Chapter 284 Xixia’s Plan
"I have nothing to talk about with you." Minglan said lightly.
Because of Zhao Xing, Lin Xiaoniang did not kill Wei Xiaoniang in this time and space.
But Lin Xiaoniang had often secretly made things difficult for her mother in the past, and even poisoned her.
Therefore, Minglan naturally hated Lin Xiaoniang.
However, death is like the extinguishing of a light. She would not vent her hatred for Lin Xiaoniang on Molan, but she also did not have much sisterly affection for Molan.
Molan suddenly came to her, and she didn't want to find out what her plan was.
"Sixth sister!"
Seeing Minglan was about to leave, Molan quickly stopped her and begged, "Just a few words, can you please listen to me? I know my little sister did something wrong to you, can I apologize to you on her behalf?"
Molan was about to kneel down, but Minglan's face changed and she quickly stopped Molan, saying with an unpleasant expression, "Fourth sister, what do you want to do?"
No matter what, Molan is her sister. If an elder sister kneels down to her younger sister, how can she live her life if the news gets out?
"My mother did something wrong to you, and I just want to apologize to you and atone for my mother's sin." Molan said.
Minglan looked at Molan deeply and said, "Let's go to the garden over there and talk."
After saying that, he walked towards the garden.
Seeing this, Molan hurriedly followed.
Sheng Family Garden is not big and there is no one else here at this time.
Minglan walked to the garden, looked around, then stopped and said, "If you have anything to say, please say it quickly."
"Sixth sister, my husband was born in a poor family and has no official title. Our family's expenses are usually covered by my dowry..."
"Fourth sister!"
Minglan interrupted Molan and said, "Father can accept Fourth Brother-in-law as a student, which means Fourth Brother-in-law is well educated and has a good chance of passing the imperial examination. There will be good days waiting for you in the future. If Fourth Sister wants to find someone to complain to, I'm afraid she has found the wrong person."
"No." Molan shook her head repeatedly and said, "I still believe in your knowledge, but you come from a poor family. Even if you pass the exam, you will be assigned to a remote place to be an official without anyone to help you. My mother is dead, and I only have one brother. It will be difficult to meet him if I leave Bian Jing, so I want to ask my sixth sister..."
"I can't help with this matter. Fourth sister, you should ask father for help." Minglan said and turned to leave.
At this time, she had already understood what Molan meant. She simply wanted her to ask Zhao Xing to arrange for Wen Yanjing to be an official in Bian Jing after he passed the imperial examination in the future.
I have to say that Molan’s calculations are really good.
Generally speaking, unless one ranks high, it is hard to say whether someone like Wen Yanjing, who has no background, can be granted a real job even if his name is on the list of successful candidates.
With the help of his father-in-law Sheng Hong, it should not be a problem to grant him a real job, but the possibility of him staying in Bianliang is very small.
After each imperial examination, only a handful of people could stay in Bianliang.
Although those who stayed in Bian Jing to serve as officials would be transferred to local areas in the future, their starting point was much better than those who were directly granted local official positions.
Minglan believed that if she told Zhao Xing, he would not refuse.
However, as the Crown Princess, Zhang Guifen had never asked Zhao Xing for help on behalf of her natal family, so how could she possibly ask Zhao Xing for help for Molan?
"Sixth sister!"
Molan trotted forward to stop Minglan and begged, "Just help me!"
"I only have a dowry. Do you think I can help with this kind of thing?" Minglan said calmly.
"If you can't help, you can ask Fifth Sister. Fifth Sister has a deep prejudice against me. She will definitely not help if I ask her. You have a good relationship with her, and she will definitely agree if you tell her." Molan said.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you with this. If you want to kneel, then just kneel."
After Minglan finished speaking, she walked around Molan and left quickly.
This time, Molan did not stop her. She watched Minglan's departing back with deep hatred in her eyes.
"Okay, very good!" Molan said gritting her teeth.
…………
The Song, Liao and Western Xia were bordering countries, but Western Xia had a smaller territory and learned about the civil unrest in Liao earlier than the Song.
After Li Liangzuo got rid of his uncle's family, he spent more than half a year not only resolving some internal hidden dangers, but also strengthened central power through a series of means.
In addition to the marriage alliance with the Song Dynasty and the opening of trade, the Liao Kingdom was thriving.
Although Li Liangzuo was young, he was very ambitious. After achieving internal stability, he prepared to expand outward.
Xixia had many options for expansion. In addition to the two targets of Song and Liao, there were also Hehuang, the Western Regions and the plateau to choose from.
After the Song-Xia War, the Western Xia occupied Lingzhou and began to develop the Western Regions.
Although the Western Regions have not been completely occupied by Western Xia today, they are almost there.
Therefore, the Western Regions were ruled out first.
Between Hehuang and Gaoyuan, Li Liangzuo finally chose Gaoyuan.
There was only one power, Tubo, on the plateau, but it was divided into many tribes, which had been constantly fighting against each other over the years.
Although there were two forces, Tubo and Qiang, in the Hehuang area, it was also divided into several tribes.
However, the Hehuang area is located in the middle, and the situation is relatively stable.
In comparison, the Tibetan tribes on the plateau are easier to deal with.
Just as Li Liangzuo was preparing to launch an attack on the Tibetans on the plateau, news of civil unrest in Liao came in. After confirming the authenticity of the news, Li Liangzuo began to hesitate again.
When Li Liangzuo's father founded the country and proclaimed himself emperor, the Song Dynasty sent troops to attack Western Xia. After a great defeat, the two countries negotiated peace.
The Liao Kingdom wanted to take advantage of the Song Dynasty's defeat and join forces with the Western Xia to blackmail the Song Dynasty.
Before the establishment of the Western Xia Dynasty, it played both sides between the Song and Liao Dynasties. Now that it has established its own country and proclaimed itself emperor, it is naturally unwilling to be a younger brother of the Liao Dynasty.
Moreover, Western Xia was negotiating with the Song Dynasty at that time and demanding benefits from the Song Dynasty. How could it agree to allow the Liao Kingdom to interfere?
After being rejected, the Liao Kingdom was furious and sent troops to attack Western Xia, but was defeated.
It was precisely because of the two wars here that the Song and Liao dynasties had to recognize the fact that the Western Xia had been established.
The Liao Kingdom held a grudge and after the death of Li Liangzuo's father, it once again sent troops to attack Western Xia.
This time, Western Xia was unable to resist and not only lost the grassland it occupied, but also surrendered to the Liao Kingdom, forcing the Liao Kingdom to withdraw its troops.
Although Li Liangzuo was less than two years old at that time, he was the emperor of Western Xia, and the loss of land and submission to the emperor occurred during his reign.
Li Liangzuo naturally wanted to seize the grasslands occupied by the Liao Kingdom.
After all, that was Xixia’s horse-breeding land, and its loss would have a huge impact on Xixia.
However, the Liao Kingdom was powerful and the chance of winning was not high. If both sides were defeated, it would be troublesome for the Song Dynasty to send troops.
Therefore, Li Liangzuo could only endure it.
However, the civil strife in Liao gave him an opportunity, and he wanted to take advantage of the civil strife to send troops to regain the lost grassland.
When Li Liangzuo told his prime minister Liang Guangchuan about his idea, Liang Guangchuan thought carefully and said, "Your Majesty, I think this is not a good time to send troops to Liao."
"If now is not a good time, when will be a good time?" Li Liangzuo frowned.
"At this time, the Liao Kingdom has just experienced civil strife, and its strength has not been greatly depleted. If we send troops, it will be difficult to be effective. Once we suffer heavy casualties, the Song Dynasty will take advantage of it. It is better to send troops to the plateau according to the original plan and expand our strength. By then, the Liao Kingdom's strength will have been greatly depleted, and it will be a good time to send troops." Liang Guangchuan said.
"What if the civil unrest in Liao has been quelled by then? As for the Song Dynasty, there is no need to worry. Hasn't the Song Dynasty always been thinking about recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun? We can unite with the Song Dynasty and attack Liao together!" said Li Liangzuo.
Liang Guangchuan pondered and said, "Your Majesty, have you ever thought about what the consequences would be if the Song Dynasty really took back the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun?"
He didn't think that the alliance between Western Xia and the Song Dynasty could destroy the Liao Dynasty.
At worst, the Liao Kingdom could retreat to the grassland.
However, once the Song Dynasty recaptures the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, the north will be safe and the Song Dynasty can then release most of its military forces.
If the Song Dynasty mobilized troops against Western Xia, what would Western Xia use to resist?
"For the Liao Kingdom, it's just a small piece of grassland and is not important. Instead, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are the most important. It is impossible for the Song Dynasty to seize the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. Moreover, I have no intention of destroying the Liao Kingdom. I will withdraw my troops as long as we can take back the grassland that we lost that year." Li Liangzuo said.
Liang Guangchuan wanted to say something else, but Li Liangzuo waved his hand and said, "I have made up my mind, father-in-law, so there is no need to say more. Please draft a letter to invite the Song Dynasty to join the expedition against Liao!"
"I obey your order!" Liang Guangchuan had no choice but to respond when he saw Li Liangzuo was so determined.
At the same time, he felt a little gloomy in his heart. He originally thought that Li Liangzuo was still young, and after helping him seize power, Li Liangzuo could only rely on him.
He could suggest that Li Liangzuo employ Han officials and gradually gain control of Western Xia.
However, although Li Liangzuo relied heavily on him, he also followed his advice and made important use of Han officials.
However, he was wary of him and did not allow him to get involved in military power.
Now she has her own ideas and doesn't even listen to him.
Liang Guangchuan also realized at this time that it would be difficult to use Li Liangzuo as a puppet.
Fortunately, his daughter was pregnant, and as long as she gave birth to a prince, Li Liangzuo could be eliminated.
However, before that, he still had to control a certain number of troops, otherwise, once Li Liangzuo died, he might not be able to control the situation.
Fortunately, Liang Guangchuan was not in a hurry. Sima Yi endured for so many years and finally seized the world from the Cao family.
He has only been planning for a few years, and has already achieved such results.
…………
On the eighth day of the second month, Zhao Xing brought civil and military officials to the western suburbs camp to see the soldiers off.
In every dynasty, a certain number of troops would be left behind to protect the capital.
Because the Song Dynasty had no strategic locations to defend in the north, in addition to the tens of thousands of imperial guards in the palace within the city, there were 400,000 imperial guards stationed in the western suburbs camp outside the city all year round.
It is only with the help of the canal that logistical support can be completed.
Otherwise, the logistics alone would be enough to bring down the court.
Xijiao Camp is a general term, not just one camp.
Instead, it was divided into five large camps: front, back, left, right and center, each with 80,000 soldiers.
Because the five camps were all located in the western suburbs of Bianjing, they were called the Western Suburbs Camps.
There were 20,000 soldiers standing on the parade ground of the central army camp.
Each battalion of the 100,000-man army had 20,000 soldiers, and at this time there were only 20,000 soldiers on the central military parade ground.
Zhao Xing, along with all the civil and military officials, stood on the platform to review his generals. Looking at the tens of thousands of soldiers below the stage, he felt heroic.
(End of this chapter)