Apprenticeship at Qingcheng Mountain, Senior Brother Yu Canghai

Chapter 224: The Liao army retreats and the city gates are opened
The Liao Dynasty Palace.

Around the Wugong Hall.

The orderly footsteps of the Liao Dynasty's imperial guards gathering in the palace were constantly heard by Chu Yuan, who had keen hearing.

Chu Yuan even saw a crowd of people at the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall, and the army that rushed over surrounded the entire Martial Arts Hall.

However, because Chu Yuan was in the main hall, just a stone's throw away from Yelu Hongji, they were afraid to come in.

When Yelu Hongji heard Chu Yuan's words and thought of the scene when Chu Yuan just came in, he shook his head helplessly.

Although a huge army of imperial guards had gathered outside the hall, the space inside the hall was limited. Judging from the martial arts Chu Yuan had demonstrated before, if he fell out with Chu Yuan, he really had no guarantee that he could save his life from Chu Yuan.

"That's all, Young Master Chu. I agree to your request."

In the end, Yelu Hongji did not dare to gamble and could only compromise and agreed to Chu Yuan's request.

"Very good, it seems that Your Majesty made the right choice."

Chu Yuan looked at Yelu Hongji, with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Once Yelu Hongji refused, although Chu Yuan was not sure of defeating the huge army in the Liao capital Shangjing, he was still sure of killing Yelu Hongji and leaving.

"Come here, draft an edict to transfer the troops sent to the Song-Liao border back to the country. In addition, I want to conclude an alliance with the Song Dynasty. From now on, as long as I am still on the throne, the Song and Liao will be brotherly countries and will be friendly for generations."

Since he had already acknowledged it, Yelu Hongji did not delay any longer and asked the eunuch leader around him to go down and draft the decree.

After he ascended the throne, he transferred the army to the Song-Liao border, with the idea of ​​launching an attack on the Song.

But after all, it is just an idea and no formal decree has been issued.

Now he transferred the Liao army back to the country and concluded an alliance with the Song Dynasty. Finally, he, the emperor of the Liao Dynasty, did not lose face.

"As ordered."

The chief eunuch who was serving nearby immediately went down to draft the decree.

He was just an official who needed to follow the emperor's orders and draft decrees. As long as Yelu Hongji made a decision, he was only responsible for its execution.

After replying, the chief eunuch said goodbye, went around to the back door and left temporarily.

"Your Majesty, since you have agreed to my request, I will naturally not attack you and will leave on my own, but this will have to wait until Your Majesty issues an order."

Chu Yuan looked at Yelu Hongji and said.

He was not afraid that Yelu Hongji would change his mind and revoke his order after he left.

There is a saying: Once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back.

Yelu Hongji was the emperor of the Liao Dynasty, and the emperor’s words were law.

He also had to consider the blow to his prestige if he rescinded his order or went back on his word.

To take a step back, even if Yelu Hongji really changed his mind and continued to send his army to attack the Song Dynasty, the worst that could happen to him was to break into the Liao capital Shangjing again.

But the next time he came, he would not come to negotiate with Yelu Hongji, but to take Yelu Hongji's life.

Yelu Hongji said: "I naturally believe in Young Master Chu, but I admire Young Master Chu's martial arts and character, and sincerely want to become brothers with Young Master Chu. I wonder what Young Master Chu thinks?"

He thought that since he couldn't offend Chu Yuan, he would win over Chu Yuan.

As long as he could get closer to Chu Yuan and become sworn brothers with him, over time, if he decided to attack the Song Dynasty again, it would be great if Chu Yuan did not help the Liao Dynasty and just stood in a neutral position.

Chu Yuan politely declined: "I am just a commoner, I dare not become sworn brothers with Your Majesty."

No matter what purpose Yelu Hongji had, it was impossible for him to become sworn brothers with Yelu Hongji.

Seeing Chu Yuan refuse again, Yelu Hongji said with regret: "It seems that Young Master Chu and I are not destined to be brothers."

Yelu Hongji changed the subject and said, "By the way, I heard that your gang leader, Qiao Feng, is a sworn brother of Young Hero Chu and is of Khitan blood. His parents were attacked and killed by martial artists in the Song Dynasty, so they ended up living in the Song Dynasty. I wonder if he can come to the Liao Dynasty this time?"

Seeing that the Chuyuan path was not feasible, Yelu Hongji thought of taking another path.

Chu Yuan was too lazy to guess what Yelu Hongji was thinking. He shook his head and said, "I came to the Liao capital Shangjing alone this time. As for my elder brother, he should still be at the headquarters of the Beggars' Sect in the Song Dynasty."

Yelu Hongji was surprised to hear this, and said with regret: "I wanted to make friends with Boss Qiao, but it seems that I don't have this opportunity anymore."

Just as Chu Yuan and Yelu Hongji were talking, the eunuch leader who had just left came over with a drafted imperial edict. Behind him, there was a younger eunuch holding a wooden box with a large seal in it.

The two eunuchs walked up to Yelu Hongji. The leading eunuch unfolded the imperial edict and bowed to Yelu Hongji, saying, "The imperial edict has been drafted. Your Majesty, please use your seal."

Yelu Hongji didn't say much. He just picked up the big seal representing his identity and pressed it lightly on the ink at the bottom of the wooden box. Then he picked it up and stamped it on the edict opened by the eunuch next to him.

After finishing all this, Yelu Hongji put the seal back into the wooden box and looked at Chu Yuan standing beside him: "Young Master Chu, please follow me outside the palace."

Chu Yuan nodded, stood up, and walked out of the martial arts hall with Yelu Hongji.

Seeing Chu Yuan and his Majesty Yelu Hongji walking out of the hall together, the imperial guards blocking their way withdrew one after another and retreated outside the hall.

Finally, they retreated to the bottom of the stairs, leaving a wide area of ​​two or three meters long and wide for Chu Yuan and Yelu Hongji.

When he came out again, Chu Yuan discovered that the Liao Palace, which had been somewhat empty just now, was now packed with imperial guards, and everywhere you looked were heads.

These imperial guards were holding swords and other weapons in their hands. They stared at Chu Yuan with cold eyes, as if as long as Chu Yuan did anything to threaten Yelu Hongji's life, they would rush forward and kill Chu Yuan.

Although being stared at by tens of thousands of eyes, Chu Yuan didn't care at all, because he felt that these Liao troops could not do anything to him.

After Yelu Hongji came out, he looked around and saw that almost all the palace guards in the Liao capital Shangjing City had arrived. He felt much safer in his heart.

However, he still had to agree to Chu Yuan's request, and he was not prepared to turn against Chu Yuan.

At least at this time, don't fall out with Chu Yuan.

Yelu Hongji ordered the leading eunuch next to him: "Ma Zhi, pass on the order."

The eunuch who served beside him and was the leader was named Ma Zhi.

"As ordered."

Ma Zhi responded.

Then he walked to the center of the steps of the Wugong Hall, stood there, opened the imperial edict that Yelu Hongji had just stamped with his seal, and read aloud:

"The Emperor Dao Zong of the Liao Dynasty, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, hereby proclaims: The Liao-Song border troops are to be transferred to the country immediately. The Song and Liao countries have been friends for generations, and the people of the two countries have deep feelings for each other. Liao and Song have signed an alliance. From now on, Song and Liao are brothers, and will be friends for generations..."

Many aspects of the Liao Dynasty were imitated from the Song Dynasty.

Even the format of the imperial edict was no different from that of the Song Dynasty.

After Yelu Hongji ascended the throne, his name was Dao Zong, and he was therefore Emperor Dao Zong of the Liao Dynasty.

The voice of the eunuch leader Ma Zhi echoed in the vast Liao Palace.

The imperial edict was read out in front of so many people. Even if Yelu Hongji wanted to go back on his word, he would not be able to launch an attack on Song in a short period of time.

"Are you satisfied with what I have done, Young Master Chu?"

After Ma Zhi finished reading the imperial edict, Yelu Hongji asked Chu Yuan beside him.

"I am satisfied. I just hope that Your Majesty can remember the promise you made and not go back on your word."

Chu Yuan said to Yelu Hongji.

Yelu Hongji promised: "As the emperor of the Liao Dynasty, my words are of course binding and will never change."

No matter what he thought in his heart, he must not go back on his word and violate the decree he had just issued.

"I hope so." Chu Yuan said, "Now that the matter is settled, I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to give me a ride?"

Yelu Hongji was stunned for a moment, but he quickly reacted and said sincerely, "Of course, although I have not been able to become brothers with Young Master Chu, I admire Young Master Chu's martial arts and character, so it is only natural to send Young Master Chu off, and it is also a piece of cake."

He also thought that Chu Yuan was afraid of being besieged by the imperial guards in Shangjing City, so he took him as a hostage. On the surface, he wanted him to be sent away, but in fact, he was holding him hostage to protect his own safety.

This made Yelu Hongji look down on Chu Yuan a little. It turned out that Chu Yuan was also afraid and terrified of his imperial guards.

It seems that Chu Yuan is not as powerful as imagined!
The eunuch leader quickly arranged a war horse for Yelu Hongji to travel with, and also arranged one for Chu Yuan.

Compared to the high-ranking officials in the Song Dynasty who liked to travel in sedan chairs and horse-drawn carriages, the upper-level officials and nobles of the Liao Dynasty preferred to ride horses when traveling, and even the Liao emperor Yelu Hongji was no exception.

Chu Yuan and Yelu Hongji mounted their horses and walked out of the palace together.

Behind him were the eunuchs headed by Ma Zhi, and a large number of palace guards.

At this time, both inside the palace and on the streets outside were filled with palace guards who were protecting Yelu Hongji's safety.

As for the people...

There were no ordinary people who could live in Shangjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty.

They are either princes and nobles or high-ranking officials.

Wherever Chu Yuan and Yelu Hongji's troops went, the palace guards would make way for them.

Just as I walked out of the Liao Palace, a group of people in gorgeous clothes and with extraordinary demeanor followed me from the street and walked silently behind me.

Almost all of them wore purple and black scarves, purple narrow robes, jade belts, and red jackets, which looked like Hanfu.

Chu Yuan asked curiously: "Who are these people?"

Yelu Hongji smiled and said, "Young Hero Chu, you don't know that these people are all civil and military officials of the Liao Dynasty. They knew that I was in trouble, so they came to follow me."

Chu Yuan said: "Although your majesty has just ascended the throne, he is very popular among the officials in the Liao Dynasty."

Chu Yuan saw that among the leaders, one of them was in his fifties, with a long beard, thin build, and not tall, but he had an elegant temperament, very much like some scholars in the Song Dynasty.

Yelu Hongji said: "The Liao Dynasty could not have achieved what it has today without the concerted efforts and hard work of the civil and military officials, half of whom were originally Han Chinese."

Chu Yuan asked in surprise: "Han people?"

Seeing the surprise on Chu Yuan's face, Yelu Hongji's eyes flashed with pride: "That's right, Han people. The previous emperors of our Liao Dynasty did not care about their backgrounds, but only promoted people based on their talents and dared to employ virtuous people. This is why Liao Dynasty is so prosperous now."

Chu Yuan had never thought that there would be so many Han people serving as officials in the Liao Kingdom. After the decline of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the country went through the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, and a large area of ​​the north fell and was ruled by foreign races.

The Han people in the north cannot move away and need to continue living.

It just so happened that the Liao Kingdom also needed the Han people and their culture to help them maintain their rule. That is why there were so many Han people serving as officials in the Liao Kingdom.

However, it cannot be ruled out that Yelu Hongji may have exaggerated excessively in order to show his favor to himself.

In Chu Yuan's view, employing Han people as officials and learning the culture of the Han people and the Central Plains dynasty is precisely the process of cultural assimilation of the Khitan people on the grassland.

Whether it is the Liao Dynasty or the Song Dynasty, they will eventually merge into one country after a thousand years.

China!

As they continued to walk out of the city, Chu Yuan said to Yelu Hongji on horseback, "Your Majesty, have you ever thought that the Liao Dynasty was wary of the Song Dynasty and even supported the Western Xia as the Song Dynasty's opponent? Now the Western Xia Li Yuanhao has already publicly proclaimed himself emperor for five or six years. Haven't you ever thought that the hostility between the Liao Dynasty and the Song Dynasty will make the Western Xia stronger?"

Yelu Hongji said flatly: "This is impossible. The Western Xia is now attacking Tubo and Uighur. They are at war with Tubo and Uighur. Tubo and Uighur are not weak countries. The Western Xia will not have a chance to become bigger!"

Chu Yuan said: "There is nothing absolute in the world, just like the founding of the Liao Dynasty was simply an impossible thing in the eyes of other forces at the time."

In history, both the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty were eventually defeated by the Western Xia.

Yelu Hongji was noncommittal: "Maybe!"

He disagreed with Chu Yuan's point of view, thinking that Chu Yuan, as a martial artist, had the qualifications to talk about martial arts, but when it came to discussing the general situation in the world, he was not as reasonable as an ordinary minor official in the Liao court.

Seeing that Yelu Hongji didn't believe it, Chu Yuan was too lazy to argue with him.

Anyway, the purpose of his trip has been achieved.

Soon they arrived at the south gate of Shangjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty.

After leaving the city gate, I saw that the surroundings were still endless, with no end in sight, and the Liao army surging with people.

Chu Yuan reined in his horse, dismounted and said to Yelu Hongji on horseback: "Your Majesty, I have escorted you a thousand miles, but we must part ways eventually. I am very grateful that you escorted me out of the city."

Yelu Hongji also dismounted and said, "Young Master Chu, tell Boss Qiao that the Liao Dynasty is Boss Qiao's country. If Boss Qiao has time, he is always welcome to come back."

Chu Yuan said: "If I can go back, I will definitely tell my eldest brother what your majesty said."

During his conversation with Yelu Hongji just now, he avoided mentioning the issue of whether Chu Yuan would be allowed to leave.

The reason why Chu Yuan didn't mention it was that he was absolutely sure that he could leave here.

Yelu Hongji did not mention it because he felt that Chu Yuan had offended him, the emperor of the Liao Dynasty.

Even if he temporarily agreed to Chu Yuan's request, he would never let Chu Yuan leave easily.

When Chu Yuan saw the crowd of people not far away, he was very sure that the army that the Liao Dynasty had assembled to deal with him must have reached tens of thousands of people.

That's why he said this!

Chu Yuan was just about to leave, but when he thought about how he was leaving so easily, he wondered if Yelu Hongji would go back on his word.

Although the emperor's words are always binding, what if Yelu Hongji chooses to go back on his word?
He could kill Yelu Hongji, but he would need to go to the Liao capital Shangjing again.

"Since this is the case, it is better to solve it once and for all."

Chu Yuan said in his heart.

Thinking of this, he stopped and looked at the city gate behind him.

Seeing Chu Yuan, who was about to leave, stop again, Yelu Hongji felt uneasy and asked, "What's going on? Young Master Chu, are you going to regret it?"

Chu Yuan shook his head and suddenly waved his palm towards the top of the city gate.

"I just want to teach Your Majesty a lesson, so that Your Majesty will always remember your promise and never forget it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Yuan simultaneously mobilized the internal force in his lower dantian qi sea and the innate true qi in his middle dantian crimson palace, and gathered them all into his right palm through all the meridians in his body that had been opened.

In just a moment, Chu Yuan's right palm already contained extremely terrifying power. The overwhelming force passed through Chu Yuan's right palm and slammed towards the city wall above the city gate.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew around, making Chu Yuan's clothes rustle.

One clap and two scatter hands!

One of the 72 unique skills of Shaolin Temple!

The reason why "Tianshan Six Yang Palm" and "Tiangang Disha Palm" were not used was because the power and explosive force of these two palm techniques were far inferior to that of "Yipa Ersan Palm".

boom!
The power of Chu Yuan's palm reached the limit of human strength and hit the city wall above the gate of Shangjing City, the capital of the Liao Dynasty.

After a loud bang, the city wall above the south gate of Shangjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty, collapsed suddenly.

"Your Majesty, danger..."

When the eunuch leader Ma Zhi saw this scene, his face changed and he exclaimed.

Rubble flew everywhere, smoke and dust spread, and in a moment they were about to cover Chu Yuan and Yelu Hongji.

But before he could finish his words, an invisible force, like a sharp blade, separated the dust floating in the air.

Fortunately, there was no one standing under the city gate, otherwise he would have been buried under the ruins and smashed into a meat patty.

When Yelu Hongji saw this inhuman scene, his lips slightly opened and he was stunned for a moment. Then, in a short moment, a layer of sweat formed on his forehead.

No matter how happy and cunning he was, he was no less frightened than an ordinary person in the face of this power that was not within the realm of mortals.

No wonder the other party dared to come to the Liao Dynasty alone and break into the Shangjing Palace in the Liao Dynasty's capital to negotiate with him. This is his confidence.

Only then did he believe what Chu Yuan had said before, that if he dared to go back on his word, the worst that could happen was that he would have to do it again and take his own life, was true.

In the face of such a force, even with the protection of Liao's elite army, it would be of no avail.

Not only Yelu Hongji was shocked, but also the Liao civil and military officials and eunuchs who had followed and escorted Yelu Hongji out of the city. They stood where they were, their eyes blank, unable to come back to their senses for a long time.

Destroy the city gate with one palm!
Is this really something that mortals can do?

The Liao army surrounding them was also in a commotion.

Their purpose was to fight against such a terrible enemy.

Although the opponent has only one person, he is better than thousands of troops.

It was a pity that they could break through the defense of thousands of imperial guards, break into the palace, and threaten their emperor.

After doing all this, Chu Yuan turned around and walked along the road towards the distant Song Dynasty.

"Don't move without my order. Clear a path and let Young Master Chu leave."

At this time, Yelu Hongji came to his senses and gave orders to the Liao army not far away.

Chu Yuan's strength is beyond the reach of ordinary people. If his army attacks Chu Yuan, it would be enough for them to kill Chu Yuan.

If he cannot be killed, it will only anger Chu Yuan in vain. In this case, it is better to let Chu Yuan go.

Upon hearing the order from their own emperor, the Liao army made way for a half-zhang wide path and watched Chu Yuan leave.

"Ma Zhi, do you think there are really no gods in this world?"

Looking at Chu Yuan's departing back, Yelu Hongji asked Ma Zhi, the eunuch leader beside him.

Because the Liao Dynasty actively learned Han culture, many of its high-ranking officials believed in the existence of gods and immortals.

"Your Majesty, if there are gods in this world, based on what Young Hero Chu has shown these days, isn't he one?"

The eunuch leader Ma Zhidao.

"Yes, the immortal is right before our eyes, but it's a pity that he is not from the Liao Dynasty."

Yelu Hongji sighed.

"Your Majesty, I just received news that Xixia won a great victory in its attack on Tubo and Uighur, and seized Xiliang Prefecture, Ganzhou, Guazhou, Shazhou and other places. Its sphere of influence has expanded to Yumen Pass and the entire Hexi Corridor, and it owns Xia, Yin, Sui, You, Jing, Ling, Hui, Sheng, Gan, Liang, Gua, Sha, and Suzhou."

At this moment, the Han official from the Liao Dynasty who had just been noticed by Chu Yuan walked up to Yelu Hongji to report.

He was none other than Yao Jingxing, the Prime Minister of the Northern Palace of the Liao Dynasty.

"When did this happen?"

Yelu Hongji said with a serious expression.

"Just half a month ago, the news was just delivered, and there was no time to report to His Majesty."

Yao Jingxing said with a serious look.

"We have seized one prefecture and three states, and expanded our sphere of influence to Yumen Pass and the entire Hexi Corridor. Xixia has completely lost control and will pose a threat to our Liao Dynasty."

Yelu Hongji said angrily.

He didn't expect that what Chu Yuan had just said would come true.

"Your Majesty, if I were to say this old minister, the best time to delay is to give up attacking the Song Dynasty and join forces with the Song Dynasty to contain Xixia."

Yao Jingxing, Prime Minister of the Northern Palace of the Great Liao Dynasty, offered a suggestion.

"It seems that this young hero Chu Yuan Chu appeared at the right time."

Yelu Hongji said.

"Come on, let's return to the palace to discuss important matters."

Yelu Hongji rode his horse up the back road.

At first, he might have had the idea of ​​going back on his word, but after witnessing Chu Yuan's martial arts that surpassed that of ordinary people, he no longer had any such idea in his mind.

In addition, the development of Western Xia is now out of control, and the Liao Dynasty even needs to join forces with the Song Dynasty to contain Western Xia.

(End of this chapter)