One Piece of Song Dynasty

As soon as Liang Xing had breakfast the next day, Niu San came over and said, "Lang Jun, there are changes in Yizhou and Zhuozhou. The guards in these two places show signs of surrendering to the imperial court."

Liang Xing took the letter and read it and said: "Okay, I understand. Gao Feng and Guo Yaoshi want to surrender to the imperial court. It seems that the death of Emperor Tianxi and the advance of the Jin army have caused the collapse of Can Liao. Yan Yunhan officials are starting to look for a way out, Niu San, let our people continue to monitor, and report to XX immediately if there is any change."

Niu San replied: "Yes, I will go now."

Liang Xing said: "Wait a minute, I will write a letter right now, and you will send it to your Excellency right away."

Niu San cupped his fists and said, "Yes, Langjun."

At this time, troops had gathered under the three passes of Waqiao Pass, Yijin Pass, and Yukou Pass, the northern border fortresses of the Song Dynasty. Waqiao Pass was in Xiongzhou, Yijin Pass and Yukou Pass were both in Bazhou, and one was in the east. One is in the north, forming the shape of a horn. This three-pass area was once one of the important areas where the Song Dynasty stationed troops to defend the Liao Kingdom's cavalry from the north from going south.

Due to the failure of the first Northern Expedition, Tong Guan attached great importance to this Northern Expedition. In addition, Emperor Tianxi of the Liao Kingdom was dead, and the Jin army was also approaching Youzhou, causing the situation in the Liao Kingdom to be on the verge of collapse, especially in the Yi Dynasty. The Han official guards in Zhouzhou and Zhuozhou expressed their willingness to surrender, which made Tong Guan full of confidence in this Northern Expedition.

However, Tong Guan does not plan to lead the troops in person this time in the Northern Expedition. Instead, he will command the army remotely from Hejian Prefecture. This will avoid the embarrassing scene of the last Northern Expedition that failed. Tong Guan has already reported to Song Huizong Zhao Ji and appointed Liu Yanqing. For this time, the capital commander of the Northern Expedition was in full command of the army on the front line. Although the last Northern Expedition failed because Liu Yanqing underestimated the enemy, Liu Yanqing was Tong Guan's trusted general after all. After the news of the failure of the last Northern Expedition spread, Tong Guan In order to protect Liu Yanqing, Zhong Shidao took the blame.

However, Liu Yanqing had some complicated feelings about being appointed to control the capital this time. On the one hand, he felt that this was a good opportunity to wash away his shame. If he can win this time when he raises his troops to go north, he will not only be able to wash away his shame, but his prestige in the army will also be greatly enhanced. But on the other hand, he felt that this battle was not easy to fight. As a veteran who has been on the battlefield for a long time, he knew that the advantage of the Liao army lay in the cavalry. Especially after experiencing the last defeat, he felt deeply that the Song army did not have strong cavalry and relied solely on the flesh and blood of the infantry to fight against the iron horses. , I’m afraid it will be difficult to win. He felt that we must be more careful when dealing with the Liao army.

In fact, not only Liu Yanqing was worried, but also the ministers in the DPRK. Although Tong Guan blocked the news after the defeat of the last Northern Expedition, the news of the final defeat still spread. Therefore, since Song Huizong decided to conduct another Northern Expedition, It caused a huge response among the ministers, with some supporting it and some opposing it.

Ever since Zhao Liangsi offered advice in the fifth year of his reign in politics, the debate among the top officials of the Song Dynasty on the issue of recovering Yanyun has never stopped. Tong Guan, Cai Jing, Wang Fu, etc. were the supporting faction, while Deng Xunwu, Zheng Juzhong, Li Bangyan, etc. were the opposing faction. Song Huizong always stood on the side of the supporting faction, so the "Maritime Alliance" of Song and Jin Dynasties was born. However, since the defeat of the last Northern Expedition, Cai Jing's attitude towards regaining Yanyun has become a little less positive, which made Song Huizong a little unhappy, so Song Huizong worshiped Wang Fu as his prime minister and actively prepared to send troops northward, leaving Cai Jing aside. .

Now, the ministers are arguing more and more fiercely about the right and wrong of sending troops north. In order to unify his thoughts and avoid disturbing the morale of the army and the people, at Wang Fu's repeated requests, Song Huizong issued a stern edict: Anyone who talks about this matter without mercy will be punished without mercy.

The ministers were all shocked and kept silent. Only Song Zhao, a court official, dared to speak up and resolutely wrote a letter against sending troops to Yan Yun again.

He wrote in the memorial: "I heard that the nature of dogs and soldiers cannot form trust. They come and go erratically, and their rebellion is not constant. Since your Majesty came to the throne, the art of controlling the army has been the best policy. When the Liao envoys come, they will be rewarded with banquets. Granted, the number of kindnesses has been exhausted. Therefore, they are virtuous and fearful, admire the righteousness of the wind, call their heads vassal, and the officials of the Zhou Dynasty bow and bow, and the people of Guizhou and Li sing songs with their bellies inflated. Over the past three generations, they have been sincere and sincere. On the inside, there is nothing like today, which is truly a grand event for a peaceful and rare world.

For example, Wang Fu and Tong Guan tried their best to lure the disciples of Li Liangsi and Dong Cai into crazy affairs, causing trouble to the people. They sent ministers and heavy troops to camp on the fortress for a long time. The warehouses and treasuries were emptied, and the officers and soldiers were killed. countless. The wealth can still be restored, how can the dead be resurrected? Wang Futong Guan deceived the king and neglected his superiors. He harmed the country and harmed the people. The crime is unforgivable. I am willing to cut off these heads to thank the world. Not only to comfort the hearts of the people of Yan, so that they will know your majesty's virtues. No more suspicion, it is better to keep the alliance carefully, and it will also punish the other treacherous ministers and traitors who want to stir up side troubles.

Li Liangsi and Dong Cai were both rebels in the Northern Court and harbored resentment, so they attached themselves to border ministers and made false claims, hoping to use China's power to avenge themselves. In fact, the traitors of the two dynasties have no hope of regaining their loyalty.

Nowadays, the Jurchens are brave and good at fighting, and they are sweeping the northern country. The Liao people are attacking each other with all their strength, but they are still unable to win. How can they defeat a weak country and be next to a strong country? It may not be a blessing to China, but a blessing to the Jurchens. Sharp ears. In the future, the Jurchens will definitely defeat the alliance first and become a danger to China. This is inevitable and it will happen. Even if Yi Zhou is resurrected, this cannot be easily discussed. I also heard about the alliance between the two countries, and those who defeated the alliance would bring disaster to the nine tribes. Your Majesty governs the world with filial piety, and his forbearance is to forget the spirit of the saints in heaven. Your majesty covers the world with benevolence, and his forbearance leaves the people of Hebei in a state of misery.

Song Huizong was very angry at Song Zhao's objection to the letter, and Wang Fu was even more resentful of Song Zhao's move. He suggested to Song Huizong: "This man must be killed. Kill Song Zhao. You can kill him as a warning to others. Let's see who dares." So arrogant and disrespectful”

Song Huizong was angry, but his mind was still calm. He said: "It is better not to kill a scholar. Killing him is of no use. Remove him from the list and order the local officials to strictly control him." Soon, Song Zhao was expelled from public office. The shackles were used to escort Haizhou.

The news about Song Zhao was placed in front of Li Xin a few days later. Li Xin sighed: "Song Zhao is a sensible person and a rare talent. He is just a bit soft-tempered and a little afraid of foreign races. This is the problem for the entire Song Dynasty." A common problem among most literati is that they fear foreigners like tigers and are afraid of war with them. Think about it. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, there have been many wars with both Xia and Liao. However, they did not take advantage of them and spent a lot of money. Countless money, food and lives.”

Liang Hongyu rolled her eyes at Li Xin and said, "Yes, yes, officials are not afraid."

Li Xin stretched out and said: "I'm afraid that I can't solve any problem. Sometimes the more you are afraid of others, the more they bully you. We Han people are too soft now. The wolf nature of the Han and Tang Dynasties has been worn away in the Song Dynasty for more than a hundred years." In the future, I must bring back the wolf nature that we Han people have lost."