Facing Empress Dowager Xiao's inquiry and the gaze of the civil and military ministers in the tent, Zhao Liang replied stiffly: "Well, I have specially come to report to the Empress Dowager, Yelujin of the B clan plans to mutiny tonight, please take more precautions." ”

As soon as these words came out, a soft laugh sounded when the big tent was neutral, as if mocking Zhao Liang for not being able to do anything, and he actually had to worry about them for them.

Empress Dowager Xiao sneered and said to the person kneeling on the ground: "Yelu Jin, did you hear that?" made a rebellion, but the matter was not completed, but even the enemy knew about it. At your level, are you embarrassed to take everyone to a decisive battle with the Song army? ”

Yelu Jin burst into tears, kowtowed again and again: "The Queen Mother spares her life, the Queen Mother spares her life, I am an old fool, I have poured too much mare's milk wine, and I have lost my heart and gone crazy." I beg the Queen Mother and Your Majesty to forgive me, a useless old thing, for the sake of the ancestors and the feelings of the B tribe! ”

Empress Dowager Xiao didn't say anything, turned her head and asked, "What's going on over there in Room B?" Have you done everything you need to do? ”

An official at the head of the ministers replied: "Empress Dowager Qi, half an hour ago, the two hundred and seventy-six leaders of the clan army of the B clan were all taken into custody. Except for the 31 diehards who followed Yelujin who were killed on the spot, the rest of the generals and colonels expressed their eternal loyalty to the Khitan royal family, the Queen Mother and Her Majesty. ”

"Okay, very good," Empress Dowager Xiao bowed slightly, and a grim smile appeared on her handsome face: "Yelu Jin, it seems that the more than 30,000 soldiers and horses of your B clan and hundreds of generals and colonels are not willing to turn against me for you." So what chips are you going to use in exchange for my mercy? ”

Yelujin's expression changed greatly when he heard this, and he immediately panicked, his hands were tied behind his back, and it was really inconvenient to kowtow, but his life was in danger, and he couldn't take care of it much, so he could only keep smashing the ground with his head, begging for the forgiveness of the Empress Dowager Xiao.

Liao Shengzong Yelu Longxu showed an unbearable expression, turned to his mother and was about to speak, but he didn't expect Empress Dowager Xiao to raise her hand and stop him in time: "The Han people have a good saying, who is not a sage can do nothing." This means to tell everyone that when someone makes a mistake, they should be given the opportunity to repent and reform, which is the right thing to do. ”

She paused slightly and asked Zhao Liang: "I want to ask Lin'anhou, can all mistakes be forgiven and forgiven?" ”

Zhao Liang was slightly stunned, and then replied: "Eh, it's not a secret, in our place, if you want to rebel and rebel, this kind of thing is usually not punishable." ”

"That's right," although Empress Dowager Xiao is fifty-one years old, she still looks very good when she laughs, like a little girl, and her voice looks very young, just listen to her smile and smile: "You guys look at it, even the Han people know that there is no forgiveness for committing trouble, how can we be soft-hearted?" So ......"

She pointed to a few people kneeling on the ground: "Pull out the patriarch and the four elders of the B tribe for me, and divide the bodies of the five horses!" ”

Outside the tent, a dozen or so warriors strode in, like catching chickens, and pulled out Yelujin and the four elders of the B tribe, leaving only a miserable cry for mercy echoing in the big tent.

This scene made Zhao Liang's scalp tingle. He didn't expect that the Empress Dowager Xiao of Liaoguo, as a female streamer, would be so thunderous and thunderous. In contrast, Song Zhenzong was as merciful as a girl.

After cleaning up the leader of the rebellious party, Empress Dowager Xiao turned to Zhao Liang again, and asked with a smile: "Lin'anhou, you came to report the news overnight, and I understand the kindness." It's just that it doesn't seem to have made any difference. So, what leverage do you have in exchange for my mercy to your companions? ”

Zhao Liang was almost angered by Empress Dowager Xiao's ridicule, but the situation was stronger than others, and now he could only say helplessly: "The Empress Dowager successfully quelled the rebellion, which is really gratifying, so I really don't have anything good to offer, I just ask you to treat Commander Mu well, let us prepare prisoners of war of the same level, and then exchange it." This has come to this, so I will take my leave. ”

"Wait." Empress Dowager Xiao raised her hand and said, "Lin'anhou just left."

, doesn't it seem that our Da Liao doesn't know how to be hospitable? ”

Zhao Liang had already read a trace of murderous intent from Empress Dowager Xiao's heart, and he was immediately shocked and hesitated: "Uh...... Queen Mother Mingjian, for the safety of you and Your Majesty, when I rushed to report the news, I left in a hurry, and there was still a lot of things to deal with at home. So there's no need to be a guest, let's next time, next time. ”

Empress Dowager Xiao's face was frosty, but her smile seemed to be stronger than before, she turned her head and asked softly: "Han Aiqing, tell me, how was it written in the previous battle report?" ”

The minister who spoke just now shook slightly, and replied solemnly: "Back to the Queen Mother, Your Majesty." According to the spies' report, a few days ago, Marshal Xiao Tzulin, the king of the Southern Courtyard, was unfortunately ambushed by the Song army when he was inspecting the battle line outside the city of Lanzhou, and was wounded by a giant crossbow, and finally died. According to the news from within the Song army, the conspiracy to ambush Lord Xiao Wolf was from the hands of Zhao Liang, the capital supervisor of the quick aid division and the marquis of Lin'an. ”

I-Ni-Ma! Hearing this, Zhao Liang almost fainted, however, before he could finish his astonishment, the minister said: "Earlier, Xiao Hengyi, Xiao Hengyi, the son of Xiao Tzu Rin, was assassinated in the military tent by the Song army. According to reliable sources, it was also done by Zhao Liang, Marquis of Lin'an. ”

"Oops, that's amazing!" Empress Dowager Xiao sighed and admired: "The two wolf masters of my Liao Kingdom are actually lost in your hands, and it is not an exaggeration to call them heroes of the world." Are you right, Marquis Zhao? ”

Zhao Liang's sweat on his head was scared out at this time. Faced with the sarcasm of Empress Dowager Xiao and the angry eyes of the civil and military officials of the Liao State around him, he immediately regretted it, and secretly blamed himself for not being so big, and actually gave the other party a head for nothing.

Seeing that Zhao Liang was so cramped that he didn't say anything for a while, Empress Dowager Xiao felt very happy in her heart, and continued to say with a smile: "As the saying goes, the two countries do not fight each other. So it stands to reason that when you come to your door, we should always be hospitable. However, when Lin'an Hou came this time, it doesn't seem that he was an envoy of the Song Dynasty, right? Break the formation—"

The flying cavalry commander Han Po came out in response: "The end will be!" ”

"When Marquis Zhao came, did he take the envoy to perform the festival?" Empress Dowager Xiao asked, "Or did you show the Song Dynasty envoy's document survey or something?" Have it? ”

"Back to the Queen Mother, the Marquis of Lin'an broke into the camp late at night, except for two retinues and three war knives, nothing else." Han Pojin replied in a deep voice.

Hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiao nodded: "Oh, I see, that means that you are not an envoy of the Song Dynasty, so naturally you are not protected by any rules of engagement." ”

Zhao Liang knew in his heart that if he continued to talk according to this routine, within a few words, he would have to be dragged out like Yelu Jin and split his body. So his brain flew around a few times, and he said stubbornly: "Empress Dowager Qiyu, I am indeed not a clear envoy, but I am a secret envoy!" ”

"Emissary?" Empress Dowager Xiao smiled dumbly, and said curiously: "Then tell me, what is the secret?" ”

At this time, his life was at stake, and Zhao Liang couldn't care too much, so he said with a heart: "I came to discuss the armistice and peace between the two armies at the secret decree of the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty!" ”

Unexpectedly, as soon as Zhao Liang said this, everyone in the entire big tent, including Empress Dowager Xiao and Liao Shengzong, couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

Tonight, the attempted mutiny of the Yi clan and the Khitan veteran Yelu Jin were tragically divided into five horses, which is directly related to the battle between the two armies of Song and Liao.

Now Zhao Liang said in person that he was coming to negotiate peace on behalf of Song Zhenzong, which was tantamount to pouring a scoop of cold water into the oil pot, which immediately made the hearts of the monarchs and ministers of the Liao State boil.

The main purpose of the Liao State's large-scale military mobilization was to seize the land of Guannan and Hebei, realize the strategic depth of the Song Dynasty from the overall pattern, and ensure that the Khitan could attack and retreat in the future war against the Song Dynasty, and establish an invincible position.

In order to achieve this goal, Empress Dowager Xiao and the important ministers of the Liao State decided to mobilize the strength of the country and launch a southern expedition of 200,000 troops after fully estimating the balance of forces between the two sides.

However, they never expected that in addition to the early stage of the war, the Liao State used its unexpected tactics and the advantage of coming and going like the wind to conquer many important towns in a row, and even

In addition to capturing Wang Xianxian, Wang Jizhong and other Song Dynasty generals, the next battle situation fell into a bumpy situation.

Not only were they carried by Li Yanwutou in Yingzhou for more than ten days, and they failed to conquer the city with their lost troops, but Yang Yanzhao's ironclad flying cavalry also attacked the rear supply of the Liao army everywhere with the support of the Hebei Righteous Army, making the Khitan soldiers and horses panic all day.

A few days ago, Xiao Tzulin, the king of the Southern Courtyard, unfortunately died on the front line of Lanzhou, which completely shook the confidence of the high-level leaders of the Liao State in "deciding the situation in the first war".

With the bad news of the death of the wolf lord, there was also the news that the emperor of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Heng, drove his personal expedition and the 300,000 Song Dynasty troops arrived in Lanzhou.

Will we be able to win this war next? How exactly do you win? It immediately became a matter that Empress Dowager Xiao had to think about carefully.

With the development of the war, there were also three different voices in the court of Liao: the Han officials led by Prime Minister Han Derang advocated peace with the Great Song Dynasty, taking advantage of the fact that the back road was not completely cut off, and retreated to the north as soon as possible; -for-tat with them were the leaders of the tribal army such as Yelujin who had just been clicked, and these people advocated an all-out attack, completely defeating the Song army, which was large in number but with average combat strength, and seizing the fertile land of the Central Plains of the Han people; In addition to the people on both sides, more Liao courtiers suggested shrinking the battle line, adjusting the deployment of the main force, and sweeping the cities of Hebei behind them, striving to consolidate the victories achieved in the early stage of the war.

The third more compromise opinion was vetoed by Empress Dowager Xiao as soon as it came up. She explained to the ministers that the current war situation and timing no longer allow the Liao army to easily implement the strategy of shrinking and sweeping.

The opponent's 300,000 reinforcements, plus the original 100,000 border troops, a total of 400,000 horses were placed in front of them, as long as the Khitan main force chose to retreat, the Song army was very likely to take advantage of the situation to chase and kill.

At that time, not only will they not be able to take the cities and counties of Hebei, but they will even collapse completely because of the enemy on their backs.

As for whether it is a decisive battle or a peace, Empress Dowager Xiao has not fully made up her mind before. The reason is also very simple, the decisive battle is purely a big gamble, the victory or defeat is probably between five and five, unless there is no way out, it must not be done easily.

And the armistice negotiation is also very troublesome, because after all, I don't know the thoughts of the Song Dynasty, and if I put it forward, it is very likely that the enemy will see it as a show of weakness, and then strengthen the idea of a decisive battle with Daliao.

However, tonight's uproar, the main battle faction is completely finished, and I am afraid that there is only one option left to negotiate peace with the Great Song Dynasty.

So at this moment, Empress Dowager Xiao is also worried about how to operate next, and pass on the idea of peace to the Great Song Dynasty without showing weakness.

To her surprise, Zhao Liang, the Marquis of Lin'an, who was almost lying on the guillotine waiting for death, turned out to be a secret envoy sent by the emperor of the Song Dynasty to negotiate peace, how could this not surprise the Empress Dowager Xiao and the ministers of the Lord and faction.

Zhao Liang used the Dafa of voyeurism to detect the wavering complex thoughts in Empress Dowager Xiao's heart, and knew that this time was the right bet, at least, he would not be immediately pulled out of the five horses and split the corpses, and avenge the unlucky wolf lord.

He put his mind at ease and said again: "Queen Mother, Your Majesty." The war between the two countries and the devastation of lives are what the monarchs of both sides do not want to see. The Song and Liao sides have been fighting for more than 20 years, and countless soldiers and civilians have been killed and wounded, so it can be said that there is no real winner here. Rather than continue to consume like this, the more people die, the more they die, and the enmity becomes deeper and deeper, it is better to shake hands and make peace, become a brotherly state forever, do business together, make a fortune, and live a good life, isn't it? ”

Before Empress Dowager Xiao heard this, the young Liao Shengzong next to her spoke: "What Lin'an Hou said is very agreeable. The so-called fierce war is not a good thing for the country and the people. This time we went south, in fact, because we were worried that you would continue to march into the northern expedition, so we were forced to strengthen the barrier in the south of the country. However, if we can reach a brotherly alliance with the Song Dynasty and there will be no more war between the two countries, it will definitely be a blessing for the people of the world, and it is also my wish. ”

After listening to her son's generous and benevolent words, Empress Dowager Xiao nodded lightly, and then looked at the ministers present, and was about to speak, when she suddenly heard a voice in the crowd: "Empress Dowager, Zhao Liang is full of lies, don't believe it!" ”