The prince is more stable

Chapter 216 Liao Envoy Mediation
We cannot blame Zhong Jianzhong for proposing to attack Xiliang City.

The temptation to capture Xiliang City was too great. It was the second largest city in Western Xia after the capital Xingqing Prefecture. If the Song army captured Xiliang, it would be an incredible military achievement.

After the Military Service Law was promulgated, who among the soldiers of the Song Dynasty did not want to make merit and be rewarded?

Zhong Jianzhong could not resist the temptation of promotion and nobility.

Even if they only held on for one day after taking the city, it was still considered a capture and a tremendous military achievement.

When reporting to the court in Bian Jing, Zhong Jianzhong, as the deputy commander, could at least be granted the title of baron or a temporary official position such as the governor of a certain place. It was a foregone conclusion that a separate page would be opened for him in the Zhong family tree.

After being scolded by Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhong Jianzhong finally came to his senses and smiled awkwardly.

Yes, from a strategic point of view, capturing Xiliang City is actually meaningless to the entire battle situation except for the casualties. Instead, it is a bad move.

If Zhao Xiaoqian had not been there, and Zhong Jianzhong had been left to lead the army alone, he might have made a big mistake in his impulsiveness.

"Fifty thousand enemy troops are approaching. We will set off in an hour..." Zhao Xiaoqian pondered for a moment and said, "Next, we will go to Ganzhou!"

Zhong Jianzhong clasped his fists in acceptance, then asked, "What if another 50,000 enemy troops come chasing after us and attack Ganzhou?"

"Keep running, let's go to Dingzhou again." Zhao Xiaoqian said.

Zhong Jianzhong and Zong Ze looked at each other. Neither of them was stupid. A map of the Western Xia territory immediately appeared in their minds. Then they drew the route that the Dragon Guard Camp had taken since entering the Western Xia territory and connected the routes together.

First with the Southern Army Division, then Xiliang City, Ganzhou, Dingzhou...

The entire route was connected by lines, and a horrifying guess suddenly emerged in the minds of Zhong Jianzhong and Zong Ze.

This route has completed half a circle in Western Xia, and the center of this circle is actually Xingqing Prefecture, the capital of Western Xia!

No matter how the Longwei Camp moved in guerrilla tactics, they were actually circling around Xingqing Prefecture.

So, what is the ultimate strategic intention of the County Marquis?
"Could it be that the Marquis of the County... could it be that he is planning to..." Zhong Jianzhong was completely excited.

Zong Ze standing by also looked excited.

Zhao Xiaoqian closed his eyes and said lazily, "I don't have any plans. We'll break camp and set off in an hour. Hurry and get ready."

After saying that, Zhao Xiaoqian wrapped himself in a quilt and walked out of the tent.

The weather was still bitterly cold, but luckily God was merciful and the wind stopped and the snow stopped, so it was a nice day.

Inside the camp, the soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp were in high spirits and busy packing up. Ever since they followed Zhao Xiaoqian to roam the enemy territory, winning one successful battle after another, the spirit of the five thousand soldiers had changed. Everyone was full of confidence and looked forward to the future.

After this battle, not to mention the blessings to future generations, at least the whole family will no longer have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of their lives.

Because these five thousand soldiers had all made a fortune, and they didn't have to hand over a penny.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at the soldiers' excited expressions, and a look of joy appeared in his eyes.

This is the kind of army he wants, with high morale, the spirit of tigers and wolves devouring cattle, and the domineering power to sweep away everything.

A real man really needs the baptism of war.

Not far away, Chen Shou and the imperial guards were also packing their luggage. Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes flickered as he watched them tie up a live ewe and lay it across the horse's back.

Then he closed his eyes and silently counted his sins a few times.

It's been nearly two months since the expedition, and the prince, who has tasted the sweetness of sex, hasn't touched a woman in two months. When he saw this ewe today, he found that she was actually very beautiful and charming...

"I'm not a pervert, I'm just starving..." Zhao Xiaoqian murmured with his eyes closed.

…………

In addition to the 50,000 Western Xia troops pursuing Zhao Xiaoqian, Empress Dowager Liang led an army of 250,000 to attack Yanzhou directly.

Outside Yanzhou City, Zhang Yu's 120,000-strong army was stationed.

After the scouts reported the enemy's movements, Zhang Qie decisively decided to divide his troops in accordance with Zhao Xiaoqian's plan.

The 120,000 Song troops were immediately divided into six groups, with 20,000 soldiers in each group. With Yanzhou as the center, they dispersed in all directions into the territory of Western Xia and fought on their own.

This move was so unexpected that Empress Dowager Liang and her generals finally panicked.

This is not the old Zhang I have known for many years. You have changed and become unethical!

Zhao Xiaoqian's conspiracy really made the Western Xia army panic, forcing them to continue making choices.

Should they concentrate their 250,000 main forces to pursue one of the six Song armies, or should they take advantage of the situation and disperse their troops to pursue each of the six Song armies separately? The answer is obvious: the Western Xia army had no other choice.

In the Xixia army's tent, Empress Dowager Liang lost her composure and was so angry that she jumped up and down and cursed Zhang Yu. The young king Li Qianshun hid in the corner and trembled. The Xixia civil and military officials lowered their heads and held their breath, not daring to say a word.

That day, Empress Dowager Liang gritted her teeth and made a decision.

The 250,000-strong Western Xia army was also divided into six groups, each pursuing Zhang Yu's Song army.

After such a deployment of troops, people finally realized that the Western Xia army, which had originally launched an invasion of the Song Dynasty, had unknowingly lost its initiative due to several unexpected strategies of the Song army, and now felt that it was being led by the nose by the Song army.

The initiative of the war shifted quietly.

She was so powerful back then, but now she was being pulled by the hair and slapped in the face. One can imagine how Empress Dowager Liang felt at this moment.

She was stubborn and warlike, but now she finally began to reflect on her original decision and felt a little regretful.

We shouldn't have made the decision to mobilize the entire country's troops. It was too hasty. Otherwise, we wouldn't be in the predicament we are in now.

Who made the Song army's strategies and tactics so strange and changeable?
Although Empress Dowager Liang and Zhang Yu had never met each other, they had already gotten to know each other very well during the years of war and friction between Song and Xia.

The Song army's current bizarre tactics are definitely not the work of Zhang Qie.

Zhang Qie is old, has a rigid mindset, and is too conservative in his use of military force. He would not do such a bizarre thing.

A name quietly emerged in Empress Dowager Liang's mind.

"Zhao Xiaoqian, the younger brother of the Emperor of Song?" Empress Dowager Liang frowned and murmured, "An eighteen-year-old boy, it's impossible..."

…………

Liao Dynasty, Shangjing.

Xiao Guangjing, wearing an expensive fur coat, led a delegation of a thousand people out of the capital city in a mighty procession.

The city gates were wide open, and the Liao people on the roadside all made way, watching Xiao Guangjing and his group leave the city with awe.

Yes, Xiao Guangjing became the Liao envoy again.

This time he was on a diplomatic mission to the Western Xia Kingdom.

The question of whether the Liao Kingdom should mediate the war between Song and Xia sparked a heated debate between the emperor and his ministers in the Liao court in Shangjing.

Among them, Xiao Wuna, the commander of the Northeast Army, had the most resolute attitude. He stated the pros and cons in the court, deeply analyzed the impact of the Song-Xia War on the Liao Kingdom, and then asked the Liao Emperor Yelu Hongji a question.

As the Western Xia army grew in strength, Empress Dowager Liang became increasingly rebellious towards the Liao Dynasty, and the tone of the letters exchanged between the two countries became increasingly rebellious. However, the Song Dynasty had always been gentle and never initiated a war. The annual tribute arrived as promised every year. Since the Battle of Chanyuan, the two countries rarely fought each other.

So, does the Liao Kingdom need a powerful neighbor who is becoming increasingly arrogant and has a growing military power, or does it need a gentle and benevolent neighbor?

The answer to this question finally made Yelu Hongji make a decision.

Although the Liao court had different attitudes on whether to mediate the war between Song and Xia, the amazing thing is that the Liao court's emperor and his ministers had a surprisingly consistent attitude towards Queen Dowager Liang of Western Xia.

Damn this warlike mad woman!
For a woman to be able to make the entire Liao Kingdom hate her is quite a feat.

Therefore, Yelu Hongji immediately decided that the Liao Kingdom must come forward to mediate and demonstrate the demeanor and influence of a powerful country.

Of course, the attitude of mediation had been planned long ago. This time, the Liao Kingdom had to take sides and show unlimited favor to the Song Kingdom in order to end this war that should not have happened.

Since the decision had been made, Xiao Wuna naturally had to gain political capital for the Xiao family. So he struck while the iron was hot and quickly recommended his son Xiao Guangjing as an envoy to Liao to lead the delegation to Xingqing Prefecture in Western Xia to mediate the war between Song and Xia.

So Xiao Guangjing set off in this lively manner.

Riding on a horse, Xiao Guangjing was bathed in the awe-inspiring gazes of the Liao people. He looked high-spirited, arrogant, and noble.

Xiao Guangjing always remembered the humiliating situation he encountered during his last diplomatic mission to the State of Song.

"This time, I will take back everything I have lost!" Xiao Guangjing's eyes lit up, and he secretly clenched his fists and swore.

As for what he lost...

No matter what, I have to get it back!

The light of middle school students sparkles in the snow in the wilderness.

(End of this chapter)