A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 465 The martial arts world hasn't escalated into a state of constant fighting and killing yet.

Faced with Song Xuan's flattery.

Yelü Gou'er still found it hard to believe.

After all, in the eyes of the Khitans, the Han family members were all masters of strategy and diplomacy.

Yelü Gou'er had managed to fool Han Lu, and a smug look appeared on his face.

"It's quite novel."

"You don't need to be too modest; that's how things are done in officialdom."

Song Xuan, perhaps having sat for too long at the banquet, stood up:
"What time did Han Lu leave?"

Yelü Gou'er thought for a moment and told Song Xuan a specific time.

After thinking back for a moment, Song Xuan guessed that it was during the time Xiao Xiaomu was in the toilet that he was comparing answers with Han Lu.

"Scholar Song, what do you think they will do next?"

"This news is a hot potato."

Song Xuan took a few slow steps, Yelü Gou'er's gaze following him, and then he heard:
"The earliest is tonight, the latest is when they come up with a good idea."

“If you pretend not to know, once your Khitan emperor gets angry, that Han fellow can’t guarantee you won’t sell him out.”

Hearing Song Xuan's words, Yelü Gou'er shook his head:

“I, Yelü Gou’er, take full responsibility for my actions. I told him I would never betray him, so I will not do such a thing.”

"hehe."

Song Xuan chuckled softly and glanced back at Yelü Gou'er:

"Do you think Han Lu will believe you, or will he place the future of his entire clan, young and old, on your character?"

Such a question left Yelü Gou'er speechless.

He believed that although he had no conflict with Han Lu, they were not the kind of friends who would entrust their wives and children to each other.

They're at most friends in official circles.

Song Xuan had long been aware of the nature of such interest groups, a fact he had grasped during his struggles with the Chen brothers and others.

That means we can discuss together how to maintain a certain pace in dealing with bad things.

But if a problem arises, do you think everyone will sit down and discuss it?
No, no, no, selling out your teammates to save yourself is the most normal thing to do.

I was afraid that I would be too slow and become a victim of this.

Human nature is what it is.

Yelü Gou'er shook his head with difficulty:

“When it comes to analyzing internal strife, you Han people are indeed better at it.”

Song Xuan simply nodded slightly: "You Khitans also have some skilled fighters, it's just that they're not like you, Yelü Gou'er."

Yelü Gou'er sighed deeply: "Then how will they exonerate themselves? Can you guess?"

Song Xuan began pacing again, though he didn't really understand the Han Chinese system of officials within the Khitan government.

Because I hadn't had much contact with it before.

"I do not know."

Yelü Gou'er was slightly disappointed; it seemed that Song Xuan, the strategist, was not omnipotent after all.

"But if I find out about something this troublesome..."

Song Xuan looked at Yelü Gou'er and said, "I will never leak this information myself. I will have to use someone else to leak it, and I might even sell you out directly."

"You used someone else to sell me out?"

Yelü Gou'er thought for a while:
“That’s right. Han Lu wouldn’t take such a risk. Knowing him as I do, he will definitely act quickly. Scholar Song, you’re right. It will be done as early as tonight, or at the latest within the next few days.”

"I just don't know what methods he'll use to sell me out through someone else?"

Song Xuan snorted and laughed:
"It's very simple. If you can encounter tiger attacks within the territory of my Great Song Dynasty, do you think there are no tigers within the territory of the Khitan?"

"But with three thousand cavalrymen as escorts, it's very difficult for tigers to appear."

"Hahaha."

Song Xuan burst into laughter, leaving Yelü Gou'er bewildered:
"Scholar Song, why are you suddenly laughing?"

"I laugh at you, Yelü Gou'er, for being both reckless and lacking in wisdom."

Song Xuan mocked Yelü Gou'er, but Yelü Gou'er didn't get angry.

He had known for a long time that Song Xuan's words were harsh; it wasn't the first or second time.

"Even if you're going to insult me, at least let me understand why you're being insulted, right?"

"The tiger in the Khitan is just a metaphor. What I mean is that an accident like a tiger might happen."

"I see."

Yelü Gou'er nodded slightly: "Then I understand. Starting tomorrow, I will definitely remind everyone to be careful."

"Go away!"

A loud shout suddenly rang out inside the post station.

"what?"

Yelü Gou'er suddenly stood up, pushed open the door, and saw a sudden fire in the backyard.

"As expected, they couldn't even wait until tomorrow."

Liu Ping, the commander of the Imperial Guards, rushed over directly:
"Scholar Song, a fire has suddenly broken out; there seems to be a problem."

"Don't worry about it. Since they were able to set fire to the backyard, it must have been someone from inside the post station who did it."

Song Xuan waved his hand and said, "Send two men to put out the fire, and the rest of you continue to be vigilant to prevent them from using a diversionary tactic."

"Here."

The inn suddenly caught fire, and the shouts from those around woke many who were asleep, lest they be burned to death in their sleep.

Even Liu Congde, who was asleep, was woken up by his brother-in-law slapping him twice and being dragged out of bed.

Yelü Gou'er's face turned furious, and Lü Demao rushed over.

Such a precious item, I'm terrified something might happen to it.

"Prime Minister Nan, do not act rashly, lest you be caught in a feint attack."

Yelü Gou'er glanced at the anxious Lü Demao, then pointed at Song Xuan:

"Scholar Song also anticipated this; now some people are going to put out the fire, and others are patrolling."

"Good good."

Lu Demao breathed a sigh of relief; his biggest fear was that something might happen within the territory of the Liao Dynasty.

This treasure is registered with the emperor, so we must ensure its absolute safety.

Lu Demao had been worried about any unexpected events that might occur within the Song Dynasty, so he was very stressed and had already lost several pounds.

But unexpectedly, the crisis was not over even within the territory of the Khitan.

It seems someone doesn't want them to gain credit easily and is trying to trip them up.

Lu Demao glanced at the energetic Song Xuan and couldn't help but feel envious.

He was so young and full of energy, while I was already very old!

Lü Demao couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

Although he was the top scholar in the imperial examination, his son has not yet passed the imperial examination.

If there is no family lineage to continue, it will likely be replaced by other families very soon.

The Liao Dynasty did not have any hereditary system for these Han officials, unless the emperor remembered you.

There weren't enough places to be arranged even for the descendants of the Khitan royal family alone.

In the Liao Dynasty, the imperial examinations were merely a supplementary means of selecting officials and did not hold great appeal for the entire nation.

In this respect, it cannot be compared with the system of the Song Dynasty.

Otherwise, why would Lü Demao always feel a sense of crisis?

Han Lu waved for people to go over and help put out the fire.

After all, the local people couldn't just ignore a fire at the post station.

So the group rushed into the post station, only to find that the Song soldiers were already fully armored and on guard, and they all had to leave.

"We need to put out the fire."

"It's just a small fire, we can put it out ourselves. This is an important post station, you can wait outside."

Yang Wenguang knew that he couldn't let outsiders in at this time.

The incident happened so suddenly, who knows if they came to put out the fire or took the opportunity to spread it?
The Khitans wanted to venture out again.

A buzzing sound.

An arrow struck the gate of the post station, and Song Xuan's voice rang out:

"Any outsider who dares to take another step will be killed without exception!"

"Yes."

Yang Wenguang and others, armed with guns, stepped forward, forced back the people who came to put out the fire, and directly closed the gate.

Song Xuan tossed the hard bow to Wang Bao, who then took the golden mace and headed straight for the backyard.

The fire was now under control, and the main damage was to the stables.

The warhorse remained restless and agitated, but its tail did not ignite, and it did not charge recklessly.

Song Xuan summoned the postmaster and told him to find the arsonist, who must be one of your own.

The postmaster cried out that he was innocent; he had treated the guests well, precisely because he was afraid of any problems arising.

"Vice Envoy Song, what if it's an outsider deliberately causing trouble?"

"You mean a group of people bypassed my spies on the outside, broke in directly, and secretly poured oil on the stables and burned them down?"

Faced with this question, the postmaster could only reply with a wry face, "What if?"

In short, he absolutely cannot admit to the existence of an internal traitor.

If this matter is investigated, I'm afraid I'll lose my official position.

Han Lu, who was waiting for news on the periphery, was informed that the Song army inside was well-prepared and they could not get in at all.

Han Lu stroked his beard: "Withdraw."

"Here."

Immediately, all the people who came to put out the fire withdrew.

Song Xuan noticed that the straw in the stable had been burned. As long as there was no wind, there shouldn't be any major problems.

Yelü Gou'er's face appeared extremely gloomy in the firelight.

"Is this an attempt to burn us alive?" Yelü Gou'er hadn't expected Han Lu to be so ruthless.

"That's not it."

Song Xuan smelled a faint odor of oil:
"It would be quite difficult to burn us to death. This house is much harder to burn down than the stable."

"What does that mean?" Yelü Gou'er was still confused.

"That's the excuse for the sudden appearance of the tiger."

Song Xuan stared at the flames: "In a few days, all the powerful and influential people in Zhongjing will know. The political enemies you, Yelü Gou'er, have offended will also take the opportunity to attack and impeach you."

"In this way, Xiao Xiaomu and Han Lu can both be cleared of suspicion and can openly say that they did not know that you had told the man surnamed Han about the broken treasure."

"When they face each other, they will see that you have produced a flawless treasure, and they will naturally have nothing to say. At most, it will be a matter of mutual scheming."

Yelü Gou'er clicked his tongue.

After all, he deceived the online community first, and now he's dragging Han Lu and the Prince of Yan into this mess. It'll be difficult for them to fight each other like dogs later.

Since no one acted humanely in this matter, it's perfectly normal for things to even out.

"It has to be you."

Yelü Gou'er sincerely praised him.

In terms of internal strife, the Song people were stronger.

Han Lu was also tricked; he was indeed not as good as his ancestor Han Derang.

It seems that the Song people's extensive reading did have an effect.

"What should we do next?"

"We just need to wait for someone to arrive."

"Waiting for someone to arrive?"

Song Xuan pointed to the fire: "Without the Prince of Yan's approval, could this fire have started?"

“That’s true.” Yelü Gou’er nodded in agreement.

"I reckon he'll test you again, since the guy surnamed Han didn't actually see if the treasure was damaged."

Song Xuan looked at Yelü Gou'er and said, "The rest is up to you. I'm going back to sleep."

"Hey, Scholar Song, aren't you coming with me?"

"I'm completely drunk today, how could I possibly wake up?"

Song Xuan turned and left, waving his hand and telling Yelü Gou'er to figure it out himself.

After the fire inside the post station was extinguished, Prince Yan, Xiao Xiaomu, smelling of alcohol, knocked on the door with the help of others.

After receiving the report, Yelü Gou'er allowed Prince Yan, Xiao Xiaomu, to enter. Seeing his drunken state, he realized that Song Xuan was right.

"Prime Minister, I heard that the post station suddenly caught fire, and I am very worried."

Xiao Xiaomu let out a foul-smelling hiccup: "Is my darling alright?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My darling is fine."

Yelü Gou'er replied with a routine statement.

"It's good that nothing happened, it's good that nothing happened."

Xiao Xiaomu said he was relieved and would definitely investigate the arsonist thoroughly.

"Your Highness, please go back and rest early. We will be setting off together tomorrow."

"Since there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

Xiao Xiaomu, supported by others, raised his head again:

"Prime Minister Nan, you must tell me in advance if anything happens."

"it is good."

Yelü Gou'er responded:
"Your Highness, please go back and rest."

Xiao Xiaomu blinked and had someone drag him away again.

This is the result he wants.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yelü Gou'er said that nothing had happened.

When things come to light, he won't be held responsible.

News of the fire at the post station spread quickly.

When Xiao Ge, who had just woken up from the brothel early in the morning, heard the news, he immediately became very energetic.

He didn't even eat, and stormed out the door, taking the servants who were keeping watch for him outside with him, and fled.

He was eager to know the extent of the fire and whether it would damage the precious item.

Xiao Ge first went to the post station to wander around, but the scene was controlled and he was not allowed to get close.

He could only ask around and heard that the fire was raging last night and many people came to put it out.

It is unknown how many Song people were burned to death.

Upon hearing this news, Xiao Ge immediately became extremely excited.

It was because of the Song people that he lost face as a man in front of Xiao Tali, and he has been holding a grudge ever since!

This is why he didn't accompany the Song envoy last night, but instead came to the brothel to vent his emotions.

Upon hearing this news, Xiao Ge felt an urge to clap his hands and roar to the heavens, "Serves you right!"

"Just wait for me."

Xiao Ge immediately went back to the Prince of Yan and asked to see if the treasure was damaged.

Xiao Xiaomu did indeed want Xiao Ge to expose the truth, and he waved his hands repeatedly:

"The Prime Minister said that only His Majesty can see that treasure; no one else is allowed to see it."

“Your Highness, the Southern Chancellor has been deceived by the cunning Song people, so there must be something going on.”

Xiao Ge's eyes flashed with a fierce light: "Who knows, that treasure that cost a million strings of cash to buy from the Song people might already be damaged."

"It is a conspiracy between Yelü Gou'er and the Song people. We should report it directly to His Majesty."

Xiao Xiaomu hadn't expected Xiao Ge to have such a wild idea; he simply shook his head slightly.
"Don't talk nonsense without evidence."

"Moreover, His Majesty has long since summoned envoys from all sides to prepare for the arrival of this precious treasure."

“It is precisely because the preparations are of such a high standard that we should have informed His Majesty earlier, Prince Yan.”

Xiao Ge's eyes showed great anxiety:
"Otherwise, if the treasure is damaged, it would be a disgrace to His Majesty."

"Don't worry, the fire isn't that big."

Xiao Xiaomu comforted Xiao Ge:

"Don't be so impulsive. This is no small matter. You can't make things up without concrete evidence."

Xiao Ge was somewhat surprised to see that the Prince of Yan was unwilling to take this risk:

"But, what should we do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Should we just pretend nothing happened?" Xiao Ge asked in a low voice.

"Even the Prince of Yan can't look at that treasure, but Yelü Gou'er looks at it day and night in the capital!"

"If something goes wrong, no one can bear His Majesty's wrath!"

"Stop talking." Xiao Xiaomu quickly waved his hand:

"Don't always suspect this and that without evidence. I know you're annoyed that you wet your pants twice before the battle."

Xiao Ge was so angry that his whole body immediately turned red.

He would rather nothing had happened than be constantly mentioned by people.

And twice!

"Back when I first went to the battlefield, I was so scared that I almost peed my pants. It was a common occurrence."

Xiao Xiaomu's words did not comfort Xiao Ge; he simply bowed and then left.

Han Lu emerged from behind the screen, and Xiao Xiaomu glanced at him.

Neither of them spoke.

Xiao Ge was the target they chose to spread the message. He was young, impulsive, and most importantly, he had been humiliated and was eager to vent his pent-up frustrations.

"It's great to be young."

Han Lu then sighed.

"Yes."

Xiao Xiaomu also agreed.

Song Xuan left a very deep impression on him last night.

He actually dared to continue sleeping soundly despite the imminent fire in his backyard; this kid's courage is truly extraordinary.

As someone who was pretending to be drunk, Xiao Xiaomu didn't think that Song Xuan's innocent performance of pretending to be drunk could compare to his own acting skills.

Whether the fire last night burned that precious item or not is completely unimportant.

As long as someone leaks the news, that's fine; the important thing is to shift the blame first.

As for whether others should seize the opportunity to criticize, Xiao Xiaomu didn't care at all.

The two felt a huge weight lifted from their hearts, and they were very relieved. So he immediately called Xiao Hui over:

"Tugusi, take two thousand cavalrymen to find Song Xuan and submit to his command. See how he makes a fool of himself."

"Prince Yan, are you sure?"

Xiao Hui was somewhat puzzled as to why she had to be assigned to the Song people.

"Of course, the Song and Liao are brotherly countries, especially since the Song and Liao have mixed cavalry forces. When they arrive in Zhongjing City, they can also intimidate the Western Xia people."

He knew that Xiao Hui had been defeated in the Western Xia and other places, so he should also harbor some resentment towards the Western Xia people.

Xiao Hui pursed his lips. He didn't believe that the Song and Liao could truly unite and launch an attack together. Who was stabbing whom in the back was anyone's guess.

Xiao Xiaomu looked at Xiao Hui:

"The pretense about the remnants will continue all the way to Zhongjing. You'll have to follow his arrangements for this journey."

"If there's anything unreasonable about it, you can refuse it."

Xiao Hui still didn't understand. He was, after all, a general who had followed the army into battle since childhood, made great contributions, and was already the Duke of Wei.

However, due to defeat in battle, he was stripped of his title and is now forced to "serve" a Song dynasty official.

He couldn't accept that.

"I dont go."

"Do you have a grudge against the Song people?"

Xiao Xiaomu was absolutely certain that Xiao Hui had not participated in the war against the Song Dynasty.

"No, I just don't want to go."

"Tugusi, among my army, you are the only one known for your strict military discipline and have served as the commander of the Khitan palace. Let the Song people see our abilities."

Xiao Xiaomu stood up: "I have thought about this for a long time, and you are the only one who is suitable for this job."

"Song Xuan is a difficult person to deal with."

Xiao Hui didn't have a good impression of Song Xuan; he was too sharp and outspoken, and also about the same age as her son.

Listening to him would be a disgrace.

Moreover, Xiao Hui was a pro-war advocate against the Song people at heart. Without fighting, how could he regain his military achievements and reclaim the title of Duke of Wei?

They even want to be crowned king!
He was not like Xiao Xiaomu, who hoped for a century-long alliance between the Song and Liao dynasties.

"So, you, the Commander of the Cavalry and Infantry, aren't you a difficult person to deal with?"

Han Lu also struck while the iron was hot:

"Commander Xiao, let the Song people see the bravery of our Great Khitan cavalry, and let them feel the difference in strength. Only then will they fear our Great Khitan!"

Xiao Hui was actually moved by Han Lu's words. There was an alliance between the Song and Liao dynasties, and war would not break out unless the emperor wanted to fight.

Otherwise, these people who dared to start border conflicts would naturally be punished, and Xiao Hui understood this principle.

"If that's the case, then I'll give it a try."

Xiao Hui bowed and took her leave.

"Hopefully, nothing else goes wrong."

Xiao Xiaomu looked puzzled: "I wonder where Tuogusi's hostility towards the Song people comes from?"

Han Lu calmly replied, "Perhaps it was on the bridge that the Prince of Yan mentioned."

"That's to be expected." Xiao Xiaomu breathed a sigh of relief again: "We've finally escaped this mess."

"Daddy, what? You've quit the game?"

Xiao Tali ran in with a big smile. She had heard about the fire at the post station last night and had gone out early this morning to eat melons, which had really excited her.

If something goes wrong, His Majesty might blame Father as well.

"Nothing's wrong." Xiao Xiaomu waved his hand. "Why are you here?"

Xiao Tali then brought her the news of her eating melons, his expression somewhat worried:

"Father, is this possible?"

"Don't overthink it, just pretend you don't know."

Xiao Xiaomu didn't want to tell his daughter; she was too young, and if she were tricked out, it would cause unnecessary trouble.

Some things don't need to be known by too many people.

"Did Commander Xiao leave in such a hurry?"

"He led two thousand men to obey Song Xuan's orders. I want to see how Song Xuan commands the cavalry of my Great Khitan, and also let him see the bravery of my Great Khitan cavalry."

Xiao Xiaomu chuckled:
"That day he even wanted to block the bridge and let him know that a single charge of my great Khitan heavy cavalry could shatter his obstruction."

"Then he won't be able to lift his feet."

Xiao Tali chuckled, eagerly anticipating Song Xuan's humiliation.

Xiao Hui, with her two sons and leading two thousand cavalry, headed towards the post station.

"Father, why should we listen to the Song people?"

His eldest son, Xiao Cishi Nu, looked very unhappy.

"Military orders are like mountains."

Xiao Hui scolded his son, who had just given a speech, the gist of which was to demonstrate the bravery of the Khitan cavalry to intimidate the Song people.

However, the soldiers were told to obey the Song army's orders and proceed to the central army, which left many of them bewildered.

But military orders are absolute, and no one dared to disobey them.

The group rode their horses to the post station, and Xiao Hui dismounted and went inside to find Song Xuan.

Inside the post station, everyone was getting ready to depart.

"Xiao Hui, the commander of the Nanjing Imperial Guards, has been ordered by the Prince of Yan to mobilize 1,800 light cavalry and 200 heavy cavalry to serve under the command of Vice Envoy Song."

Xiao Hui stood there in full armor, shouting loudly, which immediately attracted a lot of attention.

Especially the Song Dynasty's imperial guards, who never expected that the Khitans would let the top scholar of the Song Dynasty command them. Wasn't that taking away their job?
In particular, Liu Ping stepped forward and scrutinized the Khitan people in front of him.

The top scholar of the Song Dynasty never said anything like that.

Yelü Gou'er, who was personally loading the carriage, jumped out of the carriage and looked at Xiao Hui in disbelief.

When did the Khitans need to obey the Song people's commands?

It was cavalry, something Yelü Gouren had never even considered.

"Tugus, what are you trying to do?"

“Southern Chancellor,” Xiao Hui explained.
"This is the order from the Prince of Yan, and I don't know the reason."

"Ah, it's Commander Xiao."

Song Xuan smiled and invited him in to continue the conversation.

Xiao Hui didn't stand on ceremony and sat down in the chair, watching Song Xuan pour her tea.

“Commander Xiao, I never expected that the Prince of Yan would actually allocate two thousand men to me yesterday to protect this treasure.”

Xiao Hui did not attend the banquet, so he was unaware of what happened there.

At this moment, he understood Song Xuan's words somewhat, after all, this treasure was extremely important.

“Commander Xiao, I am Song Xuan, the current magistrate of Kaifeng County. There are too many government affairs in the county, and I am tired of them. I specially pleaded with the Empress Dowager to send me on a mission to the Khitan in order to relax.”

Xiao Hui had limited knowledge of Song Xuan, but his courage in single-handedly blocking the army with a gun that day, as well as his superb archery skills, made it hard not to be impressed by him.

"I never expected Yelü Gou'er to care so much about that treasure and to ask the Empress Dowager to protect it, which has caused some unnecessary trouble. However, I always keep my word."

Song Xuan smiled with considerable pride:

"I promised Yelü Gou'er before I set off, and I was determined to keep my word. However, I never expected that once I entered Khitan territory, I would be able to settle down and complete my mission. Instead, some lingering troubles have occurred."

"I think it would be difficult to make mistakes if I relied on my small group alone. It would be better to send some reinforcements to me. This is to ensure unified command, which is why I am in charge."

"However, I am a novice with little battlefield experience. If we really encounter rebels, it would be better if Commander Xiao took command, and the Song and Liao sides could work together to defeat them. What do you think?"

Song Xuan's explanation and brainwashing made Xiao Hui feel much better.

He had heard that scholars and officials from the south were generally quite carefree and unrestrained, and after hearing Song Xuan's explanation today, he realized that was indeed the case.

However, Xiao Hui was very pleased that Song Xuan was so proactive in helping her, and even said that he would take charge if anything happened.

“A few thieves, not worth mentioning.” Xiao Hui’s face was no longer tense: “If we encounter them, we will capture them all.”

"Good." Song Xuan clapped his hands and laughed.

“I have long heard that the Khitan cavalry is unparalleled in the world. I’ll let my Imperial Guards see for themselves and show them what true cavalrymen who have grown up on horseback are like.”

Faced with Song Xuan's sweet talk, Xiao Hui picked up her teacup and took a sip with dignified composure.

Despite his wariness, he was secretly pleased by the repeated praise from a foreigner.

The Song and Liao dynasties are now sworn brothers, and fighting is completely unrealistic.

Human relationships and social dynamics are the true essence of the martial arts world!

"I wonder if Commander Xiao has ever fought any tough battles, so I can have some idea of ​​what's going on."

Xiao Hui knew that Song Xuan was testing her, so she spoke up:

“I am the fifth-generation descendant of Aguji, the younger brother of Empress Zhenlie.”

"Could it be the Empress Dowager who cut off her own arm at the founding of the Liao Dynasty?"

"Exactly, what do you intend to do?"

Xiao Hui stared at Song Xuan, her eyes filled with hostility.

"Truly a remarkable woman!"

Hearing Song Xuan's praise, Xiao Hui suddenly realized that she had misunderstood Song Xuan.

Song Xuan believed that Shulü Ping was a ruthless person who lived and died through political struggles.

Song Xuan's praise temporarily put aside Xiao Hui's hostility, and he said that this was to show that he was of noble status.

However, Song Xuan also knew that Shulu Ping was a Uyghur, and their maternal family members were not Khitans.

The Xiao people of the Liao Dynasty did not come from the same ancestral line.

“I started training in the army at the age of sixteen, following my uncle to fight against Goryeo. The Goryeo people relied on the natural defenses to refuse to accept the troops, but I took the lead and defeated them.”

"It's magnificent."

Song Xuan felt that even if they were fighting the Goryeo people, a sixteen-year-old son of a maternal relative could be the first to charge.

Not only did he survive, but he also made a significant contribution, making him an extremely impressive figure.

In the Song Dynasty, such things were extremely rare, except for a few military families.

After Emperor Taizu of Song relieved the military commanders of their power over a cup of wine, he not only gave them money but also arranged marriages between them and the daughters of military generals.

Emperor Taizong and Emperor Zhenzong of Song did the same.

The practice of Song Dynasty emperors marrying daughters of military families as empresses and concubines was not only a means to ensure the stability of the regime, but also a transitional product of the Five Dynasties period, which broke away from the system of military rule and used civil officials to control the military and strengthen centralized power.

Xiao Hui also said that when he reached Gaegyeong, the capital of Goryeo, the rest of his troops looted extensively, but his army maintained strict discipline.

Song Xuan nodded. At this moment, he was no longer just saying flattering words; he realized that the man was indeed a capable military general.

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Hui went on to boast about his appointment as Chancellor, Governor of Tokyo, and later Commander-in-Chief of the Northwest Route, and was granted the title of Duke of Wei.

He was demoted because he suffered a major defeat in attacking the Uyghurs, which also drove the tribes in the northwest who had submitted to the Liao Dynasty to rebel. He was unable to quell the rebellion and left the border troops exhausted.

Xiao Hui did not hide the fact that she had been defeated.

"Hehehe."

"why are you laughing?"

Xiao Hui thought she had gained a "loyal listener," but she never expected him to laugh at her.

As expected, these Song people would not accept a loser.

"I laughed at Commander Xiao for trying to deceive the world, but he couldn't fool my eyes."

"What have I been hiding?" Xiao Hui's heart tightened as she stared at Song Xuan.

Song Xuan pointed at himself:
"I am a top performer who fought my way through the imperial examinations of the Song Dynasty. Do you think Commander Xiao is someone who can be so easily fooled?"

Xiao Hui certainly knew that the Song people revered the Jinshi degree, with the Zhuangyuan being the best among them, not to mention the Zhuangyuan who achieved the highest honors in all three levels of the imperial examinations.

Especially since Song Xuan is so young, how could he not be intelligent?
“I don’t understand.” Xiao Hui shook her head.

Song Xuan chuckled softly and lowered his voice:
"I've heard that the Liao emperor personally led an army of 500,000 to attack the Western Xia, where he was defeated first, and Commander Xiao was defeated later. Is that true?"

"Correct."

"Your emperor has lost the battle, but you have won. Where does that leave the emperor's face?"

Song Xuan clicked his tongue twice: "So I guessed."

"stop!"

"I wouldn't dare to talk nonsense."

Xiao Hui almost jumped up to cover Song Xuan's mouth.

Song Xuan picked up his teacup, smiled at him, and said nothing.

Xiao Hui sat down again:
"I used to think that it was useless for the Song people to boast about winning the triple crown in the imperial examinations, but seeing it today, it is indeed somewhat useful."

Song Xuan took a sip of tea: "Commander Xiao, actually I also have my own selfish motives."

"Oh?" Xiao Hui looked at Song Xuan and asked curiously, "What ulterior motive?"

"You also know that my father-in-law is Cao Liyong."

"I heard something."

He said that the cavalry in the Song Dynasty's imperial guards were the best in the world.

Song Xuan shook his head slightly:

"But I always feel that there are mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people. This time I also want to see how strong the Khitan cavalry really are, so that he won't be blinded by a leaf."

Xiao Hui dared not disrespect Cao Yong.

Because the current emperor has great respect for Cao Liyong, even if he wants to go to war with the Song Dynasty to gain more military merits and be granted a title, he does not dare to attack Cao Liyong.

"Oh, is that so?"

Xiao Hui subconsciously picked up her wine cup, momentarily hesitant about whether to let the Song people see it.

However, he then thought that the Song people couldn't even afford warhorses, so what use would it be if they knew?
"I wonder what kind of effect Scholar Song would like to see?"

"Regarding daily training and tactics for dealing with cavalry, I just heard that Commander Xiao has been in the Northwest for many years, so I would like to learn from his experience with the Northwest tribes."

"Why?"

Xiao Hui felt that the Northwest was a harsh place, and who would want to serve as an official there for no reason!

As far as he knew, scholars in the Song Dynasty all preferred to serve as officials in the capital city of Bianjing (Kaifeng).

Not only is it close to the emperor, but it also offers all kinds of delicious food and drinks, and a life of luxury and indulgence. Whatever you want, Tokyo can satisfy it.

Song Xuan coughed lightly:
"To be honest, due to certain events, I will request to be transferred to a post in the Northwest in the future, so..."

"Or did you choose to go?"

Xiao Hui was even more confused about Song Xuan. What was a scholar doing going to the Northwest?

"Does Commander Xiao really want to know?"

"Of course I do."

Xiao Hui nodded repeatedly, otherwise Song Xuan's motives would be too outrageous.

"As you know, when I was the magistrate of Kaifeng County in Tokyo, I would catch some spies in the course of handling my daily affairs."

"A spy?"

As far as he knew, the Great Khitan had also planted many spies in search of the Song Dynasty capital.

Whether they are official or private spies.

"Yes, they are spies from the Tangut people."

Xiao Hui immediately perked up: "Tell me more."

Song Xuan then recounted how the Tangut spies had collected information on various rituals and systems related to the imperial coronation within the city of Bianjing (Kaifeng).

The reason they're collecting this is obvious!
Xiao Hui remained silent upon hearing this. He had spent many years in the Northwest supporting the Tangut people.

As a result, the Tanguts grew powerful, broke free from the control of the Great Khitan, and began their ambition to become emperors.

If the Western Xia were to declare itself an empire, neither the Song nor the Liao dynasties would accept it.

Presumably, Song Xuan must have told the Prince of Yan about the Tanguts' actions, which is why he agreed to the joint Song-Liao cavalry exercises that went all the way to Zhongjing.

At that time, someone will naturally inform the envoys of the Western Xia Tanguts about this matter.

It all made sense.

Xiao Hui didn't understand before she came, but she understood everything after she arrived.

As expected, the King of Yan still did not trust him.

Such important matters are not to be told to outsiders.

I still need the Song people to tell me whether the Southern Chancellor Yelü Gou'er also has such ulterior motives.
Xiao Hui nodded:
"Does Scholar Song intend to inform His Majesty of the Great Khitan about this matter?"

"I will inform them at an appropriate time."

Xiao Hui nodded again; he agreed with the matter.

Since war with the Song Dynasty is not an option, teaching the Tanguts a lesson is also a good choice.

At least he didn't want to be controlled by others all the time. As a relative of the emperor, why can't I run a secondary capital on my own?
Song Xuan spread his hands and smiled:

"I can't just go around telling everyone that the Tanguts are preparing for war ahead of time. In that case, both the Song and Liao sides will suffer, as they will have damaged the common interests of both our countries!"

"good."

Xiao Hui believed that the Tanguts' claim to the throne dealt the greatest blow to the prestige of the Liao Dynasty, followed by the Song Dynasty.

After all, the Song Dynasty did not support the Tanguts as much as it did the Khitans.

Previously, the main branch of the Dingnan Army had all surrendered to the Song Dynasty, but Li Jiqian, a collateral branch, ran out to resist the Song Dynasty and even contacted the Liao Dynasty to become its vassal and gain more support.

"But on the other hand, it was also a good opportunity for generals from both the Song and Liao dynasties to earn military merits in the northwest."

Song Xuan leaned back in his chair and chuckled softly:
“Commander Xiao is eager for revenge and to prove himself, while I am eager to hone my skills in marching and strategizing. We both have a bright future ahead of us.”

Xiao Hui was indeed persuaded by Song Xuan's words; he didn't actually crave war at all.
He clearly craves military merit!
As for Song Xuan's so-called experience in military strategy and tactics, Xiao Hui was more than happy for him to suffer a defeat first, so that the Great Khitan could take his place.

When the time comes to defeat the Tanguts, it won't just be a simple matter of defeating the Tanguts; it will also be a blatant act of humiliation against the Song people.

Xiao Hui felt happy just thinking about it.

"Since Scholar Song has said so, I feel reassured."

Xiao Hui chuckled lightly: "If the two of us work together, we might just be able to make a name for ourselves in the Northwest in the future."

"At that time, the cavalry forces of both the Song and Liao sides will still need Commander Xiao to coordinate and manage them."

"I'm already satisfied with deploying three to five thousand men. I just hope I can keep up with Commander Xiao's pace."

"Oh dear, hahaha."

Xiao Hui was indeed thrilled by the promises Song Xuan made.

Now I am assisting Song Xuan in commanding two thousand men, and in the future I will command tens of thousands of cavalry from both the Song and Liao sides.

This was an unprecedented golden age since the founding of the Liao Dynasty.

If successful, you will surely be remembered in history!

"Scholar Song, please."

Xiao Hui stood up and took the initiative to invite him:

"Two thousand Khitan cavalrymen are waiting for your command outside the post station."

"I still need Commander Xiao to teach me a thing or two."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Before entering, Xiao Hui had a frosty expression, looking like she wanted to keep strangers away.

After he came out, he automatically stood half a step away from Song Xuan, chatting and laughing.

Han Yi narrowed his eyes slightly.

He didn't know what kind of spell Song Xuan had cast on this Khitan man, how his attitude could change so drastically in such a short time.

Han Yi knew that Song Xuan was an eloquent person, but his ability to "turn enemies into friends" was still amazing.

Han Yi was unaware of Song Xuan's method of uniting everyone who could be united to strike at another common enemy; he had not received such training.

It's perfectly normal that he didn't understand many of Song Xuan's actions.

Wang Yufeng watched as Song Xuan, accompanied by Khitans, went out to inspect the Khitan cavalry, and he still felt like he hadn't woken up yet.

"Brother-in-law, why don't you slap me?"

"What's wrong? Did you drink too much yesterday too?"

Liu Congde felt a splitting headache. Was this a fake bar prepared by the Khitans?
Their wine wasn't to my liking.

"No," Wang Yufeng said with great emotion.

"Although the Song and Liao dynasties were nominally sworn brothers, their actual relationship couldn't have been that good. I really don't understand."

"If you don't understand, just wait and see."

Liu Congde pressed his forehead and said, "How could you, a fish-turtle, possibly understand what Twelfth Brother is doing!"

(End of this chapter)