Chapter 1 The Extremely Hasty and Casual Jinhebo Alliance in the Sixth Year of Jianyan, June 6th

The altar was a stone altar built in a day, and the sacrificial text was copied from history books to fill the word count. There wasn't even a seal for conferring emperors and kings, only a coronation was possible, but even the golden crown for the coronation was old goods picked up from the Western Xia battlefield.

As for the division of territories and trade terms, they were only roughly described orally, and who knows how many lawsuits would have to be fought over the specifics.

However, no one could deny the effectiveness of this alliance, because there were still hundreds of thousands of troops and the heads of various military and political entities on the scene. These troops and these people were enough to endow anything arbitrary or even absurd with serious or even sacred characteristics.

Therefore, after the alliance, Zheng Zhichang, an international friend and a semi-passive participant, although almost suffered from heatstroke and was a little flustered by some of the words in the sacrificial text, still wrote quickly as soon as he returned to his camp, hurriedly recording the day's experience... He planned to compile his legendary experiences following the Zhao Song Emperor into notes as soon as he returned home.

But he would inevitably embellish it a bit himself.

In addition, it is said that Lu Benzhong and other literati, including Yue Fei, Qu Duan, and Liu Yan, also recorded the alliance in detail in the form of notes.

Of course, the Zhao Emperor definitely disdained this kind of low-end expression. He was much more high-end. He didn't record things... only recorded his life insights in his notebook that night, lamenting the miserable plight of the Khitans leaving their homes, and expressing his simple national feelings.

Last but not least, he slightly pointed out the significance of his small work in slightly constructing a unified Chinese consciousness and the concept of the Chinese nation through this alliance, as well as cleverly bypassing the military to cause a huge blow to the Jurchens.

Enough idle talk. Now that the alliance was concluded, the next few days were unlikely to be earth-shattering, but rather a boring and cautious disbanding of the army amidst confrontation.

The Song army took the lead in making large-scale corresponding actions. The troops began to disperse gradually under the leadership of various commanders in groups of two to three thousand, but not all at once. Some crossed the river to the outside of the river, and some advanced to the rule of Dongsheng Prefecture. Those who retreated did not withdraw their troops directly, but established withdrawal channels behind them.

However, it may be that the previous alliance severely stimulated the Jurchens. Therefore, although they also faced huge logistical pressure, the Jurchens still took this opportunity to launch several small-scale probing attacks, but they were properly dealt with by Yue Fei, the commander of the Song army, who was well prepared.

In this way, dragging on until the end of June, the Jurchens finally couldn't hold on and began to move south in an organized manner to find food and settle down, while most of the coalition forces officially retreated along the Hetao-Xingling Avenue on a large scale.

Having said that, after years of war, the Imperial Guard system's reward and punishment system was already very credible. According to past practice, and indeed because there were not enough supplies prepared around Hetao, large-scale military merit statistics and rewards should be given at least after returning to Chang'an. However, matters were urgent. This time, Qu Duan, who served as the deputy commander in the attack on Xingqing Prefecture and whose merits were second only to Yue Fei and Hu Hongxiu, still received an imperial edict on the spot, becoming another Jianjie General (a high-ranking military title) after Han Shizhong, Yue Fei, Li Yanxian, Zhang Jun, Zhang Rong, Wu Jie, and Wang Yan.

Considering that Wang Yan had turned to civil service early on, and Qu Duan was a serious army commander in the Imperial Guard system, it can be said that after several ups and downs, Qu Duan finally officially became the well-deserved seventh marshal of the Great Song Dynasty.

As for Wang De, he also participated in the war as a deputy commander this time. In addition, given his resume and his position as the Deputy Commander of the Central Army of the Imperial Guard, he would most likely eventually become a Jianjie General, becoming the eighth marshal... but that would probably have to wait until the Emperor returned to the capital, go through the Privy Council, be discussed by the chief officials, and then come to a conclusion.

In the end, he was one step behind Qu Duan.

Of course, Yue Fei would also inevitably be given three regional military governorships like Han Shizhong, but it was hard to say whether he would be granted the title of Prince of the Commandery, because Yue Pengju was too young after all, and he himself might not want to seek this, so there might be some discussion between the monarch and his subject.

On the other hand, Li Shifu had made great contributions this time, and had already become the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry early on, but he was too young, and he was a Tangut, and he also had the status of a hereditary tribal leader, so how he would be rewarded this time was really something to consider.

Of course, these were all things for later. It was said that Qu Duan was directly made a Jianjie General for a reason. He would lead a considerable number of armored cavalry and Yelu Yudu to stay around Hetao.

On the one hand, it meant assisting in defense and establishing border defenses, and on the other hand, it was also to supervise the Khitans in handing over Kadhun City to Khurja Hus, the Western Mongol King... In addition, there was also the task of searching for Li Qian Shun and his son in conjunction with Han Shizhong and Wu Jie's subordinates, as well as procuring war horses in this place and recruiting Mongolian and Tangut soldiers good at riding and shooting to join the Imperial Guard Cavalry.

At the same time, Wu Jie, who took over the defense zone outside the river, would cross the river directly from Jinhebo, but he would lead his troops and Han Shizhong in the south to advance north and south together to take over and control the six prefectures outside the river.

The six prefectures outside the river were also troublesome. Three of these prefectures were old Khitan lands, and they were border areas. There were quite a few remnants of the Liao Dynasty. Together with the Khitan and Xi tribes gathered from the Hengshan area, they were all to be given to Yelu Dashi according to the alliance, and Zhao Jiu could not allow Yelu Dashi's army to stay in his country for a long time... At the same time, in the other three prefectures, there was also the Zhe family, which was extremely sensitive within the Great Song Dynasty and involved many of the court's basic political attitudes, which had to be controlled first before a decision could be made.

What's more, he had to worry about the Jurchens across the river, and he had to consider the autumn harvest in just over a month.

In short, the entire Northwest was a mess after the war, and it could not be done slowly or quickly, and it could not be rushed or delayed.

Under such circumstances, the Zhao Emperor neither paid attention to Zhe Keqiu's request to see him, nor did he care about Li Qianshun's life or death, but instead returned side by side with Yelu Dashi and the two Mongol Kings, leading the army back along the old Hetao road, preparing to return to Guanzhong from Xingling.

Arriving at Wulahai City in Hetao, the two Mongolian kings took the lead in bidding farewell. Zhao Jiu could not help but hold their hands to see them off. His attitude was much better than that of Wugumai... and Qu Duan and Yelu Yudu also led some of their troops to stay behind.

At the end of June, in the early autumn season, Zhao Jiu and Yelu Dashi turned south together.

By the beginning of July, after the army entered Keyimen, the Tangut surrendered soldiers had been properly divided. The Zhao Emperor promised 10,000 temporary Imperial Guard slots. Those who had made contributions and the elite among them were absorbed into the Imperial Guard system by Yue Fei, Wang De, and Li Shifu. The rest were gradually released back according to their age, region, and tribe. A small number of older Tanguts who were literate were granted positions such as Vice Prefect and Acting County Magistrate.

However, more of those who held the position of so-called 'Acting County Magistrate', or even those directly appointed by imperial decree as Acting Military Commissioner or Acting Prefect, were those Jinshi (successful candidates in the imperial examinations) in the army who had enough qualifications and military merits this time... According to the public political promise announced by the Zhao Emperor in Keyimen, these Jinshi, who were mostly from the fifth rank in the palace examination and would not have been able to enter the formal career path for half their lives, as long as they could ensure the stability of the newly acquired areas and the operation of basic affairs such as autumn harvest and taxation, even if the Department of State Affairs later adjusted and merged these small prefectures and counties in Western Xia, they would not be demoted, but would be transferred to other places as officials at the same level.

In other words, a considerable number of Jinshi who had joined the army had officially entered the path to officialdom through accumulating military merits and qualifications with the army.

Not only that, as soon as he passed Keyimen, Zhao Jiu formally issued an edict again, dismissing Hu Hongxiu from his position as Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and changing it to the formal Pacification Commissioner of Ningxia Road. He also fulfilled the political promise he had made in the Wende Hall earlier, and conferred on this civil official from the Imperial College the title of Marquis of Dingyuan.

Hu, the army advisor with the short hair, had jumped from an almost marginalized compiler in the Privy Council to the highest-ranking local official in the empire in just over half a year, and even surpassed his old superior Liu Ziyu, Lin Jingmo, the number one civil official among his former close ministers, and Wang Yan, who had once touched the threshold of becoming a marshal, because of his title... No one opposed this almost crazy thing.

Because everyone knew that this little Hu, the army advisor, had made enough contributions this time to make him famous in history, surpassing the constraints of a conventional official position.

In the future, when writing history books, the text spent on this almost legendary experience would be more than the biographies of some chief ministers.

In mid-July, the Song-Liao Allied Forces arrived at Xingqing Prefecture.

It is said that after hearing that the Zhao Emperor had entered Keyimen, Guanzhong sent all the accumulated documents, memorials, and notes together. Now that they had arrived at Xingqing Prefecture, the dense memorials swarmed in.

Yelu Dashi knew what to do. After sitting in the city for a while, he asked to stay outside the city and directly requested to return west.

Zhao Jiu certainly knew that this was the way it should be, and he had made preparations early on. He had Wang De stay to protect him, and Yue Fei led all the other troops to 'escort' the Khitans out of Lanzhou... which also meant taking over the entire territory of Lanzhou and sweeping away the Xishou Baotai Military Commissioner's Office, which had not yet been stabilized.

Of course, in any case, as he had said that day, who knows when they would meet again today, and since he was an emperor after all, the Zhao Emperor had to personally send him thirty *li* out of the city.

But on the night before, someone dared to wake up the Zhao Emperor, who was supposed to be resting for the hard work the next day, from his sleep.

"Your Majesty!" Yang Yizhong, who had arrived overnight, prostrated himself in the old palace of Western Xia, disregarding the dust of the journey.

"Just say it!" Zhao Jiu sat up from the couch, and urged him impatiently under the newly lit candlelight as soon as he heard the voice.

"This subject is incompetent!" Yang Yizhong bowed down in front of the couch. "I am ashamed and extremely sorry. I really didn't find it, not even a single piece of information. Several people who reported their names were all impostors after careful investigation. Only some distant remnants of Zhang Yongzhen's clan were found, and they couldn't explain it clearly either... But Hou Dan has a proper cousin, and his family is still alive. This subject took the liberty of finding one of his cousin's children to adopt to him, and the rewards and honors were given directly as Your Majesty ordered."

"That's good... Actually, it's been six or seven years, and Yan'an has been trampled over by Lou Shi twice, so it's normal if you can't find them. But Hou Dan's cousin is lucky." Zhao Jiu was stunned for a moment before letting out a dry laugh.

"Yes." Yang Yizhong quickly responded.

"Those women and children who pretended to be Zhang Yongzhen's wife and children to find you, you didn't make things difficult for them, did you?" Zhao Jiu suddenly remembered something.

"No, I just reprimanded them once and sent them back. For those who were obviously deceived by their clansmen or husbands, this subject took the liberty of punishing the men."

"That's good, you've worked hard, go and rest!" Zhao Jiu urged him, without asking in detail, and not daring to ask in detail. "You can let the local officials of Yan'an and Longxi look for them slowly and carefully in the future."

"Yes..."

"Is there anything else?" Zhao Jiu realized slightly.

"Just before this subject set off, the Prince of Yan'an returned from Jinning Army and held a banquet in the city for several days, seizing the spoils and inventory of Yan'an Prefecture as rewards for his relatives and old friends."

"I know." Zhao Jiu nodded upon hearing this, without changing his expression. "Is there anything else?"

"Only two or three out of ten households in Yan'an remain, and the actual population is estimated to be two or three tenths less."

"Anything else?"

"Yang Zheng..."

"Let's see what Wu Jie has to say to Us about this matter."

"Zhe Keqiu..."

"We'll talk about this matter when we return to the capital."

"Yes."

"Anything else?" Zhao Jiu asked again.

"There are always things." Yang Yizhong bowed down. "But the rest can mostly be attributed to Hu Cao Si's (Hu Yin) duties and are not enough to disturb Your Majesty's sleep."

"Then go down and rest early." Zhao Jiu said solemnly under the candlelight. "Thank you, Zhengfu."

Yang Yizhong bowed and withdrew, while Zhao Jiu blew out the candle, lay back on the couch, and although he did not toss and turn, he kept his eyes open for half the night, staring at the dark roof, lost in thought for half the night.

The next day.

The Zhao Emperor got up as usual, and because today was the day when the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty and the Emperor of Khitan parted ways, Lu Benzhong, Ren Baozhong, Zheng Zhichang, and even Hu Hongxiu, Yue Fei, and Wang De were naturally prepared early. The generals had arranged everything properly outside the city, and when the close ministers and civil officials came to see the Emperor, they ran into Yang Yizhong and Liu Yan appearing together, and they were all shocked.

Especially Ren Baozhong, who had been attending the Emperor for a long time, knew that Liu Yan was in charge of the imperial secrets and was a truly powerful figure, but he was a serious and down-to-earth person. Moreover, he had heard early on that there was a Commander Yang who was more useful than Liu Yan, but who was also several times more resourceful... Seeing him suddenly this time, he was naturally even more careful.

And although Yang Yizhong looked dignified, he spoke kindly, making people feel like they were bathed in the spring breeze... But the more this was the case, the more cautious Ren Baozhong was.

Of course, the Zhao Emperor naturally couldn't be bothered with the small actions of these close ministers. There was still a Khitan emperor waiting for him outside the city.

It was the end of the first ten days of July, a time of high autumn and clear air. After Zhao Jiu finished his breakfast, he did not wear armor, but only a cloth robe with narrow sleeves and a gold belt, and directly led Yang Yizhong and other palace servants out of the old palace of Western Xia. Then, the group mounted their horses and first met Hu Hongxiu, who was waiting not far outside the palace, and then Wang De at the city gate. Then, surrounded by guards, they came out of the west gate of Xingqing Prefecture. After passing the Tang Canal, which had been restored to traffic west of the city, and reaching the front of the Allied Forces' camp, Yue Fei had already led most of the Song army officers and soldiers, and Yelu Dashi had led all the Khitan army officers and soldiers, ready to go.

Zhao Jiu first met Yue Fei and others, and without stopping, went to the Khitan army, met with Yelu Dashi and the many Khitan officers, as well as Bilege and others. The two emperors were not vulgar people. Yelu Dashi cupped his fist slightly on horseback, and Zhao Jiu returned the salute slightly. Then they rode side by side and led countless generals and soldiers away... They had been marching like this for more than a month.

The army's momentum was magnificent, especially at this time when the autumn harvest was approaching under Helan Mountain. The mountains were on the right, like galloping horses rushing through the sky. The great river was far on the left, and the shimmering light could be seen remotely across the golden wheat sea. The army still maintained the strict military discipline that Yue Fei had set as commander. Only when they went west to the foot of Helan Mountain did they turn south along the mountain's momentum. The dragon banner led the way, and various flags meandered along the mountain's momentum, fluttering in the autumn wind, which was truly a magnificent sight.

As they marched towards noon, Yelu Dashi advised him to return, but Zhao Jiu grabbed his hand on horseback, insisting that since they were parting ways, he wanted to send him off for a while longer. Yelu Dashi couldn't resist and could only agree.

So, the two rode side by side and continued along Helan Mountain. By the afternoon, the sun had already set behind the tall Helan Mountain. The two arrived at a mountain pass and suddenly saw the autumn sun reflected on the yellow sand across the mountain, and they couldn't help but stop their horses.

At this point, both of them knew that it was not good to send him off any further. The generals and people behind them, including Yue Fei and Xiao Wolila, had also gathered around, quietly waiting for the Zhao Song Emperor and the Khitan Emperor to speak.

"Your Majesty!"

Yelu Dashi, who was on the right side of the two, was wearing a cloth robe and a veil hat, and also had a gold belt around his waist, which was a gift from the Zhao Emperor. After looking at the magnificent scenery in the west for a while, he suddenly turned his head and smiled, and was the first to speak. "Good mountains, good water, good land, good scenery!"

"Who says not?" Zhao Jiu smiled and pulled on the reins on horseback. "But in this great land of the world, where is there not magnificence? We people must do our best and not let down these mountains and rivers."

"Your Majesty has not let down the mountains and rivers of the Great Song!"

"Dashi Linya has also not let down his own mountains and rivers!" Zhao Jiu, whose eyes were faintly bloodshot, smiled lightly. "Please forgive Dashi Linya. When calling out, I got used to this title."

"It doesn't matter." Yelu Dashi sighed. "Today, the Lord of Liao, yesterday, Linya, how can they be opposed? It's just that the past is no more, and even if there is something accomplished in the future, even if one has not failed the homeland, I am afraid that there will still be regrets in my heart!"

"In life, eight or nine out of ten things do not go as planned." Zhao Jiu also sighed. "Who doesn't have regrets? It's just doing our best and leaving the rest to fate!"

Yelu Dashi nodded. Just as he was about to say goodbye, he almost cried for some reason. He could only bow his head and endure it. After a while, he forced a smile: "That day by the lake, Your Majesty said: 'Ten thousand *li* of Yin Mountain, ten thousand *li* of sand.' Today, under Helan Mountain, Dashi is really going to travel ten thousand *li*. With Your Majesty's poetic talent, I wonder if you have any poems or lyrics to give me? So that I can take them out and brag about them in the future."

Zhao Jiu was silent for a moment, then nodded, but shook his head again: "I had already thought of an old poem, which is extremely appropriate, but it feels a bit guilty to say it at this time."

"Why?" Yelu Dashi continued to smile. "Is it that Dashi can't bear this poem?"

"It's that neither you nor I can bear it." Zhao Jiu said frankly. "At the end of this poem, the heroic spirit is too great, with the air of capturing dragons and binding tigers, sweeping the world... Dashi Linya is going west, going to sweep the Western Regions, although you are seeking life in death and creating a foundation, you are ultimately just content with partial peace. And although We are gaining momentum this time, when I turn around to face the Jurchens, who have not suffered any losses, I will inevitably lose some of my confidence."

"That's right." Yelu Dashi nodded in agreement. "What Your Majesty said is very true... It's not necessary to mention Dashi's westward journey. This time, the Jurchens are more like they have been preparing to shrink back to the two rivers for a long time, and their strength has not been damaged at all. Your Majesty has restored the situation to this point, and you must work harder and be more diligent and conscientious in governing, otherwise you really can't talk about capturing dragons and binding tigers."

Zhao Jiu smiled bitterly.

Yelu Dashi also finally cupped his fist. "Since that's the case, Dashi is going to the west, does Your Majesty have any words to teach me?"

Zhao Jiu nodded solemnly, and without regard for Bilege behind him, he faced him directly and said proudly: "The Western Regions are clowns, not worth mentioning. Dashi Linya doesn't need to be intimidated by them. Just do it. They belong to China, and We, as the Emperor, are obliged to help if needed!"

Yelu Dashi nodded.

Zhao Jiu also continued to ask in return: "Then Dashi Linya? Do you have any words to teach Us?"

"Be careful of the Mongols!" Yelu Dashi said solemnly. "Since ancient times, the grasslands have risen and fallen, and hundreds of tribes have emerged... Whoever grasps the grasslands, learns forging, knows military strategy, practices tactics, and is also poor and enduring, will naturally rise, and it has nothing to do with what tribe or race they are... Therefore, the Mongols may be another Jurchen family. Your Majesty must not capture dragons with your left hand and let tigers loose with your right."

As soon as these words came out, Zhao Jiu was certainly impressed, and the civil and military officials behind him were also solemn.

At this point, the two had finished speaking and did not intend to entangle any further.

Unexpectedly, just as Zhao Jiu was about to cup his fist to Yelu Dashi and then turn around to return to the city, he turned his head and saw that the army beside him was still marching south while he and Yelu Dashi were speaking, and the smoke and dust were rolling like a yellow dragon. In addition, the Helan Mountain Gap was on the side, and the greatest hero in the world was in front of him. Thinking again of how he had specially left people to search for several months, but could not find Zhang Yongzhen's wife and children, and recalling that this journey was like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox, decisively winning on the basis of the overall situation, this emperor's mind turned a hundred times, and he turned his horse back and smiled:

"Although there are no poems or lyrics, there is an empty tune to send off Dashi Linya."

Everyone below Dashi was stunned, but soon realized... Since this emperor was good at poetry and lyrics, he naturally knew music, and he was probably afraid of bearing the reputation of being multi-talented, so he was unwilling to show his skills in music. As for the master of one country composing a tune for the master of another country, although there are some sayings in ancient etiquette, since the coronation had already taken place and this Yelu Dashi was about to roll away, who would care about these things?

In the future, it would only be a good story.

So they each sat on their horses and listened attentively.

Zhao Jiu stood on his horse, without using any musical instruments, and without singing any lyrics, but casually hummed a tune like the common people... As soon as the tune came out, although it was obviously a bit unfamiliar and unstable, it couldn't stop the tune from being majestic. It started with a continuous, rapid upward melody, as if Helan Mountain had turned into war horses galloping forward. Then it was tactful and majestic, as if yellow sand was rolling behind the mountain pass. Further on, it was full of twists and turns, and the heroic spirit gradually rose, and it was faintly integrated with the mountains and rivers, with the wind and flags and horses, with the army and soldiers and people, with the family and country and life and death, with victory and defeat and gain and loss, with this journey across the desert, across the great river, across the prairie, through the fields, and with the experiences in everyone's hearts at this time.

Yelu Dashi and the surrounding civil and military officials were gradually fascinated, and their expressions changed with the turning of the tune. They didn't know what kind of family and country life and death matters, victory and defeat gains and losses hearts they were thinking of. They were all listening so intently that they were a little dazed.

However, as soon as the tune was finished, it stopped abruptly. Zhao Jiu did not say much, but cupped his fist in salute: "My heart was surging and could not be suppressed, I made Dashi Linya laugh!"

Yelu Dashi was the first to react, and he also just cupped his fist in return: "May I ask Your Majesty, does it have a song title?"

"*Iron Blood Loyal Heart*." Zhao Jiu blurted out.

"A good name." Yelu Dashi looked up and sighed, then laughed loudly. After laughing for a while, he sighed loudly again. "A good name! Also a good tune! To receive such a tune as a gift is enough! Your Majesty, please return!"

After saying that, this Emperor of Western Liao finally turned his horse's head and directly hummed the tune he had just heard. Then, without looking back, he whipped his horse and headed south. The surrounding Khitan generals and soldiers did not dare to neglect and directly galloped to follow.

Zhao Jiu also did not have any extra words, but just nodded slightly to Yue Fei, who was going to 'escort' him, and then turned his horse calmly and led the crowd away.

It was said that it was the seventh month, and the fields were rolling with golden yellow. Although the sun was already late, they could slowly return from under Helan Mountain.

ps: Thank you, thank you to classmate Lolita for the Moe, this is the 144th Moe of this book, thank you to Little Rabbit Good Moe for the Moe, this is the 145th Moe of this book.