I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 207 It’s not that the Song Dynasty cannot afford to fight, but it’s more cost-effective not to fight!
Late at night, Xia Mansion.

With a smile on his face, Xia Song personally put Yeluqing, the special envoy of the Liao Kingdom, into the carriage.

The two chatted happily.

Xia Song has promised Yelu Qing, and Yelu Qing will present a letter written by Emperor Yelu Zongzhen of the Liao Kingdom to Zhao Zhen.

He will definitely do his best to support Song and Liao's joint attack on Xia.

After Yeluqing's carriage left, a bright smile appeared on Xia Song's face.

He has no reason not to support it.

Song and Liao jointly attacked Xia. Even if they could not destroy Xia, they could still peel off a layer of Xixia's skin.

Not only can he avoid the shame of "Xia Song never stood up", but his position as prime minister will also be more stable.

Once a war breaks out.

The status of the Privy Council will rise rapidly.

The Privy Council during wartime was even more inseparable from him as the Privy Councilor.

During the Song-Xia war, there was a special case where the prime minister also served as the privy envoy.

Xia Song felt that he might be able to take a step forward.

after all.

No one in the current court has more seniority than him.

……

The next day, afternoon.

Zhao Zhen summoned the ministers of the three divisions of the two governments and the chief officer of Taijian to go to Chui Gong Hall to discuss matters.

Su Liang instantly realized that it must be Yelu Qing who handed the letter written by Yelu Zongzhen to Zhao Zhen.

After half an hour.

Ten people including Wen Yanbo, Xia Song, Zhang Fangping, Wu Yu, Song Xiang, Wang Yaochen, Pang Ji, Ouyang Xiu, Tang Jie and Su Liang gathered in Chuigong Hall.

Zhao Zhen sat on the throne with a smile on his face, holding up a letter and saying: "My lords, this letter is a true personal letter from Lord Yelu Zong of the Liao Dynasty. It was presented by Yelu Qing, the special envoy of the Liao Kingdom. Please read it first and then share your thoughts. .”

Immediately, a little yellow gatekeeper handed the letter to Wen Yanbo first.

Next, the ministers began to circulate it.

After about a quarter of an hour, everyone had finished reading the letter.

The content of the letter is that the Liao Kingdom plans to join forces with the Song Dynasty to send troops early next year with the intention of destroying Xia.

Zhao Zhen asked: "My lords, what do you think?"

Swish!
Xia Song stood up immediately.

"Guan family, this is a God-given opportunity! If we unite with Liao, we will definitely destroy Xia. From now on, we will have no worries in the northwest. And Guan family, you can even drive and conquer personally and achieve unparalleled achievements."

It has to be said that Xia Song's speech is quite good.

It will definitely destroy Xia.

Royal expedition.

Immortal merit.

Each of these three words can make Zhao Zhen yearn for it.

Su Liang looked at Zhao Zhen, who was excited and indeed a little moved.

Immediately, Wu Yu stood up.

"The officials and ministers also agreed to join forces with the Liao to destroy Xia, so as to avenge the shame of the past. Those shameless and incestuous royal families of Xixia should not exist in the world!"

Deputy Privy Envoy Pang Ji said: "I also agree with the alliance with Liao to attack Xia, but we need to explain to Liao in advance how the benefits should be distributed after the fall of Xia."

"Officials, if war breaks out next year, I'm afraid the Song Dynasty's reform will be postponed!" Zhang Fangping said.

After hearing this, Xia Song immediately said: "There is no rush to reform the entire Song Dynasty, but if we miss this opportunity to unite with Liao to destroy Xia, we may not have this good opportunity again!"

"I second the proposal. Only after the external troubles are solved can we focus more on solving the internal troubles!" Wen Yanbo said. "I second the proposal!"

"My minister agrees!"

……

For a time, except for the three Taiwanese admonishers Tang Jie, Ouyang Xiu, and Su Liang who did not speak, the other seven people all supported the alliance with Liao to destroy Xia.

Xia Song gently stroked his beard and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

At this time, Tang Jie frowned and stood up.

"The officials and ministers always feel that joining forces with the Liao is like seeking the skin of a tiger. After Xia is destroyed, it is very likely that we will go to war with the Liao."

"At the moment, we are standing side by side with Liao and Xia, and the three parties are restricting each other. Once Xia dies, we and Liao will definitely go to war. But at this time, our court is not ready for a full-scale war with Liao, and neither the court nor the people can afford it! "Ouyang Xiu also expressed his concerns.

Xia Song snorted coldly and stood up.

"You two are really worried about things in vain. The officials have always had the ambition to regain the old lands of the Han and Tang Dynasties. We and the Liao will eventually have a war. There is no difference between fighting early and fighting late. This is not necessarily related to us joining forces with the Liao to destroy Xia. At the moment, it is This is a good opportunity to destroy Xia, and we must not miss it. Everyone, think about Sanchuankou, Haoshuichuan, and Dingchuan Village, this is a great opportunity for us to expand our territory!"

Zhao Zhen nodded in approval.

At this moment, Su Liang, who had been silent until now, walked out.

"What if the Song and Liao alliance failed to destroy Xixia?"

Hearing this question, Xia Song gave Su Liang a contemptuous look and said, "Jingming, it seems that you really don't understand military affairs. According to the current capabilities of our dynasty and Xixia, it will be easy to destroy Xixia."

"May I ask Prime Minister Xia, how to destroy it? How long does it take?" Su Liang asked again.

Xia Song puffed up his chest and said: "We attack the southern border of Western Xia, and the Liao Kingdom attacks the eastern border of Western Xia. Use cavalry to clear the way and push all the way. It will take at most three months to destroy Xia."

Su Liang shook his head slightly.

"Xia Shuxiang, the situation you are talking about is that the Xixia soldiers are sticking to the city and fighting us all the time. What if they flee without fighting and adopt the strategy of strengthening the walls and clearing the country?"

The so-called strong wall clears the field.

That is, destroy all cities and villages on the way, kill all civilians, and destroy all food and water sources.

The pursuing army was unable to obtain supplies locally.

This policy is inhumane and barbaric.

During the Liao-Xia War, Yuan Hao adopted this strategy, forcing the Liao Kingdom to withdraw its troops due to insufficient supplies.

Su Liang looked at Xia Song and continued: "May I ask Prime Minister Xia, the Xixia army retreated more than two hundred miles with the strategy of strengthening the wall and clearing the field, and continued to lengthen the front line. How should we respond?"

After hearing this, Xia Song no longer looked down upon Su Liang. He thought for a while and said: "Even if the Xixia army adopts this crazy strategy, according to the supplies provided by our court, it can still persist for six months. Six months is enough to destroy them." It’s Xixia!”

Su Liang turned to look at Wang Yaochen. He didn't believe Xia Song's words at all.

Wang Yaochen thought for a moment and said, "If we persist for six months, I'm afraid the treasury will be completely emptied, and the court and the people will live a long and miserable life again!"

Xia Song said quickly: "How can there be no losses in such a war? If we can destroy Xixia and seize the horse breeding land in Hengshan, I think it will be worth it."

"Has Prime Minister Xia ever considered the Liao Army? If we can persist for six months, can the Liao Army do it?" Su Liang asked again.

As soon as these words came out, Xia Song was speechless.

Zhao Zhen and all the ministers in the palace knew that the Liao army could not do it.

The gap between the rich and the poor in the Liao Kingdom was even greater, and the court and people simply could not afford such huge manpower and material resources.

The Liao Kingdom always relied on war to support war, and relied on robbing food and grass.

"The Liao army will definitely not be able to do it. The Liao army can hold on for three months at most. After three months, if it cannot capture Xixia, the Liao army may retreat, or it may point the finger at us. We have exhausted our military expenditures, and we can increase the miscellaneous taxes, Commercial taxes, but if the Liao Kingdom wants to recover, it cannot rely on the people, it can only rob the Song Dynasty!"

"I feel that this time Song and Liao unite to destroy Xia, we are not necessarily hunters, but are very likely to become the prey of Liao and Xixia!"

After Su Liang said this, the court fell silent instantly.

He had this opinion not because he was talented, but because he had an all-night chat with Fan Zhongyan and Di Qing when he was in Qingzhou.

Therefore, Xia Song, who had always been proficient in military affairs, was suppressed at once.

"Officials, Xixia has always gone back on its word, and the Liao Kingdom is the best at taking advantage of the situation. We should watch the tiger fight from afar instead of rashly joining the war!" Su Liang said, raising his voice.

(End of this chapter)