Winter is coming and spring is coming, and another year has passed. The distribution of newspapers is getting smoother and smoother. Some special informants have even begun to appear in the capital, relying on selling intelligence to newspapers for a living. The newspapers are divided into two and have opened morning newspapers and evening newspapers. Morning newspapers focus on current affairs, while evening newspapers focus on entertainment. Some people have even started to serialize legendary novels in evening newspapers.

Last year, the Liao army was defeated by Li Yuanhao, and this incident was also reported by newspapers. It has been reported about this incident for several days, and people from all sides have also expressed their opinions in the newspapers. However, after all, there is only one sentence, that is, the Liao Kingdom is no longer the Liao Kingdom of the past, and even a mere Dangxiang cannot defeat it.

It was raining all night long. Just when the Liao army was just defeated, Goryeo in the east suddenly sent troops to attack the Liao army in Baozhou on the east side of the Yalu River and other places. The Liao Kingdom had a total of six prefectures on the east side of the river, which was collectively known as the Six Prefectures in Jiangdong. This was also the sting of Goryeo's heart. The Liao Kingdom had already drawn a lot of troops from the Six Prefectures in Jiangdong. Faced with Goryeo's fierce attack, the Six Prefectures in Jiangdong were soon lost.

The failure of the East and West to connect the two sides further declined, causing the Liao Kingdom to decline, and domestic conflicts broke out again. The Song Dynasty was in a hurry to see the crowd, and many radical people even shouted the slogan of destroying the Liao Kingdom.

Zhao Zhen was also a little interested in the Liao Kingdom, but after the persuasion of Li Zhang, Lu Yijian and others, he temporarily gave up the idea of ​​sending troops. First, the Song Dynasty was in a critical period of reform. If troops were sent at this time, it would definitely disrupt the process of reform. In addition, although the Liao Kingdom was defeated, the lean camel was larger than a horse. Perhaps the Liao Kingdom was unable to attack outward now, but there was no problem in shrinking its troops to defend.

Of course, the most important thing is that Li Zhang told Zhao Zhen to be vigilant about Dangxiang. If the war between Song and Liao countries occurs again, Li Yuanhao will definitely take the opportunity to annex Liao territory like last time and strengthen his strength. If the Song and Liao countries fight each other and suffer losses, it will only be cheaper to Dangxiang in the end.

Among the side halls of the Chuigong Hall, Zhao Zhen called the Jiangshan Hall because he ordered people to set up a huge sand table here to present the entire territory of the Song Dynasty. There were also some local detailed sand tables, some within the territory and some outside the territory. Li Zhang and Zhao Zhen were standing next to a sand table outside the territory at this time.

"Cousin, Li Yuanhao occupied the west of the Uguru River and even threatened the Zhenzhou of the Liao Kingdom. Zhenzhou was too far from Zhongjing. After the last defeat, the Liao army did not have the strength to take the initiative. If Li Yuanhao conquered Zhenzhou, it would be difficult to save the grasslands in the western part of the Liao Kingdom." Zhao Zhen held a flag representing Li Yuanhao in his hand and placed it next to Zhenzhou.

This is a map of the entire territory of the Liao Dynasty grassland, with mountains, rivers, and some important towns on it. These are made according to the map secretly drawn by spies sent by the Song Dynasty. Some places may not be accurate, but there is generally no problem. Today, after Zhao Zhen finished handling government affairs, he discussed the situation between the Liao Dynasty and Dangxiang with Li Zhang.

Li Zhang's eyes were also focused on Zhenzhou at this time. Before Yelu Renxian was defeated, the remaining troops also retreated to Zhenzhou. Zhenzhou was the capital of Zhaodaosi on the northwest road of Liaoguo. Although Li Yuanhao had previously captured a large area of ​​land in Zhaodaosi on the northwest road, he had never been able to conquer Zhenzhou. Before, when Yelu Renxian was expeditioning the west, he also took Zhenzhou as the foundation and regained a large area of ​​land west of Zhenzhou. However, after the defeat, all the land was lost.

Now Li Yuanhao's army is stationed dozens of miles west of Zhenzhou, and from time to time he will send people to harass the defenders of Zhenzhou. After Yelu Renxian was defeated, he was also recalled to Zhongjing by Yelu Zongzhen. Now the garrison in Zhenzhou is Yan Niang's younger brother Yelu Zhirang, Li Zhang's brother-in-law.

"Zhenzhou is probably difficult to defend!" Li Zhang pondered for a moment and finally spoke, "Zhenzhou has no big city within a radius of hundreds of miles. Even the Wugu Neliu Army Command in the east is quite far away from Zhenzhou. In this way, Zhenzhou is equivalent to being alone. In addition, after the last defeat, the morale of the Liao army must be very low. Yelu Zong's true prestige is also hit again. The tribes on the grassland regard the strong as the most respected, and I am afraid that not many people will be willing to obey the Liao Kingdom's orders. In this case, what will the Liao army use to defend Zhenzhou?"

"My thoughts are the same as my cousin, but what surprised me was why Li Yuanhao never attacked Zhenzhou? Last year, when he defeated Yelu Renxian, he had the ability to conquer Zhenzhou in one go, but he stopped garrisoning outside the city and had not intended to send troops until now?" Zhao Zhen said with some confusion at this time.

"I think Li Yuanhao should face the same problem as our Song Dynasty, that is, rectifying all kinds of internal problems!" Li Zhang smiled slightly at this time. He had been paying attention to Dangxiang's situation, and some news from Dangxiang recently made him understand Li Yuanhao's intention.

"Is there a problem within the Dangxiang?" Zhao Zhen asked in surprise when he heard this.

"Your Majesty, don't forget that Dangxiang's roots are basically in Xingzhou. Later, Li Yuanhao was forced into the territory of Liao by us, which made him lose Dangxiang's foundation. He has been trying hard to expand in recent years, but there are not many real Dangxiang people in his hands. Most of them are the grassland tribes that have joined him. These tribes are not loyal to him. When Li Yuanhao is strong, they will naturally obey him, but if Dangxiang is weak, these people will definitely be the first to rebel."

Speaking of this, Li Zhang paused and then said: "Since last winter, Li Yuanhao had already begun to carry out a series of internal reforms, such as unifying clothing, etiquette, and establishing officials in the Song Dynasty. He also began to call himself the King of Xixia, and at the same time encouraged his subordinates to intermarry with foreign tribes. However, he had no less than a hundred foreign concubines alone, and these were his means to strengthen internal rule."

Zhao Zhen nodded when he heard this. The people of the grassland regard the strong as the most respected, so Li Yuanhao's strength on the grassland is also very fast, but this kind of expansion will leave countless hidden dangers. Perhaps other people of the grassland would not have such a thought, but Li Yuanhao can be called a generation of heroes with a very careful mind. If he waits until he integrates the internal forces, he will definitely burst out with very terrifying power.
Chapter completed!