Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 447 It’s time to destroy Xia! The Song Dynasty is in danger!

The letter from Empress Dowager Xiao Liang did not disrupt the rhythm of the Jingsai Army. Instead, it made Su Yun realize that now was the best time to recover Western Xia!
When the Liao army marched south to attack the Song Dynasty, no matter how much the Song Dynasty feared the Jingsai Army, it had to deal with the Liao army with all its strength at this time.

Although the Liao army was no different from the Song army in that they had been in war for a long time and were quite corrupt, they were well-rested after all.

Since the reign of Emperor Shenzong, the Song Dynasty has fought great battles with the Western Xia every year. In recent years, the Song Dynasty has been defeated by the Jingsai Army. The entire Western Army was defeated, and even the entire northwest was occupied by Su Yun.

The Western Army of more than 200,000 was the elite of the Song Dynasty's army. Without the Western Army, the Song Dynasty was already severely damaged. It was already unable to resist the Liao Army at this time, not to mention that it had to first stabilize the country before resisting foreign aggression.

Su Yun believed that this was the best time to attack Xia because at this time the Liao Kingdom was salivating over the fertile land of the Song Dynasty. The Liao Kingdom at this time certainly wanted to swallow up the Song Dynasty in one breath, so it would definitely go all out.

At this moment, the Ming Dynasty can go all out to conquer Western Xia first and open up the Hexi Corridor. This step is a grand strategy. Once the Ming Dynasty conquers the entire Hetao area and the Hexi Corridor, the Jingsai Army will truly gain the foundation for establishing a country!
What's more advantageous is that although the Song Dynasty was weak at that time, given the Song Dynasty's foundation, it would not be so easy for the Liao Kingdom to swallow up the Song Dynasty. The Liao Kingdom could defeat the Song Dynasty, but it was probably still beyond its ability to completely occupy the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, Su Yun was not worried that when the Ming Dynasty was attacking Western Xia with all its might, it would turn around and find that the Song Dynasty had been annexed by the Liao Kingdom, and then a shocking behemoth would appear in the East.

Instead, after the Ming Dynasty conquered the entire Western Xia, when it looked eastward, it saw the Liao and Song dynasties, which were exhausted from fighting each other!

What is the right time, right place and right people? This is it!
Su Yun stood in front of the sand table, tapping heavily on the location of Xixia Xingqing Prefecture with his fingertips.

The candlelight cast alternating light and dark shadows on his face. Outside the tent, the night wind brought sand from the Gobi Desert and hit the cowhide tent, but it could not blow away the blazing light in his eyes.

This was a meeting in front of the emperor with all civil and military officials present. On Su Yun's left and right stood civil officials such as Zhang Dun, Zhang Yu, Lu Huiqing, Wang Baopu, and Han Youan, while Zheng Chaozong, Wang Shunchen and twenty Jingsai Army generals stood solemnly on the other side.

"Pass the order down, within three days the entire army will move camp and attack Xingqing Prefecture.

The northern army of Donghetao will march south with all their strength, the eastern army will cross the desert and approach Xingqing Prefecture, and the Huanqing Road army will march north to strangle the Dangxiang people with all their strength. In one month, I want to see Liang come to Chang'an to surrender!"

Su Yun drew out his sword, and the tip of the sword slashed across the map of the Hexi Corridor. "The Ganzhou and Liangzhou garrisons each dispatched 5,000 elite troops to encircle the right wing of the Western Xia along the Ruoshui River.

The main force will break through Lingzhou from the front and must take down the Helan Mountain defense line while Liao and Song are in a stalemate. "

He suddenly turned around and glanced at Zhang Yu. "Zhang Jinglie is familiar with Tubo. You take the light cavalry to cut off the connection between Empress Dowager Xiaoliang and Tubo. If the Dangxiang people want to borrow Tubo cavalry, let them not even see the horse manure of the messenger."

That night, the Jingsai military camp was in a turmoil. The smoke from cooking was mixed with the sound of sharpening knives, soldiers smeared poison on arrowheads, and craftsmen adjusted the improved Shenbi bow.

Su Yun climbed up the camp alone and looked at the twinkling stars in the southern sky.

Secret reports have been received from the undercover agents in Xixia that Empress Dowager Xiaoliang is transferring her main forces to the east to guard the five states of Dingnan. The defenses of the western border are empty, and even the old soldiers guarding the city are discussing privately: "Instead of working for the Dangxiang people, it is better to wait for the Han army to open the city gates."

Thousands of miles away in Bianjing, the urgent reports from the Privy Council were piled up like a mountain on the imperial desk. Zhao Xu held the report of the Liao army's victory over Xiongzhou, his knuckles turning white: "The western army has been completely destroyed, and the northern border is in danger again..."

Prime Minister Cai Jing was about to make a suggestion when a palace maid suddenly rushed in with a secret report about unusual movements of the Jingsai army.

The hall suddenly fell silent, with only the sound of candle wicks popping.

"Su Yun really wants to swallow Xixia."

Cai Jing stroked his jade belt, breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Your Majesty, Cheng Canzheng has probably arrived at the capital of Liao. We can negotiate peace soon. After the annual tribute is paid, we can use the Khitan cavalry to contain the Jingsai Army!"

Zhao Xu's face turned pale, and he nodded, "That being said, we must be prepared to deal with it. The Khitans are wolves in sheep's clothing, so don't be careless..."

Before he finished speaking, an eunuch rushed in with a battle report. The eunuch glanced at Cai Jing, and Zhao Xu shouted, "Report immediately!"

The eunuch quickly opened the battle report and took a look. His face suddenly became extremely ugly. He then shouted, "Your Majesty, the Northern Army has reported that Xiongzhou, Bazhou, Mozhou... within three days, the North has lost twelve cities in a row!"

His voice echoed in the empty hall, startling the sparrows on the beams and causing them to flutter into flight.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu was so shocked that he stood up, looked around in confusion, and didn't know what to say.

Cai Jing's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and his Adam's apple moved: "Your Majesty, calm down. The Northwest Volunteer Army has assembled 50,000..."

"Fifty thousand remnants?!" Zhao Xu finally reacted and grabbed the bronze paperweight on the table and threw it hard, "The elite troops of the Western Army were all killed by Su Yun. What can the Volunteer Army use to stop the Liao army?"

Thunder roared outside the hall and heavy rain poured down. The rain flowed down the drainage outlet carved with a dragon head and formed a muddy stream, just like the doomed destiny of the Song Dynasty.

At the same time, at the foot of the Helan Mountains, the Jingsai Army's siege equipment was slowly advancing in the night.

Su Yun, wearing a black iron armor, looked at the Xixia torches swaying on the top of the city wall, and suddenly turned to ask Zhang Yu beside him: "Is there any movement over there in Tubo?"

"The three messengers sent by Empress Dowager Xiao Liang to ask for help were all intercepted and killed by Zhang Jinglüe." Ping Zicheng unfolded the blood-stained secret letter.

"But according to reports from secret agents, the Tubo Zuosiluo tribe has gathered cavalry in Qingtang City and seems to be planning to move eastward."

Before he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves like thunder suddenly came from afar.

The scout came galloping over, his armor splattered with mud: "Report! 20,000 cavalrymen from the Western Xia Left Wing Divine Army raided the flank of the Huanqing Road Army from Yanzhou!"

Su Yun's pupils shrank slightly, and the tip of his sword pointed directly to the northeast: "Order Wang Shunchen to lead the army to meet the enemy, and make sure to nail the Dangxiang people to death in Baichi!"

He looked at the Lingzhou City that was faintly visible in the rain, and a cold smile appeared on his lips. "Empress Dowager Xiao Liang has learned to be smart. She knows how to use the strategy of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west to lure the tiger away from the mountain."

In Xingqing Mansion, Empress Dowager Xiao Liang leaned on the tiger-skin couch, listening to her adviser's report on the war situation.

When she heard the news that the Huanqing Road Army was attacked, her sickly pale face flushed: "Su Yun, do you think I will just sit there and wait for death? As long as I can hold you back for ten days, once the Tibetan reinforcements arrive..."

The voice stopped abruptly, and a guard staggered in, holding a bloody arrow in his hand - the head of the Tibetan messenger was tied to the tail of the arrow.

"This is... coming from the direction of Qingtang City." The guard's voice trembled, "The bodies of Tibetan cavalry were found along the way. It seems that they were ambushed."

Empress Dowager Xiao Liang grabbed the table fiercely, and the gilded armor scratched five deep marks on the wood.

Thunder roared outside the palace, illuminating her distorted face: "Han people! Han people again! Order to burn down the granaries in Heishui City and dig up the Yellow River branch canal!

Even if I die in the belly of a fish, I cannot let Su Yun set foot in Xingqing Mansion!"

……

Thousands of miles away in Youzhou City, Cheng Yi stood in Yelu Yanxi's golden tent, holding his back and refusing to bend down. Yelu Hongji played with the jade ruyi presented by the Song Dynasty, and suddenly sneered: "Annual tribute? What I want is the dragon throne of Bianliang City!"

The news of the Song army's defeat came from outside the tent, accompanied by the Liao people's rough laughter and scolding. Cheng Yi only felt a fishy sweetness in his throat, and his eyes were gradually dyed red with blood.

Cheng Yi gritted his teeth and let Yelu Hongji smash the jade ruyi hard at his feet.

The green jade shattered into powder and splashed on the crane patch on his official uniform, looking like the scarred country of the Song Dynasty.

The tent was filled with a strong smell of wolf dung, which mixed with the fishy smell of the Liao people, choking him and making his eyes sore.

"Master Cheng, do you not understand what I am saying?" Yelu Hongji suddenly drew out the curved knife from his waist, and lifted Cheng Yi's chin with the blade. "I want to sit on the dragon throne in Bianliang City and watch you Song people kowtow."

The scimitar cut through the flesh, and blood dripped down the back of the knife onto the carpet embroidered with golden dragons, and was quickly absorbed by the fluff and turned dark brown.

Cheng Yi's throat rolled, and he suppressed the surging blood and anger: "If the Liao Lord insists on invading the south, my Song Dynasty's millions of soldiers and civilians..."

"Millions of soldiers and civilians?" Yelu Hongji laughed loudly towards the sky, making the cowhide on the tent ceiling rustle.

He violently pulled Cheng Yi's hair and pressed the bloody tip of the knife to his throat. "Your elite troops of the Western Army were slain by Su Yun. Now the Song Army is nothing but a fat sheep on the chopping block!"

Suddenly, a cold wind blew in from outside the tent, blowing the peace documents on the table into the air. The words "Sui Bi" with ink that had not yet dried twisted and deformed in the air.

"Someone come!" Yelu Hongji kicked Cheng Yi to the ground, "Strip this Song envoy of his official uniform and put him in a slave's linen shirt!"

Several Liao soldiers rushed over with a grim smile, and tore open his robe with their rough hands, causing the jade tablet to fall to the ground and break into two pieces.

Cheng Yi curled up to protect the jade belt around his chest, but Yelu Hongji stepped on his wrist and said, "This jade belt is exquisite. It is perfect for tying a bell on my hunting dog."

The moment the sharp pain came from his wrist bone, Cheng Yi suddenly remembered Zhao Xu's tearful farewell before he left.

The palace walls of Bianliang City, the sound of reading in the Imperial Academy, and the wheat waves along the Yellow River all turned into ridicule in Yelu Hongji's eyes.

He suddenly exerted force to hit the Liao ruler's lower abdomen, but was hit hard on the shoulder by the scimitar.

"You are asking for your own death!" Yelu Hongji shook the blood off his knife. "Drag him out and lock him in front of the camp gate as a warning to all. When we capture Bianliang, I will let your emperor watch how the envoys of the Song Dynasty roll around in horse manure!"

As the night deepened, Cheng Yi was hung by iron chains under the flagpole at the camp gate.

The cold wind blew sand and gravel, which lashed his wounds. In the distance, the cries of the defeated Song army seemed to be heard.

He looked at the faint starlight in the south and suddenly laughed out loud, scaring away the crows perched on the flagpole.

He suddenly thought of Su Yun, whom he had once regarded as a thorn in his side. Tears suddenly fell down, and he whispered: "Su Yun, Su Yun, although you are a traitor and deserve death, but if...if...the Song Dynasty has an unbearable end, I hope you can turn the tide and take back the country!
Otherwise, once the Khitan dogs enter the Central Plains, our Han people’s beautiful land will be covered with blood! Our Chinese characters may be banned by the crude Khitan characters! ..."

Cheng Yi's whisper was carried by the north wind, swept over the Youzhou city wall, and turned into the rapid sound of clappers in the city of Bianliang.

Zhao Xu slumped over on the dragon chair, clutching the blood-stained secret report. The handwriting "Cheng Yi is imprisoned" on the corner of the letter had long since blurred, blending in with the pile of defeat reports on the desk.

Cai Jing looked at the people outside the palace who were carrying sandbags like ants, and his Adam's apple moved: "Your Majesty, the Khitan's catapults have been set up outside Taiyuan City..." "Let the Taiyuan garrison fight!"

Zhao Xu stood up suddenly, and the crown tassels clanged against the Panlong Pillar. "Even if we fight to the last soldier..."

Before he finished speaking, a deafening wail suddenly sounded outside the palace gate. An eunuch stumbled in, crying, "Your Majesty! Taiyuan! Taiyuan is broken! It's broken!"

Zhao Xu suddenly fell to the ground.

Taiyuan Prefecture is a strategic town in the north of the Song Dynasty!

Taiyuan Prefecture is located at the strategic point of Hedong, blocked by the Taihang Mountains in the east, facing the Yellow River in the west, controlling Yanmen Pass in the north and Hulao Pass in the south. It is a natural barrier for the Central Plains region to resist the nomadic peoples in the north.

Once Taiyuan Prefecture was lost, the Liao cavalry would be able to march straight in as if they were in an empty space, and approach the Song Dynasty capital Bianliang, seriously threatening the ruling core of the Song Dynasty. The strategic buffer space would be greatly compressed.

Zhao Xu murmured, "How could Taiyuan City be breached? How could it be breached? Taiyuan City has high walls and deep moats, and its defenses are strong. It is the military command center and troop assembly point of the Song Dynasty in the north.

Elite troops are stationed in the city all year round, and a large amount of food and military equipment is stored. It can not only effectively resist foreign invasion, but also serve as the frontier position for the Song Dynasty to take the initiative!
Even before the Treaty of Chanyuan, the Song Dynasty relied on the fortifications of Taiyuan Prefecture many times to successfully resist the attacks of the Liao army and ensure the security of the northern border. How could it be broken so easily! How could it be broken! "

"Your Majesty! Now that Taiyuan has been conquered, Bianjing City is no longer safe. Please tour the south!"

In a trance, Zhao Xu heard someone talking, but he was completely confused and didn't know who said it.

At the same time, the sound of war drums from the top of Lingzhou City tore through the night.

Su Yun looked at the boiling gold juice pouring down the city wall, and suddenly received an urgent report: "Your Majesty! The Liao army has broken through Taiyuan, and Zhao Xu led the royal family to retreat to Yingtian Prefecture!"

Su Yun was a little surprised when he heard this. His hands holding the reins suddenly tightened, and the black iron armor shone coldly in the moonlight.

"Continue the siege!" Su Yun's voice was mixed with the sound of arrows breaking through the air, "Send a message to Wang Shunchen, Baichi must be captured within three days! As for the Central Plains..."

He squinted his eyes and looked at the smoke billowing in the east, with a meaningful arc on the corner of his mouth. "The Khitans have too big an appetite. Sooner or later, they will be stuffed to death."

Inside Xingqing Mansion, Empress Dowager Xiao Liang stared at the shrinking defense line on the map, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

When she heard the news of the fall of Taiyuan, she suddenly laughed crazily: "Good! Good! The Great Song Dynasty perished before the Great Xia Dynasty, so it cannot be said that my Liang family has failed the country. This is truly God's will!"

Before he finished his words, the ground suddenly shook violently and a dull explosion sounded in the distance - the thunder bomb improved by Su Yun was blasting open the city wall of Lingzhou.

"Report! The Han people have climbed onto the city wall!" The guards' roars were drowned out by the sound of swords clashing.

Empress Dowager Xiao Liang drew out her gold-inlaid dagger, looked at her pale face in the bronze mirror, and suddenly put the dagger across her neck: "Dangxiang boy, follow me..."

Before she could finish her words, the palace door burst open and the Ming Dynasty's Jingsai Army poured in like a tide, with the tips of their guns reflecting her terrified pupils.

(End of this chapter)