The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 281 His name is Pang Di
The army is not moving fast!

Because the Northern Song army had few cavalry, infantry was the main force.

Moreover, there's a red-clad cannon in the team, and that thing can't run very fast.

The army could only move thirty li a day.

So the news spread faster than the army advanced!
The news that Song Jun had won a year of tax exemption seemed to have sprouted wings, flying from Yishui County to the entire Yizhou.

The people spread the news with great joy.

"So the Song Dynasty still exists!"

"The Great Song Dynasty is back."

"If the Song Dynasty wins, it will be exempt from taxes for a year."

On the third day after the news spread, as the Northern Song army was setting up camp and preparing a meal ten miles away from Yizhou City, a scout led a group of ragged civilians to Yue Wenxuan: "True Lord, these people are all locals. They say they have intelligence to tell us."

Yue Wenxuan put on a kind smile: "What do you want to say?"

The villagers quickly bowed deeply and said, "Your Excellency, we have come to deliver military intelligence to you."

Yue Wenxuan: "Oh? Tell me about it. If it's useful, I'll reward you handsomely."

One of the men, dressed as a hunter, immediately said, "Sir, to the south of where your troops are currently stationed, there is a large mountain called Daxian Mountain, and within that mountain lies a deep valley." (This is now known as Xueshan Rainbow Valley in Yixian County.)
Yue Wenxuan: “Oh?”

The hunter said, "The State of Qi has hidden an army in the valley, as if they intend to launch a surprise attack on you."

"Wow, this military intelligence is useful." Yue Wenxuan's spirits lifted, and Gong Erniangzi, Zhang Yong, and the others beside him also perked up immediately. They had thought that ordinary people couldn't provide any useful military intelligence, but they didn't expect it to be so explosive.

Gong Erniangzi asked urgently, "Do you know who the general is leading that army? How many troops does it have?"

The hunter said, "The force is about two or three thousand men, and the general leading them is beyond my sight."

Gong Erniangzi: "What words were written on his military flag?"

The hunter said awkwardly, "I'm illiterate..."

Gong Er Niangzi couldn't help but shake her head inwardly: It's too embarrassing that she can't read; she can't even provide specific information.

She was feeling down when she suddenly saw Yue Wenxuan pick up a twig and quickly write a character on the ground. He then said to the hunter, "Even though you can't read, you can still tell by shape, right? Hunters should have sharp eyes! Look, isn't this the character written on his flag?"

The hunter glanced at it and exclaimed, "That's the character! That's the character!"

Gong Erniangzi looked down and saw that Zhenjun had written the character "Pang".

Yue Wenxuan smiled and said, "It seems that the one hiding in the southern valley is Pang Di, a general of the Qi Kingdom."

"Pang Di? Who is he?" This was the first time Gong Er Niangzi had ever heard this name.

Yue Wenxuan sighed softly and said, "He's from Yan'an!"

Pang Di, a native of Yan'an, loved reading military books and diligently practiced riding and archery in his youth. Upon reaching adulthood, he enlisted in the army, serving as the third deputy general of the Jingyuan Circuit. He fought bravely, repeatedly achieving great merit in battles against the Western Xia, and was awarded the title of Baoyilang for his achievements. Later, leading a hundred or so cavalrymen, he encountered thousands of Western Xia soldiers in a valley. He single-handedly charged into their ranks, sustaining serious injuries but remaining calm and composed, ensuring the safe return of his entire army. This feat earned him widespread fame, and he was promoted to the rank of general. However…

After the area north of the Yangtze River fell, he also surrendered to the Jin dynasty. He was then recommended by Zhang Zhongfu, the military commissioner, to the puppet state of Qi, where he served as the deputy commander of the Huainan East Route Cavalry and Infantry, overseeing the military affairs of Yi, Mi, and Huaiyang prefectures, and concurrently acting as the prefect of Yizhou.

Yue Wenxuan gave a brief introduction to this person's deeds.

After hearing this, Gong Erniangzi couldn't help but sigh, "This man was a fierce general. It's truly lamentable that someone like him surrendered to the Jin."

Yue Wenxuan sighed softly: "In the Jiangbei region, there are quite a few famous ministers and fierce generals who surrendered to the Jin, it's truly a pity."

Zhang Yong: "No matter the reason, surrendering to the Jin makes one a traitor, right? I despise him!"

Yue Wenxuan sighed softly: "You can't say that. The idea that surrendering to the Jin is equivalent to being a traitor is biased. Let me tell you a few stories."

A minor official named Ge from Jinde Rang County was sent into the city to persuade Cao Cao, saying, "King Nichuhe has an army of 100,000 and will attack the city at 9:00 AM today. If the city falls, not even chickens and dogs will be spared; only by surrendering quickly can you avoid disaster." A military advisor named Zhao wanted to surrender, but Cao Cao refused, saying, "You should die for your country." Zhao said, "Don't you know that loyalty is the ultimate goal? But death is of no use; what will become of the lives of the people in this city?" Cao Cao agreed, and they went together to see Nichuhe outside the city.

After Yue Wenxuan finished speaking, Zhang Yong and the others were completely dumbfounded, having not understood anything at all.

Yue Wenxuan had no choice but to translate it into vernacular Chinese: "Before Rangxian was captured, the peace faction said that we should open the city gates and surrender; the war faction said that we should continue to resist. Then the peace faction said, 'I also know that we should resist, but the problem is, have you considered the interests of all the people in the city? If you resist the Jin army, the city will be massacred; if you surrender, all the people in the city can live. What do you choose?' The war faction had no choice but to agree to surrender."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yong and the others couldn't help but let out a soft "hiss".

Yue Wenxuan: "If you were in this situation, would you surrender?"

Sweat beaded on Zhang Yong's forehead; he was momentarily speechless.

Yue Wenxuan said, "Send a few scouts to the vicinity of Yizhou City and find some locals who are familiar with the city's affairs to ask them what kind of official this Pang Di is. Go quickly!"

The scouts flew off quickly.

Yue Wenxuan took out some copper coins and rewarded the few people who had brought the news, telling them to go and hide.

After about half an hour, the scout returned and reported: "Pang Di has an excellent reputation. The people all say he is a good official, incorruptible. Since he took office, the people have not been bullied, and everyone they ask speaks well of him. On the contrary, the local Yizhou County Magistrate, Li Han, is a wicked man who often oppresses the people. After Pang Di took office, he dealt with this magistrate severely. However, Pang Di does not have the power to kill the magistrate; he can only discipline him, but cannot drive him away."

Yue Wenxuan nodded: "Okay, I understand."

He turned to Gong Erniangzi and said, "Now you know what to do."

Gong Erniangzi: "Understood! Give him a chance to reform, it's up to him whether he wants it or not."

She took out a map and said to Zhang Yong, “I will personally lead my troops to continue advancing towards Yishui County. You lead a group of men to hide here... here... Pang Di led his army out of the valley and will definitely try to ambush our flank and rear through this road... You should fight your way out from your hiding place and surround him. If he is willing to surrender, give him a chance to repent. If he does not surrender, do not show any mercy.”

Zhang Yong: "Yes, sir!"

Once the agreement was reached, the Northern Song army acted as if nothing had happened, eating and setting off as usual, continuing their advance towards Yizhou City. However, as they marched, the scouting circle suddenly expanded, and a large number of plastic scouts joined the patrols around the area, ensuring that no enemy scouts could spy on their main force.

Then Zhang Yong secretly led an army away from the main force and sneaked into the mountains and forests.

(End of this chapter)