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In October of the first year of the prosperous era, the moment the news of victory in Youzhou reached Bianliang, the entire imperial city was immersed in a long-suppressed excitement.

The Yanyun defense line, after two years and four months of construction, has finally been completed.

From the heart of the Yanshan Mountains to the shores of the Bohai Sea, thirty-seven military forts, more than two hundred beacon towers, and three deep defensive lines formed an iron gate, blocking the only route for the Khitan cavalry to advance south.

In the imperial study, Su Ning put down the battle report and rubbed his temples.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Wang Pu stood to the side, noticing the subtle movement.

Suning remained silent.

He stood up and walked to the huge map on the wall.

The map was drawn last year, and the territory of the Great Zhou has expanded by nearly double since the late emperor was in power.

He circled the destruction of the Southern Tang, the pacification of Jingchu, and the conquest of the southwest with a red brush in the south; he also redrawn the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in the north with a red brush.

His finger started from Bianliang, slowly moved north, crossed the Yellow River, passed Zhending, and finally stopped on the two characters "Youzhou".

"It's too far."

Wang Pu was taken aback: "Your Majesty, what is this 'too far'?"

"From Bianliang to Youzhou." Su Ning's voice was calm, as if he were talking about something very ordinary. "It's 1,500 li. Even with an 800-li express courier service, day and night, it would still take three days. I received the news in Bianliang that the war is over."

Wang Pu immediately understood, "Does Your Majesty intend to move the capital?"

Su Ning nodded, his gaze still fixed on the map. "I've thought about it many times. When Father and my elder brother were alive, the south was not yet pacified, so we couldn't move. Back then, Bianliang was the front line, the shield. But things are different now... Yan and Yun have been recovered, and the north is the real threat. The next hundred years may be the center of war. The emperor guards the country's gates—this saying has been around for thousands of years. It's my turn now."

Wang Pu remained silent for a moment. He was a scholar and a strategist, and he knew the weight of this matter. "But Bianliang is the foundation of our ancestors, the place where the dragon's energy of the Central Plains converges..."

“The ancestral legacy is the entire country, not just a city.” Su Ning turned to look at him. “When Father and my elder brother were alive, Bianliang was the center, more of a symbol of the Central Plains. That was because the world was not yet settled, and it was a battleground on all sides, making it the most suitable location for command and control. But now the north is the center, and it needs to be moved. How far is Youzhou from the Khitan? Two hundred li. If the Khitan cavalry were to run freely, they could reach the city in a day and a night. I am in Bianliang, three days' journey away. How can I defend it?”

Wang Pu pondered, "When does Your Majesty plan to move the capital?"

“No rush,” Su Ning said. “First, send the Ministry of Works to Youzhou to secretly build a new city under the guise of expanding the city and strengthening its defenses. Once it’s built, we can discuss moving the capital.”

"Keep it a secret?"

“Yes. When the news got out, it shook the court and the public, and there were too many people who opposed it.” Su Ning’s lips curved slightly, and there was a hint of slyness in his smile that was unique to young people. “They can’t do anything about it since we acted first and reported later.”

Wang Pu smiled and said, "I will make the arrangements immediately."

"Yes, we must build a super megacity and then vigorously develop maritime transport, which can also deter the south."

"promise."

……

Half a month later, a huge team set off from Bianliang and headed north in a grand procession.

Leading the group was Zhang Yongde, the Vice Minister of Works, a shrewd and capable official in his early forties.

Behind him followed hundreds of craftsmen, thousands of laborers, and countless building materials and tools...

The blueprints for the brick kiln, the lime kiln, and the leveling instrument filled three large trucks.

The stated reason given was "to expand Youzhou City and strengthen the defenses in the north."

No one doubted it.

In Youzhou City, Gao Huaide received a secret letter from the Privy Council and immediately cleared out a large open space in the east of the city to arrange for people to meet him.

He stood on the city wall, watching the craftsmen and supplies arriving one after another, and had a vague guess in his mind—but he didn't ask anything.

Your Majesty has your reasons for doing things.

The new city was located twenty miles east of Youzhou City, on a wide, flat area.

Backed by the foothills of the Yanshan Mountains and facing the North China Plain, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack.

A river flows by, with enough water to supply the daily needs of a large city.

Standing on the construction site, Zhang Yongde looked at this land that was about to rise, and his heart was filled with emotion.

“This area will become the new capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the future,” Zhang Yongde said in a low voice to his deputy.

The deputy was startled, looked around to make sure no one had heard, and then lowered his voice, saying, "Minister Zhang, you can't say things like that..."

"Hehe, I didn't say." Zhang Yongde chuckled. "Let's get started!"

The first shovel of earth for the expansion of Youzhou City fell in the late autumn of the first year of the prosperous era.

Intelligent people all know the significance of Youzhou City, but they all choose to remain silent about it.

Historically, the Northern Song Dynasty also considered moving its capital, since Kaifeng was flat and had no natural defenses.

However, the obstacles and pressure they encountered were unimaginable; even the later relocation of the capital of Myanmar to Naypyidaw was done secretly.

Therefore, Suning knew the principle that things cannot be accomplished without secrecy, so it was impossible for them to make a big fuss about it from the beginning.

……

Meanwhile, in Bianliang City, an even greater transformation was brewing.

On October 17th of the first year of the prosperous era, Su Ning issued several imperial edicts to carry out a comprehensive reform of the military and political system of the country.

The first imperial edict concerned the garrison area.

"The Great Zhou Dynasty has a vast territory, and the defense of each region must not be neglected. Now, twenty garrison districts will be established throughout the country, with one to three Class C divisions stationed in each district to be responsible for local security, border patrols, and the defense of key locations."

The division of garrison areas is basically based on the administrative divisions at the circuit level.

Each district is headed by one commander and three deputy commanders, one of whom is concurrently the military supervisor.

"Military and political affairs shall be separated. Commanders shall only be in charge of military affairs and shall not interfere in local political affairs."

This edict separated local military power from the administrative system.

The second imperial edict concerned the military governor.

"Since the late Tang Dynasty, military governors have held sway over their own territories, becoming too powerful to control and causing harm for a century. Now, the military governor system is abolished, and all military power in the country is centralized under the Privy Council."

"Local governments at all levels shall uniformly establish the positions of prefect, magistrate, and county magistrate. Officials at all levels shall be selected and appointed by the Ministry of Personnel, serve a term of three years, and be transferred upon expiration of their term, and shall not remain in one place for an extended period."

The imperial edict caused a stir throughout the court and the country.

The Jiedushi system, which began in the mid-Tang Dynasty, lasted for more than two hundred years.

Many powerful figures rose to power through this system, and countless problems arose from it...

The root of the An Lushan Rebellion, the separatist rule of regional military governors, and the Five Dynasties period all lay with the military governors.

Now, Suning has made a decisive move.

Naturally, some people are happy while others are sad.

Those military governors who had long been reorganized into the National Defense Army didn't react much...

Anyway, their soldiers are long gone, so it doesn't matter whether they change it or not.

However, some local tyrants in remote areas were not convinced.

But they dared not say it.

Because the soldiers of the National Defense Force were right at their doorstep.

Moreover, under the strong suppression of Emperors Guo Wei and Chai Rong, these unruly military governors have been brought under control.

This is also why Su Ning was willing to pass the throne to Chai Rong after Guo Wei's death, since Chai Rong was indeed more prestigious than him.

The third imperial edict concerned the Privy Council.

"All military power in the realm rests with the Privy Council. The Privy Councilor is concurrently held by the Emperor, and there are three Deputy Privy Councilors under him, who are in charge of troop deployment, troop training, and logistics, respectively."

"The National Defense Forces are divided into Class A Divisions, Class B Divisions, and Class C Garrison Divisions. Class A Divisions are the main field forces responsible for foreign wars; Class B Divisions are the secondary main field forces responsible for border defense and fortifications; Class C Garrison Divisions are responsible for local defense; the three divisions are independent of each other and are all directly commanded by the Privy Council."

This edict completely ended the history of "generals having exclusive control over troops".

From now on, the general will only be responsible for fighting battles, not for deploying troops.

The power to deploy troops rests with the Privy Council, which is in the hands of the emperor.

The military supervision system of the National Defense Forces was extended to the entire army.

The fourth imperial edict concerned the cabinet and the six ministries.

"The cabinet is composed of four Grand Secretaries who participate in state affairs and assist the emperor in handling important military and national matters. The six ministries are in charge of government affairs... The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the appointment and removal of officials, the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of finance and taxation, the Ministry of Rites is in charge of sacrifices and diplomacy, the Ministry of War is in charge of the selection and appointment of military officers, the Ministry of Justice is in charge of judicial and penal matters, and the Ministry of Works is in charge of engineering and construction."

"Power is concentrated in the central government, orders are unified, and the people's hearts are with the people."

This edict established the centralized system of government of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

From local to central government, from military to civil affairs, everything is connected.

……

In Bianliang, the imperial court was bustling with activity.

Wei Renpu was appointed as the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, while Li Gu, Wang Pu, and Zhao Pu were appointed as Grand Secretaries.

The appointments for the six ministers, the deputy privy councilors, and the commanders of the garrison areas were issued one by one.

The new system has begun to operate.

……

At the end of October, when the first snow fell in Bianliang City, Su Ning received a secret report from Zhang Yongde in Youzhou.

The foundation of the new city has been laid, and the city walls are being built.

At the current pace, the main project will be completed soon.

In another five years, the entire new city will be ready for use.

However, Suning is not in a hurry and plans to build according to a ten- or twenty-year plan, believing that it can be a long-lived monarch.

After reading the secret report, Su Ning sat under the lamp for a long time.

Five years.

Five years later, he could move the capital to Youzhou, a place only two hundred miles away from the Khitan.

By then, the Khitans will only need to look south to see the banner of the Great Zhou emperor.

Su Ning carefully put away the secret memorial and picked up another one.

A thick stack of memorials was piled on the desk...

There are reports on the implementation of the new policies, on the appointment of officials in various regions, and on the allocation of provisions for border troops.

He had to review and approve every single item.

……

Outside Youzhou City, the new city rises higher day by day amidst the wind and snow.

Wrapped in a thick fur coat, Zhang Yongde stood on the construction site, gazing at the city wall that was beginning to take shape, calculating the construction period in his mind.

The city wall has been built to a height of more than one person. It is made of bluestone transported from Yanshan Mountain, each piece chiseled into a square shape.

The city bricks were fired locally, using a new and improved formula from the Ministry of Works, making them harder and denser than the previous bricks.

The foundation of the city gate has been laid, using whole pieces of granite, each piece being more than a person tall and weighing tens of thousands of kilograms.

“In another five years, it should be completed,” Zhang Yongde said to his deputy.

The deputy, his breath steaming in the air, rubbed his hands together and asked, "Minister Zhang, can we really finish building the city wall in five years?"

"Yes," Zhang Yongde said. "As long as we have enough manpower and materials, we can."

……

In the spring of the second year of the prosperous reign, the Khitans finally made their move.

Yelü Jing assembled an army of 80,000, claiming to be 150,000, and set off from Liaoyang, marching south in a grand procession.

Tribes along the way responded enthusiastically, and the number of people and horses grew larger and larger. By the time they reached Songmo, they were known as having 200,000 iron cavalry.

"Take back Yanyun!" Yelü Jing, mounted on his horse, brandished his scimitar and shouted at the dark mass of cavalry, "That's our territory, we can't let the Han people take it!"

"Take back Yanyun! Take back Yanyun!"

The shouts were deafening, and the horses' hooves thundered.

Eighty thousand warhorses galloped at the same time, and the earth trembled.

Looking down from above, the army resembled a black tide, sweeping across the grassland and surging southward.

When the news reached Youzhou, Suning was inspecting the new city construction site.

The city wall has been built to a height of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), and the magnificent city tower is under construction.

Zhang Yongde stood beside him, pointing to the distant Yanshan Mountains and saying something.

Su Ning listened, nodding occasionally, but her mind was elsewhere.

A fast horse galloped from afar, and the rider tumbled off the horse before it had come to a complete stop, kneeling on one knee and presenting a sealed urgent report with wax in both hands.

"Your Majesty, urgent report from Gubeikou! The Khitan army has crossed Songmo, with 80,000 cavalry, and will arrive within three days!"

Suning took the urgent report, unfolded it, read it, and remained silent for a long time.

Grand Secretary Wei Renpu stood aside, looking at him. "Your Majesty, the Khitans are coming in strong. We must make preparations as soon as possible."

Su Ning nodded and handed the urgent report to Wei Renpu. "Issue the decree that Cao Bin, Pan Mei, and Shi Shouxin immediately march north to Youzhou to command the armies of the northern frontier. Li Chongjin and Wang Shenqi will provide support from the west, and Gao Huaide will be stationed at Shanhaiguan."

He paused, then his voice deepened: "Tell them, if the Khitans want to fight, let them fight. Our defenses are not made of paper."

Wei Renpu agreed, then asked, "Your Majesty, aren't you going?"

Su Ning shook her head. "I'm not going."

Wei Renpu was stunned.

"Your Majesty, this is a perfect opportunity for the emperor to personally lead the army—the soldiers' morale will be greatly boosted when they see the emperor's banner..."

"A good opportunity?" Su Ning looked at him, her eyes as calm as a deep pool. "The late emperor also thought it was a good opportunity. And what happened? He was shot in the old wound by an arrow and lost his life."

He turned around and looked north.

In the distance, the outline of the Yanshan Mountains was faintly visible in the morning mist.

"It's not that I'm afraid of death. What I'm afraid of is—if I die, who will protect this newly stabilized empire?"

Wei Renpu remained silent.

Su Ning continued, "The Khitans have arrived. They have Cao Bin, Pan Mei, and Shi Shouxin. They've fought for so many years, from south to north, from naval battles to land battles. What haven't they seen? They have more experience than I do. I trust them with my life."

He turned around and looked at Wei Renpu. "A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. It's not cowardice, it's a sense of responsibility."

Wei Renpu bowed deeply, "Your subject understands."

……

On that day, an urgent military order was sent from Youzhou to the northern armies.

When Cao Bin received the military order, he was inspecting defenses at Gubeikou.

He stood on the beacon tower, gazing at the vast grasslands beyond the pass, listening to scouts report on the movements of the Khitan army.

When the military order arrived, Cao Bin read it and nodded.

"Your Majesty is wise."

He then folded the military order, put it in his pocket, and turned to his adjutant, saying, "Order all battalions to prepare for battle according to the plan."

When Pan Mei received the military order, he was training new recruits.

Those young faces, some still bearing the traces of childhood innocence, were already clad in armor, gripping swords and spears tightly. Pan Mei finished reading the military order and smiled, "Finally, it's our turn."

Pan Mei laid down his military orders and said to his personal guards, "Go tell the brothers that the Khitans are here. It's our turn to go."

Shi Shouxin was drinking when he received the military order.

He sat in his tent, slowly eating a leg of lamb and a pot of wine.

When the military order arrived, Shi Shouxin put down his wine cup, stood up, and said, "Pass on the order to assemble."

Various armies gradually assembled in Youzhou.

A month later, 200,000 national defense troops lined up at the foot of the Yanshan Mountains.

Banners blotted out the sun, and swords and spears formed a forest.

Looking from above, the camps stretched for dozens of miles, with wisps of smoke rising from them, like a giant cloud.

On the opposite side, 80,000 Khitan cavalrymen swept in like a tidal wave.

Their scouts had already appeared outside the pass, gazing at the Han people's camps from afar, before turning their horses back to report.

The decisive battle is about to begin.

In Youzhou City, Su Ning sat in his palace, looking at the battle reports sent from the front lines.

"The Khitan vanguard has passed Songmo and will reach Gubeikou in three days."

"Cao Bin has requested permission to fight. Should we grant it?"

He picked up his pen and wrote a single character on the memorial.

"war."

The battle report was sent out.

He put down his pen and looked out the window.

Outside the window, the northern sky was overcast.

Dark clouds pressed in from the Yanshan Mountains, like an impending storm.

He remembered the words his elder brother Guo Rong had said before he died.

"Third brother, I...I regret it..."

What is there to regret?
Regret leading the army in person? Regret ignoring advice? Regret sending yourself to the brink of arrows?

Suning doesn't know.

But Suning knew he wouldn't regret it.

Because Suning is still alive.

Only by staying alive can we protect this land.

Only by staying alive can those who fight for you have no worries about the future.

"Your Majesty," Zhao Pu said softly, "Are you really not going?"

Su Ning shook her head. "I'm not going."

"So you're just going to wait here?"

"Wait," Su Ning said. "Wait until my soldiers win and come back for a drink."

"What if we lose..."

"What if we lose?"

Su Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "If we lose, I will go again."

Zhao Pu did not ask any further questions.

He understood His Majesty's meaning.

If I can win, I won't go.

If we lose, we'll go again.

It wasn't about taking credit, but about cleaning up the mess.

This is what an emperor should do.

……

Outside Gubeikou, two armies faced off.

Cao Bin stood on the high slope, looking calmly at the dark mass of Khitan cavalry in the distance.

The wind blew his cloak, making it flutter loudly.

"Order all troops to proceed according to plan."

The command flag was waved.

The National Defense Forces slowly deployed.

The First, Third, and Fifth Divisions were positioned in the center, facing the enemy head-on.

The soldiers, dressed in brand-new armor and holding long spears, stood in neat square formations.

Their eyes were calm, their breathing even, like a group of hunters waiting for their prey.

The Second, Fourth, and Sixth Divisions were positioned on the left and right, forming two wings.

The cavalrymen were already mounted, their swords drawn, awaiting only the order.

The 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Divisions were designated as reserves and positioned in the rear, ready to provide support at any time.

Catapults were lined up in a row, crossbow carts were mounted on high ground, chevaux-de-frise were buried in the ground, and trenches had already been dug.

The catapults were fully engaged, with huge stones piled up to one side; the crossbows were taut, and the three-foot-long bolts gleamed coldly.

When the Khitans charge in, they will be met with steel and fire.

Pan Mei stood at the front of the formation, watching the Khitan cavalry getting closer and closer, and gripped the knife in his hand tightly.

Pan Mei could feel the ground trembling and hear the thunderous sound of horses' hooves.

The faces of the Khitan cavalrymen became clearer and clearer...

They brandished their scimitars and howled like wild beasts, like a pack of wolves pouncing on their prey.

"Come on." Pan Mei raised the knife high.

Behind them, war drums thundered.

"Boom-thump-thump-"

The drumbeats were deep and powerful, like the pulse of the earth.

As war drums sounded simultaneously, their sounds merged into a torrent, surging towards the onrushing Khitan cavalry.

"Fire arrows!"

The bowstring vibrated, and a volley of arrows was unleashed.

The sky darkened for a moment.

Then, a rain of arrows fell.

The Khitan cavalry at the forefront fell like stalks of wheat being cut down.

Warhorses neighed, and men and horses fell to the ground.

But the cavalrymen behind them continued forward, trampling over the corpses of their comrades, and charged toward the Han Chinese lines.

"put!"

The catapult launched huge stones that crashed into the cavalry, creating a cloud of blood mist.

The ballista fired giant arrows, each capable of piercing two or three horses.

The Khitans' advance was halted.

But they are still moving forward.

Pan Mei watched the approaching enemies and gripped her sword hilt tightly. "Prepare to engage!"

The first rank of soldiers crouched down, their spears pointing diagonally forward.

The soldiers in the second rank stood with their rifles resting on the shoulders of the soldiers in the first rank.

The third rank of soldiers raised their swords and shields, ready to fill the gap.

The Khitan cavalry charged forward.

The sounds of clashing metal, screams, and the neighing of warhorses mingled together.

The final battle has begun.

……

In Youzhou City, Su Ning sat in his temporary palace, gazing northwards.

Although he couldn't see anything, he could feel it.

I could feel the people fighting, I could feel the blood flowing, I could feel the lives disappearing.

Zhao Pu placed a cup of tea gently beside him. "Your Majesty, please have some tea."

Suning took the tea but didn't drink it; he just held it.

"Zhao Pu, tell me, am I being too cruel?"

Zhao Pu was taken aback: "What makes Your Majesty say this?"

“Two hundred thousand people,” Su Ning said. “Two hundred thousand lives. I’ll send them to fight. I’ll sit here, drinking tea, and waiting for news.”

Zhao Pu was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask—do you wish to go?"

“…” Su Ning did not answer.

“You want to go,” Zhao Pu said. “I know. Every general wants to go. They all want to stand on the front lines, command thousands of troops, and personally win this battle.”

“But you are the emperor. You are not a general.”

"A general's duty is to win battles. An emperor's duty is to ensure that those who win battles return alive, that those who lose have a way out, and that no matter what happens, the country will not descend into chaos."

"It's harder for you to sit here than to stand on the front lines."

Su Ning remained silent for a long time, then chuckled softly, "Zhao Pu, you're right."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I'll be waiting in Youzhou."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Logistics and medical care must keep up! We cannot allow any wounded soldier to die tragically."

"promise."

……

Outside Gubeikou, the fighting continues.

As the sun gradually set in the west, it turned the battlefield a golden-red hue.

The ground was littered with corpses and blood.

The Khitans and Han Chinese were mixed together, and it was impossible to tell who was who.

But the National Defense Forces' lines remained intact.

The First Division withstood three attacks from the Khitans.

The Third Division attacked from the flank, disrupting the Khitan's formation.

The Fifth Division seized the opportunity to counterattack, forcing the Khitans back two miles.

The cavalry on both flanks also moved.

The Second Division flanked from the left, while the Fourth Division outflanked from the right, cutting off the Khitans' retreat.

Reserve troops were deployed to the battlefield.

The Khitans began to retreat.

Yelü Jing, under the protection of his personal guards, desperately tried to break through the encirclement.

His sword was worn dull from repeated blows, he had already changed horses three times, and he had five or six wounds on his body, from which blood flowed incessantly.

"Withdraw! Quickly withdraw!"

Yelü Jing shouted hoarsely as he spurred his horse into a gallop.

Behind them, the National Defense Army cavalry were in hot pursuit.

Pan Meile stopped his horse, looked at the fleeing Khitans, and let out a long breath.

"Won."

He sheathed his sword and said to his personal guards, "Order the pursuit to last thirty li, then withdraw."

"Yes!"

The guards rode away.

Pan Mei raised her head and looked at the darkening sky. "Your Majesty, I have won."

……

Inside Youzhou City, Su Ning stood by the window, gazing northwards.

As dusk settled, the last ray of sunlight disappeared into the horizon.

The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.

A rider on horseback galloped into the palace. The rider tumbled off, knelt on one knee, and shouted:
"Your Majesty! A great victory at Gubeikou! Of the Khitan's 80,000 troops, 30,000 were beheaded and countless others were routed! Yelü Jing escaped with serious injuries!"

Su Ning closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then, he opened his eyes and smiled.

"Issue an imperial decree to reward the three armies. Wounded soldiers must be treated with utmost care; fallen soldiers shall be generously compensated."

"besides……"

He paused.

"Let Cao Bin, Pan Mei, and Shi Shouxin come back for a drink."

Zhao Pu stood aside, watching the young emperor.

He suddenly realized that His Majesty had truly grown up.

Night fell outside the window.

But inside Youzhou City, the lights were on full display.

The medical teams of the Great Zhou Dynasty rushed to the front lines to treat the wounded, providing different treatments according to the severity of their injuries.

Various wound medicines were sent to the front lines at any cost and quickly used on wounded soldiers.

...(End of this chapter)