fundamental reason why the countries in the South China Sea in this era have no shortage of people, but no big cities.

For example, the royal city of Boni Kingdom has 1 people.

Da Song randomly took a small county on the [-]th line, and it had a larger population than this.

In an age of limited productivity, the experience of running a great empire cannot be mastered without the drive to organize.

Without a huge organization, it would be a big problem for the ruler to collect taxes. Without a large number of tax sources, it is naturally impossible to form a powerful army.

This is the fundamental reason why there was no power in the South China Sea for a long time in the past.

Until the appearance of Sanfoqi.

Sanfoqi also has a good geographical location. He has mastered the key points of the East and the West. Merchants from the East and the West must pass through his territory if they want to do business.

According to the records of Arab historians, a Jewish merchant ship passed through Malacca and paid a road tax of 1000 yuan at a time before allowing the Jewish merchant ship to go to the coast of the Song Dynasty.

So much has to be paid at one time, and a large number of businessmen from Guangzhou and Quanzhou want to go west, so naturally they pay a lot.

With such a generous income, there is no shortage of military expenses.

As an ancient person, it is normal for Li Bao to be unable to see through the essence of the development of human civilization.

Pu Luoxin naturally did not know.

Pu Luoxin said: "Even if we can't defeat Srivijaya this time, we can retreat to the ancient Siam Kingdom, or Boni Kingdom."

At this moment, Pu Shouchong rushed over and shouted loudly: "There is news from Ling Yamen."

"Keep down." Pu Luoxin lowered his voice, "Are you afraid that there are no eyes and ears of ancient Siam around you?"

"Ling Yamen suddenly gathered a group of Srivijaya's navy seven days ago."

"So fast!" Li Bao said in surprise, "Can you confirm the other party's purpose?"

"It cannot be determined in a short time."

If you suddenly gather the navy, you may come to the ancient Siam state if you don't go to the country of Boni.

Li Bao returned to his residence, and he began to urge the intelligence department to collect more information as soon as possible.

On February 23, a young businessman disembarked at the seaport of ancient Siam, and he went all the way to Li Bao's residence.

"The next official, Tang Zijian, will see Mr. Li."

"You are Tang Zijian." Li Bao asked, "Cai Langzhong mentioned you many times in his letter. What is your position?"

Li Bao still asked tentatively.

"Xiaguan is the head of the Intelligence Department of the South China Sea General Commercial Corporation. He is responsible for collecting intelligence from the countries in the South China Sea and reports to Cai Langzhong at ordinary times."

The Cai Langzhong he was talking about was Cai Jingfang, who was the head of Quanzhou Shipping Department and the head of Dasong Nanhai Trading Company.

Cai Jingfang and Lian Nanfu, the economic envoy of Guangnan East Road, are very proficient in the South China Sea.

As Quanzhou was the largest foreign seaport in the Song Dynasty, there were a lot of ships traveling to and from the West, so the intelligence department was naturally located in Quanzhou.

These were reported to Qian Yuqing in a unified manner.

Tang Zijian is an official of the commercial company line, and Li Bao is an official of the military and government, and the two usually have no direct intersection.

But at this time the South China Sea has entered a wartime state.

All the intelligence departments of the Dasong Nanhai Trading Company must start serving the navy.

"What information did you gather?"

"Nine days ago, a large number of Sanfo Qi navies gathered around Lingyamen. We collected detailed information that these navies were going to Boni country. The news that our army captured Boni country has already spread in the upper echelon of Lingyamen. "

"How did you get the news in such a short time?"

"As early as the year before last, the trading company has invested a lot of money in the past two years, and our people have penetrated into the upper echelons of Ling Yamen and made friends with some powerful people."

"How many Sanfoqi troops are there in Ling Yamen now?"

"There are twenty Sanfoqi warships stationed at Ling Yamen, and there are about twenty ships sent to the country of Wuni this time. Sanfoqi will not fight a losing battle. After the battle in the country of Wuni, By the way, he will use military force and diplomatic rhetoric to collect a lot of money from the country of Luoni, and may station troops in the country of Luoni permanently, in order to seek magistrates."

"Samfoji's appetite is really not small!" Li Bao said, "If there are only twenty permanent warships, it's nothing to worry about."

"No, in Linga, south of Lingyamen, there are fifty warships belonging to big cannibals. These big cannibals should not be underestimated."

Chapter 954 Three Kingdoms Naval Battle (Second Change)

"Why did Srivijaya allow a big cannibal to build such a huge fleet there?" Li Bao asked.

"This man named Istaheli is a member of the Dashi royal family. He has a profound interest relationship with Sanfoqi. Every year, a large amount of medicinal materials and frankincense are transported from Sanfoqi to the distant Dashi kingdom. All these transactions were facilitated by him, not only that."

"and also?"

"The big cannibal is very good at sailing. The big cannibal's sea trade routes are all over the eastern and western seas. The products of Srivijaya are sold well in the east and west through the big cannibal's merchant ships."

"Didn't Sanfoqi himself have a huge sea merchant?"

Tang Zijian said: "Mr. Li, you don't know this. Not every country can form a huge caravan. Ocean voyages are completely different from offshore voyages."

"You mean that Sanfoqi doesn't have a huge voyage merchant?"

"Yes, they have to rely on big cannibals."

"So that's how it is." Li Bao fell into deep thought, and after thinking for a while, he said, "If we defeat this man named Istaheli and weaken the influence of the big cannibal in the South China Sea, what will happen to Sanfoji?"

Tang Zijian said: "The Great Song Nanhai Trading Company has the confidence to negotiate with Sanfoqi."

"Replace Istaheli?"

"Indeed."

"But what the imperial court means is to completely break Sanfo Qi's control over Ling Yamen, and His Majesty wants to get the right to collect taxes in this area."

Tang Zijian took a deep breath and said in his heart: Your Majesty is really ambitious!

"It is very difficult for our army to destroy Sanfoqi in long-term ocean battles. Except for Sanfoqi, there is no powerful country in the South China Sea, but the big cannibals will not just watch us swallow this area for themselves. Ling Yamen gets a share," Tang Zijian said.

"Do you have any good suggestions?" Li Bao asked.

Li Bao was born in a farming family, and he joined the army by chance, and by chance, he joined the newly formed navy. Because he was very virtuous and courageous, he was appreciated by Qian Yuqing, and was soon promoted to commander.

But he really grew up, or in the past few years, conquered Yazhou, attacked Zhancheng, and turned the sea area from Yazhou to Jiaozhi and Zhancheng into the inner sea of ​​the Song Dynasty.

Up to now, Li Bao also has the style of a general, and he has a more comprehensive view of the problem.

Tang Zijian said: "The opinion of the lower officials is that the big cannibals should be attacked first, and quickly!"

"Why?"

"The big cannibals also came from afar. They are concentrated in Linga, and their targets are concentrated, so they can be eliminated quickly at once. The Sanfoqi has a vast area. Even if the Sanfoqi navy is defeated, with the national power of the Sanfoqi, if the royal master of the court cannot Landing quickly destroys Sanfoqi, and Sanfoqi will inevitably reorganize the navy and make a comeback, and the war situation will fall into a quagmire."

Li Bao looked at the young man in front of him with some surprise. He didn't expect him to have such a thorough understanding of the situation in the South China Sea, and he said exactly what he said.

"No wonder you became the chief officer of Dasong Nanhai Trading Company at such a young age. Where are you from?"

"Xiaguan is from Hangzhou. He graduated from Hangzhou Naval Academy. He is a student of Qian Xianggong."

"No wonder!" Li Bao picked up the cup and took a sip of lemonade, thought for a moment, and then said, "I originally asked Li Kun to make a surprise attack on the Wuni Kingdom, so that the Three Buddhas could help the Wuni Kingdom, and it was the same in the ancient Siam Kingdom."

"The Shangguan's goal has been achieved. Sanfoqi has already begun to assist the Luni Kingdom. The ancient Siam Kingdom is very close to Lingya Gate. Now the ancient Siam Kingdom's request for help has also arrived at Ling Yamen. It will not be long before the Sanfoqi Navy will come. Ancient Siam."

"Are they coming?"

"I will definitely come. This place is very close to Lingyamen. Sanfoqi will regularly send officials to inspect the dependent countries in the north. The medicinal materials and frankincense in this area are also quite rich. It can also be regarded as Sanfoqi's taxation place." .”

"How many will come?" Li Bao looked at Tang Zijian.

"At least twenty ships?"

“How come you see?”

"If the letter of pleading for help from the ancient Siam Kingdom also reaches Jambi, King Srivijaya discovers that we are attacking his territory from two directions, and he will realize that the imperial court is prepared, so he will not dare to take it lightly."

Li Bao asked again: "It is said that Sanfoqi has more than 100 warships?"

"It should be more than that. If King Srivijaya wants to order all the troops, at least two hundred warships of all sizes can be formed, and the number of troops is tens of thousands."

Li Bao began to think again.

He thought for a long time, and said, "What are the characteristics of the big man-eating warship?"