Xiao Ran told Empress Dowager Xiao about the conditions for Zhao Mingyue's withdrawal, Empress Dowager Xiao frowned deeply, and said for a while: "The Song Dynasty agreed to withdraw the troops, which undoubtedly left us a way out, but you have contributed a lot." It's just that the Song army is currently in a hurry to go south to Sichuan to rescue, and if we retreat at this moment, won't we miss the opportunity? ”

"Auntie, Ling Kun and Zhao Mingyue can withdraw their troops for the sake of my face, if you look ahead and look ahead, they may hit Youzhou in three or five days, you must make a decision quickly." Xiao Ran said urgently.

"Yes, Queen Mother." Han Derang said: "We obviously can't take advantage of this war, so it's better to retreat and recuperate for the time being, and then make a comeback when he sees the opportunity." ”

Empress Dowager Xiao nodded and said, "Okay, withdraw the army from Youyun one after another, and go back to their territories to recuperate." ”

Everyone took the order, counted the troops and horses, withdrew from the front line, and returned to the northern steppe. Empress Dowager Xiao and the ministers also packed their bags and set off to return to Beijing.

At the same time, Ling Kun's Song army was also gradually retreating, exiting Feihuyu and Niujiao Pass, and entering the Black Horse Pass.

Two days later, Tan Ma reported that the Liao army had dispersed and returned to his own territory, Ling Kun was relieved, but he still had some doubts, so he asked: "Mingyue, if we wave our army south, wouldn't it be troublesome for the Liao people to make a comeback?" ”

Zhao Mingyue snorted coldly and said, "Do you think the Liao Kingdom is as stupid as you?" ”

"Is this stupid? What a great opportunity. Ling Kun said suspiciously.

Zhao Mingyue glanced at him and said: "The Liao army has been defeated repeatedly, the troops have been lost, the food and grass are insufficient, and the morale has declined. Besides, we still have Yang Yanzhao and other famous generals guarding the area of Yanmen Pass, and it is not easy to lose, so you can rest assured that you will go south. ”

"Oh, okay Mingyue, it's better for you to be broad-minded." Ling Kun praised it from the bottom of his heart, and his eyes really scanned Zhao Mingyue's broad mind.

Zhao Mingyue was embarrassed by his ill-intentioned obscene eyes, and stepped on Ling Kun's instep and scolded: "Stinky rascal, what are you looking at, look at gouging out your eyes again." ”

"But Mingyue

You're so good-looking. ”

Zhao Mingyue was angry and brainy, but she couldn't tell this fool clearly, so she punched him hard and turned around and ran away.

You can't keep staring at other people, right?

Ling Kun touched his nose, smiled, and convened a meeting of the generals to reward the three armies, and those who should be promoted were promoted. Then he instructed Yang Yanzhao to continue to stay at Yanmen Pass and take care of the north gate of the Great Song Dynasty. Xu Zixuan was ordered to lead the remaining 150,000 forbidden troops to the south and rush all the way to Jianmen Pass.

What about Ling Kun himself? He had to take Zhao Mingyue to rush to Jianmen Pass first to preside over the overall situation.

A huge Song-Liao War ended quietly again, with a total of more than 800,000 troops invested, which took three months, but in the end it was over, no one got a city, no one lost a card, and the army withdrew, exactly the same as the original, just like a bloody dream.

However, this seemingly drawn war has long been decided. The Liao State lost two god-level generals in this war, namely Yelu Xiuge and Yelu Xianzhen, although the two did not die on the battlefield, but since then they have been depressed and depressed, and they have died of depression that year.

And the Song Dynasty is just the opposite, Ling Kun, as a young general who has just turned 20 years old, is full of suspicion whether it is the court, the army or the enemy, after this war, his position in the Song army has been unshakable, and the weak Song Dynasty, which has been defeated for many years, has also regained his eyebrows in his hands.

On this day, Ling Kun and Zhao Mingyue took Han Jiangxue and Shi Jian and rode off to the south. Two days later, the four of them rushed back to Kaifeng, returned to the Lingwei Hou Mansion to change clothes and bathe, and after a short rest, they entered the palace to resume their lives.

Zhao Heng was overjoyed to see Ling Kun and Zhao Mingyue coming back, holding one in one hand, and said excitedly: "Imperial sister, Ling Aiqing, you have made great contributions. The north has been stable for the time being, but the crisis in Sichuan and Shu is even greater, so fortunately you came back in time. ”

"Your Majesty, what is the specific situation in Sichuan now?" Ling Kun asked.

"The whole of Sichuan has been controlled by the rebels, and Li Shun's son Li Jiangtao is the emperor and has the capital in Chengdu." Zhao Heng said gloomily: "Shu."

The 300,000-strong army is currently storming Jianmen Pass, intending to rebel out of Shu. ”

Zhao Mingyue comforted: "Brother Huang, don't worry, since ancient times, the difficulty of Shu Road has been difficult to reach the blue sky, and since we have controlled the Jianmen Pass, it is expected that the rebels will not be easily captured." ”

Zhao Heng sighed and said: "It's hard to say, originally Shi Junfeng led 50,000 forbidden troops to guard the Jianmen Pass as impregnable, but he was assassinated by the rebels the day before yesterday, and the current military affairs of the Jianmen Pass are temporarily led by Wang Yingjue, but Wang Aiqing is young, and his qualifications and prestige are far from Shi Junfeng, and the Jianmen Pass is very critical." ”

Ling Kun and Zhao Mingyue were silent when they heard this, the Sword Gate Pass was indeed in danger.

Zhao Heng rubbed his hands and said: "Ling Aiqing, it is said that you have just returned from victory, and you should rest well during the journey, but the current situation is urgent, so you can only continue to go south and preside over counterinsurgency matters." ”

Zhao Mingyue didn't wait for Ling Kun to speak, then continued: "Brother Huang, don't worry, Ling Kun and I will set off for Sichuan immediately. ”

"Okay." Zhao Heng took a holy decree from the table and said: "Ling Aiqing, I have appointed you as the minister of the Qin Mission, the envoy of Sichuan Xuanfu, and the commander-in-chief of all counterinsurgency matters, Mingyue will continue to be Ling Aiqing's supervisor, and Sichuan will be handed over to the two of you." ”

Ling Kun took the holy decree and said: "Please rest assured, the emperor will rush to Sichuan immediately, and if he does not quell the rebels, he will never return to Beijing." ”

Bidding farewell to Zhao Heng, Zhao Mingyue hurriedly went to see the Queen Mother, at this time Wan'an Palace had been built, and the Queen Mother had already moved in. At this time, the Empress Dowager Li is no longer the Empress Li of the past, and Zhao Mingyue is her only backer, so when she saw Zhao Mingyue, she burst into tears with excitement, and hurriedly asked someone to make her daughter's favorite food.

Zhao Mingyue couldn't bear to refuse, so she accompanied the Queen Mother to have a lunch of mother and daughter, this was the first time in Zhao Mingyue's life, and this feeling of being loved by her mother was really good.

Early the next morning, Ling Kun and Zhao Mingyue set off again with Han Jiangxue and Shi Jian, and hurried to Sichuan.

However, along the two thousand miles from Kaifeng to Sichuan, even if you ride a horse, you can't reach it in a day or two. The four-person trip was repeated, and on this day they finally walked out of Henan, entered the territory of Hubei, and rushed to Xiangyang to stay before dark.