Chapter 788 - 44: Calmly Seated at Fishing Terrace, Seizing the Opportunity to Unify the Realm

Everything was exactly as Gu Rui anticipated.

As he once again ordered the Song Army to assume an offensive posture, even if the Liao’s royal generals believed the Song Army would not be so reckless.

Yet, in the face of reality, they had no choice but to accept it all.

And just as Gu Rui had said.

— They couldn’t hold on any longer either.

The main attack of the Song Army this time was against the Liao, although the Liao nobility could tacitly allow Western Xia to send troops during wartime, they also needed to control the influence of the Xia Army to avoid future complications.

This was a reality they had to accept.

To resolve all of this, they had to show their attitude.

Sure enough, not even ten days had passed.

The Liao’s envoy once again rushed to the Song camp to meet Gu Rui, and soon both sides naturally began another round of tug-of-war.

No one wanted to easily show their hand.

Gu Rui displayed an extremely determined attitude, insisting on attacking and continuously pressing the Liao’s bottom line.

Although Liao also had some defenses, they didn’t easily fall for it.

This even led to several more large battles between the two sides.

Until finally, Liao conceded!

...

The fourth year of Longhe, January.

Thirty li north of the Sanggan River, at White Grass Slope.

Although this place was within Liao territory, it was now under the control of the Song Army outpost.

At this moment, a temporary green tent was set up on the hilltop, with the Song and Liao armies lined up on the east and west sides, armor shining against the snow, creating a tense and silent atmosphere.

The Song soldiers’ expressions were solemn.

In contrast, although the Liao soldiers’ expressions were equally stern, there was a sense of barely holding on.

Gusts of cold wind swept through repeatedly, and time slowly passed under this tense atmosphere.

Exactly 7:00 AM.

Gu Rui and the Liao’s Northern Court Privy Councilor, Yelv Renxian, arrived almost simultaneously, each bringing ten guards into the tent.

No high seats were set up inside the tent, only two tables facing each other.

Gu Rui sat down calmly, while Yelv Renxian only watched coldly without ceremony.

"Grand Tutor Gu, you tighten the siege step by step, do you really wish to clash with our Great Liao?" Yelv Renxian’s voice was low, tinged with suppressed anger.

Gu Rui did not reply, only pushed a roll of silk book to the table: "This is the treaty proposed by our Great Song, you may take a look, Lord Privy Councilor."

Yelv Renxian unfurled the silk book, his gaze swept over it, and his face grew increasingly somber.

Especially upon seeing the item "annual tribute," he abruptly raised his head, eyes almost blazing: "Annual tribute of 150,000 shi of grain?"

"Gu Rui! Do you take our Great Liao as a vassal of the Southern Dynasty?"

"No." Gu Rui’s expression did not change, he opened his mouth calmly: "This is not annual tribute; it is war reparations."

He paused slightly, his voice not high, but each word was clear: "For three years, the Liao Army burned 11 of our border towns, stole over 300,000 shi of grain, and massacred countless border citizens. What we are asking for today is less than half."

Yelv Renxian clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white.

The tent fell silent for a moment, only the sound of the cold wind outside, rustling the flags.

He knew that Gu Rui was not speaking empty words.

Today, Liao was beset with internal and external troubles, and though Western Xia was an ally, it was like a wolf at their side. If they continued to stalemate with Song, even if the country did not fall, it would be severely weakened.

Otherwise, the Liao would have never ended up in such a position.

His body trembled continuously.

Yelv Renxian understood all too well what this meant.

A loss of sovereignty and national disgrace!

As a member of the royal family, signing the treaty was exceedingly difficult.

But no matter how unwilling he was, what could he do?

The situation had forced him to this point.

Liao could no longer fight on; even if they could finally repel the Song Army, they would be so weakened that Western Xia and Great Song would likely carve them up.

In these myriad thoughts, slowly, he released his hand, his voice hoarse: "100,000 shi."

"This is the utmost my lord can permit."

He laid his cards on the table.

This was the limit that the ministers of Liao could negotiate.

Gu Rui watched him for a moment, finally nodding slightly: "Agreed."

One word sealed, no turning back.

When Yelv Renxian, as the Northern Court Privy Councilor of Liao, heavily stamped his seal on the silk treaty and slowly pushed it towards the other end of the table, it was as if heaven and earth fell silent.

The tent flap was lifted, and the eyes of the awaiting soldiers from both nations outside were instantly drawn to it.

When the treaty clauses, symbolizing submission and tribute, were loudly proclaimed by the Ritual Officer, their voices clear across the field, silence first engulfed the Song formations on the eastern slope.

It was as if they couldn’t process the outcome they had long expected.

Then, someone drew a deep breath, a gasp laden with an irrepressible sob.

Suddenly, like a dam bursting, countless battle-hardened, scar-covered soldiers simultaneously had their eyes turn red.

Meanwhile, on the Liao side, most soldiers lowered their heads silently.

Yelv Renxian did not linger.

He seemed to understand what it all entailed. After confirming the completion of the ceremony, he turned and departed directly.

Gu Rui also remained silent; he stared at the treaty in front of him, his expression complex.

His eyes held both desolation and a long exhale—a boulder lingering in his heart finally came to rest.

Perhaps no one could truly understand his current state of mind.

The immense pressure he bore was far beyond ordinary comprehension.

No matter how confident he was, confronting such inter-nation battles, he too had to consider the risk of defeat, constantly influencing him, along with his inner aspirations, a feeling others could not fathom.

Outside the tent, vague cheers of the soldiers could be heard.

Yet Gu Rui merely sat alone inside, his demeanor desolate, speaking not a word.

...

Time hurriedly passed by.

The abruptly concluded war surprised everyone once more.