I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 182 Zhao Yu's Schemes and Deep Calculations

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This time, the emperor's personal expedition to the north to contain the Liao Dynasty and prevent them from interfering with the Song Dynasty's efforts to recover Western Xia progressed much more smoothly than Zhao Yu had imagined.

Less than twenty days have passed since the Song army set out, and they are about to capture Yanjing.

Anyone would be blinded by the victory before their eyes.

Zhao Yu was no exception.

Fortunately, Zhao Yu knew this history and knew who his real biggest threat was.

This person could be Li Qianshun, who, through a series of measures, enabled the Western Xia to achieve significant development in politics, economy, culture, and diplomacy, propelling it towards a period of revival; or Wanyan Aguda, a legendary and influential figure in history, possessing extraordinary courage and strategy, outstanding military command skills, and superb political wisdom, who single-handedly established the Jin Dynasty and ultimately destroyed the Liao Dynasty; or even Temujin, who possessed outstanding leadership and military wisdom, keen strategic vision, and decisive decision-making ability, who unified the Mongol tribes, ended the long period of division and warfare on the grasslands, led the Mongol cavalry to sweep across Eurasia, and established the vast Mongol Empire. It certainly cannot be Yelü Yanxi, a figure of utter incompetence, absurdity in personnel management, and arguably utterly without merit.

During this period before he was fully developed, Zhao Yu preferred that his neighbor and enemy be Yelü Yanxi, rather than Li Ganshun, Wanyan Aguda, Temujin, or other heroes from the grasslands.

Zhao Yu never forgot that the Song Dynasty still had a lot of problems. The reason why the Song Dynasty was able to defeat the Western Xia and Liao Dynasty was because it overextended itself and relied on exploiting the people. This could not last long. If all this was not ended quickly, people like Song Jiang and Fang La would definitely rise up and damage the foundation of his rule.

At that time, the Zhao Song Dynasty would be out of control, and Zhao Yu would be unable to attend to the struggle for power among the warlords on the northern grasslands. In that case, a king who would unify the grasslands, such as Wanyan Aguda, Temujin, or some other king whom Zhao Yu knew nothing about, would inevitably emerge from among them and then march south to fight against him, who was leading the troubled Zhao Song Dynasty.

Furthermore, if Zhao Yu had eliminated the fool Yelü Yanxi, the Liao Dynasty wouldn't have perished anytime soon. What if the Liao Dynasty had been replaced by a wise emperor like Yelü Dashi?
At that time, the Liao Dynasty would definitely fight to the death with the Song Dynasty because Zhao Yu killed Yelü Yanxi and seized the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, which were of vital importance to the Liao Dynasty.

If the Song and Liao dynasties were to suffer excessive losses, the Jin dynasty would reap the benefits, and things could very well turn back to the historical trajectory of the Jingkang Incident.

It was precisely because he understood all this that Zhao Yu ignored the radical gazes of Zeng Bu and others, looked at Han Zhongyan, and said to him: "Minister Han, go and talk to the Liao envoy. If the Liao emperor is pragmatic, and the talks are successful, then instruct the frontline soldiers to stop attacking the city. If the Liao emperor is not pragmatic, then we will break through Yanjing City tonight."

Although Zhao Yu said that he would only attack Yanjing City if negotiations failed, intelligent people like Zeng Bu could easily understand that Zhao Yu wanted to stop there, did not want to attack Yanjing City, nor did he want to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in one fell swoop. Instead, he wanted to maintain his strategic focus and prioritize the recovery of Western Xia. At most, he would ask the Liao Kingdom for some war reparations.

Zeng Bu and other radicals were deeply disappointed by this.

Meanwhile, conservatives such as Han Zhongyan and Su Zhe were relieved.

Han Zhongyan, Su Zhe, and others shouted, "His Majesty is wise!!!"

After dismissing everyone else, Zhao Yu kept only Han Zhongyan and Zhao Liangsi behind, giving them instructions in private: "Tell the Liao emperor to come out of the city to negotiate peace... First, ask for horses, then weapons..."

Zhao Yu meant that while Yelü Yanxi and his ministers were now trapped, some hidden dangers remained. The city still possessed a large number of horses and weapons, ready to be deployed for battle at any time. Furthermore, if Yelü Yanxi and his ministers were desperate, they could easily use the mobility and impact of their cavalry to break out of Yanjing. In addition, reinforcements could arrive at any moment to aid Yanjing.

Zhao Yu wanted to eliminate these hidden dangers so that Yelü Yanxi and his ministers would have no power to resist and would obediently bleed him dry.

After hearing Zhao Yu's explanation, Han Zhongyan and Zhao Liangsi were shocked by Zhao Yu's cunning and deep calculation.

At this moment, Han Zhongyan and Zhao Liangsi finally understood that whether it was Zeng Bu and other radicals or them, the conservatives, they were all far inferior to Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu was the real master.

As for Yelü Yanxi, he was even less of a match for Zhao Yu. In the multiple contests of military, political, and diplomatic maneuvering, Zhao Yu consistently outmaneuvered Yelü Yanxi.

Han Zhongyan and Zhao Liangsi were extremely grateful that their emperor was Zhao Yu, not Yelü Yanxi; otherwise, they would be the ones suffering now.

After giving instructions to Han Zhongyan and Zhao Liangsi, Zhao Yu summoned Lin Shu and commended him for his mission. He then sent Lin Shu, along with Han Zhongyan and Zhao Liangsi, to negotiate with Xiao Fengxian and the other Liao envoys.

……

While Zhao Yu and his ministers were making plans, Xiao Fengxian and the others waited anxiously, especially after they saw the sun setting further and further in the west.

At this moment, Xiao Fengxian and the others were like ants on a hot pan, their eyes frequently shifting between anxiety and unease.

The banners of the Song army fluttered in the wind, each one seemingly proclaiming the imminent end of the Liao dynasty.

The Song army patrols were everywhere, their armor clanging and their steps precise. Every step they took weighed heavily on Xiao Fengxian and his men, making it even harder for them to calm down.

Crucially, the situation in Yanjing City is like a heavy hammer hanging over the city, ready to fall at any moment and shatter their last glimmer of hope.

Before long, Lü Yihao was ordered to settle Xiao Sese and the three hundred beautiful girls from various ethnic groups.

Xiao Sese never expected that Zhao Yu would not even see her once, nor ask her a single question, before hastily taking all three hundred playthings that she and Yelü Yanxi and his ministers had given to Zhao Yu into his own harem.

This left Xiao Sese with mixed feelings, a mixture of humiliation at being looked down upon and fear of her unknown fate. She had once been one of the three consorts of the Liao emperor, a woman of noble status, but now she was being treated like an ordinary plaything by Zhao Yu. This stark contrast almost suffocated her.

Lu Yihao read Zhao Yu's decree expressionlessly, without a trace of sympathy in his eyes. He gestured to his men to take Xiao Sese and the other girls away, as if they were insignificant figures.

Xiao Sese bit her lower lip tightly, trying hard not to let her tears fall. She knew that showing weakness at this moment would only make her feel worse.

Xiao Sese didn't make a scene. First, she wasn't that kind of person. Second, now Yelü Yanxi and his ministers, as well as everyone in Yanjing, were like fish on Zhao Yu's chopping board, including her son and her relatives. How could she dare to act recklessly and anger Zhao Yu, causing him to kill all of them?

In the end, Xiao Sese could only obediently enter Zhao Yu's harem along with the three hundred beautiful girls from various ethnic groups.

What saddened Xiao Sese was that, faced with this situation, Xiao Fengxian and the other Liao people didn't even glance at the women.

Clearly, Xiao Fengxian and his men regarded Xiao Sese and the three hundred beautiful girls from various ethnic groups as insignificant gifts, unworthy of their attention or pity. Xiao Sese couldn't help but think, 'It is precisely because my Great Liao is filled with such incompetent and heartless people that we have fallen into this miserable state of shattered land. Our future lives, like drifting duckweed, are all thanks to you, my foolish ruler and treacherous ministers!'

Xiao Sese was filled with grief and indignation, but she also knew that complaining at this moment would be of no use. She could only silently endure the endless humiliation brought about by the destruction of her country and the loss of her family.

After Xiao Sese and three hundred beautiful girls from various ethnic groups left with Lü Yihao, Xiao Fengxian and the other Liao envoys waited for a while before finally meeting Han Zhongyan, Zhao Liangsi, and Lin Shu before sunset.

Han Zhongyan and his two companions led Xiao Fengxian, Xiao Bodie, and Liu Yanzong to a tent.

Here, Zhao Liangsi first introduced Han Zhongyan to Xiao Fengxian and the other two.

Upon learning that Han Zhongyan was one of the top three prime ministers in the Zhao Song Dynasty, Xiao Fengxian disregarded the fact that his own status was actually similar to Han Zhongyan's and took the initiative to bow to Han Zhongyan, then proceeded to flatter him:
"Your father served as prime minister for ten years, assisting three emperors. In the face of major events, he made crucial decisions, remaining calm and composed, ensuring the stability of the nation. He was truly a pillar of the state. Like father, like son, I believe Prime Minister Han will be a pillar of the Song Dynasty, capable of stabilizing the dynasty and rebuilding the foundation for peaceful coexistence between our two dynasties. I hope Prime Minister Han will consider the well-being of the people and facilitate this..."

Before Xiao Fengxian could finish speaking, Han Zhongyan suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him, his fingertips tapping the table with a dull sound: "Envoy Xiao, stop with the pleasantries. You and I both know that if we cannot reach a consensus, our army will continue the siege as soon as it gets dark. At that time, Yanjing will surely fall. Time is running out. If there is anything important, Envoy Xiao, please speak quickly and do not make a mistake."

Upon hearing Han Zhongyan's words, Liu Yanzong realized that Han Zhongyan must be an extremely difficult negotiating opponent; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to use the situation to pressure Xiao Fengxian right from the start.

However, at the same time, Han Zhongyan also sent a signal that they had a chance to save Yanjing City through negotiations.

Liu Yanzong was from Wanping, Daxing. His ancestor, Peng, was the military governor of Lulong during the Tang Dynasty. After Shi Jingtang ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun to the Liao Dynasty, six generations of the Liu family served as officials in the Liao court, successively holding the position of prime minister. Liu Yanzong's father, Liu Xiao, currently holds the position of garrison commander of Zhongjing. Liu Yanzong passed the imperial examination with distinction in the second rank. He was a very capable man.

Historically, Liu Yanzong was highly regarded for his talent and learning during the Liao Dynasty, serving in complex situations such as Emperor Tianzuo's escape and Yelü Nieli's self-determination. After surrendering to the Jin Dynasty, he advised the Jin court, assisting Wanyan Zonghan in attacking the Northern Song Dynasty with numerous strategies. He even wrote down ten offensive tactics, which had a significant impact on the Jin Dynasty's military strategy and political decisions, helping the Jin Dynasty successfully inflict the Jingkang Incident and destroy the Northern Song Dynasty.

The History of Jin states that Liu Yanzong, in his spare time from military service, managed official affairs, handled civil affairs, promoted agriculture and stored grain, supplied the capital, and provided funds for external distribution. He demonstrated certain abilities and made contributions in governing local affairs and developing the economy, thus providing support for the Jin Dynasty's stable rule.

Liu Yanzong served under both the Liao and Jin dynasties. He was able to survive and play an important role in the complex political environment. In the end, he even managed to blend in as a Han Chinese among the meritorious officials of the Jin dynasty. This shows that he had a certain political vision and adaptability, knew how to assess the situation, and considered his own future and the fate of his family.

Overall, during the historical period of the Liao-Jin transition, Liu Yanzong made outstanding contributions to the rise and development of the Jin Dynasty with his own talents. He made certain achievements in politics, military affairs and economy, and was definitely a formidable figure.

After receiving the signal from Han Zhongyan, Liu Yanzong immediately gave Xiao Fengxian a wink, trying to tell him to stay calm and not be intimidated by Han Zhongyan.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Fengxian didn't even glance at Liu Yanzong. He hurriedly said, "Before coming here, His Majesty had already made it clear that as long as the war is stopped, everything is negotiable."

When Xiao Fengxian revealed his true intentions right away, Liu Yanzong's heart sank. He knew that Han Zhongyan and the others would definitely make exorbitant demands.

really!

Upon hearing Xiao Fengxian's words, Han Zhongyan immediately said, "Since Privy Councilor Xiao is so straightforward, then I will not mince words either. Our dynasty's conditions have remained unchanged. If your dynasty wishes to negotiate peace, you only need to do two things: first, return the annual tribute that our dynasty has paid to your dynasty, with interest; second, invite your emperor to come out of the city to discuss the peace treaty with our emperor in person. If your dynasty agrees to these two things, then the war can be called off."

Upon hearing Han Zhongyan's terms, Liu Yanzong thought to himself, 'This is bad. The Song people are using the emperor to command the other lords. If His Majesty leaves the city and is detained, not only will the wealth of Yanjing be plundered, but the wealth of the other four capitals will also be in jeopardy.'

Liu Yanzong quickly shook his head at Xiao Fengxian, reminding him that he must not agree to such conditions.

Although Xiao Fengxian did not think as far ahead as Liu Yanzong, he knew that Yelü Yanxi was timid and cowardly and would absolutely not dare to meet Zhao Yu under such circumstances.

Therefore, Xiao Fengxian quickly said, "The annual tribute will certainly be returned, but please be lenient regarding the matter of asking His Majesty the Emperor of our dynasty to leave the city to negotiate peace."

Upon hearing this, Han Zhongyan said calmly, "We invite your emperor to leave the city to discuss important matters with His Majesty the Emperor of our dynasty. If you refuse, how can you show your dynasty's sincerity?"

Although Han Zhongyan's reasons were very valid, Xiao Fengxian simply refused to allow Yelü Yanxi to leave the city to meet Zhao Yu.

Upon seeing this, Han Zhongyan said, "Your dynasty only says it is willing to pay the annual tribute, but at most it can only pay one or two million gold, silver and silk per day. It would take at least a month to pay tens of millions of gold, silver and silk. By then, your dynasty's reinforcements will have arrived. If your dynasty goes back on its word again, it will be colluding with us from within and without. Wouldn't our dynasty fall into your delaying tactic?"

In fact, this was exactly what Yelü Yanxi and his ministers intended.

Moreover, Han Zhongyan was being conservative. This is just the beginning. Yelü Yanxi and his ministers are eager to show off, and the high-ranking officials, gentry, and wealthy families in Yanjing are worried about the Song army sweeping the city. That's why they are so quick to transport gold, silver, and silk out of the city. Once they have less and less gold, silver, and silk and the crisis is over, how could they possibly transport gold, silver, and silk out of the city so quickly? In fact, it is not even certain whether there are tens of millions of gold, silver, and silk in Yanjing.

Furthermore, by then the weather will be cold, and the advantage might fall to the Liao army, who are better adapted to the cold weather.

So, let alone a month, I'm afraid they won't be able to pay off the gold, silver, and silk in two or three months.

This is one of the reasons why Emperor Yelü Yanxi and his ministers agreed to return the tribute so readily.

Unexpectedly, Han Zhongyan saw through Yelü Yanxi and his ministers' little tricks at a glance.

Xiao Fengxian tried to argue, but Han Zhongyan just looked at him calmly, then glanced at the setting sun.

Seeing this, Xiao Fengxian gritted his teeth and said, "As long as His Majesty the Emperor of our dynasty is not allowed to leave the city, our dynasty can agree to anything else."

Upon hearing Xiao Fengxian's words, Liu Yanzong thought to himself, 'We've fallen into a trap!'

At this moment, Han Zhongyan, who had been waiting for Xiao Fengxian to say this, finally revealed his true intentions: "In that case, your dynasty shall give our dynasty another two hundred thousand horses..."

……

(End of this chapter)