Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 295 You warriors are without ruler or father, disloyal and unjust!

It is about 60 or 70 li south of Lingzhou City.

The convoy, stretching for miles, moved very slowly. Each vehicle seemed to be loaded to the brim, looking extremely heavy.

Su Wu rode at the very front, his armor no different from the others, his iron helmet tucked under his arm. He looked up and left and right; Lingzhou was almost here...

If the Tanguts don't come soon, this war will likely drag on for much longer.

The scouts kept returning from all directions, and each returning scout would immediately come to Su Wu to report.

No, no, still no...

Behind them, many soldiers had been cooped up in the carriage for several days. If it weren't for Commander Su's order and the generous reward he promised, these soldiers would probably have already started a riot.

No windows could be opened, no faces could be shown, and even getting out of the car to spend the night was forbidden. The stuffy interior of the vehicle was already reeking of foul odors; no one could stand such a stifling environment...

For some inexplicable reason, Commander Su's order was upheld for several days, and it was still Commander Su who said that as long as they could endure this hardship, they could destroy the Dangxiang...

This sentence had a strange magic on the soldiers of Fuyan Huanqing, making them stay in their stuffy boxes even when they were extremely agitated.

Accompanying Su Wu was the veteran general Liu Yanqing, who, like Su Wu, frowned and looked around into the distance...

Some couldn't help but say, "General Su, perhaps the Dangxiang already know that the Jurchens have entered Yanyun, so they've decided to prolong the war, knowing that our Emperor's decree is about to arrive."

Su Wu also suspected that this was the case; the Dangxiang might have indeed received news of the Jurchens entering Yan and Yun, and had also received some kind of promise from the Jurchens.

However, he also said, "The Jurchens coming west must cross the desert no matter what. There are over a thousand cavalrymen lying in ambush on both the north and south sides of the desert. If the news can still get here quickly, then it must be the will of Heaven!"

Nothing is foolproof; we can only do our best and leave the rest to fate.

It also depends on fate and luck, to see which side they're on...

Liu Yanqing then came and said, "I wonder how the battle of Yanyun is going..."

These words express concern. After all, Yan and Yun have only recently returned, and the morale of the troops is not yet stable. It's not hard to imagine the capabilities of the generals and soldiers...

Su Wu himself had not yet received any news, but even though he knew the possible course of events, he still said, "Don't worry, the troops of Yan and Yun may be unusable, but the troops of Hebei still have some fighting power. Two hundred thousand troops from Hebei should be sufficient, and things won't get much worse!"

Liu Yanqing nodded in agreement: "That's right. As long as the area north of Yanyun can hold out for a while, the destruction of the Tanguts will be a great strategic advantage for the Jurchens! Commander Su's plan is excellent!"

Su Wu nodded, saying nothing more.

Liu Yanqing then asked, "Commander Su, if the Dangxiang cavalry doesn't come this time, should I take my men and rush back?"

Liu Yanqing was extremely worried. It was clear that with this arrival, the defenses of the rear cities and fortresses were completely empty, and many fortresses only had thirty or forty soldiers left to guard them...

Once the Tanguts realize this, the cavalry will not remain here; they will quickly set out to launch a surprise attack.

Facing Suarez in person, this is a huge gamble.

Su Wu shook his head and said, "If we reach Lingzhou like this and the Dangxiang people still don't come, then we won't return. We'll besiege the city and attack it together!"

"Huh?" Liu Yanqing was shocked.

Su Wu spoke frankly: "There is no time to delay. We must fight a quick battle and finish this quickly. Even if they find out that our rear is vulnerable, whether they want Huanzhou or Yanzhou, we don't care. If we lose Huanqing and Fuyan, our Great Song will still exist. If they lose Xingqing Prefecture, Western Xia will perish!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yanqing pondered for a moment and then said, "Is Commander Su betting on his courage?"

Su Wu shook his head: "It's not gambling if you don't dare to!"

Su Wu's words were his true thoughts. He had no other choice but to go all out. Although he was not in a hurry to go to Bianjing, he was eager to go to Datong and enter Yanyun to block the Jurchens' retreat and to rescue the people of Hebei who had been captured by the Jurchens.

If this task cannot be accomplished, firstly, Su Wu's already limited conscience would be troubled. Secondly, if the Jurchens were to return unscathed, their power would inevitably increase significantly, making them an even more formidable enemy in the future.

Thirdly, he must win back the hearts of the people in Yanyunli, regarding the troubles involving Zhang Jue and the people's hearts. If he fails to do so, the people will become disloyal and the future will be even more difficult.

Fourthly, Su Wu wanted to establish a great achievement and use it to compare himself with the emperor in Bianjing, and see who held the mandate of heaven and the hearts of the people.

Therefore, Su Wu was actually very anxious, extremely anxious. If the Tangut cavalry did not come, he would have no choice but to risk everything.

They gave their all, even their lives, to fill that high wall and fight against the Tangut cavalry.

Let's see what happens when those cavalrymen go to Huanqing and Fuyan and break through the city walls.
The arrow is on the bowstring; should we change our home? Or should we use a strategy of attacking Wei to relieve Zhao? Huanqing and Fuyan do not represent "home," but Xingqing Prefecture truly is home.

Don't say that Su Wu was cold-blooded and heartless, disregarding the lives of the people of Fuyan and Huanqing. In fact, the more he planned and the more determined he was to act, the more he could prevent this from happening.

It's still a game for the brave. If Su Wu dares to switch sides, the Tanguts won't dare to switch, which will ensure the safety of Huanqing and Fuyan.

This is the true mindset of a strong person!
This also comes from the teachings of a great man!

Liu Yanqing was still pondering, and after thinking it over and over again, he seemed to have figured it out quite a bit. He said in one sentence, "Perhaps Marshal Su is thinking more and further ahead!"

“A great power must have the power to suppress others!” Su Wu nodded and said, explaining the underlying principle.

Liu Yanqing was also saddened, knowing that if he really went all out, who knew how many fine men would lose their lives under these high walls or under the hooves of horses.

He actually... couldn't bear to part with it...

But could Su Wu really bear to do that? If Su Wu were willing, he wouldn't have gone through all those maneuvers; he would have started the siege long ago...

The entire country has only this one precious gem left, and it's all bet on this. If there were any other way, Su Wu wouldn't have gone to such lengths.

It was precisely because of the resilience of the Tangut and Western Xia that Su Wu could have destroyed them without going all in. That would have been nothing but a pipe dream.

The footsteps continue, but all is in vain.

Su Wu had already made up his mind; it seemed he was truly going to take the gamble.

Liu Yanqing was still grieving. He lowered his head slightly, turned to look at those fine young men, and sighed repeatedly in his heart...

A kind heart cannot command an army; a kind heart cannot command an army!

Another troop of riders returned from afar, but Su Wu, having been disappointed too many times, remained unmoved.

Liu Yanqing glanced at it a few times, but didn't look any longer. He knew that if it came again, it wouldn't be good news. Commander Su had already made his decision, and countless lives would have to be sacrificed...

Each carrying their own indescribable emotions, the two sat on horseback and slowly moved forward.

The cavalrymen drew closer and closer, their horses moving at breakneck speed. When they were only a few dozen paces away, they shouted, "They're here! They're here! The Tangut cavalry are here!"

Su Wu suddenly looked up: "What?"

Liu Yanqing's heart skipped a beat, and he shouted, "What's coming?"

"The Tangut cavalry, the Tangut cavalry are here! From the northeast! From the northeast! They're here!" The cavalrymen seemed to be shouting excitedly.

Su Wu's horse was already moving slowly, but Su Wu suddenly pulled on the reins, causing the Snow-Treading Black Steed to lurch in pain and wobble from side to side before coming to a stop.

Su Wu heard it clearly, but before he could even feel a surge of joy, even though the surprise had come so suddenly, it was not the time to be happy. He simply shouted, "Quickly, the front ranks stop, the rear ranks gather forward, gather together, surround the carriage, surround the carriage!"

There must be a response, such as surrounding the vehicles and forming a camp, but there must also be some drama. The enclosure cannot be too tight; it must look like there is not enough time to move. There must be an entrance and an exit.

If you appear flustered, you should make the Tangut cavalry feel that you've arrived just in time, giving them the opportunity to charge and attack!

This is still a delicate operation.

But all the generals knew perfectly well that, after many operational meetings and detailed instructions from Commander Su, they all knew what they were supposed to do.

In an instant, everything was bustling about, even appearing quite chaotic. Some units had already arranged the carriages very well, while others, with their heavy carriages, were dragging them very slowly...

The roar of the Tangut cavalry echoed throughout the world, causing the earth to tremble repeatedly...

Such a surprise attack is all about speed, the faster the better.

Tens of thousands of horses, taking turns galloping, came from the northeast, still an overwhelming force...

Amidst the overwhelming force, lay the deep-seated hatred of the Tangut knights!
War is always accompanied by deep-seated hatred and bloodshed!
The Song people also harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Tanguts; this was the time to settle the score.

Liu Zhengyan's eyes were already red. In the past, Liu Fa was defeated and died before he could escape. He died at the hands of these galloping Dangxiang cavalry.

"Commander Su!" Liu Zhengyan's blood was boiling as he saw the billowing dust in the northeast and shouted.

"Hmm?" Su Wu responded.

What is the matter with Liu Zhengyan?
Liu Zhengyan was actually fine; he just couldn't help shouting it out. Perhaps it was because of his inner turmoil, or perhaps it would calm him down after he shouted it out.

Seeing that Liu Zhengyan didn't say anything, Su Wu gave the order: "The cavalry should head southwest, first towards the back of the carriage..."

"Understood!" Liu Zhengyan shouted.

Wu Song shouted, "Understood!"

Lu Da replied in a deep voice, "Understood!"

All the generals were mobilized, and all the units were mobilized as well.

With everyone moving, dust inevitably billowed up. This dust seemed to point the enemy cavalry in the right direction, allowing them to approach more accurately and quickly from afar!
In what seemed like an instant, the Tangut cavalry came into view.

What appeared in Xiao Heda's field of vision was the half-finished carriage camp, and the Song soldiers who were still busy around...

There were no words exchanged. This was a fight to the death. The time was right, morale was high, and the troops were moving quickly. There were no orders to give; they just charged forward!
More than 20,000 cavalry, with Iron Falcons in front and light cavalry behind, charged into the battle!
The howling were from the Tangut soldiers and men, their shouts of killing rising everywhere, their cries heart-wrenching, for the hatred was so great that only bloodshed could bring relief.

The bowstring is slack, the arrow is released!
The panicked Song army suddenly began to shout countless times, and the generals and officers were all extremely anxious.

"Quickly, get off the bus! Everyone get off the bus! Get out now!"

"Bring out the barricades! Quickly, move them!"

"Put them up here, put them up! Put them up now!!!"

"Hurry up and set it up!!! Hurry up!!!"

"Move it, move it quickly!!"

The general's urgent shouts seemed to be trying to shout out the lungs in his throat.

"It doesn't have to be straight and neat, just put them all over the place, put them forward, there's still a gap over there, it doesn't have to be neat, it doesn't have to be neat..."

"Hurry up!"

"Faster!"

Throughout the venue, the only word heard was "fast".

The people hidden inside the carriage, the barricades inside, and even many of the items inside—which weren't barricades at all—were someone's table, someone's chair, someone's broken wooden door…

All kinds of furniture were available, even butcher's tables and merchant's counters and shelves...

Just throw it all over the place!

Soldiers emerged from the wagons, mingling with the debris; the battle formation was disorganized yet tightly knit...

They're here, they're here, the Tanguts are coming into battle!

Once again, everything was done without any ceremony, without any time for reflection or mobilization; war was started immediately.

The killing began!
The Song soldiers who were knocked away by the armored horses didn't even have time to think or say anything before they were trampled into mud by the horses' hooves!

The Iron Falcons of Western Xia, heavily armored cavalry, have remained so formidable and skilled in battle for countless years. Though numbering only three thousand in total, they have left their mark for a millennium!

Entering the fray, they were truly fierce and invincible; how could human strength stop them? Charging into the crowd was like a sharp blade cutting through paper.

In the past, when the five armies attacked Xia, and in recent years when Liu Fa came to conquer them, they have always been helpless against these iron cavalry and have avoided them at all costs.

Here we go again today!
Still sharp and invincible!

From afar, they could only see the armored monster charging towards them. Within the Song army ranks, many soldiers had already begun to move, a sense of extreme unease washing over them.

Many people have witnessed the impact of the iron hawk before, or some have even managed to escape with their lives after such an impact.

The Song army generals were shouting at the top of their lungs: "Don't panic! Don't panic! Stand still with your spears drawn! Stand still!!!"

The shouts seemed to have an effect, and the restless soldiers appeared to have truly stood their ground.

Su Wu, standing at the back of the crowd, kept his eyes fixed on the approaching formation, which was surging forward with great force, and a large number of barricades were about to arrive!

Liu Yanqing was standing right next to him, craning his neck to see.

Everyone is waiting for one scene.

The Iron Falcon is still charging forward, unstoppable!
We've arrived! A tall, strong horse rammed past an armored soldier, then suddenly lost its footing and lurched forward. The armored knight on its back, in a panic, leaned back, instinctively trying to avoid being thrown forward at high speed...

what is this?
People fell over, horses collapsed!
The person was leaning backward, yet still flying rapidly into the air, crashing forward.

The horse overturned and fell flat on its back!

One rider, two riders...

Then, they all collapsed!
"Okay!" Liu Yanqing squeezed out the words through his clenched teeth.

Su Wu's face remained dark and gloomy. He breathed a sigh of relief, but his expression remained unchanged as he stared intently at the scene.

One by one, the horseshoes fell.

One by one, the knights fell to the ground, their first instinct being to get up.

The generals shouted, "Surround them and kill them!"

Countless weapons rained down, engulfing the Tangut knight who tried to get up in the crowd.

The Tangut cavalry are still charging, one after another.

Once this arrow is released, it cannot be retrieved. People and horses in front fall and scatter, and those who can see behind cannot retreat. Those who cannot see behind will also have to charge forward.

Even if they knew they couldn't charge any further, the cavalry had already reached this point, and if they stopped... the cavalry's stance, if it stopped during the battle, would have unimaginable consequences.

The Song cavalry had already moved, circling the entire area from the southwest to the northeast, blocking the Tanguts' retreat route!
They were unwilling to let a single person go; they wanted to block them here and kill them all in the mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The Tangut soldiers numbered over 23,000, the Song army over 46,000, and there were also around 30,000 auxiliary soldiers and laborers...

The crowd was already densely packed, and as more and more people fell over, the congestion only worsened.

Blockade was Su Wu's sole objective in this war.

They still needed to block the enemy. The Song army generals in the rear had already begun driving their infantry forward, as was the pre-arranged plan.

"Go forward, go forward! Go forward quickly!" The generals even drew their swords to drive the soldiers forward, slapping the blades onto the armor of each soldier with a loud cracking sound.

The cruelty of war may lie in this kind of driving. He blocked his comrades in the crowd, pushing and shoving them forward. Whether they dared to die or not, they had no choice.

They also trapped the enemy in the crowd, and the enemy was also driving and pushing them away.

The outcome depends on who can persevere the longest in the end.

They were all skilled warriors, and in the past, their ancestors had fought each other countless times.

Today, it's just one more time!

Come again!

On both sides, there were also arched chariot walls, which further blocked the battlefield.

The barricades themselves became weapons of mass destruction. Both sides, with people and horses, could be squeezed so tightly by the barricades that they could not breathe and suffocate on the spot.

Such a scene, if not in the midst of a battle, would be an accident, a stampede.

Yet, within this very battlefield, it was a scene that Commander Su Wu was deliberately pursuing.

Liu Yanqing then quipped, "It's blocked! It's blocked!"

His words were filled with surprise!

If it's blocked, then it will be a bloodbath with mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Nothing in this world is more cruel than this; no one can escape it, and there is no room for fear or unafraidness...

Weapons are thrusting; you stab me, and I stab you back!
The hammer is hitting...

Humans are like beasts, and even beasts cannot be compared to people today.

Even Su Wu was moved. He had been on the battlefield so many times, but this was the first time he had ever seen such a fierce battle!

Whether they were Tanguts or Song people...

Anyone who still has a shred of strength, whether standing or lying on the ground, is struggling, struggling against fate.

Some were even crying, howling, crying and howling, but still wielding their weapons.

And those few who were new to the battlefield seemed to be in a nightmare, like walking corpses, mechanically wielding their weapons, their minds completely blank.

The only question is, why did they have to lure the Tangut cavalry into such a bloody battle?
Even after such a bloody battle, the number of troops defending the city will not decrease...

The logic is actually quite simple: once the Tanguts lose their cavalry, they will truly be left with only six isolated cities, a mere two hundred li away.

The enemy's main force is in Lingzhou and Baojing City, so we can just surround them and ignore them.

Just send 10,000 to 20,000 men to Xingqing Prefecture, and the enemy will have no means of countermeasures, and there will be no more cavalry raids.

These 10,000 to 20,000 men can slowly make their way to Xingqing Prefecture, safely and securely. Once they arrive, they need not worry about being ambushed from behind or to the sides by enemy cavalry during the siege.

What makes Xingqing Prefecture and Xingzhou City so defensible?

Furthermore, let's talk about the way of the cavalry in this era...

This is the essence of warfare across the centuries-long era of the Song, Liao, Xia, Jin, and Mongol dynasties.

Su Wu had completely mastered it and used it with great skill, as if he were a fish in water.

The sun is blazing, it's getting a bit hot.

Spring has finally arrived on this land, but it's really late. In the south, the fruits are ripe, and in Henan, birds are singing and flowers are blooming, but spring has only just arrived here.

Blood and sweat mingled and clashed together.

The Song cavalry dispersed to the left and right, clearing the crowded northeastern side...

Su Wu slowly turned his head, spurred his horse forward, and made way for the congestion in the southwest...

The general shouted, "Don't push, don't push, don't rush!"

The scene of the stampede is being gradually evacuated...

The most brutal battle has come to an end.

The survivors amidst the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, their expressions numb and blank, slowly dispersed with each step.

The Tanguts are gone...

The number of Song people who died or were injured is unknown. The dead lay motionless on the ground, while the wounded were supported by their arms and slowly walked...

Slowly dissipating...

A stench of blood rose up, so strong it made one want to vomit.

Su Wu's face remained dark and gloomy, as if it hadn't changed at all from beginning to end.

What’s next?
The dispersed people, one by one, village by village, slowly gathered together, sitting and lying on the ground...

Drink a few sips of water, eat a few bites of food...

There were no cheers or applause, no excitement or passion...

The auxiliary soldiers and laborers, all on the left and right outer perimeter, were also quite crowded, yet they still had to work, setting up cooking pots and cleaning up the corpses of their comrades...

With a dark expression, Commander Su simply said, "Don't worry about the enemy's corpses, but cut off their heads, load them onto carts, and take them to Xingzhou City for rewards and compensation. It will be sent out tonight!"

Liu Yanqing nodded slightly and then turned to get back to work.

Su Wu added, "Tomorrow morning, leave the wounded behind and send them to General Zhong's army. The main army will then set off for Xingzhou City in Xingqing Prefecture!"

Su Wu wanted to personally ride his horse into Xingzhou and stand in front of Li Qianshun!
Su Wu also wants all the valuables in Xingzhou City!

If we don't enter Xingzhou soon, Su Wu will have no money left to reward him!
"Understood..." Liu Yanqing said softly, then turned and left, muttering to himself, "A kind heart cannot command an army... Commander Su is a good commander, a blessing to the world!"

A bloody battle that could only end when one side suffered heavy casualties, a victory that was incredibly brutal!

The troops of Huanqing and Fuyan suffered countless casualties, at least tens of thousands. How could Liu Yanqing not sigh?
Dinner will include meat and wine!
We have to eat, even if it makes us nauseous. Commander Su said we have to set off early tomorrow morning!
Something big is happening in Yanjing City too!

Zhang Jue's body was sent out of the city, and the Jurchens examined it several times and confirmed that it was indeed Zhang Jue.

Guo Yaoshi, who had personally escorted Zhang Jue's body out of the city, also returned.

Upon entering the city, he did not go to the government office to see Wang Anzhong first. Instead, he returned to the military camp for a while before going to the government office.

Inside the government office, Wang Anzhong was waiting anxiously, even cursing, "Why is Pharmacist Guo so slow in his work? Why hasn't he returned to report yet?"

It was indeed a bit slow. Guo Yaoshi had been delayed twice, once in the Jurchen army camp and again after entering the city. How could he not be slow? No wonder Wang Anzhong and the others were angry.

He got even angrier and started cursing: "This scoundrel, does he not know that I am anxious? Does he even have any respect for me as his superior?"

After he had been cursing countless times, a servant finally came in to report: "Sir, Steward Guo has returned!"

"Where is he? Why do I have to go and invite him?" Wang Anzhong said again.

"They're here!" Pharmacist Guo's voice came from outside the hall.

Wang Anzhong saw Guo Yaoshi crossing the courtyard and walking towards the main hall, and asked, "Why are you taking so long?"

Guo, the pharmacist, strode into the hall in full armor. He looked around, neither paying his respects nor speaking, but simply stood in the middle and sighed deeply.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you answering?" Wang Anzhong demanded.

Guo the Pharmacist looked up and spoke: "Prime Minister Wang, Yanjing has fallen..."

"Huh? What?" Wang Anzhong's tone remained unfriendly.

"I said, Yanjing has fallen. Yanjing is no longer Song territory. Now, this city belongs to the Jurchens!" Guo Yaoshi's tone was mostly calm, as if he were simply stating a fact.

"Nonsense, how did we fall into this trap?" Wang Anzhong asked, puzzled.

Guo the Pharmacist said, "Lord Wang, you should go. Head east out of the city, then south towards Cangzhou. That should allow you to safely return to the Song Dynasty..."

Wang Anzhong strode over and stood in front of Pharmacist Guo. When they compared themselves, Pharmacist Guo was a head taller than him. Wang Anzhong had to look up, but he still angrily rebuked Guo: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Lord Wang, you said that if this city falls, we will both die. So I devised a way to avoid death, so that even if the city falls, I can survive. Tell me, what kind of method is this?"

Pharmacist Guo lowered his head and asked.

"You...you..." Wang Anzhong took several steps back, moving away from the burly figure who was a head taller than him, and asked again, "Have you not defected to the enemy?"

Guo Yaoshi slowly said, "Zhang Jue is a Liao person, and so am I. Zhang Jue surrendered, and so did I. Zhang Jue received a reward from the Emperor, and so did I. Zhang Jue's head could stop the war, so I sent it out. But what if my head could also stop the war in the future? What if the Jurchens also want my head? You Song people are incapable of achieving great things!"

"You actually betrayed your country and betrayed us! You... Guards! Guards! Seize this traitor! Seize him now!"

Wang Anzhong was shouting, his eyes wide open, and he was still backing away, utterly shocked.

Where are people coming from? There was also a servant standing to the side, trembling with fear. People were coming too. In the courtyard outside the main hall, many armored men had already entered. They stood in the courtyard and did not come into the main hall.

Looking at Pharmacist Guo in front of him, he was tall, strong, and muscular, covered in armor, with a long sword at his waist.

Pharmacist Guo slowly said, "You should leave now. If you don't leave now, you really won't be able to leave..."

Wang Anzhong then realized that the city of Yanjing was already in the hands of the soldiers. He raised his hand and pointed, saying, "You warriors, you have betrayed your country and surrendered to the enemy. You have no ruler or father, you are disloyal and unjust. You will surely die a terrible death!"

Guo Yaoshi sighed again and replied, "I am from Liaodong, and I have heard of him. Are you perhaps referring to Zhao Da?"

Who is Zhao Da referring to? Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, the one who staged the Chenqiao Mutiny, drove away the orphan and widow, and ascended the throne himself.

The Song people would not dare to say such a thing, but how could the Liao people not dare to laugh like that?
"You...you're so bold!" Wang Anzhong was about to unleash his fury again.

Guo the Pharmacist gripped the hilt of his knife at his waist: "You've made a racket enough. Now, I'm asking you, are you leaving or not?"

Wang Anzhong jerked his body, turned around, and... ran away!

Guo Yaoshi turned around, looked at the armored figures in the courtyard, paused for a moment, and then said, "Let's go, follow me to open the city gate!"

Outside the city, there were few Jin soldiers left. They were all in Xiongzhou, yet they had gained a large city with a population of 300,000 for nothing. What a great achievement that must have been...

Historically, they should have entered the Liao capital of Yanjing without firing a shot!
(Guys, we're being discharged today, twelve days! Time to go home...)
(End of this chapter)