Song Xiu

Chapter 76 The Adorable Military Supervisory System

Before leaving, Lü Qiu Zhongqing solemnly told Zhao Dexiu about the whereabouts of his family.

On the surface, Lü Qiu Zhongqing was leaving a "hostage" for Zhao Dexiu, but his purpose was not limited to that.

In today's world, there are those who value family like Zhao Kuangyin, but there are also those who are indifferent to family ties.

Using family members as hostages cannot fully guarantee a person's loyalty.

Lu Qiu Zhongqing was entrusting his orphan to someone.

"Go deep into enemy territory and persuade their prime minister" is a brilliant move that has been proven effective, but it is also a risky one.

If Lü Qiu Zhongqing had made even the slightest mistake in taking this step, he would likely have faced death.

Both Lü Qiu Zhongqing and Zhao Dexiu knew this.

Zhao Dexiu was not unappreciative of talent; finding a silver-tongued messenger would not have been difficult.

However, in order to successfully persuade Zhao Hua, the envoy needed to have a thorough understanding of the political situation in Northern Han.

Among those who possess both of these qualities, only Lü Qiu Zhongqing currently serves under Zhao Dexiu.

As for Lü Qiu Zhongqing, his idea was very simple—fortune favors the bold!

Knowing Lü Qiu Zhongqing's intentions, Zhao Dexiu made a promise before he left:
"If this matter goes wrong, I will take care of your wife and children myself."

Having received Zhao Dexiu's assurance, Lü Qiu Zhongqing had no more worries. Carrying gold and silver, and under the protection of some Chanzhou soldiers, he resolutely embarked on his journey to Taiyuan.

Standing on the city wall, Zhao Dexiu watched Lu Qiu Zhongqing's retreating figure as he walked further and further away. Just then, he heard a worried voice behind him:
"Does the Marquis think he can succeed on this trip?"
If it fails, the losses will be enormous.

Huyan Zan watched the gold and silver disappear into the distance, his eyes filled with reluctance.

That wealth should have been Zhao Dexiu's spoils of war.

Upon hearing Hu Yanzan's words, Zhao Dexiu smiled faintly.

Wealth is the most tangible benefit, and Huyan Zan's words reflect the thoughts of the vast majority of people in this world.

"Saving money to achieve something" sounds simple, but in reality, very few people can actually do it.

How did Zhao Kuangyin stabilize the hearts of the people after he became emperor?
There's a very simple and straightforward method: just keep throwing money around.

After the Chenqiao Mutiny, generals were given money ranging from one million strings of cash to soldiers ranging from one hundred strings of cash. After the money was distributed, everyone shouted "Long live the Great Song Dynasty!"

This tactic was known to all five emperors, but only Zhao Kuangyin truly implemented it.

As the son of Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Dexiu perfectly inherited his vision.

Even if I fail, all I will lose is gold and silver.

But if I succeed, I will have a bright future.

Do you understand?

After expressing his thoughts, Zhao Dexiu looked at Huyan Zan and asked.

Huyan Zan pondered for a long time before finally giving an honest answer.

"Understand!

However, it will not be possible.

Huyan Zan remained as honest as ever.

Huyan Zan's honesty made Zhao Dexiu laugh. After laughing, he asked Huyan Zan:
"Have you prepared everything I asked you to?"

Upon hearing Zhao Dexiu's inquiry, Huyan Zan quickly replied:

"It's ready."

Zhao Dexiu nodded in satisfaction at Huyan Zan's answer.

According to scouts, the Northern Han army will be at the city gates in two or three days at most.

When the enemy arrives, how could he not prepare a grand welcome?

In early June of the first year of the Jianlong era of the Song Dynasty, accompanied by the resounding beat of drums, an army of tens of thousands appeared outside the city of Shangdang.

This large army was the Northern Han army led by Liu Jiye.

When tens of thousands of Northern Han troops arrived outside Shangdang City, Li Shoujie, having learned the news, waited outside the city with a joyful expression to welcome them.

After meeting Liu Jiye, Li Shoujie suggested that the Northern Han army set up camp near Shangdang City to provide protection.

Li Shoujie's suggestion was not accepted by Liu Jiye.

"The Song army is cunning and easily agitated, so we cannot leave them unattended."

Our army should proceed to Huguan Pass to encircle and block the Song army.

Liu Jiye would no longer give Zhao Dexiu any chance of seizing the initiative on the battlefield. After politely declining Li Shoujie's suggestion, Liu Jiye continued to lead his army south.

Zhao Dexiu had long anticipated that Liu Jiye would not choose to station his troops outside Shangdang City.

Therefore, upon learning that the Northern Han army was approaching, Zhao Dexiu led his staff up the city wall.

Having heard so much about Yang Ye's great name in later generations, Zhao Dexiu thought it would be nice to meet him if possible.

What Zhao Dexiu didn't know was that Liu Jiye shared the same thoughts as him.

Liu Jiye knew he had met many famous generals, but he still wanted to meet someone who, at the age of sixteen, could contend with him for the initiative on the battlefield.

After leading his troops to the outside of the city and entrusting the task of setting up camp to his deputy, Liu Jiye personally led a few guards to a spot a hundred paces outside the city wall.

Thanks to the good weather, Zhao Dexiu, with his good eyesight, could vaguely see a man dressed as a general riding a horse about a hundred paces away.

Zhao Dexiu was still unaware that the man was Liu Jiye, but he subconsciously narrowed his eyes.

After carefully assessing the distance and wind direction, Zhao Dexiu abandoned his plan to snipe.

Shortly afterward, a cavalryman beside the general rode his horse toward the city.

Seeing that only one cavalryman had arrived, Zhao Dexiu did not order the Song soldiers on the city wall to fire arrows.

A hundred paces is a distance that a galloping horse can cover in the blink of an eye.

Once the horse had come to a stop, a loud voice echoed from below the city walls to above:

"My General Liu said that now that tens of thousands of my elite troops have arrived, your country can withdraw its troops."

Adhering to the principle of "courtesy before force," Liu Jiye wanted the Song army on the city walls to give up and retreat.

After all, on the surface, with him leading tens of thousands of elite troops guarding outside Huguan City, the Song army was barely able to protect itself, let alone seize Shangdang.

After conveying Liu Jiye's words, the Han cavalry kept observing the expressions of the Song soldiers on the city wall.

Because Zhao Dexiu and his generals were hidden in the city tower, the Han cavalryman did not see him.

As the Han cavalryman observed, the sight of several flags made his expression change.

The Han cavalry intended to leave quickly.

But Zhao Dexiu was not about to let such an opportunity slip by.

At Zhao Dexiu's prompting, Lu Duoxun came out of the city tower and stopped him at the city wall, citing "the words of the Marquis of Taiyuan".

However, after the Han cavalry stopped, Lu Duoxun kept changing the subject and never got to the point.

Despite his dissatisfaction, the Han cavalryman, being a messenger, could not leave on his own.

How much nonsense Lu Duoxun spouts is his business; his duty as a messenger is to relay Zhao Dexiu's words back to him in detail.

After an unknown period of delay, Ludoson ended the meeting by storming off.

The last bewildered Han cavalryman returned to Liu Jiye's side.

Liu Jiye was also curious as to why his personal guards had been gone for so long.

After listening to a lot of nonsense from his guards, Liu Jiye was completely bewildered.

Until he heard this sentence from his personal guard:

"There are flags of Fuzhou and Linzhou on the city walls!"

The guard stammered as he said this.

Upon hearing this, Liu Jiye's expression changed drastically.

Fuzhou and Linzhou were two important northwestern towns of the Song Dynasty, and the people in charge of those two important northwestern towns were Zhe Deyi and Yang Chongxun, respectively.

The relationship between these two men and Liu Jiye was quite unusual.

Zhe Deyi was Liu Jiye's father-in-law, and Yang Chongxun was Liu Jiye's younger brother!

Liu Jiye was shocked when he first heard the news.

Startled, Liu Jiye's hand holding the reins trembled slightly.

Zhao Dexiu's intentions are so sinister!

Just as Liu Jiye was quickly considering a countermeasure, several riders were rapidly approaching him.

The leader of those riders was none other than the supervising officer, Lu Zan.

Although nominally a military supervisor, wasn't Lu Zan essentially supervising Liu Jiye?
　I'm on the loudspeaker today, thank you all for your continued support.

　　It is expected to be available this weekend.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)