Fan Ning ordered the soldiers to use tea instead of wine to suppress Cao Shi who returned from Dading Mansion.

After a crushing defeat, Cao Shi was a little depressed. He took a sip of tea and said slowly: "It is unfair to completely push the responsibility to Mr. Han. In fact, I should bear 60% of the responsibility for this crushing defeat. Many generals advised me to be more stable, but I was afraid that the navy would steal the credit, so I did not listen to the advice."

Seeing his hand trembling slightly, Fan Ning knew that he was in anger and said to him: "You know, I never would have been favoritism and abused the law. I know very well why you were defeated. In fact, the Liao army also suffered heavy losses. The information I got from various channels, in that fierce battle, the Liao army lost at least 30,000 troops, and you lost 64,000 people, plus 8,000 naval troops, nearly 70,000 people were killed. This loss can be said to be the heaviest time in 20 years.

As the commander of the army, Mr. Han has been dismissed from the prime minister, and as the chief general of the former army, you have a secondary responsibility. You will be removed from the title of General and demoted to the General of the Right Guard. However, you did not flee alone, resulting in the destruction of the entire army. Instead, you have continuously collected the remaining troops, making the number of remaining troops reach 36,000, which will save nearly 40% of the troops to the maximum extent. You have also seized the Dading Prefecture and have been persisting to this day. Therefore, you have made contributions and deeds. I have suggested that the emperor continue to appoint you as deputy commander. If you can make meritorious contributions in the next battle, you still have hope of reinstatement."

"I don't want to restore my post. It's better to completely remove me from my post. I feel a little better. I'm sorry for those brothers who died tragically. In the past few months, I have dreamed of them every night, standing in front of me with blood. If I hadn't saved the remaining soldiers, I would have collapsed long ago."

Speaking of this, Cao Shi covered her face and burst into tears, "I'm sorry to my brothers and my family."

Fanning patted his shoulder and said in a deep voice: "When the war is over, let's go out to sea together! I'll go back to the North Island, and you go to the South Island and forget these nightmares."

Cao Shi finally calmed down after he wiped away the tears from his face and nodded, "I told the eldest princess that she is willing to go to the South Island with me."

Fanning smiled and said, "It would be best if the eldest princess is willing to go to the South Island. However, as long as she is willing to go, the South Island can get at least 30,000 immigrants."

"Let's talk about this matter back! Your Highness confronts the Liao army. What will be the next step to fight?"

Fan Ning smiled and said, "The confrontation is just to delay time. This all-round war is not just about attacking Liaoyang Prefecture. Do you understand what I mean?"

Cao Shi pondered for a moment and said, "Does Your Highness want to divide his troops to attack Beijing?"

Fan Ning smiled and said, "When I go to the army to attack the capital, why would I send troops to attack the capital? Of course, someone is willing to send troops to fight for me. Can you think of who it is?"

Cao Shi blurted out, "Klie's tribe!"

Fan Ning nodded slightly, "To be precise, it is Lieshan tribe!"

"Have Your Highness sent an envoy?"

"Liu Kui has set out long ago. He should have arrived at Lieshan tribe now."

Cao Shi pondered for a moment and said, "Du Buluo, the chief of the Lieshan tribe, heard that it was quite cruel and ruthless. Before, the chief of the Kelie tribe pleaded with him, but his brother was still his, so he refused to send troops to rescue him, which led to the cruel suppression of the Liao Kingdom and killed more than 20,000 people. The chief's head was made into a toilet by Yelu Hongji."

Fan Ning shook his head, "I'm dealing with Du Bulu in Datong Mansion. You can't say he is cruel and ruthless, you just say that he can tolerate it. If it weren't for his restrained patience, the Liao Kingdom wouldn't have let the Lieshan tribe go, and this time it's different."

"I'm afraid that the price of Bru is too high."

Fanning smiled and said, "I'm not afraid of him asking for a price. I'll give him a good price that is hard to refuse. I believe he will be moved."

The Lieshan tribe and the Kelie tribe are located in the central and eastern part of the Mobei Grassland. They were originally two of the Eight Eight Tribes of the second largest tribe in the Mobei Grassland. The Eighteen Tribe was defeated in resisting the invasion of the Liao Kingdom on the grassland. The tribe was split up. The Lieshan tribe and the Kelie tribe were independent. They annexed many small tribes and gradually became the largest tribes in the northeast of the Mobei Grassland.

The Krei tribe has been rebellious and rebelled many times. Three years ago, it rebelled at the same time as the Jurchen tribe, and its momentum was huge.

After Yelu Hongji destroyed the Jurchen tribe, he sent his brother Yelu Hongtai to lead a 100,000 army to wipe out the Kelie tribe. The Kelie tribe was completely defeated by the Liao army and brutally suppressed. 20,000 young and strong men were killed, and the head of the chief Du Wenlie was cut off and sent to Shangjing. Countless women and children were plundered and rewarded to the Khitan Shengfan who participated in the suppression of the rebellion. Another part was annexed by the Lieshan tribe, and the Kelie tribe disappeared.

After the disappearance of the Kelie tribe, the Lieshan tribe survived because it was willing to accept the high sheep tax of 10 to 50% from the Liao Kingdom. It also took over the ranch of the Kelie tribe, and has been developing very low-key in recent years.

But last year in Datong Prefecture, Lieshan tribe, Naiman tribe and Dadan tribe betrayed the Liao army, resulting in the destruction of the entire Liao army in the Battle of Datong Prefecture, and the Liao Kingdom also lost Xijing.

Yelu Hongji was extremely furious and publicly stated several times that he would severely punish the Lieshan tribe, but because of insufficient troops, he was a little powerless. This was keenly captured by Du Buluo. When he tentatively reduced the sheep tax to ten or three, he did not attract the Liao army to be punished. Du Buluo immediately understood that the current Liao Kingdom is strong and the internal internal decay has been completely rotten, and it is no longer the powerful Liao Kingdom in the past.

And at this moment, the envoy sent by Fanning arrived at the Lieshan tribe.

In a large tent covering an area of ​​nearly one acre, Du Bulu set up a feast to entertain Liu Kui, a special envoy from the Song Dynasty who came from afar.

In Datong Prefecture, Liu Kui and Du Buluo's son Dushan had contacted each other many times and finally reached a cooperation plan.

With the pleasant cooperation of Datong Prefecture, Du Bulu certainly did not oppose cooperation with the Song army again. As for the content of the cooperation, both sides need to discuss in depth.

There were meat mountains and wine in the big tent, and two strong men wrestled to play the show to cheer the banquet.

Du Bulu raised his glass and smiled at Liu Kui, "I heard that Xiao Fan led a large army to fight Yelu Hongji in Liaoyang Prefecture. I wonder what the situation was going on?"

Lieshan tribe is far away from the Song Dynasty and the news is not smooth. He did not know that Fan Ning had dismissed from office last year, nor did he know that Fan Ning was re-appointed as prime minister this year. Although he heard that the Song army suffered a defeat in Liaoyang Prefecture, he did not know the specific details.

Liu Kui didn't want to explain too many details, which made Du Bulu feel afraid of difficulties. He smiled and said, "The battle in Liaoyang Prefecture has lasted for half a year. Both sides have their own victory and defeat. The Song army has seized Dading Prefecture. However, the navy suffered a loss on the Liaohe River and suffered an attack on the Liao armies, losing more than 100 warships. Jinzhou and the two sides changed hands several times, and are still in the hands of the Song army. Currently, Fan Zheng led a 500,000 army to confront Yelu Hongji's 100,000 troops in Liaoyang Prefecture, and the decisive battle is about to begin."

Du Bulu frowned, "As far as I know, the Liao army should have at least 160,000 troops, why are there only 100,000 troops left?"

"For Jinzhou, the Liao army suffered nearly 20,000 casualties, and the Song army repeatedly fought in Liaoyang Prefecture. The Liao army suffered more than 30,000 casualties, and sent another 10,000 to defend Tongzhou in the north. Of course, there are only 100,000 troops left."

"Even if five hundred thousand troops of the Song army fight one, they can kill one hundred thousand Liao army!" The young chief Du Shan said with a smile.

Liu Kui shook his head, "Master Fan has always been fighting steadily in wars. He will never take action without the confidence to win, and he will not be willing to pay heavy casualties. Although Yelu Hongji has few troops, the 100,000 cavalry is still very strong. Fighting fiercely on the plains, even if the Song army finally defeats the Liao army, he will pay the price of heavy casualties."

"What do we need to do?" Du Shanxin asked quickly.

Guo Kui smiled and said, "Your troops need to send tens of thousands of cavalry to harass Shangjing."

Dushan was shocked, "Let's go and attack Shangjing?"

"No! No! No!"

Guo Kui waved his hand and said, "No need to attack Shangjing City. Just harass them, plunder the population in the suburbs, and pose for attack Shangjing City."

Du Bulu pondered for a moment and said, "As far as I know, there are still 40,000 troops in Shangjing, and the limit we can send is only 30,000 troops. Once the Liao army comes out to fight, it will be unfavorable to us!"

Guo Kui cursed in his heart, Dushan told himself that they could send 50,000 cavalry, but Du Bulu said that he could only send 30,000 people, which was obviously asking for a price.

Guo Kui smiled faintly and said, "There is a saying in the Central Plains that the emperor does not need hungry soldiers. The Song Dynasty will not let your troops send troops for nothing. As long as the Lieshan tribe is willing to cooperate with the Song army to destroy the Liao Kingdom, our emperor agrees to enthrone the chief as Khan."

This is what Fanning said, the conditions that Dubulu could not refuse. There was only one Khan on the grassland, and there were so many tribes in the grassland, but the Song Dynasty only conferred the chief of the Lieshan tribe as Khan. This was something Dubulu dared not dream of, but now it is clearly placed on the negotiating table.
Chapter completed!