The prince is more stable

Chapter 1013 The war breaks out again
The most elite border troops of the Song Dynasty were mostly concentrated in the north, guarding against the Liao Kingdom day and night.

After several years of fighting against the Liao, the Song Dynasty achieved great success, especially after acquiring the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, which gave it access to the vast Hebei Plain. From then on, the Song Dynasty had a place to produce horses, and the army no longer lacked warhorses. As a result, the famous Youzhou Iron Cavalry was gradually formed.

At this very moment, the 20,000 elite border troops led by Zhe Keshi are the legendary Youzhou Iron Cavalry.

Unlike the previous Youzhou cavalry, this cavalry could not only charge into battle on horseback with long halberds and spears, but also dismount and form infantry formations to kill enemy soldiers with firearms.

After the Song army recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, all the money and materials stored in the treasuries of the sixteen prefectures were seized by the Song army, and the Liao army basically took nothing away.

The substantial sum of money and materials that were intercepted was ordered by Zhao Xiaoqian to be used locally without having to be handed over to the Bianjing treasury. These materials were used to promote horse administration and manufacture heavy armor.

The Youzhou Iron Cavalry was forcibly established despite the Song Dynasty's dire financial situation.

Zhao Xiaoqian knew that, throughout history, the greatest threat faced by the Central Plains dynasties had always been from the north.

Therefore, the north must be the top priority for the border defense, and the northern border must be made impregnable at all costs.

Today, at this very moment, is the first battle for the Youzhou Iron Cavalry, and it is a war of revenge initiated by them.

The 20,000 border troops dismounted, formed a neat three-section formation, and, under the command of their general, advanced step by step toward the Liao border.

War broke out unexpectedly.

Twenty thousand soldiers may not seem like many, but if they were all arrayed on the plain, they would form a dark, imposing mass that stretches as far as the eye can see.

The so-called massive armies in movies and TV dramas of my past life, claiming to be tens of thousands of soldiers, were just movies and TV dramas. They said there were tens of thousands of people, but in reality, the most that were shown on screen was only two or three thousand. That was already a grand scene that was rarely seen in decades.

The real 20,000 soldiers were arrayed in formation, their banners obscuring the sun, their killing intent filling the field. Looking out, it was as if a tsunami about to engulf them was about to crash down. The chilling atmosphere that seemed to freeze the air, the sense of powerlessness that seemed to be fighting against the might of heaven, made any enemy feel suffocated and desperate at just one glance.

The Liao army on the border was in this situation at that moment.

No one could have imagined that the Song army would suddenly invade the border. There were no prior signs, no declaration of war, no unusual troop movements, and no friction or provocation. The war just came suddenly.

The Liao general panicked completely. He realized that he probably couldn't get through this hurdle today. The Song army wasn't just putting on a show; they had stationed their troops on the border and were really planning to invade.

The signal fires in the Liao army camp behind him had been lit, and thick smoke billowed in the air. The Liao army behind him was probably arriving in droves, but before reinforcements arrived, could his soldiers withstand the first wave of the Song army's attack?
The beacon fires at the Liao army camp were naturally seen by the Song army in the distance, but they remained calm and pretended not to see them. They continued to carry out their general's orders meticulously, and every step they took forward was firm and steady.

Five hundred paces from the Liao border, the Song army finally stopped, then reorganized their ranks, their formation becoming increasingly orderly and disciplined.

A spring breeze swept across the plains, and the battlefield where tens of thousands of people faced each other was silent except for the impatient snorting of warhorses and the restless pawing of their hooves.

Zhe Keshi rode his horse at the rear, calmly watching the Liao army standing ready in battle opposite him, a cold smile involuntarily appearing on his lips.

Trying to stop a chariot with a mantis's arm—that's overestimating your own strength!
After so many defeats, the Khitans still have the courage to fight against my royal army; they are truly heroes.

Just as the order to start the battle was about to be given, a man and a horse suddenly emerged from the Liao army's formation. The rider raised his hands high, indicating that he was unarmed, and galloped swiftly toward the Song army's front.

Zhe Keshi's sneer deepened. He waved his hand, ordering someone to release the Liao soldier.

The newcomer was a Liao general who seemed to understand Chinese. He rode his horse to the front of the Song army, dismounted, and walked to stand ten paces away from Zhe Keshi.

With one hand on his chest, the Liao general performed a Khitan salute, straightened up, met Zhe Keshi's gaze, and spoke in broken Central Plains Mandarin.

"Your army has crossed the border today and started a war without warning. What is the reason for this? Please explain, General of the Great Song Dynasty." The Liao general said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Zhe Keshi stared at his face and slowly said, "Have you heard about the battle reports from the Northwest front?"

The Liao general frowned and shook his head.

Zhe Keshi nodded and said, "The Liao army crossed the border of our Great Song in the northwest, entered the country to slaughter our Great Song civilians, and looted and burned our Great Song villages. Today, our army crossed the border to avenge the innocent and tragically killed Great Song civilians and to wipe away the dust from the prestige of our Great Song."

The Liao general was both shocked and furious upon hearing this: "What does the matter on the northwest front have to do with us? Our two armies are stationed on the border and have never committed any offenses against us. Why is the general taking his anger out on us innocent soldiers?"

Zhe Keshi coldly said, "The atrocities committed by the Liao army will be repaid tenfold by our Great Song Dynasty. This is the decree issued by the Emperor of our Great Song Dynasty. General, please leave. We shall meet on the battlefield."

The Liao general angrily said, "I have heard that the Great Song is a land of etiquette, why are you so unreasonable?"

Zhe Keshi said calmly, "Reason is for those who are reasonable. You committed atrocities against our Great Song Dynasty in the Northwest, and I am here today to avenge you by imperial decree. That is reason."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhe Keshi gestured behind him, and the war drums suddenly thundered, filling the Song army with a chilling atmosphere.

The Liao general was heartbroken and filled with despair. He knew that this war was now unavoidable.

While cursing the Liao army in the northwest with hatred in his heart, he could only turn his horse around and return to his own lines.

Even though he knew he was outmatched, he still did not order a retreat or escape.

He had Khitan blood flowing in his veins, and bravery and skill in battle were in the genes of the Khitan people. Although the Liao Dynasty was now in decline, as long as the blood of the Khitan people had not cooled, they would fight to the death.

Back in the Liao army's ranks, the Liao general drew his sword, glared, and roared, "All troops, prepare for battle!" At the same time, in the Song army's ranks opposite, the rhythm of the war drums became increasingly rapid, and amidst the rain-like drumbeats, the Song general also gave a fierce order.

"All troops, attack!"

…………

While the Song-Liao allied forces in the northwest were conquering cities and seizing territory, fighting independently, a sudden battle broke out between the two armies on the Song-Liao border in the north.

It must be said that this is a spectacle in the history of China.

On one side, alliances destroy nations; on the other, internal strife erupts.

Two urgent military reports were sent to Bianjing, the capital of the Song Dynasty, and Shangjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty, respectively.

The world was shocked.

The outcome of this battle was no surprise. Of the 15,000 Liao soldiers stationed on the Liao border, more than 8,000 were annihilated by the Song army, and the rest of the Liao army fled in disarray. The Liao army was defeated and collapsed, leaving behind hundreds of miles of territory within the Liao border.

The Liao army was defeated and abandoned its defenses. The Song army advanced rapidly, burning, killing, and looting along the way. They slaughtered all the villages and tribes they encountered and finally set them on fire.

When the news reached the capital of Liao, Yelü Yanxi was shocked and the entire court was filled with shock and anger.

Yelü Yanxi urgently summoned Xiao Wuna and Xiao Fengxian to the palace for a consultation. The two advised that the reasons for the Song army's invasion should be investigated first, and then envoys should be sent to the Song to peacefully resolve the conflict.

At the same time, the Liao capital urgently mobilized troops to march south to resist the Song army's northward advance.

The two senior officials' suggestions were very pertinent, and Yelü Yanxi adopted them without hesitation.

Soon, the reason for the Song army's invasion was discovered.

The Liao army, which was campaigning against the Western Xia in the northwest, disregarded military discipline and brazenly crossed the border into the Song Dynasty, massacring Song civilians and looting and burning Song border villages. The Song emperor was furious and ordered an army to take revenge.

After learning the whole story, Yelü Yanxi was also furious. He was not angry at the Song emperor, but at the incompetent Liao generals in the northwest.

Now things have turned out differently. Originally, Yelü Yanxi planned to send envoys to the Song Dynasty to demand an explanation for breaking the alliance and blatantly invading their territory. However, after learning the reason, he immediately felt guilty.

Since they were the ones who struck first, the military strength of the Song and Liao dynasties has now reversed. Faced with the Song army's firearms, the Liao state had no choice but to shrink its defenses and switch from offense to defense. In order to seek peace, the Liao state was even willing to give up the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

It's hateful that the Liao generals who were conquering Western Xia still viewed the Song army with the same old perspective. They dared to repeat the old practice of crossing the border to raid for supplies, unaware of the huge hornet's nest they had stirred up.

Times have changed, you bastard! Do you still think you're the invincible Liao army that was once so arrogant and rampant?
Even the Liao emperor had to keep a low profile and willingly give up the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, just to beg the Song army to let him off the hook.

This Liao army from the Northwest Expeditionary Command is something else; even Yelü Yanxi wouldn't dare provoke the Song Dynasty, yet they dare.

After learning the whole story, Yelü Yanxi was furious and immediately issued an edict to hold the commander of the Liao army in the Northwest accountable.

How should we pursue this matter?

Dismissal, removal of commander, and replacement of generals on the eve of battle.

An imperial edict was issued from Shangjing, and Yelü Yanxi urgently ordered the dismissal of the commander-in-chief of the Northwest Liao army and his immediate return to Shangjing to report on his duties.

As for the Liao army that crossed the border, since it had been completely annihilated by the Song army, it was never pursued. However, the Liao army's superior general was unlucky and was immediately arrested and escorted to the capital for punishment.

In the midst of the fierce battle to destroy Western Xia, the Liao Dynasty suddenly changed its commander-in-chief.

The commander-in-chief was an acquaintance; he was familiar not only with Zhao Xiaoqian but also with other generals such as Zhong Jianzhong.

He was Yelü Chun, the uncle of Yelü Yanxi and the Prince of Beiping at the time.

Yelü Chun was originally the garrison commander of Xijin Prefecture. However, with the Liao Dynasty handing over the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, his position as garrison commander naturally lost its real power. Therefore, he was recalled to Shangjing and has been unemployed at home for more than half a year, waiting for the emperor to appoint him.

Today, the Liao army in the northwest has caused a great disaster. Yelü Chun has finally been given the opportunity to be reinstated. After receiving the imperial decree, Yelü Chun set off from Shangjing that very day, rushing towards the northwest at lightning speed.

Before his departure, Yelü Yanxi summoned Yelü Chun and repeatedly instructed him to strictly discipline his generals and absolutely not allow the Liao army to invade the Song border again, under penalty of immediate execution.

The current situation between the Song and Liao dynasties is very frustrating for the Liao emperor and his ministers, but they are helpless to change it.

The trend is irreversible, and in order to survive, one cannot act impulsively. No matter how aggrieved one feels, one must endure it.

Yelü Chun then swallowed his anger and obeyed the imperial decree, and then went to the capital to take up his post.

Hopefully, after destroying the Western Xia this time, the Liao Dynasty can achieve good results, allowing the declining Liao Dynasty to recover its losses and prolong its life by a few years.

(End of this chapter)