Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 296 Xiao Yanyan: I will kill all the Khitans to avenge my mother! [Seeking monthly votes]

Pan Mei was a founding general of the Song Dynasty. He was brave and resourceful and made great contributions to the expansion of the Song Dynasty's territory.

Unfortunately, this outstanding man, who rose to high positions in both the military and the government, was vilified in Ming and Qing classical novels and portrayed as the wicked and treacherous minister Pan Renmei, who has been criticized and despised by the uninformed masses for many years.

Another character who has been completely vilified is Su Dingfang from the Sui and Tang Dynasties stories.

Despite being the most remarkable figure in expanding China's territory, he became the most despicable person in the stories of the Sui and Tang dynasties, and even his descendants were despised as shameless villains.

It can only be said that the eight-legged essays of the Ming and Qing dynasties were truly harmful. These pedantic scholars did not even understand normal history. They would just pick up a name and start making a mess of it, without having the slightest historical perspective.

Pan Mei is not yet a military general, but merely an envoy to Guo Rong. He was recommended because of his good relationship with Zhao Kuangyin.

Pan Mei's biggest blunder in his life was probably his poor command that led to Yang Ye's death. But the root cause of this was Cao Bin's responsibility. He lost the battle, which led to a mistake in the overall strategic plan. Pan Mei had to consider withdrawing his troops while also protecting the people along the way, leaving him with no time to spare.

Zhao Jiong dared not punish Cao Bin, who had suffered a defeat, so he had no choice but to push Pan Mei out to take the blame. As a result, Pan Mei was portrayed as the murderer of Yang Ye, thus solidifying his position as the number one treacherous minister of the Song Dynasty.

Well, in some vernacular novels, Pan Renmei is even worse than the Six Traitors of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Guo Rong was very interested in Zhao Kuangyin's recommendation:
"Summon Pan Mei, come in."

Soon, a man dressed as a scholar walked in. He was in his early thirties, with a dignified appearance, which perfectly matched the "beauty" in his name.

Guo Rong asked:

"Is Minister Pan willing to lead troops to fight the enemy?"

Pan Mei bowed and said:

"I have been thinking about this day and night, and I have always hoped to fight for my Great Zhou on the battlefield and bring glory to our nation!"

Guo Rong picked up a command arrow and issued the battle orders:
"I hereby order you to lead three thousand heavy infantry to establish a defensive line south of Youzhou City. If any Khitans flee south, you must provide assistance and block their pursuers!"

Three thousand heavy infantrymen had almost evacuated most of the core defensive force of the main camp. Pan Mei was deeply moved and knelt down to pay his respects.
"Your Majesty, I will dedicate myself to your service until my dying breath to repay your kindness and favor!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a muffled clap of thunder sounded overhead, signifying that his vow had been recorded by the heavens.

After Pan Mei left with the command token, Wang Yansheng, who was also waiting for military orders, said with dissatisfaction:
"Such a momentous matter has been entrusted to someone who has barely seen the battlefield. Why doesn't Your Majesty send me to assist you?"

Guo Rong thought this guy really had no self-awareness. If he sent you, even if Xiao Siwen really came to surrender, he would die inexplicably on the way, which would become your military merit.

Wang Yansheng was a fierce general. During the campaign against the Southern Tang, he killed more than 2,000 Southern Tang soldiers, scaring them so much that they dared not fight.

But apart from being brave, this guy has all sorts of flaws.

For example, he enjoys extortion, has a strong desire to kill, and even likes to eat the ears of prisoners alive... Of course, under certain conditions, this is not a flaw.

For example, when Wang Yansheng was first stationed in the Northwest, the Tangut people were causing havoc in the region. Every time he caught one, he would tear off its ear and eat it raw with strong liquor. He ate the ears of hundreds of people in total.

In the end, the Tanguts were even more polite than the Han Chinese. Whenever there was a conflict, they would advise everyone to calm down and talk things out... They were truly terrified of Wang Yansheng.

Guo Rong intends to use this tough guy in the right place:
"Wang Yansheng, can I trust you?"

Wang Yansheng immediately knelt on the ground and swore a solemn oath. Guo Rong thought this attitude was good and entrusted him with the task of secretly infiltrating Yuhe County, but on one condition:
"You may wreak havoc on the Khitans inside the city as you please, but you cannot harm the Han people there. Do you understand?"

Wang Yansheng immediately understood:
"The minister obeys the order!"

After Wang Yansheng left, Guo Rong handed over command to Zhao Kuangyin, then picked up a tablet and began reading the history of the Song Dynasty, intending to find talents from all walks of life to serve the Great Zhou.

At this moment, inside Youzhou City, Xiao Siwen's family had just gone to bed when they heard the shouts of battle. They quickly got up, and the whole family was fully armed. Even their youngest daughter, Yan Yan, held a delicate curved knife, intending to resist the Zhou army and protect their home and country.

Xiao Siwen was very puzzled. Youzhou City was tall and sturdy, and it was not so easy to break into. Could there be an inside agent?
He organized his servants to guard the residence, and was about to go out to ask when the Southern King Yelü Talie suddenly sent someone to inform Xiao Siwen that he should stay at home and not make any rash moves.

Xiao Siwen asked:

What caused the riots in the city?

The visitor replied:
"Several members of the royal family escaped from the Liangxiang prisoner-of-war camp, organized the Yuhe garrison to storm into Youzhou, and declared that they would wipe out all the traitors of the Liao Dynasty who had betrayed their country, and chop their entire families up to feed the dogs!"

Xiao Siwen slapped his thigh upon hearing this:
"That's exactly right... By the way, who is the traitor to our Great Liao?"

The person who delivered the message was on good terms with him, and said in a low voice:

"It's you, Brother Xiao. Hurry up and find a way to escape. The Southern King is only keeping you calm for now. Don't fall for his tricks."

Whether Xiao Siwen is truly or falsely colluding with the enemy, as long as the soldiers cause an uproar, the Southern King will have no choice but to execute him in order to smoothly overcome this crisis.

Xiao Siwen never expected that the traitor was himself, and immediately wanted to confront the rebels.

But then he thought about how he was outnumbered and outmatched, and might be chopped into mincemeat by the instigated soldiers before he even met the person in charge. Thinking of his three lovely daughters, he immediately softened.

But whether he can go out or not depends on his wife's approval... Xiao Siwen's wife is Princess Yelü Lübugu of the Liao Dynasty, who is also the elder sister of Emperor Muzong of Liao, Yelü Jing.

To leave Youzhou, the city gates must be opened, and the person who can give this order is the eldest princess of the Liao Dynasty.

Xiao Siwen kowtowed to thank the messenger, then hurriedly returned to his residence. He pulled his wife aside and briefly explained the current situation.

If their family wanted to survive, their only option was to head south and seek refuge with the Great Zhou, even though they knew it was a scheme by the Great Zhou. They had no other choice now.

Yelü Lübugu was initially somewhat resistant, but then couldn't help but worry about the child.

She could be loyal to her country, but her children were innocent. With these soldiers barging into her home, she couldn't even imagine what kind of torture and humiliation her three daughters would suffer. They probably couldn't even hope for death.

For the sake of her child, this princess had no choice but to betray the Liao Dynasty.

The couple acted swiftly, quickly organizing their servants and the princess's guards to escort their family to the south gate of Youzhou City. The guard there had once been the captain of the princess's guards, and out of consideration for their past relationship, opening the city gate shouldn't be too difficult.

In order to divert attention from the city, Xiao Siwen had several servants drive the garrison's carriages to the northeast and northwest gates of Youzhou City, trying to delay the time as much as possible.

With everything prepared, the side gate of the garrison opened, and the family quietly left under the protection of the guards, without even daring to light a torch.

On the way, Yelü Lübugu said to her husband:

“My family has always looked down on you, thinking you are too bookish and lack the spirit of a Khitan, which is more in line with the style of the Central Plains people… After leaving the city, you take the children and just run south, I will cover the rear.”

Xiao Siwen became anxious upon hearing this:

"What kind of man runs away and leaves the woman to cover his retreat?"

Yelü Lübugu, holding a spiked mace, solemnly said:
"I am the eldest princess of the Liao Dynasty, and this is your order!"

Seeing her parents about to argue, the eldest daughter, Xiao Hulian, asked tearfully:
"Can't we seek justice from the King?"

Yelü Lübugu gently wiped away the tears on his daughter's face, his voice full of tenderness:

"At this point, it's no use asking anyone. If your father and I don't die, those soldiers won't let it go... Daughter, when you get to the Great Zhou, forget that you are Liao people. Change your names to Han names, practice Han etiquette, and wear Han clothes. Never identify yourself as a Khitan, as that will only bring you disaster."

Xiao Hulian wanted to refute, but couldn't bring herself to say it, because her compatriots were now trying every means to take the lives of her entire family.

As the family hurriedly arrived at the south gate of Youzhou, the shouts of battle behind them grew closer and closer. The general guarding the south gate led hundreds of soldiers to completely block the gate.

Clearly, they had received orders to seal the city gates.

Xiao Siwen's mind raced, considering ways to ingratiate himself, appeal to emotions, and bribe the city gate guards with gold and silver. Just as he was pondering how to break through the city gate, Yelü Lübugu spurred his horse forward and calmly asked the gate guard:
"Yelü Sulang, are you still my warrior?"

The garrison commander, who had been on high alert, immediately turned red in the eyes, laid down his weapon, and knelt in salute.

"Your subject will always be your most loyal warrior."

"Open the door!"

"Follow the order!"

The city gates opened quickly, and Xiao Siwen's family left Youzhou, heading south. The city gate guard, Yelü Sulang, led his servants to join the guard.

Since they are the most loyal warriors, they should naturally accompany the carriage to protect them.

Xiao Siwen breathed a sigh of relief. She never imagined that the hurdle she had anticipated would be overcome so easily, as if it were a dream.

But the dream was short-lived. Soon, cavalrymen rushed out of the gate, their torches spreading out like a tide as they surged southward in pursuit.

A drone in the sky captured this scene: a horse-drawn carriage, a few cavalrymen, and behind them, a vast army.

Seeing this, Yelü Lübugu turned her horse around to try and save her husband and child. Yelü Sulang and his men followed behind, like rocks on the shore, and were soon swallowed up by the endless waves.

Inside the carriage, six-year-old Xiao Yanyan peered out, watching helplessly as her mother was killed, dismembered, and torn apart by the hyena-like Khitan cavalry. Tears streamed down her face.
"I will slaughter all the Khitans to avenge my mother!"

Xiao Siwen felt a lump in his throat, tears blurring his vision. He hated himself for being powerless, for only being able to compose poems and couplets, unable to share his wife's burdens, and not even having a word of farewell.

But now is not the time to be sad; he must drive the carriage south to escape.

The shouts of battle behind him grew closer, and even the curses of the Khitan soldiers could be heard clearly. Just as Xiao Siwen felt guilty for his wife's sacrifice, torches suddenly lit up ahead, and then he heard a command in Chinese:
"Tiger Might Army! Form ranks! Defend against the enemy!"

(End of this chapter)