54
The annihilation of the remnants of Prince An's faction was like a thorough downpour, washing away the long-standing gloom over Bianjing. The atmosphere at court was instantly cleansed, and Zhao Zhen seized the opportunity to rectify official corruption and promote a group of capable ministers. However, everyone knew that beneath this brief calm lay a much larger storm.
Yelü Zongzhen, who had fled back to Liao, was indeed unwilling to accept defeat. He went to great lengths to portray the Song dynasty as "treacherous" and "aggressive" before the Liao emperor, blaming his own miserable situation on Song territory on the Song court's "conspiracy." The Liao nobles, who were already resentful of the interests of the border markets, were outraged, and the pro-war faction quickly gained momentum.
Soon after, an urgent military report arrived from the border—the Liao Kingdom, citing the Song court's unilateral adjustment of border market taxes and the detention of Liao envoys, tore up the peace treaty, and General Xiao Tianzuo led 200,000 iron cavalry to launch a fierce attack on Yanmen Pass!
Beacon fires suddenly broke out on the border, and battle reports flew into Bianjing like snowflakes. The court and the public were shaken.
On the golden throne, Zhao Zhen's face was solemn as he glanced at the civil and military officials below. The voices advocating war now held absolute sway.
"Your Majesty! The Liao people have broken their promise and brazenly invaded our border! I request that you grant me permission to immediately dispatch troops to aid Yanmen Pass and deliver a crushing blow to the Liao barbarians!" Privy Councilor Di Qing, his voice booming like a bell, stepped forward first.
"I second that proposal!"
"Your subject is willing to be the vanguard!"
The generals all volunteered for battle, their spirits high.
Among the civil officials, although some were still concerned about the nation's strength, in the face of Liao's blatant aggression, any talk of retreat seemed inappropriate.
Zhao Zhen abruptly stood up, displaying his imperial majesty: "The Liao people are wicked, invading our territory and oppressing our people! My mind is made up. We will send troops north to defend our land! I appoint Di Qing as the Grand General of the Northern Expedition, to oversee the border war! All troops in the prefectures and counties are at your command!"
"Your subject obeys the decree!" Di Qing responded with a resounding thud.
In an instant, provisions, weapons, and soldiers were continuously transported to the northern border. While Bianjing City remained prosperous, a somber atmosphere pervaded it. In restaurants and teahouses, the only topic of conversation was the border war.
Inside Kaifeng Prefecture, the atmosphere was even more somber. Although Bao Zheng was not directly involved in military affairs, he bore heavy responsibilities, including stabilizing the capital region, assisting with logistics, and preventing sabotage by enemy spies. Zhan Zhao, as an imperial bodyguard, could have remained in Bianjing, but he volunteered to Bao Zheng and Emperor Zhao Zhen.
"Your Majesty, my lord! The border is in grave danger. Zhan Zhao is willing to go to the front lines and do my utmost!" Zhan Zhao knelt on one knee, his tone resolute. He knew that his martial arts skills and experience scouting in Liao might be of use on the battlefield. Deeper still, however, a sense of responsibility ingrained in his blood compelled him to stand on the front lines of defending his country.
Looking at the resolute gaze of Zhan Zhao, Zhao Zhen was filled with mixed emotions. His younger brother had ultimately been completely drawn into the turmoil of the nation. He pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Granted! Zhan Zhao, I hereby appoint you as a special envoy to the Emperor, accompanying the army as an advisor, to assist in the defense of Yanmen! I hope you will live up to my expectations and uphold the prestige of our nation!"
"Your subject will certainly not fail in his mission!" Zhan Zhao kowtowed and accepted the decree.
On the eve of leaving Beijing, at Xiaoyou's villa.
Xuan Yuan Tianyi silently packed Zhan Zhao's belongings, placing various healing and detoxifying pills inside. She didn't say much, her movements were meticulous and focused.
Zhan Zhao stood behind her, watching her slender yet upright back, his heart filled with reluctance and longing. He stepped forward, gently embraced her from behind, rested his chin on the top of her head, and inhaled her familiar cool fragrance.
"Wait for me to come back," he whispered in her ear.
Xuanyuan Tianyi paused slightly, then relaxed and leaned against him, softly humming in agreement. She turned around, wrapped her arms around Zhan Zhao's waist, buried her head in his chest, and urged, "Take care of yourself, and come back alive."
A thousand words are left unsaid.
The following day, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, along with the reinforcements, left Bianjing and headed to the war-torn northern frontier.
Outside Yanmen Pass, the battle had reached a stalemate. The Liao cavalry were fierce and their offensive was relentless. The Song army, relying on the natural defenses of the pass, fought desperately, suffering heavy casualties. Di Qing was a shrewd and experienced strategist, advancing steadily and constantly redeploying troops to fill gaps in the defensive line, but he was under immense pressure from the Liao army's relentless attacks.
Upon their arrival, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang did not remain in the relatively safe central command tent, but instead volunteered to go to the most critical frontline passes. Zhan Zhao, with his superb martial arts and keen insight, repeatedly killed Liao generals and destroyed their siege equipment in clashes, greatly boosting the morale of the defending troops. Bai Yutang, on the other hand, utilized his agility and resourcefulness, frequently infiltrating Liao camps to gather intelligence or create chaos, much to the annoyance of the Liao army.
On this day, the Liao army launched another large-scale attack. A dark mass of cavalry surged toward the city walls like a tidal wave, and arrows rained down like locusts, blotting out the sky. On the city walls, Song soldiers fought valiantly, with rolling logs, stones, and molten oil pouring down, their battle cries shaking the heavens.
Zhan Zhao, wielding his giant sword, stood atop the battlements. With each flash of his blade, a Liao soldier would fall. His gaze was sharp as he calmly directed his soldiers to fill the gaps in the defenses. Blood stained his battle robe, indistinguishable between enemy and personal blood.
Just as the battle was at its most intense, a troop of exceptionally finely dressed cavalry suddenly charged out from the Liao army ranks, surrounding a female general. The general, clad in fiery red Khitan armor, holding a longbow, possessed a radiant face and a heroic bearing; she was none other than Princess Yaoguang, Yelü Yao!
She actually came to the front lines too!
Yelü Yao rode to the front lines, ignoring the swirling arrows, her gaze fixed intently on the city wall, quickly locking onto the tall, red-clad figure. Although Zhan Zhao was covered in dust and his battle robes stained with blood, his familiar features and imposing presence instantly confirmed to her – this was the "Han Zhao" who had left such a deep impression on her in Youzhou, the one she had even risked her life to deliver a message to! The renowned Southern Hero Zhan Zhao!
His true appearance was so heroic and extraordinary! Compared to his ordinary appearance after the disguise, Zhan Zhao, now fighting a bloody battle, possessed an even more captivating masculine spirit. Yelü Yao's interest and desire to conquer, which had never been extinguished, flared up instantly like a flame doused with oil!
She suddenly raised her longbow, channeled her inner strength, and her clear, arrogant voice echoed across the battlefield, even drowning out some of the battle cries:
"Listen up, Zhan Zhao on the city wall! I am Yao Guang of the Great Liao! When you were in Youzhou, I knew you were no ordinary person! Now that I have seen you, you are indeed a hero! If you are willing to surrender to my Great Liao, I will ask my father for permission to make you my son-in-law! Wealth, power, and status will be within your grasp! Why should you condescend to the Song Kingdom?"
Upon hearing this, an eerie silence fell over the battlefield. Both the Song and Liao armies were bewildered by this sudden "marriage proposal on the battlefield."
On the city wall, Bai Yutang nearly stumbled, pointing at Yelü Yao below and saying to Zhan Zhao, "Cat! Has this Liao princess fallen for you and gone mad? Coming to the front lines to recruit a husband?"
Zhan Zhao's brows furrowed, his face ashen. He stepped forward, channeling his inner strength; his voice, like the clang of metal on metal, echoed clearly across the battlefield.
"I appreciate the princess's kindness! However, as a subject of the Song Dynasty, I have only loyalty to the emperor and love for my country, and I have never thought of betraying my homeland! Princess, please do not repeat these words! Yanmen Pass is here, and I am here. Those who wish to invade our territory will only face a battle!"
His voice was strong and resolute, carrying an unquestionable determination and loyalty. It expressed his gratitude for the news he had sent in the past, and clearly drew a line between them, instantly igniting the morale of the Song army on the city wall!
"There is only one way: war!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The Song soldiers were filled with righteous indignation, their roars shaking the heavens and the earth.
Yelü Yao felt utterly humiliated when Zhan Zhao publicly and firmly rejected her, especially in front of both armies. Her pretty face flushed crimson. Although she knew Zhan Zhao was devoted to the Song Dynasty, she hadn't expected him to be so ruthless. Her stubborn desire to conquer burned even more fiercely within her.
She stomped her foot hard, turned her horse around, and charged back to her own lines.
This unexpected incident did not affect the brutality of the battle. The Liao army's attack remained fierce, and the fighting continued until sunset, ending only with the Liao army temporarily retreating, leaving behind thousands of corpses.
Yelü Yao returned to the Liao army camp, growing angrier and more resentful with each passing day. She had always had everything she wanted, and had never experienced such a decisive rejection. The more resolute Zhan Zhao was, the stronger her determination to win him became.
She stormed into the central command tent and yelled at Xiao Tianzuo, who was discussing matters with his generals: "General Xiao! I don't care! I must have that Zhan Zhao! You find a way!"
Xiao Tianzuo was a rough and unruly military general, and he was quite troubled by the capricious princess's antics, but he dared not offend her, so he could only say perfunctorily, "Your Highness, in a war, this matter cannot be rushed... We can discuss it further after our army has broken through Yanmen Pass..."
Seeing Xiao Tianzuo's evasiveness, Yelü Yao knew that relying on these military generals was useless, so she flung her sleeves and left the tent. She didn't give up, however, and immediately set off, riding swiftly back to the Liao capital, to find the person who could make the decisions—her mother.
Upon returning to the capital, Yelü Yao stormed into the Empress Dowager's palace, threw herself into her arms, and embellished her story of being rejected by Zhan Zhao on the battlefield. Her words were filled with determination to have Zhan Zhao, and she finally pleaded, "Mother! I have never cared for anyone so much! I must have Zhan Zhao! Please issue an edict to have my brother send troops to raze Yanmen Pass and bring him here to be my son-in-law!"
The Empress Dowager of Liao was nearly fifty years old, well-preserved, and still possessed a graceful charm, with the air of authority and shrewdness of a ruler in her eyes. She listened to her daughter's sobs, initially paying no attention, assuming it was just a young girl throwing a tantrum. But when she heard the name "Zhan Zhao" and her daughter's description of his bearing and martial arts skills, her expression gradually became serious.
"Zhan Zhao? Is that the imperial bodyguard of Emperor Song, Zhan Zhao of Kaifeng Prefecture? Xuan Yuan Tianyi's husband?" The Empress Dowager interrupted her daughter's sobbing and asked in a deep voice, her tone already different.
"It's him!" Yelü Yao didn't notice the change in her mother's tone and nodded while still sobbing. "Mother, you've heard of him too? So what if he's Xuanyuan Tianyi's husband? Is my Liao princess inferior to a mere woman from the martial world?"
"Shut up!" The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table, her voice sharp and furious, her face contorted with unprecedented rage. "Nonsense! Utter nonsense! Do you know who Xuan Yuan Tianyi is? She is the Master of Xiaoyao Tower! Even your father and brother treat her with deference! How dare you utter such arrogant words and even try to steal her man? Do you think our Great Liao already faces enough trouble?"
The Empress Dowager's stern rebuke was like a bucket of ice water poured over her head, leaving Yelü Yao stunned. She had never seen her mother so angry with her, especially over a "woman from the martial world." She felt wronged and confused: "Mother! It's just Xuanyuan Tianyi..."
"However?" The Empress Dowager trembled with rage, pointing at Yelü Yao's nose and scolding, "What do you know! The Xuanyuan clan has a profound foundation, and the Xiaoyao Tower's influence is deeply entrenched, far beyond your imagination! And Xuanyuan Tianyi is even more unfathomable! Back then... never mind, let's not dwell on the past! You only need to know that provoking her will definitely not end well! Forget about it! From now on, you are not allowed to mention the name Zhan Zhao again!"
Yelü Yao was thoroughly scolded. Seeing her mother's unquestionable rage, she dared not argue any further. She could only lower her head, bite her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, her heart filled with resentment and bitterness.
Why? Why can't she steal Xuan Yuan Tianyi's man? She is the most noble princess of the Liao Dynasty!
Seeing her like this, the Empress Dowager knew she hadn't truly listened, and wearily waved her hand: "Go! Reflect on your actions! If I hear you bringing this up again, I will not let you off lightly!"
Yelü Yao retreated dejectedly, returning to her palace, feeling increasingly aggrieved. Her mother's warning hadn't deterred her; instead, it had fueled her rebellious spirit. Yelü Yao had never failed to get what she wanted! Since open methods didn't work, she would find another way! She refused to believe that with the power of the Liao Dynasty and her own methods, they couldn't subdue Zhan Zhao!
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