The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 283 Let’s go

Pang Di fell from his horse, and the Yan'an soldiers ran even faster, but they had only run a few steps when another army suddenly appeared from behind them. It was Zhang Yong who had circled around them.

The soldiers in Yan'an realized that there were wolves at the front gate and tigers at the back gate.

Lower it!

With a whoosh, the surrendered soldiers all knelt on the ground.

Zhang Yong couldn't help but shake his head: "The soldiers of this pseudo-Qi state are really weak. They were clearly very powerful when they fought against Western Xia, so why? What is the reason for this?"

As he was sighing, suddenly, a young Yan'an soldier kneeling not far in front of him raised his head and shouted, "I know what battles are righteous and what battles are unrighteous. Why should I fight to the death in an unrighteous war?"

Zhang Yong: "Huh?"

These words deeply moved him. Looking closely, he saw that although only one person had spoken, most of the Yan'an soldiers shared the same complex emotions on their faces...

The young general said, "Surrendering to the Jin was not my intention, but my superiors have all surrendered, and the whole of Shaanxi has surrendered. What use is it if I don't surrender? Am I supposed to fight to the death? I don't want to die! I can only go with the flow!"

“You’re not alone,” the soldiers beside him added. “But even if none of us hundreds of men surrender, it won’t make any difference.”

Zhang Yong was stunned for a moment, and after several seconds, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
-
The city gates of Yishui County were wide open, and the local gentry and wealthy families lined up respectfully along the roadside, while a large group of ordinary people stared expectantly at Gong Er Niangzi and Yue Wenxuan.

Yue Wenxuan knew what their eyes were saying, so he waved his hand from horseback and shouted, "The tax exemption I promised you is not empty talk. Starting today, for the next year, it will be tax-free!"

The people cheered loudly.

The local gentry and wealthy households breathed a sigh of relief: since the ruler was willing to exempt them from taxes, it meant he was willing to let the people recuperate and focus on domestic affairs, and wouldn't be the kind of crazy, militaristic ruler. This was also a very good thing for the local gentry.

They were just a little worried that the Song state might bring up their surrender to the Jin dynasty to settle old scores.

Just then, the soldiers parted the crowd and brought Pang Di, who was bound hand and foot, to Yue Wenxuan and Gong Erniangzi.

Yue Wenxuan winked at Gong Erniangzi: "I'll leave this to you."

Gong Erniangzi nodded, dismounted, and personally untied Pang Di's ropes: "General Pang, I apologize! I heard that when you were in Yan'an, you fought against the Western Xia and made outstanding contributions. Seeing you today, I can confirm your bravery."

As soon as she spoke, the local gentry were the first to breathe a sigh of relief.

Since the generals of Song can treat Pang Di with such courtesy, then we ordinary people are much safer.

But then Pang Di let out a long sigh: "Where did this bravery come from? It's just a bunch of inferior goods that can be dealt with in a single cartwheel."

On the armor on his chest, one can still clearly see a wheel mark.

It’s so embarrassing!

Gong Erniangzi: "That's not important. What's important is that the general dared to charge into the enemy lines all by himself. Just for that, he is a rare hero."

Pang Di gave a wry smile and remained silent.

Gong Erniangzi: "I won't waste any more words. I'll just ask the general one question: are you willing to return to my Great Song?"

Pangdi: "I dream about it, but I can't."

Madam Gong Er: “?”

Pang Di: "Yan'an is still in the hands of the Jin Dynasty. My parents and brothers are all in Yan'an. If I surrender to the Song Dynasty, my parents and brothers will all die without a burial place. Please cut off my dog's head and hang it above the city gate. My parents and brothers may still be able to receive some compensation."

Madam Gong Er: “…”

The surrounding rebel soldiers: "..."

For a moment, the entire room fell silent.

In that instant, everyone understood why he was still charging forward alone while the Yan'an soldiers had all retreated.

This guy is clearly looking for death! He doesn't have the courage to commit suicide, but he certainly has the courage to throw his life away.

Gong Er Niangzi was a little embarrassed and didn't know what to do for a moment. She could only turn her head and look at Yue Wenxuan with pleading eyes.

Yue Wenxuan smiled and whispered in her ear, "Then let him go."

"Huh?" Gong Erniang was slightly surprised: "Just let him go? What if he brings his troops to attack again?"

Yue Wenxuan: "You've seen how many soldiers he has. Let him come again if he wants; we'll just defeat him again."

Madam Gong Er: “…”

Yue Wenxuan: "Zhuge Liang captured and released Meng Huo seven times. Sometimes, releasing a person is not just for that person, but because it can gain more people."

Gong Er Niangzi understood. She turned to Pang Di and said, "You can go now!"

Pangdi: "?"

Gong Erniangzi: "Since you have parents and brothers in the hands of the Jurchens, I will not force you to surrender. Go back."

Pang Di looked shocked: "Just let me go like that?"

Gong Er Niangzi: "Otherwise what? You haven't surrendered. We're enemies, after all. I can't just let you stay for dinner."

Pangdi: "Why don't you kill me?"

Gong Erniangzi: "Why would I want to kill you?"

Pang Di: "Release the tiger back to the mountain..."

Gong Er Niangzi: "If you come again, I'll just prepare another cart wheel."

Pang Di: "..."

For a long, long time, he was speechless.

Gong Erniangzi said, "Take your soldiers with you. You still have wives, children, and elderly relatives back in Yan'an. Take all the soldiers who cannot surrender to me with you."

Pang Di clasped his hands in a fist and said in a heavy tone, "Thank you!"

Outside the city, a large group of Yan'an soldiers, having disarmed and surrendered their weapons, were still waiting. A thousand of them had family ties and followed Pang Di, while the remaining thousand were determined to return to the Song Dynasty, and Pang Di could no longer lead them.

The two sides had no choice but to part ways here.

Those who were willing to stay chose a representative to come with Zhang Yong to see Yue Wenxuan and Gong Erniangzi.

This meant that the young general who had exchanged a few awkward words with Zhang Yong had arrived before Yue Wenxuan, bowed, and introduced himself: "This humble general is Sui Yi."

Yue Wenxuan thought to himself: Why is the name chosen so casually?

Sui Yi said, "From now on, I am willing to follow you, General, and go through fire and water without hesitation. Just as we fought the Western Xia back then, we will fight the Jin invaders in the same way we fought the Western Xia back then."

Gong Erniangzi said gently, "Don't you have any worries in Yan'an?"

Sui Yi said, "No! My entire family is dead, and I am the only one left."

Gong Erniangzi nodded: "Alright, then I look forward to you serving the Song Kingdom. Go to the rear army, find General Wang Hong, and temporarily submit to his command."

Sui Yi hurriedly and happily ran to the rear army. When he found Wang Hong, he saw a bald general leading a group of bald soldiers who were responsible for transporting cannons, ammunition boxes, and guarding provisions.

Sui Yi thought to himself, "We are the elite troops of Yan'an. When we fought the Western Xia Kingdom, a hundred of us could defeat a thousand of them. Why are they sending us to be auxiliary troops? Do they still not trust the soldiers of Yan'an?"

(End of this chapter)