Therefore, Zhao Jun also mentioned in his letter to Yang Xie that he should try his best to let Li Yuanhao take the initiative to offer war reparations. In this way, it would not be the Song Dynasty forcing neighboring countries to pay tribute, but it would be the Western Xia that took the initiative to compensate.
"It seems that I am too shameless, causing Yuan Hao to mistakenly believe that I can be bullied."
Yang Xie looked around and said, "Back when Prime Minister Fan was in charge of the northwest, Jingyuan Road, Huanqing Road, Linyan Road, and even Yongxingjun Road all shouldered the heavy burden of food and fodder in the rear. Only our Qinfeng Road had no chance to show its strength. Now is the time."
Jingtai asked, "Who is Si Shuai?"
"Knock, knock Yuan Hao."
Yang Xie pondered for a moment, glancing at the map on the table, and then said, "Send someone to tell Zuo Silu that we are marching forward in a big way and will meet him at the river mouth."
They are still stationed in Qingtang and the border of the Song Dynasty. It’s not that they can’t advance, but they can’t go there without saying hello to Zuo Silu.
Now is the honeymoon period between the Song Dynasty and Qingtang. If the Song Dynasty acts too tough and rashly, and directly breaks into their territory without any consultation with Zuosiluo, it is very likely to cause Zuosiluo's disgust.
Only by treating allies like spring rain and enemies like autumn leaves can we establish international prestige in the surrounding areas and make neighboring countries feel that the Song Dynasty is the most reliable ally.
As for whether they will be annexed in the future, that is something we will talk about in the future. Anyway, a full-scale invasion in terms of economy and culture will only be an excuse, just like when Zhezong later took Qingtang.
Jia Kui, the military commander of Qinzhou, is a young general, only 35 years old this year. Five years ago, he was transferred to the northwest to fight against Western Xia as the deputy commander of the Gongsheng Army. Due to his military merits, he was gradually promoted to the sixth-rank military commander of a state, which is considered a mid-level military general.
Hearing Yang Xie preparing to attack Li Yuanhao, he quickly said, "Commander-in-Chief, I've been to Lanzhou before and know of a small road that leads directly to Zhuolao City. If a large army were to approach the city, I believe Yuanhao would certainly follow!"
"oh?"
Upon learning of this, Yang Xie pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly, saying, "Well, all right. Then I'll have you lead the vanguard, eight thousand men, and attack the enemy from behind via a narrow path!"
"yes!"
Jia Kui was overjoyed.
The small road he mentioned is actually the section of the Beijing-Tibet Expressway from Lanzhou to Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, which belongs to Zhongchuan Town in Lanzhou New District.
To the west there are large hills and mountains. Beyond these hills is Yongdeng County, which is now Zhuolao City.
At that moment, Yang Xie was mobilizing troops and communicating with Zuo Siluo.
Around late December, Yang Xie mobilized about 30,000 troops from the rear, bringing the total number of troops to 50,000. Together with the Huining garrison, there were about 60,000 Song troops who began to encircle and suppress Li Yuanhao's troops.
Today's Song army can be said to be carrying out military reforms while fighting. After eliminating a large number of old and weak people, at least 200,000 soldiers were eliminated from the northwest and Hebei.
Currently, there are only 180,000 troops in the five northwestern routes and only about 240,000 in Hebei. The remaining imperial guards are distributed around Bianliang.
So this time Yang Xie mobilized one-third of the entire northwest's military forces to fight against Li Yuanhao.
It may not seem like much, but don't forget there are also Zuo Siluo.
Qingtang's territory is small, and even if everyone mobilizes soldiers, they can still gather 60,000 to 70,000 people. It has been so long since the war started in September, which is enough time for Zuo Silu to mobilize troops.
In this way, the two sides had a joint army of more than 100,000 people. After Yang Xie met up with Zuo Silu at the river mouth, he led the army north and pressed towards Zhuola City.
On December 26th, across the vast wilderness of the northwest, snowflakes were falling everywhere, drowning the entire world.
The soldiers were all wearing cotton clothes and looking towards the north.
Amidst the falling snow, Zhuo Luo City is located on the river bank, with the surging river to the west and towering mountains on the opposite bank.
There is a large plain on the east side, which is almost the county seat of Yongdeng County in later generations. But at the end of the plain ten miles away, there are high mountains and forests, and the tops of the mountains are covered with snow, which is as beautiful as a picture scroll.
On the top of the western mountain, approximately Woniu Mountain, west of Yongdeng County in later generations, Li Yuanhao occupied a dangerous mountain and set up camp. He also erected some cannons on the top of the mountain.
The Song army did not dare to get too close, so they set up camp twenty miles outside the city and began to occupy the nearby mountains.
Li Yuanhao was standing on the top of the city wall, looking out with a worried look in his eyes. The messenger came to report that even if Zhang Yuan's head was brought over, Yang Xie still refused the Western Xia's peace talks and instead criticized the Western Xia's behavior with righteous words.
Use this to test the Song Dynasty?
It was obvious that the Song Dynasty no longer cared about the death of Zhang Yuan, a traitor and traitor. What they wanted was that Western Xia had to pay a heavy price for this matter.
"Your Majesty, what does the Song Kingdom want from us? We've already sent Zhang Yuan's head, and they're still not satisfied?"
Fei Tinggu, who was accompanying Li Yuanhao on patrol on the city wall, said indignantly.
How would they know what the Song Dynasty wants?
Li Yuanhao did not say it clearly. He was very conflicted now. The Song Dynasty obviously wanted to teach him a lesson. The envoy had already understood Yang Xie's meaning and conveyed it to him. It depended on his own choice.
But asking the nomadic people to cede land and pay compensation was obviously a bit unacceptable. When he first launched the attack on the Song Dynasty, he planned to annex the entire Shaanxi Road of the Song Dynasty.
At the very least, the Song Dynasty must pay annual tribute like it did to the Liao Dynasty.
How can you be so cowardly?
But the situation is stronger than the person, and Li Yuanhao now doesn't know what to do.
He gazed into the distance, wondering whether he should continue to resist in the face of the alliance between the Song army and Zuo Silu.
The neighbor Fang Dangqiu Hu suddenly pointed to the distance and said in horror: "Your Majesty, look over there."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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