At the end of January of the seventh year of Qingli, Fan Zhongyan waved his army north.

The remnants of the Liao troops in Xijin Province fled north in panic, and a large number of Han troops surrendered on the spot.

In February, after the statistics of the logistics department cleaning the battlefield, in the first battle of the north of the city of Xijin, there were more than 40,000 dead in the Liao army alone.

There were more than 100,000 wounded, surrendered and captured, and only about 200,000 Liao troops escaped.

Most of this part of the Liao army were still those who did not participate in the war in the rear, and the more than 200,000 troops who participated in the battle in the front can be said to have lost most of them, and only a few tens of thousands of people scattered and fled.

After that, Fan Zhongyan's troops divided into two routes, all the way out of Juyong Pass, broke through the Liao Naturalization Prefecture and Fengsheng Prefecture, that is, the area of Zhangjiakou in the later generations, and the Song army on the Hedong Road took a two-bread sandwich trend against Datong Mansion on the Xijing Road of the Liao State.

Because of the defeat at the front, the Liao defenders of Datong Mansion had long been panicked. There were many Han Chinese soldiers here, and the Khitans were afraid of their rebellion, so they always adopted a high-pressure strategy.

However, if Yelu Zongzhen was not defeated before he could still hold it down, now that Yelu Zongzhen was defeated, and even the Xijin Mansion was broken, it would definitely not be able to be suppressed.

Therefore, many Khitans fled directly, and those who did not escape were almost killed or captured by the local rebellious Han soldiers before Fan Zhongyan's army and the Song army on Hedong Road attacked, and sent them to the attacking Song army.

For a time, the sixteen states of Yanyun officially returned to the territory of the Great Song Dynasty.

But Fan Zhongyan was not satisfied with this, his eyes were still fixed on Liaoyang Mansion outside the Guan.

The other army marched eastward, joined Di Qing, who was guarding Yuguan, and went out of Yuguan to attack the Liao army outside the pass.

This part of the Liao army did not resist much, so they fled in the direction of Liaoyang Mansion in panic.

Lao Fan swept the leaves in the autumn wind, and made Di Qing the main general, commanding an army of about 120,000 people, and directly taking the outside of the pass and besieging Liaoyang Mansion.

Everywhere along the way, counties all over the country surrendered.

After all, the land of Youyan has been operating outside the customs since the Qin and Han dynasties, and for thousands of years, a large number of Han people have inhabited this area of Liaoyang Prefecture.

In addition, in the early years, Yelu Abaoji migrated a lot of Han people, resulting in an absolute advantage in the number of Han people here.

Now that the Liao people were frightened and almost had no power to fight back against the Song army's offensive, the Song army successfully completed their strategic objectives with little hindrance.

By the end of February of the seventh year of Qingli, in just one month after the fiasco of Yelu Zongzhen, Nanjing, Xijing, and Tokyo of the Liao State had fallen one after another.

Now only Zhongjing Dading Mansion is left, and Shangjing Linhuang Mansion is still in the hands of Yelu Zongzhen.

After Yelu Zongzhen returned to Dading Mansion, he fell ill due to fear, and the Liao State was in chaos for a while, and taking advantage of this opportunity, someone had already gone to Gyeongju to try to retrieve Empress Dowager Xiao.

Upon learning of this incident, Yelu Zongzhen dragged his sick body to find Yelu Chongyuan, asked him to regent the state affairs, and said that if he died of illness, he would be appointed emperor of Liao.

One of the most important instructions was that Yelu Chongyuan must immediately rectify the internal situation, and told him that he must not let the queen mother come back.

Yelu Chongyuan has a very good relationship with his brother, although Xiao Yunjin is their brother's own mother, but when Xiao Yunjin planned to abolish Yelu Zongzhen, Yelu Chongyuan told the secret.

If Empress Dowager Xiao comes back to take over the government again, then he will definitely not have a good time, and it will be a matter of time before he becomes a puppet.

Therefore, Yelu Chongyuan immediately found those important generals and asked them to pacify the army.

On the one hand, according to his brother's instructions, he sent Yelu Xisun to lead 5,000 people to Gaozhou to intercept the Empress Dowager Xiao on the way south, forcing the Empress Dowager Xiao back.

This Yelu Xisun used to be Xiao Yunjin's bodyguard, and he forced Xiao Bodhisattva, the queen of Liao Shengzong, to death for Xiao Yunjin. But later, he also betrayed Xiao Yunjin in the matter of Xiao Yunjin's abolition of Yelu Zongzhen.

Yelu Zongzhen chose to counteract, and ordered Yelu Xisun to lead 500 people to surround Xiao Yunjin's residence, killing Xiao Yunjin's chief manager and dozens of chamberlains.

Then Yelu Xisun forcibly put Xiao Yunjin into a yellow cloth car and sent him to the Qikuo Palace in Gyeongju to be imprisoned, declaring to the outside world that the Empress Dowager Xiao "returned to power and guarded Qingling".

Therefore, Yelu Xisun is most afraid of Xiao Yunjin's return, and he is bound to do his best to do this thing.

I have to say that although Yelu Zongzhen is seriously ill, he is not confused. Even if he is not in good health, he will stabilize the situation through Yelu Chongyuan.

No way.

Now that the Liao State is in a mess, if the Empress Dowager Xiao runs back, it will inevitably exacerbate the imperial friction and political turmoil. At that time, the possibility of the destruction of the Liao State is very high.

It can be said that at this moment, Yelu Zong really knows very well that even if he passes the throne to Yelu Chongyuan, it is much stronger than Xiao Yunjin coming back.

After all, compared to the tyrannical queen mother, Yelu Chongyuan's ability is not too bad.

And when the Liao State was busy with civil strife, Fan Zhongyan explained the rest of the matter in Xijin Mansion, and returned to Bianliang in April of the seventh year of Qingli.

He has been out for most of the year since he was dispatched in September last year.

Although there are no complaints from the court, he must understand himself, honestly hand over the military power, and return to the center in order to secure his position.

On April 6, it rained recently in Bianliang, and the raindrops fell on the roof and slid down the eaves.

The spring breeze on the bank of the Bianhe River was blowing, and a carriage slowly headed in the direction of Xianfeng Gate under the guidance of more than 100 guards.

What is surprising is that the Xianfeng Gate, which was far inferior to the East and West City Gates, is now bustling, even on rainy days.

When the carriage was about to arrive, the guards reported to Fan Zhongyan: "Xianggong, there are many people outside the city. ”

Fan Zhongyan lifted the curtain and glanced out, and saw that outside Bianliang City at the end of the official road in the distance, there were really groups of people by the moat, and the black pressure blocked the entire vicinity of Xianfeng Gate.

People watched from afar, talking to each other, pointing to the motorcade on the official road in the distance as if they were saying something, and the noise was louder than the city.

Immediately after that, several carriages came out under the protection of the Imperial City Guards, and when these carriages stopped in front of the convoy, Zhao Jun walked down from the carriage, and there were Yan Shu, Song Shou, Jia Changchao, Zheng Jian and others behind.

In addition to Zhao Jun, only Yan Shu, Song Shou, Jia Changchao and Zheng Jian are post-90s, not 1990, but post-990s.

A bunch of sixty or seventy-year-old men are not in good health, and if there is an accident in the downtown area, such as being slightly bumped by the crowd, they may be injured, so Zhao Jun brought several prime ministers under the age of 60 to greet him.

"Hanlong."

Fan Zhongyan saw Zhao Jun and them coming, and complained: "Didn't you say don't welcome them?" ”

As he spoke, he pointed to the distance and said, "Still engaged in such a big battle? ”

Zhao Jun shrugged and said, "I actually didn't bother to pick you up, but who made our official family so excited, he had to let us come and pick you up in person." ”

Yan Shu smiled: "Xiwen, I'm afraid you don't know, some time ago, the official family couldn't sleep all night, and I was so happy." For this reason, I stopped for a few days in the morning, and now I am hurrying to repair the temple, waiting to pray to Taizu Taizong about this. ”

"Yes, Fan Xiwen, you are famous now. Everyone in the world knows your name, and I am afraid that you are the only one to recover Yanyun, the name of my Great Song God of War. ”

Jia Changchao said sourly, he is the faction of the Lu Party, and he did not have a good relationship with Fan Zhongyan before.

"I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed."

Fan Zhongyan shook his head and said, "I know my commanding ability, and it is good to be able to command a few armies." To have today's victory, it all depends on Hanlong to do everything for the Great Song Dynasty, but I became famous through this. ”

Saying that, he sighed and smiled bitterly, the feeling of this head pressing on his body is not comfortable.

"You still have a conscience."

Zhao Jun smiled, pointed to the people behind him and said, "Look, the news of the early dynasty can't be hidden at all, I heard that you are back, and they all came out to see the excitement." ”

"Do you want a detour?"

Fan Zhongyan was also a little weak when he saw so many people.

"Forget it, you deserve it, although there are many major factors, but it is also inseparable from your ability."

Zhao Jun patted him on the shoulder and said, "Let's go, go and greet the cheers of the people." ”

Fan Zhongyan raised his head, the wind was drizzling, and the crowds outside the city were surging.

He returned to the carriage and the team set off again.

The convoy slowly arrived outside the Xianfeng Gate, and the guards had already separated a passage with their bodies.

When the team approached, I don't know who shouted: "Fan Xianggong is mighty!" Fan Xianggong is mighty! ”

"Fan Xianggong is mighty!"

"Fan Xianggong is mighty!"

"Fan Xianggong is mighty!"

In an instant, someone else shouted.

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became lively, and the people stretched out their hands and shouted.

"Fan Xianggong, Fan Xianggong! We read the newspapers, you have recovered our homeland in China, let China be unified, and you are a national hero! ”

"The newspapers say you're our hero!"

"Our hero!"

People kept chanting.

These days, the Bianliang newspaper has praised Fan Zhongyan's behavior.

Many celebrities, such as Ouyang Xiu, Lu Xun and others, have written articles praising Fan Zhongyan's feat of recovering Yanyun.

Ordinary people may not be aware of the importance of reunification, but after such a rendering by the newspaper, their emotions will naturally be mobilized, and they can understand what kind of thing Fan Zhongyan has done.

He expelled the Tartars, restored the unification of China, and made the Great Song Dynasty the strongest country in the East today, restoring the Han and Tang dynasties.

The pride of the world, the pride of Fan Zhongyan rose to worship, so when they heard that he was back, they all came to greet him.

Fan Zhongyan had no choice but to lift the curtains and beckoned outward.

He didn't feel happy at this time, only a dull heart and an irrepressible wry smile.

"Great Song Army God!"

"Great Song Army God!"

"Great Song Army God!"

The name of Fan Zhongyan is constantly changing.

Someone threw flowers at the convoy.

The sky is full of flower petals.

The aroma is overflowing.

The convoy slowly entered the city.

On both sides of the upstairs red sleeves are displayed.

I don't know who invited the famous prostitute in Bianliang.

They sang, "The scenery is different in autumn, and the geese in Hengyang go without paying attention." The sound of the corners on all sides rises, and in the thousands of mountains, the long smoke and sunset are closed in a lonely city. ”

"A glass of turbid wine is thousands of miles away, and Yan Ran has no plan. Qiang Guan is full of frost, people are sleepless, and the general's white hair is crying. ”

Ribbons and petals fluttered in the wind, and the people of the entire Bianliang City seemed to be celebrating the New Year.

Only Fan Zhongyan in the car smiled slightly bitterly.

He knew what it meant to the Great Song Dynasty to recover Yanyun, and if it was an analogy, it would be like the new era of the later generations had recovered the treasure island.

If there is really that day, I am afraid that the whole people will sing and dance, which will be more lively than the New Year's Festival.

So it's nothing for the people to revel.

Just put him on the fire and roasted him, which was a bit hot.

In this restlessness, the convoy slowly approached the direction of the palace, and the arch gate of the back garden could already be seen in the distance.

Everyone got out of the carriage, and when Zhao Jun and the others came over, Fan Zhongyan complained: "Isn't it embarrassing me to make the scene so big?" What will my colleagues think of me in the future? ”

Zhao Jun laughed and said: "Old Fan, put away your set of high-ranking masters, we don't want this." ”

"The officials won't be suspicious of you."

Yan Shu smiled.

Several people have already walked into the Gongchen Gate, and there is a long palace road in front of them.

Fan Zhongyan smiled bitterly: "Even so, what about colleagues? ”

Although now the Constitutional Yuan is no longer allowed to wantonly slander colleagues and suppress meritorious officials.

But the problem is not that of suppressing those who have merit.

Rather, it was a matter of principle under imperial power.

Your credit is so great, it will inevitably cause criticism from the Manchu Dynasty, even if the courtiers don't say it, they still think about it in their hearts.

Even his close friend Ouyang Xiu had to persuade Fan Zhongyan.

This is the duty of a courtier, and it is also a problem left over from the history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.

Isn't Zhao Kuangyin on top like this?

Therefore, as a courtier, even if he has made such a great contribution, he must first keep a low profile.

Now like this, it really makes Fan Zhongyan a little uncomfortable.

However, Zhao Jun shook his head.

"I don't think you've figured out your own position, Old Fan."

Zhao Jun walked in the front, wearing a gorgeous purple robe, a jade crown, stepping on cloud boots, and walking as if with the wind.

With his hands behind his back, he raised his head and walked proudly, and said softly, "Who are we?" ”

"He is the prime minister of the Political Yuan, the helmsman of the country of the Great Song Dynasty, and the one who stands behind the official family and opens the world for the official family and the Great Song Dynasty."

"We look at the future, and what we do is for the people of the whole world."

"In this Great Song Dynasty, except for the people who can criticize our right and wrong, and except for the Qing History, who can record everything we do, no one can judge us."

"What are the rest of the juniors?"

"Behind us is not them, it is the people of the world, the official family of the Great Song Dynasty, and our entire Chinese nation."

"We will do everything for the rise of China, we will practice everything for victory, and we will do everything for the interests of the people."

"This is the Constitutional Yuan, which is the political Yuan of the country, the political Yuan of the official family, and the Political Yuan of the people. It is not the Constitutional Yuan of those who are jealous of the virtuous and the capable behind their backs, and who spread rumors and make trouble. ”

"Old Fan, put yourself in the right frame of mind. What we need to listen to is the complaints of the people, the voices of thousands of people, not their discussions behind their backs. ”

"Well done, the people know. The people know that it is poorly done. ”

"When you hear the cheers of the whole city, it means that you are doing the right thing. So do your own thing, put your mentality and status right, don't look ahead, your honor should not be missing! ”

After saying this, Jia Changchao and the others unconsciously puffed up their chests.

As soon as you enter the Constitutional Yuan, it is like a fish leaping into the dragon gate.

Zhao Zhen sat in front.

Behind him is the heavenly group that belongs to him.

This is the Constitutional Yuan.

Take charge of the authority of the Great Song Dynasty and let the Great Song Dynasty stand on top of the world.

There are always only two things in Zhao Jun's eyes.

The first is to make the Great Song Dynasty strong.

The second is to make the people of the Great Song Dynasty live a better life.

This is the meaning of the existence of the Constitutional Yuan.

Why should they care about the eyes of the rest?

Fan Zhongyan was stunned for a moment.

What he thinks about is that he is leading the troops outside, recovering Yanyun, the people are all attached, the government and the opposition are discussing, and the merit is high.

Even if you don't consider the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, you have to consider Zhao Zhen's mood.

But now I realize that it seems to be too much to worry about.

It turns out that the Constitutional Yuan has reached such a height.

The monarchs and ministers are intimate, and their eyes and eyes only have the same thing - to make the Great Song Dynasty strong and prosperous, and let the people live a better life.

As for what monarchs and ministers are suspicious of, and the ministers are discussing, let these things go to hell.

(End of chapter)