Wang Ning'an was not easy to take down the Hengshan line. On the contrary, there were many things to do. So many herdsmen and prisoners had to deal with, and the newly obtained land needed to consolidate the defense.

Moreover, when entering the territory of Xixia, the supply line suddenly increased by hundreds of miles. When transporting supplies from the Song Dynasty, it was necessary to cross Hengshan, and the number of civilians used twice as many.

There were various riots and bandits along the way, as numerous as cows. They attacked the baggage team from time to time and suffered huge losses.

Wang Ning'an had to send Liang Dagang and Li Wuji to lead troops separately to protect the food road, and also mobilized 100,000 troops to clear away the chaotic soldiers everywhere.

In this way, only half of the so-called army of more than 300,000 can be placed in the front, and the attack power has been weakened by half. Wang Ningze led the cavalry to guard the Jingsai Army and adopted a defensive force to prevent the Xixia army from moving south and defending the fruits of victory.

Di Qing also came from Hongzhou, and he and Wang Ning'an had a brief exchange of views.

"I think the line on Hengshan was deliberately given up by Li Liangzuo."

Wang Ning'an nodded: "That's right, it's been nearly a year since the Hengshan line. We have suffered a lot of losses, and Xixia is even more costly. When it retreats at this time, it is actually a bit difficult for Li Liangzuo. I thought he could only hold on for half a year!"

Di Qing said with a calm face: "I guess he killed someone by using a knife!"

Wang Ning'an was shocked and his face became more and more serious. He has been thinking about it over the past two days. Di Qing's words are reasonable!

"Western Xia was worried about internal and external troubles. Li Liangzuo used our hands to consume the tribes that were not obeying the orders, and then the army withdrew and threw all the Qiang people in Hengshan to us."

"That's right, at this time, Li Liangzuo had at least 200,000 elite troops, of which 100,000 were not damaged, and he got rid of the burden of the Qiang people in Hengshan. It can be said that he was debt-free. If we continue to march, only 150,000 people could be called and the military strength advantage was lost. On the contrary, the supply line was extended by a thousand miles, and the weaknesses were exposed." Di Qing said worriedly: "At this moment, expanding the results of the battle and continuing to fight, the more you lose, the less you win, is not a good way. The safest thing is to defend Hengshan, put pressure on Xixia, and at the same time open up the Hexi Corridor as soon as possible and connect it with the Western Regions. As long as the newly occupied territory is managed well, then we can do our best to defeat Xixia!"

As a commander who is both wise and brave, Di Qing came up with the most reliable and reliable solution.

But Di Qing was unsure. You must know that rational decisions cannot be supported at any time.

For example, at present, the entire Song Dynasty was immersed in the joy of victory, and from top to bottom, they were yelling to break through Helan Mountain!

Zhao Zhen went to Taimiao to pay homage to his ancestors.

The prince Zhao Zongye was also with Zhao Zhen.

After practicing in the northwest for some time, Zhao Zongye did grow up quickly.

The little guy is no longer young, but instead becomes energetic, deep and restrained, and becomes more and more like a crown prince of a country.

This is exactly what Zhao Zhen hopes to see.

The father and son were particularly proud of their ancestors of the Zhao family from all generations.

When he recovered Youzhou, Zhao Zhen came to Taimiao to pay tribute.

This time he came to Taimiao again, and he felt as if he looked down on everything.

Emperor Taizu founded the Song Dynasty, and his contributions were naturally unmatched. However, Zhao Daxin was only regaining Yan Yun, but he still failed to succeed in his mission.

As for Zhao Er, he went out and made two more attempts, but both failed and returned!

It would be even more unbearable when it came to his father Zhao Heng. Not only did he not dare to fight, but he was also beaten to the door. If Kou Zhun and others had not been strongly advocated the war, he would have fled to Jiangnan, which would have been completely disgraceful!

All of them are gone, and there are only a few romantic figures, but I, Zhao Zhen!!

Uncle Zhao was full of pride. Youzhou was back and Xixia was defeated.

As long as the Western Xia is destroyed and the army enters the Western Regions, the Song Dynasty will immediately expand its territory, double its territory, and catch up with the prosperity of the Han and Tang dynasties!

What made Zhao Zhen even more pleased was that the war and expansion of territory in the Song Dynasty did not bring much burden, but instead promoted economic prosperity.

Take Youzhou as an example. After the defense line moved northward, it saved millions of jins of soldiers every year. At the same time, textile development increased by another 3 million jins of tax revenue.

In total, all the tens of millions of military expenditures invested to attack Youzhou have already recovered.

Further down there is net profit!

This is amazing.

You should know that with the strong military strength of the Han and Tang dynasties, why did they all spit out in the end?

To put it bluntly, it is a cost actuarial.

It costs money to fight wars, and it costs money to control territory.

For example, if you conquer a large area of ​​land, you have to send civil officials, generals, and garrison troops. If you cannot collect tens of thousands of guan a year, you will have to spend hundreds of thousands of guan in military spending. You will also face attacks from foreign races at all times, and you will have to pay a huge price. In the long run, no one can stand it.

For the Central Plains dynasty, which is mainly agriculture, pushing the border to the front line of the Great Wall is already considered the limit.

Because the Great Wall is the boundary between agriculture and animal husbandry, it is south of the Great Wall, suitable for farming, farming, paying rent, and collecting taxes by the imperial court. It can support the garrison, and it will be no longer cost-effective.

Of course, some people are not convinced. They say that the territory is better, the country is majestic, the territory is expanded, and the future generations must be left with foundation, prevent foreign races from invading, establish a stable border line, and have a huge depth... Everyone will say such a great truth and everyone will understand!

But in practice, it cannot be done at all.

Because most people are always short-sighted, selfish, and only care about the present... Even if the monarch with a strong and generous future can last for decades, the successors will surrender to the majority, change their courses and get the support of the majority.

For example, the biggest prodigal son should be the Tsar, who actually sold Alaska to Americans for $7.2 million.

No one would have thought that decades later, Mao Wang's long-range bomber did not develop, and was not enough to travel to America to throw nuclear bombs, so he had to recruit dead soldiers pilots, always ready to carry out bombing missions that had no return, and fight with his life!

If Alaska is in hand, where can we use long-range bombers and how can we use pilots to fight to the death?

Perhaps the end of the Cold War will be rewritten.

But this assumption is worthless, because the Tsar had long destroyed his country and his family disappeared. After I died, I would not care about the flood!

Wang Ning'an's most successful thing was not to restore Youzhou, but to make Youzhou profitable.

The same principle applies to the Western Xia and the Western Regions. Only when you have a profitable position can the people stand firm and expand the land will truly become the territory of the Han family.

Otherwise, if you draw a circle on the map, wouldn’t the whole world be yours?

After returning from Taimiao, Zhao Zhen became full of confidence. Uncle Zhao became more and more sure that the Song Dynasty would create glory far beyond the Han and Tang Dynasties.

The Song Dynasty had the ability to manage the newly expanded land well and obtain enough taxes to support soldiers and officials.

There are Silk Roads in the Western Regions and livestock breeding in the northwest, which can bring rich returns.

Since that's the case, why not let go of expansion and build an unprecedented territory!

Zhao Zhen smiled at his son.

Let your father do everything for you, and you will enjoy endless territory and supreme glory!

On the third day after Zhao Zhen won the Hengshan Victory, he immediately issued an order to change the name of Prince Zhao Zongha to Zhao Shu. Shu was the Dongfang Ming!

Just one word contains many beautiful expectations of Uncle Zhao.

This time, the name change is a big deal, which marks that Zhao Zongye... Well, it is Zhao Shu who has completely settled in the position of the crown prince and can no longer be shaken.

Moreover, in order to train the prince's ability, Zhao Zhen appointed Zhao Shu to judge the Kaifeng Prefecture.

This appointment is very interesting again.

Ordinary ministers, such as Bao Zheng and Ouyang Xiu, have all been the chief officials of Kaifeng Prefecture, but their title is "Master of Kaifeng Prefecture". Only the crown prince will be sentenced, or Mu, all of which highlight the supremacy of imperial power and the noble prince!

Facing the favorable treatment of my father, Zhao Shu was not as happy as he imagined.

Because he was caught in a conflict.

Since taking charge of Kaifeng Prefecture, Zhao Shu has needed to follow his father to go to the morning court, obey all officials' discussions, and accumulate experience as the emperor.

The first time he went to the morning court, he was talking about the battle situation in Xixia.

The court officials were full of enthusiasm and smiled happily. They often sent troops to pacify the Western Xia. They achieved their contributions in one battle, captured Li Liangzuo alive, washed away humiliation, restored Hetao, and displayed the greatness of the Song Dynasty!

These optimistic words completely infected Zhao Zhen.

The emperor swept away his aging attitude, radiant and energetic.

"All the Lords, Xixia has become a elbow and a disaster for the northwest. I am incompetent!" Zhao Zhen first reviewed his fault. Wen Yanbo and others hurriedly stood up and comforted the emperor, saying that the Dangxiang Rebellion was a chronic disease for a hundred years, but it broke out during the term of Your Majesty... Now that Xixia is pacified, it is enough to comfort the spirits of the ancestors and ancestors in heaven.

Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "What the Lords said is so much. I decided to take down Xingqing Mansion and capture Li Liangzuo alive!"

"My emperor is wise!"

Amid the praises, Zhao Zhen suddenly found that Prince Zhao Shu was pursing his lips and shook his head slightly, looking very nervous.

"Son, what do you have to say?"

"I... I remember, Wang Xianggong, the strategy formulated!" Zhao Shu stumbled slightly: "Wang Xianggong believes that the strategic goal this time is to open up the Hexi Corridor. Since it is a breakthrough in Hengshan, the army should advance westward and connect with the Prince of Dongping... If, if, rashly attack Xingqing Prefecture, I am worried that the dog will jump over the wall, it will damage the power of heaven!"

After Zhao Shu finished speaking, he lowered his head deeply. He knew that it was wrong to talk back to his father in the hall, but he had to say that in Zhao Shu's heart, he was biased towards his master. This was not that he valued his master more than his father, but that Zhao Shu felt that his master made more sense.

The royal father and son clashed, and the ministers were stunned for a moment and didn't know what to say.

At this time, Deputy Prime Minister Wang Gui suddenly stood up, and he smiled slightly, "Your Highness remembers Wang Xianggong's strategy, and is indeed intelligent and wise, and is gratifying. But Your Highness should have heard of it, adapt to the situation and cannot stick to the rules. The old minister thought that Wang Xianggong did not expect that this time would be so smooth! At this time, he will take advantage of the victory and defeat Xingqing Prefecture. As long as the Western Xia is destroyed and the business roads in the Western Regions will be natural..."

Wang Gui's words attracted a lot of echoes. Everyone said that they should adjust their strategies according to the situation and advocated continuing to use troops against Xixia... This may be the first time in many years that Wang Ning'an and Uncle Zhao have stood on the opposite side... What should we do?
Chapter completed!