The prince is more stable

Chapter 215 Run away
The good news reached Beijing, shocking the whole city.

The soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp who reported the victory also felt extremely proud and rode their horses faster and faster towards Yeonbok Palace.

He reported the victory loudly all the way, feeling that more and more people were gathering on both sides of the road to watch. The thunderous cheers reached his ears, and the soldiers who reported the victory suddenly felt that they had no regrets in life or death.

He personally participated in this great victory. He didn't feel anything at the time, but when he returned to Bianliang and accepted the cheers of the crowd, an inexplicable and supreme glory enveloped his whole body.

It turns out that the crude soldiers who have always been looked down upon by people will also have their day to be proud.

This job that pays me a salary suddenly gave me a sense of belonging and honor.

A victory changed a lot quietly.

As they approached Yeonbok Palace, the soldier announcing the victory suddenly raised his arms, staring intently and shouting, "This battle was won by our fellow Dragon Guards. We are worthy of the imperial court's food and wages!"

After shouting, regardless of the reactions of the people on both sides, the soldiers waved their whips with tears in their eyes and went straight to the gate of Yeonbokgung Palace.

He dismounted with swift movements, knelt on one knee, and held the red feather and black box high above his head with both hands.

"A great victory! Zhao Xiaoqian, Deputy Envoy of the Huanqing Road Administration and Pacification, and Zhong Jianzhong, Commander-in-Chief of the Dragon Guard Battalion, led 5,000 musketeers from the Dragon Guard Battalion to completely annihilate the Xixia Zhuola and the Southern Army Division's forces, burning down the important towns of the Southern Army Division and beheading 3,000 enemy troops, without a single casualty to our army!"

The imperial guards on duty outside the palace gate were stunned.

"Total annihilation", "One of the twelve armies of Xixia", "Zero casualties in our army"...

These words strung together feel so strange.

Is this actually the victory report from my Great Song Dynasty?
It has been many years since I heard such miraculous victory news.

Seeing the soldiers who reported the victory looked tired and dusty, but knelt outside the palace gate in high spirits, the imperial guards on duty knew that the matter was of great importance and did not dare to delay at all, so they hurriedly turned around and went into the palace to report to the emperor.

A moment later, the palace gate opened and Zheng Chunhe walked out with a happy face. When he saw the soldiers holding the black box in their hands outside the palace gate, he immediately waved to him.

"Come quickly, come quickly, follow me into the palace, the emperor has summoned you personally."

In the Funing Palace, Zhao Xu, barefoot and with disheveled hair, paced back and forth excitedly on the scarlet carpet.

He stayed up all night reviewing memorials and was woken up by Zheng Chunhe less than an hour after falling asleep. The news of the great victory in the northwest was like a delicious pie falling from the sky, hitting him in the face.

Zhao Xu was stunned for a while, then he jumped up like crazy, too excited to know how to vent his feelings. He smashed two exquisite tribute porcelain bottles and made a loud noise as if they were firecrackers.

When the Western Xia invaded, the one who felt the most pressure among all the officials in the court was none other than Zhao Xu.

It was he who insisted on no more peace talks and on tit-for-tat, and it was he who made up his mind to appoint a member of the royal family as deputy commander and lead the Dragon Guard Battalion to the northwest.

Among all the officials of the Song Dynasty since Emperor Taizong, Zhao Xu was the first to be such a resolute advocate of war.

This is not just the talk of a keyboard warrior, the decision was made by him. If the war fails, Zhao Xu will be held responsible. He will be written into history books by historians and be cursed by future generations for a thousand years.

Fortunately, Zhao Xiaoqian did not disappoint him.

One of the Xixia's twelve military divisions was not only completely annihilated, but also burned down by him. What's even more gratifying is that our army suffered no casualties.

Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, has there ever been such a decisive victory?

Not even once! But under my rule, Zhao Xu, it was achieved.

At this moment, most of the pressure Zhao Xu had been relieved. Even if the Song army suffered repeated defeats in subsequent battles, Zhao Xu's face would not be so embarrassing with Zhao Xiaoqian's victory as a foundation.

Now Zhao Xu could not only stand up straight in front of his ministers, he even wanted to hold a grand ceremony to worship his ancestors, kneel in front of the tablets of his ancestors, and ask, "Am I awesome?"

The soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp who came to report the victory knelt in front of Zhao Xu and described the specific details of the battle with the Southern Army Command in detail.

The more Zhao Xu listened, the happier he became. He then ordered the soldiers to return to the camp to rest, and generously rewarded him with twenty acres of fertile land and one hundred taels of silver to repay his hard work in traveling thousands of miles to report the victory.

"Zheng Chunhe, summon all the gentlemen in the Council of State to discuss matters. Today's discussion will focus on how to reward Zhao Xiaoqian and the soldiers of the Dragon Guard Battalion. Haha, let's teach those spineless peace advocates a lesson: my brothers are truly worthy! My decision to send troops to fight against the Western Xia is absolutely correct!"

"I want to see the expressions on their faces now, haha!"

Zhao Xu was so happy that he only slept for an hour after staying up all night, but he didn't feel tired at all. His face was a little unhealthy and rosy.

…………

Outside Xiliang City.

Following orders, the 5,000-man Dragon Guard Battalion attacked the villages and tribes near Xiliang. Three days later, they had made a significant gain. However, the remaining 3,000 defenders stationed in Xiliang City dared not even open the city gates, let alone pursue the Dragon Guard Battalion.

Empress Dowager Liang mobilized the entire country's troops to invade, and the disastrous consequences are already apparent.

The domestic military forces were completely withdrawn, which gave Zhao Xiaoqian an advantage. Five thousand musketeers rushed into the heartland of Western Xia as if they were in an empty land. Western Xia did not even have a decent army to resist.

Of course, the Dragon Guard Camp encountered resistance in the past few days, but they were all local militias spontaneously organized by civilian villages and tribes. They were completely vulnerable and a few rounds of volleys broke the enemy's loose formation.

However, such good days are destined to be short-lived.

Today, spies from the Imperial City Bureau entered the camp to ask for a meeting and report to Zhao Xiaoqian in person. Empress Dowager Liang, who was far away in Hongzhou, had already reacted.

She gave the answers to the multiple-choice questions.

He returned to the army, withdrew his troops, and attacked Zhang Yu's 200,000-strong army with all his strength. He also transferred 50,000 troops to the west to specifically encircle and suppress Zhao Xiaoqian's troops.

Although communication in this era basically relies on shouting, the delay is not too exaggerated.

The specific information about the 5,000-man Longwei Camp had already been submitted to Empress Dowager Liang.

Especially the magical firearms held by the Dragon Guard Camp were the focus of Empress Dowager Liang's attention.

This almost invincible existence finally attracted the attention of Empress Dowager Liang. Compared with the 200,000 Song troops under Zhang Yu's command, Empress Dowager Liang felt that this 5,000-strong detachment armed with firearms was a more serious threat and must be encircled and annihilated immediately.

So the Queen Mother Liang did not hesitate to withdraw 50,000 troops and horses to march westward, with a force ten times that of the enemy, just to completely wipe out Zhao Xiaoqian's troops.

At the Longwei Camp camp outside Xiliang City, Zhao Xiaoqian, who had gradually recovered from his cold, still looked a little tired.

Beside the blazing bonfire, Zhong Jianzhong and Zong Ze squatted side by side to keep warm, while Zhao Xiaoqian was still wrapped in his quilt, like a wild duck that couldn't survive the winter.

"The question now is whether our army should capture Xiliang City, or turn around and leave, and continue to fight with the 50,000 enemy troops sent by Empress Dowager Liang in the territory of Western Xia." Zhong Jianzhong said in a deep voice.

Zong Ze was originally a scholar. After being pulled into the army by Zhao Xiaoqian, he personally experienced marching and fighting these days. Now he has completely shed his scholarly appearance and has gained some of the tough temperament of a soldier.

Yesterday, he shared a roasted leg of lamb with Zhao Xiaoqian. Zong Ze didn't even leave the last bite for him, but quickly stuffed it into his own mouth. It was obvious that his literary nature had been almost completely wiped out.

"There are only 3,000 defenders left in Xiliang City. If our army attacks the city, we can take it in one day." Zhong Jianzhong continued.

Zhao Xiaoqian did not comment, but raised his finger and pointed weakly at Zong Ze.

Although he was gradually recovering from the cold, he probably had tonsillitis and a sore throat in the past few days, making it difficult for him to speak.

Zong Ze was surprised by his actions: "What does the Marquis want to say?"

Zhao Xiaoqian sat up and pointed at Zong Ze's feet, and had to speak.

"You stepped on my quilt...it's fucking on fire!" Zhao Xiaoqian's face turned red with anger, and his voice was hoarse and unpleasant.

Zong Ze looked down and was immediately shocked. He frantically tried to put out the fire, and finally put it out.

Zhao Xiaoqian closed his eyes with pity.

This is the silk quilt my mother sewed for me...

Smiling at him apologetically, Zong Ze attentively poured him a glass of water and handed it to him.

"The Marquis has just recovered from a minor illness. Drink more hot water..."

It was just that his throat was sore and he didn't have the energy to scold him. Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him weakly.

Zhong Jianzhong asked cautiously, "Marquis, do you have any ideas about our army's next move?"

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed. Even though his throat hurt so much, he still forced me to open my mouth to speak.

"What is our army's strategic goal? ... To contain the 300,000-strong Xixia army, force them to withdraw and return for reinforcements, force them to split up and pursue, bring the flames of war into their own country, and then defeat them one by one."

"What good would it do us to capture Xiliang City? After all the casualties we've suffered, even if we take the city, can our 5,000 soldiers hold it?"

"Empress Dowager Liang has sent out 50,000 Xixia troops and they will arrive in two days. What we need to do now is to run away. What else can we do?"

"Attack the city? Old Zhong, are you crazy?"

(End of this chapter)