Liu Liufu said.
Zhang Jian was relatively long-lived. Historically, he lived to be 91 years old, nine years before his death from illness.
But he was over eighty years old after all, and his health was not very good. He could not come to see Yelu Zongzhen, so he could only ask Yelu Zongzhen to go back.
Hearing that it was Zhang Jian who wanted him to go back, Yelu Zongzhen said quickly: "Let's go, and talk while we walk."
He immediately returned to the palace.
On the way, Liu Liufu told him the news that the Song Dynasty was reorganizing its army.
Yelu Zongzhen's expression also became solemn.
He is not stupid.
It was definitely not a good thing for him for the Song people to reorganize their army.
This means that a large number of corrupt officials in the army have been eliminated, and it will be difficult to find someone to sell him firearms in the future.
The most important thing is that once the Song Dynasty has reorganized its army and a large number of elite Song soldiers have emerged, the possibility of him going south to invade the Song Dynasty again will be very small.
The entire country is in danger of collapse.
So when Yelu Zongzhen heard about this, he was naturally very anxious and hurried back to the palace.
In the emperor's palace in Dading Prefecture, except for Yelu Chongyuan and Xiao Xiaomu who are currently stationed in Nanjing Prefecture, and Xiao Ying who is stationed in Tokyo Prefecture, important officials such as Zhang Jian, Yelu Renxian, and Xiao Xiaoyou are all present.
Yelu Zongzhen walked quickly into the hall. Everyone stood up and bowed. After he asked everyone to sit down, he immediately said to Zhang Jian, "Father, is the news accurate?"
Zhang Jian nodded. "Although the Song people are often deceptive and fabricate false news to deceive us, I believe this is the truth."
"Emperor Song is taking advantage of this assassination to completely purge the army."
Liu Liufu said: "If this continues, the Song army will be streamlined again, and its combat power will probably be very strong."
“But isn’t this also our opportunity?”
Yelu Renxian said, "The Song people's purge will surely cause unrest in the army. Many battalion commanders and generals have been captured, and the military command is out of balance. I believe this is the time to march south."
Time to go south?
Yelu Zongzhen touched his chin and fell into deep thought.
In the past few years, he has been governing the country and has achieved initial results. The strength of the army has also greatly increased. Although there are no muskets, with grenades and cannons, it seems that he can compete with the Song army.
However, as he was thinking about this matter, Zhang Jian shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I think this matter needs to be handled with caution."
"Shangfu, please speak."
Yelu Zongzhen hurriedly said that he still attached great importance to Zhang Jian's opinion.
"Your Majesty, don't forget the Song people's musket army."
Zhang Jian said, "The Song army has transferred 20,000 musketeers to Hebei. This must be their reliance on purging the army. This shows that in the eyes of the Song army, Hebei and these 20,000 musketeers alone can withstand the attack of the Liao Dynasty."
Yelu Renxian was unconvinced and said, "Grand Master, back then, Sun Hao was also confident that the natural barrier of the Yangtze River could withstand the attack of the Jin State, but what happened in the end? Wouldn't it be clear if we just gave it a try?"
“But the consequences of trying it are unpredictable.”
Zhang Jian shook his head and said, "Think about it, everyone. We've finally secured a few years of peace, and the country is growing stronger. We even have grenades and cannons. If we arbitrarily tear up the signed contract, then according to the treaty, the Song State will begin a long-term attack on the Liao State. It would be good if we defeat the Song army, but if we lose, it will be a disaster."
"What happens if we don't win?"
Yelu Zongzhen didn't think about it too much, but just asked.
Liu Liufu said, "If we lose, the Song Kingdom will cut off trade with us. Although the Liao Dynasty is vast and rich in resources, this trade won't cause us any major problems. But Your Majesty, don't forget sulfur!"
Yelu Zongzhen suddenly realized.
If the southward march fails to achieve victory, even if it only returns in disappointment rather than in defeat, the Song Dynasty will cut off trade with the Liao Kingdom.
The Liao Kingdom's current firearms came from reselling by the Song Army. Although it had grenades, cannons and other firearms invented by the Song Army in the early years, the problem was that the raw material for firearms, sulfur, had to be imported entirely from the Song Kingdom.
Without sulfur, the Liao Kingdom would have no more firearms, and would have to use swords and guns to fight against the Song army's firearms.
Therefore, the current situation of the Liao Kingdom is actually the same as that of the Japanese devils in the late World War II.
If we fight the Song army head-on, it will be fine if we win, but if we lose, there will be no way out.
That is why Zhang Jian believed that war should not be started lightly.
"Unless we are absolutely sure of defeating the Song army in Hebei, we must not start the war lightly."
Zhang Jian said finally.
"So we're just going to watch the Song army complete its military reorganization?"
Xiao Xiaoyou was a war advocate. He spread his hands and said, "We still have a chance if we fight now. Once they're done, there will be no chance at all."
“That’s our dilemma.”
Zhang Jian sighed and said, "But many things are hard to say. What if this is just the Song army's bluff? We will have missed the opportunity in vain."
"well"
Yelu Zongzhen also sighed.
"Your Majesty, I do have an idea."
Liu Liufu suddenly said.
"oh?"
Yelu Zongzhen quickly asked, "What good plan do you have?"
Liu Liufu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it is indeed not appropriate for us to rashly provoke a war, but Xixia can."
"Xixia?"
Yelu Zongzhen shook his head and said, "Yuan Hao has been frightened out of his wits. Do we still expect him to attack the Song army again?"
"It's not an attack on the Song army."
"Aren't we attacking the Song army?"
"right."
"What is that?"
"Qingtang!"
Qingtang?
Everyone suddenly understood.
Yes.
You can encourage Xixia to attack Qingtang.
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