Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 449: Su Qin of the Song Dynasty—Master Cheng!

“Water, water,…water!”

Cheng Yi's lips were cracked, his spirit was almost broken, and he muttered words that only he could hear.

He had been hanging on the flagpole for three days. If the weather had not been very good these days, neither too cold nor too hot, he would have died long ago.

But even so, he was already dying.

He suddenly felt his body relax, and then sweet water was poured into his mouth. In a daze, he drank the water in big gulps. After a few mouthfuls of water, he suddenly woke up, then choked on the water and lay on the ground coughing.

When the coughing stopped, he finally came to his senses, raised his head, and saw the Liao ruler Yelu Hongji looking at him with concern.

Cheng Yi was a little confused, but he heard Yelu Hongji say: "Master Cheng, it's a good thing you're okay. I almost made a big mistake!"

"Hmm?" Cheng Yi was a little puzzled, but he was quick-witted and realized something. He quickly said in a hoarse voice, "Has the Song Dynasty recovered its lost territory?"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was immediate laughter.

Then Yelu Hongji shouted angrily: "Shut up!"

The laughter stopped immediately.

Cheng Yi's face suddenly darkened: The Song Dynasty did not counterattack, so what was Yelu Hongji doing?
Yelu Hongji sighed and said, "Master Cheng, you have worked hard these days. Because of my confusion, the conflict between Liao and Song has started again. Not only the people of the world have suffered, but you have also suffered. I regret it too late.

Fortunately, this mistake is not irreparable, and I am here today to apologize to you."

Cheng Yi was even more surprised. Then his eyes narrowed and he remembered something. He blurted out, "Will the thieves attack the Liao Kingdom?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the Liao king and his ministers all changed slightly.

Upon seeing this, Cheng Yi burst into laughter, but his throat was extremely fragile from not drinking water for a long time, and when he laughed, he suddenly started coughing violently.

Amid the coughing, the Liao king and his ministers looked at each other in silence.

After a short pause, Cheng Yi chuckled and said, "Lord Liao, can you tell me about the current situation?"

Yelu Hongji tilted his head slightly, and the left prime minister Xiao Hudu immediately stepped out and walked slowly forward. The hem of his black official robe with python pattern fluttered gently with his steps. His face was full of worry, and he clasped his fists gently, for fear of disturbing the weak Cheng Yi in front of him.

"Master Cheng, on the night of March 15, Su Yun took advantage of the Western Xia's unpreparedness and launched a surprise attack on Xingqing Prefecture. Empress Dowager Liang, Liang Yibu and other Tangut dignitaries were all captured.

The Western Xia state was established for nearly a hundred years, and it collapsed so suddenly. It is really sad. "

His voice was low and full of regret. Seeing Cheng Yi frowning, he continued, "Now Su Yun has changed Xingqing Prefecture to Liangzhou Prefecture and has completely taken over the Hexi area.

In the areas of Ganzhou and Suzhou, the sound of his reinforcements and drills could be heard every day. The sound came from far away and was heartbreaking.

The caravans from the Western Regions continuously sent him war horses and weapons, and the food and fodder piled up like a mountain, enough to feed an army of 100,000 for two years.

The candlelight flickered in the meeting room. Xiao Hudu took two steps closer, his eyes full of concern: "Master, think about it, the Hetao area has a dangerous terrain, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack.

If Su Yunruo sent troops eastward from there, Bianjing would be in danger! His Majesty Zhao Xu is in poor health now, and there are many affairs in the court. How can he split his attention to deal with them?

The country and people of the Song Dynasty are really worrying."

He sighed slightly, and looked at Yelu Hongji with respect, "My Lord, Yelu Hongji, has always admired the benevolent rule of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, and has always cared about the people of the world.

After learning about Su Yun's evil ambitions, my master couldn't sleep or eat, and he was thinking about how to protect the Song Dynasty."

Xiao Hudu's voice was sincere and firm: "Master Cheng! We, the Liao Dynasty, are willing to form an alliance with the Song Dynasty and provide all-out assistance!
Our army will send troops from the northern border to pin down Su Yun and relieve the pressure on your army.

Your army can then attack from the western front with peace of mind. By attacking from both sides, we will surely be able to repel the rebels and protect the peace of the Song Dynasty.

This is not only for the sake of the Song Dynasty's ancestral temple and the country, but also for the people of the world to no longer suffer from war!"

He raised his head, his eyes full of earnestness: "I hope you can convey my master's sincere heart to His Majesty Zhao Xu, and don't let this friendship down."

The burning pain in his throat had not yet subsided, but Cheng Yi had already caught the hidden sharpness in Xiao Hudu's gentle words.

The sound of sheepskin boots stepping on the blue bricks, the subtle friction of the dragon robe sweeping across the ground, and the sighs of feigned worry, all turned into a carefully choreographed drama in his ears.

"A hundred thousand troops with food and grass, and the natural defenses of the Hetao area..."

He sneered in his heart, his knuckles unconsciously clenched his palms, and the scabby wounds oozed blood again. "If Su Yun's blade had not been against the throat of the Liao people, how could Yelu Hongji give up his ambition to go south?"

The candlelight flickered, reflecting the genuine and fake concerns on the faces of the Liao emperor and his ministers.

Cheng Yi lowered his eyes to hide the sarcasm in them.

"They say they are worried about the safety of Bianjing, but in fact they are afraid that Su Yundong will cut off the Liao Kingdom's retreat!"

His throat moved slightly, and he resisted the urge to cough, digging his nails deep into his palms, "Yelü Hongji admires Renzong?

It is nothing more than a vain attempt to use the Song Dynasty to consume Su Yun, and when both sides are defeated, he will march south to reap the benefits! "

Xiao Hudu's sincere look became even more ridiculous in Cheng Yi's eyes.

He recalled the three days he had been hung on the flagpole and the ridicule of the Liao army under the scorching sun, but now he had received such a "goodwill" alliance in return.

"What a great plan to kill two birds with one stone!" He secretly clenched his fists, his fingertips trembling slightly due to the force. "If the Song Dynasty and Su Yun fight to the death, the Liao Kingdom can easily flatten the Central Plains. Yelu Hongji, Yelu Hongji, do you think that no one in my Song Dynasty can see through your evil plan?"

On the surface, Cheng Yi was still leaning weakly on the ground, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and he could take in the expressions of the Liao monarch and his ministers.

He knew very well that what was hidden behind this alliance was not goodwill, but a deeper conspiracy.

"It seems that I have to go back and remind His Majesty as soon as possible. We have to be careful in dealing with the current situation... However, this alliance is beneficial to our Song Dynasty, so we have to conclude it. Moreover, the Liao Kingdom also needs our Song Dynasty, so the conditions may be..."

He was thinking in his mind, pondering how to break the impasse and how to preserve the Song Dynasty in this treacherous situation.

"Master Cheng, the current situation is not good for the Song Dynasty. You may have to make a decision early." Right Prime Minister Yelu Yan urged. Cheng Yi supported himself on the ground with his hands, but felt that he could not sit up. He simply leaned against the ground, endured the burning sensation in his throat, and forced himself to straighten his back. A gleam of light flashed in his cloudy eyes: "Since Right Prime Minister Yelu said that we would form an alliance to protect the Song Dynasty, I wonder what your country is willing to prove?"

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, looked at Yelu Yan's suddenly tightened jaw, and sneered in his heart - fish, it's time to take the bait.

Seeing Xiao Hu's expression change slightly, he bowed and said, "Master, just speak! Since our Great Liao is sincere, we will..."

"Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun." Cheng Yi suddenly interrupted him, and his hoarse voice exploded in the silent conference room.

The candle flame flickered suddenly, and Yelu Hongji's knuckles as he held onto the dragon throne turned white in an instant.

Cheng Yi pretended not to notice and continued, "Shi Jingtang sold out his country for personal gain, leaving the door to the Central Plains wide open for a hundred years.

If the Liao ruler truly admired Renzong's benevolence, why didn't he return Yanyun?
This alliance shows sincerity."

Yelu Yan took half a step forward, and the hem of his dragon robe swept across the blue bricks, making a harsh sound: "Master Cheng, don't push your luck! Yanyun is my Great Liao..."

"Three hundred thousand rolls of silk and two hundred thousand taels of silver every year." Cheng Yi interrupted again, his voice weak but every word was as sharp as a nail, "plus one hundred thousand dan of millet. Your army will need to consume food and fodder to contain Su Yun, and the Song Dynasty can also help - but it must be deducted from the taxes in Yanyun."

He glanced at the suddenly changed expressions of the Liao king and his ministers, and secretly calculated in his heart: Putting economic shackles on the Liao Kingdom can not only solve its urgent needs, but also gradually infiltrate Yanyun.

Before anyone could react, he coughed violently twice, but forced himself to continue: "There is also the border market."

Cheng Yi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "Open the markets of Yunzhou and Yingzhou, and the Song Dynasty will exchange tea and salt for Liao horses. But your country must promise that the number of war horses traded shall not be less than three times that of previous years."

He knew very well that war horses were the military weakness of the Song Dynasty, and that the Liao Kingdom was asking for his help at this moment, which was a good opportunity to exchange for strategic resources.

Yelu Hongji stood up suddenly, and his dragon robe swept the secret letter off the table: "Master Cheng, are you trying to form an alliance or take advantage of the situation?!"

Cheng Yi showed a barely perceptible sneer: "Since the Liao Lord has said he wants to protect Song, why should he be so concerned about a few empty cities? The people of Yanyun are originally Song people. Whoever wins their hearts will win the world."

He paused deliberately, "Besides, Su Yun is eyeing us covetously. After the Liao army was transferred westward, Yanyun's defenses were empty... If it was occupied by the rebels, wouldn't it be worse than returning it to the Song Dynasty?"

These words were like a heavy hammer hitting Yelu Hongji's heart.

He stared at Cheng Yi's hunched back and said through gritted teeth, "Good Master Cheng... You have a point, but I cannot agree to your request!"

Cheng Yi raised his head, and a barely perceptible light flashed in his eyes.

He knew that he had the upper hand in this game.

Cheng Yi smiled slightly and said, "I am not asking for too much. The conditions I proposed are completely reasonable.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are the gateway to our Great Song Dynasty. If this gateway is not in the hands of our Great Song Dynasty, how can our Great Song Dynasty dare to attack Su Ni with all its might?
Haha, if the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are returned to the Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty can immediately deploy 200,000 or 300,000 soldiers and horses of the Northern Army to fight against the rebels. But if the Liao Lord does not return the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, how can these 200,000 or 300,000 soldiers and horses be withdrawn? "

Yelu Hongji and others all frowned.

Cheng Yi laughed and said, "As for why we need war horses, there is no need to explain more. Now that Su Ni has occupied Hetao, war horses will no longer be a weakness. Su Ni's Jingsai Army is best at cavalry warfare. With Hetao, Su Ni's Jingsai Army is probably unrivaled in the world in cavalry warfare!

Haha, only cavalry can fight cavalry. My Song Dynasty has always been short of horses. If we want to fight to the death with Su Ni, without horses, what can my Song Dynasty use to fight to the death? "

Yelu Hongji frowned and said, "War horses are also an extremely scarce strategic resource in my Liao Dynasty. I can't give you many."

Cheng Yi was already confident. He supported himself on the ground and managed to stand up straight. His cloudy eyes suddenly shone with a sharp light: "Lord Liao, do you know why Su Yun insisted on annexing Xixia?"

He paused deliberately, looking at Yelu Hongji's subconsciously clenched fist, "The fine horses of the Hetao grassland and the trade routes of the Hexi Corridor are just the surface. What he really covets is the Liao Kingdom's Western Capital Datong Prefecture!"

The meeting room suddenly fell silent, with only the sound of candle wicks popping echoing in the empty hall.

Cheng Yi continued in a hoarse voice: "After Su Yun occupied Xingqing Prefecture, he transferred all the main cavalry to the west. The smoke and dust rising outside Ganzhou City every day covered the sky.

If I'm not mistaken, he has secretly contacted the remnants of the Western Xia. Within three months, he will use the pretext of "recovering Yanyun" to divide his troops into three groups and attack the Liao Kingdom's Xijing! "

The hem of Yelu Hongji's dragon robe trembled violently. Xiao Hudu's forehead was covered with cold sweat: "Master Cheng, please stop exaggerating! My Great Liao..."

"Western Xia was established nearly a hundred years ago, and the walls of Xingqing Prefecture are three times thicker than those of Datong Prefecture!"

Cheng Yi coughed violently, and the blood dripping from his fingers bloomed on the ground, but he was unaware, "The Queen Mother Liang of Western Xia has been hoarding grain for twenty years and has hundreds of thousands of iron harriers, but what is the result?
Su Yun took a detour through the Helan Mountains and broke through the fortified city within three days! Now the main force of the Liao army is heading south to attack the Song Dynasty, and only the old, weak, and sick are left in Xijing. How can they resist the world's most powerful army, the Jingsai Army? "

Right Prime Minister Yelu Yan's face turned pale: "Even so, your country..."

"If the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were in the hands of the Song Dynasty, the 300,000 imperial troops of the Song Dynasty could attack Su Yun's rear!"

Cheng Yi's sudden roar shook the candlelight, "But what about now? The Liao army is stationed on the Yellow River, and our army has to divide its troops to defend Hebei!

Once Su Yun advances eastward, the Liao Kingdom will be attacked from all sides, and the Song Dynasty will have no choice but to stand by and watch in order to protect itself - by then, the tragedy of the destruction of the Western Xia will be repeated in the Liao Kingdom!"

He panted heavily, his eyes swept over the pale-faced Liao rulers and ministers: "Yelü Hongji, you claim to be wise and brave, don't you understand?
Only by letting the Song Dynasty free up its hands can we contain Su Yun on the western front! War horses, annual tribute, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, compared with the survival of the Liao Kingdom, which is more important? "

Suddenly, there was a muffled thunder in the sky, just like the shock that Cheng Yi's words at this moment caused to the hearts of the Liao Dynasty's rulers and ministers.

Cheng Yi looked at Yelu Hongji's trembling back and sneered in his heart - when the blood of the demise of Western Xia had not yet dried, no one dared to bet that Su Yun's next target would not be the Liao Kingdom.

In this gamble, the Song Dynasty has already grasped the lifeline of the Liao Dynasty.

Yelu Hongji suddenly stood up and left, leaving behind a message: "Let Master Cheng take a good rest, and come back to discuss with me after you have rested."

Cheng Yi watched the Liao king and his ministers leave the stage, and finally he could not hold on any longer and lay on his back on the ground, but he could not help laughing out loud.

He smiled not only because he had escaped death, but also because the Song Dynasty had finally found a glimmer of hope.

It can be said that once the Song Dynasty formed an alliance with the Liao Kingdom, the crisis of national destruction would be imminent.

In order to deal with the rebellious Ming Dynasty, the Liao Kingdom must unite closely with the Song Dynasty. Once the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun return to the Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty will no longer be submissive to the Liao Kingdom!
And with the Liao Kingdom fighting alongside them, no matter how powerful the Ming Dynasty was, it would not be able to destroy the Song Dynasty with the cooperation of the two countries!
Haha, this is the Three Kingdoms!

The Ni Ming Dynasty destroyed the Western Xia Dynasty. It seemed that its strength had greatly increased, but it was just another Western Xia Dynasty!
The Three Kingdoms of Song, Liao and Xia lasted for a hundred years, but after the rise of the rebellious Ming Dynasty, the situation was nothing but a stalemate!
The Great Song Dynasty is still the same Great Song Dynasty!
(End of this chapter)