Chapter 402 Changes in the Liao Kingdom
For a country, especially ancient countries, the size of the territory is not the most important, but the population is.
In the cold weapon era, population represented soldiers and taxes.
With more people and less territory, you can fight and rob.
But having too much territory and not enough population does not bring many intuitive benefits. Instead, it increases the defensive area.
Therefore, Zhao Xing could not care if Xixia conquered the plateau, but the Xixia tribe could not surrender to Xixia.
Otherwise, after Xixia is digested, its strength will definitely increase greatly.
“It’s not that I don’t care about the Xisiluo tribe, it’s just that if the Song Dynasty wants to send troops, it has to go to the southwest. The southwest is mountainous, and it is difficult for the army and baggage to pass through. Even if it sends troops, the number will be limited. If it wants to send troops, it can only go to the northwest. "
Zhao Xing said: "But the Song Dynasty and Xixia have an alliance. Once troops are sent from the northwest, even if it is temporarily To force Xixia to retreat, the troops deployed in the northwest will also increase in the future. With the current situation of the Song Dynasty, it is difficult to afford it. My idea is that you will lead the Tibetans on the plateau to station in Hehuang. At this time, Hehuang is in civil strife, and the Song Dynasty has soldiers and horses in the river. Huang, I can help you easily capture Hehuang!"
"This..."
Dong Xiang was stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect that Zhao Xing would come up with such a solution.
But they have lived and operated on the plateau for many years and suddenly asked him to change their land. How could he be willing to do so?
People are always full of worry and fear about unknown things.
Most ordinary people would be filled with uneasiness if they suddenly changed their lives in a different environment, let alone a force.
“Don’t refuse in a hurry!”
When Zhao Xing saw that Dong Xiang was about to speak, he quickly stretched out his hand to interrupt him and said, "There are several advantages to doing this. Although Hehuang is not as large as the plateau, it is not as barren as the plateau. Secondly, Hehuang is connected to the Song Dynasty. , the terrain is much better than that in the southwest. Once something happens, it will be much easier for the Song Dynasty to send troops to reinforce it.
Otherwise, it will be much easier. The Song Dynasty was able to force Xixia to retreat this time, but the Xixia tribe was internally unstable. Once someone inside colluded with Xixia and Xixia launched a sneak attack, it would be difficult for the Song Dynasty to react. "
Dong Fei fell silent upon hearing this. , Although what Zhao Xing said is very good, and it is indeed true, Plateau has an advantage that Hehuang cannot match, and that is development space.
Once his family moves to Hehuang, Xixia will inevitably block the road from Hehuang to the plateau.
In this way, he will live between the Song Dynasty and Xixia in the future, and there will be almost no way to escape the control of the Song Dynasty.
But although Zhao Xing looked like he was discussing with him, he could tell that if he didn't agree, it would be impossible for the Song Dynasty to send troops to help.
Zhao Xing saw Dong Xiang’s hesitant expression and was not in a hurry to urge him. He picked up the tea cup with a smile and began to taste it in small sips.
Dong Felt hesitated for a long time and said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to move my entire family to Hehuang!"
"Okay! I will order the troops and horses in Hehuang to cooperate with you!"
< br>Zhao Xing heard this and thought highly of Dong Xiang. Now that the situation is stronger than others, Dong Xiang has no choice.
But you know, whether you can make this choice is another matter.
It is courage and self-confidence to face things that you know you cannot do but do it.
But sometimes I am unwilling to do so.
As the leader of a force, equivalent to the Tu emperor, it was really difficult for Dong Fei to make a decision to completely rely on the Song Dynasty in such a short period of time.
Yes, it is complete dependence.
Once Xixia occupies the plateau, there will not be many targets to attack next, and they will definitely plot Hehuang.
The Xixia tribe entered Hehuang and still had to face the threat of Xixia.
Zhao Xing wouldn’t be too surprised if Dong Felt said he wanted to consider it, but his decisiveness was somewhat beyond Zhao Xing’s expectation.
While Zhao Xinggao looked at him highly, he also paid more attention to him.
"In this case, I will return to the plateau today to arrange evacuation." Dong Felt said.
"There is no rush. The Xixia envoy is still in the Song Dynasty. If you leave too hastily, it will inevitably arouse Xixia's suspicion. At this time, Xixia's eyes are on Hehuang. Once Xixia's attention is attracted, you want to evacuate safely. He Huang, it’s not that simple,” Zhao Xing said.
"If I go alone, the envoy will stay and paralyze Xixia." Dong Felt said.
"That's okay." Zhao Xing nodded when he heard this, but he was a little more wary because of Dong Felt's decisiveness.
He was even a little worried that tigers would be a problem in the future.
But thinking about it carefully, Zhao Xing felt that it was a bit redundant.
When the Great Wall of the North is built, he will be able to attack Xixia without any scruples in the future.
When Xixia is captured, it will naturally be impossible to leave the Xixia tribe behind.
After chatting with Dong Xiang in detail for a long time, Zhao Xing asked someone to take Dong Xiang back.
Not long after the envoy returned to the other courtyard where he was temporarily staying, he reported that he would send someone back to ask for instructions.
After receiving the permission of the Song Dynasty, Dong Zang left Bianjing with only a small number of guards.
Zhao Xing was worried that Xixia would secretly send someone to assassinate him, so he sent many people to secretly protect him.
…………
While the Song Dynasty was busy quelling the chaos and Xixia occupied the plateau, the situation in the Liao Kingdom also changed.
Although it was only November at this time, it had already snowed for the second time in Liao Kingdom.
Half a month ago, the first heavy snow fell in the Liao Kingdom, and Yelu Chongyuan chose to retreat.
The Liao Kingdom fell into a rare calm.
During this period, Yelu Chongyuan attacked Shangjing and suffered heavy losses. After retreating, he recruited troops aggressively to make up for the losses.
But recruiting troops and buying horses costs money, and fighting wars also costs money.
The war for more than a year has already exhausted Yelu Chongyuan’s many years of savings.
In order to have money and food to recruit troops and horses, Yelu Zhongyuan directly attacked the nobles in the cities he had captured before.
Such behavior caused panic among the people inside.
Yelu Zhongyuan also knew that this move had great hidden dangers, but he had no choice.
Although the Liao Kingdom learned from the Han people and implemented centralized power, the local nobles still had great autonomy.
In other words, it is more appropriate for the court and the nobles to rule together.
The court could only account for part of the local tax revenue, and the other part was owned by the local nobles.
Yelu Zhongyuan originally relied on his own fiefdoms and business to accumulate wealth. After launching the war, he did not touch the nobles in order to appease the people.
And those nobles surrendered to Yelu Zhongyuan for the benefit.
This resulted in a lot less money and food handed over to Yelu Chongyuan.
For more than a year, the war has basically not stopped. How can this little money and food be enough?
Yelu Chongyuan made no progress for a long time. He lost troops and generals and needed money to support the soldiers.
Now Yelu Chongyuan is riding a tiger and is unable to dismount. If he cannot capture Shangjing and successfully seize power, he will only perish.
At this time, Yelu Chongyuan didn't care about that much anymore, so he could only force the nobles to hand over their money, food, soldiers and horses.
But by doing this, Yelu Chongyuan not only offended those nobles who did not really join him, but even those nobles who supported him were full of uneasiness.
Originally, Yelu Zhongyuan was unable to conquer the capital, so people were already attracted to him.
Now that Yelu Zhongyuan is attacking these nobles, those nobles who support Yelu Zhongyuan are also worried that Yelu Zhongyuan will attack them next.
Therefore, many people contacted Yelu Yixin secretly.
(End of this chapter)