As the largest and most core city in the eight states behind the mountain, while the crossing team controlled Datong City, it was equivalent to mastering the lifeline of the eight states behind the mountain. In view of the importance of Datong City, after recovering the city, the crossing team did not continue to hand over the city to the original officials to guard and govern as they did before recovering Confucianism, Concubine, Wu, Xin and other prefectures, but sent their own brothers to sit in it as they did when they recovered Youzhou City, so as to ensure that this big city was always firmly in the hands of the crossing team, and thus put the entire Shanhou Eight Prefectures under the control of their brothers. Tang Chao led the army to stay in Datong City, and he stationed more than 3,000 people in Datong City with the six battalions of the second regiment of the "Flying Dragon Army", all the five regiments of the security army, two companies of the third battalion of the cavalry regiment, and a part of the artillery according to the jihua formulated before departure. Zeng Zhilin, Yang Xin, and Wu Peng led the remaining infantry and cavalry regiments, as well as the rest of the artillery units, to continue to march southwest to recover the remaining prefectures and counties.

In addition, in order not to disperse the forces too much, the part of the men and horses that were originally guarding the Khitan captives in Taitung Liang were transferred back and returned to the command of their respective troops. Those Khitan captives were taken back to Datong City, and were imprisoned in the old military camp in the city together with the prisoners of the Battle of Datong, and they will be dealt with after the recovery of the Eight Prefectures in Shanhou.

However, just as Zeng Zhilin and others were about to continue their march south to the next target in Jihua, Yingzhou, they were stopped by a telegram from the committee. In the telegram, the committee ordered them to suspend their southward movement and instead move to the southeast, joining forces with a new group consisting of all the 4th Infantry Regiment of the "Flying Dragon Army" led by Cheng Fei, all the 9th and 10th Regiments of the "Security Army" and the 1st Artillery Regiment leading from the Great Wall at Jinpi Pass, and attacking Ulzhou, which had originally become a target only after the recovery of Yingzhou. The Committee's decision was based on two main considerations. First, at this time, Xu Shao'an's unit had already completed the "declaration" operation in the prefectures and counties north of Youzhou City, and returned to the "Xianglong Fort" and "Liangyuan" base camps, and the fourth regiment of the "Flying Dragon Army" and the ninth and eleventh regiments of the "Security Army," which were originally tasked with guarding the base camp and production base, could completely be drawn out to participate in the battle -- except for the 10 battalions of the 4th regiment of the "Flying Dragon Army," which had participated in the battle against Yelu Tart Lie at Juyong Pass, the officers and men of the three regiments had never participated in any battle since the start of the Youyun War. At this time, they were sent out to exercise the team.

Second, Ulzhou is the only way to transport pyrite from the Northern Han Dynasty to "Liangyuan" through the team - there is also a short road in Yingzhou, but the main body is still in Ulzhou. Since pyrite is an important raw material for the production of firearms by the crossing team, it is necessary to ensure the absolute smoothness of this transportation line. Before the Battle of Youyun, the crossing team had been using large sums of money, their official status in the Khitan, and the assistance of Yang Ye, who was an important minister of the Northern Han Dynasty, to ensure the unimpeded flow of this transportation line. Although there have been no serious problems, this kind of situation of putting one's own lifeblood in the hands of others has always made people feel unsure. In the past, due to the limitations of strength and status, even if the crossing team was not sure, it could only adopt this method. But now that the situation had changed dramatically, and with the entire Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun under its control, it was natural for the Council to take this vital transportation line into its own hands.

In order to firmly grasp this transportation line, it is necessary to garrison the armed forces of the crossing team in the states and counties along the way - at least one of the two cities of Lingqiu and Feigu must have a garrison, and it cannot be handed over to the original defenders. Considering that Zeng Zhilin and Yang Xinsuo's troops had already divided their troops to garrison Datong City, they were only afraid that it would have an adverse impact on continuing to recover the three states behind. Therefore, after careful consideration and Jihua, under the premise that Xu Shao'an's troops returned to the "Liangyuan" and the crossing team had sufficient strength to ensure the safety of the rear base camp and production base, the committee decided to increase the troops for Zeng and Yang, so that they could still have enough troops to recover Ying, Huan, and Shuo in the case of garrisoning Ulzhou. …,

Zeng Zhilin and Yang Xin naturally understood the importance of this transportation line to the crossing team, so after receiving the telegram from the committee, the two did not have any objections, and immediately ordered to change the direction of the march, turn southeast, and go straight to Guangling County, thirty-five miles southwest of Lingxian, the Ulzhou Zhishu. At the same time, Cheng Fei also led his troops out of Jinpiguan and killed Feihu County and Lingqiu County.

The fall of Datong City, the most powerful and the strongest city among the eight prefectures behind the mountain, and the end of its defender, King Gaoxun of Zhao, who fled in defeat and disappeared, made the chief officials and guards of Shuo, Huan, Ying, Wei and other prefectures panic and uneasy. The officers and soldiers of the counties to which they belong are even more war-like, and they have no idea of confronting them in the face of the surging crossing team. Therefore, whether it was Guangling County, which was attacked by Zeng and Yang's troops, or Feihu County and Lingqiu County, which Cheng Fei's troops wanted to occupy, the defenders all surrendered, and the two troops recovered the three cities without blood.

After recovering Guangling, Flying Fox, and Lingqiu, the two men and horses did not stop, but after a little supply, they went straight to the same target - the Lingxian of the Ulzhou Zhisho. On the afternoon of the 28th day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar in the ninth year of the Ying calendar (the sixth year of Xiande), Zeng Zhilin, Yang Xin, Wu Peng's department and Cheng Fei's department met in the southwest of Lingxian City, and camped three miles south of the city.

Nearly 20,000 troops were armed with the crossing group—including more than 30,000 men who served with the army—and encamped under their own city, much to the confines of the Ulju Chungshun Army. As a high-ranking Khitan official, he would neither nor could surrender to the "Youzhou rebels" under the city, nor was he willing to be like the envoy of the Yunzhou Datong Army and the king of Zhao, Gaoxun, who was stubborn to the end, and his whereabouts were unknown, and he could not see anyone alive or dead - with Gao Xun's 30,000 people, he could not defend the tall and strong Datong City, not to mention that he only had more than 10,000 men and horses and a much smaller Lingxian City. But if he abandons the city and flees, once the Son of Heaven blames him, he will also "can't eat and walk around". For a while, Yelu Xingmei was hesitant and didn't know how to deal with it.

It is difficult for Yelu Xingmei to choose here, but the crossing team under the city does not plan to spend too much time under the city of Ulju. After the two armies joined forces, Zeng Zhilin and the other four brothers only discussed it slightly, and then decided to start the siege early the next morning, and must resolve the battle within two days, so as to ensure that the troops out of the pass can complete the task of recovering the eight states behind the mountains within Jihua time, and will not affect the movement arrangements of the crossing team in the future.

So, early the next morning, not long after falling asleep in the early hours of the morning, Yelu Xingmei, who had been terrified all night, was awakened by the rumbling sound of cannons from the south of the city. After realizing that it was not thunder coming from outside the house, Yelu Xingmei hurriedly dressed and rushed to the front office of Jiedu Mansion. Before he could beat the drum and gather the generals, the guards who were responsible for defending the southern city wall and the city gate had already sent his own soldiers to break into the palace and report to him that the "Youzhou rebels" had begun to bombard the city wall, and they might lead troops to attack the city at any time.

After listening to the report of the defenders of Nancheng, although Yelu Xingmei was calm on the surface, asked the defenders of Nancheng to defend the city with all their might, and claimed that he would immediately bring troops to reinforce him, but in his heart he was panicked and uncertain. The result of the battle of Datong City a few days ago told him very clearly that in the face of the "Youzhou rebels" with extremely sharp firearms, he could not defend this lonely city by relying on his own men. Coupled with the uncertain experience of Zhao Wang Gaoxun's life and death, this Jiedu envoy, who had never made up his mind, finally made up his mind - to escape, he must escape, even if he goes back and is punished by the emperor, it is better than dying in the chaos or being caught and humiliated by the Han rebels.

Therefore, Yelu Xingmei summoned the generals for a military discussion and issued a combat mission to everyone; On the one hand, he secretly sent his henchmen to pack up the gold and silver, prepare the carriages and horses, and arrange for his family members to wait at the north city gate in advance. After sending the generals out to prepare for war, Yelu Xingmei immediately returned to the back house, left the palace under the protection of his confidant Ding and his own soldiers, and went straight to the north gate to join his family. Then he ordered the defenders to open the city gate, escaped from Lingxian City in a smoke, and headed north towards the Great Wall. …,

After Yelu Xingmei fled with a group of family members, the news quickly spread throughout the city. The defenders of Ulzhou, who were already afraid of fighting the so-called "Youzhou rebels", were immediately disorganized and had no fighting spirit. Seeing that the general situation had gone, the Khitan officials and generals in the city followed the example of their own commanders and abandoned the city in a hurry. The Han officials and generals behaved more calmly, and after leading their troops to symbolically resist for a while, and after maintaining their dignity, they opened the south gate of Lingxian City and surrendered to the crossing team that had not yet begun the formal siege of the city - on the morning of the 29th day of the fifth lunar month of the ninth year of the Ying calendar (the sixth year of Xiande), the crossing team regained the Lingxian City of Ulzhou.

After the recovery of Ulzhou, the crossing team only stayed in the city for one day, and according to the previous Jihua, Wu Peng led the 5th Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of the "Flying Dragon Army", the 5th Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of the "Security Army", and the 25th and 26th Battalions of the Ninth Regiment to stay in Lingxian City.

With the successive conquest of Yunzhou and Ulzhou, the officials and guards of Ying, Huan, and Shuo have become frightened birds. Without waiting for the armed soldiers of the crossing team to come to the city, they began to prepare early. Most of the Khitan officials and generals took Yelu Xingmei as an "example", and one by one they protected their families and fled north with thin softness. Han officials and generals cleaned the streets and government offices, maintained law and order in the city, and prepared household registration books, just waiting for the crossing team to come and receive them. Even if a small number of brave generals, most of whom were Khitan generals, had the intention of fighting to the end and repaying the country with their deaths, they were quickly wiped out by the artillery fire of the armed forces of the crossing group or the hidden arrows of those who wanted to surrender, and they could not make any waves at all.

Because the Khitan officials had no intention of resisting and the Han officials tried their best to maintain it, there was no major war in the process of recovering the three states, nor did it cause serious chaos and destruction, which can be called a smooth reception. The only trouble was in Shanyang, the seat of Shuozhou, where Zuihou was a stop, and before the peaceful handover, there were riots and some modest battles in the city. However, these riots and battles basically took place before the crossing team forces arrived at the foot of Shanyang City, and the crossing team forces only advanced a little during the zuihou stage of the battle in the city, speeding up the end of the battle.

The main reason for the riots in Shanyang City was that there was a disagreement between the officials and defenders in the city whether to surrender, fight, or go, and when no one could convince anyone, the disagreement soon developed into an armed confrontation between the two sides. As for the composition of the two sides of the disagreement, it is very interesting, because the leaders of both those who want to fight and those who want to surrender are Han Chinese, but there are some Khitan officials and generals in the camp of those who want to fight, and all the Khitan civil and military officials who want to surrender are Han people - those Khitan civil and military officials who do not want to fight with the so-called "Youzhou rebels" and are not willing to be prisoners of the Han people have long taken various opportunities to run away. The reason why the Han people took the lead in resisting and refusing to surrender was because the leader was the envoy of the Yunzhou Datong Festival who had never known where to go, and Gaoxun, the king of Zhao, a high-ranking Han official who had never thought of surrendering.

Driven by Gao Xun, some Khitan generals who regarded escape and surrender as the greatest shame and some Han generals who had an old relationship with Gao Xun decided to defend Shanyang City to repay the country with death and in the name of all loyal ministers. On the other hand, those Han officials and generals who intended to surrender were guilty and perfunctory in the face of Gao Xun, and on the other hand, they contacted and secretly prepared, intending to start an incident when the armed soldiers of the crossing group approached the city, seize the city gate, and let the other party enter the city. Unexpectedly, the matter was not secret, and the news was leaked, and it was reported to Gao Xun. Gao Xun then secretly summoned his cronies and subordinates to prepare to arrest the officials and generals who participated in the conspiracy to surrender the city. But dramatically, the news from Gao Xun's side was also leaked. As a result, the officials and generals who were plotting to surrender quickly calmed down after a short period of panic and panic, and decided to change their strategy and immediately start an incident, taking advantage of the fact that Gao Xun did not know that the news of his intention to arrest those who wanted to surrender had been leaked. As a result, the two sides fought in Shanyang City's Jiedu Office and its vicinity. …,

Despite the large number of Xiancheng factions, the Death War faction resisted the opponent's attack by virtue of their personal bravery and the favorable conditions of possessing the government office, and the two sides fought an evenly matched and equal strength, and it was difficult to distinguish the victory or defeat for a while, and the entire Shanyang was also plunged into chaos.

Just when the two sides were at a stalemate, the army of the crossed team drove to the foot of Shanyang City. After receiving the news, the Xiancheng faction in the city stepped up their attack to maintain the oppression of the death war faction; One side sent men and horses to seize a city gate, and put the crossing team into the city.

With the addition of the crossing team, the battle inside and outside the government office soon became clear. After a round of not very heavy shelling, the soldiers of the Xiancheng faction managed to storm the government office, and the small battle lasted for nearly three hours and ended with the defeat of the death war faction.

It is worth mentioning that Gao Xun, who was lucky enough to escape from Datong City last time, was not so lucky this time. Although he crossed the team and entered the city with the Shuozhou Jiedu envoy through the tunnel, he escaped through the tunnel and successfully ran outside the city. But it was soon discovered by a patrol of the "Flying Dragon Army" cavalry regiment that had been cruising outside the city, and was finally captured alive and sent to Zeng Zhilin, Yang Xin and Cheng Fei.

On the eighth day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar in the ninth year of the calendar (the sixth year of Xiande), the team regained Shanyang City through the armed forces. The recovery of Shanyang City drew a successful end to the Battle of Youyun. After the three brothers Zeng, Yang, and Cheng had a short rest in Shanyang, pacified the people in the city, and arranged for the surrendered officials and generals to take up new positions, they led their troops to return. On the way, according to the previous arrangement with Jihua, Cheng Fei replaced Wu Peng to guard the Lingxian, and Wu Peng led the fourth battalion of the second regiment of the "Feilong Army", the sixth battalion of the second regiment of the "Security Army", and the twenty-ninth and thirty battalions of the tenth regiment to garrison the only way to transport pyrite through the team.

On the twelfth day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar in the ninth year of Yingli (the sixth year of Xiande), just as Zeng Zhilin and Yang Xin were staying in Lingqiu City for a while, and when Wu Peng, who had completed the handover with Cheng Fei in Lingxian City and had just arrived here, a telegram from the committee requesting Zeng and Yang to return to the "Liangyuan" as soon as possible and prepare to participate in an important meeting was sent to the three brothers.

(End of volume)