The morale of the army was surprisingly boosted and gradually recovered.

Of course, these things alone are destined to take three or four days, and after that, it seems that the attack will have to be reorganized and even the troops will need to be recruited again.

In a daze, no one cared that it was already the second half of the twelfth lunar month and the end of the year could be counted on fingers.

From the perspective of the Song people, the next year was the tenth year of Jianyan, but from the perspective of the Jin people, it was the sixth year of Huangtong... However, no one knew whether it would be Jianyan or Huangtong in the two rivers next year.

Time goes back to the day when Gao Qingyi persuaded King Wushu of Wei with his sharp tongue. Just when the Jin army was still in a panic over the death of Wang Bolun in battle, on the Hedong side, Niu Gao's troops under Li Yanxian took the lead in capturing the northern gate of Yangliang.

This time is actually four or five days later than the worst case scenario that Balisu had expected.

In other words, the Song army in Hedong did not perform any miracles, nor did they perform any sloppy operations. Instead, they steadily opened up the Queshu Valley at an ordinary speed that was within everyone's expectations... It took about forty days in total.

The process was unremarkable.

From the Jin army's side, they implemented the arrangements made before Bali left. In addition to defending Yangliang South Gate, North Gate, and Lingshi City in the middle, they also set up camps at many dangerous points along the valley, resisting layer by layer. Once they were frustrated, they retreated without hesitation, only seeking to delay, not to fight to the death.

For the Song army, the whole process was a saturation attack mode.

There were artillery carts. Emperor Zhao personally issued an order to have Mei Li, a direct scholar, build a batch of small, lightweight artillery carts with standardized parts. Then they were equipped with wheels and used animal power for traction. Starting from Yangliang South Pass, these artillery carts were constantly worn out and replenished to ensure that they would always be useful.

At the same time, in response to the Han army's surrender, the rebels who were familiar with the terrain crossed the small trails and launched a surprise attack from behind. They also launched night attacks, fire attacks, and violent attacks by the frontal troops. The Poxi army also used camels to climb high and launch small crossbows. All the necessary tactics were used.

With various means, and relying on its military advantage, the Song army took turns to fight day and night. In the end, they followed the Fen River all the way north, steadily opened up the Queshu Valley, broke through two passes, and captured Lingshi City.

Of course, Emperor Zhao was not just slacking off during these forty days... He and his husband Lu Yihao, who was accompanying the army, were stationed in Xiangling and Linfen respectively, across the Fen River. They still needed to appease the people, set up logistics stations, and participate in decision-making on respective affairs in the rear and on the front lines, so they were extremely busy.

"What pattern is woven on this carpet?"

At noon that day, at the same time that Niu Gao entered the northern gate of Yangliang, at the foot of Mount Gushan, in the narrow and cramped lobby of the Xiangling County Government, Emperor Zhao suddenly raised an interesting question in public.

The official had spoken, so naturally the people below had to respond, so they all hurriedly circled around the luxurious and overly large red Persian carpet on the floor of the hall, trying to make out something.

Soon, the lion and antelope facing each other on the top of the carpet were immediately distinguished. Of the four plants below, the roses, roses and palm trees, which are native to northern China and the Central Plains, were of course quickly identified.

However, as for the remaining two plants with distinct characteristics, which are also a flower and a tree, no one dares to draw a conclusion.

"Your Majesty." The well-read scholar Fan Zongyin bowed. "This tree looks very much like a lacquer tree, but the fruit it has is really puzzling..."

Zhao Jiu immediately looked at the direct scholar Mei Li.

Mei Li did not dare to neglect the matter and immediately bowed his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I really do not recognize this tree, but I have some guesses about the nuts in the basket under the tree... If my guess is correct, this should be a kind of lacquer tree nut that is a specialty of Persia, called pistachio. It is crispy and oily inside, and it is fragrant when chewed. It is a specialty of Persia... But this thing is easily affected by moisture, and once it is affected by moisture, it will easily become moldy. Therefore, it is only occasionally seen in the southeast port, and it is not sold as a commodity. Moreover, it is said that this tree likes the sun very much and is only produced in the mountains of Persia. Once transplanted, there will be no such fruit."

"If that's the case, then the oranges in the south of the Huai River are not as good as the tangerines in the north of the Huai River." Fan Zongyin sighed. "There are similar relatives among the lacquer trees, but it is the Pistacia chinensis... The bitterness of Pistacia chinensis is well known throughout the world, but it unexpectedly turns into the fragrant pistachio in Persia."

Zhao Jiu nodded slowly. Of course he knew what it was... pistachio. However, pistachio was actually from the same genus as Pistacia chinensis, both being a type of lacquer tree. This was truly an eye-opener for him.

"What about this last flower?"

After nodding, Zhao Jiu continued to sit in front of the carpet and ask questions.

"This may just be a common purple-red flower in Persia..." Fan Zongyin chuckled. "Flowers are so common. There are tens of millions of flowers in the world. It is not necessary to distinguish them clearly."

After these words were spoken, Mei Li, who was about to explain, found it difficult to speak.

"This is Persian safflower." Zhao Jiu finally sat there and spoke helplessly. "It is one of the most famous specialties of Persia, purple flowers and red columns... The most valuable is the red column, which is not only a holy medicine for gynecology, but also a top spice and a good thing for health preservation... So even though the flower color is white and purple, it is called safflower. The best safflower can be exchanged for the same weight of gold."

Fan Zongyin was embarrassed for a moment.

Fortunately, Zhao Jiu ignored him and looked directly at a person beside the carpet in the hall: "Xiao Qing, Dashilin Ya has already invaded the Karakhanid Khanate and seized 3,000 miles of land, reaching Hezhong. Now that he is giving me a gift, it is impossible for him to only send Persian carpets and not Persian safflowers, right?"

The man immediately bowed respectfully, then raised his head and smiled, speaking in a Hebei dialect: "Your Majesty, you are joking. Since foreign officials have presented special products from Persia and Hezhong to you, how can I not present Persian safflower?"

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