The prince is more stable

Chapter 457: Strange Confrontation
When predicting the enemy, we must not hesitate to assume the worst.

Zhao Xiaoqian did not understand Yelu Chun, but he understood the darkness of human nature.

Because Zhao Xiaoqian happened to have all those dark sides.

It is very simple to predict the enemy's actions. Just put yourself in the enemy's position and perspective, and the result will be almost accurate.

Zhao Xiaoqian put himself in Yelu Chun's shoes, assuming that he had just made a deal with the Song army that suffered a great loss. He must be unwilling to accept it. Only those who have experienced it personally can understand the feeling of anger and frustration.

The transaction is over, the person who was held hostage has returned safely, the only factor that made him afraid to act rashly no longer exists, and there are no more concerns. Wouldn't he go crazy for revenge?
If Zhao Xiaoqian were Yelu Chun, he would definitely take revenge.

In order to achieve the purpose of revenge, he can sacrifice anyone and anything. His goal is not necessarily to win, but he feels great as long as he can disgust the enemy a little.

How will Yelu Chun retaliate?

Two thousand Liao heavy armored cavalry were transferred from Shangjing all the way. Yelu Chun originally planned to use them in the decisive battle. After the accident of Yelu Yanxi being captured, the operation was suspended, but the heavy armored cavalry was still on standby at Feihu Bingmasi.

Isn't being used as a killer weapon the best form of revenge?

Yelu Chun saw through the weakness of the Song army's firearms. It could hit the enemy within 300 steps, but its penetrating power was not that strong and could be blocked by heavy armor. As long as the heavily armored cavalry was used in the vanguard to tear through the Song army's first line of defense, the Liao army would be close to victory.

Unfortunately, Zhao Xiaoqian predicted Yelu Chun's prediction, and what was even worse was that the Song army's firearms were upgraded.

"National destiny" is so magical. No matter it is calculated in advance or caused by chance, when the outcome of things inevitably leans towards one side, you have to believe that there really are mysterious things such as "general trend" and "destiny" in the dark.

After Zhao Xiaoqian discussed with the generals, hundreds of scouts were urgently sent out, spreading in all directions like fire.

The scouts brought back no news for a whole day.

At the same time, the Song army began to reorganize within the Feihu Bingmasi.

Most of the young and strong people in the Liao Dynasty were killed, the surviving elderly, women and children were detained, and the property of government offices and the people was looted. After hearing about the atrocities committed by the Song army, the Liao villages and tribes around Bingmasi drove their cattle and sheep across the river and fled to the north.

After a war, whenever land changes hands, such chaos is inevitable.

Under the crushing of the state machine, there is no such thing as innocence and pity. Those who deserve to die and those who don’t deserve to die are all insignificant grass.

The reason why so many people throughout history have longed for peace is that only a very small number of people benefit from war, while the vast majority of people cannot escape and suffer the greatest losses.

The Feihu Bingmasi has a very important geographical location. After it is reorganized, it is necessary to ask the court for permission to send craftsmen to build city walls and build multiple forts around it to defend against the Liao army.

This is a huge project. With the current national strength of the Song Dynasty, it will take at least several years to complete. After a few years, who knows what the situation in the world will be like.

By the evening, the scouts had not yet reported the latest military intelligence, and the Liao army camp on the other side of the Juma River was quiet, as if they had really given up on the Feihu Bingmasi.

Zhao Xiaoqian did not dare to be negligent, but he also knew that he had to keep his composure, so he ordered dozens of secret sentries to be ambushed along the Juma River. Each sentry was equipped with a whistle arrow, and would immediately report any enemy situation.

Across the Juma River, the Song and Liao armies fell into a strange silent standoff.

This state of confrontation lasted for three days.

The days were too peaceful. Scouts reported every day that there was no enemy nearby. After hearing so much uneventful news, Zhao Xiaoqian became a little unconfident.

Logically speaking, it is impossible for the Liao army to do nothing, unless Yelu Chun really doesn't want to live. If he doesn't take advantage of this last chance to counterattack, he will be punished severely if he returns to Shangjing.

But three days have passed and the Liao army has indeed not made any movement.

So sad.

Zhao Xiaoqian sat in the main hall of the government office every day, staring at the map day and night, trying to find inspiration from this rough map.

During this period, Zhong Jianzhong and several of his generals came stealthily several times and told Zhao Xiaoqian with a lewd and mysterious look on their faces that the soldiers had selected several young women with decent looks from the imprisoned Liao women and children. If His Royal Highness the Prince was interested, he could summon them to sleep with him at any time.

Zhao Xiaoqian was so angry that he wanted to curse.

The war is fraught with danger and may break out at any time, yet you guys are still looking for beautiful women for me? Don’t you know how to write the word “death”?

Zhao Xiaoqian, who was extremely angry, immediately... asked his subordinates to bring the beauties over for him to see.

These are all the good intentions of my subordinates. As the commander-in-chief of an army, I cannot let the soldiers down!

When the beauties were brought up, Zhao Xiaoqian opened his eyes wide in astonishment. He was silent for a while, then waved his hand expressionlessly and asked for another group.

After one batch is taken away, another batch is replaced, and this cycle repeats.

After the last batch was replaced, Zhao Xiaoqian was furious. He asked the generals to line up and he kicked them one by one.

I feel bad for chilling your hearts, but you chilled mine...

You call these batches of ugly girls "good-looking"?
Have you really never eaten bran in your life?
Although I have been away from home for many days, as a normal man, I have some needs, but... a gentleman can be killed but not humiliated!
After completely giving up on the women of the Liao Kingdom, Zhao Xiaoqian decided to live a pure life. After comparing them, he found that his wife was still the best, far better than those women.

On the north bank of the Juma River, the Liao army camp.

The withdrawal of more than 30,000 troops from the Feihu Military Command was not only an order from Yelu Chun, but also an order from Shangjing.

To be honest, Yelu Chun was confused for a long time when he received the order from Shangjing. He did not expect that Shangjing would make such a decision, which made him very unbelievable.

The Liao Dynasty was founded by a nomadic people, who usually have a strong character. Although after so many years of existence, influenced by the Central Plains culture and the habits of farming peoples, the Liao people are no longer as unyielding as they were in the past, but the unwillingness to accept defeat is in their genes.

Yelu Chun couldn't believe that Shangjing would decide to give up Feihu Bingmasi, such an important place. He had no idea what had happened in Shangjing and what had happened to Yelu Hongji.

Although he was surprised, Yelu Chun quickly accepted the order with pleasure.

The withdrawal of the Liao army from Feihu Bingmasi was originally Yelu Chun's plan. He planned to temporarily let the Liao army withdraw on the pretext of "luring the enemy deep into our territory", and then gather troops for a surprise counterattack. Regardless of success or failure, Yelu Chun's unauthorized order to withdraw the Feihu Bingmasi could be explained to the capital.

And he really wanted to counterattack, but the private deal between him and Zhao Xiaoqian of Song State was perfectly hidden under the counterattack plan. Once the deal was completed, Yelu Chun would have no more worries and the counterattack plan could be implemented perfectly.

It turned out that Shangjing had the same idea as him, and they both wanted to give up the Feihu Army.

What are we waiting for? Of course, we should withdraw our troops with justification.

Before the Song army arrived, more than 30,000 Liao troops had retreated to the north bank of the Juma River, five miles from the shore, and set up camp by the water.

For three whole days, Yelu Chun did not make any move, but he stood on the shore every day and looked out to observe the movements of the Song army on the opposite bank.

Whenever there was a big battle, Yelu Chun was very calm. The calmer a person is, the greater the gains and the higher the chances of winning.

The only time he was not calm was after Yelu Yanhui was captured. There was no other way. This matter really touched his vital point. He had to fight desperately, otherwise he would lose his head.

For three days, Yelu Chun just looked at the other side of the river quietly, with a calm expression and indifferent eyes.

He was waiting for the opportunity, the opportunity to strike a fatal blow.

There were undisguised footsteps behind him, and a familiar but slightly frivolous voice, which made Yelu Chun frown unconsciously.

"Uncle Wang, what are you waiting for? The Song army has just occupied Feihu Bingmasi. We can cross the river and launch a surprise attack at night."

The person who came was Yelu Yanxi.

After being released and returned to the Liao camp, Yelu Yanshi remained silent for a few days, still deeply trapped in the shock of being captured.

Later, perhaps because he was in the Liao camp, his sense of security became more and more solid, and Yelu Yanxi gradually regained his former cheerfulness. The fact that he was captured was top secret, and no one knew about it except Yelu Chun. Yelu Yanxi was very grateful.

He knew that the matter had been covered up, or rather, it had never been spread at all.

Everything was arranged by Yelu Chun. In order to keep it secret, Yelu Chun even killed two or three thousand Liao army soldiers who escaped to silence them.

Yelu Yanhui, who knew the truth, was naturally grateful to Yelu Chun. The biggest stain in his life that could never be reversed was concealed perfectly, and his position as the crown prince remained as solid as a rock and no one could shake it.

His gratitude to Yelu Chun came from the heart, but Yelu Yanxi also disliked Yelu Chun's conservative attitude in military affairs. The two were not contradictory.

When Yelu Chun heard Yelu Yanxi's voice, a hint of disgust quickly flashed in his eyes.

Yes, he now dislikes Yelu Yanxi more and more.

If it weren't for him, how could there have been such a devastating defeat? A whole army of 40,000 was annihilated in one single battle. All of Yelu Chun's plans were disrupted, and he was forced to take enormous risks, concealing the Crown Prince's capture and secretly sending envoys to contact the Song people, negotiate, and trade...

Now that the Crown Prince has been rescued, this unlucky star not only did not reflect on his actions behind closed doors, but after a few days of silence he returned to his previous frivolous and arrogant self, and really treated the humiliating experience of being captured as if it had never happened.

If he wasn't the crown prince, Yelu Chun would have wanted to chop him into pieces himself.

Yelu Yanxi slowly walked behind Yelu Chun and followed his gaze, which was the direction of the Feihu Bingmasi on the opposite bank.

"Uncle Wang, what are you thinking? The Song army has occupied Feihu Bingmasi for three days. If we don't send troops, the Song army will gain a complete foothold. Then, it will be harder than climbing to the sky to recapture the Bingmasi."

Yelu Chun sighed. This guy is not only arrogant, but also ignorant. Such a guy is actually the future king of the Great Liao. I am afraid that the Great Liao has run out of luck.

"Your Highness, please be patient. I will make arrangements." Yelu Chun had to force a smile in response.

"Uncle Wang, please make arrangements quickly. The imperial edict from the capital urges you to return to the capital as soon as possible. If you miss the opportunity to counterattack again, your crime will be even more serious."

Yelu Chun's face suddenly flashed with anger. "You damn prodigal son! I was questioned when I returned to the capital. Who was it because of me? Don't you have any idea what's going on?" Now you're acting like an outsider. You, the crown prince, have no sense of shame at all.

(End of this chapter)