Chapter 661

Since Shi Jingtang launched a rebellion, asked Qidan for help and ceded Youyun sixteen prefectures, the Central Plains has been unable to recover this crucial strategic area after the reunification. The loss of it made the territory of Qidan and Liao reach the Great Wall, and exposed the nomadic people's iron hooves in the hinterland of the Central Plains. In the face of the situation that there was no danger to defend in the north, the Song Dynasty almost broke its head. Even though its military equipment is the most advanced in the past dynasties, but in the face of the nomadic iron hoof, as well as strategic weaknesses, the Song Dynasty could not cause mass destruction to the nomadic people.

The nomadic cavalry, who grew up on horseback and came and went like the wind, gave full play to the power of their own cavalry, and then their tactics reached the peak in the hands of the Mongols. However, the environment of the Central Plains is rarely able to feed large-scale war horses. The loss of Youyun Sixteen States and the north not only caused a passive situation in strategy, but also lost a large number of land suitable for horses. As a result, the development of cavalry in Song Dynasty has been in a very embarrassing position. With less cavalry, it is impossible to pose a threat to the nomadic iron cavalry. With more cavalry, there is simply a lack of horses. No matter how elite the army is, it is difficult to compete with large-scale cavalry.

It was not until the rise of Yue Wu Mu, a national hero, that this situation was reversed. However, it was a pity that Yue Wu Mu was on the verge of success and failure, and his ten-year efforts were exhausted, which made later generations regret.

A large area of land lost in the north, together with the western regions were cut off, and the nomads prohibited horses from flowing into the Central Plains. Even if some horses were brought into the Song Dynasty by merchants, they were mostly castrated horses. It can not be cultivated, and the number of war horses is less, and it can not form a certain scale. The lack of horses in the Song Dynasty is well known.

But there is one thing, the industry and Commerce of Song Dynasty is very developed, with more than two million square kilometers of land, he created the economic value of future generations.

Based on the US dollar in 1990, after 960 (Zhao Kuangyin founded the Song Dynasty), China's per capita GDP was US $450, reaching US $600 at the end of the Song Dynasty. Europe, in the dark of the middle ages, was only $422. After the failure of the Opium War in 1840, China's economy was in a slump, with a per capita GDP of US $530 in 1870. Due to the civil war, by 1950, China's per capita GDP was only 439 US dollars, which could not catch up with 450 US dollars in the early Song Dynasty. In 1952, it was 537 US dollars, but it was still lower than 600 US dollars in the late Song Dynasty.

Moreover, his military strength is not weak at all, but sadly caught up with a bad era. There is not only a lack of war horses, but also a situation of strategic passivity. As a result of the martial arts of the Song Dynasty, only reparations were given to later generations

However, when Zhao and song Junchen learned that the descendants of Anxi army in the prosperous Tang Dynasty were far away from each other and established a foreign country to dominate the country, there were many good horses and good horses in China. Zhao and song began to have a different idea. If they could introduce Tang's warhorses through overseas trade, could they form a certain scale in China and form a powerful and invincible cavalry?

There is only one thing they have to consider, that is, the cost of transporting horses from thousands of miles away must be amazing. However, they have to try to bring in horses, even if they spend a lot of money. After all, the other side and their blood vessels always keep the same blood ah!

"When your envoy returns to China, please send my regards to the Lord of your country." Zhao Guangyi face red, said with a smile. Then Zhao Guangyi said, "your envoy once said that there are as many good horses in your country as cattle hair. I don't know if it's true, or do you exaggerate?"

The envoy of Tang Dynasty was not happy. He said: "the emperor knows that although our country is small, it is not that our country does not have the strength to seize foreign land. But there is no need at all. There are so many savages in the barbarian land that they are like chicken ribs. However, our country dominates the Mediterranean and is worthy of being the overlord. Whether it's Europa or Africa, these four countries all respect our country. Even Dashi Kingdom, which was at war with our ancestors' Anxi army in those years, was defeated by our country after our Tang people established our country for more than 20 years. Therefore, your majesty has no doubt about the strength of our Tang people. In our country, there are as many horses as there are stars in the sky. "

Zhao song Junchen looked at each other, although there was still some doubt in his heart, but he was exaggerated by the powerful mentality in the other party's words, and his heart could not help believing. However, overseas trade, although Zhao and Song dynasties are very developed, but the two countries need to carefully discuss how to trade. Therefore, Zhao Guangyi began to talk about the establishment of trade between the two countries.

"Your country and China are brothers of blood. I will tell you something."

"Your Majesty, please."

Zhao Guangyi nodded, and then said: "since the unification of our Dynasty, we have never been able to make full contributions to one battle. We have recovered Youyun and conquered the northwest. It's a pity that good horses are scarce and can't do their best. I've heard that there are a lot of good horses in your country. I wonder if your two countries can trade with each other? "

"Your Majesty, you mean to establish trade with our country and sell war horses?"

"Exactly so!"

After hearing this, the Tang emissary thought deeply and said, "naturally, we in the Tang Dynasty are willing to trade with our native land, but our two countries are thousands of miles away. There are many dangerous barriers on land, and there is a vast sea outside. How can we trade? " He added: "besides, there is no need to travel by land on the sea. The winds and waves are changeable and the bumps are constant. Starting from our country, crossing Egypt and the Red Sea, I'm afraid there are no good horses left in my hometown. In this way, the price of a good horse who can come to his hometown alive may rise to a sky high price. How to reduce the cost is a problem that both sides must settle. "

Zhao song Junchen silent, this is indeed a problem, if not solved, reduce transportation costs. Then the price of a horse can go up to the sky high price. In this way, the trade can not be carried out at all. Because at that time, the price of a horse may be more expensive than gold. Even if they are rich, they can't afford it.

However, the Silk Road on land was blocked by other nationalities, and even if there were many good horses outside the territory, they could not be introduced on a large scale. Khitan, the overlord of the grassland, will not wait for the Southern Dynasty to have a good horse. Although the maritime silk road is prosperous, as we have just said, there are no trade horses. It's too expensive to afford. What's more, in order to build a huge cavalry force, the scale of horses must be large in order to maintain a continuous supply of war horses. War not only kills people, but also horses.

This is why the overseas trade of Song Dynasty was so developed, but there was still a lack of horses. At that time, Southeast Asia and South Asia participated in the maritime Silk Road, and the Arabs also participated. The Arabs are not short of good horses, but as mentioned above, the trade cost is too big to be worth it. The cost of buying war horses is enough for them to arm a lot of infantry.

All of a sudden, envoy Tang seemed to think of something. He said, "Your Majesty, I have an idea, but I still need to go back to my country to report the specific things to the king in order to determine whether the things can go on."

"Oh? Please, Ambassador Zhao Guangyi is a little interested.

"If your majesty can send troops to recover the southwest and take this place into the territory, then a good port will be built at this estuary, which leads directly to the sea, then the war horse trade may be feasible." The Tang emissary took a huge map, first pointing to the southwest Dali state, then to Myanmar under Dali state, and then to the estuary of the Irrawaddy River. He kept on saying, "once this place is under the rule, then the horses transported by our country can land here. After finishing, the city was built along the river, where the river flows, for the horses to rest all the way, and finally the road was opened up to the southwest. It can be sent into your country. "

"However, China can seize the land of Egypt, build a good port city in the Red Sea, build a large number of seagoing ships, have many islands along the way, and also build transit places for people and horses to rest. In this way, the loss of war horses will be reduced. However, it will still be very expensive, but it will be acceptable to both sides. "

"But there are many mountains and rivers in the southwest, and the road is rugged and difficult to walk. People can't help but be careful when they walk here, not to mention the horses who come all the way here? Is it not a failure if one accidentally damages the horse's hoof or falls into a mountain stream? Moreover, it costs a lot to attack the city and destroy the country. It will take at least 20 years to build cities and roads along the way. The cost in the middle is a sky high price! It's enough to build a million troops in our dynasty! What's more, the southwest is full of miasma, epidemics, poisonous insects, beasts, savages and waste money. Whether we can see the results is not mentioned. Just resettling the immigrants and collecting corvee is enough to make the already stable people full of complaints. " Hearing the bad idea of sending song envoys, a minister of Zhao and song immediately refuted it. After that, he bowed to the monarch and said, "Your Majesty, this is a move to shake the foundation of the country and bring disaster to the people. It is absolutely not feasible."

After hearing this, the Tang envoy realized that he had said something stupid, so he made up his mind and said, "Your Majesty, I beg your majesty to forgive me for my nonsense."

Zhao Guangyi waved his hand generously, "your envoy has been far away from the Central Plains for hundreds of years. I don't know the geography. How can I blame him?" Then he sighed, "well, in this way, it's hard to solve the problem of lacking horses in my court after all!"