The 24th Master of Tianji Pavilion

  Vote for me, vote hard~ Pigs' update speed is gradually picking up, everyone's voting speed should also pick up!

  ————

  In this very year, the situation between Song and Xia suddenly reversed. Empress Dowager Liang died, and several prominent Xia generals were captured one after another. Zhang Jiao also pacified Mie Le and A Mou, who both agreed to surrender. Many tribal chieftains of Western Xia, seeing that A Mou and Mie Le had surrendered to the Song Dynasty, also defected in droves.

  Zhang Jun was overjoyed and, in its current form, taking down Western Xia was an easy task. He transformed Xianpo Port into a heavily fortified stronghold while actively preparing for war, and within half a year, he had incorporated the entire Tiandu Mountain and Hengshan into Song territory.

  At this time, Emperor Li Jian of Xia Guo seized the opportunity to take power. During Empress Dowager Liang's lifetime, Li Jian was severely suppressed. As soon as she died, he immediately sent troops to exterminate the Liang clan, killing all of Empress Dowager Liang's followers and monopolizing state power.

  Before Li Qianguo came to power, everyone looked down on him, but after coming to power, he showed great talent and prestige, and quickly pacified the surrendering forces within Western Xia, formed an alliance with Liao in the north, while submitting to Song in the south, and secretly sent wealth and beauties to the officials of the capital.

  Those corrupt officials in the Song Dynasty accepted bribes and, under the pretext of emptying the national treasury, requested Emperor Zhezong to withdraw troops and negotiate peace with Western Xia. The Liao State did not want to see the rise of the Song Dynasty, so they sent envoys to exert pressure on the Song court, while the rear base in Yan'an Prefecture's Pingxia City and various armies along the Hebei route competed for merit, withholding grain supplies and slowing down military operations, making it difficult for the main forces on all routes to continue.

  Under the pressure of no choice, Zhang Jie could only submit a memorial to Emperor Zhezong, requesting a temporary ceasefire. After sending out this petition, the old general set up a banquet and invited all the generals in the army, big and small, to come and drink and have fun. Wu Song, Lu Da, Yang Jia and Gong Sunyan were also among them. Wu Song and Lu Da both served as Military Commander-in-Chief, while Gong Sunyan, being a female general, was appointed as Military Patrol Envoy, one rank lower than Wu Song. Yang Jia, because he was the supervisor of the army and had been a eunuch, had his military power taken back by Zhang Jie.

  At the banquet, the old general frequently toasted, and it can be said that both the host and the guests were delighted. When the wine was at its peak, Zhang Jiao suddenly burst into tears. The generals hurried to comfort him, and the old general pointed westward, saying: "A hundred miles from here is Xincheng Prefecture, unfortunately we cannot drink together in Xingqing Prefecture!"

  All the generals fell silent, and the Song army reached the outskirts of Xingqing Prefecture, the capital of Western Xia, but stopped at the last step. How can one not sigh? Zhang Ke was a scholar by origin, his whole life spent on the battlefields between Song and Xia, old age came yet he couldn't fulfill his lifelong wish, no wonder he burst into tears.

  Guo Cheng, Zhe Kesui and others were also unhappy and asked to resign. Zhang Jiao did not retain them, leaving only Zhong Shidao and Wu Song behind. The old general had a secret conversation with Zhong Shidao for half an hour, but it was unknown what they talked about. After Zhong Shidao left, Wu Song was summoned again, chatting about some trivial family matters. Finally, he said: "Wu Junmu, Zhang has already submitted a memorial to the Emperor and the Prime Minister to establish a Daoyin camp. The Emperor has agreed, naming it Tianji Pavilion, and widely inviting practitioners from all over the world. Zhang thought that the position of the master of Tianji Pavilion was none other than you."

  Yang Jianjun is indeed a hero, but unfortunately, he's a eunuch. I'm afraid that if he takes control of the Tianji Pavilion, he'll have ulterior motives. Gong Xianyan is a woman and can't command respect from the troops. Lu Da doesn't usually go to the battlefield, so it's relatively normal for him. But once he goes to the battlefield, his mind becomes muddled. Only Wu Jun is the best candidate."

  Wu Song hesitated and said: "General Zhang, I have limited martial arts skills and fear that it will be difficult to convince the crowd."

  "Wu Jun thought too much, the emperor's worry is not about the strength or weakness of the law, but a pure minister, a loyal minister! Wu Jun has the support of Your Majesty, and with Yang Jianjun, Lu Jun and Gong Shunang assisting, this Tianji Pavilion can be firmly controlled in your hands, serving the emperor!"

  Zhang Qing repeatedly exhorted and persuaded, saying many words of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, and Wu Song had no choice but to agree.

  The two men talked for a long time before Zhang Kui stood up and saw Wu Song off.

  Wu Song left the general's mansion, and a gentle breeze blew by, making him feel a chill on his back. Zhang Gong had set up ambushes in the guest hall with several crossbow carts and more than ten skilled marksmen from the army. If Wu Song showed even the slightest hint of disloyalty to Zhe Zong in his tone, he would likely have been killed right there in the general's mansion.

  He didn't blame Zhang Kui, this admirable old general was just making a last-ditch effort for the great Song Dynasty, exhausting his mind and worrying that he would hand over the Tianji Pavilion to a minister with ulterior motives. But even so, how many more years could the Northern Song court last? When Huizong ascended to the throne, those days became fewer and farther between, and by the time of the Fang La uprising led by Song Jiang, the Northern Song's lifespan was only counted on one's fingers.

  The Northern Song's last wise emperor, Emperor Zhezong, also didn't have many days of life left, and whether the Tianji Pavilion could be completed was still an unknown quantity.

  In the autumn of Yuanshou 2, Song and Xia negotiated a peace treaty. Zhang Jiao and other high-ranking generals were left to guard the newly built Xi'an Prefecture, while Zhong Shidao led his army back to the capital to present their captives. Wu Song, Yang Zongbao, and four others followed behind the main army. Since Wu Song couldn't ride a horse, he marched with the infantry, and Yang Zongbao, being on good terms with Lu Da, also walked alongside him. Gong Sunyan saw this and dismounted to join them as well.

  This girl still had a grudge against Zhang Jiao for arranging Wu Song to be the master of the Tianji Pavilion. Wu Song comforted her, "Your Gongshu family and the Mohist Yin-Yang family have a feud, if you let you take over as the pavilion master, I'm afraid it will lead to them seeking revenge and provocation, Commander Zhang is also protecting you."

  Gong Shu felt relieved and the four of them continued on their journey, chatting and laughing together, sharing some anecdotes about the martial arts world, and before they knew it, the distance had been covered.

  In front of the infantry were Xixia captives, who were being held in carts and treated to good wine and meat. Among them was a Xixia princess. Yang Jiaolong was extremely curious and ran over to take a look. When he returned, his face was deathly pale and he didn't say a word.

  Wu Song laughed and said: "Is it that the princess is too beautiful, even Yang Zongbao has a crush on her?" Yang Zhen was speechless.

  Luda, seeing this, also became curious and ran over to take a look inside the carriage. Even with his thick nerves, he couldn't help but throw up when he came back, saying: "I thought the princess would be a beautiful person, but she's actually pitiful and unbearable. I've been had!"

  Gong Sun Yan was a woman, and upon hearing this, she said displeased: "Judging people by their appearance is wrong. Even if someone's family has an ugly person, you can't say such things, they are still the princess of our country!"

  Luda said: "Your skills are high and your courage is great, go take a look!"

  Gong Xian'er hesitated for a moment, took two steps forward, and then turned back to look at Wu Song, saying: "Master, come with me to boost my courage."

  Wu Song had been wanting to take a look, and after hearing her words, it was just what he wanted, so he accompanied Gong Sun Yanran to the front of the carriage. Gong Sun Yanran jumped onto the carriage, pulled open the curtain and took a peek, then the girl's eyes rolled back and she fainted, falling off the carriage.

  Wu Song hastily caught her and held her in his arms, stealing a glance inside the carriage before taking off in a sprint. Lu Da laughed and asked, "How was it?"

  "I swear, I'll never eat pork again!"

  Yang Jian nodded in deep agreement: "Me too."

  Gong Xun suddenly woke up, hurriedly jumped down from Wu Song's arms, and said with lingering fear: "If Xia Jun let the princess come out to fight, I'm afraid our Song army would have lost long ago!"

  "I was originally worried that our group of Taoist priests entering the capital would attract onlookers, but now I can rest assured."