Chapter 277 I have a bad feeling
Lu Huiqing was very proud, but he knew that his pride was meaningless to the Xixia people.
Moreover, the Xixia people have always been a major concern for the Song people. They would often raid the valleys and cross the Yellow River to Bianliang. They lived in fear of the Xixia people's iron hooves every day.
The Song people who grew up in such an environment had a natural fear of the Western Xia. On the one hand, they claimed to be civilized people and despised the barbarians. On the other hand, the Western Xia often beat the Song people to a pulp.
Even if there is an occasional victory, most of the time you will have to lose money in the final negotiation stage.
This made the people of the Northern Song Dynasty very confused. The other side was obviously barbarians, so why couldn't they defeat them?
And even if you win, you still have to pay compensation.
Therefore, in the eyes of the younger generation of Song people, Western Xia was very barbaric. Not to mention when they were strong, even if they lost, they would dare to ask you for money and still think they had won. They were extremely barbaric.
But now, Lu Sen told Lu Huiqing that the Xixia people are even more afraid.
He thought this was very strange.
Barbarians can also be afraid sometimes?
If other people of his age said this, he would not believe it, but since Lu Sen said this, he was willing to believe it.
Back in the tent, Lu Sen sat in the main seat, took out some snacks from his system backpack, and ate slowly.
Lu Huiqing was a little anxious. He had been imagining how Xixia would respond next, but he was a young man after all and lacked experience in this area. Moreover, the more nervous you are, the harder it is to think of anything.
After a while, he couldn't help it anymore, so he walked over and asked, "Master Lu, it's already this late, and you're still eating. Don't you think about how to deal with the Xixia people? This is a matter of vital importance to the honor and disgrace of us Song people."
"It is indeed very important, so you must be well fed and well-drinking before you can deal with them." Lu Sen tapped the table lightly with his fingers: "Doctor Lu, don't be too nervous. Let's eat something together. It will help calm you down."
Lu Huiqing was quite nervous at first, but when he saw Lu Sen like this, he calmed down. He picked up a piece of honey chicken wing and asked while eating, "Master Lu is so calm, I think he must have a plan in mind."
"Didn't we make a plan last night?" Lu Sen said with a smile.
"But this change is different from the plan after all. Can Master Lu make some temporary changes and adjustments?"
Lu Sen shook his head: "It's totally within expectations."
"Master Lu already expected that this would end unpleasantly?"
Lu Sen laughed and said, "How strange! These uncivilized people are like this. They always think that they can gain the upper hand by being erratic and arrogant and intimidating others with their momentum. They have always been like this, and they will be like this in the future. As long as you stay calm and prepare yourself, and ignore their threats, everything will fall apart on its own."
"Is it really that simple?"
Lu Huiqing was puzzled. If it comes to not changing one's expression when facing a mountain collapse, many civil officials in the court can do it, but if they can successfully negotiate with the Xixia people, then why should they pay tribute to Xixia every time in the past!
Seeing him like this, Lu Sen smiled and explained, "My master once taught me that you have to be able to beat others before you can remain calm. In the past, when we, the Song Dynasty, faced Xixia, we lost more than we won. Even if we won, it was only a small victory, and it was difficult to form a strategic advantage. But now it is different. Xixia is already at the end of its strength, while we have sufficient money and food. With this comparison, their momentum is naturally not as good."
The Song Dynasty and Western Xia fought so many battles, with both sides winning and losing. Especially the two great victories won by the military supervisor Lu Sen directly drained half of Western Xia's blood.
Later, Xingqing Prefecture fell, and the Song Dynasty gave up its advantage. Then Di Qing took over Xingqing Prefecture by force. At this point in the war, both sides were exhausted and their resources were almost used up.
But as luck would have it, the giant rice planted by Lu Sen took effect, and the food and grass of the Song Dynasty increased dramatically. Secondly, under Lu Sen's deliberate guidance, the maritime merchants were extremely active. Not only did they appear in the Spice Islands, but now they have even extended their tentacles to the Indian Ocean, which also brought huge tax benefits to the Song Dynasty.
A wave of money and food was replenished all at once, and the combat power was immediately restored.
Wars are often fought over logistics and resources.
In comparison, Western Xia was not a high-yield grain-bearing area. It made a little money by harvesting the grains from the merchants passing by on the Silk Road. When it had nothing to do, it would run to the border of the Song Dynasty to collect grass and grain, and then use some castrated horses to exchange for ironware and the like.
Although they kept winning, the country's supplies were actually being consumed.
By now, three major defeats had almost drained all of Xixia’s savings.
Xixia did not dare to say that the people were living in misery, but at least most of the people were almost unable to get enough food.
This is also the reason why Western Xia was eager to negotiate peace.
"It would be great if that were true." Lu Huiqing still didn't quite believe that Lu Sen could cheat Xixia.
Looking at the unconfident young official, Lu Sen smiled and did not explain further.
Not long after, the dusty Di Qing came in from outside. When he saw the snacks on the table, his eyes lit up. Without saying a word, he picked up a chicken leg and took a bite. Then he said, "I am almost starving to death. Master Lu has lived up to your trust and arranged the ambush."
Lu Sen nodded: "Then wait for the Xixia people to take the bait."
Then he turned his head to Lu Huiqing and said, "The Xixia people will definitely invite us to negotiate again tomorrow. You should act a little more scared then."
"Fear?"
Lu Sen nodded.
Lu Huiqing was stunned for a moment, and then vaguely understood Lu Sen's plan.
By the early morning of the next day, the Xixia people had set up their tent in the center of the two armies.
Lu Sen and Lu Huiqing went to the appointment again.
Sitting in front of a low table, Lu Sen looked at Shi Biao opposite him and said, "After a day and a night of consideration, I think the general Zhengnan should know how to speak."
This is very sarcastic, as if the other person can't even speak.
Shi Bang's face was gloomy. He snorted and said, "Master Lu, you are full of vigor and courage. You are not the same as the Song people at all. I even heard that you are unwilling to associate with Song officials. Why don't you come to my Dabai Gao Kingdom? The Prime Minister will definitely give you half of the throne."
Xixia was just the name given to them by the people of the Song Dynasty, while they called themselves the 'Great White Gao Kingdom'.
"I don't even want to associate with the officials of the Song Dynasty, so how could I be willing to associate with the dirty and smelly Northwestern barbarians?" Lu Sen's eyes were full of mockery: "General Shi is willing to jump into the cesspool himself, but I am not willing to do so."
Lu Huiqing burst out laughing and then immediately covered her mouth.
He was pretending to be 'scared', but this ruined it all.
Shi Bing glanced at Lu Huiqing grimly.
Lu Sen was a land immortal, so Shi Bing would not be so angry if he said a few words to him. But who was Lu Huiqing? He was just a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue, and he dared to be rude in such an important occasion.
As if he felt Shi Bang's gaze, Lu Huiqing immediately sat up straight, but for some reason, he seemed afraid of Shi Bang's eyes and became restless.
He didn't even dare to look Shi Bang in the eye, his gaze was wandering.
Mei Zang Ade, who had been sitting silently next to him, saw this scene and seemed to be thinking about something.
Lu Sen said at this time: "Let's stop talking nonsense and talk about something real. Since you don't know how to negotiate and make demands, why don't you listen to our ideas?"
"Please say."
"I like peace and prosperity. I don't like fighting and killing." Lu Sen said with a smile, "But this time you took the initiative to negotiate peace, so let's not talk about the annual tribute. As for the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Mei Zang, write a letter to apologize to our little official, and this matter will be over. After all, it is you who often come to our side to cause trouble. Then we will open the border and do business with each other. We will not collect taxes and allow the flow of people. In the future, don't use the copper coins of your Great Bai Gao Kingdom, but use our Song people's copper coins. Your characters are ugly and have no aesthetic feeling, and there are not many classics. In the future, you should also use our Song people's characters. We Song people are very generous and emphasize that if you enter China, you should be Chinese. Then let the little official confer the title of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Mei Zang as the King of the Northwest. In this way, it is probably what we want."
Hearing Lu Sen's words, the three people nearby were a little surprised.
It’s not that Lu Sen’s conditions are harsh, but that they are... unexpectedly tolerant.
Now, who doesn’t want to be incorporated into the Central Plains, who doesn’t want to do business with the Central Plains, but the Northern Song Dynasty has never been fond of opening its borders to do business with others.
Now it's opening up voluntarily?
To them, this matter seemed wrong no matter how they looked at it.
Shi Bian was stunned for a long time, and finally he looked at Mo Zang Ade for a while. The two exchanged glances, and finally Shi Bian turned his head and said, "What Master Lu said is really beyond my expectation. How about we go back and think about it?"
"Then we'll talk about it tomorrow." Lu Sen stood up and clasped his fists: "Think about it carefully."
Then the two sides adjourned the meeting without talking for much time.
Lu Sen brought Lu Huiqing back to the camp. As soon as he entered the main tent, the latter stood in front of him.
"Master Lu, what's the matter with your condition? It seems to me that you are compromising with Xixia. Didn't you say that you want to..."
Lu Sen sat down, stretched his back and then said, "The Xixia barbarians are stupid, but they always think they are smart. They may be confused at first, but after thinking about it for a while, they will think I am cowardly, or even think that I am under pressure from the court not to offend them. After all, the court officials are very afraid of the Xixia people."
"So what?" Lu Huiqing couldn't help asking.
"Then they will think that we are just strong on the outside but weak on the inside, and they may try to devour our group in order to obtain better negotiation conditions."
Lu Huiqing was stunned for a moment: "So Master Lu, are you showing weakness to the enemy?"
"It's okay to think so." Lu Sen touched his smooth chin: "But in fact, the conditions I gave are the real killer. If they agree, we can destroy Xixia without bloodshed. Unfortunately, they won't agree."
In the Western Xia camp, Shi Bang and Mo Zang Ade sat face to face.
Shi Bang crossed his arms across his chest, thinking about the deeper meaning of the conditions stated by Lu Sen.
Mei Zang A De seemed extremely happy: "Song dogs are still Song dogs. Even with a strong man like Master Lu, they are still cowards."
"Why did Minister Mei Zang say that?"
Mo Zang Ade said excitedly: "I have heard that when the Song Dynasty negotiated with us, there were also several officials who were very strong, but after arguing for a few days, they became timid. It turned out that it was the instruction of the Song court. They are indeed brave, but those who are in high positions are too cowardly, haha."
"You mean, Master Lu was also coerced by the Song court?"
"I can only think so. Master Lu was so arrogant , but today..." Mei Zang Ade slapped his thigh excitedly: "This is such an obvious difference, don't you understand?"
Shi Biao thought about it and felt that it was true: "Minister Mei Zang's words make a lot of sense."
"General Shi, I suggest mobilizing the army to force the enemy." Mei Zang Ade showed a cunning smile, like a little fox: "Approach them slowly."
"Are we going to take action?" Shi Biao felt something was wrong: "After all, we are negotiating peace now. If the Prime Minister of Tibet knew about it..."
"We won't attack them, we'll just scare them." Mo Zang Ade said, "As long as we approach slowly, they will be scared and retreat in a panic. Then, when we negotiate tomorrow, Master Lu's prestige will no longer be there."
"Let's give it a try." Shi Bang felt that this was indeed feasible.
Afterwards, the Western Xia cavalry army began to move and slowly pressed forward.
In the Song army camp, Shi Huiqing looked at the rolling dust on the opposite side and said with a click of his tongue: "The Western Xia barbarians are really just as Master Lu said, they are coming to oppress us."
"I am just using history as a mirror." Lu Sen laughed and said, "Notify all soldiers to retreat according to the plan."
Use history as a mirror... What he said is true, but he is just using the history of future generations and the world that future generations see as a mirror.
When the Xixia people saw that the Song people were really retreating, they immediately became excited.
As cavalrymen and hunters, they have an instinct to chase the 'fleeing' enemy.
If Shi Bang had not issued a strict order not to charge, and if the Song army had not put down their horses while retreating, their desire to hunt would have been dispelled.
In the Xixia army, Shi Bing looked at the slowly retreating Song army and said with a smile: "It is indeed correct to place the negotiation site here. If it were in the hills, it would be difficult for us to charge, and the Song army would not be so afraid of us."
Mo Zang Ade said excitedly: "Continue to oppress them and drive them back to the city of Xingqing Prefecture. I want them to sign a document of annual tribute in front of hundreds of thousands of people in Xingqing Prefecture."
Shi Bang felt the same way. He thought that after the Song people replaced Master Lu as the chief negotiator, things would change. He did not expect that he was still so cowardly.
Fortunately, his family had defected to Western Xia more than ten years ago, and there was really no future for him in the Song Dynasty.
It makes me happy just thinking about it.
On the plain, two armies, one retreating and the other advancing, seemed to be in tacit understanding.
The Song army retreated for nearly an hour, but suddenly stopped, set up camp on the spot, and quickly surrounded the entire camp with chevaux de frise.
"It seems that the Song people still have some backbone." Mei Zang Ade took the horse whip and slapped the Song army in front of him and said with a smile: "Are you angry because of shame? Don't want to retreat anymore?"
But Shi Biao suddenly felt a little palpitation, his chest was uncomfortable, and he was restless: "Minister Mei Zang, I seem to have a bad premonition."
