Song Xingzhi a vécu sous le règne de l'empereur Huizong

Chapitre 132

Zhao Dezhao exclaimed in surprise, then immediately realized, "The person Xue Weiji asked you to see is her? Xue Weiji brought her here? Is he out of his mind? How could he be so bold!"

“I asked him to bring me here, so please don’t make things difficult for him.” Wanlan sighed, turned to look at Zhao Defang who was still frowning, and asked cautiously, “Zehua, are you calmed down? Can you find me some clothes to wear before you continue to be angry? I’m cold.”

Zhao Defang's face suddenly turned ashen. With a cold expression, he picked her up and placed her directly on the bed. He wrapped her up tightly in the quilt again, glared at her fiercely, and then turned to face the person behind him, saying in a deep voice, "Brother, this matter cannot be known to the Imperial Uncle."

Zhao Dezhao glanced at Wanlan, whose face was pale with cold, and turned to Zhao Defang, "Why did she come? This is no joke. When are you going to send her back?"

“She…” Zhao Defang glanced back at the woman staring intently at him, his heart tightened, and he closed his eyes briefly before whispering, “She won’t go back.”

"Defang!"

Zhao Dezhao stared at him in disbelief, then noticed the woman behind him biting her lip and smiling with narrowed eyes. He was furious and pointed at her, yelling, "What's wrong with you! This is a military camp! What kind of behavior is it for a woman to be here!"

Zhao Defang said calmly, "As long as my elder brother doesn't say anything, I won't let anyone know that she is a woman."

"Are you really going to take her all the way to Taiyuan? Do you know how dangerous that is!"

"I know."

Zhao Defang turned back and sat down on the edge of the bed. Wanlan, her eyes slightly moist, nestled into his arms, listening as he continued speaking to the man:

“I always make promises to her, but I can never keep them. This time she is determined to follow me, and I don’t want to abandon her feelings again. I hope you will grant my request and keep this a secret.”

Zhao Dezhao glared at the two embracing figures with shock and anger, his pupils contracting several times. He abruptly turned around, flicking his sleeve, and sneered, "You know how many dangers await you on this journey. If you insist on keeping her here, that's your business. Since you're not worried, why should I care? You can decide for yourselves!"

After saying this, he raised his hand and slammed the curtain shut, then strode away.

Wanlan stared at the tent flap that had been ripped open with a loud bang, and clicked her tongue in amazement. "Zehua, your brother's gone crazy too."

Zhao Defang looked down at her. "Also?" So she knew he was furious?

""Well!"

Wanlan lowered her eyes, her hands instinctively clutching his clothes, and murmured, "You promised to let me stay, you can't send me away again..."

Zhao Defang almost laughed out loud, watching her hair fall down her shoulders as she lowered her head. He raised his voice: "Starting tomorrow, come to my tent. You've been following Xue Weiji for so long, and you don't even know how to take care of yourself. If this happens again, I'll have Lan Wu send you back immediately."

Wanlan nodded hurriedly with a beaming smile, "Received!"

Chapter 114, The journey to Pengshan is not far (1)

On the first day of the third month of the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era, the army arrived in Zhenzhou.

The Northern Han people had already built fortifications in Longzhou, relying on its strategic location to defend against the Song army. Therefore, the primary strategy was to divide forces and besiege Longzhou. Emperor Taizong's plan was as follows:

Pan Mei, the Southern Commissioner of Xuanwei, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Route, leading troops including Cui Yanjin, Li Hanqiong, Cao Han, and Liu Yu to attack Taiyuan; Guo Jin, the Inspector of Yunzhou, was appointed Commander of the Shiling Pass north of Taiyuan to block the Liao army reinforcing from the north; Tian Renlang and Li Xu were responsible for reconnaissance of the moats and fortifications around Taiyuan and inspecting various siege equipment; Meng Xuan was appointed Military Commander, stationed at Zhenzhou, to block the Liao army reinforcing from the east; Hou Dou, the Transport Commissioner of Hebei, and Lei Dexiang, the Transport Commissioner of the Northern Route of Shaanxi, were respectively in charge of the transport affairs of the eastern and western routes of Taiyuan, and Li Baoxun, the Transport Commissioner of the Imperial Traveling Office, was appointed concurrently as the Transport Commissioner of the Northern Route.

Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Hao, personally led a portion of his main force out of Zhenzhou to contain the Liao army in Youzhou from a large-scale westward or southward advance. (Note: This deployment is taken from materials on the Song's conquest of the Northern Han.)

On the eighth day of the third month, Guo Jin, the military commissioner of Yunzhou, defeated the Northern Han army at Xilongzhai. On the ninth day of the third month, Hou Jilong, the commissioner of the Six Residences, was ordered to attack Qinzhou.

On the tenth day of the third month, Emperor Jingzong of Liao ordered Yelü Sha, the Southern Chancellor, to be the commander-in-chief and Prince Ji, Di Lie, to be the supervising officer, leading troops to aid the Northern Han. On the thirteenth day of the third month, Emperor Taizong ordered Wang Gui, the prefect of Zizhou, to assist Hou Jilong in attacking Qinzhou. On the sixteenth day of the third month, Yelü Sha led his army day and night to Baimaling, where they encountered Guo Jin's army blocking their reinforcements. The two armies faced each other across a large ravine. At this time, Yelü Sha and Di Lie had a disagreement. Ignoring Yelü Sha's objections, Di Lie rushed across the ravine to attack the Song army. Guo Jin launched a surprise attack when the Song army was halfway across, killing Di Lie and five other generals, and annihilating more than 10,000 Liao soldiers. The remaining Liao troops fled in panic. The Song army was overjoyed at their victory in attacking the reinforcements and, without fatigue, launched a full-scale attack. Zhao Defang accompanied the emperor out of Zhenzhou to contain the Liao army in Youzhou. Wanlan was left in Zhenzhou, where she often heard the soldiers reporting their victories and spreading the day's battle reports throughout the camp. Although she was worried, she gradually calmed down after hearing that the Song army was doing well all the way.

This part of the Northern Expedition was not difficult; she really should calm down. Throughout March, Wanlan only saw Zhao Defang twice, and both times were so rushed that the two didn't even have time to sit down for a meal or exchange a few words.

She could see the apology and worry in his eyes, but she simply smiled reassuringly as she saw him off. She had come here to follow him, not to hinder him.

For the past month, Lan Wu had stayed by her side every step of the way, as if afraid that she might be in danger. She increasingly enjoyed being with the logistics soldiers, listening to them vividly describe their daily battle reports, which was the thing that interested her most in the past two months.

On the first day of the fourth month, the marching troops of Lanzhou clashed with the Northern Han army and defeated them. On the second day of the fourth month, Meng County surrendered.

On the 14th, Emperor Taizong departed from Zhenzhou and headed for Taiyuan.

On the 16th, they captured Longzhou.

On the 21st, Lanzhou was captured.

On the 22nd, Emperor Taizong arrived in Taiyuan and set up camp on the east bank of the Fen River.

On the 23rd, Emperor Taizong personally visited the west side of Taiyuan City to inspect the military camps, fortifications, and siege equipment, and to comfort the generals. He also issued a personal edict informing the Northern Han ruler of his surrender, which was sent to the city walls, but the guards protecting the city walls dared not accept it. On the night of the 24th, Emperor Taizong went to the west side of the city to supervise the generals in attacking the city, but the attack failed.

On the first day of the fifth month, at night, the commander-in-chief launched a fierce attack on the southwest corner of the city. At dawn, Yangma City fell. Fan Chao, the Xuanhui Envoy of the Northern Han, surrendered. On the third day, Guo Wanchao, the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Han Cavalry and Infantry, came to surrender.

On the fourth day, another attempt was made to persuade Liu Jiyuan to surrender, while the Hui army launched a fierce attack on the city. With no reinforcements outside and no will to fight within, Liu Jiyuan surrendered at dawn on the sixth day of the fifth month.

Thus, the Northern Song Dynasty's Raoyi War ended in final victory, the annihilation of the Northern Han. At noon on the sixth day, under the blazing sun, cheering soldiers pushed and shoved their way out of the city. Ignoring Lan Wu's attempts to stop her, Wanlan stumbled and ran out of the city with the chaotic soldiers.

For over two months, although she and Zehua lived together, they rarely saw each other. Now that they had finally triumphed, she couldn't help but unleash all the pent-up eagerness and longing she had suppressed for so long, wishing only to see him as soon as possible. Moving in the surging crowd was quite difficult, and Wanlan's unsteady body swayed slightly in the pushing and shoving. "Wait!" Lanwu, who had fallen behind her, roared and tried to rush forward to save her, but he was too far away. As they exited the city wall, the victorious soldiers and the soldiers who remained embraced each other and shouted with camaraderie. Wanlan smiled lightly and swayed in the crowd, searching for familiar figures, but her unsteady footing made it impossible for her to walk steadily. She could only stand on tiptoe and look around, hoping to find him, but unexpectedly, a soldier bumped into her. Before anyone could help, an arm intercepted her and pulled her into someone's embrace.

A reassuring presence enveloped her, and the familiar, longed-for masculine scent stole her breath. "...I'm back."

A deep, moist voice sounded in her ear, and she couldn't help but feel her eyes well up with tears. She suddenly turned around and hugged his neck tightly. "Zehua!"

Zhao Defang's features were gentle and refined, the remnants of the battlefield vanished into nothingness, and she tightened her arms with a slight smile. "Why did you come out? You should have been waiting for me at the camp."

"I want to see you soon..."

The two, embracing and whispering, stood out among the cheering soldiers around them, unaware that three different pairs of eyes were fixed on them.

Lan Wu, who had been desperately trying to cross the river to protect Wan Lan, stopped and slowly retreated, his expression somber. Zhao Dezhao, on the other side, glared coldly at them, clearly displeased with their behavior. Zhao Hao, seated high on his horse, also noticed them as he turned his gaze. He initially widened his eyes in surprise, but frowned thoughtfully when his eyes fell on Wan Lan's face.

The war against the Northern Han ended in victory, with the Song Dynasty gaining ten prefectures, one army, forty-one counties, 35,220 households, and 30,000 troops. The Emperor issued an edict granting amnesty to criminals in Hedong who were not normally pardoned, and allowing the officials appointed by the puppet Han regime in various prefectures and counties to remain in their positions. The summer and autumn taxes for ordinary households were exempted for two years, and for one year in areas where the imperial army had not yet arrived. The city of Taiyuan was demolished and renamed Pingjin County, and monks, Taoists, and wealthy households were relocated to Xijing. On May 22nd, the army departed from Taiyuan and returned to Zhenzhou five days later. That evening, Wanlan heard that Zhao Hao was preparing to continue the attack on the Liao Dynasty, intending to seize the You and Ji regions, and began to panic.

The siege of Taiyuan had lasted for months, and the army's supplies were running out, leaving the soldiers exhausted. Li Jiyuan had surrendered, and the soldiers all hoped for rewards, but upon hearing that the emperor intended to launch another attack on the Liao Kingdom, none dared to go, yet none dared to speak out. Wanlan, frantic with worry, asked Xue Weiji to call Zhao Defang back to her tent. When he entered, he immediately declared, "The Northern Expedition cannot be fought again; another battle will surely lead to defeat! You must quickly find a way to stop the Imperial Uncle; we must return to the capital to rest."

Zhao Defang, who had been standing by the door, paused for a moment, then put down the account book and walked in. “Wanlan, I tried. My uncle is too complacent now. He wants to take Youzhou in one fell swoop. He won’t listen to any advice that is not to his liking.”

"Even if they won't listen, you must stop them!"