The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 324 The War of National Destiny: The Northern Expedition! The Northern Expedition!

In February, the cold wind in Xingqing Prefecture had not completely dissipated, but it had lost some of its biting chill, and there was a faint hint of warmth in the air.

This former capital of the Western Xia Dynasty has now become the core of the Northern Frontier's control over Hexi, and the imperial palace exudes a suffocating sense of majesty.

On both sides of the main hall, the northern border generals, dressed in cotton armor of various colors, had solemn faces and exuded a fierce aura.

Li Xiao, dressed in a dark gold dragon-patterned cotton robe, sat imposingly on the dragon throne that originally belonged to the Western Xia emperor, his gaze sweeping across the front of the hall with amusement.

Standing there was a middle-aged man dressed in the scarlet official robes of the Xia Kingdom. He was Liang Cheng, the newly appointed Minister of Rites and the leader of the Xia Kingdom delegation sent by Li Anquan.

The Minister of Rites of Xia State has been replaced three times in just six months, and the man in front of him, Liang Cheng, is a close confidant of Li Anquan.

Feeling the oppressive atmosphere in the hall, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he dared not slacken in the slightest. Following diplomatic procedures, he held the letter of state in both hands and entered the hall.

"Liang Cheng, Minister of Rites of the Great Xia Kingdom, pays his respects to the Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier."

Liang Cheng's voice carried a deliberate respect, mixed with a hint of barely perceptible tension.

He held the official letter high above his head and had it presented to Li Xiao by his personal guards. Then he bowed and slowly began to report the main points of the letter: "The former Emperor Tianqing (Li Chunyou) of the Great Xia Dynasty has been feeling unwell lately and is exhausted. He is no longer able to manage state affairs."

"To ensure the stability of the Great Xia Dynasty, Emperor Tianqing issued an edict of abdication, passing the throne to Prince Zhenyi, and requesting to live out his remaining years as the Retired Emperor."

"After the new emperor ascended the throne, he changed the era name to 'Yingtian', which means to follow the will of Heaven and the people and to revitalize the Great Xia Dynasty."

"I, the Emperor of Yingtian, am well aware of the formidable military might of the Northern Frontier. I also remember that although our two countries have fought in the past, we should not allow our people to suffer again. Therefore, I wish to follow the wishes of the Retired Emperor and establish a brotherly alliance with the Northern Frontier. From now on, we will not invade each other and will jointly protect the peace of our borders."

Liang Cheng swallowed hard, secretly glancing at Li Xiao. Seeing that the other's expression remained unchanged, he continued, "To show our sincerity, our Great Xia is willing to pay annual tribute to the Northern Frontier."

"This time, your humble servant brings ten thousand taels of gold, dozens of boxes of jewelry, and five hundred bolts of silk and satin as a token of my appreciation."

"In addition, His Majesty knows that the Grand Protector needs someone to take care of him, so he specially selected twenty beautiful women to send over."

Li Xiao took the letter of state, casually flipped through it, glanced at it, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Among those twenty beauties, one was rather special: Consort Wang, Li Chunyou's most beloved concubine.

When Li Anquan last met Li Xiao in this hall, he was asked about the appearance of Li Chunyou's Consort Wang.

Now that Li Anquan has just deposed Li Chunyou, he is eager to send this Consort Wang to Li Xiao, simply to please him and stabilize the northern border.

When the newly enthroned emperor of Western Xia convened his confidants after the coup, his primary concern was "how to establish the Xia state."

Caught between the northern frontier and the Jin Dynasty, the Xia Kingdom had long since become a tiny, insignificant country. Its only chance of survival was to provoke a war between the Jin and the northern frontier, thus profiting from the chaos and playing both sides.

This humble and ingratiating stance is merely a delaying tactic, an attempt to buy the Xia Kingdom some breathing time.

But what Li Xiao wanted was never a subjugated Western Xia, but to completely incorporate Western Xia into the northern border territory.

As early as three days after the coup in Xiping Prefecture, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already sent the news back to Xingqing Prefecture.

The imprisoned Li Chunyou and his son lived a miserable life in Xiping Prefecture. They suffered from food shortages and were often abused, with the possibility of sudden death at any time.

Li Xiao didn't care about any of that; what he cared about was Li Anquan's coup, which gave him the perfect excuse to take over Western Xia.

"Li Chunyou is unwell? He's passing the leadership to Li Anquan?"

Li Xiao threw the official letter on the table, his voice suddenly turning cold, "Damn it! This is clearly rebellion!"

The hall fell silent instantly. Liang Cheng trembled with fear and hurriedly protested, "Grand Protector, please calm your anger. The Emperor of Great Xia is..."

"shut up!"

Li Xiao interrupted him sharply, his gaze like a knife sweeping over everyone in the hall: "The proper order of ruler and subject, father and son, is an unchanging principle since ancient times."

“Li Anquan, as a subject, deposed the monarch and declared himself emperor, which is a heinous crime.”

"Although my Northern Frontier and Li Chunyou are enemies, we are fighting a fair and square national war and would never stoop to such despicable means."

He paused, his tone tinged with sarcasm: "Moreover, Li Chunyou's daughter, Princess Lingyang, is now a concubine of this capital."

"In terms of seniority, Li Anquan is still Princess Lingyang's uncle, yet he has committed such a heinous act of plotting to usurp the throne. He is simply audacious and has the ambition of a wolf."

Liang Cheng's back was soaked with cold sweat.

He did not expect that Li Xiao would not only reject Xia Kingdom's overtures, but would also question Li Anquan's claim to the throne.

"Go back and tell Li Anquan."

Li Xiao's voice carried an unquestionable authority: "The gold, silver, jewels, and beauties he sent, my Northern Frontier has accepted, but my Northern Frontier will never recognize him as the 'Emperor of Yingtian'."

"roll."

Liang Cheng tried to explain, but was forcibly thrown out of the main hall by the Wuwei Army.

Then, Li Xiao glanced at the generals in the hall and said indifferently, "Go back and prepare."

"After the start of spring~"

"Destroy Xia!"

"As ordered."

The northern border generals inside the hall roared, their eyes filled with fighting spirit.

This time, let the iron cavalry of the northern frontier completely end the history of Western Xia.

……

The twenty beauties sent by Li Anquan were arranged to stay in Qiushui Palace.

Standing by the window, Wang looked at the familiar scene, her heart filled with melancholy. This was once her residence in Xingqing Prefecture. Now, returning to her old home, everything had changed.

The chaos of six months ago was still vivid in her mind: the Northern Frontier Army broke through Keyi Gate and trampled towards Xingqing Prefecture. She fled to Xiping Prefecture with the Empress Dowager, the Empress and others, living in fear all the way, always afraid that the Northern Frontier Army would come after them.

However, before they could even rejoice at the news of the ceasefire with the northern frontier, Xiping Prefecture descended into chaos.

The Empress Dowager, in alliance with Li Anquan, "removed corrupt officials from the emperor's inner circle," with the intention of supporting the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne.

Unexpectedly, Li Anquan, who held military power, turned the tables on the Empress Dowager, imprisoning Li Chunyou and the Crown Prince together, and then ascended the throne himself, changing the era name to "Yingtian".

At that time, Lady Wang was imprisoned together with the Empress, Li Chunyou, and others.

She thought she would either be imprisoned to death, secretly eliminated by Li Anquan, or taken away and defiled by Li Anquan.

But fate had other plans. Just when she thought her life was going to end in darkness, Li Anquan's men suddenly brought her out.

"His Majesty intends to present you to Li Xiao, the Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier. You must serve him well and not disgrace the Great Xia."

She would never forget the look on Li Chunyou's face when he heard the news. The once gentle emperor was now screaming like a madman in his prison cell, but the soldiers held him down and he could only watch helplessly as she was taken away.

Wang cried all the way, feeling as if her fate was like a floating duckweed, swept along by the storms of a chaotic world, with no control over her own destiny.

After going around in circles, they ended up back in Xingqing Prefecture, back in this imperial palace.

But the man she would have to serve from then on was her enemy who wanted to destroy her homeland.

"Madam Wang, the Grand Protector orders you to serve him tonight. Come with us."

Two female servants from the northern frontier entered, their tone slightly respectful, yet leaving no room for refusal.

Wang trembled, and the sorrow in her eyes deepened.

After all, it should come.

Countless women in the world have suffered the loss of their country and their homes, but very few have truly been able to abandon everything and take their enemies down with them.

It is human nature to be afraid of death and cling to life. She did not have the courage to give up her life, so she could only submit.

"I see."

Wang responded softly, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly.

The servants quickly helped her wash and dress in a plain, moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), without much decoration.

After everything was ready, Lady Wang was led through the long palace corridor to Li Xiao's bedroom.

Time seemed to drag on endlessly, and Wang Shi grew increasingly nervous. She didn't know how much time had passed when she heard a creak as the palace door was pushed open, and Li Xiao, having finished his official duties, walked in.

He took off his dark gold dragon-patterned cotton robe and handed it to the maid, wearing only a black undershirt, which made his figure appear even more upright.

Wang subconsciously looked up and, by the candlelight, saw the legendary Northern Frontier Protector-General for the first time.

He was younger than she had imagined, appearing to be only twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and a faint smile on his lips.

Yet her aura was extremely intimidating, a majesty cultivated only through years of fighting on the battlefield and wielding the power of life and death, causing her to subconsciously hold her breath.

Li Xiao walked to the table and sat down, his gaze falling on Wang Shi, his tone indifferent: "You are Consort Wang of Li Chunyou?"

Wang's heart tightened, and she quickly bowed, her voice tinged with timidity: "This sinful woman, Wang, pays her respects to the Grand Protector."

She dared not refer to herself as "your humble servant" or "former concubine," and could only refer to herself as "a sinful woman," thus adopting an extremely humble posture.

Li Xiao looked at her slightly trembling shoulders and chuckled lightly: "Li Anquan certainly knows how to handle people. Sending a beauty like you here, do you think he can make the capital show him mercy?"

Wang's body stiffened, and she quickly shook her head: "This sinful woman...this sinful woman does not know."

"How the Grand Protector deals with the criminal woman is entirely up to the Grand Protector."

She knew that any explanation would be futile in front of Li Xiao, and she could only obey.

"I've heard you're a famous talented woman in the Xia Kingdom, proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The night is long, why don't you play a tune for me?" Li Xiao said casually, seemingly in no hurry to get to the point.

Wang was stunned, her eyes filled with surprise—she had thought that Li Xiao had summoned her for matters of love and sex, and she was already prepared to submit, but she did not expect that he only wanted to listen to music.

But then I thought, once the piece is finished, what's meant to happen will happen.

Suppressing the complex emotions in her heart, she bowed and replied, "This sinful woman obeys."

Wang Shi sat down next to the guqin in the corner of the hall, took a deep breath, and gently plucked the strings with her fingertips.

The clear and melodious sound of the zither flowed slowly, and it was a folk song called "Helan Snow" that was popular in the Western Xia Dynasty. The melody was desolate and far-reaching, and it carried a bit of longing for the homeland.

Li Xiao listened with his eyes closed for a moment, then suddenly said, "【Helan Xue】is too disappointing and doesn't fit the mood. Let's change to 【Guangling San】."

Wang's fingertips suddenly paused, and the strings produced a wrong note.

She looked up at Li Xiao, her eyes filled with disbelief.

She had initially thought Li Xiao was just a crude northern warrior who only knew how to fight and kill, but she never expected him to have such a deep understanding of music.

It was astonishing that it would listen to me play "Helan Snow" and even specifically requested to hear "Guangling San," an ancient melody from the Central Plains.

This unexpected turn of events inexplicably made her feel a slight fondness for Li Xiao, realizing that the man before her was more complex than she had imagined.

After regaining her composure, Wang readjusted her fingering, and the stirring music began, sometimes like the clash of swords and the mournful cry of a lone crane.

Li Xiao listened attentively, occasionally offering a few comments: "If the fingering here were a little slower, it would better convey the tragic sentiment."

Following her instructions, Wang adjusted her clothes, and her admiration for Li Xiao grew even stronger.

During this process, Li Xiao would occasionally chat with Wang Shi.

I learned that his real name was Wang Lan, and that his ancestors were Song people who were captured by the Tanguts.

He then inquired about some matters in Xiping Prefecture, actually gathering intelligence discreetly.

Not long after, seeing that Wang Lan was getting tired of playing the zither, Li Xiao waved for the servants in the hall to leave, preparing to let her switch to playing the xiao (vertical flute).

Wang Lan's body stiffened abruptly, her face turning deathly pale as fear surged within her once more. Beauty is a curse; in chaotic times, beautiful women ultimately cannot escape the fate of being treated as playthings.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Lan mustered her courage, looked up at Li Xiao, her voice trembling slightly but unusually firm.

"The Grand Protector is an extraordinary man in this world. He is both a man of great talent and ambition and also understands the elegance and refinement of music. I, the sinful woman, am willing to be the Grand Protector's woman."

"But this sinner has one condition, and I beg the Grand Protector to grant it."

"Ok?"

Li Xiao's gaze instantly turned cold, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes. He hated women who didn't know their place, especially those who made demands in front of him.

Do they really think they're something that can be served at the table?
Under Li Xiao's piercing gaze, Wang Lan's face turned pale, but she still stubbornly raised her head and said.

“Li Anquan usurped the throne, imprisoned his former master, and harmed my country. I, a sinful woman, only beg the Grand Protector to send troops to Xiping Prefecture and not let him go.”

Li Xiao said expressionlessly, "I hate women interfering in important court affairs the most, and I especially dislike women making demands of me."

Except for Xiao Yanyan.

"How dare you women interfere in matters of national importance?"

Li Xiao's voice turned serious, carrying a reprimanding tone: "Is this how Li Chunyou taught you? To let a mere woman in the harem dare to interfere in the affairs of the court and the military?"

Should Li Xiao be ordered to send troops to attack Xiping Prefecture? And to kill Li Anquan?
Anyone who didn't know better would think that the Xia army had set up an ambush to lure the Northern Frontier army into a trap!

However, the Xia army ultimately lacked the strength, and the main force of the Jin army was also stationed on the border of the Song state.

Li Xiao knew that this was just because Wang Lan hated Li Anquan, and she might not actually have any bad intentions.

However, the necessary reprimands are still necessary.

After reprimanding him, Li Xiao changed the subject and said, "I can agree to anything you ask."

"The Northern Frontier Army will soon launch an eastern expedition. After capturing Xiping Prefecture, they will certainly not spare Li Anquan."

"As for Li Chunyou and his son, if they survive, we will naturally treat them well and not let them suffer any more abuse."

Hearing this, Wang Lan finally felt relieved, tears welling up in her eyes. She bowed deeply to Li Xiao and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Great Protector!"

She finally fulfilled a long-cherished wish.

Slowly standing up, Wang Lan reached out and removed her moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), leaving only her close-fitting bodice. She then walked to the bedside, gently lay down, and closed her eyes.

The hall was plunged into darkness.

In March, Xingqing Prefecture is gradually becoming warmer.

Li Xiao was processing official documents in his study when he saw a maid from Li Lingyang's palace carrying a tray enter, her expression showing a mixture of joy and respect.

"Great Protector, I have something important to report."

"Your Majesty has not had your period for over a month. This morning, we asked a doctor to take your pulse, and the doctor said... that Your Majesty is pregnant!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao paused in his vermilion brush, a faint smile appearing on his face: "Understood."

He was no longer the new father he once was. With children like Jin Dao and Chang Gong born one after another, he no longer felt the initial surprise and tension upon learning of his offspring. Instead, he felt a sense of calm contentment.

Since the Battle of Xingqing Prefecture, Li Xiao has spent most of his time in this former capital of Western Xia, occasionally going to Gansu to inspect people's livelihood and military affairs.

For the past six months, besides Li Lingyang, only a group of concubines, including Lady Lü and Lady Helan, have been by his side.

With such frequent interaction, the chances of "hitting the target" naturally increase significantly.

In fact, Li Lingyang was not the first to become pregnant; half a month earlier, Lu Shi had already been found to be pregnant.

"Prepare some delicious meals for Lingyang every day, and send her some nourishing ingredients. Make sure to take good care of her and that nothing goes wrong," Li Xiao instructed the servant.
"Also~"

Li Xiao added, "You have all worked hard serving in Lingyang Palace, so each of you will be rewarded with five silver coins."

That is, the original five taels of silver.

Upon hearing this, the maid was overjoyed: "Thank you for your kindness, Great Protector! I will certainly take good care of your master!"

After the servant left, Li Xiao put down his vermilion brush and picked up a secret report from the corner of the desk. This was the latest intelligence that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had just sent from Xiping Prefecture.

"The young prince drowned in the pond in the palace. The retired emperor Li Chunyou was so grief-stricken that he fell ill and died."

"I know how to choose the right time."

Li Xiao muttered to himself, his fingertips lightly tapping the table.

“The news came as soon as Lingyang found out she was pregnant.”

He knew without a doubt that the so-called "drowning death" and "death from a serious illness" were all Li Anquan's doing.

"Li Anquan, you really are a good dog of this capital."

Li Xiao picked up a tinderbox, lit a corner of the secret report, and watched the paper gradually turn to ashes in the flames: "It helped me solve my troubles, saving me a lot of trouble."

He then ordered all those in the know to refrain from leaking the information, lest Li Lingyang suffer from excessive grief and harm her health.

After finishing his official business, Li Xiao got up and headed to Li Lingyang's palace.

The hall was warm and inviting. Li Lingyang was leaning against a soft couch, her hand gently resting on her lower abdomen, her eyes filled with a tender smile.

"How are you feeling today? Is there anything that's bothering you?" Li Xiao asked gently.

"Thank you for your concern, Great Protector. I am perfectly fine." Li Lingyang's face was full of shyness.

"It's good that you're alright. Just let me know if you need anything." Li Xiao nodded, giving Li Lingyang a chance to speak, which could be considered a reward for her pregnancy.

Li Lingyang thought for a moment, then hesitated before speaking: "Your Majesty, I would like to request the Grand Protector to send someone to Xiping Prefecture to bring Father Emperor, Crown Prince, and Mother back to Xingqing Prefecture."

Li Lingyang's voice carried a hint of pleading, "Now that I am pregnant, I miss my family even more and wish they could see the child in my womb."

Li Lingyang already knew that Li Anquan had usurped the throne, and that it would be dangerous for his parents and younger brother to remain in Xiping Prefecture.

They wanted to use the power of the northern frontier to rescue them.

Li Xiao looked helpless and gently patted the back of her hand: "Lingyang, it's not that I didn't want to help you."

"As you know, your father and brother are crucial to the foundation of the Xia Kingdom. Li Anquan has only recently ascended the throne and will never let them leave easily—this would be jeopardizing his power. How could he possibly agree to that?"

Seeing tears welling up in Li Lingyang's eyes, Li Xiao added, "But don't be too sad, there's still some hope for your mother."

"Li Anquan is not very useful to keep her around, but perhaps he can find a way to bring her back."

"As for your father and brother, rest assured, I will soon send troops to attack Xiping Prefecture. I will definitely be able to rescue them and reunite your family. I will treat them well."

He did not reveal the truth about the deaths of Li Chunyou and his son. Li Lingyang was newly pregnant and her emotions were already unstable. If she learned of the tragic deaths of her relatives, it might affect the pregnancy, which was not what he wanted to see.

Upon hearing this, hope rekindled in Li Lingyang's eyes. She leaned on Li Xiao's shoulder and whispered, "Thank you, Grand Protector. I believe in you."

Li Xiao chatted with Li Lingyang for a long time until she gradually fell asleep, then he quietly got up and left.

Now that Li Lingyang is pregnant, she is naturally unable to serve him in bed. After a moment's thought, he walked toward the side hall where Wang Lan lived.

Wang Lan had already finished washing up. When she saw Li Xiao come in, she quickly stood up and bowed, her eyes showing a hint of submissiveness.

Without saying much, Li Xiao once again transformed into a master of blocking shots, launching a frenzied attack.

……

In the second year of the Kai Xi era of the Southern Song Dynasty, in March, it was already late spring in Lin'an City.

Inside the Daqing Hall of the Imperial City, there was no trace of the leisurely spring day. Civil and military officials lined up on both sides according to their rank, solemnly gazing at Emperor Ningzong of Song, Zhao Kuo, on the throne.

Below the throne, Grand Tutor Han Tuozhou, dressed in a purple python robe and holding an ivory tablet, swept his sharp gaze across the hall.

Today's court assembly will definitively decide the launch of the Northern Expedition against the Jin Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, the Jin Kingdom is currently preoccupied with the war against the Western Xia in the north and is experiencing frequent food shortages. This is the perfect opportunity for our Great Song Dynasty to recover the Central Plains and wipe away the humiliation of Jingkang."

Han Tuozhou stepped forward, his voice booming so loudly that the beams and pillars in the hall creaked slightly: "Your Majesty, I request that you issue an edict to immediately declare war on the Jin and march north!"

Emperor Ningzong of Song tightened his grip on the armrest of the dragon throne slightly, his eyes filled with excitement and hesitation.

Having reigned for many years, he had always aspired to recover the Central Plains. Now, the "Report on the True and Falsehoods of the Jin State" presented by Han Tuozhou detailed the news that the main force of the Jin army was tied down along the Yellow River in the northern frontier and that grain prices in Guanzhong were soaring, which gave him hope for a northern expedition.

However, he also knew that the Song state had not fought a major war for many years, and the strength of its army was still unknown.

"The Grand Tutor is absolutely right."

Minister of War Xue Shusi stepped forward and echoed, "I have already checked the military registers. The Imperial Guards in Jiangnan and the Imperial Army in Huaixi and Huaidong together have a total strength of 170,000. If we also recruit local garrison troops, the total strength can reach 200,000, which is enough to fight the Jin army!"

"No!"

The old minister Shi Miyuan quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, although the Jin Kingdom is in a predicament, it still has hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry. Our army has not been in battle for many years. If we rashly launch a northern expedition, we may suffer a great defeat."

The Song Dynasty prepared for this northern expedition for three years.

The final order to launch the Northern Expedition was about to be issued, but there were still many pro-peace factions in the court who advocated against it, with Shi Miyuan being a representative of them.

"Lord Shi, you are mistaken!"

Han Tuozhou retorted, "Our Great Song Dynasty has veteran generals like Xin Qiji and Lu You in command, as well as promising new generals like Wu Xi and Guo Ni. What do we have to fear from the Jin army?"

"Moreover, the Northern Frontier Cavalry has already dealt a heavy blow to Western Xia and tied down the Jin army's western forces. This is a golden opportunity that we cannot afford to miss."

After a moment of silence, Emperor Ningzong of Song finally made up his mind and said in a deep voice, "My mind is made up. I will choose a day to declare war on the Jin and start the Northern Expedition."

"The matter of the campaign will be entrusted to Prime Minister Han for overall planning."

Seeing that Emperor Ningzong of Song had finally made up his mind to launch a northern expedition, the pro-peace faction was filled with disappointment, as if the Song Dynasty was about to perish.

Han Tuozhou and other pro-war figures were extremely excited.

If he could defeat the Jin army and recover the Central Plains, Han Tuozhou would surpass Yue Fei and others, becoming a key minister in the restoration of the Song Dynasty and leaving a lasting mark on history.

Next, Han Tuozhou introduced his battle plan to Emperor Ningzong of Song, pointing to the markings on the map.

"The Northern Expedition was divided into three routes: the eastern route was led by Guo Ni as the commander-in-chief, with 80,000 troops departing from Yangzhou, mainly attacking Sizhou and Suzhou, with the goal of directly targeting the Jin state's Nanjing Kaifeng Prefecture."

"The central route is led by Huangfu Bin, the Northwest Route Pacification Commissioner, who will lead an army of 50,000 from Luzhou to attack Shouchun and Haozhou, in support of the Eastern Route Army."

"The western route was led by Wu Xi, the deputy envoy of Sichuan, who commanded 60,000 troops from Xingzhou to attack Qinzhou and Gongzhou and recover the lost territories in Shaanxi."

In addition~

Han Tuozhou added: "I have ordered Ye Shi, the military commissioner along the Yangtze River, to reorganize the navy and transfer 300 warships from Ezhou and Chizhou to guard the Yangtze River and prevent the Jin army from advancing south by water."

He also ordered the Fujian, Hunan, and Jiangxi circuits to recruit local militia as reserve forces, ready to support the front lines at any time.

The ministers nodded in agreement. Although some veteran ministers still had doubts, they dared not openly oppose it anymore.

Looking at the arrangements in the hall, Emperor Ningzong of Song was filled with anticipation. He announced in a loud voice, "Issue my decree: a grand oath-taking ceremony will be held on the first day of the fourth month to officially launch the northern expedition."

"I hereby swear that I will recover the Central Plains, welcome back the coffins of the two Holy Spirits, and restore the land of my Great Song Dynasty."

"Long live your majesty!"

All the civil and military officials knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

This Northern Expedition, which would determine the fate of the Song Dynasty, officially began.

(End of this chapter)