Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 319: Princes

According to incomplete rule, the population of the entire Chola Dynasty was probably at least 10 million.

How can one rule such a huge empire with only 20,000 people, or even less than 10,000 people?
This is undoubtedly a huge challenge for Zhao Xin.

Even if he wasn't careful, he might be targeted by some fanatic and assassinated on the street.

Then his 62-year-old life would be lost on this continent.

At this time in Thanjavur, the mayors and chiefs of some nearby cities were gathering together.

Zhao Xin also came out of the harem shortly afterwards, ready to talk to them in detail about how to manage the various details of the Chola Dynasty in the future.

When Zhao Xin came out, everyone looked at him.

Zhao Xin also raised his hand to signal them to sit down, and then said: "Today's topic is the items and quantities of tribute every year, and next, we have to talk about how we can help each other... and jointly maintain this empire. Including, what should our empire be called next."

……

After a morning of discussion.

When I returned to the harem, I could only say that I was extremely tired.

old!

After all, he is already 62 years old.

After the meeting.

Zhao Xin also kept the two chiefs whose daughters were taken into his harem.

He said to the two of them, "From now on... the collection of this tribute will be left to you two."

"You each take half responsibility."

Now, there are only a dozen or so nearby cities of varying sizes that have surrendered to Zhao Xin.

Some of these cities have a population of 100,000 or 200,000, while others have only a few tens of thousands.

However, there are countless cities like this in southern India.

After hearing what Zhao Xin said, the two also replied: "Yes! Everything is subject to the orders of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty."

Zhao Xin then asked them to go back.

I went through a lot of trouble to bring them back to the harem just to say these two sentences to them.

Of course, this is not a completely useless move.

Because to outsiders...

These two people have completely become Zhao Xin's lackeys.

Even if they go out now and say that they actually have no intention of joining Zhao Xin, it is estimated that no one will believe them.

He would definitely be secretly criticizing the two of them in his heart.

However, the two of them were also suffering in their hearts but could not express it.

You think they are willing?

Moreover, he married his twelve or thirteen-year-old daughter to an old man.

In fact, they don't want to.

But there is nothing I can do if you don’t want to!
Do you dare to fight with the other side?

If he couldn't even defeat Kurotunga, there was no hope for the others.

So after leaving the palace, these two people who shared the same suffering couldn't help but start chatting.

One of them asked, "Do you think this is a good thing?"

Another person also replied: "Prabhakaran, what do you mean by this matter?"

The former said: "Appoint a person from afar to be the emperor."

Then Prabhakaran said, "If you really want to say it, Kurotunga is different and an outsider."

The former replied: "How can that be the same? Kurotunga at least has some Chola royal blood."

The latter said: "Actually, it's all the same, and...hasn't the emperor already said that he wants to marry the daughters of our two families?"

The former said: "That's what you say, but it makes us both feel even more in trouble. I would rather I had never given birth to such a daughter."

The latter replied: "This place is like this, whoever is strong can be the emperor. If you don't accept it, you can overthrow him."

The former was just a small chief, and the population of his city was barely over 100,000 people.

So how can there be such ability?

In fact...

The small town lords and chiefs around Thanjavur were all very conflicted.

after all……

After all, they are all the same kind of people and are ruled by the same kind of people, so that's fine.

But now he is ruled by a white-faced person...

This more or less hurts their national sentiment.

of course!

Whoever objects first will surely be the first to be killed.

therefore……

Even if they wanted to plan, they had to plan well and elect a new person to be emperor first.

……

only……

Zhao Xin obviously wouldn't give them such an opportunity.

This is not!

Then...

Zhao Xin asked them to go out together to attack other cities that had not yet surrendered.

As long as you take action, you are a sinner of the nation.

You are an Indian traitor, and there is no going back.

The thirty-eighth year of the Li Yuan Dynasty.

Zhao Xin continued to order people to pacify the four directions.

The south was handed over to Prince Pandiya, and the north was handed over to the city lords and chiefs who surrendered to Zhao Xin.

can only say……

At the beginning, there was no major conflict between those who surrendered and those who had not yet surrendered.

but……

As the attack became more intense.

The contradiction between the two sides is increasing day by day.

So that...

Those who surrendered at the beginning also had to become a little angry.

What's wrong with me being an Indian traitor?
And at the same time...

The civil strife in the Chola Empire naturally attracted the attention of the neighboring Western Chalukya Dynasty.

The Western Chalukya Dynasty was originally a brother relationship with the Eastern Chalukya Dynasty. At that time, a king of the Chalukya Dynasty conquered the land of Eastern Chalukya and then appointed his younger brother as king.

As a result, after inheriting the throne, the younger brother's descendants broke away from the rule of the original Chalukya dynasty.

Later, the Chola Dynasty merged with the Eastern Chalukya Dynasty to form the Chola-Eastern Chalukya Dynasty.

Now, the city lords and chiefs of the Eastern Chalukya Dynasty had all heard that Zhao Xin had destroyed the Chola.

Now, it is coming towards them, hoping that they will surrender.

The Eastern Chalukya Dynasty would naturally have to look for its own allies next.

and……

It was at this time that the Western Chalukya Dynasty also hoped to regain its original land.

This is not!

The two sides soon reunited.

They planned to fight against the Song Dynasty and Pandiya in the south together.

This autumn.

Zhao Xin sent people to the capital of the Western Chalukya Dynasty to meet their king and explained to him that the territory of the Eastern Chalukya Dynasty should have been a Chola territory. Now that the Chola was destroyed, this territory should belong to the Song Dynasty.

The Western Chalukya Dynasty naturally did not think so, and they opposed Zhao Xin's claim.

Then fight!

Fortunately, there are mountains and plateaus in between.

if not……

Maybe back then, Zhao Xin would have directly pierced through the opponent's capital.

The two sides fought for a while, and because the rainy season was approaching, Zhao Xin ordered his troops to withdraw.

Moreover, their rear is not very stable now, so there is no point in running to the opponent's side.

It’s better to go home and digest what you can first.

Pandya's side was also relatively smooth.

after all……

These places were originally controlled by the Pandya royal family, and were equivalent to the former subjects of the Pandya royal family. Now that the Pandya prince personally came out to persuade them to surrender, those who could surrender surrendered.

But many of their chiefs objected to having a yellow-skinned foreigner rule them. Even...

After Zhao Xin returned, Prince Pandiya expressed all their concerns.

Zhao Xin also asked: "Is that what they said?"

Prince Pandya said, "Yes."

Zhao Xin said, "Although I also want to believe in religion, but... there is no such tradition in the Central Plains. Moreover... in the Central Plains, the emperor is the most important. Believing in the emperor is much more useful than believing in Shiva."

"Speaking of which...why don't you become followers of the Emperor?"

This question really caught Prince Pandya's attention.

I just stood there in a daze.

Zhao Xin added: "You believe in Shiva and me at the same time, isn't that possible?"

Prince Pandya: "..."

Zhao Xin: "I will not force you to change your religious beliefs, and I support your sacrificial activities, but you have to let me think seriously about my religious beliefs."

"Speaking of which...if you believe in Shiva, what traditions are there?"

Prince Pandya briefly told Zhao Xin about the linga to be worshipped against Shiva.

The so-called Shiva's linga is Shiva's reproductive organ.

Considered to be the origin of all things.

After hearing this, Zhao Xin could only say...

You guys really know how to have fun!
By the way...

I also listened to the stories of Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu.

After listening, Zhao Xin concluded that Shiva is a dancer who is willing to dance to destroy the world at any time.

Brahma is the creator of the world. He is responsible for generating various things in the world and its rules.

As for Vishnu, he is a fire fighter.

Every time the world created by Brahma is imperfect, Shiva will get angry and dance to destroy the world and start anew. Then Vishnu will come out to save the situation and tell Shiva to stop dancing, because if he continues to dance, the world will be destroyed.

Speaking of which...

If you really want to believe it, then Zhao Xin has to believe in Vishnu!

after all……

Vishnu is the god who maintains world peace.

Isn't that the same as what he is doing now?

After roughly listening to the other party's story, Zhao Xin said: "I respect your tradition very much, but if you want me to completely become a Shiva believer, that is impossible."

Zhao Xin directly rejected the other party's proposal.

After all, no matter what...

This is worshiping Shiva's genitals, this is a bit too much.

If this matter gets out, how will he survive in the future?
Prince Pandiya then informed the city lords and chiefs in the south of Zhao Xin's answer.

Everyone was helpless.

but……

It doesn’t matter.

Anyway...

Is there any dynasty that has not declined?

perhaps……

It is precisely because of the emperor’s rejection that they will have the opportunity to be elected as emperor?
Even though Zhao Xin has occupied Thanjavur now, in fact, what he actually controls is only an area of ​​dozens or hundreds of kilometers around Thanjavur.

This year……

Considering that the army could not stay here forever, Zhao Xin asked Zhao Ming to take half of the people back to Srivijaya first.

As for Zhao Xin himself...

Anyway, just be careful.

By the way, let Zhao Ming take the letter back and ask Zhao Zhe to send more people.

Of course, those who returned with Zhao Ming also included the surrendered city lords of Zhu Luo and the eldest son of the chief and his family.

This is proof of submission to Zhao Xin.

To prevent them from rebelling at that time.

in fact……

Do you think this can really prevent rebellion?

Not necessarily.

but……

Having a hostage is definitely better than having no hostage at all.

Let’s settle them in Srivijaya first.

At this time, there were many more houses built of stone in the Central Plains style in Srivijaya.

When the hostages arrived in Srivijaya and saw the new style, they were also shocked.

As for the west coast of Chola...

This year, several vassal states also quietly became independent.

Anyway...

If no one comes to ask them to pay tribute, they will pretend not to know.

even……

If you ignore me for many years, then when I gain a certain level of strength, I might fight back.

This is the norm in South Asia, including countries in Southeast Asia.

Many kingdoms are actually just a city.

Outside this city, you will become a vassal state.

And these vassal states, when you are strong, may pay tribute and taxes to you.

But once you decline, they might swallow you up.

therefore……

They were simply too sad about the demise of Chola.

At the end of this year, Zhao Xin also sent someone to contact them.

then……

Only then did they reluctantly agree to pay tribute to Zhao Xin in the future.

In fact...

At this moment, in southern India, there is a sense of division among warlords.

And Zhao Xin can now barely be considered the Emperor of Zhou and the common ruler.

only……

The relationship between the Zhou emperor and the vassal states was very fragile.

No wonder Zhu Luo was unable to march eastward.

Under this kind of national system, being able to protect one's own piece of land is already considered good enough.

If you go out to fight and lose your own soldiers, other vassal states will surely take advantage of the situation.

Now think about it again, seventy or eighty years ago, the Chola still had the strength to attack Srivijaya.

visible……

At that time, Srivijaya was still very powerful.

Or at least, they are very united with their vassal states.

This shows that the army is very capable of fighting.

The current Zhu Luo may not be as strong in unity as the Zhu Luo of seventy or eighty years ago.

of course!

Today's Zhu Luo is actually not bad. Although it is not as united as before, its national strength is strong.

after all……

Not everyone can casually pull out seven or eight hundred warships.

This strength is not weak even in any other dynasty.

I just happened to meet the unreasonable Zhao Xin.

At the end of the 38th year of the Li Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the 39th year, the Western Chalukya Dynasty began to exert its strength and gradually encroached on the territories that originally belonged to the Chola.

Zhao Xin also ordered Prince Pandiya to lead his men north.

These city lords and chiefs who were attacked by the Western Chalukya Dynasty were faced with a difficult choice whether to surrender to the Western Chalukya Dynasty or continue to surrender to Zhao Xin.

of course!

Fortunately, most of them are still very sober.

Zhao Xin has muskets and artillery, as well as Liao cavalry. If he surrenders to the Western Chalukya Dynasty so easily, do they dare to bet that their city will not be conquered by the Emperor of the Song Dynasty?
therefore……

Before the arrival of reinforcements, they unexpectedly put up a very tenacious and resolute resistance.

(End of this chapter)