Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 247 Another Battle, and the Xu-Song Army Collapsed!
Just look at those two thousand-odd Liao cavalrymen, they moved like lightning and axe-cutting through the four thousand infantrymen. At first glance, the four thousand-odd infantrymen didn't even seem to outnumber the two thousand-odd cavalrymen...

The knights on their tall horses, gathered together, looked enormous. The vanguard of the cavalry was as fine as needles piercing cotton. When they all entered the battle, it was like a stone roller grinding them down.

These Song soldiers, had they ever truly fought such a battle? Had they ever been so thoroughly crushed in battle by such armored cavalry? It is said that the wars between Western Xia and Song in recent years had long since ceased to be of this scale, with only occasional border skirmishes occurring.

Yang Keshi was genuinely frightened. He had been frightened ever since he encountered Yelü Dashi with his first formation of seven or eight hundred cavalry, and he was even more frightened now. He turned his horse around and left.

Not only him, but many of the infantrymen had already turned their heads away. They really couldn't win, and it was impossible for them to win. Many soldiers had the will to fight to the death, but they felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

Human strength is finite. How can infantry defeat armored cavalry when they have neither a real numerical advantage nor a psychological advantage?
As they crumbled and were defeated, their footsteps continued to run, but they didn't all head south; instead, they scattered in all directions. They knew that only by running separately could they prevent the enemy cavalry from pursuing and killing them.

Yang Keshi was determined to flee south. With two or three hundred cavalrymen on either side, he kept heading south, knowing that the enemy would surely pursue him. He also knew that there was a large army to the south, and that was where he would be safe.

Despite Yelü Dashi's bloody battles and the crushing defeat of his enemies, he showed little joy. His face remained anxious as he shouted, "Chase! Chase! Keep chasing!"

Clearly, Yelü Dashi also knew that this victory was nothing and could not turn the tide of the war. He had to keep chasing until the Song people were terrified and the Song army was completely routed before he could be considered successful!
The only chance is right in front of us. We've already taken the first step and are halfway there. In past stories, the Song people have always been prone to complete collapse. Let's hope that this time will be no different!

God bless the Liao Dynasty!

Yelü Dashi had no time to chase after the Song soldiers fleeing in all directions, nor did he have time to pursue the Song soldiers not far from the roadside. He only kept his eyes on the people riding ahead, as those were the main targets.

What's more important is the panic and fleeing of those people.

Even killing people isn't the most important thing; killing everyone is meaningless. On the contrary, it's more meaningful when many people flee in extreme panic.

Yelü Dashi even harbored a kind of prayer in his heart, as if it were a divine blessing upon the Liao Dynasty, praying that the Song people would surely collapse this time, a complete and utter defeat...

While fleeing, they were pursued. This scene had actually happened before on the vast plains of North China. That year, Emperor Zhao Guangyi of the Song Dynasty led a large army to launch a northern expedition against Yanyun. He suffered a great defeat and escaped with a famous meme, the "God of the Chariots on the Gaoliang River," which has been laughed at for over a thousand years.

Such scenes of fleeing from the Song people on the battlefields of this land were not uncommon; they occurred countless times, both large and small.

But never before had I been so close to Yanjing City.

Yang Keshi kept looking back, having lost track of how long he had been running and what time it was. He was the fastest runner, even faster than his men, simply because his horse was the most powerful.

The Liao people behind them paused slightly, and Yelü Dashi shouted, "Change horses! Change horses!"

Many Liao cavalrymen were changing horses. Yelü Dashi looked into the distance with some worry in his heart. He was determined to hold out until he reached Liangxiang City and the place where the Song army was gathered.

Yang Keshi thought the same thing; he was determined to hold out until he reached Liangxiang City, for he absolutely could not lose his life there.

The Liao arrows in the air gradually stopped flying, presumably because their quivers were empty...

The roar of the Liao cavalry behind us was still very close, even getting closer and closer, as if at this very moment, the Liao horses were better than the Song horses.

Yang Keshi kept looking back, but his cavalry was dwindling. The Liao cavalry behind him were only forty or fifty paces away, and a sense of despair inexplicably crept into his heart...

Is this truly the place where I am destined to die?
But then, he suddenly thought of that Master Su, and of Master Su's cautiousness all the way...

Why couldn't Prime Minister Su be a little more cautious at the last minute? He's been refused permission to go to war countless times, so why did he grant this request this time?

If Prime Minister Su hadn't responded, things wouldn't have come to this...

Looking back again, the Liao general leading the charge didn't shout any words of surrender; he just kept chasing after them. The Liao horses seemed to be losing strength, so why were they still chasing?
Where is Su Shuai? Why can't I see Liangxiang City?

Suddenly, in his line of sight, which was trying to catch a glimpse of Liangxiang city, he saw dust billowing in the distance. Overjoyed, Yang Keshi shouted, "Reinforcements! Reinforcements are here!"

Those around them were overjoyed and urged their horses onward. One of them exclaimed, "It's reinforcements! It must be reinforcements!"

Yelü Dashi was overjoyed; he had just been worried that the horses wouldn't be able to hold out until they reached the walls of Liangxiang...

They were also worried that the Song army would not engage in battle from their camp, which would inevitably lead to another stalemate.

At this moment, seeing the dust in the distance, we realized that the Song people had actually left their camp and were even heading north. That was perfect, as they still had enough horses to fight!
Yelü Dashi said to those around him, "Brothers, let's fight one more battle, and we will achieve our goal!"

Xiao Wulila was also extremely excited: "Charge! Charge! Charge forward all at once and crush the Song dogs!"

Both sides just kept running wildly!

In the distance, about a mile or two away, Su Wu was at the very front. A scout had just reported that Liao cavalry were chasing Song cavalry ahead.

Su Wu did not urge his horse on. He had already arrived and Yelü Dashi was sure to be caught. The venomous snake in the shadows had finally been caught.

The initiative is already in our hands.

Su Wu even slowed his horse down slightly and addressed his men, "Lu Da, Han Shizhong, Lin Chong, lead your troops to the right. The rest of you, follow me to the left! Brothers, the decisive moment has arrived. I will not retreat, I will fight to the death. This battle will surely be won!"

The crowd, standing nearby, shouted, "We are willing to die for Marshal Su!"

This was already a standard battle cry. The Jingdong army was shouting, and after several shouts, even the Western Army cavalry was shouting. There were six or seven thousand cavalry, including light and heavy cavalry, with the light cavalry at the rear and the heavy cavalry at the front, all shouting loudly.

The cavalrymen spread out to the left and right, long spears in hand and long swords at their waists, exuding a chilling aura.

Su Wu did not know the true fighting strength of Yelü Dashi and those Liao cavalrymen who had been defeated a hundred times.

But a person is ultimately just two hands, two feet, and one head. If they just fight to the death, Su Wu will fight to the death, Wu Song will fight to the death, Han Shizhong will fight to the death, and Lin Chong, Hua Rong, and Huyan Zhuo will all fight to the death...

Looking at Yue Ge'er beside him, he's sure to fight to the death!
Life is all there is, past days and future days, it's all just one journey!

Beneath Su Wu's iron helmet, the muscles under his jaw bulged, indicating that his teeth were clenched!
The roar seemed to have resounded throughout the universe, and nothing else could be heard.

Horses galloped, raising clouds of dust from North China. Since the Han and Tang dynasties, the land has been fragmented, and China has been in disarray.

Yang Keshi could already be seen; he was still running for his life. The Liao cavalry could also be seen, and they were as fierce as wolves and tigers.

Closer, even closer.

Yang Keshi, standing before them, still refused to rein in his horse and continued galloping at full speed.

Su Wu, with Fan Yun beside him, asked, "Sir, are there our own people ahead?"

Su Wu didn't care: "Just charge!"

Fan Yun nodded without saying a word, then urged her horse forward to run in front of her husband, shielding him behind her, as she always did!
Yue Fei seemed to be learning as well, and he too was striving forward.

Ma Zihui would give way, but with such a tight formation, collisions were inevitable. At this moment, how could he possibly care about Yang Keshi's two hundred men?

If they were to look after the enemy, their momentum would inevitably be thwarted.

Not far ahead, Yelü Dashi also took a deep breath, inevitably feeling the same way. The scene before him was like a tidal wave, with Song cavalry rushing in, far exceeding his imagination!

Yelü Dashi's prayers were unspoken, and he shouted, "Brothers, the Southern bandits have always been the most cowardly, collapsing at the first battle! Charge! Charge!"

Yelü Dashi shouted and yelled, even standing up in the stirrups, shouting to both sides, raising and pointing his spear above his head!
Perhaps it is the same; in the past and in the future, we will fight here again. The Khitan people have been for hundreds of years, and today is a time of sorrow. How can this be the end?
kill!

The Liao cavalrymen shouted repeatedly, joining Yelü Dashi in the shouting. At first, it was just a few dozen men, but soon the entire army was shouting!
The sounds of battle were deafening.

The soldiers flanking Su Wu were mostly from the Jingdong region, and they remained unfazed. Perhaps they were unaware of the might of the Liao cavalry, or perhaps they had placed absolute trust in their lord.

With my husband at the forefront, it seems he can charge into any battle, and today is no exception.

Fan Yun cursed, "Yang Keshi, are you really not going to rein in your horse and give way?!"

Yang Keshi has truly lost his mind!
Su Wu thought to himself, "Yang Keshi should be executed!"
They charged forward, and their own cavalry also joined the charge, but fortunately, the impact was not serious.

Yelü Dashi on the other side was secretly pleased. This was exactly the kind of rout effect he wanted. Routs have always had this effect: the fleeing soldiers charging into their own ranks. Unfortunately, Yang Keshi's troops were few and could not truly create chaos.

Accept the challenge!

With his spear in hand and tucked under his arm, Su Wu practiced countless times and used it countless times, day after day without ceasing. This also made Su Wu uneasy every day, for with Liao and Jin on the borders, how could he dare to relax even slightly?

Countless fast horses were crisscrossing, and many horses were unable to avoid each other and collided at high speed.

The two men seemed to have struck with their spears at the same moment, and the timing of their strikes was indeed only at that single instant.

In an instant, horses neighed, people shouted, and countless people and horses were thrown about.

In an instant, Su Wu was also surprised, as was Yelü Dashi.

Su Wu was astonished that the Liao cavalry, which had suffered a hundred defeats, was so fierce and brave, yet still could not protect the safety of their country. This gave a glimpse into the nature of the Jurchen cavalry.

Yelü Dashi was astonished at how the southern bandits could gather and train so many cavalrymen to fight, and all of them were skilled horsemen.

The troop at the front, numbering seven or eight hundred, was a normal number. But this troop must have numbered in the thousands or tens of thousands. Where did the Song people come from?
Once you're truly in battle, there's no room for distractions; it's all about fighting. You can't see anything else but one armored cavalryman after another appearing before you.

The weapon should be used to keep stabbing and thrusting.

Under their feet, countless bones were shattered. Whether man or horse, once they landed and could not run with the torrent, the horrific scene was indescribable. Flesh would turn into mud, bones into dust, and even iron armor could be crushed and scattered under the horseshoes, with armor plates bouncing and flying.

Even objects on the ground can trip horses, and the fallen people and horses seem to have a chain reaction.

Guns can slip from your hand, armor can tear, knives can chip, and people can die!

After a brief exchange of blows, the two armies switched positions and then regrouped for another battle!
In the center of the battlefield, everything was in ruins, a truly horrific sight.

This land of Yan and Yun, spanning over a hundred years, has witnessed the deaths of countless Song soldiers and the Liao dynasty.

The price the Song Dynasty paid was more than enough...

Faced with this, Yelü Dashi only looked to his left and right. He didn't know how many empty mounts there were, but the Song cavalry was truly numerous, and their military formation was indeed very solid.

Yelü Dashi also looked at the opposite side. There were many empty horses on the other side, but they were troops that had regrouped. They were still as numerous as hairs on a cow. They were gathering again. Unlike the previous group of seven or eight hundred cavalry who had fought and fled, they had regrouped.

They really did get together!

Yelü Dashi felt a chill in his heart, yet he encouraged himself, thinking that perhaps the direction was wrong. That side was to the north, and the Song army was to the north. Perhaps he could fight for a while longer, and once the Song army was to the south, he would turn around and flee south without looking back.

Yelü Dashi shouted to his men, "Let's fight another round, and the southern bandits will surely be routed!"

After a brief pause, Su Wu's aura around him truly diminished. This atmosphere was indescribable, but Su Wu could clearly sense it.

The Song army had not engaged in such a cavalry battle in the open for many years.

Even the Jingdong cavalry under Su Wu's command, despite having fought countless battles, were fighting such a battle for the first time.

Su Wu was still clenching his teeth, as if he wanted to bite them off, and kept shouting, "Let's fight again!"

Wu Song shouted, "I am willing to die for you, sir!"

Wu Song was the first to shout, and then those around him also shouted, "We are willing to die for you, sir!"

Then, the whole army shouted again!

"Giddy up!" Su Wu urged again, taking the lead and galloping off!

Following left and right, Fan Yun accelerated forward once again, blocking Su Wu's path.

Countless voices around him said, "Let's go, let's go!"

"Follow up quickly!"

"Let's charge into battle together, my lord!"

"Kill! Kill!"

The roar rose again, and the Liao army on the other side charged forward once more!

Su Wu glanced at Yue Ge'er, who was following closely beside him. Yue Ge'er was no longer tense at all and was extremely focused. He held his spear well under his arm, his eyes were fixed on the front, and his head, which was covered by an iron helmet, remained motionless. There was an inexplicable sense of determination about him.

This is a man of unwavering resolve and a man of honest and simple character!
If they weren't honest and kind-hearted, how could there have been a Fengbo Pavilion in history?
Su Wu glanced at Yue Ge'er beside him, and his heart inexplicably became more determined, as if Yue Ge'er beside him could also inspire Su Wu's heart.

When the battle resumed, it was the same scene of men and horses falling over each other. Su Wu's spear thrust again and again, sometimes hitting the target, sometimes not, but he tried his best with every thrust!

With Erlang by his side, he would stand up slightly, bend over, and drag his sword, swinging it again and again. The huge broadsword had long lost its sharpness, and it was as if he were holding a heavy iron bar. He would smash people and horses into a crouching position, and even in broad daylight, sparks would fly everywhere.

Yue Ge'er, standing to the side, was extremely focused, shouting "ya ya" and letting out a loud yell with each stroke.

After another round, the enemy formation was far less solid than Su Wu's, the difference being the number of people. Su Wu had already led the charge, while the enemy behind him was still fighting fiercely within Su Wu's formation.

Before the two armies could even turn around, Yelü Dashima had already turned his head to look, staring intently, and staring...

Let's see if the Song army will turn their horses and flee south!
Yelü Dashi stared intently as the Song army's pace slowed and they began to regroup, seemingly about to turn back.

Yelü Dashi felt a tightness in his chest. What was going on? Why weren't the Song army leaving?

All I could see was devastation, severed limbs, and blood and flesh strewn everywhere...

The Song soldiers actually turned back...

Looking around, there were 2,800 riders who had come out, but now there were probably only 1,500 or 1,600 left...

Looking across, there were many empty horsebacks, but the number of knights was still dense and overwhelming. It was impossible to get a full view from a high place, so it was impossible to estimate the exact number, only that there were tens of thousands.

"Lin Ya..." Xiao Wuli called out, but didn't say anything, only looking at Yelü Dashi beside him.

Yelü Dashi glanced at Xiao Wulila, then lifted his iron mask to reveal his full face. His expression was tinged with sadness. He nodded earnestly and murmured, "Xu's death is today!"

"Then so be it. Let it be... that we perish together with the nation. So be it... If we go to the netherworld like this, our ancestors will blame us, but they won't blame me and Lin Ya!" Xiao Wulila also lifted his veil, his face filled with even greater sorrow. Yelü Dashi remained silent, turning back to look at his soldiers, observing their appearance.

Many people followed suit and lifted their veils, revealing a numbness on many faces—a strange numbness…

From Liaodong to Yanjing, we fought in countless battles, witnessing countless deaths—civilians, comrades, and countless corpses we saw with our own eyes—there were at least 80,000, if not 100,000…

Death may not be so terrible after all...

Defeat a hundred times, yet survive a hundred defeats, remaining alive and still in the military—without this indescribable numbness, how could one possibly stay?
The Khitan people are probably really going to disappear.

Overwhelmed with grief, Yelü Dashi shouted, "Fight again! Fight again and the Xu-Song army will collapse!"

With that, Yelü Dashi removed his mask, turned around, and spurred his horse!

The last spare horse was really running very slowly, but it could still move forward.

Perhaps, to humans, the horse is the kindest animal in the world.

Facing them, Song general Su Wu led his army around, saying nothing more than, "Let's fight again!"

Wu Song turned to look at his brother, his face contorted with rage, and uttered, "I am willing to die for you, sir!"

The crowd shouted, and the whole army shouted again.

However, their momentum was not as strong as that of the leader, perhaps because too many people around them had died in battle.

But everyone's eyes were on Su Wu, and some people even stood up from their horses to look at their Su husband at the front.

He seemed to catch a glimpse of it from afar, but even without seeing it clearly, he remained seated on his saddle.

Su Wu straightened the reins, tightened his grip on the spear, and shouted again, "Go!"

First came three or five horses, then a hundred or so, and then the entire army moved, and the roaring sound echoed once more.

"Stay close, stay close to your husband!"

"Go, let's go!"

"Damn it, it's a fierce battle!"

"My lord is mighty!"

Just charge forward and engage in battle. The scene is no different, just like a sharp spear piercing a person's abdomen through iron armor, but not too deep. When it is pulled out, a piece of intestine is pulled out. The person falls to the ground, and the intestine is inexplicably hanging on the galloping horse's hooves...

The intestines were pulled out of the abdomen, stretching for two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), and the man, like a ball among a group of children, was tossed about by the hooves of many horses. The pain of that death was indescribable...

The horse, its intestines hanging out, stumbled and fell, and the rider on its back fell to the ground, only to be trampled by countless hooves...

It was all a series of coincidences, yet it was so tragic and brutal that Su Wu witnessed it all the moment he lowered his head.

Suddenly everything became clear again, and we went into battle once more...

Su Wu turned to look and see how many Liao cavalrymen were left—maybe eight or nine hundred… well, less than a thousand…

Looking around, he saw that the riders were still following Su Wu as he slowly turned his horses around!

Su Wu felt a sense of relief, and even his tightly clenched teeth loosened. At this moment, Yelü Dashi was no longer a formidable enemy.

"Again!" Su Wu shouted, but then let out a long sigh.

Having experienced such a fierce and arduous battle, the cavalry under his command will be completely different. In the future, when facing the Jurchens, Su Wu will dare to deploy his great formation.

This first real cavalry duel was fought exceptionally well!
It was even better than Su Wu had anticipated. The Jingdong cavalry had been well-fed, well-equipped, and trained daily for so long, with an unknown amount of money and provisions spent on them...

Su Wu was not disappointed at all; in fact, he was very pleased!

Su Wu had never suffered from fear of the Liao, and at this moment, his army would no longer suffer from fear of the Liao or the Jin...

Today, although many have died or been injured, faith has certainly been built!

This time, Wu Song didn't need to shout; everyone around him yelled, "We are willing to die for you, sir!"

Su Wu nodded, spurred his horse onward, and felt a sense of relaxation and an inexplicable peace of mind, a peace he had never experienced before!
Across from him, Yelü Dashi still wore a sorrowful expression, regardless of the prayers or hopes he might have had…

At this moment, all of that is gone.

The Song people... the Song people no longer collapsed; they no longer suffered the same devastating defeat as before...

Yelü Dashi didn't know why, but he clearly knew that the last possible chance was gone, and the Khitan were truly doomed!

The Khitan Liao Dynasty!

A strange, indescribable numbness appeared on Yelü Dashi's face...

“Lin Ya…” The Song army on the other side was already moving, and Xiao Wuli was giving a reminder.

Yelü Dashi suddenly said, "You go first and inform Xiao Gan not to bring any more troops..."

"Huh?" Xiao Wulila was stunned. He had just said that he was going to die here, so why was he being let go now?
"Go quickly, or Xiao Gan's entire army will be wiped out here soon!" Yelü Dashi was still in no hurry to move forward.

“I…I won’t go! I’m afraid he’s already nearby, and it will be too late to inform him!” Xiao Wulila said.

"Alas..." Yelü Dashi sighed.
Xiao Wuli said urgently, "Apart from those who fled west, those soldiers are neither here nor in the city..."

Yelü Dashi said little, but stood up and shouted to his men, "Brothers, it is I, Yelü Dashi, who have failed you. I have never truly led you to victory. The Khitan are dead today! I will fight again!"

Upon hearing this, Yelü Dashi spurred his horse forward, and Xiao Wulila followed. Even those behind him seemed to instinctively spur their horses to follow as well, without uttering a word, only silence.

Is the Khitan dynasty dead today?
I don’t know, I don’t understand…

When they went to engage in battle, their horses could no longer run, and some even collapsed and couldn't get up after entering the formation.

Why did the Song people not collapse?

This question still lingered in Yelü Dashi's mind...

Killing, the weapon in hand, is an instinctive action.

After a brief charge, they were now facing north. Looking around, they saw only a few hundred people scattered about. Even if they were to regroup, it would be difficult to urge their horses forward. So many people dismounted and walked to gather.

Su Wu's horse was also starting to give out, and he saw that many of the enemy soldiers on the other side were dismounting.

Su Wu was no longer in a hurry; he could let the horse rest...

Take it slow. The person in front of you has no horsepower; you can't escape by running...

Su Wu himself needed to rest, and the soldiers could also catch their breath and even leisurely drink some water.

Su Wu looked around and saw that the number of casualties was about two thousand, and the number of casualties among the Jingdong cavalry was at least seven or eight hundred...

Su Wu was heartbroken...

He sighed deeply and looked across at the other side. Su Wu could feel the sorrow in the atmosphere there from afar, and he could even imagine that this was probably the same sorrow that 100,000 soldiers and civilians felt when they followed the emperor to their deaths at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty...

Throughout history, Xu Du has existed, and it seems that this is how it always is when a country falls and a family is destroyed...

In the distance, dust rose again, but Su Wu was not surprised. He guessed that it was the Liao army that Yan Qing had previously spotted leaving the city, mostly infantry.

The Liao Kingdom had no other usable cavalry besides Yelü Dashi's cavalry around Yanjing.

When the infantry arrived, they posed little threat to Su Wu's remaining five thousand cavalry. Infantry and cavalry were incomparable on such a field battlefield.

It's not just that their combat strength is incomparable; the infantry simply can't do anything against the cavalry. Once they enter the battlefield, they can't catch up even if they fight, and they can't escape even if they don't fight. Once the infantry is scattered, they are nothing more than fish on the chopping block for the cavalry.

When the Liao infantry arrived, Su Wu turned around to look, and sure enough, he saw dust rising as his infantry arrived.

In fact, the outcome of this decisive battle was already decided.

Yelü Dashi was also looking back. Xiao Gan had arrived, and he could only sigh. His original plan was to first rout a portion of the Song army, causing them to panic and become disorganized. Then, when the cavalry and infantry arrived, there might not even be a need for another battle, as the Song army would naturally collapse completely...

In the end, it was all just a dream.

Why is it not working?

When Yelü Dashi awoke from his dream, he turned to look. The procession was lined up on both sides, very orderly, and approaching. There were more than 15,000 people, filling the ground, and they looked very imposing.

According to the plan, this imposing presence was meant to terrify the Song people so much that they would run away in terror...

But it couldn't scare them. The knight opposite them stood there calmly, as if waiting, showing no fear whatsoever.
Xiao Wulila spoke up, "Lin Ya, how can we continue the fight?"

Given this situation, how can we continue fighting? Yelü Dashi succinctly replied: "Fight to the death!"

Xiao Wulila nodded and pointed to the opposite front: "The Southern bandits' infantry have also arrived, but I don't know how many there are..."

“They have far more than us…” Yelü Dashi stammered, all hope gone, and simply said, “Wulila…”

"Hmm?" Xiao Wulila responded.

“Perhaps we were born at the wrong time!” Yelü Dashi said.

"How so?" Xiao Wuli asked.

"If we had been born a hundred years earlier, and we were fighting to the death like this, where in this vast world could the Khitan not go? Where in this vast world could the Khitan not be defeated?" Yelü Dashi said slowly.

Xiao Wuli grinned: "Lin Ya, does that mean if we were born a hundred years earlier, the Song Dynasty would be gone?"

"Just thinking about it..." Yelü Dashi was actually trying to comfort himself.

"Lin Ya, are we still alive today?" Xiao Wulila suddenly asked. His loyalty was beyond compare. He would ask Yelü Dashi about matters of life and death. He had always been like this throughout his life.

Therefore, Yelü Dashi in history was able to create the vast Western Liao Dynasty with only two hundred cavalrymen.

Yelü Dashi looked around, then asked, "Do you still want to live?"

"If you want to, then I do! If you don't, then forget it..." Xiao Wulila truly exuded a carefree air at this moment.

"Living? If we're alive, where can we go?" Yelü Dashi's words were actually filled with sorrow. The world is so vast, where can we go?

To the south are the Song people, to the north are the Jurchens, to the east is the sea, and to the west... to the west is Yelü Yanxi, who is like a stray dog. In the last day or two, there has been intelligence that the Jurchen army seems to have already moved from the edge of the northern grasslands toward Xijing, chasing after Yelü Yanxi.

Where else can we go if we're still alive? Back to Yanjing? Yanjing might fall tomorrow...

“Lin Ya, let’s go to the west and find… that Emperor ahead. I’ve heard that he’s also gathering troops, so he might still have the strength to fight. If Emperor really can gather troops, that will be a good opportunity for us to use our skills…” Xiao Wuli said.

Yelü Dashi nodded: "I've thought about it... but deep down I also know that His Majesty is not a great ruler! If I really want to... alas... I'm afraid it won't work..."

"Hmm..." Xiao Wulila seemed to agree with this statement; that emperor would not do...

Yelü Dashi looked behind him and saw that more than 15,000 infantrymen had arrived and were lining up three or four hundred paces behind him.

Xiao Gan was clearly helpless. After receiving the order, he rushed over, his soldiers panting heavily. When they arrived, they saw that there was no way to escape; the only option was to form ranks and stand in formation. Perhaps then they could still put up a fight…

May Xu Tian still protect the Liao Dynasty...

Yelü Dashi prepared to turn back slightly to regroup with his infantry. He had no more illusions left; he had tested it himself. The Song army before him was extremely skilled in battle. Once they had rested enough, their cavalry would move, and fifteen thousand infantrymen would not be able to withstand the iron hooves of those thousands…

Suddenly, a lone rider came into view from the south.

Xiao Wulila asked, "Lin Ya, do the Song people still want to recruit us?"

However, Xiao Wulila himself did not realize that when he spoke before, he always used the phrase "Song dogs and southern traitors," but now, he blurted out "Song people."

"Just wait..." Yelü Dashi seemed to care no longer, but surrendering to the Song Dynasty... surrendering to the Song Dynasty... surrendering to the Jin Dynasty is acceptable, but surrendering to the Song Dynasty is not.

Song is still a treacherous traitor and a thief who takes advantage of others' misfortunes. If it weren't for the countless bitter battles with the Jurchens in recent years, which reduced a million armored soldiers to just the few remaining, how could Song have entered Yanjing like this?

The man who came from afar looked at the four or five hundred riders as he approached, glancing left and right with hatred in his eyes, but he held back and spoke: "My lord Su invites Lin Ya to the arena. My lord Su will bring five men, and Lin Ya will bring five men. I wonder if Lin Ya will accept the invitation?"

Yelü Dashi was taken aback upon hearing this and asked, "How did your husband know that I was leading the troops?"

"To go or not to go? Just one word." The words, spoken beneath that hateful face, were truly unfriendly.

Xiao Wulila retorted angrily, "Just come and fight! Trying to persuade us to surrender? What a joke! Throughout history, only the Song people have surrendered to the Khitans. When have the Khitans ever surrendered to the Song?"

Upon hearing this, the cavalryman immediately turned his horse around and galloped away.

Unexpectedly, Yelü Dashi shouted, "Tell Su...Lord Su that I, Yelü Dashi, have come at your invitation!"

The knight merely glanced back, nodded slightly, and rode on without stopping. This man was none other than Yue Ge'er. If it weren't for his lord's military orders, he would have slaughtered all these burly men before him, leaving no one alive.

I know that you have your own plans, so there's no need to interfere. Just do as I say.

(Hey guys, muah!)
(End of this chapter)