Wu Zhidu didn't know whether the medicine he presented had an effect or whether King Xia really cared about the Bohai Kingdom. Anyway, he was received quickly.
On the seventh day of October, he came to the fifth lane of the first street east of Dingding Gate: Xiuwen Square.
There is a place called Hongdao Temple in Xiuwenfang, which has been abandoned. The owner of the temple, Master Sandong, was a city official in Zhengzhou and had a deep cultivation base.
This Taoist temple occupies a huge area, covering almost the entire Xiuwenfang. The reason why it is so outrageous is that before this, it was the palace of the prince.
In the third year of Xianheng's reign, the whole land was merged into the residence of King Yong. The king was promoted to crown prince and established as Hongdao Temple.
The Hongdao Temple was destroyed by the war. Now it was completely cleaned up and a house was built. It was given to Shao Chengjie, the eldest son of King Xia.
The princess is also here today.
Five months ago, she gave birth to a son. In the past ten years of marriage, she has given birth to three sons and one daughter to Shao Shude. The eldest son is fifteen years old, the eldest daughter is 11 years old, the second son is six years old, and the third son is one year old.
He took care of the house in an orderly manner and did not let Shao Shude worry about it. He was considered virtuous and intelligent.
When the old man got the house, of course, as his mother, he had to come and take a look. Not only did he take a look, but he also personally directed the servants to bring in boxes of belongings and decorate them everywhere.
Shao Shude sat in the nave, watching all this with boredom. It wasn't until Yin Anzhi's commander Li Yixian came to report that he finally felt a little fun.
"Let him in." Shao Shude sat still and ordered.
Logically speaking, since Wu Zhidu was the Prime Minister of the Bohai Sea, he still had to give him some face and go out to greet him. But Shao Shude thought about it and still did not move. This is a gesture, a political signal, and a way of negotiation.
Wu Zhidu didn't think there was anything wrong. After so many years of ups and downs in the officialdom, personal honor and disgrace no longer mattered much. In the hands of an old bureaucrat like him, nothing could not be traded. Everything could be negotiated and the price could be clearly marked.
"See His Highness King Xia." Wu Zhidu and Gao Yuangu, who accompanied him, saluted together.
"That's a lot of courtesy, Mr. Wu." Shao Shude stood up and returned the greeting, smiling and saying, "Sit down. The mansion is newly built and the furniture is not yet complete. I'm neglecting our distinguished guests."
After that, he ordered Yin'an's deputy envoy Yang Hongyin to make tea - there are indeed many skills that need to be learned to work beside Shao Shude.
"Is Wu Xiang coming from Longquan Mansion in Shangjing this time?" Shao Shude asked.
Neither party mentioned the gift Uzindu had given him before.
To be honest, Shao Shude is not too interested in this. Of course, he is also interested in trying it. However, after the Xiao who served him last night knew about it, he took it away directly, saying that it was the medicine of tiger and wolf and was harmful to the body. Then, he cast
I have learned the secret technique of enchantment from a wealthy family, and it is more effective than medicine.
"Exactly." Wu Zhidu said.
"What's the scenery like in Longquan Mansion?" Shao Shude asked with interest.
"Our country has a very vast territory, with five capitals, fifteen prefectures, more than sixty prefectures, more than a hundred counties, and a population of two million. The hometown of Sushen is called Shangjing, and it is called Longquan Prefecture, which leads to Long, Hu, and Bozhou.
The city is adjacent to the Huhan Sea." Wu Zhengdu introduced.
"I heard that there is a heated kang in the Bohai Sea, but it is very cold. Is it possible to farm in Beijing?" Shao Shude asked again.
"Your Highness, the Bohai Sea is densely covered and the land is fertile. It mainly grows rice, but also beans, wheat, millet, millet and other crops. It can also herd horses, hunt, fish, and collect, both far and near." Wu Zhidu replied.
The more proudly he introduced Bohai Country's agricultural achievements, the more interested Shao Shude became.
"Can rice be grown in the Bohai Sea?" Shao Shude asked in surprise.
In his impression, rice can be grown in the Northeast because it was cultivated by North Korean farmers who crossed the border in the late Qing Dynasty. How come it can be grown now? Is it because of the high temperature?
"Your Highness, the Bohai Sea produces grain, and seventy-eight percent of it becomes rice. Don't you hear 'rice from Lucheng'?" Wu Zhengdu said: ""The Rites of Zhou" says: 'The northeast is called Youzhou, and there are three kinds of grains suitable for it', which is Ji.
, broomcorn millet, rice."
Lucheng rice is a specialty product of Bohai Country. It is said to taste very good, but it is rarely sold to the Central Plains and is only sent as a tribute.
The Youzhou mentioned in "The Rites of Zhou" should include parts of eastern Liaoning, but most of it is limited to the south, that is, the Liaoning area. Millet is sorghum, and millet is millet. In other words, a large amount of rice was planted in at least Liaoning a long time ago
Yes, this refreshed Shao Shude's understanding.
The main rice planting areas of the Bohai Kingdom are in the Huhanshui, Shubinshui, and Meituo Lake basins. In other words, the area around Mudanjiang, Suifenhe, and Xingkai Lake is the agricultural center of the Bohai Kingdom, and its heartland is also the most fertile place.
"So, the three houses of Shangjing, Dongping and Shuibin are the source of wealth for your country?" Shao Shude has obviously done his homework and knows the general geographical location.
Things were indeed beyond his knowledge, and he was surprised one after another. At the same time, he was also a little helpless. The country had never studied the Bohai Kingdom in depth, and its knowledge of its internal affairs was limited.
Shao Shude originally thought that the essence of the Bohai Kingdom was in Liaoning, but now he discovered that it was actually in Mudanjiang and Xingkai Lake. This was its core location. Otherwise, the capital would not have been moved to Beijing at the end of Tianbao.
"Exactly." Wu Zhengdu replied: "In the early years of our country, we decided on the general strategy of advancing northward. After several generations of conquests, the barbarians in the northeast are afraid of their ministers."
Wu Zhidu's words were too simplistic. In fact, the Bohai Kingdom wanted to go south at first, but there were Tang Dynasty and Silla in the south, which were very powerful and very inconvenient. So they went north to conquer Heishui Mohe and expanded their territory thousands of miles away.
Heishui Mohe was the predecessor of the Jurchens, who were beaten into dogs by the Bohai Kingdom. During the Goguryeo era, they were also severely suppressed by Goguryeo, and their lives were very miserable. So they sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty to express their surrender and wanted to use the power of the Tang Dynasty.
Attack the Bohai Kingdom from a pincer attack.
However, the Mohe tribes were quickly conquered by tens of thousands of troops from the Bohai Sea, and the matter ceased to exist.
At this time, the Jurchen's combat power was weak. Datang, Bohai, and Goguryeo sent out a partial army, and they could conquer it at will. In fact, there was no sign that they could fight. Perhaps the real reason was not that the Jurchen could fight, but the opponents he encountered when he rose.
can not fight.
"I have heard about the war between your country and the Khitan." Yang Hongyin brought the brewed tea. Shao Shude invited Wu Zheng to taste it. Gao Yuangu tasted it and asked again: "The Khitan is becoming more and more arrogant. I will not tolerate it."
But the Bohai Sea is far away, so it’s not easy to contact them even once, so what can I do?”
Finally we got to the point! Wu Zhidu was excited and immediately stood up and said: "Your Highness, it's not far actually. It takes three days to reach our country by sea from Dengzhou."
Shao Shude was noncommittal and asked: "Whose hands is the old land of Anton Mansion now?"
After the Anshi Rebellion, marked by the Pinglu Army crossing the sea and marching south to Ziqing, the Tang court's forces completely withdrew from Liaodong. Faced with such a superior terra nullius, the surrounding governments and tribes naturally coveted it. In the midst of competition among many parties, the Bohai Sea
The country clearly has the upper hand.
The Dezong Dynasty was briefly revived, and the Andong Protectorate was resettled in Xiangping City of the Han Dynasty. The protector was "Lian, the son of Gaozang, the deposed king of Goguryeo". Gao Zhen, the son of Gao Lian, also served as the protector.
But this was only in western Liaoning, while eastern Liaoning was already occupied by the Bohai Sea, and the former territories of the four Han counties were occupied by Silla.
The Anton Protectorate has existed for a long time and is mainly attached to Youzhou Town. When Zhang Jianzhang went to Bohai as an envoy in 835, the Andong Protectorate was still there.
In the fourth year of Emperor Xuanzong's reign (850), the Andong Protectorate was still in Liaoyang. In the book issued by the imperial court to Zhang Yunshen, the envoy of Youzhou Jiedu, it was mentioned that "Kang Liaoyang's armored soldiers are so powerful that Youdu can control the distance."
The fall of western Liaoning should have happened in the last 20 to 30 years, and it was mainly obtained by Bohai. However, this land is not within the five capitals and fifteen prefectures of Bohai State, and has always faced fierce competition from the Khitans.
"History of the Liao Dynasty" records that "after more than twenty years of hard work, we finally captured it and built it as Tokyo." In 909, "in the first month of spring, (Abaoji) was lucky to be in Liaodong." In other words, the Khitan had already conquered Liaodong before 909 at the latest.
Take all the land in western Liaoning.
Shao Shude didn't know the actual situation in western Liaoning at this time, so he asked.
"Your Highness, Duli Town is still in the hands of our country. Last year, Yalu Mansion sent troops to fight with the Khitan. The rebels plundered and retreated after some looting." Wu Zhengdu replied: "Duli Town was originally the hometown of the Tang Dynasty.
Our country is willing to offer it to the Heavenly Dynasty, and we ask the saints of the Tang Dynasty to send troops to defend it."
Duli Town was later known as Lushun and was a military town under the jurisdiction of the Anton Duhufu.
Wu Zhidu is also interesting. Are you trying to get rid of a hot potato?
It seems that the Bohai Sea has indeed weakened in the past 20 to 30 years. In the past, it was able to snatch away Liaodong from various heroes, but later it slowly eroded western Liaoning. Now most of western Liaoning has been snatched away by the Khitans, and Liaodong can hardly be saved, so are you anxious?
Duli Town is a small place, so I won’t feel bad if it is lost. It was stolen anyway. But if Yalu Prefecture and Nanjing Nanhai Prefecture are lost, I will feel bad if they are lost.
"How many people are there in the old place of Anton Mansion?" Shao Shude asked.
"Since the Khitan invaded the east, the military towns in the prefectures and counties have been dilapidated, and there are only a few tens of thousands of people. However, don't worry, Your Highness, there are far more people than that. Our country is weak and unable to control it, so all the people are hiding. If we clean it up well,
At one time, there might be one hundred thousand households." Wu Zhengdu replied.
"It turns out that Wu Xiang doesn't know the true situation of Anton Mansion." Shao Shude said in surprise: "If I send troops to Anton and there is no food and grass, what can I do?"
This was a blatant request for military expenses and supplies, but Wu Zhidu was overjoyed when he heard this.
I am not afraid of bleeding and spending money, but I am afraid that you will not come. The internal problems of Bohae Kingdom are very serious. In recent years, it has become increasingly unable to deal with the Khitan. Buyeo Prefecture was captured this year, and the National Center is mobilizing frontier troops from the north to suppress Heishui Mohe to return reinforcements. I don’t know
Can we win? But with this country’s strength, even if we win this time, what about next time?
Wu Zhidu saw clearly that the Bohai Kingdom was in decline, while the Khitan was on the rise. If we fight for another two or three years, Andong Prefecture will inevitably fall. If we fight for another five years, Yalu Prefecture and Nanjing will not be able to survive. If we fight for ten more
In the year, Bohai may be subjugated.
This is still an optimistic expectation if the Khitans do not attack them with all their strength.
Considering that the Khitan has suffered losses at the hands of Li Keyong and Shao Shude in the past few years, it is very likely that the Khitan has given up on going south to the Central Plains. How about turning back and attacking the Bohai Sea? Under such a situation, can it persist for ten years?
There are many.
"I heard that the silks from Bohai are also good, and the iron tools are also very fine." Shao Shude said: "Every year, we provide 5,000 war horses, 30,000 soldiers, 200,000 pieces of cloth, 200,000 bundles of hay, and 300,000 grains.
, I will send troops to Duli Town, how about it?"
Wu Zhengdu did the math and found that the amount of property robbed by the Khitan every year was far more than this amount. What else could he have to worry about? He immediately responded: "I will send an envoy back to Beijing to discuss it with my king. There must be nothing."
question."
Shao Shude smiled and said nothing, looking like he was righteous enough to protect Bohai.