Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 934 Subduing the Northern Han
Empress Xiao did not want to continue fighting with Wu Jun, because she was worried that Su Chen would take advantage of the situation and lead his troops into the grasslands. At that time, the grassland tribes would be attacked, as would the northeastern border regions, which were also important cities of the Khitan. If Wu Jun attacked and seized these cities and territories, it would be a disaster for the Liao Dynasty.

Empress Xiao was good at "cutting her losses" and "retiring gracefully." Since she realized that she couldn't defeat Su Chen's army, she stopped struggling and put aside all concerns about face. After all, she was a woman and didn't have to care so much about saving face.

If it were any other Liao commander, they wouldn't be easily subdued. They would fight to the bitter end, even if it meant getting themselves into trouble and the fire spreading to the Liao capital.

Therefore, Xiao Chuo sent an envoy to the Wu army camp to negotiate peace, demanding the return of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun in exchange for an end to the war and trade cooperation.

Upon receiving the peace treaty, Su Chen pondered for a moment before agreeing. In fact, Su Chen had no intention of leading his troops into the border region. After all, the country had only recently been established and it was not advisable to fight outside for too long. Moreover, it would be somewhat dangerous to invade the heartland of the Liao Kingdom.

There are still many unresolved issues in the Central Plains. After all, coordinating cooperation between officials of Wu and Song, implementing new policies, eliminating the Northern Song, and incorporating the northwestern vassal states are all tasks that Su Chen needs to accomplish step by step.

Therefore, Su Chen agreed to the peace talks and personally led his troops to Zhangjiakou, the negotiation site.

Outside Zhangjiakou, autumn grasses stretch to the horizon, and the north wind whips up fine snowflakes, howling across the vast grassland.

At 3:45 AM, the Liao army's banner and the Wu Kingdom's dragon flag were a hundred paces apart, each forming its own battle formation.

To the north, Xiao Chuo wore silver-white scale armor, covered with a red fox fur coat, with a curved sword hanging at her waist and a gold-inlaid iron spear lying across her saddle; to the south, Su Chen wore black armor that shone in the sun, the red tassel on his helmet fluttering, his hand on the Qinggang sword, his gaze calm as still water.

Between the two armies, a newly laid long carpet stretched all the way to the central army. On the carpet were ebony tables, incense burners, wine vessels, jade discs, and sheepskin maps arranged in order.

The ceremonial guards stood at attention, and the drums and horns fell silent. The Liao envoy, Han Derang, stepped forward first, holding a golden tray upon which rested a map of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. He loudly proclaimed the imperial decree: "By the decree of the Empress of the Great Liao: I hereby offer the entire territory of the sixteen prefectures of You, Ji, Ying, Mo, Zhuo, Tan, Shun, Xin, Gui, Ru, Wu, Wei, Yun, Ying, Shuo, and Huan, as well as all the garrison fortresses north of Yanmen Pass, to the Great Wu. From this day forward, trade between north and south will commence, and war will be forever ended." His deep voice carried for miles on the wind.

Su Chen nodded slightly, spurred his horse forward, and gestured for his personal guards to present a brocade box. The box was opened, revealing a set of "Merchant Trade Regulations" drafted overnight by the Central Secretariat—taxes on Liaodong merchants entering the country would be reduced by 30%; Wu merchants trading horses would be exempt from inspection at Liaodong customs; and three additional border markets would be established at Zhangjiakou, Gubeikou, and Songtingguan.

Su Chen declared in a loud voice: "The people of the sixteen prefectures are all my subjects; past grievances are wiped clean. From this day forward, merchants and envoys will travel in droves throughout the Great Wall and beyond, working together to safeguard peace."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of relief flashed across Xiao Chuo's eyes. She dismounted and stepped forward to personally hand the fish scale map to Su Chen.

Su Chen also approached and presented the brocade box with both hands.

Their fingertips touched, a strange sensation passed between them, yet they reached a tacit understanding at that moment.

"Actually, I'm a fan of your books. Thank you. Your works have kept me company on many lonely nights. If it weren't for the differences and hostility between our two countries, I would really like to become your friend," Xiao Chuo said softly.

The two people were very close at the time, while everyone else was standing more than ten meters away, so they did not hear the faint sound.

Su Chen was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Now that the two countries are at peace and living in harmony, we welcome Empress Xiao to visit Wu in the future. I will certainly give her a warm welcome and have a long talk with her by candlelight."

Xiao Chuo smiled upon hearing this, her smile as bright and beautiful as a pear blossom. She thought Su Chen was exceptionally handsome, with a body that seemed to possess explosive power and masculine charm; at the same time, he was also talented, gentle, polite, and learned. Such a well-rounded individual, both in literature and martial arts, certainly did not disappoint Xiao Chuo; he was exactly the kind of male idol she had always dreamed of.

The negotiations ended, the drums sounded again, the horns blared, and the Liao and Wu armies shouted simultaneously, the sound waves causing the frost on the grass to fall in a flurry.

After the handover was completed, Xiao Chuo turned his horse around and returned to his camp. Before leaving, he whispered, "Your Majesty, take care. The wind is strong on the grassland. Don't let the warm winds of Jiangnan blow away your ambition."

Su Chen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself. When the opportunity arises in the future, I will prepare fine wine and meet you again at Yanshan." The two armies withdrew, the peace talks were completed, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were returned to the Wu Kingdom.

At dawn the next day, Taishi Zhao, Wu Yanrou, and Pan Weizheng led 30,000 infantry and cavalry to take over the passes of Yanshan. They first arrived at Juyong Pass, climbed the newly built watchtower, and looked down at the seventy-two scenic spots of the pass. They saw layer upon layer of mountains and the snow still lingering.

Taishi Zhao pointed at the pass with his horsewhip: "The horses that were lost to the barbarians in the past have now returned to the Han family. This pass should be rebuilt with a barbican, ten cannons should be added, and the beacon towers should be re-established."

Wu Yanrou led the engineering battalion, using local materials to cut down trees to build fences and carve stones for foundations; Pan Weizheng sent scouts to explore the area and redraw the "Map of the Northern Border of Yan" for future use.

Within days, the beacon towers of the Great Wall were repaired one after another, the beacon towers were built high, and the newly cast bronze cannons pointed their dark muzzles toward the outside of the pass, their cold light piercing the eye.

On the tenth day of the eleventh month, Su Chen personally led an army of 200,000 southwards, their banners obscuring the sun and their spears and halberds like a forest. By the time they passed Yunzhou, they were already very close to the territory under the control of the Northern Han.

This time, Su Chen set his sights on Jinyang City, the capital of Northern Han!

The current emperor of Northern Han is Liu Jiyuan. In the twelfth year of the Tianhui era of Northern Han (968), Liu Ji'en was killed, and Liu Jiyuan ascended the throne with the support of the powerful minister Guo Wuwei, changing the era name to Guangyun. In the spring of the thirteenth year of the Tianhui era (969), Zhao Kuangyin led troops to attack Northern Han. Liu Jiyuan sent Liu Jiye (Yang Ye) to lead cavalry to launch a surprise attack on the Song army, forcing the Song army to retreat. In May of the same year, Prime Minister Guo Wuwei advised Liu Jiyuan to surrender to Song, but was executed by Liu Jiyuan.

During Liu Jiyuan's reign, internal strife only intensified. To secure his throne, he murdered his adoptive mother, Empress Guo, and imprisoned and killed several of Liu Min's children. He favored the eunuch Wei Degui and ostracized capable officials, leading to political chaos. He also killed generals Zheng Jin and Wei Chou, causing instability in the army. Currently, his only remaining general is Liu Jiye.

Su Chen led a large army to press on the border and soon arrived at the gates of Taiyuan. According to custom, he first tried to persuade Liu Jiyuan to surrender, but Liu Jiyuan did not want to surrender and give up his power. After all, the Song Dynasty had previously led an army of 150,000 to attack the Northern Han but failed. Therefore, Liu Jiyuan was hoping for the best and wanted to rely on the fortified city to put up a stubborn resistance.

Su Chen ordered the cannons to surround the city and bombard it day and night. Since the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun had been recovered, there was no Liao army to support them, and Jinyang City was an isolated city.

The Shenji Battalion's red-coated cannons roared like thunder. Within three days, many sections of the city wall collapsed. Shooting stars streaked across the night sky, illuminating the tattered flags atop the city walls like blood. The Wu army launched continuous attacks, nearly breaching the city walls several times, leaving Jinyang City in grave danger.

By dawn on the fourth day, Liu Jiyuan, seeing that Jinyang could not be defended, despaired and, dressed in white robes and riding in a plain carriage, bound himself and surrendered. His son, Liu Rang, knelt by the roadside holding the imperial seal, and the Northern Han dynasty was thus destroyed.

After Su Chen accepted the surrender, he ordered his soldiers not to disturb the people and opened the granaries to provide relief. The people of the city, young and old, lined up for more than ten miles to welcome him with incense.

An elderly soldier with white hair wept and said, "After thirty years of war, we finally see peace today."

Su Chen stopped his horse to comfort the old soldier, took off his cloak and draped it over the old soldier's shoulders, and said loudly, "From this day forward, you are all my subjects, and you shall not commit any offenses against me!"

In early December, when the weather was freezing cold, the victorious army arrived in Bianjing (Kaifeng).

It was the twelfth lunar month, and the first snow had just stopped. Outside the Zhuque Gate, thousands of people lined the road, and drums and music filled the air.

Su Chen, still clad in golden armor, reined in his horse at Chengtian Gate to receive the congratulations of the officials.

That evening, a grand victory banquet was held in the palace, with melodious music playing and the palace brightly lit.

Su Chen raised his cup and looked around at the assembled officials, saying loudly, "With the recovery of Yan and Yun and the pacification of Northern Han, from now on, all within and outside the Great Wall are one family. Today's banquet is not to celebrate victory, but to comfort the soldiers who died on the battlefield during the ten years of war!" After speaking, he poured the wine before the steps, and all the officials prostrated themselves and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Outside the window, snow fell silently, and countless lights reflected on the frozen surface of the Bian River. A new dynasty had just been established, the old snow had not yet melted, yet the world had already changed its appearance.