Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 829
Xiao Chuo knew that the situation before her had reached the most dangerous time since she took power.

Not counting the affiliated states of the Liao Kingdom and the affiliated large tribes, the mainland is divided into five regions: Zhongjing Road, Xijing Road, Tokyo Road, Shangjing Road, and Nanjing Road.The Liao state system is different from the Song state, and even more different from the Xiangfu state, but similar to the princes in the Han and Tang dynasties.The five major capital roads, where Shangjing is located, are naturally the core of the Liao court, but the other five capitals have their own systems. state control.To put it bluntly, Shangjing was able to command the other four Jingdaos mainly because of having the most powerful Palace Guard Army and Pishi Army in the country.In addition, the rulers rely on their own skills and abilities to obtain the support and loyalty of the five capitals.

Since Xiao Chuo came to power, in addition to keeping the Shangjing Road where Shangjing is located, as well as the Palace Guards and Pishi Army stationed in Shangjing under Xiao Chuo's firm control, the most loyal person to Xiao Chuo is the South Yard who controls Xijing Road. Great King Xiao Dage.In other words, Xiao Dage and his tens of thousands of elite Jingzhou Army, as well as all the tribal armies, are the most loyal officials in the frontier except for the Palace Guard Army and the Pishi Army. The most powerful foreign aid outside.

The Pishi army has a total of 30 people. Nearly 2 people died in the domestic rebellion in the past three months. A few days ago, Xiao Chuo just received news that nearly [-] people died in the attack on Zhenxi Fort and Zhenbei Fort for more than half a month. , and failed to step into the two small military forts.You must know that there is only one army of Xiangfu Kingdom with [-] people in each military fort.

Let’s talk about the matter of Xijing Road and Wuzhou. The Liao Kingdom has not allowed foreign enemies to invade for more than 20 years. Now the foreign enemies have invaded the country and wiped out more than ten tribes in Wuzhou. The losses of these tribes are actually nothing to the Liao Kingdom. , but the significance of this matter is really not trivial. It has a great influence on the majesty of the Liao court and Xiao Chuo's prestige, which is really incalculable.

Xiao Chuo knew very well that the news of these two events could have been hidden from ordinary people, but not from the chiefs and elders of various tribes, as well as all civil and military officials across the country. Tribes, as well as vassal states and affiliated large tribes of foreign races, may have been troubled these days.

Now if Xiao Dage and his [-] army are completely wiped out, it will undoubtedly make things worse, or it will definitely break this balance.It is conceivable that after the news spreads, there will inevitably be chaos.Now the only thing that makes Xiao Chuo feel at ease is that the royal family of Yelu who can threaten her son's throne is almost extinct except for Yelu Hanye and Yelulu. Otherwise, the chaos will probably directly threaten the throne of her mother and son. If you are not careful, you will end up irreversible.

After all, Xiao Chuo is not an ordinary person. His determination and intelligence are rare in the world. He quickly suppressed his anger and worries, and began to analyze the pros and cons, as well as what to do next, in order to stabilize the court situation as much as possible and let the Those who have different intentions dare not act rashly, or they can quickly quell the chaos after the turmoil.

These thoughts flashed through Xiao Chuo's mind quickly, Xiao Chuo always had a majestic face, and kept his face calm, which reassured Xiao Chuo's confidants who were originally panic-stricken and worried.

After further asking the three messengers about some things, he asked the three of them to go down to rest. Xiao Chuo took a deep breath and said: "The thing has already happened, no matter who is responsible or where the fault is, wait until the time ahead is over. Let’s talk about the crisis. The most urgent task is where to send troops to meet Xiao Dage.”

Having said that, Xiao Chuo glanced over the ministers and found that no one stood up to speak.She knew that the situation in front of her would involve the mobilization of troops, and no one would know the outcome afterwards. She was too sensitive. If she said something wrong, she might be killed afterwards, even if it was her confidants or their direct descendants of the Xiao family. The ministers didn't dare to say more.

Xiao Chuo instantly understood the concern of the ministers, sighed, and continued: "The [-] Palace Guards and the [-] Pishi Army in Shangjing are naturally immobilized. The Jingzhou Army wants to frighten the tribes. Don't dare to act rashly. The Xiangfu Kingdom's [-] troops in Wuzhou went deep alone. Although they attacked more than a dozen small and medium-sized tribes, their own losses must not be small, and they will retreat soon. Don't worry about it. Wait for our Liao Kingdom to get through the immediate crisis , the future will be long, and I will seek revenge from Xiangfu Kingdom."

"Therefore, urgently order the armies of all tribes in Wuzhou not to return to aid their own tribes, and tell them that after the war, all tribes will compensate for the loss of their own palaces. Let them contain Xiangfu Kingdom Li Guangshun and Zhe Yuxun in Fuzhou and Jinsu areas of Xiangfu Kingdom Ministry."

"Just relying on the tribal army is far from enough. The one who can really rescue Xiao Dage is Brother Yeluxiu. According to Haidongqing's decree from the palace, I urgently ordered Brother Yeluxiu to stay in Zhenxi Fort and Zhenbei Fort respectively. An army of [-] to [-] guarded the Qinglong and Suzaku legions, as well as the rebel headquarters. Brother Yeluxiu led the rest of the army to Jinsu and Ningbian, entered Fuzhou, and rescued Xiao Dage's troops."

The Empress Dowager Xiao finished speaking in one breath, and the corresponding servants and courtiers had already bowed to take orders, and they were about to go through the process. At this moment, Xiao Chuo's uncle Xiao Chengmu, who took over the position of Xiao Chuo's father Xiao Chengtian and became the new King of the North Court, came out and said: " Wait a minute, ma'am! Brother Yeluxiu's troops have been fighting continuously for more than four months since the beginning of the Yelu Hanye and Yelulu rebellion, and they are exhausted, and now they have run into walls again and again in Zhenxi Fort and Zhenbei Fort. It is conceivable that the morale must be extremely high Low, if they are sent to rush six or seven hundred miles to rescue Xiao Dage through Fuzhou, I fear that this is Ye Chen's poisonous plan. If Brother Yeluxiu leads the palace guards deep into Fuzhou, not only will Xiao Dage If all the troops cannot be rescued, the soldiers will be lost instead, and the consequences will be disastrous."

When Empress Dowager Xiao heard this, her expression changed slightly. She only thought about saving Xiao Dage's troops just now, but she didn't consider the morale, spirit, and physical strength of Brother Yeluxiu's troops.If it is true as what her father Xiao Tiancheng said, if the main force of Yeluxiu's leather army is seriously damaged, it will really shake the dominance of their mother and son, and even their own safety.

There was a dead silence in the hall, and a needle could be heard, and everyone was waiting for Empress Dowager Xiao to make a final decision.After an unknown amount of time, Empress Dowager Xiao let out a long sigh, and a flash of determination flashed in Danfeng's eyes, and she said: "Then, Xiao Dage's troops and Shi Fat can only rely on themselves and the Wuzhou tribal army.

Xiao Tiancheng and other officials could not help but let out a long breath.

...

...

Another day the sun is rising.

In Hekou County, smoke was rising from the stove, and it was busy. Officers and soldiers lined up to wait for food. Compared with most of the Liao army outside the city, they ate dry food, chewed dried meat, and drank ice and snow water. Three meals a day, hot soup, and hot water never stopped.

According to the habits of the past few days, it won't take long for the Liao army to swarm like soldiers and ants, and start another day of fierce battle.

The sun had already risen to a pole high, and there was still no movement in Xiao Dage's camp in the distance, but there was faintly visible cooking smoke everywhere in the camp, and battle flags were flying, but no one was walking around, let alone fighting in formation.

Ye Chen, who just got up, came to the top of the city, stood on a high place, and watched for a long time. He saw that there was still no movement in the camp. After observing carefully for a while with his abnormal eyesight, he finally found something wrong. The Liao army may have retreated in the dark, but it may also be a trap to lure the defenders out of the city to ambush, so Ye Chen immediately asked Hu Sanguang to send a few scouts to approach boldly.

Although he was a scout, he couldn't even talk about hiding his tracks at this time, he just walked over directly. If a burst of arrows shot from the opponent's camp, it would be a miracle if he could escape.These scouts stopped and went, dawdling, and constantly probing, but there was no movement in the other camp. When they walked directly into the camp of the other party with trepidation, they found that there was no one in the camp, not a single horse. , is completely an empty camp.

Sure enough, the Liao army fled overnight and disappeared.

Several scouts walked around the camp in disbelief for a long time, convinced that there was absolutely no soldier in the camp, and then hurriedly returned to Hekou County to report to Ye Chen.

After Ye Chen heard this, his eyes flickered with murderous intent, and he muttered to himself, "Can you guys escape?"

Not to mention that when the Liao army retreated quietly at night, the special team and the twelve-hour spies arranged by Huang Dongqiu to watch for twelve hours discovered it immediately, and led people to follow it.Besides, no matter how Xiao Dage and Shi Fat lead the Liao army to toss, they are hanging alone, without reinforcements, without food and grass supplies. As long as they hold the Daxia Pass, they are choking their throats. If they want to escape, they have to break through. Fuzhou is fine, but how is it possible to break through Fuzhou?

...

...

More and more people in Hekou County learned about the movements of the Liao army.The cheers rose gradually, unstoppable.Spread throughout the city walls, spread throughout the city.

"Withdraw, withdraw! Liaogou withdraw!"

"The Liao dog was beaten away by His Majesty!"

Above and below the city, officers, soldiers and common people were all cheering.Whether they are high-ranking officials or ordinary people, whether they are Han or ethnic minorities, they are all ecstatic.

Tens of thousands of Liao troops besieged the city, although it only took four and a half days, but the pressure of preparing to defend against the enemy was like a cloud hanging over everyone's heads.Now that the clouds are clearing and the fog is clearing, how can we not be ecstatic.

However, compared to the louder and louder cheers from the soldiers and civilians in the city, Ye Chen's expression did not change at all, his eyebrows were gradually raised instead, and the civil and military officials around him also gradually cooled down due to His Majesty's calm expression.

"Don't celebrate too early. As long as the Liao thieves still have a soldier and a soldier staying in Yinzhou and in our Xiangfu country, it's not the time to cheer for victory." Ye Chen poured a basin of ice water on everyone's heads in a low voice. First, "Whether the Liao bandits have gone to Daxia Pass, or to other places, whether they are united in one place, or still divided, these things must be found out as soon as possible, Hu Sanguang! I must keep abreast of the movements of the various departments of the Liao army."

(End of this chapter)