The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 337 100,000 Guanzhong troops launch a northern expedition, luring the enemy out of their hole.
The city of Chang'an was shrouded in continuous rain. Inside the study of the Marshal's Mansion, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Wanyan Gang's solemn face.

He held the imperial edict from Zhongdu in his hands, the words "Choose an opportune time to march north, subdue the entire Guanzhong region, and drive the Northern Frontier Army back to the Hetao region" weighing heavily on his heart.

The sound of rain pattering against the windowpane added to the oppressive atmosphere.

Wanyan Gang put down the imperial edict, walked to the map, and glanced at the Guanzhong region marked in red and black.

Red represents Chang'an, Weinan, Qinzhou and other places controlled by the Jin army, while black represents Xianyang, Qingyang and other cities occupied by the Northern Frontier Army.

He took a deep breath, calculating his troop strength: there were 30,000 elite soldiers in Chang'an, more than 30,000 militiamen organized by gentry, plus the 30,000 elite troops under Jiagushaning who were about to arrive, and by gathering the scattered troops from Weinan and other places, he could gather a total of 100,000 troops.

On the other hand, according to the news brought by the scouts, the main force of the Northern Frontier Army in Guanzhong was only over 30,000 men, plus the Xia army's auxiliary troops and the grassland troops, totaling only 60,000.

“100,000 against 60,000… the advantage is in my hands,” Wanyan Gang muttered to himself.

But when he thought of the ferocity of the Northern Frontier Army in field battles, he couldn't help but frown.

The tragic scenes of Wanyan Heda and Wanyan Shouwang dying in battle, Tudanduoluo being captured, and the fall of Xianyang City are still vivid in my mind. That army in yellow armor was far from being an ordinary enemy force.

"We must proceed with caution and absolutely not fall into the trap set by the Northern Frontier Army."

As Wanyan Gang was pondering a strategy of holding firm and waiting for the situation to change, there was a sudden knock on the study door, and a personal guard rushed in to report: "Reporting to the commander-in-chief, there is urgent military intelligence from Weinan."

Wanyan Gang frowned and said in a deep voice, "Speak."

After unfolding the secret letter, the guard's eyes widened suddenly, and he said in a trembling voice:

"The Wei River... the Wei River dike has breached, and General Jiagu's reinforcements... have been submerged by the flood."

"What?" Wanyan Gang was struck dumb, his eyes wide open in disbelief.

He whirled around and strode forward: "Say it again! How much was lost? Where is Jia Gushaning?"

The guard hurriedly replied, "Reporting to the commander, the letter said that the flood came too suddenly, and it was before dawn, so the brothers didn't have time to react."

Fortunately, Jia Gushaning was experienced and managed to stabilize morale before the mutiny spread, even organizing the soldiers to retreat to higher ground...

Even so, thousands of Jin soldiers were killed or wounded in the infighting and trampling, most of their food supplies were soaked and rotted, and the remaining supplies could not last more than a few days. Many soldiers also contracted colds and dysentery.

Wanyan Gang slowly released his grip, staggered back two steps, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

He closed his eyes, and the image of the flood engulfing the military camp flashed through his mind.

If it weren't for Jia Gushaning's years of hard work and rigorous military discipline, as well as his quick reactions, these 30,000 elite troops would probably have been wiped out long ago.

"Thank goodness... thank goodness..."

Wanyan Gang murmured, his voice filled with lingering fear: "Fortunately, the heavy rains these past few days have made the Wei River swift, preventing the Northern Frontier Army's cavalry from crossing the river and launching a surprise attack. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

He then asked in a deep voice, "Where are the reinforcements right now?"

"General Jiagu has led his remaining troops to Weinan City to recuperate," the guard hurriedly replied.

Wanyan Gang's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was slightly relieved, but it was soon filled with anger again.

He slammed his hand on the table and said through gritted teeth, "It must be the people from the Northern Frontier who did this."

"These barbarians actually used such insidious methods to breach the dikes and flood the army; they are utterly treacherous!"

His heart was filled with anger, but his face grew increasingly grave: "The flood not only submerged the reinforcements, but the lower reaches of the Wei River south bank have likely become a floodplain..."

"The people are going to suffer from the disaster. More importantly, the autumn harvest is just two months away. This flood will definitely lead to a significant reduction in grain production."

One can imagine the scene of disaster victims scattered across the south bank of the Wei River.

Wanyan Gang's original plan was to rely on the strong defenses of Chang'an and the grain reserves in Guanzhong to wear down the northern frontier army.

The Northern Frontier Army, having marched a long distance, already faced difficulties in supplying provisions. When heavy snows blocked the roads in winter, they would inevitably withdraw on their own initiative. At that time, the Jin army could then march north to recover the lost territory, and victory would be assured.

But now, the flood has destroyed the reinforcements and submerged the farmland. The Jin army in Guanzhong will not be able to survive until winter, let alone autumn.

"That scoundrel Li Xiao is trying to force me into a decisive battle!" Wanyan Gang clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

"I will grant his wish."

The rain continued, but the atmosphere inside the Marshal's Mansion felt even colder than the gloomy rain outside the window.

Three days later, the rain that had shrouded Guanzhong for many days finally stopped, but the clear weather did not bring any relief to Chang'an. Instead, it made the situation even more tense.

The disastrous consequences of the Wei River's breach are spreading at an alarming rate.

Vast fields of farmland were submerged by the muddy floodwaters, and countless displaced people fled their homes, carrying the elderly and children with them.

In the past, when refugees flocked to Guanzhong, their first choice for escape was Hanzhong to the south. But now, a rumor that alarmed the Jin government was quietly circulating among the villages on the south bank of the Wei River.

"The people of the Northern Frontier are distributing land to the people of Xia Kingdom!" A sallow-faced, emaciated old farmer squatted by the roadside and said in a low voice to the refugees beside him.

"We don't have to pay rent to landlords. We can rent land directly from the government. Each household only needs to pay 40% rent, and there are no other exorbitant taxes. We can save 60% of our grain. It's much better than here."

"real or fake?"

The refugee next to him had a glimmer of hope, but then his eyes dimmed again: "Could the people from the Northern Frontier be lying? What if we go there and get captured and enslaved?"

“My cousin’s brother-in-law secretly went north a few days ago, and yesterday he sent someone back with a message saying it was all true.”

"People in northern Xinjiang not only provide land for us to cultivate, but also provide us with meals."

The old farmer's words moved more and more of the displaced people.

Fleeing to other places would only mean continuing to farm for landlords and pay exorbitant rents and taxes.

And this is already considered lucky; many refugees are no different from slaves, and some even starve to death in the local area.

In comparison, the treatment in northern Xinjiang is far better.

As a result, many people began to quietly move towards the north bank of the Wei River.

The news quickly reached Chang'an, and the Jin government was immediately thrown into a panic.

Wanyan Gang ordered notices to be posted throughout the city, sternly refuting the rumors: "The barbarians of the northern frontier have fabricated lies about dividing the land in order to deceive the people of our Great Jin. Anyone who goes to Lingzhou will be captured and enslaved, and their life and death will be out of their own hands."

"The Yongzhou Ding they unearthed is also a forgery. The real Nine Dings have long been treasured by our ancestors in Zhongdu. The Mandate of Heaven still belongs to the Great Jin. Do not believe the rumors."

At the same time, the Guanzhong army set up checkpoints along the Wei River to strictly inspect the passing migrants. Anyone found to have the intention to go north was immediately detained.

The government's tough measures did stop most of the refugees, but a small number of them still took advantage of the darkness to wade across the river from remote ferry crossings and head to the northern border control area.

August has arrived in the blink of an eye, and there is less than a month left until the autumn harvest.

On the north bank of the Wei River, crops are growing well, while on the south bank, large tracts of farmland have been submerged by floods, making reduced grain production inevitable.

To make matters worse, the government also had to use its grain reserves to provide relief to the displaced people, making the already strained grain reserves even more strained.

Inside the commander's mansion, Wanyan Gang looked at the grain situation report in his hand, his face so solemn it could drip water.

"Can't wait any longer."

Wanyan Gang slammed the report on the table, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Although the Northern Frontier Army is formidable in field battles, our Great Jin army is not to be trifled with either."

Back then, tens of thousands of Jurchen people were able to destroy the Liao Dynasty and the Northern Song Dynasty. The fighting power of the Jin army can still be considered one of the strongest on earth in that era.

Just as the Jin army was making preparations to send troops, an envoy from the northern frontier suddenly appeared outside Chang'an, requesting to meet with Wanyan Gang to discuss peace talks.

Inside the council hall of the commander's mansion, the envoy from the northern frontier, dressed in a blue robe, stood calmly in the hall, showing no fear as he faced the scrutiny of Wanyan Gang and the generals.

After Wanyan Gang took his seat, the envoy slowly began to state the terms of the peace talks: "Our Northern Frontier Army is willing to cease hostilities and make peace with the Jin Kingdom, with three conditions."

"First, the Jin Kingdom must hand over Li Anquan, the ruler of the Xia Kingdom, as well as more than a thousand remaining households of the Wanggu tribe."

"Secondly, pay the Northern Frontier Army five million strings of cash to compensate for the losses incurred in this battle."

"Thirdly, the two sides demarcated their borders, with the Wei River to the south, the Yellow River to the east, and the Jiehao River to the north, agreeing to be brotherly states and maintain friendly relations forever."

"From this point on, the Northern Frontier Army will never again plunder the Jin Kingdom without cause."

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Gang was filled with doubt. The Northern Frontier Army had always been powerful and had been advancing rapidly. Now, it was unusual for them to suddenly propose peace talks.

He stared sharply at the envoy and said coldly, "Your Northern Frontier Army has won several battles in a row, why do you suddenly want to talk about peace? Is there some kind of conspiracy?"

The envoy smiled faintly: "My Northern Frontier Army has never thought of being an enemy of the Jin Kingdom, much less a fight to the death with the Great Jin."

"The reason why this battle in Guanzhong broke out is because when my northern frontier attacked and captured Xiazhou, your country's army intervened without cause."

"The General of Fuyan Road even personally led a large army to invade our northern border, leaving us with no choice but to fight back."

"What I did was out of necessity."

"Now that the borders are clear, it is good for both sides to guard their own territory. As for the conditions, they are the biggest concessions our army has made. Please consider them carefully, General Wanyan."

"Consider?"

Before Wanyan Gang could speak, a general beside him roared, "You have killed tens of thousands of my Great Jin soldiers, and now you think you can settle the score and stop the war based on a mere misunderstanding?"

"Five million strings of cash in compensation? Demarcating borders? That's wishful thinking! How can our Great Jin Dynasty endure such humiliation?"

"That's right! These barbarians from the northern frontier dare to negotiate with my Great Jin? Once my army sends troops, we will annihilate you all!"

The Jin generals angrily cursed and shouted.

Wanyan Gang gestured for the generals to be quiet, then said coldly to the envoy, "Li Anquan is nothing but a useless piece of trash. It's fine to hand him over."

"But under other conditions, it's absolutely impossible!"

"If your Northern Frontier Army wants to fight, my Great Jin will fight to the end. If you want to negotiate peace, then show sufficient sincerity. Otherwise, don't mention it again!"

Seeing this, the envoy knew that further words would be of no use, so he cupped his hands and said, "Since General Wanyan is unwilling to accept, then I will report back to the Grand Protector."

"I hope the general will reconsider. If war breaks out again, the people of Guanzhong will likely suffer from the ravages of war once more."

"It's none of your business!"

A general stepped forward, grabbed the envoy by the collar, and shouted sternly, "Go back and tell Li Xiao to take those bastards from the Northern Frontier and get out of Guanzhong."

“If you dare to remain within the territory of my Great Jin, my Great Jin's iron cavalry will surely break your bones.”

With that, he ordered his men to drag the messenger out and throw him out of Chang'an.

Inside the council hall, Wanyan Gang looked at the indignant expressions of the generals, but still had doubts in his heart—did the Northern Frontier Army really want to end the war by taking the initiative to negotiate, or did they have other intentions?

A few days later, another envoy from the northern frontier appeared at the city gates.

Inside the council hall of the general's mansion, the new envoy made a slight concession on the peace terms: "My Grand Protector, mindful of the suffering of the people of Guanzhong, is willing to reduce the compensation amount to three million strings of cash, while the remaining terms regarding borders and the handover of people remain unchanged."

"I hope General Wanyan will prioritize the overall situation and not delay any longer."

Wanyan Gang sat upright in the main seat, lightly tapping the table with his fingers. His gaze swept over the generals below, and seeing their disdainful expressions, he calmly declined.

"The claim of three million strings of cash is still nonsense."

"How can the territory of our Great Jin be divided at will? If the Northern Frontier Army is truly willing to negotiate peace, it should withdraw from Guanzhong and return all the cities. Otherwise, there is no need to waste any more words."

The envoy's face darkened slightly, but he still patiently tried to persuade him for a few more minutes. In the end, seeing Wanyan Gang's resolute attitude, he could only leave dejectedly. Ten days later, the envoy from the Northern Frontier visited for the third time. This time, he had made significant concessions: "The compensation amount has been reduced to two million strings of cash, and our Northern Frontier Army can cede the cities of Xianyang, Jingyang, and Qianzhou."

"The two sides take the line of Qingyang and Fangzhou as the boundary."

"This is the last bit of sincerity from my Grand Protector. If he does not agree, there will be no possibility of further negotiations."

"Our iron cavalry from the northern frontier will surely cross the Wei River and capture Chang'an City."

"At that time, you will probably only become prisoners of my northern frontier."

These words immediately caused a subtle commotion in the council chamber.

All the generals knew that Xianyang and Jingyang were located in the heart of the Guanzhong Plain. Although their city defenses were decent, they were isolated cities.

If the Jin army wanted to cross the Wei River to attack, they could besiege the city at any time.

Qingyang and Fangzhou are located on the edge of the Loess Plateau, with steep mountains and treacherous terrain, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The Northern Frontier Army only needs to send a small number of troops to resist the northward advance of the Jin army in Guanzhong.

This concession, seemingly a compromise by the Northern Frontier Army, was actually an attempt to exchange a few easily attacked but difficult-to-defend isolated cities for a solid defensive line.

However, the losses suffered by the Northern Frontier Army were still enormous, because cities such as Xianyang and Jingyang represented the Guanzhong Plain north of the Wei River.

How could the people of northern Xinjiang be willing to give up such fertile land spanning hundreds of miles?

Seeing that the crowd's expressions were softening, the envoy's tone became even more forceful: "General Wanyan, this is the final negotiation."

"If your country still does not accept, my Northern Frontier Army will restart the war. At that time, the war in Guanzhong will break out again, and the people will be displaced. The consequences will be beyond what the general can bear."

Unexpectedly, no sooner had the envoy finished speaking than Wanyan Gang suddenly clapped his hands and burst into laughter, his laughter filled with smugness and mockery: "The final show of sincerity?"

"In my opinion, it's because you people of the Northern Frontier have nowhere else to turn that you're so eager to make peace!"

The generals below were all taken aback, and even the envoy from the Northern Frontier's expression changed drastically: "What do you mean by that, General? Our Northern Frontier army is strong and well-equipped, how can you say we have nowhere to turn?"

"Strong and well-equipped?"

Wanyan Gang abruptly stopped laughing, his eyes sharp as knives: "Do you really think I'll be fooled by your concessions?"

"The former Xia Kingdom troops in Lingzhou have rebelled, haven't they?"

Wanyan Gang felt something was amiss from the moment the northern border first came to negotiate peace.

The Northern Frontier Army has always been assertive, so why would it suddenly start negotiating, and even make concessions repeatedly?
So they sent people to investigate, and they eventually received some startling news.

A large number of rebel troops have gathered outside Xiping Prefecture. Li Zunxu, a member of the Xia royal family, is attacking and seizing territory under the banner of "restoring the Xia Kingdom".

Meanwhile, the main force of the Northern Frontier Army had all moved south to Guanzhong, leaving Lingzhou with a depleted military force, unable even to quell the rebellion, which had seriously affected the Northern Frontier Army's food and supplies supply in Guanzhong.

Wanyan Gang ordered his men to repeatedly confirm the news, and even secretly kidnapped a low-ranking officer of the Northern Frontier Army. After interrogating him, he learned that the news was true.

Although Li Xiao issued a gag order, the news still quietly spread among the officers.

Upon hearing Wanyan Gang's words, the Northern Frontier envoy's face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled as he tried to defend himself, but Wanyan Gang interrupted him.

"You don't need to make excuses. I have already sent people to confirm it repeatedly."

"You are now in a hurry to make peace only because you want to stabilize Guanzhong as soon as possible so that you can turn back to save your rear in Xiping Prefecture."

These words struck like a hammer blow, completely shattering the psychological defenses of the envoy from the northern frontier.

He staggered back two steps, his eyes filled with despair.

Upon seeing this, Wanyan Gang slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "These barbarians from the northern frontier dare to use fake peace talks to delay the time and try to deceive my Great Jin! Men, take him away for interrogation and make sure he reveals all the information!"

The guards immediately stepped forward and dragged the messenger away.

Before long, the personal guards reported that they had used every means possible, and the messenger had revealed that the news of the rebellion of the former Xia Kingdom troops in Xiping Prefecture was true.

Wanyan Gang sneered and said loudly to the generals below, "The people of the Northern Frontier have too big an appetite, trying to swallow the world whole. Now they have finally tasted the bitter fruit of their greed."

"With our backyard on fire and supplies running low, this is a golden opportunity for our Great Jin to launch a counterattack."

"Issue the order: prepare for war. In three days, we will launch a swearing-in ceremony to launch a northern expedition. We must drive the northern frontier army out of Guanzhong and recover all lost territories."

"Northern Expedition! Northern Expedition!"

The generals shouted in unison, their morale soaring to its peak. The frustration they had previously felt from being suppressed by the Northern Frontier Army was now transformed into a burning desire for revenge.

Three days later, the Jin army split into two groups and marched in a mighty force toward the Wei River.

The Eastern Route Army, led by Jia Gushaning, marched north from the Wei River with 40,000 infantry and cavalry.

The western route army was personally led by Wanyan Gang, with 60,000 troops setting off from the north of Chang'an, crossing the Wei River, and heading straight for Xianyang.

Looking at his 100,000-strong army, Wanyan Gang was filled with pride.

He firmly believed that with the fighting power of the Jin cavalry, they would be able to defeat the Northern Frontier Army in one fell swoop, turn the tide of the war in Guanzhong, and take advantage of the situation to subdue the Hetao region and even the Hexi Corridor, bringing the Xia Kingdom's territory under the rule of the Jin.

……

Inside the golden tent outside Xianyang, Li Xiao held a secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Upon seeing the words "The Jin Kingdom has discovered the Jizhou Ding in Zhongdu," a sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

"The Jurchen barbarians have become smarter; they know how to use the Nine Tripods to create momentum."

He threw the secret report on the table, his tone full of disdain: "Perfect. When my Northern Frontier Army conquers Zhongdu in the future, we will take all these so-called 'Nine Cauldrons' into our possession and complete the set. When we conquer the world, it will further prove that my Northern Frontier is the true successor of China."

Zhang Xiong, a centurion of the guards standing nearby, couldn't help but chime in, "The Grand Protector is wise!"

"When the Nine Tripods return to the northern frontier, the people of the world will surely know where the Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed."

Li Xiao remained noncommittal and picked up another report, which stated that approximately 10,000 households in Guanzhong had "voluntarily" moved to Lingzhou.

Upon seeing this news, his tense brows finally relaxed, and a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

“The Guanzhong Plain is densely populated, and people should migrate to remote and desolate places like Lingzhou and Mobei.”

"Only by letting the people settle down in the borderlands and cultivate the land can we turn these places into the inherent territory of China and make them the foundation of our northern frontier."

"However, 10,000 households are far from enough. After Guanzhong is pacified, even if it takes ten years, another 100,000 or 200,000 households will need to be relocated."

The stability of a territory depends not only on military force, but also on the settlement and development of its people.

Only when the borderlands have a sufficient population, farmland, and villages can they truly become the foundation of the northern frontier, and there will be no need to worry about them being taken away by other forces.

Just as Li Xiao was pondering immigration plans, hurried footsteps came from outside the tent, and a scout entered the tent: "Grand Protector."

"The Jin army...the Jin army is preparing to attack Xianyang."

"An army of 100,000 will cross the Wei River in two days and come in two routes, east and west."

"The eastern route, led by Jia Gushaning, set off from Weinan with 40,000 infantry and cavalry, while the western route, led by Wanyan Gang, marched north from Chang'an, with their target being Xianyang."

"Oh? You've finally arrived?"

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Li Xiao's eyes. Far from being flustered, he laughed out loud: "The fish has finally taken the bait. I thought that old fox Wanyan Gang was going to hide in Chang'an until winter!"

Li Xiao's biggest worry was that the Jin army would hold Chang'an to the death.

Because Chang'an City was tall and sturdy, even the Divine Might Cannon would take a considerable amount of time to breach the city walls.

There were still 60,000 to 70,000 troops in the city, half of whom were elite Jin soldiers who had fought a bloody battle with the Song army at Dasanguan, and were extremely powerful.

If it were any other ordinary army defending the city, they would only need to breach the city walls, and the will of the defenders would collapse, making it easy to take the city.

The fighting spirit of the elite Jin troops in Guanzhong will only grow stronger.

If they remain holed up in the city, only defending and not attacking, the Northern Frontier Army will have to fight for every inch of the city, resulting in a fierce street battle.

At that point, we'd inevitably have to trade lives one-on-one with the Jin army, which would be too much of a loss.

Moreover, Weinan also had reinforcements from Jiagushaning; although some of them were flooded, their main force remained intact.

On the Central Plains battlefield, the Song army is unlikely to be able to stop the Jin army, and the outcome will be decided by autumn at the latest.

If the Northern Frontier Army were to entangle with the Jin army in Chang'an for several months, and the Jin reinforcements arrived from Henan, they would be attacked from both sides. Not only would they not be able to take Guanzhong, but they might not even be able to hold Yan'an and Qingyang.

Therefore, Li Xiao deliberately released news of the rebellion in Xiping Prefecture and breached the Wei River dike to cut off the Jin army's food supplies, all in order to coerce and entice the Jin army to launch a northern expedition.

Li Xiao stood in front of the golden tent, looking at the Wei River in the distance, his eyes full of confidence, and said to Zhang Xiong beside him.

"The Jin army left the tortoise shell of Chang'an and came to the flat plains. That is the world of our Northern Frontier Cavalry!"

"When cavalry charge, we've never been afraid of anyone."

However, he changed the subject, his tone tinged with helplessness: "It's just that this play was played out so realistically that even many of our generals believed the news of the rebellion in Xiping Prefecture. They've been asking me about my safety every day lately."

Soon after, the generals of various tribes in the northern frontier gathered at the Golden Tent.

At the same time, several soldiers escorted a group of people to the outside of the tent. The leader was none other than Li Zunxu, the King of Qi of Xia, followed by more than a dozen ragged former nobles of Xia.

Li Xiao pointed at them and said to the generals, "The so-called Xiping Prefecture rebellion was just a small-scale disturbance by this group of people, which we have already quelled."

These nobles of the Xia Kingdom had managed to escape into the mountains without being captured. Dissatisfied with the rule of the northern frontier, they wanted to restore the Xia Kingdom and elected Li Zunxu as emperor. However, their actions were not discreet, and their uprising was suppressed by the local militia as soon as it began.

After all, the Northern Frontier Army had already distributed land to the local people, and the people, having seen the light, naturally did not want to remain in darkness any longer.

Therefore, these rebels did not receive the overwhelming support they had imagined; instead, they faced numerous difficulties.

During this suppression of the rebellion, a women's army called the "Red Flower Society" made great contributions.

They were originally a rebel army resisting the rule of the Xia Kingdom, but they also had no goodwill towards the Northern Frontier Army, believing that they were birds of a feather with the Xia army.

After the Northern Frontier Army pacified the Xia Kingdom, they hid in the mountains.

However, after more than half a year of observation, they found that the Northern Frontier Army had indeed distributed land to the people, and the people's lives had improved a lot.

Even the husbands and sons of many women returned, and the family was also given land, so the attitude of this women's army changed.

This can be seen as a pledge of loyalty, and Li Xiao ordered that the key figures of the Women's Army be rewarded and even given important positions.

Upon hearing this, the generals breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that the rebellion in Xiping Prefecture had already been quelled, and their escape route was no longer a concern.

Seeing that everyone was relieved, Li Xiao continued to order: "Hang Li Zunxu in front of the camp gate and display him to the public for three days."

"Tell all the soldiers that Lingzhou is safe. We only need to defeat the Jin army in Chang'an. We don't need to worry about our rear."

"I will obey my orders."

The generals responded in unison, their eyes filled with excitement.

All previous worries vanished, leaving only the will to fight the Jin army.

"Since they dare to leave Chang'an, then let them never return."

(End of this chapter)