You have truly caused me great suffering!

The army passed through Wuhui Ridge.

Looking at the horrific scene, Chen Shao exclaimed, "The merit of Wuhui Ridge is no less than that of Baigou River!"

This battle was indeed the key to breaking the deadlock.

If the Wuhui Ridge hadn't been breached so early, this battle might have lasted another year or two.

The casualties and losses are also incomparable.

Because this great war is not yet completely over, the process of rewarding those who have contributed has not yet begun.

Chen Shao's words carried great weight.

After passing the Five Ridges, we entered the territory of Youyan, and arrived in Zhuozhou that very night.

Han Shizhong, Li Xiaozhong, and Zhu Lingling were all waiting there.

Other military officers, such as Zhong Shizhong, Zhe Kecun, Ma Kuo, and Yue Fei, who were not part of the Dingnan Army, also joined in the fun.

However, after Chen Shao entered the city, he only summoned Zhong Shizhong, Zhe Kecun, and the military officers and sons of these two families.

Chen Shao knew perfectly well who was on his side and who wasn't.

Seeing his subordinates all together again, Chen Shao laughed and said, "The last time we got together was the night before Warm Spring Peak's attack."

Han Shizhong in Dingnan Army was just like Chen Shao in the Song Dynasty—there was no more opportunity to be promoted.

Unless you level him off with yourself.

Therefore, everyone was just waiting for Chen Shao to take another step forward, and had no other desires.

Han Shizhong remained silent, and the others dared not speak either. He stepped forward directly, clasped his hands in a fist and knelt on one knee, saying, "Your Majesty, you have lost weight!"

"Get the hell out of here!" Chen Shao laughed and cursed, "You bunch of scoundrels, have you returned all the methods I used to deal with Tong Guan back then?"

"His heart can be punished, his heart can be punished!"

Han Shizhong laughed heartily and said, "These are all my heartfelt words."

Zhu Lingling said, "Now that Your Majesty has arrived, please lead everyone into Yanjing City. Everything has been arranged inside."

After Wanyan Xiyin left, Yanjing became an empty city.

Those who survived in Yanjing amidst this grand and dramatic upheaval were all incredibly lucky individuals.

This era was chaotic to begin with, and Yanjing City was even more chaotic.

From the time Yelü Chun died, when Liu Yanqing and Wang Bing led their troops to invade, until the Jurchens withdrew this time.

In just three to five years, Yanjing City has changed hands repeatedly and been massacred seven times.

Now, Yanjing is like a ripe fruit.

If someone else were to take it, the entire army would fight him to the death, but Chen Shaolai was the one everyone wanted.

Everyone was looking forward to his arrival.

Chen Shao didn't stand on ceremony with them. He stood up and said, "Tomorrow we will send troops into Yanjing, and I will celebrate our victory with you all in the city!"

Having already been excited in Taiyuan, Chen Shao now appeared calm and composed, as if everything was insignificant.

It was as if the great achievement of reclaiming Youyun was something that should be recorded in history and remembered in the annals of time, and that was something that should be taken for granted.

Chen Shao observed the people in the hall and was surprised to find that Zhong Shizhong's attitude was quite good.

Surprisingly, he was able to chat and laugh with the officers around him in this atmosphere.

Based on Chen Shao's understanding of him, he thought this person was a die-hard, not much different from Li Gang.

Chen Shao nodded secretly. Perhaps the teacher's influence had worked; the letter and such had persuaded his younger brother.

What Chen Shao didn't know was that it was purely the performance at the front lines that led to this change in the army.

After everyone had left, Chen Shao was preparing to rest in his room when someone came to report to him.

It was said that Yue Fei, a subordinate of Zong Ze, was requesting an audience.

The guard originally did not want to report, but the man spoke earnestly, so he came to report rashly, already prepared to be scolded.

But when Chen Shao heard the name, he still showed him the respect due to him and asked someone to invite him in.

Yue Fei walked to Chen Shao's residence and found him washing his feet.

The room was simply furnished, and besides himself, there was only one large, fat bodyguard.

When Yue Fei saw that after he finished washing his feet, he called in his personal guards to pour water, instead of ordering the person next to him to do so.

He had long heard that when the Prince of Dai came out, this fat bodyguard was always by his side.

It seems the Prince of Dai was indeed cautious.

Moreover, he was very upright in his conduct, unlike some generals in the Western Army who brought dozens of concubines with them when they went to war.

"Pengju, sit down!"

Yue Fei did not appear to be the kind of person portrayed in later films and television dramas, but rather a typical warrior.

Rugged, imposing, with dark skin and sharp eyes.

Especially his uneven eyes, which made him look even more resentful the more serious his expression was.

Because he could recite "Man Jiang Hong" from a young age, Chen Shao thought Yue Fei should be a scholar-general with a touch of melancholy.

Yue Fei was somewhat surprised by Chen Shao's courteous treatment, and thought to himself, "The Prince of Dai actually recognizes me?"

This left him somewhat puzzled. He pondered for a while, wondering when he and the Prince of Dai had ever met. He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I dare not!"

“Pengju’s arrival late at night must mean he has some profound insights.”

Yue Fei stood in the hall and said, "This humble general has come to offer advice to Your Majesty. Although we have recovered a large area of ​​land in Youyan this time, it will be a regret if we do not take Gubeikou."

Chen Shao thought to himself, "The young Yue Fei is still quite reliable." He didn't say that the Tartars would still march south, only that there was regret and it wasn't a perfect ending.

Everyone knows that the Tartars are no longer able to advance south in the short term.

To insist that they would head south to force Chen Shao to attack Gubeikou is simply making things up.

Chen Shao, wearing wooden clogs, said, "Gubeikou is easy to defend but difficult to attack. My Dingnan army is already exhausted and we are not suitable to launch another attack. I plan to rest for a while before launching a northern expedition against Gubeikou."

Next, the Dingnan Army still has two tough nuts to crack, one of which is Gubeikou, the gateway to Youyan.

The second one is Pharmacist Guo.

Yue Fei remained silent for a moment, then immediately said, "If the Prince of Dai does not abandon me, I am willing to lead my troops to hold the line at Gubeikou."

Chen Shao was taken aback upon hearing this. At this time, there was actually no benefit in holding the position at Gubeikou.

You have to carefully consider who you want to send.

Since we won't be fighting for a short time, staying in that place is essentially like being on the front lines.

Without a large-scale mobilization from the rear, it would be very difficult to take it down.

It's a thankless and demanding position.

When Yue Fei suddenly decided to go, Chen Shao's first reaction was to ask him, "Is this Zong Rulin's idea?"

“It has nothing to do with Commander Zong, so I am willing to go.”

After thinking about it, Chen Shao decided that it wouldn't be bad to put Yue Fei in the position and let this promising talent get some experience.

A future northern expedition against the Jurchen Jin dynasty might have a surprising effect.

As for whether they would turn against him, Chen Shao was not afraid at all, as he already had a better way to replace the Song Dynasty.

By then, these people will have no legitimacy to oppose themselves.

Moreover, what kindness or favors has the Great Song Dynasty bestowed upon you? Why would these Hebei warriors risk their lives to protect you?
Because you valued literature over military affairs? Because you breached the Yellow River? Or because you handed Hebei over to the Tartars to ravage?
Yue Fei was neither a scholar-official nor a graduate of the imperial examination.

He was not Zong Ze, nor was he Li Gang; he was just a young man from his hometown of Xiangzhou, Hebei.

Chen Shao simply did not believe that if the Emperor of the Song Dynasty abdicated, how many people would be willing to risk their lives for the Song Dynasty.

"Going up now would be very stressful. Pengju, have you thought it through?"

Yue Fei nodded. He had thought carefully before coming to see Chen Shao today.

At first, he felt somewhat sorry for Commander Zong, but after carefully reviewing the entire battle situation, he still made this decision.

He didn't want to be a powerless spectator in the next Northern Expedition, just like he was this time.

The northern barbarians marched south and burned, killed, and looted his hometown of Xiangzhou. If he did not avenge this, he would be unworthy of being a man.

Chen Shao was quite pleased and said with a smile, "Good! Then I will recommend you to the court to be the military commander of Tanzhou and give you some troops. As for the civil officials in Tanzhou, you can rest assured, I will assign you a capable minister!"

"As for how far you can go, that depends on you."

Yue Fei cupped his hands in a fist salute, but said nothing. Although he was grateful, his distinctively asymmetrical eyes made him seem unconvinced.

Chen Shao breathed a sigh of relief. Although the great victory at Baigou River allowed him to reclaim Youyan, he was relieved.

However, preparations for the Northern Expedition also had to begin immediately, which was another arduous and time-consuming task.
-
After Yue Fei returned, he said nothing.

Even to his closest confidants, he did not reveal his conversation with Chen Shao that day.

The next day, Chen Shao led his troops to Yanjing City.

The sky was overcast and the wind was strong, evoking a sense of desolation and desolation.

This time, Chen Shao's army was no longer limited to the usual 20,000 to 30,000 men.

Half of the main force of the Dingnan Army has arrived. With so many troops, even just marching would be a massive undertaking.

Although Yanjing City has changed hands seven times, with one power rising and another falling, such a large and imposing army is unprecedented.

The autumn wind made the banners flutter wildly, and the dust kicked up by the horses' hooves blotted out the sky.

By the time we arrived at the city of Yanjing, the sky was already dusky.

Yanjing City had eight city gates, among which Danfeng Gate was the main south gate, leading directly to the imperial city of the Northern Liao Dynasty. It was usually closed and only opened for important ceremonies.

Today, Chen Shao has arrived at Danfeng Gate.

Immediately afterwards, the drawbridge was slowly lowered and the city gate opened.

A man chosen from the city, carrying a letter of surrender, came to the front lines.

After loudly reading the surrender document, he knelt down, held it up in front of his head, and waited to accept the surrender.

In an instant, the sound of drums and horns rang out, echoing outside the ancient city where the wind was strong and the sky was high, the sound both tragic and majestic.

Just like this city that has endured many vicissitudes.

Chen Shao waved his hand, the command flag waved, and the drums sounded again.

The three armies began to form ranks and slowly advance, with the central Lingwu Battalion escorting Chen Shao forward.

After receiving the surrender document, they entered the city in turn. (End of Chapter)