Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 446: A middle-aged woman dares to commit fraud?

Zhao Xu found it hard to accept that the Liao Kingdom, which had always been friendly to him, would take advantage of the situation at this time, but he soon realized that it was not that Yelu Hongji had lost his ambition, but that the Song Dynasty had not revealed any flaws before.

Although Yelu Hongji was getting old and had done some foolish things, that was only because he had not chosen the right time. In fact, he was still a monarch.

When there is no opportunity to advance, he plays tricks on his ministers and does things that he thinks are fun, but in fact they are just things he does when he is extremely bored.

But once there is a chance to expand territory and achieve success, how could Yelu Hongji miss such an opportunity?
Although Zhao Xu himself was emperor for a short time, he was very clear about himself. The idea of ​​making great achievements and expanding the territory had become an obsession when he ascended the throne.

So he did not hate Yelu Hongji, but he hated Mr. Su who brought trouble to the Song Dynasty.

"Mr. Su, Mr. Su, my father valued you so much back then. He appointed you as the top scholar and promoted you all the way. He made you a rising star and made you a general manager and the emperor's teacher. This is the emperor's great grace. If you can wait a little longer, after I take power, I will definitely make you the prime minister. But why are you so unsatisfied and insist on rebelling!..."

Zhao Xu thought viciously in his heart.

However, he did not think about it carefully. His father Zhao Xu seemed to be very good to Su Yun, but he did not think about how much Su Yun had done for the Song Dynasty. Not to mention anything else, just as a vegetable farmer, he had brought a lot of money to the Song Dynasty over the years.

It can be said that when Sima Guang was in power, all the new policies were stopped, but the Song Dynasty was still able to continue functioning, and this Caidongzi made an indelible contribution!

Not to mention how much military merit Su Yun contributed to the Song Dynasty after he went to the northwest. If it weren't for someone in the Western Army deliberately making trouble, perhaps even Western Xia would have been destroyed by Su Yun!
But such a capable minister was forced by the emperor and his ministers in the court to rebel step by step, while Zhao Xu was only concerned about himself and never thought of helping Su Yunshu to solve the problem!

Putting aside Zhao Xu's thoughts, let's talk about Yelu Hongji's sudden move south. Xixia and Chang'an had different reactions.

When Empress Dowager Liang heard that Liao was going to war against Song, she quickly summoned Liang Yibu.

Liang Yibu was in a very anxious state these days, and when he heard that his sister was calling him, he hurried into the palace.

"Brother, can Liao's attack on Song help our country's current predicament?"

Empress Dowager Liang asked anxiously.

Before Liang Yiwu had time to catch his breath, his sister started to ask him questions, but he also knew that his sister was unable to handle the situation alone in the court recently.

Recently, because the army was defeated by the Jingsai army on the front line, it lost the five states of Dingnan and Donghetao one after another, and even Xingqing Prefecture was on the verge of collapse. The Dangxiang nobles of Western Xia were extremely dissatisfied with this and even wanted to take the opportunity to regain power. If they had not still controlled the army, they would have let the Dangxiang nobles take back power long ago!
Therefore, Liang Yibu understood his sister's mood very well, and quickly comforted her: "Don't worry, Queen Mother, this is naturally a good thing!"

Empress Dowager Liang finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this and said, "Brother, tell me quickly, what's good about it!"

Empress Dowager Liang breathed a sigh of relief, but Liang Yibu quietly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and then said in a deep voice: "Don't panic, Empress Dowager.

Although the Jingsai Army seized the opportunity to attack, the disadvantage of its unstable foundation was even worse.

They have just occupied the northwest, and local tyrants are openly surrendering but secretly resisting. Of the ten percent of food and grass they collected, thirty percent was lost on the way, and the morale of the army is like a candle in the wind. "

Queen Mother Liang frowned and said, "But I heard people say that the Song army is transferred to the east, and the Jingsai army will be more powerful without any constraints. This is not a good thing for our Great Xia."

"It is precisely this point that holds a hidden turning point!"

Liang Yibu said calmly.

"Zhao Xu's transfer of troops to Guanzhong will allow our army to cut off the secret trade route between Jingsai Army and Central Plains.

Without the ironware and salt from the Central Plains, their newly forged weapons are nothing but scrap iron. The army lacks salt and the soldiers are weak, and their combat effectiveness has been reduced by at least 30%!"

He grabbed the small flag on the table and thrust it fiercely at the crossing of the Yellow River. "I have already met with the Tibetan Prime Minister in secret. If the Jingsai Army dares to move south, the Tibetan cavalry will attack Liangzhou directly behind them!"

Empress Dowager Liang's eyes suddenly brightened, then dimmed again: "But the defense of Xingqing Prefecture..."

"This is our army's trump card!" Liang Yi Bu slammed the table, the candlelight flickered and shadows danced in the room, "Xingqing Prefecture has been built for three generations, the city wall is three meters thick, and the moat is filled with water from the Yellow River.

If the Jingsai army attacks by force, they will inevitably fall into a protracted siege.

Our army will wait for the rebels to tire out, and then join forces with the Tibetans to attack from both sides. We will surely strangle the rebels at the foot of the Helan Mountains!"

He lowered his voice and approached Queen Mother Liang, "When the time comes, the Tangut nobles will see that we have turned the tide. Who would dare to discuss state affairs?"

Queen Mother Liang was skeptical, but now she could only trust her own brothers, so she nodded and said, "Then you should make a good plan and make sure to keep Xingqing Mansion!"

Liang Yibu nodded and said, "Don't worry, Queen Mother. Leave it to me!"

Liang Yibu left the palace and walked for a while, then he found snowflakes falling on the ground.

"Snowing……"

Liang Yi looked up at the sky, then got on the carriage. There was a person in the carriage, who was Liang Yi's chief strategist Nan Heming.

The carriage made a creaking sound as it rolled over the snow. Liang Yibu opened the felt curtain, and the cold wind carrying snow particles blew in his face.

Inside the carriage, Nan Heming curled up on a tiger-skin mattress, his skinny fingers stroking a bronze divination stick. The candlelight cast a swaying shadow on his face.

"Sir, do you know about the Liao Kingdom's southward advance?" When Liang Yibu sat down, the carriage shook slightly, and the sword on his waist hit the wooden railing, making a clear sound.

He stared at the fortune stick in Nan Heming's hand. The words "very bad" on it were rubbed so hard that they were almost shining.

Nan Heming nodded and said, "I know."

Liang Yibu said: "Sir, do you think this is good or bad for our Xixia?"

Nan Heming sighed and said, "The boss needs to think about his future plans."

Liang Yibu was shocked and said, "Why is it so! Su Yun is powerful, but now the Liao Kingdom wants to conquer the Song Dynasty, how can he sit back and watch? If the Liao Kingdom occupies the fertile land of the Song Dynasty, the Liao Kingdom will definitely be invincible. By then, even if it annexed Xixia, how can the Jingsai Army be an enemy of the Liao Kingdom?"

Nan Heming shook his head and said, "What kind of person is Su Yun? Back then, he was able to revitalize the finances of the Song Dynasty with just a vegetable farm. Now that he occupies the fertile land in the northwest, how could he miss this golden opportunity?
What Yelu Hongji wanted was the fertile land of Central Plains, while what Su Yun wanted was the granary of Western Xia.

I find it hard to believe that they didn’t reach some tacit understanding in private!”

He grabbed the red-hot charcoal in the charcoal basin and said in an increasingly urgent voice, "This charcoal fire looks red, but in fact it will turn into ashes after burning out. Xixia is just like this charcoal fire, and the blades of the Jingsai Army have probably already aimed at us!"

Liang Yibu suddenly drew out his sword, and the cold light cut off the falling snowflakes in the air, and said angrily: "I mean, how can Su Yun sit back and watch the Liao Kingdom occupy the fertile land of the Song Dynasty!"

Nan Heming sneered, his eyes full of mockery and despair, "Prime Minister, can't you see clearly?

The Liao army seemed powerful, but in fact it had already become corrupt!
The nobles indulged in alcohol and sex, withheld military pay, and the soldiers could not even get decent armor. How much combat effectiveness could such an army have?"

Although the Song Dynasty was defeated by the Jingsai Army, its foundation was still there. How could it be easy for the Liao Kingdom to destroy the Song Dynasty?

It will take at least three to five years to chew this hard bone!"

He suddenly grabbed Liang Yibu's wrist, his skinny fingers seemed to have a thousand pounds of strength, "But what about us Xixia? The Jingsai Army's combat effectiveness is unparalleled in the world, Su Yun is strict in military discipline, and his soldiers are fearless. Now that they are no longer restrained by the Song Army, they will attack us with all their strength. How many months can Xixia last?
A few months later, the Liao Kingdom was still in a stalemate with the Song Dynasty, but we had already become a meal for the Jingsai Army! "

Nan Heming let go of his hand and collapsed on the tiger skin mattress. He stared at the roof with empty eyes and his voice became deeper and deeper, "Prime Minister, think about it, when we fought against the Jingsai Army before, we were all defeated miserably.
Now that they have come out in full force, no matter how thick the walls of Xingqing Prefecture are, how long can they hold them off?

There has been no movement from Tubo so far. I'm afraid they have been scared out of their wits by Su Yun and would not dare to come..."

The carriage fell into dead silence, with only the harsh sound of wind and snow hitting the carriage.

Liang Yibu's hand holding the sword was shaking slightly. Nan Heming's words were like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart hard.

"Then according to your opinion, sir, we really have no chance of winning?"

Liang Yibu's voice was hoarse, with a barely perceptible tremor.

Nan Heming turned his head with difficulty and looked at Liang Yibu, with a complicated look in his eyes, "Unless... the Song army can return to the northwest to check and balance the Jingsai army.

But Zhao Xu is being beaten badly by Liao at the moment, how can he care about us?"

He smiled bitterly, "Perhaps the fate of Xixia has already been determined..."

"I don't believe in fate!"

Liang Yi Bu suddenly swung his sword and cut off the sheepskin map hanging in the carriage, and the pieces of cloth fell one after another: "My Liang family has controlled Xixia for more than ten years, how can we just sit there and wait for death!
If you can't come up with a solution, I'll bring my head to you!"

The gilded patterns on the hilt hurt his palms, but it was less painful than the anxiety surging in his chest.

Nan Heming shook his head bitterly and said, "Prime Minister, Xixia has run out of luck. Don't try to hope for the best. Surrender. If you surrender now, the Liang family may still be able to keep their wealth. If you don't surrender, the Liang family may not be able to survive!

He sneered and said, "Since the Jingsai Army seized the five states of Dingnan and Donghetao, the Tangut nobles have been making frequent moves.

Although there is no conclusive evidence yet, in my opinion, they are very likely to have colluded secretly, and even have contacted the Jingsai Army, haha!"

Liang Yibu suddenly grabbed Nan Heming by the collar and pushed him against the wall of the carriage: "You are spreading rumors again to confuse the people! After all, my Great Xia is a great country that has existed alongside Liao and Song for a hundred years. How could it be destroyed so easily!"

"This is our only way to survive!"

Nan Heming let Liang Yibu's sword pressed against his throat, then suddenly reached out and grabbed the blade, blood flowing down the sharp blade.

He smiled coldly and said, “Even if the Tangut nobles have not surrendered, with our current military strength, how can we resist the Jingsai Army?

Lead the Liang clan to surrender to Su Yun and offer half of Xixia's cities. If you want to protect the entire Liang clan, you can even..."

He paused, a trace of pity flashed in his eyes, “Let Empress Dowager Liang condescend to...dedicate herself to Su Yun.

Only in this way can the Liang family gain a place under the Jingsai Army. Otherwise, once the city is broken, the Dangxiang nobles will definitely target our Liang family in order to win credit!"

Liang Yibu was struck by lightning and staggered as he let go of his hand.

The carriage was dead silent, with only Nan Heming's heavy breathing as the sound.

"You...you made the Queen Mother..." Liang Yibu's voice trembled, his eyes full of disbelief and anger.

“Prime Minister!” Nan Heming suddenly knelt heavily on the ground, knocking his forehead against the wooden board of the carriage. “Now Xixia is in danger! If the Liang family does not surrender, they may be exterminated! The Queen Mother knows the righteousness of the cause. In order to protect the Liang family’s bloodline, she…she may make a decision!”

He raised his head, his face full of determination, "If you hesitate any longer, we won't even have bargaining chips!"

The cold wind was howling outside the car, as if it was sobbing.

Liang Yibu looked at the heavy snow falling outside the car window, and the innocent appearance of Empress Dowager Liang as a child appeared in front of his eyes. He also remembered that his father held his hand tightly before his death, asking him to protect his sister and safeguard the glory of the Liang family.

His hands slowly clenched, his knuckles turned white from the force, his heart ached, and he didn't know how to make this life-or-death decision.

He felt his throat tighten, as if someone was pinching it hard. He tightened his throat and said, "I..."

As soon as he spoke, he scared himself because his throat was so hoarse that his words sounded like the sharp sound of a knife.

Nan Minghe reached out and held Liang Yibu's hand, saying loudly: "Prime Minister! It's time to make a decision! Life and death depend on this moment!"

Liang Yibu was stunned and said, "But...but...I told my sister that war is okay! How can I tell her that the country is going to be destroyed?"

Nan Minghe waved his hand and said, "A girl should obey her father when her father is still alive, and obey her husband after marriage. After her husband dies, she should obey her son. The eldest brother is her father, so you are the master of her!"

Liang Yibu was stunned for a moment and asked, "What decision?"

Nan Minghe chuckled, then took out a pen and paper, wrote for a while, and handed it to Liang Yibu.

When Liang Yibu saw it, he was completely dumbfounded.

I saw it written on the paper:

[Jingsaijun Su Gongjun: I live in seclusion in Xingqing. I often hear the camel bells outside the Great Wall, and I miss the bright moon in Guanzhong.

When I heard that you had a brilliant plan to build a nation, I knew there was a talent like a unicorn in the world. Now I see you leading your army to the northwest, with your weapons and horses, just like Huo Qubing when he was young and conquered the Wolf's Lair. It is fascinating.

In Xingqing Mansion, when the red plum blossoms were just beginning to bloom and I was leaning on the carved railings alone, I often thought of the teacher's aspirations.

If I have free time, I would like to prepare a piece of Qiang flute, boil snow and make tea, and enjoy the gap of Helan Mountain with you.

There are so many wars going on. I hope you take care of yourself, sir. Don’t let down this beautiful country, and don’t let down... I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely, Mr. Liang

"This, this..." Liang Yibu was speechless.

……

Chang'an City.

Su Yun stared at the letter on the table in a daze, then looked at Ping Zicheng in front of him and said, "How old is Queen Mother Liang of Western Xia this year?"

Ping Zicheng was a little surprised when Su Yun asked this question, but then he realized what was happening and said, "Then Empress Dowager Xiao Liang should have been born during the Jiayou period, about thirty-four or thirty-five?"

Su Yun stroked his chin, thinking that thirty-four or thirty-five might not be a big deal in the future, but thirty-four or thirty-five now... a middle-aged woman also wants to entertain people with her beauty?
(End of this chapter)