You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 120 Offensive and defensive changes
Salt Lake, the main camp outside the city.

Before dawn, bugle calls rang out, and Han Shizhong's vanguard broke camp early and began marching westward.

A few days ago, Wu Jie suddenly asked Chen Shao for instructions, saying that the Western Xia army had completely returned to Xingqing Prefecture, and there were not many troops left.

The construction of a new round of fortresses has been completed, and during this period of downtime, he hopes to continue harassing the towns and villages on the Xingling Plain of Western Xia.

Chen Shao immediately agreed, telling him to be careful and know his limits.

This involves continuous bloodletting; once the Western Xia wound is almost healed, a light cut is made.

He was determined to fight back, immediately retreating into the fortified village and setting up a formidable defensive formation.

Their gathering of troops and the expenditure of supplies further strained the already overburdened finances of the Western Xia state.

This can already be considered a calculated move; the goal is to wear you down. The only way to break this deadlock is for you to breach the Yanchi defense line.

However, Wu Jie's defense was very well-organized, even stronger than when Han Shizhong was in charge of military affairs at Yanchi, and the Western Xia people had no way to deal with it.

Old Han wasn't jealous of talent; he told Chen Shao many times that Chen Shao's defense was better than his own.

Chen Shao simply assigned Wu Jie to guard the area, and had Han Shizhong lead cavalry to harass the area constantly. He also sent people to contact the Uyghurs in the Hexi Corridor.

If the Uyghurs also began their attack, the demise of the Western Xia would inevitably be accelerated.

Han Shizhong was clad in iron armor and a helmet, and wrapped in a tiger-skin cloak, exuding a fierce and valiant aura.

The cold wind was like a knife, sweeping across the Xingling Plain. Countless villages were destroyed, and those who were willing to surrender were captured and sent to the fortified villages behind Yanzhou to serve as prisoners.

Those who refused to surrender were basically all slaughtered.

Truckloads of beef, mutton, leather, and grain were seized.

Because the entire battlefield was filled with skilled cavalry scouts, the movements of the Western Xia troops could not be kept secret from Han Shizhong.

The Western Xia army could hardly provide timely assistance, and if too few came, they couldn't defeat them.

If a large army were to arrive, Han Shizhong would immediately order his men to abandon all prisoners and spoils and flee, and then continue to harass them after they left.

This should have been the reversed situation, but because the Western Xia lost Hengshan, the balance of power shifted.
The Northwest entered the end of the third year of the Xuanhe era amidst this stalemate.

Despite the cold weather, Youzhou City was bustling with activity, decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and crowded with people in the streets.

It even has a bit of the shadow of Bianliang.

Chen Shao, wrapped in a thick fox fur coat, stood in the garden and sneezed loudly.

He held an imperial edict in his hand, encouraging him to continue the attack on Western Xia and to fight a major battle.

Chen Shao ignored them and treated them as if they were talking nonsense.

However, one thing caught Chen Shao's attention: Cai Jing had secretly told Liu Guanglie, who had come to pay his respects for the New Year, that the army was about to march north.

Moreover, some news came back from Liu Yanqing that war was indeed about to break out.

Tong Guan's campaign against Liao was about to begin, and Chen Shao was even more anxious than they were.

Because everyone in the Song Dynasty believed that they would win this battle, and some even thought that they didn't need to fight at all. They believed that as long as the Song army stood there, the people of Yan would welcome the royal army with food and drink.

Outside the residence of the military governor of Youzhou, Chen Shaoda hosted a banquet.

The inner quarters housed about a hundred people, while the outer quarters housed over three hundred strong men who served as bodyguards. In addition, there were the officials without families in Youzhou City.

Chen Shao ordered the slaughter of dozens of sheep, prepared hundreds of jars of Tusu wine, and set up hundreds of hot pots.

A wonderful gathering was held, with everyone gathered together to eat and drink heartily.

In the inner quarters, Li Shishi specially ordered several tables to be prepared for the maids and nannies of the mansion to eat.

Everyone was very happy because this was a reward before the banquet, not something for them to eat the leftovers.

Inside the study, Wei Li was already waiting; he had come specifically to see Chen Shao.

"General, tomorrow is the New Year's celebration, and your place will surely be packed with distinguished guests. I won't come here to squeeze in with them. Taking advantage of my age, I'll take the opportunity to come and meet you in advance. I hope you won't mind."

"Sir, please don't be so kind. Please have a seat."

Both of them were very relaxed, without any of the formality or flattery between superiors and subordinates; they were more like two close friends chatting about everything under the sun.

We chatted for a while, mostly about things in Bianliang, and basically just talked about whatever came to mind.

Wei Li still harbored some resentment, especially towards Cai Jing, and his words were full of sarcasm.

However, Chen Shao disagreed and greatly admired Cai Jing, believing that Cai Jing's efforts in reorganizing the Imperial Guards alone were enough to make him worthy of the Song Dynasty.

Thinking of the intelligence he had just received, Chen Shao asked, "I heard that Tong Xuan has led his army north. What do you think of this battle, sir?"

Wei Li sighed and said, "Heroes are made by the times. Tong Guan was an ordinary man, but I never expected that he would receive such a great achievement!"

"Does the gentleman believe that the Song Dynasty will inevitably win?"

Wei Li laughed and said, "Doesn't the commander see it this way? Now the Liao people in Yan are not convinced by Yelü Yanxi and want to support Yelü Chun as emperor. The Khitan royal family has never been able to get rid of this problem of internal strife since the founding of the country. Everyone with the surname Yelü wants to be emperor for a few days."

“They established themselves in Yan, which is not just a matter of principle. How could they possibly resist the Jurchen army?”

The greater good?

Chen Shao scratched his head. What use is righteousness? How many divisions does he have?

Yelü Chun was indeed incompetent. Back then, he organized a rebellious army to launch a northern expedition against Liaodong, but the army rebelled halfway there and almost killed him.

After this incident, he lost all prestige, and the powerful families of Yan no longer recognized him.

However, in the Yan region, there were still Yelü Dashi and Prince Xiao Gan; these two were Tong Guan's true nemesis.
They beat him so badly he was rolling on the ground, teeth all over the place.

Last year, Dong Cai, a powerful figure in Yan, gathered tens of thousands of people and operated on the border between Liao and Song. He repeatedly defeated the Liao army and surrendered to the Song Dynasty.

But the Song Dynasty didn't value them.

Aside from changing his surname to Zhao, Emperor Huizong of Tang (Zhao Ji) gave him no other benefits.

The powerful families in Yan are very pragmatic; they'll do anything for whoever offers them the best, and if there's no benefit, they'll snatch it away.

If Tong Guan had not been able to win over these people in the early stages, it would have been very difficult for him to successfully conquer the Liao.

Chen Shao only hoped that the Western Army would not carry out their bandit-like military discipline in Liaodong. The people of Yan were not to be trifled with; they could ride a horse if they grabbed it, and become soldiers if they picked up a stick.

If you piss them off, you'll be in big trouble.

However, considering that Tong Guan probably wouldn't have thought of this, Chen Shao hesitated for a moment and said, "Mr. Wei, please write a letter for me to Commander Tong Xuan."

He expressed his concerns and advised Tong Guan to restrain his troops and not to underestimate the enemy or advance rashly.

After Wei Li finished writing, Chen Shao glanced through it and felt that the tone was a bit harsh.

“After all, Commander Tong is a veteran official of the court with a high status and position. Writing it like this would probably have a negative effect.”

Although Wei Li disagreed, he still rewrote a letter according to Chen Shao's request.

This time, the wording was much more polite, and the speaker regarded himself as a junior in every way.

Chen Shao nodded in satisfaction. He was now a powerful figure, with money, food, soldiers, generals, territory, and warhorses.

With such a humble approach, Tong Guan should be able to listen, right?
Chen Shao never cared about such empty titles; he only cared that Tong Guan could fight well.

Although Tong Guan's army marched north, based on Chen Shao's understanding of him, Tong Guan would most likely remain in Bianliang, spending the New Year with Emperor Zhao Ji before leaving.

Therefore, he directly used his intelligence agents to request that the information be quickly delivered to Tong Guan in Bianliang.

Seeing Chen Shao call someone to deliver the message, Wei Li took the opportunity to get up and say goodbye, and Chen Shao personally saw him out.

After Wei Li left, he looked back again. He had a very good impression of this young military commander.

Most importantly, despite his young age, he is remarkably pragmatic.

It's rare to see someone who doesn't care about who's better or worse. People of this age are usually very impulsive and like to compete.

I couldn't do that when I was young.

He was very indignant just now, but after being blown by the cold wind, he suddenly felt that Chen Shao was right.

His advice to Tong Guan was correct; lowering one's stance does indeed make it easier to be accepted by the other party.

What's most commendable is that he doesn't always lower his stance; he knows he's very strong and doesn't readily claim to be a hero of his time.

He has a clear understanding of his own abilities, and it is all the more commendable that he can still be so humble under such circumstances.

It's laughable that at my age, I'm not as clear-headed and able to let go as a young marshal.

Then Chen Shao went to the outer residence, where the people who were feasting stood up and shouted that he was a general, making the atmosphere lively.

Chen Shao laughed and had someone bring him a seat. After eating a few pieces of meat with everyone, he picked up a wine glass and walked around the crowd.

Da Hu followed behind, carrying a wine jar, and would fill Chen Shao's cup every now and then.

He could hold his liquor fairly well; the alcohol content of this liquor was similar to that of beer in later generations.

Moreover, you don't feel anything while drinking it; it's usually only after you've finished that you start to feel the effects.

So after walking around for a while, he waved and said that he couldn't hold his liquor, telling everyone to continue having fun while he went back to rest.

Back in the inner courtyard, at the entrance, Zhe Ningxiang stood by the moon gate, seemingly having just seen someone off, and was staring blankly at the red plum blossoms in the courtyard.

Her white fox fur coat, worn under the red plum tree, exuded an elegant and dignified air, making her smooth and beautiful face even more dazzling, as if she were a noble person descended from heaven, giving people a feeling that she was not easy to approach.

Her elegant and beautiful oval face, with its fair skin, black hair, and red lips, was so vibrant that it seemed to add color to the antique courtyard and natural scenery.

Because of the Zhe family's special status, Chen Shao rarely had the opportunity to observe them from afar. Now, seeing them looking so noble, he couldn't help but be somewhat lost in thought.

This white fox fur coat, paired with a beautiful woman of elegant bearing, certainly adds a lot to her appeal.

In a daze, Madam Zhe seemed to realize that someone was watching her. She finally turned her head and saw Chen Shao staring at her. She was very happy and smiled shyly at Chen Shao.

Seeing Chen Shao walk over, Zhe Ningxiang gently pointed inward with her fingers, which were resting on her lower abdomen, to remind him that Zhong Lingxi was also there.

Whether it was due to the effects of the alcohol or lust, Chen Shao walked over, took her hand, and kissed the back of her hand.

Zhe's face turned red, and her eyes sparkled with a strange light. This bold, exciting, and novel action put her in a state of surging passion.

The two entered the room together, and Madam Zhe whispered, "The Zhong family sent someone to take me back for the New Year, but I told them my back injury wasn't fully healed yet, and sent them away."

Chen Shao patted her waist and said in a low voice, "Alright, Furong'er, stay here and keep me company for a while longer."

'Hibiscus' was the nickname Chen Shao gave her, because after each time she recovered, her skin would be rosy and glowing, just like a hibiscus flower.

Zhe gave a soft "hmm".

The two walked into the room together, where Zhong Lingxi was holding up a new dress.

Upon seeing Chen Shao enter, she chattered incessantly, asking him if he looked good, displaying the typical childlike nature of a young girl.

Chen Shao said, "We'll know once we put it on."

Zhong Lingxi smiled, stretched out her arms in the room, and let the maid take off her outer clothes and change her into new clothes.

She was indeed still too naive. Looking at her slender and thin figure, Zhe Shi suddenly smiled smugly.

Chen Shao happened to see this, and she felt a little embarrassed.

She was even more embarrassed than when Chen Shao kissed the back of her hand earlier.

She rolled her eyes shyly and reproachfully, her appearance charming and playful, quite captivating.

Chen Shao felt the atmosphere was somewhat like that of a family of three.
However, Huanhuan absolutely refused to call him "Daddy." Last time Chen Shao tried it, the little girl got angry on the spot and bit him, almost drawing blood.

I didn't give him a friendly look for several days afterward.

Helpless, Chen Shao could only go to the Zhe family to be promoted to a higher generation, and he enjoyed the experience immensely.

Inside Huanhuan's room, the three of them ate something together. Chen Shao was already full, so he just watched them eat.

He was now fully intoxicated and feeling a bit dizzy, so he suggested that he go and rest for a while.

Huanhuan pouted and said, "My stepmother and I are sleeping together tonight, there's no room for you, you can go somewhere else."

Before Chen Shao could speak, Lady Zhe asked first, "Who said that?"

Huanhuan wrapped her arms around her neck and started to act coquettishly, whispering something in her ear. Zhe Shi blushed and nodded, saying softly, "Mingyuan, go and rest somewhere else."

Chen Shao was a little curious about what they had talked about, but he knew he couldn't get the answer now. He waved his hand, got up, and walked towards Li Shishi's courtyard.

Even if he didn't leave, he would still have to come up with an excuse to leave in the middle of the night.

Chen Shao had promised Li Shishi to stay up with her on New Year's Eve, and he wasn't just saying it; he was seriously carrying it out.

Halfway there, they spotted Chun Tao, who looked smug and proud.

She always manages to ambush her brother-in-law here during holidays.

Once I catch her, she'll be devoured without mercy. I sneered inwardly, thinking, "Let my sister eat my saliva!"

Chen Shao couldn't help but laugh at her cunning little face. He stepped forward, lifted her little bottom, and held her in his arms, then walked to the railing of the corridor and sat down.

Her long skirt gradually reached her waist, and because it was winter, she was also wearing trousers underneath, though her posture was somewhat indecent.

He stared at Chun Tao without moving, her cheeks gradually turning red. Her slender almond-shaped eyes, framed by trembling eyelashes, appeared slightly alluring.

Seeing the vibrant blush on her face, Chen Shao was immediately captivated.

Seeing that he didn't kiss her, Chun Tao bit her lip and leaned in with a hint of reproach.

Li Shishi stood at the door, staring blankly at Chen Shao in the courtyard.

Because Chen Shao actually carried Chun Tao in, and Chun Tao's innocent and carefree smile reminded her of her childhood.

He was betrayed, while his parents and Chun Tao enjoyed a happy family life, and he provided them with a life of comfort and security.

This has become a source of anxiety for her. Since coming here with Chen Shao, she has had no other worries. Every nightmare she has is of Chun Tao being pampered by her parents while she is all alone outside.

She gazed at Chen Shao for a long time with a complex expression and delicate eyes, without saying a word.

But her fingers twisted gently, wrinkling the skirt.

Even from a distance, the smell of wine could be smelled. Li Shishi said softly, "Ying'er, take the master to wash his face and change his clothes."

Chen Shao put Chun Tao down and was helped into the inner hall by a maid. Chun Tao put her hands behind her back and stopped smiling, carefully trying to enter through the door guarded by her sister.

Suddenly, she felt a pain in her arm, and tears welled up in her eyes. She turned her head and glared at her sister with a defiant look.

Li Shishi pinched her arm again, but seeing Chun Tao holding back her tears and not making a sound, her expression seemed slightly regretful.

"Don't cry!" Li Shishi whispered a scolding.

Her voice was so beautiful that even when she said such things, even Chun Tao, who had just been bullied, couldn't help but think so.

Like a little scapegoat, Chun Tao followed her sister inside, and the two sat down at the table, consciously keeping a seat between them.

The table was laden with exquisite side dishes. After Chen Shao came out, he naturally sat between the two sisters, putting his arms around their slender waists.

"We can stay up together again this year."

Chen Shaoxi said with a smug look on his face.

"My lord, don't you need to go to Huanhuan's place?" Li Shishi asked softly.

"Have you forgotten? I told you I would stay up with you every year to celebrate the New Year."

Li Shishi was still a little angry, but she couldn't stand Chen Shao coaxing her, and she always surrendered at lightning speed.

This time is no exception.

One sentence and I was completely dizzy and disoriented.

Li Shishi tilted her head slightly and leaned against Chen Shao, saying, "How could I possibly deserve such pampering from you?"

“Where? The glasses, Shishi’s eyes are bright and spirited, her skin, Shishi’s skin is not only white and smooth as satin, but also has a luster like jade, with a faint sense of translucency, and her figure is even more moving, and her voice is even more unusually beautiful.”

Upon hearing this, Li Shishi's body and voice softened. "My lord, are you still not tired of me?"

Chen Shao shook his head.

She pursed her lips again and said softly, "I am older than you, my lord, and I will grow old one day."

Chen Shao smiled and said, "Even when I'm old, I will still remember the true feelings between you and me."

Chun Tao closed her eyes and silently recited these words to herself.

Well, that must be the case!
-
The next morning, Chen Shao woke up a little late.

Li Shishi had already gotten up, while Chun Tao was still fast asleep. Chen Shao didn't wake her, letting her rest a little longer. In the outer room, Li Shishi had already prepared willow twigs and fine salt. After washing and brushing her teeth, she served Chen Shao a bowl of porridge.

After they finished eating, Chen Shao kissed her on the cheek. Li Shishi curtsied slightly, gathered her skirts, and smiled, saying, "Congratulations, my lord, you've grown another year older."

Chen Shao held her hand and asked, "What should we do for the New Year?"

Li Shishi blushed and whispered, "The best in the world."

Chen Shao walked out with a smile, and Li Shishi immediately felt that the world was bright and sunny, and everything was so beautiful.

Even his own younger sister.

Stepping out of the inner courtyard, Chen Shao, wrapped in a thick leather coat, couldn't help but stare blankly to the east.

After a brief moment of warmth and relaxation last night, various thoughts are now swirling in my mind.

This year will see many major decisions made.

Northwest, Youyan, Xingling, Song-Xia, Jin-Liao, Song-Liao, Jin-Xia, Uyghur. This vast chessboard, spanning thousands of miles and connecting the inside and outside, swirls in his heart.

This year is destined to be extraordinary. Many people will die in Gai Huanyu. Of course, in this era, being soft-hearted is a luxury.
-
Although it was still early morning, the sky overhead was covered with clouds, making it gloomy and overcast.

Snowflakes were falling and swirling, and it looked like an even bigger snowfall was about to come crashing down.

The cold wind sweeping across the grassland became even more biting.

In the direction of Xia Prefecture, as the Jurchens continued to conquer cities and seize territory, more and more refugees fled into Xia Prefecture.

Among the refugees, whether they were the able-bodied men who had been given orders and formed the backbone, or the women and children who had run out of food and were only thinking about finding something to eat to survive the impending heavy snowfall, they all struggled desperately forward in the snow.

The crowd of several thousand people was unusually silent.

Even the children in the crowd were silent at this time, and the infants had long since frozen to death.

A person who has lost their country is worse off than a dog.

If they fell on the ground, they got up; if they couldn't walk, they helped each other, and everyone gripped the wooden sticks and stones in their hands tightly.

It is precisely because it is silent that it appears all the more terrifying.

Li Xiaozhong looked at the crowd below the pass with a solemn expression. As news continued to arrive from that side, the ferocity and ruthlessness of the Jurchens gradually spread.

Li Xiaozhong saw further than others.

Will these Tartars stop after they've plundered the Liao Dynasty?

They are bound to head south, especially that scoundrel Tong Guan. If he shows weakness in the Youyan region and exposes the true fighting power of the Song army, it will probably immediately ignite the Jurchens' ambition to move south.

"Give them more grain. These people need some time to rest and recuperate. They are all our own people who will be coming to our fortress."

Zhang Tianwang nodded. He was naturally happy to agree, as these people, like him, were Han Chinese who had fled to Liaodong.

Of course, there are also some refugees from other ethnic groups among them.

On Liuyang Ridge, the village gate opened, and the villagers painstakingly carried out bags of heavy grain, loading them onto carts or horses.

Once a certain number had been collected, the commanding officer gave a shout, and the transfer proceeded towards the border pass.

The endless stream of refugees there could consume any amount of food and provisions.

Fortunately, Xia Prefecture still has enough food.

The villagers were panting heavily as they carried the grain and fodder, but no one complained of being tired, because many of them had once been among these refugees.

At the foot of Liuyang Ridge, a row of iron pots are laid out, snow shoveled and boiled. Pots of tender yellow millet porridge or meat broth are simmered in the broth.

Someone called them to line up, and soon, groups of refugees gathered around the stoves, making loud, slurping noises as they devoured the food.

Looking at the scene below, Li Xiaozhong said in a deep voice, "The commander is right. We must guard against the Jurchen Tartars moving south. If they want, these refugees can become their excuse to move south."

In fact, the Jin Dynasty had already declared war on the Liao Dynasty, and taking in these Liao people gave them a pretext.

Whether they will use this as a pretext to cause trouble depends on how well Tong Guan, who is leading the campaign against Liao, performs.

If he were to suddenly unleash his full power and defeat the Liao army's garrison in Nanjing, thus conquering Yan in one fell swoop, then the Jurchens of the Jin Dynasty would have to think twice.

Li Xiaozhong had great distrust of the imperial army, so he was always worried.

The fighting prowess the Jurchens are currently displaying is terrifying if they were to advance south. Even more frightening is that, according to Zhang Tianwang, who is standing beside him, the Han Chinese in Liaodong also want to come south and attack the Song Dynasty.

These people understood the Song Dynasty better than the Jurchens. They knew of its prosperity, especially Bianliang (Kaifeng). They knew that women from the Central Plains possessed exceptional beauty and talent, far surpassing those from the northern borders; they knew that the Central Plains held countless gold and jewels; they knew that the Central Plains had fertile plains stretching for thousands of miles.
They also knew that the government troops in the Central Plains were currently very weak.

Fortunately, Shao Ge'er was also knowledgeable and knowledgeable about military affairs, and many of his ideas coincided with his own. If they had encountered the muddle-headed Shou Dingnan Army, the situation might have been even more critical.

"More, more! Carry some more out! Save as many as you can!" Li Xiaozhong shouted in a deep voice.

These are all people, all Han Chinese!
What is a Han Chinese?

The Han people are like this: if you save one of them today, they will diligently start farming in the spring, become hardworking laborers in war, and become obedient soldiers when recruited into the army.

They not only did this themselves, but also gradually influenced the surrounding tribes to become like them.

So, starting from a small piece of land in the Yangtze and Yellow River basins, these people gradually expanded to their current territory.

They will not, like foreign tribes, savagely invade a place and use violence to change the land;

They are like spring rain, nourishing things silently and subtly changing the people and land around them, making them like themselves.
-
In the spring of the fourth year of the Xuanhe era, it was a day after a snowfall when the sky cleared.

The festivities of New Year's Day had barely ended when the bustling city of Bianliang quieted down after the grand New Year celebrations.

People stayed at home, gathered around the charcoal stove, drinking tea and watching the snowflakes fall softly outside.

However, for the people of Bianliang, lively and festive days were their favorite.

Such tranquility is only occasional.

After the seventh day, although the government offices had not yet reopened, the streets were once again bustling with people as the rare winter sun peeked out.

All the shops, taverns, and entertainment venues were open. Since the New Year holiday had just passed, everyone was in good spirits. People were dressed neatly and greeted each other with smiles, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Bianliang has always been a place brimming with the atmosphere of the bustling world, a place with the strongest sense of humanity.

Despite the relative scarcity of entertainment during the Song Dynasty, Bianliang (Kaifeng) already had quite a few places to have fun.

In taverns and entertainment venues, needless to say, if you were rich and powerful, you could indulge in even more extravagant entertainment than in modern times.

Even if you don't like going to these places for fun, you can still leisurely go out and stroll through the streets of Bianliang in a light fur coat, watching the Bian River, which flows through Bianliang like an ice dragon in winter, and watching the children in the streets and alleys shouting and setting off firecrackers.

When you get tired, just choose a clean and tidy tavern, have a cup of Tusu wine, and a plate of dried fruit.

Then, in front of the market at Daxiangguo Temple, choose a finely crafted incense burner, put in some bamboo charcoal and spices, light it, and keep it warm in your arms before walking back home. Call your neighbors over the wall to have a couple of cups of wine and a bowl of antique soup. After you're full, sing with a bulging belly.

If you have no special skills, then being born in Bianliang and having a household registration in this city makes you the luckiest person of this era.

Of course, the period after the Jingkang Incident doesn't count. The reversal of the two extremes does.

In the fourth year of the Xuanhe reign of the Song Dynasty, as the storm was brewing, Bianliang, the capital of the Song Dynasty, remained completely unaffected.

As Chen Shao had predicted, Tong Guan was indeed still in Bianliang.

He held Chen Shao's letter in his hands, a glint of anger flashing in his eyes.

After letting out a heavy, cold laugh, he tore the letter to shreds and threw it on the ground.

"Chen Shao, you ungrateful scoundrel, now you're even teaching us how to fight."

Seeing his furious appearance, Tan Zhen was quite unconvinced. "Shao-ge'er is quite good at fighting. What's wrong with you listening to him?"
Although Tan Zhen and Chen Shao had some conflicts while they were in Jiangnan, Tan Zhen had some complaints about Chen Shao.

However, Chen Shao, with his five thousand cavalry, was indeed the main force in suppressing Fang La, a fact that Tan Zhen admired.

It was Chen Shao who first lured Fang La into Hangzhou.

Besides, they didn't say anything special, just told you to be careful, so why are you in such a hurry?
He didn't personally promote Chen Shao, so it's hard for him to understand Tong Guan's feelings at this time.

Fortunately, although he was on the defensive, he did not lose his mind and still remembered that Chen Shao needed to stabilize the Northwest.

Especially to block the Western Xia.

Although this little thief is hateful, his abilities are not a problem, so Tong Guan is still quite at ease.

He was full of confidence at this time, especially after Cai Jing reorganized the Imperial Guards, the millions of shi of military rations saved were enough to feed his army for three years.

Those Imperial Guards are truly despicable; over the years, they have wasted so much military funds!
It all ended up in the pockets of those powerful military families.

Like many officials in the Song Dynasty at that time, Tong Guan was well-fed himself but couldn't stand others being corrupt. He wished he were the only one in the entire Song Dynasty who ate well, while everyone else was an extremely incorruptible saint.

During his nearly twenty years as governor of the Northwest, he embezzled more military funds than the entire Western Army received.

Chen Shao not only sent letters, but also gifts to several important places in Bianliang, such as Tong Guan, Cai Jing, and Gao Qiu, with a total value of about five thousand strings of cash.

But none of these people were satisfied.
They all felt that Chen Shao, sitting in the Northwest, was nothing more than a local warlord, monopolizing military and political power.

The gifts should at least be given according to the same standards as those given by Zhu Mian, the Prince of Jiangnan back then.

But what he gave was not even a fraction of what Zhu Mian had received; it was really just a token gesture.

Chen Shao wasn't someone who could calculate every little detail. He felt he was already doing quite well, and besides, given his current status, why should he give them too much money?
However, he misjudged the appetites of these bastards, including Cai Jing, whom he greatly admired. Cai Jing was extremely displeased that Cai Jing's gift to Chen Shao was so meager.

Tong Guan then cursed Chen Shao for a while in the Hall of Ceremonies. Feeling somewhat relieved, he ordered his men to accompany him to the emperor.

Today, Emperor Huizong of Song has invited them to enjoy the snow together at Genyue Garden, an event that is absolutely not to be missed.

Tong Guan was confident he could recover after the defeat at the Youyan battlefield, but if he lost at Genyue, he would be completely finished.

This is the tragedy of Yukiomi.

Tong Guan is already quite good, with military achievements, but it's useless. Your biggest label is 'favored minister'.

If the emperor no longer favors you, all your glory will be stripped away. Nowadays, public opinion is in the hands of civil officials and scholars, so why would they speak up for you?

A group of victorious guards escorted Tong Guan to the outside of Genyue, where they saw the carriage of the Third King Zhao Kai.

Tong Guan smiled, ignored him, and ordered his men to hurry into Genyue.

Logically, he should have given way to the prince, but Tong Guan was about to launch a campaign against Liao, and his behavior was somewhat reckless.

Zhao Kai, who was in the distance, naturally saw it as well. Looking at the Victory Army guards standing outside, he felt somewhat annoyed.

In the winter weather, Zhao Kai, dressed in a snow fox fur coat, with a light robe and loose belt, rode on his horse, exuding a refined and elegant demeanor.

Half of his good reputation comes from his appearance; he is indeed very handsome.

In the past, when leading his guards through Bianliang City, Zhao Kai always paid great attention to his demeanor and behavior. When idlers cheered on him on the street, Zhao Kai would nod and smile when he was in a good mood to show his approachability.

He was appointed to the Imperial City Guard, where he observed the customs and traditions of the people of Bianliang and frequently reported positive opinions about his own people to the emperor.

However, Zhao Kai's expression was not good today; he was tense, his eyebrows almost standing on end. His attendants knew their master's mood, but when someone slightly blocked their way, a whip cracked loudly, scaring the attendants into scrambling away.

Everyone was puzzled. Why did the Third King, who was known for his good manners, seem like a completely different person today?

Zhao Kai couldn't help but feel upset, as his son, the Crown Prince, had recently overshadowed him.

Those old factions of the reformist faction surrounding the crown prince were suddenly given new opportunities to be promoted.

Especially Li Gang, who offended the emperor completely by submitting several memorials, yet he has now been recalled.

After Li Gang returned, he did not change his habit of offending people at all.

He initially opposed the campaign against Liao, saying that if things went wrong, the consequences would be dire.

Then he said that the Dingnan Army should be disbanded, saying that Chen Shao was a wolf in sheep's clothing and had stolen the loot from Fang La during the Jiangnan rebellion. If left unchecked, he would become another Li Yuanhao.

Finally, Cai Jing was impeached, accused of having most of his wealth disappear after he reorganized the Imperial Guards.

These three frenzied attacks terrified the Crown Prince, and the old party members gritted their teeth and cursed him for causing trouble.

Zhao Kai was secretly pleased, eagerly awaiting his father's severe punishment of Li Gang, and also to reprimand the Crown Prince behind Li Gang.

To everyone's surprise, the emperor didn't say a word.

The situation in the imperial court suddenly became unpredictable again.

Cai Jing's faction was filled with anxiety, while the old party and the reformist faction were all eager for major changes in the government, preferably to completely oust Cai Jing from power!

Just as Zhao Kai was about to enter Genyue, a horse caravan suddenly appeared from the opposite direction and collided with him.

Zhao Kai, who was preoccupied with his own thoughts, looked up and saw Mao De peeking out of the car window. He managed a smile, spurred his horse forward, and greeted Mao De warmly, "Fu Jin, you're here too."

Zhao Fujin responded, "Greetings, Third Brother."

His eyes flickered, and he asked, "Has Goro returned?"

Maode sighed, "Not yet. They said Youzhou is too far away, so they won't be coming back. Third brother, please tell Father for me that Fifth Brother has never been far from home. How can anyone feel at ease in that harsh northwest?"

Zhao Kai thought to himself, "I'll probably have to ask your father-in-law about this. If Cai Jing wasn't trying to win over Chen Shao, why would he send his son so far away?"

Everyone knows that his most beloved son is this fifth son. As for the harsh northwest? Youzhou is now incredibly wealthy. Last time, when the imperial guards of Bianliang caused trouble, the merchant caravans of Youzhou took over directly and secretly made a fortune.

"I'll ask for you in a bit," Zhao Kai said with a smile, still exuding charm and making people feel at ease.

Maode said gratefully, "Thank you very much, Third Brother."
-
Outside Youzhou City.

Chen Shao, accompanied by a group of civil and military officials, chieftains, and barbarian leaders, held a sacrificial ceremony to Heaven on the outskirts of the city.

We offer these three sacrificial animals to pray for favorable weather and abundant harvests in the coming year.

The Qiang tribes of Hengshan, the various Hu tribes of the Hetao region, and the Yinxia tribe all sent people.

In just one year of integration, they have become vastly different from when Chen Shaogang took over the Dingnan Army.

After Li Qianshun ascended the throne, he continued to promote Sinicization, but his efforts were not as fruitful as those of Chen Shao in that year.

That's one of the good things about emerging forces: they can implement any policy their founders want to do very quickly.

Of course, things won't be so simple in a few years when these new vested interests have grown up.

At that time, any major reforms would encounter significant resistance, but then Chen Shao would have to step out of that circle again.

The Miqin clan has all changed their surname to Chen, and other tribes have also adopted their own Han surnames.

Zhu Lingbu was changed to Jin. I wonder if Old Zhu got the inspiration from the names of his two daughters.

After the sacrificial ceremony, the group returned to Youzhou and gathered together to discuss matters.

Chen Shao flipped through the military reports he had accumulated over the past few days, most of which came from the direction of Yanzhou.

He casually flipped through the pages and discovered that Han Shizhong was somewhat abnormal.

Even during the Lunar New Year, he didn't rest for a single day, leading his cavalry to constantly harass the Xingling Plain, the border area between the Dingnan Army and the Western Xia.

The population is constantly being replenished in both Yanzhou and Xiazhou.

Yanzhou was seized by Han Shizhong, while Xiazhou was a place where people fled to escape the Jurchens.

Chen Shao felt that the Jurchens should send someone to negotiate with him soon.

They are unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss.

Especially now that they are at their peak, they have long regarded the Liao people as their slaves.

The Dingnan Army has taken in nearly 100,000 refugees.

If it were done secretly, that would be one thing, but openly taking in so many people is impossible to hide.

Chen Shao had never dealt with the Jurchens before, which made him both nervous and excited.

The people below were also reading the military newspaper. Some of the illiterate ones gathered together and had it read to them.

The group gathered together to discuss the current situation in various places and the dangers facing the Dingnan Army.

The most talked-about topic, of course, was the struggle with the Western Xia, since the Western Xia was the biggest enemy that could be seen on the surface.

Others worried that the Song Dynasty would weaken the power of the regional military governors and reminded Chen Shao to strengthen defenses in Yinzhou and Hongzhou.

Civil and military officials, as well as chieftains and tribal leaders, all had many ingenious ideas, and they spoke freely, all for the sake of the development of the Dingnan Army.

Chen Shao listened attentively. He took some of the advice to heart, while he thought some of it was particularly idiotic, but he didn't bring it up directly.

Chen Shao suddenly remembered that he had discovered that the fireworks manufacturing level of the Song Dynasty was really high this New Year.

This shows that they had made significant progress in developing gunpowder, but they were focusing their efforts in the wrong direction.

So he planned to let his men give it a try. As for whether it would succeed, Chen Shao didn't have much hope, but at least he could get the gunpowder research on the right track and tell them to stop making fireworks for now.

(End of this chapter)