Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

A comparison will clearly show which is stronger and which is weaker.

Grand Secretary Zeng Gongliang hesitated, glanced at the imperial steps, and then looked at Jiang Zhao: "What about the Liao Kingdom?"

The meaning is also obvious.

Should we continue paying tribute to the Liao Dynasty?

In the Battle of Xihe, the Western Xia lost almost one-tenth of its territory, including the most suitable land for farming, which severely damaged its vitality.

Even though the young emperor has grown up, this decline cannot be concealed.

However, the Liao Dynasty was different.

The Liao Dynasty was an absolute behemoth.

The national strength accumulated by Emperor Shengzong of Liao was simply too great.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have almost "headed south to capture the dragon" and signed the Treaty of Shanyuan.

Even if the new emperor of Liao was not as good as Emperor Shengzong of Liao, he was still a normal person.

With the national strength accumulated by Emperor Shengzong of Liao, a normal person who ascended the throne and did not squander it would have been enough to keep the Liao Dynasty at a fairly strong level.

In terms of overall national strength, the Zhou and Liao dynasties were roughly equal.

However, when it comes to military strength, the cavalry is indeed quite inferior, and the Great Zhou really couldn't defeat the Liao Kingdom.

This time, they have completely broken ties with the Western Xia.

We can't very well break with the Liao Kingdom, can we?

"It's never too late to avenge the late emperor," Jiang Zhao said slowly, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

The Liao Dynasty and the Western Xia Dynasty were ultimately different.

The Western Xia's "Qingli Peace Treaty," which involved the opening of the border at Xihe, had not been observed by the Great Zhou for many years.

If the new emperor were to reinstate the annual imperial gifts, it would be tantamount to re-signing the Qingli Peace Treaty, a disgrace to the new emperor.

The Liao Dynasty's annual tribute payments were never interrupted, so there was no question of renewing the agreement.

The Treaty of Shanyuan was Emperor Zhenzong's fault, so naturally he has to bear the blame for it.

Even if the tribute continues, as long as the new emperor can avenge the previous emperor, it will not prevent him from becoming a great emperor for all time.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying looked at the "wise minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor" and understood Jiang Zhao's meaning.

To fight two against one is tantamount to suicide!

"Ugh!"

With a sigh, Zhao Ceying rubbed his forehead, looking pained: "My health is failing, so the Liao envoys will be dealt with by the Grand Secretaries and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies."

The implication was that they had already agreed to continue the Treaty of Shanyuan.

Given the strength of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it would be necessary to plan carefully before attempting to conquer the Liao Kingdom.

Several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet nodded in succession, bowed, and withdrew together.

Soon, apart from the Imperial Guards, only Zhao Ceying and Jiang Zhaojun remained in the main hall.

Zhao Ceying sighed deeply and said, "It's tough!"

"With powerful enemies surrounding me from the outside and financial losses at home, how can I become a great emperor for all time?"

"With Your Majesty's talent, if you take things slowly, you might just become a great emperor for all time," Jiang Zhao flattered.

The emperor of all ages, this cake is truly "delicious".

With this cake, he can keep the new emperor in check for the rest of his life.

Zhao Ceying stroked his knee and nodded: "The late emperor once gave me the account books of the Ministry of Revenue to review."

"We don't have any money," Jiang Zhao echoed.

He knew what Zhao Ceying was going to say.

The problem of redundancy!

Redundant officials, redundant soldiers, and redundant expenses.

The imperial court's annual tax revenue was only thirty to forty million strings of cash, half of which was spent on border troops and officials' salaries.

This is so scary!

It should be noted that even the annual tribute from the Liao Dynasty was only 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 bolts of silk, which is roughly equivalent to one million strings of cash.

The annual tribute from the Western Xia consisted of 50,000 taels of silver, 130,000 bolts of silk, and 20,000 catties of tea, which was roughly equivalent to 600,000 to 700,000 strings of cash.

In other words, the combined value of the Qingli Peace Treaty and the Treaty of Chanyuan was only around two million strings of cash, which was less than a fraction of the cost of redundant soldiers and officials.

Of the forty million strings of cash, half was used for redundant soldiers and officials, and the remaining half was spent on maintaining the country and its people. It was simply too difficult.

Just like last time, the flood in Huainan East Road almost cost Cai Xiang, the Minister of Revenue, half his life.

Even with careful budgeting, you can still overspend your annual allowance!

"There are many ills in the world, and they must be reformed!" Zhao Ceying sighed, his gaze becoming more resolute.

“If you wish to implement reforms, you must have the support of your subjects. I believe that, given Your Majesty’s current situation, it would be best to wait a few more years.” Jiang Zhao raised his eyelids but did not agree.

Zhao Ceying nodded.

He understood Jiang Zhao's meaning.

Ultimately, reform depends on people.

The new emperor had only recently ascended the throne and lacked prestige; any reforms he proposed would be tantamount to suicide.

"Then let's just endure it!"

Chapter 182 Western Xia's Military Campaign: Undercurrents Surge!

Xingqing Prefecture, Imperial Study.

At the head of the table, Li Liangzuo rested his hands on the table, his expression slightly somber.

Below, Prime Minister Wei Mingman sat down respectfully, occasionally recounting his experiences.

After about half an incense stick's time, Li Liangzuo nodded.

"The new emperor is indeed strong-willed."

It is not surprising that the offer to return the territory granted by the emperor was met with a firm refusal.

Ultimately, things are different now.

Since losing the two major prefectures in the Hehuang region, the Western Xia has suffered a significant loss of arable land.

The new emperor, not yet thirty, still had a passionate heart and a somewhat assertive personality, which was perfectly normal.

"What is the new emperor's attitude towards the Liao Dynasty's annual tribute?" Li Liangzuo asked.

"Since the Treaty of Shanyuan, the Liao and Zhou kingdoms have maintained peace for nearly fifty years. The new emperor did not receive the envoys, but instead had several ministers negotiate with the Liao envoys. In the end, the tribute policy remained unchanged," Wei Ming Manyu responded.

Compared to the declining Xia Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty was a first-rate behemoth, and even though it was no longer at its peak, it should not be underestimated.

The so-called annual tribute was nothing more than a million strings of cash.

The new emperor wasn't stupid; he would naturally agree to buy peace with a million strings of cash and maintain the long-standing stability of his regime.

"The annual gifts change, but the annual tribute remains the same."

"The loss of the Hehuang region is a very passive situation."

"If we don't think about changing, Great Xia will probably be eliminated."

Li Liangzuo sighed, his face grave.

Not long after the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, Li Yuanhao passed away, leaving behind only the two-year-old boy.

When the young emperor ascended the throne and the empress dowager ruled as regent, it was natural that his uncle, Mecang Epang, would hold the reins of power.

When relatives of the empress hold power, political turmoil is inevitable, and a major purge is imminent.

During this period, the Great Xia even submitted to the Great Zhou.

When he grew up and got rid of his uncle, there was naturally another major purge.

He certainly wouldn't dare keep someone who was a relative of the emperor selected through a merit-based system.

After two major political purges, the Great Xia Dynasty is facing a shortage of talent, and with the loss of two major prefectures in the Hehuang region, its national strength has declined considerably.

In contrast, the old emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty discovered a wise minister in his later years who was capable of both expanding the territory and governing the country.

"Jiang Zichuan is indeed a remarkable person."

Even Li Liangzuo couldn't help but feel envious.

The emperor has no son!

This can be solved?

In the past, the Liao, Zhou, and Xia dynasties, as well as the Tubo tribes, all faced some difficulties to varying degrees.

On the Liao side, a new emperor ascended the throne, involving the empress dowager's interference in politics and the "Chongyuan Rebellion".

Yelü Chongyuan was Yelü Hongji's uncle. Years ago, Emperor Shengzong promised to pass the throne to him, but then turned around and made Yelü Hongji the crown prince.

Yelü Chongyuan was granted the title of "Imperial Uncle," and his power remained prominent.

Over time, ambition naturally grows.

In the early years of his reign, Yelü Hongji had just resolved the issue of the Empress Dowager's interference in politics when he was met with Yelü Chongyuan's rebellion.

After two consecutive upheavals, the new emperor Yelü Hongji was in no good mood at all.

In the Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Zhao Zhen, in his later years, had no sons and was indecisive in his plans, unable to make a decision even when he had one. He raised two princes, which caused his ministers to secretly fight and choose sides.

It is almost foreseeable that whoever ascends to the throne will be forced into a coup.

On the other hand, in the Great Xia Dynasty, the young emperor was growing up, and the power struggle between the maternal relatives and the young emperor was intensifying.

In addition, the Tibetan regime was in turmoil and division, and its leader was old and unable to control his subordinates, making it a mess.

It can be said that at that time, all the forces were in a state of chaos and disarray.

Among them, the struggle for the crown prince in the Great Zhou Dynasty was the most intense.

If not handled properly, a coup could occur, and the Great Zhou Dynasty could very well begin its decline.

The results of it?

The secret method of designating an heir, the "good grandson," something never heard of before, somehow solved the problem of choosing an heir.

Jiang Zichuan might even be able to free up resources to reclaim the Hehuang region.

Li Liangzuo looked on with envy.

If he had such ministers, he would surely have severely demoted and removed them.

He directly appointed him as prime minister, then turned around and marched south to the Great Zhou, expanding its territory.

Li Liangzu shook his head and sighed softly.

Unfortunately, there isn't one!

"Let's take advantage of the fact that the new emperor of Zhou is not yet firmly established, reorganize our troops, and head south."

Li Liangzuo sighed.

"Since the two major prefectures of Hehuang were taken over by the Great Zhou, Jiang Zichuan also made a special agreement with the Dongzhan tribe of Tubo, allowing the Dongzhan tribe to hand over control of the Yellow River basin. Since then, it has been difficult for the Great Xia to have any contact with Tubo."

“If we don’t seize this opportunity to head south, we will be like a trapped beast struggling, and sooner or later we will be trapped and slaughtered by the Zhou and Liao kingdoms,” Li Liangzuo said in a deep voice.

The Liao, Zhou, and Xia dynasties were the three most important regimes.

The remaining Dali and Jiaozhi were vassal states of the Great Zhou, Goryeo was a vassal state of the Liao Dynasty, and the Uyghur and Tibetan tribes did not establish a real state or form a political power, and were relatively scattered.

Looking at the three major regimes in the world, the Liao and Zhou dynasties were roughly equal in strength, but the Xia dynasty was almost a level below them.

In the past, the Xia state had always been in contact with the Tubo (Tibetan) and would occasionally raid the borders of the Zhou state.

Or perhaps they joined forces with the Uyghurs to harass and invade the borders of the Liao Dynasty.

In recent years, the Xia dynasty has severed ties with Tibet, leaving them with very few options for retreat.