Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 343 Joining the Army

Arabian Peninsula, southeast.

Sultanate of Oman.

During the Tang Dynasty, this place was part of the Arab Empire.

It was only during the Song Dynasty that this place began to gradually become independent.

finally……

It became a vassal of the Seljuk Empire.

This is where the world's frankincense trade flourishes.

The price of frankincense in ancient times was comparable to that of gold, so it is easy to imagine how rich people here are.

They just have money, but that belongs to their suzerain country.

The strength of the Sultanate of Oman itself is not very strong.

Zhao Xin was also thinking that there was no reason for him not to occupy such a good spice market.

To know……

The frankincense from the Sultanate of Oman was sold to Egypt and Eastern Rome in the west, to India in the east, and even to the Song Dynasty.

to be frank!
After Zhao Xin learned about the history of the Arabs, he couldn't help but sigh that the Arabs' maritime history is really long and ancient.

But this is also a chosen place by God. There is the sea just outside the door.

More open than the Mediterranean, it can transport goods to all parts of the world.

It is safer than the Southeast China Sea and there is no need to worry about the typhoons that come from time to time.

The problem is that the arable land and population resources are a bit lacking, and there are often conflicts in the north.

There are many tribes, sects and political forces in the country, and they are scattered.

It's hard to twist into a rope.

Zhao Xin even discovered that they were the first in the world to engage in black slave trade.

of course!

That is mainly concentrated in the northern part of the Arab region.

and……

It is said that at their most prosperous period, more than half of the population in their capital, Baghdad, was black.

Of course, Zhao Xin estimated that this was just an exaggerated number.

But it is still possible to imagine how prosperous the black trade in the Arab region was two hundred years ago.

As for now...

They were unable to take care of themselves, so naturally the amount of slave trade decreased.

however……

These trades did not stop.

They mostly captured female slaves and used them as maids.

There are males too, but they will be castrated before being sold.

Yes!

With a large number of books, reading materials, and geographical records being translated, Zhao Xin also began to understand the history of these places.

Although Zhao Xin was a person from later generations and had already understood many things, when he actually saw the books, classics, and portraits of some local buildings and cities in this world, he still couldn't help but sigh that there had once been such a prosperous civilization outside of Chinese civilization.

Although the slave trade cannot be said to be a civilized thing.

Putting down the book, Zhao Xin couldn't help but say to everyone with emotion:

"It seems that this Arab is not a good person either."

"We Han people should be more civilized."

A minister also said: "The Arabs are very good at sailing and doing business. Fortunately, their former dynasty was destroyed, otherwise, their strength should not be underestimated."

Another minister also said: "After all, they fought a war with the Tang Dynasty back then. If we hadn't translated these classics, or even visited the actual site, we would have no idea what kind of dynasty it was that fought against the Tang Dynasty."

Zhao Xin said: "From now on, we can't just focus on our internal affairs."

"We also need to know what's happening outside."

"Moreover, all this knowledge and information must be copied in multiple copies and sent to Chola, Srivijaya, Song, Goryeo, and Japan."

……

The 72nd year of the Li Yuan Dynasty.

When Zhao Xin was reading ancient historical books.

In the Western Regions of the Song Dynasty, the Song army also fought with the people of the Western Karakhanid Khanate and the Qarluk people.

Of course it was impossible to defeat the Western Karakhanid Khanate.

at this time……

The Seljuk Sultan Sanjar, in the name of protecting his vassal states and the fact that the Song Dynasty did not believe in Islam, took some of his men, as well as reinforcements from Khwarezm and other countries, to the front line to fight against the Song army.

be honest!

If it weren't for the Li Yuan army's advantage in firearms, the outcome would be still uncertain.

The main reason is that over the years, the Seljuks have been through many battles and have rich combat experience.

on the contrary……

On the Song Dynasty side, even though they also employed nomadic peoples of the grasslands, the nomadic peoples of the grasslands on this side had also enjoyed decades of good times.

This decline in combat effectiveness and fighting will is definitely unavoidable.

It was also thanks to the Li Yuan Army, as well as the Liao people like Han Shizhong and Yue Fei, the people of the Zubu tribe, and the people of the Ugundilie tribe that when they saw them, they had to praise the presence of such a powerful general.

If two idiots or eunuchs were allowed to lead this army, it would probably end in a disastrous defeat.

Of course!
Seljuk Sanjar was not completely without problems either.

Their problem is that they are a coalition force, and even in their headquarters, many of them are mercenaries.

It's okay when the mercenaries win, but who will care about you when you lose?

They all must have been running for their lives.

therefore……

In this battle between the two sides, it depends on who wins the first battle. Whoever wins will completely overwhelm the other side in morale.

The battlefield was set a little further north from the site of the Battle of Talas.

Say something.

Although it was not on the original battlefield between the Tang Dynasty and the Arabs.

But setting up the battlefield here is somewhat inauspicious.

But there is nothing we can do about it.

After all, this is the front line that the Song Dynasty can currently control.

Before the war, both sides would of course say something to weaken the other side's morale. Sanjar said that the archers on his side could shoot through a hair, and advised the Song army to withdraw from the Eastern and Western Karakhanid Khanates as soon as possible.

The Song Dynasty responded that anyone who offends China will be punished no matter how far away they are.

can only say……

This one was definitely intense.

of course!

This is mainly because both sides deployed a lot of infantry.

As a cavalryman, you can still say, I can’t beat them, so just run away.

But the infantry is different.

Can't beat...

You will die here.

And this time, Sanjar obviously lost a lot of infantry.

There were about 90,000 coalition troops in total.

Among them, even if logistics are not counted, there are at least 10,000 to 20,000 infantry.

It is precisely because both sides have deployed a large number of infantry that this battle cannot be fought and then run away.

But it is destined that whoever loses will lose at least half.

What Sanjar did not expect was that the food and supplies in his rear were ambushed by Yue Fei and his men while the battle was still going on.

A steady stream of Song cavalry appeared behind them.

Compared with the frontal attack, seeing that there were only a few Song troops, the Seljuk coalition was a little confused after being beaten.

Once there is chaos in the rear, morale will naturally drop sharply.

In addition, the Song army sent Li Yuan’s army up.

Suddenly...

The Seljuk coalition was attacked from all sides and was defeated.

If Sanjar, Mahmud II and others had not run fast, they would probably have been captured.

After this battle, corpses were everywhere.

When the news reached the Seljuk Empire,...

An uproar!
of course!

Because it is too far.

The Song Dynasty could not directly control Sanjar's territory.

Instead, he had to gather together the surrounding tribes and their chiefs.

Ask them if they are willing to join China.

The tribal chiefs naturally nodded.

After some reorganization.

Immediately afterwards...

Then he led his men to attack the capital of the Western Karakhanid Khanate. Mahome II was a petty man who could sit anywhere he wanted, so naturally, he surrendered without saying a word.

And all the dirty water was thrown on Sanjar.

He said it was Sanjar who asked him to do so.

If the battle line had not been too long, Han Shizhong and Yue Fei would have really wanted to attack the Seljuk Empire directly.

Since Mahiromu II has already given in.

Then we should send someone to negotiate with Sanjar first, and ask him whether he is willing to pay tribute to the Song Dynasty. Then, we can consider whether to continue the fight.

Sanjar's side...

After all, he is the Sultan of the Seljuk Dynasty, although there is more than one Sultan in the current Seljuk Dynasty, and many emirs have been recognized by the Arab Caliph one after another.

The Caliph in Baghdad also used this to fish in troubled waters.

Let them fight themselves so that you can regain power.

But what can I say!
This surrender was difficult to accept even for a man like Sanjar who was considered a great hero.

and so……

Sanjar was determined not to surrender or submit.

It depends on whether the Song Dynasty has the ability to attack them.

The Song army originally wanted to quit while they were ahead, but after seeing that Sanjar was still so shameless.

Han Shizhong and Yue Fei were not carried away by such a victory.

But the people below don’t want to!
It's not easy to fight the war, and I can rely on this to get a promotion and a raise in salary when I return.

One by one they began to persuade, and then continued to beat him.

But Han Shizhong and Yue Fei knew very well that even if they conquered these places, they would not be able to defend them.

You said you want to station troops here, that's even more impossible.

It would be good enough if we could keep a few hundred people here to collect taxes.

And those who persuade others to continue fighting are often warmongers.

The idea is also more utilitarian.

They never thought that people would die in war.

Although the number of deaths on their side is often relatively less.

At last……

The commander of the Li Yuan army, as well as Han Shizhong and Yue Fei, began to discuss the matter.

What to do next?
The Li Yuan army still has relatively sufficient gunpowder.

Continue to fight, in terms of ability, there is no problem.

only……

They have to figure out what the purpose of this battle is.

It is for the peace in the western part of the Song Dynasty.

How can the western part of the Song Dynasty be peaceful?

Defeat all the powerful people here!
Now the Qarluk people and the Western Karakhanid Khanate have surrendered, leaving only Sanjar of the Seljuks unwilling to surrender.

Moreover, Sanjar was once the suzerain of the Western Karakhanid Khanate.

Of course!
If Sanjar was really beaten.

The Western Karakhanid Khanate and the Seljuks became our own people.

How to say it then?

Maybe there won’t be any peace.

after all……

Sometimes, they also need to pay attention to checks and balances.

At last……

After some discussion, the three decided to fight.

The main reason was that Sanjar was too stubborn. In fact, if Sanjar wasn't stubborn, they should have returned to the capital by now.

then……

Soon, the Song Dynasty gathered an army of 100,000 people.

Go attack Sanjar.

Sanjar was a little scared.

But it's too late!
As the siege unfolds, eventually...

Unable to accept his own failure, Sanjar committed suicide.

When Zhao Xin learned about this, it was already the second year.

I was also stunned by the news.

The essential……

Muslims are now very angry when they heard that the Song Dynasty did not believe in Islam and even killed their people.

If Sanjar had not committed suicide, it might have been better.

Suicide made Sanjar suddenly become a tragic hero.

Instead, in the minds of Muslims, the Song Dynasty became a bad guy who only knew how to burn, kill, loot and do all kinds of evil.

The religious leader, the Caliph of Baghdad, also suggested that everyone stop what they were doing for a while.

The question has been raised: should we not fight among ourselves nowadays?

Should we stop the war?
These pagans have even reached the Seljuk homeland.

of course!

To the real beneficiaries, these proposals of the Caliph are nothing but bullshit.

At this time, what is more important is that those who are close should quickly express their goodwill to the Song Dynasty, in the hope that the Song Dynasty will not attack them again.

at the same time……

Some of the emirs of the former Seljuk Empire in various places also began to seize the opportunity to choose independence.

Like the Gur tribe, they set up their own Gur dynasty.

Like Kerman, set up a Kerman Sultanate of its own.

These are all possible.

only……

The prerequisite is that they must be recognized by the Song Dynasty.

Otherwise, if the Song Dynasty does not recognize you, it might come and beat you next.

then……

This new round of negotiations has also begun.

When the main generals of the Li Yuan army, Han Shizhong, and Yue Fei saw this, they thought it was the best thing.

after all……

If so many countries become independent, they will be unable to take care of themselves and will no longer have any ideas about the west of their Great Song Dynasty.

only……

All of this will be decided by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Or is it……

They can send people to North India, and if the government recognizes it, they can withdraw their troops.

Zhao Xin also heard the name of the leader.

Han Shizhong, although he didn't know any specific deeds in history, but he felt that the name sounded very familiar.

And what a good name Shizhong is! Generation after generation, all loyal!
What a good name!
As for Yue Fei.

Even a fool would know who this name is.

However, with a rigorous scientific attitude, we still have to remain 10,000% doubtful as to whether this is the Yue Fei in history.

Of course!
Even if it’s not that Yue Fei, it doesn’t matter.

Zhao Xin wrote a letter to praise them.

at the same time……

He also gave them a calligraphy piece.

The green hills are full of loyal bones

Blood-forged monument

The road to military service is long

The inheritance is ours

——Joined the army at a young age.

After seeing this, Han Shizhong also said, "Did you see that my name is mentioned here?"

Yue Fei looked at it and said, "Loyal bones are buried in the green mountains. Where is your name? And are you buried?"

Han Shizhong said to him disdainfully: "You are just jealous! Because there is no "fei" character for you on it. But speaking of it...you and I actually both joined the army when we were young. How did the emperor know that you and I both joined the army when we were young?"

Yue Fei said: "Do you think the emperor knows nothing? The court must have mentioned our names and experiences to him."

in fact……

Zhao Xin had no other intentions, he just wanted to trick more young people into joining the army.

However, Zhao Xin was still very pleased to see the emergence of people like Han Shizhong and Yue Fei.

Nowadays, the two of them are only in their early thirties at most.

"We still have a great youth!"

(End of this chapter)