Prime Minister

Chapter 1377 Punishing the Victims and Detaining the Scoundrels
This strategic decisive battle is actually quite similar to gambling.

Feeling that the odds of winning are about right, they then bet all their cards.

History has even shown instances where, despite a low probability of winning, some players have resolutely staked everything.

Therefore, this is often a matter of probability and luck.

Why do people often consult spirits or perform prayers and sacrifices before a war? It's difficult to be omniscient when you know very little about both sides, and even in modern warfare, there are countless instances of misjudging things.

Therefore, offering sacrifices is also part of increasing the chances of victory.

The Privy Council and the Ministry of War estimated that the chances of victory in this western expedition were over 70% if the Liao army did not intervene.

But now that the Liao army has dispatched troops, no one can say for sure.

In fact, not only the officials below him, but even Zhang Yue himself was somewhat shaken. But at this moment, what else could he say but to do what he had to do, since the arrow was already on the bowstring?

The troops have been fully deployed, the money, food and supplies have been transported to the front lines, and the civilian laborers have been mobilized. Now, if they suddenly say they will stop fighting, everyone from top to bottom will be shaken.

People have ambition, and so does a nation. The confidence and desire for victory among the military and the people are an important factor on the scales of victory and defeat.

Therefore, don't try to achieve everything in one battle, because when you get to that point, you'll find that you have no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it no matter what.

After the decision to send troops was made at the court meeting, the officials in the Ministry of War and the Privy Council were somber that some even lost their voices.

When Zhang Yue arrived, he saw that Xu Xi, Shen Kuo, and the other officials all had solemn expressions. They were more knowledgeable than the common people and ordinary officials, and knew more about the ins and outs of the Song and Liao dynasties, but at this moment they were even less confident than the officials in the imperial court.

Zhang Yue walked to the head seat and sat down, saying, "Tell me about it!"

Xu Xi walked up to the map, which was as tall as a person, and said, "Reporting to the Minister of Works, until yesterday, we found that the Liao Kingdom had indeed mobilized troops in Weizhou and other places."

After Xu Xi finished speaking, the officials who had previously argued that the Liao army would never intervene fell silent. Of course, there were also officials who refused to believe that the Liao army would send troops, believing it to be a feint.

This is why, under a predetermined policy, people often choose to deceive themselves and stick to their original stance, even when faced with the facts.

Zhang Yue understood human nature in this way. Just like Tong Guan, who always advocated allying with the Jin to attack the Liao, even when the Jurchen's proclamation of war was right in front of him, he still refused to believe that the other side would betray the alliance and attack the Song Dynasty.

Xu Xi continued, "Reporting to the Minister of Works, all the troops of this dynasty have arrived at their designated positions."

Lü Dafang, the Vice Privy Councilor, said: “Yesterday, the court decided on a major strategy. After discussing it with the officials of the Privy Council and the Ministry of War, our biggest concern is that the court has been advancing on fortified cities with shallow attacks in recent years, and has won many battles. But this time, we are not confident in launching a large-scale deep penetration attack. We are worried that we will repeat the mistakes of the Yongle City incident in the second year of Yuanfeng.”

Zhang Yue understood that when the eastern route army crossed the Han Sea in the second year of Yuanfeng, they were lured deep into enemy territory by the Dangxiang. In this battle, famous generals such as Zhong E and Zhang Shouyue were killed, and tens of thousands of soldiers were wiped out.

During a court session, the late emperor broke down in tears in front of all the ministers in the hall.

This battle also led to Zhang Yue's reinstatement. After becoming prime minister, Zhang Yue resolutely refused to use such a deep penetration tactic, instead opting for a shallow attack and fortification strategy. After his first dismissal as prime minister, the emperor changed his strategy back to building Yongle City with a deep fortification, which resulted in another defeat.

Therefore, the Privy Council and the Ministry of War were worried that the greatest risk of this simultaneous deployment of troops from multiple routes lay here.

Shen Kuo said, "This time is different from that time. On the last expedition to Hexi on the Xihe Road, we captured several prefectures in Gua and Sha. This was a deep penetration. Our army already has two cavalry routes, namely Liangzhou Zhi Dangxiang Zhi and others. Each army on the Xihe Road has one man and one horse. We are not afraid of this."

"At the same time, the strength of our dynasty is much greater than that of the second and seventh years of the Yuanfeng era, while the Dangxiang are getting weaker and have suffered many defeats, which has greatly weakened the prestige of the central government. How can we judge things based on what happened back then? This is no different from marking the boat to find the sword."

After Shen Kuo finished speaking, some officials nodded, and many of them nodded with great reluctance, but the solemnity in their hearts could not be shaken.

Zhang Yue said, "Since that's the case, I won't say any more. We will temporarily set up the military headquarters in Jingzhao Prefecture to coordinate the various routes."

"Furthermore, regarding the army's departure, I have made the following adjustments!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Xi took up his pen and recorded it in the courtroom.

"Wang Hou, the military commissioner of Xihe Road, and the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh generals of Miao Lü's troops, along with the Dangxiang and Liangzhou generals, as well as the first and second generals of Zhe Keshi, the deputy commander of Qin Feng Road's military forces, marched out from Hexi to attack Yanjunsi in Heishui Town. Aligu's troops and Qingtang Wenxi's troops marched out from north of Yinshan, and the two routes joined forces at the foot of Tanliang City."

"The first, second, third, fifth, sixth, eighth, and ninth units of Peng Sun's troops, the military commissioner of Jingyuan Road, crossed the Yellow River to attack Shunzhou and advanced to the city of Xingqing Prefecture."

"The first, second, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth generals of Wang Shan's troops under Huanqing Road went out of Lingzhou to attack Jingzhou and Huaizhou, cut off their reinforcements from the east, and then joined forces with Peng Sun's troops in Xingqing Prefecture."

"The first, second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth generals of the Fuyan Road Military Commissioner Zhong Shidao's troops set out from Yongle City to attack Hengshan."

"The 150,000 troops under Lu Huiqing, the military commissioner of Hedong Road, along with the auxiliary troops of the eastern and western garrisons, marched north to cut off the Liao army's reinforcement route."

"The Wanggu and Baspa tribes conquered Yimen and Dingzhou, cutting off the Dangxiang's escape route to the north."

Not counting the troops from the Qing Tang tribe, Aligu and Wanggu tribes, and the Basiba tribe, the Song army mobilized around 500,000 troops to the front lines. This was a well-planned strategy that had been decided long ago.

This adjustment, transferring the auxiliary troops of the East and West Garrisons to Lü Huiqing to strengthen the military strength of the Hedong Road, was a temporary decision made by Zhang Yue to prevent reinforcements from the Liao Kingdom from the east.

It cost ten million to fifteen million strings of cash, not to mention countless supplies of grain and provisions. This was the cost of such a massive war that devastated the nation.

With adjustments to the strategic details, it wasn't until this moment that Zhang Yue truly made up his mind to attack the Dangxiang.

In recent years, under Zhang Yue's rule, the court has won a series of victories against the Dangxiang and Khitan, boosting the confidence of the court and the public. People speculate that the prime minister must have a deeper meaning in doing so, or that his seemingly casual move must have a brilliant purpose, or even that it is a grand strategy.

In fact, the overall national strategic decision-making certainly has a general direction, but when it comes to specific operations, it is all about taking it one step at a time, constantly adapting to changing circumstances, and proceeding from reality.

"The plan is to launch a coordinated attack from all directions on November 5th!"

The officials readily accepted the order.

After giving the instructions, Zhang Yue sat down and watched the officials of the Privy Council draw on the map on the spot.

Zhang Yue closed his eyes, a sense of relief washing over him; he hadn't slept a wink the night before. The sound of officials sketching brought a moment of peace, and his eyelids drooped involuntarily.

In his dream, he unknowingly returned to the banks of the Nanpu River where he was a boy. Although he lacked food and clothing back then, he could lie carefree under the lush shade of the trees by the river and enjoy the cool air.

Zhang Yue smiled slightly, seeing his past self who was carefree and thought, "What a fine autumn day!"

……

Three days later, Zhang Yue led his troops away from the capital.

The emperor led his officials to the outskirts of Bianjing to see off Zhang Yue.

Along the ancient road, banners fluttered as far as the eye could see, but soon dust rose up and obscured the figures of people and horses.

Seeing the emperor's uneasy expression, Zhang Yue knew that the other party was still worried.

Zhang Yue said, “Your Majesty, the court has long been prepared for the Liao army to intervene, but in the face of adversity, we must be bold, and even do what we know to be impossible.”

"I am prepared to serve my country and die on the battlefield. This western expedition is a mission to conquer Loulan and I will not return until it is done."

"The initial force for the western expedition numbers 600,000, and the number of laborers is twice that. This is a national effort. Even if the entire Liao army comes north, it is not a cause for concern. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

The emperor said with relief, "Your words have greatly comforted me."

After a pause, the emperor said, "You have been loyal to the country and have made great contributions to the nation!"

"If there is anything I can do for you, I will grant it."

Zhang Yue knew the emperor would ask this question, as he controlled all the armies in the empire and wouldn't feel at ease without consulting the emperor. This was similar to the question Qin Shi Huang asked Wang Jian.

Such encounters between rulers and their subjects do not not exist. However, it is better to view the relationship between rulers and their subjects as an exchange of benefits rather than such a situation.

What you can offer, and what the other party can offer in return. As for feelings and such, they are just secondary considerations.

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, when Xue Huaiyi, a favorite minister of Empress Wu Zetian, was leaving the palace, he met Prime Minister Su Liangsi on a narrow road. Neither of them was willing to back down. Xue Huaiyi made some outrageous remarks, and Su Liangsi had his servants slap Xue Huaiyi in the face."

Xue Huaiyi cried to Wu Zetian, seeking her support. Wu Zetian replied, "The South Gate is where the prime minister goes in and out. From now on, you will use the North Gate."

"Your Majesty will surely have your own favored ministers and ministers who will serve you in the future. But no matter what, Your Majesty should always think of the ministers who serve the court first, so that the people's hearts will be united."

The emperor nodded upon hearing this and said, "I have taken note of what you have said, sir."

Zhang Yue said to the emperor, "Your Majesty has not deviated from the way of your father for three years, which is called filial piety. I have been looking after the world for the late emperor for three years, which is enough."

"The future path of the empire will be decided by Your Majesty after you assume personal rule."

"If we can enable all the people of the world to cultivate their land and earn their own living, and suppress their annexation and extortion, then there will be no other problems."

The Emperor nodded and said, "This is what the Minister of Works taught me: when one has enough food and clothing, one knows honor and shame; when the granaries are full, one knows etiquette. I have remembered it."

"After this western expedition, regardless of victory or defeat, you shall continue to assist in the administration, and like Han Zhongxian, create a beautiful story of ruler and minister."

Zhang Yue said, "I am of mediocre talent. It was only because the late emperor knew of my prudence that he entrusted me with the affairs of the state. With the assistance of other ministers, Your Majesty, why should you worry about the success of the great cause of the world?"

The emperor tried to persuade Zhang Yue to stay, but he insisted on declining.

The emperor could only say, "Let's talk about it after the Grand Commandant's triumphant return. I wonder what the Grand Commandant is seeking for himself?"

Zhang Yue thought for a moment and said, "If this mission is successful, Your Majesty will allow me to participate in the sacrificial rites for the late Emperor. I will be eternally grateful."

Upon hearing this, the emperor sighed and said, "You are truly a loyal minister. I approve."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Immediately, the army set out on the expedition, and the emperor and his ministers escorted them for another ten miles. From afar, one could see the army marching, its mighty ranks stretching endlessly.

The emperor personally served wine to Zhang Yue, who drank it all in one gulp.

Zhang Yue looked over with delight, and saw Su Song and other ministers lined up on either side. Zhang Yue then saw Guo Lin in the crowd, and the two brothers looked at each other.

Guo Lin raised his hand and gestured in the air as if holding a pen, and Zhang Yue knew that Guo Lin was reminding him not to forget the conversation between his fellow disciples about making a name for themselves in history.

Zhang Yue was delighted, a surge of ambition rising in his heart, a sense of responsibility that he was the only one capable of handling the affairs of the world.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yue mounted his horse, with spears and halberds like a forest behind him and banners covering the sky.

At this moment, all the officials knelt by the roadside and bowed in unison to see him off!
The emperor then took the reins from Zhang Yue and stood beside the horse.

"Your Majesty, please take care. I'm leaving now."

The emperor loosened the reins and said, "May you return in triumph soon!"

After saying this, Zhang Yue flicked his whip and rode away in a cloud of dust. Even after the dust had engulfed Zhang Yue's figure, the emperor still refused to leave.

It wasn't until the Right Chancellor Su Songyan, who remained in charge, said, "Your Majesty may now return to your capital."

The emperor still refused, and watched the army march westward for a full quarter of an hour before reluctantly setting off back to the palace.

……

On the outskirts of Ningjiang Prefecture, where the forests are ablaze with autumn colors, the Liao Kingdom's eagle banners appear and disappear in the distant mountain passes.

Ma Zheng, the military commander of Dengzhou, dressed in a sable hunting outfit and accompanied by a close attendant, ventured deep into the dense forest.

"Please take a look, Commander!" the attendant suddenly lowered his voice.

A hundred paces away, more than ten Jurchen hunters were surrounding a bear. The leader drew his bow to its fullest extent and shot an arrow that pierced the bear's back—it was none other than Wanyan Helibo, the leader of the Jurchen tribe.

Ma Zheng clapped and cheered, while Helibo turned and laughed, saying in broken Khitan, "We have guests! Officials from the Southern Dynasty, do you dare to have a hunting contest?"

The group moved to the riverbank.

Helibo instructed his men that if there were any Jurchen prey, they should not shoot the first arrow but should save it for the Northern Song envoy.

Without saying a word, Ma Zheng drew his bow and hit three arrows in quick succession.

Upon seeing this, Wanyan Helibo clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Yes, that's great!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Zheng realized that it meant "a person skilled in archery" in the Jurchen language.

The burly, bear-like Helibo patted Ma Zheng on the shoulder and exclaimed, "It's not easy for someone from the Southern Dynasty to have such archery skills."

Ma Zhengdao: "There are countless people like me in the Southern Dynasty's army."

He immediately led Libo to the tribe of the Mazheng Jurchen tribe.

Ma Zheng observed that the Jurchen tribe was indeed extremely impoverished, with even Helibo living in a tent. The tent contained nothing but a tiger-skin chair.

At this moment, Helibo sat on a tiger-skin chair, and outsiders prepared the food to entertain Ma Zheng.

Helibo dined with his eldest son Wanyan Wuyashu, his second son Wanyan Aguda, and more than a dozen other Jurchen nobles.

Ma Zheng observed that each Jurchen person held a large bowl of glutinous rice, along with some leeks, wild garlic, long gourds, and other vegetables to accompany the rice.

A little while later, the freshly hunted game of the day was brought out. A sheep was already roasted, and the Jurchens used the knife they carried with them to cut the meat and eat it, which made them look very rough.

Ma Zheng was recommended to Zhang Yue by Tong Guan because he understood Khitan and Goryeo languages. Zhang Yue learned that Su Zhe and Tong Guan had met the Jurchen tribe during their mission to Liao, and specifically instructed him to cross the sea to Goryeo, and then go to the Jurchen to make contact and coordinate the attack on the Dangxiang.

Although he knew that Ma Zheng could not understand Jurchen, he was soon asked to leave the tent.

Helibo held an internal meeting of Jurchen noble chieftains.

The second son, Wanyan Aguda, said in Jurchen, "Du Bojilie, I heard that the Southern Dynasty is training its navy in Dengzhou, just like when Emperor Taizong of Tang attacked Goguryeo?"

Helibo said, "The Liao people have withdrawn their troops from Yunzhou to launch a northern expedition against Zubu. At this time, Youyan is vulnerable, which seems like an opportunity for us to start a rebellion."

"The Southern Dynasty says that our Jurchens are willing to take Liaoyang Prefecture, and Goryeo can also take Yizhou. They can persuade Goryeo to open trade with us in salt, iron, tea, and silk."

Helibo did not agree, and Wanyan Wuyashu continued, "The Liao emperor demands gyrfalcons every year, forcing our Jurchen tribes to the brink of extinction. Before, he even used those tattered pieces of paper (money) to exchange for our Jurchen sable furs and ginseng."

"If the Song and Liao dynasties go to war, and Aguda and I lead two thousand cavalry to raid Linhuang Prefecture, then we can..."

An old man said, “No, our Wanyan tribe has always been subservient to the Liao Dynasty… No matter how strong the Southern Dynasty is, the Liao Kingdom is nearby. How can we, with only two thousand Jurchen soldiers, resist them?”

"You say 'submissive'? When the Liao Dynasty forcibly conscripted gyrfalcons, exchanging waste paper for sable fur and ginseng, did they ever think of the word 'submissive'?"

Helibo said, "It is not impossible to fight. Although the Liao Kingdom has quelled the Mogus rebellion, I heard that it has also suffered heavy losses."

"It would be best if Goryeo were willing to send troops to take Uiju... but I know that the Goryeo people cannot be trusted."

after lunch.

Helibo did not discuss military matters with Ma Zheng at all, but instead had his Jurchen warriors demonstrate mounted archery and standing archery to him.

Ma Zheng observed that the Jurchens were indeed extremely martial.

If a subordinate shoots an arrow well, Helibo will laugh and tug at the other's beard or punch his shoulder, and reward him with a spoonful of wine. If the shot is not good, he will scold him in public, or even pull him off his horse and kick him several times. He treats his confidants and nephews the same.

A moment later, Helibo asked Aguda to shoot, but Aguda had the target moved fifty paces away, and he immediately shot three arrows.

Every arrow hit the bullseye, drawing cheers from the entire Jurchen tribe.

Ma Zheng was also dumbfounded; he had never seen such a skilled archer.

Helibo smiled and lowered his voice to Ma Zhengdao beside him: "Your Excellency is too kind. Aguda is the number one warrior of our Jurchen tribe, and I intend to pass the leadership to him in the future."

Ma Zheng nodded, thinking to himself that He Libo's words to him showed that he was not an outsider, and it seemed that there was hope.

Helibo immediately said, "Our Jurchen tribe admires the strong. We submitted to Liao before because Liao's army was strong and powerful."

"I heard that the Southern Dynasty was not good before, but after changing the prime minister, it is now on par with the Liao Dynasty."

Ma Zhengdao: "The emperor and prime minister of this dynasty also value the various Jurchen tribes."

After he finished speaking, the other party stopped talking. Ma Zheng felt that the Jurchens were becoming more and more hospitable each day.

Ma Zheng felt certain that this mission would yield results.

In the middle of the night, Ma Zheng was awakened when someone suddenly burst into his tent. Ma Zheng grabbed the knife that was under his head and sat up abruptly. In the moonlight, he saw that the person who had entered was none other than his close attendant.

"Ambassador, something terrible has happened! The Wanyan tribe has betrayed you and wants to capture you and hand you over to the Liao people."

Ma Zheng exclaimed in surprise, "Impossible! The Jurchens have been very attentive to us these past few days."

The attendant said, “It’s absolutely true. I just learned the language of two Jurchens. They think I don’t understand Jurchen, but they don’t know that I learned a lot from a Jurchen hunter in Changbai Mountain over the past six months. The Wanyan tribe has always been subservient to the Liao Kingdom and acted as its henchmen. How could they rebel?”

"Right now, they want to use you as a pledge of loyalty to gain the trust of the Liao Kingdom and in exchange for a reward."

Ma Zheng was shocked and immediately packed up his tent. He stole a horse and fled with two close attendants overnight. Several Jurchens tried to stop them on the way, but Ma Zheng kicked them over with his horse.

Ma Zheng fled to the mountain and saw a line of soldiers heading straight for the Jurchen tribe under the moonlight. He guessed that they were Liao troops.

Ma Zhengdao: "What should we do now? Without the help of the Jurchens, we are unfamiliar with this place and don't know where to go."

The attendant said, “I have heard that his kinsman Bahei and Helibo are at odds. There is a rumor that if they want to fight, they should side with Bahei, and if they want to die, they should side with Helibo and Polishu. We can go and seek refuge with Bahei.”

Ma Zheng nodded, not expecting that his solo mission to instigate the Jurchen tribe's rebellion against the Liao would be so difficult.

He thought things had taken a turn for the better, but in the end, all his efforts were in vain. However, his trip was not in vain. The various Jurchen tribes did indeed harbor resentment towards the Liao Dynasty, and the Liao Dynasty was severely weakened during its campaign against the Mogus rebellion.

Ma Zhengdao said, "If that's the case, then we should go to Bahei and search for him. If we can persuade him to raise an army against Liao, then our dynasty will support him as the Jurchen military governor."

Even if there's only a 10% chance, it's worth a try.

The attendant was taken aback by what he heard; Ma Zheng's perseverance was truly admirable.

With a flick of his whip, Ma Zheng and his two attendants disappeared into the woods.

……

"Your Majesty, the entire Song Dynasty has come."

By October 30th, the news had reached Zhongxing Prefecture.

In fact, the Tangut high command was already aware of the unusual troop movements of the Song army in this war that threatened the entire nation. The ministers who had previously opposed Li Bingchang's visit to Bianjing to pay homage were ashen-faced, convinced that the Song Dynasty would not use this as an excuse to launch a military campaign.

Their ministers secluded themselves and discussed the matter for several days, trying to keep it a secret from the outside world. However, news still leaked out.

Now that the border general has reported the matter truthfully, the entire Dangxiang court is in an uproar, and the matter can no longer be contained. Li Qing and Renduo Baozhong, one a civil official and the other a military official, both looked ashen-faced.

The power of the Tangut central government declined day by day. This trend became increasingly apparent after Li Zuoming rebelled against the Song Dynasty, Henan (south of the Yellow River) suffered a great famine, the Hexi Corridor was lost, and the Song Dynasty implemented an economic blockade.

Beset by internal and external troubles, many Tangut tribes, in small groups or even entirely, surrendered to the Song Dynasty. Those tribes that remained were increasingly outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant.

Half a month ago, the Tangut state wanted to conscript hostages from various tribes to serve as the Six Guards of the Imperial Guard, but this move was opposed by the tribes. The tribal leaders even cried and remonstrated with Li Bingchang in person, which made the king very unhappy on the spot.

Previously, the Wanggu tribe's invasion of Xinjiang was repelled by Li Bingchang's troops, which was originally a good thing. However, when the general of the Qinsheng Army asked for a reward in person, Li Bingchang refused, leaving him almost unable to save face.

The soldiers felt the reward was too small and began to complain.

The morale of the troops is already showing signs of wavering.

Moreover, the internal conflicts became increasingly apparent afterward. Because of his Han Chinese background and his long-term control of the government, Li Qing was accused of being a traitor by the Dangxiang faction's royal generals.

A few days ago, a document circulated in the government and among the public, accusing Li Qing and more than ten other officials of being traitors to the country, and even shouting slogans to kill Li Qing.

Li Qing was so frightened that he almost committed suicide, but was eventually rescued and knelt in front of the palace gate for three whole days. Li Bingchang had no choice but to send soldiers to personally guard him when he came and went.

Despite this, Li Qing was once assassinated by an unknown group of soldiers on his way to court, and nearly lost his life.

Now, Zhongxing Prefecture is filled with the atmosphere of a fallen kingdom, and the people are filled with fear and unease. Some even say that the Dangxiang people will disintegrate within three years, even without the Song army's attack.

At this moment, Li Qingsu stood in the court and heard the news that the Song army had a million soldiers on its western expedition. He could feel that the expressions on the faces of all the civil and military officials had darkened.

Li Qing stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the Eastern Dynasty has achieved a decisive victory, while our Great Bai Gao Kingdom is getting weaker with each battle. Now the enemy is coming with its entire nation, and its powerful force is unstoppable! The only chance of survival is to retreat into the Liao Kingdom before their army arrives.”

Li Qing's words caused an uproar throughout the court.

Li Bingchang suddenly recalled that when the Song army suffered repeated defeats at Sanchuankou and Haoshuichuan, Song Chancellor Lü Yijian exclaimed in court, "One battle is worse than the last, how terrifying!" Now, the situation has been reversed by an unknown amount.

"Zhongxing Prefecture is a well-fortified city, built up by our ancestors over many years, and protected by the Yellow River. Even if a million Song soldiers came, they would not be able to take it down in a short time. The Liao Dynasty will not stand idly by. When they attack from both sides, we will surely be able to turn defeat into victory."

"The Eastern Dynasty has come with its entire nation, and its country must be empty. In the past, when we defeated the Eastern Dynasty, we first avoided their sharp edge and then waited for them to tire themselves out. Their army is on a long march and their supplies must be insufficient. If we hold out for two or three months, the Song army will retreat without a fight."

Li Qing shook his head upon hearing this. These generals still didn't understand what "the tide has turned" meant, fantasizing that the Liao Kingdom would come to their aid. Not to mention that after suppressing the Mogus rebellion, the Liao army was exhausted and severely weakened; whether they would even come to their aid was another matter entirely. Even if they did come, how much strength would they have?

At this moment, Li Bingchang disregarded the dignity of the emperor and said with tears in his eyes, "The ancestral temples are all in Zhongxing Prefecture. How can I abandon them?"

Li Qingze said, "Throughout history, there have been countless examples of turning defeat into victory. Your Majesty and the Empress can go to the Liao Kingdom first, while we guard this place until Your Majesty invites the Liao army back to decisively defeat the Song army."

One person retorted, "Your Majesty, the ruler of a nation, cannot be subservient to others."

Li Qing said, "The Liao Kingdom and I have a father-in-law and son-in-law relationship. How can I say that I am living under someone else's roof?"

The matter remained unresolved, and many officials wept.

Li Bingxian was slightly relieved to see this. Although the Great White Kingdom had fallen to this state, fortunately, the people's hearts were still with the people.

When Li Bingchang returned to the palace, he saw Empress Yelü Xian. The couple learned of the Song army's uprising and remained silent for a while, then drank wine together.

Li Bingchang said, "I have decided to stay here and defend the city. You and the prince should go and seek refuge with your father first. If you are too late, you will not be able to escape."

"Does Your Majesty no longer want me?"

Yelü Nan knelt down and wept bitterly, while a four- or five-year-old child stood by, bewildered, watching his parents in this state.

Li Bingchang sat down on the bed and said, "It is my incompetence that I have failed to promote loyal ministers and keep away from treacherous people. This time, it will be difficult to win back the hearts of the people and rally them to face the enemy."

Seeing Li Bingchang's anxious and overthinking state, Yelü Nan couldn't help but rebuke him angrily: "Your Majesty weeps bitterly and is at a loss whenever you encounter important matters. This is not the behavior of a wise ruler. Although Your Majesty is very good to my son and me, I still have to speak frankly."

"Your Majesty, do not lose your breath until the very end!"

Li Bingchang was taken aback; at this point, he readily accepted the advice, saying, "What the Empress says is absolutely right."

At this point, Li Bingchang stopped crying and immediately summoned his ministers that very night to discuss the matter.

The ministers were somewhat bewildered by being suddenly awakened, and immediately discussed three matters.

One option is to send a reliable minister to seek aid from the Liao Dynasty, just as Shen Baoxu did.

Secondly, they sent envoys to negotiate with the Song army, agreeing to all conditions as much as possible in order to preserve the Great Bai Gao Kingdom.

Third, write a proclamation to inspire and uplift the morale of all.

The proclamation was written by a Han Chinese scholar who was also a member of the Imperial Academy. Li Bingchang had established the academy and selected outstanding scholars from among the Han Chinese, Dangxiang, Qinghai, and Uyghur people. This Han Chinese scholar was one of Li Bingchang's favorites, and he admired his writing.

Therefore, this manifesto was written in a very long and eloquent style, and it also showed some imitation of the style of "Ode to the Restoration of the Tang Dynasty".

The proclamation recounted how Emperor Xuanzong of Tang fled to Sichuan to seek refuge and how Emperor Suzong of Tang established a great revival of the dynasty. This perfectly aligned with Li Bingchang's decision to rename Xingqing Prefecture as Zhongxing Prefecture, seeking to restore the dynasty.

After writing the proclamation, Li Bingchang liked it very much and read it several times. He felt that comparing himself to Emperor Suzong of Tang was very apt, and at the same time, he blamed the previous mistakes on Empress Dowager Liang (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang) and Liang Yimai (Yang Guozhong), who had previously presided over the government.

Suddenly, a feeling of being entrusted with a great mission by Heaven welled up in Li Bingchang's heart. He believed that all the hardships he had endured in the past were tests for him, so that he could turn defeat into victory this time, cooperate with the Liao army to annihilate the Song army under the city of Zhongxing, recover all the territory, and even fulfill Li Yuanhao's unfinished ambition to advance on Chang'an.

……

Zhang Yue traveled all the way from Kaifeng Prefecture to Luoyang, and then stopped at Jingzhao Prefecture of Yongxing Army.

In the past, Zhang Yue had passed through Jingzhao Prefecture many times. This time, he returned to the place as the military headquarters for the western expedition against the Dangxiang.

Because news traveled from the capital, whether in Shaanxi or Hedong, it took several days longer to reach Bianjing (Kaifeng). During the Xining era, the emperor established a system of gold medal relays to control the war from thousands of miles away.

Even if a top-ranking envoy travels five hundred li a day, it is still not as convenient, both in terms of space and time, as moving the decision-making headquarters from Bianjing to Chang'an.

Upon arriving in Jingzhao Prefecture, Zhang Yuefang inquired with officials of the Northwest Postal Service about the road conditions from Hedong Road and Shaanxi Road to Chang'an Prefecture, and how many days it would take to reach the destination.

The other party made promises one by one.

Then Zhang Yue inquired about the local economy from the officials. They told him about salt, paper money, and paper currency. With the westward expedition, the trading market had become increasingly heated, with prices soaring one day and plummeting the next. Many people had become rich overnight. Even many government officials had resigned from their posts to participate in this business.

The people of Bianjing laughed and said that the price of salt and paper money had risen for three days, and even the emperor was in a hurry to quit.

Zhang Yue instructed local officials to keep a close eye on the situation.

In fact, Zhang Yue, as the commander-in-chief of the three armies, has nothing to do at the moment. He is just supervising the logistics of food and supplies and stabilizing the rear. There is a saying in military affairs: "Outsiders talk about tactics, insiders talk about logistics." This has been proven a lot in the war between Song and Dangxiang.

As for specific combat operations, in addition to a whole team of advisors in the Prime Minister's office, Zhang Yue also had staff officers from the Ministry of War and the Privy Council accompanying him, as well as officials temporarily recruited.

During this trip to the Jingzhao Prefecture's temporary military camp, they took over Zhang Yue's specific military deployment, and Zhang Yue also delegated specific wartime command authority to Xihe Road and Hedong Road.

Zhang Yue didn't get involved in other matters much.

To be honest, Zhang Yue also admitted that he was mediocre in military affairs, a point that Wang Shao had repeatedly made back then, so there's no need to elaborate.

However, there are ways for laymen to direct experts, which can be achieved by focusing on two points: rewards and punishments, and the ability to recognize talent.

I may not know how to fight, but I can certainly judge people.

Recognizing and employing talent doesn't simply mean choosing the good and dismissing the bad. It means maximizing everyone's potential. For example, if Ma Su is an excellent strategist, and Zhuge Liang insists on putting him in command of an army, entrusting him with such an important task, and things go wrong, is it Ma Su's responsibility or Zhuge Liang's?
When judging people, one should first look at their strengths and then consider their weaknesses, gradually developing experience in observing and employing people.

Then comes the matter of rewards and punishments. The worst thing you can do when it comes to employing people is to fail to use the good and to fail to remove the bad.

Then there is Zhuge Liang's saying: rewards should not be given too late, and punishments should not be imposed on those of high rank.

Sima's legal code also states that rewards should not be delayed, so that the people can quickly reap the benefits of doing good. Punishments should not be imposed in a different rank, so that the people can quickly see the harm of doing evil. The timeliness of rewards and punishments must be ensured.

Slaying generals on the battlefield, killing people to sacrifice for the flag, even the smallest merit is rewarded.

Lü Huiqing excelled in this respect. Cheng Yi mentioned this many times. He once waited for Lü Huiqing on the road all night but did not see him. It turned out that Lü Huiqing was extremely strict with his subordinates. When more than a hundred people rode by on horseback, he did not hear a sound. Cheng Yi fell asleep while waiting and did not hear any noise, so he missed him.

Therefore, the troops under Lü Huiqing's rule in Hedong were disciplined, but this meant that in official circles, those who hated him hated him to the bone, while those who liked him were as sweet as honey.

Zhang Yue has always acted in the opposite way to Lü Huiqing, but he has also been too lenient in governing his subordinates.

However, people with different personalities do different things. Zhang Yue was cautious. He often remained silent at meetings of the capital, only offering his opinions after everyone had discussed the matter thoroughly. Even after he became prime minister, he remained the same.

Zhang Yue rarely overruled dissenting opinions. He would often probe the opinions of each person before the meeting, then balance the views of all parties in the main hall, and finally formulate a feasible plan.

Therefore, even those who opposed the reform, such as Lü Gongzhu, Sima Guang, and Feng Jing, who clearly understood that the court's established reform policy was unchangeable, agreed to appoint Zhang Yuelai as prime minister.

Military matters were handled by Zhang Yue's subordinate generals, while logistics were entrusted to Zhang Gen. His staff now comprised a diverse group of talented individuals, nearly half of whom were there to gain experience and refine their skills.

Zhang Yue also took them all under his wing; in officialdom, what matters is having a long and distinguished history and the ability to stay involved.

After the Song Dynasty implemented the imperial examination system, aristocratic families that failed to produce officials for one or two generations inevitably experienced a decline in social status, their influence waning as they left the family. This campaign against the Tanguts was likely the last time in recent years that the court would offer large-scale official appointments and promises.

In the past, when Zhang Yue led troops, the legendary story of officials being promoted three times in a single day was commonplace; it was as if rank was everywhere and red robes were as plentiful as dogs. Now, upon learning that Zhang Yue had once again taken command, people from all walks of life were vying to send their sons to Zhang Yue's side, going to great lengths to pull strings and use connections.

You can question the character of a prominent family, but don't question their judgment.

Why did all the powerful families, knowing that the Liao army was involved, still place their bets on Zhang Yue?
Of course, the powerful families needed to rely on Zhang Yue, and Zhang Yue also needed to rely on the connections and resources of the young masters and their fathers and brothers.

In officialdom, ten people who speak well of you are often less effective than one who speaks ill of you. Even when you command a large army in the field, you rely on these same people to speak well of you in court.

As an official, it is best to be as kind as possible. Although he has the Emperor's Sword and can kill officials below the third rank without asking for permission, Zhang Yue always puts the principle of mutual consent first and only uses the Emperor's Sword as a last resort.

Of course, with so many young masters in the shogunate, Zhang Yue didn't get along with them all. He was, at his core, from a humble background, so he was definitely closer to Huang Lü and Guo Lin than to Han Zhongyan and Wen Jifu. He preferred to drink freely with others and disliked discussing romance, poetry, painting, and tea with the young masters.

He appointed Shoken as the chief secretary of the shogunate, to deal with the second generation of officials.

As for officials from humble backgrounds in the shogunate, they couldn't all be perfect. As long as you could offer something of value, Zhang Yue was willing to be their benefactor. Otherwise, you'd just be treated like cattle or waste.

Chickens don't pee, they all have their own ways.

Several days later, the Tangut envoy team, or rather, the team that came to apologize to the Song Dynasty, arrived in Chang'an. It was the first day of November, less than five days after the Song Dynasty launched its full-scale western expedition.

As this group of Tangut envoys traveled from west to east, they witnessed a continuous stream of troops and massive caravans passing by day and night on their westward journey. The Tangut officials who had initially harbored some self-deceptive hopes were now disillusioned.

Even when the Tangut envoy pretended to question a soldier, the soldier simply told him frankly that they were going west to destroy the Tanguts and fight the Khitans.

Looking at the Song soldiers, some of whom showed eagerness and excitement, even a willingness to die for their cause, they clearly understood that the entire Song Dynasty had entered a state of war, and there was no turning back between the two countries.

However, they continued their journey eastward, as they were sent on a diplomatic mission and needed to complete the formalities.

Upon their arrival in Jingzhao Prefecture, the Song Dynasty treated them with courtesy, hosting a lavish meal and wine with gold and silver utensils, and also providing music and dance performances. All of this was no different from the Song Dynasty's reception of the Dangxiang people when the two sides were at peace.

It wasn't until the next day that Zhang Yue received them.

The Tangut envoy said to Zhang Yue, "I am very grateful for the Minister's hospitality yesterday. I am deeply impressed by the fact that the Great Song Dynasty is indeed a land of etiquette."

Zhang Yue, however, said frankly to everyone: "Our Great Song Dynasty is a land of etiquette. Diplomacy is conducted in accordance with etiquette. It is to give etiquette a chance, not because I have to do it this way. If you do not follow our etiquette, we will change our methods."

The Dangxiang envoy, Weiming, asked, "May I ask what you mean, Minister? Is there still a chance for peace between our Great Baigao Kingdom and the Great Song Dynasty?"

"Since Sikong took office, the king has always been very respectful to him. I beg Sikong to consider this and give the people of both countries a chance to survive, and restore peace to the world."

Zhang Yue said, "Do you all know what a sage is? He is someone who uses his own rules to establish the framework for the world, and those who do not follow him are regarded as bandits."

"The Dangxiang have long been disobedient to the Song Dynasty and have committed numerous grave errors, defying our Great Song. Now, our Emperor believes that since you refuse to abide by the rules, reasoning with you is useless, so we have launched a military campaign. Please convey to your lord that as long as he agrees to enter Bianjing in plain clothes to apologize to the Emperor, our army will be dispatched, but everything is negotiable."

The king, dressed in white, entered the capital to apologize. The conditions were more stringent than before, but they did not completely close off the path to negotiation.

Just as the chief envoy, Weiming, was about to speak, the deputy envoy, Yuqishang, stood up and said, "I am familiar with the Chinese saying, 'As long as sages do not die, great thieves will not cease.' The Minister of Works is placing his own will above the common people."

“To treat the people of both countries as straw dogs in order to achieve one’s own selfish ambitions is nothing short of being a great thief.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue looked at Yu Qishangcheng and asked, "Vice Envoy, how did your wife and children see you off when you left Xingzhou?"

"I saw him off ten miles from the city, and he was reluctant to part with me." Yu Qishangcheng was an honest man, and he answered truthfully. His wife and children knew that he was determined to die on his way, and it was not enough to describe his reluctance to part with me.

"Vice Envoy, having traveled all the way from Xingzhou, what do you think of the landscape of our Great Song Dynasty?"

"Abundant and magnificent!" Yu Qishangcheng replied. They recalled the Song Dynasty people they had seen along the way, busy with the autumn harvest, the golden wheat ears hanging heavily in the fields, and the magnificent mountains and rivers in the distance.

"How do you feel about arriving in my capital?"

"Although I did not stroll around, I knew that the people were well-off."

Although Yu Qishangcheng was staying in the inn, the hawkers' cries never stopped from morning till night, which gave him a vivid idea of ​​the bustling market.

Zhang Yue sighed, "Yes, who wouldn't want peaceful days? But... but what was it like when Li Yuanhao's army approached the Wei River and pointed towards Chang'an?"

"Sikong, you..." Yu Qishang said angrily.

Zhang Yue said, "The reason why the people west of Jingzhao Prefecture in our dynasty are so prosperous today is because in all these years of conflict between the two countries, our Great Song has been winning!"

"I have always remembered Han Weigong's deep resentment over the defeat at Haoshuichuan, when orphans and widows stopped my horse demanding their husbands and fathers back. Now, no soldier will die in vain in the field."

"My Great Song Dynasty has the best land and hundreds of millions of people. I am the Prime Minister of the Great Song Dynasty, and I must seek the well-being of this land and its people and bring about peace! Your Majesty has committed many unjust acts, repeatedly suffered defeats, lost armies, and captured cities without reflecting on your own actions. I, as the Prime Minister, also have the responsibility to comfort the people and punish the guilty!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue paused and said, "It seems you haven't figured out your situation yet and won't listen to me. In that case, we'll have to let the soldiers reason with you."

“You can go to Bianjing to pay homage to the emperor, but you will receive the same answer.”

“I advise you to return to Xingzhou as soon as possible and report to your king. Ask him on my behalf: Do you have an army of 500,000? If you are late... the journey will be difficult.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Mingshi Luo and Yu Qishang Cheng exchanged bewildered glances.

After the two men took their leave, Weiming Envoy Luo and Yu Qisheng discussed the matter.

“I will bring the official letter to Biandu to pay homage to the Song emperor. You shall return to Zhongxing Prefecture and report the news to the emperor.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Qishangcheng shook his head and said, "Whether you go to Biandu to deliver the imperial letter or not, it's all the same. Why don't you come back to Zhongxing Prefecture with me... Could it be... could it be... that you intend to go to Biandu and surrender to the Song Dynasty?"

When Yu Qishang Cheng looked up, he saw Wei Mingshi Luo's bewildered and guilty gaze.

“You…” Yu Qishang was furious and immediately slumped down.

Weiming said to Luo Dao, "You know the situation in the country, and you know even better today that we cannot win. Besides, Weiming has a history with me."

"That traitor who surrendered to the Song Dynasty!" Yu Qishang cursed loudly.

Weiming Shilu said, "You are wrong. Isn't Weiming Zhaming also looking for another way for the survival of my Great Baigao Kingdom?"

"Or you could look at it from a different perspective. Since you're already in the valley, you're going uphill no matter which way you go. But it's different when you're on the mountaintop."

At this point, Yu Qishang was speechless, while Weiming Envoy Luo said, "Go back. Your family is still in Zhongxing Prefecture, and the country still needs you. The ruler cannot be without a loyal minister!"

On November 5th, the Song army launched a five-pronged attack against the puppet Xia dynasty!