Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 306 My husband's soldiers, no one can touch them until my husband returns!

Wanyan Zonghan was clearly somewhat restrained at this moment. He sat on his horse, watching the soldiers in front of him climb the city wall of Dongping Prefecture, his brows furrowed.

Is this trip to JD.com really going to end in vain?

The soldiers from Yanggu County really didn't come out to rescue us. Looking up, it seemed that the defending troops of the prefectural city were even more skilled and valiant in their fighting...

Wanyan Zonghan then asked, "Why are the troops in Yanyun and Hebei so weak and disorganized, while the troops in Jingdong seem much more normal? How can there be such a big difference within a country?"

"Your Highness, as the country grows, this is naturally the case. In the Song Dynasty, Hebei has been at peace for too long, without a war for far too long. As for the eastern part of the country, Su Wu has risen to prominence, fighting in numerous battles in the south and north. It's normal that he is skilled in warfare. As Mencius said, 'One is born in hardship and dies in comfort,' which is the same principle..."

Who answered the question?
Wanyan Xiyin was one of the very few truly cultured people among the Jurchens. He was among the first to see the world and read books. He even created the Jurchen script. Important documents such as the national records were all written by him. He was the most important civil official of the Jin Dynasty at that time, without exception.

Of course, at this time, there were very few civil officials among the genuine Jurchen people.

But he was also a military general, and a very capable warrior.

He was truly a man of both literary and martial talents, but unfortunately he was not a direct descendant of Aguda. At this time, he was Wanyan Zonghan's deputy.

Wanyan Zonghan seemed to be pondering as well: "Are you saying that if tigers and wolves are raised for too long, they will become sheep?"

Wanyan Xiyin nodded: "That makes sense..."

"We Jurchens are like tigers and wolves in the mountains and forests. Will we become like them in the future?" Wanyan Zonghan was indeed a hero.

"I'm afraid so... Just like the Khitan, weren't they tigers and wolves in the past?" Wanyan Xiyin was knowledgeable.

"Then how can this be avoided?" Wanyan Zonghan asked.

Wanyan Xiyin did not answer, and sighed slightly in silence...

"Is there no way to avoid it?" Wanyan Zonghan asked again.

Wanyan Xiyin said, "This is human nature. Even tigers and wolves find hunting in the mountains and forests extremely difficult. If one could truly eat three meals a day without lifting a finger, who wouldn't want that? If this continued for a long time, their sharp teeth and claws would become useless!"

"Hmm..." Wanyan Zonghan frowned. The reasoning was simple. This matter was clearly unavoidable. It was like if they returned this time with a full belly, countless amounts of money and grain, and countless slaves. The tigers and wolves would no longer need to hunt in the mountains and forests, and they wouldn't have to lift a finger for their daily meals...

How will the Great Jin Dynasty establish itself in the future?
How could Wanyan Zonghan not think of a solution? He looked at the old Liao army that was bravely scaling the wall and said, "Then become the ones who raise tigers and wolves..."

"This method is acceptable..." Wanyan Xiyin understood, but then said, "What if one day, tigers and wolves devour their master? If the master of the tigers and wolves becomes a sheep, how can one resist the tigers and wolves that devour their master?"

“Then you tell me…” Wanyan Zonghan knew that since Wanyan Xiyin had brought this up, he must have a plan in mind.

"Your Highness, raising tigers and wolves is certainly a necessary undertaking. If we truly gain control of Yan and Yun, or even Hebei, how can we not employ such methods? But there is an even more crucial method: culture and identity. We must ensure that the tigers and wolves we raise know that they and their master are of the same kind, the same kind of people! In this way, they will not turn against us... Small tribes that rise above large nations must do this, just as they did during the Sixteen Kingdoms period! We must avoid the distinction between Han and non-Han peoples... Once there is a distinction between Han and non-Han peoples, we will surely suffer a backlash!"

Wanyan Xiyin is laying the foundation for national policy!
At this very moment, the Jurchen Jin dynasty had to confront a problem. In fact, historically, the Jin dynasty later handled this issue quite well...

Why did Wanyan Zonghan suddenly bring up this issue?
It was also related to the current situation; he couldn't bear to part with his soldiers. His resources were too meager. There were tens of thousands of Song soldiers willing to die, but he felt a pang of heartache even for the deaths and injuries of a few hundred siege fighters...

This feeling of being seemingly powerful yet actually cautious is really unpleasant and doesn't match the status of a powerful nation.

Amidst the ongoing battle on the city walls, Wanyan Zonghan sighed helplessly, "That's enough, let's stop fighting..."

Ultimately, he couldn't bear to spend so much, and Wanyan Xiyin said, "In the future, it will definitely not be like this!"

Wanyan Xiyin clearly understood what Wanyan Zonghan was thinking at this moment.

Just as in history, Wanyan Zonghan besieged Taiyuan for eight months without taking it, and just as in history, during the two campaigns against the Song Dynasty, there were not many truly bloody battles, and even when they reached Bianjing, they did not really launch a fierce attack.

Similarly, in history, it was only after the Jin dynasty truly gained control of Hebei and Shanxi that it began a large-scale, bloody conflict with the Song dynasty, resulting in numerous casualties, many of whom were not Jurchens...

It was precisely because the Northern Song Dynasty was so incompetent that the Jurchens actually succeeded despite their extremely cautious military strategies.

Later, whenever a true battle was fought to the death, with Yue Fei leading the charge, the Jurchens immediately revealed their true colors. The days of their tens of thousands of cavalry being invincible were over. Of course, this was partly due to the fact that "the tigers and wolves had become sheep"...

The Jurchens in Dongping Prefecture were withdrawing their troops, having lost only four or five hundred men around the city, and then they stopped fighting...

It was also because Wanyan Zonghan had an excessive understanding of the battlefield and warfare that he could tell the enemy's level as soon as they engaged in combat and how much effort it would take to continue fighting...

Reason is the foundation of a good commander. A skilled warrior does not win every battle; this is the reason why.

Cheng Wanli hurriedly rushed to the city wall, overjoyed, and said to his men, "Our Jingdong army is truly a powerful force! Reward the entire army! Reward the entire army!"

Cheng Wanli is doing the right thing; victory doesn't seem so difficult...

As Cheng Niangzi emerged from inside the city gate tower, everyone turned to look at her. The cheers and applause from the city walls were incessant, and Cheng Niangzi even came to inspect the walls herself…

The Jurchens were retreating, and scouts kept bringing back news. However, the Jurchens were not retreating towards Daming Prefecture, but rather heading south towards Puyang...

The news finally arrived: Daming Prefecture had fallen, and the Jurchens were preparing to cross the river to Bianjing!
This news was like a bolt from the blue, striking Zong Ze in Yanggu County right on the head.

As soon as the Jurchens truly fled, Zong Ze rushed to the prefectural city on horseback.

Upon seeing Cheng Wanli, Zong Ze's first words were: "My lord, hurry! We must quickly send troops south to relieve Bianjing!"

Cheng Wanli was taken aback. His face was full of worry; how could he not be anxious about the danger to Bianjing? He replied, "Lord Zong, as you know, when Ziqing left, he repeatedly instructed that the army must not leave and must hold the city firmly!"

Zong Ze was greatly alarmed upon hearing this: "My lord, things are different now than before. When Prime Minister Su left, how could he have foreseen such a perilous situation? The capital city is in danger, and the emperor is in danger. How can we not send an army to defend the emperor?"

Cheng Wanli, his face full of worry, said again, "Don't worry, don't worry. There are so many armies across the land ready to serve the emperor, millions of them in armor. We can't do without our troops in Jingdong. Besides... without orders from the Privy Council, how dare they send troops away recklessly?"

"My lord, time waits for no one. The imperial edict and the order from the Privy Council should arrive in two or three days. If we set off south ahead of time, the imperial edict will likely arrive before we even cross the border. The matter of defending the emperor is of utmost importance. If we set off early, the emperor will surely know how eager you are to serve the country, and that will be a great achievement..."

Zong Ze naturally cared about the world and its center, as well as the safety of the emperor. It was normal for him to be so anxious.

Filled with worry, Cheng Wanli stood up and paced back and forth, preoccupied with this matter…

That's right, go forth to serve the king and make great achievements!
No, that's not right either. We don't have that many troops right now, only 30,000 or 50,000. Sending too few won't make much of a difference, but if we send too many, how will we sleep soundly? The Jurchens have just left, but their fast horses are coming back. What if they turn around and come back?
Life and fortune...

"My lord, how can we stand idly by when our country is in such peril!" Zong Ze was extremely anxious, clapping his hands together in front of him and stamping his feet on the ground.

Cheng Wanli was also pacing back and forth: "It's not that I'm standing idly by, but... look at you..."

Unable to speak of his own life and safety, Cheng Wanli paced back and forth before finally saying, "There's no order from the Privy Council, nor any imperial decree. The court has its own arrangements... Our Jingdong is now a battlefield. How can we act rashly without the court's authorization? What if Jingdong is lost? Where will the blame lie?"

"The imperial court will surely send us to defend the emperor!" Zong Ze firmly believed this, and it was indeed true.

The court was still in some chaos. Emperor Huizong had fled, and Emperor Huan had ascended the throne. Before they could even finish, the Privy Council's decree and the imperial edict were already on their way. Why was that?
How could Li Gang not know that there was a strong army in Jingdong? Of course, even without Li Gang, if Zhao Huan had not fled Bianjing immediately, he would have gone to the surrounding areas and mobilized troops wherever there were soldiers to come to the aid of the king.

"No rush, no rush, we'll talk about it when it arrives, we'll talk about it when the military orders arrive..." Cheng Wanli just kept stalling, because he really didn't know what to do.

Zong Ze looked out helplessly, hoping that the order from the capital would come quickly. He also saw that Cheng Wanli had long known that this superior was not the kind of person with great ambition and talent.

What can be done? It's a pity Su Wu is not here. If Su Wu were here, the army would have moved long ago. Why wait until now?
Putting aside Su Wu's unparalleled loyalty and righteousness, how could Su Wu not want such a great achievement?
Zong Ze turned around and went back to Yanggu to wait for the imperial edict to arrive as soon as possible.

But as soon as Zong Ze left, Cheng Niangzi walked into Cheng Wanli's small study where he entertained guests.

Cheng Wanli was in a state of utter distress. His wife served him fresh tea and sat down beside him, not in a hurry to speak.

All that was left was for Cheng Wanli to ask, "My dear girl, did you hear that just now?"

Madam Cheng nodded...

"Then tell me..." Cheng Wanli actually asked.

Only then did Madam Cheng say, "Father, wait and see..."

"What is pending change?" Cheng Wanli asked, puzzled.

"The situation is unclear. First, have the Jurchens truly crossed the river? With such a large army, crossing the river couldn't be a simple matter. Second, what is the situation inside the capital city of Tokyo? Third, what about our family..."

Madam Cheng didn't finish speaking right away.

"What's the third one?" Cheng Wanli asked.

"Thirdly, in our family, is Jingdong more important, or Tokyo?" Cheng Niangzi asked.

"Selfish and selfish thoughts, such a woman's view!" Cheng Wanli immediately rebuked. How could a scholar utter such words?
“Father, sometimes a woman’s perspective is necessary,” Madam Cheng said, without getting angry.

"Your elder brother is still in the capital!" How could Cheng Wanli not be worried? If something were to happen in Tokyo, what would become of his good-for-nothing son...?

"Although my elder brother never passed the imperial examination, he has always been clever and handles people with propriety. Now he is also a trusted confidant of the Grand Chancellor. No matter what danger there is, it will not befall him..."

At this moment, Madam Cheng was truly very rational.

Cheng Wanli remained silent for a moment.

Could Madam Cheng really be so narrow-minded as to be a woman? If she were, all the books she had read would have been for nothing.

Then Madam Cheng spoke again: "Father, actually, the matter is not about whether or not to send troops, but rather... Jingdong has only so much wealth. If this wealth were in your husband's hands, it would be a great asset. But now, with tens of thousands of Jurchen cavalry coming and going, who can lead the troops to Jingdong? Should it be Father? Or should it be that Minister Zong? If we lose this little wealth, even if my husband returns one day, he won't be able to use his great abilities. The defeated army will be punished, and my husband will have no troops to use. Jingdong will be indefensible. Wouldn't our family be doomed?"

Privately, it's a matter of personal considerations; publicly, however, the world won't perish. Even if something terrible happens, the world will still exist, and the emperor will still be alive. If my husband returns with troops, he can still achieve great things, reclaim lost territories, and establish merit. But if he has no troops, what can my husband do?"

After writing a long and detailed explanation, Madam Cheng concluded with these words: "Therefore, as long as my husband doesn't return, no one can touch my husband's troops! Does Father understand this principle?"

Cheng Wanli's gaze suddenly cleared considerably. He looked at his beloved daughter and said in one breath, "My dear daughter, my good daughter, I've been trying to sort these things out for a long time, but your words have enlightened me. You're right, if Ziqing doesn't return, how can others move his troops? Absolutely not... But that old Zong Ze is truly difficult to deal with..."

But the obedient daughter smiled and said, "Father, don't worry. I think that when my husband left, he had already explained things clearly to his generals. If he doesn't return, the troops will never be able to leave the border. How could those generals not listen to my husband? Even if someone else comes, they won't go... Even if Father goes, I'm afraid it won't be very effective."

"That's easy to deal with. If Zong Ze comes again, just let him take the imperial edict and the Privy Council's order to the army to allocate troops... If he can't do it, he has nothing to say to me!"

Cheng Wanli felt a sense of relief...

Meanwhile, Zong Ze was waiting in Yanggu for the imperial edict to come to the aid of the emperor.

After waiting for two days, how could the imperial edict not arrive?
Zong Ze was overjoyed and went out of the county office to greet him. The messenger was no longer a eunuch, but a fast-riding soldier. He did not have the manners of those eunuchs and simply handed the Privy Council order and the imperial edict to Zong Ze.

Zong Ze unfolded the document and began to read it. He looked at the imperial edict several times before asking, "This imperial edict is not right!"

The soldier also asked, "What's wrong?"

"This...this..." Zong Ze looked down and kept examining the document: "This signature is incorrect!"

The soldier went forward to check and asked, "Where is the signature incorrect?"

"This..." Zong Ze's mind suddenly went blank. He was very clever, and he immediately understood. He asked, "What's wrong, Your Majesty?"

He was also afraid to ask; he had originally intended to inquire whether the emperor had passed away...

Why? It was obvious that Zong Ze discovered the name was incorrect at the signing site; there was actually a new emperor.

The soldier who had been galloping all the way suddenly realized what was going on and immediately said, "Sir, you mean the Emperor Emeritus? The Emperor Emeritus went to Zhenjiang to pray for blessings. The Crown Prince has just ascended the throne!"

Zong Ze was stunned for a moment, feeling as if something had cut into his heart, a tearing pain. He asked again, "Where is the prime minister? Where is the Grand Chancellor?"

“They’ve all gone…” the soldier nodded in response.

"Then in the capital...who is in charge of the overall situation in the capital? Who is in charge of the war, that is, the war against the enemy!" Zong Ze asked again.

"Oh, a censor named Li has arrived. He's in charge of the city's defenses!"

"Who?" Zong Ze asked immediately.

"His name seems to be Li Gang. He's been busy running around. I'm here on his orders, as the Vice Minister of War, to deliver this message..."

Zong Ze felt his vision go black. What was going on?

Praying for blessings? What blessings? How much good fortune do you need to pray for at this time?

"What's the situation in the capital?" Zong Ze asked again.

“Chaos, utter chaos… I heard that outside the south city, soldiers are killing people… quite a few.” The soldier told the truth.

It's over, it's over, it's all over...

Holding the imperial edict, Zong Ze was so stunned he could barely stand...

What's wrong with this country? That was the only thought in Zong Ze's mind!
Yes, he knew, he knew that the emperor had some... pure and kind qualities, and he also knew that the court was corrupt, but it was not just that!
Why is this so?

Why would the emperor abandon the city and flee? How many times throughout history has such an event occurred? Could it be Emperor Xuanzong of Tang?

No, no, Zong Ze turned around and went. His horse was right at the entrance of the yamen. He mounted his horse and left.

To save the nation from peril and prevent the collapse of the great edifice!
No matter what, I should be prepared to die!
They rode in shifts at top speed to Dongping Prefecture, even if their old bones were about to break from the jostling, they had to hurry to the capital and enter the prefectural government office first.

After reading the imperial edict and military order, Minister Cheng said nothing more: "You and I shall go to the General's Office immediately and summon all the generals for a meeting!"

Before long, all the generals gathered at the General's Office.

Huyan Zhuo was present, of course; Luan Tingyu was also among them, along with Zhu Long, Cao Zheng, Sun Xin, Li Zhong, Zhou Tong…

There were also local military generals who rose to prominence in Dongping Prefecture, including Li Yunlong, and another named Fan Yun, who was newly married and injured, but had been promoted and was no longer in the Imperial Guard...

Also there was Yang Zhi, who had just arrived from Yanggu with Zong Ze.

With all the generals present, Zong Ze explained the situation in Tokyo, read out the imperial edict and military orders, and then looked around and said, "Gentlemen, we must quickly prepare the troops and set off tomorrow morning..."

Everyone was looking around...

Zong Ze was also puzzled and asked, "What's wrong? What's the difficulty?"

Fan Yun said, “Master Zong, it’s not difficult at all. I just want to see if there are any letters from my master!”

Fan Yun staying at home was clearly not a simple matter; he still had a mission, as Su Wu had repeatedly instructed him, which was undoubtedly to prepare for today.

Even Fan Yun, who had a handwritten letter from Su Wu hidden in his bosom, would not take it out unless someone really wanted to go and couldn't be stopped, in which case Su Wu's handwritten letter would truly appear.

Zong Ze simply said, "At this moment, what need is there for Prime Minister Su's handwritten letter? The Emperor's decree is here, and the Privy Council's decree is here!"

Fan Yun looked around and said, "Then... I'm afraid we won't be able to go..."

Hu Yanzhuo was also stunned upon hearing this. He looked at Fan Yun, who, being younger and less senior, would not normally speak much. Yet, at this moment, he was the first to speak... The reason for this was self-evident.

Fan Yun used to be inseparable from Prime Minister Su, always by his side.

Zong Ze was puzzled and asked, "Why can't we go?"

"Husband, who will take me there?" Fan Yun asked.

Zong Ze was taken aback. He looked at Cheng Wanli to the left, then scanned the crowd, and finally looked at Huyan Zhuo.

Huyan Zhuo hurriedly waved his hand: "With such a large army, this humble general dares not act rashly... Tens of thousands of Jurchen cavalry come and go as they please. If this humble general leads the troops, I fear we will suffer more defeats than victories..."

Zong Ze went to see Yang Zhi again...

Yang Zhi waved his hands repeatedly: "My ancestors were indeed brilliant military commanders, but I have never led a large army. My life is at stake, and I dare not presume to do so..."

As for the others, needless to say...

Zong Ze lowered his head again, thinking of himself, but also feeling extremely guilty...

But then someone said, "We should just head towards the capital; the imperial court will handle the military orders..."

Fan Yun said in one sentence: "Lord Zong, the emperor has fled, and the Grand Chancellor has also left. Who will command us within the capital? Moreover, how can the tens of thousands of Jurchen cavalry sit idly by and watch us march into Bianjing? I'm afraid they will ambush us halfway. With you gone, General Wu and the others are not here either. Who among us will lead the troops to fight? Are there still Jurchens in Daming Prefecture? If the army goes out, what will we do if the Jurchens attack again?"

Then Yang Zhi said, "Yes, when the Prime Minister left, he gave us many instructions. If he did not return, we must not lead troops out of the country. Such an important matter is not with the Prime Minister. If we go out and suffer a great defeat, how will we explain it when the Prime Minister returns? This is a small matter. How can the Prime Minister turn the tide?"

Fan Yun immediately nodded: "That's exactly right. If we want to win the battle, we must wait for you to return, sir, along with the cavalry. Only then can we fight a great battle!"

Zong Ze listened and observed. Were the people's words unreasonable? Obviously, they were quite reasonable.

Given the current situation, none of the generals are willing to make a move. What should we do?

Zong Ze immediately went to see Cheng Wanli, who said with a helpless expression, "What you all think makes sense. Although the army in Jingdong has soldiers, it lacks a capable commander. If we go to the aid of the emperor this time, we will surely be intercepted by tens of thousands of Jurchen cavalry. I'm afraid we will suffer more defeats than victories. There are many armies in the country that are coming to the aid of the emperor, whether in Jinghu, Jiangnan, or tens of thousands of troops in the capital region. In fact, the only armies that can truly relieve the siege are the armies in the northwest and Ziqing. This difficulty will not be resolved until Ziqing returns. Only when Ziqing returns can we fight back! There are more than a million soldiers and civilians in Dongjing. We must hold on until Ziqing returns, and everything will be resolved... We can't rush it. Maybe ten or twenty days, Ziqing will definitely return! Blindly launching an attack will not be a great achievement, but a great disaster, and it will definitely be a great disaster!"

Does that make sense?

Zong Ze was extremely anxious, wishing he could fly to Bianjing to defeat the Jurchens and protect the country. However, after hearing the words of those around him, he knew that it was just wishful thinking and might even leave a huge pitfall for Su Wu...

Even if everyone in the room was counting on Su Wu, wouldn't Zong Ze also be counting on Su Wu?

For a moment, Zong Ze fell silent...

Before Zong Ze could remain silent, Cheng Wanli stood up and said, "That's enough, let's disperse now. Wait a bit, there's no rush. Everyone here is a pillar of the nation, who has risked their lives countless times. This time will be no different. We are just waiting for the right opportunity, waiting for Ziqing to return!"

As they spoke, everyone dispersed. Fan Yun breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't take out the handwritten letter from his pocket, which was a testament to his good work.

He was angry when his husband didn't take him on the expedition, but after his husband explained the situation, he was overjoyed. How could he betray his husband's trust?
Well done! My husband will be happy when he gets back.

It was that letter from my husband. If I were to take it out in a desperate situation, I'm afraid my husband and I would become strangers from then on...

This situation was avoided.

The matter of JD.com is not complicated... Su Wu's follow-up move proved surprisingly effective.

The situation in the capital region is undergoing a dramatic change.

The eunuch Liang Fangping led several thousand troops from the capital region to a strategic point on the Yellow River, within the territory of Junzhou. There was a section of the river here where the current was swift but the channel was narrow, so a makeshift bridge called Tiancheng Bridge was built over it. Although the bridge was also narrow, it was truly possible to cross the Yellow River without a boat.

In other places, when the Jurchens crossed the river, they had to gather a large number of boats and find a large number of people who knew how to navigate them, which was extremely complicated.

But here, you can actually cross the river directly.

Therefore, Liang Fangping's duty was to guard the bridge. It was not difficult, as the river was turbulent and the bridge was narrow. In theory, it was a place where one man could hold off ten thousand.

With all sorts of crossbows set up, no matter how many come, they can't get through. Even without crossbows, a forest of spears can block them, and any number that comes will die.

Liang Fangping arrived first, because the Jurchens were late in discovering these small details about the river. By the time the Jurchens found their scouts and arrived at the location, the Song army had already set up camp on the opposite side of the bridge.

It seems we won't be able to cross this bridge.

Why not demolish it?

Firstly, it's easy to defend; it's a formidable stronghold, so there's no need to dismantle it. Secondly, if the army coming to the capital from the north comes in the future, they can simply say that Su Wu has arrived and wants to enter the capital region; this is the most convenient route for the army to pass through.

In the future, it will be very convenient to transport money, grain, and military supplies from the capital region to the north to support Su Wu's battle.

Liang Fangping led his troops here and set up camp to defend the area. The view across the river was very open, and there was no sign of any Jurchens at all.
Even the Jurchen cavalry only secretly glanced at them from afar before turning back, and Liang Fangping didn't notice anything amiss.

It's understandable that the Jurchens are still far away, especially those in Daming Prefecture to the east. They should be gathered in Puyang, waiting to cross the river. It's normal that the Jurchens haven't arrived in Junzhou yet...

Then let's set up camp and wait. If the Jurchens come, we can defend ourselves; if they don't, all the better.

They even had a little wine to liven things up at night. Liang Fangping had suddenly made a name for himself and started supervising and leading troops. If Tong Guan hadn't been old and Tan Zhen hadn't been incompetent, who knows when he would have had a chance to take the position.

Once in the army, Liang Fangping was very clever. He knew he had to win over the generals, whether it was Tong Guan or Tan Zhen. Ultimately, there were generals who were willing to die for him, which is why he rose through the ranks.

Liang Fangping had little contact with military generals before, but today was the perfect opportunity, as it was his first time leading troops. How could he not try to win them over? He also needed to hear people say things to show their allegiance, so that he could have someone to rely on in the future.

How could one do without a banquet?
As night fell, war suddenly broke out. Under the cover of darkness, the Jurchens were seizing bridges and crossings.

Slightly tipsy, Liang Fangping only came out of the tent to look around. In reality, he couldn't see much, just shouts of killing and people running for their lives. He hadn't even seen any real Jurchens in front of him yet; he only saw soldiers swarming back as they ran...

What else can be done?

Run!

He didn't even know how he had been defeated. The generals who had been boasting in the main tent just moments before were nowhere to be found...

Before he could even unleash his military strategies, the army was utterly defeated... He hadn't even witnessed the fierce fighting of the Jurchens before he turned and fled without looking back...

He fled overnight, riding his horse all the way back to Bianjing City. As soon as he entered the city, all the city gates were immediately closed, and alarm drums sounded everywhere.

Why?

The Jurchen vanguard has arrived!

Li Gang climbed to the top of the city wall to take a look. He saw that they were coming from the north, with a cloud of dust rising up, and several thousand cavalrymen...

Here it comes...

Li Gang was flustered, but he also had a strong inner voice telling him: "Don't rush, don't rush. The moat is wide, the city walls are high, there are quite a few soldiers, and some civilians have been mobilized to help. Keep calm..."

These cavalrymen are incapable of breaching city walls...

There is something even more urgent: hurry to the capital and keep the emperor calm!
As long as the city gates remain closed, the Jurchens are powerless to stop them. If the city gates open on their own, then all hope is lost. The new emperor absolutely cannot leave at this moment.

Upon arriving in the imperial city, the main hall was filled with commotion. The emperor was extremely anxious and couldn't sit still. Amidst the chatter, everyone was actually waiting for Li Gang to come from the city wall to observe the enemy.

As soon as Li Gang entered, Emperor Zhao Huan asked, "My dear minister, how is it?"

Li Gang quickly replied, "It's alright, Your Majesty, it's alright. It's just a few thousand cavalrymen, without any weapons or infantry, they can't enter the city! I have already made proper arrangements for the city's defenses on the city walls, and all kinds of weapons and manpower are readily available!"

After saying this, Li Gang addressed the crowd, saying, "Gentlemen, do not panic. The Han dynasty suffered the siege of Baideng, and the Tang dynasty made a treaty under duress. Just like today, just like today..."

This refers to two events. Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, was once besieged by the Xiongnu at Baideng Mountain. He was in dire straits, on the verge of death. In the end, he tried every means to spend money to get out of the predicament. Later, he worked hard to govern the country and Emperor Wu of Han avenged this defeat!
Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, was driven to the gates of Chang'an by the Turkic army. Helpless, he went alone to make an alliance with the Turks. In reality, it was just a meeting to give them money. After the Turks returned with a full load, Li Shimin worked hard to govern the country and avenge his great humiliation!
Li Gang said these two things to reassure people, so that no matter what, no one could escape anymore.

The emperor felt slightly relieved and then asked, "What do you mean, my dear minister?"

Li Gang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, gentlemen, do the Jurchens really intend to breach the city? I doubt it. The Jurchen barbarians are just like the Xiongnu and Turks of the past. They only want money and provisions. You must not even think about abandoning the city. I can guarantee that the city will be safe. We may suffer some humiliation today, but we will surely avenge it in the future!"

Li Gang spoke helplessly, fearing that everyone present would join in the commotion and leave him no time to say more before the newly enthroned emperor turned and ran away...

After Li Gang spoke, quite a few people present nodded in agreement.

Bai Shizhong then said, "Minister Li's words make sense. It's like when the Turks had already reached the gates of Chang'an, why didn't they charge in? Why did they still form an alliance with the Tang? First, they couldn't bear to lose their troops; second, the legitimacy of the empire couldn't be claimed by the Turks; third, they started the war only for some money and supplies... Fourth, they also knew that the millions of people of the Tang Dynasty were not limited to a single city or stronghold. Breaking Chang'an would only deepen their hatred, not destroy the Tang Dynasty..."

Li Bangyan immediately replied, "Just like today, just like today!"

Looking at the crowd again, they seemed to have calmed down considerably...

Li Gang let out a long breath, knowing that the situation seemed to have stabilized and the emperor would not flee now...

Sure enough, the emperor slowly sat down and exhaled a deep breath.

Li Ganglai said, "I am preparing for war so that the Jurchens will know that this great city of Dongjing is not easily conquered by them. If they launch a strong attack on the city, they will suffer heavy casualties! As long as we delay for a while, once the army that comes to the aid of the emperor arrives, we can strike the Jurchens hard!"

"Very good, very good, very good..." The emperor nodded repeatedly. He hadn't even had time to be angry when he learned of Liang Fangping's crushing defeat. Now, he thought about it and said, "Men, go and arrest Liang Fangping and take him to prison!"

Someone will take care of it...

Li Gang quickly spoke up: "Everyone, please do your own job. There's no need for us to gather here any longer. If we all work together, we will surely get through this safely!"

Quickly disperse them. Li Gang is truly struggling to hold things together. He's barely managed to stabilize the situation, and the worst thing is if these people stay here and start chattering away again, causing trouble once more...

After saying this, Li Gang looked at the Emperor, who nodded and said, "Disperse, disperse. Everyone should perform their duties and not slack off. Report back immediately if anything happens!"

The crowd then dispersed...

Li Gang hadn't left, nor had the emperor; both seemed to have other matters to attend to.

Once everyone had dispersed, the emperor strode down from the high platform and stood before Li Gang, saying, "My dear minister, tell me the truth, are the Jurchens really as you just described?"

Li Gang insisted with all his might, "It has always been this way, Your Majesty, please rest assured!"

"Then..." The emperor paced around for a moment, then turned back and said, "Then tell me, if the Jurchens really attack the city, it's like they're testing us... like they want to show us their strength. In any case, if the Jurchens really fight, can you really defend it?"

Li Gang nodded seriously: "As solid as a rock!"

"Alright..." The emperor's steps faltered again; clearly, he was still wavering between leaving and staying, unable to find peace of mind...

Li Gang frowned repeatedly. He needed to think of a way, an explanation, to completely stabilize the emperor's position here. He was also worried that the emperor might suddenly have a bad idea and run away in the middle of the night...

If a father can do it, why can't his son?
Judging from the emperor's current demeanor, he probably really knows how to do it.

After thinking it over, Li Gang suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I have a few words to say, but I don't know if I should!"

"Speak up, my dear minister. At this time, why can you remain silent?"

"Then I will risk my life to say a few words. The Jurchens are surely after money and provisions. If we can get the Jurchens to retreat, Your Majesty can stabilize the court and maintain order... In that case, you will be a true emperor!"

After Li Gang finished speaking, he glanced at the Emperor and, seeing that the Emperor was listening attentively, continued, "If Your Majesty were to leave the city now, and the Jurchens were to be defeated again, and the Retired Emperor were to return, Your Majesty... I fear... might also say that the Retired Emperor has always favored Prince Yun. If Your Majesty cannot secure your position in Dongjing and leaves the city, the Retired Emperor would naturally be reinstated upon his return, and Your Majesty would surely be held accountable for the loss of the city. Not to mention losing your throne, you might even become a prisoner!"

This time, Li Gang is going all out.

The emperor was stunned. Why was he thinking so much? Li Gang helped him think of it, and everything he said made sense.

The emperor stood firm, knowing that the world would not perish, and the Song Dynasty would not fall...

As long as the Song Dynasty exists, there will be an emperor...

Standing there, Zhao Huan's brows furrowed repeatedly...

Suddenly, the emperor looked closely at Li Gang and said, "My dear minister, could you say something more..."

Besides...

What more?
Li Gang continued, "Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus has already fled the city. If Your Majesty can turn the tide, secure the capital in Tokyo, and achieve further merit in repelling the enemy, you will naturally be able to sit firmly on the throne, and no one will be able to shake your position. Even if the Emperor Emeritus returns, he will not be able to regain his throne!"

Emperor Zhao Huan suddenly seemed to regain his composure, glanced at Li Gang, and waved his hand, saying, "My dear minister, go and get busy... make sure you defend the city well!"

Li Gang bowed deeply, finally feeling a huge weight lifted from his heart. He had finally regained his composure...

Li Gang couldn't afford to be happy for even a moment. He was in a hurry to get to the city wall. The emperor had been stabilized, so he had to hurry up and get there...

More and more Jurchens arrived, some from the northeast and others from the northwest. Clearly, some came by boat and some crossed the bridge...

They're slowly gathering...

In Datong, drums were being beaten. On the platform, Su Wu sat upright, while Wang Bing led the charge.

Guan Sheng arrived, and Hao Siwen arrived as well. The two of them attacked the city from three sides.

Wu Yong led 1,500 cavalrymen southward, first to Taiyuan, then to various prefectures and cities in Hedong. Soldiers, provisions, laborers, and auxiliary troops were needed. Wu Yong's journey was of great importance.

Wu Yong knew that this was the first time he had been solely in charge of a major task under Prime Minister Su. If he did well, he would be put to important positions and rise through the ranks; if he did poorly, he feared he would have no future...

Even though they were still on the road, Wu Yong had already begun racking his brains about how to deal with those gentlemen and generals. He also glanced to the left and saw that Wu Song was with him. He felt at ease, thinking that with such a person by his side, killing someone would be nothing more than a beheading!

This also shows how much Su Wu valued this matter!

The battlefield was raging, and the city contained only a few hundred Jurchens, along with over ten thousand people of various ethnicities and slaves...

Just keep throwing lives into the line!

Su Wu didn't even blink. He had cherished human lives for so long, just to use them in this day and age. "A merciful general cannot command an army," and for the first time, Su Wu truly lived up to that.

Before the battle, Prime Minister Su also issued a military order: if a Jurchen is found dead, and the body is found, a reward of two hundred strings of cash will be given after the investigation is completed!

Two hundred strings of cash for the head of a real Jurchen. This was the first time Su Wu had offered such a price. It was a life-or-death gamble, his last investment.

If this investment proves ineffective, Su Wu is even willing to offer 500 strings of cash!

With Wu Yong's arrival, all the money in Hedong was in his hands. Within a few days, he returned to Yanyun. Su Wu wanted most of Yanyun's land. The high-ranking families of Yanyun were all traitors, making peace with the Jin and colluding with foreign powers. Not a single family was spared. It wasn't about killing people, but about taking their property!

All I want is money!
When Wang Bing was present, he was truly earnest. Even from a great distance, amidst the cacophony, Su Wu could faintly hear Wang Bing's shouts.

Wang Bing was working so hard at this moment for two reasons: firstly, he was a brave and skilled warrior, and secondly, he felt guilty for failing Su Wu's kindness.

Of course, this is Su Wu's personal speculation. After all, when they went to talk in depth that day, Wang Bing did not express his opinion. Su Wu sighed in his heart: This Wang Bing is still afraid, still dare not... Perhaps he will set his sights on Wang Xun. If the father will not do it, the son will do it!
And when the time came, Wang Xun followed the emperor into the capital after the purge of corrupt officials. What about Wang Bing?
(Brothers, this is 10,000 words, written last night. My biological clock has been messed up lately, and I'm completely exhausted, I'm out of energy... I'll continue tonight, maybe in the middle of the night or early morning...)
(End of this chapter)