The Journey of the Infinite Wizard

Ever since Shi Jingtang raised an army to rebel, asked for help from Khitan and ceded the Sixteenth Prefecture of Youyun, the Central Plains has been unable to regain this crucial strategic area after its reunification. Its loss made the territory of the Khitan Liao Kingdom reach the Great Wall, almost reaching the heart of the Central Plains.

Exposed to the iron hooves of the nomads

Faced with the undefendable situation in the north, the Song Dynasty was almost torn. Even though its military equipment was the most advanced in history, facing the iron hoof of the nomads and its strategic disadvantages, the Song Dynasty was unable to do so.

It caused large-scale destruction to the nomads who came and went like the wind.

The nomadic cavalry, who grew up on horseback and came and went like the wind, gave full play to the power of their cavalry. Later, the cavalry tactics reached their peak in the hands of the Mongols. However, the environment in the Central Plains was rarely able to support them.

The loss of large-scale war horses, Youyun Sixteen States and the north not only created a strategically passive situation

, and even lost a large amount of land suitable for raising horses. As a result, the development of cavalry in the Song Dynasty has been in a very embarrassing position. There are few cavalry, which cannot pose a threat to the nomadic cavalry, and the increase in cavalry means that there is simply a lack of war horses. Regardless of the army,

No matter how elite they are, they are always difficult to consume with large-scale cavalry.

It was not until the rise of a generation of national hero Yue Wumu that this situation was reversed. Unfortunately, Yue Wumu's achievements failed and his ten years of hard work was exhausted in one day, which was a pity for future generations.

A large area of ​​land in the north was lost, and the Western Region was cut off. In addition, the nomadic people prohibited horses from flowing into the Central Plains. Even if there were horses brought into the Song Dynasty by merchants, they were mostly castrated horses. They could not be bred, and there were fewer war horses.

It is even more impossible to form a certain scale. It is a matter known to everyone that the Song Dynasty was short of horses.

But one thing is that the industry and commerce of the Song Dynasty were very developed. With more than two million square kilometers of land, it created economic value that astonished future generations.

Based on 1990 US dollars, after 960 AD (Zhao Kuangyin established the Song Dynasty), China's per capita GDP was US$450, reaching US$600 by the end of the Song Dynasty. In Europe, which was in the darkness of the Middle Ages, it was only US$422. The Opium War failed in 1840

After, middle

The country's economy slumped, with GDP per capita reaching US$530 in 1870. Due to the civil war, by 1950, China's per capita GDP was only US$439, which could not catch up with the US$450 at the beginning of the Song Dynasty. It reached US$537 in 1952, but was still lower than the US$600 at the end of the Song Dynasty.

Moreover, his military strength was not weak at all, but he unfortunately fell into a bad era. Not only did he lack war horses, but he also faced a strategically passive situation with no danger to defend. As a result, the martial arts of the Song Dynasty left only a little for future generations.

Only compensation...

However, when the kings and ministers of Zhao and Song learned that the descendants of the Anxi Army in the prosperous Tang Dynasty had established a country and dominated the country thousands of miles away, and that there were so many good horses in the country, Zhao and Song began to have other thoughts. If they could use overseas trade relationships,

By introducing war horses from the Tang Dynasty, will it be possible to build a certain scale in the country and form a powerful and invincible cavalry?

There is just one thing they have to consider, that is, to transport war horses thousands of miles away, the cost of each one must be astonishingly high. However, they have to try to introduce war horses, even if the cost is huge, it is still so expensive.

No matter what. After all, the other party always has the same blood in their veins!

"After your envoy returns to your country, please convey my greetings to the leader of your country." Zhao Guangyi said with a smile on his face. The envoy to the Song Dynasty naturally responded, and then Zhao Guangyi said: "Your envoy once

It is said that there are as many good horses in your country as ox hair. I wonder if this is true or is it an exaggeration?"

The Tang envoy showed displeasure and said: "The good Pope knows that although our country is small, it does not mean that our country does not have the strength to seize foreign lands. It is that there is no need at all. In a barbaric land, there are many savages.

It's like tasteless food. But our country dominates the Mediterranean and is a well-deserved hegemon. Whether it's Europe, Africa or Africa

California, all the countries in the four borders respect our country. Even the country of Dashi, which was at war with the Anxi army of my ancestors, was invaded by the two countries more than 20 years after the founding of the Tang Dynasty. However, they were both invaded by us.

The country was defeated. Therefore, Your Majesty has no need to doubt the strength of our Tang people. The number of horses raised in our country is almost as numerous as the stars in the sky."

The monarchs and ministers of Zhao and Song looked at each other. Although they still had some doubts in their hearts, they were exaggerated by the strong mentality in the other party's words and couldn't help but believe a little in their hearts. However, although Zhao and Song were very developed in overseas trade, the specifics between the two countries

How to trade still needs to be discussed carefully. For this reason, Zhao Guangyi began to try to talk about establishing trade between the two countries.

"Your country and I, China, are blood brothers. I will not hide some things from your envoy."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

Zhao Guangyi nodded, and then said: "Since the unification of our dynasty, we have never been able to fully accomplish the task of restoring Youyun and conquering the northwest. Good horses are scarce, so it is a pity that we cannot make full efforts. I heard that there are so many good horses in your country, I don't know.

Can our two countries trade with each other?"

"Your Majesty, are you talking about establishing trade with our country and selling war horses?"

"Exactly so!"

After hearing this, the Tang envoy pondered and said nothing, and then said: "We, the Tang people, are naturally willing to trade with our homeland, but our two countries are thousands of miles apart. There are many dangerous passes on the land and there is a vast sea outside. How can we trade?" He added

Said: "And there is no need to go by land on the sea. The wind and waves are unpredictable.

, bumpy and constant, starting from our country, crossing Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, and arriving at my homeland, I am afraid that no good horses will survive. As a result, the price of good horses that can come to my homeland alive may rise to sky-high prices. What should I do?

Reducing costs is an issue that both parties must resolve."

The emperors and ministers of Zhao Song were silent. This is indeed a problem. If it cannot be solved to reduce transportation costs, then the price of a horse can rise to sky-high prices. As a result, this trade will not be able to continue at all. Because by then, the price of a horse

The price may be more expensive than gold. Even if their treasury is rich, they cannot afford it.

The Silk Road on land was blocked by foreigners. Even though there were so many good horses from outside the region, they could not be introduced on a large scale. The Khitan, the overlord of the grasslands, would not sit back and watch the Southern Dynasties have good horses. Although the Maritime Silk Road was prosperous, as just mentioned

as said

, trade war horses, only one out of ten. It costs a lot and cannot be bought and maintained. What's more, if you want to form a huge cavalry, the scale of the horses must be large to maintain a continuous supply of war horses. Not only will people die in war,

, war horses will also die.

This is also the reason why the overseas trade of the Song Dynasty was so developed, but there was still a shortage of horses. At that time, Southeast Asia and South Asia participated in the Maritime Silk Road, and the Arabs also participated. The Arabs did not lack good horses, but as mentioned above

That said, the cost of such trade is too high and not worth it. The cost of buying war horses is enough for them to arm many infantry.

Suddenly, the Tang envoy seemed to have thought of something. He said: "Your Majesty, I have an idea, but I need to return to my country to report the specific matter to my king to determine whether the matter can proceed."

"Oh? Your Majesty, please tell me." Zhao Guangyi became a little interested.

"If your Majesty can send troops to regain the southwest and then incorporate this area into the territory, then build a good port at the mouth of the river and lead directly to the sea, then the war horse trade may be feasible." The Tang envoy took a huge map, first pointed at Dali Kingdom in the southwest, and then

Then he pointed to Myanmar below the Dali Kingdom, and then pointed to Iraq.

He talked endlessly about the mouth of the Ravaddy River, "Once this place is brought under rule, the war horses brought by our country can land here. After repairs, they will be built along the river, and cities will be built where the river flows.

The horses rested along the way and finally opened a straight road to the southwest. Then they can be sent into your country."

"And our country can seize the land of Egypt, build a good port city on the Red Sea, build large-scale sea ships, and have many islands along the way. We can also build transit resting places for people and horses to rest. In this way, the loss of war horses will definitely be reduced. However, there will still be

It’s very expensive, but it will definitely be acceptable to both parties.”

"But there are many mountains and rivers in the southwest, and the roads are rugged and difficult to navigate. People walking here have to be cautious, let alone the horses that have come here thousands of miles away. If you accidentally damage the hoof of the horse or fall into the mountain stream, wouldn't it be a failure?

Moreover, attacking a city and destroying a country costs a lot of money. Building cities and building roads along the way cannot be accomplished in a day, and it will probably take at least twenty years. The cost involved is another huge amount! After calculation, it is enough for me.

The establishment of the dynasty

Tens of thousands of troops! Moreover, there are many miasmas in the southwest, rampant epidemics, poisonous insects and ferocious beasts, giving birth to savages, and a lot of labor and wealth, regardless of whether we can see the results. Just resettling immigrants and recruiting corvees is enough to make the already stable country

The people are full of complaints." Upon hearing the bad idea of ​​sending the envoy to the Song Dynasty, a minister of the Zhao and Song Dynasties immediately refuted it. Afterwards, he faced the monarch and bowed down, "Your Majesty, this is an act that will shake the foundation of the country and harm the country and the people. It is absolutely impossible."

After hearing this, the Tang envoy realized that he had said something stupid, so he compensated and said, "Your Majesty, the foreign minister is talking nonsense. I beg your Majesty to forgive me."

Zhao Guangyi waved his hand magnanimously, "Your envoy has been away from the Central Plains for hundreds of years and does not know the geography. How can I blame you?" Then he sighed, "Oh, in this way, the problem of lack of horses in our court will still be difficult to solve after all!"