You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 124: Taking advantage of the situation
As Ma Kuo walked toward the Jietang Hall, he gradually noticed something was amiss.

Although Tong Guan did not perform well in this battle, he was still the only choice in Tong Guan's mind to lead the expedition against Liao.

Because he was not bound by the constraints of civil officials, Commander Tong had a close relationship with the emperor, who trusted him.

If someone else were in charge of the campaign against Liao, with nearly 200,000 real soldiers, they could march south across the vast plains of Hebei.

They will definitely send some kind of military supervisor or official. These officials are either eunuchs or civil officials who know nothing about military affairs but love to give orders.

Therefore, Ma Kuo supported Tong Guan from the very beginning, and Tong Guan treated him very well.

Unexpectedly, this made him an outcast in the eyes of the old Western Army.

At the time of the Song army's defeat at the Baigou River, he was on a diplomatic mission in Yanjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty, to proclaim the Northern Liao court's urgent surrender.

This is somewhat similar to Tang Jian, except that Tong Guan and Li Jing are different; he lost.

After escaping, Ma Kuo was filled with grief and indignation, never expecting that the old Western Army would suffer a crushing defeat in the Battle of Baigou River.

And Liu Yanqing's Western Army, which split off from the Liao army, was no match for them. Despite having a superior force of 150,000, they suffered a crushing defeat against the Liao army, which had not won a single battle since the Jurchen uprising seven years ago!
Upon arriving in Hejian Prefecture, the various phenomena he witnessed made him realize one thing clearly:

Tong Xuanshuai was no longer the commander who led every battle. After the defeat at Baigou River, he retreated directly to Xiongzhou, and then to Hejian Prefecture.

Are we going to have to retreat to Daming Prefecture again in a few days?

Retreat to Bianliang? Or command the campaign against Liao from within the imperial city?
To be fair, Ma Kuo was indeed very charismatic. During the war between the two countries, he was in Yanjing, and Yelü Chun treated him very well, sending him out with great courtesy.

Yelü Dashi and Xiao Gan politely escorted him back to the Song army's front lines without making things difficult for him.

He was treated with great courtesy by both the Liao and Jin dynasties, and this only made him stand out even more, given the dismal state of the Song dynasty.

After Ma Kuo returned, he was ordered by Tong Guan to travel around and contact the commanders of the Western Army to discuss how to salvage the situation.

The military commissioners of the Western Army, stationed in various regions, had promised to meet with Commander Tong Guan and Commander Tong Xuan in Hejian Prefecture, but their indifferent attitudes made Ma Kuo realize that the old commander of the Western Army had made up his mind to watch the show.

In any case, the commander of this Northern Expedition was Tong Guan, not them!
They were all waiting to return to the Northwest, back to their own territory. Ma Kuo also saw through the true nature of these Western Army generals; they only wanted to go back and continue being generals and regional governors, and had no intention of fighting here for Tong Guan's title of king.

In fact, if Ma Kuo could put himself in the shoes of the Western Army, it would be unreasonable to expect a group of border troops who had fought for over a hundred years but were constantly suppressed by the imperial court to have any loyalty to the Song Dynasty.

The old and young Zhong ministers, along with their capable subordinates such as Yao Pingzhong, were deeply disgusted by Tong Guan's attempts to divide the Western Army, win over Liu Yanqing in order to replace the old Zhong minister, and establish the Shengjie Army to poach the elite troops of the Western Army.

The Western Army's century-old foundation is deeply intertwined, with each family and individual having their own interests involved. How could it be easily taken down?

Ma Kuo left in a hurry. Although he had many things on his mind, he was not confused. He still had his own ideas and plans.

In his view, this defeat was an accident, and there must be some special reason behind it.

This war to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun should not have turned out like this!
With the loss of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the Han dynasty lost this strategically important region, leaving the heart of the Central Plains wide open.

He had been to the Jurchen region and knew just how powerful these barbarians who had risen in the east of the sea truly were!

If the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were not in our hands, then even if the Song Dynasty demanded them back like it did at the Treaty of Chanyuan, it would be impossible to obtain them!
The Jurchens' southward advance will become extremely difficult to stop, and we must help the Song Dynasty reclaim this northern bulwark.

Is the Song Dynasty, after a hundred years, truly past its prime? Is it destined to share the same fate as the Liao Dynasty, with whom it has been entangled for over a century?
As he traveled, these thoughts kept popping into Ma Kuo's mind, but he quickly suppressed them, not daring to think about them too deeply.

After several days of running around, he finally met with all the military commissioners. They all agreed to go to Hejian Prefecture in five days at the invitation of Commander Xuan to discuss future plans. He considered his mission complete and hurriedly returned to report.

He was utterly fed up with his job as a scribe in the Xuan Shuai Mansion and would rather return to the army and fight with swords and spears to his heart's content!

Although Ma Kuo was always engaged in diplomacy and networking, he was actually skilled in archery and horsemanship, a fierce general, and his command was quite methodical, making him a rare military talent.

This small group of people finally arrived at the Xuan Shuai Mansion amidst Ma Kuo's wild thoughts.

Even before they reached the government office, the officer on duty shouted a command, and the lead knight unfurled the flag he was holding: "Ma Xuanzan, return to the office and hand over the order!"

Putting aside everything else, the Shengjie Army is absolutely unparalleled in its superficial skills, even surpassing the former king of showmanship, the Imperial Guard of the Capital.

Although the officer on duty recognized Ma Kuo, he still stepped forward and meticulously checked the flag and token before smiling and saying, "Ma Xuanzan, dismount and go inside. Commander Xuan just sent messengers out to look for you, and one wasn't enough, so he sent out seven or eight! But I didn't expect Xuanzan to return so quickly! You've been to several places so fast, Xuanzan, you've worked hard!"

Ma Kuo's heart tightened. Tong Guanming knew that he had gone to contact the various commanders of the Western Army, yet he had sent so many people out to look for him in such a hurry. He really didn't know what kind of changes had occurred ahead!

Could it be that the Jurchens broke their oath and marched south ahead of schedule?

He shoved the reins into the young officer on duty: "Send word that I'm going to see Commander Xuan right now!"

The officer on duty waved his hand, and people rushed inside, relaying the message from the entrance to the inner hall.

Ma Kuo straightened his clothes and strode inside.

The Xuan Shuai Yamen was heavily guarded all the way, and even someone like Ma Kuo had to have his waist tag checked at every turn.

However, just as he reached the main gate of the government office, he saw two trusted lieutenants of Tong Guan rushing out in a hurry: "Commander Xuan has ordered that there is no need for announcement or inspection. Please invite Ma Xuanzan to the Hall of Imperial Sacrifices!"

Ma Kuo's heart tightened again, but he followed the two officers into the gate.

As soon as they reached outside the Hall of Reunion, they saw Tong Guanxuan's banner fluttering in front of the Hall of Reunion. In front of the Hall of Reunion, the soldiers of the victorious army, clad in armor, stood in two rows, far away.

Everyone stood with their axes and swords drawn, an atmosphere of grim determination filling the courtyard. It was as if the defeat at Baigou had never happened, and the Western Army under Tong Guan's command was no longer the disintegrating, chaotic force it once was.

Inside the Hall of Ceremonies, there was still the same Grand Tutor Tong Guan, who commanded 150,000 elite troops, who had been personally escorted out of Bianliang by the Emperor, and who was now heading north to conquer Liao!
An officer from the victorious army stepped forward and gestured for Ma Kuo to remove the sword from his waist. As Ma Kuo reached for the sword, a loud shout rang out from inside the hall: "Don't delay! Quickly, invite Ma Xuanzan forward!"

His voice, booming like a bell, resonated throughout the hall. The officer stiffened, bowed, and made way. Ma Kuo's heart pounded even higher. Tong Guan was always so concerned with appearances; his sudden urgency was truly baffling. He gripped the sword at his waist and hurried up the steps.

Outside the main hall was a foyer, with a white tiger screen in the center. Passing the screen, one entered the main hall. In the main hall, a tall man dressed in a brocade robe, wearing a black gauze hat and a jade belt was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.

The man was in his fifties, with a dark complexion, strong muscles and bones like iron, and a few sparse whiskers, giving him an indescribably strange appearance. His triangular eyes gleamed as he faced Ma Kuo's approaching figure.

It was Tong Guan, who held the positions of Privy Councilor, Grand Tutor, and Pacification Commissioner of Hebei Circuits, and had wielded actual military power in the Song Dynasty for nearly twenty years!

Tong Guan's eyes gleamed as he looked at Ma Kuo, who was bowing respectfully before the commander's desk in the hall. "Ma Xuanzan, you know the situation at the front. There is still one chance to turn defeat into victory: persuade Guo Yaoshi to surrender."

"I'm afraid I'll have to rely on you for this matter."
-
In Yanzhou, Chen Shao personally arrived at the newly built fortified village.

The soldiers and civilians in the village were all excited and jubilant. The commander's prestige had been rising day by day, but he was also becoming more and more visible.

In the fields where people are tilling the land, in the mud pits where canals are being dug in the riverbed, and in the barracks where soldiers are fighting on the front lines.
It was already late May, and the weather was getting hot again. Chen Shao was wearing a simple brocade robe and was leading a group of people walking on the village wall.

Looking at the traces of destruction left by the Western Xia people, there are still bloodstains on the stockade walls.

Chen Shao pointed to the bloodstains and said, "It seems they also know that with each fortress we build, their death draws closer."

The people around him laughed, full of confidence and high spirits. This battle against Xia was indeed as Jie Shuai had said, and victory could be achieved slowly and steadily using the safest methods.

It can't be rushed.
At this moment, Chen Shao's personal guards hurriedly came up, pushed through the crowd, went to Zhao He, and handed him a letter.

After receiving it, Zhao He did not dare to delay and pushed through the crowd to hand it to Chen Shao.

Chen Shao looked at the letter in his hand and laughed before even unfolding it.

"I sent six letters to our Commander Xuan, and he finally decided to reply with one."

After saying that, he tore open the envelope and read it aloud in a low voice.

After reading it, Chen Shao rubbed his temples with his knuckles. "You want me to lead troops to Hebei?"

Everyone around him was watching him; almost everyone wanted the general to leave.

They have placed their hopes on the Dingnan Army, hoping that the commander will lead them to destroy the Western Xia as soon as possible and establish a firm foothold.

What does the incident in Hebei's Youyan region have to do with you?
Half of Chen Shao's men originally belonged to Western Xia.

Chen Shao leaned against the stockade wall, looked at the distant Xingling Plain, and fell into silent contemplation.

He doesn't need to consult with anyone else; he has to make the decision himself. Everyone has their own ulterior motives, and that's something that can't be changed.

Expecting others to put themselves in your shoes is wishful thinking.

Of Chen Shao's men, perhaps only a dozen out of ten thousand were willing to fight in Youyan for the sake of the Song Dynasty.

Everyone else would surely object.

Therefore, brainstorming was useless; Chen Shaode made his decision based on what only he knew about things that had not yet happened.

Would going to Youyan be useful?

Chen Shao carefully considered the matter. Tong Guan had asked him to lead troops to Hebei. What would happen to Western Xia then?
The Western Xia is currently on the verge of collapse. If we give them a chance to recover, it will be much harder to crush them later.

You should know that the Western Xia was an incredibly resilient force, outliving the Liao, Northern Song, and Jin dynasties.
They are very resilient.

Therefore, sufficient troops need to be left on the Xingling front line, with at least 30,000 combat soldiers.

In Xia Prefecture, it is also necessary to leave 30,000 to 50,000 troops, because the Jurchens have already sent people to negotiate, and they are very dissatisfied with their acceptance of Han people from Liaodong.

If we divert too many troops, it will be dangerous for them to move south.

Once Xia Prefecture is lost, the Jurchens will connect Yun Prefecture and Xia Prefecture into one, making it not only extremely difficult to take it back, but practically impossible.

The Jurchens are not like the Western Xia and Liao dynasties, which were riddled with problems. They are now rising in power and are hard to defeat.

With Xia Prefecture lost, given Chen Shao's understanding of Western Xia, they would certainly seize this only opportunity to pay tribute to the Jin and then launch a pincer attack on You Prefecture and Yan Prefecture.
Chen Shao shook his head. He had no troops to support Youyan, and if he went, he would be of no use whatsoever.

Tong Guan had many subordinates who were better at fighting than him, and Tong Guan himself had far more experience in commanding troops.

And most importantly, if I go there myself, can I really command the troops?

Even if you sent Yue Fei at his peak to Tong Guan, let alone go yourself, he still wouldn't be able to use him well and win!

Chen Shao stood on the stockade wall and sighed deeply. To be honest, he actually wanted to go.

As a Han Chinese, who the hell wants to see the humiliation of Jingkang repeated?
Even if it's just a small effort to reclaim the northern barrier and prevent the Hebei region from falling so quickly in the future, Chen Shao would be happy to do so.

But reason told him that going there would not only be useless, but might also ruin the current situation in the Northwest.

Chen Shao tore the letter in his hand to shreds and threw it off the stockade wall.

Those around them breathed a sigh of relief.

This was a letter Tong Guan wrote to himself in private, and he pretended not to have received it.
"This village is quite good, I am very satisfied. I hope you will continue your efforts and strive to build another fortified village nearby this month!"

After Chen Shao finished speaking, he went to find Wu Jie alone and gave him a few more instructions.

Those around him watched as General Wu confidently patted his chest, seemingly making some kind of promise to the military commander.

Chen Shao descended from the fortress and ordered his personal guards to depart and return to Youzhou.

Tong Guan was capable of getting the imperial court to issue an edict, but Chen Shao did not want to turn against the court at this time.

His caravans need to do business within the territory of the Song Dynasty, which is now an important source of revenue for the Dingnan Army.

Therefore, Chen Shao needs to make plans early.

If the imperial court issues an edict, he will have to find a reason for himself.

This reason can't be too far-fetched.

When we returned to Youzhou, it suddenly started to rain.

When Chen Shao was at his doorstep, he saw Old Zhu's car parked to the side.

He went to the eaves at the gate, and Old Zhu came out to greet him with a smile.

How did you know I was coming back?

Old Zhu laughed and said, "How would I know the commander's whereabouts? Isn't this just a coincidence?"

This must be true, because Chen Shao himself didn't know he would be back tonight.

Chen Shao gave him a few instructions, telling him to stay in Yinzhou and not to wander around, as these were extraordinary times.

Old Zhu readily agreed, saying he was just delivering some things and would leave immediately.

Chen Shao didn't think much of it, assuming he was just bringing some things for his two daughters.

The expenses of his inner quarters were all charged to Chen Shao's account, and someone in Guangyuan Hall was specifically in charge of this.

However, the women among them also had some money of their own, after all, none of them came from humble backgrounds.

Li Shishi goes without saying, and Chen Shao started his career by relying on other people's money.

The Zhu sisters were also little princesses of the Qiang tribes of Hengshan.

Huanhuan was the daughter of the Zhong family, and her dowry was very generous. The entire Yinzhou was part of her dowry, so naturally her expenses couldn't be reduced.

Chen Shao shook his raincoat and pulled Old Zhu aside, saying, "You've come at the right time. These past few days, the court has asked me to provide some warhorses. You can select some and send them over."

Zhu Lingling was displeased upon hearing this, "General, we don't have a large number of horses either."

Chen Shao clicked his tongue and sighed, "There's nothing we can do. If they cut off the trade routes between Yinzhou and Hongzhou, we'll lose even more."

Chen Shao really didn't want to give it to them. In the current state of the Song Dynasty, giving it to them would be tantamount to aiding the enemy.

The future belongs to the Jurchens.

That grandson of Zhao Ji, he'll give away his wife and daughters in the future, how can he possibly keep his horse?

Zhu Lingling reluctantly accepted the order and left.

Chen Shao originally planned to go to Li Shishi's place, but since he met Lao Zhu, he went to Jin Mo'er's place as well.

As soon as he returned, the maids naturally got busy.

Upon entering the room, Jin Mo'er helped him change his clothes and then brought him a cup of hot tea. With her fair wrists and slender fingers, she gently stirred the covered teacup beside her, her eyes sparkling with alluring charm.

Jin He'er, standing beside her, wore a silver-white silk pleated dress, her head bowed, her eyebrows delicate and her eyes phoenix-like, her beauty stunning.

But in her arms, she held a little girl, who was nestled against Jin He'er with her head down, like a shy and adorable baby, her cheeks flushed.

Jin Mo'er walked around to the front, smiled sweetly at him, and curtsied, saying, "Master, please have some tea."

"What's this?" Chen Shao glanced at the little girl in his sister's arms.

“This is our younger sister, Jin Le’er.”

Chen Shao finally realized what Old Zhu had come for: he'd brought someone here again.

This is really clinging to me; does it mean they absolutely have to have a bloodline?

If you're Han Chinese, that's one thing, but your first bloodline can't be mixed-race!
And what use is such a small thing to you?

This served as a reminder to Chen Shao that he needed to have a son as soon as possible to reassure the people.

He himself had no descendants, so his subordinates wouldn't be loyal to him.

If you die, there won't even be a nominal heir, and the business you've built will inevitably fall apart.

Back then, no one would submit to anyone else, and everything we have now will be lost.

For some reason, neither Li Shishi nor Zhong Lingxi got pregnant, and Chen Shao has been paying attention to conditioning his body recently.

"Hurry up and pay your respects to the master."

Jin Le'er was young and looked weak and frightened. Upon hearing this, she involuntarily clenched the towel in her hand, and a few strands of hair hanging down her temples trembled slightly.

Seeing her like this, Chen Shao didn't believe it at all. Both sisters were drama queens, and the younger one might be too.

However, she was indeed a beauty in the making, like a flower just beginning to bloom, with delicate petals that were about to open, clean and spotless, and so soft that it seemed as if a breath would melt them.

Her face flushed, she took the teacup from her elder sister's hand, and curtsied slightly, saying, "Master, please have some tea."

Chen Shao smiled and ruffled her hair, saying, "Don't be shy, have fun here. If you need anything, just tell the older sisters."

After saying that, he took off a jade pendant, picked up a teacup, and handed it to her.

Jin Le'er glanced at her two older sisters, who both nodded with smiles, before putting the item away.
-
On the outskirts of Youzhou City, stands the Yipin Guangyuan Hall.

"General, this month..." Wang Yin rubbed his hands, somewhat ashamed.

Actually, he wasn't in charge of the caravan, but he was the head of the Guangyuan Hall, so he had to report to them.

Chen Shao flipped through the account book and said, "It's alright. The fighting in the north is fierce right now, and it's already difficult to collect supplies like grain and herbs."

Although he understood this principle, Chen Shao was still somewhat disappointed.

The caravan made a lot of money, but holding gold, silver, and paper money in hand was useless.

"Oh, right, select a few more maids with clean backgrounds, sign contracts with them, and send them to my residence."

Wang Yin nodded.

Suddenly, Chen Shao's eyes lit up as he thought of something.

In April of this year, after the Jin dynasty captured Xijing, Wanyan Gao led his army straight to Baishui Lake. Emperor Tianzuo fled to Jiashan (northwest of present-day Tumote Left Banner, Inner Mongolia) on light cavalry, and all the cities in Shanxi surrendered. Now, the former Liao dynasty's Yunnei Prefecture and Dongsheng Prefecture are occupied by the Jurchens.

These people conquered cities and territories along the way, capturing so many slaves that they couldn't possibly support them all.

Therefore, the Jurchens' fondness for torturing and killing prisoners was not entirely due to cruelty, but rather because they had to kill some, otherwise they wouldn't have enough food to feed them.

They fought their way out of the harsh, cold land and never enjoyed any happiness.

Could they resist the fine silks, exquisite porcelains, gold, silver, and jade of the Central Plains?

In times of war, the gold in one's hands is in the Central Plains; it can't buy grain, but it can buy many luxury goods.

Putting aside other aspects, the "Zhuanghua" technique, a pinnacle of craftsmanship, involves cutting through the warp and weft threads to create the Yun Brocade.

Wearing it feels as comfortable as being naked, yet it still provides warmth.

Could the Jurchen Tartars possibly refuse?

The silk tapestry, worth its weight in gold, was commissioned by Emperor Huizong of Tang to be made with the design of "Willows, Crows, Reeds, and Geese." Its weft density was 300 threads per centimeter, exceeding the limits of postmodern machinery.

While the Song dynasty was incapable of anything else, its achievements in these areas truly surpassed those of the Han and Tang dynasties.

Give them some celadon porcelain that far surpasses glass, and some "bead welding" to make gold and silver utensils covered with 0.1 mm gold beads.

Replacing them with a few slaves that you kill for fun even when you have nothing else to do, isn't that a bit much?
Chen Shao shared this idea and asked Wang Yin to send someone with his letter to discuss it with the Jin people.

At this time, the Song and Jin dynasties were still allies, the Liao dynasty had not been destroyed, and Emperor Tianzuo had not been captured.

The Jurchens have not yet shown their true colors to the Song Dynasty, so they will definitely not refuse.

Especially those middle-ranking Jurchen nobles.

It should be noted that even ordinary Jurchen soldiers had a hundred or so slaves under their command.

For larger Moukes, the possibilities are even more numerous.

The vast territory of the Liao Dynasty was overthrown by them, and nearly nine million people of the Liao Dynasty were enslaved.
"Acquire luxury goods in the Central Plains to exchange for Han people in Liaodong."

Chen Shaoyue thought it made more and more sense. In this way, the Jurchens in the border areas would no longer block the Han people from Liaodong from moving south.

They only catch them to exchange for money or goods.

Even if those in power become aware of it, it's difficult to stop them because they can't satisfy their subordinates who have made great contributions.

You can only reward land and people, but both land and people are already inflated.

From the perspective of the Jurchen upper class, they were unaware that they were about to go to war with the Song people, and this deal was very advantageous to them.

It can calm people's hearts.

Chen Shao was thrilled. If this matter could be accomplished, the benefits would be immense.

First, it solved the problem of having money sitting idle in one's hands.

With the caravan's current efficiency, in a few years, the money will increase significantly, and what they will sell will be cattle, sheep, hides, animal sinews, and even horses!

But if you could exchange them for people, things would be different. The Central Plains have an inexhaustible supply of luxury goods; buying them is as easy as turning your head.

Selling these items did not diminish the fighting strength of the Han Chinese in the Central Plains in the slightest.

Instead, it will corrupt those Jurchen warriors.

Having suffered for generations, how could they not want to enjoy life? Even if they are a group of killing machines, they still have human weaknesses.

Don't be fooled by the Jurchens' current ferocity; no one has corrupted them faster than they have.
-
June, the fourth year of Xuanhe.

Chen Shao submitted a memorial requesting to lead an expedition against Youyan, and his tone was very arrogant.

It subtly mentions what Emperor Shenzong said about being granted a royal title after conquering Youyan.

This can be considered as taking advantage of Tong Guan's information gap.

He was still waiting for Chen Shao's reply, but unexpectedly Chen Shao directly submitted a memorial to the imperial court.

Without being informed by Tong Guan, the imperial court naturally refused outright, ordering him to guard the Northwest.

To appease this border general and have him hold off the Western Xia, the imperial court even promoted Chen Shaosheng, appointing him as the military governor of Dingnan Army.

In reality, his real power had long been that of a military governor.

Now, the title of "Marshal" is truly fitting.

When Tong Guan found out, he was furious and cursed Chen Shao, but there was nothing he could do.
-
Yunnei Prefecture was conquered by Wanyan Loushi, the most powerful general of the Jurchens.

After he captured it, he continued to pursue Emperor Tianzuo, leaving Wanyan Balisu to guard the area.

Chen Shao sent people to negotiate with Wanyan Balisu and transported a large amount of gold, silver, jade, silk, satin, and top-quality porcelain.
This immediately stunned the Jurchens, who had indeed seen such things before.

As Chen Shao had predicted, they were eager to exchange these animals for something.

During wartime, they could be driven to their deaths to fill gaps in the front lines, but now killing them is too much trouble.

It's no wonder the Jurchens despised life so much; they had far too many slaves.

With such a small number of Jurchen nobles concentrated in their hands in a short period of time, and since they couldn't be made to farm immediately, the only option was to kill them first.

Later, when Nurhaci was in Liaodong, he plundered too many Han Chinese slaves, and he used the same method, which he called "killing the poor devils".

In order to consolidate his power, this man repeatedly ordered looting and killing, leaving Liaodong bloodied and with less than one in ten alive.

The two sides quickly reached an agreement, and Wanyan Balisu even sent people to deliver many gifts and flattering words to Chen Shao.

Chen Shao also sent someone to return the gift, writing a letter praising Wanyan Balisu as a hero of the Jurchen people. The two praised each other from afar, each feeling that they had made a great profit.

Both sides designated a specific area on the border of Xiazhou for trade.

Every day, countless slaves are driven here in exchange for those dazzling array of valuables.

In order to sell more, these Jurchen people even forced many people of other ethnicities to shave their heads, wear hats, learn a few words of Han language, and disguise themselves as Han people from Liaodong to be sold to Xiazhou.

Chen Shao's caravan was running at full speed with astonishing efficiency. The Dingnan Army members actually knew that many of its members were not Han Chinese, and after reporting this to Chen Shao, the military commander said that all who came would be accepted.

Regardless of their race, once they arrive, they can all work.
Even if they are scattered and distributed among various fortresses, can they still assimilate the Han people?

That would be truly a reversal of the natural order; no ethnic group could assimilate the Han people, who constitute the majority of the population.

Li Xiaozhong immediately understood Chen Shao's intentions and wholeheartedly agreed with them.

In Xiazhou, he almost fully cooperated in settling, escorting, and assigning these newcomers.

Dingnan Army is sparsely populated and its territory is vast. The Western Xia and the Song Dynasty have been at war for over a century, and the population had already drastically decreased. No matter how many people were brought in, even if Yunnei Prefecture were annexed, it could be easily managed!
Yunnei Prefecture, the Yellow River is clear.

Zhang Yinggu watched as groups of people were sent to Xiazhou, his expression extremely unpleasant.

He was originally the commander of the Han army of the Liao Dynasty. After surrendering, he was stationed here.

After these people left, their Han army base was weakened.

They are probably the biggest victims in this trade.

But they could only watch helplessly.

Those Jurchens are extremely cruel and value this deal highly. If you rashly try to persuade them, you'll probably not have a good outcome.

Beside him, Liu Hong said, "Commander, if we keep selling like this, there won't be many Han people left in Yunnei Prefecture!"

Because the Dingnan Army claimed to be buying Han Chinese, many of the Han Chinese soldiers under their command were forcibly abducted by the Jurchens and sold into slavery.
Zhang Yinggu clenched his fists, his eyes somewhat frightening; in truth, he had little loyalty to the Jurchens.

They are few in number, but if they want to occupy such a large territory, they have to make good use of local strongmen like themselves.

As long as they manage and develop their businesses properly, it's difficult for such tribal states to last more than a century.

Either you or your descendants will have the opportunity to rise to power.

Who knows, we might even be able to conquer the world and sit on it for a while.

Now, Xia Zhou's move is like cutting off his own lifeline; he must stop this deal from continuing.
-
July arrived quickly.

The border between Liao and Song dynasties, the front line in Hebei.

A summer downpour poured down, shrouding the world in darkness.

The rain had been falling for a day or two, turning the land outside Xiongzhou City into a muddy mess. The mist stirred up by the heavy rain made it difficult to see clearly even a hundred paces away.

The Song soldiers stationed in Xiongzhou all stayed in their tents. Only those unlucky ones who were unpopular and ostracized by their superiors were sent to clear the drainage ditches around the camp.

The unfortunate men were all covered in mud, working while muttering curses under their breath, using extremely offensive and vulgar language.

On the high watchtowers on all four sides, the Song soldiers on guard were doubled their vigilance in the rain. They crowded together on the narrow watchtowers, taking turns staring into the depths of the rain and fog. It was at times like these that they were most worried about the Liao people taking advantage of the weather to attack the camp.

Everyone was exhaling long puffs of white breath and stamping their feet on the watchtower, creating a scene reminiscent of winter.

Wang Bing, cloaked, walked atop the stockade wall. Given his status, there was absolutely no need for him to come in person.

However, Wang Bing came almost every day, rain or shine. He had already realized that after removing the lower-ranking officers from the Western Army, the combat effectiveness of these elite field soldiers had been greatly reduced.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were cut in half, turning them into a group of weak troops with very poor discipline.

He paced back and forth on the stockade wall, occasionally cracking a few gruff jokes and affectionately patting the helmets of the soldiers on duty, stirring up a small commotion wherever he went.

The morale of the troops still needs to be restored. Wang Bing also mentioned this matter to Commander Xuan, but Commander Xuan has not replied, which makes him very worried.

Everyone respected Minister Wang. He was a capable general who was approachable and wouldn't embezzle or sell his achievements. It was a blessing for a common soldier to have such a superior.

Even though he was already a general at this point, people could still joke around with him as before, which was quite commendable.

The rain was so heavy that Wang Bing also took shelter in a watchtower.

The Song soldiers, huddled inside, grinned and asked:
"Lord Wang, when exactly do you think the Liao dogs will attack the city?"

Wang Bing shook his head, gazing absently into the depths of the rain and mist to the north: "The Liao dogs won't attack the camp anymore; they're probably taking the opportunity to withdraw their troops."

"Withdraw the troops?" The people around him were startled and unconsciously gathered around.

"With such a superior situation, why are the Liao dogs still retreating? Are they running out of food supplies? If they want to retreat, why haven't we heard any notification from our superiors? We've been stuck here suffering this humiliation for so many days. If the Liao dogs retreat, we should at least give them a good chase!"

Wang Bing nodded inwardly. The Western Army was indeed the Western Army; they hadn't completely lost their fighting spirit.

Even in defeat, they dare to fight back and crave revenge.

Wang Bing laughed and said, "We're not having an easy time, but you're having a good time as a Liao dog? They're facing imminent national annihilation, their situation is much worse than ours!"

On the other side of the rain and mist, Yelü Dashi rode on his horse, staring straight at the indistinct Song army camp to the south.

Raindrops pattered on his golden helmet, then slid down his armor, adding to the chill.

His steed snorted and thrashed restlessly, exhaling long plumes of white breath. Around him stood countless armored knights, all standing silently.

Large groups of Liao soldiers were filling in the trenches around the camp and digging a long moat that ran east to west.

The supplies had already been removed, and carts, horses, cattle, and mules were being driven away from the front line.

The carts were piled high with equipment, supplies, and provisions; the livestock had gags in their mouths and could not neigh.

Struggling in the mud, the drivers and coachmen tried their best to drive the animals and vehicles, and they too were covered in mud.

Everything felt awkward and uncomfortable. The heavy rain fell from the sky, not only drenching the Song people but also the Liao people.

The escorting officers moved back and forth in the ranks, whispering but urgent orders to maintain order and guide the massive procession northward.

After the supplies were removed, the infantry followed by the cavalry would withdraw the fighting forces northward in stages. Taking advantage of the continuous heavy rain, Yelü Dashi was confident that by the time he crossed the Baigou River, the Song people would probably not even have time to react! Besides, even if they did find him, so what? The main force of the Song army had already been routed and scattered; would they dare to pursue him?
But once I go north, I fear I'll never be able to return south in this lifetime...

Even if I head north now, can I save the Liao Dynasty from its perilous state?

Yelü Dashi felt an indescribable grief and indignation. He felt that his ancestor Yelü Abaoji was such a hero who left such a great legacy to his descendants, yet he was defeated by the mere Jurchens.

Now that the Song people are so weak and helpless, if the Liao Dynasty had been more ambitious, it might have been able to march south, unify the Central Plains, and expand its territory tenfold or a hundredfold!
such a pity!
Just as he was lost in thought, he heard the sound of horses' hooves behind him. Turning around, he saw Xiao Gan leading a large contingent of Xi army guards.

The Xi people are tall and strong, and when they ride on horseback they are like iron towers, which makes their king Xiao Gan look even thinner.

Yelü Dashi respected Xiao Gan greatly. He noticed that Xiao Gan was dressed as simply as ever, wearing an iron helmet and a thick cloak that was completely soaked by the rain.

Xiao Gan, from afar on horseback, clasped his hands in a salute to Yelü Dashi: "Lin Ya, you've worked hard! The matter of evacuating the supplies could have been handled by a mere steward. Why did you personally stand in the rain, Lin Ya? Now is a time of national crisis. Please take care of yourself for the sake of the Liao Dynasty!"

Yelü Dashi silently clasped his hands in a salute. Only when Xiao Gan came to his side did he seriously look at this man with a bitter expression, the King of the Four Armies, the Commander of Nanjing, and the King of the Six Ministries.

Yelü Dashi was also wary of him. In the midst of the turmoil, even the Yelü people had surrendered to the Jin, while Xiao Gan was a Xi person.
But what else could he do? Xiao Gan was the commander-in-chief, and the Xi army was his most trusted force; they would only follow him.

He had no other choice at this point; the emperor Yelü Chun, whom everyone had chosen, was critically ill, and he had to go back.

"Your Majesty, the Xi army and the Khitan Pishi Anbo army are entrusted to Your Majesty... These troops are the last remaining embers of our Great Liao. I earnestly hope that Your Majesty will use them prudently and not squander them!"

The Xi guards around Xiao Gan all looked at him coldly.

Their king, Xiao Gan, was the rightful commander-in-chief of the army and the governor of Nanjing. It was only natural for him to mobilize any troops. Yet Yelü Dashi spoke in such a tone!

It's as if he's the commander-in-chief!
Do you, a member of the Yelü clan, really think of yourself as having some valuable status at this time?

Xiao Gan himself didn't care at all, and said with a wry smile, "Lin Ya, I naturally understand. As for the matter of the Ever Victorious Army in Zhuozhou, I will go and return quickly, and will not let Lin Ya remain in Yanjing for too long... The country is in a difficult situation, and we can only do our best!"

The Ever Victorious Army was essentially composed of resentful soldiers, and by this time they dared not trust them anymore, since the resentful soldiers were all Han Chinese.

Xiao Gan used the excuse of dealing with the Ever Victorious Army to take away his most elite troops, and Yelü Dashi had no way to stop him!

At this critical moment, the only option is to hurry back to Yanjing, take control of the court, establish my own position, and especially deal with that woman, Empress Xiao!

As long as his position is secure, the Khitan Pishi Anbo Army will only obey his orders. Even if Xiao Gan has the Xi Army under his control, he will not be able to challenge his position. In this way, he can truly unify power and authority, allowing him to devote his life's abilities to see if he can save this crisis from the brink of disaster!

Of course, it would be wonderful if Xiao Gan were loyal to the Liao Dynasty!
He glanced at Xiao Gan's honest face and felt a sliver of hope.

After all, this person was truly capable, and Yelü Dashi was convinced of his abilities.

Moreover, Xiao Gan has always been very sensible. Xiao Shi has always been the first choice for the Khitan empress. Although he is a Xi person, he is a noble who can only be with the Liao Dynasty from beginning to end. How could he not know that if he were to fight for power and profit at this time, he would be pushing the Liao Dynasty into a fire pit?

Moreover, the Liao Dynasty has already reached this point, so what is there to fight for? As long as we don't surrender to the Jin, it's best to unite and fight for a way out and hope for everyone.

Yelü Dashi's thoughts churned, feeling that the road ahead was like the world in the rain—everything was blurry and he couldn't see the future.

Some people can't see the future, but in fact they can.
They just don't want to believe it.

He suppressed his chaotic thoughts, nodded to Xiao Gan, and his tone became exceptionally solemn: "Your Majesty Xiao, I only have one question: who is Your Majesty's inside man in the Ever Victorious Army? If this inside man is not capable, I'm afraid that quelling the rebellion in Zhuozhou will not be so simple. The Ever Victorious Army, along with that Pharmacist Guo, are all capable and skilled warriors..."

Xiao Gan had already interrupted Yelü Dashi with a smile: "Lin Ya, rest assured, how could I neglect such an important matter? I should answer your questions truthfully, but Zhuozhou is too close to here, so I have to be careful of my spies... You just stay in Yanjing and wait for my good news!"

After saying this, Xiao Gan clasped his hands in a salute, spurred his horse, and rode away.

His status was higher than Yelü Dashi's, and as long as he refused to speak, Yelü Dashi couldn't do anything about it.

Behind Xiao Gan, the Xi army cavalry followed on horseback, their hooves splashing up large clumps of muddy water, which enveloped him as he slowly disappeared into the rain.

Yelü Dashi's face was dark and extremely ugly, and the young Khitan noble officers behind him were all visibly angry.

"Lin Ya, we cannot hand over our Khitan troops to the Xi people!"

Several officers offered their advice in hushed tones.

Yelü Dashi shook his head slightly and sighed, "King Xiao is the commander-in-chief, the Nanjing military governor, and the king of the four armies!"

Even if I refuse to give it to them, Empress Xiao will issue an edict through Emperor Tianci to allocate troops to me.

Besides, even if we don't completely fall out with King Xiao and the Xi army now, the consequences of a rift and a loss of trust are unimaginable.

The officers were still unconvinced, and they all chimed in, saying, "Lin Ya, you're prioritizing the bigger picture, but I'm afraid others don't think so!"

Yelü Dashi, with a grim face, said to his most trusted officers, "Emperor Tianci is seriously ill, and I'm afraid he won't make it this time... Some in the court want to surrender to the Song, and some want to surrender to the Jin."

"Let's rush back, deal with Li Chuwen who's determined to surrender to the Song Dynasty, then deal with Empress Xiao, and then no one will be able to stop us!"

"At that time, even if King Xiao wants to hold onto his troops, will the Khitan army listen to him?"

"Look, the Xi army claims to have 40,000 men, but in reality, they only have 20,000, far fewer than the Khitan army! They have to listen to us!"

"The most important thing for our Great Liao now is not Xiong Prefecture, but Yanjing City! Let King Xiao go to quell the rebellion in Zhuo Prefecture. In any case, the capture of Guo Yaoshi is a blessing for our Great Liao. Let him use this fine Khitan man for now!"

He turned back and took one last deep look at the south, then cracked his whip and said, "Let's go! Everyone pack up. After King Xiao leaves, we'll set off! The sooner we get to Yanjing, the better the affairs of the state can still be accomplished!"

"Our Great Liao Dynasty can still be saved!"

(End of this chapter)