You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 123 This glory, I, Chen Shao, will not enjoy alone.

A major defeat at the front shattered the Song Dynasty's dream of a swift victory.

Tong Guan was completely devastated.

Inside the tent, he looked haggard, his former energy and spirit completely gone.

Zhao Liangsi couldn't help but advise, "Commander Xuan, victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. Commander Xuan's life is tied to the safety of the nation, so you must not be discouraged."

Tong Guan sighed and forced himself to straighten his back. This was his favorite posture; when he served people at the Prince Duan's residence, even when facing women, they had to bend over.

Later, when he arrived at the border, countless famous generals and fierce soldiers, even the most valiant men in the world, had to bow before him.

Tong Guan loved that feeling so much that he would stand up straight and never knew what it meant to be tired.

His past misdeeds are nothing to boast about; now he has become a commander admired by thousands!

Tan Zhen quietly approached and said, "Commander Xuan, Yang Keshi underestimated the enemy. We can write a memorial saying, 'The vanguard suffered a minor setback, and the Liao army has surrendered in fear.' We are preparing to take over the city."

Tong Guan nodded, then waved to Tan Zhen, signaling him to handle it personally.

Zhao Liangsi was dumbfounded and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Often, Tong Guan's will was not his own idea, but rather the idea of ​​the group of advisors who had followed him for twenty years.

Tong Guan also developed a path dependency, and most of the time, he went along with them.

The difficulty in this matter lies not in anything else, but in bribing those close officials in Bianliang.

Tell them not to talk nonsense in front of the officials.

As long as Liang Shicheng nodded and Cai Jing helped to cover it up, it was easy to cover it up.

Many serious mistakes in the past have been handled in the same way. Even if the emperor heard rumors or guessed something, he would not punish these close officials.

He himself needed these close advisors to raise money for him and to suppress civil officials and scholars.

Tong Guan was anxious because the first step in the campaign against Liao had already resulted in the loss of nearly half of his main force, and the Liao people were not as weak as he had imagined.

What should we do now?

At this moment, he remembered Guo Yaoshi, the ever-victorious general, who had come to discuss surrendering a few days earlier.

Tong Guan felt a pang of regret. Had he known that he would be granted a high-ranking official position, even though he had suffered a crushing defeat at Baigou River, he could at least say that he had reclaimed Zhuozhou, which would be considered a merit and perhaps could cover up some of the damage.

For Tong Guan, spending some money to silence the people in Bianliang was nothing, but his achievements in conquering Liao were now overshadowed, and it was uncertain whether he could still complete the campaign smoothly.

At that moment, someone came in and delivered a letter.

Tong Guan opened it and saw that it was another letter from Chen Shao advising him not to underestimate the enemy and advance rashly. He glanced at the signature and saw that it was written five days before the Battle of Baigou River.

Five days!

In five days, some people couldn't even leave the prefecture, but Chen Shao managed to deliver a letter from Dingnan Army to the front lines in Hebei.

Tong Guan suddenly thought of something. He tilted his head slightly and said, "Take out all of Chen Shao's letters!"

The staff quickly flipped through the letters and found six from Chen Shao.

The letters in the hall are recorded, including when they arrived and when they were sealed.

Tong Guan ordered his men to compare them one by one, and they were all found to have arrived within five or six days of completion.

Those received in Bianliang were even faster.

Tong Guan gasped.

One man and one horse, even if they ran until their legs broke, they still wouldn't get there. He had fought in battles and marched for over a decade.

It can only be done station by station, with people constantly changing and taking over, and there will definitely be many stations.

Having commanded troops for so many years and raised his own private army for over a decade, Tong Guan, a shrewd man with twenty years of experience, immediately realized that Chen Shao had his own intelligence network.

Moreover, it was deployed to the front lines in Hebei.

He was tasked with collecting and transmitting intelligence in Hebei.

Moreover, almost half a year ago, this person was advising himself not to underestimate the enemy and act rashly. His sharp insight was truly frightening.

Could it be that he really traveled to Liaodong at such a young age and became familiar with the Jurchen and Khitan peoples?

"What do you think?" Tong Guan suddenly lowered his voice, his tone a little hoarse, "if we summon Chen Shao to lead his troops, can he turn the tide of the battle?"

Everyone in the tent knew Chen Shao. Upon hearing this, they looked at each other, wondering what Commander Xuan meant.

Everyone knows that Chen Shao is the person that Commander Xuan has disliked the most in recent years.

Previously, Commander Xuan was very afraid that he would get involved in the campaign against Liao, fearing that he would benefit from it and gain credit for the campaign.

Tong Guan closed his eyes, rested his hand on the chair, and images of Chen Shao kept flashing through his mind.

That lowly supply captain, who was at the very end of the tent, suddenly shouted "I have a plan!" and began, thus giving him the first opportunity.
After Liu Fatong's defeat at Ancheng, he sent his trusted confidants to the Northwest, giving him a second chance.
At the Yokoyama front, I wanted to sacrifice him to divide and weaken the Western Army, but I didn't expect him to hold out so well.
When everyone was thinking of attacking Xingqing Prefecture, besieging Shuofang, and completely annihilating Western Xia, he proposed to go to Yanzhou.

Then he started from Yanzhou and gradually took over the territory that Dingnan Army now occupied.

By now, whether he wants to admit it or not, he has become a force to be reckoned with.

Tan Zhen lowered his head, thinking to himself, "Commander Xuan's efforts are probably in vain. Why would Shao-ge'er come?"
Outside Yanzhou City.

The newly built fortress is quite unique; instead of farmers cultivating the land, it is filled with artisans.

Inside the fortress, the newly built arsenal was almost entirely ablaze with fire.

The entire fortress was shrouded in smog day and night, with black ash drifting everywhere, even covering the treetops nearby.

Yellow smoke billowed from the cracks in the tops of some earthen kilns; these were kilns for pre-smelting iron ore. The more numerous oval furnaces were blast furnaces, each billowing black smoke from its top. Four tuyeres opened below, and water-driven blowers clanged and rattled, while the grinding of wooden wheels produced a teeth-grinding sound that newcomers found difficult to adjust to.

Chen Shao wasn't initially very interested in weaponry. He felt that such things gradually emerged and matured with the development of the times.

However, after learning more about it, Chen Shao realized that the gunpowder technology, especially the artillery technology, was already quite advanced at that time.

At this time, the gunpowder formula was low-speed burning black powder, which was not suitable as a propellant for tubular firearms.

Therefore, it must be launched using crossbows and bows and arrows, which are very effective for setting fires and attacking cities.

In Bianliang, Zhang Daoji built four hundred thunderbolt cannons, which were explosives made of paper or ceramic shells that were ignited and then fired using crossbows.

It's especially useful when defending a city.

After using it, Han Shizhong found that it was very effective in attacking ordinary Western Xia tribes or villages.

Because the houses on the Xingling Plain are highly flammable, it made it easy for him to kill and set fires, forcing the Western Xia people out of the village.

In this fortified military camp, many of the equipment was designed and made by the craftsmen themselves.

They look a bit rough, but they are all extremely practical.

For example, if some water pumps were broken and needed to be replaced, twenty or thirty villagers would stand nearby and take turns pulling the sleds until the water pumps were working again.

The whole scene resembled a factory workshop.

But everything here is technology that the Western Xia and Northern Song dynasties already had; there's almost nothing new here.

Chen Shao treated artisans well, regardless of their clan, even the Dangxiang Tuoba clan. As long as they had a skill, their families could be saved.

At the other end of the village, there were many stoves. The charcoal fires below had spread outside when the wind was blowing. A large gray pottery vat was placed high on top, and the cast iron, after being partially melted, flowed into the iron pool below.

Several people were operating a waterwheel, using its momentum to continuously stir the iron rod attached to the top of the large vat, while others were sprinkling mixed mud powder into it at regular intervals.

This stir-fried iron is then repeatedly hammered into low-carbon iron billets to remove impurities and increase hardness. A portion of it is then used to forge armor plates.

The armor of the Song Dynasty had reached the pinnacle of the cold weapon era. Some family heirloom armor consisted of 2 to 3 pieces of armor plates of different sizes combined into a complete set of armor, and it was not particularly heavy.

Some were sent directly to the blacksmith shops in the fortified villages, where they were immediately forged into various farm tools such as plowshares and hoes.

Mi Qinqi, a farmer who just returned from the neighboring fortified village, was among the first to use the new plow at the beginning of this year.

He was a Qiang man from the Miqin tribe. At this moment, he was walking along the path between the fields, looking at a cowhide scroll in his hand and muttering to himself.

The leather scroll was issued by the village officials, and it contained a recipe for the ingredients. Qi Da had to memorize the strokes of the characters by copying them onto the ground within fifteen days, and also be able to distinguish the names of the ingredients. There would be a monthly check.

He always struggled to memorize them, especially the amounts of iron and carbon powder to add.
But Qi Da had no complaints. In the dead of winter, he was radiant with health, because he was one of the lucky few selected to study at the Craftsmen's Fortress.

At this moment, he had nothing to complain about. Thinking back to the winter before last, when his family was still a resident of Miqinbu Village, he remembered that when it snowed, the whole family shivered with cold at night, and they still had to work during the day. By noon, they were already so hungry that their eyes were blurry.

The Miqin tribe has been largely assimilated into Han culture. The former leaders of the tribe still occupy the vast majority of the land; they are now tenant farmers.

The best fields were used to grow rice and wheat. When the weather was good and there were no natural disasters, one mu (unit of land area) could yield more than two shi (unit of dry measure) of rice and wheat each year. The dry land on the slopes was mainly used to grow beans, millet, hemp, mulberry, etc. After 80% was handed over to the state, the remaining grain was not enough to eat.

Especially the laborers, who had to work hard in the fields, had to risk their lives to take care of the farmers' land. They ate a lot, so they could only cook more vegetable leaves and edible tree leaves and roots to barely fill their stomachs.

Women could only endure hunger and let the men eat more so they would have the strength to plow the fields and work.

Now that it belongs to Commander Chen, his family of over twenty people has been allocated forty mu of land, and they only need to hand over 30% of their produce.

Furthermore, farm tools can be rented, making the work twice as efficient.

Although some of these forty acres were used to grow pasture, the government would still pay for the pasture when it was purchased.

If you successfully enter the Craftsmen's Fortress, you will receive an extra ration of food and meat every month.

Sometimes, when they were conscripted to build other new fortresses, they would often encounter Western Xia troops coming to sabotage them. Although there were soldiers protecting them, deaths were still common.

But this is good enough.

When the Song and Xia dynasties were at war, their lives were constantly at risk of being taken away.

The people's hearts do not lie. When they feel that their lives have improved and they have hope, they will spontaneously come to protect the current policy.

When the Song, Liao, and Xia dynasties had been established for over a century and were plagued by numerous problems, the people of all three kingdoms suffered greatly.

This newly emerging force is full of vitality.
The Jurchens were also a newly emerging power; they took a different path, engaging in brutal killing and plunder.

Compared to them, Chen Shao's Dingnan Army was essentially a difference between the way of the king and the way of the hegemon.

Mi Qinqi walked to his fortress and encountered his wife returning from washing clothes. He was looking down at the recipe and didn't even notice his wife.

His wife followed behind him, listening for a while, and suddenly asked, "How come you got it wrong again? I remembered it all."

Qi Da was startled and turned around to strike.

The woman quickly moved away, and after a while asked again, "Do you think the general is confused? We have more land, why hasn't he increased the taxes?"

Mi Qinqi slapped her arm hard and cursed, "You stupid woman, you can't even read a single word, yet you dare to say that the commander is muddle-headed!"

Although the woman was from Miqi, she had lived among the Han people for generations and was shrewd and clever. She knew the family's accounts perfectly well, down to the smallest detail like how many liters of rice there were. "You say the commander has given us so many benefits, what does he want?"

"What do you want?" Qi laughed loudly, "You want us to risk our lives for him."

The woman nodded and said, "That's good, as long as we don't go hungry."

"Yes, we'll risk our lives. When have our lives ever been so valuable!" Qi Da was speaking from the heart. In the past, the lords would also make them risk their lives without giving them any benefits!

The woman said, "If you all sell your lives, we can take your place."

The couple walked home together. Their house in the fortified village was sturdy and spacious, and their children would not get cold even in wind and rain.

Perhaps thinking of their children at home, the couple quickened their pace.
-
Chen Shao rode his horse and patrolled the vicinity of the salt lake.

He had completely given up hope on Tong Guan.

I am not a god, my knowledge and intelligence are limited, and I don't want to figure out why the Song Dynasty was so incompetent.

Chen Shao knew that even if the emperor trusted him completely and allowed him to replace Cai Jing as prime minister, he could not save the Song Dynasty.

I don't have that ability.
I can't afford to worry about that.

The best course of action now is to deal with Western Xia as soon as possible. Even if we can't completely destroy it, we should at least leave it half-dead, unable to retaliate, and slowly wear it down.

Chen Shao was a little apprehensive about actually breaking through.

Genghis Khan had already tested them himself; these people were simply too fierce. Genghis Khan had a large fortune and wasn't afraid to confront them head-on.

My meager savings can't withstand even a single bite from it before it dies.

As long as we use fortified village tactics to continuously compress their living space, let them fight among themselves, and exhaust their last strength, we can succeed.

After all, the internal strife within Western Xia was particularly intense at this time. If he were to launch a full-scale attack, it would only prompt them to temporarily set aside their conflicts and unite against a common enemy.

Wu Jie kept telling him about the current situation. The progress was going relatively smoothly, but the Western Xia's counterattack was also very fierce.

There are three fortified villages, which have been under preparation since the beginning of the year, but have not yet been built.

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Don't be impatient. The most important thing about this battle strategy is patience."

Wu Jie shared the same idea, but he dared not voice it because there were many pro-war factions in the army who were eager to make a name for themselves and had long wanted to launch a general offensive.

Because I lack the qualifications, they may outwardly listen to what I say, but inwardly they are not convinced.

But since these words came from the commander's mouth, if I say them again in the future, it will be considered that I am carrying out the commander's will.

These arrogant and fierce soldiers were speechless.

The five prefectures of Dingnan were all conquered by the military commander, and all the troops, horses, money, and provisions were in his hands.

The civil and military officials were all appointed by Chen Shao, who also arranged a marriage alliance with the Zhong family of the Western Army. Even Wu Jie himself was promoted by Chen Shao; no one would dare challenge the authority of the military governor here.

Chen Shao stopped under a tree, dismounted, and the others followed suit.

He broke off a twig, drew several circles on the ground, and asked, "This is Yanzhou, this is Xingqing Prefecture. Approximately how much progress have we made in the past six months?"

Wu Jie squatted down, picked up two pebbles, placed them between the two circles, and said, "They were here half a year ago, and they are here now." Then he pointed with his finger and said, "These are Weiyuan Village, Dingxi Village, Jinbian Village, and Yangli Village. Each village has more than two thousand soldiers!"

Chen Shao glanced at it and saw that the progress was not slow. At first, Yanchi was the border, but now the land between Yanchi and Xingqing Prefecture was basically split in half, and his side had five more forts and villages.

The five fortified villages, arranged in a fan shape, resemble a crescent moon, slowly sweeping across the Xingling Plain.

The differing policies on both sides attracted people from the west to continuously come and seek refuge.

Once you arrive, you will be properly settled. If you stay in the west, you will only be constantly plundered and killed by that evil star Han Shizhong.

The Western Xia were ruthless enough before, but now an even more ruthless one has arrived, and people's hearts are gradually turning eastward.

Chen Shao raised his head and said to the people around him, "The war is going well now, and you all have made contributions. You must continue your efforts and not slack off. When we succeed, I will share wealth and honor with you all and will never forget you."

Wu Jie clasped his hands in greeting and said, "I am willing to serve the General!"

A moment later, the newly appointed commanders, deputy commanders, and other military officers also chimed in.
-
Xingqing Prefecture's imperial city was built to be extremely magnificent, incorporating the best elements from various regions.

The main hall with its Han-style hip roof and golden glazed tiles, combined with the Tibetan-style gilded finial, formed the administrative area.

The sleeping quarters area is in the form of a domed palace with felt tents, plus a Han-style wooden beam frame.

In addition, there is a mandala-style cloister surrounding the Vajrasana Hall, which is reserved for royal members to worship Buddha.

Li Qianshun sat alone in the empty hall.

Fragments of the battlefield remained in his mind; a few days ago, he personally led an expedition, accompanied by the Iron Falcons of Western Xia, to destroy a fortress under construction.

He could never forget the fierce look in the eyes of that dying villager as he desperately hurled the harmless stone in his hand.

Under the rule of the Western Xia Tangut royal family, they would never dare to show such a look, not even when killing them.

If everyone in the east is like this, how can I reverse the decline?

In recent years, with the continuous defeats on the battlefield, Li Qianshun has become extremely haggard.

He was always haunted by nightmares, dreaming of sitting alone on an empty palace throne, utterly desolate; no more ministers attending court, and outside, a storm raged, a scene of the empire crumbling...

The Western Xia dynasty was never short of palace intrigue, not even since its founding. Its founding emperor, Li Yuanhao, died at the hands of his own son. He was acutely aware of the tragic plight of a failed ruler.

The fear of failure will spur him to act more cautiously.

But now, the situation is beyond his control. Outside the main hall, the sunlight was blinding, casting a distinct shadow under the eaves.

Li Qianshun sat motionless on the public bench, his eyes lowered, deep in thought about the matter at hand.

Since the founding of the Western Xia Dynasty, there has never been a more desperate time than this moment, and the enemy is not much stronger than before.

The battles of Xihe, the five-pronged attack on Xia during the Yuanfeng era, and the battle of Yongle City were all fought when the enemy was on the verge of defeat.

Even Xingqing Prefecture was surrounded.

But at that time, the Western Xia were united and fearless, defeating the Song people every time and reversing the situation on the battlefield.

But now, the Song people are not giving us any chance to reverse the situation; they even avoid fighting when they have the advantage.

How can we turn the tide if we don't fight? Li Qianshun has already overdrawn the last of the nation's strength twice, gathering all his power to fight a decisive battle against the Song people.

Each time, they would fortify their defenses and hide in fortresses and cities, giving them no chance whatsoever.

Blood was being drained away drop by drop; the Western Xia's national strength had long since reached its limit.

Currently, the region is receiving aid from Guazhou and Shazhou in Hexi.

Thinking of this, Li Qianshun stood up; he could no longer sit idly by and wait for his doom!
He hurriedly got up and walked out of the hall.

The next morning, outside Xingqing Prefecture, a large delegation heading towards Yanzhou for peace negotiations.

They were originally going to Youzhou, but upon hearing that Chen Shao was in Yanzhou, they decided to come here on their way.

Chen Shao had also heard about it and waited early in his tent outside Yanzhou City to see what tricks the Western Xia would pull this time.

The officers, fully armored and standing in two rows, awaited the arrival of the Western Xia envoy with menacing expressions.

In the past, the Western Xia had also sent people here, and they would start cursing, hoping to provoke the Song army into battle.

Everyone was prepared to stand guard over Chen Shao this time, determined to give them a good beating and make them pay dearly.

Some quick-witted military officers even went so far as to seek out their barbarian soldiers and learn some of the most offensive swear words from the Qiang people.

As the curtain was lifted, the officers and soldiers inside the tent straightened their backs and gripped their swords. At that moment, the men exuded a chilling aura of killing intent that swept over you!

Unexpectedly, when the Western Xia envoy entered the tent, instead of cursing, he knelt down with a thud.

Chen Shaofu looked at the table, wiped his eyelids, and immediately understood.

If you can't beat them, you have to show weakness.

This is a common tactic used by the Western Xia; it's just unknown what conditions they will offer in exchange for our withdrawal.

Of course, we know our own situation best, and no matter what conditions they offer, we will not back down.
Among the Western Xia envoys, the leading elder, Zi Tang, had a blue tattoo on his face; he was none other than Ye Li Renrong, the Western Xia's Deputy Privy Councilor.

The Western Xia people, especially the nobles, loved tattoos.

I heard that the princesses of Western Xia all had phoenixes tattooed on their bodies.

"The King of Great Xia respectfully inquires after General Chen's well-being."

Chen Shao's eyes flickered, and he laughed, "No, no, I am but a mere Envoy, I am not worthy of such a grand gesture. Someone, bring me a chair."

Yeli Renrong was somewhat surprised. This man's battlefield arrangements were ruthless and decisive, aiming to wipe out the Western Xia.

I had assumed he must be an arrogant and ruthless person.

I didn't expect him to be so easy to talk to when we actually met.

Chen Shao chuckled and asked, "I heard you buried eight hundred jars of kerosene along the south wall of Xingqing Prefecture? Is that true?"

Yeli Renrong's Adam's apple bobbed beneath the tattooed peony pattern, flanked by scouts on both sides, all of whom were a mix of Han and Qiang, making it impossible to guard against spies.

"General, you are wise. This letter of state is not for the purpose of war." He held up the gilded scroll with both hands. "Our lord wishes to place his precious daughter under your command. From this day forward, the four prefectures of Yinxia, ​​Youyan, and Yan will be at your disposal, and we also bestow upon you three thousand fine horses from Hexi."

Chen Shao curled his lip and said, "That's not very fair of you. If I, a Chengxuan Envoy and the acting military governor of the Great Song Dynasty, were to marry your Western Xia princess, I would be impeached to death by the civil officials in the court. I'm afraid I'm not fortunate enough to enjoy such a good thing."

The Western Xia people understood Chen Shao's emerging power better than the people of Bianliang.

They had long known that Chen Shao was by no means a loyal minister or general; his actions showed a complete disregard for the Song Dynasty.

They practically had the words "rebellion and separatism" written all over their heads.

Therefore, the Western Xia did not seek help from the Song court when they knelt down, but went directly to Chen Shao.

“General Chen, if it is Princess Kenna, our Western Xia is willing to relinquish the title of Emperor and obey your orders from now on.”

Chen Shao smiled and said, "As a subject of the Song Dynasty, I, Chen Shao, will not do such a thing. Please go back and tell your lord that if we fight, we will continue to fight; if we surrender, we will first offer land and open the city gates. Don't think about these crooked ways."

"I have heard that your lord has been unable to eat or sleep well lately. I have one ounce of ambergris here. Tell him to use half a coin each time, plus one ounce of agarwood, five coins of sandalwood, two coins of golden cinnamon, and one coin of musk. Put them in a silver vessel and boil them in hot water until dissolved, then mash them into a paste and make pills for him to take."

Oh, and I also returned to him the twelve boxes of palm-leaf manuscripts of the Diamond Sutra personally translated by Kumarajiva, which I had obtained in Xiazhou City and kept in a sutra cylinder, so that he could read them in his spare time and take care of his health.”

This medicine is the pill Chen Shao has been taking recently, made for him by Li Shishi, and it's very effective. The ingredients are indeed precious, especially the ambergris, but Chen Shao knows that Western Xia has no shortage of it.

You don't need it, that's fine, but I'm giving it to you as a token of my appreciation. It's rare for Chen Shao to be so generous.

He returned the greeting politely, and anyone who didn't know the situation would think that he and the Emperor of Western Xia were some kind of close friends.

Chen Shao did not let the Western Xia envoys leave, but instead treated them to a warm welcome.

With the mindset that "since we're already here, we might as well have a meal," Nori Renrong indulged in a feast for several days.

Then, someone brought the scriptures that Chen Shao had mentioned. The six and a half person-high gilded scripture cylinders gleamed in the morning sunlight.

Nori Hitoshi didn't know why he was being so polite.

But since I haven't completed my mission, bringing back some good stuff seems like a good idea too.

So he gladly accepted.

On his way back from Yanzhou, Yeli Renrong noticed the gilded prayer wheel.

The Western Xia people along the way could see it clearly, and upon inquiring, they learned that it was sent by Chen Shao of the Dingnan Army next door.

The emperor sent someone to the neighboring house, and the neighboring house returned the gift.
For a time, people were filled with panic, all thinking that the emperor was about to surrender.

Especially after this fellow pushed the prayer wheel into Xingqing Prefecture, he attracted a large crowd of onlookers.

The mission members were also unaware of the secrecy surrounding the story, which spread like wildfire about how Chen Shao had treated them so well and even brought back ambergris for His Majesty.

Then countless versions emerged, becoming increasingly bizarre.

Li Qianshun looked at Yeli Renrong kneeling before the prince, his heart filled with despair.

If he weren't from the Yeli tribe, Li Qianshun would have killed him long ago, and even being slowly sliced ​​to death wouldn't have been enough to appease him.

Nori Hitoshi didn't know what mistake he had made, and he was also very frightened.

Li Qianshun remained silent for a long time, then waved his hand, ordering someone to throw him out.

Is it really over?

He was not reconciled.

Now there is another option: hold out until the Jurchen Jin dynasty attacks, submit to them, pay tribute, and preserve your foundation!
After Yelü Dashi and Xiao Gan defeated the Song Dynasty, the morale of the entire Northern Liao Dynasty was greatly boosted.

Since the Jurchens rebelled, the mighty Liao Dynasty has not had any good news for a long time.

Their own confidence had collapsed, and they all began to doubt whether the Liao people would ever be able to win a battle.

This resounding victory came at just the right time.

In front of Tong Guan, Song Jiang would never dare to call himself "Timely Rain".

Tong Xuanshuai was much more timely than him.

The Liao army pursued them to Xiongzhou and set up camp not far from the city, separated by a river.

On the city wall of Xiongzhou, crowds thronged, with Song archers making up about 60% of the soldiers.

The city walls were also covered with powerful bows and crossbows!
The few Song cavalrymen also came out from behind the gate and assembled, standing in silent ranks, ready to launch a counterattack at any moment.

The troops on the front line of Xiongzhou are the elite of the Western Army. Although they have just suffered a major defeat, their war preparations are still in good order and there is no panic!

Yang Keshi made a big mistake a few days ago, but he is Tong Xuanshuai's most trusted confidant. Now that he has recovered from his injuries, he is still commanding from the city wall.

Looking at the Liao army not far away, Yang Keshi simply rubbed his hands: "Not bad! We've managed to gain a foothold in Xiongzhou. The city is strong and the moats are deep; it's not easy to break through."

"Once I've recovered my strength, I will still be Commander Xuan's vanguard, the first to charge out and fight the enemy."

Wang Bing simply stared intently in the direction of the Liao army camp, ignoring him. Yang Keshi felt somewhat embarrassed and left in a huff.

Wang Bing hated him to the core. Even though he had already warned him, he still did what he wanted.

This campaign against Liao was a labor of love for Commander Xuan, and it was also the best opportunity for the brothers to secure their wives and children's future and make a name for themselves in history!
How can this guy not know how to cherish things!

The Liao army on the opposite side began to move, and the camp gates opened one after another, with squads of Liao soldiers pouring out.

Guided by cavalry, they entered the open field between the Song and Liao camps.

All that could be seen were fluttering green flags, and a forest of swords and spears pouring out from all the camp gates, seemingly without end!
Wang Bing snorted: "Unlike the siege warfare camp! No siege equipment, no weapons, not even a single piece of firewood to fill the moat. They're just sending troops outwards like bastards!"

Was Yelü Dashi preparing to muster his entire army at the city walls, or what?

After observing carefully for a while, Wang Bing suddenly smiled.

He saw through the opponent's true intentions and feints.

The Liao soldiers looked numerous, but in reality, they had many military flags and many cavalrymen running back and forth.

They've come to demonstrate.

They feared that the Song Dynasty would continue to send troops, and that the Jurchens would attack from both the north and south.

So he staged this whole thing to scare his men away, so that he could free up his hands and focus on dealing with the Jurchens.

In the Liao army camp, Nanjing Commander-in-Chief, Prince Xiao Gan, did not follow Yelü Dashi into battle to put on airs.

He simply stood atop the watchtower in his own camp, tightly wrapped in his cloak, watching everything before him, his expression unchanging.

They won, but it was the Song Dynasty that won, not the Jurchens.
If the Jurchens, who were riding high on their momentum, were to suffer such a defeat, they might actually have a chance to turn the tide.

Yelü Dashi was still putting on a great show.

But now, Wang Bing finds this painstaking effort somewhat laughable.
After Wang Bing understood the Liao people's intentions, he leaned against the city wall and burst into laughter.

The Liao Dynasty is already at its end, what can you, Yelü Dashi, do?
-
Tong Guan did not stay in Xiongzhou for long.

When he led tens of thousands of troops under Liu Yanqing to provide support, he was defeated by Yelü Dashi in the open field.

His men fought desperately to protect him, and he escaped to Xiongzhou City.

Since Yelü Dashi's army approached the city and set up camp across the river, he chose to continue his retreat.

They retreated all the way to Hejian Prefecture, where they established a military headquarters and directed the campaign against the Liao.

Commander Xuan, who used to be at the front lines in every battle, has now lost his former courage and dares not stay in Xiongzhou to command.

Even so, he was still considered one of the more courageous high-ranking officials in the Song Dynasty, which was the most fatal flaw.

Later, Cai You and others simply took command in Daming Prefecture.
Commanding a campaign against the Liao Dynasty from a distance of 108,000 miles away, there's no way he could win.

Hejian Prefecture had already become a military city.

This important town on Hebei West Road is about the same distance from Xiongzhou as it is from Zhuozhou.

Tong Guan retreated in one breath, followed by tens of thousands of Liu Yanqing's troops, immediately turning Hejian Prefecture into chaos.

These soldiers have problems with eating, drinking, relieving themselves, and sleeping!
The prefectural governors and transport commissioners of Hebei's two circuits all gathered in Hejian Prefecture to provide full support to the defeated army.

Discipline in the Western Army has always been a major problem.

When we win a battle, discipline is relatively easy to maintain. But after this defeat, if even one supply is not available, the area around Hejian Prefecture will likely be a disaster!
The disaster was of similar intensity to, or even worse than, the southward invasion of the Tartars.

No one dared to be negligent.

In the city of Hejian, soldiers of the Western Army of the Song Dynasty, wearing soft hats, were everywhere. They had seized houses from the people to sleep in, and the houses were scattered in a chaotic manner.

In the streets and alleys, soldiers were out of control. Some gambled, some slacked off, and they stole the oxen and donkeys used for transporting grain and provisions. They threw them over on the spot, cut off their legs, and devoured them, leaving only the common people and laborers to watch over the animal carcasses and cry out to heaven.

Everywhere you could hear accents from Shaanxi: "What a damn place Hebei is! It's messed with me. I'd rather go back to Shaanxi than stay under this damned commander!"

The key issue is that all the lower- and middle-ranking military officers who used to keep them in check have been transferred away, and their superiors are now a group of powerful and wealthy young men from Bianliang.

With no capable personal guards by their side, these young men were so frightened by the Northwest soldiers that they fled back to Bianliang.

Many soldiers were not under the control of their superiors, which is why things were in such disarray.

The Xuan Shuai Mansion occupied the prefectural government office of Hejian Prefecture, and it seems that only here does a little order remain.

The tall, victorious soldiers of the Victorious Army were arrayed all around, keeping a tight watch on the surroundings, and no unauthorized personnel were allowed to rush in.

These seasoned soldiers of the Western Army were indeed scoundrels. Even ordinary soldiers passing by would often point at the prefectural government office and curse: "I've been a soldier my whole life and seen battles a few times, but I've never suffered such a humiliating defeat! The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the Emperor wants them, the Commander-in-Chief wants them, the gentlemen want them, but we don't want them!"

"My mother is not in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, nor is my father's grave there!"

"Damn it! If you don't give the order soon, we'll go back to Shaanxi ourselves!"

They weren't just talking; quite a few of them actually deserted and traveled back to their hometowns together.

Tong Guan didn't dare to take drastic measures to restrain them. These soldiers were capable of anything, and if another mutiny broke out, they would be completely finished.

A small group of knights was galloping through the streets and alleys. The lead knight was carrying a blue flag, which was the banner of the Xuan Shuai Yamen (military headquarters).

These knights all wore embroidered hats with interlocking tassels, brocade robes, and rhinoceros horn belts. Each one was a carefully selected, robust man, a Victorious Army soldier meticulously chosen by Commander Tong Guan and Commander Tong Xuan.

As the victorious troops swept past like the wind, the Yanqing soldiers on the road scattered and cursed loudly behind them: "You've forgotten the foundation of our Western Army, and instead you've become dogs for cowards! Let's see how you get out of this mess!"

After criticizing the victorious army, some people naturally began to complain about their commander, the commander of the Fuyan army: "Lord Liu is so muddle-headed, he has forgotten the foundation of our Western Army! If we had followed Lord Zhong and Lord Xiao Zhong in advancing and retreating together, how could we have suffered such a great loss? When the Emperor blames us, Commander Xuan has people in Bianliang, and the Emperor will protect him, but it will be our Lord Liu who will take the blame!"

"We should also be punished!"

Several knights from the victorious army surrounded a dashing young man who was not yet thirty. He was also dressed in brocade robes and jade belts, wearing a turban with embroidered patterns. His face was covered in dust and grime. He heard the complaints of the soldiers on the street, but could not utter a word, and could only smile wryly.

The man who came was named Ma Kuo. Before the war against Liao began, he had been traveling between Liao and Jurchen as an envoy.

He also came from the Western Army, registered in Xihe, and his family was known for their loyalty and bravery. Just considering his and his father's generation, there was one uncle, two brothers, and two elder brothers who died in the continuous battles against the Western Xia and the Qiang tribes of Qinghai.

He served in the Xihe Army. On one occasion, he rode alone to the enemy camp and persuaded the Zang Zhengpuge tribe of the Qingtang Qiang to surrender to the Song Dynasty, thus gaining fame.

While the Song Dynasty used the pretext of buying horses to cross the sea and form a maritime alliance with the Jurchens, agreeing to jointly attack the Liao Dynasty, he was on a business trip in Qingzhou. He was recommended by someone and immediately became an envoy, thus becoming involved in the struggle between the Song Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty, and the Jurchens.

Ma Kuo undoubtedly longed to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. Which ambitious soldier in the Song Dynasty would not want to make such a great contribution?

During the alliance meeting with the Jurchens, Ma Kua shone brightly, and the Jurchen leader Wanyan Aguda was impressed by his horsemanship and archery skills.

He was affectionately called Yelimali, which in Jurchen language means "a skilled archer".

It's important to know that the first generation of Jurchen Tartars were all excellent archers. To be praised by their leader was a testament to their skill.

When Tong Guan organized the team to attack Liao and established the Xuan Shuai Yamen, he naturally made good use of such people.

He was actually a person who loved talent and had a good eye for talent. For example, the people he valued, such as Wang Bing, Liu Zhongwu, and He Guan, were all truly capable.

Unlike Chen Shao, they didn't know how to say things like "May Commander Xuan take care of his health," but they were still greatly promoted by Tong Guan.

Ma Kuo came from the Western Army and knew the inner workings of the Liao Dynasty's Jurchens well, so Tong Guan adopted a humble and respectful attitude, readily accepting his advice.

Ma Kuo was also ambitious, comparing himself to Ma Yuan of the Han Dynasty and Li Jing of the Tang Dynasty, and was determined to establish great achievements.

did not expect.
Ma Kuo shook his head, stopping his wild thoughts. Although the situation was bad, there was still a chance!
He strode towards Tong Guanjie Hall!

(End of this chapter)