Youzhou is no longer the Youzhou of ten years ago; today's Youzhou is twice as large as it was ten years ago.

The population has increased fivefold.

In addition to the large-scale migration of people from Taiyuan, Zhongshan, Hejian and other places to Youzhou, the population also surged during the ten years of peace, as the war had not affected Youzhou.

Today, Youzhou has a total population of 1.68 million, making it the largest city in northern Song Dynasty and the commercial, political and cultural center of northern China.

Especially commerce.

Over the past decade, more than twenty top-tier wealthy merchants have emerged here. They have obtained resources from the imperial court, and their industries have expanded to include iron ore, coal mines, river transport, land transport, grain, aquaculture, and handicrafts.

Because the imperial court undertook large-scale construction projects in Youzhou, and under Li Guang's governance, officials were honest and upright, and the income of many ordinary people was guaranteed.

This is also the main reason for the population surge.

From the perspective of the overall national layout, Zhao Huan's strategy of one capital and four capitals was implemented very well, at least in the north.

Li Guang was fifty-nine years old that year. Although he still held the title of Prefect of Youzhou, due to his political achievements and the extraordinary status of Youzhou, his rank was now only one level lower than Tang Ke's.

Officials of this rank may appear to be in local government, but they are actually of a higher rank than many officials in the imperial court.

After listening to Li Guang's summary of Youzhou's past and his plans for the future, Zhao Huan was very satisfied.

Once the area outside the pass is recovered, it will use Youzhou as a starting point to radiate outwards.

Building the Great Wall?

It does not exist.

To ensure long-term stability and defend against invasions by nomadic tribes from beyond the Great Wall, agricultural civilizations built the magnificent Great Wall.

That was a line of defense.

But now Zhao Huan doesn't want to defend; he wants to attack.

Offense is the best defense.

Youzhou was the forward position for the attack.

It's already late October, and snow has started to fall in Youzhou.

Beyond the Great Wall, snow and wind raged, the mountain peaks turned yellow and withered, and the whole world seemed to have lost all traces of life.

Wanyan Zonghan waited and waited in Shenzhou, but Zhao Huan's reply never came.

I felt somewhat disappointed, but mostly angry.

This emperor of the Southern Kingdom didn't even bother to pretend to write a reply.

Fortunately, it's already winter, so even if that brain-dead emperor is incredibly audacious, he can't possibly head north.

You should know that winter in Shenzhou is a hundred times harder to endure than in Youzhou.

It's something that those who grew up in the bustling city of Tokyo can't even imagine.

Wanyan Zonghan asserted in Shenzhou that Zhao Huan would not dare to come to Shenzhou, and that the battle would not begin until the following spring.

This is a good opportunity to have further discussions with the various tribes in the north.

Wanyan Zonghan had just finished boasting to his subordinates when he was immediately proven wrong.

At the end of October, urgent military intelligence arrived from the front.

Three hundred thousand Song soldiers gathered in a place called Gan County, a hundred miles away from Shenzhou City.

Zhao Huan personally led 100,000 troops, and Yue Fei led 100,000 elite troops from the left wing, while Zhong Shizhong led 100,000 elite troops from the right wing. They joined forces in Gan County.

Ganxian is a very small county town with a history dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The Tang army stationed its troops here when it conquered Liaodong.

The total population here was only 10,000, but due to the war, only 5,000 remain.

The people, oppressed by hunger and cold, peeked out from their cramped houses and saw large, well-armored armies marching past in neat formation through the wind and snow.

Its sharp and solemn aura was astonishing.

They built a camp on the slope ahead and made a big fire.

During this period, everyone in Gan County lived in constant fear, some even braving the wind and snow to flee, terrified that the Song army, clad in armor and wielding long swords, would massacre them.

The massacre that people feared did not occur.

Half a month later, Zhao Huan left with his men.

For the past two weeks, not only have ordinary people in Gan County been suffering, but Wanyan Zonghan in Shenzhou has also been unable to sleep every night.

He was constantly torn between fighting and running away.

Although they were crushed in the previous times, it is now winter, their season, so they have confidence.

Humans are strange creatures; they always think they can do it.

Even if they get beaten up badly and rubbed into the ground until they doubt their existence, they'll feel like they can cause trouble again once they get a little boost.

In the past, even if the Song army had a hundred times the courage, they wouldn't dare to venture deep into the north during winter.

Winter in Liaodong is no joke.

Why did the barbarian tribes beyond the Great Wall risk their lives to migrate south?

Because it's cold!

When it gets cold, not only crops, but also cattle and sheep will freeze to death.

Climate is crucial for warfare.

Why is Napoleon's statue hung in Russia?

Why is the head of state's portrait displayed in the Soviet Union?

Because it's cold!

The front line is long, but if it weren't for the freezing weather, logistics could still be provided.

But it's completely different when it gets cold.

Wanyan Zonghan never expected that the dog emperor would dare to come to Shenzhou in winter.

Finally, Wanyan Zonghan made a decision: to pull off a heist!

Of course, he didn't do it himself; he encouraged Wanyan Zonggan to do it.

Ever since Yao Xiong blinded one of his eyes, Wanyan Zonggan has been somewhat mentally unstable.

Wanyan Zonggan was a typical roughneck among the Wanyan clan. If one had to describe his appearance, he would resemble a gorilla.

His personality matches his appearance; he is extremely irritable.

He would fly into a rage at the slightest disagreement, and his already unpredictable temper only worsened after he lost an eye.

During this time in Shenzhou, he did nothing but spend all his time in brothels. As per his request, he had to play with two women to death every day, and then cut off their flesh and eat it raw.

Not only that, he also frequently went to military camps and would execute anyone he disliked on the spot.

He would kill people when he was unhappy, and when he was happy, he would take out Yao Xiong's skull and use it as a wine glass.

On this day, Wanyan Zonggan was summoned to Wanyan Zonghan's residence.

Seeing Wanyan Zonggan's drunken state, Wanyan Zonghan sneered, "The Song emperor is arrogant and has specifically named you to be killed to avenge Yao Xiong."

"How dare this dog emperor be so arrogant! If he dares to come, I will offer up his head!"

Wanyan Zonggan laughed heartily, and with that laugh, the fleshy muscles on his face trembled.

Wanyan Zonghan was somewhat surprised. He had originally planned to use the freezing weather and the Song army's inability to win to deceive Wanyan Zonggan, but he did not expect that this guy was already so confident.

That's good, that's good.

Someone has to go and die, to hold off the dog emperor.

Wanyan Zonghan looked at Wanyan Zonggan with great "admiration": Keep it up! I believe in you!

"Excellent! I have a plan. You lure the enemy in from the front, while I lead the main force out of the north gate, detour, and launch a surprise attack on Song. Song will surely be defeated!"

Wanyan Zonggan was indeed blind, having suffered a great shock, and his mind was somewhat clouded. He was completely unaware that Wanyan Zonghan was digging a pit for him, and he was enjoying the camp very much.

A day later, Wanyan Zonggan went to guard the city gate, while Wanyan Zonghan, along with his close associates and Wanyan Zongwang, set off from the north city and headed back to the capital.