Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 297 His Majesty has ordered: No more fighting!

The fast horses entered Tokyo. The Suzaku Avenue in Tokyo was the Imperial Street. On the Imperial Street, several fast horses were running for their lives. No matter what kind of high-ranking official or noble family you were, they would not give way. They headed straight for the inner city.

He cursed and shouted all the way: "These thieving soldiers, do they really want to die? How dare they charge around on horseback like this! Once we find out which unit they belong to, we'll make sure they regret it!"

The soldiers on horseback paid no heed to these words. They had already split into two groups, one heading straight for the Left Gate of the Imperial City, and the other rushing towards the Privy Council!

Outside the left side gate, someone shouted, "Quickly! It's an urgent military situation from Minister Tan! Report it to the Emperor immediately!"

Before the Privy Council, a knight dismounted and charged straight in, before the gatekeeper could even stop him. The knight shouted, "Where is Chancellor Tong? Quickly, urgent military news! Where is Chancellor Tong?"

Tong Shuxiang was indeed not in the Privy Council; he hadn't been there for several days. Upon hearing this, Cheng Hao rushed out of his cell: "Give it to me!"

The knight didn't wait and hurriedly handed over the bamboo tube from his chest, saying anxiously, "The matter is urgent! Quickly deliver it to Lord Tong! The Jurchens have entered Yanyun, causing chaos and the fall of all cities. Two hundred thousand troops in Hebei were defeated in one battle, and the Jurchens have already captured Xiongzhou and entered Hebei! Please quickly dispatch reinforcements!"

The knight was clearly extremely anxious, speaking very quickly!
"What!" Cheng Hao was stunned on the spot, and everyone around him was dumbfounded. Who would believe such a thing?
But what is happening now is clearly not fake.

"Hurry, hurry, go find Master Tong!" the knight urged.

Cheng Hao suddenly snapped out of his daze, first opening the bamboo tube, then removing the sealing wax. Upon opening it, he immediately ran forward, shouting, "Prepare the horses! Prepare the horses!"

There was a horse on the hitching post outside the gate. Regardless of whose horse it was, Cheng Hao untied the rope, mounted the horse, and galloped away, heading quickly towards Tong Guan's residence.

At the Left Gate, things didn't go so smoothly. The gate of the imperial city couldn't be entered directly; one had to wait for the imperial guards to go in first and pass it on to the eunuchs, who would then relay it to the emperor. Once the emperor spoke, it would be relayed back again...

The messenger knight paced back and forth outside the left side gate, waiting.

Inside the imperial city, the emperor was playing the zither. Just then, military intelligence arrived from the northwest. After Zhong Shidao took command, his troops finally approached Lingzhou City. The war was finally back on track, and the siege began.

How could the emperor not be in a good mood? He was just waiting for the hundreds of thousands of troops to attack and capture the cities. The Western Xia only had a few cities, and once they were all captured, the Western Xia would perish. Such an unparalleled achievement was no less than that of any of the previous emperors.

The emperor played the zither, and Wang Fu listened, as did Bai Shizhong and Zhang Bangchang. There were few people today, and neither Grand Tutor Cai nor Prime Minister Tong came. There was nothing else to do, so it wouldn't bother the two elderly men.

It is this dynasty that will eventually replace the old with the new. The old are getting old, and the middle and young generations will naturally come. If Cai You had not died, he would have had a seat here too.

When the song ended, the emperor's eyes were still slightly closed, as if he was still savoring whether the charm of the song before him was sufficient.

Wang Fu, who was standing to the side, had already spoken up: "The aftertaste is still there, the lingering sound is still there, it's breathtakingly beautiful, indescribably wonderful!"

Zhang Bangchang nodded: "Tsk tsk tsk... Your Majesty's attainments are beyond what ordinary people can compare to. Once you leave the capital, the sounds of others are tasteless and dull. Listening to Your Majesty's music is actually harmful. It makes me unable to bear the sounds of the mundane world anymore!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor smiled slightly, opened his eyes, and waved his hand, saying, "Don't blame me, blame the people of the world!"

Zhang Bangchang nodded in agreement: "Indeed, how can His Majesty be blamed? It is simply that people are vulgar and find it difficult to appreciate true elegance! I wonder where one can find the refined elegance of the imperial family, or whether one can find the immortals in those famous mountains and rivers? I also wonder if the music of heaven is like this... Take Li Bai, for example..."

At this point, Zhang Bangchang looked up at the sky and pointed, saying, "I wonder if there are immortals listening behind those white clouds. As the saying goes, 'The cloud lords descend in droves.' Perhaps when Your Majesty's music begins, the immortals are already there... lined up like hemp!"

Wang Fu opened his eyes wide and turned to look at Zhang Bangchang. This set of lyrics is really something; I have to learn it and surpass it!
The Emperor, the Daoist master and leader, dressed in a Daoist robe, was indeed filled with longing upon hearing this. He looked up at the white clouds, seemingly hoping to see the immortals lined up like hemp seeds behind them...

It is no wonder that Li Bai said, "An immortal touched my head and granted me eternal life!"

It's a pity I didn't see it. Perhaps it truly exists; immortals hide their tracks, their traces never revealed to others...

How could one not yearn for it?

"Your Majesty, outside the Left Gate, there are soldiers from Hebei who say they were sent by Tan Zhen and have urgent military intelligence to present to Your Majesty in person!"

These were the words Liang Shicheng spoke as he walked over, his tone gentle and his manner soothing.

"Oh?" The emperor stood up, a smile on his face. "This fellow has probably achieved some merit and is eager to show off his treasures. He's so impatient, hahaha..."

Liang Shicheng smiled slightly. He thought so too. How could he not know that Tan Zhen was eager to show his face in front of the emperor?
This time, they've probably finally made an appearance, which is why they're in such a hurry.

Wang Fu also laughed: "With Prime Minister Tong as a role model, how can Prime Minister Tan not strive to follow suit?"

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this...

"Then bring it in..." The emperor raised his hand slightly, his movements were extremely gentle, truly displaying an otherworldly appearance, with an air of otherworldly grace.

Liang Shicheng clasped his hands in a salute and turned to deliver the message. He didn't actually need to deliver it, but he had to walk out to a place where the emperor couldn't see him, and then send someone to fetch it. Once it was brought back, he would hurriedly deliver it to the emperor, panting for breath. That was obviously doing a favor for the emperor, so how could he not put in his best effort?
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Liang Shicheng arrived, panting, and personally delivered the military intelligence contained in the bamboo tube to the emperor.

Liang Shicheng was panting heavily, and the emperor was catching him with one hand, saying, "My dear wife, you're getting old. From now on, you don't need to personally run around to handle these matters!"

Liang Shicheng, however, was deeply moved and said, "Your Majesty's treatment of me is a great joy for you. How could I possibly entrust this to someone else? Even if I am too weak to walk on that day, I will crawl here to report the good news to Your Majesty!"

The emperor looked at Liang Shicheng again, and was somewhat moved, saying only, "May you live a long and healthy life..."

“Your Majesty’s words are golden and divine, the words of an immortal. They are like the law, and I am destined for longevity!” Liang Shicheng replied with a smile.

The emperor nodded without saying a word, smiled slightly, opened the bamboo tube, took out the military intelligence, removed the sealing wax, and opened it to read.

Then, the emperor's smile faded, his brows furrowed, and his expression darkened...

It's definitely not good, everyone present knows it's not good!
It wasn't his face that was shown, it was his butt!

Wang Fu then asked, "Your Majesty, has something gone wrong?"

His Majesty suddenly stood up from the chair behind the zither, closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and cursed, "Barbarians, truly barbarians!"

The military intelligence had already been delivered to Wang Fu, who unfolded it to read, and naturally those around him also came closer to look.

Just waiting to see!
His eight eyes widened in shock, utterly astonished.

"This...this means Hebei is completely empty! This..." Wang Fu was dumbfounded and exclaimed, "We must quickly send a large army to its aid!"

Zhang Bangchang also said urgently, "The troops from the capital region should quickly cross the river to the north!"

Bai Shizhong was about to speak when the Emperor interrupted, saying, "What's the panic? The unrest among the people of Yan and Yun is clearly due to their long-standing collusion with the Jurchens. I doubt the Han people of Yan and Yun would act this way. It must be the Khitan and Xi people who are dissatisfied with the Song Dynasty. It's alright, let's fight then. This time is good. In the past, they were considered innocent, but this time we'll wipe out the old Khitan people all at once. Only then will Yan and Yun have peace. It's just a matter of taking down Xiongzhou City; we can take it back. We already have troops in Hejian Prefecture. Tan Zhen died there..." "The war allows the court ample time to deploy its forces. With two to three hundred thousand troops in the capital region, they can simply cross the river, recapture Xiongzhou, and then re-enter Yanyun. This might actually be a good thing! It will only require more effort. The Dangxiang are on the verge of destruction; another defeat for the Jurchens will force them to submit. Previously, there was no reason or excuse to attack the Jurchens, but now, the Jurchens have broken the alliance first. Therefore, it is still a matter of respecting the King, repelling the barbarians, and punishing the disobedient!"

How could the emperor be without a plan? The current favorable situation is exactly what he wanted. All that's left is for the elite troops from the capital region to go and defeat the Jurchens. That would truly solve all the problems at once.

The emperor was well aware of the elite status of the imperial guards in the capital region. It is said that the emperor's ceremonial procession has always been extremely majestic. The emperor had also witnessed the military exercises of the Tianwu and Sun-Holding Armies, and the orderliness of their formations and the majesty of their imposing presence were unparalleled in the world.

Secondly, both the suppression of bandits in the eastern part of the capital and the suppression of bandits in the south of the Yangtze River saw contributions from the imperial guards in the capital region. In particular, while the credit for the suppression of bandits in the south of the Yangtze River was mainly due to Su Wu, the contributions of the imperial guards in the capital region were also considerable.

The equipment and weaponry of the Imperial Guards in the capital region are unparalleled in the world. With 200,000 troops this time, how could they not have a chance of victory?
Even if it's a stalemate, it doesn't matter. The matter of the Tanguts will be resolved soon. Once that matter is settled, their elite troops will return, and another 300,000 troops will arrive. They are also elite. How can the Jurchens withstand them?
The emperor is now in the position of a powerful ruler; how can he be flustered?
As for the supposed defeat of the 200,000-strong army in Hebei, it was just a temporary setback. They could regroup and fight again. It was simply that the Jurchens harbored malicious intentions, launching a surprise attack on the unsuspecting enemy, and the response was somewhat rushed...

Tan Zhen's words were truly moving; his apology was heartfelt and sincere, revealing his unwavering loyalty. He defended Hejian Prefecture to the death and fought to the death in Daming Prefecture. Such a minister is truly rare...

Having listened to the Emperor's eloquent speech, Wang Fu remained calm and said, "Your Majesty is truly virtuous in self-cultivation, while I am far inferior. Hearing Your Majesty's plans is like a sudden awakening. Therefore, I will order the Privy Council to issue an order, the Palace Guard to muster troops, and dispatch 200,000 troops from the capital region to Hebei to provide reinforcements... However..."

"Speak!" the emperor said, raising his hand.

"It's just that the Three Departments are really struggling to keep up with the expenses for money and provisions." Wang Fu was truly at his wit's end.

The emperor had heard this a hundred times. He just needed to look at Wang Fu and he would have his own thoughts. What prime minister would complain to the emperor all day long?

There have been countless prime ministers in the past, and which one didn't resolve problems when they arose? Which one was like Wang Fu, who would come to the emperor and cry whenever something happened?

What use is a prime minister like this?
Ugh……

The emperor immediately said, "Go and invite Grand Tutor Cai and the Prince of Guangyang here!"

The old man is still the most useful; he can get things done.

Liang Shicheng went to make arrangements himself. There was no need to invite the Prince of Guangyang, as he had already arrived. However, Grand Tutor Cai still needed to be invited.

Tong Guan arrived in a great hurry and bowed deeply, saying, "Your Majesty!"

"Sit!" The emperor possessed an air of otherworldly elegance and refined demeanor.

Tong Guan didn't stand on ceremony and simply sat down. Once seated, he said, "Your Majesty, in the current situation, the capital region should act first, entering Hebei to strengthen the defenses of various cities. Then, troops should be quickly transferred to the capital region to guard Daming Prefecture, ensuring its absolute safety. After that, we should urge Zhong Shidao to quickly lead his troops back to Hebei and the capital region. The cavalry should break away and come quickly, and the infantry should follow suit, marching day and night!"

Tong Guan spoke rapidly, like beans pouring from a bamboo tube!
He knew that the troops in the capital region were made of paper, and he also knew that the Jurchens, who had annihilated the Liao Dynasty, were extremely skilled in battle. He also knew that Hebei was probably indefensible, and only Beijing and Daming Prefecture were the last line of defense and the shield of Tokyo.

Seeing Tong Guan's anxious appearance, the Emperor waved his hand and said, "Even a prince is so flustered?"

Tong Guan, no longer bothered to play along with the emperor's pretense, simply nodded: "We should first select strong and brave men from the nearby prefectures in the northwest and bring them to the capital, at least ten thousand, to form a new army!"

Tong Guan was uneasy, mainly because the army in the capital region was incompetent. He had long thought about making up for the shortcomings of the military in the capital region, but he had never had the opportunity.

This time, an opportunity has come. If there is a crisis, then we must act. We cannot disband the Imperial Guards, so we must find a way to form another army to garrison the capital. In any case, there must be a capable and battle-ready army in the capital region.

Otherwise, how can one have peace of mind?

Henan and Hebei are flat plains, and the Jurchens rely on their armored cavalry. If a detachment were to bypass Daming Prefecture and come here, the capital city of Tokyo would need an elite force to deal with it.

It could also be said that Tong Guan had his own selfish thoughts. Since all the Northwest armies were in Western Xia and couldn't return for a while, he could select elite and strong soldiers from the nearby prefectures in the Northwest so that he could feel more secure.

The emperor then asked, "Why is it necessary to form a new army?"

Tong Guan replied immediately: "Your Majesty, the soldiers in the Northwest have many merits and are eager to serve the Emperor. There are countless men willing to join the army. This time, we are conscripting 10,000 men to let them see the Emperor's face. Isn't that a testament to Your Majesty's benevolence? Now that the war has begun, every additional soldier will increase our chances of victory, which is excellent. Furthermore, when the army from the capital region crosses the river northward, we must be wary of the Jurchens who are acting madly. They have many fast horses, and they are bound to take risks."

The emperor thought about it for a moment and realized that it made sense, at least the last point. With the war in Hebei, it was really not unreasonable to strengthen the defenses of the capital region.

"Very well, that's settled then. As long as they're willing to come, I'll meet with them myself!" The Emperor nodded.

"How could they not want to come! As soon as the imperial edict arrives, they will flock here!" Tong Guan's words were not untrue.

The northwestern prefectures are different from other places in the Song Dynasty. There have always been many people willing to join the army, let alone those selected from within the army. Now, because of Su Wu, many soldiers are even more focused on merit and rewards.

Once the imperial edict is issued, soldiers and men in Guanzhong, Chang'an, and other places will likely respond in droves.

"Since it's a new army, how about giving it a name?" the emperor asked.

Tong Guan replied, "The victorious army! What does Your Majesty think?"

"Very good, this name is excellent, both in meaning and in omen!" The emperor nodded.

After these few words, Tong Guan felt a little relieved and could finally relax for a few days. He would wait and see about the Dangxiang war and the situation in Hebei. There was no rush.

The Emperor continued, “What you said is all well and good, but as for transferring the Jingdong Army to Daming Prefecture, I think it’s unnecessary. Jingdong is a strategic location, and Qizhou and Dongping are both important towns. They are responsible for guarding more than a dozen prefectures in the two routes of Jingdong. If we send them all to Daming Prefecture, the Jurchens can’t attack Daming Prefecture, so how can they not attack Jingdong? It’s not worth it. We’ll be at a disadvantage. With the Imperial Guards from the capital entering Hebei, Daming Prefecture will be safe, and Hejian Prefecture can also be saved. In this way, we can take care of both sides and the overall situation will be stable!”

Upon hearing this, Tong Guan was startled. He looked around and realized that Tong Guan's plan was to abandon the capital region in order to protect the capital area.

After all... the land of the emperor should not be dangerous... after all, Tong Guan himself is in Tokyo.

The Emperor's intention is clearly not to abandon Jingdong...

These words were met with resistance. If he were to say anything more, it would seem as if Tong Guan had truly lost his composure and was about to abandon the people of both sides of the Jingdong region...

But if he didn't do that, Tong Guan felt uneasy...

For a moment, Tong Guan was caught in a dilemma!
But the emperor waved his hand and said, "Alright, the military matter is settled. Quickly issue the orders and make sure there are no delays or mistakes!"

Tong Guan stood up and bowed. He needed to hurry to the Privy Council, as many military orders required his intervention.
After Tong Guan left, the elderly and frail Cai Jing arrived.

After sitting down and exchanging words, Cai Jing remained calm and composed. Why? If the emperor's position was secure, how could the Grand Tutor's position be unstable?

The emperor, having summoned Cai Jing, the former prime minister, clearly had something on his mind. He asked, "Grand Tutor, with continuous battles and the need for further military operations, the finances of the Three Departments and the Ministry of Revenue are already strained. I beg you, Grand Tutor, to devise a solution..."

Upon hearing this, Cai Jing was startled, knowing that something good was about to happen. He rose and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister will do his utmost to continue the work of the Ministry of Revenue!"

Wang Fu suddenly felt a tightness in his heart. Although he couldn't quite make it out, he had a vague feeling that something bad was about to happen.

Cai Jing's reply immediately brought a smile to the Emperor's face: "Very good, very good, then we will all rely on the Grand Tutor!"

If Cai Jing was able to be reinstated several times and serve as prime minister for so long, how could he not have been capable?
There are so many ways to get money from the imperial court. Some people can't squeeze any out no matter what they do, while others can easily squeeze out a little bit by doing it. It all depends on their methods and abilities.

It is said that Wang Fu was far inferior to Cai Jing.

It's like many prefectures, whether in Henan, Hebei, or even Jinghu. If Wang Fu couldn't get the money, Cai Jing certainly could. Wang Fu could simply issue official documents to allocate funds, while countless people might suffer immensely, facing floods one day and bandits the next…

But if Cai Jing were to send a letter to transfer the funds, people would sell their possessions to repay the Grand Tutor's past kindness. That's the difference.

In matters of national importance, how wise and enlightened is the Emperor? With a few words, everything was resolved, and he waved his hand, saying, "Alright, disperse..."

The crowd dispersed.

Wang Fu was deep in thought as he walked along the palace road, slowly heading out of the city, when suddenly someone behind him called out, "Prime Minister Wang, wait a moment!"

Without turning around, Wang Fu knew it was Liang Shicheng. His expression darkened further, but as soon as he turned around, he immediately put on a smiling face.

"What brings you here, Lord Liang?" Wang Fu and Liang Shicheng were very close.

Liang Shicheng also looked sullen: "Sigh...we still have to wait. Some people, old but not dead, are thieves!"

"Who is it, my lord?" Wang Fu's mood had sunk to rock bottom.

Liang Shicheng shook his head, remaining silent, only saying, "You know who it is, but it doesn't matter. I'm nearing the end of my life, let's wait a little longer..."

"What is this, my lord..." Wang Fu asked, though he already understood.

Liang Shicheng said in one fell swoop: "Go back and write a memorial requesting resignation. This is His Majesty's intention. It's alright, it's alright. People rise and fall, even prime ministers are ordinary. Cai Jing also rose and fell in the same way. Since you can't solve this matter, let him do it. He can't live forever anyway."

When a prime minister of the Song Dynasty retired, it was a very dignified process. He would even have to perform the act of "three requests and three refusals." For example, when Wang Fu requested to resign, the emperor refused. When Wang Fu requested again, the emperor still refused. Wang Fu would then go and ask again, explaining all the reasons from his ancestors.

The Emperor was truly helpless. His beloved minister was so loyal and devoted to the country, and he was reluctant to part with him. However, given his deep affection for the minister, he was unwilling to take it away again. So be it, the Emperor will grant his request this time. He will wait until the minister is well, his illness is cured, his mourning period is over, and his mind is at peace before he can serve the country again.

Thus, his appearance changed, becoming respectable and dignified. Why? Because he was treated with the courtesy due to a scholar-official! This was the custom, and Wang Fu was naturally able to enjoy this treatment as well.

Wang Fu understood: "Then I'll go back and submit my resignation to the emperor!"

Liang Shicheng nodded: "Go quickly!"

Wang Fu nodded, showing no displeasure whatsoever. He bowed, turned around, and hurried away. He still needed to prepare three more memorials requesting his resignation.

A new administration has taken over, and Cai Jing is rising again!

Countless people were overjoyed, and countless others already knew that the Grand Tutor would rise again.

It is likely that many people know perfectly well that the reason why Wang Fu's finances were in such dire straits was because the Grand Tutor was behind it all.

The so-called "promotion to eight ranks" is nothing but a joke in officialdom; the tall building was just built, and it collapsed in the blink of an eye.

Wang Fu was completely speechless, and even Liang Shicheng cursed him as a thief.

Everything in the capital city of Tokyo was a matter of national importance. Outside Hejian Prefecture, the thousand-plus Jurchen vanguard was powerless to do anything. After all, Hejian Prefecture had always been an important town on the front line of the Song Dynasty. Even after some troops were transferred from the city, there were still more than ten thousand imperial guards and several thousand garrison troops.

With over a thousand Jurchen cavalrymen, they couldn't possibly breach the city. Of course, no one inside the city even considered going out to fight.

We must wait a little longer until the infantry arrive before we can begin the siege.

Thousands of miles away, on the walls of Xingzhou, lay mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The Song soldiers risked their lives to fill the gaps, while the Tanguts bravely defended their territory!
Many Song soldiers climbed the city walls using ladders and siege ladders, but the battle on the city walls was still raging, and the Tanguts showed no sign of retreating.

The ruler of the country, or the Son of Heaven, or the King of Xia, Li Qianshun, had already entered the city tower. Looking through the arrow slits in the tower, one could occasionally see the golden color.

Li Qianshun kept shouting encouragement to those around him, inspiring the Tanguts to fight hard!
The southern city wall proved difficult to breach for a long time.

On both the east and west sides, the progress was much faster, and a large number of Song soldiers had already taken up positions on the city walls.

Su Wu saw the southern city wall directly in front of him, and he frowned as well. The casualties were indeed heavy, but he still shouted, "Add more drums!"

The drumbeats were already louder than the raindrops.

Su Wu knew that the city was falling, but he was actually anxious. He wasn't anxious about the war, but about the heavy casualties. These were all precious people, and every one that died was one less to lose. Su Wu really couldn't bear to part with them!
Reluctantly, they could only beat the drums, urging the troops on both sides to hurry, hurry, and even faster.

Lingzhou City was also under attack. Richard was organizing and breaking out again, single-mindedly trying to break out in order to go to Xingzhou to help!

Huaizhou is under attack, Zhong Shizhongzheng is also besieging the city, Shunzhou is under attack, and Xin Xingzong is also besieging the city.

However, the narrow area of ​​two or three hundred miles had already turned into a complete mess.

Richard tried to break through the encirclement repeatedly, but under the barrage of trenches, earthen walls, and arrows, he could not escape.

Yao Pingzhong led the Guanzhong army and personally oversaw the battle. Zhong Shidao personally rode back and forth, directing operations from all sides. No matter how Richard tried to feint to the east or attack from the west, or even launch a simultaneous attack from all directions, or even swarm in from one direction, it was all ineffective!
Left with no other option, Richard had a new plan. Since the gate was blocked, they wouldn't all try to break out through the city gate. He prepared countless ropes, and even tied clothes and bed sheets together, so that they could both rush out of the gate and climb down from the city wall.

For a time, it really worked quite well, throwing both sides into chaos.

Even Zhong Shidao couldn't help but sigh, "Brother Richard, you truly live up to your name, a truly outstanding commander!"

Just keep making arrangements, even temporarily dispatching auxiliary troops to fight and block!
In Xingzhou, the drums sounded three times in quick succession. Two sides had been breached, while one side was still defending. The people inside the city had already begun to flee from the north side of the city.

Su Wu descended from the command platform and rode off at full speed with over ten thousand cavalry, divided into three parts: one part went north to intercept those who were fleeing, while the other two parts advanced into the city from the east and west!
They've been fighting non-stop, from dawn until dusk.

The battle is still going on. What is the situation?

It was already a city wall and a gate tower. Hundreds of Tanguts were on the city wall, surrounding the gate tower, resisting the Song army coming from both sides.

Inside the city gate tower was Li Qianshun.

Li Qianshun's shouts ceased. He sat in the city tower, head slightly bowed, still reviewing the situation, muttering to himself: "The defeat was in two places... First, we were dragged down by the Liao. We should have allied with the Jin earlier, and we shouldn't have sent troops to aid Datong twice, once with 5,000 and once with 30,000. Second, we were careless and negligent at the beginning, underestimated the enemy... We only thought of the Song's repeated defeats, and the great victory we had just achieved against Liu Fa, so we underestimated the enemy. Why did we underestimate the enemy? It's too late to regret it!"

He murmured several times, then cried out in anguish, "It's too late for regrets! I'm ashamed before my ancestors, ashamed before the eight tribes of the Tangut! It's my fault, it's my fault!"

As he spoke, Li Qianshun stood up and looked down at the long sword in his hand. The sword was indeed extremely sharp, and its hilt and guard were inlaid with various gemstones and had a golden hue.

Those around him seemed to have already sensed something and spoke up: "Your Majesty, you mustn't! As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood. The current situation is one of great chaos in the world, and there may still be a day when things can rise again!"

"Yes, Your Majesty. When Emperor Wu Lie was defeated by Liao, he went to hide in the Helan Mountains, but he was still able to rise again! Your Majesty, no matter what, as long as you survive, there will surely be a future even in this chaotic situation!"

Li Qianshun looked around and asked, "Is there another day?"

There must be more!

Li Qianshun shook his head: "There is no future!"

As he spoke, Li Qianshun raised his longsword and slashed at his own neck!

Those around him hurriedly pulled and tugged at him, saying, "No, Your Majesty, no! The eight tribes of the Tangut, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, will surely meet their end. The Jurchens and the Song are already locked in a life-or-death battle, and that day is not far off!"

Unable to commit suicide, Li Qianshun looked around, his face covered in tears, repeatedly uttering, "Alas... alas..."

Ultimately, the sword in my hand was snatched away.

Li Qianshun was speechless: "Go, go out and spread the word, no more fighting..."

Someone emerged from the city wall, and in his anguish, cried out, "His Majesty has ordered that the war cease!"

Numb expressions abound, then a weapon falls to the ground with a clang, followed by a series of sounds of weapons hitting the ground.

No more fighting!
It's already a done deal.

Kneel down and raise your hands.

The Song soldiers charged forward, and the captains and platoon leaders shouted with joy, "Live! Live!"

A live elite prisoner is worth at least ten strings of cash, but a live Western Xia king is worth far more. If one person captures him in battle, the riches and honors are immeasurable. If it is divided among many, everyone will make a fortune.

Should they be forced, pinned down, or tied up...?

The soldiers were all overjoyed and quickly surrounded the city gate, making sure it was tightly surrounded, and then they hurriedly invited their husband to come!
My husband is here!

Dismount at the city gates!
Going up the stairs!

"My lord is mighty!"

"My lord is mighty!"

In the past eighty years, when has the glory of the Northwest ever compared to today?

The roar was deafening: "My lord is mighty!"

The gentleman ascended the steps slowly, but with an air of imposing power. He carefully removed his iron helmet and looked around.

"My lord is mighty! My lord is mighty!" The people nearby shouted with all their might, their joy today beyond words, they could only roar and shout!

Liu Zhengyan squeezed through the crowd and approached, bowing so low his head reached his knees: "Sir, Li Qianshun is inside the city gate! There are no soldiers inside, and the gate is open. Please come in quickly!"

Su Wu stopped beside Liu Zhengyan, raised his hand to help him up, and slowly said, "Today, I will not let you down!"

Liu Zhengyan was helped to stand upright, and he raised his hand to wipe away his tears. He was a righteous man, but when he spoke again, his voice was choked with sobs: "Husband, husband..."

Even the soldiers on both sides were already shedding tears.

I wonder what Liu Zhengyan will say next.

"My lord, my father died a terrible death!" Liu Zhengyan was already crying, wailing loudly.

Su Wu nodded, gently patted Liu Zhengyan's shoulder, and said, "The old general's head and body may still be in Xingzhou City. Go and retrieve them later, bring them back to your hometown, and give them a proper burial!"

"Yes!" Liu Zhengyan nodded emphatically, wiped away his tears again, and bowed deeply: "Please, my husband!"

Su Wu nodded slightly, took a few steps, and entered the city gate.

Inside the city gate tower, seven or eight people sat on the ground, none of them wearing armor, but all wearing official robes. Li Qianshun, wearing a golden dragon robe, also sat there, head down, not looking at anyone.

Su Wu took a few steps forward, stopped, looked down, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Liu Zhengyan stepped forward, grabbed Li Qianshun by the back of his collar with one hand and kicked him, pressed down on his back with the other hand, and hooked his foot down, trying to make Li Qianshun kneel in front of him.

Su Wu waved his hand, saying, "There's no need for that..."

Liu Zhengyan nodded in relief: "My husband is kind-hearted!"

Li Qianshun was brought up, and Su Wu looked at him straight ahead. He was in his forties, very well-maintained, and did not look old.

"Your Majesty need not be so discouraged, nor should you be so heartbroken. Whether it was the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, or even the Northern and Southern Dynasties and the Five Dynasties, nations rise and fall. In the past, the Tanguts killed the Song people, and today the Song people are killing the Tanguts. No one owes anyone anything, and no one blames anyone. I also ask Your Majesty for one thing: the eight tribes of the Tanguts must be peaceful and not cause any more trouble, so as to avoid more wrongful deaths!"

Su Wu, please tell me slowly.

Li Qianshun raised his head slightly and looked at Su Wu. His eyes showed a real spark of life, and he was no longer just a walking corpse.

"How is it?" Su Wu asked again.

Li Qianshun replied with one sentence: "What else can I do..."

"Good, very good. Find all those seals and such, and have the Emperor write them down. Then there will be fewer innocent deaths in all the cities!" Su Wu said again.

Li Qianshun turned around, looked at the people behind him, sighed, and nodded.

Su Wu turned around and walked to the city gate, where many Tangut soldiers were still being bound.

Su Wu spoke up: "Come, take the king to the main camp outside the city, and send all the prisoners of the Dangxiang army to the main camp. Quickly go and invite the supervising general. When the emperor and supervising general arrive, we should kneel and welcome them from ten miles away! The scene should be grand and imposing. We must not neglect the supervising general! All the military achievements of this time are due to the supervising general. We must make the supervising general happy. Hmm... it would be best to present the prisoners. The supervising general will be even happier then!"

The crowd was somewhat puzzled, but given the military order, they could only shout, "Understood!"

Su Wu urged, "Hurry up and get busy. The Emperor suspects me of being slow and cowardly in this change of commander. The supervising officer should speak well of me to the Emperor so that I can be less guilty!"

Many people seemed to understand this time. It turned out to be a matter of great importance to their husbands' future. How could they not rush to get things done? This matter must be handled well, and the military supervisor must be pleased.

(Brothers, 8600, I'll give it my all!)
(End of this chapter)