The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 374 Each Calculating Their Own Schemes
The following day, Zhao Ti summoned the generals of the army for a meeting. The meeting ended at noon, but Cai Jing came to the main tent again in the evening.

After listening to him elaborate on his plan for a while, Zhao Ti pondered for a moment, then asked him to summon the people from the Legal and Military Halls, and they plotted until midnight.

The next day, the Song camp raised its python flag and displayed the characters "Yan" and "Zhao" to spread the news of Zhao Ti's arrival in the camp.

In the following days, the situation inside and outside the camp gradually became lax. Chickens and sheep were slaughtered, cooking smoke was constantly rising, the military discipline was disorderly, and singing could be heard at night, giving the impression that people were drinking and making merry inside.

Even the soldiers on patrol outside the camp were not as serious and solemn as before. Every time the guards changed, the new ones were all slacking off and walking unsteadily, as if they had been drinking before taking over their posts.

Initially, the people in Zhuozhou did not pay much attention to this situation, but as it continued and became increasingly lax, the garrison commander of Zhuozhou began to get restless.

The commander of this city is called Yelü Yan, the man Cai Jing mentioned who can ride strange beasts, breathe fire, and is ten feet long.

He was not a direct descendant of the Yelü clan, nor a member of the Khitan royal family. After the founding of the state, the original surnames of the various Khitan clans were changed to two: Yelü and Xiao. The royal family and the empress's family were called direct descendants, while the common people were called illegitimate descendants.

These two surnames account for more than 90% of the population in Liao territory. The remaining surnames are those of foreign ethnic groups such as Tatars and Jurchens, as well as Han surnames, which account for about 10%.

Yelü Yan was not a member of the Khitan royal family; he came from the northwestern grasslands and was a direct disciple of shamanism.

Not only does he possess magical abilities, but he also rides a strange beast that resembles a water buffalo and is adept at roaring, creating a thunderous sound that frightens ordinary warhorses from approaching.

This time, the shamanism sent many people to support the Liao Kingdom, mostly in the Yan and Yun prefectures. The two people by his side who could control wild beasts and summon ghosts were also shamanism disciples.

At this moment, the Jiedushi Mansion in Zhuozhou City was brightly lit, and Yelü Yan was discussing matters with his generals.

Zhuozhou was a Jiedushi Prefecture. Because it bordered the Song Dynasty and was located on the frontier, it held an important strategic position. Even though its population did not meet the standards for a Jiedushi Prefecture, its highest military commander was still given the title of Jiedushi.

Although the Liao Dynasty made many adjustments to its local military system since its founding, the system of military governors remained unchanged. However, the titles of the military commanders of ordinary prefectures changed frequently, with various titles such as commander-in-chief, defense commissioner, militia commander, and governor rotating among them.

Yelü Yan was in his early thirties, with a pale golden complexion, no beard, long and narrow fish-like eyes, and a cold and stern expression.

Two people sat to his left, a man and a woman. The man had a traditional Khitan hairstyle, with several shaved sections of his head tied in a small braid. He had a round, fierce face and wore a long robe of leather and colorful cloth. Around his neck hung a circle of some kind of animal bone.

The woman was dressed in a grass-green dress, with a pouch hanging from her waist. Her long hair fell to her shoulders, partially obscuring her eyes. Her face was deathly pale, and she had no expression whatsoever.

The man was called Bu Shu, the sorcerer who could control beasts, and the woman was called Xiao Li, the sorcerer who could summon ghosts.

There were more people to Yelü Yan's right, about seven or eight. At the head of the group was a civil official with a narrow face, thin beard, and shifty eyes. Behind him were ordinary garrison commanders from Zhuozhou.

He then glanced around and asked, "What are your thoughts on the matter of the Song camp on the other side?"

Bu Shu shouted, "General, I think this is an opportunity. That brat Prince Yan probably knows that there is no hope of attacking the city, so he drinks and makes merry every day and does not think about military affairs. Why don't we charge out of the city, kick the Song camp, and wipe them out in one fell swoop!"

"It's not that easy." Xiao Li said coldly from the side, "The Song army has more than 200,000 men, while our army only has 70,000 to 80,000. Even if the enemy is not on guard, how can we be easily wiped out? Besides, how can the Song army not be on guard?"

"I think they're just not on guard. They're just watching from the city walls and scouts are investigating. It's not fake. They must be throwing out countless wine jars every day." Bu Shu snorted, "What knowledge do you, a woman, have? You should just shut up."

Xiao Li's eyes darted around, mostly white with little black, and he said coldly, "You're not convinced? If you're not convinced, let's fight after dark."

Upon hearing this, Bu Shu's expression changed, and he said, "You wouldn't dare fight me during the day?"

Xiao Li said, "You can't do anything to me during the day, but I can come find you again when it gets dark."

“You…” Bu Shu’s eyelids twitched: “Don’t try to scare me, you woman! I’m not afraid of your ghosts!”

Yelü Yan then shouted from above: "Shut up! Talk about military matters instead of fighting. If you want to fight, wait until we defeat the Song army. Then you can fight however you want."

He then turned his gaze to the right and said, "You all tell me what to say."

A military officer on the right pondered, "General, I think what the fortune teller said is feasible. What does the King of Yan of Song know about military affairs? He is just a pleasure-seeking man. How can he fight? We should gather our troops and look for an opportunity to break out of the city and attack the camp."

Another military officer nodded and said, "I've heard of this man. He was sent as an envoy to our Great Liao a few years ago, just in time for His Majesty's autumn hunt. He didn't even catch a single animal hair. Later, he participated in the Wenhua Hall Poetry Gathering in Shangjing and composed many poems, which caused quite a stir. His literary talent is indeed remarkable, but his martial arts skills are mediocre. He's probably just a theorist."

“You’re all listening to outdated wisdom.” The civil official at the right wing stroked his beard and shook his head, saying, “This Prince Zhao Ti of the Yan Kingdom is no ordinary man; he is truly a man of both literary and military prowess.”

"Oh?" Yelü Yan frowned. "Judge Zhang, please tell me. I have been working for the Holy Church, in charge of missionary work in the North Sea. I am not familiar with the affairs between the court and the Song Dynasty, nor with military intelligence reports."

In the Liao Dynasty, the highest military and political official of a prefecture was the Jiedushi (military governor), and the civil officials who assisted the Jiedushi in handling government affairs were the Jiedufushi (deputy military governor) or Jiedupanguan (judge of the Jiedushi).

This civil official surnamed Zhang was the judge of Zhuozhou, mainly responsible for documents and civil affairs. He was a core figure in the civil official system of a prefecture in the Liao Kingdom.

He laughed and said, "It's normal that the general doesn't know. The general came directly from Beihai, so naturally he wouldn't know. Last year, Prince Zhao Ti of Yan displayed his martial prowess in the Hetao region, and not long ago he even seized the Miechuan Military Command, which our Great Liao had already occupied..."

"I remember now!" Yelü Yan suddenly said, "The Holy Church sent a letter a few days ago, saying that the Southern Priests are trapped in the Song army, and it seems that this brat Zhao Ti is in charge of the military affairs." "So General, you must not underestimate them. I think it is not advisable to directly charge into the camp. Perhaps the other side is deliberately putting on a show of laxity to lure our army into advancing rashly, and then ambushing and annihilating us," said Judge Zhang.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall fell silent, their faces showing thoughtful expressions.

After a moment, an officer hesitated and said, "But the drinking and merrymaking were definitely real. Besides, the battle at Miechuan might not have been due to his good command. How could a prince of the Song court personally go to the battlefield? It was most likely that the Song Western Army generals below him had outstanding strategies that led to the capture of Miechuan. As for the matter of the Holy Church priests getting caught up in it..."

At this moment, Bu Shu couldn't help but speak again: "The world is constantly changing. How can it be compared to now? Back then, I couldn't even use magic. The magic of the Southern Xiao priests was mostly weak, or even non-existent. I guess they just relied on the magical artifacts bestowed by the shamans. Once the power of the artifacts was exhausted, they could only use martial arts. How could they escape the encirclement of thousands of troops?"

“Indeed, Master Bu is right. I think that’s most likely the case. The other side is just a prince who writes poetry. Even if he has some skills in archery and horsemanship, how could he know anything about military tactics? I think as long as we observe carefully and find an opportunity to launch a sneak attack, we will surely succeed.” Another officer said.

Yelü Yan remained silent, lost in thought. At this moment, Judge Zhang spoke again: "General, I believe that an open attack on the camp is unlikely to succeed, and even a sneak attack would be extremely dangerous."

The divination expert said, "The enemy drinks and makes merry every day, their military discipline is lax, and their camp is full of weaknesses. Are we just going to let this opportunity slip by?"

"That might not be true. Maybe it's just a show to lure our army into a trap," Judge Zhang said anxiously.

“I don’t think so. As the saying goes, opportunity knocks but once. If we don’t eliminate the enemy now, it will be too late once the Song army comes up with some trick to attack the city,” Bu Shu said with dissatisfaction.

"Alright," Yelü Yan said at this moment, "Regardless of whether the enemy's performance is genuine or not, it is never safe to charge directly into the camp. There are countless trenches and traps in front of the Song camp. It would be easy to advance during the day, and it wouldn't be easy at night either. Let's not discuss this matter anymore."

“But, General…” Bu Shu hurriedly said upon hearing this.

“Although the plan to storm the camp has been abandoned, there are still other ways to do it. Judge Zhang, I don’t know much about the power of this Zhao Ti boy, or whether he is important in the eyes of the Song Emperor,” Yelü Yan interrupted him, looking to the side.

"This Prince Zhao Ti of Yan..." Judge Zhang pondered, "After he was sent as an envoy to the capital and his poem moved the Wenhua Hall, I have been paying close attention to him ever since. In addition to the intelligence sent from the capital, Zhuozhou is a border region and has a lot of contact with the Song Kingdom. I have heard a lot about him and know about 80% of him."

"Oh? Tell me about it," Yelü Yan said.

"This man is the most powerful person in the Song Dynasty since its founding, second only to the Song Emperor. Even before Emperor Taizong of Song ascended the throne, he did not have such overwhelming authority," said Judge Zhang.

"Emperor Taizong of Song..." Yelü Yan said, "I do know him. Before ascending the throne, he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Jin. He also led troops into battle, held military power over the Imperial Guards, served as the garrison commander of Kaifeng, and was the prefect of Kaifeng."

“That’s right,” Judge Zhang said. “But this man is even more powerful than Emperor Taizong of Song was before he ascended the throne. The Song court was wary of its sons holding power, especially military power, but Emperor Taizong unexpectedly appointed him as the Director of the Imperial Guards of the Two Departments and Three Military Offices. Back then, Emperor Taizong of Song was only the Commander of the Palace Guards.”

"Two Departments and Three Offices... the Director of the Imperial Guards." Yelü Yan nodded: "This not only gives him most of the power to control the Imperial Guards, but also entrusts him with the defense of Kaifeng, both inside and outside the city. Does the Song Emperor really trust Zhao Ti so much?"

“It’s not just that.” Judge Zhang shook his head and said, “When the Song Emperor personally led the expedition against the Western Xia, he also appointed him as the garrison commander of Tokyo and the prefect of Kaifeng. He has not resigned from his position as prefect and has been holding it ever since.”

"The position of Prefect of Kaifeng seems to be somewhat special..." Yelü Yan said, "It seems that it was usually held by the Crown Prince of Song in the past..."

"That is indeed the case. However, after the Song Emperor returned from destroying the Western Xia, he actually asked him to handle the aftermath and appointed him as the Pacification and Control Commissioner of the Northwest Circuits, giving him control over the military and political power of all the circuits and prefectures in the Northwest. To prevent instability in his command of troops, he was also appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Northwest Circuits, thus having dual command of troops, making him practically the King of the Northwest," said Judge Zhang.

"They really value this so much? This is indeed the most powerful royal family since the founding of the Song Dynasty. Not only the royal family, but also the most powerful people in the history of the Song Dynasty besides the emperor. Their authority is overwhelming." Yelü Yan said, looking thoughtful.

“This man is highly regarded by the Song Emperor, and can be considered his right-hand man. The news that the scouts have gathered in the past few days is that the Song Emperor has appointed him to oversee all military affairs in Yan and Yun, and even the Song army in the west is under his command,” said Judge Zhang.

Yelü Yan narrowed his eyes: "I have heard that the current Song emperor is in poor health and has only three daughters but no sons. Could it be that he is planning to... follow the example of the brother succeeding the brother?"

Judge Zhang said, "Judging from the current situation, it is highly likely. The Prefect of Kaifeng, the King of the Northwest, is currently in charge of all affairs in Yan and Yun. If the Song Emperor is indeed in poor condition and dies young... then the King of Yan, Zhao Ti, will surely inherit the throne of Song. His prestige and power will be unmatched in the royal family, and no one in the court will dare to disobey him."

Yelü Yan remained silent for a few moments, then suddenly burst into laughter.

Everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions. After a moment, Yelü Yan said, "If... this Prince Yan of Song were to die on the battlefield, what do you think would happen to the Song court?"

"Ah?" The generals in the hall were all taken aback upon hearing this. Judge Zhang said, "General, if Prince Zhao Ti of Yan dies in front of the army, the Song court will be in turmoil, the people will be uneasy, and the morale of the army will be unstable. Not to mention that the Yan-Yun matter will be dropped, I think all military affairs will have to be suspended, and the Song army will retreat to the border and will not move an inch."

"Is the court in turmoil, and the army's morale unstable?" Yelü Yan asked with a burning gaze, "Such an important figure, I'm afraid the Song Emperor is even more worried about him."

"What does the general mean?" Judge Zhang's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

“If we can keep this brat Zhao Ti in front of Zhuozhou City, the Song army will likely be demoralized and collapse without a fight. Then there will be no need for opportunistic raids or forced entry into the camp. As long as our army breaks out, the enemy will probably be routed,” Yelü Yan said.

“General, there’s no need to fight. If Prince Zhao Ti of Yan dies, the enemy will be in a panic and will surely retreat immediately. They won’t have any will to fight.” Judge Zhang said, “General, do you perhaps intend to… assassinate him?”

Yelü Yan glanced at him and nodded slightly: "That's right. As the ancients said, to shoot a man, shoot his horse first; to capture a thief, capture his king first. If this Zhao Ti boy had ordinary prestige, it would be fine. But he is both a member of the royal family and has immense authority. He also has the possibility of inheriting the throne of Song. If he is assassinated, it would not only be a great achievement, but it would also defeat the Song army. I think it is feasible."

“General…” Judge Zhang pondered, “Assassinating this person is no small matter. We must plan carefully and proceed with caution.”

Yelü Yan nodded and looked at Bu Shu and Xiao Li: "This is no ordinary assassination. Since I have someone skilled in magic, we should make a plan. If we don't assassinate, we won't; but if we do, we will succeed!"

(End of this chapter)