You have truly caused me great suffering!

The Jurchens retreated north, leaving Youyan (present-day Beijing) vulnerable.

However, the main force of the Dingnan Army did not besiege Yanjing City, but instead swept through the surrounding cities, counties and towns.

To appease the people of Yan and punish the treacherous villains who aided and abetted the wicked.

Soon, the three main marshals jointly submitted a memorial stating that the war in Youyan was complex and required a commander-in-chief to oversee it; otherwise, fighting independently would make it difficult to capture Yanjing.

At the same time, some people in the court also submitted a memorial requesting that the Prince of Dai take command and wipe out Youyan.

This has caused some officials great concern.

Zong Ze, who was stationed in the suburbs of Wanping City, about a hundred miles from Yanjing, was looking at the banners in the distance near the Gaoliang River.

Zhang Yuangan, Li Gang's trusted confidant and close friend, was still asking incessantly, "Lord Rulin, if we don't take Yanjing now, when will we?"

Zong Ze gave him a wry smile.

Is Yanjing easy to conquer?
Very easy to beat!
It's been fucking empty for ages.

Can Yanjing fight?
We can't fight, because we can't even get past it.

Who are those people on the other side of the river? A group of bloodthirsty men who would risk their lives for military merit.

But they didn't move when faced with the easily attainable capital of Yanjing. Were these people saved for you?

Zong Ze had no doubt that if he tried to fight them, they would attack him.

In fact, the Dingnan Army had already begun infiltrating Yanjing, and the people inside were just waiting to surrender.

They've conquered all of Youyan, and you're trying to reap the rewards? That's a recipe for disaster.

Moreover, in Zong Ze's view, Li Xiaozhong was easier to talk to than he had expected, at least better than Qu Duan from Daming Prefecture.

If it were Qu Duan, he probably wouldn't have allowed himself to lead troops into the vicinity of Yanjing.

Now that we're here, we'll surely have a place in the future when our contributions are recognized.

Zhang Yuangan was loyal and brave, but not very knowledgeable about military affairs. Seeing Zong Ze remain silent, he was slightly displeased.

"Lord Rulin?"

Zong Ze sighed, patted him on the shoulder, and said nothing.

At this moment, Wang Shan, who was standing to the side, spoke up, "Look over there! That's the army that just defeated the two Jurchen armies. Will they let us attack Yanjing City?"

Zong Ze waved his hand, stopping him from continuing, and instead asked, "How is the Emperor?"

"The Emperor?" Zhang Yuangan's expression turned even more grim.

Because the emperor issued an imperial edict, he and his officials excitedly announced that he would take command of the army on behalf of the king.

The officials, who had originally thought they were going to challenge the emperor and force him to agree, were all stunned.

I wonder which of the Thirty-Six Stratagems this refers to.

Instead, they all became more cautious.

Zong Ze looked around and saw the people returning from the mountains and fields to their hometowns.

He sighed deeply and said, "At least it's been taken back!"

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were bought back by Tong Guan last time, but few people truly recognized their value.

Is that what you call taking it back?

The Song court itself failed to send officials in a timely manner, and Yunnei was long occupied by local powerful clans.

Because sending troops there would cost money, all of the Song Dynasty's finances were plundered to pay for the ransom.

This time, it was a real victory, a genuine victory won by our troops.

Each time a city was conquered, garrison duties were assigned, appointments and dismissals were made, and statistics on land ownership and population were compiled.
For a moment, Zong Ze even felt a surge of joy.

However, he felt this was wrong, so he forcibly suppressed it.

Zhang Yuangan, who came from Bianliang, was unaware of the situation here and thought that if he rushed to the city of Yanjing, he could seize the credit for recovering Youyan.

Little did they know that even their own Hebei rebels were unwilling to fight.

Their hometown was recaptured by the Dingnan Army, and their enemies were driven away by the Dingnan Army.

In this battle, only Yue Fei, based in Zhen Ding Prefecture, relied on a defense line he had meticulously built over a year to hold off Wanyan Zonghan, which can be considered a satisfactory performance.

All the other Song Dynasty troops were easily destroyed upon impact, including Zong Ze himself, who was unable to engage the Jurchens head-on.

The difference in strength is really too big.

This was the case with the Jin army, who were not used to the local climate and were resisted by the entire population.

What about fighting the Dingnan Army, which was even more skilled in battle than the Jin army and had more support from the local people?

Even for the sake of the Song Dynasty, we must exercise absolute restraint at this time and absolutely not give the Difficult Army any excuse.

Do they really think they're longing for peace and to return home?
Zong Ze had been on the front lines, and he knew that if it weren't for the strict orders from the Dingnan Army not to enter the Gubeikou defense zone, these people would have rushed over long ago.

Zhang Yuangan said helplessly, "Are we just going to sit idly by and watch him reclaim Youyan?"

At this point, one of the leaders of the Hebei rebel army finally couldn't hold back any longer.

His name was Yang Jin. Before he was recruited by Zong Ze, he was nicknamed "Hornless Ox" and was a hero from Hebei.

He had a similar ecological niche but was much stronger than Song Jiang. He claimed to have 300,000 troops under his command, but it was estimated that he had about 10,000 to 20,000 men, including the old and the young.

Listening to Zhang Yuangan's complaints, he sneered, "Whether he comes or not, didn't he conquer Youyan anyway?"

"It belongs to someone else in the first place. If they don't give it to you, why are you complaining?"

Zhang Yuangan angrily retorted, "According to your words, this fertile land of Youyan belongs to him?"

"Otherwise what?" Yang Jin was rather impulsive, unlike Wang Shan who was more tactful. He stubbornly retorted, "If it was conquered by their troops, wouldn't it be yours if it wasn't theirs?"

"Weren't the provisions and supplies for the Dingnan Army provided by our Great Song Dynasty?!" Zhang Yuangan said angrily.

Yang Jin laughed heartily. He was originally a leader of refugees who rebelled against the Song Dynasty. If the Jin soldiers hadn't been so inhuman, it would have been uncertain whether he would have surrendered or not. "Back then, when the Khitan Tartars were managing Liaodong, they recruited eight battalions of resentful soldiers and used the annual tribute from the Song Dynasty. According to your logic, those eight battalions of resentful soldiers were the army of the Song Dynasty?"

"Pharmacist Guo is just to the east. Why don't you make the trouble of going there to take back his Ever Victorious Army?"

Zhang Yuangan was furious, but the surrounding military officers all watched the show with grim faces.

He felt a slight sense of unease and looked at Zong Ze, asking, "Zong Rulin! Your subordinate has said such things; are you going to stand idly by?"

Zong Ze felt utterly helpless. He was already in a difficult position, so did he really think it would be easy to win over these rebel leaders?
Do you expect me to argue and punish him? Otherwise, people's hearts would have already fallen apart.

The fact that these people are still willing to stay by his side instead of pledging allegiance to Chen Shao is purely out of a small favor.

How strong can human relationships be?
At this point, the situation was actually more dangerous for the Song Dynasty than the Jin army besieging the capital, but these scholar-officials who considered themselves pillars of the nation were still acting so arrogantly.

How can we preserve the Song Dynasty? Sooner or later, we'll have to hand it over to someone else.

Zong Ze could only say, "It was just a verbal argument, and people said things without thinking. Why take it to heart?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuangan looked incredulous. He pointed at Zong Ze, sneered a few times, and then turned and left.

Zong Ze did not pursue them. At this moment, these leaders of the Hebei rebels were far more important than the officials in Bianliang.

Seeing that Commander Zong was on his side, Yang Jin didn't say anything more, but instead looked towards the opposite bank together.

In their eyes, the Dingnan Army was not someone they could afford to provoke.

If Commander Zong were to lead everyone to attack Dingnan Army, this force would likely disband on the spot.

As for the group of people on the other side of the strait, they're probably ecstatic.

What made Zong Ze even more desperate was the actions of the Dingnan Army in Youyan.

Unlike the Song Dynasty army, they did not plunder the people's wealth under various pretexts, nor did they intend to massacre foreign tribes.

Having been ruled by the Liao Dynasty for two hundred years, there were actually many Khitans here. When Liu Yanqing came with Tong Guan, he used the pretext of killing all the Khitans, but his men indiscriminately looted and killed, and were eventually driven out by the locals.

The Dingnan Army was different; they honestly measured the land, counted the population, and even opened soup kitchens to provide relief to the people.

Were these soldiers, whom the Jurchen Tartars called "Western Barbarians," inherently benevolent?

surely not.

This is an open attempt to win over and appease the people; someone must have given a death order. In this way, this place, like Yunnei, has virtually no connection with the Song court.

It was impenetrable, like a needle poking into a hole or water splashing through it; it was entirely the territory of the Dingnan Army.
-
Hedong, Taiyuan.

The wave of celebration had just subsided, but a festive atmosphere still lingered in the government office.

It was a foregone conclusion that Chen Shao would advance eastward to reclaim Youyan.

Moreover, everything is ready, and once he arrives, success will be assured.

This time, many Jurchen generals and members of the royal family were killed, and countless Meng'an Mouke were wiped out.

The Jurchens, whose resources were already meager, were dealt a huge blow.

Even without a northern expedition, they would likely find it difficult to regain the strength to march south within ten years.

Chen Shao only needed to dredge the canals in Hebei and pave the roads to facilitate the mobilization of resources.

After a year or two of rest, we can continue the Northern Expedition.

Today, the threat from the surrounding barbarian tribes is the smallest it has ever been since the Tang Dynasty.

The Central Plains once had two major enemies: the Xiongnu and the Turks from the northern grasslands;
Tibet in the southwest.

Now, Tibet has been dealt a blow by the heavens and has been reduced to begging. Except for the time when they are about to starve to death each year, when they come down from the mountains to rob a little, they obediently endure hunger the rest of the time.

The Xiliang Prefecture organized some agricultural protection troops, which would be more than enough to defeat them.

The Tatar tribes on the grasslands were loose and backward at this time, much like a group of savages.

The most formidable Tatars in the world today are probably all in the Dingnan Army.

In fact, during the Tang Dynasty, the Khitan, Shiwei, and Jurchen tribes in the northeast of the empire were all small tribes.

Although they were fierce, their territory was small, so they never posed much of a threat.

Now, it is here that formidable enemies occasionally emerge.

In terms of pure defense, it's relatively easy.

The weather was getting colder, but Chen Shao was dressed warmly and looked like he had gained weight, making him appear even more dignified.

"Although Your Majesty has not worn armor for a long time, you are still a veteran of the battlefield, and you certainly look heroic!"

The speaker was Zhang Chunxiao, a man who didn't usually flatter, but at this moment he was grinning from ear to ear.

He is a typical example, belonging to the kind of high-ranking officials and scholars of the Song Dynasty who, after shedding their burdens, switched allegiance to the Prince of Dai.

Suddenly, the world seemed much wider.
After the shift in allegiance and change of stance.

Looking around, this era is simply the era that all ambitious people dream of!

Zhang Xiaochun wasn't just flattering him; he genuinely felt that way, and other officials felt much the same way.

Chen Shao's mission to reclaim Youyan with the 20,000 men sent by Wu Jie was purely for show.

The imperial court truly has nowhere left to bestow titles upon.

"With Your Majesty's departure, Youyan can be recovered within a day or two. If that Pharmacist Guo is sensible, he should surrender as soon as possible."

"That's right, otherwise we should wipe them out completely and extinguish their dreams of separatist rule!"

Looking at his men, Chen Shao was also somewhat worried.

He has many things to balance, and his subordinates' eagerness to make achievements is already an open secret.

However, it seems highly likely that there is not much room for further development.

The Northern Expedition will also require some preparation time.

It wouldn't take many people to deal with the ever-victorious army.

Given the current state of the Song Dynasty, it poses little threat to me.

Having recovered Youyan, I truly have nothing more to offer in terms of titles, but I must strive to secure higher official positions and ranks for my generals.

If someone were to urge him to take the throne, would now be the best time? Would he be forced into the position, and what potential problems might it cause?

These are all things that Chen Shao needs to think about on his own.

Sometimes he would discuss and ponder with Li Shishi at night.

But I didn't get any feedback.

Shishi would definitely not affect him in this kind of situation; she would usually just offer him a few gentle words of encouragement.

In fact, what Chen Shao wanted was this feeling of companionship.

If he really wanted something in return, he should go to Li Yumei; she would definitely encourage him to strive for improvement.

If those ordinary soldiers on the Youyan front were to impulsively don an imperial robe at this moment, it would be a shame.

It's actually a huge loss.

Because in doing so, apart from the empty title of emperor, no real benefits were gained.

Moreover, it lost the reputation it had cultivated for having a "legitimate cause."

Chen Shaozhen is not in a hurry.

The best option is to wait until the time is truly ripe, and then smoothly and gradually transfer power.

That way, we can reduce internal strife in the Central Plains and direct our efforts outward.

Because Chen Shao is so young, he feels no pressure at all.

Inside the main hall of the government office, the noise was deafening, as a group of excited officials continued their heated discussion.

Every now and then, people would come up to Chen Shao and ask him all sorts of random questions.

With the expedition imminent, Chen Shao had no interest in celebrating with them and returned to his residence after setting the time.

The Prince's Mansion was equally bustling.

Those who lingered on the east bank of the river thought they had struck gold and were willing to risk their lives to get in touch with the Prince's mansion.

The death of Li Qingzhao's husband was largely her fault, and the blame should also be placed on these people.

They spoke ill of this family out of jealousy that they could speak with the Prince of Dai's household and frequently enter and leave it.

Unfortunately, Zhao Mingcheng was seriously ill, and coupled with several misunderstandings, these rumors, which were originally fabricated by a group of jealous villains, instantly doubled in their attack on Zhao Mingcheng, making his death somewhat unjust.

When Chen Shao returned to the inner courtyard, he happened to see Maode and Li Qingzhao coming out side by side, and neither of them looked very happy.

He glanced at her silently. Li Qingzhao looked somewhat haggard, dressed in plain white mourning clothes.

He had heard from people in the courtyard that Zhang Shuye and Qu Duan were at odds because of the tense situation in Shandong, and Zhao Mingcheng's hometown was at the center of the storm.

Therefore, the clan advised her not to take the coffin back immediately, but to wait a little longer.

Because of those rumors, the two of them felt a little awkward. They exchanged a glance and nodded slightly, which was their way of greeting each other.

"I have heard about your husband's situation. Please accept my condolences, Madam Zhao. I have also sent people to investigate those who spread rumors, hoping to bring comfort to your husband's spirit in heaven."

Li Qingzhao composed herself and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is kind and sincere, and you saved my late husband's life. I have no way to repay you. I never expected that these despicable people would spread rumors and slander Your Majesty's reputation. I should apologize to you."

Chen Shao chuckled and said, "Madam, you flatter me."

Maud's husband has also returned, which should have made her happy, but she also has a lot of troubles to deal with.

This was something Maode hadn't expected; she thought everything would be fine once her husband returned.

Every time Chen Shao encountered this person who was recorded in history for her beauty, he couldn't help but take another look.

She does indeed have a beautiful and elegant oval face, which perfectly matches the aesthetics of this era and is very pleasing to the eye.

Beneath her rounded forehead, her features were well-proportioned and beautiful. Her eyes were bright and expressive, and she had a very good figure. Her proper demeanor and clothing could not hide her curvaceous figure.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, you have driven the Tartars out," Maode said, pursing his lips.

"It was all the soldiers who risked their lives; what merit have I made?"

Their relationship with Chen Shao gradually improved, and they chatted for a while before saying goodbye. (End of Chapter)