You have truly caused me great suffering!

The reason why the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun could serve as a northern bulwark was largely due to the continuous mountain ranges.

Zhu Lingling stood on Longshou Mountain, watching the retreating Tartars before her, lost in thought.

Beside him stood Mi Qin Jincheng, his temples graying, his face lined with wrinkles, but the lean flesh peeking out from his wrist guards on his arms was bulging.

Together they rode their horses up a hillside and gazed at the enemy's deployment in the distance.

"Once you go deep into the mountains, you can't see anything!"

Zhu Lingling said, "Don't rush, send out scouts slowly and explore little by little!"

Even if we have clear intelligence that the Tartars are about to withdraw, we cannot let our guard down.

Because if you really go all out to chase them, even if they were about to retreat, they might turn around and ambush you in the mountains.

In this terrain, large-scale military operations, especially for cavalry, would have to traverse river valleys and mountain valleys, which are easy targets for ambushes.

They are all experts; neither of them should underestimate the other. The battlefield situation changes rapidly, so no one can afford to reveal any weaknesses.

All these circumstances indicate that the Tartars are preparing to withdraw their forces and cease fighting the Dingnan Army.

They must defend the city and passes.

Zhu Lingling leaned against a pine tree on the mountaintop, looking down at the continuous mountain range, her eyes full of vigor.

"Everyone is tired of the protracted war with the Jurchen Tartars. They are delaying our important affairs. This time, they took the initiative to go south to lure us out so that we can have a decisive battle with them."

"This is exactly what I wanted!"

Mi Qin Jincheng, as one of the few fierce generals in Mi Qin's army, wholeheartedly agrees with this.

The Miqin tribe was completely Sinicized and had virtually no Tangut customs; they were major grain-producing households in Western Xia.

He was old and didn't have much energy left to continue fighting on the battlefield.

In just a few years, we must achieve a great victory in the north.

Mi Qinjin said, "If you ask me, the commander's order is too slow. It will take a lot of time and manpower to occupy Yanshan and cut off their retreat. We should just chase after them and follow behind the Jurchen Tartars!"

Zhu Lingling nodded. Someone would definitely chase after them. Cutting off their retreat didn't necessarily mean attacking cities and passes.

If all else fails, we can insert our route from Zhen Ding Prefecture.

His stance and Chen Shao's pursuits differed.

As a Han Chinese, Chen Shao certainly felt that it was best to condemn the Jurchen Tartars to death.

Zhu Lingling, on the other hand, felt it was more important to first severely defeat the Tartars and then take the opportunity to march south into the Central Plains.

I've heard that the Song Dynasty is training troops everywhere. These Han Chinese from the Central Plains are quite strange; whenever there's a crisis, they always manage to train one or more powerful armies.

Some generals and commanders who are incredibly skilled and unreasonable will also emerge.

Although the Dingnan Army is now strong and well-equipped, it is not yet at the point where it can completely secure victory and be invincible.

Once they have established a firm foothold in the Central Plains and settled important matters, even if the military governor does not declare himself emperor, as long as he firmly controls the power in the Central Plains, his men can continue to risk their lives on the front lines.

Otherwise, I'll always feel uncertain.

Everyone fought their way out of Nuanquan Peak with sheer courage and determination, but this kind of morale and drive cannot be maintained indefinitely.

Especially when it is difficult for everyone to get promoted and there are hidden dangers in the rear.

There is already some discontent within the army. The desire of military officers at all levels to be granted titles and ranks can either make or break the Dingnan Army.

From Zhu Ling's camp, scouts kept galloping out, like birds returning to their nests, disappearing into the endless mountains.

Meanwhile, the army behind them was also preparing to break camp and advance at any time.
-
Taiyuan.

Chen Shao listened to the report from the person from Guangyuantang, who said that west of Xizhou, the Karakhanid Khanate was defeated by Yelü Dashi, who fled west, and lost Samarakhan.

Xiao hoped that Chen Shao would send troops to occupy Kashgar and share the Karakhanid Khanate with Yelü Dashi.

Chen Shao frowned and asked, "Yelü Dashi?"

Chen Shao was quite familiar with this name; it was he who ruined Tong Guan's dream of conquering Liao.

In fact, many things arose from this. If it weren't for Xiao Gan and Yelü Dashi, Tong Guan might have really succeeded.

These two can be considered the nemesis that Tong Guan encountered after a lifetime of smooth sailing.

After Zhang Jue was defeated, the Jin state captured Pingzhou, and the Xi state established by Xiao Gan was wiped out by Guo Yaoshi's men.

There was no other way; we were surrounded by enemies.
His situation was similar to that of the Zhe family of Fugu and Chen Shao.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the Zhe clan of Fugu surrendered to Chen Shao, while Xiao Gan chose to fight the Jurchens head-on, established the Great Xi Kingdom, proclaimed himself emperor, and resolutely refused to surrender.

His so-called Xi Kingdom was already weak and plagued by internal strife.

After being defeated by Guo Yaoshi, he was killed by his subordinate Bai Dege, who then surrendered to the Jin dynasty with his remaining troops.

Unexpectedly, Yelü Dashi fled to the west and began to wreak havoc.

Chen Shao suggested that Xiao try to make contact with Yelü Dashi first, as starting a war in the west would be somewhat exhausting for Chen Shao.

He now wants to focus all his attention on the east.

In the west, without a trusted general to command, if he were to actually carve out a large territory, he would worry that someone might take the opportunity to establish their own independent regime.

Just like how he started to disobey the rule of the Song Dynasty after conquering such a large territory in the Northwest.

The foreman from the grain escort team sighed inwardly upon hearing Chen Shao's arrangements.

He felt that he was indeed subject to many restrictions in the Northwest; otherwise, with Xiao Niangzi's abilities, she would have already carved out her own territory.

Having held a high position for a long time, Chen Shao had become very adept at discerning the changes in the expressions and emotions of his subordinates.

He had a vague sense of unease, whether it was Qu Duan from the west, the north, or even the south.

People are restless and uneasy these days, and simply suppressing them would be inappropriate.
With a major battle imminent, internal problems could severely hinder our plans!
I have to give my subordinates an explanation. First and foremost, I need to elevate my own status.

There's a limit to hiding one's talents. He is the most powerful person in the world today, holding a large army, but he is only a duke.

That's probably not plausible.
Tong Guan even went so far as to declare himself king.

"Someone, bring Li Tangchen here."

This kind of thing doesn't require conspiring with too many people; all that's needed is for Chen Shao to make up his mind.

A short while later, Li Tangchen arrived and was led to a pavilion.

Chen Shao sat on the railing in the pavilion, holding a handful of fish food, seemingly about to throw it away.

If the fish in the pond could talk, they'd probably be cursing by now.

"General Jie".

After Li Tangchen entered, he clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed slightly.

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Sit down."

Li Tangchen sat down on the stone bench, somewhat surprised, as in the past, when military commanders summoned him, they always got straight to the point.

This time I hesitated.

“Since I set out with my troops, I have captured all the prefectures in Yunnei. My achievements far surpass those of Tong Guan.”

Li Tangchen's face flushed red with excitement. He stood up and said, "Tong Guan's attempt to redeem Yanjing was a waste of national resources. He failed to win a single battle and his crimes were heinous. The General led his troops north, defeated several powerful enemies, and recaptured cities by force. He saved millions of Han people in Liaodong and even contributed to the destruction of the Xia dynasty. How could Tong Guan compare to him?"

"I would not compare the military commander with Tong Guan; that would be an insult to the military commander."

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Then, based on my merits, I should be granted the title of king."

"More than enough!"

"Go ahead and do it."

Li Tangchen hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting and then quickly left.

He immediately summoned officials and wrote a letter to officials from Hedong in the court, saying that it would be best if our Hedong officials brought this up first!
Of course, the commander might inform Wei Li and the others, but that doesn't matter.

Let's see who's faster!

Chen Shao finally sprinkled the fish food down.

Actually, the Song Dynasty was really being unfair. You made so many contributions, but you didn't reward yourself. You expect me to ask for it?
Since I asked for it myself, the sentiment has faded.

If you were to offer me a title, like a prince, I'd gladly accept it.

Nowadays, things are different; it has to be named after a major power like "Qin, Jin, Qi, or Chu"!
-
Chen Shao expressed his desire to be granted the title of king.

It's about giving an explanation to your subordinates.

So when the news spread, everyone was excited, which eased the discontent in the military.

What everyone wants to see is your ambition. If you don't have it, then you should give up your position as soon as possible so that someone with ambition can take over.

A group of so many people who have come together to form an interest group cannot just drift along with you; everyone needs to make progress.

In Bianliang, as expected, officials from Hedong stirred up trouble again, taking the lead in proposing to enfeoff Chen Shao as the Prince of Dai.

Chen Shao's greatest achievement was the recapture of Datong, a city that had been lost for over a century.

His official title was Pacification Commissioner of the Prefectures within the Clouds.

Immediately, Wei Li and the others realized what was happening and quickly submitted a memorial, stating that Chen Shao had recovered Yunzhou and should be granted the title of king according to the late emperor's edict.

However, they requested that Chen Shao be appointed as the King of Qin.

Bianliang, the imperial city, Daqing Palace.

The emperor and his five ministers gathered together, each with a different expression.

Zhao Huan remained silent, but even he, with his taciturn nature, felt the pressure.

The officials in the court seem to be being a bit too enthusiastic, which is quite unusual.

Li Gang sighed and said, "This matter can no longer be suppressed. The court should quickly bestow upon him a princely title to prevent further complications."

Wu Min also said, "That's right. The longer the news spreads and the longer it's delayed, the more the people will think that we had no choice but to grant him the title, which would be detrimental to the dignity of the court."

"What you two ministers say makes sense, but what kind of king should we bestow?"

"The Prince of Dai!" the two said in unison.

We absolutely cannot appoint him as the King of Qin. Although he is from Fuyan Road in Shaanxi, what will happen to the Western Army if we appoint him as the King of Qin?
The Western Army's defection to him was now perfectly legitimate.

The last Qin King with the greatest reputation was Li Shimin, so this title absolutely cannot be given to Chen Shao.

Zhao Huan sighed helplessly.

Standing beside him, Shao Chengzhang sensed the official's helplessness and felt a pang of bitterness and heartache. They were at the front lines with few scouts and knew very little about the situation ahead.

At this time, they were unaware of the unusual situation of the Jurchen army.

Originally, these people all held the same hope that Chen Shao's Dingnan Army and the Jurchen Tartars would fight to the death.

Meanwhile, the troops in various parts of the Song Dynasty have also been trained to be well-organized, and then the court's prestige will be restored!

Even if we can't defeat Chen Shao, we'll make them, like the Western Army, serve as henchmen for the imperial court.

After the Western Army occupied Hedong, it became self-sufficient, and now it has also placed many of its people in the court.

Achieving the above goals is difficult to begin with, but now that Chen Shao has been granted the title of king, it is a good opportunity to coax him into sending troops to fight a decisive battle.

Therefore, the imperial court quickly began planning the matter of bestowing titles upon princes.

The entire Song Dynasty knew about this news.
-
Yanshan Prefecture, Yizhou, Wuhui Ridge.

Starlight and moonlight spilled down, and the wind rustled the tall grass on the mountainside, making it seem as if there was a layer of starlight on the ground, rising and falling like waves.

A Khitan soldier, who was relieving himself, was so frightened by the sight of so many Jurchen soldiers marching south that he quickly pulled up his trousers, lowered his head, and stood aside, not daring to say a word.

Looking back at the fortified village of Wuhuiling, firelight still shone from several houses, and the sounds of drinking contests and betting in the Khitan language could be heard.

From the dilapidated buildings in the darkness, the faint cries of the captured people of Weizhou could be heard.

Why did the Jurchen Tartars leave?

The Khitan soldier panicked. If they left, who would deal with those western barbarians?

If the Western barbarians attack, wouldn't we all become cannon fodder again?

Wuhui Ridge stands majestically atop the mountain, with a winding mountain road leading down to control the roads below.

The north-south and east-west mountain roads converge here, making it a crucial transportation hub.

Moreover, it is located at the junction of Weizhou and Yizhou, and has always been garrisoned by Khitan troops.

Now that the main force of Jurchen soldiers in Weizhou has retreated, these Khitan soldiers cannot help but feel fear.

Zonghan made significant concessions to other Jurchen nobles during his southward journey.

His men were to be at the forefront, serving as the vanguard, and Weizhou also left its men to defend.

Zonghan's order to Wanyan Xiyin, who was left in charge, was that he must at least hold Wuhui Ridge, even if it meant losing Weizhou.

If the Dingnan Army were to advance to the east of Wuhui Ridge, Wanyan Xiyin's head would be chopped off.

Wanyan Xiyin, prepared to die, signed a military pledge and began building defenses in all directions around Weizhou.

Sometimes, he really hated the Dingnan Army on the other side, because this group of people was different from his previous enemies; they almost never made mistakes.

As soon as the Jurchen army withdrew, the Dingnan army, which had been locked in a stalemate, immediately sent out scouts to explore the area and then pressed forward step by step.

This made Wanyan Xiyin, who was in charge of covering the rear, even more anxious, fearing that the Dingnan army would seize the opportunity and break through Weizhou.

Inside Yanshan Prefecture, there are mountains of crossbows, arrows, spears, and supplies that were transported from the Song Dynasty.

They were defeated too quickly back then, and now all of these have become baggage for the Jurchen Tartars.

In addition to the gifts Tong Guan received when he redeemed Yanjing, and the spoils of war plundered by Wanyan Zongwang during his southward expedition, they had ample supplies for this trip south and had nothing to worry about.

As the Khitan soldiers were about to return to their camp, they discovered that there were many more Jurchen faces in the camp.

Wanyan Xiyin frowned as he looked at the drunken soldier and lashed out with his whip.

"From tonight onwards, we will take over this camp."

After Wanyan Xiyin arrived, he focused on developing Wuhui Ridge as a key location.

It was not only used to store grain and fodder plundered from all directions, but also served as a place for rest and resupply when Zonghan's army was transferred or mobilized.

It not only had to block the Dingnan army, but also serve as a transit point for the southward-bound troops' supplies.

After a period of operation, the military camp on Wuhui Ridge has taken shape, with trenches dug out and the stockades roughly erected.

They also set up watchtowers, observation towers, and arrow towers, and used the excavated soil to build additional walls within the village for protection.

Before the military camp was completed, the Jurchen army, along with auxiliary troops from various non-Han ethnic groups, hurriedly moved in.

The goal is to transform this crucial defensive system, which was easily abandoned by the Song people, into an impregnable fortress!
-
The flames of war in Hebei reignited almost instantly.

Zhengding Prefecture was the first to be hit, with countless Tartars pouring in.

The vanguard was no longer Guo Yaoshi's ever-victorious army, but the western route army under Zong Han, which had been confronting the Dingnan army for a year.

Several thousand Hu cavalrymen crossed the Damao Mountain and rushed south!
Overnight, fire broke out in Jiayou Town, and unrest ensued on the outskirts of Quyang.

The people fled in droves, some heading south into Zhengding, others west into the Taihang Mountains.

Meanwhile, the nomadic cavalry stirred up the beacon fires, and overnight, they had rapidly spread southward.

Along their journey, they committed murder and arson, venting the resentment that had accumulated in the clouds, and began a frenzied killing spree once again.

On the road leading to Zhengding, the Jurchen vanguard's fortified villages were ablaze with fire, a continuous and unbroken flame, stretching as far as the eye could see, just like beacon fires!

Just then, an imperial edict arrived in Taiyuan Prefecture.

"

I, in my humble position, inherited the throne, only to find the Jurchen invaders rampant and our land shattered. I am filled with grief and indignation day and night, and I vow to avenge this national humiliation!
Fortunately, loyal and brave men risked their lives to secure the nation. Now, there is Duke Chen Shao of Jin, whose loyalty shines as bright as the sun and moon, whose bravery surpasses that of the three armies. He led his elite troops on a northern expedition against Yunnei, successively capturing Shuo, Wu, Ying, and Wei prefectures, and decisively defeating the Jin invaders at Datong, recovering lost territory and establishing his might on the northern frontier!

The Jurchen invaders, terrified at the mere mention of his name, fled north in disarray, and all the prefectures within the Yunnei region returned to the rule of the emperor! This is all thanks to Chen Shao's loyalty, courage, and the valiant efforts of his soldiers! I am deeply gratified and hereby issue this edict to commend his meritorious service!

Imperial title:

Chen Shao was made the Prince of Dai, with a fief of ten thousand households, and was granted the Nine Bestowments, a golden carriage, and a jade tablet, placing him above all other princes!

He may establish his own government and command, and oversee the military and political affairs of Yunnei, Shuo, Ying, and Wei prefectures, with the position being hereditary and perpetual!
He was granted an iron certificate of pardon, exempting him from death three times, and his descendants were granted hereditary titles, to be forever stationed in the northern frontier!

Awesome! "

Chen Shao, dressed in royal robes, led a group of officials to receive the imperial decree.

The one who came to deliver the imperial edict was still Ma Kuo. He looked at the officials from Hedong, and everyone had a happy expression on their faces.

Ma Kuo let out a long sigh.

The strategically important Hedong region ultimately fell completely into Chen Shao's hands.

This person makes no mistakes and takes every step so steadily. How should the Song Dynasty deal with him?

In Ma Kuo's eyes, Chen Shao's threat to the Song Dynasty was far greater than that of the Jurchen Tartars.

No matter how fierce the Jurchens were, the Song Dynasty could still use the name of the Central Plains orthodoxy to call upon loyal and righteous men to fight them together.

But what about Chen Shao?
He was also a Han Chinese, and he did indeed have outstanding military achievements, recovering a large amount of lost territory.

They saved millions of Han people who had been in the hands of foreign tribes for hundreds of years.

His arrogant and fierce soldiers had no loyalty to the Song Dynasty, and many of them had never even been subjects of the Song Dynasty.

"Greetings, Prince of Dai." Ma Kuo forced a smile and congratulated Chen Shao as he approached.

Objectively speaking, it was acceptable for Chen Shao to be granted the title of king, and Chen Shao's achievements were indeed sufficient.

"Brother Zichong, there's no need for such formalities. I've heard that you and Zong Ze are in Hebei training troops and preparing defenses. Tell me quickly, how are the preparations going? This time, the Tartars are advancing south with great force. Can Hebei possibly hold them off?"

Ma Kuo said helplessly, "There's nothing we can do but try our best."

"This is not the time for humility. Is it really impossible to hold on?" Chen Shao asked seriously.

Ma Kuo rallied his spirits and said, "We will defend to the death, please rest assured, Your Majesty."

Looking at him, Chen Shao felt that the young man was also uncertain. It seemed that even if he used Zong Ze and Ma Kuo, and promoted Yue Fei and Liu Qi, he would not be able to create any great miracles in a short period of time.

However, Hebei's performance this time should be somewhat better than last time.

After all, last time, it was after Hebei fell that Zong Ze arrived at the front line, and then he was essentially fighting a guerrilla war behind enemy lines.

"My intelligence is that Zonghan has also gone south this time, leaving Wanyan Xiyin in Weizhou. If we can break through Weizhou, our Dingnan Army will naturally block the Tartars' route back north, and then trap them like turtles in a jar. Even if we can't break through, we can still advance east from Taihang Mountain. This time we must completely eliminate this scourge of the Jurchen Tartars."

Upon hearing this, Ma Kuo realized that Chen Shao had actually changed his strategy this time. Had he misunderstood him before?

Many people in the Song Dynasty court believed that Chen Shao had deliberately stood by and watched, hoping that the Tartars would break through Bianjing and make it easier for him to usurp the throne.

But upon closer reflection, Ma Kuo felt somewhat afraid. What if he went east and didn't leave? Wouldn't that make things even more difficult?

The officials from Hedong, standing behind Chen Shao, whispered amongst themselves, even more excited when they heard him say this.

As expected, the Prince of Dai was about to expand his territory.

Moving eastward was the right thing to do; it should have been done long ago!
He led tens of thousands of troops eastward into Bianliang City and never came out again!

When the Tartars arrive, everyone will escort you to Chenqiao Post Station, where you will put on some clothes and return to the city.

Even a palace attendant can dress modestly in these clothes, so why can't the dignified Prince of Dai wear them?

Ma Kuo took in the expressions of the Hedong officials. He was a meticulous man, and he already understood Chen Shao's predicament.

Even if he wanted to be a loyal subject of the Song Dynasty, it would probably be very difficult for him; he would likely be powerless to change his fate.

These were just officials from Hedong, a group of people who had followed along the way and had served as officials of the Song Dynasty.

What about those arrogant and fierce soldiers on the front lines?
They had never received any favors from the Song Dynasty, and could not possibly have any sense of belonging to the Song Dynasty. These people supported Chen Shao in achieving his current success.

If you put yourself in their shoes, how would they feel right now?

Ma Kuo didn't even dare to think about it.

These officials from Hedong, though dissatisfied, would at most grumble and occasionally offer advice.

The discontent among the soldiers at the front lines, once it reaches a certain point, will likely erupt into a catastrophe far exceeding the calamity of the Tartars' southward advance.

Thinking of this, Ma Kuo felt a wave of despair. He had served as an envoy to the Liao, Xia, and Jin dynasties. After Tong Guan's defeat at Baigou River, he went to Liao alone.

Even in the most difficult situations, he had managed to turn the tide, but when he thought of Chen Shao and the Dingnan Army behind him, he could only sigh in vain!

The problem of the Dingnan Army is unsolvable; it's only a matter of time before it erupts.

Seeing that he was silent and looked unwell, Chen Shao assumed that he was worried about the war in Hebei.

Gently patting Ma Kuo on the shoulder, Chen Shao said, "Given the current situation, Zichong, there is no need to be too hard on yourself. We can only do our best to drive out the Tartars, live up to our ancestors' and the people's support, and then we will have a clear conscience."

After listening, Ma Kuo was speechless.

He knew countless people, and was even valued and liked by Wanyan Aguda. At this moment, he wanted to see the hypocrisy and treachery in Chen Shao's eyes.

The gaze of the Prince of Dai, who held considerable military power, was open and honest, without any hesitation. (End of Chapter)