The Cold Door Hero

Summary

After capturing Wei City, the Song army, led by Li Yan Qing, divided into two routes to attack the Western Xia. Li Yan Qing advanced with 10,000 troops to Xiping Prefecture, where they swiftly captured the area, including Mingsha County and several small military towns. Xiping Prefecture was a significant location for copper and silver production and housed many Song Dynasty captives forced into slavery. The local defenses were weak, with only 1,300 troops stationed there. Li Yan Qing captured the governor, Li Tao, who attempted suicide but was saved. Instead, he interrogated Registrar Bai Ying, who provided information about the local population and the presence of Song slaves. Li Yan Qing learned that Xiping County had around 84,000 residents, primarily engaged in commerce and agriculture, while the mines were worked by slaves. Li Yan Qing ordered the confiscation of properties from households with Song slaves and planned to escort Western Xia residents south while executing any who resisted. He also instructed Sima Liu Pei to count the Song slaves in the city and provided military support for Cao Meng to sweep through nearby tribes to free slaves and plunder wealth.

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