You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 87 Taking money to do things
Tong Guan slammed his hand on the wooden map in front of him with great force, as if the entire tent shook.

"Well done! Well done, Chen Qubing! I haven't even been crowned a king yet, and he's already crowned himself Marquis of Champion!"

No one in the tent dared to speak, and Tong Guan, in his anger, said something that went too far.

"Very well! They're trying to think I can't take over Yinxia and Liangzhou on my own. Men, muster the troops and march on Yanzhou!"

"I'll show this fickle scoundrel whether the Shengjie Army can take over Yinxia and Liangzhou!"

Zhao Liangsi, who remained motionless and whose face was ashen, would have taken over Tong Guan's words if he were a competent advisor at this moment.

Offer a few words of advice and provide a way out, so that Xuan Shuai's words don't fall flat.

However, his mind was preoccupied with the battle situation, and he momentarily forgot to speak.

Only those like Zhao Liangsi, who were directly involved in the war, knew the extent of its devastation. The officials and gentry in Bianliang only knew that Western Xia was besieged, but they had no idea that the Song Dynasty's strength had already reached its limit when it reached this point.

If we don't fight, the Northwest will continue to be a major threat to the Song Dynasty, not to mention a future source of chaos.

The war between Song and Xia was far too protracted, like an endless night with no end in sight. Whenever one side gained the upper hand, they would find themselves unable to break through, and then various problems would arise within their own camp.

If the Western Xia cannot be conquered, how will the extremely eager Emperor view Tong Guan?
Tong Guan's claim that he would take command was purely an angry outburst. Regardless of the actual situation, the fact remains that he reached the vicinity of Xingqing Prefecture, which is also his greatest achievement.

Once they withdraw and head east to attack Xiazhou, the number of impeachment papers will probably be more than snowflakes.

Some of the people inside the tent wanted to speak, but were afraid that their position was inappropriate, so they dared not speak easily.

Finally, seeing that no one was passing the message to Commander Xuan, Yang Keshi cursed inwardly that Zhao Liangsi was truly an incompetent fool. Since no one spoke up at this time, he, as a military officer, had no choice but to bite the bullet and go.

"Commander Xuan, why get angry? Chen Shao is just a military general you've supported. Since he doesn't obey orders, just use that as a pretext to remove him from his post and send someone else to take charge. There's no need for you to go personally."

Before Tong Guan could speak, Zhao Liangsi sighed and said, "The letter that fellow had Yang Sanqi bring back said that Commander Xuan is the Pacification Commissioner of Xihe, Lanhuang, Qinfeng Road, and in principle, he has no jurisdiction over the Dingnan Army. However, out of consideration for the kindness shown to him, he is willing to go on the expedition for Commander Xuan."

That's practically a face-to-face attack.
Tong Guan controlled the Northwest. Although the Western Army had previously been disobedient, they never dared to say so openly, but only outwardly complied while inwardly disobeying.

The territory of the Dingnan Army was still under the control of the Western Xia. Naturally, the emperor could not grant Tong Guan the authority of pacification, but as the front-line commander, it was only natural for him to do so.

Legally speaking, the entire Northwest should obey Tong Guan.

Chen Shao's statement is just arguing for the sake of arguing and has no legal basis, but that's precisely why it's so infuriating.

"Bring it to me and see!"

Tong Guan used all his composure and composure to steadily accept the letter handed to him by Zhao Liangsi.

Before he could even look at it, everything went black before his eyes, and he softly fell backward.

Everyone around him panicked and rushed forward to support him, shouting in disarray, "Commander Xuan! Commander Xuan!"

Commander Xuan's health is indeed not as good as before. Back then, he would ride his horse without taking off his armor and follow the army to fight in the Hehuang region, always at the forefront.

Now, even though he's only a hundred miles from the front lines and is being commanded by messengers, he still looks so haggard.

After reading the letter, Tong Guan remained silent for a long time. He lay on his command seat, feeling somewhat disheartened.

Recalling Chen Shao's words and actions, he sighed deeply. Having spent so many years navigating the power arena, he had seen all sorts of people and considered himself to have some discernment in judging character.

"How could I have been fooled by this kid?" Tong Guan smiled helplessly and could only mutter one more word: "Give it to him."

“I will withdraw 200,000 strings of cash from my private treasury and give it to him. If he still refuses to send troops, I will petition His Majesty to send troops to quell the rebellion!”
-
After receiving the money, Chen Shao immediately began to take action.

He only wanted to separate from Tong Guan, not to force him into becoming his mortal enemy.

Strictly speaking, even though they are separated, there is still some connection between the two sides.

Chen Shao ordered the newly surrendered tribes and families in the vicinity to lead their troops into the city first.

Many people in this city have intricate connections with them, and everyone knows that the city cannot be saved. Not all the people in the city will be willing to die for the Western Xia.

Even the Tangut royal family lacked this sense of unity; how much kindness could they possibly bestow upon the people of this remote borderland?

The street fighting was as fierce as expected, lasting from day to night.

Night had fallen, but the sounds of battle were deafening, and the city was filled with heavy casualties.

The city streets were littered with human corpses, decapitated and dismembered in gruesome manner. The heavy stench of blood was nauseating.

The dead were piled up like mountains, with severed limbs, headless torsos, headless heads, charred corpses, intestines and entrails, and bare bones scattered everywhere.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, and filled with the smoke and flames of battle. This was a battlefield where life and death were the only options.
The brutality of street fighting was on full display at this moment. Suddenly, flames shot into the sky from the city. Liang Duomai, who was leading his troops in the battle, couldn't help but twitch his cheeks a few times and subconsciously turned his head to look at the flames.

The shouts of battle grew closer and closer, rising and falling in all directions, as countless troops poured in.

Liang Duomai knew he was a thorn in the side of the Song people, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Fight your way out!"

Someone brought his prized horse, and after Liang Duoma mounted it, he called for his personal guards to follow, and then, carrying a large sword, galloped towards the east of the city.

But he soon encountered Song cavalry that had circled around to the east. The sound of bowstrings crackling came from the air as countless arrows flew towards him.

Several men around Liang Duoma cried out in pain from their injuries. Amidst the heavy thud of hooves, flashes of light shone everywhere, revealing the well-armored and extremely brave Song cavalry.

Liang Duomai did not believe he could break through, so he turned around and headed northeast.

Flames soared into the sky within the city, and shouts of battle continued unabated. After Liang Duomai led his men in a fierce charge, they still hadn't seen the city gates.

Even if he reached the city gate, he might not have been able to break through; it was just a final act of defiance. He had done right by the Western Xia court and the emperor.

After navigating the city several times, Liang Duomai became somewhat disoriented. Fortunately, his personal guards remained clear-headed and helped him ride away on horseback.

Another cavalry force caught up from behind. Liang Duomai had no idea where his own men were. He quickly glanced back and saw the gleaming armor of the government troops, recognizing them as enemy soldiers. He then kicked his horse hard, increasing his speed as he fled.

Just then, the horse suddenly slowed down, and the warhorse under his seat neighed a few times. Liang Duomai felt his body shrink a bit, and when he turned his head, he saw that the personal guards' mounts beside him were stuck in the mud.

"Whoa! Whoa!" Liang Duoma shouted twice, then looked down and saw that the horse's legs were stuck in the mud. When the warhorse pulled itself out, it flung black mud in all directions.

The shouts of battle grew closer, and when he looked up again, he saw flames spreading and thick smoke billowing into the sky. His desire to escape suddenly faded, and he felt a jolt in his heart, followed by a sudden chill in his hands and feet.

He widened his eyes, tugged on the reins, and stroked the warhorse's mane.

"Master, put on my clothes!"

Liang Duomai shook his head. He saw a rider carrying a cherry-red spear charging towards them.

"My horse is a thoroughbred. Take my head and my warhorse, and surrender to the Song people to save your lives!"

After saying this, he swung his sword and committed suicide, giving his guards no chance to react.

Before her consciousness faded, Liang Duoma stared wide-eyed at the towering flames in Hongzhou City.

In the firelight, the red willow trees seemed to reappear, their branches swaying.

He really wasn't prepared to die, otherwise he should have taken a few more glances at the scenery of the mortal world.

A moment later, he felt a white blur before his eyes, and he could see nothing. A feeling of relief yet loss spread throughout his body.
-
The street fighting lasted for three days before gradually subsiding.

Looking at the devastated city of Hongzhou, Chen Shao felt a pang of emotion.

The Western Xia also had many loyal and righteous people.

In Yanzhou, Youzhou, and Hongzhou, people died for their country, resisting to the very end.

To conquer this place, force alone is definitely not enough, unless one has already cleaned up other messes and comes with an invincible presence to destroy the country.

Throughout history, the key to winning over a region has always been winning over the hearts and minds of its people.

Hongzhou City is completely ruined. Fortunately, Chen Shao never intended to upgrade Hongmen Town into a city in the first place.

He wanted to build a larger, but not too grand, city here, as a trading hub for Youzhou, Yanzhou, and the Fuyan Road of the Great Song Dynasty.

We are all Song people, there is no need to establish such a military town. Even if we stop expanding and consolidate our current territory, the Song Dynasty will not wage war against us.

They were very busy. Although Tong Guan was still in Western Xia, his heart had probably already flown to Hebei.

Before the Jin army marched south, he needed to expand and grow stronger, which required trade.

On the banks of the Red Willow River, Chen Shao, mounted on horseback, was giving instructions to Cui Lin, who was left behind.

“Send men to collect the head and corpse of Liang Duomai, who instigated the Song-Xia war, as well as all the flags, official seals, and other items that could be presented as a victory gift in Hongzhou, and send them all to Commander Xuan.”

Cui Lin nodded, concentrating intently, not daring to miss a single word.

Chen Shao continued, "We will provide our own provisions and pay for these troops who have come from Fuyan Road, especially the supply troops, and let them stay for a while."

Cui Lin knew, of course, that keeping them around was for the purpose of building the city.

Because the Song Dynasty adopted the fortified village warfare tactic, the supply troops in the northwest were unparalleled in their ability to build walls, which can be described as unique.

Because he was one of the few in the Northwest who did not embezzle military pay, everyone was happy to contribute their efforts there.

As for Tong Guan, as long as Chen Shao is willing to fight, can win battles, and can provide him with reports of victory to appease the court, everything else is negotiable.

Chen Shao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that today's victory should be able to relieve Tong Guan's urgent crisis.

These days have indeed been tough for him, like being roasted over a fire in the sweltering heat of summer. Countless people in the Song Dynasty court are waiting to see Tong Guan make a fool of himself.

As long as Chen Shaoneng continues to fight, their relationship will at least remain superficial, and it can be quickly eased.

Even though everyone involved knew that the rift had already formed and was irreparable.

From that moment on, neither of them was destined to trust the other again.

Beside them, a well-assembled army marched with overwhelming momentum, thousands of cavalrymen, along with auxiliary troops, forming a truly magnificent force.

Not to mention all those oxen, horses, mules, and carts.

A victorious army marches with a certain vigor, and Chen Shao nodded in satisfaction upon seeing this.

After acquiring Hongzhou, only Yinzhou and Xiazhou remained as far as Chen Shao had envisioned as the territory where he could accumulate strength and await the Jin army!
In the crowd, a captain urged his men to march, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Hurry up, hurry up! Don't walk like a girl, always stepping to the beat of a drum! Cheer up! The sooner we get there, the sooner we can break through the gates of Xiazhou, and then we'll get another merit! The Xia bandits are almost gone, and it won't be easy to find such merits again! Following our Commander Chen, there's nothing else to it but that it's easy to make merits and get promoted quickly!"

Chen Shao is now the Commissioner of Dingnan Army, which can be considered a regional commander, so the title of Colonel is not wrong.

Upon hearing these words, the marching troops were overjoyed and quickened their pace.

(End of this chapter)