Chapter 160: Going North to the Wanyan Tribe
The political personnel on both sides suffered heavy losses. While they were horrified and heartbroken, they were also afraid of the power of the Murong family.

At this point, no one cared about the new party or the old party anymore, and they all reported Murong Ji and the forces behind him.

It was even revealed that the Murong family was of Xianbei descent, had ulterior motives, and that the entire clan aimed to restore the Yan Kingdom.

Murong Ji sneered, which surname has not been glorious? ! Start to criticize!
Recover the homeland? Loving their old master, let alone anything else, many noble families can't get past Chai Rong. Since they have no shame, then let's just strip them naked.

At the beginning of the first lunar month, Emperor Zhezong, who had not yet taken power but held real power, stood on the bell and drum tower and looked out at the lively aftertaste of the Lantern Festival in the city below. The atmosphere was both relaxing and nostalgic.

Murong Ji stood behind the emperor, silent. Having reached his level of cultivation, he was not afraid of many things. The only things that could make him feel awe were the demons and gods of heaven and earth.

"Master, you said that the Liao Kingdom has become extremely weak now. Do we have a chance..."

Murong Ji sighed softly, "Your Majesty, I think that if we want to conquer the north, we should first conquer Xixia. Without horses, we will need to sacrifice human lives."

"The risk is too great. I don't understand military strategy, but I know one thing: no one wants to die in vain."

Emperor Shenzong's strategy was not wrong. Several surrounding countries almost completely blocked the places where Song Dynasty could be used as horse farms.

War horses are different from ordinary horses and they need to be trained!

"Western Xia." Zhao Xu patted the railing and sighed, "The country has just gone through turmoil, it is not appropriate for us to go to war with Western Xia now."

"Your Majesty, now it is not a question of whether we want to go to war or not, but once the news reaches Xixia, Xixia will definitely go to war."

Zhao Xu frowned and said nothing.

Murong Ji knew what he was worried about. Now that the situation had stabilized a little, the two factions of officials were fighting for the vacant positions again.

He even threatened to take power himself as a means of demanding an official position.

The factional strife in the Song Dynasty had long been out of control. At this point, it was almost impossible to rely on mediation to quell the strife.

When it comes to reform, success or failure is not important; what is important is persistence. To break the old rules, new rules must be established.

If there are problems with the new law, there will naturally be solutions with a little bit of adjustment.

The worst thing Wang Anshi and Sima Guang did was to jump back and forth between new and old laws, wasting national strength.

To use Su Shi's words, they were two traitors, and it was not an exaggeration.

Not long after, news came from the front line that Liang Yibu, prime minister of Western Xia, led an army of 100,000 to invade Song. Generals Zhang Yu and Zhe Keshi led the troops to engage in battle and won a great victory.

Later, news came that Empress Dowager Xiao Liang of Western Xia led reinforcements to the front line.

During the reign of Emperor Zhezong, the Battle of Humboldt officially began. This war was a decisive battle between Western Xia and the Song Dynasty.

After the victory of this battle, the Song Dynasty gradually took the initiative in the war and gradually encroached on the territory of Western Xia.

In April of the eighth year of Yuanyou, Empress Dowager Gao Taotao was critically ill again. Fortunately, she finally recovered.

Gusu, Mantuo Villa.

Li Qingluo looked at the time. The sun was already high in the sky, but why wasn't her mother up yet?
Walking towards Li Qiushui's room, he saw two maids standing in front of the door, so he asked, "Is mother still awake?"

The two maids quickly saluted and said, "Master, the lady hasn't woken up yet."

Li Qingluo was not surprised. Ever since Li Qiushui followed Murong Ji back from Mount Emei, she often stayed up late.

"Then just wait."

Sitting in the shade nearby, he waited quietly for Li Qiu Shui to wake up.

Before she knew it, it was already noon. Li Qingluo felt something was not right. She frowned slightly and asked again, "Did mother stay up late last night?"

"Yes, Master. Madam went to bed in the late night."

Li Qingluo nodded, still feeling uneasy. She walked forward, opened the door, and walked forward cautiously.

When he walked around the screen and saw the person on the bed, he was stunned for a moment.

Li Qiushui is still very beautiful, not old at all. But why is her face full of bruises? ! !

Li Qingluo stumbled a few times, stepped forward quickly, and touched Li Qiushui's hand, which was icy cold. In an instant, all her strength was drained away, and she sat down on the ground.

"mother"

"Oh my god~"

"Mom! What's wrong with you? Someone, come! Find a doctor!"

Li Qiu Shui fell asleep at Mantuo Villa and died peacefully.

In the mourning hall, Tong Piaoyun burned incense and left without saying a word. That night, Tong Piaoyun fell asleep and never got up again.

Murong Ji put down the letter in his hand and sighed. Could this be considered the end of their lives?

He put down the letter and remained silent for a long time. There were not many people on his road who could talk to him, and now he felt even more lonely.

He sighed and picked up another letter, which was also written to him by Li Qingluo.

She wanted to take Li Qiu Shui back to Langhuan Jade Cave.

Murong Ji thought about it, wrote a letter, and asked Yu Po to take Tong Piaoyun back to Lingjiu Palace.

Just as he was about to stand up, Deng Baichuan handed him another letter, "Sir, this is news from the Liao Kingdom. Beiyuan King Xiao Feng has been imprisoned by Yelu Hongji."

Murong Ji's pupils shrank, and he kept calculating in his mind. After thinking for a while, he said, "Spread the news and say that Xiao Feng was unwilling to lead the army south and was suspected by Yelu Hongji."

"Look at how many people in this world are willing to uphold justice."

"Yes!" Murong Ji thought for a moment and asked, "How is Li Qinglu now?" He did not dare to underestimate this former Xixia spy chief at all.

Deng Baichuan thought for a moment and said, "Master, she is very honest, she doesn't fight or compete, and she seems to be happy and at ease."

He glanced at Murong Ji's face and said, "From the information I received, I didn't see anyone contacting her, and I didn't see anyone contacting her when she was wandering around the capital."

Murong Ji nodded, and the news that Mei Jian had given him was the same, "Could it be that she really has changed her personality?!"

That said, Murong Ji didn't believe it at all. It's easy to change a country, but hard to change one's nature. He knew very well how difficult it was to change one's nature.

After Deng Baichuan left, Feng Boye came over again and handed a stack of papers to Murong Ji.

"Master, I'm going to go down and take a rest. You can look at it yourself."

Feng Bo'e was covered in dust and looked tired. This trip to Xixia was not an easy one.

"Go."

Murong Ji took a sip of tea, looked at the news in his hand, and a smile gradually appeared on his face. This is good news.

"No wonder Li Qinglu was willing to be my concubine. That's why."

The real leader of Western Xia this time was Empress Dowager Xiaoliang. She was the queen of Li Bingchang and had an aunt, Empress Dowager Daliang.

In other words, Li Qiushui's white glove was her aunt. Unfortunately, the Queen Mother of Daliang did not live longer than Li Qiushui.

So Li Qiu Shui supported another person, who was the Empress Dowager Liang.

For Xixia, Li Qiushui had disappeared a year ago. Wouldn't that be letting herself go? The Empress Dowager Liang was a dictator and was not willing to share power with Li Qinglu.

If she didn't want to be married off, then wasn't she her best choice? Becoming a concubine, even if there was no contract, was still a concubine.

How can a princess endure such humiliation?
Murong Ji let out a breath, drank a cup of tea, stood up and walked out of the office.

Standing at the gate of the government office, Murong Ji thought to himself that he should go to the north to have a look.

Look at what Wanyan Aguda looks like, and then look at Wanyan Loushi to see how powerful he is.

Calculating the time, they are still young boys now, Murong Ji chuckled.

It’s getting late, so I’m going home after my shift.

As soon as he entered the house and went into the inner courtyard, he heard the sounds of chickens and dogs jostle and the loud noise of sieves shaking. Murong Ji's face darkened.

I secretly cursed myself for teaching this girl in the first place.

The talented woman turned into a chivalrous woman. How much pressure will she relieve for future students?

"Li Qingzhao!"

Instantly, the yard became quiet...

At the end of May in the seventh year of Yuanyou, Empress Dowager Gao Taotao passed away!
The issue of Emperor Zhezong taking power had to be put on the agenda. This time, anyone who brought up the Empress Dowager again would be considered a heinous treasonous act.

Looking at the excited emperor sitting on the dragon throne, Murong Ji's heart sank.

"Your Majesty, I take my leave."

He turned around and left, prepared his troops and horses, and headed towards Yanmen Pass in the north.

After passing Yanmen Pass, you will reach the territory of the Liao Kingdom. Murong Ji looked back and said no more.

He raised his whip and headed towards the Jurchen Wanyan tribe.

The current Jurchen tribe is in the Heilongjiang area, which has always been the birthplace of the Jurchen tribe. It has to be said that it is a good place.

However, everyone in the Northern Song Dynasty believed that it was a barbaric place.

In other words, the subjects of the Northern Song Dynasty now believed that the large territory of the Song Dynasty was natural, and they had no concept of so-called unification in their minds at all.

Most people think the same way as Qiao Feng: Liao people are Liao people, and Song people are Song people.

Only the top ministers and emperors would think about the issue of unification.

It lasted for six generations without success and died after Zhezong.

The national conditions and national power of the Song Dynasty at this time were in a period of vigorous development, and the subsequent Jingkang Shame would suddenly interrupt this upward trend of national power.

Murong Ji rode his horse slowly forward, but he was thinking about other things in his heart.

[The Jingkang Shame not only interrupted the Song Dynasty's national destiny, but also the people's striving thoughts. ]

After that, everything in the Song Dynasty changed. From its original peace and prosperity, it became somewhat abnormal.

Oppressing women and exploiting the people seem to be their only way to gain a sense of existence.

All of this happened after Yue Fei's death, when that only thought in my mind was gone, and I completely let myself go.

Murong Ji looked back at the disappeared Great Song city wall, turned around, and whipped his horse.

The Heilongjiang region was called Bohai in the Song Dynasty.

The Liao Dynasty imitated the system of the Song Dynasty and established provincial roads, and this place became Shangjing Road.

Murong Ji stood on the hill while riding his horse and looked down. He saw a sea of ​​felt tents and felt sheds, among which there were also many thatched houses.

(End of this chapter)