You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 100 Chen Shao's Heart
Unlike the Song Dynasty's campaign against the Western Xia, the Jin Dynasty's campaign against the Liao Dynasty proceeded incredibly smoothly.

In April, Emperor Taizu of Jin personally led the Jin army towards Shangjing Linhuangfu, the capital of Liao.

In May, the Jin army advanced to the walls of Shangjing and sent envoys to persuade the city to surrender.

Tabuye, the garrison commander of Shangjing under the Liao dynasty, relied on the city's strong defenses and abundant supplies, and attempted to hold the city firmly.

Wanyan Aguda personally supervised the battle from the city walls, and General Zhamu led his troops to be the first to scale the walls.

In less than half a day, the outer city was breached by the Jin army. Knowing that the city could not be defended, Tabuye led his army to surrender.

By now, they had swept through the capital of the Liao Dynasty and completely occupied the Liao capital.

Tong Guan looked at the battle report and was so excited that his sleepiness vanished.

This is the self he imagined. After arriving in Youyan, he would surely be just like that, sweeping away the Khitan and becoming the number one martial artist in the Song Dynasty!

So what if I'm physically disabled!
Who can compare to this guy!

It was as if he had suddenly returned to the time when he first went to the Northwest to pacify the border. Tong Guan instantly felt much younger and his energy had returned.

He sat up straight, placed his hands on his knees, and looked around, too excited to say anything for a moment.

"Commander Xuan, shouldn't we..."

Zhao Liangsi's words brought him back to his senses, and he began to reconsider his current situation.

Although Tong Guan was anxious, he was a knowledgeable soldier and knew that he was not prepared to leave the pass at all.

An army marches on its stomach; even if enough supplies are gathered, laborers, roads, mules, horses, and vehicles are still needed.
The Hebei region was far from being prepared to support the war.

Despite this, the fact that the Liao Dynasty was in such a sorry state still excited Tong Guan so much that he paced back and forth on the ground.

After a long while, he calmed down and suddenly waved his hand, ordering his concubines and maids to leave.

After everyone left, Tong Guan realized the ground was cold because he wasn't wearing shoes. He couldn't help but smile and turned to sit down on the couch: "Brother Gu, after Emperor Tianzuo fled to Xijing, did the Jurchens really take over the entire Shangjing Prefecture in just one month?"

Zhao Liangsi nodded, showing no sadness whatsoever for having once been a Liao citizen.

In his heart, he was a descendant of Yan and Huang, a man of Han, only that his hometown had been temporarily occupied by the Khitans.

Tong Guan knew that it was not difficult to break into a city, but it was difficult to occupy a vast territory.

During these five years, the Song army also captured Yanzhou City and Yinzhou City, but they were unable to hold them and were taken back by the Western Xia.

The Liao people were so incompetent that their capital was breached in half a day, and the people didn't even offer any decent resistance.

"The Khitan people have lost their hearts!" Tong Guan laughed. "As long as we can capture a few cities, the slanderous words of the petty officials in the court will surely vanish immediately!"

There are many voices in the court now criticizing Tong Guan, coming from various forces, with Cai Jing's former subordinates being the main force.

Zhao Liangsi hesitated for a moment, knowing that what he was about to say might offend someone, but he still asked, "Commander Xuan, it seems that the troops under Old Master Liu are not very good at fighting."

Tong Guan's face gradually darkened, and his earlier excitement faded. He simply stroked his sparse, incredibly rare beard and remained silent.

Liu Yanqing was not only bad at fighting, but when he pursued his victory and reached the vicinity of Shuofang, his troops ran faster than anyone else and were all plundering. However, when a tough battle broke out, their true colors were revealed.

This resulted in them not making any progress in Shuofang, while Chen Shao in the eastern war zone was continuously conquering cities and seizing territory.

Tong Guan even attributed Chen Shao's defection to the unfavorable outcome of the final moments of the campaign against Xia.

This made Chen Shao feel that his abilities were average.

That's what gave him the audacity to act so recklessly.

"We will mobilize troops from all over Shaanxi to provide cover. If things don't go well, we will send someone else to attack!"

Zhao Liangsi said calmly, "Commander Xuan, if we transfer the troops from Shaanxi, what will happen to the Western Xia?"

"The reason I didn't move Chen Shao was for this purpose: to let him hold out against Western Xia for a year or two, while we have already returned victorious from Youyan."

Zhao Liangsi had no liking for Chen Shao, but he also recognized Chen Shao's abilities.

After all, their track record speaks for itself.

Tong Guan smiled, but his eyes were a little cold. "Back then, when Chen Shao set off from my tent outside Bianliang City, he only took one official document and one seal. He went to Hengshan alone and gathered more than a thousand defeated soldiers, which was enough to stop Brother Richard's 40,000 troops."

"Now he has soldiers and generals, strong fortified cities and thick walls, as well as provisions and supplies. It will be no problem for him to hold off the Western Xia for us!"

The Western Xia was arguably the second biggest obstacle for Tong Guan in his campaign against the Liao Dynasty. To overcome this, he launched the five-year Battle of Hengshan, a battle that raged fiercely.

Unfortunately, they were unable to completely destroy the Western Xia.

Now, he can only pin his hopes on Chen Shao, because he needs to transfer the Western Army away.

After the Western Army left, only Chen Shao was able to stop the Western Xia.

Zhao Liangsi nodded and said, "This man is indeed quite capable, but I've noticed he relies somewhat on his subordinate Han Shizhong in battle. While Han Shizhong is brave, he can handle ordinary battles, but whether he can withstand the all-out attack of the Western Xia army is questionable."

After hearing this, Tong Guan smiled and waved his hand: "Indeed, if you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them. There's no need to mention this matter again."

He was also complaining in his heart that he had no other moves left and could only use Chen Shao. Wasn't that point clearly stated?

What are you still questioning?!
When there is no other way, questioning is tantamount to disrupting morale.

If it were a few years ago, this staffer would have been replaced long ago. He also realized that this person was somewhat boastful, full of moralistic rhetoric but completely impractical.

After Chen Shaohe severed ties with the Liao and Jurchen people, Zhao Liangsi was the only one who understood both, so Tong Guan had no choice but to give him an important position.

Thinking of this, Tong Guan became somewhat annoyed. How could Chen Shao be so short-sighted?

If you follow me and make a trip to Youyan, and achieve great merit, would I forget you?
He knew he was getting old and was a eunuch, so he needed to cultivate someone in the Song Dynasty to represent him and maintain the interests of this large group.

If he were to take a longer-term view, Tong Guan would still have a high opinion of Chen Shao.

Zhao Liangsi came for another reason: the emperor wanted to see him again.

He said slowly, "His Majesty sent someone to order me to go to Genyue today for questioning."

This was also within Tong Guan's expectations, as the Emperor had recently been quite concerned about the campaign against Liao.

The war against Western Xia started strong but ended weakly. In May, the entire Song Dynasty believed that Western Xia was about to be destroyed.

In Bianliang City, merchants began stockpiling fireworks, and Kaifeng Prefecture prepared celebratory ceremonies.

In the end, they couldn't bring it down.

The emperor was very displeased, but fortunately Tong Guan still had the banner of attacking Liao, saying that it was to preserve strength for the attack.

The victory against Liao was far more glorious than the victory against Xia, and the emperor reluctantly accepted this view.

Tong Guan knew that all his power and influence came from the government, and this time he had to make sure the government was satisfied.

The two huddled together, and Tong Guan even ordered someone to bring in paper and pen, then chased everyone else out, leaving only the two of them.

List out all the questions the officials might ask, and then figure out how to answer them one by one.

He pondered this for so long that it was well past midnight.

Zhao Liangsi bowed deeply and withdrew, but Tong Guan, still wearing wooden clogs, escorted him to the door.

The women waiting outside the door, along with a large group of stewards and servants, all stared wide-eyed as they watched the middle-aged man who had disturbed Commander Xuan's sweet dreams being so politely seen off by him.

Tong Guan bowed slightly at the door: "Gu Zhi, leave quickly! I will share the future with you!"

After saying that, she smiled, turned around, and went back into the bedroom. The maids and concubines waiting at the door were immediately enveloped in a fragrant breeze and all followed her in to serve her.

Zhao Liangsi returned the greeting with his hands clasped, then walked out with his head held high.

He was filled with lofty ambitions and couldn't wait to fly to the emperor's side and express his aspirations.
-
The Western Xia and Chen Shao also learned of the fall of the Liao capital, Shangjing, and the Liao Emperor Tianzuo's flight to Xijing.

This was terrible news for the Western Xia, whose original plan was to use the Liao Dynasty to mediate and get the Song people to give up the land they had seized.

If the Song people disagreed, they would join forces with the Liao soldiers to expel them.

Who knew that my older brother would suddenly be unable to even protect himself?
Inside Chen Shao's residence in Yinzhou City.

In the courtyard, a felt rug and cushions were set up under the grape trellis, along with several small tables on which wine, meat, and fruit were laid out.

Chen Shao sat in the pavilion, holding a battle report from the Liao Kingdom in his hands.

On the passageway surrounding the pavilion, a group of tall, strong men moved slowly and silently around, displaying their disciplined manners.

Their formation appeared casual, but they faced different directions, moving past each other and exchanging positions, their eyes constantly observing the movements near and far.

These were selected by Chen Shao from his most trusted troops, the group of soldiers who had spent seven days soaking in mud and water with him in Hengshan Xingqing Village and Yuanbao Village, and then subjected them to rigorous training.

He has always taken his safety very seriously.

Even the most powerful person, once killed, is reduced to nothing.

Chen Shao put away the battle report, feeling somewhat troubled and unsure how to resolve his inner turmoil.

His enemy was conquering cities and seizing territories. Although his progress was also fast, it was far inferior to theirs.

In his heart, Chen Shao even felt a little annoyed with these Khitans, wondering why they were so useless.

If you could at least buy everyone another year or two, that would be great.

Fortunately, the Liao emperor fled westward, and Wanyan Aguda would definitely pursue him, so for the time being, no Jin troops would march south to the Youyan region.

At this rate, it will take at most one or two years for the Jin army to set foot in the Youyan region, which is now known as 'Nanjing' by the Liao Dynasty.

One or two years.
Chen Shao shook his head and gave a wry smile.

Even I find it tricky; I imagine Xuan Shuai must be in even more chaos.

For the Central Plains dynasties, preparing for a major war takes far longer than preparing for the barbarians in the north.

Because they raided wherever they went, and they were all cavalry, they would come roaring in, and once defeated, they would scatter and go back to grazing.

In the next year or two, how much wealth can he accumulate to support himself when he leads his elite troops out of Hengshan during the most perilous time in the Central Plains, and confronts those arrogant Jurchen Tartars?
-
Red Willow Riverbank.

The newly built fortresses on the north and south sides of the river used the bridge spanning the Wuding River as their battleground, where they fought day and night in a brutal and extremely fierce manner.

Corpses lay strewn about, and blood smeared the entire stone bridge. During the day, the bridgehead was bathed in strong sunlight, and at night, fierce winds howled, causing the blood to turn into dark scabs. However, the blood in the crevices of the stones remained liquid, because fresh blood was constantly being replenished.

From a distance, the originally gray-white stone bridge had turned dark red.

The surrounding Miqin tribes and local Han Chinese strongmen were all stunned.

They never expected that the Western Xia soldiers and Song troops in Xiazhou City would be so spirited.

Inside Han Shizhong's tent, armored soldiers stood in rows, none daring to make a sound, creating a tense and solemn atmosphere.

These days, he has fully displayed the demeanor of a commander.

One of the young officers clenched his fist and said, "Commander Han, the other side is clearly desperate. Why don't we engage them in a decisive battle and take Xia Prefecture in one fell swoop!"

Han Shizhong gave him a cold look and cursed, "Are you deaf?"

"Didn't I say long ago that we would build the fortress right up to the walls of Xiazhou? What do you take our commander's words for granted!"

Young military officers are eager to earn merit, especially after tasting the benefits of military achievements.

Han Shizhong cursed and swore, both at his subordinates and as a silent reminder to himself that he could not go against the strategy set by Chen Shao.

Otherwise, he might really replace him.
Han Shizhong has endured so many years to finally get this opportunity, and no one cherishes it more than he does.

Moreover, subconsciously, he also felt that Chen Shao was right, and that if the fortified village tactic were used, victory would be assured.

However, if they were to fight Xiazhou, they might be able to take Xiazhou sooner, but that would also give Xiazhou's enemies an opportunity.

They couldn't be happier to have this opportunity.

Han Shizhong gritted his teeth and cursed, "Fighting around here is the best way to go. The commander was right. Every time we fight, several tribes from the surrounding area will come to surrender. If we keep fighting for a while, Xia Prefecture will become an isolated city!"

In fact, although the current battles are not pleasant, each one is a torment to Xiazhou.

Han Shizhong used favorable timing, location, and popular support to maneuver with the Xiazhou garrison, seeking opportunities to delay and contain the enemy, wear down the Xia army's morale, accumulate small victories into a major one, and create conditions for a counter-offensive.

In Xiazhou City, people were already in a state of panic, and their morale was dealt a blow every time they fought.

When the people's hearts are completely broken, perhaps they will surrender on their own without even needing to attack the city.

Han Shizhong pressed the flag of Xia Prefecture on the map, gritted his teeth and laughed, "These Xia traitors are really tough nuts to crack; they still won't surrender at this point."

The Western Xia and the Western Army of the Song Dynasty, mortal enemies who had fought for over a century, both knew how tough the other was.
Back in Yongle City, tens of thousands of Song soldiers were cut off from water, and more than half of them died of thirst, yet they still did not surrender.

Last year, Liu Fa was defeated by Richard in Tong'an City. He led 30,000 men in a bloody battle against the enemy, and finally died from exhaustion.

Almost none of his men surrendered.

The Western Xia were the same; when they were hurt, they gritted their teeth and endured it, waiting for the day they would strike back, and then slaughter everyone who had surrendered to the Song Dynasty without leaving a trace.

Stepping out of the tent, Han Shizhong climbed the watchtower and looked at the Xia soldiers who were unwilling to retreat.

At this moment, his camp had just finished a battle, so it was bustling with activity. Squads of soldiers hurried to and fro in orderly steps, and apart from the cries of the wounded, there was almost no noise.

Those who dared to cross the camp were all checked in an orderly manner and questioned for their passwords. Every time they passed through a camp, the soldiers on guard were meticulous, which shows how heavily guarded Han Shizhong's central army camp was.

In such a situation, unless one must demonstrate far greater strength than the enemy and forcefully break through their lines, how could they possibly defeat the main force of the Song army that lies across the Wuding River?

This is also the most desperate place in Yeli Chongshan within Xiazhou City.

His opponent, who clearly had the strength to fight him to the death, only thought about slowly draining his blood.

This feeling is extremely frustrating.
At this moment, someone below the watchtower reported loudly: "Commander, three hundred Xiazhou soldiers were captured in this battle. What should be done with them?"

Han Shizhong waved his hand violently, his voice like thunder: "Cut off the noses and ears of these bird prisoners for me, and send them back to see Yeli Chongshan. Tell them a message: Yeli Chongshan, if you have the guts, don't run away. Wash your neck clean and wait for me to come and take your head. Tell him my name: I am Han Shizhong of the Great Song Dynasty! I will be the one to put the coffin lid on this Western Xia!"

After shouting, Han Shizhong watched the young general excitedly go to carry it out, and suddenly asked the person next to him, "Was I shouting too wildly just now?"

The guard said, "The commander's words are so powerful and imposing; they're invigorating to hear."

Han Shizhong muttered, "It would be best if we added the title of Jieshuai as well, but I'm afraid that if word gets to him, he'll think that I'm the one who put the coffin lid on the Western Xia, and he'll be unhappy and make things difficult for me."

The guards burst into laughter, knowing he was joking.

Han Shizhong used to enjoy joking with his companions, but back then it was about finding joy in hardship, usually self-deprecating humor.
Now, it's different.

He was truly full of vigor and ambition.

Looking at the battlefield in the distance, Han Shizhong's eyes gradually narrowed.

Not long ago, the commander wrote to him, instructing him to train his soldiers well, especially to focus on using war to sustain war.

In fact, Han Shizhong's original focus was on Xiazhou City.

In this era, siege warfare was destined to be a brutal and protracted war, unless the defending side was unprepared and launched a surprise attack, or the defending soldiers lacked the will to fight and surrendered quickly. As long as the defending side was determined to hold out to the death and had adequate defensive equipment, and the combat quality of both sides was roughly the same, the siege was destined to be brutal and protracted.

The only way for the attackers to conquer a city is to use their own flesh and blood, along with specially crafted siege weapons, to slowly break through the city walls and launch a direct assault, or to use siege engines to scale the walls. This is the most brutal form of combat, often requiring the attacking side to besiege the defending forces for months. It is difficult to conquer a fortified city until the city is completely impoverished, starving, and all hope within its walls has turned to despair.

The combat strength and ability of his own men and the Xiazhou soldiers were roughly the same.

Yeli Chongshan was no ordinary man, and he would never surrender; his will was unwavering.

Logically speaking, this should be a long-term confrontation.

But the commander's instructions clearly indicated that his ambitions went beyond this.

Han Shizhong couldn't help but wonder what he was up to.
A very dangerous idea had been lingering in Han Shizhong's mind, causing him great distress.

If that day ever comes, what should he do?

Han Shizhong actually had a preference in his heart, but he dared not face it directly.

Whenever he thought about this, what came to mind was neither Chen Shao spending money to transfer him to his command and buy him the position of captain;

It wasn't that Chen Shao and he were soaking in the water together, desperately defending the three villages of Hengshan;

It wasn't even Chen Shao who led him to conquer Yanzhou and Youzhou, earning him the title of commander and commanding thousands of troops.
It was that year, when he was beaten up because he had no money while soliciting a prostitute.

At that time, Chen Shao did not show a trace of disdain in his eyes when he looked at himself.

There was even a hint of respect that was hard to define.

This left Han Shizhong completely baffled.

But he knew one thing: Chen Shao valued him highly from the very beginning.

He knew his own abilities, and he gave himself a stage to realize his ambitions.

When faced with a situation, is it really that hard to make a choice?
Not necessarily!
-
Yinzhou City.

Zhu Lingling is here again.

He came four times in five days.

Chen Shao was also speechless.

Old Zhu came for only one purpose: to get Chen Shao to leave as soon as possible.

He wanted to deal with the leaders, including Yokoyama Keita.

Chen Shao had made it clear that he would have to wait until he left to deal with them.

Moreover, I have to wait until I arrive in Youzhou.

He, Commander Chen, is a pure and innocent white lotus flower. The murders were all committed by dissatisfied members of Qingduo's own tribe and the chieftain Zhu Lingling.

It has absolutely nothing to do with Commander Chen.

Commander Chen was kind-hearted and dedicated to bringing wealth and a better life to the Qiang people.

Not only was he unaware of this, but he also had to properly comfort Keita and the others after they died.

While Old Zhu was waiting in the flower hall, Jin Mo'er came over with two maids carrying a tea tray. Zhu Lingling glanced at the dark-skinned maid, which only made her daughter appear more beautiful and charming.

"Father, why are you here again?"

Zhu Lingling retorted angrily, "What kind of talk is that!"

“The master is getting annoyed that you keep coming here.”

"Hey, you don't understand. He's only pretending to be unhappy; he's probably secretly overjoyed. Dad's killing isn't for himself; it's for someone else."

Zhu Lingling picked up the teacup, noticing it wasn't very hot, and took a big gulp. "Daughter, is there any movement in your belly?"

"How could it be so fast!" Jin Mo'er knew her father's temperament and was too lazy to argue with him.

"We can't afford to be slow!" Zhu Lingling frowned and asked, "Where's your sister?"

Jin Mo'er blushed. Her younger sister was too tired last night and was still sleeping at this hour.

Chen Shao stretched and came out of the yard. Hearing that Old Zhu had come again, he figured it was time for him to leave.

Feeling the tingling and numbness in his lower back, Chen Shao silently reminded himself that this vixen from the Western Regions was truly a vixen who sucked away people's life force.

Upon arriving at the flower hall, Chen Shao saw Old Zhu and Jin Mo'er talking in the distance. He coughed lightly and slowly walked over.

Both of them stood up to greet him.

"Commander!"

"master."

Chen Shao nodded and sat down, with Jin Mo'er standing obediently behind him.

“Old Zhu, from now on you can just call yourself Jie Shuai. Calling me Da Shuai always feels too ostentatious.”

Among Chen Shao's men, only he was shouting "Great Commander!" Chen Shao felt as if he had traveled to the Republic of China era, not the Song Dynasty.

Moreover, Tong Guan didn't even dare to call him "Great Marshal." How could I, who is older than him, dare to be so arrogant?

Zhu Lingling didn't care about any of that; in his heart, Chen Shao had to be the most important.

The bigger Chen Shao gets, the bigger he gets; elevating the commander-in-chief is elevating himself.

Seeing that he was about to speak again, Chen Shao preemptively said, "I plan to leave today."

"Great!" Zhu Lingling clapped her hands, stood up, and said, "Excellent!"

Chen Shao asked calmly, "Are you all ready?"

"Don't worry, General. This time it will be foolproof. They will surely die at the hands of their own people."

Chen Shao had already sown the seeds of hatred; in fact, it would be better to let them ferment for a while.

But Zhu Lingling couldn't wait any longer.

This is the helplessness of those in positions of power.

Sometimes, it's really because your subordinates are too ambitious, not because you insist on it that way.

If your brothers are working for you, they want to improve, and you can't keep suppressing them.

Otherwise, people's hearts will fall apart.

This requires you to weigh the pros and cons and make appropriate compromises, but some things must be done according to your own will.

For example, Han Shizhong and Zhu Lingling.

One of them wanted to quickly take over Xiazhou and achieve the greatest merit;

One wanted to quickly eliminate five tribes to gain the greatest benefit;

Han Shizhong's side is Chen Shao's base of operations, and he will never allow anyone to gamble with his trump cards.

So no matter what they say, we can't take any risks; we have to slowly build the fortress to the foot of Xiazhou City.

There is no room for negotiation.

As for Zhu Lingling, waiting a few more months will yield the best results.

However, they couldn't wait any longer, and Chen Shao didn't suppress them indiscriminately. Even if it was a bit unseemly, it didn't have a significant impact on the overall situation.

There are no perfect people or things in the world.

Especially as someone in a position of power, Chen Shao has come to understand that many things require compromise.

Those who are more adept at the art of compromise are more likely to win people's hearts.

For example, Liu Bang hated Yong Chi the most back then. Yong Chi was a powerful and influential clan leader in Pei County. He had a good relationship with Wang Ling, who was also from a powerful clan. He always looked down on Liu Bang and had humiliated him many times.

Later, when Liu Bang raised an army against the Qin Dynasty, Yong Chi also joined him, but later betrayed Liu Bang several times.

Around the time when the feudal lords gathered at Bashang, Yong Chi rejoined Liu Bang's camp as a general of the Zhao state.

Later, when the morale of Liu Bang's troops became unstable, he went to ask Zhang Liang how to stabilize the army's morale.

When Zhang Liang asked him who he hated most, Liu Bang honestly replied, "Everyone knows that I hate Yong Chi the most."

Zhang Liang then told him to first enfeoff Yong Chi, which put everyone else at ease.

Old Liu was truly magnanimous, bestowing upon Yong Chi the title of Marquis of Shifang, with a fief of 2,500 households, ranking him fifty-seventh among the founding heroes.

Moreover, Liu Bang never actually settled scores with them afterward.

Such a person undoubtedly possesses great personal charisma, which is why he was able to unify the world in just a few years.

Chen Shao did not keep Zhu Lingling waiting for long. After having lunch with him at noon, Chen Shao led his troops away from Yinzhou.

Because they didn't want to cause a commotion when they left, they didn't notify the officials of Yinzhou.

Chen Shao's guards were dressed uniformly as Central Plains troops: black silk shirts, silk-lined trousers, and outer battle robes; red scarves around their necks; leather hats with red tassels fluttering in the wind like flames...

Along the way, he saw many soldiers, all dressed in ragtag uniforms.

There are even those who don't have a fixed set of robes.

This situation made him somewhat dissatisfied.

If subordinates wear different uniforms, how can they work together? It's best if they can wear the same uniform.

We have no shortage of raw materials now, so we can mobilize the remaining female labor force as well.

Once the five states are settled, no one who does not work will be allowed to exist!
Moreover, wearing uniforms can make everyone feel more at home.

He even looked down on the Song Dynasty's military uniform.

Upon returning to Youzhou, Chen Shao's steps became lighter as he entered the mansion.

After arranging a vacant residence for Jin Mo'er and Jin He'er, Chen Shao left.

The two sisters brought some maids from their own tribe, so no special arrangements were needed.

She bumped into a young maidservant, recognized Chen Shao, and quickly stopped to call out, "Master."

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Go and call Shishi here. Tell her to come to my study."

After saying that, Chen Shao stepped into the courtyard. Just as he was about to walk towards the door, the door creaked open, and a girl dressed in a moon-white dress peeked out.

Chun Tao's long hair was simply parted into two strands that hung down her slender shoulders. She wore a moon-white top and lantern-shaped gauze pants, with the wide trouser legs loosely folded a few times at the ankles.

Two fair little feet were wearing a pair of wooden clogs, and the ten little toes, which looked like silkworms, were as crystal clear and lovely as newly dewy lychee petals. Her eyebrows and eyes were as beautiful as a painting, with a flush after a bath.

Her eyes widened, and she rushed over and jumped into Chen Shao's arms.

"I knew it! I knew it!"

Chen Shao found it amusing, nudged her little bottom, and asked, "What do you know now?"

"I knew you'd come to me first, without even looking for your older sister. Look, you haven't even changed your clothes, have you?"

Chuntao said happily.

Chen Shao thought to himself, "Isn't this on the way? Who told you your courtyard to be so close to your study?"

Chen Shao kissed her and tried to put her down, but Chun Tao clung to his neck like a koala.

Seeing that he couldn't get her off, Chen Shao gave up and carried her to the study.

After arriving at the study, Chen Shao placed Chun Tao on the table. He glanced at her and noticed that her soft, sheer lantern pants couldn't conceal her delicate figure at all. Sitting on the table, her slender waist slumped slightly, creating a shallow cleavage. She was petite and exquisite, and although it seemed like a hand could cover her, she already possessed a hint of a rounded, womanly charm.

Chen Shao kissed her and said with a smile, "I've finally brought your sister here."

Chun Tao was immediately startled and asked, "What should we do?"

"I don't care," Chen Shao said with a grin.

"Brother Chen, how could you be so wicked!"

Chun Tao quickly came down, but before she could leave, she heard footsteps and had to hide in the bookshelf next to her.

Even when Li Shishi was in a hurry, her walk was still very graceful. Chen Shao saw from the window that she was wearing a light white robe embroidered with cranes, her hair was loosely tied in a bun, her skin was fair with a rosy glow, and she was charming and alluring, like a flower bud about to bloom, giving people a radiant beauty.

The two sisters share the same love of bathing.

Sometimes I can wash two or three times a day.

Li Shishi hadn't seen Chen Shao for a long time, and when they met, her eyes were filled with tenderness and affection.

At first glance, she noticed that the young man looked somewhat haggard, wondering if it was from being tired from traveling.

When he was by her side, she kept the young man full of energy and vitality.

"Did you miss me?" Chen Shao opened his arms and let her lean in.

Li Shishi smiled and pulled her into her arms. As soon as they touched, she smelled her sister's scent.

She had actually figured it out long ago, and could only sigh helplessly at this moment.

"What's wrong?" Chen Shao asked, looking down in confusion after hearing this.

Li Shishi rolled her eyes at him, "It's nothing, we just caught a peach thief who stole my peaches."

Chen Shao wasn't embarrassed at all. He laughed and patted her back, saying, "You mean Chun Tao? My precious Shi Shi only has this one family member left. How could I bear to separate you? Of course, I'll find a way to keep you by my side. From now on, the three of us will be a family, and we'll never be separated."

"Especially the things I need to do, it's not safe to marry Chun Tao off, it could easily become a handle for others to threaten me."

"By the way, how did you know that?"

Li Shishi said resentfully, "The scent on you is the one I mixed to wash my hair. That little brat stole it from me, and I couldn't be bothered with her. She thinks I don't know?"

Li Shishi's words were full of sarcasm, and Chun Tao in the cupboard gritted her teeth in anger.

Li Shishi was also a little annoyed. She pursed her lips, showing none of her usual intimacy or the warm gaze she had when she first arrived.

Chen Shao knew that it would take time for her to adapt, and he didn't want to force her.

He said with a smile, "I need your help this time."

"what's up?"

"I want to have a set of uniforms specially made for my soldiers. You and I will work together to design it."

Upon hearing that it was a serious matter, and quite important at that, Li Shishi stopped being petty and asked, "Does my lord have any thoughts?"

The two of them busied themselves in the study for a long time, and poor Chun Tao almost fell asleep.

Finally, after they went out for dinner, she crawled out, looking pitiful and increasingly aggrieved. She wiped away her tears and left the study, sobbing.

That evening, Chen Shao stayed in Li Shishi's courtyard, ate with her, and then went to bed with her.

Li Shishi also collapsed and closed her eyes for the first time ever.

Their relationship took an unexpected turn; Chen Shao held her and comforted her for a long time.

Feeling the sobbing and trembling of the body in his arms, Chen Shao turned her over and wiped away her tears with his fingers.

Li Shishi rolled her eyes at him, said nothing, and silently snuggled into his arms.

She could accept that Chen Shao had other women, that he could marry wives and concubines, and that he could keep mistresses, but Chun Tao was her sister.

The two people were right under his nose.
"Shishi will only cause trouble for her husband this once; I won't get involved in this matter anymore."

Chen Shao hugged her tightly and whispered, "As long as you're still my number one friend, that's enough."

Upon hearing Chen Shao's childish remark, Li Shishi burst into laughter through her tears.

After laughing, she found the words very sweet, realizing that her young husband was truly adept at sweet-talking.

She couldn't help but give him a little something sweet.

"Aren't you... sneaky, always planning to have me and Chun Tao serve you together?"

Chen Shao swallowed hard. "Will it work?"

Li Shishi turned around and spat, "Dream on!"

After saying that, she got angrier and angrier, so she turned around and gave him a few soft punches on the chest.
-
Three days after returning to Youzhou, Chen Shao designed a new military uniform.

He took it and had his subordinates make it and then try it out.

If it is suitable, female workers will be recruited to sew in large quantities.

Youzhou has no shortage of materials for making soft and hard armor, and linen can be purchased in large quantities from the Central Plains.

Chen Shao increasingly realized that the five prefectures of Dingnan were truly a treasure trove.

Everything I want to do goes very smoothly.

The fact that the Western Xia was able to persist with the Song Dynasty for so many years was largely due to the efforts of the five prefectures in pacifying the south.

This place is so comprehensive.

It is located at the junction of agricultural and nomadic areas, specifically at the junction of the northern edge of the Loess Plateau and the southern edge of the Ordos Plateau.

It has natural barriers such as the Mu Us Desert, the Wuding River Valley, and the Hengshan Mountains!
This terrain is militarily perfect: the sandy terrain acts like a moat, hindering large-scale cavalry charges; the mountains facilitate the construction of fortresses; and the river valleys provide passages for cavalry attacks.

Looking at the resources, which generation of Song Dynasty officials didn't hate this place with a passion? This place actually has iron mines and salt lakes.

In particular, the Qingbai salt was of high quality and low cost. Its smuggling into Song territory made it difficult for the official salt of the Song Dynasty to be sold. The Northern Song Dynasty even carried out salt law reform specifically for this reason.

Warhorses are a core asset. The Ordos Grassland is a prime example of a place suitable for grazing, and the Tangut cavalry, nicknamed "Iron Falcons," relied on the high-quality horse breeds from this region.

It was also a hidden node in the Silk Road trade. Controlling it allowed one to collect commercial taxes and obtain strategic materials such as ironware and camels from Central Asia.

After so many years of fighting, the Western Xia had long since cultivated a system where everyone was a soldier.

The team was assembled quickly.

The biggest factor that originally restricted this place was the Song Dynasty's frequent attacks and blockades of trade routes.

Now that the Song Dynasty considers Chen Shao one of their own and is counting on him to hold off the Western Xia, it naturally won't set up any barriers.

The last shackle on this precious land has now been removed.

After issuing the decree, Chen Shao walked out, but he did not feel relieved.

Standardizing military uniforms was only the first step. Next, he needed to use some methods to quickly increase the intensity of his troops.

Otherwise, facing the Jurchens who had just overthrown the Liao Dynasty and were riding high on their momentum, they might be caught off guard and overwhelmed.

Chen Shao's method of winning over the hearts of his troops was very simple, without any tricks; he could openly tell the other military leaders.

But probably not many people can actually learn it.

Because his secret can be summed up in just two words: full pay.

Everything else is meaningless.

If there is a second rule, it is that those who make meritorious contributions will be truly rewarded.

These are things that other military leaders cannot learn, because they do not have enough official positions and land to bestow rewards upon them.

They also exploit soldiers and collect salaries without working in order to maintain their own interest groups.

Making changes rashly will cause internal divisions, and they might even be silenced.

Chen Shaoneng did this because he had just conquered a large area of ​​land that did not originally belong to him.

The Western Xia ruling class on this list were his natural enemies; some were killed, some fled, leaving behind a large amount of assets.

Chen Shao could use these to win people's hearts.

This move can only be learned by the Jurchens, who are also conquering cities and territories.

The Jurchens were even more outrageous than we were.

Because they were so small, they took so much, that the rewards were excessive.

Vast tracts of land, a large number of slaves, and countless treasures awaited them to divide.

Even so, a conflict arose later due to disagreements over the division of spoils.
The internal strife among the Jurchens was no less intense than that between the Western Xia and the Song Dynasty, which was one of the reasons for their rapid decline.

Ultimately, human desires are insatiable; these beasts have such strong desires that they have no idea what satisfaction is.

(End of this chapter)