Chapter 50: Surrender at the sight of the wind!

Tokyo, Bianliang.

Inside the Imperial Palace, Zichen Hall.

Gazing at the memorial in his hand, Zhao Zhen lost his temper for the first time in a long while, slamming the table and roaring, "Nong Zhigao has rebelled, Di Qing has been defeated, and most of Lingnan—the situation has actually rotted to this point!"

Facing the furious Zhao Zhen, Lü Yijian and the others below didn't dare to say a word.

Because the war situation was indeed not optimistic.

Who could have imagined that Di Qing, who beat everyone like a father beating a son, would actually capsize in the gutter with Nong Zhigao?

"Your Majesty, now is not the time for pursuit; we must send other famous generals to suppress them!"

Stepping forward to bow, Bao Zheng couldn't help but become solemn.

Being angry now is useless; they must find a way to suppress the situation in Lingnan, otherwise, once it spreads, there will be danger!

"Where is Fan Xiwen now?"

Gazing at Bao Zheng below, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but exhale a turbid breath.

Because now, he could only think of Fan Zhongyan.

It was Fan Zhongyan who had set up defenses in Xixia, which had blocked Li Yuanhao's powerful offensive.

But Zhao Zhen hadn't thought that even Fan Zhongyan, without the lives of Northwest generals like Di Qing, could not preserve the court's face!

"Fan Xiwen should be in Qiantang now."

Speaking with a twitching mouth, Lü Yijian truly did not want Fan Zhongyan to return to the court.

But now, there was indeed no one else to send!

"Let him take charge of the two Guangs; he must wipe out the chaotic bandits as soon as possible!"

Looking at Lü Yijian below, Zhao Zhen stared at him meaningfully; this was clearly telling the other party to be sensible and not cause trouble at such a critical time.

"This minister understands!"

Looking up at Zhao Zhen, Lü Yijian also knew very well that now was not the time to cause trouble.

However, after Fan Zhongyan finished the war, that might not be the case!

Qiantang, upon learning the news that Nong Zhigao had grown powerful in Lingnan, Fan Zhongyan was also stunned.

Because Di Qing was someone he had personally met; not to mention his proud martial prowess, even in marching and fighting, it shouldn't be something Nong Zhigao could win!

Just when Fan Zhongyan didn't know what had happened, the Imperial City Division had already arrived without stopping to announce the imperial decree.

Upon learning that he was to take charge of the two Guangs, Fan Zhongyan resolutely accepted the decree.

Lingnan, Yangcheng.

After Nong Zhigao lost this place, Zhang Cheng subsequently led troops to take it back.

The army entered the city, neat and uniform.

Gazing at the soldiers wearing sturdy armor, the common people hid in their houses to observe.

And just at this moment, Zhang Cheng arrived at the government office, looked at the man before him, and said, "Everything as usual, but we have three chapters of law: no bullying the people..."

"General, please rest assured, I will definitely comply!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, the man wearing Song Dynasty official robes hurriedly responded.

And just after the other party went down, Zhang Cheng turned his head and said, "Go, invite Di Qing over!"

"Understood, Cousin!"

Speaking with a full smile, Situ Yaozu walked out quickly.

And just after night fell, the city remained as usual, but anyone who wanted to take the opportunity to cause trouble would be hung on the city gate the next day.

In the hall filled with laughter, the generals were all sitting on chairs.

"No need to push, Di will seek death himself!"

Looking at his back with anger, Di Qing couldn't help but roar.

And just as Di Qing walked in, Zhang Cheng dispersed the dancing girls before him and said, "General Di, it has been half a month; why haven't you surrendered yet?"

"Hmph, I, Di Qing, am a person of the Great Song in life and a ghost of the Great Song in death. You want me to surrender..."

Gritting his teeth and looking at Zhang Cheng, Di Qing couldn't help but look at the surrounding generals, his eyes full of anger.

Why did he suffer defeat in Yongzhou back then? It was all because of these bastards.

While fighting fiercely in the front, Di Qing never imagined that these bastards had actually surrendered, and had surrendered long ago!

When he thought these people were here to support him, he never expected that a stick would smash into his lower back from behind.

Just like that, a famous general of the Northern Song Dynasty was knocked off his horse by his own people!

Capturing Di Qing, the happiest ones weren't Zhang Cheng, but these surrendered generals.

Because Di Qing's ruthlessness was truly beyond imagination.

He didn't just kill enemy troops; even his own people were not spared.

Siege failure, behead; armies not advancing, behead; delaying military plans, behead...

Before the Pingnan Army arrived, many Lingnan generals had already been taken away by Di Qing's blade.

Now that the stronger Pingnan Army had arrived, whether they could win or not was one thing, but Di Qing was truly going to take their lives.

Everyone held the thought that rather than being killed by Di Qing on the battlefield, it was better to kill him first, and then they surrendered!

As a leader of troops, Di Qing's methods were not wrong.

Because the Lingnan region indeed lacked military preparedness, but Di Qing's methods were too dark.

If he could keep winning, it would be fine, but once an accident occurred, who would Di Qing turn to cut down?

This kind of thing couldn't be thought about; once thought about, everyone felt they would be finished sooner or later!

"Are you loyal to the monarch, or loyal to the person?"

Looking at Di Qing playfully, Zhang Cheng laughed.

"I!"

Just as Di Qing intended to answer, Zhang Cheng propped up his chin and said, "The current Great Song pays tribute to the Liao Dynasty, fears Xixia, yet the Han people in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are still waiting for the court to take them back..."

Gazing at Di Qing, Zhang Cheng continued, "Guess, when will we be able to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun?"

Silently looking at Zhang Cheng, Di Qing did not speak.

Because he simply didn't know how to answer this question.

And looking at Di Qing, Zhang Cheng leaned down and said, "Let me tell you, since the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were lost, it has been exactly one hundred and eight years. The elders and fellow countrymen there have already fallen for three generations."

Standing up and roaring, Zhang Cheng looked at the surrounding generals and said, "The Zhao Song court doesn't dare to do it; do we have to follow them? A real man, should he just watch?"

"So what if you, Di Qing, can fight? Is the court willing to give you military power? Are they willing to let you go north? No, they don't dare, because the current court is run by civil officials!"

Looking at Di Qing, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but sit down and say, "You stay here first. When I pacify the south of the Yangtze and go north, you will understand who you are truly loyal to!"

"When two countries go to war, will people not die?"

Looking up, Di Qing gazed at Zhang Cheng.

"Our generation dying is better than our descendants dying to recover Yanyun because of our mistakes!"

Staring at Di Qing, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but become solemn.

And after hearing Zhang Cheng's words, the crowd sitting below couldn't help but fall silent.

Because who doesn't have children? Do they really have to leave the heavy responsibility of recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the future?

Had the Zhao Song court thought about it? Of course they had, but they didn't have the guts to make changes.

Generation after generation of weakness had completely drained the courage of the Song Dynasty!

"If we go north, Di Qing is willing to help the General!"

Turning and leaving, Di Qing walked away.

And gazing at Di Qing's back, Zhang Cheng raised his wine cup and said, "Within two years, we will conquer this vast land, and then recover Yanyun; we will never let our compatriots wait long!"

"The General is mighty!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng's words, many generals roared immediately.

Because they finally understood what the ambition of the man before them was!

Compared to the Zhao Song court that sought peace through tribute, perhaps following him was the only way to truly embody the heroism of a warrior!

Leaving Qiantang.

Fan Zhongyan rushed to the two Guangs without stopping, but just as he left the city, he was surrounded.

"That old vegetable is Fan Zhongyan, charge, charge, charge!"

Roaring as they rushed forward, figures holding steel sabers flew toward him.

And looking at this scene, Fan Zhongyan was completely stunned; because in this day and age, are robbers so unafraid of death? Daring to kidnap a high-ranking court official?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 51 =====