Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 290 This Jurchen has truly gone mad!

In the war against the Song Dynasty, the Jurchen people were all eager to fight, but they also knew that the Song Dynasty was a formidable enemy and could not be taken lightly. They had to make all sorts of preparations.

Personnel needed to be reassembled, supplies needed to be transported from various places, even maps needed to be found again, and guides were also very important...

One side still needs to send troops to pursue Yelü Yanxi...

Therefore, we need to make serious preparations for attacking the Song Dynasty!
But attacking Zhang Jue in Pingzhou will definitely be done immediately!
Within Yanjing City, Zhang Jue's letters arrived extremely quickly.

Tan Zhen, Wang Anzhong, and Guo Yaoshi were also discussing the matter.

Guo Yaoshi was already getting anxious. As a martial artist who had fought in many places, he said, "The Jurchens are already attacking Zhang Jue. At this moment, we should send troops to help. If we are too late, Zhang Jue will surely be defeated, and the people and soldiers of Pingzhou will be doomed. Pingzhou will also fall into the hands of the Jurchens again!"

The logic is clear: either don't do this, and don't give Zhang Jue official positions or money; since you've done it, then you should send troops to help Zhang Jue.

The Yan-Yun army still exists, mainly composed of Guo Yaoshi's resentful troops, as well as former Liao soldiers from various regions, and some recently recruited troops.

In total, it amounts to around seventy or eighty thousand.

Upon hearing Guo Yaoshi's words, Tan Zhen and Wang Anzhong exchanged a glance, clearly in a difficult position.

This matter was somewhat unexpected for the two of them, as they had initially thought it was a diplomatic issue.

In other words, this conflict will be resolved through diplomacy, through words and exchanges.

Unexpectedly, the Jurchens attacked without hesitation.

As everyone knows, the Jurchens currently face many pressing issues, both internally and externally, and are fraught with difficulties.

The Liao emperor was still gathering troops on the grasslands, ready to launch a counterattack at any moment.

The nation was newly established, the people were unsettled, and there was a severe shortage of food supplies; there wasn't even enough food to last the year.

Given these internal and external troubles, no matter how you look at it, the Jurchens wouldn't dare to easily wage war against the Song Dynasty.

The Jurchens have made their move!
Tan Zhen and Wang Anzhong were also puzzled: how dare they do that?

Why would they want to antagonize a powerful ally like the Song Dynasty if they didn't first try to stabilize their position?
But... on the other hand, if they were to immediately send troops to help Zhang Jue, it would be declaring war on their ally, the Jurchens...

How could Tan Zhen and Wang Anzhong dare to make such a decision on their own when they were declaring war on a country and provoking conflict between allies?
In the entire Song Dynasty, there has never been a minister who dared to act on his own initiative like this!

Hmm... there might be one, but that person has just arrived at the gates of Lingzhou City!

Then Wang Anzhong said, "We should first send a letter to Zhang Jue, telling him not to panic, to stabilize the situation, to defend the city, and to hold it for the time being!"

Tan Zhen nodded in agreement: "Indeed, defending the city is of utmost importance. We must hurry to Tokyo to request an imperial decree. Once the decree arrives, we will certainly send troops to rescue him!"

Upon hearing this, Pharmacist Guo became even more anxious: "At this moment, even if we have to wait for the imperial decree, we should still mobilize the army to the northeast, towards Pingzhou, to make a show of force..."

Tan Zhen quickly waved his hand: "Everything awaits the Emperor's decision in the capital... Hmm... Datong is an important town, and logically speaking, the Jurchens should be handed over to our Great Song... Let's see what the Emperor decides!"

What did Tan Zhen mean by not finishing his sentence?
This matter is so complex that even a small change can have far-reaching consequences.

Originally, it wouldn't be long before Song and Jin were to hand over Datong, and everyone was waiting. But if things were to turn out this way, and the Jurchens refused to return Datong, what would happen then?
No matter what happens, good or bad, good deeds will bring credit, and bad deeds will bring blame.

We don't know yet whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, so we can't act rashly. Otherwise, if it turns out to be a bad thing, who will take the blame among the three people present, excluding Pharmacist Guo?

Wang Anzhong also refused to take the blame: "It's very fast. The journey from Yanjing to Tokyo is 1,300 li, and the roads are all smooth. With fast horses taking turns, it won't take more than a few days!"

Guo, the pharmacist, looked helpless. He was a peasant and had never even held a proper official position. He didn't understand why the matter was so simple, right in front of him. Since he had started the first day, he had to continue the next.

Everyone has a sense of shame. If you take in followers and they get beaten up, won't you protect them?

How will I ever be able to blend in with people again?
Guo Yaoshi looked at the two men again, and for a moment... he was speechless. He could only watch as the two men wrote letters to each other, one to Zhang Jue and the other to Tokyo.

The Jurchen army had already arrived at Pingzhou City, but it wasn't the main force. It was Wanyan Zhamu, who was sent from Jinzhou and was also Wanyan Aguda's younger brother.

The Jurchen army now numbers far more than 50,000, at least 120,000 to 130,000.

The main force consisted of about 50,000, of which about 20,000 were untrained Jurchens, or even less than 20,000. The rest were trained Jurchens, as well as people from various tribes in the Northeast, such as the Tieli, and some former slaves who had become regular and deputy soldiers. Some were from the lower ranks of the Liao Dynasty who had followed the Jurchens from the beginning, such as criminals exiled by the Liao Dynasty, Han Chinese, Khitans, Xi people, and steppe people...

There were also 70,000 to 80,000 people, including Yelü Yudu's troops, as well as those who had surrendered in various cities. At this time, they were mostly stationed in different places to guard the cities and maintain order.

Wanyan Zhamu actually had only a small number of Jurchen confidants under his command, and most of them were former Liao soldiers who had surrendered. He also gathered troops from other cities, totaling no more than 10,000 men, and naturally, his army was at the city gates.

The fight broke out without any ceremony. Zhang Jue was quite capable; he actually went out of the city to fight at the very beginning and even achieved a so-called victory, namely, repelling Wanyan Zhamu's vanguard.

This was considered the first battle, and Zhang Jue immediately sent a letter to Yanjing to report the victory. The gist of his report was probably to say that he was capable and that Yanjing was exceptionally talented, so they should not give up on him.

Tan Zhen, Wang Anzhong, and others in Yanjing were overjoyed, and Guo Yaoshi also breathed a sigh of relief, as long as they could hold on.

This battle will naturally continue.

Upon receiving the news in the capital city of Tokyo, the emperor naturally had to discuss the matter.

When it comes to military matters, Tong Guan always speaks first: "Your Majesty, since Zhang Jue has been granted an official position and wealth, isn't Zhang Jue now a Song official? We should send troops to assist him!"

The same principle applies: once a subordinate has accepted a position, he has to take responsibility for it.

Wang Fu was already feeling overwhelmed. The war between the Tanguts was still going on for who knows how long, and now another war was about to break out here?
If a fight breaks out here, Wang Fu will really have to hang himself, and he won't be able to resist looking up at the view of Genyue...

They seem to be busy again over there, shifting scenery and creating a new view...

There was a time when... you didn't know the cost of firewood and rice until you were in charge of the household. Now, I can't help but think... perhaps if I hadn't been messing around with Genyue all these years, I wonder how much more money I could have saved...

Upon realizing this, Wang Fu was startled. How could he have such a thought? This…

You must never think like that again, it's a capital offense!
Then Cai Jing said, "As far as the Jurchens are concerned, they think they have quelled a rebellion. But if the Jurchens succeed in this, such things will probably never happen again. People will even think that our Great Song is afraid of the Jurchens. The Grand Chancellor's opinion is correct. We should send troops to help. It seems that the Jurchens are just bluffing and testing the strength of our Great Song. If we really send troops, they will naturally back down. The Jurchen troops are mostly in the west, around Datong, on the edge of the grasslands. The troops attacking Zhang Jue now are probably just a rabble!"

Cai Jing's analysis actually has some merit.

Could the Jurchens not be testing the Song people? First, to gauge their reaction, and second, to assess the strength of the Song's forces in Yan and Yun.

Thirdly, it may also be a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain.

Pingzhou is in the northeast, and Datong is in the northwest. The main force of Yanjing went to the northeast, and the Jurchens came from Datong, so their momentum was unstoppable.

At this moment, the Jurchens were thinking of looting first: money, grain, ironware and other production tools, craftsmen, and able-bodied men and women.

Urgently needed!
They hadn't even considered marching all the way to Bianjing. Historically, they never thought of it that way at first; they only had the idea of ​​fighting and seeing what would happen, and looting as much as possible.

The Jurchens still took the Song Dynasty seriously, though not to an extreme degree, they at least treated it with utmost care and respect.

The Jurchens never expected that the Song Dynasty would be so easily defeated. They conquered cities one after another with ease, the roads were easy to travel, and their horses were fast. In no time, they reached the Yellow River, and on the other side of the Yellow River was Bianjing (Kaifeng)...

During their first invasion of the Song Dynasty, the Jurchens reached the gates of Bianjing (Kaifeng) and were panicked, unsure of what to do...

By the time of the second campaign against the Song Dynasty, they were much more skilled.

At this moment, the Jurchens also had the same thought, trying every means to rush into Yanyun to plunder more, to seize as much as they could, and if they couldn't seize anything, they would run back.

At this moment, Tong Guan and Cai Jing both expressed their opinions before the emperor. Wang Fu was in a real bind, and he also had to say something: "Your Majesty, the words of the Grand Tutor and the Chancellor are certainly true, but I also have some minor concerns. I am afraid that if we really go to war with the Jurchens, the Three Departments of Finance and Taxation may not be able to keep up with the expenses!"

The emperor had heard these words several times and thought about it for a moment. He then waved his hand and said, "The Jurchens are still facing external threats and internal troubles. How dare they really start a war with me?"

Seeing the emperor's confident demeanor, Wang Fu felt helpless, only thinking that when this war would end, when things would return to normal, back to the beginning, then a prime minister could finally live a decent life.

Cai Jing then said, "Then draft an imperial edict ordering Minister Tan to quickly send troops to rescue Zhang Jue. Even if we encounter the Jurchen army, we should fight them! The Jurchens will not dare to actually come to war!"

Wang Fu nodded, "Then let's get to work..."

But it was all too late.

Was Zhang Jue truly a skilled warrior? Were the soldiers and civilians under his command truly elite?

No matter how bad Wanyan Zhamu's forces were, she still had a small band of fierce and brave Jurchen warriors under her command. Although they were few in number, they were enough.

Zhang Jue won a small victory and really thought he could do it. How could he not get beaten up?
After the defeat, Zhang Jue immediately ran away. Where could he run to?
I will go to Yanjing City.

Just as the imperial edict arrived, signaling the dispatch of troops to the rescue, Zhang Jue arrived.

Tan Zhen and Wang Anzhong looked at the imperial edict while simultaneously glancing at Zhang Jue standing before them…

This scene was somewhat awkward.

Tan Zhen sighed, "Alas... you only had seven or eight days to go, and my reinforcements would have arrived. Why did you..."

I really don't know what to say!
Wang Anzhong then said, "You were reporting your victory just now, while I was already reorganizing my troops. How come you've already arrived in Yanjing?"

Pharmacist Guo also sighed, but remained silent.

On one hand, they lamented the slow reaction and lack of responsibility of the two gentlemen in front of them; if they had reacted earlier, things would not have ended up like this.

On one hand, people also despised Zhang Jue, thinking he was utterly useless; how could he not even hold out after such a short time?
What... what kind of situation is this?

This is just like children playing house...

Zhang Jue also lowered his head, feeling embarrassed. He hadn't expected that the Jurchen troops, numbering only a few hundred, would be so utterly powerless upon arrival.

Before Zhang Jue could speak, someone rushed in from outside: "Reporting to Minister Tan, Minister Wang, and Chief Steward Guo, a hundred or so riders have arrived outside Yanjing City. They are Jurchens, and they say they are envoys..."

Tan Zhen was taken aback. Zhang Jue had just arrived, so how come the Jurchens were here too? How did the Jurchens get here?

Tan Zhen also asked Wang Anzhong, "Should we see him or not?"

Wang Anzhong thought for a moment, then looked at Zhang Jue and said, "I suppose they came here for him..."

Wang Anzhong did not answer the question, and even the question itself was troublesome; such an important matter had been reduced to a childish farce...

The Jurchens have definitely come to demand an explanation. It would be best to also go to Tokyo to request an imperial decree regarding this matter…

But it's too late... They're right outside the door. If I see them, what will I say if they ask questions?
If we refuse to meet with them, we are still allies, at least for now. They will inevitably ask about this matter in future diplomatic exchanges, wouldn't that be the Song Dynasty breaking its alliance? It would give them ammunition for gossip.

Guo the Pharmacist said, "Gentlemen, since you're here, you might as well meet them. Anyway, things aren't going to work out, so just say you don't know anything about them, and if they ask Zhang Jue, then you've obviously never seen him before!"

This is how peasants cheat.

Sure enough, the two gentlemen exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement, saying it was a good idea.

Tan Zhen nodded: "Then let's meet!"

Wang Anzhong looked at Zhang Jue helplessly and said, "What are you still doing here? Hurry up and find a place to hide..."

Zhang Jue quickly got up and hurried away to hide.

Before long, the Jurchens arrived. It was unclear whether they were envoys or not. The leader did not speak Chinese, so his companions translated for him.

These two were the only ones to enter the main hall of the government office. The Jurchen woman, her face full of anger, abandoned all manners and angrily asked, "Zhang Jue is a Jin official who betrayed his country and fled. The Song Dynasty is an ally, and there is a long-standing alliance. Everyone says that Zhang Jue fled to Yanjing. Where is Zhang Jue?"

Tan Zhen remained silent, as did Wang Anzhong. These two were high-ranking officials, holding extremely high positions.

Moreover, this fellow is so rude. If it weren't for the sake of our alliance, how could you two gentlemen not be filled with righteous anger?
They were barbarians, and I couldn't even be bothered to look at them!
Guo, the pharmacist, said, "I have never heard of Zhang Jue coming to Yanjing. Rumors are unreliable!"

"You mean Zhang Jue isn't in Yanjing?" the Jurchen asked again.

Guo Yaoshi shook his head: "I don't know. There are hundreds of thousands of people in Yanjing City. It's possible that he has infiltrated. But we don't know if he is in Yanjing!" "You Song people have privately recruited people from our Great Jin, promised them official positions, and broken your promise. You have already broken the alliance. We will definitely report this to His Majesty the Emperor of Great Jin and seek justice in the future!" This Jurchen probably came with a purpose as well.

Pharmacist Guo simply waved his hand and said, "That's not true. Where did all these rumors come from?"

"Hmph!" The Jurchen woman took something out of her bosom, threw it on the ground, and turned to leave without saying a word!
Guo the pharmacist was also stunned for a moment. Then someone bent down to pick up the things on the ground. What else could it be?
The evidence of the Song Dynasty's granting of an official position to Zhang Jue is in black and white, with an official seal on it.

Guo, the pharmacist, wore a wry smile, and the two gentlemen were also quite embarrassed.

Tan Zhen said, "That's enough, that's enough. What's past is past. Those Jurchen barbarians can only vent their anger, and that's it... They didn't lose anything, and we didn't really gain anything either. I think this matter... should just be left like this!"

Wang Anzhong nodded repeatedly, "Absolutely, absolutely..."

That's all over now, it's good...

But it's also a pity. It's such a pity that all the credit was given to him, and then it was all gone...

Wang Anzhong and Tan Zhen exchanged a glance. What was going on?

“Report this to the capital. Say that... tens of thousands of Jurchen troops besieged the city. Zhang Jue had few soldiers under his command. After fighting for several days, his entire army was wiped out. He escaped to Yanjing and asked the court to... decide how to settle him.” Tan Zhen spoke up.

“Then let’s do it this way!” Wang Anzhong nodded in agreement.

And so they dispersed.

It is also said that among the Dangxiang people in the northwest, Su Wu's cavalry was the fastest and had already seen Lingzhou City. Lingzhou City was not small, with at least 100,000 soldiers and civilians. It was the first city in the south of Western Xia and the gateway to Xingqing Prefecture.

Even if there wasn't enough room inside the city, there were still many clusters of residential buildings outside the city, many of which were shops, providing rest and lodging for travelers...

By this time, there was no one left outside the city.

On the city wall, banners fluttered like clouds, and armor gleamed.

Su Wu frowned deeply. After so much effort, they had only taken the first step: for the army to safely traverse hundreds of miles of wind-blown sand and saline-alkali land to reach the city.

Of course, it was also a huge step forward. Countless times they had attacked Xia, but they had never truly reached this point.

This also completely trapped the Western Xia in this narrow area along the Yellow River.

The Tanguts truly had very little room for maneuver.

Wouldn't that also corner the Tanguts, who have few cities left to defend?

Moreover, the fields along the river that could be irrigated were the actual production areas of Western Xia. Given this, it goes without saying that Western Xia's production was exceptional. For a country like Western Xia, if production were to be neglected for even a year, countless people would starve to death.

But the current situation is not easy to handle. After all, there is a fortified city in front of us. If we can still allow Su Wu to take his time and fight steadily, then we will be in trouble.

Su Wu could accept not capturing the city this year. Spring had already arrived in the south, and it would soon reach the north. He only needed to besiege it for two or three months before retreating. The Western Xia wouldn't even need to fight much; countless people would starve to death, and their power would be crippled. Coming back next year would be much easier...

Even those at the bottom of society, struggling on the verge of starvation, might cause unrest...

Unfortunately, Su Wu could no longer afford to take his time. This time, the problem had to be solved completely, and Su Wu could not sustain the supply of food for more than two or three months.

Therefore, the Song Dynasty must be overthrown. A wealthy country that cannot even supply its army with food for two or three months has a completely rotten and ineffective system.

It is said that during the Han and Tang dynasties, the campaigns against the Xiongnu and Turks involved several generations of people, one after another, constantly shrinking the enemy's living space and disrupting their production order. Only in this way was the problem finally solved, and the Xiongnu and Turks completely disappeared from the long river of history...

In other words, military affairs are never just about fighting and war; they are a grand strategy, a means of mobilization, a means of logistics, and a means of maintaining the continued effectiveness of a nation's systems.

It is also said that the Song Dynasty was weak, weak in military affairs, weak in many areas, and even weaker in that its national system was surprisingly inefficient compared to the Han and Tang dynasties!

How could such a mighty Song Dynasty not be overthrown? This system must be reinstalled.

Su Wu also had to change his strategy. He had been thinking about it for a long time, and a new strategy was slowly taking shape in his mind.

Looking at the earthen-yellow city of Lingzhou, Su Wu said, "Give the order that Xin Xingzong's troops need not come to Lingzhou to meet up. They should head directly north to Shunzhou, west of the Yellow River. Also, instruct them not to abandon their auxiliary troops, supplies, or camping materials. They can move slowly and carefully, setting up camp every day. If any Dangxiang cavalry approaches, they should immediately set up camp!"

After finishing his explanation, Su Wu continued, "I further instruct that Zhong Shizhong's troops and Yao Pingzhong's forces need not come down to Lingzhou City to join the enemy. Instead, they should head north from the edge of the desert, directly to Huaizhou in Western Xia. I also instruct them not to abandon the auxiliary troops, supplies, and camping materials. They should keep watch at every step, send out scouts frequently, and set up camp whenever they encounter the enemy!"

Liu Zhengyan, who was standing nearby, also asked, "If Commander Su is like this, I'm afraid it will drag on for who knows how long..."

Su Wu looked up at the city wall: "If we all gather here in Lingzhou City, that's exactly what the enemy wants. Under such a fortified city, a prolonged siege will result in countless casualties, and whether we can even take it down is another matter. It will only drag on. Rather than that, we should continue to divide our forces! In this way, we can avoid falling into the enemy's trap and take the initiative in the battle!"

After Su Wu finished speaking, he looked around and said to the many generals, "The way to win in battle is to never let the enemy be comfortable, never do what the enemy expects, and always do what you expect!"

How could Wu Song not remember? He immediately nodded, as he had habitually kept Su Wu's actions on the battlefield in mind.

Then Su Wu spoke again: "Now that things have come to this, the Dangxiang cities, along the river, are arranged in a long, serpentine line. From north to south, there are only six cities: Dingzhou, Xingzhou (Xingqing Prefecture), Huaizhou, Baojing, Shunzhou, and Lingzhou. We came from the south, and the Dangxiang people naturally thought we would attack them one by one from south to north. This is not right. There are tactics for this long, serpentine line: cut off the head and tail, and strike the belly. We don't need to worry about Dingzhou in the north. Old Master Zhong and I are in Lingzhou, which is cutting off the head. The two armies going east and west are striking the belly. Then we'll see how the Dangxiang responds. Even if we break Shunzhou, the army can still reach Xingqing Prefecture. If we break Huaizhou, the army can still reach Xingqing Prefecture. If Brother Richard doesn't move and doesn't send troops to reinforce, there will probably be very few soldiers left in Xingzhou..."

Su Wu had learned this strategy before, he had truly learned it. In a distant era, a great man fought against rebels, and in a decisive battle, the rebels also used this long, single-line formation. There was also a Brahmin who invaded the border, and he used the same long, single-line formation.

The only difference is that in the two previous battles, the enemy took the initiative to form a long, straight line, while now, with Su Wu facing him, the enemy had no choice but to accept it, as the natural geography dictates that the line should be long and straight.

Once the arrangements were made, a messenger would rush off to relay the orders.

Liu Zhengyan, however, still had concerns: "My lord, this plan is undoubtedly brilliant, but it means we have fewer troops under Lingzhou City, only about 40,000. If the Dangxiang people inside the city come out to fight, we will be in a bit of a bind."

Su Wu said confidently, "He won't come out. If Richard is slow to react, he'll be slow to react. He thinks that with our three armies surrounding us, he'll have to defend the city. Why would he come out to fight? Facing a three-pronged attack, how can he be sure of victory? By the time he gets the news, it will be too late. We'll have set up camp and dug trenches... Even if he comes out of the city then, we won't be afraid of him!"

After thinking for a moment, Liu Zhengyan nodded and said, "Brother Richard is a skilled warrior. Commander Su knew he was a skilled warrior, so he was resourceful and wouldn't take risks easily!"

"Indeed, and even more so because he cannot afford to lose! If he loses, his country and family will perish, so he will be even more cautious!" Su Wu nodded, but also frowned.

Actually, I'm exhausted, both physically and mentally. I don't know how long this war will last.

At this moment, dozens of miles behind Su Wu was Zhong Shidao's large army.

A troop of fast horses came and caught up with them. The rider on horseback was Cheng Hao, who was anxiously searching for Master Zhong.

What could it be?
What else could it be? An imperial edict has arrived: change the commander!

Zhong Shidao frowned as he looked at the imperial edict, muttering to himself, "So it's finally here..."

Cheng Hao, standing nearby, hurriedly asked, "Where is Commander Su?"

Zhong Shidao pointed north: "Under the walls of Lingzhou City!"

"Then I'll go find him right away!" Cheng Hao was eager to go again, to have a good talk with his brother-in-law, and this time he was determined to make a good impression!

Zhong Shidao waved his hand: "No rush, no rush. Since it is an imperial edict, such an important matter, you should read it aloud to all the generals in person..."

“This…” Cheng Hao was unwilling. He thought that if this shameful thing were announced in public, wouldn’t it be an even bigger slap in Su Wu’s face?
Zhong Shidao slowly said, "It's alright, you go and announce it yourself, if you want to announce it..."

Cheng Hao was puzzled. Why make a proclamation? Did this old man gain power and want to show off his authority?
Cheng Hao immediately retorted, "Old Master, you can go and announce it yourself..."

Zhong Shidao seemed to see through Cheng Hao's thoughts and smiled slightly: "Cheng Chengzhi is the brother-in-law of Commander Su. As for me, I am old and don't need to seek promotions or titles. Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to take them with me to the grave. In this war, all the major and minor strategies came from Commander Su's hands. I have always had a good reputation in the army and am not the kind of person to steal credit. There is a reason why I asked you to go and announce it. Just go... I will send someone to summon the generals... You will see when the time comes, so don't overthink it..."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Hao felt much more at ease. Judging from that teacher's demeanor, he didn't seem like the kind of person who would become arrogant after achieving success...

Let's wait and see...

Once the generals had gathered, Cheng Hao began to read the imperial edict. After reading it, he merely glanced at it once more.

Indeed, the expressions of many military officers changed, and they were all displeased.

Cheng Hao finally calmed down and realized that his brother-in-law was so popular in the army.

The old general Zhong Shidao said, "Gentlemen, in this battle, all military orders came from General Su, which is why we have achieved such a step-by-step victory. We are now in Lingzhou, and not far away is Xingzhou, the capital of Xingqing Prefecture, which is also the capital of the Dangxiang people. I have led troops for decades and have never been this close to Xingqing Prefecture..."

How could Cheng Hao not be moved by these words? Only then did he realize that the old marshal was truly a good person! He really wasn't trying to flaunt his power or prestige.

Those around him asked, "Then why does the court suddenly want to change the commander-in-chief?"

Zhong Shidao spoke slowly: "They're in a hurry. Those gentlemen are impatient. They think we're cowardly and lazy, that Commander Su is hesitant and indecisive..."

A collective sigh filled the room, with some saying, "None of them understands military strategy? They're all just armchair strategists, yet they're here to ruin things!"

Wu Lin then spoke up: "Shall we submit a petition requesting permission?"

Zhong Shidao waved his hand: "Don't speak like a child!"

"Then..." Wu Lin, who was not very old, was really anxious and spread his hands: "Then what should we do?"

Zhong Shidao slowly said, "It's alright, it's alright... Commander Su is not an arrogant person. He always discusses matters with us before making decisions. The war is fine, just follow Commander Su's orders! Don't worry, everyone..."

Upon hearing this, everyone seemed to realize they had come over and breathed a sigh of relief...

But Wu Lin immediately added, "If we truly achieve a great victory tomorrow, the credit... sigh..."

I still feel it's unfair. Su Wu's contributions were largely lost, and in fact, his innocence was a stroke of luck.

Zhong Shidao said, "Actually, Commander Su had already foreseen this day and had already told me that as long as we win the battle, he doesn't care about personal honor or fame. He called you all here to make Commander Su's intentions clear to you, so as not to disrupt the morale of the army."

Everyone's eyes snapped open.
So that’s it?
That Commander Su...

Zhong Shidao added, "If you don't believe me, we're only a few dozen miles ahead. Although we're moving slowly, we'll see Commander Su in two days at most. We can ask him directly. Commander Su has long said that the nation and its people are of utmost importance, and he doesn't care about personal fame or gain..."

"Commander Su..." Wu Lin sighed, his respect for him beyond measure.

Wu Jie also spoke up: "We've heard a lot about gentlemen since ancient times, but we've never seen one. Today... I've truly seen what a gentleman is. Even the gentlemen of all time cannot compare to the loyalty and righteousness of Commander Su today!"

"Alas... I fear that General Su foresaw this day on the very day he set out for the expedition, yet he still racked his brains with all sorts of schemes and bravely fought on the front lines! The officials of the court are truly treacherous and disastrous!"

In a fit of anger, someone blurted out: "What's so good about being a gentleman? What kind of gentleman does Commander Su want to be? We are all rough and uncouth men in the army, we can't be gentlemen. If I were Commander Su, when I got to the capital, I would just kill all those old guys!"

"How dare you! What nonsense are you spouting? Get out of here, all of you!" Zhong Shidao raised his hand to shoo people away. If this got back to the capital, what would become of them?
Zhong Shidao shouted again, "Supervise your troops to march well!"

Cheng Hao, standing to the side, felt a pang of emotion. The sandstorm seemed to have blinded him. "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, the world is still fair... justice resides in the hearts of the people!"

These soldiers are actually quite lovable, truly lovable!

So there was no rush. There was no need to hurry north anymore. The journey had been exhausting, so they decided to take a ride and rest for a couple of days...

Suddenly, several fast horses entered the city from the west. They didn't stop on the streets, just galloped along, shouting, "Urgent military situation! Make way! Make way! Urgent military situation!"

The horse galloped all the way to the government office. The knight dismounted, but stumbled and fell to the ground as if he were exhausted. He couldn't even get up, but he kept shouting, "Urgent military situation!"

The soldiers guarding the gate of the government office rushed to help and lift him up.

The knight was carried to Tan Zhen and Wang Anzhong's faces. Pointing to the bamboo tube on his chest, he weakly tried to shout, "The Jurchens have invaded! The Jurchens have invaded! Hongzhou! Hongzhou has fallen! The city has fallen!"

"What?" Tan Zhen jumped up from his seat and rushed forward, already squatting down next to the knight.

"Fifty thousand cavalry and thirty thousand infantry, coming from Datong, Hongzhou City has fallen!" The knight reached into his waistband and pulled out a bamboo tube.

"Nonsense! Nonsense!" Tan Zhen stood up and cursed.

Wang Anzhong had already gone to receive the military intelligence report taken out of the bamboo tube.

Upon opening it, Wang Anzhong was stunned: "This...this Jurchen has truly gone mad, mad, mad..."

(Brothers, I'm here... I still need some votes at the beginning of the month, thank you! It will probably be another week or so before my child can be discharged from the hospital. During this time, I will try my best to keep going. Love life, love you all!)
(End of this chapter)