Traveling back to the Northern Song Dynasty: Picking up a princess as my wife

Deep within the majestic imperial palace of Anyang Prefecture, Li Zhen clutched a scroll of intelligence no different from anyone else's, but his palm seemed to hold an even deeper secret—a meticulously compiled analysis of the combat strength and detailed records of weapons and manpower of various Mongol tribes by the General Staff of the Han State.

With his back to the flickering candlelight in the room, his hands clasped behind his back, he spoke slowly and forcefully to the thug beside him: “That scoundrel’s appetite is truly enormous. Right now, he has already swallowed up most of the vast lands of Mongolia, and even dares to attempt to be crowned the true King of Mongolia. For our Han Kingdom, this is nothing short of a signal fire in the dark night, foreshadowing an impending storm, and is by no means a good omen.”

Bu Liang comforted Li Zhen, saying, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Although that man nominally sits at the pinnacle of the Mongol Khanate, honored as Khan, our carefully placed pawn—Wan Hanzhong—has quietly seized a quarter of the Mongol army's strength. Moreover, the Mongol tribal leaders scattered throughout the grasslands harbor secret resentment towards him and are dissatisfied with the position of Great Khan. Once the situation changes and a crucial decision is made, these tribal leaders will surely fall apart like loose sand, unable to unite, each acting independently. It is not difficult to foresee a scene of disintegration."

Li Zhen sighed: "Although Wan Hanzhong is your classmate and friend, times have changed. He is now the second most important person in the Mongol Khanate. When we finally destroy the Mongols, will he forget his original intentions?"

After listening to Li Zhen's words, Bu Liang also fell into deep silence: Yes, although he was the one who arranged for him to enter Na Za's side, if that day really comes, will Wan Hanzhong have some other ideas?

Since Hengzhou City came under the rule of the Han Kingdom, it has become an important transit point for trade with the Mongols. Countless grains and supplies from the Han Kingdom were transported from here to the Mongolian border, while furs from various Mongolian tribes were sold to all parts of the Han Kingdom through here.

Inside a hotel in Hengzhou, a middle-aged man with a thin face was talking to two people from a Mongolian tribe.

"Nashar, we've already made deals many times, don't you trust me?"

The Mongolian man said in a rough voice in broken Chinese, "Old Sun, the furs we brought this time are the best from the Mongolian grasslands. These are usually not sold. This time is different, and the price is only a little bit more than usual."

The man known as Old Sun was named Sun Liancheng. He was the regional manager of Dingsheng Commerce in the Han Kingdom. He had his eye on this batch of fine furs at first glance, but he also had his own ulterior motives. If he bought the furs at a low price and then resold them at a higher price, he could basically earn enough to cover his funeral expenses.

Sun Liancheng: "Nashar, let me be frank with you. Right now in Hengzhou City, only Dingsheng Trading can take your batch of furs in one go. Moreover, you want to use ironware for the transaction this time. You know that in our Han Kingdom, ironware requires special permits to be bought and sold. I am taking a risk in this."

Nashar was aware of the reality, but in order for the tribe to stockpile more ironware for weapon making, he decided to talk to Manager Sun.

Just then, the Western Xia merchants at the next table chuckled and interjected, "Hey! You Mongol man, be careful not to get tricked by these cunning Han people. You want ironware, right? I have plenty here."

Sun Liancheng, his face ashen, said to the Western Xia merchants, "You dare to compete with Dingsheng Trading on Han territory? You certainly have some nerve!"

The leader of the Western Xia merchants sneered, "A trade is simply a matter of mutual consent. Although the price of ironware in the Han Kingdom is rising continuously, the price of furs from the Mongolian grasslands is also quite high."

Then the Western Xia merchant slowly walked up to Nashar and said, "Brother Mongol, if you trust me, we can talk in detail tonight in a private room on the second floor of the inn. Believe me, the result will definitely satisfy you."

In the end, Sun Liancheng could only helplessly watch as the figures of those Mongols gradually faded from his sight, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He lowered his voice and whispered to the servant waiting beside him, "You must keep a close eye on these people and make sure they do not complete any transactions smoothly on our Han territory."

As night fell, Sun Liancheng hurried into the deep courtyard of the Hengzhou Prefectural Government Office. Under the dim light of an oil lamp, he recounted in detail the events of the day to a trusted confidant. Of course, he didn't mention a word about his secret scheme to lower market prices; after all, that was a hidden agenda of his.

That evening, on the second floor of the inn, the Mongolian Nashar and the Western Xia merchants had basically finalized the basic trade terms, with only the details remaining.

The Western Xia merchant smiled and said to Nashar, "Brothers of Mongolia, I know you are buying ironware to strengthen your army, but you still have to smelt and manufacture the ironware that the Han Kingdom sells to you. How about this, we, the Western Xia, will make whatever weapons you need, and you can transport them back to equip your troops yourself."

The Western Xia Kingdom possessed abundant iron ore resources, which provided a solid foundation for forging its heavy armored cavalry. With these rich mineral resources, Western Xia's smelting techniques also stood out in its time, rivaling those of the Han Chinese of the era, each leading its own unique style.

With the complete fall of the Jin Dynasty in the vast Northeast, this land seemed to open its doors to wealth and opportunity overnight, attracting caravans from all over the world. Driven by a thirst for trade profits, they traversed the streets and alleys, searching for every possible price difference; at the same time, these shrewd travelers also shouldered the important task of gathering intelligence, attempting to piece together the Han Dynasty's military deployment in the Northeast from the slightest clues, and to seize valuable intelligence resources for their own countries.

On the vast, boundless Mongolian steppe, a blanket of snow stretched out before them, a desolate expanse. Two warriors from the Kyrgyz tribe, mounted on magnificent warhorses, galloped across the pristine white snow like two black lightning bolts, their hooves thundering and kicking up plumes of snow. Their faces were resolute, their eyes piercing, as if they could penetrate the swirling snow and gaze upon the distant land of freedom.

Not far away, a troop of Western Liao cavalry followed closely behind the two men, the sound of hooves and the howling wind creating a tense symphony. The armored riders fired arrows in rapid succession, the arrows slicing through the air, carrying a chilling aura, aimed directly at the fleeing Mongol men. However, perhaps due to the distance, or perhaps by divine intervention, the swift arrows always missed by a hair's breadth, failing to touch the two warriors at all, leaving only a trail of whistling cold wind and scattered silver arrow fletchings behind them.

This chase, unfolding on this silent yet perilous snowfield, is a contest of strength and wisdom. Every breath is breathtaking, every step a matter of life and death. The two Mongolian men, relying on their familiarity with the grasslands and their exceptional horsemanship, seem to be constantly fighting against fate, determined to etch their indomitable will into this ancient and sacred land.

Temujin spurred his horse at full speed, the wind whipping his long hair as he whispered to Toto, who was riding alongside him, "Toto, I intend to find a way to hold back the pursuing Western Liao troops. You must find an opportunity to sneak back to the tribe and deliver this message as soon as possible. We must not let the Western Liao's iron hooves trample our homeland."

Toto looked worried, his brows furrowed, and retorted, "Temujin, how can you possibly fight against their overwhelming army by yourself? We should fight side by side and resist the enemy together!"

Temujin roared with boundless pride, “Absurd! Have you already forgotten the safety of our thousands of men? Quickly return and send word that I am protected by Heaven, and you need not worry! The Eternal Heaven will be watching over us.”

Having said that, he moved swiftly, pressing his hands against the strong neck of the warrior, and with agile movements, he flipped over and was instantly back on the horse's back, looking dashing and heroic. The young and vigorous Temujin had somehow already grasped a war bow in his hand. As the bowstring tightened, a sharp whooshing sound pierced the air, and one of the pursuing Western Liao cavalrymen fell from his horse with a thud, looking utterly disheveled.