The Song army once again invaded Liao territory, and this time they met Yelu Xiuge on the way.

Something happened! The little smart people in the Song army felt a slump. Before, Yelu Xiuge had to stand in Youzhou City, blocking Cao Bin in front and resisting Pan Mei. But now he dared to rush out to fight Cao Bin alone, and the situation behind the mountain can be imagined. That's right! Just as Cao Bin retreated and advanced, Yelu Xizhen's troops had been reinforced.

So Yelu Xiuge came. More than 100 miles south of Zhuozhou City, the Song and Liao armies met. The God of War immediately dispersed his cavalry and attacked erratically. Facing the dilemma, Cao Bin's response was to continue moving forward. There were two benefits to doing this: 1. The city of Zhuozhou is 100 miles ahead. After entering the city, he would not be afraid of the opponent's cavalry; 2. When entering Zhuozhou, he could continue his original strategic deployment. Drag Yelu Xiuge to the front of the mountain to create a chance for victory for Pan Mei and Tian Chongjin behind the mountain. In order to prevent the Khitan cavalry raid, the Song army's methods were unprecedented. Dig trenches while advancing. They would only go wherever the trenches were dug. But this really stumped Yelu Xiuge. He couldn't jump into the pit to kill people, right?

So the Song army finally arrived at the Zhuozhou City, which they had captured. However, they had been walking for more than 20 days in just over 100 miles. However, Zhuozhou City still arrived. There were no Liao troops defending the city in the city. The Song army swarmed into the city and rushed to the well first! This was the North China Plain in the second half of April of the lunar calendar, and everyone dug a trenches against the sun. Fortunately, Zhuozhou City has abundant water sources. A large army of more than 200,000 people in the Song army was able to breathe a little in the city. But then a shocking battle report came - the Great Liao reinforcements led by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had arrived! They would attack Zhuozhou at any time!

Cao Bin smiled bitterly and ordered the entire army to withdraw from Zhuozhou for the second time! At this time, God helped, and it suddenly started to rain heavily. In this way, the power of the Khitan cavalry would be greatly reduced. Why are you still hesitating? Escape! Cao Bin ordered his general Lu Bin to take away all the people in Zhuozhou City and retreat south along Langshan. All the main forces of the Eastern Route Army were cut off by himself and fled south in the rain! Perhaps Cao Bin hoped that Yelu Xiuge would first regain the looted people of Zhuozhou, so that the Song army would win time that was hard to buy.

But... On May 3, he had just retreated to Qigou Pass, and Yelu Xiu Ge suddenly arrived! Heavy rain in the sky and muddy underground. Cao Bin's last moment finally arrived! The main legions of Song and Liao countries fought decisively at Qigou Pass! But this is no longer a fair duel. One side has been rushing back and forth for thousands of miles, exhausting himself halfway. The other side is waiting for his work, and has just added the elite troops in Mobei brought by Empress Dowager Xiao. The two famous generals have a life-and-death duel! Is there any suspense in the victory or defeat?

The Song army used the large grain transport trucks as camp bars and surrounded the formation to cushion the Khitan cavalry. They were defeated but there was no chaos, and they persisted until dark, and the Liao army surrounded them.

At night, Cao Bin made the most embarrassing move in his military career. He abandoned the entire army and fled out of the Liao army with a small number of personal soldiers. He crossed the Juma River at night and set up camp on the south bank.

The next day, the entire Song army was unowned and fled to the Juma River. The river that day was full of Song army corpses... In the face of danger, Li Jixuan stepped forward and fought against Yelu Xiuge on the banks of the Juma River, which allowed the remaining troops of the entire army to cross the river.

The Song army continued to flee south, with the destination of Gaoyang. But Yelu Xiuge chased him reluctantly, and Shahe was defeated again in a battle. In the end, the Song army fled into Gaoyang City... but there was no doubt that the Eastern Route Army had completely failed.

On May 9, Wang Jien flew into Kaifeng from Yizhou. Zhao Guangyi learned about the defeat of the Eastern Army and urgently ordered Tian Chongjin and Pan Mei to withdraw the troops. Tian Chongjin did not hesitate and immediately retreated. The Central Army returned to the country safely. But Pan Mei's Western Army was unwilling to accept it. They wanted to pk with Yelu Xizhen to see who was stronger!

So in July, Weizhou and Huanzhou were successively recovered by Yelu Xizhen. It seems that they really cannot retreat. But the emperor still has a task, asking the Western Army to move the residents of Yun, Shuo, Huan, and Ying, and the four states to move south. In Langya Village, Shuozhou, Yang Ye proposed a method to "get out of Dashi Road first, and make an appointment with Yun and the two states of Shuo to move the people to Shijie Valley, send thousands of crossbowmen ambush at the entrance of the valley, and then use cavalry to support them in the middle. It is estimated that the task will be almost completed." However, Wang Zhi, the military supervisor, sneered, "I didn't expect it! He led tens of thousands of elite cavalry but was so timid! We want to go from Beichuan at Yanmen Pass.

Advance on the road, we must go to Mayi to meet the enemy with great momentum." Yang Ye shook his head, "This way, you will be defeated." Wang Zhi sneered, "Aren't you an invincible general? He led tens of thousands of troops but just wanted to escape. He should be rebel and surrender to the enemy." At this point, Yang Ye had nothing to say and agreed to fight immediately. Before leaving, he said to his old boss Pan Mei, "I am defeated this time. I am a surrendered general in Taiyuan, and I should have died long ago. The Lord asked me to command the troops, and today I will repay you with a death battle! I only request you to ambush the archers on both sides of Chenjia Valley. When I am defeated, if you don't respond, the entire army will be wiped out."

Pan Mei had a serious expression, agreed on the spot, and acted immediately. Yang Ye led his troops north to attack Yelu Xizhen, and Pan Mei and Wang Zhi personally led their troops to ambush at the entrance of Chenjiagu. But from the time of Yin to Si, Yang Ye was gone... The soldiers of the Western Army thought that a miracle had happened. But... the soldiers who knew that they would be defeated and died went north and went deep into the enemy's territory, just to prove their loyalty. So by the time of retreat, they were too far from Chenjiagu...

Yang Ye's opponent was Yelu Xizhen, a famous general. He was quickly recalled from the front line of the Jurchen tribe. But when he just returned, he did not dare to challenge Pan Mei and Tian immediately. There were only so many reinforcements, and no matter what, we must first guarantee Yelu Xiuge and his Youzhou city! But now it is different. Cao Bin completely collapsed, and the heavy troops of the Liao Kingdom have moved to him. But the Song army also began to retreat. He made a quick decision and took the initiative to pursue the reinforcements before they could get them. At this time, the reinforcements had already been obtained, and Yang Ye's alone army came to attack him again!

What are you waiting for? But the cunning Yelu Xizhen retreated all the way and led Yang Ye away from Langya Village. Then suddenly, the ambushing troops rose up everywhere and surrounded Yang Ye!

The time for Yang Ye is here! This fight is your blood and honor! You have to prove that no matter whether you are an invincible general or not, at least you are not a traitor, and you have no intention!

On that day, Yang Ye led his troops to fight bloody battles until he could no longer support him. He walked while fighting and wanted to introduce Yelu Xizhen into Chenjiagu. He set out in the early morning and fought at noon, and it was already evening when he retreated to Chenjiagu. The whole army was trapped and had reached its limit... But at first glance, Yang Ye looked at it and found that there was no sign of reinforcements... Yang Ye touched his chest and cried: Your Majesty, Yang Ye did his best!

The final bloody battle. Yang Ye's son Yang Yanyu, general Wang Gui and the soldiers were all killed in battle... Yang Ye's war horse was injured and hid in the dense forest. Yelu Xidi vaguely saw the shadow of his robe and shot him with an arrow. Yang Ye fell off his horse and was captured.

The Khitans won and captured Yang Wudi alive. This was an honor they could never have imagined in their dreams, and it became a reality. But all they got was Yang Ye's body. The hero died on a hunger strike for three days...

Returning to the battlefield of that year, we investigated the cause of the hero's death. According to historical records, Pan Mei and Wang Fu thought that Yang Ye had won, so they rushed up the same path to compete for Yang Ye's contribution. Halfway through the road, they knew that Yang Ye was defeated, so they turned around and retreated without leaving a single reinforcement... Speaking of responsibility, Pan Mei could not get rid of it anyway, after all, he was the head coach! But we all know that as the head coach of the Song army, there are often only two words - helplessness.

Moreover, Yang Ye's way of death was very popular among the generals of the Song Dynasty. Yang Ye himself knew this very well. In fact, if he did not die, the fate of waiting for him would be even more tragic... For example, Guo Jin, who was also forced to commit suicide by the military supervisor Tian Qinzuo 7 years ago. What's more coincidental is that when Tian Qinzuo forced Guo Jin to death, Wang Fu was present. All operations were very familiar.

As for Pan Mei, what could he do when Wang Wei forced Yang Ye? The head coach and deputy commander united to resist the military supervisor? The war had already lost. Do you believe that the report of the military supervisor after returning to China will make you worse than death? So... I can only do this. It's a pity that someone wrote "The Romance of the Yang Family Generals". Pan Mei, the most brave general in the Northern Song Dynasty, was replaced by a white-faced treacherous prime minister. The uncle Pan Renmei ended up being a jealous person who was jealous of the virtuous and jealous person who was jealous of loyalty and goodness forever...

Open the "History of the Song Dynasty" again, please pay attention to this record: When Cao Bin advanced rapidly at the beginning of the war, Zhao Guangyi was surprised that he was too fast and was afraid that the Khitan would rob the food. When Cao Bin had all his grains retreated, Zhao Guangyi was shocked, "How could the enemy be ahead, but the army transported the food with aid?" When Cao Bin advances again, Zhao Guangyi said that he must not make any hurry and go to meet Mi Xin first... It is a completely peerless master, and he has insight into all the opportunities, and he has calculated all the failure factors. However, Cao Bin did not listen to his orders and finally failed.

Even if this is true, it will reveal a truth invisibly - the big bitch is commanding the war at any time! How did this be done? The big bitch knows, and Cao Bin also knows. But can Cao Bin reveal it to the outside world? Cao Bin chose to take everything down, including the infamy of the battlefield waste. Those who are ministers must maintain the glorious image of the emperor.

Many discerning people scolded Cao Bin for being shameless and Zhao Guangyi's shamelessness. But if you think from the perspective of others, do you want Cao Bin to tell the truth and ask Zhao Guangyi to issue a self-criticism? When the country is unprecedentedly defeated and the enemy is about to take revenge, then reduce the emperor's public image and appeal to the bottom? It's not easy for everyone! The first general, I understand you!

In February 968, before the start of the Northern Expedition of Yongxi, Li Ji, who had been driven to the desperate situation by the Song army, surrendered to Liao, and the Great Liao Dynasty appointed him as the governor of Dingnan Army. He went to his brother, Li Jipang (Zhao Baozhong), the governor of Dingnan Army, who was granted by the Song Dynasty.

Let’s talk about the response of the Song Dynasty after the failure of Yongxi’s Northern Expedition and the handling of the defeated generals.

In June, Zhao Guangyi replaced all the guards on the border of the Song Dynasty. These people had unparalleled experiences, far superior to Pan Mei and Cao Bin. But no one felt assured that they could manage it. Because they were too old - Zhang Yongde, Song Wei, Liu Tingrang, Zhao Yanpu. Some of the real ashes were even Zhao Kuangyin's senior superiors. These people reappeared in the world, and the truth about the Song army was terrible.

Cao Bin, the main responsible person for the failure of Yongxi's Northern Expedition. The charge was to disobey the emperor's order and violate battlefield discipline. As early as June 8, Zhao Changyan wrote a letter saying that there was no need to retrial and directly pulled him out to behead his head. However, Zhao Guangyi still pretended to be a trial. After Cao Bin returned to the court, the trial was held in the Secretariat Province on the 21st. On July 1, the trial result: Cao Bin, Mi Xin and other nine generals were sentenced to death. But two days later, the emperor's fine was released.

: Cao Bin was demoted from the Jiedushi to the General of the Right Guard, and so on. Cui Yanjin was the General of the Right Guard, and Mi Xin was the General of the Right Guard. All were exempted from death and everyone was demoted. This ended from this... From this point of view, it seems quite good to be a general in the Song Dynasty, right? At least you don’t have to worry about being convicted and killed. But listen to the famous saying of the only famous general who was wronged in the Song Dynasty, "A civil servant does not love money, and the general will die, and the world will be peaceful."

In the same month when the news of Chen Jiagu's defeat came, Zhao Guangyi also punished the Western Route Army: the commander Pan Mei was demoted to three levels in a row and continued to stand guard on the frontier. The military supervisor Wang Zhi and Liu Wenyu were demoted to the people, one was exiled to Jinzhou and the other was exiled to Dengzhou. From then on, he would never be able to become an official again... He was posthumously awarded Yang Ye as the Taiwei and the Jiedushi of Datong. His remaining five sons were all promoted and continued to serve the country.

Pan Mei, Cao Bin, the former pride of the Song army, the strongest Gemini constellation has been destroyed... What has been replaced are the enemies of the Song Dynasty, the two ghosts of the Liao army - Yelu Xiuge, Yelu Xizhen...

As the revenge of the Khitans was approaching, Zhao Guangyi's inadvertent arrangement would play a big role. On July 21, he sent someone called Zhang Qixian to Daizhou to be the governor and guard Yanmen Pass with Pan Mei. It was from this person that the border of the Song Dynasty would take another path...

Zhang Qixian's family has been poor for generations. The hope of all the hard-working children in rural China lies in studying and taking exams and becoming civil servants in the city. But he is different, he dares to take risks.

The Emperor of Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin, returned to Luoyang to worship his ancestors in the last year of his life. Zhang Qixian's first adventure came. He suddenly rushed out and stopped the Holy Driving. He used a commoner to show his plans and asked for an interview. Zhao Kuangyin agreed and brought the bold young man to the palace and let him finish his words. Zhang Yizhi wrote down and told him that he had ten strategies for governing the country. The emperor thought 4 of them were OK. This was already a 40% winning rate. It should be said that Zhang's adventure had been successful. His words and his words would be adopted by the emperor immediately, and wealth would be at the forefront. But Zhang Qixian took a greater risk at the critical moment. He argued with the emperor--I am all very good and should be adopted and implemented! As a result, Zhao Kuangyin became popular and swept this ungrateful country boy out of the house, throwing out all his 10 strategies...

However, historical records, Zhao Kuangyin returned to Kaifeng and said to his younger brother: I got talent in Luoyang, but I don’t need it, I’ll leave it to you. As a result, in the first scientific examination after Zhao Guangyi ascended the throne, Zhang Qixian was on the list, but his ranking was not high. In order to use him, Zhao Guangyi ended up with more than 130 Jinshis who were not qualified to be an official, and were admitted to Zhang with an extraordinary standard, just to give Zhang a starting point (this is also the reason why the "Long Fei List" has a high proportion of admissions of up to 500 people at once)

The reason why Zhao Kuangyin didn't use Zhang Qixian at that time was to wear off his stubbornness and be obedient and easy to use it later. He did not expect that Zhang Qixian became more and more brave as he got down. At this time, the regular army was busy retreating from the frontier to the mainland, but a civil servant took the initiative to ask to take charge on the front line, so he became the governor of Daizhou...

In this way, the Song Dynasty ushered in revenge from the Great Khitan...

On November 12, Empress Dowager Xiao and the little emperor were in charge. The next day, the war god Yelu Xiuge was appointed as the vanguard. On the western front, the king of the North Court, Pu Nuning, stationed troops in Fengshengzhou, suppressed Pan Mei and Zhang Qixian of Yanmen Pass...

On December 8, the 1,000-volume literary book "Wenyuan Yinghua" was compiled. This book inherited the "Wenxuan" compiled by Prince Zhaoming, and selected more than 2,000 writers from Xiao Liang to the Five Dynasties, with nearly 20,000 works, divided into 39 categories. At the moment when the war was full of clouds, Zhao Guangyi did have the leisure to study. So far, the 500-volume novel book "Taiping Guangji", the 1,000-volume encyclopedia book "Taiping Yulan", and the 1,000-volume literary book "Wenyuan Yinghua" were all compiled by Zhao Guangyi. When his son Zhao Heng cultivated the 1,000-volume historical book "Cefu Yuangui", it can be called the four major books in the Northern Song Dynasty. (To be continued)
Chapter completed!