You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 143 Living towards death
Xiping Prefecture experienced a rare warm spring.

But in Hebei, it was snowing heavily.

A strong north wind rose, whipping up snow and dust outside Yanjing City, creating a hazy, misty atmosphere.

Such an unusual solar term, occurring in the Yan region, is particularly troublesome.

The hardships that have befallen Yan this year are like the tides, one wave after another, never ceasing.

Lead-gray clouds piled up on the horizon, and it looked like another heavy snowfall was about to fall.

According to Guo, a pharmacist from Yandi, the weather this year is much colder than in previous years, and the cold spell has lasted for a long time.

In recent years, it has become noticeable that winters have become longer, arriving earlier and leaving later, reaching another peak this year.

In this border region of Hebei, people see no sign of spring. Instead, one heavy snowfall after another envelops everyone in the bitter cold, from which they cannot escape.

Guo Yaoshi stood on the city wall, gazing at the fortress in the direction of Gubeikou. The Jin army's camp was looming in and out of sight amidst the swirling snow dust, a perilous pass and a narrow gorge.

The wind howled mournfully, repeatedly pounding against the walls of Yanjing, giving one the feeling that the city was about to collapse.

Guo Yaoshi couldn't help but frown. In the heart of Yanjing Prefecture, there was still a Jurchen camp, with four hundred Jurchen Tartars stationed there.

What kind of trouble is this? Pharmacist Guo has approached Tong Guan several times, and the other party has advised him not to cause any trouble.

It was clear that this eunuch was genuinely afraid; he just wanted to wait peacefully for the court to bestow upon him the title of Prince.

But everyone in Yan knows how you became a prince, so no one respects you anymore.

A group of people, consisting of no more than six or seven riders, passed by the city. They were all clad in iron armor, wearing helmets and cloaks.

Standing quietly at the foot of the city, awaiting the opening of the city gates, surrounded by several guards, the one riding at the highest point was none other than Wang Bing, the Commander-in-Chief of the Hebei Pacification Commission.

Over this period of time, Wang Bing, this burly and imposing soldier, has lost a lot of weight, and the lines on his face have become even more distinct, as if carved by a knife and axe.

His chin was covered in a dark patch of stubble, and his face always carried an air of melancholy.

Ever since Xiao Gan drove him out of Yanjing, Wang Bing had been in this state. He couldn't suppress the self-blame, guilt, and resentment he felt towards the higher-ups.

After the city gates opened, Guo Yaoshi came down to greet him. Wang Bing asked, "Why has Commander Xuan summoned you?"

Guo, the pharmacist, said, "I heard they're changing the leader."

Wang Bing's eyes widened, and he suddenly felt tense. He tilted his head and asked, "Change the commander?"

Guo Yaoshi sneered inwardly, thinking to himself, "You think you're putting me in command?"

Do you have this relationship with the emperor of the Song Dynasty?
If they're going to make a change, they should make sure it's someone from their own circle.

"The angel will announce the decree soon; we'll find out when we get there."

The two arrived together at the Xuan Shuai Hall in Yanshan Prefecture, which was already crowded with civil and military officials.

Tong Guan sat there expressionless and without saying a word.

Wang Bing found an inconspicuous corner, didn't ask anyone for directions, and just waited silently.

After a while, the angel coughed lightly, and the hall immediately fell silent.

Everyone was actually watching him.

Tong Guan stood up, went to the center of the hall, and led the officials to kneel down to receive the imperial decree.

The angel cleared his throat and solemnly proclaimed:
I have received this great mandate and will follow the ways of Heaven to prosper.

Your Privy Councilor, Tong Guan, commanded the six armies and swiftly swept away the stench of war.

Now I see your proclamation flying by, the elders of Jizhou welcoming you with wine and food, and the remnants of the Khitan fleeing at the sight of your banners. You have recovered the nine prefectures and seventy-one counties of Yanshan Prefecture, your swift and glorious achievements surpassing all others of this dynasty.

It was through consulting with officials of all ranks and examining historical records to bestow honors:
He was promoted to the rank of Senior Official and honored as a veteran. He was specially relieved of his post as the Pacification Commissioner of Hebei and Hedong and promoted to the rank of "Grand Master of the Palace" (a true Three Dukes), second only to the Prime Minister. He was granted the privilege of wearing shoes in the palace and being allowed to pay homage without being named. He was granted an annual stipend of ten thousand shi (a unit of grain), and his descendants were to enjoy this honor for generations.

To reward his unparalleled merit, the emperor bestowed upon him the titles of "Duke of Xu" and "Duke of Yu," granting him a fief of 31,000 households in Xuzhou and a permanent estate of 1,000 hectares in Bozhou. His descendants were posthumously honored, and an imperial edict ordered the construction of the "Double State Merit Archway" at the Zhuque Gate of Bianjing (Kaifeng).

He was granted the honor of possessing the secret treasure of the Golden Cabinet, and was ordered to present the "Illustrated Map of Emperor Taizong's Pacification of the Barbarians" and the carved bow of Emperor Xuanzu to the ministers, to be stored in the Xu State Duke's Mansion, so as to forever commemorate the glory of the restoration of the Han territory.

The ceremony used the banners and insignia of a prince, and the minister was allowed to ride in an elephant-drawn carriage with a nine-tasseled blue silk umbrella. When entering and leaving the palace, he used half a set of imperial regalia.

Everyone was somewhat surprised to hear this. In order to prevent the emergence of powerful ministers, the Song Dynasty had an ancestral rule that people of different surnames could not hold the titles of Duke of two states.

It seems they really are going to bestow a title upon him.

However, before bestowing the title of king, first take away the military power of the commander-in-chief.

Then, the angel produced another decree, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the new leader to be chosen.

The result was unexpected; the new head coach was Tan Zhen.
Another eunuch, Xuan Shuai.

After receiving the imperial decree, Tan Zhen still respectfully invited Tong Guan back to the head seat.

Wang Bing stood silently in the crowd, feeling somewhat helpless.

Now the Jurchens have taken over almost all of the Liao territory. Emperor Tianzuo, Yelü Yanxi, is hiding in the mountains, just like Li Qianshun in the Helan Mountains, he has long been trapped.

When they will be captured depends entirely on whether the Jurchens are willing to launch a fierce attack at the cost of more casualties; otherwise, they will be worn down and killed.

The Jurchen army was so powerful that it swept across the entire Khitan territory in just a few years. With the current ragtag army in Yanshan Prefecture, Hebei, what good would it do if the Jurchen Tartars marched south?
If a battle is lost, it might actually strengthen the Jurchen army, making them even more difficult to deal with.

The Tartars stationed troops at Gubeikou, and when they left, they destroyed the defenses of Yanjing, making their intention to move south obvious.

Wang Bing had already anticipated their invasion of the south, and at this time the court entrusted the military command of this most important place to Tan Zhen.
Tan Zhen was originally Tong Xuanshuai's deputy, so after he took command, his staff and others naturally remained the same.

What difference does that make?
This force couldn't even defeat the crumbling Khitan, so how could they be expected to stop the Jurchens?

Wang Bing then turned his gaze to the military officers inside the hall, his heart filled with even greater despair.

What a bunch of scoundrels! Not a single one of them is a warrior from a fighting background; they're all sycophantic good-for-nothings.

After the disastrous defeat at Baigou River, these people scattered like birds and beasts, making it impossible for the army to communicate effectively. They bear a large part of the responsibility for the great defeat.

Now that they've spent all of the Song Dynasty's wealth to buy back Yanshan Prefecture, they've all returned, each receiving a promotion and a higher rank.

If the Jurchens were to actually march south, it would probably be even easier than when they seized Yanjing from the Khitans last time.

In truth, Wang Bing had a fleeting hope that the court would grant him the position.

Emperor Tianzuo has not yet been captured, and it is unknown how much more time he can buy for the Song Dynasty.

During this period, if we can strengthen the city's defenses, gather the Hebei troops, and recruit and train a strong army, then great things can still be accomplished.

Wang Bing had already anticipated that Tan Zhen would be appointed; he would undoubtedly be involved in selling official positions and doing nothing of substance.

The newly established Yanshan Prefecture has plenty of official positions, enough for him to live on for some time.

Amidst the chaotic clamor of flattery and praise within the hall, Wang Bing silently walked out.
-
Inside the Yipin Guangyuan Hall, Madam Xiao held the caravan's seal, feeling truly delighted.

She loved the feeling of wielding power and amassing wealth, and she was addicted to it.

She had no regrets about serving Chen Shao for this.

Several Uyghur servants brought from Suoyang City stood behind her. Xiao Shi, biting her pen, said, "Bring all the account books here."

As the rustling sound of turning the pages filled the air, Xiao's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

I knew the Dingnan Army's caravan was large, but I didn't expect it to be this large.

The thought of soon being able to take control of this huge caravan made Xiao's face flush with excitement and her heart beat faster.

Humans have all sorts of interests, and some people are crazy about the feeling of having power in their hands.

With each reading, Xiao seemed to conjure images in his mind of carriages, merchant ships, and camel caravans crossing deserts, sailing out to sea, and traversing rivers.

With every grain of millet and every piece of cloth, every inch of wind-blown boat and every mat in the rain, it seemed as if I had built a towering mountain of gold.

Back when she was in the Uyghur Khaganate, she often wondered how she would manage a caravan ten or a hundred times larger than the one in Suoyang City.

Now we finally have the opportunity to put it into practice.

She closed the ledger and began to write down her plans, first establishing the caravan's rules and regulations.

Everyone's position, role, and responsibilities must be clearly defined.

This kind of workload is enormous and difficult; most people would be scratching their heads if they were given this task.

Xiao, however, was enjoying it.

Her current situation is like that of an ordinary player who is very passionate about a certain game, who suddenly logs into the account of a top player in the entire server.

Meanwhile, the Dingnan Army's caravans also had a chance to make a leap forward.
-
Xiping Prefecture.

The turn of spring and summer.

A light drizzle was falling, the raindrops fine and dense.

Standing atop the small building of the Marshal's Mansion, one could see that the city's scenery appeared shrouded in a thick fog.

When the wind blows, the vast curtain of rain drifts in the air, like wisps of white smoke.

Looking at the rain in front of her, Zhe Shi seemed lost in thought. After spending this time together, she wasn't sure if she had managed to persuade Huanhuan.

Anyway, she stopped making a fuss, and sometimes she would even chat and laugh with me, just like before.

However, he still didn't give Chen Shao a friendly look.

Chen Shao returned from the Lingwu camp, dismounted, entered the front courtyard, walked along the corridor, and climbed the tall building. Sure enough, he saw the Zhe family there.

Zhe's maids, Ruizhu and Cuidie, stepped forward together and diligently helped him change out of his official robes.

Wearing a smoky green wide-sleeved shirt and a light blue long skirt, Zhe Shi's beautiful face, jade-like skin, curvaceous and tall figure, and dignified walking posture were all very captivating.

However, Chen Shao dared not make any rash moves.

After he changed his clothes, he stepped forward, gently put his arm around her waist, and asked with a smile, "How have you been feeling these past few days?"

In Zhe Shi's charming almond-shaped eyes, there was now a touch of innocent longing. She glanced at the watchtower shrouded in mist and rain, then turned to look at Chen Shao, nodding meaninglessly and humming in agreement.

Chen Shao didn't know if the "hmm" meant he was doing well these past few days or something else, but he didn't care. He smiled and said some sweet words, dreaming about what the baby would be like after it was born.

Zhe Shi's mood still seemed complicated. She was unusually silent, sometimes secretly glancing at Chen Shao and placing her hand on his still slender waist. Sometimes she would look out the window at the rain, slightly lost in thought.

"Just say what you have to say."

Suddenly, Madam Zhe sighed softly and said, "I don't want to give the child to Huanhuan."

After she finished speaking, fearing that Chen Shao would be unhappy, she secretly glanced at him again.

Chen Shao stroked the back of her hand and said, "Okay, I'll think of a way."

He had no intention of finding a solution; with women, you just have to appease them for now.

Their thoughts change frequently, so most of the time you don't need to pay attention to them. Just say a few nice things, as long as you don't let them know you're just being perfunctory.

Sure enough, after Chen Shao finished speaking, Lady Zhe returned to her original charming and lovely appearance, clinging to Chen Shao and refusing to let go.
-
Near Yingzhou, there was a strange army that looked like they were fleeing famine, heading west.

The number of troops was quite large; these more than four thousand soldiers stretched for seven or eight miles.

This is Yelü Dashi's army. At this moment, his generals were a little puzzled as to why Dashi Linya chose to march due west. It was rumored that the west was a barren land inhabited by savage, ferocious, and uncivilized grassland savages.

However, at this point, they had no room to ask questions. Once the warhorses moved, they generated tremendous inertia, engulfing everyone in their wake.

In addition, with Yelü Diguolie's cavalry leading the way and blocking from the rear, everyone just followed along without bothering to think about anything else.

When Xiao Gan and Yelü Dashi separated their families, even among the Khitans, some chose Xiao Gan.

These four thousand men were all of Yelü Dashi's trump cards, and the food he brought from Yanjing along the way was almost used up.

They could only plunder the local people as they marched.

On the city wall of Yingzhou, someone pointed down and said to Meng Nuan, "It's this group of people!"

Meng Nuan glanced at them and said, "They're Liao people. Could they be going to join Chen Shao?"

Now that the Liao people are fleeing westward, it's easy to associate them with Chen Shao, since most of the Liao people in Xijing Prefecture have this plan.

Meng Nuan hesitated for a moment. She had just made contact with Chen Shao's side, and she was wondering whether she should fight these Liao people.

Looking at the wounds on her subordinates' arms and the resentful expressions of the group below, Meng Nuan knew that even if she was just putting on an act, she couldn't let these Khitans leave as if nothing had happened after looting.

"Shoot it!"

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of a bell suddenly came from afar, a signal that the Jurchens had arrived.

Sure enough, soon after, a group of Jurchen Tartars swarmed towards the Khitan army. When these cavalrymen saw the Liao banners, they immediately rushed forward and began to hack and stab wildly.

Blood splattered everywhere, and the cries of agony rose to a new level.

In the blink of an eye, they had already slaughtered over a hundred of Yelü Dashi's troops. Meng Nuan and his men on the city wall of Yingzhou stared in disbelief at what they had just witnessed, and they all put away their bows and arrows.

The Tartars are coming; it's best not to attract their attention.

Seeing that the army was about to collapse, Yelü Dashi suddenly stopped his horse and turned back.

Many people only realized at this moment that Da Shilinya was going to personally meet the enemy. Now, all they could see were people driven away by the Jurchen Tartars and who had lost their courage.

The Jurchens had terrified the Khitans, who no longer had the courage to fight them. Meng Nuan hid in a low wall on the city wall, looked down through a loophole, and spat disdainfully.

"Di Guolie, you take your men and leave first!"

Yelü Diguolie glanced at Dashi Linya and understood that even if everyone tried to push forward at this point, it might not be of any use, and they would likely be completely overwhelmed by the retreating crowd that followed.

Since Da Shi Lin Ya is determined to lead everyone out of this deadly place, and his skills are the strongest, choosing to stay behind to cover their retreat is the wisest course of action.

Yelü Dashi was in the center of the army, surrounded by dozens of mounted guards who were pressed tightly against him. They kept shouting and cursing at the soldiers around him, telling them not to bump into Yelü Dashi.

As Yelü Dashi watched the Jurchen Tartars rushing towards him, he suddenly realized that he also felt a trace of fear in his heart.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, holding a long spear, and glanced at the Tartars opposite him.

The pursuing troops were not many, but the Liao people were terrified and could only flee for their lives at the sight of the Jurchens.

At this moment, Yelü Dashi already knew that he probably couldn't lead his several thousand troops out of this deadly place as he wished.

With a few hundred cavalrymen chasing after thousands of cavalrymen, it was like a pack of wolves driving a flock of sheep.

Back then, the eight tribes of the Khitan fought in the same way, managing to make their enemies, who outnumbered them far more, run rampant and trample each other.

This is precisely the fighting style that the nomadic peoples of the north are best at.

When the Liao Dynasty was founded, its elite cavalry also displayed such prowess.

Yelü Dashi gripped his spear tightly. His ancestors were hunters, but now his descendants had become the prey.

This is an extremely difficult cavalry tactic. It requires both crushing the opponent's will to resist as quickly as possible and avoiding being swept away by the chaotic tide. It requires maintaining constant pressure and driving away the collapsing crowd, desperately fleeing whenever there is any strength left.

The hundreds of thousands of Liao troops who went to annihilate the Jurchens back then were not defeated by force, but rather collapsed due to their own internal chaos and trampling.

The Liao Dynasty had existed for over a hundred years, its territory expanding a hundred times larger than the eight tribes of the Khitan, and its population increasing several hundred times. Ironically, it could no longer find even a few thousand elite cavalrymen with such skills.

So he wanted to leave this place and go somewhere the Jurchens couldn't catch up with him, to make a comeback! The reason he chose the west was because only the west could avoid the Jurchens; he had already given up hope of defeating the Jurchens.

Xiao Gan's choice to head east was, in Yelü Dashi's view, a path destined for destruction.

He knew that the Jurchens would also have a day when they indulged in pleasure, and their fighting strength would decline. Even if he couldn't wait for them, his descendants could. When that time came, they would come back and fight their way back to the place where their ancestors were buried.

Because of this idea, he would not easily abandon the strength he had painstakingly accumulated for the future restoration of the country and leave first.

On the city wall, Meng Nuan and his men watched the Khitan dogs and Jurchen Tartars slaughter each other, their hearts filled with glee.

In their eyes, neither side was human; both deserved to die.

But deep down, they still hoped the Khitan dogs would win, because even if the Khitans were beasts, they were still better than the Jurchen Tartars. These vicious Tartars were just like a bunch of demons.

These Jurchen Tartars were truly skilled horsemen; several hundred riders moved as fast as lightning, never stopping.

With their eyes bloodshot, these Jurchen warriors charged toward the direction Yelü Dashi was blocking.

The thunderous sound of hooves seemed capable of shaking the road to its foundations. The Jurchen Tartars lay prone on their horses, their swords trailing behind them, striving to maximize their speed.

The wind whistled past my ears; the horse was moving at an incredible speed.

At this moment, facing the direction from which they were charging, Yelü Dashi had also assembled a force of about a hundred riders.

Yelü Dashi's reaction was undeniably swift, and his deployment of countermeasures was undeniably correct. However, there was a difference in morale and combat strength.

Most of these men were refugees from Liaodong who had been stationed in the army, so their backgrounds were fairly solid. In the midst of the chaotic battle, not many flaws could be seen, and the pursuit of small cavalry scouts could be kept under control.

However, it would be difficult to withstand a cavalry charge head-on.

With just one charge, the Khitan troops left to cover the retreat were almost completely wiped out.

On the city wall, Meng Nuan and his men looked at each other in bewilderment. The Jurchens had become the natural enemy of the Khitans.

Even when we fought against the Jurchen Tartars, we weren't this helpless; we could at least hold our own for a few rounds.

Yelü Dashi simply clung tightly to his horse's neck and galloped away amidst the chaos. Three arrows struck the horse's rump, each one piercing deeply.

It is unclear whether the Jurchens knew Yelü Dashi's identity, but instead of pursuing the main force, they relentlessly chased after Yelü Dashi.

At this moment, Yelü Dashi could no longer think clearly about anything. He couldn't even control the horse and could only let it run on its own, carrying its master to safety.

At this point, Yelü Dashi used all his strength, but he could only manage to stay on the horse.

Seeing the miserable state of his men and their current predicament, Yelü Dashi couldn't help but smile bitterly from his horse.

Suddenly, the warhorse stopped, and Yelü Dashi looked ahead and felt utterly devastated.

Before me was a rushing river, its waters a muddy yellow due to the swift current, crashing against the cliffs before swirling around them and continuing its downstream flow.

Standing on the cliff and watching the river roar, you'll soon feel dizzy.

"If there is even a glimmer of hope for the Liao Dynasty, please, ancestors, bless me and help me survive this calamity!"

After saying this, Yelü Dashi removed his armor, picked up a piece of dead wood beside him, and jumped into the water.

When the Jurchens caught up, Yelü Dashi was nowhere to be seen. Only the horse with three arrows stuck in its rump was still standing there, neighing in pain.

Enraged, the Jurchen Tartars shot a few arrows into the river below, then turned to gather Yelü Dashi's warhorses.

The Jurchens cherished their horses greatly. This warhorse was exceptionally fine; after stopping the bleeding and taking it back to rest for a while, it could be ridden again.

However, in their pursuit of Yelü Dashi, they let the remnants of the Khitan escape, and they would inevitably be punished upon their return.

(End of this chapter)