Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

After one night, the situation in Linshui County changed.

The Liao people in the county town left in groups.

At the same time, the Liao cavalry also appeared on the border between the two countries.

The shadow of war instantly enveloped the entire Linshui County.

The common people are all confused.

We have had peace for more than 20 years, why are we suddenly going to war again?

At noon, a notice appeared at the gate of the yamen.

"A great victory in Xiazhou, killing 20,000 enemies."

Only then did the people living in Linshui realize that Dayan and Western Xia were fighting.

The expedition against Western Xia has never been properly publicized.

Because the emperor was also afraid of losing face.

After all, in the previous expeditions to Western Xia, no advantage was gained at all. Instead, the annual tribute to Western Xia was increased a lot.

So this time, the emperor waited until the good news came from Xiazhou before letting the cabinet announce the news to the whole country.

Western Xia suffered a heavy loss on the battlefield and immediately asked the Liao Kingdom for help.

Although the Emperor of Dayan informed Empress Xiao of Liao in advance that Dayan was going to attack Western Xia and asked Liao not to interfere.

But in fact, Empress Dowager Xiao did not take the letter from the Emperor of Dayan seriously at all.

After the Western Xia came to ask for help, Empress Dowager Xiao in turn informed the Emperor of Dayan to stop fighting against the Western Xia.

The Emperor of Dayan naturally refused.

So Empress Dowager Xiao ordered that all Liao people doing business in the market should withdraw to the Liao mainland.

At the same time, troops were stationed on the border between the two countries. If Dayan insisted on not stopping the war against Western Xia, the Liao army would directly march south.

The Emperor of Dayan was immediately caught in a dilemma.

The strategic goal of declaring war on Western Xia has not yet been achieved. If we withdraw our troops at this time, all the previous investments will be wasted.

However, if the troops were not withdrawn and the Liao Kingdom moved south, Dayan's current military strength would not be able to support going to war with two countries at the same time.

What's more, the Liao people have always been the nightmare of Dayan. Not to mention that ordinary people are afraid of the Liao army, even the soldiers of Dayan would feel a chill in their hearts when facing the Liao army.

However, in the history of Dayan, there was an army that was not afraid of the Liao army.

However, this army was "destroyed" by the Emperor of Dayan.

The remaining remnants are preaching everywhere, trying to overthrow the Dayan regime.

If a war breaks out with the Liao Kingdom at this moment, these remnants of the Zhongwu Army will probably immediately become the Liao army's accomplices.

The Emperor of Dayan threw this difficult problem to the cabinet. After several days and nights of discussion, the cabinet ministers came up with a plan.

Don't retreat, keep fighting!

It took only half a month to capture Xiazhou.

Although 20,000 enemies were killed in Xiazhou, this was a field battle record, and the city of Xiazhou was still in the hands of Western Xia.

If Xiazhou can be incorporated into the territory of Dayan, this battle will not be in vain.

As for the Liao Kingdom, the ministers unanimously agreed that the Liao Kingdom was only a strategic deterrent and would not actually mobilize troops.

Firstly, the Liao Kingdom had not fought a war for many years, and serious corruption had emerged in both the court and the army.

Secondly, Empress Dowager Xiao was old.

This woman, who had the strongest political skills in the history of the Liao Dynasty, has reached the final stage of her life.

Several of her sons and even two grandsons were challenging the highest imperial throne of the Liao Dynasty.

Whether or not the Liao Dynasty could win the war against Dayan was another matter, but once the war broke out, the Liao Dynasty court would inevitably be in turmoil.

This was something Empress Dowager Xiao did not want to see.

So she let the army stockpile on the border, just to show it to Xixia.

Unless the Yan army directly attacks the city of Xingqing Prefecture, the Liao Kingdom will most likely not mobilize troops.

The emperor accepted the suggestion.

On the one hand, he asked the cabinet to continue to publicize the great victory in Xiazhou, and on the other hand, he asked the Imperial City Bureau to seize the time to eradicate the Red Lotus Sect.

At such a critical moment, we must not allow these remnants of the Zhongwu Army to act recklessly!

The emperor's decision also caused a very "absurd" scene in the county town on the border between Yan and Liao.

The Liao army was stockpiling troops along the border.

However, inside the city, a notice of "Xiazhou Victory" was posted.

The people didn't know whether they should be happy about the victory or afraid of the upcoming war.

In the county government office.

Several important officials in Linshui County are discussing countermeasures.

County Magistrate Chang Anmin said in a deep voice, "I just received news from General Pei that the defense of Linshui County will be fully taken over by the Dingbian Army from this moment on."

"The county magistrates and constables are fully committed to maintaining public order in the county. Any signs of abnormality must be suppressed."

"Especially those who advocated for escape, saying that Great Yan could not defeat the Liao Kingdom, arrest them all and throw them into prison!"

The other officials repeatedly said yes.

Chang Anmin continued, "The second thing is, there are several villages along the border. We need to send people to bring the local people back to the city."

"Otherwise, if the Liao Kingdom marches south, they will surely die."

"Ling County Magistrate, do you know the total population of these villages?"

County Magistrate Ling was bewildered.

If Chang Anmin were asked which family in the city was rich or which girl in the brothel was pretty, he would be able to answer.

But he really didn't know how many people there were in the villages on the border.

Chang Anmin looked at him coldly and said, "If you don't even know this, how can you be the county magistrate?"

County Magistrate Ling snorted and ignored Chang Anmin.

You are an outsider, and you want to bully me, a local official?

Dream your big dream.

I just don’t know, what can you do to me?

In the end, the county lieutenant came out to smooth things over and gave a rough figure.

"There aren't too many people. There are only about 70 or 80 people in the two villages combined."

Chang Anmin said: "I'll leave this matter to you. You must bring them back."

The county lieutenant said, "I obey your orders."

Chang Anmin waved his hand and said, "Everyone go back to your own business."

After the official left, Chang Anmin returned to his study, untied his belt and slammed it hard on the desk.

"What a bunch of mediocre officials!"

Chang Anmin's younger sister, Chang Anyi, came in with a cup of tea and said, "Brother, why are you so angry?"

Chang Anmin said, "Isn't it because I'm mad at these officials in the county government? They don't even know the number of people under their jurisdiction, and I don't know what they do on a daily basis!"

Chang Anyi put down the teacup and said soothingly, "Brother, we are facing a powerful enemy right now, it is not appropriate to clash with colleagues in the county government."

Chang Anmin sighed, "I know that, but the key is that if the Liao Kingdom moves south, it will inevitably bring disaster to the people."

"Aren't there still the Dingbian Army?" Chang Anyi thought.

"The elite troops of the Dingbian Army were all taken away by Zhu Sui'an." Chang Anmin said: "Besides, the Dingbian Army is not the Zhongwu Army after all."

Chang Anyi thought for a moment and said, "In that case, we should simply fortify our city walls, clear the fields, repair the city walls, and at the same time, forge a large number of bows and crossbows for city defense. The Liao people are not good at attacking cities. As long as we can hold on, the Liao army will retreat sooner or later."

Chang Anmin said helplessly: "That's true, but the problem is, where's the money?"

"I just distributed the money from the county government's treasury to the people who were deceived by the Red Lotus Cult. Now there is only less than a thousand taels left in the treasury. It's not enough at all."

Chang Anyi pondered and said, "How about...looking for Chen Lang?"