Chapter 315: Please Enter the Trap
Youzhou, Jizhou, Shunzhou, and Danzhou are all important cities, but they are located deep in the heart of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. The Liao Kingdom, which was short of troops, only deployed a few thousand Liao troops in each of these large cities, of which nearly half were Han troops.
When the Regent King Zhao Defang led tens of thousands of troops to the north, the Liao troops defending the city were already frightened. It was unknown when the reinforcements would arrive, and the defenders were all panicked and had a weak will to resist.
The Song army was unstoppable, and wherever the troops went, they broke through the enemy city like a rotten wood. Within ten days, the Eastern Route Army of the Song Dynasty captured four cities in a row, Youzhou, Jizhou, Shunzhou, and Danzhou, and all of them were incorporated into the territory of the Song Dynasty.
The two young generals Cao Wei and Gao Yingxiong were invincible and invincible. After each of them led the vanguard army to conquer Shunzhou and Danzhou, they were ordered to rest and defend the city in place, waiting for the next battle order.
The military was excited and the people were looking forward to His Royal Highness Zhao Defang, the Prince of Regent, leading the army to recover the entire territory of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun
in one go. The father and son of the Yang family of the Western Route Army lived up to expectations and led more than 40,000 soldiers and horses to attack from Yanmen Pass and capture Huanzhou City in one day.
With the three thousand divine arm bows and three hundred large and small thunder bombs allocated by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, Yang Yanzhao fought this battle easily and happily!
After Shuozhou, Yingzhou, and Yunzhou were recaptured, Yang Yanzhao took the opportunity to capture Weizhou.
The Eastern and Western Route Armies of the Song Army, at this time, had already formed a pincer attack and surrounded the Liao Army of the remaining four states from the south.
The veteran general Yang Ye, the Golden Blade Commander, led his troops to Yunzhou. After Yang Yanzhao captured Weizhou, he led a thousand personal soldiers through the Great Wall Pass to meet His Royal Highness the Prince Regent in Youzhou City to discuss the next battle plan.
After meeting His Royal Highness the Prince Regent in the central army tent, Yang Yanzhao sat down, drank two sips of tea to moisten his dry throat, and then could not wait to ask for an order to send troops.
"Your Highness, our eastern and western armies have already captured the twelve states of Yanyun, and only four states have not been taken.
I heard that Yelu Xiu'ge will lead 60,000 Liao reinforcements to arrive soon. I ask for an order to quickly capture the remaining four states before the Liao reinforcements arrive, and to stop the Liao reinforcements outside the Great Wall, which made Yelu Xiu'ge so anxious that he could only stare with anger. "The Regent Zhao Defang smiled, with a cunning
and sinister look in his eyes. "The Liao Kingdom has finally mobilized 60,000 elite troops to rescue us, so let the main force of the Liao army come in and kill more Liao troops and damage the Liao Kingdom's combat power, thus shaking the foundation of its country."
"Your Highness! Do you want to catch a turtle in a jar and then shut the door to beat the dog?..." Yang Yanzhao stood up excitedly, "Your Highness, just give the order on how to kill the enemy!"
Sima Qingyun couldn't help but got a sandalwood fan and shook the fan in his hand habitually, smiling more sinisterly and cunningly than the Regent Prince: "Your Highness, I will be in Youzhou City in person, it will be absolutely safe, you can go without worry! Cao Wei and Gao Yingxiong will sneak out from Shanhaiguan and block Juyongguan and Gubeikou, then we will shut the door to beat the dog!"...
In the capital of Liao State, there was a hint of worry and fatigue on the beautiful face of Empress Dowager Xiao.
The king is young, and as the empress dowager who rules the country from behind the curtain, she has to scheme against those restless noble ministers every day, and also has to worry about state affairs. Life is not easy!
Yelu Xiezhen and Han Derang walked in, "Greetings to the empress dowager." "Greetings to the empress dowager." Empress
Dowager Xiao rubbed her forehead to get rid of the fatigue on her face, "No need to be polite, just stand up and take a seat!"
After Yelu Xiezhen and Han Derang sat down, they saw the fatigue that could not be concealed in Empress Dowager Xiao's face. Han Derang said distressedly, "Empress Dowager, you have been busy with government affairs these days, you should pay more attention to rest!"
Empress Dowager Xiao put down her slender hands that were rubbing her forehead and smiled at Han Derang. He smiled, "Thank you for your worry. It's okay. I'll just have a bowl of ginseng soup and take a nap later."
Yelu Xiezhen also said with concern, "Queen Mother, Yelu Xiu'ge has led 60,000 troops to reinforce us. The 40,000 troops mobilized from the tribe will arrive soon. I will lead the second reinforcement to the south immediately. Even if the Song army takes a few states, my 100,000 elite troops will definitely be able to drive the enemy out again. You can rest assured to take care of your body and wait for the good news of the army's triumphant return!"
"Alas!..." Empress Dowager Xiao sighed, "The one who led the army to the north was the Song Dynasty's god of war, the regent Zhao Defang. How can I rest assured to recuperate and wait for the news of the army's triumphant return?
The emperor of Song died suddenly, and a young ruler ascended the throne. The foundation is unstable and the court is in turmoil. The Song army suffered heavy losses in the last war. Now is the time for the country to recuperate. Why did Zhao Defang suddenly launch another northern expedition? "
Yelü Xiezhen said with a solemn expression, "Zhao Defang cannot be judged by ordinary people. He is a man of great talent and determination. The former Emperor of Song was jealous of him and refused to use him. He regarded him as a thorn in his side and wanted to get rid of him. Now, although a young ruler has ascended the throne, Zhao Defang is already a powerful regent, and has become a major concern for Daliang!"
Han Derang said disapprovingly, "Zhao Although Defang is talented, his foundation in the court is not stable because he has offended many court officials in the investigation of corruption. Otherwise, why would he not dare to take the throne himself and push a seven-year-old child to the throne.
As long as our army can withstand the fierce attack of the Song army on the front line and make Zhao Defang's Northern Expedition return in vain, his prestige in the court will inevitably be shaken. How could the princes of Emperor Taizong of Song be willing to be useless? The idle prince with no power.
As long as the Song Kingdom has internal turmoil in order to fight for the throne, then it will be the time for our Liao Kingdom to conquer the Song Kingdom. Li Yuanhao, who founded the Western Xia Kingdom and became the king, is probably also waiting for that opportunity. By then, the armies of our Liao Kingdom and Western Xia will march south to the Central Plains. What will a mere Zhao Defang have to fear? "After
Han Derang's analysis, the worries of Empress Dowager Xiao and Yelu Xiezhen immediately dissipated and they felt relieved.
Empress Dowager Xiao looked at her handsome and elegant old lover with approval, her eyes full of affection, "Derang, although you are not proficient in leading troops and fighting, you are very strategic, calm and wise, with a broad vision, and you are indeed a pillar of the Liao Kingdom!"
Han Derang, who was praised by his old lover, was very happy and expressed his loyalty, "Thank you for your praise, Empress Dowager. I will be loyal to you and the emperor and work hard for you."
Yelu Xiezhen watched coldly, feeling a little disgusted with this pretty boy. But the Empress Dowager valued and relied on him, so she didn't dare to say anything sarcastic or disdainful, but just smiled twice to give Han Derang a bit of face.
Empress Xiao was relieved by her old lover's words. After chatting about government affairs, she sent Yelu Xiezhen away and left Han Derang to sleep with her.
After Yelu Xiezhen left the Empress Dowager's bedroom, he angrily cursed: "This Han man who got favor by relying on a pretty boy may have some talent, but his heart is despicable! After the young emperor takes power, I will help the emperor's nephew to deal with him!"