As soon as such words came out, Lu Zhongtian and Yang Jun, who were originally full of complaints, had nothing to say. If the emperor really learns a lesson, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Although the loss of tens of thousands of horses is painful, the loss is also a loss, and it is nothing. For Yang Jun, there was a sense of happiness. The emperor shouldn't think that he has much ability this time, and he regards himself as a dispensable person. He should understand that Da Zhou would not have been able to fight without his own army. In addition, Zhao Yuankang's death in Funiu Mountain is a great thing. Yang Jun had long been aware of the emperor's intention to cultivate Zhao Yuankang to replace him, Zhao Yuankang actually died in Funiu Mountain, and he didn't have to trouble him, this was simply God's help. No, this matter is thanks to Lin Juecai, who is the one who has removed a thorn in his eye for himself.

"The emperor can learn a lesson, and the ministers don't say much. Such a loss is not a big deal. Besides, this time the emperor drove the expedition in person, presumably the anti-thieves Lin Jue and Guo Bing's father and son were also trembling. They will also understand that the court will not tolerate them, and they will not dare to make much action for a while. That's a good thing. Lu Zhongtian said in a deep voice.

Guo Xu nodded and said, "I think so too." Let's put this matter aside for the time being, tell me quickly, what is the situation? Yelu Zongyuan actually sent his son as a messenger to ask us for help? Hahaha, that's a big joke. ”

Lu Zhongtian smiled and said, "After the emperor sees the letter, he must want to know the reason. That's right, it's been three years since the Jurchens in the northeast of Liao were in rebellion. After the Jurchen leader Wan Yan Agu conquered the Jurchen tribes, he had become bigger and bigger. As far as we know, as early as a few years ago, they were no longer under the jurisdiction of the Liao people, and they no longer paid tribute. Three years ago, they captured Huanglongfu and Tongzhou, and their soldiers and horses quickly expanded to more than 50,000 people, which already threatened the security of Liaoyang Mansion in Tokyo, Liaoguo. Therefore, Yelu Zongyuan had to lead the army to quell the Jurchen rebellion, which was the belly and back of his Liao country. Originally, even we thought that the rebellion of the Jurchens would be quickly quelled, however, under the attack of hundreds of thousands of Liao troops, the Jurchens were not exterminated, but won one victory after another. To say that this Jurchen is really powerful, Lao Chen heard that they grew up between the white mountains and black waters, crisscrossing the bitter cold and barren land, and men, women and children have all practiced their skills. Walking through the mountains, forests and valleys is like entering a no-man's land, and riding and shooting immediately is commonplace. The soldiers and horses of the Liao State were already strong, but they were not their opponents. I'm afraid Yang Shumi knows this better than me. ”

Yang Jun nodded and said: "Yes, the minister has specially studied this matter, and the Jurchens' riding and archery kung fu can indeed be called unique in the world." They grow on horseback, and they can eat and sleep on horseback. The Jurchens are located at the foot of the Changbai Mountain, where they live by fishing, hunting and gathering, so they are particularly good at crisscrossing the mountains, forests and barren beaches. Although the man is short, he is strong and agile like an ape. The detectives we sent out reported that during the battle between the Liao and the Jurchens at the Baihe River, the Jurchens actually crossed the icy and biting Baihe on horseback. The Liao were stationed on the south bank, not realizing that the other party could swim across on horseback. In the middle of the night, he fell into the way of the Jurchens. 5,000 Jurchens crossed the river in the middle of the night and stormed the Liao camp, but Xiao Daqian, the commander of the Liao army, was killed in the chaos, and the 100,000 Liao army was defeated. From this battle, we can see the fierceness of the Jurchens. ”

Guo Xu nodded slightly, and said in his heart: I only fought with Lin Jue not long ago, aren't they only so many people? I wasn't also dizzy by him. Zhao Yuankang also died. This thing is really a little strange, there was a Jurchen rebellion in Liao, and there was a rebellion of the Luoyan Army in my Great Zhou, which is really a scripture that is difficult to read. However, in comparison, the situation of the Great Zhou is better, at least the Luoyan army only dares to retreat in the mountains, and does not dare to capture the state capital. And the Liao State seems to be extremely critical.

"Yelu Zongyuan asked us to help, is it because the Jurchens can't cope with it at all?" Guo Xu said.

"Half a month ago, Wanyan Agu personally led a 50,000 Jurchen army to conquer Liaoyang Mansion in Tokyo, Liao, and all 70,000 defenders of Liaoguo were annihilated. Yelu Zongyuan led 200,000 elite soldiers and horses to counterattack Liaoyang Mansion for five days and five nights, but the result was still not captured. Wanyan Agu actually launched several charges out of the city during the siege, and simply ignored the Liao army. Yelu Zongyuan was defeated and left, losing more than 80,000 soldiers and horses. Now retreat to the area of Jinzhou Xianzhou to prevent the Jurchens from attacking Zhongjing Dading Mansion in the south. It's already extremely embarrassing. Yelu Zongyuan's accession to the throne was not convincing, and his defeat made the various ministries that had previously surrendered ready to move. If he could not defeat the Jurchens in a short period of time, he might not be able to keep his throne. That's why he gave up his cheeks to ask us for help. Yang Jun said.

Guo Xu laughed and said: "I see, Yelu Zongyuan also has today, hahaha, did he ever think that there would be a today when he was rude and arrogant to my Great Zhou?" Hahahaha. ”

Lu Zhongtian also smiled: "Yes, Yelu Zongyuan probably never dreamed that he would be forced to such a point by the Jurchens in the remote places of the White Mountain and Black Water. At this moment, his arrogance is afraid that there is no more. ”

Guo Xu got up with a smile and said, "Where is the Liao envoy?" Come and see him. ”

"This time it is Yelu Shi, the son of Yelu Zongyuan, who has been waiting for the emperor in the capital for five days, and is in a hurry to see the emperor. But can the emperor tell us what he thinks before he meets him? When he sees Yelushi, he will definitely ask us to send troops to help, how does the emperor plan to respond at that time? "Lu Zhongtian said.

Guo Xu smiled: "Can the two of you make a conclusion? I want to hear from you. ”

Lu Zhongtian bowed down and said: "Your Majesty, the old minister and Yang Shumi did discuss it, and we reached an agreement. ”

Guo Xu said: "How? ”

"The ministers think that as long as the conditions are right, it is not impossible to help Na Yelu Zongyuan and help him tide over the current difficulties." Lu Zhongtian Dao.

Guo Xu exclaimed in astonishment: "What? That's how you guys think? Have you forgotten how Yelu Zongyuan humiliated my Great Zhou? This person is arrogant and rude, talking about the Yanyun Alliance, and forcing me to increase the number of coins. In the end, he also tore up the Yanyun Alliance. In the border towns, my Great Zhou and Liao people were constantly in trouble, and wars broke out frequently. And you must not forget that last year's rebellion was planned and supported by them. Yelu Zongyuan has long been my enemy of the Great Zhou, such a wolf with ambition, you actually want me to agree to his request and help him? Isn't this raising tigers for trouble, and they will eat themselves in the future? ”

Lu Zhongtian hurriedly said: "The emperor allows the old minister to explain. Lao Chen believes that Yelu Zongyuan's previous actions are indeed despicable. But look at things and look at the big picture. Although the relationship between Liao and our Great Zhou has deteriorated recently, after the signing of the Yanyun Alliance, the fact that the two countries have been friendly for a hundred years has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The relationship between the Liao State and our Great Zhou has long been close and inseparable. Although relations have deteriorated recently, and Yelu Zongyuan has no trust, the foundation of friendship between the two countries for many years is still there, which cannot be erased. Lao Chen and Yang Shumi both believe that making friends with the Liao State is the best policy, especially at this time, my Da Zhou needs a stable external environment. The recent tension between the Liao State and our Great Zhou Dynasty has caused us to invest a lot of manpower and material resources in the defense of border towns, which has greatly exacerbated the financial tension of the imperial court and is not conducive to recuperation and recovery. If we can restore friendly relations with Liao, it will definitely be beneficial to our Great Zhou. ”

Guo Xu sneered: "Then what they did to my Da Zhou will be written off?" ”

Yang Jun said: "Your Majesty, of course you can't write it off. This time, Yelu Zongyuan took the initiative to come to the door, and we can ask him to apologize to my Da Zhou, and at the same time, ...... We can talk about the conditions. For example, asking them to pay us New Year's coins, or ceding several cities on the Yanyun border to me for Da Zhou, this is a real benefit. Take the opportunity to knock him off. As long as the conditions are right, why not? Yelu Zongyuan sent us to knock on a penny, how could we let go of this opportunity. From a military point of view, we only need to obtain a few states, we can push the defense line of the border town to the south bank of the Sanggan River, and expose its Xijing Datong Mansion and Nanjing Qijin Mansion. ”

Guo Xu laughed and said, "I'm afraid Yang Shumi's words are wishful thinking." Yelu Zongyuan is willing to cut the land? Although I am young, I also understand that as long as he dares to do this, then the various ministries of the Liao State will inevitably oppose him, and what if he quells the Jurchen rebellion? Didn't Yang Shumi deceive me and didn't know? ”

Yang Jun said in a deep voice: "Where did the emperor say this, at this moment, his eyebrows are burning, in order to save the emergency, what is he unwilling to do?" The old minister didn't dare to bully the emperor, the emperor said so, and the old minister shut up. ”

Lu Zhongtian hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, what Yang Shumi said is the best situation, but one thing is true, they are sent to the door to extort bamboo for us. As the so-called sky-high price to sit on the ground and repay the money, even if they refuse to cut the land, there must be generous conditions for us, and the initiative is in our hands, so we are not in a hurry. ”

Guo Xu frowned and groaned, he was actually not interested in any conditions in his heart, he was actually only interested in the conditions of the other party's land cutting as Yang Jun said. You must know that the greatest merit of a king, the most worthy of praise by future generations, and the thing that can immediately be praised by the people and respected by the courtiers is to expand the territory. The emperor who has always opened up the territory and expanded the territory must be respected, which is a real merit, a merit that can be seen and touched. In the martial arts of cultural governance, opening up the territory is martial arts, and it is also a faster way than cultural governance.

Guo Xu understands that if he wants to get out of the quagmire of killing his father and brother, he must do something to offset it. Just like Li Shimin, people now remember his martial arts, not his evil deeds of killing his brother and forcing his father to abdicate. Something has to be done to shift people's focus. Therefore, although he verbally refuted Yang Jun's words, Guo Xu understood that if he could use this opportunity to expand his territory this time, it would be the key to the stability of his throne and the key to whether he could finally get rid of the clamps of others.