The fifth day of November, Xinjing.
After Zhao Ziliang finished processing the memorial documents, he walked out of the Qinzheng Hall to get some fresh air.
Not long after he arrived in the garden, Wang Can came over.
"Your Majesty, there is urgent news from Constantinople" Zhao Ziliang stopped when he heard this, turned around and asked, "What's the news?"
Wang Can said: "The Bulgar Khan King Trilig commanded many barbarians led by the Bulgars to attack the city of Constantinople.
The attack failed to break through Constantinople for more than a month.
Trilig sent people into the city.
Negotiated with the Byzantines and asked Leo IV to pay an annual tribute of 800 pounds of gold, and ceded the land north of Vabitsa pass to the Bulgars.
When Leo IV learned of the conditions proposed by the Bulgars, he was so angry that he overturned the table on the spot, killed the Bulgar envoys, and refused to pay tribute and cede land.
And ordered to guard and defend to the death, and fight to the end with the Bulgars."
Zhao Ziliang was greatly surprised: "Oh, this Leo IV actually has such courage and courage."
"Young people, it's inevitable."
Wang Can smiled and said, "According to the information we received, the Bulgars suffered heavy losses after attacking the city for more than 20 days and their morale was low.
Trilig and others planned to withdraw.
But they decided to blackmail again before withdrawing their troops.
Byzantium was a huge rip-off, but Leo IV didn't expect to buy it at all.
He was determined to defend and not let the Bulgars succeed.
Trilig was also riding a tiger and had to send people to transport supplies to the grassland while continuing to attack.
Constantinople”.
Zhao Ziliang walked forward with his hands behind his back, and Wang Can followed behind him on the right.
"Did the people from Dongchang play a role in fueling this matter?"
Wang Can said: "Some of our agents inside Bulgar believe that extending the siege of Constantinople will help our activities on the Eastern Front.
The longer Constantinople is besieged, the more likely Leo IV will be.
Possibly bringing troops from Syria and Canaan back to Constantinople, so that they could The power will be weakened.
Facts have proved that this move is correct.
News has come from our detailed operations in Constantinople.
Under pressure, Leo IV has ordered the secret deployment of five troops from Syria and Canaan.
Wan returned to Constantinople.
Now the garrison in Syria and Canaan was less than 50,000.
This was very important to us.
It should be an opportunity for us to take advantage of this opportunity to launch an attack and capture Syria and Canaan.
On the one hand, the Eastern Roman Empire has lost this land for more than a hundred years.
It has just occupied it and its control is not strong.
Ten thousand people stationed here are not too many troops for us.
What's more important is that this It is easy to attack and difficult to defend.
It will not be difficult for us to capture it.
Another point is that the remnants of the Abbasid Dynasty have fled to North Africa and are still unstable.
They are unable to counterattack and are still suppressing the resistance forces.
If we capture this area, we will not only gain Fertile land, there is no need to worry about the Eastern Roman Empire’s counterattack in a short period of time.”
Zhao Ziliang stopped and didn't know what he was thinking.
After a few minutes, he turned around and told the eunuch next to him: "Go and summon all the ministers to the palace for an audience."
"Follow the decree" After receiving the call, the ministers gathered at the gate of the palace, and led by Taijia to the Qinzheng Hall.
When Zhao Ziliang and Wang Can returned to the Qinzheng Hall, they were all there.
"I will pay my respects to the king."
All the ministers paid homage together.
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"Get on your feet!"
Zhao Ziliang raised his hand and said: "General Wang just brought the latest news about Constantinople.
The Bulgars are still besieging Constantinople.
Leo IV is ready to defend to the end, and He has ordered secret mobilizations from Syria and Canaan Fifty thousand people returned to Constantinople to join the war, which means that the garrison in Syria and Canaan has been less than 50,000.
I am wondering, is this a good opportunity for us in Western Qin?
My Lords, I I have summoned you here today just to discuss this matter.”
Wang Wenzhao, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, stood up and handed over his hands, saying righteously: "Your Majesty, if we, the Western Qin Dynasty, attack the Eastern Roman Empire at this time, will we be suspected of taking advantage of the situation?
This seems unreasonable, and it will also be detrimental to the reputation of our Western Qin Dynasty. , please, Your Majesty, think twice.”
Zhao Ziliang felt a little harsh when he heard these words, his face turned ugly, and he said coldly: "Who are you?"
Wang Wenzhao said: "I am the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, Wang Wenzhao."
"In the face of national interests, you need to reason with me.
I have told you before that no one upholds justice between countries.
Whoever has a bigger fist will be justified.
This is a world where the jungle prevails.
Today, if we have the opportunity, if we don't Eat others, there will be a chance tomorrow Others will definitely eat us.
How did you get into the position of the right minister of the Ministry of Rites?
Above the court, you are full of benevolence, justice and morality towards the enemy country.
Do you have benevolence, justice and morality towards me and the people of the Western Qin Dynasty?
Get out of here.
"Zhao Ziliang pointed at the outside of the hall and yelled angrily.
Wang Wenzhao's face turned red after being scolded, and he retreated in embarrassment.
All the ministers knew that this guy was afraid of being doomed.
He didn't even have the correct basic attitude towards the outside world.
How could he be qualified to stand in this court?
Deputy Prime Minister Liu Dan stood up and said, "Your Majesty, we have just occupied Persia, Mesopotamia, and the Dashi Peninsula.
We haven't had time to digest it.
Isn't it too hasty to attack Syria and Canaan now?"
Dugujun from the Judiciary Temple stood up and said: "Although Master Liu's words are reasonable, I think the opportunity is rare.
The remnants of the Abbasid Dynasty have fled to North Africa.
They have not yet fully established a foothold and are quelling resistance in various places.
They are now unable to take care of us. , and the Eastern Roman Empire was besieged by the Bulgar Khanate and other barbarians.
It was impossible to take care of both the east and the west at the same time.
This was the time for us to conquer Syria and Canaan.
The best time, if we lose this opportunity, when the Eastern Roman Empire eases the situation in the north, it will not be so easy for us to capture Syria and Canaan.
Even if we can capture it, the losses will be huge, like Now, they have less than 50,000 men left to garrison Syria and Canaan, and their forces are relatively scattered.
It doesn’t take much effort for us to attack.
I agree to send troops.”
Zhao Ziliang looked at Dugu Wensu and asked, "Prime Minister, what do you think?"
Dugu Wensu said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, you know that at this time, my life is the most miserable.
Money from the treasury is being moved out, but money is spent everywhere.
Everyone goes to the Prime Minister's Yamen to see you every day.
The first thing I said was to ask for money.
I asked for money one by one.
Even if I pawned my pants, it was not enough for everyone.
I am not against foreign expeditions at favorable opportunities.
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I just ask your Majesty to be considerate of this.
What’s the problem with being a housekeeper?”
Zhao Ziliang and the other ministers were all amused by Dugu Wensu's expression, and they all laughed from ear to ear.
"Ahem" Zhao Ziliang stopped laughing and asked: "How much money can you give this time?"
Dugu Wensu thought for a while and stretched out two fingers.
"Two million."
Zhao Ziliang frowned, "It's a little too little.
How about adding more, five million?"
Dugu Wensu grimaced again and shook his head, "At most three million, not one cent more."
Zhao Ziliang also had a grimace on his face, "Three million is really not enough.
Forget it, just three million."
The Western Qin army has too many cavalry, which is a gold-swallowing beast.
The cost of one cavalry can support three to five infantry.
This is one of the reasons why Western Qin's military expenditure has remained high for a long time.
After discussing the issue of military expenditures, Zhao Ziliang said: "In view of the limited military expenditures and in line with the principle of quick victory, I have decided to go on the expedition myself, without any concubines, palaces or maids, and to cut down on all unnecessary expenditures.
I, together with the soldiers, will The king's personal guards only bring five hundred dragon guards.
The royal family is responsible for this expenditure.
The troops and horses for the expedition will be mobilized from Persia, Mesopotamia and the Dashi Peninsula.
There is no need to mobilize other troops from other areas."
"In addition, before I leave Beijing, I ordered Prince Zhao Lei to return to Xinjing to supervise the country."
Zhao Ziliang's decision made the ministers and generals a little surprised.
Why did he suddenly transfer Zhao Lei back to Xinjing to supervise the country?
Was it because he was worried about him leaving or was there some other reason?
Zhao Ziliang's next words answered the doubts of the ministers and generals: "I am already over fifty and will abdicate in a few years.
Prince Lei should also be allowed to learn how to handle government affairs."
Everyone looked at Zhao Ziliang again and found that Zhao Ziliang actually did not look old.
He was over fifty and looked less than thirty years old.
He seemed to be younger than the two eldest princes Zhao Lei and Zhao Ting.
Some, but if you really look closely, you can't tell your true age, which gives people a sense of inscrutability.
The matter was decided in this way.
Wang Ting issued an edict as quickly as possible to send Zhao Lei back to Baghdad, but Zhao Ziliang did not intend to wait for him in Xinjing.
He wanted to test Zhao Lei's ability to handle political affairs, and Zhao Lei had already He is in his thirties and has not really been exposed to national military and political affairs.
Let him handle it alone first to see what his abilities are.
Zhao Ziliang did not stay in Xinjing for long.
On the third day after the edict to transfer Zhao Lei was issued, he was ready to set off.
He was accompanied by only five hundred dragon guards.
This time he did not even bring any escorts or guards. .
Five hundred Dragon Guards were ready.
Zhao Ziliang put on a heavy cloak under Wang Zhiyun's service.
She tied the belts for him and wiped the armor with silk cloth until it was shiny.
Wang Zhiyun said while wiping: "Why don't I go with you?
There is no one to serve you.
How do you live your life?
I'm afraid that your whole body will become smelly in a few days."
Zhao Ziliang shook his head and said: "That won't work.
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I have already told the courtiers that I will not bring anyone with me in the palace.
Besides, I have my own hands and feet, and it's not like I can't take care of myself.
Besides, there are soldiers from the Dragon Guard Army.
They will arrange for the soldiers to take charge."
Don't worry about my life.
The land of Syria and Canaan are all vast deserts with almost no green.
A woman with such tender skin and tender flesh would only last a few days.
He became tanned and lost weight."
"Ah, then I'd better not go.
I'm tanned and it's hard to keep my skin white."
Zhao Ziliang smiled, but secretly he breathed a sigh of relief
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