Press the attack and expand the gains.

The celebratory atmosphere in Shuozhou City had not yet dissipated when Shen Chengyou had already spread out a map of the entire border region in the central command tent. By candlelight, his fingertips traced the marks of cities occupied by the Khitans, and his tone was firm: "Although Yelü Lie has been captured, the Khitan western army is still besieging Yanmen Pass, and the eastern army is burning, killing, and looting in the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun. If we do not pursue our victory, the enemy will surely return with a vengeance after they catch their breath!"

General Li was deeply worried: "Our army has suffered more than two thousand casualties in this battle. The soldiers have not yet rested and may not be able to keep up with the march."

"The people are displaced, how can we have time to rest?" Shen Chengyou's eyes were burning. "Pass on my orders: the seriously wounded soldiers will remain in Shuozhou, with Wang Ruoxi continuing to lead the medical battalion to comfort the people and treat the wounded; the lightly wounded and the elite troops will be divided into two groups. One group will be led by me to reinforce Yanmen Pass; the other group will be led by you to the east to recapture the outer cities of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, gathering the scattered garrisons along the way, and then attacking the core strongholds after the two groups have converged!"

He turned to look at Wang Ruoxi, his eyes full of entrustment: "The people in the city have just suffered from the war and need to restore order as soon as possible. Apart from keeping enough supplies for the military, all the grain and supplies in the granaries should be distributed to the people. Then, organize manpower to repair houses and reclaim wasteland. Those prisoners of war who have committed lesser crimes can be incorporated into the labor corps to participate in the reconstruction, and those who perform meritorious service can have their sentences reduced or waived."

Wang Ruoxi nodded in agreement, "Go ahead with peace of mind. I will handle the matters in the city properly. Remember to be cautious in your military actions. I will be waiting for your triumphant return in Shuozhou."

At dawn the following day, the two armies set off separately. Shen Chengyou led 5,000 cavalry, rushing to the aid of Yanmen Pass under cover of darkness. Along the way, all he saw were scenes of devastation left by the Khitans: villages reduced to scorched earth, fertile fields destroyed, and the few surviving civilians he encountered were all emaciated and terrified. Wherever Shen Chengyou went, he left behind some provisions and soldiers to help the civilians build temporary shelters, while simultaneously gathering intelligence on the situation at Yanmen Pass.

Upon learning that the garrison at Yanmen Pass had held out for half a month and that their supplies were running low, Shen Chengyou immediately ordered a hasty march. When they arrived at Yanmen Pass, they encountered a fierce attack from the Khitan western army, and the city gates were on the verge of collapse. Shen Chengyou decisively employed a feint attack: he ordered some soldiers to disguise themselves as the main reinforcements, drawing the enemy's attention from the front; while he himself led elite cavalry to circle around to the enemy's rear and strike directly at their central camp.

Caught off guard, the Khitan army's rear camp was breached, and all their provisions and weapons were burned. The attacking soldiers were thrown into chaos, and the defenders of Yanmen Pass seized the opportunity to open the gates and charge. Caught in a pincer attack, the Khitan western army crumbled and fled north in disarray. After reuniting with the Yanmen Pass commander, Shen Chengyou did not rest but instead continued the pursuit after a day of reorganization, successively recapturing the three cities occupied by the Khitan.

Meanwhile, General Li's Eastern Route Army was also reporting frequent victories. They rallied scattered troops along the way, their ranks constantly growing, and their strict discipline ensured they committed no offenses against the people, earning them widespread popular support. Many civilians voluntarily joined the ranks, acting as guides or transporting provisions, assisting the army in recapturing lost territory. In just ten days, the Eastern Route Army had recaptured five cities on the outskirts of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, and their advance was now aimed directly at Jizhou, where the main force of the Khitan Eastern Route Army was entrenched.

Upon learning of the progress of the Eastern Route Army, Shen Chengyou immediately adjusted his deployment: he personally led three thousand cavalry to reinforce Jizhou, where they would join forces with General Li to encircle and annihilate the Khitan Eastern Route Army. Outside Jizhou, the two armies faced each other. Seeing that the Khitan army's formation was tight, Shen Chengyou cleverly used the strategy of "luring the enemy deep": he sent a small number of soldiers to challenge them, feigning defeat and retreat, thus leading the Khitan army into a pre-arranged ambush.

Once the Khitan army entered the ambush, Shen Chengyou gave the order, and the ambushers sprang into action, raining down arrows and rolling stones. The Khitan army was thrown into chaos, and Shen Chengyou led his cavalry in a charge, while General Li attacked from the other side. After a fierce battle, the main force of the Khitan eastern army was completely annihilated, and Jizhou was successfully recovered.

The successive victories greatly boosted the morale of the border troops and civilians. Cities previously occupied by the Khitans began to report their successes, either being recaptured by the defending forces or driven out by popular uprisings. Shen Chengyou ordered that all recaptured cities should have their granaries opened to distribute grain and taxes reduced. At the same time, he organized the troops and civilians to strengthen their defensive fortifications to prevent a Khitan counterattack.

Wang Ruoxi also achieved remarkable results in Shuozhou: the people in the city had been basically settled, the reconstruction work was progressing in an orderly manner, the prisoner-of-war labor corps had reclaimed thousands of acres of wasteland, and the autumn harvest was promising; the military medical camp not only treated soldiers but also provided free medical care to the people, earning her the reputation of "virtuous lady". She also sent people to promote the governance experience of Shuozhou to other recovered cities, so that the border could recover its vitality as soon as possible.

A month later, Shen Chengyou led his army to recover all the lost territories occupied by the Khitan. The remaining Khitan forces were forced to retreat to the northern desert and dared not venture south again. The border returned to its former peace, and the people returned to their homes to farm, weave cloth, and cook.

Standing atop the city wall of Yanmen Pass, Shen Chengyou gazed at the vast northern grasslands, his heart filled with countless emotions. He recalled his grandfather's years guarding the border, his own vow before setting out on the campaign, the soldiers' valiant fighting, and Wang Ruoxi's silent support. This victory not only protected the territory of Dajing but also safeguarded the peace of its people, making the Shen family's tradition of "protecting the country and ensuring the people's safety" even more prominent amidst the winds and sands of the border.