Chapter 798 - 47: Every Strike Deadly, Famous and Feared

The two commanders who once fought fiercely to the death, King Jin of Western Xia, Wei Ming Anhui and Liao’s Northern Academy Chief of Staff, Xiao Wuna, at this moment dismissed their attendants and sat face-to-face in the valley that had just witnessed a bloody battle.

Both of them bore traces of the campaign and fatigue on their bodies.

Wei Ming Anhui’s armor still had remnants of blood from the Stone Bridge of the Huang River, while Xiao Wuna’s complexion bore the pallor of long-term hardship.

After a long silence.

Wei Ming Anhui could no longer contain himself and spoke in a deep voice: "Chief Xiao, you and I both understand the current situation. The Song Army attacks my Xia Territory, and my country is in danger. I... need to lead my troops back west."

His words were very direct.

Indeed, at this stage, there was no need for either side to keep up appearances.

By no means, he must immediately return to Western Xia.

"King Jin comes and goes as he pleases, as if my Great Liao territory is just any place?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wuna didn’t even lift his eyelids and replied indifferently: "How should we appease the souls of the tens of thousands of Liao soldiers by the Huang River?"

Unlike Wei Ming Anhui, although Xiao Wuna was willing to meet with him, it already indicated his intent.

But comparatively, he still had absolute control of the initiative at this moment.

And to this, Wei Ming Anhui had expected it, didn’t hide anything, and promptly said: "If Chief Xiao could grant a slight convenience, my army will immediately withdraw from all occupied forts and is willing to compensate your country’s military expenses..."

"Compensation?" Xiao Wuna finally raised his eyes, a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth. "Does King Jin think that the lives of my Great Liao soldiers can be measured with gold and silver?"

Wei Ming Anhui felt a wave of humiliation, but the situation was stronger than the person; he suppressed his anger: "Then what does Chief Xiao propose?"

Xiao Wuna lightly placed the whip on the table, his gaze sharp as a sword: "For negotiation, besides returning the occupied lands, additionally, the three hundred li of pasture north of Black Water Town Yan Army Command needs to be ceded; thirdly, one thousand warhorses, one hundred thousand tons of salt and iron, and three hundred thousand strings of annual tribute must be compensated."

Such conditions were extremely harsh, almost as if draining the blood of Western Xia.

Wei Ming Anhui suddenly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

He stared intently at Xiao Wuna, his gaze filled with murderous intent, but in the end, he used reason to suppress this anger: "The pasture north of Black Water... can give two hundred li!"

"Five thousand warhorses, fifty thousand tons of salt and iron, and two hundred thousand strings of annual tribute, this is my Western Xia’s limit!"

He nearly forced these words out through his teeth, "If Chief Xiao still finds it insufficient, then I have no choice but to lead my men, and here fight the Liao Army to the death, mutual destruction!"

"By then, I’m afraid the Song in the west will laugh heartier!"

His last sentence was with the resolve of burning his bridges.

Wei Ming Anhui was not going to retreat further.

This matter was about the survival of both nations. He could offer reasonable compensation, but he couldn’t bear everything alone.

At the very least, the current Western Xia couldn’t withstand this catastrophe!

Sure enough, as he stated his bottom line, Xiao Wuna no longer maintained the high ground. After a brief silence, he nodded directly: "Fine, seeing as we are both northern powers, unwilling to watch the Song grow stronger, we’ll do as King Jin says."

"But remember, if any is not fulfilled, my Great Liao cavalry will trample Xingqing Prefecture!"

"It’s a deal!" Wei Ming Anhui stood up abruptly, a stone in his heart dropping, though filled with endless bitterness.

He dared not delay, immediately turned and left, arranging for military withdrawal.

Looking at the somewhat flustered back of the Western Xia commander, Xiao Wuna also breathed a sigh of relief.

Was Liao not under great pressure too?

He also did not hesitate and immediately sent someone to send news to the court.

Faced with this situation, they must be prepared.

If a full-scale war did break out between Western Xia and Great Song, perhaps even the agreed items given to Great Song could be reduced somewhat.

Great Liao now desperately needed to recuperate.

They must seize this opportunity.

...

The news spread swiftly.

Shangjing’s Linhuangfu, Ande Hall.

Yelv Yanxi carefully read the secret letter Xiao Wuna sent by fast horse, the gloom on his face swept away, he suddenly slapped the imperial table, and laughed loudly: "Good! Such a Xiao Wuna!"

"You didn’t disappoint me!"

He was invigorated, handed the letter to the eunuch beside him, signaling it to be passed among the ministers, his voice loud, filled with uncontrollable excitement and pride: "Everyone, take a look!"

"Western Xia is already at a dead end this time!"

"That Wei Ming Anhui in front of my great army, had no choice but to bow down and admit defeat, only to hurriedly retreat west!"

"This is heaven’s blessing upon my Great Liao!"

He became more excited as he spoke, stood up, paced in the hall, and waved his hand passionately: "After this battle, Western Xia has been severely wounded, and within ten years, they will have no power to eastwardly look!"

"As for my Great Liao, not only have we regained lost ground, but also gained compensations, allowing the nation’s strength to recuperate slightly!"

"In such mutual diminishment, my Great Liao still stands firm in the north!"

His gaze swept over the ministers, with a hint of cunning and calculation, he spoke loudly: "More importantly, Western Xia and Song are now at an irreconcilable state!"

"The Song Army’s main force is entangled in the western line, unable to look after themselves, where else would they have the energy to demand the previously promised annual tribute and land from my Great Liao?"

"In my view, that Gu Rui’s extortionate demands at the time, now I’m afraid must take a significant discount!"

"Maybe... it might even be waived entirely!"

The words had barely left his mouth when the ministers inside the hall erupted into cheers, voices full of flattery and adulation.

"Your majesty is wise, planning strategies and deciding victories from a distance!"

"This is due to your majesty’s virtue, making Western Xia bow and the Song conceal their ambitions!"

"Heaven blesses Great Liao, the nation’s fortune will flourish!"

"Old Gu Rui must now be overwhelmed, let’s see what else he can pull off!"

For a moment, the atmosphere inside Ande Hall was joyful, as if Great Liao had passed the most dangerous threshold, and the restoration of glory was just at hand.

Yelv Yanxi basked in the flattery of his ministers, feeling accomplished, his many days of worries seemed all swept away.

However, just as the joyous laughter reached its peak, urgent footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall, a dusty messenger bearing a red flag barged straight into the hall without being announced, collapsing onto the ground, with a voice filled with uncontrollable panic:

"Report—! Your Majesty! Eight hundred li urgent! Confidential report from Kaifeng!"

Instantly, the noisy hall quieted down, everyone’s gaze focused on the messenger.

The messenger took a deep breath, trembling as he spoke: "The confidential report states... that Song Kingdom’s Grand Tutor, Gu Rui, intends to leave Kaifeng, heading north... to inspect Yan Yun prefectures!"

"Inspecting Yan Yun," those words were like thunder, striking fiercely on the heads of Liao’s sovereign and ministers, who were just immersed in delight!

The smile on Yelv Yanxi’s face instantly froze, replaced by a touch of incredible suspicion.

The ministers, who just moments ago were singing praises, now seemed choked, laughter abruptly halting, as a chill quietly spread.

——Inspecting Yan Yun?

At this time inspecting Yan Yun?

How could it be so simple?

Without needing the ministers to counsel, Yelv Yanxi was merely stunned for a moment, before reluctantly sitting back on the throne, taking a deep breath: "Everyone—"

"Let us discuss... the matter of granting Song Kingdom annual tribute!"

He paused slightly in his tone while speaking: "Additionally, send envoys immediately to Great Song, to... express my gratitude to Great Song’s Emperor and Gu Rui..."

Yelv Yanxi’s face no longer bore joy.

Even the news of Western Xia’s military withdrawal could no longer offer him comfort now.

He was afraid!

Even if the Song Army hadn’t moved, even if there was no news, just the message that Gu Rui was leaving Kaifeng.

But he was still afraid.

No, it wasn’t just him.

It was everyone in Liao’s court.

They were all afraid.

Just a simple message had already suppressed the whole Liao court, leaving them hesitant to even think of gambling. ...

.....

(Ps: It’s the middle of the month, begging for monthly votes, asking brothers for more support, Fish is extremely grateful and will definitely do his utmost to make this book well.)