You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 131 Tong Xuanshuai's Two Extremes of Joy and Sorrow

Bianjing (Kaifeng)

Inside the study of the Cai residence.

Because Cai Jing was old, the emperor granted him special permission to work in his residence and allowed him to bring two concubines with him to serve him.

When discussing matters at his residence, Cai Jing was indeed much freer and no longer needed to travel by carriage.

His mansion was extremely luxurious, with the Jinliang River forming a water system, and countless pavilions and terraces built, and exotic flowers and plants planted.

With its small bridges, flowing water, and exquisite courtyards, it rivals even the Genyue Garden.

As autumn arrives, the garden is filled with chrysanthemums in bud, creating a golden sea of ​​flowers that truly resembles a paradise on earth.

If Chen Shao were to see this courtyard, he would surely remark: "It's a perfect place to erode one's ambition."
Sometimes, even in his mansion in the northwest, he couldn't resist the comforts of the inner quarters and didn't want to leave.

Cai Jing's study and courtyard were even more serene and tranquil.

The pool is crystal clear, with small pebbles on the bottom. A bamboo tube above the water draws in the clear water from Tingyu Lake, which flows over the surface and makes a gurgling sound.

As his concubine read him the two military reports, Cai Jing closed his eyes and remained silent.

These two military reports represent the two most important events for the Song Dynasty at present, one a cause for celebration and the other a cause for concern.

Whether it's factional strife, finances, or people's livelihood, none of these matter as much as foreign wars.

Why is Tong Daofu so disappointing?
Chen Shao really did manage to destroy the Western Xia.

Cai Jing rarely makes mistakes in judgment, but this time, he failed to have foresight in two major events in a row.

"Chen Shao."

Cai Jing silently recited the name. What troubled him was that his youngest son, Cai Tiao, whom he had sent to oversee Youzhou, was utterly useless.

He didn't send back a single message.

Every time I asked him about the Dingnan Army, he would say that it was the same as other prefectures and there was nothing special about it.

I really don't know what he was doing there. He couldn't have just been staying home drinking and reading all day, could he?
Suddenly, Cai Jing felt a headache coming on, because he realized that it was actually possible.

However, Cai Jing quickly forgave his son, after all, he and his son were both from noble scholar-official families.

For over a century during the Song Dynasty, the privileged class lived a life of luxury and leisure. Their favorite pastimes were nothing more than playing the zither, playing chess, holding banquets, singing and dancing, and composing poetry.
No wonder Tao'er became depressed after going to a place like the Northwest. I should find a chance to call him back.

Although my original intention was good, Tiao'er doesn't seem to be suitable.

Regarding the current situation in the Northwest, Chen Shaoming is clearly following orders but not orders.

The emperor and his officials in Bianliang chose to put the matter aside for the time being.

Let's not dwell on Chen Shao's irregularities; we'll settle accounts with him after the campaign against Liao is over.

Chen Shao was well aware of the brief peace he was enjoying.

It wasn't that Zhao Ji and Cai Jing didn't want to deal with the situation and take over the Northwest immediately, but rather that they genuinely didn't have the resources to spare.

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) disliked trouble and was willing to delay as long as it didn't interfere with his enjoyment.

As for Cai Jing, the situation was even more complicated. First of all, he clearly saw the threat posed by Chen Shao. If this man were to harbor any disloyalty, he would immediately become the next Li Yuanhao.

However, he was reluctant to immediately break ties with Chen Shao, because Chen Shao's triangular trade had consumed a large amount of luxury goods in the Central Plains, giving the Song Dynasty's finances a much-needed breather.

The Song Dynasty's finances are still in Cai Jing's hands. Although the issue of the Imperial Guards has been resolved, Bianliang is not secure. If the capital is not moved, a new army must be trained.

This is another considerable expense.

In addition, his hard-earned money couldn't keep up with the emperor's extravagant spending.

Emperor Huizong's ability to spend money was limitless, and Cai Jing, who had been tormented by him for nearly twenty years, was certainly aware of this.

Of course, the most important reason is that Chen Shao did not rebel.

He submitted a memorial to the emperor almost every week, stating his loyalty and patriotism.
This gave the Song court a reason to delay.

Cai Jing waved his hand, signaling the concubine beside him to continue.

The concubine picked up another official document, glanced at the signature, and hesitated.

Cai Jing opened his eyes, and his concubines quickly placed the book in front of him. When Cai Jing saw the words 'Li Gang', he immediately frowned and said, 'I won't read this one.'

Compared to Cai Jing, the newly promoted Li Gang is different.

He was like a man possessed, spreading the word everywhere that Chen Shao in the Northwest harbored evil intentions and must be eliminated immediately.

Moreover, Cai Jing knew very well that the Emperor's promotion of Li Gang was intended to challenge him.

It is used to keep one in check.

Therefore, he can suppress other political enemies at will, but he cannot touch Li Gang for the time being.

If the government uses him to annoy you, you have no choice but to accept it.

Cai Jing thought to himself with a touch of malice, "If it weren't for the Emperor's protection, I would have transferred you, Li Gang, to Xingqing Prefecture, giving you the chance to curse him to his face."

Let's see if Chen Shao's subordinates, the barbarian generals in the Northwest, will allow you to curse them.

You, Li Gang, can curse all you want in Bianliang City, but no one will really do anything to you. On the contrary, they'll let you freely cultivate your reputation here.

But once you get to the Northwest, you might not even finish a curse before those brutes' knives are already at your neck.

For a century, the Song Dynasty enjoyed peace and prosperity, and it seems they have all forgotten the virtues of warriors.
-
Chen Shao of Xingqing Prefecture was also reading two military reports at the same time.

Han Shizhong encountered fierce resistance in the Helan Mountains, but he did not rush to attack. Instead, he slowly surrounded the area and searched for a way out.

News from Hebei remains worrying; it seems they haven't won a single battle since the campaign against Liaodong began.

The only time they won was when Guo Yaoshi, a surrendered soldier from Yan, defeated them.

Chen Shao shook his head, trying to stop thinking about the mess in Hebei.

Because no matter what, he couldn't understand what kind of person would make the decision to replace the lower- and mid-level generals on the eve of a major battle.

Moreover, this disheartened even the veteran generals of the Western Army at the top.

Does the Song Dynasty really treat military men like dirt?

Even if you just pretend, what will happen after the war is over?

Since taking over Xingqing Prefecture, he has been working to build his own power chain and cultivate overwhelming power.

The territory isn't very large now, but Chen Shao still uses a system similar to the Grand Council, with Wei Lilai handling the handover directly to him.

The decision needs to be made by him.

There were some Han scholars in the Northwest, but they were generally not as well-versed in their studies as those in the Central Plains. Fortunately, Chen Shao did not care about this.

Many people were promoted to fill positions in the bureaucratic system and ensure administrative efficiency.

Then, the caravans would take the treasures from the Western Xia palace that they couldn't carry away in time, and exchange them for more people and money.

The most important person, of course, is Li Qianshun. As long as he lives, the flame of resistance in Western Xia will live on forever.

Walking through the imperial city of Western Xia, even after so many days, people were still washing the ground.

Looking at the bloodstained remains beneath the palace walls, Chen Shao was lost in thought. On the day the city fell, many Tanguts jumped off the palace walls rather than be taken prisoner.

This was the Western Xia, which had been embroiled in internal strife for over a century.

I must handle the situation in the Northwest well in order to exert influence on the outside world.

Old Zhu's nine-character mantra, "Build high walls, store up grain, and delay declaring yourself king," is an absolute truth for anyone wanting to start a business.

Chen Shao had never had this experience, nor was he ever considered a successor to a separatist regime, nor did his elders teach him any principles from a young age.

Therefore, he could only rely on his fragmented memories from his previous life to explore and learn how to govern such a large area.

Fortunately, he discovered that as long as he held his breath, maintained a positive attitude, and didn't give up or indulge himself, things would always develop in a positive direction.

Chen Shao gradually came to understand, and he had gained a deeper understanding of it through continuous exploration and summarization, which was ahead of those who had been knowledgeable for two thousand years.

If you truly grasp the essence of a few pages of history in class, it will be an invaluable treasure to you at that moment.

Upon arriving outside the imperial city, Chen Shao felt a sense of relief. The imperial city of Western Xia was quite peculiar, a blend of architectural styles from the Central Plains, Buddhism, and the Western Regions.

Those painted murals had a strange and bloody feel to them, which he didn't like very much.

He had been wanting to move out, but fortunately his family hadn't come yet, so Chen Shao had been asking people to help him find a good house.

Building a new house is impossible, I'll never build one in my life, those things are really incredibly expensive.

Even with the strength of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) could not afford to build a new palace, let alone in the northwest, where the capital was in dire need of funds.

As soon as he left the palace, he ran into Yang Cheng, who was waiting there. He walked up to him with a smile.

Wei Li, that scoundrel, became the regent minister and enjoyed immense prestige.

This kind of position usually doesn't allow someone to stay for long, so once they step down, you must try your best to win it back.

The canal would undoubtedly be a huge political achievement. Yang Cheng said with a smile, "General, shouldn't the autumn funding for the canal's construction be in place?"

Chen Shao frowned and said, "Didn't we just give it to them?"

“General, that was two months ago. I’ve reported it to you in detail, listing out exactly how every tael of silver was spent. We’re completely broke by now. To be honest, if I hadn’t sold my house to cover the expenses, we wouldn’t have made it this month.”

Seeing Yang Cheng's demeanor, Chen Shao knew he wasn't lying. If this fellow had embezzled even a tael of silver, he wouldn't have acted so arrogantly, spitting as he spoke to him. He had absolutely nothing to hide.
Although he was short of money, Chen Shao knew that this kind of money couldn't be delayed.

He said, "Let's go to the caravan and withdraw some money. I asked my cousin to borrow money in Luoyang, and it should be there soon."

The two rode their horses to the Yipin Guangyuan Hall's yamen in Xingqing Prefecture. They directly occupied the original territory of the Western Xia Yipin Hall and recruited many of its guards.

Wang Yin was no longer afraid of the remaining spies of Western Xia, because they had no power to cause any trouble and could only hide in the Helan Mountains like bandits.

It's more symbolic than anything else.

Chen Shao has already sent Han Shizhong to wipe them out.

Wang Yin was not in the Yipin Guangyuan Hall. He was leading his men to search for the remaining Western Xia troops in the city. These men were hiding in the shadows and would occasionally assassinate surrendered officials, as well as officials of the Dingnan Army.

Chen Shao gave a strict order to completely wipe them out.

This process cannot last too long.

With Yang Cheng as a witness, Chen Shao left an order for the caravan to withdraw 100,000 taels of silver to help Yang Cheng dig a canal.

Yang Cheng was satisfied. He now only wanted to complete this political achievement as soon as possible, and then look for other political affairs, accumulate enough merits as soon as possible, and also serve as the regent of Dingnan Army.

Seeing that it was already noon, Chen Shao casually asked, "Want to grab something to eat together?"

Yang Cheng waved his hand and said, "I have to rush back to Youzhou today, next time, next time."

After saying that, he waved to himself as he walked away. Chen Shao watched him leave and then let out a deep breath.

The Dingnan Army is now fully wound up; if they can get through these six months, next year will surely bring a bumper harvest!

Population, finances, resources, government orders, transportation, troops, weapons, and supplies.
The strength of the entire Dingnan Army will increase at least threefold.

Just grit your teeth, get through this period, and everything will be alright.

Then he would lead his troops westward to reclaim the Hexi Corridor, which had been lost for over four hundred years.

The Uyghurs were not strong at this time, and were in a period of decline, and were also constantly fighting among themselves.

When we take back Hexi, we will have complete control of the Western Regions, and trade routes will be smooth, leading directly to the Central Plains.

With a strong army, abundant supplies, and plenty of resources, it was time to begin the battle with the Jurchens.

This time, Chen Shao's confidence grew stronger.
-
Hebei, Hejian Prefecture.

More than ten knights galloped over from the south like lightning.

These were all guards from the Victorious Army. Judging from the direction they came from, it was clear that they were sent by Tong Guan to block the ferry crossing near the Baigou River to the south.

The young military officer at the front was covered in mud and looked quite disheveled, clearly not neglecting his duties to Tong Guan.

After Tong Guan lost his nerve, all his commands were solely for the purpose of shirking responsibility in the future.

The young military officer arrived and left in just two or three days, and was greatly surprised when he rushed into Tong Guan's camp.

When I left here to go north, the camp was solemn and imposing, but how did it become like this now?
Wasn't it Liu Yanqing who was defeated?
In the camp of the victorious army, roads and lines could no longer be distinguished, and tents and shelters were erected haphazardly everywhere.

This would never have happened before. Tong Guan was always very strict in his military discipline, and the discipline of the Shengjie Army was among the best in the Western Army.

The military officer noticed that many of the mule carts and horse-drawn carriages in the camp had their planks chopped up, and bonfires had been lit in the camp. Soldiers from the Victorious Army, as well as servants and slaves brought by the many civil officials and advisors of the Xuan Commander's headquarters, were huddled together warming themselves by the fire.

Outside the camp, there were dug-out dugouts everywhere. There were probably several thousand defeated soldiers and laborers who had retreated from the north. More people were still retreating from the north, unable to cross the Baigou River to the south, and could only temporarily find shelter here.

These defeated soldiers and laborers received only enough food for one bowl of porridge a day, and they endured their suffering there, cursing incessantly.

If it weren't for the rain stopping these past two days, who knows how many people would have died from the cold! In this day and age, catching a cold can easily cost you your life.

The junior officer leading the troops carefully made his way through the camp, drawing stares from everyone and eliciting a constant stream of curses.

He was astonished; these soldiers actually dared to directly insult Commander Xuan.
This was unimaginable before, meaning that morale had reached rock bottom.

It had even reached the point where a mutiny could happen at any moment.

Having served in the victorious army for many years and spent so much time in the Northwest, Commander Tong Xuan still enjoys a high level of prestige.

Even the old Prime Minister Zhong wouldn't dare to be so rude under normal circumstances. It seems that the repeated defeats at the front and the suppression of the Western Army by the court even before the war started have angered them.

"Damn it, they're all dogs under Commander Xuan! Blocking the Baigou River ferry crossing, even if they can't let us cross south, at least let the firewood, charcoal, and grain from the north be transported up!"

"Damn it! By now, who doesn't understand? This commander saw the defeat ahead and decided to cover it up. By cutting off communication, he can just say whatever he wants about how the battle was lost. Everyone knows who will be blamed for this huge defeat and who will be made the unfortunate scapegoat!"

The junior officer, unable to contain himself any longer, said in a deep voice, "Insolence! Who gave you the audacity to discuss Commander Xuan here and utter such foul language? Whose subordinates are you!"

He had just finished cursing when the fleeing soldiers around him suddenly stood up and surrounded him.

The junior officer immediately realized his mistake. If he had really provoked a mutiny, not even a hundred heads would have been enough to pay for it, and it would have caused the situation to collapse completely.

He immediately suppressed his anger, clasped his hands in a fist and said earnestly, "Brothers, we have all fought against the Xia bandits in the Northwest. How could Commander Xuan betray you?"

"Pah!" A servant spat on him, cursing, "We're scoundrels, but we're not stupid enough to serve this piece of trash!"

"They even said that if we served the master well, we might be able to get some kind of official position. I wouldn't dare dream of becoming a high-ranking official, but even a lowly post like the granary magistrate or the salt and tea clerk would at least allow me to eat comfortably. That would be a blessing!"

"Now we're all going to die here. Hebei, heh heh, Hebei isn't a man's hometown!"

"Heavens above, who cares if it's a great victory or a great defeat, let's just get out of this damn muddy ditch in Hebei as soon as possible!"

"Back to Shaanxi! Back to Shaanxi!" The junior officer dared not provoke them any further, so he lowered his head and pushed his way forward.

Amidst the chaos and noise, some people stretched out their feet, some spat, and finally the cavalry slowly arrived in front of Tong Guan's tent.

Upon arriving at Tong Guanjie Hall, the scene was quite different. The civil officials and staff who usually traveled around Xuan Shuai's headquarters had put on all the clothes they could wear.

They were all freezing and their noses were running, but they lingered in the mud and refused to leave Tong Guan's tent.

These past two days, discipline and order have completely collapsed, and no one cares about it anymore. However, the outer perimeter of this area is filled with Tong Guan's most trusted Shengjie Army.

He selected them from a group of orphans in the Northwest, and each of them recognized him as their godfather and his adopted son.

Before the soldiers even started to riot, the civil officials and advisors who had initially been the most vocal in their protests became much quieter.

They were knowledgeable and could see at a glance that Tong Guan was trying to shirk responsibility. For these civil officials and scholars who accompanied the army, the most important thing now was how Tong Guan would deal with this inevitable defeat.

You can shirk your responsibility all you want, but drag us down with you!
These civil officials and staff members who accompanied the army dared not even dream of military achievements, but at least they didn't want to be implicated!
These people are all shrewd; without prior connections, none of them could have managed to sneak into Tong Guanxuan's mansion.

Back then, the entire city of Bianliang was beheading people, considering it an honor to be able to fight against Liao. At that time, almost everyone felt that once they came, they would have no worries for the rest of their lives.

Some people are so secure that they won't have to worry for several lifetimes. Some even go bankrupt, sell their possessions, and bribe their way in to get in.

Only those with powerful family backgrounds could get in, so each of them had a powerful backer.

The real news here also needs to be found out as soon as possible and reported back to their respective patrons and benefactors.

This will allow them to prepare in advance for the inevitable storm that will break out in Bianliang in the future, so that they can better cope with it!
This group included people from Cai Jing, Liang Shicheng, the old party, and even relatives of the imperial empress.
At this moment, they didn't care about the cold or the poor food. What mattered most was how the battle was going and whether they would live or die!
A group of civil officials and their staff have been hovering around the Hall of Imperial Sacrifices like flies for the past day or two.

Tong Guan's Victory Army guards had never seen more money in their lives than they had received in the past two days. They all wanted to see Tong Guan and hoped that he would do them a favor by letting them in to announce their arrival, or simply let them in.

Although the guards were all drooling with envy, not one dared to pocket it. The precedent was right before their eyes: a commander of a victorious army, because he was acquainted with a civil official, had boldly relayed a message for a civil official, and was then accused by Tong Guan's servant of accepting several bars of gold, and was immediately executed according to military law!

Tong Guan could disregard everything else, but he would not allow any mistakes to occur in his own little territory, namely Jietang.

The cavalrymen who squeezed through the crowd felt as if they had been granted a pardon and were finally free. They dismounted in front of Tong Guan's tent. The officer leading the group was one of the few remaining Victory Army guards around Tong Guan. He was an old man sent by Wang Bing, and his status and position were considerable.

As soon as he dismounted, the trembling civil officials and advisors who had been wandering around in a panic surrounded him. Ignoring the spittle and footprints all over them, their small faces were filled with friendly smiles that the military officials hadn't seen in decades.

The guard officer, however, knew the gravity of the situation and didn't engage in conversation with them, remaining silent. He lowered his head, placed his hand on his sword, and strode past them, leaving behind a chorus of disappointed curses.

Upon seeing that it was the troop that had been sent out on an important mission returning, the guards on duty at the gate dared not delay and immediately went into the main tent to report. In a short while, Tong Guan's words were relayed back: "Hurry up and come in to report. What were you waiting for outside?"

The officer in charge of the victorious army's personal guard took a breath, placed his hand on his sword, and entered the main tent.

In truth, Tong Guan himself didn't know what was really going on at the front; he was simply in utter despair.

Time and again, the expected victory never came; instead, defeat after defeat left him completely bewildered.

At this moment, the misty atmosphere in the large tent was completely gone, and the wooden diagram was laid out.

Tong Guan was not in the inner tent, but in the outer tent, dressed in a proper official robe. He actually preferred to wear light armor, but as he got older, he would wear a full set of paper armor, always trying to look like a heroic general.

Tong Guan values ​​this most; he wants others to think he's fierce! Even fiercer than a real, fully-fledged man!
He was unusually alone, with no servants around him, and was pacing back and forth around Mutu.

The young officer looked up and saw that Tong Xuanshuai no longer possessed even a trace of the commanding presence he had displayed during his twenty years of service on the border and his numerous bloody battles against the Western Xia.

The current Xuan Shuai really looks like a eunuch.

Seeing the personal guard officer he had sent out return, Tong Guan's eyes flashed, revealing a rare hint of sharpness: "How did it go?"

For some reason, the officer in charge of the Victory Army's personal guard sighed inwardly: "Commander Xuan, all the crossings and places where one can walk on foot along the Baigou River have been guarded by the troops arranged by Prime Minister Wang."

As for the Zhuozhou area, trusted officers were dispatched to lead the troops, and no one was allowed to retreat south without the commander's written order. After completing the arrangements, I checked everything again to ensure there were no oversights before returning to report!

Tong Guan chuckled and said calmly, "Get up."

"So this was the ferry crossing that Lao Zhong and Yao Gu's troops were guarding? Have they taken over it?"

The officer looked up and said, "They've all taken over. They were a little surprised, but they all obediently followed orders. They just said they needed to report back to Old Master Zhong and the others."

With the main army at the front, the responsibility of failing to deliver supplies to the south was too heavy for them to bear, so no one acted rashly.

Tong Guan snorted. Old Zhong and the others really didn't dare to act recklessly. They wouldn't dare to do anything against orders.

But their covert passivity and indifference, watching Liu Yanqing be defeated, wasn't that their doing?

Tong Guan didn't care that the imperial court had attacked first; he just felt that the entire Western Army was full of scoundrels who didn't know the bigger picture and should be dealt with according to military law, especially Lao Zhong.

He paced anxiously for a few steps, then sighed in a low voice, "We'll just have to wait it out, one day at a time. How could they possibly let go of such an opportunity? I just hope that this message can reach Bianliang as soon as possible."

Tong Guan muttered to himself, then suddenly realized, how could he have said such a thing in front of a mere nobody?
He was truly in a state of panic, feeling that the end of the world was imminent and the campaign against Liao was about to collapse.

And there will never be another chance.

Tong Guan coughed, stopped, and his bewildered expression vanished. He coughed again with authority, his expression changing: "You may go now and rest for a while. Then go back and inspect all the ferry crossings. Make sure the north-south route is firmly blocked! As for when this route will be opened, we can only wait for my written order!"

"Wang Bing and Yang Keshi, what kind of work are you doing? Why haven't you reported back any military intelligence from the front yet? Do you think you can just ignore me and neglect military affairs in front of me?"

Upon hearing these words, the junior officer was stunned. Was this something I should be listening to?
He felt extremely uncomfortable, as if his chest was about to burst. Ever since returning to Tong Guan's camp, which was like a madhouse, he had been unable to breathe.

There isn't a single normal person left here.

It would be better to return to the front lines in Zhuozhou as soon as possible, and get as far away from this disastrous Commander Xuan as possible.

He immediately agreed and prepared to take his leave.

Just then, an urgent voice came from outside the tent: "Commander Xuan, Commander Xuan, Grand Commandant Wang's messenger is back! Grand Commandant Wang's messenger is back!"

Before he finished speaking, the officer in charge of guarding the bodyguards rushed in, shouting as he went, forgetting to even bow to Tong Guan!
At this moment, a commotion arose outside the tent. One voice after another shouted:

"Grand Commandant Wang's messenger has returned!"

"Give us a reassuring account of just how badly we were defeated!"

"Commander Xuan! Commander Xuan! Such important military affairs are our duty as advisors. How can we be prevented from hearing about them?"

"We're going in!"

Tong Guan paid no heed to the shouts outside and practically jumped up in the outer tent!

It's remarkable that someone his age could still be so agile; he shoved aside the guard officer who rushed in and strode out of the tent.

At this moment, the civil officials gathered outside the tent no longer cared about their refined and aristocratic image, and rolled up their sleeves and rushed in one direction.

Tong Guan's personal guards were desperately trying to stop them.

"Draw your sword!" Tong Guan suddenly shouted.

The Victory Army guards immediately drew their swords. If Tong Guan gave the order, these adopted sons would not hesitate to kill whomever they wanted.

They were all Tong Guan's loyal followers.
The crowd fell silent immediately.

All eyes then turned to the messenger.

Surrounded by the chaotic crowd were two mounted messengers, who, under the protection of Tong Guan's personal guards, squeezed through the crowd and headed towards Tong Guan.

The two of them were just ordinary messengers, and they were quite frightened by the scene. They looked around and squeezed their way forward.

Both of them looked travel-worn, clearly having rushed back day and night.

At this moment, Tong Guan could no longer maintain his dignified demeanor. In a shrill voice, he shouted, "Please calm down, everyone! I am one with you all. How could I possibly cause you any trouble? But the matter is urgent. With such a commotion, how can I, as the commander-in-chief, make a decision? Once we have a result here, we will have to rely on your help! For now, please allow me, Tong Guan, to have some peace and quiet!"

As he spoke, he strode out and, with his status as commander, grabbed the hands of two lowly cavalrymen and dragged them into his own tent!

Entering the tent, he ignored the commotion outside, which had grown much louder, and the two officers still standing there. He shouted at the two stunned messenger soldiers, "Where is Wang Bing? Where are Zhao Liangsi and Guo Yaoshi? How is the battle going? What's the situation?"

He panicked, so much so that he lost his composure. The composure he had cultivated over twenty years vanished in an instant, like a monster that had been reduced to its original form.

The two lowly messenger soldiers were already terrified by the actions of the mighty commander, and as soon as Tong Guan released them, they both knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Commander Xuan, great news! A great victory! A truly great victory!"

Upon hearing the words "good news," Tong Guan's vision suddenly went black, his legs went weak, and he almost fell.

The two guards who were still standing in the tent, unsure whether they should leave immediately, rushed over to help him.

Tong Guan closed his eyes and waved them away. He could no longer stand, so he simply sat down cross-legged, looking directly at the two kneeling messenger soldiers. He used all his strength to speak steadily: "What's the good news? Did Zhao Liangsi and Guo Yaoshi, with Wang Bing's help, actually manage to defeat Xiao Gan? How many kills did they get?"

Guo Yaoshi and Wang Bing's troops were both personally deployed by Tong Guan, so he certainly knew how weak they were.

He now deeply regrets that the two of them, with such weak strength, managed to bring him back good news!
If I had known they were capable, I would have strengthened their forces beforehand! That good-for-nothing Liu Yanqing commands tens of thousands of soldiers, yet he keeps making a fool of himself, harming the country and the emperor!
Guo Yaoshi and Zhao Liangsi's surprise attack on Yanjing was essentially a pawn thrown out by Tong Guan to take the blame. They absolutely could not hold out under the walls of Yanjing. Even if Wang Bing provided timely support, it would be a stroke of luck if they could achieve a minor victory while Xiao Gan's army was exhausted.

If we could go even further and secure a bridgehead on the north bank of the Gaoliang River, that would be an even greater surprise.

The responsibility for the army's defeat can be shifted to Liu Yanqing's proper command at the front, or it can be heavily attributed to the fact that the old and young Zhong brothers sat idly by and watched the outcome.

His position was to use this army, which was directly under his command, to launch a timely surprise attack on Yanjing.

They were able to hold their ground north of Gaoliang, and even slightly defeat Xiao Gan to clear their names, allowing Liu Yanqing and Lao Zhong of the Western Army to bear the emperor's wrath and quell the people's raging anger.

This was actually the best result Tong Guan had anticipated. Deep down, he felt that winning even a small match on the front lines was a pipe dream, and the bridgehead was even less likely to be held.

But now, Wang Bing has sent a messenger back to tell him that it is great news! It is good news!

The two messengers finally had a chance to speak. They wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and said, "When Lord Wang and General Guo arrived at the gates of Yanjing, Li Chuwen opened the city gates, and our troops rushed in."

"We have now occupied Yanjing City."

Great sorrow and great joy can pass in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, Tong Guan looked just like Fan Jin who had just passed the imperial examination; his eyes were glazed over, and he fell straight down.

It's done! It's done!

Having recaptured Yanjing, with all my ancestors above me, I, Tong Guan, shall be granted the title of King!
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In August, it's already getting a bit chilly in the Northwest.

In Xingqing Prefecture, under a gloomy sky, everything seemed peaceful.

Chen Shaozheng moved to his new residence with his men.

This house belongs to a powerful Han Chinese family in Xingqing Prefecture. He has already followed Li Qianshun into the Helan Mountains.

In the Western Regions, what determines a person's affiliation is mostly not their ethnicity.

Chen Shao was a Han Chinese, but many of the local Han Chinese powerful families distrusted him.

The house occupies a vast area and is lavishly decorated.

Wei Li looked around and laughed, "I heard that the owner of this place is just a merchant. The layout of this mansion is probably beyond the regulations of the Song Dynasty."

"The laws of the Song Dynasty have no jurisdiction over the people of Western Xia," Chen Shao said with a smile. "But since he is a merchant, why not welcome him here? Haven't I been kind enough to merchants?"

Wang Yin, who was in charge of finding this house for him, laughed and said, "The general doesn't know, he and Xue Fei are cousins."

Chen Shao let out a long "Oh," as if to say, "I see." After Xue Fei was killed and his family's property confiscated, he submitted a memorial to the imperial court.

So the imperial court confiscated Xue Fei's property in Shaanxi, and everyone ate their fill.

This man probably didn't harbor any hatred; he just thought Chen Shao wouldn't let him go. In reality, he was overthinking it. Since Xue Fei had already been brought to justice, Chen Shao had no intention of pursuing the matter further, even if you were his cousin or his own brother.

Of course, if you're like Xue Fei and secretly make counterfeit money, then I'm sorry.

Several horse-drawn carriages came in from outside and slowly drove into the courtyard.

Upon seeing Chen Shao and the others, Huanhuan lifted the curtain, waved her little pink fist, and called out to him.

Chen Shao smiled and nodded at her.

He liked his wife quite a bit; she was simple, innocent, pure, and straightforward, with a lively spirit reminiscent of the young girl he had in his past life.

Although she is young now and not yet capable of being a good wife, there is still a long time to come.

Especially when she held her little treasure chest, tears streaming down her face, and pouted as she handed it to him, Chen Shao found it incredibly adorable.

Wei Li, watching from the side, was very pleased and asked, "Is that the Marshal's wife?"

"Exactly."

"Good! Good!" Wei Li laughed, "The General and his wife are a loving couple. When Old Zhong and Young Zhong return, the troops from all over Shaanxi will be wary of each other and rely on each other."

He put it subtly, but everyone understood.

The imperial court would most likely have disbanded the Western Army, but due to Chen Shao's emergence, it would have postponed the decision, as they needed the Western Army to hold off Chen Shao.

If Chen Shao were to rebel and the Western Army in Shaanxi were to be disbanded, then Chen Shao, guarding Hengshan, would be able to leave the pass at any time, as if entering an uninhabited territory.

If Chen Shao had already occupied the Northwest, no matter how bold the Zhong family was, they would never have formed a marriage alliance with him.

So this marriage is absolutely perfect.

This was especially important for the Dingnan Army, serving as a protective barrier.

From the perspective of the Chinese, this is actually a good thing. After fighting for more than a hundred years, they are facing disbandment. Don't the Western Army have any resentment?
After befriending Chen Shao, as long as he did not openly rebel, the Western Army could be preserved and spared from war.

"It would be best to have an heir as soon as possible."

Chen Shao stopped them from continuing to talk about his family affairs, and sitting in the pavilion, he said, "I think it's time to put the matter of Hexi on the agenda."

"The commander-in-chief isn't waiting for General Han to break through Helan Mountain?"

Chen Shao pondered for a moment and said, "We can fight on two fronts."

We have enough soldiers and laborers, and there's not much farm work to do in the autumn, so it's the perfect time for a fierce battle.

Chen Shao broke off a tree branch and placed it on the table in the pavilion, saying, "The two prefectures of Guazhou and Shazhou are still controlled by the descendants of the Cao family and the Uyghur forces of Shazhou. They previously maintained good relations with the Liao Kingdom to resist the attacks of the Western Xia. Last year, they even sent a force on an expedition to the southern desert to support Emperor Tianzuo."

"They were indeed very weak and lacked backbone, yet they simultaneously paid tribute to Xia, Liao, Gaochang, and Karakhan. Luckily, they were on the main route of the caravans, otherwise they would have exhausted their resources just from paying tribute."

In fact, if Tong Guan of the Song Dynasty hadn't defeated the Tubo people in the Hehuang region, they would still have had to pay tribute to the Tubo.

Wei Li laughed and said, "In my opinion, it won't be long before they come to offer tribute to you, Commander."

"I have a bigger appetite, so just offering tribute won't do," Chen Shao said with a smile, playing with the twig in his hand.

During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the Protectorate of the Western Regions was entirely part of the Tang territory. Countless Han Chinese flocked there, settling and multiplying.

Later, the Tibetan Empire rose to power, the Tang Dynasty weakened, and the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, leading to the Tibetan Empire occupying the area.

The Han Chinese in the Western Regions are scattered in various places, numbering in the millions. Moreover, since the An Lushan Rebellion of the Tang Dynasty, they have lost contact with the Central Plains. For more than four hundred years, although they miss their homeland and yearn for the Central Plains, what they miss and admire are only the people and things that bear the mark of their hometown. They would not welcome Chen Shao as a legitimate royal army without any reason.

Ultimately, it all comes down to self-interest.

One advantage of having Guazhou and Shazhou is that there are many Han Chinese. Once they are captured and their military strength is demonstrated, their resistance will be much less, and they may even genuinely submit to the government.

As for the Uyghurs, they have been largely assimilated by the Han Chinese; they are merely still disguised as Uyghurs.

(End of this chapter)