The fleet that followed Fan Ning to the north was a merchant fleet, composed of thirty large ships. The head of the merchant ship was Zhu Qiang, nicknamed Zhu Laoba, and Zhu Qi's younger brother. He ranked eighth in the Zhu family. He followed Mingli for many years and was able to stand alone. There were several chambers of commerce engaged in it.

The ship contained 30,000 stones of grain and 5,000 kilograms of white copper ingots. The grain was sold to the Three Buddha Qi Kingdom and then sold to the Song Dynasty with spices. The white copper ingots were used to exchange glass, velvet blankets, gems and other goods from the Dashi merchants or Western merchants, and then transported to the Song Dynasty.

The goods were handed over to the Beidao's commercial bank in Quanzhou, and the trader was distributed. The fleet then transported the tea, porcelain, silk and other goods needed for the Beidao, as well as the recruited new immigrants, when they came back, they had to buy a batch of sugar, kapok and rubber in Luzon's Mansion, and finally returned to the Beidao.

Fanning just went north with them and broke up at the old port. Fanning's 20,000-stone ship went to Luzon Mansion alone. His ship also had some cargo, mainly three hundred high-quality sandalwood produced on Nuam Island, but this batch of sandalwood was tributed to the emperor and the queen mother. Whether it could be exchanged for the title of Chu State depends on the bridge role played by this batch of sandalwood.

Fanning met Yu Zhuowen, the envoy who was waiting for him in Luzon Palace. Yu Zhuowen was not a eunuch, but a censor. Another responsibility he assumed was to explain to Fanning the cause and consequence of the defeat.

The contents of the imperial edict were not much different from the previous handwritten edicts, but in the end Fanning was appointed as the Hebei appeasement envoy. This was Fanning's original position. After he returned to Beijing, he was removed and now he was placed on him again. Needless to say, Fanning also knew that Zhao Xu wanted him to attack the Liao Kingdom again.

The 25,000-stone ship set sail northward. In the spacious cabin, Fan Ning listened carefully to Yu Zhuowen telling him the detailed process of the Liaoyang Prefecture War while drinking tea.

Only then did he understand why Zhao Xu urged him to enter Beijing. Cao Shi and his remaining troops were still trapped in Dading Prefecture and could not return to Youzhou.

He pondered for a moment and asked, "Is there any news about Yelu Yixin later?"

Yu Zhuowen shook his head, "No news comes again."

"How many iron fire thunders are there in Jinzhou?" Fan Ning asked again.

Yu Zhuowen hurriedly said: "There was a big explosion when Jinzhou fell. I heard that Li Song detonated all the iron fire thunders when he retreated. He is now in Dading Mansion and is with General Cao. Fortunately, the ships carrying firearms are behind. When the fire catches on the surface, they turn around and withdraw back to the Bohai Sea. The burned ships are mainly responsible for transporting food, grass and siege equipment, and there are no carrier firearms and weapons."

This news made Fan Ning feel slightly relieved. Although the Song army suffered more than 60,000 casualties, the iron fire thunder was not lost. This is a blessing in disgrace.

"The court should commend this General Li Song well, because he saved the entire situation in Song and Liao."

Yu Zhuowen asked carefully again: "Master, can the current crisis be restored?"

Fan Ning smiled slightly, "I don't think it's a crisis, it's just a psychological problem. Just like when a person is about to die, there will be a time when the Liao Kingdom is in this situation. Can they save its national destiny by defeating the Song Dynasty once?"

Fan Ning's strong self-confidence immediately made Yu Zhuowen admire him. Mr. Fan is the sea-staining magic needle of the Song Dynasty. With him, he can overcome any difficulties in the Song Dynasty."

.........

Ten days later, Fanning entered the capital by carriage. It was mid-January of the second year of Xining. The Spring Festival had just passed, and the festive atmosphere was still there. The atmosphere in the entire capital seemed a little lazy. There were no hurrying carriages, nor did the merchants bow their heads and steeply. Everyone was walking.

The weather was still very cold, the snow on the streets had not melted, and almost half of the shops had not opened, as if they had not yet woken up from the festival.

Of course there is no war now. The north is still covered with ice and snow. It will not take two months before spring in the north truly arrives.

The carriage slowly stopped outside the gate of the imperial city. Fan Ning got off the carriage. It was time to go to court. Officials came out of the imperial city one after another. Suddenly someone noticed Fan Ning and shouted excitedly, "Teacher Fan is back!"

The officials saw Fan Ning and hurried forward to greet him.

"When will Taishi Fan come back?"

"Master Fan is back and Youzhou is saved!

"Master Fan rushed back in crisis, which is a blessing for the Song Dynasty!"

.........

Fan Ning looked at his expectant and excited eyes, and he was quite moved. He clasped his fists and said to everyone: "Thank you for your trust. The official family is still waiting. I have to go to see the official family quickly. I will talk to you in detail if I have the opportunity in the future!"

He bowed to everyone and followed Yu Zhuowen toward Ziwei Palace.

The officials in front of the imperial city gate gathered together to discuss, and more and more officials went to court. Soon, the news of Fanning's return spread among the officials.

In front of the imperial study room, Fan Ning waited for a moment, but saw the emperor Zhao Xu walking out in person, "Master Fan, let me wait for a month!"

Fan Ning hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "I immediately set off after receiving His Majesty's instructions. I just entered the city, so I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Hey! Come in quickly, let's talk in detail."

The two entered the imperial study room. Zhao Xu asked Fan Ning to sit down and asked someone to have a tea. Fan Ning asked with concern: "What is the situation in Daning Mansion?"

When Zhao Xu saw Fan Ning ask about the situation in Daning Mansion, he breathed a little relieved. Zhao Xu was afraid that Fan Ning would put on airs and make excuses to shirk it, so he had no choice.

"There is still a lot of food in the city of Daning, and there is no problem with the army's support for several months. The key is that there are tens of thousands of cavalry outside the city, which makes it impossible for them to withdraw to Youzhou."

Fan Ning smiled and said, "Your Majesty, why did the Song army withdraw back to Youzhou?"

Zhao Xu was stunned, "What does the Grand Master mean?"

"Your Majesty, Cao Shi has captured Dading Prefecture, so we will save us from attacking Zhongjing again. This is a good thing! Why worry?"

Zhao Xu's mind was a little confused. The same thing, which was said by different people, had completely different meanings. Everyone was extremely anxious about the Song army being alone and unable to withdraw, but Fan Ning believed that the Song army had captured Dading Prefecture.

"Tai Shi, if the passage between Youzhou and Dading Prefecture can be opened, it is of course a good thing, but the problem now is that once Dading Prefecture is captured by the Liao army, the Song army will likely be destroyed, and we will not be able to support it..."

"Your Majesty is too worried. It's actually just a Jinzhou city. As long as we take back Jinzhou, all problems will be solved, right?"

Zhao Xu nodded slowly, "The Grand Master is right, it is Jinzhou. In addition, our army seems to be restrained by the enemy's tinder oil."

Fanning shook his head, "Your Majesty, the problem of the navy is not that it is restrained by tinder oil. Why hasn't it been restrained before? Did the Liao army have no tinder oil in the past? The problem is in tactical arrangements. I have told Your Majesty that the navy cannot be the main force, but only the auxiliary. The so-called auxiliary means that it must follow the main force on the shore, and cannot act alone. Once the enemy is ready to attack with fire, it should be the shore army to solve this problem. Only after the threat is lifted can the navy continue to move north."

Zhao Xu was both happy and ashamed. It was Fanning that brought him great confidence, but it was because he did not listen to Fanning's advice.

"Is the Grand Tutor willing to lead troops to attack the Liao Kingdom again?" Zhao Xu finally put forward his idea. At this time, he could only rely on Fan Ning.

Fan Ning smiled and said, "Your Majesty has an order. How dare I refuse to obey? But I also have some difficulties. I beg your Majesty to support you."

"What's the difficulty of the Taishi?"

"Your Majesty, this time I went to Beidao, and I felt that Beidao was too small and its development was slow and difficult. I beg your Majesty to immigrate to Beidao properly. I will remember your Majesty's kindness and defend the southern coastal areas forever for the Song Dynasty."

Zhao Xu said happily: "I promised you to migrate 100,000 households to Beidao. I will issue an order to let the Ministry of Revenue arrange it to ensure that within ten years, 100,000 households to Beidao."

Fan Ning stood up and saluted, "Thank you for your love, I am willing to do my best to share your worries!"

Zhao Xu immediately issued an order, appointing Fan Ning as the marshal of the Northern Expedition, commanding 500,000 troops, and being fully responsible for the attack on the Liao Kingdom.

Zhao Xu immediately issued an order to the Ministry of Revenue, ordering the Ministry of Revenue to formulate a plan that within ten years, 100,000 households in the Song Dynasty would be moved to Beidao to settle down.

The next day, the front pages of major newspapers published a major news: Fanning returns and is responsible for the marshal of Peking University.
Chapter completed!