Chapter 482: The Ningjin Army

"The Emperor has agreed to all the Northern Di's conditions; the peace treaty is settled."

At the Prince's Mansion, Ma Han's men delivered the news to Zhao Xu almost simultaneously with the Four Courts.

Although he knew Zhao Heng would inevitably compromise, Zhao Xu was still deeply disappointed in this emperor.

The Great Song and the Great Song of history had different characters but similar sounds.

Why did this stifling history have to be similar as well?

And in his view, Zhao Heng's character was no different from that Southern Song Emperor Gaozong, who recalled Yue Fei with twelve golden plaques and made peace with the Jin Dynasty.

"Take Wulanba out and send him to Qin Pass," Zhao Xu said to Chang Wei.

Since Wulanba was captured, he had not yet seen the man.

However, he did not intend to see him either; why should he dirty his eyes?

Chang Wei replied, "Yes."

After Ma Han's men arrived, Yan Wang summoned him over.

He likely anticipated that they would use Wulanba to exchange for the Great Song troops in Xian City.

At this moment, Zhao Xu waved his hand, signaling that Ma Han's men could return.

"The peace treaty is set; next, Mule Hongzhen will focus entirely on dealing with Your Highness. I wonder what underhanded tricks he will use?" Chang Wei frowned tightly.

It was not that he feared the Northern Di; like the generals of the Prince's Personal Army, he was full of fighting spirit.

But they were likewise not dizzy with success.

Just as Yan Wang said, one must despise the enemy strategically but respect the enemy tactically.

Moreover, in this war, the Northern Di had not suffered any vital damage, and their strength remained extremely formidable.

Since the Northern Di wanted to compete with them, they naturally had to respond with caution.

After all, the Northern Di could lose many times, but if they suffered one disastrous defeat, they would be unable to catch their breath for years.

The only thing that comforted him was that by obtaining the Southern Three Commanderies, they now occupied the entire land of Yanzhou and the people upon it.

"Do not think too much; when soldiers come, block them with generals; when water comes, cover it with earth," Zhao Xu looked toward the North Territory.

He also could not figure out how Mule Hongzhen would deal with him.

North of Yan Commandery, the Yanshan Bastion stood guard.

Yanguan had added another Lengbao-style city wall, making it even harder to attack.

The route from the sea to the south had also been cut off by him.

As long as the Northern Di troops could not fly, they could not pose a threat to Yanzhou.

However, whether Mule Hongzhen had found a way to deal with him, he did not know.

But his own method for dealing with the Northern Di had already been decided.

Thinking of this, he said: "By the way, this time Bai Shang rescued over thirty thousand young and able-bodied men from the Ningjin Dusi. I intend to recruit them into an army, to be named the Ningjin Army."

Although Zhao Heng had given him the Southern Three Commanderies this time.

He had deliberately not allowed him to expand the Prince's Personal Army.

At first, he felt a bit indignant, but upon reflection, he felt it did not matter.

Since he had already turned his fleet into the Black Shark Sea Bandits, he could naturally categorize these thirty thousand Ningjin Army soldiers as mountain bandits as well.

Then, let the Ningjin Army specifically deal with the Northern Di.

Because, firstly, the young men who could survive under the brutal oppression of the Northern Di were naturally the ones with the strongest physical constitutions.

The weak had naturally already been worked to death under the unbearable burden.

Secondly, these young men held a deep hatred for the Northern Di people.

Once armed, they would surely become his sharpest Long Spear for dealing with the Northern Di.

And Chrysanthemum Island would make them even more formidable when dealing with the Northern Di, leaving the Northern Di unable to eat or sleep in peace.

"Mule Hongzhen, I will make you regret this decision," Zhao Xu's eyes narrowed.

Chang Wei chewed on the words "Ningjin Army" and nodded secretly.

There seemed to be a light flickering in his eyes as he looked at Zhao Xu.

This war made him feel that Yan Wang had already abandoned the past strategy of pure defense.

Instead, he was adopting a strategy of both offense and defense.

Most importantly, Yan Wang no longer rigidly followed the Imperial Court's orders, but was secretly cultivating his own power step by step.

In this way, Yanzhou would officially always have only one hundred and twenty thousand troops on the books.

But hidden beneath the books would be a force that would make them tremble in the future.

This, he feared, was also the source of Yan Wang's confidence in agreeing to compete with the Northern Di.

"Bai Shang is familiar with them, so let Bai Shang be responsible for training them," Chang Wei rubbed his hands, somewhat excited.

Although these thirty thousand troops could not be brought into the light, they were ultimately his men to command in the future.

After a pause, he added: "Your Highness, what about General Yang Zhen? Are you really going to let him serve as a mere soldier under Bai Shang?"

Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment.

Regarding the matter of Yang Zhen, after he recalled Bai Shang, Bai Shang had told him.

At that time, all the generals of the Prince's Personal Army were shocked.

Including him, he was also somewhat bewildered.

However, upon careful thought, Bai Shang's handling of it was correct.

If Yang Zhen's identity were exposed, the powerful clans would surely blame him for the loss of the Ningjin Dusi and ultimately execute him.

"Order those who know of this matter to keep the secret. Yang Zhen is already dead; this Yang Zhen is not that Yang Zhen. Just incorporate him into the Ningjin Army, and the rest will depend on his own ability," Zhao Xu said.

According to Bai Shang, Yang Zhen had contributed significantly to the raid on the Ningjin Dusi this time.

This old general is familiar with every mountain and stream of the Ningjin Dusi, and his talent for battlefield command remains, having offered many ideas to Bai Shang.

The only drawback is that he does not understand the use of Artillery.

This can be learned.

Chang Wei understood Zhao Xu's meaning; this was giving Yang Zhen another chance.

The Ningjin Army is a group of people who share a common hatred for the enemy.

Yang Zhen has always been remorseful over the disastrous defeat of the Ningjin Dusi.

Thus, a Ningjin Army with one heart from top to bottom was born.

"Yes, this general understands." Chang Wei replied.

Zhao Xu then gave Chang Wei a few more instructions, ordering him to strengthen the defenses of the Yanshan Bastion and Yanguan.

Mule Hongzhen wanting to duel him was naturally not just empty talk.

He still had to be on guard to ensure he was prepared for any eventuality.

Chang Wei left and went straight to the North Camp.

First, he ordered Lv Chang to escort Wulanba to Qin Pass, then set off to inspect the Yanshan Bastion.

Three days later, Lv Chang's party arrived at Qin Pass.

They delivered Wulanba outside the city gate.

"Wulanba, my brother." Tiemuta had been waiting in front of Qin Pass.

Seeing Wulanba walk out from the city gate, he immediately went up to meet him.

"Big Brother." Wulanba took a few quick steps, reached Tiemuta, sighed heavily, and lowered his head, "This time, I have brought shame upon the Great Khan."

"This is not your fault; no one would have thought a group of sea pirates would attack you." Tiemuta said, "This time, we Northern Di have made peace with Da Song, but Yan Wang is the exception. Next, the Great Khan will focus all his efforts on dealing with Yan Wang to avenge your Snow Wolf Royal Tent."

Wulanba nodded, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot, and intense hatred made his whole body tremble. He said: "This time, I will suggest that the Great Khan go through Ivan to send envoys to the Ross nation; there, we might be able to find a way to deal with Yan Wang."

Tiemuta did not take it to heart; his brother was too close to this Ivan.

Although he acknowledged Ivan's achievement in creating Artillery, he was full of wariness toward the Ross people.

However, seeing Wulanba again, he did not want to talk about these things.

He simply pulled him onto a horse and headed toward Xiangcheng.

Just two days later.

The Xiliang troops besieging Xian City suddenly withdrew.

Yang Feng, who was almost at the end of his rope, learned of the peace negotiations from the mouths of the Xiliang generals.

With a bitter smile, his heart filled with desolation, he led his remaining troops toward Wuguan.

And at the same time.

Dou Wei also arrived at Wuguan; he was naturally not there to welcome Yang Feng.

Rather, he was harboring his own agenda.