You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 152 Comeback
Wuzhou.

More than ten Jurchen knights, dressed in tattered fur robes, were carefully riding their horses through the narrow mountain path.

The terrain here is very unfavorable to cavalry. Apart from the Wuzhou city fortress area, where there are winding roads built during the Han Dynasty and battlefields where thousands of troops can be deployed, the rest of the area is full of rolling mountains and rugged roads.

Moreover, its output was meager and its land barren, so apart from serving as a bulwark for the Central Plains, it had very limited other functions.

For this reason, the Jurchens were too lazy to set up defenses in this area, which allowed Yelü Yanxi to take advantage of the situation and capture several empty cities.

Full of self-satisfaction, he humiliated Chen Shao's envoy and continued his attack.

Unfortunately, Yingzhou was not captured; Meng Nuan there was surprisingly tough.

Finally, Yin Shuke caught up with Yelü Yanxi. He first sent out scouts to patrol and sweep around, partly to collect as many supplies as possible.

Secondly, they needed to find a place where they could have a decisive battle.

This group of more than ten Jurchen knights was a Puliyan under the direct command of Wanyan Loushi.

When they set off, there were nearly fifty riders, along with one hundred warhorses, twenty pack horses, twenty mules, thirty servants, and twenty herdsmen.

After Yin Shuke took over, only Zhanbing remained, but his combat power was astonishing.

Upon discovering Yelü Yanxi, Yin Shuke was overjoyed, finally catching up with this Liao emperor who could run as fast as a rabbit before anyone else.

After patiently waiting and lying in ambush, Yin Shuke launched a surprise attack at night, leading a group of armed Hu people to decisively defeat the Liao army at Yan'e.

This battle essentially wiped out Yelü Yanxi's last elite troops, but they still couldn't capture him.

He himself led his troops to flee to Shanyin.

Yin Shuke was thus reinstated to his original post, and the prefectures of Yuyangling, Tiande, Dongsheng, Ningbian, and Yunnei returned to the hands of the Jurchens.

Chen Shao and Wanyan Balisu stayed in Heishui Town for seven days.

The scenery in the desert oasis has a unique charm.

After receiving the war report from the Northwest, Chen Shao decided to leave.

With Emperor Tianzuo's defeat, the situation has changed again, and Chen Shao needs to return to be ready to deal with any changes in the situation.

Fortunately, Emperor Tianzuo was able to escape. If he had been captured or killed, Chen Shao felt that war between the Song and Jin dynasties would have broken out immediately.

Anyone with eyes could see at this point that the "Alliance at Sea" was nothing but a piece of waste paper.

Today is the day Chen Shao is leaving. Wanyan Balisu even wants to stay for a few more days, but Chen Shao doesn't care.

Early in the morning, Balisu came with his men to see him off.

Looking at the Jurchens' attire and elaborate manners, Chen Shao found it somewhat amusing. Although they dressed very appropriately, they would occasionally reveal their true nature.

Chen Shao was wearing a blue linen robe, which was starched and clean, and had been ironed.

He wasn't particular about food or clothing. Perhaps when he reached the age of Tong Guan or Cai Jing, he would focus on his taste buds and pay attention to eating more refined foods.

Now is the time to strive.

In fact, many Jurchens had long lost the fighting spirit they had when they first started their rebellion; they had been blinded by the allure of the world.

They all wanted to stop and enjoy themselves, with so many spoils and slaves in their hands.

Later, when Zonghan proposed to invade the Song Dynasty from the south, this slackness had almost reached its peak.

Everyone was confused, thinking that Zonghan had come south to gain military merit in order to secure his own position and to compete for power with the old emperor's bloodline.

Chen Shao merely triggered the idea of ​​pulling away from the speed ahead of time.

When Zonghan reprimanded Wanyan Balisu, he did not send anyone to find Chen Shao, even though he had realized that Chen Shao was undermining the Jurchens.

The main reason was that the area occupied by Chen Shao was too special, and Zong Han, who was knowledgeable in military affairs, did not want to offend Chen Shao.

Historically, after the Jurchens reached Shaanxi, they did not continue to attack the Western Xia, but were troubled by the Hengshan defense line.

In addition, the entire population here is basically mobilized for war, so if a real battle breaks out, everyone can get on horseback and fight.

The Dingnan army today is even more difficult to defeat than the Western Xia in history, because it has many more densely packed fortresses and strongholds, making it a sure way to get into a quagmire if they break in.

You won't get away without suffering a significant loss.

Zonghan's attitude gave Balisu the illusion that his association with Chen Shao was not opposed by the higher-ups.

It is unrealistic to expect people from such extremely harsh environments, who have suffered for generations, to have a sustained spirit of dedication and a high level of awareness.

Without any guiding principles or strong identification with their national civilization, how could they possess such sustained dedication and resilience?

Therefore, whether it was the Jurchen people of today or the Manchus of later times, they were the ones who declined the fastest.

"Brother Balisu, remember not to give the Tatars too many weapons. They are uncivilized barbarians. Once they have weapons, they will become unruly and might turn on you."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Ba Lisu said confidently.

Chen Shao smiled and waved goodbye to everyone. Wanyan Balisu also waved his arm vigorously. When Chen Shao saw the figures of these people, he felt a little disgusted.

Their bodies, shaped like millstones, possessed terrifying impact force. Everyone knows of the Iron Pagoda, the Hooked Horse, and the Jurchen cavalry.
In fact, the Jurchens' greatest strength was their infantry combat ability, which surpassed even that of the Song Dynasty, which was most adept at infantry combat.

The heavy axes and maces they commonly used were extremely powerful in close combat and were very effective against the Song Dynasty's shield formation.

Moreover, because of their excellent archery skills, when the heavy infantry pressed forward from the front, the light infantry would launch a barrage of arrows from the flanks. This three-dimensional attack system was very advanced at the time.

Later, the Mongols used this tactic as a reference to invent the Triple Formation, which swept across Eurasia.

After leaving Blackwater Town, Chen Shao led his personal guards down the river to Hexi.

Two days later, at noon, the group arrived at the vicinity of Suzhou City.

Two riders sped up and went ahead to deliver the message.

A troop of soldiers outside the city blocked the road. A general shouted at two riders charging towards them, "Whose men are you?"

"Go and inform them immediately, the General is about to arrive."
-
A table of delicacies from land and sea was neatly arranged inside the elegant pavilion.

A light drizzle outside the pavilion moistened the winding vines in the garden and the green grass on the pond, adding a touch of elegance and poetic charm to the courtyard.

Chen Shao stood in front of the vermilion carved window inside the pavilion, reaching his hand into the rain to feel the slight chill of the autumn rain in the border region.

"Autumn shadows hang low over the frontier, streams splash on the Longtou Mountains. Wild clouds hang low over Yumen Pass, the west wind blows fiercely, and wild geese skim the cold sand."

Xiao Shizhen raised her head, her face full of sorrow, but she could still find the time to recite poetry.

I really wanted to slap his thigh, but after thinking about it, I didn't dare.

Chen Shao ran his hand through her thick black hair, closed his eyes, and carefully felt the soft and warm autumn scenery beyond the Great Wall.

After leaving for a while, Xiao washed her face and rinsed her mouth again.

She dressed up carefully, wearing a sheer dress that looked rather flamboyant, completely different from her usual dignified and capable style.

Only then did he return to his room. He went to the doorway, practiced a fake smile, and then stepped in, standing in front of Chen Shao and attentively serving him his meal.

Chen Shao smiled and said, "Sit down with me."

Xiao smiled slightly, sat down beside him, and soon began to talk animatedly and eloquently about the opening of trade routes in the Western Regions to Chen Shao.

Looking at her radiant and beautiful appearance, Chen Shao thought to himself, "This woman is really career-driven."

"Looking back on this journey, I've realized you're right. Bandits roam the Western Regions in many places. They specialize in robbing caravans along the way. It's definitely necessary to equip our caravan with protective gear."

Xiao was overjoyed. She had begged Chen Shao many times, but he wouldn't budge.

Unexpectedly, he agreed after making the trip himself.

Xiao was not angry about this, which shows that Chen Shao is not someone who is obsessed with saving face. As long as you explain the reasoning to him or persuade him, he will nod.

In her eyes, Chen Shao's status as her lord still outweighed his status as her man.

She was very pleased to see that her lord was someone like Chen Shao.

Thinking that she had actually thought of flattering and serving him in order to get his approval, Xiao secretly reminded herself that Chen Shao was a very decisive person who was not easily swayed by women, and that she should not make the same mistake again.

She smiled and took a palm-sized box out of her sleeve.

"My lord, you have worked hard traveling back and forth. I obtained a beautiful jade from the Yutian Jade Gang and specially saved it for you."

After saying that, he opened the box and said with a smile, "This is a piece of Hetian jade made of the finest materials. As you can see, the jade is slightly pinkish in color. It is a superior piece of ancient jade. Not only is it smooth and delicate, but it also has the wonderful effect of keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer."

Chen Shao smiled and pinched her cheek. "It's rare for you to be so thoughtful."

After saying that, he put it away, intending to give it to Shishi or Chuntao when he got back.

Chen Shao knew about the Khotan Jade Gang; they monopolized the transit trade of jade from the Western Regions.

Not long ago, they were completely wiped out by the protection team of Yipin Guangyuantang, and it is said that not a single person was left.

The charming woman in front of him, though obedient and docile in his presence, was actually a truly ruthless person.

The various armed forces in the Western Regions treated her merchant escort team as if they had encountered a living Yama.

However, when expanding, this kind of person is needed to quickly establish a foothold.

Moreover, she was always under his protection, so Chen Shao never questioned her, and even subtly encouraged her.

The Western Regions trade route was his personal purse, and Chen Shao had always taken it very seriously. The Xiao family's exceptional abilities were a well-known fact; the key to effective personnel management was the willingness to delegate authority to capable subordinates.

Since the decision was made to strengthen the merchant protection team, Chen Shao was not stingy and directly ordered the Liangzhou Prefecture to establish a military equipment department.

The caravan escort team will definitely be composed of elite troops; since the number of personnel is small, they will select the best of the best.

"I'll equip you with a proper escort caravan. Once you're out of Yumen Pass, you can fight whomever you want. If you can't win, I'll send reinforcements."

Upon hearing this, Lady Xiao's beautiful eyes darted sideways, her gaze sparkling, and she felt that following Chen Shao was indeed the right choice.

When I was doing business in Suoyang City, I had to curry favor with this person and bribe that person, which was very frustrating.

Now that Chen Shao has said this, I can finally unleash my full potential!
-
Tong Guan, accompanied by more than a dozen personal guards, headed straight for the Cai residence along the imperial road.

Central government officials who were on duty at Cai's residence along the way also made way for him.

In Bianliang now, Tong Guan is an anomaly. He has already been granted the title of king, which already puts him ahead of everyone else.

The Song Dynasty liked to bestow the title of king upon deceased officials, but it was extremely rare for living officials to be kings of different surnames.

Moreover, he has no desires or wants, so if anyone offends him, he will really criticize you.

Moreover, some benefited from this campaign against Liao, while others secretly gnash their teeth at him, fearing his demise, and still others waited to see him make a fool of himself.

The gazes cast upon him by everyone were quite intriguing.

Tong Guan didn't care about any of this; his greatest pleasure now was criticizing current affairs in front of Cai Jing.

Once he was removed from the official system, Tong Guan no longer had the concerns he once had. All the things he proposed were beneficial to the country and the people, directly pointing out the shortcomings of the current court.

As someone who had been in the center of power in the Song Dynasty for more than 20 years, how could he not know what was wrong?
The reason I didn't speak up before was because I was the one who benefited from it, and they were the ones who dug these loopholes together.

Originally, Tong Guan did not want things to turn out this way. He only wanted to withdraw from the ups and downs of officialdom. With his background of redeeming Yanjing, the Song emperor had always been kind to his officials. When he retired, he should have been wearing purple robes and jade belts, and his descendants could benefit from his legacy.

He lived out the rest of his life peacefully in the Song Dynasty, bringing a perfect end to his eventful life.

But the imperial court was unwilling, the emperor was unwilling, and they pulled themselves back.

Tong Guan seemed to be in a "what's the worst that can happen?" attitude, thinking, "If I'm not doing well, then nobody else should either."

Cai Jing was thoroughly fed up with him. "I, Cai Jing, know nothing about the things you're talking about."

Can it be changed?
Why didn't you mention it back then?

Cai Jing was also very careful. Although he had gained the trust of the emperor for a time because of his financial management, what person who managed the emperor's finances had a good ending?

People like Yang Jian and Zhu Mian were no different; trying to satisfy this official's endless extravagance would only lead to trouble in the end.

Because the government's demands for money are endless, no amount of money can satisfy them, and they will only become more and more extravagant.

Such people are not uncommon in history. Yang Jian left Guangzi a wealth of resources, but it was still not enough for him to squander.

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) and Emperor Yang Guang (Yang Guang) simply had different hobbies and pursuits, but their capacity and desire to squander money were similar.

He risked his life, jeopardizing the finances of the Imperial Guards, and even though he had managed to feed so many vested interest groups, in the end, he still couldn't satisfy the emperor's appetite.

When Tong Guan arrived at Cai's residence, he learned that the Emperor had summoned Prime Minister Cai to Xuande Gate that day.

Along the way, many officials must have known, but none of them told him. Tong Guan sighed inwardly.

He had no choice but to turn around and go to Xuande Gate to meet the emperor. Tong Guan dared not refuse, knowing that the emperor was very dissatisfied with him.

The purchase of Yanjing cost too much money, almost draining the Song Dynasty dry.

Later, the government even emptied its own treasury to replenish the national budget, which allowed the country to weather the crisis.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the emperor bestowed a title upon Tong Guan; it's because without it, the merit of recapturing Yanjing could not be solidified.

The credit should fall mostly on the officials.

The emperor gritted his teeth and made himself a king; otherwise, he wouldn't have waited for several months.

Despite the many strange looks he received along the way, Tong Guan appeared calm and collected, but in reality, he was terrified.

But he couldn't back down. He had to stand firm and maintain his dignity as a prince, which meant upholding the emperor's military virtue in recovering Yanjing.

If he encountered someone of lower rank or status than himself, he would walk past them with his head held high. Unless someone gestured to him, he wouldn't bother to approach them. He continued in this arrogant manner until he reached the Xuande Gate.

At this very moment, outside Xuande Gate, there were already quite a few people who looked like imperial envoys waiting. They were inspectors, planners, and duty officers from various provinces and treasuries.

Having served as the head of the Inner Palace Secretariat for many years, Tong Guan naturally recognized this scene. His heart skipped a beat; what was going on now?
Upon hearing the imperial decree summoning Cai Jing to the palace for an audience, Tong Guan was certain that it was nothing more than a matter of money.

The emperor's decision to reinstate Cai Jing was actually a reluctant one, as it was a serious departure from his usual approach of maintaining balance.

Logically speaking, Cai Jing's faction was already deeply entrenched, and he should have been forced to resign and return to his hometown long ago.

But there was nothing he could do. Over the years, he had promoted and given important positions to many trusted officials, but none of them were of any use.

Wang Fu replaced Cai Jing for over a year, nearly causing the country to fall and driving the people of Jiangnan into a massive rebellion, from which they have yet to recover.

Only Cai Jing has the ability to make the country more stable.

The country is not doing very well now, but at least in Bianliang, it has regained its former prosperity.

Therefore, from any perspective, Cai Jing's return to the premiership is indeed something to be wary of and requires vigilance.

However, Emperor Huizong seemed to be desperate for money, and at this point, all he could find were leftovers on the plates.

Tong Guan was already very familiar with the palace, and no one dared to stop him, since Tong Guan did not need to be informed before meeting the emperor.

Whether he was a household slave or an old slave, in Zhao Ji's eyes, he was much closer than a subject.

Emperor Huizong of Song actually got up very early today, which is extremely rare. He usually drinks and plays until midnight and then sleeps for most of the day.

Upon seeing Tong Guan enter, Emperor Huizong of Tang, who was talking to Cai Jing, waved his hand gently. Tong Guan immediately stood aside and joined Wang Fu and the others.

After listening for only a few sentences, Tong Guan was somewhat bewildered; the emperor was actually feigning poverty.
Zhao Ji frowned and said that he had not had any extra income for a long time since the Fang La Rebellion.

How could the mighty Song Dynasty emperor have been poor for so long?
Cai Jing was already incredibly old, and upon hearing this, he tightly closed his lips and remained silent, fearing that the emperor would seize upon his words and take more money from him.

This time, the Privy Council proposed that the Shengjie Army and the Huanqing Army be dispatched separately to establish garrisons, which was exactly what Cai Jing wanted to see. He had already realized that it was necessary to guard against the Jurchens moving south, and these two forces were rare troops that still had the strength to fight.

The most important thing is to train the troops in Hebei and Hedong with them as the backbone.

Otherwise, if the Jurchen Tartars came and broke through Hedong and Hebei, Bianliang would be in danger.

The siege of the capital is a responsibility that no one can afford to bear.

Therefore, Cai Jing also tried his best to promote the deployment of these two armies to the garrison, and he approved all requests.

Emperor Huizong of Song was not stupid and understood the importance of this matter, but he still couldn't help but scrimp and save money to spend on himself.

For this reason, he summoned Wang Bing to court several times, asking him how much wealth he needed and whether he could stop the Jurchens from advancing south.

Wang Bing's attitude was somewhat ambiguous. He deeply believed that he was not capable of undertaking the defense of Yan and Hebei. Zhao Ji did not take it seriously. Letting Wang Bing go out to take on important responsibilities, without any regional commanders to restrain him, was already a great favor. It was normal for him to humbly decline.

Are the Jurchen Tartars destined to march south? The Maritime Alliance is still there.

Even if they went south, they would most likely just burn, kill, and plunder. After they were full, they would naturally flee far away. Isn't that how foreign races have been for thousands of years?

Leaving Wang Bing and the Shengjie and Huanqing armies there already indicates sufficient preparedness.

Tong Guan listened from the side, secretly glad that he was no longer in charge of affairs in Yan, otherwise this mess would have been his responsibility.

Cai Jing, Cai Jing, when will this official career end? You've been appointed prime minister six times, something unprecedented in the Song Dynasty. How can you still cling to power and refuse to retire?

The suffering you are experiencing now is what you deserve; it is retribution for your greed for power.

Seeing that Cai Jing was stubbornly refusing to budge, Zhao Ji became furious and turned to look at Tong Guan.

He stretched out his hand, and Tong Guan quickly stepped forward, bowing as he asked, "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

"Chen Shao's caravan is thriving now, and I hear they're making a fortune every day."

Tong Guan gets a headache just hearing the name Chen Shao. If an ordinary person mentioned it in front of him, Tong Guan would have already stormed off.

However, since he was the emperor, he could only nod and say, "Chen Shao has the salt from Yanzhou and Youzhou, which alone accounts for half of Xia's previous wealth. He also trades with the Jurchens and has now opened up the Western Regions trade route. He is indeed as rich as a country."

Tong Guan subtly tried to sow discord between the emperor and Cai Jing, who listened from the side, frowning repeatedly.

We must appease Chen Shao now, don't you know that, Tong Guan? What are you planning to do?
Fortunately, although Emperor Huizong of Song was incompetent and tyrannical, he was not stupid. He knew that Chen Shao was in a very dangerous situation at this time.

Even the slightest touch could lead to a rebellion.

But he couldn't help himself and said in a low voice, "You promoted Chen Shao yourself. Send someone to ask if you can collect more commercial taxes. If not, go there yourself."

Tong Guan immediately felt a bitter taste in his mouth and swallowed hard.

It's true that Chen Shao was promoted by me, but he's not the kind of person who knows how to repay kindness!

Despite his many grievances against Chen Shao, Tong Guan was not too worried, as he understood Chen Shao better than Cai Jing.

Even if I went, Chen Shao wouldn't do anything to me; he would most likely treat me politely.

Moreover, he is unlikely to rebel in the near future; in fact, he himself is the one who suppressed the rebellion in the Northwest.

The fact that Chen Shao kept sending letters to him during his campaign against Liao shows that he possessed a certain degree of patriotism and concern for the people.

Tong Guan spent twenty years pacifying the northwest border, and he knew all too well how resistant the people on the land of the Xia bandits in the northwest were to the Song Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant will take care of it immediately."

Emperor Huizong was overjoyed; his own servant was still the most obedient. No matter how high Cai Jing's rank, he was still a scholar-official and would never be of one mind with him.
-
Yelü Yanxi fled to Yinshan, believing he was doomed. He spent his days weeping and drinking heavily.

But the Jurchens suddenly stopped their attack.

September of the fifth year of the Xuanhe era.

Wanyan Aguda urgently summoned Wanyan Wuqimai, and hundreds of members of the Jurchen royal family dropped everything and rushed to Aguda's "Buduluo West Palace".

On the 28th, Wanyan Aguda passed away at the age of 56. According to his will, Wanyan Wugumai ascended the throne.

In the same month, Aguda's coffin was transported back to Shangjing and buried in the southwest of the palace. Wanyan Wuqimai ordered the construction of the Ning Temple.

The entire Jin Dynasty established by the Jurchens seemed to come to a standstill in late September and October.

The old emperor Wanyan Aguda's prestige was so high that his death had a great impact on the Jurchens.

However, it also gave many forces a chance to breathe.

Zhang Jue of Pingzhou, Emperor Xiao Gan of Xi, Emperor Yelü Yanxi of Liao, and Yelü Dashi, who was desperately fleeing westward, all enjoyed a month of peace as a result.

There was only one exception.

That was Wanyan Balisu, who volunteered to be stationed in the southwest.

He quickly won over the Kereit and Tatar tribes, two tribes that were already frequently attacking other tribes.

Hearing that there was support from the Jin Kingdom, money to be made, and even the most precious ironware from the grasslands as a reward, he was very excited.

The two tribes, having mustered all their strength, began attacking other tribes. The prisoners they used to kill were now being transported to the Jurchens.

After receiving the reward, the two tribes immediately declared their allegiance to Wanyan Balisu.

The grand slave hunt on the grasslands began in autumn.

Blackwater Town had already made preparations, but the Jurchen leadership was unaware of the cooperation between the two sides for the time being.

The death of the old emperor Wanyan Aguda left a power vacuum that will require a long period of competition and division.

During this period, they could not attend to other matters for the time being; the battle situation in the west was temporarily taken over by Wanyan Loushi.

Although Wanyan Balisu's achievements were not as great as Wanyan Loushi's, his status was about the same, so he was not afraid of Loushi at all.

Wanyan Loushi didn't notice him either. After all, the grassland was too vast, and no one knew that Wanyan Balisu had started another business here.

And it's already starting to make money—
Wang Bing was completely speechless.

The imperial court appointed him to guard Hedong and Hebei, which was already a difficult task, and now more than a month has passed, yet no funds have been allocated.

He led the remnants of the Huanqing Army to garrison in Hedong, and heard his men complaining every day.

As he sat brooding in his tent, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the hall. A guard rushed in and shouted, "Commander Ma, the Deputy Commander of the Huanqing Army, has come to pay his respects!"

Wang Bing stood up; he still respected Ma Kuo, his deputy.

Ma Kuo's resume is impressive enough; he is a rare all-round talent. For Wang Bing, being able to keep him by his side is a rare good thing.

Ma Kuo, dressed in civilian clothes, walked into the hall of the Huanqing Army's garrison.

His face was extremely gloomy, even worse than Wang Bing's, as if he were burdened by some heavy worries.

Wang Bing held a much higher position in the army than anyone else, and according to military etiquette, everyone had to bow to him.

After Ma Kuo came in, he sat down with a thud, but Wang Bing, with a sullen face, didn't seem to care at all.

The two unlucky guys didn't say a word, yet it was as if they had said a thousand words.

Clearly, Ma Kuo's trip to the capital to demand military supplies had once again ended in failure.

Wang Bing's official career progressed smoothly. His status was elevated, and he was appointed as a military envoy, also holding the title of Jiedushi (military governor).

In the Song Dynasty, there were only two or three generals who could surpass him. Apart from the old Zhong, there were also the young Zhong and Chen Shao, who were only on par with Wang Bing.

Other officials of such high rank were all civil servants, such as Wang Anzhong in Yanshan Prefecture.

Finally, Ma Kuo and Wang Bing raised their heads together, looked at each other, and for a moment didn't know where to begin their conversation.

Finally, Wang Bing glanced at Ma Kuo, and Ma Kuo forced a smile: "This time when I went to Bianliang City, I tried to see the Emperor several times, but I was not able to. I also missed seeing Prime Minister Cai. However, I managed to intercept Commander Tong Xuan several times."

I begged him to consider our past relationship and put in a good word for me with the official, but alas, he was powerless to help.

Wang Bing sighed. The reason why Commander Tong Xuan's position was so secure in the past was because he could meet with the emperor at any time, reach the emperor's ears, and obtain provisions and supplies.

Now that Tong Guan and Tan Zhen have left, it is now extremely difficult for these military officers in the army to even see the Emperor.

The situation in Hedong and Hebei is extremely critical. If we don't take advantage of the death of the Jin emperor to quickly build up the defense line, when will we ever have another chance!
This is a great gift from heaven to the Song Dynasty!
Unfortunately, it was refused.

After Ma Kuo finished speaking, Wang Bing did not go, but he could still feel the despair Ma Kuo felt in Bianliang.

Finally, Wang Bing sighed deeply and slammed his hand on the table: "The court is like this, it's all child's play!"

His words were filled with deep sorrow, and even Ma Kuo, who was full of resentment, couldn't help but be moved at this moment.

Yue Fei, a young general standing in the camp, was even more indignant after hearing this.

Wang Bing's brows were furrowed, as if he wanted to vent all the pent-up anger in his chest with this one dose, and he continued to speak incessantly: "The Huanqing Army has no more than six thousand men, all of them remnants of defeat. Yet they expect us to shoulder the heavy responsibility of Yan and Hebei. Is this a joke or what?"
Nowadays, where can we find a strong army? If we don't recruit new troops soon, when will we? Our Huanqing Army is firmly guarding the Hedong Mountains on the flank, and the Shengjie Army of Yanshan Prefecture is cooperating with us. Although we can't say for sure that we can hold them off, we are certainly capable of fighting.

As long as the imperial court can provide continuous supplies, and with the two armies as the backbone, recruit strong and capable men from the border regions, it is not impossible to stabilize this barrier somewhat and prevent it from being completely without the ability to resist.

However, many officials in the court, disregarding this situation, failed to secure sufficient funds to recruit a new army, only waiting to ruin the overall situation in the future!

As Wang Bing spoke, he couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up and continued to say angrily, "Why isn't the court giving us money? Where is the money? I heard that they just built a Taoist temple in the suburbs this August, costing over a million!"
Ultimately, the imperial court has money, but it won't spend it on us! It's because they're suspicious of us military men. They're afraid that if the military garrisons in Hedong and Hebei were to become too powerful and difficult to control, they would become another Western Army!
The campaign against Yan was fraught with difficulties, but the imperial court intervened recklessly, disrupting the deployment of military commanders and causing the Western Army to suffer a crushing defeat.

The Jurchens are far stronger than the Liao and Western Xia. And now the court is still wary of our military officials!

Over the past century, haven't we military officials been responsible for the deaths of millions on the border? How many of us have high-ranking officials? Anyone who can win the hearts of the army, unless they are a commander who rises from the ranks at Donghua Gate, will be suspected by the court.

Even Di Qing, in his prime, could only die in despair!

Ma Kuo and the generals in the tent were all stunned as they watched Wang Bing's endless sermon!
Wang Bing's words were extremely audacious. Young generals like Yue Fei could only listen with their mouths agape.

Ma Kuo knew in his heart that Wang Bing was always steady and composed. If he hadn't been extremely depressed, he would never have said such a thing today!

At this moment, Wang Bing, who had been entrusted with an important task, was indeed suffering indescribable pain.

He was different from Tan Zhen and Tong Guan; he was not afraid to take responsibility and was willing to shoulder it all.

Therefore, he was happy to take over the position that Tan Zhen had avoided and hastily left.

He decided to establish a stronghold in Hedong after assessing the strength of his own army and the treacherous terrain of Hedong.

Wang Bing was confident that if he managed the situation for a few years, he could at least manage to block the Jurchens' flanks by leveraging the terrain east of the river.

As for Yanshan Prefecture, he wasn't very confident, but Yan had its own local troops like the Ever Victorious Army and the Taining Army, as well as the Victorious Army. Relying on the natural defenses of the city, it wouldn't be easily breached.

Unfortunately, those people in the imperial court appointed him to guard Hedong, but did not provide him with any money or salary.

It is more painful than being frustrated and unfulfilled to be in this position but unable to use one's talents.

Who knows, if the Jurchen Tartars invade the Central Plains in the future, I'll have to bear the blame for this.

He had argued about this matter before, sought help from several ministers and officials in the court, and even spent money to bribe Cai Xiang's confidants, but he always received impatient replies. You, Wang Bing, have already been given such an important position, and are about to be appointed as a pacification envoy, yet you are still so ungrateful. Do you really think that important matters of the court are something a military officer like you can say?

Standing amidst a group of military generals, Yue Fei felt an indescribable sorrow upon seeing Wang Bing's distressed expression.
-
October, Jin Dynasty.

In the now-stable Shangjing Prefecture, the new emperor Wanyan Wuqimai ordered Wanyan Zongwang to take over Wanyan Zhamu's army to attack Zhang Jue.

Zongwang's own army was not recalled.

But he doesn't care either.

With the troops that had been defeated by Zhang Jue a few months earlier, they set off again to attack Pinglu.

Zhang Jue learned his lesson this time and did not launch an attack, but Zong Wang was clearly more capable than Zhamu, and he used his troops several times to destroy the surrounding fortresses.

They quickly advanced to the walls of Pingzhou.

Wanyan Zongwang ordered an attack on the eastern city, and within half a day, the city was breached.

After a brief period of decline, the Jurchens regained their invincible state.

Panic gripped Pingzhou City as countless people surged toward the south gate, crying and shouting their desire to escape.

Wanyan Zongwang was indeed formidable. His troops were still the same ones defeated by Zhang Jue, but without the obstruction of the torrential rain, and with Zongwang's command, they became invincible again, as if they were on the land of the Liao Dynasty.

The procession of wealthy nobles struggled forward through the crowd, with burly servants and handymen clearing the way shouting for them to make way, and some even hitting them indiscriminately with sticks.

Everyone knew how brutal the Jurchen Tartars were, and no one wanted to stay in the city.

The outer city was breached in such a short time, and the fall of the city was inevitable.

Those walking on the ground, supporting the elderly and leading children, were mostly poor people, carrying a little bit of meager belongings and hastily prepared dry food, struggling to move with the crowd.

The wealthy families arrived in their carriages and horses. It wasn't that they didn't want to give way, but the sheer number of people made it impossible for them to move. Servants and servants swung their sticks, and many people fell to the ground, their bundles scattered everywhere. As the crowd surged forward, families were separated, and heart-wrenching cries rang out.

This apocalyptic scene further demoralized the defending troops, but Zhang Jue did not order them to stop it.

He was, after all, a scholar, and not ruthless enough, allowing the people to flee Pingzhou.

The cries of the poor on the ground drew in the wealthy families on their carriages and horses, who also began to weep. In the end, the entire city of Pingzhou resounded with the cries of those who did not know their fate!

At this time, regardless of wealth or poverty, everyone was a victim of chaos and turmoil.

Their fates were now hanging by a thread. Just then, Zhang Dungu entered, sword in hand, and said to Zhang Jue, "Brother, quickly order the people to stop fleeing! My troops are stuck and can't move!"

Zhang Jue sighed and said, "Things have come to this point, why cut off the people's livelihood? You and I are both from Pingzhou, and these are our fellow villagers."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dungu became anxious and his face contorted with rage. "Brother, what are you saying? Although the outer city wall in the east is broken, the inner city wall is still intact. After we defeat the Tartars, we can just repair it."

"Brother!"

Seeing that Zhang Jue wouldn't listen, Zhang Dungu grabbed his sword and rushed out, his face and head covered in sweat, steaming hot, and led two hundred men at high speed toward the east gate of Pingzhou.

Seeing this, Zhang Jue stood up and said, "I will go with you to defend the city. We will fight to the death this time!"

However, the three commanders could not mobilize the infantry left behind them for the time being, for no other reason than that the roads were blocked.

The streets were crowded and trampled everywhere. Li Anbi was busy stabilizing the situation in the rear camp and arresting the auxiliary soldiers who were preparing to escape.

At the same time, we quickly repaired the stockade defenses and prepared vehicles and horses.

Li Anbi was more rational than the Zhang brothers. Once the situation in the prefectural city was stabilized, he would transfer as much of the military supplies and provisions piled up in the rear camp into the prefectural city as possible.

Make a stand firm and defend to the death. Whatever remains that cannot be moved, burn it all. Leave nothing for the Jurchen Tartars!
Then everyone will flee to the Song Dynasty, and one day we'll fight our way back.

At this moment, five or six hundred escaped auxiliary soldiers had been captured in the camp, kneeling in a dark mass in the drill ground.

If it had been a more ruthless general, there might already be five or six hundred heads rolling on the training ground by now!

However, Zhang Jue ordered everyone to be released.

Such behavior is tantamount to encouraging everyone to run away.

Seeing this, Li Anbi disregarded Zhang Jue's objections, waved for his men to lift Zhang Jue up, and said, "Let's go!"

"Let me go! I want to die fighting on the city walls!"

Li Anbi waved his hand, and his personal guards dragged Zhang Jue into the carriage.

Zhang Dungu gritted his teeth, turned around and shouted, "Brother Li, protect my elder brother and get out of here! I'll cover your retreat!"

After saying that, he picked up his knife and charged against the flow of people.

Li Anbi personally stood outside the carriage and ordered his personal guards to clear the way, rushing out of the city.

Zhang Jue was well-liked in Pingzhou, and when they learned that he was leaving, the others followed suit.

(End of this chapter)