Chapter 197: The End of Western Xia

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When they captured Qingtang Tubo and established the Longyou Protectorate, the Zhao Song dynasty expanded its borders over three thousand li to the west, reaching as far as the border of Kucha.

When eliminating Qingtang Tubo, Zhao Yu also took a Kucha princess—this was the "Mo Nika Berucci."

Through this Kucha princess, the Zhao Song dynasty established close ties with Kucha, engaging in deep political, economic, and cultural exchanges.

Later, seeing that Zhao Song had firmly established itself in Longyou and recognized its strength, the king and ministers of Kucha realized their future neighbor would inevitably be Zhao Song; if they did not cultivate goodwill with this new neighbor, they would have no good days ahead.

After deliberation, the king and ministers of Kucha felt "Mo Nika Berucci" was too old, so they sent another young and beautiful young princess along with fifty Kucha beauties to Zhao Yu, and presented him with abundant tribute.

Zhao Yu reciprocated in kind, issuing an imperial edict to establish a comprehensive strategic trade partnership between Zhao Song and Kucha, and used Kucha to extend Zhao Song's influence into the Western Regions.

After Zhao Yu appointed Lu Huiqing as the chief official of Xihé Road, overseeing Xihé Road and the Longyou Protectorate—and especially after appointing Lu Huiqing as Deputy Pacification Commissioner of Shaanxi and Western Xia—Lu Huiqing further expanded Zhao Song's influence in the Western Regions.

Moreover, many small states and tribes in the Western Regions learned that Zhao Song intended to reclaim Western Xia; some small states and tribes caught between the two powers began choosing sides and aligning themselves to avoid becoming targets of joint attacks and to seize advantages during the rise of this new power.

The most typical example was the Yellow-Headed Uyghurs.

The Yellow-Headed Uyghurs, also known as "Yellow-Headed Uighurs," were a branch of the Ganzhou Uyghurs. In earlier times, Ganzhou Uyghurs were defeated by Western Xia; while some remained in Hexi and surrendered to Western Xia, most migrated westward, with one group settling southwest of Shazhou (later Dunhuang, Gansu), historically called "Yellow-Headed Uyghurs," who submitted to Xizhou Uyghurs and maintained tributary relations with both Song and Liao, primarily practicing nomadic pastoralism and adhering to Buddhism.

Seeing Zhao Song eliminate Qingtang Tubo and become the new regional hegemon, and anticipating Zhao Song's potential to destroy Western Xia and restore the Han-Tang order, over fifty thousand Yellow-Headed Uyghurs defected to Zhao Song, relying on its protection and trade for survival.

Incidentally, upon hearing that Kucha had sent a princess and beauties to Zhao Yu and received the status of Zhao Song's most-favored strategic trade partner, the Yellow-Headed Uyghurs imitated them, sending a princess, ten beauties, and substantial tribute to Zhao Yu, seeking to bind themselves deeply with Zhao Song.

In mid-to-late September, Zhao Yu's shipment of fifty thousand warhorses and vast numbers of camels, mules, and donkeys arrived in the northwest.

Zhang Jie and Lu Huiqing discussed and felt it would be a waste to simply distribute so many warhorses and large livestock; perhaps they could use them for something grand?

The two men carefully studied the terrain map of Shaanxi and Western Xia, comparing it with the sand table Zhao Yu had gone to great lengths to send them, and realized that from Longyou westward lay Kucha, then the Western Regions, and beyond that, the Hexi Corridor leading into Western Xia.

With fifty thousand warhorses and so many large livestock, the Song army could deliver a thousand-year kill to Western Xia.

The only problem was that the Song army still lacked guides familiar with the terrain.

Zhang Jie and Lu Huiqing simultaneously thought of the Yellow-Headed Uyghurs—they had lived in this region for centuries, with Ganzhou and Shazhou as their ancestral homelands; no one knew this area better than they did.

Thus, Zhang Jie and Lu Huiqing, two elderly men, devised a "feint east, strike west" strategic strategy.

Moreover, this time, Zhang Jie, though his health had deteriorated, willingly took a supporting role, ceding the lead to his longtime partner Lu Huiqing.

Zhang Jie smiled and asked Lu Huiqing: "Will your aged body hinder the mission?"

Lu Huiqing was also seventy this year, a true elder, so Zhang Jie's words were no mere jest.

Lu Huiqing's gaze burned as he said:

"Since my rift with Wang Anshi, I have drifted through officialdom for twenty years. Emperor Shenzong suspected me of cunning; Empress Dowager Gao Taotao condemned me as untrustworthy; Emperor Zhezong despised me as fickle; all chancellors regarded me as a traitor. Though I have repeatedly achieved frontier merits, the stigma of betrayal clings to me like a shadow—I have never been truly entrusted, and have remained depressed and unfulfilled."

"Fearing I would die in disgrace bearing this slander, for twenty years I have diligently trained in horsemanship and archery, daily honing my body and cultivating my spirit, never slackening, hoping only for the day to fulfill my ambitions and clear my name."

"Now, at last, Your Majesty has ascended the throne, entrusted me with responsibility, and granted me the chance to vindicate myself—how could I possibly let age hinder this mission?"

Here, Lu Huiqing seemed to regain his youth, adding: "Though I have reached seventy, I may still gallop after dreams, shake my robes on a thousand-ridge peak, strike the oar midstream—how dare I speak of twilight?!"

After Wang Anshi's first dismissal, Lu Huiqing, to consolidate his own power and status, ruthlessly suppressed Wang Anshi—who had shown him favor and patronage—behavior deemed disloyal and unrighteous, drawing moral condemnation and causing Emperor Shenzong, Gao Taotao, Zhao Xu, and successive chancellors to despise his character.

Moreover, during the reform period, Lu Huiqing appointed cronies and excluded rivals, provoking widespread resentment. His actions were seen as violating the moral norms advocated by the scholar-official class; every ruler since viewed his character with suspicion.

Further, Lu Huiqing actively promoted reforms, but many policies—such as the Green Sprouts Law and the Labor Exemption Law—when implemented, burdened the people and triggered social unrest, causing successive rulers to doubt his competence and governance effectiveness.

In short, even though Lu Huiqing later proved himself capable in both civil and military affairs, those in power rarely liked or appreciated him, leaving him perpetually underutilized.

Take Zhao Xu, who, despite Zhang Dun's strenuous advocacy, still chose to use Lu Huiqing.

During his time in the northwest, Lu Huiqing repeatedly defeated Western Xia, employing ruthless, bottomless tactics—truly an old schemer—who made the Western Xia suffer immensely.

In the third year of Shaozheng, Lu Huiqing garrisoned Huanqing and Fuyan Roads; when Empress Xiao Liang led a 500,000-strong army to attack, Lu Huiqing's defense allowed her to capture only one fortress and kill three thousand Song soldiers before he defeated her, forcing her into a humiliating retreat—a battle that truly showcased Zhao Song's might.

After accumulating numerous military achievements, Lu Huiqing wished to travel to the capital to personally present his strategy against Western Xia before the throne.

But Zhao Xu refused without hesitation.

This was because Zhao Xu detested Lu Huiqing; had Zhang Dun not insisted, he would never have given this fickle traitor any opportunity.

Only when Zhao Yu, who valued ability above all, ascended the throne did Lu Huiqing finally gain the chance to realize his ambitions—he was even briefly recalled to court to serve as a chancellor, Zhao Yu took his granddaughter Lu Yi as a concubine, and entrusted him with establishing the Patrol System, demonstrating his high regard.

Later, because Xihé Road was so vital and Zhao Yu intended to reclaim Western Xia, he reassigned Lu Huiqing to command there.

Now, if Lu Huiqing helps Zhao Yu reclaim Western Xia, he will not only be immortalized in history but surely return to court as chancellor or even prime minister, washing away his past disgrace.

Tell me—how could Lu Huiqing possibly not fight for this one chance?

Seeing Lu Huiqing's body, clearly far stronger than his own, and hearing his words, Zhang Jie finally felt at ease.

Of course, this was also because Zhang Jie knew well that although Zhao Yu had entrusted him with reclaiming Western Xia, he was indeed old and frail, likely with few years left; should he truly perish, his successor would inevitably be Lu Huiqing.

In other words, since Zhao Yu so firmly trusted Lu Huiqing and Lu Huiqing truly possessed exceptional ability, Zhang Jie had no reason not to stake his hopes on him.

Thus, Zhang Jie resolutely finalized this strategy to reclaim Western Xia.

Afterwards, Zhang Jie and Lu Huiqing separated to prepare.

Zhang Jie spared no effort in creating smoke screens and deception, while Lu Huiqing brought the fifty thousand warhorses and all camels, mules, and donkeys back to Xihé Road, secretly mobilizing troops and selecting generals.

In early October, before Zhang Jie could act, Lu Huiqing, Wang Hou, Accompanying Tong Guan, and others led seventy thousand troops and fifteen thousand Yellow-Headed Uyghurs westward, passing through Kucha into the Western Regions.

At this time, the king and ministers of Kucha had learned of Zhao Yu's decisive victory over Liao in Yan territory and realized Zhao Song's rise was unstoppable; they voluntarily lent twenty thousand troops to Zhao Song, supplied ample grain, and provided numerous cattle and sheep as provisions for the Song army.

Lu Huiqing then led this army of over one hundred thousand troops safely to the outskirts of Yumen Pass.

On October 25, as Zhang Jie dispatched Zhe Keshi with over one hundred thousand troops to engage Li Qianshun's personally commanded 300,000 Western Xia forces at Mount Tiandou, Lu Huiqing sent Wang Hou to seize Yumen Pass.

On October 26, Song general Yao Xiong launched a surprise attack on Heishuicheng and captured it outright.

Following Lu Huiqing's orders, every man in the city who resisted or refused immediate surrender was executed without mercy; all women were consigned to brothels.

Immediately afterward, Lu Huiqing left one thousand Song soldiers, five hundred Yellow-Headed Uyghurs, and five hundred Kuchans to garrison Heishuicheng, while the Song army continued its surprise attacks on Shazhou and Guazhou.

Previously, although Western Xia had repeatedly suffered defeats and heavy losses in the east against Zhao Song, it could replenish its strength by exploiting the resources of Guazhou and Shazhou in the west.

In fact, Emperor Shenzong's five-pronged invasion of Western Xia failed largely because Empress Dowager Liang fully mobilized the forces of Guazhou and Shazhou to reinforce the eastern front.

These two prefectures were essentially Western Xia's major military strongholds.

Logically, such heavily garrisoned cities should have been extremely difficult to capture.

Yet Li Qianshun and his ministers never imagined Zhao Song would deliver a thousand-year kill to Western Xia, so they had transferred the main forces of Guazhou and Shazhou eastward to resist Zhang Jie's Song troops.

Even during Li Yuanhao's reign, Western Xia had defeated the Shazhou Uyghurs and seized Guazhou and Shazhou.

But the Shazhou Uyghurs did not vanish from history's stage; instead, they frequently appeared on the diplomatic lists of the Zhao Song dynasty through tribute missions.

Even until before the Xining era, Western Xia had not fully controlled Guazhou and Shazhou. The Shazhou Uyghurs did not attempt to reclaim their territory, yet still held their ground and long resisted Western Xia.

Only in recent years did Western Xia gradually gain control of Guazhou and Shazhou, truly securing the Silk Road trade.

But the Shazhou Uyghurs still maintained considerable power within Guazhou and Shazhou.

To earn merit, the Khan of the Huangtou Uyghurs sent his younger brother early to persuade the Shazhou Uyghurs to surrender, hoping they would open the city from within and assist in capturing Shazhou—primarily to seize its grain supplies.

Seeing the Song army's overwhelming strength and that Shazhou's main forces had been withdrawn by Li Qianshun, the Shazhou Uyghurs, seeking self-preservation, ultimately opened the gates from within during the Song assault and aided the Song in capturing Shazhou city.

The Song army used the same tactic to capture Guazhou city.

Lu Huiqing breathed a sigh of relief—both the grain supplies of Guazhou and Shazhou had been preserved.

Thus, Lu Huiqing no longer needed to worry about grain.

As usual, Lu Huiqing ordered all men who resisted and did not surrender immediately executed, and all their women conscripted into brothels. He left ten thousand Song soldiers, three thousand Uyghurs, and three thousand Kucha troops to guard Guazhou and Shazhou, along with a large number of civil officials to organize civilian laborers to continuously transport grain until the Song army captured another granary city.

Afterwards, Wang Hou personally commanded the army to occupy the Helan Mountains region.

Three days later, the Song army arrived at Suzhou and encountered genuine resistance.

But within a single day, the Song army used explosives to breach Suzhou's relatively unfortified walls.

However, sadly, before the city fell, the Suzhou commander ordered the grain stores burned.

After entering the city, the Song army rushed to salvage the grain—but managed to rescue less than ten thousand shi.

Without hesitation, Lu Huiqing ordered the wheels turned: all men in Suzhou were executed, all women conscripted into brothels. He left three thousand Song soldiers, two thousand Uyghurs, and two thousand Kucha troops to guard Suzhou, while the main army pressed eastward.

The army soon arrived at Ganzhou.

As usual, Lu Huiqing first sent envoys to offer surrender terms: open the gates and no one would be killed; resist, and when the city fell, it would be slaughtered. The envoys recounted the Song army's ruthless massacres in previous cities.

Originally, the Ganzhou commander had agreed to surrender, but his deputy led those unwilling to submit in a mutiny, killing both the commander and the Song envoy, and rallied the entire city to fight to the death.

Accompanying Tong Guan volunteered and fought for three days and nights before finally breaching Ganzhou city.

After the city fell, without waiting for Lu Huiqing's order, Accompanying Tong Guan commanded that all men who had resisted be executed and their women conscripted into brothels.

But before that, Accompanying Tong Guan personally selected the most beautiful women, intending to present them to Zhao Yu upon return.

All, including Lu Huiqing and Wang Hou, fully supported this.

What good is a brilliant battle if it cannot be turned into military merit and promotion?

Everyone knew Zhao Yu loved women; if you weren't foolish, you'd cater to his tastes—otherwise, how else could Accompanying Tong Guan become Zhao Yu's favorite and rise faster than anyone else?

Soon, the Song army reached Xiliang Prefecture.

Two cities had yielded little grain, placing heavy pressure on Lu Huiqing—he feared retreating due to insufficient supplies and losing this divine opportunity to reclaim Western Xia.

Thus, the battle for Xiliang Prefecture was critical.

To persuade the people of Xiliang Prefecture to surrender, Lu Huiqing even sent his two nephews to negotiate.

Fortunately, hard work paid off: the Xiliang Prefecture commander, learning the Song army had massacred multiple cities, decisively surrendered with the entire population—saving the lives of the city's people and preserving vast grain stores.

Lu Huiqing left behind some Song soldiers, Uyghurs, and Kucha troops to guard Xiliang Prefecture, but took all the men of Xiliang along as laborers and auxiliary troops to accompany the army in attacking Lingzhou.

At this point, Li Qianshun and his ministers realized they had fallen for the Zhao Song dynasty's "feint east, strike west" strategy.

But what could they do? If Li Qianshun dared march his thirty-thousand-strong army to intercept Lu Huiqing, Zhang Jie would surely lead his forces to attack Western Xia's capital, Xingqing Prefecture.

With no choice, Li Qianshun split off ten thousand troops, mobilized every able-bodied man across the realm, and assembled another twenty thousand—totaling thirty thousand—to place under Li Lin's command to fight Lu Huiqing to the death.

The two sides clashed in a desperate battle along the banks of the Yellow River.

This battle involved no Divine Mechanism Corps—it was pure, unadorned cold-weapon warfare.

Both Song and Xia had reasons they could not afford to lose.

In short.

After a brutal struggle rivaling the Battle of Xiangji Temple, the Song army, suffering over half its forces killed or wounded, defeated the Xia army.

Then, Lu Huiqing personally led the army to breach Lingzhou city.

At this point, the foundation of Western Xia's downfall had been laid.

Yet Li Qianshun, a true overlord, would not yield so easily—after all, war never guarantees absolute victory, so he gritted his teeth and refused to surrender.

Now, holding Mount Tiandou was meaningless; he retreated with his remaining troops to Xingqing Prefecture and began consolidating forces to make a final stand.

Zhang Jie swiftly led his army into Western Xia territory to join Lu Huiqing—the final decisive battle between Song and Xia was imminent…

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(End of Chapter)