The third siege ended, and the Zhenla army gave up its last resistance.

The city gates were blasted to pieces by the Song army's cannons, the city walls were stained red with blood, and the area below was piled with corpses.

Yang Yi, his face covered in blood, carrying a Song army axe, was the first to rush into Nanqing City, so he deserved the credit.

Nanqing City was the name given by the Song army; it was a major military town of Zhenla in the north.

However, compared to the Song Dynasty, the towns and cities of Zhenla, a small country, were much smaller.

Moreover, the artillery of the Song Dynasty had completely rewritten the art of siege warfare.

The Song army advanced westward from the eastern part of the southern continent with unstoppable momentum, sweeping through all obstacles.

Soon, the banners of the Great Song Dynasty fluttered atop the city walls of Nanqing.

Yang Yi took off his helmet and put it aside to rest.

This is a young man who has just turned eighteen, but has already achieved excellent results at the Imperial Military Academy.

Now a non-commissioned officer, unlike other non-commissioned officers, he did not spend his days talking nonsense after joining the army, but went to the front line and started from the bottom as a soldier.

Three months ago, he killed a high-ranking enemy officer and was promoted to captain, becoming a glorious centurion.

In his heart, the Song Dynasty of today is the Song Dynasty of his ideal.

He was the emperor's most loyal worshipper, to the point of being self-absorbed.

That's why he devoted himself entirely to the military.

Furthermore, he has always had a very strong interest in infantry.

In his graduation thesis, he wrote an article titled "Infantry Wars to Annihilate Nations," which was praised by the teachers at the Imperial Academy.

He had only been in the Southwest for eight months, but he had already become quite well-known in the Southwest Military Region.

Resistance within the city had largely ceased, and the last resistance in the distance was quickly crushed.

Zhang Jun rode in on horseback, surrounded by his entourage.

"You're Yang Yi?"

Yang Yi quickly stood up, saluted, and said, "This humble general greets Commander Zhang!"

Zhang Jun carefully examined the young man and nodded, "You are very good."

After saying this, Zhang Jun took off his treasured sword: "This sword is named Jinghong, and it is my personal sword. I am giving it to you today!"

Yang Yi received the sword and said, "Thank you, Zhang Jun!"

"All are loyal to the Emperor!"

When the emperor was mentioned, Yang Yi became even more solemn and serious.

Zhang Jun dismounted, walked over, and patted Yang Yi on the shoulder: "Yang Yi, I'll tell you something when I have time."

"Please enlighten me, Commander Zhang."

"I have already submitted a report to the Privy Council and the Military Governor's Office, requesting that you be transferred to the Northwest, to Liangzhou."

Yang Yi was slightly taken aback: "Why is that?"

"Yang Yi, don't misunderstand. I think highly of you, but it's a waste of your talents to stay in the Southern Continent. Once Zhenla and Siam are destroyed, the Southern Continent will be basically stable. You are more suited to the Northwest, where there are powerful enemies of the Song Dynasty."

"Zhang Shuai!" Yang Yi's heart stirred, deeply moved.

Going to the Northwest had always been his wish, but unfortunately, after graduating from Imperial Academy, he was assigned to the Southwest. Fate really does play tricks.

"Thank you for your help, Zhang Shuai!"

Zhang Jun naturally had his own plans. The Southern Continent was the granary of the Song Dynasty, so it was important, but it wouldn't be a war zone in the future; at most, it would be used for garrisoning.

A person like Yang Yi would undoubtedly shine brightly in the Northwest.

Making Yang Yi owe him a huge favor is always good for the future.

Another reason was that Zhang Jun wanted Yang Yi to stay away from the Duke of Chongguo.

The imperial court is currently going through a turbulent period. Although the Duke of Chongguo is located in the southwest, he is at the center of the power struggle in the capital city of Dongjing.

The army should stay away from the conflicts within the imperial court.

A more purely military force would be better.

The unit led by Yang Yi made the greatest contribution.

Yang Yi's transfer request was also submitted to the Privy Council along with his military achievements.

Soon, the results came down: Yang Yi was promoted to commander and transferred to Liangzhou.

An eighteen-year-old commander is extremely rare.

This year was the most important year for the entire Northwest Army of the Great Song Dynasty.

Yue Fei implemented very strict military and political policies in the Northwest, which offended a large number of people, and many junior and mid-level officers were purged.

In addition, the Northwest Theater is constantly expanding its personnel, and the officers sent by the Imperial Military Academy are temporarily unable to directly manage the army due to their lack of experience.

People like Yang Yi, who possess both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, and have achieved remarkable results in practice, are very popular.

Even on the list of the Military Governor's Office, Yang Yi was listed as a key candidate for investigation.

Zhao Huan emphasized more than once that age should not be the deciding factor in appointing people.

He often cited Huo Qubing and Zhou Yu as examples. Huo Qubing, the Marquis of Champion, defeated the Xiongnu at the age of seventeen and sealed the Wolf Mountain at the age of twenty-one.

Young people should have more opportunities.

An organization that suppresses young people or deprives them of opportunities to rise to the top is stagnant and has no future.

Zhao Chen was very disappointed to hear that Yang Yi had been transferred.

He admired Yang Yi's talent, but he never expected that Yang Yi would be transferred to the Northwest.

On this day, a nine-year-old child came to the Duke of Chongguo's military camp.

It's strange that a nine-year-old child would be in a military camp.

This child is no ordinary person; he is a descendant of Emperor Taizu and a member of the royal family of Yue.

He is Zhao Shen!

"Shen pays his respects to the Duke of Chongguo."

Zhao Zisong, who was standing to the side, also said, "Greetings, Duke Chong."

"Your Majesty is too kind. What brings you here?"

Zhao Shen, standing to the side, interjected, "Duke Chong, it's not that we have something to discuss with you, but rather that something important is about to happen to you."

Zhao Chen looked at Zhao Shen with a puzzled and dismissive expression.

What does this nine-year-old know?

Nonsense!

"What do you mean by that, young man?"

"Duke Chongguo, the reforms in the Song Dynasty have been underway for more than eight years now."

"That's right."

"May I ask, Duke Chong, is the Song Dynasty as it is today the Song Dynasty you truly desire?"

Zhao Chen looked into Zhao Shen's bright eyes and asked, "What do you mean?"

"The court's emphasis on commerce is very obvious. The essence of merchants lies in pursuing profits, disregarding sages, morality, and shame, and corrupting social customs."

These words really struck a chord with Zhao Chen.

That's what he thought, but as he got older, he learned to keep his thoughts to himself.

"Duke Chong, do you wish to inherit the grand ceremony?"

Zhao Chen paused slightly for a moment before replying, "Of course I want to."

"But the Duke of Chongguo was unwilling to tolerate the drawbacks brought about by the new law."

"Sigh, it's better not to say anything."

Zhao Zisong quickly bowed and said, "Please, Duke Chong, save my Great Song Dynasty!"

"Uncle, what do you mean by this?"

"The new policies are brutal and corrupt the morals of the people. They only care about their own interests and are short-sighted. If this continues, the Song Dynasty will surely fall."

"Then what should I do?"

"Duke Chongguo need not worry. With Duke Chongguo becoming the Crown Prince, everything else is just a minor matter."

"Then how does one become the crown prince?"

Zhao Shen and Zhao Chen had a brief introduction, and then the two sides got to know each other better.