When it comes to civil governance, it will always cause civil and military disputes in the Great Song Dynasty. To be precise, it is to rule by force, or to return to the previous era of using literature to control force.

The army is all the protégés of the Great Song Dynasty, and the disaster of the feudal town can be put to rest. However, it is debatable that it is not still necessary to have such a strong martial style, or even to be ruthless in military force.

"Over there in the Western Regions, what's going on now? How many immigrants, how many garrisons, and did Ogedai send troops to harass them? ”

Zhao Hong finally broke the silence and returned to the border of the Northland.

The Mongol army withdrew from the Central Plains, and for two years, the two sides did not send envoys to communicate with each other. There are constant battles on the border, big and small, but there are no major battles.

"Your Majesty, in two years, my Great Song Dynasty court has immigrated more than 1.3 million people to the Western Regions, and the proportion of the population is already greater than that of the local residents of the Western Regions. Our army garrisoned 30,000 and 50,000 Xiang troops, which was enough to deal with the invasion of the Tatar army. ”

The secretary of the military department, Wei Liaoweng, swore and said.

Now the Great Song Dynasty has deployed hundreds of thousands of male soldiers in the west and north directions, and Mongolia, which has suffered a great loss of vitality, is no longer in trouble.

"Your Majesty, the Tatars are broken and their bones are no longer what they used to be. Mobei is a bitter cold land, there is no plunder, even if the Tatar army wants to go west and south, there is no heavy grain and grass available. Without five years and ten years of hard work, it would be difficult for Tatar to have a major war. ”

Yelu Chucai followed and said, not taboo about his relationship with Wokotai.

"Your Majesty, the Great Khan of Ogedai is a drinker, likes to hunt and drink, and his body has always been sick, and he is lazy in the government. Among the younger generation of Tatars, Kublai Khan was killed in battle, and Möngke was disabled. Although the people of Kuochu and Batu were brave, the tribal power was weak. The minister speculated that in the next three to five years, there would be no major wars. ”

Listening to the meaning of his words, Wokotai seems to have no intention of using troops externally, and it seems that he doesn't need to care too much.

There have been no major wars for three or five years......

Zhao Hong frowned and was silent.

Without food and clothing, the Mongol army will naturally go south. It seems that the war in the Northland will continue in the future.

The cavalry artillery fire shook the sky and thundered, and the border army of the Great Song Dynasty lacked nothing. Perhaps, the border army of the Great Song Dynasty can take the initiative to use troops to keep the enemy out of the country.

"Send an edict to Yu Jue, Meng Hui, Lu Wende and others, rectify the soldiers and horses, and wait for the opportunity to use troops against Mobei. Once the Tatar army comes, it will be dealt a terrible blow! ”

Zhao Hong's face was gloomy, and he passed on his will.

For those who dare to burn and kill looters in violation of the border, it will be a merciless counter-killing.

"Your Majesty, go to war. For the Tatars, it is possible to divide and win over those Tatar nobles, so that they can fight among themselves. I'll just sit down and reap the profits. ”

Yelu Chucai is more familiar with the forces of the grassland tribes and knows how to weaken the other party, and his suggestions are quite pertinent.

"The Tatar nobles and tribal leaders are all afraid of power and morality, and they will fight for ten or eight years each, and then it is not too late to win over and divide."

Zhao Hong was unmoved, and still insisted on suppressing first and then soothing.

is still the same sentence, the two countries are at war, fighting with national strength, and the Great Song Dynasty can afford it, so it depends on whether Mongolia can stand it.

"Your Majesty, it will take several years for the diversion of the Yellow River to be completed. However, the Suez Canal in Africa has already been opened. Is Your Majesty going to visit the canal to see this grand event in person? At that time, Your Majesty will also be able to take a look at overseas and African operations. ”

Although Wu Qian's voice was not shocked, he was a little excited in his heart.

The Suez Canal was opened, and the Great Song Dynasty mastered the transportation arteries to Africa, Asia, and Europe. From now on, the merchant warships of the Great Song Dynasty no longer need to go around a big circle, pass through the treacherous Cape of the Storm, and enter the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal and directly into Europe.

In fact, he has always been very puzzled why the canal has such an awkward name.

Is that a beauty that the emperor will never forget?

"Of course! I will definitely go! ”

Zhao Hong nodded slightly, and his heart was also excited.

The Suez Canal was opened, and the next step was to migrate to North and South America, and then to use troops in Europe. The East overwhelmed the West and unified the whole world, this was the best of times.

First hit its market with cheap goods, causing a large number of people at the bottom to lose their jobs, and then use soldiers to encroach on it, and if it doesn't work for ten years, it will take thirty or fifty years, until the European continent is completely conquered and placed under the rule of the Great Song Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, the canal is open, and the warships and merchant ships of my Great Song Dynasty can enter the Mediterranean Sea at any time, and my Chinese goods can also enter Europe at any time. However, the Venetian merchants were very influential in Europe, and in order to sell our goods in Europe, they had to go through them. Otherwise, the language barrier will not be easy to sell. ”

The Merchant of Venice?

Zhao Hong couldn't help but think of Shakespeare's work.

Since the Middle Ages, Venice has been one of the most significant maritime trading powers in the Mediterranean. The trading posts and commercial posts established by Venetian merchants in and around the Mediterranean formed a complex and cohesive trade network, which allowed Venetian maritime commerce to expand rapidly and dominate Mediterranean trade.

It is indeed not easy for the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty who are not familiar with the language to enter Europe.

Wasn't the Latin Empire that occupied Constantinople, also known as the Romanian Empire, founded by the Venetians?

The feudal lords of Western Europe had long coveted the opulence of Byzantium, and Venice, in particular, in order to seize Byzantine commercial interests, instigated many ways to prompt the Fourth Crusade to change the original route of attack on Egypt and attack Constantinople instead. After the Crusaders occupied most of the Byzantine Empire, the Venetians occupied 3/8 of Byzantine land according to the agreement between the Crusaders and the Venetians, and soon they established the Latin Empire in this conquered territory, occupying Constantinople and a small part of the surrounding territories.

It's just that the Latin Empire is now left with only Danteburg, which can't make ends meet, otherwise Emperor Balwin II would not have robbed the officials of the Great Song Dynasty in the Suez Canal.

"Your Majesty, you can't really control Eurasia without occupying Constantinople. But if you take Constantinople, you will have a grudge with the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire will definitely try to recapture Constantinople. ”

After many years of overseas operations, Wu Qian has a deep understanding of the situation in the Mediterranean and European countries.

Constantinople, later Istanbul, is located at the eastern end of the Balkan Peninsula, bordering the Bosphorus, the gateway to the Black Sea, and is a strategic position of great importance when Europe and Asia are at the heart of the traffic.

From the mid-4th century to the early 13th century, Constantinople was the largest and most prosperous city in Europe. It was only after the Crusades were broken that they declined.

"Constantinople, disturbances, several cultures, various forces, headaches."

Zhao Hong shook his head and frowned.

If you don't take it, others will always take it. The law of the jungle, the law of the jungle, the gateway to the Black Sea, the bridgehead into Europe, it seems impossible for the Great Song Dynasty to give up.

However, compared to the vastness of North and South America, Constantinople was too small. The expansion of the Great Song Dynasty in recent decades, or in the last hundred years, was in North and South America, not in Europe, and not in tiny Constantinople.

"Wu Qian, what's the situation on the Japanese side? I, the Great Song Dynasty, can I use troops against Japan? ”

After thinking for a while, Zhao Hong returned to the topic of Japan's use of soldiers.

The Jin Kingdom was destroyed, and Wan Yanchun chose to escape into the empty door and cut him off. In front of the country and the nation, the individual is really small.

Because the Central Plains and the North Land were to be restored, he had to postpone the dispatch of troops, which was three years.

"Your Majesty, my coastal control department has 30,000 troops stationed in Hepu. If it is to use troops against Japan, it can transfer another 30,000 sailors from the rivers and lakes, another 20,000 sailors from the Coastal Control Division, and 30,000 Goryeo sailors, and 110,000 sailors can use troops against Japan. ”

After years of operation, the 100,000 troops of the Coastal Preparation Division, coupled with the Jianghu Water Division, are strong and strong, strong ships and artillery, and Wu Qian is full of ambition.

"How is the defense of the Kamakura shogunate in Hakata?"

Zhao Hong continued to ask, his mind was a little dazed.

Since Zhou An was killed in Japan, it has been nine years. It has been twelve years since he ascended the throne.

It's been 12 years, and it's time to use troops against Japan.

"Your Majesty, the Japanese have built a stone wall about several miles long in the port of Hakata to allow the landing of a large army of snipers. The Kamakura Shogunate ordered the guardians of Kyushu and the land to strengthen the coastal defenses, and also ordered the imperial family stationed in the Kamakura Shogunate to go west to strengthen the garrison of Kyushu. At present, there are 50,000 or 60,000 samurai stationed in Hakata. If we wait until our army invades Japan, I am afraid that there will be at least more than 100,000 garrisons fighting our army. ”

Wu Qian continued to play, and Zhao Hong nodded lightly.

100,000 Japanese samurai, sounds good, a bit challenging, this time we must annihilate Japan's living forces in one fell swoop and destroy this evil neighbor to the east.

"Have you figured out the sea waves between Hepu and Hakata?"

Remembering the "kamikaze" encountered by Kublai Khan's expedition to Japan in history, Zhao Hong continued to ask.

Historically, Kublai Khan launched two eastern crusades in an attempt to conquer Japan and bring it under the rule of the Yuan dynasty. However, both Eastern Crusades encountered typhoons, and the Yuan army suffered heavy losses and had to return in vain.

In fact, the Yuan army went on two expeditions to the east, the cavalry could not exert its strength, the logistics could not be guaranteed, the composition of the army was complex, and the sand was scattered.

"Your Majesty, in the past few years, the officers and men of our naval division have been paying attention to the weather of Haiwen, and have often practiced the landing of the naval division, and will never put the army in danger. Moreover, with the strength of our army's ships and artillery, land warfare is fundamental. Your Majesty rest assured! ”

Wu Qian swore an oath and seemed to be full of confidence in Japan's use of troops.

With the strong ships and sharp cannons of the Great Song Dynasty Naval Division, it was not easy to deal with the Japanese warships without firearms.

"Your Majesty, the northern land of the Great Song Dynasty is being restored, and all kinds of ruins are waiting to be rebuilt. At this time, it is better not to use troops against Japan. It's perfectly possible to wait a few more years. ”

Zhen Dexiu is very puzzled by Zhao Hong's "retribution" and persistence.

In order to avenge his brother-in-law, he used troops against Japan, which was too arbitrary.

Although Zhao Hong is fierce, he doesn't seem to be such a willful person.

"Your Majesty, it is not too late to recuperate for another three or five years, and then use troops against Japan. Your Majesty pondered. ”

Wei Liaoweng, the secretary of the military department, also persuaded the emperor.

"If the sailor doesn't fight anymore, he will be abolished. Besides, the sailor has been operating in Goryeo for so long, so he is ready to move. ”

Zhao Hong's face was serious.

"Zhuqing, with the use of troops in Japan, you don't have to persuade me. I'm not doing it for any good thing, and I'm not going to be reckless. I did this for a reason, and I didn't want to explain it. ”

Thinking of the crimes committed by Japan against China in history, Zhao Hong's heart immediately hardened a lot.

If this evil neighbor to the east is not destroyed, what is the meaning of his rebirth?

"Your Majesty, the sailors and soldiers are already waiting for Your Majesty to use troops against Japan."

Wu Qian solemnly asked Zhao Hong for orders again.

"Good!"

Zhao Hong said appreciatively and said to Wu Qianzhengse.

"Wu Qian, let the sailor transfer grain and grass to Goryeo Hepu, and then transfer the army of Du Gao's army to the east together, and then tell the king of Goryeo and ask him to send a sailor to assist. After the fall of this year, 200,000 military soldiers in Japan! ”

The sailor has been operating in Goryeo for so long, and half a year should be enough for the transfer of grain and grass.

Wu Qian received the decree with indignation, and the ministers were helpless, and they no longer disobeyed the emperor's "obsession".

With 200,000 land and water troops marching eastward, is the emperor going to launch a bitter national war and destroy Japan in one fell swoop?