Chapter 329: The Golden River

It is said that on this day, the Zhao Emperor arrived at Houtao and met successively with Yelu Dashi, the ruler of Western Liao; with Khabul Khan, the Khan of the Eastern Mongols; with Kurjakhuz, the leader of the Kerait tribe, the largest Mongol tribe in the central region; and even with an unexpected person—Bilge Khan, the King of the Western Uighurs.

Considering that the western grasslands were still under Western Liao's control, and that Wushu was the actual military executor of the Great Jin ruling group, it could be said that, aside from Goryeo, the heads of all major military entities in Northeast Asia had essentially gathered on the narrow Houtao plain. And even Goryeo had a factional representative here, touring the scenery.

These people split into two, forming two distinct and opposing camps. Specifically, the rest joined forces against the Jurchens alone.

This was no coincidence; the Jurchens' performance over the previous twenty years had been too powerful and dangerous... But from another angle, if Zhao Jiu had not come this time, the weakest and most divided Mongols would likely have been won over by the Jurchens. Even Yelu Dashi, despite Zhao Jiu providing him with ample logistics, might have collapsed.

In that case, the gain or loss of Houtao would be secondary; missing the opportunity to form a united front and delaying the grand strategy for the future would be the most fatal.

Of course, regarding the grand talk of that day, Zhao Jiu did not go back on his word. He truly wanted to fight the Jurchens in this excellent terrain... If they won, with this terrain surrounded by water on all sides, the Western Route Army would be essentially crippled, and the affairs of the realm might be settled once and for all. By the same logic, Yelu Dashi had no reason to miss this opportunity, and he also demonstrated immense resolve and execution in the subsequent deployment of troops.

Since Zhao Jiu and Yelu Dashi had made up their minds, it seemed the others had no choice but to do so as well.

Therefore, on the second day, under the arrangement of the Song Army's commander-in-chief, Yue Fei, Han Chinese, Khitans, Tanguts, Mongols, Uighurs, Xi people, and some whose ethnicity could not be identified at all, all heeded the orders, and the allied army marched east.

Among them, the supplies brought by the Great Song Emperor provisioned the entire army; countless Tangut laborers were transformed into qualified auxiliary troops; not to mention the massive and renowned Imperial Guard heavy infantry group at the Emperor's side, which undoubtedly brought a great sense of security to all their comrades-in-arms.

Relatively speaking, the armored cavalry force, which had been urgently expanded for this campaign, though now sizable, had clearly not yet been sufficiently proven.

Therefore, this massive army was split in two by Yue Fei: the infantry became the central army for this advance, while the cavalry became the army's general reserve.

At the same time, the Khitans' complex relief assault cavalry also sallied forth in full force. Apart from the necessary garrison left at Wulahai City, the rest of their army massed on the northern flank of the Song Army's main formation, tasked as a left-wing detached force. They were responsible for a devastating flanking attack after the battle commenced.

As for the tens of thousands of Mongol light cavalry, they were scattered entirely to the southeast. Their task was to scout, harass, delay, and pursue.

Even the Uighurs' camels were uniformly incorporated into the logistics column.

To be honest, this allied army did not have two hundred thousand men; that was Zhao Jiu talking nonsense. But one hundred fifty to sixty thousand was certainly there. Moreover, the quality of this army was likely second only to the Jurchen cavalry in the entire realm... This was not boasting; it meant that, with the war having been fought for eleven years between Jin and Liao, and then another seven years between Song and Jin, eighteen years of warfare had been enough for everyone to know each other's strengths and weaknesses thoroughly.

From the initial "Jurchens under ten thousand cannot be defeated," to the later twenty Battalion Commander on the eastern and western routes; from the initial routs like a mountain collapsing, to the later slow gathering of scattered and defeated troops.

By now, who didn't know who?

What secrets were there in war?

Nothing more than fair rewards and punishments, sufficient logistics, proper equipment, adequate depth, suitable terrain... and then courage, training, discipline, and so on.

There was nothing mystical; everyone's conditions were the same. Anyone who could achieve these things would succeed. Otherwise, why would Xi people, Khitans, Bohai people, and Han Chinese, who had just been beaten by the Jurchens, be able to turn around and thrash their own compatriots once they were organized into Meng'an and Mouke units?

And by now, nearly twenty years of total war had basically worn away the mystique surrounding everyone. Yelu Dashi fled to Kedun City, scraped together ten to twenty thousand remnants, and could still rise again. Zhao Jiu was chased to the Huai River, slowly recovered his morale, and had now arrived at the Yin Mountains. If the Jurchens still had any advantage, it was nothing more than rich war experience, a psychological edge, and a portion of the hardworking and enduring spirit inherited from their deep forest origins before the war.

War experience could be leveled out; the hardworking and enduring spirit was something the Jurchens had cultivated over generations, which could only be worn down by time. But today, the psychological edge had to be broken!

"Your Majesty, can we win?"

Beneath the dragon banner that had already begun moving eastward, taking advantage of the moment before Zheng Zhichang had returned, Lu Benzhong, wearing a leather pauldron, asked a question nervously from his horse.

The question was clearly untimely, but it was reasonable.

The Zhao Emperor, who had changed into that dazzling set of golden armor from the day at Pujin, was riding at the front. Upon hearing this, he was not bothered, but instead turned his head and smiled at another attendant: "What does Renqing think?"

"Your Majesty's divine soldiers descend from heaven. If I were the Jurchen commander, I would surely abandon the land and flee." Ren Baozhong, fully armored, carrying a bow and a horizontal spear, looking spirited, responded immediately, his voice loud as if he had grown ten years younger.

"Not bad." Zhao Jiu nodded slightly. "If I were Wanyan Wushu, I would also most likely abandon the land and flee... Not only because I arrived in time with strong forces, but more importantly, in this terrain, if heavy cavalry and mixed forces engage in battle and suffer a defeat, the outcome would be catastrophic... No matter how aggrieved the Jurchens feel, as long as they have a shred of reason, they will not forcefully fight us in Hetao."

Lu Benzhong was relieved, yet slightly suspicious.

"But in military strategy, one must never rely on luck."

Zhao Jiu, though he did not turn his head, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, seeing through Lu Benzhong's thoughts. "Everyone thinks the Jurchens will leave. But what if they don't? At times like this, one must display the spirit and preparation for a decisive battle. If Wanyan Wushu and Wanyan Balisu truly dare not to leave, then we will crush them here in Hetao and take the opportunity to attack Hedong!"

Upon hearing this, Ren Baozhong puffed out his cheeks and nodded repeatedly, while Lu Benzhong nodded frantically, but it was unclear whether he truly understood or had lost his composure at the thought of a possible major battle.

"Of course, putting on a full show has another benefit. Even if the two sides do not engage in battle, it will make the two hundred to three hundred thousand soldiers here and the people of the realm believe that the Jurchens are truly afraid of us, that they were driven out by us! Some things, if the whole world truly believes them, will become true even if they are not!" Zhao Jiu added one final remark, which might have been his true goal.

But it didn't matter. On this day, relying on the great rivers surrounding them from north to south, especially the fact that the two river courses, north and south, were only a little over a hundred li apart in a straight line, plus the presence of fortified castles and reinforcements, the allied army advanced a full fifty li before stopping. The next morning, Zheng Zhichang, who had gone to find the Jurchen camp, returned with a crisp and clear message—Wanyan Wushu and Balisu had not hesitated at all. They had directly struck camp and moved east, apparently preparing to retreat to the former Liao territory of Tiande Army (in the area of modern Baotou) east of Hetao. He had not seen the Jurchens at all.

Judging by this speed, it was very likely that they had abandoned Hetao immediately upon learning of the Song Army's arrival through their scout cavalry.

In other words, the Jurchens had indeed left.

The news spread, and the entire army was elated. They continued their eastward march that day without further mention. Meanwhile, Xiao Woli La, the chief general under Yelu Dashi, also made a special trip during the march to have a brief meeting with the Zhao Emperor.

"Your Majesty, my king's intention is this: if the Jurchens cross the river and stay put at Tiande Army, we will lead the main army to confront them across the river... Our army has been facing off against the Jurchens here for half a month and knows very well that their logistics are also somewhat strained. If we confront them here, we can hold out until after autumn, but they cannot." Xiao Woli La's statement was direct and to the point.

But Zhao Jiu did not respond directly. Instead, he merely looked at the newcomer, then continued silently, slowly urging his horse forward, as if he were completely ignoring Xiao Woli La's words.

"What if the Jurchens continue to retreat after crossing the river?" Ren Baozhong and Lu Benzhong, who had been observing the situation for a long time, both understood. But Lu Benzhong really did not know how to interject on military matters, so it was Ren Baozhong who seized the initiative and responded boldly.

"If the Jurchens cross the river, the allied army must also cross the river." Xiao Woli La urged his horse to follow, feeling a mix of shock and anger inside, but he dared not look at the Zhao Song Emperor, and could only seriously converse with this elderly Tangut man beside him.

"But if we cross the river in pursuit, might we be lured deep by the Jurchens and then counterattacked?"

"There is no danger until we reach the Western Liao Southwest Pacification Office (near modern Hohhot)!"

"How so?"

"East of Hetao, although the terrain is no longer the cavalry's so-called death trap between rivers, the area west of the Liao Southwest Pacification Office, including Tiande Army and Yunei Prefecture, is still between the Yin Mountains and the great river, a narrow, elongated corridor. With the allied army's current might, we can advance safely... Therefore, if the Jurchens abandon the confrontation across the river in this retreat, they will most likely retreat to the Southwest Pacification Office (Hohhot) or simply retreat to the Western Capital (Datong)."

"General Xiao." Ren Baozhong secretly glanced at the Zhao Emperor's back, then continued riding and speaking seriously. "You must remember one thing: the army of two hundred thousand relies entirely on our Great Song for its grain supply, and the main force here is also our Great Song's troops... Once we cross the river in pursuit, the supply line will lengthen. You will be recovering your former Liao territory, but we will have to provide the actual military grain. Is there such a cheap deal in the world?"

"My king has said..."

"If Dashi Linya wants to speak with our Emperor, he should come himself." Seeing no reaction from the Zhao Emperor, Ren Baozhong directly interrupted him. "Now it is General Xiao and I discussing some military ideas... Why must you constantly invoke Dashi Linya to pressure people?"

Xiao Woli La also glanced at the Zhao Emperor's unresponsive back, then pulled a long face and seriously addressed Ren Baozhong:

"General Rendu, we certainly know that Great Song is the main force. But advancing only to the Yunei Prefecture area does not actually lengthen the supply line by much, and we do not intend to go any deeper. As for the benefits, if the army can reach our Great Liao's Southwest Pacification Office, then not only will our Great Liao recover its core prefectures and counties, and the Mongols will be freed from their side constraints, but won't your esteemed country also be able to sweep up all the lands outside the Yellow River?"

Ren Baozhong was about to say something more when Xiao Woli La suddenly sneered: "More importantly, if this happens, the Jurchens will cower in Hedong and Hebei, and will no longer be able to easily touch the Xixia lands your esteemed country has now taken. You Song people will no longer have to worry about those Tangut dogs being half-hearted!"

Ren Baozhong was not angered by this. Instead, it was Zhao Jiu who finally turned his head, startling Xiao Woli La so much that he suddenly reined in his horse, causing his mount to neigh briefly, but he quickly recovered and continued riding alongside.

"General Xiao." Zhao Jiu smiled at him from his horse. "Why, in such a major matter, did Dashi Linya not come in person?"

"Your Majesty." Xiao Woli La bowed his head and explained earnestly. "It is not that my king deliberately neglected you, but he truly could not leave the army."

"I understand." Zhao Jiu pretended not to mind. "What you just said, I will naturally inform the three commanders-in-chief, Yue, Wu, and Qu, and let them make the arrangements. I do not interfere in specific military matters. But, do you truly not wish to retake the Western Capital?"

Xiao Woli La was silent for a moment before responding: "Who doesn't? But being able to advance this far is already a blessing from our ancestors. If we forcefully march on the Western Capital and suffer a mishap, I fear all our previous hard work will come to nothing."

Zhao Jiu turned his head and smiled at Lu Benzhong: "I told you, Dashi Linya is a great hero. He won't make me worry about all sorts of messy things."

Not touching on military matters, Lu Benzhong reacted very quickly and immediately stroked his beard and nodded.

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty." Xiao Woli La sighed with relief and quickly responded, seeming somewhat disappointed that they could not march on the Western Capital, as if preparing to leave.

"It's nothing." Zhao Jiu nodded in response. Then, just as Xiao Woli La had turned his horse around, he suddenly spoke again. "General Xiao just referred to Dashi Linya as 'my king'?"

Xiao Wolila's expression shifted slightly, but he dared not hesitate and immediately turned back to respond: "Indeed... before this campaign west of the Yellow River, the envoys His Majesty sent relayed news of the late emperor's death. To rally the people, our Great King offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and temporarily assumed the title of Khan."

"Oh?" Zhao Jiu tilted his head in response from atop his horse, jostling with the motion, his expression thoughtful.

Xiao Wolila's mind churned with anxiety. After accompanying him for a long while longer, seeing that Zhao Jiu showed no intention of continuing the conversation, he finally suppressed his turbulent emotions and turned back to the Khitan army.

Thus, to skip idle talk, in the following days the allied army advanced east in force. The Jurchens, just as Yelu Dashi had judged, realizing they could not confront the allied army in the narrow corridor between the Yinshan Mountains and the Yellow River, withdrew all the way to Xijing (Datong) in one go.

Regarding this, Yelu Dashi, Yue Fei, Wu Jie, and others shared the same judgment: the Jurchens had done this deliberately, to lure the allied army into continued pursuit. If the allied army took the bait and crossed Yunnei Prefecture, losing the protection of the Yinshan Mountains, they would likely face a Jurchen encirclement and flanking attack.

With these men having made their judgment, Zhao Jiu naturally would not overstep by a single step. He directly ordered the main army to advance to the positions of Yunnei Prefecture and Dongsheng Prefecture, and strictly forbade the main force from crossing even half a step beyond the Jin River, which flowed through Yunnei and Dongsheng.

Even so, as the main army continuously emerged from the Yinshan Mountains and the main Jurchen force withdrew to Datong Prefecture, the entire He-wai and He-dong regions were shaken. Especially in the He-wai region, where Jurchen power could no longer reach, the Zhe clan, which had long been secretly coordinating with the Song army, openly rebelled. Fengzhou, Fuzhou, and Linzhou directly raised the Great Song banner. Heqing Army, Jinsu Army, and Ningbian Prefecture—three prefectures originally part of the old Liao territory—also saw remnants of the Khitans rise in response, but the Zhe clan troops, eager to claim merit, directly attacked them. As for the defenders of Yunnei and Dongsheng Prefectures, including the so-called Yunnei Military Governor Yelu Nuge, who faced the main army directly, they opened the gates and defected before the army even arrived.

It was at this time, with the vertical stroke of the Yellow River's zigzag channel opened for traffic, that Zhao Jiu learned that as early as late May, when he had advanced into the Hetao region, Wanyan Huonü and Wanyan Salihe had proactively crossed the Yellow River and returned to Hedong. Han Shizhong had formally recovered Yan'an, Suide, and Jinning at the end of May, and had led his army north to coordinate.

Time came to the second day of the sixth month. Thanks to the forceful suppression by Zhao Jiu and Yelu Dashi, the allied army halted at the Jin River Inlet, where the Jin River met the Yellow River under Dongsheng Prefecture's jurisdiction, ultimately not crossing half a step beyond the safety zone of the Yinshan Mountains.

At this point, everyone knew that the chaotic war in the northwest, triggered by Yelu Yudu's defection, after consuming nearly half a year, was time to draw to a close with this victorious and successful grand advance.

In fact, seeing that the allied army would advance no further, both the Jurchens and the allied army, each barely able to hold on, soon tacitly and tentatively disbanded and separated small units to ease logistical pressure.

But at the same time, as the saying goes, military matters to the military, politics to the politics. After the military victory, before the troops disbanded, some matters needed to be addressed—especially those high-level affairs that only he, the Great Song Emperor, could handle.

The sixth day of the sixth month was the date Zhao the Emperor had decreed for the Song-Liao-Mongol alliance meeting, the location being beside the Jin River Inlet between the Yinshan Mountains and the Yellow River. According to the agreement, the three parties from four places would offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth here, and then, witnessed by two hundred thousand troops, establish a formal, comprehensive anti-Jin alliance covering military, economy, and diplomacy.

That morning, before the scheduled noon sacrificial ceremony officially began, Yelu Dashi, Kabul, Khurjahus, and Bilge arrived together at the Song army camp beside the Jin River Inlet... They had no choice but to come, because Zhao the Emperor's date arrangement was too rushed, and some sensitive matters had to be communicated and agreed upon before the treaty was concluded. Otherwise, if Zhao the Emperor, who dominated the treaty, resorted to a high-handed approach, what then?

Break the treaty?

In the Song army camp, where the Song forces held absolute superiority? With the Jurchen troops, still eyeing them covetously, a mere one or two hundred li away?

"Grand Secretary Dashi wants all prefectures north of the Yellow River?" Amidst the pleasant weather, beside the Jin River Inlet, at a hastily arranged banquet, Zhao Jiu, seated in the place of honor, asked with a smile. "And also Heqing, Jinsu, and Ningbian, three prefectures?"

"Your Majesty's words are amusing." Yelu Dashi, seated in the first seat on the left, raised his cup in response. "North of the Yellow River is merely the Houtao region and the three old Liao territories of Tiande Army, Yunnei Prefecture, and Dongsheng Prefecture. How does Your Majesty make it sound like some formidable territory? And Heqing, Jinsu, and Ningbian are also old Liao lands. Therefore, what I just said was nothing more than requesting the Hetao. Or does Your Majesty, despite having a prior alliance with us Khitans, intend to swallow up the old Liao territories?"

Having spoken, Yelu Dashi, dressed in simple, clean cloth garments and having come alone with his single saber, raised his cup and drank it down, then burst into laughter.

Now, although such topics had been anticipated during the feast, Yelu Dashi's directness still caused the atmosphere to tighten somewhat. Especially when, after his questioning, he laughed unrestrainedly, it immediately provoked the group of proud generals and fierce soldiers on Zhao Jiu's right side, who could not hold back.

Qu Duan was the first to sneer: "Grand Secretary Dashi, if we follow your words, the Great Song should give you the six prefectures of Hexi, the four military commands of the northwest, along with the Hetao, and the six prefectures of the old Liao territory... Even if the Great Song dares to give them, do you dare to take them?"

Yelu Dashi laughed again, then suddenly turned serious, facing Qu Duan with a proud look: "Why wouldn't I dare?"

Qu Duan was momentarily at a loss for words, a rare occurrence.

"Grand Secretary Dashi." Lu Benzhong also frowned in response. "If that's the case, the Great Song sent a hundred thousand troops and supplied so much grain and fodder to take the Hetao and the old Liao territories for you?"

"The Great Song has fulfilled its obligations properly this time and provided immense assistance. I am deeply grateful and willing to repay this kindness." Yelu Dashi immediately replied earnestly. "But at this moment, our Great Liao is truly in dire straits... How about this: let Secretary Lu calculate clearly and present a bill, or simply name a figure. No matter the amount, I will acknowledge it directly. Then our Great Liao, even if we have to sell off everything, will slowly repay it in the future... We will never be people who renege on debts!"

Lu Benzhong's face turned pale, and he was momentarily embarrassed.

At this moment, Zhao the Emperor, who had been watching the dazzling light reflecting off the lake beside him, finally turned around, raised his wine cup, and spoke: "Grand Secretary Dashi... The Golden Lake is dazzling, the scenery is beautiful. Let us have a drink."

Yelu Dashi smiled in response, raised his cup in a distant salute, and drank it down in one gulp. Zhao Jiu also raised his cup and drank. Seeing the two most important figures drink together, everyone else, including the two Mongol chieftains who had been watching the spectacle, also raised their cups and drank in accompaniment.

"Ten thousand li of Yinshan, ten thousand li of sand; who will let their black hair contend with the frost of age?"

After everyone set down their cups, Zhao Jiu softly recited half a line of something—whether poetry or lyric—then shook his head and sighed. "What a pity for such a magnificent scene. If the alliance is settled today, and Grand Secretary Dashi returns west to Gaochang, four thousand li apart, a round trip of ten thousand li, who knows when we will meet again? I felt an instant kinship with Grand Secretary Dashi and consider you a close friend. The thought of parting thus, perhaps never to see each other again in this life, truly makes me reluctant to let go."

Yelu Dashi was stunned by these words. After a pause, he let out a scoff, whether at himself or for some other reason, it was unclear:

"Your Majesty's undeserved affection fills me with trepidation... But both Your Majesty and I are bound to the rise and fall of our respective nations. We should not be grieving over autumn and lamenting spring in the height of summer... May I ask if Your Majesty has any arrangements this time? I am willing to listen first."

PS: Thanks to classmate Xia Hou Ningyuan for the second patronage, thanks to classmate Sniper Dilie for the patronage, this is also the 143rd patronage of this book.