Yao Gu and Zhang Hao had just finished a drinking contest with Wanyan Sali, resulting in a significant number of casualties. Therefore, when Wanyan Loushi launched a fierce attack, they retreated to Longde Prefecture, intending to recuperate there for a few days before launching another attack.

Zhao Huan was listening to a report from Yao Gu, Zhang Hao, and Wanyan Salihe about the battle they had fought.

After Zhong Shidao finished speaking in one breath, Zhao Huan nodded secretly. What Zhong Shidao said basically matched what he had heard from the Imperial City Guard spies.

It seems that the reason why 10,000 died and 5,000 were injured was because Yao Gu was arrogant and greedy for merit, and actually fell into Wanyan Salihe's ambush. Fortunately, the Song army had the advantage in numbers, otherwise this battle would have been a disastrous defeat.

This is the first direct confrontation between the two sides since Zhao Huan transmigrated here. The emperor is personally leading the expedition, and defeat is absolutely unacceptable, otherwise the morale that has just been raised will suffer a major blow.

Zhao Huan was furious: There are always some arrogant and greedy guys who want to kill me at crucial moments!

But since Yao Gu had won another battle, it was difficult to punish him directly, which was a real headache!

Zhao Huan asked, "What kind of person is Wanyan Loushi?"

Zhong Shidao said, "Your Majesty, this man is known as the number one general of the Jin Kingdom. He once defeated Wanyan Aguda and destroyed the Liao Kingdom. He marched all the way from the northeast to the northwest, making a deep advance and leaving the Liao Kingdom with no power to fight back!"

"What do you think Yao Gu and Zhang Hao's chances of winning are?"

Zhong Shidao remained silent for a moment, but Yao Pingzhong spoke first, saying, "Your Majesty, please allow me to lead ten thousand warriors to join forces with Commander Yao to attack that treacherous Wanyan Loushi. I will certainly present his head to Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan exclaimed, "Oh? It's rare to see someone so determined!"

Zhong Shidao hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"Zhong Qing, what are your thoughts?"

Zhong Shidao rose and suddenly bowed deeply, saying, "This old minister requests Your Majesty's personal visit to Longde Prefecture!"

Yao Pingzhong immediately objected: "General Zhong, our strategy is that after General Yao and General Zhang take Liaozhou, His Majesty will personally go there. Now that Wanyan Loushi is in Longde Prefecture, are you asking His Majesty to go there personally? Wouldn't that put the Emperor in a dangerous situation?"

Zhong Shidao said, "Military tactics are ever-changing, just as water has no fixed shape! Your Majesty, our army had already won the battle against Wanyan Salihe, and our morale was at its peak. However, Yao Gu and Zhang Hao had to retreat to Longde Prefecture, which shows that our generals are deeply wary of Wanyan Loushi. This is a sign of a defeated army! However, the battle against Wanyan Loushi is related to the rescue of Taiyuan and the fate of Hedong. Our Great Song cannot afford to lose even a little. I urge Your Majesty to come to Longde Prefecture now to boost our army's morale!"

Yao Pingzhong, standing to one side, said, "Your Majesty! Just give me ten thousand men, and I will bring you Wanyan Loushi's head!"

Zhong Shidao angrily said, "Xi Yan, when two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave will prevail. Our generals are already afraid of the enemy, and sending more troops will not solve the problem!"

Yao Pingzhong, of course, did not accept Zhong Shidao's statement. Zhong Shidao was practically pointing his finger at Yao Gu and accusing him of cowardice and retreat, which was the greatest insult to a general.

Yao Gu was his adoptive father, so naturally he didn't want Yao Gu to be seen as a coward!

Yao Pingzhong wanted to say something more, but Zhao Huan interrupted him, saying, "I share the same thought! In this battle, the Great Song Dynasty must win, not lose!"

Seeing that the emperor had said so, Yao Pingzhong dared not say anything more. In any case, they were all going north to Longde Prefecture to provide support, and Yao Pingzhong would still be the commander of the reinforcements.

That very night, scouts rushed into the night to clear the way for the emperor's main force. As night fell, the vanguard had already set off. In the latter half of the night, the emperor awoke from his sleep, and the central army began its northward march.

During this time, Zhao Huan received news that Zhe Keqiu had divided his troops into two routes, left and right, and was heading south. The left route was responsible for containing the Jin army that Wanyan Zonghan might send to intercept him, while he himself ordered 30,000 elite troops on the right route to rush towards Longde Prefecture at full speed.

Wanyan Loushi's deployment immediately provoked the Song army. The emperor sent almost all the elite troops that could be mobilized from Hedong to Longde Prefecture, determined to kill Wanyan Loushi.

The emperor forcibly increased the marching speed of the central army to at least twice the usual speed. From time to time, the emperor would personally ride his horse back and forth in front of and behind the army to personally inspect the marching situation.

When the soldiers saw that even the emperor was working so hard, they were all filled with boundless energy.

Around the afternoon of the following day, the dim sun hung in the sky, and the Fen River flowed slowly, with some places already frozen.

At this time, Zhe Keqiu had arrived at the Fen River. On the opposite bank of the Fen River was a city called Pingyang, which had been occupied by the Jin army a month earlier. According to reports from scouts, there were about 5,000 Jin soldiers in the city.

Zhe Keqiu said, "Once we reach Pingyang, we can use the Jin army there to sharpen our swords! Brothers, let's take Pingyang before sunset!"

The generals shouted, "Yes!"

It must be said that Zhe Keqiu's Zhe Family Army was indeed the most capable elite force in the Song Dynasty. After enduring more than a month in Fencheng, the combat power they displayed at this moment was absolutely off the charts.

Even in this freezing weather, the Zhe family army managed to capture Pingyang in just one hour. Of course, this was also due to the fact that the people in the city heard that the Song army was coming and cooperated with Zhe Keqiu from the inside.

After capturing Pingyang, Zhe Keqiu did not linger and continued his advance towards Longde Prefecture in the southeast.

He had originally promised the emperor that he would arrive in Liaozhou at the agreed time, but now the war situation had changed, and it was clear that he could no longer go to Liaozhou. He should go to Longde Prefecture instead, and he was also eager to kill that bastard Wanyan Loushi immediately.

Wanyan Zonghan finally stopped drinking and eating meat. After besieging Taiyuan City for two months without success, he simply surrounded the city completely, cutting off all contact between Taiyuan and the outside world, intending to starve the city to death.

So, he spent his time drinking, eating meat, and playing with women in his tent, but the intelligence reported by his scouts made him sit up and frown.

The Zhe family army has left Fencheng and is advancing southeast. Even a fool could guess that they're headed for Longde Prefecture!

But this crucial military intelligence didn't get back until night!

Enraged, Wanyan Zonghan beheaded Jin Weiyan, the leader of the spies, and displayed his head to the public!

What was the situation now? Zhe Keqiu's right flank had already left Pingyang, while the Jin scouts reported that the Zhe family army was advancing southeast.

Wanyan Zonghan roared, "Whoever is willing to lead troops to retrieve Zheke's head must come to me, the commander!"

Immediately, a general stepped forward. This man was Wanyan Pujianu. He said, "Marshal, this humble general is willing to accept the order!"

"Good! I'll give you another 10,000 troops. You and Wanyan Loushi will lead your army in Longde Prefecture. I will annihilate the Song army!"

"We will certainly live up to the Marshal's trust!"

Meanwhile, Wanyan Pujianu ordered another 10,000 troops to advance southeast overnight. It wasn't until late at night that Zhe Keqiu captured Pingyang. Wanyan Zonghan sensed something was amiss. The Song army was notoriously weak, but this time, their actions seemed extremely meticulous and powerful, managing to deceive his scouts.

Actually, this matter cannot be entirely blamed on Jin Weiyan, who was killed. After all, when Zhao Huan decided to personally lead the expedition, he gave Sima Jun a strict order: to first cut off half of the Jin army's scouts in Hedong.

Sima Junru was a genius in espionage. Zhao Huan lamented that such a talent had been overlooked in the past, and felt truly sorry for Zhao Ji.