freenovelworld Chapter 315 Please enter the urn
Chapter 315 Please enter the urn
Although Youzhou, Jizhou, Shunzhou, and Danzhou were all important cities, they were located deep in the heart of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. The Liao Kingdom, which was short of troops, only deployed a few thousand Liao troops in each of these large cities, nearly half of which were Han troops.
When the Regent Zhao Defang led tens of thousands of troops to the north, the Liao army defending the city was already terrified. They didn't know when reinforcements would arrive, and the defenders were panic-stricken and had a weak will to resist.
The Song army was unstoppable, and wherever they went, they destroyed the enemy cities like crushing dry wood and rotten wood. Within ten days, the Song army's eastern route captured four cities in a row, Youzhou, Jizhou, Shunzhou, and Danzhou, all of which were incorporated into the territory of the Song Dynasty.
The two young generals Cao Wei and Gao Yingxiong were invincible and brave. After they led their respective vanguards to capture Shunzhou and Danzhou, they were ordered to rest and defend the city and wait for the next battle order.
The army's morale was high and the people were hopeful that His Royal Highness the Regent Zhao Defang would lead the army to recapture the entire Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in one fell swoop.
The father and son of the Yang family, the Western Army, lived up to expectations and led more than 40,000 soldiers and horses to attack from Yanmen Pass and capture Huanzhou City in one day.
With the three thousand divine arm bows and three hundred large and small thunder bombs allocated by His Royal Highness the Regent, Yang Yanzhao fought this battle easily and thrillingly!
After Shuozhou, Yingzhou and Yunzhou were recaptured, Yang Yanzhao continued his momentum and captured Weizhou as well.
The Eastern and Western Armies of the Song Army had now responded to each other and formed a pincer attack, encircling the Liao army in the remaining four states from the south.
The old general Yang Ye led his army to Yunzhou. After Yang Yanzhao conquered Weizhou, he led a thousand soldiers through the Great Wall Pass to Youzhou City to meet with His Royal Highness the Regent to discuss the next battle plan.
After paying his respects to His Royal Highness the Regent in the central army's tent, Yang Yanzhao sat down, drank two sips of tea to moisten his dry throat, and then could not wait to request orders to dispatch troops.
"Your Majesty, our eastern and western armies have already captured the twelve states of Yanyun, leaving only four states to be captured.
I heard that Yelu Xiuguo was about to arrive with 60,000 Liao reinforcements. I requested that you quickly take the remaining four states before the Liao reinforcements arrive, and block the Liao reinforcements outside the Great Wall, so that Yelu Xiuguo would be so anxious that he could only stare blankly and return angrily. "
Regent Zhao Defang smiled, his smile was cunning and sinister, "The Liao Kingdom has finally mobilized 60,000 elite troops to come to the rescue, so let's let the main force of the Liao army come in, lure them into the trap, annihilate more Liao troops, kill more Liao Kingdom's combat power, and shake its national foundation."
"Your Majesty! Do you want to catch the turtle in the jar and beat the dog behind closed doors?..." Yang Yanzhao stood up excitedly, "Your Majesty, just give the order on how to kill the enemy!"
Sima Qingyun couldn't help but fetch a sandalwood fan, and habitually shook the fan in his hand, smiling more sinisterly than His Royal Highness the Regent: "Your Highness, I will be in Youzhou City in person, and it will be absolutely safe. You can go without worry! Cao Wei and Gao Yingxiong sneaked out from Shanhaiguan, blocked Juyongguan and Gubeikou, and we will have a closed-door fight!"...
In the Shangjing City of the Liao Kingdom, Empress Dowager Xiao's beautiful face was filled with a hint of worry and fatigue.
The king is young, and she, as the empress dowager who is in charge of the government, has to engage in intrigues with those restless noble ministers every day, and also has to worry about state affairs. Life is not easy!
Yelu Xiezhen and Han Derang walked in, "Greetings to the Queen Mother." "Greetings to the Queen Mother."
Empress Dowager Xiao rubbed her forehead to drive away the fatigue on her face, "No need to be polite, just stand up and sit down!"
After Yelu Xiezhen and Han Derang sat down, they saw that Empress Dowager Xiao looked exhausted. Han Derang said distressedly, "Empress Dowager, you have been very busy with government affairs these days. You should pay more attention to rest!"
Empress Dowager Xiao put down her delicate hands that were kneading her forehead and smiled at Han Derang, "Thank you for your worry. It's okay. Just drink a bowl of ginseng soup and take a good sleep."
Yelu Xiezhen also said with concern: "Queen Mother, Yelu Xiu Ge has led 60,000 troops to reinforce quickly. The 40,000 troops mobilized from the tribe will arrive soon. I will lead the second reinforcement to the south immediately. Even if the Song army takes a few states, my 100,000 elite troops will definitely be able to drive the enemy out again. You can rest assured to recuperate and wait for the good news of the army's triumphant return!"
"Alas!..." Empress Dowager Xiao sighed, "The one leading the northern expedition is Song's god of war, Regent Prince Zhao Defang. How can I rest assured to recuperate and wait for the news of the army's triumphant return?
The emperor of Song died suddenly, and a young ruler ascended the throne. The foundation is unstable and the court is turbulent. The Song army suffered heavy losses in the last war. Now should be the time for the country to recuperate. Why did Zhao Defang suddenly launch another northern expedition?"
Yelu Xiezhen looked solemn and said worriedly, "Zhao Defang cannot be judged by ordinary people. He is a man of great talent and determination. The former Emperor of Song was worried about him and was unwilling to use him. He regarded him as a thorn in his side and wanted to get rid of him. Now, although the young ruler has ascended the throne, Zhao Defang is already the regent with great power. He has become a major concern for our Liao Dynasty!"
Han Derang said disapprovingly: "Although Zhao Defang is talented, his foundation in the court is not stable because he has offended many court officials in the investigation of corruption. Otherwise, why would he not dare to take the throne himself and push a seven-year-old child to sit on the throne.
As long as our army can withstand the fierce attack of the Song army on the front line and make Zhao Defang's Northern Expedition return in vain, it will inevitably shake his prestige in the court. How could the princes of Emperor Taizong of Song be willing to be idle princes without power and influence?
As long as the Song Kingdom has a civil war for the throne, then it will be the time for the Liao Kingdom to conquer the Song Kingdom. Li Yuanhao, who founded the Western Xia Kingdom and proclaimed himself king, is probably also waiting for that opportunity. By then, the Liao Kingdom and the Western Xia Kingdom will march south to the Central Plains. What will a mere Zhao Defang have to fear? "
After Han Derang's analysis, Empress Dowager Xiao and Yelu Xiezhen's worries immediately dissipated and they felt relieved.
Empress Dowager Xiao looked at her handsome and elegant old lover with approval, her eyes full of affection, "Derang, although you are not proficient in leading troops and fighting, you have extraordinary strategies, calmness, wisdom, and broad vision. You are indeed a pillar of the Liao Kingdom!"
Han Derang was very happy to be praised by his old lover, and he expressed his loyalty: "Thank you for your praise, Queen Mother. I will be loyal to you and the emperor until my death."
Yelu Xiezhen watched coldly, feeling somewhat disgusted with this pretty boy Han minister. But the Queen Mother valued and relied on him, so she did not dare to say anything sarcastic or disdainful, but just smiled twice to give Han Derang some face.
Empress Dowager Xiao felt relieved by her old lover's words. After chatting about government affairs for a while, she sent Yelu Xiezhen away and left Han Derang to sleep with her.
After Yelu Xiezhen walked out of the Queen Mother's bedroom, he angrily cursed: "The Han people who relied on a pretty face to gain favor, even if they have some talent, their hearts are worthy of death! After the young emperor takes power, I will help the emperor's nephew to deal with him!"