Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

It was delivered to Li Qianshun.

After reading Xiao Heda's letter, Li Qianshun

He seemed listless and weak.

He sent eunuchs to summon Li Renzhong and Richard to an audience.

After reading the letter, Li Renzhong analyzed it.

"Xiao Heda was forced to consider how to protect himself,"

"He dares not truly betray the Great Xia,"

"He was also afraid that His Majesty would suspect him of disloyalty,"

"They even took the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction."

"This person is no longer usable."

"Yet it cannot be forced,"

"Otherwise, he would surely have led his troops to defect."

"If he defectes, Yokoyama will have a huge gap in its defenses,"

"The Ming army is very likely to send troops to attack Xia Prefecture."

Richard also took the letter and read it, saying with resentment and anger...

"I told you long ago that this person should not be given important responsibilities,"

"His Majesty insists on making him the Commander-in-Chief of the Xiangyou Army."

"Xiangyou Military Command is the main force in the Hengshan direction,"

"We can only try to appease Xiao Heda for now,"

"He asked for his wife and children, so we sent them over."

"But the families of his soldiers,"

"We must not let this opportunity slip by,"

"We cannot leave Xiazhou even for a moment!"

"Xiao Heda is only a short-term concern; how to deal with the Jin state requires further long-term consideration."

Li Renzhong said,

"Yelü Dashi has unified the various tribes of the northern deserts,"

"Now they have allied with the Ming Dynasty,"

"Can the Jin Dynasty truly withstand an attack from both sides?"

Chapter 1778 The Traitor

"If the Jin dynasty is destroyed in the future,"

"Yelü Dashi recovered the lost territories of the Liao Dynasty,"

“We once betrayed our alliance with Yelü Dashi,”

"Could he join forces with the Ming Dynasty to attack our Great Xia?"

Richard shook his head: "Once the Jin Dynasty falls,"

"A conflict is bound to break out between the Ming and Liao dynasties."

"Yelü Dashi and the Emperor of Daliang,"

"They are all men of great talent and ambition,"

"They are very likely to fight each other for the Land of Dark Clouds."

"At that time, perhaps my Great Xia will be able to benefit from both sides."

Li Renzhong asked, "Is that possible?"

"The Emperor of Liang abandoned the land of Youyun,"

"In exchange for Yelü Dashi sitting idly by while the Ming Dynasty attacks Daxia?"

Richard thought for a moment and said...

"Most likely."

Li Renzhong added, "Passing through Lanzhou,"

"There were also envoys from the Gaochang Uyghur Kingdom."

"The Ming Dynasty devised a plan to sow discord between Xiao Heda,"

"Could they also be plotting with the Gaochang Uyghurs?"

Richard remained silent.

The Gaochang Uyghurs of today,

The former core of the ruling power was in Ganzhou.

They fought against the Western Xia for more than 30 years.

They were forcibly driven to Turpan by the Western Xia.

Although the Gaochang Uyghurs later recognized the Liao Dynasty as their father,

He recognized the State of Song as his maternal uncle.

He treated the Western Xia as his father and elder brother.

They had a very harmonious relationship.

But both sides knew that

Once you seize the opportunity

They will inevitably drive each other to their deaths.

Now, the Western Xia is surrounded.

To the south were the Yellow-headed Uyghurs, who were subordinate to the Ming Dynasty.

To the west lies the Gaochang Uyghur, a sworn enemy.

To the east lies the relentlessly powerful Ming Dynasty China.

To the north lies the Jin Dynasty, whose diplomatic relations with China have deteriorated (the Jin Dynasty broke its territorial agreements).

Further north,

And there was Yelü Dashi, who hated them to the core.

And Xiao Heda, who defected from Xiazhou at some unknown time, is also nearby.

If you make a slight mistake at any step,

That would mean certain death and the destruction of one's country.

"What should I do?"

Li Qianshun was deeply worried.

Li Renzhong said, "The Qingbai salt from Yanzhou,"

"Since we sent troops last year to reclaim the lost territory,"

“The Ming government has always investigated very strictly.”

"We caught someone smuggling salt,"

"Serious offenses will result in immediate execution."

"At the very least, they would be exiled to the Hehuang region,"

"Han people no longer dare to engage in smuggling."

"The salt isn't selling,"

"The tax revenue loss is significant,"

“The people in the border areas also complained bitterly.”

"If this continues,"

"At most a year and a half,"

“The border tribes will then submit to the Ming Dynasty.”

The Ming Dynasty strictly prohibited the smuggling of blue and white salt.

The reason why it was able to achieve results,

It was because the Western Xia dynasty invaded and occupied Chinese territory.

Because the main force behind smuggling was the border troops.

Meanwhile, the Western Xia attacked and seized cities and territories, killing and plundering.

They inflicted heavy losses on the border troops.

Those who were killed were killed.

Some lost their official positions.

And they lost all their territory.

Even losing troops

How the hell are we supposed to smuggle goods with the Western Xia now?

The Western Xia conquered many territories.

They robbed many people and their wealth.

The salt business is now impossible to run!

"Besides bluish-white salt,"

"There were also goods such as silk and tea,"

"Sales to the two prefectures in Gansu are also prohibited,"

"Trade taxes along the Silk Road have plummeted,"

Li Renzhong said,

"Although Han Chinese merchants harbored resentment,"

"But they can still hold on,"

"But we can't hold out for long,"

"Trade must be resumed as soon as possible."

"The negotiations have been stalled for so long,"

"It will only benefit those Yellow-headed Uyghurs,"

"Goods from Han China have all been diverted to the territory of the Yellow-headed Uyghurs."

Richard said, "Let's talk things out first."

"How does the Ming Dynasty want to negotiate?"

"I'll agree to their demands no matter how harsh they are."

"My view on the Jin and Ming dynasties,"

"There will definitely be a battle next year,"

"And it's going to be a major war."

"We should quickly take a year to recuperate,"

"We will send troops again next year when the time is right."