The Jin army, overwhelmed and broken, fled into the distance. Some abandoned their armor and weapons, while others simply lay on the ground and pretended to be dead, abandoning even their warhorses.
The Song army did not pursue the enemy for an extended period.
Wanyan Zonghan was not defeated. The main force and elite troops of the Jin army were still intact. If they continued to pursue them and went too far into enemy territory, they would likely be counterattacked and killed by the Jin army.
Jie Qian led his personal guards and rushed to Yao Gu's army.
"This humble general, Jie Qian, pays his respects to Commander Yao!"
Although Jie Qian was under Zhong Shizhong's command, he was of a lower rank than Yao Gu, so he naturally had to pay his respects to Yao Gu upon meeting him.
Yao Gu was covered in dust and looked dazed, clearly having suffered a great shock. He sat there motionless.
Chen Pingsheng, who was standing to the side, simply shook his head. After bowing to Xie Qian, he said, "Commander Xie, Commander Yao is injured and needs to be sent back to Youzhou Prefecture urgently."
Li Shu, standing to the side, hurriedly said, "My men, follow me and pursue the Jin bandits, and kill them all without leaving a single one alive!"
Chen Pingsheng roared, "Li Shu, don't pursue a desperate enemy!"
Li Shu completely ignored Chen Pingsheng and sneered, "What do you know!"
"Li Shu, you idiot! Wanyan Zonghan's main force is still intact. If you take your men there now, you'll only hurt others if you want to die!"
Enraged, Li Shu drew his sword and strode over, wishing he could chop Chen Changsheng in half with one blow.
Jie Qian quickly stepped in front of Chen Pingsheng: "Stop!"
"I came here to meet Commander Yao on the orders of Marshal Zhong. Now that Commander Yao is seriously injured, we should retreat to Ruzhou and defend Juyong Pass first," Xie Qian continued. "The Marshal himself is leading the army and has already set off for Juyong Pass."
Chen Pingsheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. With the marshal himself here, the northern border was safe!
Upon hearing that Zhong Shidao had arrived, Li Shu quickly said, "I am willing to return to Ruzhou with Commander Jie to pay my respects to the Marshal."
Chen Pingsheng scoffed at Li Shu, thinking that while Li Shu was reckless and frivolous in battle, he was a master at flattery and claiming credit.
Upon hearing that the marshal had arrived, they immediately thought of going back to pay their respects to him.
I'm afraid they'll have to whitewash the war again when they get back.
Next, the Song army began to collect the bodies of their comrades who had died on the battlefield, a rule established by the Song army.
The fallen soldiers of the Song army were piled together and then burned to ashes.
As evening approached, the fiery clouds on the horizon illuminated the sky.
After the fallen Song soldiers were cremated, the logistics soldiers began to collect their ashes, each collecting a small amount to take back and register.
Too many people have died; there simply isn't enough time to cremate them all one by one.
This was the only simple and direct way we could use; it was a way of giving our family an explanation.
Two days later, the Song army withdrew from Juyong Pass.
The Northern Expedition of the Song Army's Left Route Army ended in failure.
News of Yang Zaixing's great victory on the western front had just reached the capital when news of Yao Gu's defeat followed.
Yao Gu was not sent back to Youzhou, but was placed under house arrest in Ruzhou to await further judgment.
The news of Yao Gu's defeat shocked the court, and several ministers who opposed the Northern Expedition suddenly emerged.
For example, Tang Ke, the Vice Minister of State Affairs.
He stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I do not wish to negotiate peace. I simply feel that the Northern Expedition is too hasty. It would not be too late to launch the Northern Expedition after another three to five years, when all the military garrisons in the north are ready. At least we will avoid a tragedy like Yao Gu’s rash attack.”
Before the Northern Expedition, Tang Ke praised Yao Gu as the pillar of the northern border, but now he has started to criticize him.
Privy Councilor Li Gang said, "Your Majesty, I believe we should emulate the strategy of Fan Zhongyan in conquering the Dangxiang, build fortified villages on the border, gradually nibble away at the southern territory of the Jin invaders, and push the battle line northward step by step."
Zhao Huan sat firmly on his throne and glanced at his ministers.
Zhao Ding also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I also agree with what Prime Minister Li said. If the war cannot be ended this year, the value of the paper money will be depreciated by 20%."
Zhao Huan frowned slightly; what Zhao Ding said was true.
In recent years, the Imperial Bank of the Great Song Dynasty has printed a large number of Jiaozi (paper money), and the total amount of Jiaozi is closely related to the gross domestic product of the Great Song Dynasty.
War inevitably leads to the consumption of large quantities of produced materials, causing prices to rise.
Xu Churen also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I agree with what Minister Li said. The Jin Kingdom is not a small country like the Tanguts. Even if it were Tanguts, our dynasty spent a hundred years destroying them on the foundation laid by our predecessors."
With several bigwigs speaking up, the others naturally broke their silence.
All the ministers unanimously said, "Your Majesty, personally withdraw the troops and defend the northern border!"
The emperor's gaze fell on Zong Ze and Han Shizhong, who had remained silent, and he asked, "Lord Zong, what do you have to say?"
Zong Ze stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe we should not withdraw our troops!"
Upon hearing this, all the ministers except for a few were taken aback, and all eyes were fixed on Zong Ze.
"Please tell me."
"With a great victory on the western front, the marshal is stationed in the northern border, and the eastern front is as stable as Mount Tai. The Jin invaders have mobilized their entire nation to fight against our Great Song. In less than half a year, after winter arrives, the country will be short of food, and the morale of the army will inevitably collapse. At that time, with internal and external troubles, why should Your Majesty worry about the Jin Kingdom not being destroyed!"
The emperor's eyes lit up; that was exactly what he was thinking.
How could he not know the ulterior motives of these civil officials?
Han Shizhong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I also have something to say."
"Marquis Yongwu, speak quickly!"
"In military campaigns, one must strike while the iron is hot, but the momentum will wane and eventually be exhausted! The western front is in high spirits. If we withdraw now, it will not only relieve Wanyan Zongbi's predicament, but also chill the hearts of the generals in the northwest, which will inevitably lead to a major blow to morale."
Zhao Huan was just waiting for someone to say that, so he thought, "Damn it, withdraw the troops like chicken legs!"
These old bastards, they'll back down at the drop of a hat!
I don't want to play if things don't go my way!
I'm going to fight to the bitter end today!
The emperor laughed heartily, his voice echoing throughout the hall: "Hahaha, Marquis Yongwu speaks well! How could I possibly betray the fervent passion of the soldiers on the front lines!"
Xu Churen was about to say again, "Your Majesty..."
Zhao Huan raised his hand and said, "Gentlemen, this is not the time to discuss whether to retreat, but to report on the supply of provisions to the north."
Seeing that the emperor was taking a stance that left no room for negotiation, the ministers decided against continuing to speak out.
Everyone present was a shrewd old fox. If the emperor insisted on doing it, then the emperor should do it. If he encountered setbacks or failed, he would naturally turn back.
Li Gang gave a report on the supply of grain and fodder in the north, and Xu Churen suddenly said, "I heard that Minister Yao is ill. Your Majesty should summon Yao Gu back to the capital to treat his injuries first."
The emperor's face immediately darkened at the mention of Yao Gu.
Xu Churen was startled.
"Minister Xu, this matter will be handled by the Censorate."
Xu Churen quickly bowed and said, "Your subject is being presumptuous."
The ministers were filled with doubt. Although the matter was to be handled by the Censorate, Duan Zhijie was nothing more than the emperor's lackey. How Yao Gu was dealt with was ultimately up to the emperor.
The Yao family was a military and noble family in the Song Dynasty. By the time of Yao Pingzhong and Yao Xiong, four generations had guarded the borders of the Song Dynasty and made great contributions.
The report also detailed the battle situation at the front and how Yao Xiongtie fought desperately to break through enemy lines.
Meanwhile, Yao Gu's son, Yao Pingzhong, was currently in the Northern Prefecture, guarding the grasslands.
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