Lu Yihao was startled and hurriedly grabbed Li Yanqing, "Pretty Li, please rest assured. Although it is sad for Zhuang’s husband to die of illness, we should still put state affairs first."

Li Yanqing took a deep breath and sat down slowly. He controlled the emotions in his heart and tried to calm himself down. He asked slowly, "Did Mr. Lu come for the Xixia incident?"

Lu Yihao nodded, "The officials attached great importance to the situation of Xixia. He heard that Xixia was forced to withdraw his troops and was willing to negotiate with us in the Song Dynasty. The officials couldn't help crying with joy during the court meeting, and praised the officials for being the Dinghai Prison for the Song Dynasty."

"Does the official have the will to me?" Li Yanqing asked calmly.

Lu Yihao took out a handwritten order and handed it to Li Yanqing, "The official issued an order at the court meeting, requiring me to go to Jingzhao immediately to participate in the negotiations with Xixia. After the court meeting, the official talked with me in detail. He proposed that the negotiations would be led by me on behalf of the court, but the official asked me to discuss with Taibao, and the bottom line of the negotiations would be decided by Taibao."

Li Yanqing understood Zhao Gou's meaning. In negotiations between countries, the face must be given to the court, but the inner world gave it to him, that is, the bottom line of negotiation is determined by himself, which is also a two-dimensional arrangement.

Li Yanqing said: "This time, my purpose of launching the Xixia Battle is very simple. It is to force Xixia to withdraw its troops from Xihe Road. I have no intention of capturing the land of Xixia. My bottom line is very simple. To restore the actual control line that both sides have already clearly defined in the "Songxia Armistice Agreement" in the fourth year of Xuanhe. Secondly, Xixia must withdraw troops from Lanzhou and Huizhou before the Song army will withdraw troops from Weicheng and Taqiuzhai. Moreover, Xixia is not allowed to plunder Han people when withdrawing troops from Lanzhou and Huizhou. Thirdly, we captured 270,000 people in Xixia, and Xixia must hand over 270,000 Song people to exchange; Fourthly, officially cancel the annual monies given to Xixia by the Song Dynasty. These are my four bottom lines. As for Xixia to withdraw any other requests, I will not agree."

"I roughly understand that I have a small request, whether I can also participate in the negotiations, so that I will understand Taibao's ideas better."

"Yes, I will arrange for him to follow Mr. Lu. In addition, what are the expectations of the government for this negotiation?"

Lu Yihao thought for a while and said, "The expectations of the government are exactly the same as that of Li Taibao's first bottom line, but the government hopes to reach a new armistice agreement with Xixia."

Li Yanqing shook his head, "This kind of agreement is actually not very meaningful. As long as there is an opportunity, Xixia can tear up the agreement at any time, but the government must, and can also raise it. I think there should be no big problem. Xixia is now exhausted from financial resources, the people are trapped in the country, and they cannot support it. They must have a ceasefire and rest."

Lu Yihao nodded silently. At this time, he remembered something and said: "Li Taibao mentioned several personnel changes, and the officials agreed. A formal appointment edict would come soon. Li Guang was also on his way to Jingzhao and would arrive in a few days."

"What official position Ma Shan held in the court?"

"He has a very good authority as the Shaofu Temple Supervisor, and he should have been promoted."

The two of them gave a few more words, and Li Yanqing said goodbye and left the inn. He notified Wang Gui, Liu Qi and others, and brought dozens of generals to Tongguan overnight to welcome the coffin of the Zhunshidao back.

Zhong Shidao's two sons have passed away one after another, and several grandsons unfortunately died young, leaving only Changsun Zhong Yanchong, who is currently under Liu Wei as a general. Li Yanqing has sent someone to inform him that after Zhong Shidao unfortunately died of illness in Lin'an, he helped his spirit back to his hometown by his nephew Zhong Wei and returned to the Zhong family cemetery in the southern suburbs of Jingzhao Prefecture for burial.

The coffin was pulled by two cows and slowly drove into Tongguan. In front were twenty guards riding horses, holding spirit banners in their hands, and behind the ox cart was followed by thirty cavalry. A total of fifty cavalry guarded the coffin of Zhong Shidao returning west.

In Tongguan, all the buildings were covered with white banners, and thousands of soldiers stood in line on both sides of the road, with white cloth tied on their arms, silently watching the coffin cart entering the Tongguan gate.

At this time, Li Yanqing led dozens of Western Army generals to kneel down in the coffin and cry. Each of them was wearing mourning clothes and looked sad. Zhong Wei hurriedly stepped forward and helped Li Yanqing up, "President Li asked, please get up, all generals please get up, thank you for coming to pick up the spirit!"

Speaking of this, the sound of the slightest voice began to choke.

Li Yanqing silently walked to the coffin, held it and became the first spiritual supporter. Soon, seven Western Army generals, including Liu Qi, Wang Gui, Wu Jie, Liu Ziyu, Niu Gao, Liu Tie, Gong Zuwen, followed behind Li Yanqing and became spiritual supporters. The road was filled with incense, candles and paper money to pay tribute to the deceased former Western Army commander Zhong Shidao.

The ox cart walked slowly, and eight generals were supported by the coffin and welcomed the Western Army commander who had been in war for a lifetime back to his hometown.

......

Zhong Shidao was buried three days after returning to Jingzhao. More than 300 generals including Li Yanqing, Liu Wei, Liu Guangshi, Zhang Jun and other important generals attended the funeral ceremony of Zhong Shidao. Li Yanqing personally read the sacrificial text. The sacrificial text was written by Emperor Zhao Gou. It highly commended Zhong Shidao's life of serving the country and the people and loyal to the enemy. He posthumously named him King of Wei and his posthumous title of Zhongyong.

After Zhong Shidao was buried, the negotiations between the Song and Jin countries ended. Xixia completely accepted the four conditions proposed by Li Yanqing, and the army began to withdraw troops from Lanzhou and Huizhou, and no longer plundered the Han people.

At the same time, Xixia also began to collect the captured Song slaves in Xingqing Prefecture, preparing to exchange with the 270,000 Xixia people in Xiping Prefecture captured by the Song army. The two sides signed a new armistice agreement, stipulating that the border between the two sides would be restored to the four-year Xuanhe line. Xixia promised in the armistice agreement that it would not attack the Song Dynasty within five years, and at the same time officially cancelled the annual monies given to Xixia by the Song Dynasty.

Soon, a series of decrees from the court were issued. In order to commend the Jingzhao Army to achieve brilliant achievements, the court rewarded one million taels of silver and three million pieces of silk, and the soldiers who made meritorious rewarded 50,000 hectares of land. Of course, the specific reward could only be paid from the spoils of the Battle of Xixia. The court could not produce so much silver and silk, and all the soldiers were promoted. For a time, the soldiers of the three armies were filled with joy.

After the end of the Western Xia Battle, the third northwest route got a brief opportunity to recuperate. Li Yanqing actively trained recruits, trained gunpowder and firearm craftsmen, and made every effort to create sharp firearms such as sky-shaking thunder and flying fire thunder. In late October, Emperor Zhao Gou issued an order to agree to Li Yanqing's family to settle in Jingzhao Prefecture.

At the same time, the prefectures and prefectures of the Northwest Third Road issued notices that the imperial examination will be held this year, and the trial will be held on November 8th half a month later, and the provincial examination of the imperial court will be held in Lin'an Prefecture in March of the following year.

After Li Yanqing came to Jingzhao, he lived in the back house of the Left-Back Mansion. Jingzhao Left-Back Mansion was actually an open palace built in the Later Zhou Dynasty. After the establishment of the Song Dynasty, it was transformed into the Jingzhao Left-Back Mansion. It was the highest-level official house in Jingzhao, and only the princes or above could move in. King Kang Zhao Gou lived here for a while when he was appointed as Jingzhao. After Zhao Gou signed Li Yanqing to Jingzhao, he specially designated Li Yanqing to live in this highest-level official house and named it the Anyang County Prince's Mansion.

During this period, Li Yanqing's personal soldiers have been busy cleaning up the mansion. For the sake of the princess' coming, the mansion covers an area of ​​more than 200 acres, with a "convex" character on the outside. The prominent part is the official office, covering an area of ​​about 50 acres. It was originally the Jingzhao left-behind official office, but now it is renamed the Jingluo General Administration Office, abbreviated as the Jingluo Mansion. It is currently the highest military and political office of the Northwest Third Road.

The main body behind the character "公" is Anyang County Prince's Mansion. The gate is facing east and has nothing to do with the west gate of the Jingluo Mansion. The county prince's mansion covers an area of ​​180 acres, and the lake water on one side of the Hou house is 40 acres, which is completely an absolute royal palace.

The Prince's Mansion is located in the south of Jingzhao City, very close to Dacien Temple. A small river flows through the south of the mansion house. On the other side of the river is the famous Dacien Temple. An exquisite wooden bridge crosses the river and is surrounded by jungles. It is particularly quiet. The west part of the Prince's Mansion is Jingluo Mansion, located on Zhuque Street, opposite the street is Jingzhao Mansion, and next to the Jingluo Mansion is a military camp, with five hundred guards stationed by Li Yanqing.

It is already early November, and the early winter season in Jingzhao area is approaching. The winter in Jingzhao Prefecture is dry and cold. It usually snows in late November. Several heavy snow will make the air in Jingzhao Prefecture moist.

These days, the streets of Jingzhao City are particularly lively. In another seven or eight days, the time for the trial will be held, which makes Jingzhao City full of vibrant young scholars. If you study and become an official, you will have already deeply soaked in the blood vessels of the Han people. Whether in the war or the peace era, the imperial examination will always make scholars yearn for.

In front of the Xicheng Gate, dozens of farmers who were picking vegetables into the city to sell were shouting. At this time, a convoy of twenty ox carts slowly entered Jingzhao City under the escort of hundreds of cavalry.

"Mom! Is this Jingzhao City?"

A two-year-old child stood in front of the car window and stared at the tall city wall above his head. His black eyes were particularly pure. Cao Yun looked at it and laughed softly, "Yes, this is Jingzhao City, we are back!"
Chapter completed!