When the wine and food came up, Du Zhongxiao raised his glass and said, "Today we have free time, let's drink a glass of wine. In the past few months, it's rare to have such a leisurely moment."

Everyone raised their glasses together, drank wine, and the mutton cooked and roasted, and distributed them to everyone. Du Zhongxiao ate a piece of meat and chewed it slowly.

Xiao Xulie said: "In the past few years, when Dangxiang was destroyed, most of the soldiers were released as good citizens. Why is this different? The war in Youzhou ended, and no prisoners of war were released. Most of the young and strong Khitans were in Youzhou. If they were not allowed to go back, the Khitan tribes were worried."

Du Zhongxiao said: "You said it clearly. It was the battle to destroy the Dangxiang. The Khitan is still fine now. If you are defeated, put the soldiers back and wait for two years to make a comeback? If you destroy the Khitan now, many people can put them back."

Xiao Xulie was stunned for a moment, not knowing what to say, so he had to shut up.

Du Zhongxiao said: "Actually, there is another point. When Dangxiang was destroyed, the imperial army attacked Dangxiang. They did not harm the people of the Song Dynasty at that time. The Khitan went south this time. Although he entered the Song territory, the imperial court strengthened the walls and cleared the fields on Hebei Road and did not cause any major damage. However, in the battle of Quyang, Yelu Tie did not occupy the county town and stabbed the people in the city. In order to ensure food and grass, hundreds of thousands of troops were signed in Youzhou, and the food among the people was almost completely left. Do you know? The imperial army occupied Youzhou and saw hungry people all over the ground and the people were hungry. How could such an army be assured to let them be ordinary people without transformation? Killing and robbing people is ordinary for them, not following the laws and regulations, and not following the court orders."

Xiao Xulie wanted to refute it, but after thinking about it, Du Zhongxiao was talking about the truth. Finally, he had to sigh and not say anything.

Du Zhongxiao said: "In the past, the imperial court guarded against autumn every year, what did it guard against? In autumn, the nomadic peoples on the grassland often went south, and the small ones plundered, and the large ones siege the cities and villages. The people suffered a lot. These people planted their own land and worked hard every year, so why would they be robbed? When you were in the Khitan, you thought it was natural and ordinary. Now that you are defeated, you should not have any complaints and just bear it yourself."

Seeing that the atmosphere was a little awkward, Yelu Xiantong hurriedly said, "This has been the case since ancient times. The Taiwei, we can't blame the soldiers."

Du Zhongxiao said: "Since ancient times, they have been robbers, so they are not guilty of being robbers. Isn't this just because they bully the Central Plains dynasty and cannot defeat them? In fact, it is not that they cannot defeat them. The Huns in the Han Dynasty were also arrogant and domineering, but where did they go in the end? The Turks in the Tang Dynasty also fought outside Chang'an City and forced the Tang King to sign the Weishui Alliance. How many Turks are left now? The Khitan once went south to Kaifeng, and the governors of the world obeyed the orders. Now all the army heading south was annihilated, and it is not surprising."

Yelu Fairy Tong and the other two were embarrassed and didn't know what to say. Du Zhongxiao said it right. Yelu Hongji had just defeated Yelu Chongyuan and was able to organize troops to drive south because the Khitan ministers did not believe that this battle would be defeated. If he had known this result, Yelu Hongji would not have been like this. From the late Tang Dynasty to the present, since the establishment of the Khitan country, he had never suffered a great loss in the war with the Central Plains dynasty.

Du Zhongxiao said: "Isn't it good for the grassland people to grazle cattle and sheep, and the Han people in the Central Plains to plant rice and wheat. Everyone lives their own lives? As long as the Central Plains dynasty relaxes a little, you will go south. You will rob property, kill people and set fire, and think it is natural. Then, if the Central Plains dynasty wins, is it natural to kill all the grassland people? Logically speaking, there is nothing to say to kill them all."

Yelu Xiantong said: "The Taiwei, the Khitan, is different from the previous Huns and Turks, so how can we generalize it?"

Du Zhongxiao nodded after hearing this: "Not bad, it's different. The Khitan not only has grasslands, but also the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. Not only do they have cattle and sheep, but they can also cultivate fields. Youzhou is the territory of the Khitan, and the people are the people of the Khitan. Why would this be like this? This year, if the Khitan had not been defeated and the court occupied Youzhou again, most of the people of Youzhou would starve to death!"

Seeing that the three of them did not speak, Du Zhongxiao sighed: "You said that if the court had done this now based on what the Khitan army did, it would not be too much to deal with it like this? Without killing people, they would have food and housing as long as they work. What else should they do? Many officials in the court did not agree with the establishment of this prison camp. The Khitans have been defeated, so why bother with the lives of these generals? Just kill them!"

Yelu Fairy Tong, Yelu Renxian and Xiao Xulie bowed together: "The Taiwei Renxin will save many lives and will bring blessings to the future!"

Du Zhongxiao waved his hand: "What kind of blessings? To be honest, I don't believe it. But I dare not say that this is the life of many people. Although there were many mistakes in the past, if you can not kill, you will not kill. But if you don't kill, you can't just talk and say you don't kill. This matter is just for nothing. Therefore, you need to build a prison camp here so that the Khitan generals who are locked up here will learn here and have no food to eat without work. Their food and clothing were planted by the people's hard work, not falling from the sky. When I was in the Khitan, I could ignore it, but now I can't. The taxes of the people of the Song Dynasty cannot be spent on them. In the future, as ordinary people, you must make food and clothing."

Yelu Renxian bowed and said, "What the Taiwei said is that most of these Khitan generals were from wealthy and could not survive even if they were released as civilians."

Du Zhongxiao nodded and said, "Today I am telling you this is to make you understand. It is not that I treat the Khitans who are locked up here. If they treat them harshly, it is the easiest to cut them with one knife. Why do you have to spend so many tricks? God has the virtue of being a virtuous person. When he can do not kill people, he will not kill people. But the previous crimes and responsibilities cannot be ignored. They must also consider their future life."

Cui Xiang said: "The Taiwei's words today made me suddenly understand. The lower-ranking officials were sent to manage the prison camp. To be honest, I was really confused. The people who are locked here are all the princes and nobles of the Khitans, so why bother to spend so much effort? If it is useful to the court, it is easy to raise. If it is useless, just kill each person and finish it. But I didn't expect that this prison camp would have so many uses."

Du Zhongxiao nodded without saying anything. In fact, the most important reason for keeping these Khitans is to facilitate combat. If all of these people are killed, the remaining Khitans will inevitably be crazy and the next battle will not be easy to fight. However, if you don’t kill them and support them well, Du Zhongxiao will not be able to overcome the hurdle in his heart no matter what. The Song Dynasty suffered a lot in this battle, but Youzhou is too miserable, how can you let it go easily?

It is necessary to build a prison camp and transform these people into ordinary people. Du Zhongxiao said and did it. But how much is the real effect? ​​Du Zhongxiao himself also doubted. Three years of imprisonment or five years of imprisonment? At that time, what is the situation outside? The wealth of these people was actually left in the Khitan. If the entire Khitan territory was occupied at that time and their families entered the Song Dynasty, how could they care about how to eat? The smallest person here is the intermediate general, which is not a rich family? Which Khitan has strong resistance, of course, don't mention everything.

After drinking a glass of wine, Du Zhongxiao sighed. Where can everything go well in the world? Do your best and just leave it to fate. This time, the construction of the prison camp was more of an attitude, and the final effect was affected by many things, and it was really hard to explain.

The weather gets warmer and it’s no longer cold at night. The wind blows in, bringing the fragrance of flowers. Several people drink, eat meat, and talk about gossip, and the atmosphere slowly becomes relaxed.

Yeyelu Xiantong said: "If I were in Zhongjing, it would still be cold at this time. I don't want Kaifeng to be so warm. I used to hear that the Song Dynasty was a prosperous place, especially Kaifeng Prefecture, which is the most prosperous place in the world, and there is no place to compare with. I only realized that it is true today."

Du Zhongxiao said: "Compared with the Khitan, this is naturally the case. However, to the south, there is also the misty rain in Jiangnan. King, work here for a few years. When the work is finished, you can go to Jiangnan for a trip."

Yelu Xiantong was a little fascinated after hearing this, and after a while, he said, "Is it better the weather the more you look south? Then what about Lingnan?"

Du Zhongxiao smiled and said, "The miasma in Lingnan is everywhere, and it is hard to be warm. It can still be passed in winter, but it will be hot in summer. It is not that Vietnam is better, but that it is not south or north, which is the most comfortable place. From Kaifeng Prefecture to Jiangnan, it is actually an excellent place, with some differences."
Chapter completed!