Looking at the vast expanse of clear water in front of him, Yang Wenguang said to the generals beside him: "Outside the Guan, this kind of big lake is rare. The cardinal government ordered that after we went out to occupy Liangcheng, we continued to occupy Baishuiluo to the east. Here and Baishuiluo, are the two largest lakes north of Datong Province, and their status is important. Occupying these two places will block the road from the northern grasslands to Datongfu, which will be of great use in the future. ”

Song Shouyue, the deputy commander of the capital, said: "Yelu Chongyuan escaped from Datong Mansion and surrendered to Xiao Ge in Shuozhou, and Chongyuan has been captured by the imperial court. Now the defenders of Datong Mansion are panicking, and it is a good time to fight for the city and land. However, Bai Shuiluo is not affiliated with Datong Mansion, but under Shengzhou. This battle is only afraid that Texas will be easy to take, and Baishui will be difficult to attack. Yelu Hongji led an army of 400,000 to Datong Mansion, but he was afraid that it would not be easy to defend. ”

Yang Wenguang said with a smile: "The imperial court has taken Shuozhou, and Hong Ji's mind is just afraid that it will be put there." It is precisely because of this that the cardinal government ordered us to let go and take Texas first, and then Baishuiluo. If Hong Ji sends someone to rescue, he will just have a battle, let him know that it is powerful! ”

After saying that, he ordered the army to advance quickly and attack the city of Texas tomorrow.

Dezhou is a Liangcheng in ancient times, a Khitan Zhizhou County, and the name of the county in the Song Dynasty is commonly used. This city is located in the valley, the road leads to the Zhenwu army in the west, and reaches Datong Mansion in the south, which is the important place for Shazhou to go south. Originally, there were heavy troops stationed, Chongyuan and Hongji competed, and the troops were transferred, but now there are only hundreds of people defending the city. Yang Wenguang came with 50,000 people, intending to go down in one go.

Outside Changqing City, Yelu Hongji looked at the city in front of him, and said in a deep voice: "Chongyuan has fled south to Shuozhou, but the Changqing guards will not surrender, which is really hateful!" Tomorrow, when the cannons arrive, set up the cannons, and blast the city to dust! Today, the Song Dynasty will inevitably take action, and if it is delayed, I don't know how many hidden dangers will be buried! Order the army, and all those who hold on and do not surrender, will be killed! ”

A group of generals agreed. Yelu Xiantong, the privy envoy of the Northern Court, arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, the defeat of the traitor Chongyuan has been revealed, and the people of the states of Xijing Province are looking forward to Your Majesty's army like a long drought and looking forward to Ganlin. At this time, it is necessary to collect the hearts of the people, and not to create more killing stamps. It has been five years since the rebellion of the national dynasty and the heavy yuan, and the time of using troops has been too long, and the people of Xijing Road and Nanjing Road have been affected by it. If we defeat Chongyuan, we should give priority to supporting the people. ”

Just then, a fast horse arrived nearby. The knight flew off his horse, walked quickly in front of Hong Ji, and said with his hands crossed: "Your Majesty, the front-line military report, Xiao Ge has surrendered to Song in Shuozhou City!" Chongyuan and his ministers have all become prisoners of the Song army! ”

Yelu Hongji was taken aback: "Is this conclusive? In five years, the Song Dynasty has been looking forward to it, why is it intervening now? ”

The knight said: "Your Majesty, there is no doubt about it! The Song army in front took Shuozhou City and is gathering troops in Mayi County! ”

Yelu Hongji waved his hand, ordered the knight to retreat, and hurriedly returned to the tent with his ministers.

Sitting down in the tent, Yelu Hongji looked at the ministers and said in a deep voice: "I just got the news, Xiao Ge, a thief, took Chongyuan hostage to Shuozhou City, and then opened the door to welcome the Song army into the city. According to you, what is the intention of the Song Kingdom to intervene in the war at this time? ”

Yelu Yixin, the privy envoy of the Southern Court, said: "At this time, Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the purpose of the Song people is not only Shuozhou, but also in Datong Mansion!" ”

King Wei said: "If you are interested in Datong Mansion, it should not be at this time." When His Majesty's army is not near, it is necessary to send a large army to quickly take the back road. Now that 400,000 troops are coming to the city, is the Song Kingdom intending to fight with me at this time? ”

Yelu Yixin said: "After fighting with Chongyuan for five years, the national strength is consumed, and if the Song State is at war with our country at this time, it is reasonable." ”

Yelu Xiantong came out and arched his hand: "In Yichen's opinion, the Southern Dynasty is not ready for a big war with its own country. The southern kingdom has just defeated the party, and although the war is going well, there is a lot of attrition. Around Xijing Road, there are nothing more than Yang Wenguang, Zhao Zi, Liu Ji, and Jia Kui's army, about 200,000 people. His Majesty personally led an army of 400,000 troops, and if you add the people and horses who surrendered from the Chongyuan Division, who had no owner to rely on, did the Song army think that they could defeat several people in this dynasty alone? No matter how you think about this, there is no reason to fight hard. ”

Yelu Hongji nodded: "What the king said is extremely true, the Song Kingdom is not ready for a big war at this time. ”

Yelu Xiantong said: "Your Majesty, this matter still has to be negotiated with the Southern Dynasty to see what they say." It's been five years since the war was fought, and it's really hard to sustain it any longer, so if there is peace, don't start a war. ”

Yelu Yixin said: "But the Song Dynasty has already occupied Shuozhou, and when you eat the meat in your mouth, how can you spit it out again!" ”

Yelu Xiantong was silent and silently returned to the train.

Yelu Hongji was young and young, and as soon as Yelu Yixin spoke, he felt that the anger in his chest could hardly be contained. However, when he saw that the ministers below were silent, he suppressed his anger again. It's one thing that the Song army was not prepared for a big war, but if it only held Shuozhou, the Khitan also had no certainty of victory. If you rashly start a big war and are beaten back by the Song army's backhand, it will be a big deal. It took a lot of hard work to defeat Chongyuan, and once he lost at this time, the situation would be turbulent.

After thinking about it again and again, Yelu Hongji said: "It's hard to guess what Song Guo wants. Or send envoys first to question the Song Dynasty. If the Song Dynasty handed Shuozhou back, everything would be easy to say. If you forcibly refuse to pay, we will pay attention to it. ”

All the ministers said yes together.

Yelu Hongji said: "How about taking the king of the Northern Courtyard and Wu Zhan, the governor of the council, as the envoys to the Song Kingdom?" ”

Yelu Xiantong came out and gave his hand: "At this critical time of survival, the minister does not dare to resign." However, Kaifeng Mansion is a long way away, and it is not easy to go there. Shuozhou is close to Hedong Road, is it better to go to see Hedong Road to appease Pang Ji? ”

Yelu Hongji nodded: "What the king said is very true, so I will go to see Pang Ji." If Pang Ji can't make the decision, it's not too late to go to Kaifeng Mansion again. ”

Yelu Yixin came out and said: "Your Majesty, if you go to Kaifeng Mansion and go back and forth for a few months, how can you wait for the battlefield?" ”

When Yelu Hongji heard this, he bowed his head and groaned, and he couldn't make up his mind for a while. The Song army occupied Shuozhou, but they had not yet occupied Datong Mansion, which was equivalent to the two armies colliding head-on. If you are not careful, a big war will break out, where to wait to go to Kaifeng Mansion and the Song Dynasty ministers to theorize. But if you only see Pang Ji, Yelu Xiantong and Wu Zhan's level is too high, and I am afraid that Pang Ji will not have the power to call the shots.

Yelu Xiantong arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, the ministers will go to see Pang Ji first, and go to the capital under the pretext of a name." Let's see how Pang Ji explains first, if Song Guo really has the will to fight, His Majesty will lead the army to fight them. Ahead, we went to Kaifeng Mansion and there was nothing. ”

Yelu Hongji nodded: "It's also a way to talk while fighting." Shuozhou is the gateway to the south of Datong Province, and it cannot be easily ceded to the Song people. If not, a few years later, the Song people were ready, and the army came to attack Datong Mansion, which was not easy to deal with. ”

Yelu Xiantong said: "Obey Your Majesty's holy decree!" However, what if Song Jun was determined to refuse? ”

Yelu Hongji patted his seat: "Then let's fight a battle!" You just have to go and talk to the Song people, and you can't give up the land! ”

Yelu Xiantong and Wu Zhan thanked each other, and the matter was settled. The two went to the Song Dynasty to negotiate, let the Song Dynasty withdraw its troops, and recede Shuozhou to the Khitan. If the Song people did not agree, Yelu Hongji would directly lead the troops to drive them away. In the end, it still depends on how well you play.