Li Yuanhao misjudged the military strength of the Great Song Dynasty, believing that the Great Song Dynasty did not have the ability to annex Western Xia and Liao, so he did not take the initiative to attack Western Xia and Liao under the strong national strength.

But in fact, it is not that the Great Song Dynasty did not have the ability to annex Western Xia and Liao, but simply Zhao Jun thought that it was a bit untimely to annex now.

First, the Great Song Dynasty was the period of rising national strength, and once the war started, the development of all aspects would come to a standstill.

Second, the Great Song Dynasty will only get stronger and stronger.

In the Great Song Dynasty, 200 points of combat power against a Liao State with 80 points of combat power plus a 50-point combat power of the Western Xia, and in the Great Song Dynasty, 1,000 points of combat power against a 100-point combat power plus a 60-point combat power of the Western Xia, are completely two different concepts.

The former can be destroyed, but it will also suffer a lot of losses.

In the case of the latter, it is the same as an adult bullying a two- or three-year-old child, and he has no power to fight back.

Especially now that the Great Song Dynasty is developing rear-loading artillery and rear-loading rifled guns, once the research and development is successful, the combat effectiveness of the Great Song Army will be raised to several steps again.

Therefore, the smartest thing for the Great Song Dynasty to do should be to wait for the strength to improve and easily eliminate these countries.

Instead of seeing that he can beat it, he rushes to fight. In the end, like Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, he won the Xiongnu, and his domestic economy was about to be abolished, and he had a bad reputation for being a poor soldier.

Although Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had no choice at that time, it was already the most helpless move. But now the Great Song Dynasty is selective, and there is no need to forcibly send troops at all.

Therefore, the strategy of the Great Song Dynasty to develop quietly and wait for opportunities is the best strategy.

But no matter what, although Li Yuanhao misjudged the military strength of the Great Song Dynasty, he was indeed right about one thing.

That is, the Great Song Dynasty will indeed not take the initiative to attack the Liao State and Western Xia, and will have to rely on them to develop the economy.

So Li Yuanhao thinks.

Now that the Great Song Dynasty has no active offensive intentions, it is very likely that the Western Xia Liao Kingdom will choose to support when the Great Song allies Qingtang and Goryeo attack it.

Instead of directly attacking the hinterland of Western Xia and Liao, he chose to use this method of encircling Wei to save Zhao to engage in a full-scale war with Liaoxia.

What's more, even if the Great Song Dynasty carried out like this, they would not be the main force in attacking Qingtang and Goryeo anyway.

If they make such an arrangement, the main force will definitely attack the Song State when the border is on guard or when the Song State goes to help, and even if the Song State does not rush to help, they will have enough troops to defend it.

Even at that time, he could accuse the Great Song Dynasty of violating the covenant and provoking the war without authorization, so as to gain the upper hand in public opinion and righteousness.

After all, both the Western Xia and the Liao State had a legitimate reason to send troops, and Qingtang and the Western Xia were feuds, and it was impossible for the Western Xia to give up the offensive against Qingtang because of the alliance between Qingtang and the Great Song Dynasty.

As for the Liao side.

Goryeo, as a subject state that paid tribute to the Liao State, hugged the thigh of the Great Song Dynasty in recent years, and began to disrespect the Liao State more and more, not only building the Great Wall on the border, but also paying a lot less tribute, which was also an excuse for war.

So in general, no matter whether the Great Song Dynasty sends troops to attack or send troops to help, they have a backhand, and they can still occupy the name of righteousness, which is a matter of killing two birds with one stone.

Yelu Zong really thinks this strategy is quite good.

His thoughts are a little deeper, because in his opinion, the Great Song Dynasty is a little confused about the specific strength now, especially since there are so many artillery and soldiers and horses on the border, and if they force it over, it must be a steel plate.

The best way is to fully mobilize the army of the Great Song Dynasty, like Li Yuanhao, to avoid the main force of the other party to launch a surprise attack.

Even if the enemy is not allowed to aid Goryeo, then it is necessary to attract the Great Song to their own territory, so that the opponent is attacking and defending, and naturally occupies a geographical advantage.

The artillery of the Great Song Dynasty is strong, but the so many artillery pieces he arranged in Yanyun are not vegetarian.

"Hmm."

Thinking of this, Yelu Zongzhen nodded very approvingly and said: "King Xia's strategy is indeed very clever, making the Song army tired, and the worst is to let them attack our homeland, we have artillery cities, and it should be no problem to defend them." ”

Seeing that Yelu Zongzhen agreed, Li Yuanhao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Since the strategy has been set, let's talk about the specific time to send troops." The minister thought that the sooner this matter was done, the better, in case the train of the Song Kingdom was repaired to Hebei."

"Hmm."

Yelu Zongzhen nodded again in agreement.

He had already received the news that it only took a month for the Song Kingdom to build a railway close to 100 miles, and if it was at this rate, it would take only one year to build it from the Daimyo's Mansion to Zhuozhou.

This is too great a threat to the Liao State, once the railway is successfully built, once the Liao and Song wars, then the Song army will have a great first-mover advantage.

In fact, it's already slow.

For example, when the United States built the Pacific Railroad in history, there was a 1,100-kilometer journey, which was completed by 14,000 Chinese workers in four years.

This means that these 14,000 Chinese workers have to repair an average of 23 kilometers per month.

It may not seem like much, but the 1,100 kilometers are not flat plains, but the Sierra Nevada region of California.

The first 40 miles alone were traversed through the mountains, and 50 bridges and more than 10 tunnels had to be built.

Later, in the plains, the construction speed was much faster, not only reaching 50-60 kilometers per month, but even a world record of about 16.41 kilometers of track laying in 12 hours.

Forty years after the Pacific Railway was repaired, when the Qing Dynasty began to repair the Jinghan Railway, the Henan section of Hebei was repaired in less than two years, and then there was no money and there were too many mountainous areas in Wuhan, so it took five years to open the whole line to traffic.

If the Great Song Dynasty does not go to the southern mountains to repair and first take care of the northern plains, then the speed of repairing more than 40 kilometers in a month is really nothing, and at most half a year, it will be possible to build a direct railway for Hebei.

Therefore, the Liao State has already underestimated the speed of road construction in the Great Song Dynasty.

However, Yelu Zongzhen and they dealt with it in a timely manner, and after considering the exaggerated speed of road construction, he immediately decided: "We must send troops this year." ”

"That's what I thought too."

Li Yuanhao said.

"This summer and autumn is a good time, and I can hunt east."

Yelu Zongzhen narrowed his eyes and said, "In the name of Dongjiao, he suddenly launched an offensive against Goryeo. ”

There is one thing he didn't say, that is, the Jurchen in Changbai Mountain is also restless, and he can take this opportunity to subdue him.

It's just that Li Yuanhao is an outsider, so it is naturally impossible for him to expose the factors of instability in his country.

"Well, I'm also launching an offensive against Qingtang at this time."

Li Yuanhao said.

"No."

Yelu Zong really thought for a while and said, "If we launch an offensive at the same time, the Song Kingdom will definitely be vigilant and can't let them detect this. ”

"What does Your Majesty mean?"

"I heard that some time ago, you have been reorganizing the troops and horses in the country and raising food and grass?"

"I can't hide anything from Your Majesty."

Li Yuanhao smiled bitterly.

He was preparing to attack Qingtang before, but he suddenly knew that there was a steam train on the side of the Great Song Dynasty, so he stopped his action and came to ally with Yelu Zongzhen.

Otherwise, at this time, he would probably have crossed Qishan and was preparing to attack Qingtang.

"I know, and the Song people may know."

Yelu Zongzhen said lightly: "King Xia is afraid that you have to be more careful this time, I am afraid that if you send troops like last time, they will act immediately." ”

"No, even if they knew, they wouldn't be able to intercept me like last time."

Li Yuanhao said with a smile: "This time I plan to climb over Qishan, go around to the back of Qingtang, destroy Qingtang first, and then raid Lanzhou, as long as I control the main road of Lanzhou City, the Song people will not be able to fight." ”

"Oh?"

Yelu Zong really glanced at Li Yuanhao in surprise, and then said, "King Xia is really courageous, but it is indeed a good strategy. ”

Although it is a little more difficult to take a long detour, it is like Deng Ai smuggling through Yinping, which can play a miraculous effect.

In this way, even if Qingtang and Da Song knew that Western Xia was fighting hard and might make big moves, then it was very likely that they would only defend the front and ignore the behind, thus giving Li Yuanhao an opportunity.

"In this case, the king of Xia can act immediately, and when the Song State pays attention to the northwest, I will suddenly march against Goryeo and take the Song State by surprise!"

Yelu Zongzhen said.

"Okay."

Li Yuanhao agreed.

Although he made the first move, the pressure could be a little higher.

But Li Yuanhao knew very well that he had to bear this part of the pressure in order for the Liao State to give the Great Song a fatal blow.

Otherwise, his attack power is much weaker, and if the Great Song Dynasty mainly attacks the Liao State and guards against the Western Xia, then he may not be able to fight it, so there is no way to do it.

"Then the plan was finalized, during this spring and summer exchange, the king of Xia used troops against Qingtang for about three or four months, and after autumn, I used troops against Goryeo."

Yelu Zongzhen groaned slightly, and then said: "It's just that there must be the internal response of the Song people in my Liao country, and I am afraid that I will not be able to hide it from the Song people, so I have to think of another way." ”

"Your Majesty wants to have a clever plan."

Li Yuanhao said.

The implication is that each according to his ability.

Anyway, his method is still relatively simple, the territory between Song and Xia is mostly wilderness grasslands, his army can be deployed in the hinterland, and the cavalry comes and goes like the wind, and can attack or defend at any time.

Yelu Zongzhen is more embarrassed here.

Because his defense area is the sixteen states of Yanyun, which was originally the territory of the Han people, and there are many cities.

Deploying troops on the border, and soldiers entering and leaving the city will inevitably alert the Han spies, so it is really necessary to find a way to hide from the world, so that the Great Song side does not realize that his main force is not attacking Goryeo, but on the Song-Liao border.

"I naturally have a decision on this."

Yelu Zong really thought for a moment, didn't think about this, but suddenly said: "King Xia used troops this time, isn't he worried that if he is defeated, he will never recover?" ”

Li Yuanhao raised his head and looked at the sky, at this moment the sky was finally dark, close to the evening, the sun set, the night sky was bright, the wind seemed to be much softer that night, not as manic as during the day.

He said lightly: "If you don't fight, if it goes on for a long time, how can Western Xia and Liao still survive?" ”

"That being the case, fight to the end!"

Yelu Zong really couldn't help but look at him with admiration, at least the two sides had the same vision.

Or rather.

As long as smart people can see it.

If this continues, there will be only one way to destroy our country in the end.

It's better to fight.

Night falls.

Yelu Zongzhen and Li Yuanhao's men and horses have also begun to set up camp, set up tents around the mountain, and arrange dense camps.

A little fortification was built on both sides.

In fact, both sides know very well that unless the other party is stupid enough to have no limit before they will fight infighting at this time, otherwise there is no possibility of war.

So basically, it's a symbolic little bit of repair.

After that, Yelu Zongzhen held another dinner, and participated with several of his own subordinates, plus Li Yuanhao and several of his subordinates.

The banquet was enjoyed by the guests and the hosts, and it was not over until the hour of the feast.

The vast grassland is bright at night, and the bright moonlight falls like the Milky Way, which makes people's vision very broad.

The blue sky was dotted with stars, Yelu Zongzhen was slightly drunk, leaned on the small mountain, held a wine glass, raised his head and looked up at the night sky in the northwest slightly, and said unconsciously: "How vast is the night sky?" ”

Li Yuanhao next to him was also slightly drunk, and replied with a smile: "Even if it is vast, people also have words, the sun and the moon are like signs, and they have to promote the banquet, saying that he is alive." ”

"Oh?"

Yelu Zong really glanced at the other party in surprise, and then laughed: "I didn't expect King Xia to also like the poetry of the Han people. ”

"I like Mr. Wuliu's poems, not to mention that the Song people have liked to sell books to my Xia country over the years, I am very annoyed, but I can't prohibit it."

Li Yuanhao shook his head.

They exchanged border markets with the Great Song Dynasty, and they were not allowed to prohibit trade, and they were in a painful and happy situation.

The happy thing is that the Great Song Dynasty has no restrictions on purchases and sales, and they can buy as much tea, ironware and even military books as they need.

The painful thing is that the Great Song Dynasty was too large, and all kinds of goods were sold to the Western Xia, but they could sell very little, resulting in extremely unequal trade between the two sides.

Maybe this year, Xixia will earn 10 million guan from the Great Song Dynasty, and people will be able to get 20 million guan from you. Even if Western Xia had blood transfusions from merchants from the Western Regions, it would ultimately be a loss for Western Xia if it continued like this.

"It's good to read more books from the Han people, and their Buddhism is profound, so I like the Buddhist scriptures of the Han people very much."

Yelu Zong really smiled, he was not against domestic Confucianization.

As he spoke, he looked at Li Yuanhao again, not feeling a little sympathetic, so he said: "Speaking of which, I have been friends with King Xia for a long time, but now this is the first time we have met. ”

"Your Majesty's heroic posture is admired by the ministers."

Li Yuanhao replied.

He thought that Yeluzong was really talking about his appearance.

However, Yelu Zongzhen said: "After this time, it will not be easy to meet again in the future, I just feel a little emotional, I and King Xia are like old at first sight, and in the future, I don't know what year and month, I can drink and talk like this today." ”

As he spoke, he looked at the starry sky in the distance.

Li Yuanhao was slightly stunned, he was ruthless and never cared about family friendship, but it was difficult for someone to talk to him so sincerely.

So after he was silent for a while, he also looked at the starry sky and said lightly: "When the Great Song Dynasty is destroyed, I will have a good time with Your Majesty!" ”

It's just that by then, I'm afraid the atmosphere will not be what it is today.

(End of chapter)