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Outside Gubeikou, the Khitan army of 80,000 was defeated, and the northern frontier would enjoy ten years of peace.

Fine snow was falling outside the window, and the charcoal fire was burning brightly.

Su Ning held the vermilion brush, reviewing each memorial...

Resettlement of immigrants in Liaodong, construction of the new city of Youzhou, and winter clothing supplies for various armies in the northern frontier...

He had to review every single item and make his decision on every single one.

The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder as they approached.

Su Ning looked up and saw Zhao Pu push the door open and enter, his face beaming with barely suppressed joy.

"Your Majesty! Detailed report of the victory at Gubeikou!"

Suning put down his pen, took the battle report, and unfolded it.

Cao Bin's handwriting is neat and restrained, but a calm and ruthless aura permeates the lines...

Of the 80,000-strong Khitan army, 30,000 were beheaded and countless others were routed.

Yelü Jing was seriously injured and fled north in panic under the protection of his personal guards.

The number of casualties in the National Defense Forces was less than five thousand.

After reading it, Su Ning remained silent for a moment, then asked, "What did Cao Bin say?"

Zhao Pu said, "General Cao requested permission to press on while the enemy is winning and launch a northern expedition. He said that the opportunity must not be missed—the Khitan are severely weakened and Liaodong is vulnerable. If we do not attack now, it will be too late once they recover."

Suning stood up and walked to the map.

His finger slowly moved eastward from Youzhou, across Shanhaiguan, and landed on the vast land of Liaodong.

Liaoyang, Shenyang, Tieling, Kaiyuan...

Each place name marks the heartland that the Khitan had managed for over a century.

Those places have fertile land, pastures for grazing horses, and tribes skilled in warfare.

That was the foundation of the Khitan people, and the source of their confidence to venture south to graze their horses.

"Issue the decree," Su Ning said. "Order Gao Huaide to lead 60,000 Longjie troops out of Shanhaiguan and directly attack western Liaoning. Cao Bin shall lead the main force of the National Defense Army to follow and seize strategic locations in eastern Liaoning."

He paused, his voice deepening, "Tell our soldiers of Great Zhou... to fight with might and spirit. Let the Khitans know that the soldiers of Great Zhou are not just good at defending cities."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhao Pu accepted the order and left.

The imperial decree was to be delivered to Shanhaiguan by express courier.

When Gao Huaide received the military order, he was standing on the pass, looking north.

Beyond the pass, the vast snowfield stretched as far as the eye could see, with the occasional fleeting shadow of Khitan cavalrymen flashing by in the distance.

After reading the military order, he turned to his deputy and said, "Pass on the order to assemble. We will leave the pass first thing tomorrow morning."

The lieutenant paused for a moment, then asked, "General, where should we attack?"

Gao Huaide pointed to the map, his finger landing on Jinzhou: "Take Jinzhou first, then Liaoyang. Fight our way through until the Khitans kneel and beg for mercy."

"promise!"

At dawn the next day, the gates of Shanhaiguan were opened wide.

Longjie Army, 60,000 elite troops, filed out.

The iron hooves of the warhorses pounded the frozen ground with a dull thud.

The flag fluttered in the morning breeze, and the large "Zhou" character on it gleamed golden in the rising sun.

This marks the first time since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty that it has taken the initiative to venture beyond the Great Wall and attack the heartland of the Khitan.

Gao Huaide, mounted on his horse, glanced back at the magnificent fortress.

Three years ago, he came here for the first time with Guo Rong.

At that time, he stood on the pass wall, looking at the vast land beyond the pass, thinking to himself, when will we be able to break through?

Now, he has finally hit it.

"set off!"

Sixty thousand cavalrymen, like arrows released from a bow, galloped northward.

……

Jinzhou City.

The commander in charge was a Khitan commander named Xiao Tianzuo.

Xiao Tianzuo was awakened from his sleep by shouts of killing.

He scrambled to his feet, threw on his robe, rushed to the city wall, and looked down…

Outside the city, a dark mass of banners stretched out, all bearing the flags of Zhou's army.

The flags fluttered in the morning light, like a red ocean.

"Zhou Jun...why is Zhou Jun here?"

No one could answer him.

Below the city, catapults are being set up.

The soldiers used ropes to pull up those huge wooden frames, tightened the mechanisms, and loaded the stones.

The crossbow carts were lined up in a row, the bowstrings were taut, and the three-foot-long giant arrows gleamed coldly.

Gao Huaide gave him no chance to catch his breath.

"put!"

The catapult launched huge stones that crashed against the city wall with a dull thud.

The city wall trembled, and rammed earth fell in a rustling sound.

The ballista fired a giant arrow, which embedded itself in the battlement, its fletching still trembling.

Some arrows pierced the bodies of the defenders, leaving a cloud of blood as they embedded themselves in the wall behind them.

Arrows rained down, pinning the defenders down so they couldn't lift their heads.

In less than two days, a breach was smashed in the Jinzhou city wall.

Long Jiejun swarmed in.

Xiao Tianzuo was being held by his personal guards as he put up a fierce resistance within the city, but the Zhou army was too numerous and too powerful.

The soldiers surged in like a tide, killing anyone they saw and burning any houses they encountered.

Finally, Xiao Tianzuo was cornered in a courtyard in the city.

He looked at the Zhou soldiers who had surrounded him, at the swords and spears pointed at him, and remained silent for a long time.

Gao Huaide parted the soldiers and walked up to him.

To lower or not to lower?

Xiao Tianzuo looked at him, then at the menacing Zhou soldiers.

"It's gone down."

……

The capture of Jinzhou sent shockwaves through western Liaoning.

When the news spread, the garrison commanders of the various cities were filled with anxiety.

Some packed their belongings overnight and fled north with their families; some sent people to Liaoyang for help, but the people sent for help never returned; others gathered their followers, wanting to put up a last-ditch resistance, but half of their soldiers had already deserted.

Cao Bin led the main force of the National Defense Army to follow, heading north.

Liaoyang.

The defending general was a Khitan general named Yelüfa.

He was a member of the royal family, Yelü Jing's cousin, and held a high position of prestige in the Khitan army.

He stood on the city wall, gazing south, his face somber.

Scouts kept reporting: "Jinzhou has fallen, and Xiao Tianzuo has surrendered!"

"Shenzhou is besieged, and the defending general has been killed in battle!"

"Tieling is in dire need of help! The messenger sent to request reinforcements has been intercepted and killed by Zhou's army!"

Attorney Ye clenched his fist.

The generals around him watched him, waiting for his order.

“Summon your people,” the lawyer finally spoke, “and go out of the city to meet the enemy.”

"General, Zhou's army has a large and powerful force..."

“We have to fight, no matter how many there are.” Lawyer Ye interrupted him. “If we don’t fight, Liaodong will be gone. If we fight, there’s still a glimmer of hope.”

The gates of Liaoyang were opened wide, and Khitan cavalrymen swarmed out.

Cao Bin stood at the front of the formation, watching the Khitan cavalry charging towards him, his face calm.

"Form ranks."

The National Defense Forces slowly deployed.

Spearmen were in front, swordsmen and shieldmen were behind, and archers were on both sides.

The catapults and ballistae were already set up, waiting only for the order.

The Khitan cavalry were getting closer and closer.

"Fire arrows!"

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

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

But the cavalry behind them continued forward, trampling over the corpses of their comrades, and charged toward Zhou's 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.

The two armies clashed.

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

Cao Bin stood at the rear, observing the situation on the battlefield.

His gaze was calm and sharp, like that of an eagle eyeing its prey.

"Left wing, encircle."

The command flag was waved.

The cavalry on the left wing moved.

They bypassed the battlefield and attacked the Khitan formation from the side.

"Right wing, outflanking maneuver."

The cavalry on the right wing also moved.

They attacked from the other side, cutting off the Khitans' retreat.

Lawyer Ye was trapped in the battle.

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.

"General, let's break through!" shouted the personal guard.

Lawyer Ye looked around... everywhere were Zhou Jun's flags, and everywhere were figures fighting.

His troops were in defeat, fleeing, and surrendering.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Order to withdraw."

Protecting Lawyer Ye, his personal guards fought their way out and fled north.

Behind them, the gates of Liaoyang City swung open, and Zhou's army swarmed in.

……

A month later, the entire Liaodong region fell into the hands of the Great Zhou.

Liaoyang, Shenyang, Tieling, Kaiyuan... one city after another fell under the Zhou army's offensive.

Some of the defending generals fought to the bitter end and died on the city walls.

Some of the defending generals, seeing the situation was not good, opened the city gates and surrendered.

Some commanders even fled with their families, leaving the city to the people to fend for themselves.

Yelü Jing led his remaining troops in a hasty northward flight, only daring to stop when he reached Huanglong Prefecture.

He stood on the city wall, gazing south, his face ashen.

"It's over...it's all over..."

The generals around him kept their heads down, and no one dared to utter a sound.

Everyone knows that once Liaodong is lost, the Khitan will lose the means to attack the Central Plains.

Those fertile lands, those pastures for raising horses, those warlike tribes—all gone.

All that remains is the bitterly cold north and the anxious hearts of the people.

When the news reached Youzhou, Su Ning was having a meal at his temporary palace.

On the table were a few simple dishes... a plate of cured meat, a plate of green vegetables, and a bowl of hot soup.

He had just picked up his chopsticks when Zhao Pu pushed open the door and entered, his face beaming with barely suppressed joy.

"Your Majesty! Good news from Liaodong!"

Suning put down his chopsticks, took the battle report, and unfolded it.

Gao Huaide and Cao Bin jointly submitted a memorial to the throne... The entire Liaodong region has been pacified, and all cities have submitted.

The remnants of the Khitan army fled north to Huanglongfu, and were unable to look south in the short term.

After reading it, Su Ning remained silent for a long time.

Zhao Pu stood aside, waiting for him to speak.

After a long while, Suning put down the battle report, picked up the soup bowl, and took a sip.

"Issue the decree," Su Ning finally spoke, "Reward the three armies. The fallen soldiers shall be generously compensated. Those who have rendered meritorious service shall be promoted and rewarded according to their merits."

"Officials will be dispatched to take over all cities in Liaodong. Household registrations, land ownership, and taxes will be re-registered. All prisoners and rebels will be relocated to new cities to be built. They must not be allowed to return to Khitan rule."

Zhao Pu agreed to everything.

Suning stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the northern sky was a clear, bright blue.

The sunlight shone on the snow, reflecting a dazzling light.

In the distance, the city walls of the new city of Youzhou are already taking shape, and workers are building the city towers, with the sound of hammering faintly audible.

“Your Majesty,” Zhao Pu said softly, “the Khitan have suffered a great loss of strength this time, and I’m afraid it will take them several years to recover.”

Su Ning nodded. "It's good that you can't recover. If you can't recover, then we can live a peaceful life."

"And next..."

"Next, we'll digest Liaodong," Su Ning said. "We'll turn that land into the land of the Great Zhou, and those people into the people of the Great Zhou. Once we've established a firm foothold, it won't matter whether the Khitans come or not."

He turned around and looked at the newly painted red land on the map. "Issue an imperial decree that Gao Huaide shall remain in Liaoyang to guard Liaodong. Cao Bin shall lead his army back to Youzhou to rest and await further orders."

Tell the soldiers—the battle is over. Go home for the New Year.

……

In the winter of the second year of the prosperous era, the Great Zhou army returned in triumph.

Outside Youzhou City, the people lined the streets to welcome them.

The soldiers who returned from Liaodong wore expressions of weariness, but also pride.

Their armor bore the marks of swords, their faces were weathered, but their eyes shone brightly.

They launched an attack.

They won.

They planted the banner of the Great Zhou on the land of the Khitan.

Su Ning stood atop the city wall, watching the returning soldiers, remaining silent for a long time. Cao Bin rode past below the city wall on horseback.

He looked up and saw the figure on the city wall. He reined in his horse, dismounted, and immediately knelt down to pay his respects.

Immediately afterwards, the soldiers on the northern expedition knelt down in unison and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Su Ning nodded, and the army continued its march.

Pan Mei followed behind and also saw the emperor on the city wall.

He grinned and waved.

Shi Shouxin walked in the middle of the group, his back ramrod straight.

His knife was still hanging at his waist, the scabbard stained with blackened blood.

Zhao Pu stood behind Su Ning and said softly, "Your Majesty, it's time to go back."

Suning nodded.

He turned around and walked down the city wall.

Behind them, cheers erupted deafeningly.

Ahead, the new city of Youzhou is still under construction.

The new year is about to begin.

……

The fighting in the northern border region has subsided.

The entire Liaodong region fell into the hands of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the Khitans retreated all the way to Huanglongfu, never daring to graze their horses southward again.

The flags of the National Defense Army flew from Shanhaiguan all the way to Liaoyang, fluttering in the biting northern wind.

The large "Zhou" character on those flags seems to be telling everyone on this land...

From this day forward, this place has a new owner.

In the Youzhou Palace, Su Ning summoned the generals of the Northern Frontier for the last time.

A row of people stood in front of the map: Cao Bin, Pan Mei, Shi Shouxin, Gao Huaide, Li Chongjin, Wang Shenqi...

Each and every one of them was a key general in the Great Zhou army.

They had just fought a major battle, and their faces still bore the marks of time, but their eyes were bright.

Su Ning looked at them and remained silent for a moment.

"The matter in the northern frontier is temporarily settled," Su Ning said. "I am returning to Bianliang. I will leave the affairs here to Cao Bin."

Cao Bin was stunned for a moment, "Your Majesty, I..."

“You have fought against the Khitans and guarded Youzhou, so you are most familiar with the north,” Su Ning said. “You will be fully responsible for the military affairs of the northern border. If you encounter any difficulties, just write to me directly.”

Cao Bin knelt down to receive the imperial decree, saying, "Your subject will certainly not fail in your mission."

Su Ning then looked at the others, "Pan Mei and Shi Shouxin, you two will follow Cao Bin and assist in the border defense. Gao Huaide, you will guard Liaoyang and take control of Liaodong. Li Chongjin and Wang Shenqi, you two will return to Bianliang to rest and recuperate, and we'll talk again next spring."

The generals all agreed.

"Alright, everyone get back to work." Su Ning waved his hand. "I'll be leaving tomorrow."

……

The next morning, Su Ning's carriage left Youzhou and embarked on his journey south.

The procession was not large, consisting of a few hundred guards and several horse-drawn carts loaded with supplies needed along the way.

Su Ning sat in the carriage, looking out the window at the gradually receding Youzhou City through the gap in the curtain.

At the city gate, Cao Bin and his generals saw him off.

They stood in the cold wind, bowed with their hands clasped, and watched the carriage drive away.

Along the way, people from various prefectures and counties lined the streets to see them off.

The soldiers who had returned from Liaodong stood by the roadside and saluted the carriage.

Their faces showed reverence and gratitude.

They conquered Liaodong, but what enabled them to conquer Liaodong was the person in the carriage.

Su Ning sat in the carriage without lifting the curtain.

He simply sat quietly, listening to the cheers outside.

The new city of Youzhou is still under construction.

The city wall is basically completed, and its bluish-gray surface gleams in the sunlight.

The city gate tower is under construction, surrounded by scaffolding, and the busy figures of craftsmen can be vaguely seen.

The palace is under construction. According to Zhang Yongde, the beams and pillars of the main hall have been erected and are just waiting to be topped off.

Zhang Yongde, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, sent a report saying that the new city would be fully completed in another year.

After reading the report, Su Ning remained silent.

He knew that the insightful people in the court had all guessed what he was planning to do.

The capital was moved.

The idea of ​​the emperor guarding the nation's gates had been in his mind since the day he ascended the throne.

But he never discusses it publicly.

If we don't discuss it, no censor will stubbornly come up and cause trouble.

If we don't discuss it, we can proceed slowly until the die is cast.

Even the clever ones pretended to be confused.

After all, nobody wants to be the one who gets the bad luck.

The carriage traveled south, passing through the Yanshan Mountains and crossing the Yellow River.

Snow still covered the passes of Yanshan, and the wind felt like knives on our faces.

After crossing the mountain and entering Hebei province, the snow gradually lessened, and the wind became less cold.

Further south, after crossing the Yellow River, the weather becomes much warmer, and you can even see patches of green in the fields.

……

Half a month later, Bianliang City came into view in the distance.

At the city gate, the officials left behind lined up to welcome them.

Grand Secretary Wei Renpu stood at the very front, followed by several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, and then the Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries, forming a dense, dark mass.

Su Ning got off the carriage, boarded the imperial palanquin, and slowly entered the city.

People knelt on both sides of the street.

"Long live the Emperor!"

"His Majesty is back!"

Looking at the people, Su Ning suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

Bianliang is still Bianliang, as prosperous as ever.

The shops along the street were open, wine flags fluttered in the wind, and people came and went in a bustling atmosphere.

Everything looked exactly the same as when I left.

But he knew he wouldn't be able to stay there for long.

The future of the Great Zhou Dynasty lies in the north.

……

On the third day after Su Ning returned to the capital, the Khitan envoy arrived.

The one who came was called Xiao Feng, who was said to be a trusted minister of Yelü Jing.

He was in his fifties, with the typical Khitan hairstyle of shaved heads, but dressed in a Han Chinese official robe, looking somewhat out of place.

He knelt in the Chongyuan Hall, not daring to raise his head.

"Your Majesty the Emperor of Great Zhou, our Emperor wishes to negotiate peace with Great Zhou and forge an eternal alliance. He only requests that the Great Zhou army withdraw to Shanhaiguan and return the land of Liaodong..."

Before he could finish speaking, the military officers in the hall erupted in uproar.

"Return to Shanhaiguan?"

"Return Liaodong?"

"Why should we return the territory we've conquered?"

Wang Yanjun was the first to stand up, his voice booming like thunder: "Xiao Feng, are you Khitans still dreaming? Your 80,000-strong army was utterly defeated, and you still have the nerve to ask for territory?"

Li Chongjin sneered: "If you ask me, not only should we not return it, we should continue to fight. Let's fight all the way to Huanglong Prefecture and see if they dare to open their mouths again."

Wang Shenqi didn't speak, but just looked at Xiao Feng with eyes as cold as knives.

Su Ning raised his hand, silencing the commotion among the generals.

He looked at Xiao Feng kneeling before the palace and asked, "Envoy Xiao, on what grounds do you Khitans have the right to force me to withdraw my troops?"

Xiao Feng was stunned. "This...this is the condition for peace talks..."

"Peace talks?" Su Ning laughed. "You've suffered a defeat, lost territory, and come here to negotiate. The terms of the peace talks should be what you offer, not what I give up."

Xiao Feng opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.

Su Ning said, "Go back and tell Yelü Jing that I've decided to take Liaodong. If he wants to negotiate, fine. Send the annual tribute first, then we can discuss other things."

"What? Annual tribute?"

“Yes. Annual tribute.” Su Ning said, “When you were strong, the Central Plains sent annual tribute to the Khitan. Now that I am strong, it is your turn to send it.”

“Send 3,000 warhorses, 10,000 cattle and sheep, and 1,000 sable pelts to Youzhou every year, and I will consider peace talks.”

Xiao Feng's face turned pale. "This...this..."

"What? You don't want to?"

Xiao Feng knelt there, unable to utter a single word.

Su Ning waved her hand. "Go down. Think it over carefully."

Xiao Feng was taken out of Chongyuan Hall.

The military officers in the hall burst into laughter.

"Having him deliver the annual tribute is a good idea!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Suning did not laugh.

He simply looked outside the hall and remained silent for a moment.

The Khitans would not easily admit defeat.

The negotiations have been protracted.

But he can wait.

Anyway, they're the ones who're worried, not him.

……

In the days that followed, everything in Bianliang City remained as usual.

Su Ning attended court every day, reviewed memorials, and met with ministers.

Life went on peacefully and regularly, as if the great battle in the northern frontier had never happened.

News from Youzhou arrives every three days without fail.

Cao Bin guarded the northern frontier, making the defense line watertight.

Gubeikou, Shanhaiguan, and all the military fortresses have been reinforced with additional troops and fortifications.

Scouts patrolled day and night, and he could know immediately if the Khitans made any move.

Gao Huaide stabilized the newly captured cities in Liaodong.

In Liaoyang City, he set up a government office, dispatched officials, and began registering households and measuring fields.

He provided land and grain to the Khitan tribes that were willing to submit, allowing them to live in peace.

Those who were unwilling were all forced to relocate inland, and then the able-bodied men became the main force in building the new city of Youzhou.

After several months, Liaodong gradually stabilized.

Zhang Yongde's report also arrived: the new city palace has been topped out and will be fully completed by next spring.

The beams and pillars of the main hall have been erected, the walls of the side halls have been built, and the courtyard of the government office is almost finished.

Once the ground thaws in the spring, and some finishing touches are done, it will be ready for use.

Su Ning looked at the reports and felt very calm.

almost.

almost.

The Khitan envoys came several more times.

After Xiao Feng returned to report, Yelü Jing sent other envoys.

Some brought gifts, some brought threats, and some brought pleas.

They even sent over several beautiful Khitan women, which clearly indicates that the Khitan were beginning to decline.

But in the end, it's all the same old stuff...

Withdrawal of troops, return of the troop, and peace talks.

I always get shut down.

The Khitans dared not agree to the annual tribute, nor did they dare not refuse it.

They just dragged it out like that.

Suning isn't in a hurry.

The longer it drags on, the more firmly the Great Zhou will stand in the north.

The longer it drags on, the less the Khitan can hold out.

When they can't hold on any longer, they will naturally come to him for help.

By then, the conditions will be different.

In the spring of the third year of the prosperous era, the new city of Youzhou was still under construction.

Zhang Yongde personally returned to Beijing to report on his duties, and presented blueprints and a memorial to the throne.

In the Chongyuan Hall, Zhang Yongde knelt, holding a thick roll of blueprints in his hands. Behind him were several officials from the Ministry of Works, carrying several large boxes containing models of the new city.

"Your Majesty, the first phase of the new city's construction has been completed. The city walls, palaces, government offices, and streets have all been built according to the blueprints. Please inspect them, Your Majesty."

Su Ning took the report and read it through.

The report described it in detail: the city wall was thirty-six li in circumference, four zhang high, five zhang wide at the base, and three zhang wide at the top.

There are nine city gates, nine city towers, four corner towers, and seventy-two watchtowers.

The palace covers an area of ​​800 acres, with nine main halls, five side halls on each side, and seven rear chambers.

It has everything: government offices, military camps, warehouses, and streets.

After looking at it, Suning looked up and asked, "Where's the model?"

Zhang Yongde had someone open the box and bring out the exquisite model.

The model is extremely detailed—every watchtower on the city wall, every pillar in the palace, and every shop on the street are clearly visible.

Standing in front of the model, it's as if you can see the entire new city.

Suning walked around the model for a long time.

Then he raised his head and looked north.

"it is good."

Suning stood up and walked to the map.

The finger slowly moved from Bianliang to Youzhou.

"Zhang Yongde, continue with the second phase of construction of Youzhou New City."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

...(End of this chapter)