Chapter 740: Three Years Later

Four years of Great Song Xingxi

For three years, the Song, Liao, and Jin kingdoms were largely silent. Jiangnan sent envoys to deposit gold and ask for Li Renxiao, the lord of Xia, and others, but Jin refused sternly and even detained the Song envoys. And as expected, the Jurchens used the Xia lords and officials in their hands to constantly incite in the old land of Western Xia. However, even if the remnants of the Xia army that had always been loyal to the Xia lord, or the Dangxiang people who rose up against Liao, they were all severely suppressed by the Khitans.

In the past three years, from Sichuan and Shaanxi in the west to Liangzhejiang in the east, the Song army has been fighting hard and waiting for the day. Xu Liang did his best and worked hard to operate, and of course, he also got enough rich rewards. Zhao Ding, who worked diligently for the country, although he had a friendship of fighting side by side, but when the two were in power on the same stage, Zhao Ding was still because of political disagreement, and he was repeatedly frustrated in the battle with Xu Liang, and was finally forced to resign from the position of prime minister and retire early.

It is precisely because of this that Xu Liang's policy has been effectively implemented. His plan of "500,000 elite soldiers" has been completed, and in addition to the Western Army, the four divisions of Jinghu, Jiangxi, Liangzhejiang, and Huaixi in the south, with 300,000 armor, are looking forward to the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains day and night. The Southern Officer Corps that was originally sent to Shaanxi also returned to their original posts and were reused. Although most of these people went with a gilded attitude, they benefited a lot from this period of time in the Western Army.

Of course, Jin Guo was not idle. The Jurchens have never had such a strong sense of crisis as now, and under the joint suppression of the Song and Liao, from the Emperor of Jin to the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs, they generally realized that they were no longer overlords, and were even highly threatened by the Han and Khitans. Seeing this clearly, Wanyan Wushu, who had seized the power of the Jin government, made great efforts to not only strengthen armaments, but also devoted great efforts to rectifying internal affairs, and especially adopted a series of policies aimed at easing the situation, restoring social order, and developing the cause of people's livelihood, especially in the Lianghe region.

As for the Khitans, it was a bit disappointing. Since Xiao Lila and others led the army back to China, the Liao State has not increased its troops to the old land of Western Xia, and it seems that the Khitans no longer think about the eastward expedition after the death of Yelu Dashi.

In the past three years, Xu Wei has worked hard in a down-to-earth manner. Thanks to his cousin's dominance in the court, any strategy he pursued in Sichuan and Shaanxi was unimpeded. In the past three years, the results have been gratifying, Sichuan has continued to develop, and Shaanxi has also become completely self-sufficient, with a significant increase in household registration, tax revenue has also risen year after year, and even Hedong can be helped to a certain extent. In the past few years, Xu Wei's footprints have spread all over Shaanxi, military camps, fields, fields, houses, government offices, and Shaanxi soldiers and civilians can always see the figure of King Xu Jun running and hear his words of encouragement.

The time has come, from Hangzhou to Xingyuan, we all know that the time has come. What is missing now is only an opportunity, a beginning, or a signal. As long as this is satisfied, since the declaration of peace, the biggest change in the world will explode!

In April of this year, in Yanjing City, where the Song and Liao people were eager to penetrate, people spread rumors in private. From the dignitaries to the peddlers' pawns, there is only one topic that everyone is talking about in recent days, the Optimus Pillar that supports the Dajin Kingdom is about to fall......

This is the residence of the Grand Master, the three provincial affairs, the marshal, and the King of Liang. A special horse team rushed to the front of the house to stop, the reason why it is special is because the horses of this horse team turned out to be all snow-white horses, the knights on the horses are all brightly armored, shining in the sun, and they are also holding a long spear halberd in their hands, and they know that this is a guard of honor at a glance.

When the team stopped, two of them jumped off their horses. The first one, less than thirty years old, was dressed in the traditional Jurchen costume, but he wore a belt inlaid with gold and jade around his waist, and between his gestures, he seemed to have a little less Jurchen heroism and roughness, and looked gentle and elegant. But don't be fooled by his appearance, this killer won't blink his eyes. Whether it is his brother, his queen, his concubines, or his subordinates, there is a reason not to be soft, and if there is no reason, he will kill if he is drunk. It seems that he could no longer find any other way to relieve the depression of being in power than to kill people.

The man who followed him closely behind him was a few years younger than him, his appearance could be described as dignified, he was tall and big, his eyes were blazing, and his expression was flying in anticipation, which was obviously extremely favored by the person in front of him.

As soon as the two appeared, the doorman of the Liang Wangfu rushed in, and when the two of them entered the palace, a large group of people hurriedly greeted them. It was inevitable for the deacon to pay homage, but he didn't seem to have any intention of talking to these people, and only asked, "How is King Liang's condition?" ”

It's eerily quiet in a lavishly furnished bedroom, and if you don't look closely, you'll hardly see a person lying on that couch. Suffering from illness, this man has become a little unrecognizable, and he can't even tell his age. His eyes were sunken, his cloudy eyes staring blankly at the roof, his lips trembling slightly, not knowing whether he was muttering to himself or praying to the heavens. The hands exposed outside the quilt are like a few dead branches, who would have thought that it would be these hands, one holding the political power and the other holding the military power? Who would have thought that this person would be the world-famous and was called the fourth prince by the Song people?

Wan Yan Kang and Wan Yan Liang slowly stepped into the bedroom, and the son of Wushu waited for them to get close before leaning down and calling softly: "Father, the saint has come to visit." ”

The vultures seemed to be completely unresponsive, and his dull gaze remained motionless at the top. It wasn't until his son shook him that his eyes moved and he looked at the people on the side.

"King Liang, I've come to see you." Emperor Jin sat down in front of the couch, leaned forward and said.

"Oh......" Wushu replied, his voice like coming out of his stomach, deep and ethereal.

"Your Majesty, how many months has it been now?" Wushu asked.

Wan Yan Liang glanced back at Wan Yan Liang, looked very surprised, and replied, "It's April." ”

"April, April, what is Xu Hu'er thinking now?" Wushu's words are incomprehensible, he is all in this field, and he is still thinking about what Xu Wei is doing.

"King Liang and recuperate with peace of mind, other things ......" Wan Yanliang has been back to Hedong since he last year, and after he came back, he was very well treated by Emperor Jin, and he has risen all the way, and now he has become Shangshu Zuocheng, according to the official system in the south, he is already the deputy prime minister. After his illness, he "shared" many things. This is also why, when the emperor came to visit King Liang, he didn't bring anyone, only him.

"I'll tell you......," the vultures interrupted. As long as I die, Xu Hu'er will send troops, and he will soon know that if he can't hide it, he will definitely not let go of this opportunity, he will definitely not. ”

The emperor was speechless for a while, but Wan Yan Liang behind him said: "Over the years, the south has been accumulating strength, but Dajin is not idle, and King Liang does not have to worry." ”

Wushu coughed suddenly, raised his hand weakly and shook it: "Don't underestimate the enemy, the Southern Army today is just like our army yesterday, and our army is now, just like the Southern Song Dynasty in the past." The generals are handsome and easy, and the soldiers are war-weary, although I try my best to manage, I can't ......"

As the leader of the Dajin Kingdom and the symbol of the army, how can Wushu not be discouraged when he says such things? Emperor Jin's color changed suddenly, and he asked in a lost voice: "If this is the case, what can I do?" ”

Wushu gasped for a while, and suddenly said: "Central Plains, Huaidong ......"

"What?" Wan Yanliang didn't understand, and asked by taking a small step forward.

"Return the Central Plains and Huaidong to the Southern Dynasties, and ask them for peace...... "Wushu has no strength and powerlessness.

"What?" Wan Yanliang accentuated his tone.

Emperor Jin was also stunned and questioned, "Why is this? ”

"As soon as I die, Your Majesty will send envoys to Jiangnan to sue for peace with the Central Plains and Huaixi to the south, without any conditions attached. By the way, the detained Song envoys were also sent back to them. Tell the young emperor of the Southern Dynasty and tell the brothers of the Xu family that we are begging for peace. "Wushu's words, it is easy to think whether he is terminally ill and has lost the most basic judgment.

Wan Yanliang was incredulous when he heard it, and couldn't help but say: "King Liang, although my Dajin has lost a part of the Hedong part of Shaanxi, but on the Xianghan front, how could the Song army have taken a step?" Last time, they invaded the north, but weren't they also killed back by a while? Even if our dynasty is unable to destroy the Song Dynasty now, if the enemy comes, how can the warriors of Dajin be afraid? If you return to the Central Plains Jianghuai without a fight, won't you destroy your prestige? Seeing this, the southerners are afraid that they will despise Dajin more and more! ”

What he said was exactly what Emperor Jin Wanyan thought, so as soon as he said it, Emperor Dajin looked at the vultures and listened quietly.

"Degunai." The vultures called for the Jurchen name of Wanyan Liang. "When encountering problems, you must be calm and composed, and use your brains more. Do you think I'm really afraid of the Southern Army? Since I followed Emperor Taizu to raise troops and fought all my life, how could I have been afraid of the enemy? ”

Wan Yanliang was speechless and silent.

"King Liang's proposal, there must be another deep meaning?" Emperor Jin asked.

"Take the initiative to cut the land and seek peace, show weakness to the south, make it despise me, and be proud of its military heart, this is one of them; Collect the army of Huaidong in the Central Plains to cross the Yellow River and concentrate forces, this is the second; If the Central Plains and Huaidong are returned, then in the Southern Dynasties, the Lord and the people will have a reason to delay the timing of their troops and shake their determination to go on the Northern Expedition. Since the Southern Dynasties have gained and lost territory, they must send troops to garrison, and in this way, the division of Xiangyang and Huaixi will move north, disperse their forces, and lose their natural danger. Our army waited to cross the river and struck at the four places in the Central Plains to annihilate its elite. ”

Wushu is not confused, Wan Yan Ling and Wan Yan Liang are now very sure of this.

"When this battle is over, the North and the South can truly make peace. Your Majesty, we have no power to destroy the Song, and this is the only way to beat them to the point where they sit down and talk. "Wushu has said too much, and he is already a little out of breath at this time.

Wan Yan Yan lowered his head and asked in a low voice: "King Liang's plan can stop the southern army, but what about the Khitans?" ”

Wushu didn't answer for a long time, his eyes were closed, I don't know if he was asleep, Emperor Jin asked a few times before he said: "The Khitan people don't have to worry, once the big stone dies, what kind of climate can orphans and widows become?" At this point, he paused for a while and continued, "What I'm worried about is the Xu family brothers. One of them is in charge of the government in the court, and the other is holding a strong army outside, which is a problem for Dajin's henchmen. Don't give them a chance......"

Emperor Jin listened, a little relieved, when he was distracted, only to see Wushu reluctantly stretched out his hand, Emperor Jin hurriedly held it, only to hear King Liang said: "May Your Majesty remember that it is not easy for your ancestors to start a business, so you can do it yourself, and you can do it yourself." ”

Hearing this, Wan Yan couldn't help but feel sad, clasped his uncle's hand and said: "King Liang is working in the country, and if he is sick like this, he is worried about it." ”

Wushu didn't answer the emperor's words, turned his eyes and looked at Wan Yanliang again, angry as if he was angry: "Di Gu Nai, Di Gu Nai ......" When he said it, he couldn't hear it.

In the fourth year of Song Xingxi, the eighth year of the reign of the Jin Emperor, one of the founders of the Dajin Kingdom, Liang Wang Wushu, who held the power of the Jin government, died. Emperor Jin Wanyan expressed great grief for this respectful and fearful uncle. issued an edict to drop out of the dynasty, posthumously sealed, accompanied the temple court of Taizu, and gave great honor.

Wushu followed Jin Taizu to raise an army against Liao, in order to take the lead, with great achievements, to turn the tide for the relative ability, and to stabilize the country, for Dajin, he is naturally a great hero, and he can compare with it, that is, the sticky Han of the Han name Zonghan. It's just a pity that this hero of the Dajin Kingdom, who aims to dominate the world and destroy the Southern Dynasty, when did Nai refuse him, he returned from several southern invasions in vain, and there was nothing to be done in the face of the Xianghan iron plate, but he lost his troops and injured the vitality of the Jin Kingdom. After the defeat of Western Xia, he buried himself in internal affairs, which can be regarded as a kind of compensation.

In short, the hero left with endless regrets and worries. The significance of his death is much more than just itself. He is the leader of the Jurchens after the inseparable and sticky Han, he is the incarnation of the Jin army, and once he leaves, he hands over the military and the politics of the military state to the third generation of the Wanyan clan, can his younger generations who grew up in peace and happiness inherit the legacy of their ancestors?

Before he died, the two people in front of his bed, Emperor Jin Wanyan and Shangshu Zuocheng Wanyan Liang, one was the eldest grandson of Jin Taizu Wanyan Aguta, and the other was the eldest grandson, these two cousins have one thing in common. Wanyan worships Confucianism as his teacher, likes Central Plains culture, wears Hanfu, reads classics, and is like the son of heaven of the Han family; Wan Yan Liang is even more incredible, he is at a higher level than his cousin, and he can actually write good poems.

Both of these grew up in a strong Han cultural atmosphere, and the Wushu generation was planning to destroy the Southern Dynasty, but before they conquered the Southern Dynasty, the third generation of the Wanyan family was already intoxicated with the etiquette and poetry of the Southern Dynasty.

Wushu probably also knew this, so before he died, he didn't mention anything to destroy the Song Dynasty, even if he instructed Emperor Jin to annihilate the elite of the Song army, his purpose was to force peace with war, hoping to sit down at the negotiating table with the Southern Dynasty, keep vested interests, and dare not make other extravagant hopes.

Throughout history, it is not difficult to see that when each dynasty was founded, the first and second generations of leaders were generally ambitious, because they came out of adversity, and had a sense of mission and urgency. But often in the third generation, it is not the same, and this applies not only to Jin, but also to Song. The sentence of later generations "rich but three generations",! ~！