Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 248 The ancestral legacy, would you rather give it to foreign invaders than to your brothers?

To the north, several hundred Liao cavalrymen dismounted, and more than 15,000 Liao infantrymen formed ranks.

To the south, five thousand Song cavalrymen were still on horseback, while more than thirty thousand infantrymen were already in formation. Behind the thirty thousand infantrymen, there seemed to be dust, indicating that more infantrymen were coming, along with auxiliary troops...

In the middle, there were mountains of corpses and seas of blood, severed limbs and torsos, and flesh and blood scattered everywhere...

Five riders emerged from each side, weaving through the mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Su Wu looked around and saw how fierce the battle was. There were hardly any wounded among those who fell from their horses, and no cries of pain could be heard in the field. It was clear how ruthless the iron hooves of these thousands of horses were.

Yelü Dashi slowly rode up from the opposite side, his pace slow as he looked around. He had fought many fierce battles, but he had never had the chance to look back at the battlefield, simply because he had suffered repeated defeats...

The man opposite, Lord Su, has arrived. He is approaching. Yelü Dashi actually knows Su Wu. He had met Su Wu in person when he accompanied Li Chuwen on a mission to Xiongzhou.

Su Wu had seen him before, but he still had to pretend: "So you are Yelü Dashi?"

Yelü Dashi bowed and said, "It's me... Minister Su, greetings."

“You are quite calm…” Su Wu reined in his horse, stopping it three or four steps away from Yelü Dashi.

Yelü Dashi nodded: "War is war, the country is destroyed and the family is destroyed, there is no way to avoid it. Matters are matters, since Prime Minister Su has come to see me, there must be something to discuss. When we talk, we should be calm and composed..."

Su Wu was also taken aback, and only uttered one sentence: "Lin Ya truly possesses a magnificent and imposing spirit..."

Yelü Dashi nodded, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "Then please, Prime Minister Su, have something to say..."

Su Wu nodded, handed the riding whip to Yue Fei, and soothed the horse a few times. The horse, being intelligent, stood still and did not move, only slightly swaying its head from side to side, as if it were also looking at the things around it.

Su Wu spoke up: "Your ancestors named themselves Khitan, which means 'iron,' how many years has it been since then?"

Yelü Dashi replied, "If we're talking about naming it, that's a long time ago, hard to trace back to now, perhaps six or seven hundred years, or even seven or eight hundred years ago. But if we're talking about the Khitan's independence, it's been over four hundred years..."

"Over four hundred years ago, during the early Tang Dynasty, in the reign of Emperor Taizong, the Tang Dynasty was rising to power, sweeping across the land. The Turks were repeatedly defeated and never recovered, eventually disappearing from the grasslands..."

Su Wu seemed to evoke a sense of melancholy.

Yelü Dashi nodded: "The Khitans came from the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong bestowed upon them the surname Li. After the fall of the Tang Dynasty, the Khitans succeeded the Tang and are also the legitimate successors of China, the Celestial Empire!"

Su Wu smiled slightly and waved his hand: "Your ancestors had their own glory, and my ancestors also had countless glories. Let's not argue about this matter. Liao inherited from Tang, and Song inherited from Tang. We are brotherly nations. I only have one question for you..."

"What is it?" Yelü Dashi answered much faster, perhaps because of Su Wu's words, "Your ancestors had their own glory."

"The Jurchens have risen up and their power is unstoppable. Although you and I are fighting a bloody battle here, the Liao, with its million armored soldiers, has no real enmity with the Song under the century-old Chanyuan Treaty. The Liao will not fall at the hands of the Song, but at the hands of the Jurchens. What I want to ask is, in the past, the Jurchens were neighbors with the Liao, and the Liao could not withstand them. Now, soon, the Jurchens will be neighbors with the Song. How will the Song position itself?"

After asking his question, Su Wu looked at Yelü Dashi.

Yelü Dashi frowned, looked at Su Wu's troops from afar, and slowly said, "Lord Su has a fine army, but I wonder how many such fine armies there are in the Song Dynasty..."

Su Wu spoke frankly: "There aren't many skilled and capable warriors; those who could come, have all come..."

"Are all the cavalry capable of fighting right before us?" Yelü Dashi asked again.

Su Wu nodded earnestly: "Our Great Song Dynasty has never had many cavalry. These resources are the result of my painstaking efforts. All the cavalry capable of fighting in the Great Song Dynasty are here..."

Yelü Dashi then spoke frankly: "Prime Minister Su is indeed straightforward. If that is the case, then... with these men and a few thousand cavalry, the Jurchens are a powerful army that roams freely, mostly cavalry, numbering around fifty thousand. In the vast lands of the north, if war were to break out, if General Su were to lead the response, he would be nothing more than exhausted from running around and dealing with the situation. It is not entirely a matter of the strength of the soldiers, but rather an inherent disadvantage that is difficult to overcome."

Su Wu nodded: "Lin Ya has been fighting the Jurchens for years. Could you offer me some advice?"

Yelü Dashi remained noncommittal, only saying, "I know why you've come. You don't want Yanyun to fall into the hands of the Jurchens, and you want the Yanshan Mountains as a protective barrier..."

"besides……"

"Ok?"

“I also fear that if the Jurchens enter Yanyun, they will plunder all the people of Yanyun, leaving Yanyun vulnerable and making it difficult to maintain border defenses. I also fear that even if I gain control of Yanyun, the people of Yanyun will not be loyal to the Jurchens and will eventually follow the Jurchens, becoming their dogs and horses.”

Su Wu added a few words, all of which were... historical facts.

Yelü Dashi sighed deeply: "I have no solution..."

Su Wu was not disappointed, and continued, "Then I will say a few more words. Perhaps you have witnessed too much tragedy of national ruin and family destruction, and thus wish to see the Jurchens fall, and also hope that someone can avenge the Khitan Liao Dynasty..."

A hint of sorrow appeared in Yelü Dashi's eyes, but he said, "Our country is already destroyed and our family is gone, how can we think of such things..."

Su Wu continued, "Then let's talk about the Tang Dynasty, the Central Plains, the orthodoxy of Chinese civilization, the legitimate lineage of China, and the poems and essays you've read since childhood. I'll let you read the Book of Tang, and you'll be happy when you read about Li Jing defeating the Turks, and sad when you read about An Lushan entering Chang'an..."

"What you're saying, Lord Su, is nothing more than trying to talk about the difference between the Chinese and the barbarians. I'm already in this state, my Great Liao is already gone, how can I listen to such things..."

Yelü Dashi, a proper and upright scholar, a scholar with backbone, could no longer suppress the sorrow on his face.

Su Wu suddenly asked, "Then... do you still want this Khitan?"

"What do you mean by what you said, Prime Minister Su?" Yelü Dashi asked, puzzled.

"If we go back many years, even if the Khitans, or you, were slaughtered to death, it would still not quell the hatred in my heart. But if we only count the last hundred years, what difference is there between the Khitans and the Han, between you and me? A hundred years! Several generations have passed. Do you still want the Khitans? If there is even the slightest possibility of wanting them, even the slightest hope, why don't you want them?"

Su Wu stared and asked.

Yelü Dashi avoided eye contact and fell silent.

Su Wu was in no hurry. He lowered his head and stroked the horse's neck a few times, even taking off the iron helmet from its head and tucking it under its arm. He then smoothed the reins a little...

Yelü Dashi turned around and said three words: "Speak..."

Su Wu nodded: "Then I will speak. There are three things. First, there will be no more fighting in Yanjing. I will go in, and you will leave. Take all the soldiers and civilians who are willing to go with you to Xijing to find your emperor. You will live..."

Yelü Dashi then said, "I know I am alive, which is why I came at your invitation. And the second matter?"

Su Wu continued, “The second thing is that you take your troops to Xijing. Even if Xijing cannot be defended, there are still the vast grasslands and countless tribes near and far. Over the years, countless people have benefited from the benevolence and kindness of your Great Liao. Recruiting soldiers and horses will not be difficult. You and your emperor may still have a chance to rise again, even if the chance is extremely slim. You will still have a chance to fight, just like you have fought this time…”

Yelü Dashi continued, "Yes, in that case, while we continue our bloody battle with the Jurchens, you will have more time to prepare for war, to sort out the situation in Yan and Yun, to postpone the war with the Jurchens, and even to allow us to wear down the Jurchens' strength..."

Su Wu nodded earnestly: "Why not?"

Yelü Dashi did not answer, but asked only, "And the third thing?"

Su Wu bluntly stated: "Go to Datong, the capital of Xijing, a vital transportation hub beyond the Great Wall. The grasslands are within easy reach, and the people of Mogeshi are closely connected to you. I need horses! You can provide the provisions from Taiyuan. If you lose Datong, I will provide them from Yongxing Army Road. As long as you continue fighting, even if you fight to the last soldier, my provisions will never cease! This is a deal."

Taiyuan and Datong are actually not far apart, and even Yongxing Military Road, which is in Shaanxi, is not far from the grasslands.

Yelü Dashi asked, "Aren't you afraid that this matter will be exposed immediately, and that the Jurchens will turn their troops around and abandon me to attack you?"

Su Wu then said, "Isn't this exactly what you wanted? In this way, wouldn't the Khitan, who are barely clinging to life, be able to take a much-needed breather?"

Upon hearing this, Yelü Dashi sighed again: "My emperor is no great ruler!"

Su Wu nodded, but then suddenly asked, "And what about you? Are you a powerful ruler?"

Yelü Dashi was stunned on the spot. After a moment's reaction, he scolded, "How could you say such rebellious words?"

Su Wu waved his hand and said, "Just kidding, just kidding. Perhaps there really will be a day when the Khitan have no emperor. You are Yelü, so it will be impossible for anyone but you... I see that you have a strong and ambitious spirit. Perhaps you can really do something great!"

"Don't say such things!" Yelü Dashi waved his hand and turned his head away.

Su Wu actually wanted to say "things are unpredictable," but he refrained from saying it and continued, "These three things are a win-win situation for both of us, which is better than the Liao's last 30,000 troops being wiped out in a bloody battle with my tens of thousands of soldiers. We have suffered enough casualties today. I am also reluctant to sacrifice the lives of my elite Han soldiers. You know that if we fight again after this battle, these tens of thousands of Liao soldiers in the open field will surely be defeated. It would be a pity for them to die like this. It would be better for you Jurchens to fight and kill the Jurchens, which would be a way to avenge your grievances. What is the point of fighting with me?"

History is like this. There were many more wars between Liao and Jurchen, in Xijing and even on the grasslands, until Yelü Yanxi made a final desperate move, which finally brought the war to a complete end. It was at that time that Yelü Dashi led two hundred men westward.

Su Wu's plan at this time was to prolong the process and deplete more of the Jurchen's strength.

Unexpectedly, Yelü Dashi replied, "I also hate you Song people to the bone!"

Su Wu knew in his heart that he could say these words, which would inevitably express his pent-up anger and resentment at Song's betrayal. As long as a resolute person like Yelü Dashi uttered these words of venting, it meant that the matter was settled.

Su Wu continued, "Even though we are brothers, our family property is still inherited from our ancestors. If you can't protect our family property, why can't I help you? It's better than giving it to outside bandits, isn't it? Is it possible to give our ancestral property to outsiders rather than to our brothers? What kind of logic is that?"

Upon hearing this, Yelü Dashi could only sigh again, but still managed to utter one last utterance: "I'm afraid even you can't hold on..."

"I'm trying my best to defend it, aren't I? You've already lost it, but I'm trying to defend it." Su Wu was really arguing with Yelü Dashi.

This bickering is harmless; it's about making a point and putting Yelü Dashi at ease, laying a psychologically acceptable foundation for any future transactions or collaborations.

Yelü Dashi suddenly asked, "How many horses do you want?"

Su Wu replied, “Of course, I’ll take as much as you have. But you hold a grudge and don’t want to give more. We’ve talked this far, and you want to give some, not wanting the Jurchens to easily defeat me. It’s understandable that you’re conflicted and hesitant. But let’s make it a fair deal: we’ll see how much food, weapons, and armor you need. It’s not that you intentionally aid the enemy; it’s all due to the circumstances, a forced choice, all for the sake of the Liao Dynasty’s survival. Think it through, and you’ll be more willing to accept this…”

Yelü Dashi then fell silent again...

Su Wu knew that, even from Yelü Dashi's perspective, this deal was actually excellent.

To preserve the last bit of manpower for the Liao Dynasty, to extend its reign a little longer, and even to give the Liao Dynasty another chance to turn the tide, Su Wu seemed to only need a horse.

Of course, they also needed to enter the great city of Yanjing without bloodshed, and even take over the people within the city.

Yelü Dashi was also aware that there were many other cities east of Yanyun, including Tanzhou, Shunzhou, Jizhou, Jingzhou, Luanzhou, Pingzhou, Yingzhou...

To the south lie Yizhou and Weizhou...

And in the north, it was all a bloodless victory...

But then I thought again, once Yanjing fell, these cities wouldn't have much power to resist.

However, this deal leaves one feeling uneasy and uncomfortable. It is nothing more than a humiliating treaty, so how can one not feel some disgrace?
But what Su Wu said was indeed good; these places were already indefensible, so this was a last chance...

It might even cause the Jurchens to turn around and attack the Song Dynasty... In fact, when it comes to transactions, there's nothing to hesitate about except psychological, mental, and emotional factors...

Su Wu spoke again: "It seems the matter is settled, Lin Ya, I have one more thing to say..."

“You said…” Yelü Dashi looked at Su Wu.

"If you truly cannot hold on in the future, and if there are still Khitans left, then go west. Han and Tang, Han and Tang—not to mention Han, just Tang—you yourself claim to be a descendant of Tang, a Celestial Empire. You have read countless books and know the vastness of the Western Regions. Though the lands there are small, they are not small either, enough for you to make your mark again. It is because our Great Song cannot go to the Western Regions that the Tanguts and Western Xia block our way. Back then, your Liao people did a great deal of work in this matter, truly blocking our Great Song's westward path. I cannot go for the time being, but you can go. With your spirit, if there is truly no other way, what difficulty is there in going?"

Su Wu's words expressed his fear that the current changes would cause Yelü Dashi to become hesitant and indecisive in the future, and not to leave in anger as he had in history.

We must go to the Western Regions. Su Wu can't go for the time being, but Yelü Dashi can go.

It wouldn't hurt to rebuild the Western Liao. The Western Liao was far larger than the Western Regions of the Han and Tang dynasties. It wasn't just the Western Regions; it encompassed the entire Central Asia. Yelü Dashi, you go and do it.

Once Su Wu has sorted everything out, he will also go. Perhaps it will be ten or twenty years from now, or even thirty years?
At that time, the Central Plains was strong, and the army and weapons were powerful. Yelü Dashi had already prepared the food. When Su Wu came again, wouldn't it be perfectly justified?
Perhaps we should also thank Yelü Dashi for laying the foundation for their rule. Those who were willing to be ruled by the Western Liao would also be willing to accept Su Wu's rule. Those who had a blood feud with the Western Liao would be grateful to Su Wu for avenging them and would be even more willing to accept Su Wu's rule.

This logic has always been consistent throughout history, without exception.

Yelü Dashi replied, "I suppose that emperor will not go west..."

“That’s your problem…” Su Wu replied.

Yelü Dashi shook his head. Su Wu's words had indeed given him pause for thought. Now, shaking his head meant he no longer wanted to think about it, and he said, "Regarding the matter in Yanjing, there is still His Majesty present. I'm afraid he wouldn't be willing..."

"Then it depends on your abilities. Go and discuss it with that Prime Minister Li and the commander Xiao Gan. I'll wait for your reply," Su Wu said.

"I'll take my leave now!" Yelü Dashi bowed and prepared to turn and leave.

Su Wu said, "Wait a minute, there's something else..."

"Is there anything else?" Yelü Dashi turned around and asked.

"I hold Lin Ya in very high regard. He is a man of great wisdom, and surely he is not one to look down on the world?" Su Wu asked.

Yelü Dashi sighed again: "Alas...so be it. When I return, I will let the army in front of me set up camp right here."

"Alright, if this succeeds, you can bring all those in the city who are willing to go with you to meet here and travel west with these ten thousand or so people. I will not stop you. If this fails, none of these ten thousand or so people will be able to leave!"

As Su Wu spoke, Yelü Dashi gave him hostages, and Su Wu accepted them. These hostages, numbering over ten thousand, formed the basis of Su Wu's trust in Yelü Dashi.

This was also a hostage that Yelü Dashi had no choice but to give; if he didn't, then he would have to kill him on the spot.

Looking back, the five thousand Song cavalry seemed to have rested enough.

Just moments ago, the infantry formation numbered 30,000, but now it has exceeded 40,000. The formation is almost complete, and more will follow. The Liao people's 15,000 or so men have no chance of survival.

Whether you fight or run, fighting means dying standing up, while running means dying on your knees under the hooves of horses.

Yelü Dashi couldn't help but glance back at the rows of Song infantrymen in iron armor. He had only caught a glimpse of them once before in Xiongzhou, but seeing them again today filled him with only helplessness...

gone!

Yelü Dashi turned his horse around and rode away quickly.

Xiao Wulila, who was standing nearby, walked a little further away and couldn't help but ask, "Why is Lin Ya willing to go west again? Didn't he say he didn't want to before?"

Yelü Dashi replied, “In the beginning, they were fleeing. How could the Song people not pursue them? And how many men could have gone? Without such circumstances, how could Xiao Gan and the others have fled from the Song people without a fight? In the beginning, without these words from the Song people, without the help of provisions, weapons, and armor, what would have happened if they had gone…”

Xiao Wulila nodded, but then said with a puzzled expression, "The Song people shouldn't be so good at fighting! In the past, when our army was stationed on the border, the Song people would send us money. Why are they like this now?"

Could this not also be the same question Yelü had before the big stone?
At this moment, Yelü Dashi said, "The affairs of the world are beyond the control of fate. The rise of Song depends on only one person, Su Wu! You have seen it yourself, and you have witnessed it just now. He said I am a man of great spirit and courage, which may just be flattery. But how could Su Wu not be a man of great spirit and courage? In terms of strategy, how many can compare?"

Xiao Wulila then said, "Hmm, his words are not wrong, but I think Lin Ya is no less capable than him in terms of strategy..."

"Ugh……"

"Why doesn't Lin Ya believe it? He naturally has the advantage, which makes his strategic prowess stand out. He's naturally good at strategizing. If Lin Ya had the upper hand, how could he be inferior to him? It's just like what Lin Ya said before: you and I were born at the wrong time!"

Xiao Wulila's worship of Da Shilinya throughout his life was unparalleled! His contributions to the Western Liao Empire were comparable to those of Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and Huo Guang!
Yelü Dashi said little, focusing only on the Liao army's formation before him and on Xiao Gan's location.

He simply sought out Xiao Gan and spoke with him at length.

After saying this, Yelü Dashi asked, "What does King Xiao think?"

Xiao Gan frowned, his face filled with sorrow. The Song army's formation opposite him was already formidable, but it grew ever stronger.

Just look at Yelü Dashi's side, there are four or five hundred surviving cavalrymen and about a thousand horses...

He asked only one question: "How could you have lost?"

The question is, how could Yelü Dashi, a cavalryman, be defeated by the Song army in open field battle? Just now, not long ago, he had won a great victory, killing the Song people and making them flee in terror. When he came, he could still see the battlefield, which was mostly littered with the corpses of Song soldiers, with very few Liao soldiers in sight.

He assumed that the Song people were as cowardly and incapable of fighting as his ancestors had said, and that they would surely win many victories this time. So much so that Xiao Gan himself was about to vomit during the march just now, as he was rushing as fast as he could, afraid that he would be too slow.

Upon arriving here, how could one not be astonished?

Yelü Dashi said helplessly, "We've already fought to this point. I had two thousand cavalry, and you had seven or eight hundred. We've fought until only four or five hundred men are left. It's not that I'm not brave, it's not that my soldiers aren't brave, it's not a fault of our fighting..."

Xiao Gan was deeply distressed. How could he not know Yelü Dashi's bravery? If he didn't, how could he have trusted Yelü Dashi so much?

He was simply deeply saddened...

Just now, I thought it was going to work, but it didn't...

Xiao Gan considered the situation carefully before speaking slowly: "If we go west, how will we face the newly enthroned emperor?"

Yelü Dashi said, "As long as we are of the same mind, we can go into the city and discuss it with Minister Li. If Minister Li agrees, this matter will not be difficult..."

Xiao Gan understood what Yelü Dashi meant, but then said, "This emperor is innocent. If he goes to the west with us, he will likely die!"

“Then let him stay in Yanjing…” Yelü Dashi said.

"That Song Dynasty man, Su Wu..."

Yelü Dashi replied, "He will not be killed... For Su Wu, this would be beneficial to the people's hearts. Su Wu does not regard the Khitans as enemies! He must be a magnanimous person."

“That’s fine… but what about that Minister Li…” Xiao Gan was worried.

Yelü Dashi frowned slightly. If Minister Li did not agree, this matter would be quite troublesome.

There are many things that need to be done by Minister Li, such as pacifying the people, recruiting manpower, and even managing the money and provisions that can be carried. Otherwise, under the pressure of time, how could Yelü Dashi and Xiao Gan, who are in charge of the troops, do it well?

These are all secondary. The most important thing is that if Prime Minister Li does not respond, then we will have no choice but to kill him. Under the civil service system of the imperial court, how many of those who are still in Yanjing City are not tough men?
How could Li Chuwen not be a symbolic figure for these people at this moment?
That would mean killing many people, and once people are killed, morale will inevitably be shattered. What was originally a peaceful westward journey would turn into a large-scale plundering and coercion by the army...

Ultimately, only if Li Chuwen agrees can this matter proceed smoothly and the benefits be maximized.

Yelü Dashi was somewhat troubled by what he was thinking, so he simply said, "Let's go into the city first. You come with me and we'll see Minister Li first!"

Xiao Gan nodded: "Alright!"

Yelü Dashi gave an order: "Wulila, you take your men and set up camp here. Keep a close watch. Su Wu's words are actually credible, but we must still be on guard. Just send a part of your men to set up camp, and the rest of you will remain in formation. If it really is the Song people launching a sneak attack, then fight to the death, fight to the very end!"

Xiao Wulila nodded firmly: "If Su Wu really goes back on his word, when the city falls, he will not spare our lives. Rather than die like that, I will fight him to the death here!"

Yelü Dashi nodded, took a deep breath, and mounted his horse.

Su Wu watched from afar as a hundred or so riders slowly headed north. Su Wu sighed, feeling no joy, only a slight sense of relief.

The saying goes, "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold." If Liaozhen is gone, and we really have to live next to the Jurchens, the pressure will only be greater.

Yue Fei, who was standing beside him, asked, "Sir, why didn't you try to persuade them to surrender earlier? I'm really unhappy about letting them go like this!"

Of course, the ground was covered in blood and flesh. There were many friendly troops among them. It was Yue Fei's first time on the battlefield. How could he forgive his enemies?
Su Wu replied, “Let them continue fighting the Jurchens. What use would it be if they surrendered? The enmity between the Jurchens and them has lasted for generations and is irreconcilable. They will not let them go and will only continue to fight. At this moment, the Jurchens may not even need Yan and Yun, but they must capture the Liao emperor and drag him to the graves of their ancestors to crawl on sheepskins. This is the only way to truly avenge their grievances!”

Seventeen-year-old Yue Fei nodded, finally understanding the deep-seated hatred, but then asked in doubt, "Husband, will we really fight the Jurchens again?"

"Yes, definitely, it's only a matter of time. One is a rising power at its peak, and the nobles in the country all rose through military merit. Their gains all come from the battlefield. How could these people easily give up their weapons? Even if they were willing, wouldn't those young, middle-class people want to follow in their footsteps and rise to the top?"

Su Wu's words make sense. Leaving aside the power struggles between major nations, where the top two inevitably clash, let's just talk about the most basic matter of human nature.

In that case, Yue Fei understood, and said, "It's just like when I joined your ranks, sir, I also wanted to make contributions and achieve great things."

Su Wu nodded: "Yes, that's the point. Even if from now on, weapons are stored away and horses are released to graze, and you spend your whole life as my personal guard, how would you be willing?"

Yue Fei nodded seriously: "So many things are actually such simple truths."

"If we were to fight the Jurchens, would you be afraid?" Su Wu suddenly asked.

Yue Fei's expression turned serious: "My lord, I am not afraid!"

Su Wu nodded. He believed it; he believed it a thousand times over!

Su Wu also turned to look, seeing his troops clad in a sea of ​​armor. As long as Wu Song wasn't afraid, Lu Da wasn't afraid, Yue Fei wasn't afraid, Han Shizhong wasn't afraid...

Su Wu became even more confident and fearless; he had been holding back his energy just to do this!

Su Wu watched as the opposing army began to set up camp and said, "Go, pass on the order: all troops should set up camp in order. The cavalry can eat and feed their horses, but they should not disperse. Just tell the auxiliary troops behind them to come forward and do their work!"

Yue Fei nodded, turned away, and muttered to himself, "They can't escape!"

(Brothers, sleep well tonight!)

(End of this chapter)