The story begins with the fall of Zhending Prefecture.
When the Emperor punished Liu Yun to make an example of him, Ling Ziyue was indeed frightened. After all, no general wants to die before achieving victory.
The Northern Prince of the Liao Kingdom obtained a woman named Wei Yue, believing her to be Ling Ziyue’s woman. He ordered her to be publicly humiliated daily.
Even though she wasn’t Ling Ziyue’s woman, the thought that a woman could endure such treatment for the country while they, as men, could only watch helplessly, was unbearable. After enduring for over two months, Ling Ziyue felt the time was right and submitted a memorial requesting permission to attack Liao.
The Liao people were primarily nomadic, with their animal husbandry at its peak during this season. The longer the war dragged on, the better. Even if they couldn’t decisively defeat Liao, they could certainly devastate their livelihood.
The Song Dynasty lacked many things, but money and provisions weren’t among them.
Ling Ziyue’s memorial caused an uproar in court. At that time, the Emperor had just become infatuated with a lady from Guye Palace. Feeling passionate and spirited, he acted as the voice of reason in this storm and approved the memorial.
When news of Ling Ziyue’s initial victory arrived, the Emperor was genuinely delighted for a time. However, what followed was a prolonged stalemate. There were constant reports of battles and large quantities of weapons and provisions being sent to the border, but no real progress in the war. At this point, someone suggested that Ling Ziyue’s amassing of resources likely indicated plans for rebellion!
The Emperor was immediately doused with cold water. Once his enthusiasm was broken, his suspicious nature took over. After much consideration, he concluded that Ling Ziyue indeed showed signs of rebellion. Thus, on a sleepless night, he ordered Ling Ziyue to withdraw his troops.
However, Ling Ziyue was at a critical juncture in his attack on Xijin Prefecture. With victory in sight after sacrificing so many soldiers’ lives, how could he return empty-handed?
A general in the field may sometimes disregard imperial orders. After receiving the imperial edict, Ling Ziyue continued fighting for three more days. Upon hearing this, the Emperor flew into a rage and issued another urgent edict.
By the time this edict arrived, Xijin Prefecture had fallen.
Xijin Prefecture was the capital of Liao’s Southern Capital Circuit. Capturing it meant reclaiming part of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.
Ling Ziyue had guarded the border for many years and had thousands of strategies to attack Liao, but had been suppressed by the court and unable to implement them. This time, his attack was swift and fierce, catching Liao completely off guard. With Song troops’ morale soaring, holding Xijin Prefecture shouldn’t be a problem. If they could establish a foothold, this land could soon be incorporated into Song territory.
Unfortunately, at this moment, another imperial edict arrived. It stated that Liu Yun would take over Xijin Prefecture, and if General Ling didn’t return to court, he would be charged with treason.
Liu Yun was also a fierce general with rich border defense experience, indeed the best choice to take over Xijin Prefecture. However, if he left Zhending Prefecture, there would be a gap in the western defense line. Ling Ziyue couldn’t discuss jointly defying imperial orders with Liu Yun. Having served together on the border for many years, he knew Liu Yun’s character well. The man was somewhat blindly loyal, and with family ties holding him back, he would never take the risk as Ling Ziyue had done.
In the end, Ling Ziyue returned.
Along the way, he pondered whether his actions were right or wrong. Had he been too hasty?
Ling Ziyue dared not think about the situation at the border; he could already predict the outcome. Now, he could only hope that heaven would show more favor to the Song.
Heavy rain poured down.
In a pavilion outside Bianjing, Ling Ziyue stood in full military attire, his face weathered.
“General, you’re known for your steady approach. Why did you…?” Li Qingzhi asked.
Ling Ziyue remained silent. Chu Dijiang’s words had awakened him, but he hadn’t acted rashly then. It was the repeated news about Wei Yue that gradually filled him with grief and indignation, causing him to lose his composure.
“What kind of people are these Wei Yue in the Konghe Army?” Ling Ziyue had a vague feeling that something was amiss.
Li Qingzhi replied, “Wei Yue are those who have no way out. The missions they execute are almost always life-for-life exchanges.”
Ling Ziyue asked, “Is it possible for there to be spies among the Wei Yue?”
Li Qingzhi thought for a moment. “It’s unlikely. Wei Yue only receives orders and has no right to know about the entire mission. They can obtain very little information.”
Seeing Ling Ziyue deep in thought, Li Qingzhi continued, “Moreover, Lord Chu was among those who rescued Wei Yue. If there was anything amiss with those two, Lord Chu would have spotted it immediately.”
“In that case, it seems I was too impetuous,” Ling Ziyue sighed. “Let’s go.”
The surrounding soldiers stood up.
Li Qingzhi cupped his hands and said, “I can only escort the General this far.”
“Thank you for your trouble, brave warrior,” Ling Ziyue returned the gesture, thinking to himself, “This warrior loyally escorts me for protection, not knowing that the most dangerous place is not the journey but the imperial court!”
Autumn rain brings a chill.
As leaves fell in autumn in Bianjing, snow was already drifting in the Liao capital.
In the Liao palace, braziers were lit. A man sat at the head, wrapped in an ash-colored fur coat, his head bowed and eyes closed. His sharp features were half-hidden in the fur, only his piercing eyebrows visible.
Seated below was Yelü Huangwu, dressed in a deep purple robe with black fox fur draped over her shoulders. Her beautiful yet imposing face now wore a faint smile. “Brother, your strategy was excellent.”
“You handled this matter well,” the man spoke, coughing a few times. “I have ordered the restoration of your princess title. Your residence will be the same as before.”
All Yelü Huangwu had done was to embellish the situation of Wei Yue and ensure the information reached Ling Ziyue’s ears.
Ling Ziyue had a strong character and was a man of passion. Although he was steady, if the information was conveyed cleverly, it could still unconsciously stir his passion and anger.
“News from Bianjing says that as soon as Ling Ziyue entered the city, he was confined to his residence,” Yelü Huangwu said. “I’ll have our people there add fuel to the fire.”
“Come closer,” the man on the throne said.
Yelü Huangwu stepped up and knelt beside the man. He turned his head and whispered a few words, then said, “This matter must be handled quickly. Once the opportunity passes, it will be difficult to force Ling Ziyue to his death.”
Ling Ziyue had a good reputation among the people, and this victorious return had only enhanced it. It’s worth noting that since the founding of the Song Dynasty, the wishes of Taizu and Taizong had been to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. What no one had achieved before, Ling Ziyue had accomplished!
The entire nation was overjoyed. The Song Dynasty had always valued civil officials over military ones, but this time, even the scholars who usually looked down on military men admired Ling Ziyue immensely.
Chu Dijiang had been secretly monitoring the situation, deducing that it was a Liao plot. However, he didn’t intervene, instead using the opportunity to clear the Hua family’s name.
Nevertheless, as long as Grand Councilor Hua remained in court, the Hua family lived on a knife’s edge. Chu Dijiang had privately advised him to retire while he could, but people often cling to high positions. He indeed had great talent, and seeing the Song Dynasty becoming increasingly prosperous gave him a sense of satisfaction that nothing else could replace.
Grand Councilor Hua was so intoxicated with the sense of achievement from governing the country that he was willing to bear infamy and die in the position of Grand Councilor.
The Song Dynasty also had strong family values, but compared to the era Chu Dijiang had lived in, they had weakened considerably. Many people now disregard their families for personal gain.