Chapter 237 Don’t be confused
Liao Kingdom, Shangjing
In an open space in the palace, the Emperor of Liao Kingdom watched the soldiers holding sledgehammers and knocking on a cement wall.
The soldiers were very strong, and they hit the cement wall with a sledgehammer, and the sound of "dong-dong-dong" was very harsh.
Click
Suddenly, the sledgehammer in the soldier's hand was overwhelmed and the wooden pole broke.
At this time, the cement wall was only bumpy and bumpy, with no cracks or signs of collapse.
“This thing is called cement by the Han people. Add sand and gravel and mix it with water. It will become as solid as a rock in just one day. Now, the cities in Zhao and Song Dynasties that are close to our Daliao are using this thing. Repair and reinforce it," the Liao Emperor said solemnly.
Yelü Chongyuan said carelessly: "Your Majesty asked me to wait here to see this?"
The Liao Emperor looked at Yelu Chongyuan, with a hint of gloom in his eyes, and said: "Emperor Uncle, do you think this is not important?”
"Why is this important? There is a vast plain to the north of Zhao Song. If we, Daliao, want to send troops to Zhao Song, we can just use the cavalry to attack the hinterland and force the defenders to leave the city. What if Zhao Song builds the city stronger?" Yelu Zhongyuan said indifferently.
"The Generalissimo's words are wrong."
A Han official retorted: "Zhao Song has this magical object. If we use this object to connect the cities on the border, it will be like the Great Wall. The advantage of the Liao cavalry will be gone!”
“Hmph, there is a saying among the Han people that the ambition of others will destroy one’s prestige. We, the Liao warriors, are all dead. How can we sit back and watch Zhao and Song generals fight against each other? The city walls are connected? What's more, although this thing is magical, the cost is not low. Otherwise, Zhao Song could only use this thing to repair the city, so why would he spend so much effort collecting stones?" Yelu Chongyuan said disdainfully.
"The Generalissimo is right. Zhao Song is very weak and only wants peace. Even if he has such a magical thing, he can only stick to it and pose no threat to Daliao." A person beside Yelu Zhongyuan the official said.
"Searching into the Central Plains has always been the wish of all the emperors of the past. No matter what, Zhao Song has this thing, which poses a great threat to the Liao Dynasty's future entry into the Central Plains. Zhao Song cannot be allowed to repair and strengthen the city in such a stable way. The emperor's power is still as powerful as before. The emperor's uncle will be responsible for sending troops to harass Zhao Song and prevent Zhao Song from building the city safely. If you can get the method of making this thing, I will be rewarded heavily." Emperor Liao said.
"Your Majesty, once I send troops, I will tear up the agreement with Zhao Song, and then the coins will be gone." Yelu Chongyuan said.
"I didn't ask the emperor to send troops directly. Every year, wouldn't the ministries send cavalry to pretend to be horse bandits and go to Zhao and Song Dynasties to harvest grass and grain? The emperor just sent some people to pretend to be horse bandits to harass." Emperor Liao said.
The Liao Kingdom was a nomadic nation. Although it had been striving to centralize power since the founding of the country, the centralization of power was not thorough enough.
The Khitan nobles in the country all have some military power and a certain degree of autonomy.
Although the two countries have been at peace for decades, the Khitan nobles would send small groups of cavalry disguised as horse bandits to the Song Dynasty to clear grass valleys after the autumn harvest.
There is no danger to defend in the north of the Song Dynasty. It is difficult to guard against and it is too much to be disturbed.
The Song Dynasty also knew that those so-called horse bandits were all sent by the Liao Kingdom.
I once sent envoys to the Liao Kingdom to question him, but the Liao Kingdom did not admit it at all, and the Song Dynasty did not have the courage to go to war with the Liao Kingdom.
However, the border cities of the Song Dynasty are now being repaired, and a large number of civilians are working. It is difficult for the Liao army to hide their traces. Even though the autumn harvest of the Song Dynasty has already begun, the nobles of the Liao Kingdom did not send troops to plunder.
The Liao Emperor's intention was to let Yelu Chongyuan send multiple groups of cavalry to pretend to be horse bandits. On the surface, they seemed to be going to plunder, but in fact they were to delay the Song Dynasty from repairing the city.
“Since your Majesty has given orders, I must obey them!” Yelu Chongyuan responded.
"Huh?" Emperor Liao was stunned.
Yelu Zhongyuan had many soldiers and horses in his hands, and he also attracted some nobles who had soldiers and horses.
After he ascended the throne, in order to stabilize Yelu Chongyuan, he was granted the title of Grand Uncle of the Emperor and Grand Marshal of the Army.
However, Yelu Zhongyuan's existence is always a threat to him.
At the beginning of this year, he went on a patrol and was assassinated. After investigation, it was found that the assassin was sent by Yelu Zhongyuan.
The Liao Emperor originally wanted to slowly divide and win over Yelu Zhongyuan and disintegrate Yelu Zhongyuan's power. Yelu Zhongyuan attacked him and made him understand that he could not wait any longer.
However, in order to attack Yelu Chongyuan, his power must be disintegrated first. If only one Yelu Chongyuan is killed, the Liao Kingdom will be in chaos.
He killed Yelu Chongyuan. Those nobles who had taken refuge in Yelu Chongyuan and Yelu Chongyuan's sons would inevitably raise armies in order to protect themselves.
Even if he promised not to pursue the case, those nobles were worried that he would settle the score later and would not surrender.
Yelu Zhongyuan also knew this, which was why he dared to come to Beijing.
The Liao Emperor asked Yelu Chongyuan to send troops to harass the Song Dynasty to repair the city, so naturally he had no good intentions.
Yelü Chongyuan’s territory was not close to the Song Dynasty. On the contrary, several nobles who had taken refuge with him were not far from the Song Dynasty.
If Yelu Zhongyuan takes over this job, he will definitely let those tribes send troops.
He was going to send someone to remind the Song Dynasty and use the help of the Song Dynasty to cause heavy losses to the soldiers and horses he sent.
Those nobles took refuge in Yelu Zhongyuan for profit. Once those nobles suffered heavy losses, Yelu Chongyuan had to compensate them in order not to lose their support.
However, it was impossible for Yelu Chongyuan to compensate for all the losses, and those nobles would have some complaints in their hearts. Then he can send people to contact and win over those nobles.
Even if they can't be won over, they can still use counterintuitive tactics to make Yelu Zhongyuan doubt them.
The Liao Emperor was already prepared for Yelu Chongyuan to refuse to shirk the blame. Before that, he had discussed various countermeasures with his confidants, forcing Yelu Chongyuan to agree.
Whoever thought it was, Yelu Zhongyuan immediately agreed.
Such an abnormal behavior left Emperor Liao confused for a while. "Your Majesty, I will personally take charge of this matter, but the border of the Song Dynasty is currently under construction, so we must be on guard. I am afraid that the losses caused by this troop dispatch will be considerable, and we need some compensation from your Majesty." Yelu Chongyuan said with a smile.
The Liao Emperor looked at Yelu Chongyuan and thought to himself: "Could it be that Yelu Chongyuan wanted to confuse me by agreeing so readily? Or does he have other plans?"
< br>Yelü Chongyuan agreed so readily that the Liao Emperor was a little hesitant.
"Your Majesty asked his ministers to harass the Song Dynasty. Shouldn't there be no compensation at all?" Seeing that the Liao Emperor was silent, Yelu Chongyuan began to turn his back on the guests.
"Of course there is, and the emperor also knows that the treasury is empty now. However, if the emperor's losses are too great, I will definitely compensate some." Emperor Liao said.
He didn’t know what Yelu Zhongyuan wanted to do, and the answer he gave was vague.
"Okay!" Yelu Chongyuan said with a smile: "If your Majesty has no other instructions, I will be ready to go."
The Liao Emperor looked at Yelu Chongyuan deeply and said : "Uncle Emperor, let's go."
"I excuse you!" Yelu Zhongyuan put his hands on his chest, bowed without bending his waist, turned around and left.
The Liao Emperor had something on his mind, so he sent all the other ministers away, leaving only a few confidants who returned to the palace to discuss countermeasures.
However, after many discussions, nothing came of it, so we could only send people to keep an eye on Yelu Chongyuan.
…………
Although Han Zhang promised to leave the repair of the city to Zhao Xing, repairing the city was related to the stability of the border, so he did not dare to be careless and kept people paying close attention.
When Sheng Wei arrived at the northern border, he was not in a hurry to build the city. He had been hiring people to collect stones and sand and transport them to the border city.
At the same time, a large number of kilns were built near the border to bake bricks.
A large amount of stones and bricks were hoarded before the official repairs to the city began.
Han Zhang felt a little anxious when he saw that the construction had not officially started yet.
After winter, it is freezing in the north, so repairs to the city must be completed before winter.
Han Zhang wanted to ask Zhao Xing, but finally endured it.
At the beginning of August, news finally came that construction had officially started.
Although it took a long time, there were not many cities in the Liao Kingdom on the northern border of the Song Dynasty. As long as the two most important cities, Xiongzhou and Bazhou, were repaired before winter, the rest There is no rush to repair the small town in the coming year.
After all, the court only provided five hundred thousand taels of silver, so it’s not easy to ask for too much for this little money.
Not long ago, he received news that the people who repaired the city used something that could stick the masonry together, making it unbreakable and the repair speed was very fast.
Not only did they repair the dilapidated places, but they also heightened and strengthened the city walls.
In short, it was so miraculous that Han Zhang was a little hesitant and ordered someone to bring some back.
If he didn’t see it with his own eyes, he would always be a little suspicious.
Han Zhang was thinking about these things when his entourage came in and saluted: "Master, Mr. Shen is here."
"Hurry and prepare tea."
Han Zhang came to his senses after hearing this, gave an order, got up and walked out of the public room.
"Master Xianggong!" Xianggong Shen saluted.
"Bo Ming." Han Zhang returned the salute and said sideways: "Come into the room and talk."
The two entered the public room. After the guests and hosts sat down, the entourage brought tea and left. .
"Bo Ming came to see me, but what's the matter?" Han Zhang asked.
Xianggong Shen put down the tea cup and whispered: "Xiangong, I heard that His Royal Highness is planning to implement some green seedling method in Kaifeng Mansion."
Han Zhang looked at him straightly when he heard this and said: "Bo Ming, you Tell me the truth, did someone tell you something?”
He doesn’t know what Qingmiao Law is, and he hasn’t heard the news.
Xianggong Shen knew something that he didn't even know. Either Xianggong Shen sent someone to monitor every move in Kaifeng Mansion, or someone said something to Xianggong Shen.
Han Zhang feels that the possibility of the former is very small, but the possibility of the latter is greater.
"I knew I couldn't hide it from the Grand Prime Minister." Mr. Shen said with a wry smile: "In recent days, officials have often come to see me, and this news is what they said."
Han Zhang was silent for a while after hearing this, and said: " I remember correctly, Bo Ming’s family has a long history and is a prominent family in Zhengzhou, right?”
“That’s right, but I am very supportive of the investigation of the land. When His Majesty gave the order, he had already ordered people to return to the clan. Tell the clansmen to investigate themselves and hand over all the hidden fields, otherwise don't come to me if something happens." Xianggong Shen said.
"Bo Ming sees clearly." Han Zhang nodded slightly and said: "In this case, you shouldn't be confused at this time."
(End of this chapter)