You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 118 Sending Troops to Western Xia
Li Gang was furious when he saw the cowardly Crown Prince Zhao Huan.

He glared at Zhao Huan, ready to argue his point. Zhao Huan, knowing his temper, covered his head and said, "My headache has flared up and I'm in a lot of pain. Go and rest for a while."

Once the crown prince left, the remaining few people looked at each other blankly.

Li Gang was extremely disappointed and threw down the sword in his hand. Yuwen Xuzhong stepped forward to comfort him, saying, "It's a good thing that the country is reorganizing the Imperial Guards."

Li Gang glanced around, lowered his voice, and said, "Your Majesty has been on the throne for nearly twenty years, and the weight of imperial power is at its peak since the Song Dynasty. You have developed a set of balancing methods for the use of people by the monarch. The reason why you heavily relied on Cai Jing in the first place was to use the banner of the New Party, which was passed down from the two previous emperors, to counter the doubts of the people."

After Cai Jing consolidated his position, the emperor immediately began to limit his power as a form of checks and balances, never forgetting to use people to restrain him. Originally, he hoped to use Liang Shicheng, but this reclusive prime minister proved rather incompetent. He lost considerable prestige in front of Cai Jing, and his favor with the emperor diminished significantly.

Now, the only ones the court can count on are us, the old party officials who have been suppressed for so many years. Today, Cai Jing is in charge of reorganizing the Imperial Guards, and he is riding high. It seems like this is the height of his power, but it is also a great opportunity for us. The Emperor will definitely use us to check and balance him. Alas... His Highness, alas!

His words were so explicit that they could be enough to warrant a prison sentence if they got out.

Yuwen Xuzhong and the others, who knew his character well, stepped forward to comfort him.
-
Youzhou, the military governor's residence.

Stepping out of the tranquil garden and into the outer residence, the atmosphere changes dramatically.

The flat, wide brick ground and rows of banners exuded an air of majesty.

Chen Shao, inside the gate tower, saw several civil and military officials walking out of the government office and bending down to make way for them on the side of the road.

The outcome of the Bianliang affair is about to be decided, and he cannot remain indifferent at this time.

He needs to make a splash to demonstrate his influence and deter various factions that might have designs on him.

Therefore, Chen Shao chose to provoke the Western Xia.

We should also test their strength, because we'll have to fight them sooner or later.

The moment Tong Guan's army marched north to attack Liaodong was the moment when Chen Shao and Western Xia went to war.

And it would be best to take down Western Xia before he is defeated!

Historically, after Tong Guan's death, he spent money to buy several large cities in Yan (present-day Beijing) and held out for several years before the Song and Jin dynasties finally broke off completely and went to war.

Chen Shao glanced at his personal guards, these men who guarded his residence outside the mansion, and could be described as valiant and powerful.

The banner of the central army bears four characters: "Conquer the Sinners and Destroy the Xia Dynasty".
With autumn in full swing and horses at their fattest, it was the perfect time for battle, and the Youzhou army set off as planned.

Countless people gathered along the main crossroads and near the city gates, creating a sea of ​​people.

Chen Shao suspected that all the people in the city had come out to see him off. This battle concerned their lives and safety, and everyone was eagerly awaiting the outcome.

This is not just idle talk.

The Western Xia and the Song Dynasty fought for so many years that they developed a habit: whenever the Song people occupied a city, the Western Xia would massacre the inhabitants after taking it back.

This was done to intimidate the people near Hengshan and prevent them from surrendering.

This method was useful since the Song Dynasty hadn't captured many cities before.

Now that Chen Shao has seized so much territory in one fell swoop, his old habit of massacring entire cities has backfired.

Everyone was afraid of being slaughtered, so they were determined to stick with Chen Shao to the end.

On the main road, armored vehicles surged like a torrent, banners fluttered like clouds, and the formation was truly magnificent.

In reality, the number of troops was only a little over five thousand, and many civil officials also followed Chen Shao, after all, he was the one leading the expedition, not an ordinary general.

Regardless of who commanded the Dingnan Army, everyone was eating the food provided by Chen Shao.

The soldiers in the Northwest are very pragmatic.

Talking too much about empty words is useless; you have to show people real benefits for them to be convinced.

When Li Yuanhao rebelled against the Song Dynasty, it was the same story. He made promises of official positions and tried to win people over. After the rebellion was successful, he killed many people. A big reason for this was that he had made too many promises before, and when he became emperor, he didn't want to give them anymore.

Youzhou had no shortage of warhorses, mules, and vehicles, and the roads were flat, so the transportation pressure was not great during wartime.

Between Yanzhou and Youzhou, due to the salt and iron trade in the past, the road was flat and wide. Over the years, the ruts were very deep, just like railway tracks, and you could just follow them.

Many tribal soldiers also went to war, but now everyone was wearing the same robes, so it was impossible to tell the difference between Han soldiers and tribal soldiers from the outside.

The carriages rumbled, the horses neighed, and the pedestrians carried bows and arrows at their waists.

However, there were no tearful farewells; most were normal goodbyes. In this place, war is the norm, and peace is only temporary.

Riding on horseback, Chen Shao looked at the scenery on the grassland and felt that it was really difficult to find his way around in this place.

We walked all day, and the scenery was basically the same everywhere.

On the third day, he received a message from Bianliang.

He Guan was arrested in the Imperial Guard camp and offered little resistance, especially when he saw the emperor's edict accusing him of rebellion.

He Guanxin is already dead.

When the emperor commands the death of his subject, the subject has no choice but to die. Since it was the emperor's will, he was willing to offer his neck for execution.

Guo Zhongxun and others betrayed the regime, and many generals within the Imperial Guards had also been persuaded beforehand not to side with them.

The Imperial Guards were already incompetent, and their sporadic resistance was completely ineffective.

Tong Guan and Wang Bing were lavishly rewarded, and Cai Jing was reinstated as prime minister.
The Imperial Guards of Beijing were officially disbanded, and after a count, it was found that their numbers were less than 200,000.

The imperial court confiscated countless properties belonging to the imperial guard families, exceeding three times the total revenue of the entire empire, and the various hidden assets were even more numerous.

The national treasury was the fullest it had ever been since the Song Dynasty!

The imperial court resumed recruiting soldiers from the common people, changing the ancestral system and no longer conscripting soldiers from disaster victims and refugees, but instead selecting them from respectable families.

For this purpose, three million strings of cash were specially allocated, with the ambitious goal of training a strong army.

Chen Shao looked at the intelligence report, scratched his head with his riding crop, and felt a pang of regret.

This is the consequence of only knowing how to make money. You fatten yourself up but don't develop your military strength. In the end, you'll only become someone else's meal.

Emperor Huizong's life was truly both wonderful and terrible.
Thinking of He Guan, the military general who had helped him quell Fang La's rebellion, Chen Shao would never believe that he was plotting a rebellion.

He was actually very loyal to Zhao Ji and very grateful to him, because he came from a humble background and was promoted by Zhao Ji.

However, he couldn't see through the king's true intentions and thought that the problem they mentioned about the Imperial Guards was really their low combat effectiveness.

He believed that by reforming the Imperial Guards and making them more combat-ready, he could win back the emperor's favor.

It's terrifying that they can't see the situation clearly.

After putting away the intelligence, Chen Shao glanced ahead. Youzhou and Yanzhou were not far apart, and the vanguard could reach them in half a day.

However, Chen Shao estimated that he would not arrive until evening.

Chen Shao was well aware of the situation in Youzhou, and he estimated that the Western Xia had already received the news.

Among the Dingnan army, there were many Tanguts who fled there to serve as spies without any difficulty.

Some tribes have even secretly contacted Chen Shao's side, waiting to surrender after they attack.

Chen Shao had always suspected that there were similar tribes on his side, but he didn't have a good way to find them.

When evening came and they arrived at the city of Yanzhou, Chen Shao did not choose to enter the city.

In his early years, Tong Guan was always at the forefront; he only started commanding from the rear when he got older.

At eighteen or nineteen years old, how could I be qualified to hide in the city and remotely command a large army?

After crossing Yanzhou and arriving near the salt lake, they heard a commotion. Many enemy soldiers and prisoners were crying and shouting, while the Dingnan Army soldiers around them were brandishing their weapons and cursing.

"Greetings, Commander!" Wu Jie dismounted and saluted with clasped hands.

Chen Shao returned the salute from his horse, clasping his hands in greeting, and pointed with his riding whip at the chaotic scene ahead, asking, "What happened?"

Wu Jie said, "These are Uyghurs from a local tribe. They betrayed us before, resulting in the death of a scout team. Today, our sentries intercepted their letter, and we are about to behead their entire tribe here to appease our soldiers."

Chen Shao breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, someone was secretly colluding with the Western Xia. In fact, this might not necessarily mean they were loyal to the Western Xia; it might simply mean they didn't think highly of him.

The battle between myself and Western Xia is bound to be a bloody one, and there will be no compromise.

Whoever loses dies, it's that simple.

The Western Xia's reign of terror did have some effect, killing so many tribes that they dared not completely betray them.

"how many people?"

"There are more than 800 households, including the elderly and the infirm."

He only mentioned the elderly and weak, omitting women and children, and Chen Shao knew why.
Most of the children and women were sold to the Central Plains because it was too painful to kill them. The Northwest had been fighting for so many years, and there were plenty of human slaves who specialized in receiving prisoners brought back by the Western Army.

An entire industry chain has been formed. In fact, the discipline of the Western Army is really bad. In the territory of the Dingnan Army today, many tribes are still hostile to the Song people, which is caused by their indiscriminate killing and plundering.

Sometimes, even when the people in the city had already surrendered to the Song Dynasty, the Western Army would still plunder them, kill some people to claim credit, and abduct and sell women and children.

The people in the city barely managed to survive, but the Song army was driven away again, and when the Western Xia returned, they massacred them once more.
Yinzhou had experienced something similar. When Chen Shao took control of Yinzhou, nine out of ten houses were empty. He could only recruit meritorious Han and Qiang people from the vicinity of Hengshan to settle in the city and distribute residences to them.

Chen Shao did not stop everyone and rode forward to observe. Upon seeing this, Wu Jie waved to the generals on the hillside. Soon after, cries of agony were heard, and then the soldiers of the Dingnan Army, armed with swords and spears, marched forward and began to slash at anyone they saw.

Most of the prisoners had their hands tied behind their backs and strung together with ropes, so they couldn't run or resist. Their cries and screams were even louder, and the smell of blood in the air was somewhat pungent.

We crossed the execution ground and arrived at the barracks.

Han Shizhong rushed over.

He lifted the tent flap, his face showing some excitement, and said with his hands clasped, "General!"

"sit."

The two were already quite familiar with each other, so Han Shizhong didn't stand on ceremony with him. After sitting down, he laughed and said, "Is the General going to get serious with Xia the traitor?"

"I've always been genuinely against the Western Xia," Chen Shao said with a smile. "We're mortal enemies, so what's the point of being so sure about it? It's just a matter of whether we fight sooner or later."

Han Shizhong nodded and said, "That's right!"

Han Shizhong had a strong sense of superiority over the Western Xia army because his record against them was too dazzling.

In the past, whenever he went on a gambling spree and spent all his money, he would look forward to fighting the Xia traitor and cutting off a few heads to show for his achievements.

"The Xia traitors are not behaving themselves!" Han Shizhong, supporting himself on his knees and leaning slightly forward, said loudly, "These past few years, the Khitan Tartars have suffered greatly. The dignified Liao Emperor has been chased around like a stray dog. The Xia traitors have become more obedient. They originally hoped that the Khitans would send troops to help them, but now it seems... hey! The commander doesn't know, but the intelligence we intercepted from the Han Sea a few days ago shows that the Khitans also want the Xia traitors to send troops to help them defend Xijing."

Chen Shao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

That's kind of funny.

The Song, Liao, and Xia dynasties—these three brothers—can sometimes be quite amusing.

Seeing that Han Shizhong's expression was somewhat excited, Chen Shao immediately poured cold water on him: "This time I want to test the waters first and find an opportunity to build a fortress."

"Or should we build a fortified village?"

Han Shizhong was stunned. Now, the territory of the Dingnan Army was full of fortresses and stockades.

Chen Shao nodded. "Fortresses are good. Fortresses need to be built."

He stood up and slowly paced around, saying, “Look, once we conquer a place, there will be a large population that needs to be settled. Fortified villages can not only allow us to advance step by step and compress the living space of the Western Xia, but also break up the original tribes and divide and rule the various Qiang and Hu tribes that were previously divided among different tribes.”

"As long as you select the right magistrate, you can control the division of territory, similar to the conversion of native chieftains to centrally appointed officials. Do you know how much resistance there is to the conversion of native chieftains to centrally appointed officials in peacetime, but it can be done easily in wartime?"

Han Shizhong smiled bitterly to himself. Building fortresses was a good idea, but it was too slow, and the military merits would be infinitely reduced.

"Therefore, this time we cannot fight a large-scale war, but we must fight small-scale wars and wear them down! Every time we fight, we will deplete their already strained national strength, and we can afford to do so. When their large army comes out, we will withdraw, implement a scorched earth policy, and rely on the fortified strongholds to block them layer by layer."

"Their small group coming out is simply courting death."

"If the Xia bandits remain holed up in Shuofang and refuse to come out, we will launch a preemptive attack on the tribes that have submitted to them, scatter these tribes, and then begin building fortresses!"

This tactic is too vicious, like cutting flesh with a dull knife. Even Han Shizhong found it terrifying, so you can imagine how painful it must have been for the Western Xia.

Chen Shao also summarized the lessons learned from Tong Guan's campaign against Xia and came up with a strategy based on these experiences.

In the early stages, Tong Guan used the strategy of fortified villages to drive the Western Xia crazy. Later, in order to eliminate this threat as soon as possible and concentrate on attacking the Liao Dynasty, he decided to take action.

He abandoned his patient, step-by-step approach and forcefully ordered all routes in Shaanxi to launch an expedition, giving the Western Xia an opportunity to turn against him.

The death of Liu Fa in Tong'an City instantly reversed the course of the battle.

Today, their logistics are even more abundant than those of the Western Army back then, their wealth is substantial, and the wealth they create is endless.

There's no need for me to rush things.

After the Song Dynasty resolved the issue of the Imperial Guards, the campaign against the Liao Dynasty should not have collapsed as quickly as it has historically, giving them more time.

Although he lacked talent in warfare, Chen Shaosheng was resourceful. He built upon Tong Guan's experience and devised the safest strategy for the time being.

Generals often predict the outcome of a battle by considering the timing, location, and popular support. They mainly consider factors such as the morale of the people, the advantages and disadvantages of the situation, the climate, and the terrain. They also generally consider the enemy's military appearance and discipline, as well as the quality of their equipment.

Han Shizhong believed that Chen Shao had already controlled the Hetao Plain and the entire Hengshan area, causing the Western Xia to lose its core defense line and leaving them only able to passively take hits.

Controlling the salt lake cut off the financial lifeline of the Western Xia, and occupying the Yinzhou ferry blocked the east-west connection of the Yellow River. At this point, the advantage is too great, and we should launch an attack!
Chen Shao, on the other hand, had an advantage: his memories of his past life and his knowledge of history.

That was the conclusion reached after countless people deliberated and calculated that the best way to deal with the Western Xia was the fortified village warfare tactic!

The Western Xia may have had its problems, but as a country that has been at war since its founding, its army's fighting strength is by no means inferior.

There were also capable generals, and even a number of loyal ministers.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have lasted so long, outlasting the Northern Song, Liao, and Jin dynasties, until the rise of the Mongols, at which point it finally perished.

Even on its deathbed, it bit the Mongolians fiercely.

To deal with these resilient creatures, you have to wear them down, not give them a chance to fight back, and slowly bleed them dry.

After all, the Western Xia still holds the Xingling Plain and the Hexi Corridor, which provide them with some strategic depth. If they really lose the decisive battle, and Li Qianshun leads the Western Xia people to the Helan Mountains, it will be difficult for them to swallow him whole.
-
In the days that followed, Chen Shao sent Han Shizhong and Wu Jie to harass the border area.

Actually, these places, though called border areas, originally belonged to the Western Xia.

Therefore, there were no passes or city defenses.

The two sides were excavating each other near the salt lake.

Having received reinforcements from Chen Shaoyou's troops, Han Shizhong did not conserve his strength and led 40,000 infantry and cavalry to a great victory at Yanchi, winning a major battle that originally only required 10,000 troops.

After passing the salt lake, forests, rice paddies, villages, and vast fields of crops came into view. The flat plains, dotted with houses and people, were the Xingling Plain.

Chen Shao ordered attacks on these villages and tribes. Those who surrendered were moved to the east of the salt lake, while those who refused to surrender were treated as enemies.

The wheels were knocked down, leaving no survivors, and the houses were all burned down.

Upon learning of Chen Shao's military campaign, Li Qianshun was not alarmed but delighted. He ordered the conscription of men over the age of fifteen into the army, and then enfeoffed Gusiluo as the King of Xiping, granting him hereditary control over Gansu and Liangzhou. In return, he gained 60,000 Uyghur cavalry to assist in the battle.

In mid-September, the Western Xia army marched out of the pass and headed straight for Yanchi.

Chen Shao immediately ordered a scorched-earth policy and then withdrew his troops, confronting the enemy in the fortifications that had been prepared in advance at the salt lake.

Inside the central command headquarters, a simple large map was laid out before the generals.

The drawing is very simple, and information such as scale and terrain is not reflected, but important rivers, cities and passes can be seen.

The Western Xia army consisted entirely of cavalry, skilled in field battles but not in siege warfare.

The fortresses built by the Dingnan Army near the salt lake were very well-designed, with Yanzhou City as the center, spreading out in all directions and forming a defensive perimeter. A rash attack would result in being attacked from all sides.

"Hold firm! Anyone who rashly engages in battle will be court-martialed!"

Chen Shao spoke very firmly, fearing that some people might lose their composure and try to gain merit.

This was the peak of the Western Xia's power. Even if they were to organize these people again in the future, it would be difficult to achieve the same morale and fighting spirit.

The saying goes, "One should strike while the iron is hot, but the momentum will wane after a second attempt, and exhaust it completely after a third." The generals all accepted their orders, each guarding their respective fortifications and sending out scouts to harass the enemy, but they refused to engage in battle.

At this time, Chen Shao was not idle either. He sent people to the Xiazhou area to invite all the magistrates from the fortresses that had exhausted Xiazhou.

In Yanzhou City, Chen Shao gathered these fortified villages together and had them take turns giving lectures every day, sharing their experiences in building and managing fortified villages.

Then they organized some junior and middle-ranking military officers, as well as civil officials and minor clerks, to listen to the lecture.

Learn how to build and manage fortified villages, how to manage the mixed ethnic groups of soldiers and civilians, how to mediate their conflicts, and how to cultivate land and support the army.
After listening to the lecture each day, you have to write a reflection.

Countless supply trains were also transferred from the Xiazhou area.

The wood and stones needed to build the fortress were piled up in Yanzhou City, and the amount kept increasing.
-
The fortress guarded by Wu Jie was at the forefront. It had been under heavy attack for several days and was being repaired after the Xia troops retreated.

Wu Jie stood on high ground, sword in hand, looking at the seemingly chaotic scene in the village. In reality, however, the various groups were very organized and there was no disorder.

He was accompanied by his younger brother, Wu Lin, who was the same age as Chen Shao, only nineteen years old.

Both brothers joined the army as "good family men" in the Jingyuan Road, fought against the Western Xia, and were defeated at Tong'an City.

In other words, they have no connections or background. The so-called "good family" refers to ordinary people.

Wu Jie shared some of his experiences as a general with his younger brother, Wu Lin, who listened intently.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar. Wu Jie quickly looked up and saw a troop of about a hundred cavalrymen galloping towards the camp.

Judging from the appearance, it should be a small force in the vicinity; it's unclear whether it's a tribe or a powerful Han Chinese clan.

As they gestured to come in, Wu Jie glanced into the distance. The place was flat and unobstructed.

Seeing that there were no pursuers or ambushes, Wu Jie ordered them to be let in.

The gates opened, and a chaotic mob surged in, but no further troops followed.

Wu Jie led his men down. Although the number of men was only a little over a hundred and their clothing was very mixed, most of them were dressed as Han Chinese.

Moreover, it is evident that the core members are agile and skilled, riding fine horses, and equipped with high-quality weapons and bows. Their every gesture, whether sitting or lying down, exudes a fierce yet disciplined aura.

"You are?"

The leader clasped his hands and said, "General, I am Li Xiaozhong. My brothers and I make a living by stealing horses on the Western Xia pastures. When we learned that a large army was going to attack Xia, we came to join us!"

Wu Jie took another look. This group of people were indeed Han Chinese, but he still had to be careful.

There were just as many Han Chinese who were wholeheartedly devoted to the Western Xia as the Tanguts. Since he claimed to be a horse thief and trader, he should have been recognized by people in the area.

Wu Jie nodded and said, "The fact that you, righteous man, are willing to serve the country shows that you are a person of both loyalty and courage. Please go into the city to rest, and I will introduce you to the commander."

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of drums rang out again. Wu Jie frowned and looked at the group of people with some suspicion in his eyes.

A group of Western Xia cavalrymen came chasing after them.

Li Zhongxiao observed the situation and thought to himself that this young general from the Song Dynasty was a shrewd man who did not trust him. He decided to wipe out this group of Xia traitors, firstly to show them his abilities, and secondly to put their minds at ease.
"General, we brothers have just arrived and have not yet made any contributions. We are willing to go out of the camp as the vanguard to help you defeat this band of Xia thieves."

Upon hearing that they wanted to open the gates of the stronghold, Wu Jie sneered, "The commander has ordered that no one is allowed to leave the stronghold."

"That's fine, but please give me a bow and a quiver of arrows. I used them all up on the way here."

Wu Jie glanced at him, handed him a quiver, and saw Li Xiaozhong climb the stockade wall. As the pursuing troops approached, he drew his arrow and fired.

Seeing that his arrows never missed, and that he even shot down a chief strategist in the Western Xia army, Wu Jie was impressed and his suspicions vanished.

This is a talent!
Once we send someone to investigate his background and family history, we can use him with peace of mind!
-
Chen Shao did not have a mansion in Yanzhou. He lived in the home of a wealthy family in the city. The courtyard was filled with various flowers, plants, fruits and vegetables. The two-story pavilion was furnished with furniture, a comfortable bed, and all kinds of kitchen utensils and grains.

The homeowner, perhaps distrustful of Chen Shao's troops, fled as soon as the fighting began. Because the place was close to the military camp gate, Chen Shao moved in directly after his personal guards came in to inspect it.

These days, the journey has been arduous, and the cold wind is biting. Chen Shao, who had enjoyed a comfortable period in Youzhou and was feeling a bit weak, lay happily on his couch, hugging a thick woolen mattress, reading the military newspaper.

Da Hu sat to the side, looking a little bored, and yawned.

The water in the stove was bubbling loudly. Chen Shao turned his head and saw that the guy had actually fallen asleep, and there was even a faint snoring sound.

He got up by himself, took down the kettle, poured a glass of water, and then stood by the window, looking at the autumn scenery in the distance.

Just like the clear and tranquil autumn sky, the situation on the battlefield has also become clear.

The Western Xia are unlucky to have encountered us this time; they won't give us that chance if they want to fight.

The defense line at Yanchi, having been reinforced twice by the Western Xia and Han Shizhong, can be considered extremely solid.

And I'm not fighting you, just not giving you a chance, not because I can't beat you.

This is what truly drove the Western Xia to despair.

Even if they really go all out, they might not be able to win. If they try to take a gamble, the enemy won't give them a chance and will just wear them down.

The Uyghurs were quite happy. They had been paid to fight, and they had already received their benefits, including free military rations. They couldn't blame us for not fighting, could they?

Want a refund? Forget about it.

Just as Chen Shao was secretly pleased, someone came upstairs. Zhao He saw Chen Shao, bowed his head, and whispered, "General, some people in the city, knowing you are here, have chosen young women nearby who are of excellent background, character, and appearance."

Chen Shao quickly interrupted him. In his subordinates' eyes, he was a strong and vigorous man in his early twenties. Moreover, he had already hooked up with a beauty like Li Shishi in Bianliang. He must be very fond of women. Naturally, his subordinates wanted to cater to his tastes.

For someone of Chen Shao's caliber, sending him women is the most cost-effective way to bribe him.

Otherwise, you'd have to work for him, or offer land or strategies, only then would it be worthwhile.

Chen Shao didn't think they had done anything wrong, nor did he think Zhao He was wrong to be involved in such matters, and he wasn't entirely uninterested in it. However, he knew what was important and that with a major battle imminent, it was best to exercise restraint.

Playing with women in the central command headquarters at this time has some disadvantages, though not in terms of physical health. First, it takes a lot of time; what if, while he's in the mood, his subordinates have important matters to attend to and can't see him? Second, it's distracting; he can't concentrate on thinking about the situation day and night. Moreover, if the commander-in-chief is indulging in debauchery in the army, the soldiers will suffer from the hardships of living outdoors, and such behavior would be detrimental to morale.

Once we conquer Western Xia, I'll treat my younger brother to something nice, something classy.
As Chen Shao was lost in thought, he suddenly remembered the legend about Genghis Khan's severing of his lineage, and a chill ran down his spine. He decided to forget about it.

This dragged on until mid-October, by which time the Western Xia were exhausted and their supplies could no longer keep up.

Left with no other choice, they had to retreat temporarily.

As soon as the people left, the supply train set out and began frantically building fortresses on the land that had been ravaged and where not a rooster crowed for miles.

From a distance, they look just like a group of tireless ants building their nest.

A special feeling welled up in Chen Shao's heart; it wasn't a sense of heroism, but rather a feeling of being moved.

In times of chaos, every individual and every family faces an uncertain future amidst the turbulent situation.

However, the fortified village could provide them with a relatively safe haven.

In the future, I will bring them even more peaceful days.

These fortified villages also provided themselves with soldiers, food, warhorses, cattle, and sheep.
The Western Xia army, which had already begun its withdrawal, was halfway there when it heard that those damned fortresses were being built in the rear. This time, its commander-in-chief, Richard, was furious!

He immediately sent men with troops back to sabotage the operation.

The army couldn't turn back, and only 40,000 men returned, but Richard felt that destroying the unfinished fortresses would be enough.

But he soon realized that something was wrong; the large army that was no longer hiding was standing guard here.

People from all the villages also mobilized and took the initiative to attack.

After Richard was defeated, he had no choice but to retreat.

I felt even more frustrated—
In Bianliang, within the Genyue Imperial Palace.

At this moment, a group of people are walking among the exotic flowers and stones transported from Jiangnan.

Although it was already early winter, the flowers and trees in the garden still had some greenery, no one knew what method the people in the palace had used.

The flowing water meanders through the area, splashing on the stones with a tinkling sound, just like a scene from springtime in Jiangnan.

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) must have loved Jiangnan very much. Fortunately, the wealth left to him by his father and brothers was not as extravagant as that of Emperor Wen of Sui (Yang Jian).

Otherwise, he would definitely have gone to Yangzhou, and probably even more times.

In terms of how much of a bastard he was, he might not be as good as Yang Guang, but in terms of how good he was at having fun, he completely crushed Guangzi.

If given Yang Guang's wealth, Zhao Ji could make a fortune out of it.

The eunuchs and palace maids, dressed in brocade, stood everywhere, ready to serve at any time.

Several high-ranking concubines from the Forbidden City, all smiles, followed closely behind the group.

Walking at the head of this group, dressed in a Taoist robe and wearing a feathered crown, looking like an immortal, was none other than the current Emperor Huizong of Tang, Zhao Ji.

Following behind him today, strolling through the clouds of Genyue, was Prince Jia, Zhao Kai, and the other, with a fawning expression and six white teeth that gleamed in the winter sun, was none other than the recently most pleased young Master Cai, Cai You.

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) did not seem very happy. He walked aimlessly, seemingly without any particular direction in mind.

He suddenly spoke, his tone casual: "Minister Cai, what do you think of my garden?"

“Excellent! A palace in the heavens! In this world, only the Emperor is worthy of living in such a palace.”

As always, Cai You was completely oblivious to Zhao Ji's displeasure and kept flattering him.

Zhao Ji chuckled, turned around and tapped his nose: "A palace in the heavens? I don't think so. We've raised hundreds of millions of strings of cash by reforming the Imperial Guards, but all I ask for is six million to renovate the garden, and your father wouldn't agree!"

"I heard that you recently expanded your mansion and spent a million strings of cash in one go. I, the emperor, am not as happy as you."

Cai You thought to himself, "If my father doesn't step in, won't all that money end up in the stomachs of the Imperial Guard families? How can you possibly spend it yourself?"
And you've been living such a comfortable life these days, don't you realize it? You're giving away tens of thousands of strings of cash to the concubines in the harem, the Taoist officials' stipends are starting to increase again, and some temples are taking advantage of the winter to renovate.

When the construction of Genyue was finally completed, it was somewhat rushed due to the Fang La Rebellion in Jiangnan. The Emperor had some regrets, and now that he has more money, he wants to make up for the shortcomings and unsatisfactory aspects of Genyue.

How much money would be enough to fill this Genyue garden?
And aren't you going to attack Liao anymore?

You're an emperor, what are you comparing yourself to your subjects for? My money is all hard-earned, earned little by little through corruption and bribery. Why can't I build my own mansion?

A million strings of cash sounds like a lot, but is it enough to cover your expenses in this corner of Genyue? You're complaining? How about we switch places?

Unable to get money from Cai Jing, Emperor Huizong of Song could only try to put pressure on Cai You, hoping he would speak ill of Cai Jing.

In fact, Cai Jing almost vomited blood. He had painstakingly planned and orchestrated such a major event, which could be said to have helped the Song Dynasty prolong its life.

I had hoped that this achievement would be recorded in history books in the future.

Is it an exaggeration to call him the most capable minister and wise prime minister since the Song Dynasty?

Unexpectedly, after the deed was done, before Cai Jing could even devise other methods or manage the finances, the emperor kept asking him for money as if there was no end to it.

Cai Jing has a great use for this money; the hole left by the rampant issuance of paper money a few years ago has not yet been filled.

Tong Guan's supplies for the campaign against Liao were not yet ready;
Will it cost money to establish Yanshan Prefecture?

Preparing a new army to defend the capital will cost money, won't it?

Should I also be a little greedy?

Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, and even Liang Shicheng, who didn't contribute much, all made a fortune during this reorganization of the Imperial Guards!

Although they all genuinely wanted to do something for the country and the court, they didn't neglect their personal enjoyment at all.

Although Tong Guan and Liang Shicheng were eunuchs, they both had many wives and concubines and lived extravagantly.

Generally speaking, eunuchs, lacking their manhood, actually had a greater desire for money than ordinary people.

The eunuchs of the Song Dynasty had a very good reputation, but this dynasty ruined it thanks to Tong Guan and Liang Shicheng.

The Song Dynasty did indeed produce some eunuchs with lofty ambitions and excellent conduct. For example, the famous eunuch general Qin Han was gentle, humble, sincere, and self-disciplined despite his poverty.

He was also capable of leading troops in battle, being fair in rewards and punishments, and always taking the lead in battle.

Upon returning from the battle, he remained a quiet and reserved old eunuch in the palace. He had sustained over seventy wounds in battle, and in his old age, his chronic illness flared up, causing him to toss and turn all night, unable to sleep. He died in relative solitude.

Such a person surpasses many civil officials and scholars.

Even compared to Tong Guan's mentor Li Xian, he was far inferior.

As for Tong Guan, who grew a beard after becoming a eunuch, he was even lower in rank.

Liang Shicheng was not as good as Tong Guan.

Seeing that Cai You remained silent, Zhao Ji felt even more frustrated, but he didn't want to speak directly.

Although this man was wicked, he still had some sense of shame, so he could only continue to bully Cai You indirectly.

Tell him to hurry up and tell his father to give the government money to spend!
Cai Jing made Cai You pretend to turn against him. This kind of trick might fool others, but Zhao Ji was definitely a master at it. The power struggle between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince was actually orchestrated by Zhao Ji himself.

He saw through Cai Jing's methods perfectly well, but he didn't expose them, preferring to play along with the father and son. As long as he maintained the balance and prevented the court from becoming too powerful and threatening his own position, he was content.

When it really comes down to it, he doesn't care anymore. If you, Cai Jing, don't give me money, I'll pressure your son.

"Your Cai family, this time you're reorganizing the Imperial Guards, I really don't know if it's for my sake! Or for the sake of the nation!"

Cai You, after being berated, was so submissive that he dared not utter a word. It was only after several close advisors around him that they defended Cai Jing and Cai You.

Emperor Huizong of Song did not stop there, and seized Cai You to give him a thorough scolding.

Having been bullied for no reason, Cai You lost all interest in strolling through the garden and hastily bid farewell to Zhao Ji.

Emperor Huizong thought he had gone to Cai Jing to ask for money, so he waved his hand and told him to leave the palace quickly.

Prince Jia, Zhao Kai, always accompanied his father with impeccable manners, constantly observing his father's expressions and demeanor.

At this moment, he suddenly said, "Father, Prime Minister Cai has done his utmost in what he has done for the Imperial Treasury."

Your Majesty has a keen eye and employs the right people, but the resources available for operation are limited, and ultimately, there isn't enough money.

Even if Prime Minister Cai were to achieve great things, even if he were a master craftsman, that would be about it. Since financial management in the central government is like this, it would be better to delegate some responsibility to the local governments.”

Emperor Huizong glanced at Zhao Kai but made no comment.

The third son has been in the limelight lately, so there's no need to pretend to readily accept every piece of advice he gives.

This is also his way of maintaining balance as a ruler.

He seemed to dote on his third son, but in reality, it was all to suppress the crown prince, to make the crown prince behave himself and not challenge his position, and to prevent the court officials from forming a clique around the crown prince too early.

It doesn't mean he really loves his son that much.

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) only loved himself.

Now that the Third Prince had actually put forward such an opinion, Zhao Ji found it rather foolish.

The principle of strengthening the central government and weakening the local branches is the foundation of the Song Dynasty. It is easy to say that some responsibilities should be assigned to local areas, but how should they be assigned?
If you want local authorities to make money for you, you have to delegate power. It's only been a few days since the Zhu Mian incident.

If another civil unrest breaks out in Jiangnan, then all the efforts to reorganize the Imperial Guards will have been in vain.

He himself was just a playful person, but the Third Prince was a complete idiot.

Thinking about the current imperial court, it is now dominated by Cai Jing's family;
After the Imperial Guards were completely wiped out, there were no troops left to counterbalance the Western Army.
Zhao Ji found a place to sit down and rest, and the others breathed a sigh of relief, as they were exhausted from walking for so long.

Emperor Huizong of Song, however, remained calm and clear-headed.

Li Gang, whom I had deliberately sent away to a lower-level position to protect, can now be called back.

He is capable and has a strong personality, making him a match for Cai Jing.

As for the Western Army, it will become even stronger after this successful campaign against Liao.

Only the Dingnan Army after the destruction of Xia might be able to restrain them for a while, but they will become divided afterward, which will be another problem.

Zhao Ji sighed and asked, "A few days ago, you submitted a memorial proposing to attack Chen Shao of Xia. How is the battle going?"

(End of this chapter)