Prime Minister

Chapter 1373: Western Expedition

Chapter 1373: Western Expedition

The plains of the Jianghuai region in late autumn.

The golden and red rice paddies rippled in the breeze.

Across the vast fields, the imperial edict, like a biting autumn wind, swept across the land.

Teams of officials and local clerks dressed in plain-colored official robes broke the tranquility of the countryside.

They carried wooden compasses and bamboo ropes for measuring fields on their shoulders, and fish-scale map books recording the old state of the fields tucked under their armpits, trudging through the crisscrossing field ridges.

The officials, with eyes like hawks, selected an area, and immediately their yamen runners stretched the long measuring rope taut.

With a soft "thud," the rope hit the ground.

Holding measuring poles and ropes, they moved back and forth across the vast fields, meticulously measuring the dimensions of the land.

The clerk in charge of recording sat cross-legged in front of a makeshift wooden table, engrossed in the open book, his pen tip dipped in thick ink, his eyes fixed on the comparison between the measurement data and the old book. Wherever there was a discrepancy, he ruthlessly circled it in striking red.

In the distance, as far as the eye can see, are the manors of local gentry and powerful families, surrounded by high walls and bamboo groves.

The once towering gates are now being repeatedly knocked open by Kiyota's troops.

This time, they had gotten wind of the plan early: the imperial court was going to use swift and decisive measures to clear the fields, starting with the Jianghuai region.

These pampered landlords were tense. Some eagerly waved yellowed ancestral deeds from who-knows-which dynasty, claiming that the boundaries of their land were blurred and indistinguishable; others tried to remain calm and surrounded the officials, citing classical texts to argue their case.

However, the trend was unstoppable.

After the clerks dispersed, they returned to the special envoy sent by the court, like crows returning to their nest, to report and complain.

But the special envoy, with a cold expression, suddenly raised a dark, heavy bronze token inscribed with the four large characters "Strict Examination and Discipline".

"You should not make things difficult for me; this is a clear decree from the imperial court."

"This land survey is crucial to the very foundation of the nation's tax revenue and is a major undertaking for the country's reform and modernization! You must all work together with one heart and one mind to enforce the law impartially! Anyone who dares to be perfunctory, shirk their responsibilities, or engage in favoritism and fraud will have their misdeeds recorded in the performance evaluation book and will surely be reported to the Emperor, thus ruining their official career!"

When the token was raised, even the clerks below couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

Officials who had once had close ties with local powerful figures could only shake their heads at this moment.

Under the envoy's hawk-like gaze, no one dared to have the slightest thought of favoritism. They could only grit their teeth and painstakingly and clearly transcribe the "Kuroda" figures that had been hidden in the account books for many years, stroke by stroke, with trembling hands.

Farmers, who had been watching from afar, gathered under an ancient tree beside the field ridge. They wore tattered short jackets and their gazes were fixed on the grand mansion with complex emotions.

"Tsk tsk, look at this situation, the imperial court is serious!" said an old farmer with white hair and beard, his back hunched.

One scholar said, "This time, the imperial court is determined."

At this moment, in the fields, the measuring team passed by, and the measuring ropes and rulers were as sharp as knives.

The dust on the ground was kicked up by countless hurried footsteps.

New fish-scale diagrams were clearly marked, and the people watched as the measuring rod fell precisely each time, the rope and ruler remained taut and straight each time, and the cinnabar pen fell continuously.

Not far from the farmland, a large umbrella shelters the autumn sun.

The envoy, who had been so imposing just moments before, was now reporting to Zhou Xingji, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Personnel.

After listening to the special envoy's report, Zhou Xingji nodded and said, "Very good. You should know that to serve the court, you should first serve the Minister of Works!"

"As long as you are willing to work hard and are not afraid of offending people, Sikong will definitely give you a promising future!"

Upon hearing this, the special envoy said in a deep voice, "I understand. If it weren't for the matter of offending someone, and given my background, why would this assignment fall to me?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xingji smiled and said, "This is exactly what Sikong wants to hear, and this is the kind of person Sikong wants!"

Although Zhou Xingji had only been a minor official for a few years, he already spoke with the mannerisms of a bureaucrat.

"His future career prospects are promising."

The special envoy said, "I do not do this for promotion, but only to ensure that the people no longer suffer from the burden of the powerful shifting the land tax onto them. As long as I can do my best for the well-being of the people and bring about lasting peace, I am willing to go through fire and water without hesitation."

Zhou Xingji was slightly startled and looked closely, as if trying to discern whether the other party was sincere.

The special envoy said solemnly, "I am a graduate of the Imperial Academy, a disciple of Hengqu, and a student of Master Yunge (Lü Dalin)!"

Zhou Xingji immediately showed admiration and said, "So you are a disciple of Hengqu. No wonder you have such integrity. My apologies for my disrespect."

"But don't worry, Sikong always rewards those who have rendered meritorious service!"

The envoy clasped his hands in a fist salute and departed.

Zhou Xingji watched the other person leave and sighed, "With such a person around, how can we worry that Master Hengqu's grand ambitions cannot be fulfilled, or that peace cannot be achieved for all generations!"

"To govern a country, one must first govern its officials; only by having capable people can one have effective laws!"

"This is how Sikong governs the country with righteousness."

The land survey in Jianghuai proceeded smoothly, and all eyes in the world were on Jianghuai.

There was much discussion in the court. Minister Zhang was now very powerful. The Fangtian Equal Tax Law, which had been repeatedly prohibited and failed to be implemented during the Xining and Yuanfeng reigns, was now being implemented in the Jianghuai region. What would happen if the Dangxiang were destroyed in the future?

……

The torrential rain, like a wild horse, lashed wildly at the crisscrossing streets and alleys of Nanjing Youzhou Prefecture in the Liao Kingdom.

The cold rainwater gathered into murky streams, rushing freely along the cracks in the bluestone slabs.

The water splashed up by the iron hooves of the Liao cavalry roughly splattered onto the roadside vendors who were huddled up to avoid the rain.

The entire city was shrouded in a gray, misty fog, except for the towering Tianning Temple Pagoda in the northwest, which stubbornly stood firm amidst the heavy rain. The outline of the pagoda's thirteen layers of eaves gradually blurred under the scouring of the rain.

Inside the Southern Privy Council Office.

The newly appointed Privy Councilor, Xiao Tabuye—this important Khitan official who succeeded the famous general Yelü Wotela and took control of the Southern Court—sat at the head of the table.

The former commander, due to the large-scale rebellion of the Northern Zubu, had been urgently transferred to the Northern Court by King Yelü Hongji and promoted to Privy Councilor and Commander-in-Chief of the Northwest Route. He was leading his troops in a fierce battle against Mogus in the swirling snow of the northern desert. At this moment, sitting before Xiao Tabu was Kim Oh-jong, the envoy from Goryeo who had traveled a long way.

Jin Wuzong respectfully presented the letter of state. Xiao Ta also scanned it quickly, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's.

"The Song Dynasty is training its navy day and night in Dengzhou. Its ships and weapons are all ready, and its momentum is quite impressive... The intention to cross the sea and head north is probably not unfounded. Therefore, we earnestly request the Great Liao Dynasty to make preparations as soon as possible!" Jin Wuzong said.

Xiao Tabu also put down the official letter and said, "The military matters mentioned by your esteemed envoy are of no small matter. Although I hold the position of Privy Councilor of the Southern Court, the mobilization of troops is decided by the monarch himself... It is not something that the Southern Court can decide on its own at this time."

Jin Wuzong bowed and said again, "This foreign subject is not overstepping his bounds, but is acting in the best interests of the Great Liao! Although the rebellion of the Zubu in the northern desert was like a wildfire and once threatened your capital, the fundamental stronghold of the Great Liao still lies in Nanjing and Zhongjing! We must not transfer the elite troops of Nanjing and Zhongjing to the north to quell the rebellion in the northern desert, leaving our heartland vulnerable!"

"Ha!" Xiao Tabu also burst into laughter. "The Hebei troops of the Great Song Dynasty? I have fought against them! They are simply no match for the iron cavalry of my Great Liao!"

"Besides, the alliance between the Song, Liao, and Xia kingdoms was established beforehand, and the ink was not yet dry. No matter how strong Zhang Yue is, how dare he defy the world?"

After the other party left, Xiao Ta's face finally showed a hint of seriousness. The calm and composed demeanor he had been trying so hard to maintain in front of Jin Wuzong was now completely gone.

A trusted general standing nearby cautiously whispered, "Your Majesty, yesterday the King... ordered the 20,000 troops from Yunzhong and Datong Prefecture to be transferred north as well... all placed under the command of the Otera Chief..."

"Oh? Even the troops in the clouds have been transferred?" Xiao Ta also turned around and said, "Doesn't this mean... if something happens to the Dangxiang in Hexi, our Great Liao can't even send out a nearby detachment that can rush to their aid?"

The general said, "...Yes...Your Majesty. The forces that our Great Liao can currently mobilize...are probably not many."

Xiao Ta also slowly walked back to his desk and asked, "You... that prime minister of the Great Song Dynasty, the 'reincarnation of Zhuge Liang and Wang Meng'... will you... seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity... send troops to directly attack the heartland of the Dangxiang? And solve the problem once and for all..."

The general said, "This is a momentous event... this... I dare not presume to speculate."

Xiao Ta sighed and said, "Go down!"

……

Zhang Yue looked at the map in his study and said to those around him, "Originally, we planned to send troops to attack Xia in the autumn or summer of the fourth year of Yuan You. However, we did not expect that the Liao Kingdom would be caught off guard and lose its footing in the face of the Zubu rebellion."

Shen Kuo, Huang Lü, Su Song, and Xu Jiang all sat in front of the map.

"Yes, the Liao Kingdom has withdrawn its heavy troops originally stationed in Yunzhong to the north. What troops will they have left to support the Dangxiang?"

Xu Jiang said, "But the Dangxiang people have always been respectful. In the past few times when they received our officials, they did not react at all to the sarcasm in the officials' words, which made it impossible for anyone to find a pretext to criticize them."

Zhang Yue laughed upon hearing this. There's a saying: if you win a fight but don't mock the opponent, it's as if you didn't win at all.

The Song officials he sent to the Tanguts spoke and acted just like the Liao officials who had visited the Song Dynasty in the past.

Faced with the arrogant and unreasonable Song officials, the Dangxiang people actually tolerated them at every turn, leaving Xu Jiang with no pretext for launching a military campaign.

At this moment, Zhang Yue asked seriously, "Gentlemen, what are the chances of victory if we launch a western expedition now?"

"If the Liao army doesn't come to our aid, we have a 70% chance!" Shen Kuo cautiously reported a number.

Huang Lü said, "Sikong, now that it's seventy percent, it's time to make a decision!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue remained silent, while Huang Lu looked somewhat anxious. As Zhang Yue's friend of several decades, Huang Lu knew that Zhang Yue always lacked decisiveness at crucial moments, appearing hesitant and indecisive.

The same thing happened during the previous mutiny; he had to be supported by his men before he could reluctantly overturn the table with Empress Dowager Gao.

Xu said, "Previously, the court secretly prepared for the attack on Xia in the autumn and summer of the fourth year of Yuan You, but now the troops, horses, money and provisions are not yet ready."

"Isn't it a bit too risky to just take the Liao army away from Yunzhong?"

Shen Kuo said, "Even if the Liao army fully intervenes, our Western Army may not be afraid to fight Liao and Xia at the same time."

Xu said, "I may not be afraid, which means I'm not very confident."

"The entire nation is at war over this battle; how can we treat it like a child's play?"

Zhang Yue stared at the map for a moment and asked, "Didn't the previous Xia Prefecture garrison commander, Ren Duo Bao Zhong, and the Xia Prefecture garrison commander, Wei Ming Ji, have dealings with our army and even secretly reported to the Dangxiang people? Didn't Wei Ming Ji previously say that he intended to surrender Xia Prefecture?"

The Song and Tanguts fought for many years. Many famous Tangut generals were captured, killed, or surrendered to the Song army. Ren Duobaozhong and Weimingji were the few survivors, but they had long been in contact with the Song army in private.

They even secretly provided intelligence to the Song army early on.

Thus, officials and generals constituted a significant portion of the Tangut population. Now, with the Tangut's renowned generals dwindling, it was a time of transition, a period of scarcity for capable successors.

Even before the ship sank, some people were already thinking about jumping ship or switching to another ship.

"I'm afraid these people still won't make up their minds without sending troops," Shen Kuo said truthfully.

After a pause, Shen Kuo added, "Perhaps the Minister of Works could mobilize the army's resources first! We can decide whether to fight or not later."

Zhang Yue shook his head and said, "Once the troops are mobilized, the Liao Kingdom and the Tanguts will understand that the movement of hundreds of thousands of troops cannot be kept secret."

Huang Lü stood up and walked behind Zhang Yue, saying, "Minister, the difficulty in military affairs lies in the beginning. It's like splitting bamboo; the hardest part is splitting the first few sections, and the rest will separate with the force of the blade."

"Now that we've decided to fight, it may not be as difficult as we think."

Shen Kuo said, "Since Sikong proposed accumulating small victories into a great victory, the various forces in Shaanxi have been advancing step by step with shallow attacks, and now the heartland of the Dangxiang has been lost."

"The time to achieve victory in one battle is just around the corner."

Zhang Yue turned his head and said, "Isn't this too hasty?"

"We're not playing chess, but we are playing chess, and each piece represents countless lives and resources!"

After a pause, Zhang Yue said, "We should make good use of Yeli Xinyi and others who surrendered earlier, and have them continue to write letters to the Tangut generals they know."

"It served both as a means of communication and as a way to gather intelligence on the situation within the Tangut community."

"Send another envoy to Xingqing Prefecture, ordering Li Bingchang to immediately come to the capital to pay homage!"

Huang Lü, Shen Kuo, and Xu Jiang all smiled upon hearing this.

Huang Lü said, "I'll take care of it right away!"

After Huang Lü left, Zhang Yue said to the two men, "In matters of military conflict, the most important thing is the confidence of both countries from top to bottom. Just like in chess, one should play lightly; it is not advisable to make a heavy move without certainty."

"After a defeat, it is common for each battle to be worse than the last. Therefore, Lü Jifu said something very true to me: 'When a battle is lost, words are insignificant.' Conversely, 'When a battle is won, words are weighty.'"

"Whether Li Bingchang enters the capital or not after his defeat is the same to him. But we are a nation of etiquette, so there are some things we should say upfront!"

Shen Kuo laughed and said, "As the Prime Minister said, let's do whatever we need to do first and then talk about it later."

"Wherever you go, you're moving forward!"

Everyone laughed upon hearing this.

Huang Lü said, "The court still needs to be frugal. The Empress Dowager wants to repair Yaojin Pavilion and the two palaces. This has already cost two million strings of cash. But yesterday we were informed that the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration will be a grand one this year, so the budget will be increased by one million strings of cash."

At this point, the smiles on everyone's faces disappeared.

After the Empress Dowager finishes repairing the garden, she will also hold a grand birthday celebration.

Zhang Yue pondered. At this moment, Empress Dowager Xiang was interfering. She had wanted to build a garden before, and now she was holding a grand birthday celebration, all because she was afraid that he would cause trouble.

Historically, Zhang Juzheng was always responsive to Empress Dowager Li's requests, but then again, I fear I might end up like Zhang Juzheng.

Being a regent is no easy task.

Xu Jiang said indignantly, "When the world is not yet at peace, such extravagant acts are often a harbinger of national decline."

"In terms of financial resources, the western expedition is indeed not well-funded at the moment. Perhaps Your Majesty could consider a different approach?"

Zhang Yue nodded. Xu Jiang's words did indeed express such concerns. With the world still unsettled, there was already a sense of complacency and a desire for peace and prosperity in the court.

Some court officials complained that they were meddling and that it was enough; did they really have to completely fulfill the late emperor's last wishes?

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty is also in a difficult position here."

"The capture of Lingzhou was also thanks to the full support of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, who allocated 20 million strings of cash from the imperial treasury. It is perfectly reasonable for the Empress Dowager to ask the court for money to celebrate her birthday."

"However, I must inform the Empress Dowager that her forty-fifth birthday will be celebrated in a grand manner next year, so let's tighten our belts this year."

Zhang Yue saw the group off, and a moment later Shen Kuo returned and said to Zhang Yue, "Prime Minister, there is something I have to say."

"In chess, everyone strives to be the first. This is the best opportunity to destroy Xia. If we miss this chance, who knows when we will get another chance?"

"Since ancient times, the great path has been fraught with many detours, and scholars have perished in many ways. We urge you, Lord Zhang, to make a decision."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue knew that Shen Kuo was using the story of Liezi to admonish Yang Zhu, who had lost a sheep. He went along the road to look for it, but when he came to a fork in the road, he didn't know where the sheep had gone and was devastated.

The following sentence also states that scholars often perish in many ways, and talented individuals often lose their lives due to weighing too many options.

Zhang Yue recalled that in history, the Song Dynasty spent decades pushing the battle line to Hengshan. At that time, it was generally estimated that the Xia Dynasty could be destroyed in no more than 20 years.

However, the Jingkang Incident occurred afterward, and decades of hard work were destroyed in an instant.

While time can solve many problems, it is also the greatest cost that cannot be ignored. Accumulating advantages now is pointless; delaying the process and then destroying the Tanguts thirty years later would be meaningless.

Zhang Yue grasped Shen Kuo's hand and said, "Thank you for your wise advice, Cunzhong."

Zhang Yue returned to the house and found that Huang Lu was still there.

"Brother Anzhong, do you have any good advice?"

Huang Lü took a sip of tea, slammed the teacup down, and said, "Last night I was reading the biography of Wang Dun in the Book of Jin, and I couldn't sleep at night."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue gestured for Zhang Gen, who was standing to the side, to step back.

Zhang Yue asked, "Brother Anzhong, what have you figured out?"

Huang Ludao said: "When Wang Dun was seriously ill, General Qian Feng asked him about Wang Dun's affairs after his death."

Wang Dun said, “Extraordinary things cannot be accomplished by ordinary people! After my death, you should all release your troops and return to the court to preserve your families. This is the best plan.”

"Retreating to Wuchang, withdrawing troops to defend the city, and continuing to pay tribute would also be a good strategy."

"Or, while I am still alive, I will lead all the troops down. If we are lucky enough to escape this fate, that would be the best course of action."

In the end, Qian Feng chose the worst option.

"Now that Lord Zhang has annihilated the Dangxiang, what strategy should he choose?"

Zhang Yue looked at Huang Lü and cursed, "How could I be a man like Wang Dun?"

“But once the Tanguts are eliminated, these three paths will no longer be open to public elections.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue knew that Wang Dun was on the verge of becoming emperor, and his best course of action was for all his followers to relinquish their military power and preserve their power.

The middle strategy is to maintain military strength for self-preservation and resist the imperial court.

The worst option is a last-ditch effort: to rise up and rebel.

Huang Lu's implication was that once you destroy the Dangxiang, you will reach the level of power that Wang Dun once held. What choice will you, Zhang Yue, make?

Of course, Wang Dun's subordinate Qian Feng concluded by saying, "Your plan is the best possible strategy."

They chose Wang Dun's inferior strategy.

Wang Dun, however, had no way to control his followers at that time.

Even if Zhang Yue abdicates, he will still have his political assets or those inherited from him.

This is similar to the Young and Dangerous movies; the underlings need to eat.

Zhang Yue said to Huang Lü, "Anzhong, throughout history, no matter how high one's position or power is, it's all the same."

"The troubles of emperors and generals are no less than those of ordinary people."

"I'm content. Wouldn't it be nice if we, brothers, went boating and fishing together someday?"

Huang Lu sneered, "You, Zhang Sanlang, are quite open-minded. I'm afraid someone below is going to do something for Qian Feng."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue remained silent for a moment before changing the subject, saying, "Right now, everything is about the greater good. The Empress Dowager and Lü Huishu have both repeatedly opposed the use of force."

“If we are to launch the western expedition ahead of schedule, Lü Huishu must go out first! In this way, the Empress Dowager will not have the support of the prime minister in the outer court, so even if she opposes it, it will be useless.”

Huang Lü said, "Lu Huishu is a gentleman and also your relative by marriage, but since he is blocking your way, you have no choice but to go out."

Zhang Yue smiled and shook his head: "It is to repay the late emperor's kindness and to fulfill his dying wish!"

Huang Lü smiled and shook his head, saying, "You still hold onto that old saying about a scholar dying for one who understands him."

"What talk of accomplishing the affairs of the king and the world, and winning fame before and after death? How laughable, how laughable."

……

Yellow sand lashed against the windowpanes as Li Bingchang sat listlessly at his desk, a Song Dynasty edict spread out before him.

"Entering Bian to pay homage to the emperor."

The edict was worded extremely harshly.

Li Bingchang closed his eyes. Several years ago, when Lingzhou fell, the Song army had already been eyeing Xingqing Prefecture across the river.

The cession of the three prefectures of Dingnan was like removing the backbone of the Tangut war faction.

Now, the grassland troops of the Basiba tribe, who have submitted to the Song Dynasty, are eyeing the secondary capital Dingzhou from outside Keyi Gate.

The gate was wide open, and sand and dust swirled in.

Prime Minister Li Qing, his hair and beard covered in dust, offered his advice.

"Your Majesty! The so-called tribute from all nations to Bianjing is a ruse; the real purpose is to lure you into a trap! Even the Liao envoy Xiao Xi fears the power of the Song Dynasty, and the Goryeo envoy is also obsequious—if you go, you will be a mere follower of the Tangut dynasty!"

Before the words were finished, the old minister Wei Mingji rushed forward, leaning on his cane, followed by a group of ministers who knelt down: "The Song people are ruthless and cunning! If we disobey orders, there may be excuses, but Your Majesty's entry into Bianjing is tantamount to disarming yourself! The Tanguts have been established for a hundred years..."

"A century-old foundation?" A cold laugh cut off the conversation, and General Renduo Baozhong slammed his sword sheath heavily on the ground: "When Lingzhou fell, who among you had a good plan to repel the enemy? Now the Basiba tribe has turned against the Song court, and Keyimen is on the verge of collapse—are you disobeying orders now?"

"Does General Renduo want His Majesty to be a prisoner?" Li Qing glared angrily.

"What I want is for the Tanguts to survive!" Renduo Baozhong said. "The Liao Kingdom is preoccupied with its own problems, and the rebellion of Zubu is tying down its elite troops. Judging from the official gazette, the Song court is implementing the equal taxation law for the fields and surveying the land in the Jianghuai region. It may not be able to truly focus on the north. If we provoke Zhang Yue at this time, his army could arrive in ten days! I urge Your Majesty to temporarily enter Bianjing to deal with the situation. Otherwise, if we suffer the calamity of war, it will be too late to regret it."

Li Bingchang stroked the cold seal on the imperial edict.

"We have suffered such humiliation, yet we still cannot regain the Song court's trust in us; they intend to put us to death."

"Rather than suffer humiliation, we might as well fight the Song Dynasty to the death!"

"We are determined to fight to the death, even at the cost of our lives. We are not afraid to fight the Song army!"

Many young ministers chimed in.

"Fight?"

Li Qing looked at the ministers. Now with graying temples, he had once been just as passionate.

Moreover, he was a Han Chinese, so he needed to prove himself even more among the Tanguts.

But he now clearly understood that the so-called "faction to fight" and the "faction to surrender" were actually the same thing, separated only by a thin wall. Because they were both in a tug-of-war with the Song Dynasty, they were losing patience, gradually losing their composure, and even becoming desperate.

To get rid of everything at once.

Once their cards were revealed, they knew they couldn't win and immediately became hysterical.

They couldn't stand the Song Dynasty's relentless, step-by-step pressure, and thus decided to take a desperate gamble.

In contrast, the Song army, having conquered a city one day and a prefecture the next, had forged an unwavering confidence in victory. Many soldiers and generals had also gained valuable experience, making them incomparable to the Song army that had suffered heavy losses against Li Yuanhao's elite forces. Meanwhile, the Song army faced only a long, tedious wait and a complete lack of feedback.

Prime Minister Li Qing stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, in the Song court, Lord Zhang calls himself Zhuge Liang and uses the matter of attacking our Great Bai Gao Kingdom to suppress dissenting opinions within the court.”

"But if my Great White Kingdom goes there, what use will it have?"

"I'm afraid that if Zhuge Liang can't succeed, then Cao Mengde will have to. If Cao Mengde doesn't succeed, given his recent methods of clearing land and seizing power, I'm afraid someone won't let him off the hook."

Li Bingchang said, "Isn't this what the Han people call 'nurturing bandits to enhance one's own power'?"

Li Qing said, "We can send an envoy to explain the advantages and disadvantages. Your Majesty must not come to court, but you can make a few more concessions on the surface."

Upon hearing this, all the officials shook their heads, believing that Li Qing's theory was unreliable.

After further debate, it was decided to reply to the Song Dynasty that King Li Bingchang was currently ill and would travel to the capital after recovering.

On the other side, fortifications were built along the border with the Song Dynasty, and preparations for war were intensified.

After Li Qing left, he paid no attention to the expression on Crown Prince Li Zuoming's face.

Li Qing returned to his residence dejectedly.

Even as the prime minister of the Tangut state, Li Qing's residence remained simple, a stark contrast to the Tangut royal relatives who indulged in luxury.

"Summon Manniang!"

A moment later, a beautiful woman came to the center of the room.

"Let's dance!"

The other party agreed and immediately began to dance.

After saying this, Li Qing poured himself a drink and drank it alone, without any other food to accompany it.

This was a singing girl captured by Man Niang during the Song Dynasty. There were also hundreds of thousands of Han people captured before, but after the Dangxiang surrendered, the Song Dynasty took back the vast majority of them.

Only those with special skills, like Manniang, were detained by the Dangxiang and not returned to the Song Dynasty.

As Li Qing watched Man Niang sing and dance, tears suddenly streamed down his face.

Man Niang quickly stopped dancing, and Li Qing wiped away her tears and asked, "Man Niang, are you happy to go back?"

Man Niang asked in surprise, "This servant does not understand the Prime Minister's meaning. Why is the Prime Minister weeping?"

Li Qing laughed through her tears, "Because I'm afraid!"

"What are you afraid of?"

"I fear the fall of the nation, but it is not your Song Dynasty that will perish, but my Great Baigao Kingdom. The Great Baigao Kingdom's days are numbered."

"You can go back like this. Whether you're happy or not."

Man Niang has been playing along for years and knows how to defuse the other person's thoughts.

She immediately stood up, walked to his side, picked up the wine pot, poured Li Qing a cup of wine, and said, "What joy do I have? Isn't the Prime Minister also a Han Chinese?"

Li Qing was taken aback upon hearing this, then shook his head with a wry smile and said, "That's right, I am also a Han Chinese, but I am different."

"I have offered too many treacherous strategies over the years, and the Song court will not forgive me."

After downing a cup of wine, Li Qing said in a hoarse voice, "It's not that I like these methods, I'm just afraid!"

"You use your looks to please others, and so do I."

"The Great White Kingdom is doomed!"

At this point, Li Qing covered her face and wept.

……

Suizhou.

One of the five states of Dingnan of the Tangut people.

Today, the capital of Suizhou is Suide City.

This city was surrendered to the Song Dynasty by the Tangut generals Weimingshan and Weiyishan in the second year of the Xining era.

At that time, under the emperor's command, Zhong E took Suide City without prior approval and obtained this strategic location, but this led to conflict with the Western Xia.

Sima Guang and others in the court also strongly opposed this, believing that the Song Dynasty's actions would bring about even greater war.

For the next few decades, Suide City served as the front line in the confrontation between the Song and the Tangut people.

After the Tanguts lost Suide, Suizhou was shared by the Song Dynasty.

In the second year of the Yuan You era, the Dangxiang people surrendered and formally ceded Suizhou, which finally allowed the Song Dynasty to possess the entire territory of Suizhou.

However, the seat of government of Suizhou remained in Suide City.

Zhong Shidao, the military commissioner of Fuyan Road, who is currently in Suide City, is watching the troops drill.

Tens of thousands of soldiers from the Third Army of the Fuyan Railway are conducting intensive drills on the training ground.

Xu Xi has now been transferred back to the central government as Vice Minister of War. Zhong Shidao has been appointed Military Commissioner of Fuyan Circuit, Peng Sun has been appointed Military Commissioner of Jingyuan Circuit, Wang Shan has been appointed Military Commissioner of Huanqing Circuit, and Miao Lü has been appointed Military Commissioner of Qinfeng Circuit.

In addition, Wang Hou, the military commissioner of Xihe Road.

Zhang Yue broke with the tradition of appointing civil officials as military commissioners and instead appointed all military officers to the position.

Only the deputy envoys in charge of each route were civil officials.

Dust billowed across the training ground.

Tens of thousands of soldiers were united as one, forming various battle formations.

The gates were heavily guarded, and the cavalry, acting as flanking cavalry, charged left and right, displaying a menacing aura!

After observing the drills, Zhong Shidao said to his men with satisfaction, "As the saying goes, you can't rely on the sons of officials; when it comes to fighting, you have to rely on farmers."

That's absolutely right.

All the generals said, "As the commander said, our Western Army is stronger than the Imperial Guards in the capital."

Liu Fa, the third deputy commander of the Fuyan Road, stepped forward and reported: "Our troops in the Fuyan Road are all self-recruited, which is different from the Imperial Guards."

"Therefore, in the future, we will still have to rely on our Western Army to destroy the Tanguts. There is no need to transfer troops from outside."

The third general, Mi Yun, showed his dissatisfaction upon seeing that Liu Fayue had already reported.

"The campaign against the Dangxiang is the imperial court's policy; you just need to focus on training your troops."

Zhong Shidao, having witnessed the argument between the two, smiled and said, "Both of you are skilled warriors. General Mi is good at commanding troops, and General Liu is good at training them. This is common knowledge in the Western Army."

Zhong Shidao smiled and said to Liu Fa, "I heard that you failed the imperial examinations many times when you were young. When you were studying Huang Chao, you said that a great man should strive to achieve such things. If you can't pass the imperial examinations in Chang'an, then you should fight your way into Chang'an."

Liu Fadao said, "Reporting to the General, this humble general was young and impetuous."

Zhong Shidao said, "The reason I am making this public today is to show that I will forgive and forget what happened before."

"A general should have a proud spirit, but he must also be careful with his words, lest he make a mistake and ruin his life's achievements."

But Liu Fa said, "This humble general is not afraid; I am only focused on making contributions to the court."

"In the future western expedition, I request to be the vanguard!"

Mi Yun couldn't help but rebuke again: "How dare you speak so arrogantly! Aren't you afraid of biting your tongue in front of the commander?"

Zhong Shidao smiled, knowing that the discord between Mi Yun and Liu Fa was an open secret.

But he could see that Liu Fa was a skilled and experienced general who would surely become a top general in the Western Army.

However, he did not address the infighting among the generals, as the army was a place where factions and seniority mattered even more than in the officialdom.

Now, each commander of the Western Army follows the example of the Auxiliary Army and has a deputy commander, who is a student of the Imperial Academy or an official who has passed the military examination.

This move was also an attempt by the imperial court to break down factionalism.

After being reprimanded by Mi Yun, Liu Fa argued, "Our soldiers in the Western Army are training day and night, just waiting for the imperial court's order to launch the campaign against Xia."

"I wonder when the court will grant me permission to lead troops and achieve this merit that will be recorded in history."

Seeing the eagerness of his generals for battle, Zhong Shidao laughed and said, "A campaign must have a just cause and a legitimate reason!"

"The imperial court has long harbored great ambitions; please be patient and wait."

That night, Master Zhong hosted a banquet.

When Zhang Yue was the military commissioner, he was extremely strict in governing the army. After becoming prime minister, he further emphasized that the rise of a nation and a family is due to diligence and frugality. When a nation declines, the opposite is true.

After Zhong Shidao became commander, he banned all banquets, large and small, that had been held in the army every day. In border cities like Suide, generals were not allowed to drink alcohol, and the atmosphere in the army changed for a time.

Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao's Neo-Confucianism, which emphasized "preserving heavenly principles and eliminating human desires" in the Imperial Academy, fostered a spirit of austerity and self-discipline from officialdom to the military.

Therefore, the gambling, prostitution, and gluttony practices among Zhong Shidao's subordinates were completely different from those in the Imperial Guards. Often, the atmosphere of an army is greatly influenced by its commander. Wherever the commander rises, his subordinates will follow suit.

If generals don't learn these things, they won't be able to enter the inner circle.

Zhong Shidao was able to share weal and woe with his generals. At the banquet, there were only three dishes. After the generals finished eating, they returned to their camps. The next day, they had to get up early to drill the troops.

After the banquet, Zhong Shidao suddenly received a secret letter from Xingqing Prefecture.

Zhong Shidao inherited his grandfather Zhong Shiheng's tradition of using spies against the Tangut people.

If Zhong Shiheng's method was to use spies to get Li Yuanhao to kill Yeli Ganglang and Yeli Yuqi, then Zhong Shidao's use of spies was even more covert, and he also exerted greater efforts to win over officials within the Tangut community.

This time, the one who expressed his allegiance to the Song Dynasty was none other than Li Zuoming, the heir apparent whom the Song Dynasty had appointed through Li Bingchang.

It turns out that Li Zuoming had been suspected by Li Bingchang ever since he was established as the heir apparent of the Dangxiang people by the Song Dynasty.

Li Zuoming was originally an unambitious man, but the Song Dynasty frequently bestowed upon him rewards and promoted him.

Over the years, a group of people under his command have come to his aid, but Li Bingchang has eliminated these men one by one.

Li Zuoming's pent-up anger finally erupted, and he wrote a letter to Zhong Shidao through his Song army informant.

It is said that Li Bingchang had no intention of entering the capital; on the contrary, he was busy preparing for war.

He was willing to secretly surrender to the Song Dynasty with his family and followers, and asked the Song Dynasty to make him the leader of the Tangut people.

Zhong Shidao smiled upon seeing this, thinking, "Isn't this a coincidence?"

The Song Dynasty was just looking for a pretext to attack the Tanguts, and Li Zuoming delivered himself right to their doorstep.

However, Li Zuoming said that the opportunity was fleeting and he needed Zhong Shidao to reply within half a month.

He could escape during a break from his business; otherwise, if things dragged on, it might not be possible.

Zhong Shidao immediately summoned civil and military officials to discuss the matter.

Just like when the Weiming Mountain brothers betrayed the Tanguts and surrendered to the Song Dynasty, the civil and military officials present were divided into two factions and argued.

"Foolish! Back then, when Weiming Mountain surrendered Suide City, the imperial court tried to mediate for months without success. Now, Li Zuoming is the heir of the Dangxiang emperor. If he openly defectes to our Suide City, how can Li Bingchang not launch a full-scale attack? At that time, the Liao Kingdom will also have a pretext to invade the south. Once the three kingdoms are at war, the grain transport will not be pacified, and the land reclamation will not be completed. How many days can we fight?"

"Has the transport commissioner been terrified of the Liao people? Didn't you see how the Liao envoy Xiao Xi didn't dare utter a sound when the Baspa tribe was appointed Governor of the Han Sea? Now the Mogus rebels have besieged the capital, and Yelü Hongji has even transferred the Pishi Army to the northern desert—this is a golden opportunity!"

"Does the Commander-in-Chief remember Cai Xiang's blood-written letter? Even Minister Lü advocated suppressing the bandits before the western expedition. We understand all this, but the Grand Canal is not yet stable, and the Qingzhou navy is not yet fully formed. If we rashly accept Li Zuoming, Zhang Gong's entire plan to pacify the Dangxiang will be thrown into chaos! In my opinion, it would be better to inform Li Bingchang about Li Zuoming's plan to secretly escape, letting the Dangxiang fall into internal strife."

"Foolish! One defector Li Zuoming is worth ten dead Li Zuomings. The Liao army from Yunzhou has already been transferred north; if not now, when?"

"Before Su Shi was appointed to a post outside the capital, he said, 'Even a large country will perish if it loves war!' Prime Minister Zhang has to restart the Fangtian Equal Tax Law and deal with the Ming Cult's interference in the Grand Canal transport; where will he find the spare energy? It would be better to wait until the Liao capital falls before..."

Zhong Shidao kept fiddling with the hilt of his sword, a gift from his uncle, Zhong E. Before Zhong E's army crossed the Han Sea to attack Xia, Zhong E seemed to have a premonition and ordered someone to give Zhong Shidao this personal treasured sword.

In his letter, Zhong E instructed Zhong Shidao to "keep in mind the ambition to pacify the bandits in all directions, and not to tarnish the Zhong family's reputation for protecting the country." In the end, the Song army suffered a great defeat in its campaign against Xia, and the bones of tens of thousands of soldiers were buried under the yellow sands of the vast sea. Zhong E also perished in the battle.

Today's discussion, like his uncle Zhong E's capture of Suide City, is a risky move.

In the past, Zhong Shidao had always been cautious, but now he stood up and said, "In the past, Duke Zhao of Lu abandoned his country and went to Qi, and with the help of Qi, he subdued his homeland. We don't necessarily have to start a war with the Dangxiang immediately after accepting Li Zuoming. We can let him first build a group of people, mainly Dangxiang who have surrendered, as a replacement."

"I will make all the decisions! I will take responsibility if anything goes wrong."

Zhong Shidao made the final decision.

Seeing that Zhong Shidao was acting as if he would act first and report later, the generals immediately fell silent.

The civil officials were not deeply opposed to Zhong Shidao's risky move, but they opposed it for fear of being held accountable by the court later. As for the generals, needless to say, their ambition to reclaim the former territories of the Han and Tang dynasties had long been brewing, and they were ready to launch a western expedition.

Zhong Shidao immediately wrote to Li Zuoming, saying that Li Bingchang claimed to be ill and was unwilling to go to the capital, which meant that he had completely lost his sincerity as a vassal state of the Song Dynasty. Therefore, it would be appropriate for Li Zuoming to go to the capital in Li Bingchang's place.

At the same time, the Song Dynasty was more willing to support a Tangut ruler who was more loyal to the Song Dynasty.

At the same time, he was willing to cooperate with the other party's escape from Xingqing Prefecture. Whether Li Zuoming was willing to go from Jingzhou to Lingzhou or through Shunzhou (which had been handed over to the Dangxiang) to Mingsha, he could send troops to support him.

At the same time, a reliable official was sent to Xingqing Prefecture to negotiate with Li Zuoming.

……

Inside the Crown Prince's Residence of Li Zuoming in Xingqing Prefecture.

Li Zuoming looked at the Song envoy, also caught in a dilemma.

"If I lead my people to surrender to the Song Dynasty, what will my status be?"

The Song envoy remained silent.

Li Zuoming asked, "Am I still the Prince of Xiping of the Great Song Dynasty?"

The Song envoy said, "If the royal system cannot be maintained, then a military governorship will suffice."

After a pause, the Song envoy added, "Aligu has already submitted a memorial relinquishing his royal title."

"Absolutely not! I would never want to return to the Song Dynasty if that were the case."

The Song envoy said, "My lord, the military governor, always keeps his word and never deceives anyone."

"It is said that we should speak frankly beforehand. Once Xingqing City falls, or even before the city falls, Your Majesty will surely regret today's decision."

Li Zuoming's face turned ashen, and he asked again, "If Xingqing Prefecture falls, what will become of the people of my Great Baigao Kingdom?"

The Song envoy remained silent and did not answer.

"Let me think about it."

The Song envoy said, "I would like to remind you that the supporting troops are right above the border of the prefecture. If this goes on for too long, people may become suspicious."

Li Zuoming's expression stiffened as he went inside and had a long talk with two or three trusted confidants.

Even the confidants were divided into two sides.

"The Song people are wolves in sheep's clothing and cannot be trusted. Even if they enter the capital, they will likely live as recluses and be unable to go out. There is no hope of them returning to the country in the future."

"But if we stay here, we'll just be waiting to die."

"When the Song people wanted Your Majesty to be the heir to the throne, it was a move with malicious intent."

"If Your Majesty flees to Song, where will you place our ancestors?"

"Don't forget that when Yelü Yixin, the prime minister of Liao, betrayed Liao, he ultimately sold the Song Dynasty to the Khitans."

Li Zuoming turned pale upon hearing this.

Another Han Chinese advisor said, "Your Majesty, our Great Bai Gao Kingdom has internal strife, and the Great Song Dynasty is no exception."

"The Song Dynasty is divided into two factions: those advocating peace and those advocating war."

"The person who invited us this time is Zhong Shidao, a famous general of the Song army. He is a confidant of Zhang Yue, the prime minister of Song. In terms of faction, siding with him is equivalent to siding with Prime Minister Zhang."

The group continued to argue.

Upon hearing this, Li Zuoming replied, "My mind is made up. I will take advantage of the sacrificial ceremony the day after tomorrow to head to Shunzhou."

……

Summer rain in June of the third year of the Yuan You era.

The rain was pattering heavily on the eaves, and the sound of the rain poured into the Zhang residence through the windows.

"Prime Minister, as the saying goes, one should be ruthless but not bully one's neighbors, powerful but not oppress one's own family, and fearless even when one's expression is calm. Now that the Song Dynasty is strong and the Dangxiang are weak, there is really no need to use force again."

"Your Excellency, Qin's military campaigns have reached their extremes, and Meng Tian's expansion beyond the borders has been remarkably far-reaching. Now, we have crossed Meng Tian's borders and established prefectures and counties in the lands inhabited by the invaders. The further the land is expanded, the more weary the people become... We must learn from Qin's example."

"Prime Minister, the Dangxiang have already submitted their surrender document and are now extremely submissive. They dare not send a single soldier to invade our Bianjing. The people of Shaanxi have lived in peace with them for a long time. Little do they know that going too far is as bad as going too far..."

Upon hearing the news of Li Zuoming's defection from the Dangxiang, officials in the court who favored peace, such as Fan Chunren and Fan Zuyu, came to Zhang Yue to present their arguments.

"The ink on the alliance treaty between the Song, Xia, and Liao dynasties was still wet. At this time, to accept a defector would be tantamount to breaking the treaty. Not to mention the Dangxiang, the consequences would be unimaginable if the Khitan were to hold us accountable in the future."

"Li Zuoming's betrayal of the Song Dynasty is like a hot potato. In my humble opinion, it would be better to send him back."

Listening to the officials' discussions, Zhang Yue thought to himself, "Don't they know that our principle is to have no principles? Everything can be done flexibly."

Zhang Yue remained silent, while Zhang Cheng, standing to the side, said solemnly, "Don't you all know that it was not we who took him in, but rather that Li Zuoming voluntarily defected from Xingqing Prefecture?"

“We did not send anyone to forcibly abduct it.”

Zhang Cheng added, "Furthermore, Li Zaoming came from the west, clearly stating that Li Bingchang was not ill and refused to obey the imperial edict to go to the capital. His rebellious intentions were obvious, so how could he claim that his expedition was without justification!"

The lecturer Fan Zuyu said, "Prime Minister, although the Dangxiang have suffered repeated defeats, they still have several strong armies in the country that should not be underestimated. We must not launch a western expedition!"

Fan Bailu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, said: "Prime Minister, this is a time of great turmoil. The Dangxiang are just one example. There is much more to be done in the Qingtian region of the south."

"Do not be swayed by those below who are eager for quick success and instant benefits."

The officials spoke urgently, sometimes pleading, as if nothing could be done without their permission.

Even the Imperial Censor Fan Chunren, who was in charge of miscellaneous affairs, spoke sternly: "Grand Chancellor, since ancient times, those who love war have perished. Rewarding military merit and expanding territory—if you rise in this way, you will also perish in this way!"

Zhang Geng, who had been holding back his anger and remaining silent, stepped forward and said, "Lord Fan is mistaken. The northern expedition to Youyan and the recapture of the former territories of the Han and Tang dynasties were the late emperor's edict. How could it be our intention to wage war?"

"Since receiving the appointment, the Prime Minister has been worried day and night, fearing that he will fail to live up to the trust placed in him."

"If you speak like this, where does that leave the Prime Minister?"

Fan Chunren and the others all looked ashamed.

Zhang Yue addressed the crowd, saying, "I have already informed His Majesty about the western expedition against Xia. After three years of planning, the matter is now irreversible."

"Now Li has feigned surrender to the Song Dynasty, revealing all the true situation of the Tangut people. The people of the Tangut country are already in a state of panic. Now we also have a legitimate reason to send troops. This is a golden opportunity."

"Please go back and rest first."

Fan Chunren and the other officials could only say that they had stepped down.

Fan Zuyu suddenly asked, "I've heard that the Prime Minister intends to personally lead the army on the western expedition. Is that true?"

Zhang Yue countered, "Chunfu, where did you hear that from?"

Fan Zuyu said, "Reporting to the Prime Minister, even if we send a general to attack Xia, it will suffice. How can the Prime Minister, whose life is of utmost importance, be so easily abandoned?"

After speaking, the group took their leave.

Seeing this, Zhang Geng said, "Just as Lü Gongzhu left, three more Fans have arrived!"

"Why does Fan Chunren, as the son of Fan Wenzheng, so frequently oppose the western expedition?"

"Father, why not sweep all these people out of the court as soon as possible!"

Zhang Yue remained silent upon hearing Zhang Gen's words, while Zhang Cheng said, "Second Brother, the ancestral system of this dynasty is to prevent dissenting opinions from interfering."

"Besides, Father often says that matters of state must be based on public opinion, not on the arbitrary use of authority to suppress people! Even if all dissenting opinions are eliminated and the people below dare not speak, does that mean everything is right?"

Seeing that his two sons were about to argue, Zhang Yue said, "There's no need to say anything. The argument outside hasn't even started yet, and the family members are already arguing amongst themselves."

After hearing this, Zhang Gen ignored Zhang Yue's words and continued to argue with Zhang Cheng. Zhang Yue put his hand to his forehead, saying that no matter how high an official's rank is, he is no longer an official at home. He had a deep understanding of this saying.

……

July of the third year of the Yuan You era.

The floor of the Wuying Hall is paved with gold bricks.

All the officials and lords stood in formation.

The fourteen-year-old Emperor Zhao Xu sat upright on his throne, his gaze behind the jeweled crown already revealing a composure beyond his years. Empress Dowager Xiang, behind the curtain, leaned slightly forward.

Beneath the imperial steps, officials stood in their respective ranks. Left Chancellor Zhang Yue, holding an ivory tablet, stood at the very front of the steps, his purple robe and gold belt making him stand as upright as a pine tree.

After Lü Gongzhu was appointed Prefect of Yongxing Army and Feng Jing was transferred to Yangzhou, the position of Right Chancellor remained vacant for more than a month—Wen Yanbo was again claiming illness and not attending court.

Meanwhile, Zeng Bu, Han Zhongyan, and other those who were eyeing the position of prime minister held their breath and stared intently at Zhang Yue's retreating figure.

Right now, beneath the Danchi (a platform in the imperial palace), Zhang Yue stands alone, defying the crowd, and no one can rival him.

When the two eunuchs on duty worked together to unfold the more than three-zhang-long map of the Northwest, the seams between the old silk and the newly sewn white hemp were covered with dense stitches.

This old map from the reign of Emperor Shenzong has been extended horizontally by five feet, with the newly marked prefectures of the Hexi Corridor outlined in vermilion, and the territories of the Baspa and Ongud tribes.

All the ministers could tell that this picture was an old one that the late emperor had hung in the Wuying Hall.

The old map is no longer sufficient, so new silk has been nailed to the original three-person-high map from left to right.

"Your Majesty!" Zhang Yue said, "The late Emperor, on his deathbed, held my hand and said, 'The task of recovering the lost territories of the Han and Tang dynasties rests entirely on your shoulders!' Those words still echo in my ears. Now, the Liao emperor is trapped in the northern deserts, and the Dangxiang are internally disintegrating—"

"This is a golden opportunity!"

Holding his ivory tablet, he bowed deeply, his voice resolute and firm:

"Your Majesty, I request that you grant me the authority to wage war against Xia!"

Upon hearing this, the assembled officials in the hall immediately erupted in uproar, with murmurs of discussion spreading throughout. Although rumors of the court's impending campaign against the Dangxiang had circulated for some time, the officials had not expected Zhang Yue to personally lead the army.

Fan Zuyu stared at Zhang Yue's back for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

The emperor sat upright on his throne, his gaze deep and thoughtful, as if he had expected this, and said: "You are the pillar of the nation. Even if there is a matter of attacking the false Xia, sending a general would suffice. Why would you need to personally lead the expedition?"

After a slight pause, the emperor said in a slightly somber tone, "I cannot be separated from the Minister of Works for even a day."

Zhang Yue bowed again.

"Your Majesty, the western expedition is no ordinary campaign; it is a war that threatens the entire nation! The late Emperor devoted twenty years of his life to this cause, and the people of the land eagerly await it, while all nations watch with bated breath. This war requires a minister to oversee the entire operation and coordinate the more than 500,000 troops from Shaanxi and Hedong to ensure its success!"

His gaze was intense, and his words were firm and resounding:

"I dare not entrust matters of great importance to others! Now that the four directions are pacified and the country is gradually becoming peaceful, the work of clearing fields and transporting grain is also progressing steadily. I wish to emulate Zhuge Liang, as stated in his 'Memorial on the Expedition'—'Leading the three armies northward to pacify the Central Plains, I will exert my utmost, however incompetent, to eliminate the treacherous and wicked, avenge the grievances of Emperor Taizong and Emperor Renzong, restore the former territories of the Han and Tang dynasties, and let the glorious might of my Great Song Dynasty spread throughout the world!'"

At this point, the emperor and his ministers were deeply moved.

Zhang Yue bowed deeply and said:

"I beseech Your Majesty to entrust me with the task of suppressing the rebels and restoring the dynasty. If I fail, then punish me!"

The hall fell silent.

Fan Chunren, Fan Zuyu, Fan Bailu, and others who had initially intended to voice their opposition fell silent. Zhang Yue's actions clearly indicated that he was gambling his entire political life, leaving no room for retreat.

However, this was a war that could threaten the entire nation!

A war that stakes the fate of the Song Dynasty.

The Emperor pondered for a moment, then turned to consult Empress Dowager Xiang behind the curtain, and finally nodded, saying:

"I am very pleased that Minister Zhang has done so much for the country."

He slowly rose, his voice solemn:

"To recover the lost territories of the Han and Tang dynasties and to restore peace and prosperity is of paramount importance to the nation! I hereby grant it!"

Immediately, the emperor loudly proclaimed the imperial edict:

"I hereby appoint you as the Pacification Commissioner of Northwest China, overseeing all troops in Shaanxi and Hedong, and to launch a campaign against the false Xia dynasty on a chosen date!"

P.S.: The next update will be next Wednesday!