“Are you Weiming Heda?”

Chapter 214 Zhao Heda

It was April 22nd, afternoon. A warm breeze blew as Zhao Jiu met Xiao Heda at the crossroads outside Jintang City in Baoan Army. Whether intentionally or not, he used a rather awkward form of address.

"This vassal pays respects to the Emperor of the Great Song."

Xiao Heda, who approached with several attendants and chieftains from Dangxiang tribes, no longer displayed the arrogance he had shown in Hengshan. Instead, he knelt respectfully before the horse, bowing his head and offering a slight explanation. "To inform Your Majesty, since this vassal has turned against the rebels, I have resumed my original surname and am once again known as Xiao Heda… The Weiming surname was a temporary adoption when I was deceived by the traitor Li Gan Shun in Xiazhou."

"General Xiao has endured hardship and shouldered a heavy burden. You have my gratitude, rise." Zhao Jiu remained mounted, adopting a magnanimous tone. "However, as the saying goes, 'Duke Zhou feared rumors, Wang Mang was humble before his usurpation'… Li Gan Shun was once so humble towards the Khitans, and if the Khitans hadn't saved him multiple times, Western Xia would have perished during Emperor Zhezong's reign… Who would have thought he would abandon the Khitans and follow the Jin dogs when he saw the situation turn unfavorable? To follow the Jin dogs is one thing, but to directly kill his wife of decades and his own flesh and blood, is that even human? It's no wonder General Xiao was deceived in the past, and no wonder General Xiao indignantly turned against them today."

Xiao Heda stood up alone, only managing a glance at the famous dragon banner fluttering behind Zhao Jiu in the summer breeze. Before he could contemplate further, he heard these words, and this magnificent general's eyes reddened. It was hard to tell if it was an act or genuine emotion.

It was truly difficult to say.

Logically speaking, Xiao Heda was a retainer of Princess Nanxian, and his fate was intertwined with that of the princess and her son. It was reasonable to expect some emotional connection.

However, considering that this man didn't rebel when Western Xia fully leaned towards the Jin, nor when Princess Nanxian and her son successively died, but only turned against them when he heard that Yelu Dashi and the Great Song were jointly attacking Western Xia, one might suspect that after the death of Princess Nanxian, he felt that the status of Khitan retainers in Western Xia had plummeted. Furthermore, Xiao Heda himself was dissatisfied with the encroachment of Western Xia's ruling clan on his power in the Hengshan area, which gradually led to his intention to rebel.

Of course, another way to put it is that he might not have seen any hope of successful rebellion at the time, and enduring for a while was possible. It's hard to say if he was only acting for his own wealth and power.

With this in mind, Zhao Jiu looked down at the man, then chuckled in public, "General Xiao, I see you as a righteous and valiant subject, and you have rendered great service this time. Moreover, you are a subject of a fallen and masterless nation, and I deeply cherish you… I am inclined to appoint you as a commander of the Imperial Guards. What do you say?"

These words caused a subtle shift in the surrounding atmosphere.

Firstly, the crucial matter that everyone thought would be discussed after entering the city was unexpectedly brought up so directly by Zhao Jiu, who made such an offer after only a few words exchanged on the road. Secondly, everyone present knew that the position of Imperial Guards commander was one with immense power and responsibility, and Zhao Jiu's offer, while compelling, was also filled with sincerity.

Therefore, the surrounding civil and military officials exchanged glances, but ultimately focused their attention on Xiao Heda, who had just risen.

Xiao Heda, who had been disarmed in advance, was drenched in sweat.

Sweating at this time was not a problem. It was late April, and the weather was already hot. Moreover, Xiao Heda had ridden from Hongzhou, enduring great hardship for most of the day, so fatigue and sweating were perfectly reasonable… But sweating aside, the Emperor had spoken and offered you such a great position, so you had to respond, right?

"This vassal is ashamed." Xiao Heda sweated profusely, but he hardened his heart and replied, "This vassal is, after all, a Khitan, and Great King Dashi is allied with Your Majesty, so this vassal should naturally return to Liao…"

"That is indeed so." Zhao Jiu pondered aloud, continuing to press him on horseback. "But have you considered that what I promised Lin Ya of Dashi was the six prefectures of Hexi, plus the four armies of Heishui, Heishan, Baima, and Youxiang. The seven prefectures of Hengshan, in terms of emotion, reason, agreement, and reality, are all Song territory… Therefore, if you want to return to Liao, I have no objections, but Xiazhou, where you have lived for twenty years, will be governed by this Hu Caosi; the ten thousand or so local Xiazhou soldiers you lead will be under the command of Wu Dutong, sent by the Imperial Army's Rear Division… Are you really willing to abandon your twenty years of foundation and lightly return to Liao?"

Xiao Heda was not only drenched in sweat, but his face also turned fearful. He could neither agree nor disagree.

If he agreed, it would mean abandoning the more than ten thousand soldiers in Xiazhou, as well as the tens of thousands of Khitan tribes who had fled to Xiazhou after the fall of the Liao; if he disagreed, it would mean that the Emperor before him could turn hostile at any moment, and a hostile emperor could directly kill him, this so-called prestigious Xiazhou commander… Heaven have mercy, what was he, a general who intimidated Hengshan, in front of a Chinese Emperor? Especially now that his son and army were in Hongzhou, surrounded by Wu Jie's twenty thousand Imperial troops, and he himself had come almost alone before the Imperial presence.

"Xiao Qing?" Zhao Jiu finally grew impatient and urged him.

With these words, whether it was an illusion or not, several fully armed generals behind the Emperor simultaneously moved half a step forward, causing a group of armored cavalry to follow suit.

"This vassal will naturally return to Liao." Forced into a corner, Xiao Heda gritted his teeth and replied, still hoping to find the best solution, relying on Yelu Dashi's alliance with the man before him. "But the tens of thousands of Khitan tribes in Xiazhou, as well as the Khitan soldiers in the army, I beseech Your Majesty to generously allow me to take them to Hexi…"

"Those are my people, why should they migrate with you?" Zhao Jiu immediately turned hostile, clearly having made his calculations. "Is Xiao Qing becoming somewhat arrogant?"

Xiao Heda's heart sank.

"Your Majesty!" At this moment, a civil official suddenly reined in his horse and spoke, his expression serious. It was Zheng Zhichang, a member of the Central Secretariat. "This minister believes that Xiao Heda is a man who uses his troops to exert influence, waits for a better offer, and treats his subordinates and clansmen as personal property, using them to defy authority. This trend must not be allowed to grow. He should be executed to set an example!"

Xiao Heda was dumbfounded… He didn't know what offense he had committed against this Song Dynasty official he didn't recognize. But soon, this Xiazhou commander realized that he had not offended this man. He had offended Zhao Song's Emperor, because this Zhao Song Emperor, upon hearing the advice, nodded without hesitation.

What followed took Xiao Heda by surprise. With a slight nod from the Emperor, several burly armored soldiers rushed forward together, and dozens of armored cavalry directly surrounded him, capturing him, even with a prepared gag and ropes.

At this moment, Xiao Heda completely abandoned his wishful thinking, and his heart turned cold.

Heaven have mercy, it wasn't that Xiao Heda didn't know the authority of an Emperor, or that he was just an ant in the other party's eyes, but dealing with Li Gan Shun so much had cultivated some bad habits, to the point that he only now remembered that the Song Emperor before him was a mounted Emperor who could personally kill even a Jiedushi like Liu Guangshi, and even a de facto regional commander like Du Chong, and even face off against Wanyan Loushi in a duel!

If he disagreed now, he would probably be killed directly.

To make matters worse, he was gagged and bound, unable to even repent and beg for mercy… This patch of yellow earth beneath him was likely to be Xiao Heda's burial ground.

"Y-Your Great Emperor!" Just as Xiao Heda was gagged and dragged towards the outer perimeter, suddenly, a commoner Dangxiang man who had been kneeling on the ground raised his head and spoke to Zhao Jiu in hesitant, almost stuttering Chinese. "Y-You shouldn't kill Commander Xiao!"

The surrounding Hengshan Dangxiang tribal leaders in their ornate clothing, the accompanying civil and military officials, officers and soldiers, and Zhao Jiu himself were all stunned for a moment. The armored soldiers dragging Xiao Heda also stopped abruptly at Yang Yizhong's signal… At the crossroads outside Jintang City, everything seemed to fall into a moment of stunned silence.

Only the dragon banner fluttered in the wind, reminding everyone that time was still passing.

"Why can't I kill this Xiao Heda?" Zhao Jiu suddenly chuckled. "What's wrong with me killing a military leader who disobeys me and wants to take my people away? Just because you are his attendant, is he your superior or benefactor?"

"Y-Your Majesty!" The man's face was flushed red, and he was sweating profusely, but he kowtowed several times on the ground before struggling to say, "Although this minister is Commander Xiao's attendant, I am also in charge of the Youzhou Flying Dragon Institute, and I am Your Majesty's subject… This minister is offering advice as Your Majesty's subject… I want to say that Your Majesty killing this man is not in accordance with the law! It is not in accordance with reason!"

Zhao Jiu chuckled even more, and most of the surrounding civil and military officials offered polite smiles.

Amidst the laughter, this man, Ahua, gradually became more fluent, "Your Majesty, in this situation, the seven prefectures of Hengshan are destined to be Your Majesty's prefectures, and the people, officials, tribes, and soldiers of the seven prefectures are all destined to be Your Majesty's subjects… However, the seven prefectures have been separated for a hundred years, and their sudden return will inevitably cause unrest. If Your Majesty wants to win over the people, you must emphasize law, justice, and benevolence… Xiao Heda has already chosen to become an official of Liao, but he is still insatiably greedy, which is certainly his fault. But after all, he has been in Xiazhou for twenty years, and the people are attached to him. Killing him at this time may cause some ignorant people to misunderstand and have unwanted thoughts. I implore Your Majesty to make a wise decision."

Zhao Jiu nodded with a smile and looked at Hu Yin, who had not smiled.

This scene had been planned and discussed by Zhao Jiu, Hu Yin, Lu Benzhong, Yang Yizhong, and others after Zhao Jiu received Wu Jie's report on the road… After all, military matters aside, there were already plans and discussions on how to treat the various tribes in the newly recovered territories… The Dangxiang people were to be absorbed, won over, assimilated, and utilized. As for the Khitans in the Hengshan area, they had only one purpose at this time: to be quickly controlled and used as a trump card to exert considerable restraint on Yelu Dashi.

What several tens of thousands of Khitans meant to Yelu Dashi's Western Liao regime at this time was self-evident.

To control these tribes, their leaders had to be separated, but they could only be separated, not harmed, so as not to violate the alliance.

In fact, even if this Dangxiang man hadn't spoken, Hu Yin was supposed to step forward and object according to the plan, and then suggest sparing Xiao Heda's life, so that he could be sent to Yelu Dashi in time to remind the latter not to be indecisive.

But no one had expected a Dangxiang man, who was either loyal or had already seen through the policy direction of the Zhao Song Dynasty, to suddenly appear and disrupt the situation… Of course, although it was said to be a disruption, the effect was actually better.

At least it also pacified the Dangxiang people, saving trouble.

Returning to the present, after exchanging a glance with Zhao Jiu, Hu Yin, whose role had been stolen, finally reined in his horse and stepped forward, sternly questioning the Dangxiang man before the Imperial presence, "What is your name?"

"Ahua."

"Do you not have a surname?"

"My ancestors were from the Xifeng clan…"

"What kind of position is the Flying Dragon Institute's director?"

"I am in charge of raising military horses in the prefecture."

"What is your background?"

"I am from a Hengshan Dangxiang tribe under the jurisdiction of Longzhou."

"Have you studied and attended school?"

"I studied for two or three years."

"How large is your tribe?"

"About a hundred men and women…"

After Hu Yin finished asking, he turned back and cupped his hands, "Your Majesty, I request that this man be temporarily appointed as the Vice Prefect of Hongzhou, and I also ask Your Majesty to heed this man's advice and allow Xiao Heda to return to Liao lightly, to dispel his unrealistic thoughts and fulfill his intentions of loyalty."

Zhao Jiu continued to follow the advice and nodded directly. Ahua, in his surprise, not only did not express gratitude, but actually collapsed on the ground, feeling that his cloth robe was completely soaked.

Zhao Jiu did not mind, but actually dismounted and, without disliking the other party's strong odor, personally helped the man up from the ground, saying something about how he almost made a big mistake if not for him.

This caused Lu Benzhong, Zheng Zhichang, and others to sigh repeatedly, almost composing poems in praise.

After Zhao Jiu finished pacifying this typical local Dangxiang man according to the established procedure, knowing that his planned performance had already exceeded the planned results due to this man's cooperation, he relaxed and was about to get back on his horse and head towards Jintang City.

However, just as he was about to move, he glimpsed Xiao Heda, who had been dragged over by the Imperial Guards in a disheveled state, and then untied and degagged. Suddenly, a bit of mischievousness arose in his heart… Of course, it could also be considered a show of force to Yelu Dashi, who was returning to Guan Nei for the first time… So he turned around and said,

"Xiao Qing resents me?"

Xiao Heda shook his head repeatedly, tears streaming down his face, "This vassal was blinded by greed and made a big mistake first. At this time, I only feel grateful for Your Majesty's benevolence…"

"Although that's what you say, I still feel somewhat ashamed." Zhao Jiu mounted his horse and shook his head with a sigh. "How about this, Qing? I am going to bestow the Zhao surname upon Ahua, and I will also bestow the Zhao surname upon you as compensation. I hope that when you go to Dashi Linya's side, you can be like Yu Du and contribute to the friendship between our two countries… What do you say?"

The surrounding people were dumbfounded, both surprised and suspicious. Of course, Zhao Ahua quickly bowed to express his gratitude.

Xiao Heda pursed his lips in response, but it was only for a moment before he bowed down on the spot with Ahua, "This vassal is terrified and ashamed, but I dare not refuse and humbly accept the Song Dynasty's imperial surname."

Zhao Jiu nodded and led his entourage away… And Xiao… Weiming… Zhao Heda, naturally, was escorted into Jintang City along with the newly appointed Vice Prefect of Hongzhou, Zhao Ahua, and others.

Thus, on the twenty-third day, the Youzhou garrison, led by Weiming Yunge and Weiming Renli, abandoned the city and fled west.

The next day, Wu Jie advanced aggressively towards Yanzhou. At the same time, Yue Fei's new intelligence arrived from Huanzhou, informing them that Yelu Dashi was likely to head north to Houtao, and that Li Gan Shun and his son might also be in Houtao.

Upon hearing the intelligence, Zhao Jiu did not hesitate and directly sent Zhao Heda out, having the latter, under the protection of some Imperial Guards, take a letter personally signed by Zhao Jiu and head from Yanzhou to Xingqing Prefecture, then north to Houtao.

This day was the twenty-fourth day of April.

At this time, Weiming Chage's main force had successfully rendezvoused with the vanguard in Lingzhou; upon hearing that the Dragon Banner of the Zhao Song Emperor had appeared from behind the Song army's lines, Huonv suddenly launched an attack on the Song army; and on this day, the Khitan vanguard had successfully arrived in Houtao and successfully joined forces with the partial division previously deployed in the Yinshan area, led by Yelu Yanshan and the Mongol tribes.

Also on this day, the Jurchen vanguard, Wanyan Zhehe, arrived at Dongsheng Prefecture, the northeasternmost point of the Ordos Loop, thus entering the outermost reaches of the Ordos region.

Compared to the mere battlefield interlude of Zhao Heda and Zhao Ahua, this battle was still a few inevitable… annihilation battles, repelling battles, pursuit battles, and skirmishes… away from its conclusion… Because on a battlefield of hundreds of thousands of people, with the gains and losses of more than a dozen prefectures at stake, someone had to be responsible for the bloodshed, death, and failure.

ps: Thanks to Man·Liuyunzhishang for the tip, this is the 138th, and also thanks to Fengxiaoqianghuang for the tip, this is the 137th for this book, and should also be this guy's third alt… you guys are really playing it up.

Then as usual, I recommend the new book *The Filature of the Song*, Da Luoluo's new book, I grew up reading Da Luoluo's books.