After entering Youzhou City and looking at the crowd on the street, Zhao Zhen said: "Looking all the way, Youzhou is still good here, not as bad as other places." In the end, it is the Khitan Nanjing, which is much richer. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "It's different here. As a Khitan Nanjing, there are a large number of princes and ministers, and the Khitan looting is relatively light. There was no big battle during the siege, and the heavy artillery exploded in one day, which was relatively better. ”

Zhao Zhen nodded again and again. In the past few days, it has been miserable all the way, and I can't eat anything. After entering Youzhou City, I saw that it was quite stable here, and my complexion finally improved. If Youzhou is still on the road, I am afraid that Zhao Zhen will wonder whether he should come or not.

Entering the palace, Du Zhongxiao said: "There are palaces and yamen in the city, but they are well preserved. When His Majesty was in Youzhou, he lived in the palace. The ministers have their own dwellings, and if there is any problem, send someone to give instructions. ”

Tired of walking all the way, Zhao Zhen didn't stay and let everyone leave.

When he arrived at the Nanjing Left-behind Mansion, Du Zhongxiao said to Han Qi: "Xianggong has come from afar, we will have a wine banquet tonight to connect you and Song to participate in politics." ”

Fu Bi said: "In fact, like Xianggong and participating in politics, it is also the first time I have been to Youzhou City. - Of course, the Khitan envoy also came many years ago. But that was as a Song envoy, which was different from now. ”

Han Qi arched his hand: "Then thank you." Now there are many things, and our ministers in the capital see and think differently than you see. Now that we have the opportunity, we should sit down together and discuss. In the past few days, I have come from Xiongzhou, except for Youzhou City, other places are really miserable. It seems that it is not difficult to win this war, but after the war, I am afraid of a lot. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Not bad." I also went to Youzhou and looked at the place, and I realized how deeply affected the place was in this war. If you want to restore Youzhou to its original state, I don't know how many years. The money is just repaid, and there is a lack of young people, but there is no way. ”

While talking, the four of them entered the living room with Li Fugui, Li Zhang, and Liu Ji, and sat down separately. Du Zhongxiao instructed people to prepare some chicken, duck, fish and meat, and find a few jars of good wine to set up a feast. In the past few days, I have been accompanying Zhao Zhen, and I have also felt a little tired.

Two pots of charcoal were lit in the living room, and they burned red. A few gathered around the charcoal basin, drinking tea and gossiping.

Liu Jidao: "The day before yesterday, I just broke through the Juyong Pass, and it happened that the Holy Lord and all the ministers came. After breaking the Juyong Pass, even if there are reinforcements in the north of the Khitan, there is no obstacle for a while. Youzhou-shaped place, as long as the surrounding passes are guarded, it will be like an iron bucket. ”

Du Zhongxiao said with a smile: "At this time, where is there still a large army in the Khitan country?" The two armies of Wang Kai and He Bin in the west have approached Datong Mansion, and it is estimated that it will not take a few days to break through. Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures, it is not difficult to recover. The post-war events are, firstly, that these two places have to recuperate, and secondly, that is, the rest of the Khitan. Taking advantage of the lack of an army in the Khitan, he sent 120,000 horses to collect Zhongjing Road first. ”

Han Qi said: "Is one or two hundred thousand people enough? In the end, it is an important place for the Khitan, and it is not easy to attack. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Zhongjing Road is different from Nanjing Road, although it is an important place, there is no big city like Youzhou. Now that most of the Khitan youth and growth are around Wuqing in the south, there are no soldiers in the country, what do you rely on to hold on? Zhongjing Road is a key place for the Khitan, and it is cultivated and pasted, and it is difficult for the Khitan to rise again if it is taken there. The rest of Kamikyo Road, Tokyo Road, etc., are not so urgent. ”

Song Zhen sighed: "The Khitan country, this dynasty has always trembled, but I didn't expect to destroy the country in the first battle. The mystery of the world is truly wonderful. A year ago, if someone told me that they could recover the sixteen states of Yanyun this year, how would I believe him! If it is said that the Khitan army will be completely destroyed, it will be even more nonsense! But he didn't want the captain to come, and when he talked and laughed, the Khitan was wiped out. ”

Han Qi also said: "Yes, if it doesn't really happen in front of you, then just think it's impossible." The Khitan, which has dominated the north for two hundred years and made the Central Plains kingship unpleasant, is destroyed like this! ”

"It's too early to talk about the destruction of the Khitan." Du Zhongxiao waved his hand. "After all, it is a big country, even if its main force is destroyed, as long as the imperial army is not reached, the Khitan is still a grassland power. If it is said to be in decline, it will not happen suddenly, but it will drag on for a decade or two. ”

If Du Zhongxiao is not mistaken, when the Khitan fell in history, there was also a Yelu stone that went west, with hundreds of remnants, and opened a new sky. The Khitan was established for two hundred years, rarely failed, and had a high prestige in the grassland. After destroying the main Khitan force, with the national strength of the Song Dynasty, it was not difficult to open up the grassland. But if you are careless, you will be taken advantage of by the enemy.

At this moment, the soldier brought wine and food and placed them in front of several people.

In this era, it was a separate meal system, and Du Zhongxiao brought the habit of drinking and eating at the same table. But a lot of the time, it's still a habit. The wine is from the capital, and the dishes include chicken and large pieces of mutton. Here in Youzhou, it is not as good as the Central Plains, and the dishes are simple.

The wine and food were served, and the soldiers brought fruit again. In addition to some snacks, there is also a plate of pears and a plate of oranges.

Du Zhongxiao said: "Here in Youzhou, it is not easy to have oranges. I don't know who brought it outside, and when the local family saw it, everyone was amazed. I heard that there is a large family who buys an orange for ten taels of silver, and invites relatives and friends to see a plate, which is called orange appreciation. ”

Song Zhen said: "This thing is not uncommon in Xiangyang. After the train, Kyoshi was everywhere. Now that the train has reached Xiongzhou, it is not difficult to transport some. In the past, Youzhou was in Khitan, and it was rare for locals to see it. ”

Du Zhongxiao said yes. He raised his glass and drank a glass of wine with the crowd.

Putting down the wine glass, Du Zhongxiao said: "The most important thing now is to eliminate the main Khitan forces around Wuqing." The news from the front, the time is almost up. In recent days, the signing troops in the Khitan military camp have no military rations, and there are rebels from time to time. A few days ago, the Khitan killed nearly 10,000 signing troops in one go, piling up for Jingguan. Although it was temporarily suppressed, there was no food to eat, and the signing army would have to fight after all. ”

Han Qi said: "If the saint stays in Youzhou for two days, he can come to Wuqing in person." The Holy Lord came in person and destroyed the Khitan army, which is also regarded as a personal expedition. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Yes, isn't the saint here for this matter." More than 400,000 troops, stationed in one place for a long time, is not a good thing after all, it is better to end the war early. Why don't you do this, and in two days, you'll be on your way. ”

Song Zhen said: "From the capital to Youzhou, the distance is not close, and the journey is hard, so you don't have to be in such a hurry, right?" Let the saint rest in Youzhou for a few days, the holy body is safe, and then go to Wuqing. The Khitan army on the left and right is surrounded, can it still fly? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "We don't care, the Khitan has no military rations, I'm afraid we won't be able to survive." The Khitans are not bad, there are still more than 100,000 signed troops in their military camp, all of whom are young and strong in Youzhou. If you attack as soon as possible, you will rescue more people and use them later. ”

Fu Bi said: "More than 400,000 troops are in Wuqing, and there is a lot of military rations every day, and it is not easy to transport them in the army. It is better to end the war early. ”

Han Qi thought for a while and said, "Then according to what Taiwei said, stay in Youzhou for two days, and then go to Wuqing." When the state was broken, the captured Khitan ministers were all in the city, and the saint happened to see him. This is a holy thing, which can show the majesty of this dynasty. ”

After Zhao Zhen decided to conquer in person, Du Zhongxiao sent Yelu Renxian and others who had arrived in Xiongzhou back to Youzhou. The purpose is to wait for Zhao Zhen to come and meet them here. Youzhou is the Khitan Nanjing City, and to some extent, it can be regarded as the capital of the Khitan. Meeting prisoners of war here was a very majestic affair for the emperor. When Zhao Zhen comes, he will inevitably do it.