You have truly caused me great suffering!

Yongle City.

Old Zhong also moved to this city, which records the contributions of the Zhong family to the stability of the Central Plains in the Northwest.

As a family of great Confucian scholars, they guarded the Northwest and resisted the Xia invaders; countless members of three generations died in battle.

The Zhong family has lived up to the expectations of the Song Dynasty and the Central Plains.

When men get old, they like to return to the places where they lived as children, and Lao Zhong, who has fought all his life, is no exception.

He would occasionally hear about the battle situation in the east from his old subordinates who came to visit him.

Compared to that, what Lao Zhong cares about more is the peace and tranquility of the Northwest today.

Sometimes, he would have his grandchildren help him up to the upper floors of his house.

Looking at the merchants coming and going on the street, the vast majority of them came from the west.

The Western Xia people, who were originally mortal enemies, now lead horses from their pastures, carrying salt, licorice, and furs. They transit through Yongle City to sell their goods in the Central Plains and bring back silk and porcelain.

Whenever Zhong Shidao saw it, he would feel a mysterious sensation in his heart. He couldn't quite describe what it was, but he would feel very relaxed.

It should be noted that Yongle City was originally built to block the Western Xia people, but now it has become a transit point for communication between the two sides.

Originally, they were mortal enemies who would fight to the death in the wild, but now they can sit in an inn and drink and rest.

As people get older, they sleep more lightly. Zhong Shidao got up early in the morning and was tending to the newly planted flowers and plants in the yard.

Suddenly a child entered the courtyard, waving a piece of paper in his hand, and said, "Grandpa, Grandpa, there's a letter for you."

Zhong Shidao paused slightly, silently put away the water ladle, and sighed.

It's time to come.

Hearing that the Jurchens' defenses at Wuhui Ridge had been breached, Zhong Shidao, who had fought all his life, knew all too well what this meant.

Even from just a few words of description, he could clearly judge the situation at the front.

The Dingnan army has gained the upper hand and is now planning to kill the main force of the Jurchens.

The Jurchens would have been better off withdrawing from Youyan, but they were too arrogant and wanted to turn the tide in one battle.

Perhaps from the very beginning, it was all about luring the Dingnan Army out of the Yunnei defense line.

As a veteran of the border army, Zhong Shidao was extremely envious of the defense line in Yunnei—Datong, Yingzhou, Daizhou, and Taiyuan.

Whichever general controls this defensive line can rest easy.

As the saying goes, an outsider sees most of the game; the principles of mentorship, beyond personal gain, are clearly understood.

After the Jin dynasty lost Datong, the best course of action was to hold onto its existing territories and quickly assimilate the vast Khitan Empire.

Instead of seeking a decisive battle with the Dingnan Army from the top, we should gather our strength and launch a fierce attack from the east.

He knew all too well what kind of monster the Dingnan Army was.

Even if the worst-case scenario occurs, and the Dingnan Army is defeated outside the pass, even if the entire army is wiped out, as long as Chen Shao escapes back to the Northwest.

He still has the potential to make a comeback.

Just look at the roads in Yongle City and you'll know that the Northwest has been completely revitalized.

He held the letter, already knowing its contents without even reading it.

Chen Shao's arrangements in the various routes of Shaanxi were already very thorough. The Fuyan Road and the Zhejia Road in Fugu, which are closest to Hedong, were both under Chen Shao's control.

There are still a few troops in the Northwest, but if they want to move, they have to pass through Fuyan Road and Fugu.

Judging from the current situation, even if Qin Fengjun and Jingyuanjun were combined, they would still be no match for Fuyanjun and Zhejiajun.

Chen Shao only needs to cut off the supply lines from Bianliang to them, and both armies will collapse without a fight.

Because they lacked the self-sufficiency that the Dingnan Army possessed.

A large portion of the Song Dynasty's treasury was controlled by Chen Shao's men.

If someone like Yao Gu in the Western Army really dared to stab someone in the back, and even received supplies from Bianliang, then...

Chen Shao's cavalry set out from Hedong and could reach Bianliang in a single day.
Now, the only thing he needs to deal with is the Zhong family army.

After all, Lao Zhong's influence in the Northwest was very strong.

Chen Shao would not allow him to remain peacefully in the Northwest with a large army; he would definitely send him to participate in the war.
Unfolding the letter, it was indeed so, only the tone seemed more polite than Lao Zhong had imagined.

He couldn't help but recall the image of that young man who rose from the Northwest. Although he hadn't had much contact with him, Chen Shao had left a deep impression on him.

He lacked the impetuousness of youth, was exceptionally pragmatic, and once he set his mind on something, he would do it without hesitation.

This is quite valuable; he has trained quite a few of the Western Army's sons around him.

They are easily influenced by others, and sometimes doubt their own opinions because of what others say.

Chen Shao, however, did not do that. He wanted to destroy the Western Xia, and he did so by building fortified villages and gradually driving the Western Xia to its death.

He wanted to deal with the Jurchens, so he started preparing for war from the very beginning.

I hadn't figured out what he was up to until Nuanquan Peak sent troops, and then I understood Chen Shao's plans for the Northwest over the past three years.

When he wanted to repair the river, he would roll up his trousers, squeeze out his meager funds, and dig the canals little by little, eventually connecting the northwest into one area.

This personality trait became even more apparent when he gained greater power and took control of Hedong.

The ancient road from Fenzhou to Datong, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, has been abandoned for hundreds of years.

From the moment he decided to build it, he immediately started construction, concentrating all the financial resources and manpower of the entire Hedong area, and completing the project in six months.
Now, it seems the Zhong family army is really going to make a move.

Zhong Shidao was somewhat worried, fearing that Xiao Zhong might not obey his orders.

Having witnessed the changes in the Northwest, Lao Zhong's mindset is slowly shifting.

In the past, he might have felt proud of his younger brother's arrogance and loyalty, but now he had more to think about.

Because now he has another path to choose from.

The prosperity and tranquility of the Northwest inspired Lao Zhong, who had spent his entire life fighting there and had witnessed countless life-and-death situations, to want to leave a way out for his descendants.

He didn't want his descendants to learn the skills of killing from birth, preparing them for battle.

There are too many widow villages in the Northwest; so many young men die in battle before they even reach adulthood.

He wanted to use his prestige, built up over a lifetime of battles, to do one last thing for the people of the Northwest.

"Summon all military officers of the rank of commander and above in the camp to come to my residence."
-
The entire Zhong family army hadn't seen Old Zhong for a long time.

Since his defeat in the campaign against Liao, Lao Zhong has rarely appeared in public.

When everyone saw the old commander of the Zhong family army again, they were very pleased to see that he was still in good health.

Rumors are circulating that General Zhong is old and frail and is about to die.

But today, he looks much better than before.

After everyone entered the hall, they all stepped forward to greet Old Zhong.

Old Zhong smiled and agreed, just like returning to the military camp tent.

A short while later, Xiao Zhong also entered the courtyard with several personal guards. He waved his hand, and the guards stopped in the courtyard.

He came to see his elder brother without even having to bring troops.

Unlike the others, his expression wasn't particularly pleasant. Xiao Zhong had a fairly good understanding of his brother's purpose in summoning the generals.

Upon seeing him enter, the generals who had been seated all stood up again.

"Sit down!" Xiao Zhong waved his hand.

Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Old Zhong coughed lightly and chuckled, "I know, everyone outside is saying I'm going to die, that I'm bedridden and need someone to clean up my excrement. If I don't see you all again, you'll start to believe it."

The room erupted in laughter.

Even Xiao Zhong couldn't help but purse his lips. In any case, he was happy to see his brother in good health.

"After our defeat in the campaign against Liao and our soldiers returned to their hometowns on their own, the court harbored many grudges against the Western Army. For years, we have been living off the court's provisions and pay without doing anything. Although such a life is comfortable, it cannot last."

"If we don't want to be laid off, we need to show the court that we're useful. The Song Dynasty has plenty of rice, but it doesn't support idlers!"

"Now the Jin state has once again marched south and is blocked in Hebei. The two sides are locked in fierce fighting. From the beginning, the court issued an edict allowing people from all over the country to go and pursue the enemy. I want to personally lead a large army eastward to Hebei, to Youyan, and we will get back up from where we fell down."

The generals below looked at Lao Zhong, wondering if he could still lead the army on a distant expedition.

Old Zhong laughed and said, "The road is easy to walk on now, so you don't need to look at me like that. My old bones are not at the point where I can't walk."

Xiao Zhong's face grew increasingly grim. He turned slightly to the side, frowning as he said, "Since my brother is to obey the imperial decree to suppress the enemy, I can lead the troops. Why must you go in person?"

Old Zhong looked at him, pondered for a moment, and said, "I'm worried."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhong's face grew even uglier. He clenched his fists tightly, but in the end, he remained silent.

By this point, he also realized that his ideas might not be correct.

For the Zhong family and those who have followed them for many years, the elder brother's choice may be better.

He didn't need to look around to feel the excitement and restlessness of the generals in the hall.

This time was different from Tong Guan's campaign against Liao. The Dingnan Army's first few battles were truly spectacular.

They dispatched troops to Nuanquan Peak and swept through Dongsheng Prefecture, Shuo Prefecture, and Ying Prefecture, which had not yet been occupied by the Tartars, with lightning speed, and then captured Datong in Yunnei.

Now they have swept through Weizhou, carved through Wuhui Ridge, and reoccupied Zhuoyi and Yizhou.

It possesses a thunderous and unstoppable momentum.

At this point, joining the war is more like a pledge of allegiance; whether the Dingnan Army needs these men is hard to say.

Putting aside other matters, they still maintain a considerable military presence in the Northwest.

Wu Jie was a general who commanded an army of 100,000 and conquered Xiping Prefecture. He also remained in the Northwest.

Given their current momentum, they give the impression that they still have plenty of energy left.

Xiao Zhong knew that even if he didn't want to, he couldn't stop the people within the Zhong family army from falling behind.

Moreover, he has the support of his elder brothers, who won't listen to him.

"Xiao Zhong, would it be alright if you stayed in Yongle City?" He addressed Xiao Zhong with a smile to lighten the mood.

Xiao Zhong shook his head and said, "This battle is destined to be recorded in history, how could I be absent!"

Since I cannot serve my country, then I will fight for the Central Plains and defeat those barbarians!
Ideally, one should die on the battlefield and no longer have to think about these troublesome things.
-
Taiyuan, government office.

Since the opening of Wuhui Ridge and the sudden change in the war situation, this place has become exceptionally busy.

Fortunately, Chen Shao had gotten used to it, and he really shouldn't go to the battlefield so casually now.

Firstly, he already had enough prestige in the Dingnan Army, so he didn't need to seek merit and fame like Zhao Er.

If Zhao Lao Er had actually taken down Youyan, the legend of "Axe Shadow Shaking Red" probably wouldn't have been passed down in later generations.

The painting "Emperor Xiling Visits Xiao Zhouhou" became a popular story, and people would say that he was indeed a heroic figure, and so romantic.

Emperor Taizong taking a liking to your wife is already a great honor for you, Li Yu. Don't be ungrateful.
Because this achievement is so great.

End the chaos of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms!
What's most infuriating is that he wasn't without a chance; the situation was quite good in the early stages.
Now that Chen Shao is stationed in Taiyuan, even if there are minor setbacks at the front, adjustments can be made in time, and there will absolutely not be a situation like the Battle of Fei River or the Yongxi Northern Expedition, where the defeat was directly caused by the presence of the leader.

Suddenly, someone came in with news that news had arrived from Shaanxi.

The visitor was one of Liu Guanglie's men from Fuyan Road. After clasping his hands in greeting, he recounted the actions of the Zhong family army.

After listening, the hall fell silent.

"Old Zhong personally led his troops, including General Zhong, nearly 70% of the Zhong family army, to Hebei to participate in the war?"

The news from Fuyan surprised Chen Shao.

"Is he well?"

"Everyone says that Old Master Zhong is in better health than ever before. He was able to accompany Tong Guan on the campaign against Liao last time, and this time he only went halfway, so he should be fine."

Chen Shao nodded. They would definitely go to Taiyuan. They would leave Lao Zhong there.

That being said, sending such an old man to fight on the battlefield is ridiculous.

Chen Shao is not Tong Guan; he wouldn't do such a thing.

Moreover, Zhong Shidao's presence in Taiyuan was not without purpose; he had led troops for decades and had been on the battlefield since he was fourteen, so he was highly experienced.

You can participate in rear planning and preparation; the contribution is greater than going directly to the battlefield.

Moreover, if he were to go, his seniority would make it easy for him to overshadow the host.

The three main forces should still be in charge of the front lines. They have been cooperating for a long time and have a tacit understanding with each other, so they are more than capable of managing the front-line battles.

Adding more troops would only increase our leverage; there's no need to bring in veteran generals to help.

Li Tangchen and the others looked delighted.

In any case, the fact that Old Zhong came in person is sending a signal.

From this point on, the Zhong family army should also understand the direction they will take from now on.

In fact, the Dingnan Army and the Zhong Family Army were truly intertwined, each with its own part in the other.

When Chen Shao married Zhong Lingxi, his dowry included the entire city of Yinzhou, as well as countless veterans of the Zhong family army and low- to mid-ranking military officers.

They were released by the Zhong family and came to Dingnan Army, where they were promoted very quickly.

Now they are the backbone of the company.

Chen Shao was calculating the days ahead. He hoped that if Lao Zhong stayed in Taiyuan, he could remotely plan the war and prepare logistics with him.

He will most likely live to see his and Huanhuan's child born.

In fact, the bloodline of this child further deepened the bond between Dingnan Army and the Zhong family.

Sensing the excitement of the group of people inside the government office, Chen Shao nodded inwardly.

People in the entrepreneurial stage, especially when starting such a large business, will unleash unlimited potential.

His intelligence, amazing perseverance, and boundless energy seemed to have been released all at once.

This is why it is said that the talent of a single town can sweep across the world.

The man who activates this mode is no longer the same person he usually is.

When a group of men get together, they are at their most passionate, and nothing else compares.

What does it matter if I work overtime or not, or if I'm tired?
You said those who are tired can go home, but let's see if anyone is willing to leave! (End of Chapter)