The Hexi Corridor.
Since the Han dynasty, countless large-scale campaigns had been fought there across successive generations.
The twists and turns of right and wrong were difficult to put into words.
Great Song's hundred thousand Imperial Guards, fifty thousand cavalry, and several hundred thousand Provincial Army soldiers advanced beyond Dasan Pass and Xiao Pass, entering the Hexi Corridor.
The utterly humiliating defeat last time had remained like a thorn in Zhao Guangyi's heart all these years.
Verdant Green Maiden's words had stabbed that thorn even deeper.
A wise monarch?
Achievements?
It was not as though he could not attain them!
Inside the main camp.
Zhao Guangyi gazed at the generals before him.
"A thousand years ago, Marquis of Champion Huo Qu Bing marched west from here into the Hexi Corridor, galloping unhindered for two thousand li, and Great Han thus gained the Western Regions."
"Today, I too command you to march west beyond Dasan Pass and destroy the Huihe!"
"The Western Regions have been territory inherent to our Central Realm for a thousand years! Both Han and Tang established Protectorates there; Great Song shall do the same. I make this pact with you all: whoever destroys the Huihe, links up Hexi, and washes away the humiliation of that year will be promoted one noble rank! His wife shall receive an imperial title, and his son shall receive the privilege of an eighth-rank office!"
"Whoever first scales the walls shall be granted a marquisate!"
"Your subjects accept the decree!"
The generals were filled with excitement.
Most of them had experienced that crushing defeat during the first year of Taiping Xingguo.
In that battle, Song Army corpses carpeted the land for hundreds and thousands of li from Ganzhou to Fengxiang!
It was truly an unbearable humiliation!
Today, they would wash away that