"Hasn't General Renduo already given me that white camel? I like it very much, why is there another gift?"
"Let your majesty know that the camel was sought by the local county officials. I was only asked to present it because I am old and my hair and beard match the color of the camel's fur, so it looks good to lead the camel... This thing cannot show my loyalty, nor can it be considered as my gift." Nita Baozhong replied slowly. "The two gifts I am talking about now are what we have worked hard to prepare for your majesty's trip."
Zhao Jiu immediately responded: "In that case, bring it up!"
Upon hearing this, Nida Baozhong raised his eyebrows slightly and turned back to look in the direction of the courtyard gate... For a banquet like this, everyone would naturally be searched, and gifts could only be sent after inspection.
Liu Yan went down personally, and a moment later two armored soldiers came in. Liu Yan also quickly turned back and whispered something in the official's ear.
Ren Duo Baozhong forced himself to be alert and stared at the reaction of Emperor Zhao Song. Under his gaze that did not waver for a moment, Emperor Zhao did not show any surprise or discomfort when he heard his words, and even the hard wings on his head did not shake at all... At this moment, Ren Duo Baozhong secretly cursed himself for being ridiculous, and then returned to normal.
When the gift was presented to the emperor, the soldiers opened it and took out a bloody head, which had not even been preserved with lime. When this thing was revealed, Lu Benzhong and Zheng Zhichang, several civil officials, turned pale, while the rest of the people, including Emperor Zhao, showed no extra expression, and were just curious at most.
Renduo Baozhong did not keep anyone in suspense. He walked out slowly and knelt beside the head.
"Sir, this is the head of little Ju Delu... Previously, the three departments of Yin, Shi, and Zuoxiang discussed returning to the right path, but they felt that they had done nothing to save their lives, so they came to ask me. I suggested that they take this man's life and make sure to present his head before your arrival today as a token of their gratitude... The leaders and soldiers of the three departments have not arrived yet, as they have all gone to fight for your sake."
Zhao Jiu rarely shook the hard wings on his fu hat, but he glanced at the pale-faced Lu Benzhong. When Lu Benzhong heard this and was looked at by the emperor, his face turned even paler.
"Who is little Ju Delu?" Zhao Jiuqing knew that this was not the time to worry about Lv Benzhong's incompetence in these matters, so he kept his expression unchanged and did not ask any further questions.
"Reporting to the emperor." Renduo Baozhong continued to answer seriously. "This man is a Dangxiang, but he is a Dangxiang from Liao. He is the Liao's Southwest Recruiting Envoy... A few years ago, the Jin people went south and the world was in chaos. Just like General Li Yongqi and General Li Shifu, father and son, entered Xia from Suide, this man also led more than 100,000 Khitan, Xi, Bohai, Mengwu, and Dangxiang people from Liao to Xia. He originally disdained to surrender to Xia, so he first attacked Zheshi Fengzhou and Linzhou, preparing to establish a career there. As a result, he was defeated and fled, leaving only 30,000 to 50,000 Khitan people. He could only surrender to Li Ganshun through the Xiazhou commander Weiming Heda, and thus obtained support from Hengshan. Only then did he gain a foothold in the area behind Xiazhou and Yinzhou, and also captured Jianning Village in Linzhou as his base. Li Ganshun used him to serve as a barrier to the northeast of Western Xia and isolate the Jin people."
By the way, Lu Benzhong on the side was actually a smart man. After hearing that this man led more than 100,000 former Liao people to escape to Western Xia, he suddenly realized that this gift was exactly what Emperor Zhao really needed!
The situation of Western Xia was actually settled after Yue Qu Hu and his three men succeeded in their surprise attack on Xingqing Prefecture. After Wu Jie took advantage of the situation and pressed into Hengshan, the situation was irreversible. However, the battle that followed was still very interesting, especially how to arrange Yelu Dashi, contain Yelu Dashi, and control Yelu Dashi as an ally...
The remnants of the Liao Kingdom were the weak spot of Yelu Dashi, who had a large territory but a small population. Before, Xiao... Zhao Heda had 70,000 to 80,000 people, and now Xiao Ju Delu had another 30,000 to 50,000 people. Together, they were enough for Yelu Dashi to take advantage of. Obviously, Ren Duo Baozhong, who was old and experienced, had sensed something from the expulsion of Zhao Heda, and had forcibly found a real credit for the tribes at the eastern end of Hengshan from the situation of being forced to surrender.
But thinking of this, Lu Benzhong became more and more uneasy... He thought that this time he came here was the first time to do serious work after his father retired and he became an official, but he was outshined by an old man in his seventies. It was really embarrassing. He didn't know if the emperor would still think he was useful after this incident?
On the other hand, Zhao Guanjia certainly didn't care about Lv Benzhong's worries. He was overjoyed when he realized his mistake, but he didn't show it on his face. He just nodded slightly and made a joke with a straight face:
"If the first gift is a human head, then the second gift could be a map?"
Renduo Baozhong was stunned for a moment, obviously not understanding the low-brow joke of Emperor Zhao. Not only that, he was a little uneasy because Emperor Zhao did not show any joy. He just said seriously: "Reporting to the emperor, the second gift is not a map, but a city..."
This time it was Zhao Jiu's turn to be stunned, but only for a moment before he blurted out, "Is it Lingzhou? I remember Wu Jie had a military report saying that your nephew Ren Duoshitai was the commander of Yanzhou and was the first one to be sent to Lingzhou by Cha Ge. That's why he asked Yang Zheng, who was familiar with your nephew, to pursue him."
"Your Majesty has spoken the truth." Bao Zhong became more respectful. "I have an agreement with Shi Tai... Cha Ge entered Lingzhou, and there was no way forward. This is a dead end in the art of war. We dare not delay, and can only cross the river hastily to fight. I asked him to contact the rest of the army, and then communicate with Wu Dutong and Yue Dutong, and make sure to take Lingzhou City for the Majesty, and stop Cha Ge's thoughts."
"Wouldn't Brother Cha suspect your nephew?" Lü Benzhong finally couldn't hold back and questioned. "You must know that you were dismissed because you were planning to return to the Song Dynasty."
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