Du Zhongxiao, Shi Quanbin, and Liu Ji stood outside the city, and behind them were important generals in the army, waiting for Han Qi to arrive as quickly as possible. Tang Longzhen killed Yelu Zongzhen in a battle and defeated 100,000 Khitan elite soldiers, the fruits of the battle were too great, and Han Qi had to come in person. The movements of Du Zhongxiao's army after the war had a significant impact on the Song Dynasty and the Khitans, and Du Zhongxiao was not allowed to act alone.

The battlefield outside the city was only roughly cleaned, and Yang Wenguang and Zhao Zi followed the cavalry of Shisanlang and went straight to Dongshengzhou. Yao Shouxin's artillery followed, and the heavy artillery fell last. Outside the city was littered with broken flags, broken knives and guns, and even corpses that had not had time to be buried.

Tanglong Town is a place of trade, and in order to make money, the Khitan learned from the Song Dynasty and built a road to Dongshengzhou. If the road had not been built, it would not have been easy for the larger guns to pass. Now it's a good road to the north, and even Du Zhongxiao behind the heavy artillery can be taken with him.

With the smoke and dust on the road, dozens of riders appeared on the road, and it was Han Qi and others who rushed to the scene desperately.

Du Zhongxiao hurriedly led someone to meet him, and arched his hand: "The news that the prime minister is coming, the lower official only knew about it two hours ago, and he couldn't meet him from afar, don't be guilty!" ”

Han Qi dismounted, grabbed Du Zhongxiao's shoulders and gasped, "What's the crime?" Where is Zong Zhen's body? Take me to see it! ”

Du Zhongxiao said yes, turned around first, and took Han Qi and the others into the city.

In a side hall next to the main hall of the Yamen, Du Zhongxiao deliberately cleaned it up and placed the real body of Yeluzong. The bodies of the generals and high-ranking officials who died in battle were also packed up and put aside. Abusing corpses is a barbarian custom, and Du Zhongxiao disdains to do it. When you are alive, you will draw your sword and never retreat, and when you die, you should treat each other with courtesy, which is what the Central Plains people are used to.

Walking forward quickly, Han Qi carefully observed the true appearance of Yelu Zong, straightened up and said: "Zhongzhou Defense Shi Qian Hui now knows Hezhong Mansion, in the second year of the emperor, he was an envoy to the Khitan for the appointment of a deputy envoy, and he has seen the Khitan lord. I have sent a message to Pegasus to come to Tanglong Town immediately. After he recognizes his true body, he will be transported back to the capital. The stakes are high, and there is no room for carelessness. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Xianggong, in addition to killing the Khitan lord and some important ministers and famous generals this time, he also captured a lot of people. It has been confirmed that this is the true body of the Khitan lord, and there should be no doubt. ”

Han Qi smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Wait for you, you still don't know how important this matter is!" I received your good news in Bingzhou, and I didn't dare to delay for a moment and rushed over. I'm afraid that you will be careless and do something out of the ordinary. The killing of the Khitan monarch was a great event not only for the Great Song Dynasty, but also for all the surrounding countries. Once we send it back, the news that Zong Zhen is not dead comes out on the other side, and it will be a big mess. Only when the Khitan people confirm it, and then the Khitan officials recognize it, can we release the news and transport it back to the capital. In contrast, your urgent military deployment can be delayed! ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded and said no more. How much significance it is to kill Yelu Zongzhen, to be honest, Du Zhongxiao doesn't really understand. This corpse is much more significant than the annihilation of the Khitan army of 100,000, and will directly change the situation of the Song Dynasty and the Khitan, affecting all surrounding countries.

When they arrived at the main hall, they each sat down, and Du Zhongxiao ordered tea.

After drinking tea, Han Qi pointed to the official who came with him and said, "This is Sima Guang, the general judgment of Bingzhou, the matter is urgent, I will temporarily recruit him as the judge of the strategy." Such a big thing happened to the Volcano Army, and the Tang Long town guard dared to sacrifice the city to surrender to the enemy, this matter must be handled strictly! You are entangled in military affairs, so don't worry about this matter anymore, just leave it to Judge Sima. ”

Sima Guang saluted Du Zhongxiao and sat down again. Du Zhongxiao knew that it was him who came with Han Qi. This name, almost everyone who has been to school knows it, and he and Wang Anshi, a pair of officialdom enemies, are really famous in later generations.

Yu Jingyang has already been beheaded, and Du Zhongxiao, the case in Tanglong Town, has no energy to investigate in detail, many people have been locked up in prison for committing crimes, and there has been no result for so long. It's not bad for Sima Guang to handle it, this person who tried the case may be better than Du Zhongxiao.

Asked about the battle that day, Han Qi said: "The Khitan army has been defeated, what do you want?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "I have ordered Yang Wenguang to lead the troops north, follow the Khitan, and look for opportunities to destroy the enemy." The Khitan army was defeated, this is a golden opportunity, our army went north, and had the opportunity to capture Dongsheng, Yunnei, Feng and other states. Occupy Fengzhou, Tiande, Heqing, Jinsu and other armies are also in the palm of their hands! ”

Han Qi pondered for a while and said, "You are only 30,000 soldiers and horses, isn't this too presumptuous?" The Khitan army was defeated, and the privy envoy of the Khitan North Court in the north, Yelurenxian, still had more than 100,000 soldiers and horses. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "According to the estimation of the lower officials, Yeluren may not be able to guard Fengzhou first. If you have to defend it, the lower officials don't mind a fight. Even if you can't go down to Fengzhou, Dongshengzhou will definitely be able to take it. With the help of artillery, the Khitans are not afraid of him for a counterattack! ”

Han Qi nodded and asked, "Why do you think Yeluren would give up Fengzhou first?" Under the Yin Mountain, next to the big river, it is a strategic place! Without Fengzhou, the Khitan in the entire meandering land would not be able to hold it, and even the Tatars and party departments in the north would be afraid that they would also have different intentions. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Xianggong, the Khitan lord has really died here, who will succeed the Khitan monarch?" ”

Han Qi smiled: "Are you saying that the Khitan civil strife, Yeluren will first lead the troops back to help the Khitan Yan King Hongji ascend the throne?" ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Yes, the matter is clear, without Yeluren's help first, it is not easy for Yeluhongji to ascend the throne." Moreover, the women and children of the Zhuluduo Palace, who went out with Zongzhen, were with him, and if he lost another battle, the foundation of the Khitan would be gone. ”

The habit of the Khitan, when the king goes on an expedition, will take several palaces of Huluduo. Soldiers fight, and the civilians under them are responsible for logistics, unlike the Song Dynasty generals who fought and their families were not allowed to join the army. These women and children included a large number of the nearest royal families. If Du Zhongxiao is killed, the impact will almost catch up with the killing of Yelu Zongzhen, how dare Yeluren take this risk.

Han Qi obviously thought about this, and nodded with a smile after listening to Du Zhongxiao's words: "It seems that you are thoughtful, not impulsive." However, fighting a soldier is not only about consideration, but also about chance. Thou hast commanded all the armies to be cautious and not to advance rashly. I ordered 10,000 Linfu Road and 30,000 on behalf of the Road, a total of 40,000 soldiers and horses, to Tanglong Town to help you. However, they are not as fast as your men, and I am afraid that it will be a year later. ”

Du Zhongxiao arched his hand: "Xie Xianggong!" Now that the railway is convenient, why not transfer troops from elsewhere? And on behalf of the road there"

Han Qi said: "Since you know that once Zong Zhen dies, Chongyuan will inevitably be the emperor, how can there be anything to do on behalf of the road?" ”

The country cannot be without a king for a day, as long as the news of Yelu Zong's death spreads, Yelu Chongyuan will inevitably be proclaimed emperor in Datong Mansion. Even if Yelu Chongyuan didn't have this idea, Xiao Ge would let him be the emperor. If you don't do this, the Khitan will not be the Khitan.

Du Zhongxiao understands this truth, and Han Qi also understands it. has made a great contribution to killing Yelu Zongzhen, Du Zhongxiao is not as good as before, unless the military deployment is a big mistake, Han Qi will not forcibly change. If the troops are insufficient to replenish the troops, are there still generals who are not satisfied with Du Zhongxiao?

After chatting for a while, Han Qi said, "By the way, just now you said that you captured a lot of Khitan generals, are there any important people?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "On that day, a round of heavy artillery, Zong Zhen and his important generals were almost completely wiped out. Only all the palaces deployed Yeluyi Xian was really fatal, and after a few rounds of artillery came down, he was seriously injured, broke an arm, and left a life. I have asked him to repair a letter, hand it to Yelu Renxian, and persuade Yelu Renxian to abandon Fengzhou and lead his troops back to Shangjing. Two days after handing it out, there has been no reply. ”

Han Qi listened and nodded: "Okay, good." It was Jerod Yixian who survived, and it was the best. You can also promise him that as long as Yeluren leads his troops out of Fengzhou first, you can send him back and reunite their brothers. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "His identity is unusual, how dare I call the shots?" ”

Han Qi said: "Why don't you dare? Now that you do such a thing, which official in the Asari will say anything? Taking Fengzhou is a great achievement, what is a Yeluyi first! What is a county king! Lying there, a lord of a kingdom, a couple of kings! ”

Du Zhongxiao thought for a while and said, "That's it, it's better to go to the court first, and when the will comes down, it's not too late to talk to Yeluyi first." ”

From promoting Changping and taking charge of camp and field affairs, to the current deputy envoy of economic strategy, although Du Zhongxiao has been in charge for a long time, he has never tasted the power of being able to make decisions on the spot. has made a great contribution, and it will take time for this credit to be truly transformed into Du Zhongxiao's prestige and power.

Han Qi didn't say much, and together with Sima Guang, he walked around the city before arranging a place to rest.

Now it's different from before, Han Qi will stay here and arrange the battle ahead with Du Zhongxiao. Although one is the same as the other, in fact, the identity and status of the two are too far apart. There are many things that Du Zhongxiao can't make decisions and will hesitate, but Han Qi won't scruple too much.

When he left Beijing, Du Zhongxiao also acted cheaply, but the current situation was completely beyond the scope of his cheap actions. No matter what decision is made next, there will inevitably be officials in the DPRK and China who will say that he is arbitrary. With Han Qi here, there are not so many people who say such things.

Han Qi has been guarding the border for many years, but when it comes to specific military affairs and military command, he is not very familiar with it. In particular, the combat style of Du Zhongxiao's department had never been exposed to it before, and there was actually not much to say militarily.

Han Qi is a person who has courage, can make decisions, and can be an official. When a teenager becomes famous, there is almost no turmoil in his career, but not everyone can do it. He is in Tanglong Town with Du Zhongxiao, even if he doesn't do anything, let Du Zhongxiao call the shots, and he can block countless gossip. This not only helped Du Zhongxiao, but also made the credit he got have nothing to say to others, that is, he will be an official.

After settling Han Qi and his party, Du Zhongxiao asked Liu Ji to immediately go north to catch up with the army as the commander of the enemy. He is the true commander of an army and the real commander of the enemy. Du Zhongxiao stayed in Tanglong Town and made overall arrangements.