Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 240 Accompanying His Majesty to Xijing
Li Chuwen's "final judgment" has finally arrived, and the final judgment of the Liao Dynasty has also finally come.

Li Chuwen rode his horse with Yelü Dashi all the way to the imperial city. There was not much chaos on the streets, but outside the imperial city, there were countless carriages and horses parked.

The two then went straight into the imperial city, where the main hall was crowded with officials, many of whom had panicked expressions on their faces.

The emperor was on a high platform, and those around him were asking, "What should we do? What should my ministers do?"

For the first time, Li Chuwen saw such a panicked look on the emperor's face.

Yelü Dashi also stared at the high platform in astonishment.

The emperor paced back and forth, his face deathly pale. Suddenly, he fixed his gaze on Xiao Fengxian and asked sternly, "Prime Minister Xiao, what should we do?"

Xiao Fengxian was also at a loss for a moment, so he said, "Your Majesty, it's alright, it's alright. As long as Yelü Yujian is involved in this matter, his army must be full of loyal and righteous men. Why would they be willing to follow him? In less than two days, he will probably have his head cut off by his loyal and righteous men!"

"Is it really true?" the emperor asked.

Xiao Fengxian nodded repeatedly: "Your Majesty, that is certainly the case!"

Li Chuwen had already entered and approached. He had always been extremely obsequious to Xiao Fengxian, but now he couldn't hold back any longer. A resolute look appeared on his dusty face as he said, "Your Majesty, Grand Chancellor, Xu Dading Prefecture is about to fall."

"What?" The emperor was extremely shocked and blurted out.

Xiao Fengxian's face flashed with panic, and he quickly said, "Stop talking nonsense, Minister Li, stop talking nonsense!"

Li Chuwen shook his head: "I'm not talking nonsense. Zhongjing City has been besieged for a long time, and morale is low. If they see Yelü Yudu leading a large army under the city walls, their morale will collapse immediately!"

Xiao Fengxian suddenly flew into a rage and said, "Yelü Yudu has forgotten his ancestors and betrayed his country for personal gain. This is against all reason and law. Heaven has eyes and will surely take him away. There are so many loyal and righteous men in the army. Before long, news of Yelü Yudu's execution will surely come!"

At this very moment, they are still saying such things to the emperor, still trying to deceive him.

Li Chuwen shook his head, sighed, and said nothing more.

Behind him stood Yelü Dashi, his face also covered in dust. He stepped forward and spoke, “Your Majesty, gentlemen, the most urgent matter is not to argue here, but to deal with this matter immediately. Once Zhongjing falls, the defenses along the Yanshan line must be stabilized. Capable people should be immediately dispatched to the front lines to pacify the people. The Song army is in Xiongzhou and will surely take advantage of the situation. We must also quickly prepare for the south. The destruction of the country and the loss of our homes are imminent. Your Majesty must issue an edict immediately to summon truly loyal and righteous men from Yan and Yun, and recruit local militia to enter the city and defend it together in the face of national crisis!”

Yelü Dashi spoke extremely fast, as if he finished speaking in an instant, and his tone was high, which speaks volumes about his urgency.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Fengxian flew into a rage: "How dare you, a mere military governor, spout such arrogant and misleading words in the imperial court? Where is your place to speak in the court? Get out! A true man should remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapses before him. How can such a small incident frighten you all like this? It's truly laughable!"

Yelü Dashi, however, could not bear it. He spoke even more urgently, saying, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead my troops south to meet the Song army, even at the cost of my life!"

At this moment, the emperor truly did not utter a single word. At times, he was flustered and restless, and at other times, he seemed to relax and was panting heavily.

It was Xiao Fengxian again. This time, he wasn't furious. Instead, he spoke earnestly: "Don't panic, everyone. Don't be so impetuous and unable to calm down. Just wait for news to come from the front. This matter will definitely be fine!"

Finally, the emperor spoke, uttering each word carefully: "It's alright...it's alright, no rush!"

Li Chuwen sighed, saying nothing more, but glanced at Yelü Dashi, who also let out a long sigh. The two remained silent, looking at each other.

The crowd didn't disperse; they just waited...

I don't know what I'm waiting for, or how long I'll have to wait.

Indeed, they are all close. It is only two or three hundred li to the south of Yanjing, and it is not far to the north of Yanjing, across the Yanshan Mountains, to Dading Prefecture.

Perhaps Yelü Dashi was tired, or perhaps he was just angry, he suddenly sat down on the floor of the main hall and decided to wait...

But no one actually reprimanded him.

Before long, others followed his example and sat directly on the floor in the main hall.

Even Li Chuwen sat down on the ground, and there was no shortage of tea and snacks in the imperial city.

To be honest, with everyone here, there was a real sense of waiting for judgment, and it wasn't that no one had thought about how to deal with it.

For example, Li Chuwen knew he should respond at this moment, but he was powerless to do so, and in fact, he had no way to respond...

Over the years, we fought against the Jurchens, suffering defeat after defeat, losing several cities each day and several more each day. We became numb to the losses. Just when Dading Prefecture suddenly held firm, as if we had seen a glimmer of hope for a turnaround, a sudden storm struck again, leaving us teetering on the brink of collapse.

What else can we do? All the troops that need to be sent have been dispatched; the defenses of Yanshan and the main army on the eastern route are all at the front lines.

Now, in Yanjing City, if you add up all the remaining soldiers and defeated generals, there are probably only twenty or thirty thousand people. What is twenty or thirty thousand people in such a large city?
In Xijing Datong, there were only three to five thousand people, and in Zhuozhou, there were also three to five thousand people.

In other cities, needless to say, three to five hundred people would be considered a lot.

What other options are there?

Just wait...

Many people actually know in their hearts that the outcome they are waiting for will probably not be good.

The emperor sat blankly on the high platform, his gaze unfocused and lifeless, staring ahead...

It was unclear how much time had passed, but the imperial kitchen was still busy preparing meals. Several meals had already been delivered, and people were coming and going in the main hall. However, most people remained there, waiting patiently. Some were even tired and slept on the floor.

Suddenly, someone was running outside, shouting, "Urgent military report! Urgent military report!"

Inside the main hall, everyone suddenly stood up, and the emperor even went down the steps.

Xiao Fengxian looked outside with anticipation.

He was a soldier, arriving weary from his journey, his steps quick and swift.

Upon entering the main hall, a loud shout rang out: "Zhongjing City has fallen!"

Everyone in the room seemed to be under some kind of spell, frozen in place.

The emperor, who was standing halfway up the steps, suddenly felt a darkness before his eyes. He swayed a few times, as if he was about to fall. He moved his feet slightly to steady himself, but then he felt weak all over and collapsed on the steps.

Only one person in the entire room shouted loudly: "Nonsense! Nonsense! It must be a false alarm!"

It is none other than Xiao Fengxian!
But the soldier replied with tears in his eyes, "I dare not speak nonsense. I saw it with my own eyes. There were more than a dozen of my comrades outside the capital city. They all saw with their own eyes that Yelü Yudu's army followed the Jurchens at full speed and rushed straight towards Zhongjing City. The city was breached in no time. We watched as the Jurchen army entered the city!"

Xiao Fengxian, however, still insisted: "How can Yelü Yudu not die? There are so many loyal and righteous soldiers in the army who are willing to die for their country. How can we not execute this traitor?"

The soldier's face was covered in tears; he shook his head and didn't answer...

But then the emperor, who had been slumped on the steps, suddenly stood up. With a strength that seemed to come from nowhere, he shouted, "Prime Minister, it was you! It was you who framed loyal officials! It was you who forced Yu Du to turn against us! It was you who deceived me! I was not careful and believed your words! It was all your fault!"

The emperor seemed to have finally realized what was happening.

All eyes turned to Xiao Fengxian.

Then the emperor said, "If it weren't for you, how could I have been so fearful? How could I have been so uneasy? How could I have betrayed my country?"

Li Chuwen simply shook his head.

Yelü Dashi felt a strange sense of joy; the emperor had finally become wise!

The emperor shouted, "Guards! Drag the traitor Xiao Fengxian away!"

Armored soldiers entered from outside the main hall.

Xiao Fengxian immediately knelt down and kowtowed, repeatedly saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me! I have always been devoted to the country and to Your Majesty! Yu Du has long harbored evil intentions. If he were truly a loyal and righteous person, how could he have betrayed the country? Your Majesty, Yu Du's betrayal this time is precisely because I had the foresight! I only regret that I did not take precautions earlier. It is too late for regrets. This is my fault! Now, we must quickly devise a countermeasure to ensure that the country is not lost, Your Majesty!"

After Xiao Fengxian finished speaking, he looked up at the emperor with tears streaming down his face.

The emperor hesitated for a moment, looking down at Xiao Fengxian below the steps. The armored soldiers who entered also stood still, not in a hurry to make a move.

But then the emperor asked, "Tell me...tell me...what should we do now?"

What to do?

Xiao Fengxian's mind raced, and he looked around frantically, wondering what to do.

The Jurchens are wolves and tigers. In recent years, I have fought countless battles against them, but I have never won. Every battle has ended in a crushing defeat. If I were to find gold in the dung, those few minor victories would be of no use whatsoever.

We can't beat them, we really can't beat them, and there's no one else who can fight them!

Xiao Fengxian said in one fell swoop: "Your Majesty, the best course of action now is to protect the country and to turn defeat into victory in the future. The Emperor must not stay in Yanjing any longer. Yanjing is already a battlefield. In a few days, the Jurchen army will besiege it. We must leave the soldiers and civilians here to fight, while the Emperor goes to Xijing immediately. As long as Yanjing can be defended, the country can be saved!"

These words did not seem to surprise Li Chuwen, but Yelü Dashi was dumbfounded. In the past, although he thought Xiao Fengxian was not a good person, he thought that Xiao was just fighting for power and profit, so he thought he was a tough person. Moreover, many of Xiao Fengxian's family members and his subordinates had died on the battlefield in the past.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Fengxian said this at this very moment.

To Yelü Dashi's surprise, the emperor immediately nodded and said, "Very well, let's follow this plan. With the army and the people united, as long as we hold Yanjing, the country can survive. I will go to Xijing to take charge. In this way, the country, the court, and the state will still exist. We can also contact the various tribes of the grasslands in Xijing and gather a large army again. We will definitely be able to turn defeat into victory!"

As the emperor spoke, he had already descended the steps, adding, "Quickly, go and prepare! Hurry!"

As they were talking, the emperor suddenly turned around, took a few steps, and then quickened his pace until he started running.

The entire audience was stunned.

then…

Xiao Fengxian also moved his feet and spoke: "All the military officers and soldiers shall remain in Yanjing and live or die with the city. All government offices shall quickly turn back and prepare to move to Xijing with His Majesty!"

As he spoke, Xiao Fengxian also walked out...

Subsequently, all the officials in the court rushed out, one after another, and many military officers also fled.

The main hall was instantly emptied, but some people remained standing there, not moving an inch.

Li Chuwen was one of them, Yelü Dashi goes without saying, and there were also people like Xiao Gan, scattered here and there, four or five people in total.

These people remained on the spot, looked around, and were all speechless.

Li Chuwen spoke up again: "Then let's gather the troops from all places and guard the four gates. Those who want to leave will not be stopped, but not a single soldier can leave!"

But Yelü Dashi came and asked, "Isn't Minister Li going to move west with the Emperor?"

Li Chuwen waved his hand: "I'm not leaving..."

Yelü Dashi's eyes lit up with eagerness, and he said, "I really didn't expect... I really didn't expect that among all the officials in the court, only Minister Li, a Han official, would be so loyal and righteous!"

Li Chuwen waved his hand and said, "Perhaps it's not that I'm so loyal and righteous... but with the country in this state, it's better to be with a loyal and righteous person like Da Shi Lin Ya than to associate with those pigs and dogs!"

"Alas...Lord Li, what should we do now?" Yelü Dashi asked.

"What should I do..." Li Chuwen muttered to himself, pacing back and forth several times. When he turned his head, he could still see the backs of the people rushing around on the square outside the main hall.

"What should I do..."

Li Chuwen repeated his words, and the people around him, especially Yelü Dashi, asked, "The emperor...is in exile, but the country cannot be without a ruler for a single day!"

These words stunned the people in front of them once again.

Even Yelü Dashi was stunned.

Li Chuwen continued, "If the emperor truly abandons the city, in order to protect the state and reassure the people, a new emperor should be established to govern Yanjing. In this way, the army and the people can be of one mind and fight with all their might!"

Yelü Dashi replied, "I'm afraid that by tomorrow, there won't be anyone in the city qualified!"

Li Chuwen waved his hand: "I'm afraid the Emperor will be heading west out of the city soon, how could he possibly care about the imperial clan? Go, all of you, flee! There are so many members of the imperial clan, surely we can find one who doesn't flee... or one who doesn't have time to flee..."

Yelü Dashi thought calmly for a moment and nodded, "Perhaps. We can hold on a little longer..."

"Hold on, hold on as long as we can, there's still a chance for things to turn around. We absolutely cannot let our guard down until the very last moment!" Li Chuwen seemed to be encouraging everyone.

Yelü Dashi didn't need any encouragement; he simply said, "Just hold on until you die!"

Li Chuwen suddenly asked, "Should we send this message to the Song people immediately?"

"Is my lord thinking of a plan to use one tiger to devour another?" Yelü Dashi asked.

Li Chuwen nodded.

Yelü Dashi thought for a moment, then shook his head: "Let's wait and see... With us here, even if the Jurchen army besieges Yanjing, we can hold out for some time. At that time, we can use this plan. It's too early now!"

Li Chuwen nodded again: "As for military matters, I'll follow your advice!"

He couldn't help feeling helpless; it was just a small test, but these Khitans, especially the few in front of him, really still had spirit.

That's roughly how difficult things are.

Li Chuwen was truly helpless, having neither soldiers nor generals. He couldn't help but think that Guo Yaoshi, who was in Zhuozhou at this moment, still had some men under his command.

Li Chuwen was well aware that Guo Yaoshi was a fickle person who wouldn't act until he saw a clear benefit.

Li Chuwen said, "Then I will stay in the capital and send people to the Prime Minister's residence to summon all those who are willing to stay. We will then conduct business in the capital. Chongde, you should go to the Privy Council immediately and take control of it. You should then divide your forces and go to the various gates. Soldiers are not allowed to leave, and even weapons and equipment are not allowed to leave the city except for those around the Emperor! There is no time to lose, so do it quickly!"

Yelü Dashi bowed and said, "As you command!"

Yelü Dashi, Xiao Gan, and several others immediately went out.

Looking around Yanjing City, everything was suddenly very different. Everywhere there were busy figures, carriages moving, and horses galloping.

Suddenly, the entire city erupted in chaos, panic and disorder everywhere…

Some people had already begun to flee out of the city, and in their panic, some even grabbed their valuables and fled with their families…

The wealthy families were naturally very busy, with a lot of money and gold and silver to lose, and they were reluctant to give them up. So they searched the whole city for carts and packhorses.

There were also those who would say nice things to the servants, lackeys, and guards in the house... In the city of Tokyo!

It was a time of peace and prosperity, with a lively event taking place in the city. The Empress was hosting a banquet at Yanfu Palace, where she was receiving many noble ladies.

The ladies of the imperial family, dressed in official robes and adorned with various accessories, were extremely solemn and dignified. With their hands in front of their chests, heads held high, and their lotus-like steps graceful, they filed in through the Gongchen Gate.

There were women from the imperial family, ladies from high-ranking families, and relatives of high-ranking officials…

Some people are proud of their ancestors' legacy, some are proud of their husbands, and some are proud of their sons.

Lady Cheng Jiyue of Dong'e County followed Crown Princess Zhu Lian into Yanfu Palace, heading towards where the Empress was.

Cheng Jiyue was so nervous that she couldn't even take a second look at the beautiful scenery in the palace.

The palace eunuchs and maids, countless people, were extremely busy.

When important matters in the palace occurred, Liang Shicheng would personally oversee the proceedings and direct the flow of affairs. Upon seeing the Crown Princess arrive, he would also step forward to pay his respects.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Crown Princess introduced, "The Grand Commandant surely doesn't recognize this young lady..."

Of course, the Crown Princess had a big smile on her face.

Liang Shicheng then looked Cheng Jiyue up and down, shook his head and smiled, "Your Highness, although I don't recognize her, I can guess..."

"Oh, then guess..." The Crown Princess smiled, looked at Cheng Jiyue, and gently pulled Cheng Jiyue's hand, as if to comfort her.

Liang Shicheng nodded: "It must be... the eldest daughter of Scholar Su, the Lady of Dong'e County! I seem to remember her name as well, the daughter of Master Cheng of Jingdong, Cheng Jiyue! Is that right?"

Cheng Jiyue was taken aback and wondered how he had guessed that.

The Crown Princess smiled and said, "Indeed, Grand Commandant, you're quite the connoisseur!"

Liang Shicheng chuckled and said, "The only newly appointed imperial consort these days is Madam Cheng. The imperial consort's documents are all written by me. How could I not guess? Please, please, come and take a seat!"

Cheng Jiyue then bowed again, saying, "Thank you, Grand Commandant!"

Liang Shicheng had already stepped forward to invite them and led the way, but he also said with a smile, "There's no need to be so polite. Madam Cheng may not know, but your scholar's surname is Su, and mine is also Su. We're family!"

"Thank you, Grand Commandant Su!" Cheng Jiyue said, but although she had been away from the capital for a long time, she was still quite knowledgeable and was very curious. Where did this eunuch Grand Commandant Su come from?
The Crown Princess spoke first: "Sister, it's Grand Commandant Liang..."

"Ah?" Cheng Jiyue was momentarily stunned. How could she not know about Grand Commandant Liang? A hidden minister in the court, his power reached the heavens…

Hmm... how come he's such a kind person?

Liang Shicheng chuckled, "Madam Cheng may not know, but I am actually the illegitimate son of the Great Scholar Su. Many people are unaware of this secret, but it's alright to tell Madam Cheng..."

Cheng Jiyue was shocked. He had casually told her such a private matter. She immediately knew that her husband must have a very good personal relationship with Grand Commandant Liang...

The Crown Princess smiled inwardly. How could this be a secret? Grand Commandant Liang tells everyone he meets, so how could it be a secret?

She simply followed suit and took her seat. Before long, Empress Zheng came out, and everyone greeted her. Cheng Jiyue simply followed suit.

Then the feast began, but it wasn't a feast where people ate and drank to their hearts' content. It was more of a formality; they didn't actually eat much, it was just for the sake of creating an atmosphere.

Before long, the Emperor himself arrived. Cheng Jiyue's heart pounded wildly, and she couldn't contain herself. She never imagined that one day she would be able to see the Emperor's face with her own eyes.
The emperor was also very kind and gentle, truly handsome and refined, with a smiling face that made people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

He would ask questions and offer advice, saying pleasantries and admonishing the women to manage their household affairs properly, and so on...

Cheng Jiyue just listened...

Suddenly, the emperor asked, "Who is from Su Ziqing's household?"

Cheng Jiyue thought she had misheard and froze on the spot. Before she could react, the Crown Princess reached out and gently poked her waist.

Cheng Jiyue immediately rose and curtsied, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The Emperor descended and looked her over, saying, "A fine young woman, quite good, indeed a match for Su Ziqing. Cheng Wanli knows how to raise a daughter well. Very well, you two can be close. I just came to visit in my spare time and will be leaving soon..."

With that, the emperor went out.

There was a sense of relief throughout the venue, and one could even faintly hear breathing sounds from various places.

Empress Zheng smiled and said, "Today's banquet features many delicacies from Jiangnan, and the chefs are also from Jiangnan. You should all enjoy them and not stand on ceremony."

Everyone nodded, but it wouldn't be polite to be impolite; no matter how delicious it was, it was impossible to eat it heartily.

The Empress, however, suddenly looked at Cheng Jiyue, presumably because of the Emperor's earlier inquiry. She beckoned, "Come, Madam Su, come forward and sit down. Sit closer and speak with me..."

Cheng Jiyue was truly flattered and went forward. There was nothing important to discuss; it was just that the Empress had casually asked about her family, her elders, and where they lived…

Cheng Jiyue answered each question one by one, her heart pounding with anxiety...

Only after the meal was finished and everyone left the palace did Cheng Jiyue feel as if she had been granted a pardon.

Just as she was thinking of getting on the bus and going home, a woman approached her and said, "Madam Su, please wait a moment..."

Cheng Jiyue, being polite and courteous, left after receiving the proper greetings.

The woman stepped forward, all smiles, and without any airs, and said, "I heard that your brother is getting married?"

“Yes, that’s right… I’ve looked at several places these past two days…” Cheng Jiyue nodded.

"It's not settled yet, is it?" the woman asked.

"It's not decided yet..." Cheng Jiyue was always intelligent, but today, she was completely bewildered.

"That's perfect! I suppose those families you were looking at before were not to your liking. My family goes without saying; we are members of the imperial clan, and all three of us are of marriageable age. Come tomorrow, and I'll show you each one. Once we get married, the Emperor will bestow upon us the title of County Princess—what an honor! You must come, tomorrow!"

The woman's words were somewhat forceful, but in reality, she was very passionate.

Cheng Jiyue simply nodded: "Okay, okay, I'll come tomorrow!"

"Then it's settled. It's getting late, so I won't bother you any longer!" With that, the woman turned and left.

Cheng Jiyue returned a blessing as a gift.

Just as Cheng Jiyue was about to get back into the carriage, she suddenly heard someone call out, "Madam Su, wait a moment!"

Turning around, I saw another woman of noble birth approaching.

This man, ever the social butterfly, strode forward, glanced at the woman's back, and asked, "What did she say to you? Did she say her family has three county princesses? Oh dear, let me tell you, each and every one of them is incredibly spoiled and willful, and quite ugly indeed. You'll see for yourself when you go see them. My young lady, on the other hand, has been educated since childhood, proficient in all the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Your family is a scholarly family; you are a suitable match for such a woman. You must come tomorrow, so I can show you..."

Cheng Jiyue nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, I'll definitely go!"

"I'm not saying anything more, I'm going home... I'll be waiting for you tomorrow!" The woman turned and left.

Cheng Jiyue was stunned, but she knew that everything was very different. In the past, her family had been rejected by their fiancé.

Today, every household is vying to get it.

Thus, it was as if the women in the capital could be chosen at will.

For a moment, Cheng Jiyue felt truly happy, but this happiness also brought her endless troubles…

This is really difficult to handle; if not handled properly, it could offend someone.

Hurry home, Cheng Jiyue needs to write a letter to Dongping Prefecture. This matter is quite troublesome, and she needs to ask her father for advice.

But shortly after arriving home, someone knocked on the door, and it turned out to be a professional matchmaker…

Another round of dismissal...

A moment later, someone knocked on the door again…

After several rounds of this, Cheng Jiyue kept pushing Sister-in-law Gu forward.

Another invitation arrived, asking Cheng Jiyue to attend some poetry club the next day. Cheng Jiyue then realized that such poetry clubs for women were often just a name, an excuse for gatherings of women from wealthy and powerful families.

But I still have to go...

Believe it or not, women in the capital city had plenty of entertainment, such as sumo wrestling. Women's sumo wrestling, with those fierce sumo wrestlers pushing and shoving each other, was a favorite pastime for noblewomen, who would reward them handsomely.

For example, one could enjoy tea tasting and tea competitions, listen to music, watch variety shows, or watch Cuju (ancient Chinese football)...

Even a few women of letters would get together, compose poems and essays, and play games like the "Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream" and "Flying Flower Orders"...

Actually, there is a lot of joy.

In the past, Cheng Jiyue was not qualified to participate in these things, and no one would have taken the initiative to invite her.

Let's go then, but we'll be busy early the next morning...

Since these are all older sisters and younger sisters, and Cheng Jiyue has just come to meet them, we can't afford to embarrass the Su family of Jingdong. Gifts must be prepared, and they should be generous…

Xiongzhou!

In the middle of the night, Su Wu, under the lamplight, was still at his desk.

Yan Qing rushed over and said urgently, "Uncle, urgent news from Yanjing!"

As he spoke, he handed over a letter. Yan Qing also said, "Yelü Yudu has betrayed the country. Zhongjing Dading Prefecture has already fallen. In Yanjing City, the Liao emperor has fled west. That Minister Li has gathered some military generals, saying that he wants to establish a new emperor in Yanjing. He also said that the matter of surrendering to the south is really difficult. He asked if Uncle has any plans."

What Yan Qing was referring to was the content of the letter.

After reading the letter, Su Wu frowned and said, "It seems we still need to fight a fierce battle first!"

Yan Qing then came and said, "Prime Minister Zhao said the same thing and asked me to bring a message, saying that he would ask Uncle to advance his troops quickly!"

Zhao Liangsi shared the same idea…

Su Wu was pondering, but not hesitating. He was wondering whether to wait until a new emperor ascended the throne in Yanjing before advancing his troops, or to advance now.

After a moment's thought, I realized I still needed to hurry, but doing so would likely displease Li Chuwen.

We can't worry about that now. If a new emperor comes to Yanjing, I'm afraid the people in the city might not be able to regroup.

Let's fight first, and talk about everything else after we win!
Thinking it over, Su Wu called out, "Someone, quickly summon all the generals and officers to the main tent for a meeting!"

"Understood!" The guards rushed off.

Su Wu then said to Yan Qing, "I have something to say to you, please take it to Minister Li. Tell him that at this moment, things have suddenly changed, and our previous agreement is no longer valid. I must advance my troops because the Jurchens are certainly advancing as well. If the Jurchens reach Yanjing first, I fear Yanjing will not be able to hold and will fall into their hands. Therefore, I have no choice but to do this. If I reach Yanjing first, I can establish a camp and take advantage of the terrain to confront the Jurchens. I hope Minister Li understands my intentions and will comply. Please forgive me!"

Yan Qing nodded: "I've got it!"

Su Wu added, "I also privately told Prime Minister Zhao that we must keep Li Chuwen calm! Go quickly!"

Yan Qing bowed respectfully, then turned and ran away.

Before long, even though it was already night, the generals from all directions quickly gathered.

Lanterns were lit one after another, and maps were hung on the left and right.

Su Wu only told the story.

Everyone present was overjoyed. Zhong Shidao even said, "General Su is truly a man of great talent. He actually had this conversation with the Prime Minister of Liao beforehand. It is both astonishing and admirable. Since he has already planned such an opportunity, we should obey General Su's orders and advance immediately!"

Liu Yanqing then added, "The way to govern a country can be like this. I am truly stunned by what Commander Su has revealed at this moment. With such an inside help and such a heaven-sent opportunity, if we fail to win, it would truly be an injustice to heaven!"

Clearly, it was only at this moment that Su Wu told everyone about Li Chuwen.

At this very moment, it is most effective and most astonishing.

Looking at the soldiers in the field, every single one of them had eyes full of admiration. When they looked at Su Wu, their eyes were full of fervent respect.

They were all eager to try their luck, as such a favorable situation was something they could never have imagined before.

Su Wu then said, “Gentlemen, we must not underestimate the enemy. Although the Liao people have few soldiers available at this time, they are all elite troops who have fought a hundred battles and are sure to be willing to die. Moreover, at this time of national ruin and family destruction, many Liao people will be even more courageous. As the art of war says, a desperate army will surely win. The Liao people have already reached their lowest point and are fighting like cornered beasts. They should not be underestimated!”

Su Wu spoke with utmost seriousness.

Zhong Shidao nodded in agreement: "That's absolutely right. What Commander Su said is absolutely true. We shouldn't have declared victory so easily. Even a lion using its full strength to hunt a rabbit should not be arrogant!"

Su Wu was still frowning. He was putting himself in Yelü Dashi's shoes and thinking about how Yelü Dashi would deal with this dead end.

Even after trying to put himself in different scenarios, Su Wu's thoughts were not entirely clear.

His worries grew even more; what kind of person was Yelü Dashi?

How could this not inspire fear?
Seeing Su Wu frown, Liu Yanqing said, "General Su, there is no need to worry so much. This situation is already extremely advantageous. We will not underestimate the Liao army. Just be brave and fierce, and we will surely win a great victory!"

Liu Guangshi then added, "Yes, brother, you have already planned this far. With our 70,000 to 80,000 troops here, how can we not take down Yanjing City for you!"

Yang Keshi then said, "Commander Su, this humble general is willing to be the vanguard!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wu felt a sudden alarm bell ring in his mind. He glanced at Yang Keshi and said, "The matter of the vanguard will be discussed later. I will think about it today!"

Yang Keshi was stunned, his face showing disappointment, helplessness, and even a bit of resentment. He was the first to volunteer, but his request was rejected.

Could it be that Commander Su looks down on me?
Could it be that Commander Su is not as righteous and fair as rumored? Is he trying to leave such a great achievement to his own people?
(Brothers, I'm in the countryside now, and I've switched to a different device. It's taking some getting used to to typing, but I've already written 8,000 words in the last couple of days, which feels pretty good.)
(End of this chapter)