In order to further control the grasslands, to establish multiple rear supply stations for future westward expeditions, and to have another stronghold for the conquest of the Jin dynasty.

The imperial court continued to add people to the Northern Prefecture, including not only the resident garrison troops and militia, but also ordinary civilians.

Of course, prisoners of war from this Northern Expedition also participated in the construction of the Northern Army.

Zhao Huan didn't concern himself too much with these specific matters, leaving them to the Privy Council and the Hall of State Affairs to handle.

On August 7th, the emperor left the Northern Palace and headed south, handing the Northern Palace over to Zhe Keqiu.

Accompanying the emperor south was Wu Jie's Lan Yue Army.

The emperor did not stop at Hetao Road, but went directly to Huangzhou.

When the emperor arrived in Huangzhou, all the soldiers and civilians of Huangzhou came out of the city to welcome the imperial procession.

The emperor bestowed large-scale rewards upon the soldiers and civilians of Huangzhou, recognizing their unwavering resilience in the face of national crisis.

When the emperor entered the city, martial law was declared, but enthusiastic cheers resounded throughout the city.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Great Song Dynasty!"

Seeing the magnificent military appearance of the Song Dynasty army, everyone who participated in the defense of Huangzhou was moved to tears.

Only those who have witnessed war know how precious peace is.

Only those who have experienced war can truly appreciate the respect that soldiers have for their country.

What makes people even happier is that the current emperor is a very powerful one; at least, he has personally led more than one campaign.

This action is a message to all soldiers and civilians on the frontier: I am with you!

This brought Zhao Huan's prestige on the frontier to its historical peak, a level that no emperor could surpass.

When the emperor entered his temporary palace, Qian Gai, the military commissioner of Longyou, and all the officials of Longyou, both high and low, came to pay their respects to him.

The emperor sat in the very center, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed tightly, exuding an air of majesty.

The generals stood to the left and right of the emperor.

Qian Gai stepped forward, knelt, and said, "This sinful subject kowtows to the Emperor!"

The emperor held a report summarizing the war in Longyou, his face as cold as ice: "Qian Gai, I entrusted Longyou to you, and this is how you manage it for me!"

No one dared to utter a sound.

"Your Majesty deserves to die!"

Qian Gai was a veteran of three reigns and a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) during the reign of Emperor Shenzong.

During the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji), he controlled all the circuits in Shaanxi and was a veritable regional governor, even more powerful than a military commissioner.

Their prestige and power in the Song Dynasty should not be underestimated.

Unlike the scholar-officials in the court, Qian Gai had deep connections with the troops on the frontier.

This is also why Zhao Huan never took any action against him.

But things are different now. The most capable units of the Western Army, having experienced the Jingkang Incident, have been separated from the Western Army.

Yao Pingzhong is now guarding Heishan, Zhe Keqiu has been appointed as the Northern Army Military Commissioner, and Wu Jie is guarding Yumen Pass.

Yao Gu and Zhong Shizhong had already gone to Yanyun.

Liu Yanqing, Liu Guangshi, and Zhang Shen were all beheaded.

Wang Si and others were also transferred to Hetao Road.

With the rise of the emperor's new army, the military landscape of the Song Dynasty was no longer what it used to be.

With such a great upheaval occurring in Longyou, Yue Fei's prestige in the Northwest has reached its zenith.

Now, it's a piece of cake for Zhao Huan to deal with Qian Gai.

Zhao Huan threw the report at Qian Gai's face without any politeness, and said angrily, "Hand over your command seal!"

Qian Gai nervously took the commander's seal from his waist and carefully presented it to Wu Jie, who took the seal and placed it carefully on the table.

The emperor took a deep breath and roared, "All of you, put your hands on your consciences, how can you face the people of the Great Song who died in the war!"

The crowd immediately knelt on the ground, pleading, "We deserve to die! Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger!"

"Pan Weizhi!"

"Your subject is here!"

When will the Control Yuan personnel arrive?

"Your Majesty, the officials from the Censorate will arrive tonight."

The emperor stood up: "You can leave your words for the military court."

After saying this, the emperor ignored the people and walked out.

That evening, the officials from the Censorate arrived in Huangzhou and took Qian Gai and the others back to Tokyo.

The emperor then stayed in Huangzhou.

People did not know why the emperor stayed in Huangzhou.

Two days later, a man arrived in Huangzhou from Xingqing Prefecture.

This person was Renduo Baozhong, a Dangxiang general who surrendered to the Song Dynasty.

Rendo Yasutada was almost eighty years old. During the war to destroy Xia, he even fought a battle with Wu Jie.

But he remained energetic and lively.

Renta Yasutada's arrival was unexpected by most people.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

"Rise."

"I wonder what Your Majesty's orders are in summoning me here?"

"Rendo Baozhong, how have I treated you?"

Rendo Yasutada felt a pang in his heart.

How have you treated me?

You're using me as a tool, how do you expect me to treat you?

These were his true feelings, but even if Rendo Yasutoshi had a thousand times the courage, he wouldn't dare to say them out loud.

He said in a very respectful and grateful tone, "Your Majesty has given me a second chance at life, and I am willing to give my life for Your Majesty."

"Excellent! Minister Rendo speaks well!"

Zhao Huan raised his wine cup: "Come, my dear minister, drink this cup of wine with me."

Rendo Baozhong understood, picked up his wine cup, and drank the wine in one gulp.

"My dear minister, I wish to appoint you as the Military Commissioner of Longyou."

Rendo Baozhong pretended to be slightly taken aback, then quickly stood up and bowed deeply: "This sinful subject is unworthy of the Emperor's trust."

"I know in my heart that you are loyal to the Great Song Dynasty. You are the only candidate to be the Military Commissioner of Longyou!"

Ren Duobaozhong appeared flattered, but inwardly he was thinking: "Emperor, you want me to come here to kill those barbarians for you, don't you!"

Your method of using barbarians to control barbarians is brilliant!

At that time, those barbarians will only hate the Tanguts, and their hatred for the Han people will be greatly reduced.

Although he knew that the emperor was using him as a tool, Rendo Baozhong dared not disobey. He knelt down and performed a grand ceremony: "Your Majesty, I am willing to give my life for the Great Song Dynasty."

"Very well, I will appoint Wu Jie as the governor of the Anxi Protectorate. You can come to him if you have any difficulties."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Anxi Protectorate?

Clearly, the emperor was going to change the name of Longyou, which meant that the Song Dynasty was about to officially begin implementing its strategy towards the Western Regions.

Although the emperor gave Renduo Baozhong the position of Anxi Military Commissioner, in reality, Wu Jie held the highest rank of Governor-General, commanding the most elite troops of the Song Dynasty and stationed there.

He Renduobaozhong was actually leading his Tangut army to suppress all the barbarians who did not submit to the Song Dynasty.

He can't cause any trouble. If he harbors any ill intentions, Wu Jie can kill him at any time.

No wonder the emperor personally went to Huangzhou.

Rendo Yasuchu thought to himself, "So it's going to be a major personnel reshuffle."

Qian Gai's dismissal essentially foreshadowed the complete shattering of the previous Western Army structure.

Now, when the emperor raises his arm and gives the order, all the soldiers of the Song Dynasty obey without question.

Ren Duobaozhong was secretly astonished. This emperor of the Great Song Dynasty had accomplished the great feats that his ancestors had not been able to complete, and his prestige and power had reached a height that his ancestors had not achieved.

The era of the Han people has arrived.