You have truly caused me great suffering!

In the height of summer, the sky is clear and blue.

On the Hedong Road, between Fenzhou and Xihe, the Lingwu Army is resting.

Chen Shao sat on the grass by the river, looking at the fertile fields on both sides, and was very happy. The abundant rainfall this year was not without its benefits.

Although many places were affected by the floods, there were also bumper harvests.

In Dingnan Army's territory, many fertile fields were newly reclaimed this spring, and the autumn harvest will be in a month or two.

Because Hedong had its own protection, its army held the prefectures of Yunzhong Prefecture, preventing the Jurchen western army from advancing south. As a result, their fertile fields could be harvested smoothly.

At least for the foreseeable future, Chen Shao doesn't need to worry. He can tighten his belt and fight for a year, and if he asks the Song Dynasty for some more, he can fight for two or three years.

Can the Jurchen Tartars really hold out for two or three years? After their momentum to destroy the Liao has been broken, they are at a disadvantage in a stalemate with us.

Now I have reduced the pressure on the Song Dynasty by half.

They no longer need to worry about Hedong; they only need to concentrate their forces on dealing with the enemy along the Hebei-Yanshan defense line.

Of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, Chen Shao managed to protect at least half of the "Yun" region.

Chen Shao's advance was slow, even slower than the advance of his troops on the front lines.

Because he was very particular about his journey, and didn't just rush along blindly.

He wanted to pave a clear road for the caravans so they could transport their supplies smoothly.

Nowadays, apart from a few unscrupulous or highly opportunistic civil officials who have switched allegiance and joined the Dingnan Army, most scholar-officials are simply enduring the situation.

Especially among local civil officials, many still clung to the Song Dynasty's notion that civil officials were superior to military officials. Chen Shao had no choice but to avoid such people.

Mark a spot on his caravan; if they can bypass it, they should; if not, they should figure out a way themselves.

For example, Fenzhou and Xihe have wide and flat official roads, making transportation extremely convenient.

If we could go this way, I don't know how much manpower and resources we could save.

Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng, the prefect of Fenzhou Prefecture, was a die-hard. Not only did he refuse to let the caravan pass, but the Lingwu Army also needed to present a document from the Privy Council.

Chen Shao simply set up camp there, plotting how to deal with this person.

However, he also thought that he would eventually encounter such people, after all, the Song Dynasty still had some influence among the common people.

Chen Shao also tried to submit a memorial to the court requesting an imperial decree, but they kept stalling, neither refusing nor issuing an order.

Thinking back to his achievements after destroying Xia, which allowed him to be rewarded after half a year, what about this time?

With 100,000 troops fighting abroad, can I wait for you for half a year?

If food is cut off for three days, something terrible will happen.

Wu Lin arrived with several guards. Seeing the military commander sitting there with a relatively calm expression, he couldn't help but feel some respect.

He thought Chen Shao would fly into a rage and might even do something irrational.

In Chen Shao's eyes, things were messed up, but it was all within his expectations.

It even came later than I expected.

If there are no goods to disgust people, is it still the Song Dynasty?
"General, Jiang Cheng is quite bold; he has already agreed to come to the camp for the banquet."

Chen Shao stood up, clapped his hands, and said with a half-smile, "He probably thinks he has great integrity, and maybe right now he's admiring himself in the government office."

Chen Shao sneered inwardly. If he hadn't sent troops, Hedong would have long since become Wanyan Zonghan's hunting ground.

It is true that he besieged Taiyuan for more than 200 days without taking it, but that did not stop him from dividing his troops and wreaking havoc on other parts of Hedong.

Historically, the atrocities committed by the Jin army within Song territory were even more brutal than their treatment of the Liao people.
-
Inside the prefectural government office in Fenzhou City.

Jiang Cheng tidied his appearance in front of the mirror. He stretched out his hands, and several bailiffs came forward to help him tie his jade belt.

The Observation Officer Liu Yu frowned and asked worriedly, "Your Excellency, are we really going to the banquet at the camp?"

"Why not go!" Jiang Cheng sneered. "Do you think I'm afraid of him?"

Liu Yu thought to himself, "You're not afraid because you don't believe he'll make a move, but how can you be so sure that someone with 100,000 soldiers wouldn't dare to attack you?"

What if we anger him and all of us suffer as a result?

To put it bluntly, what good are those few troops in Fenzhou?

Seeing him sighing and looking worried, Jiang Cheng frowned and reprimanded him, "We are people who have studied the classics; how can we be afraid and cowardly in the face of adversity? Chen Shao disobeyed the king's orders and led his troops into Hedong; his intentions are despicable!"

"Now he even wants to pass through Fenzhou. We should reprimand him to his face and teach him the principles of being a subject."

Liu Yu didn't dare to argue with him, but he was already cursing in his heart. "You think you're so high and mighty? What are you pretending for? When you get to the army camp and get chopped into mincemeat, I'll definitely cheer for you!"

"Let's go! Come with me to the banquet. I want to see if Chen Shao dares to set up a trap!"

Since the Lingwu Army was stationed near the Fen River, the local people were initially a little afraid and would avoid them when walking.

However, it was later discovered that these soldiers had excellent military discipline.

The Lingwu Army was probably the most disciplined force under Chen Shao.

Gradually, some children came to watch from the vicinity. The camp was full of flags waving, which made people feel awe and power.

Some elite cavalrymen, dressed in brocade robes, armor, and battle skirts, rode their horses around the camp with great pride and arrogance, which the children found fascinating.

The city gate opened in the distance, and Jiang Cheng, leading a horse and accompanied by only three or five attendants, came with his hands behind his back.

Behind him were Fenzhou officials, including the Observer, Judge, and Military Advisor, all with bitter expressions.

They wanted to curse Jiang Cheng's ancestors for eighteen generations, and looking at the Lingwu army camp, they were filled with fear.

But Jiang Cheng was still putting on an act.

They were different from Jiang Cheng, who was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) with a high ranking and connections in the court, and who also had the opportunity to go to Bianliang (Kaifeng).

Given their backgrounds and circumstances, they could only live out their lives in Fenzhou. A peaceful and stable life was better than anything else.

Now they can only hope that Chen Shao is not a cruel person.

Another reason for such panic is that no one knows Chen Shao well; his actions have been kept too secret by the court.

All people know is that the Western Xia was destroyed by the tactics and troops deployed by Tong Xuanshuai, and the current Jiedushi is Chen Shao, who is very young.

It wasn't until this time, when he led troops to Yunzhong Prefecture and instantly seized the various prefectures within Yunnei that had been lost for two hundred years, that his fame spread far and wide.

People then realized that the Song Dynasty still had such a strong army in the Northwest.

Although the Western Army has always been known for its skill and ability in battle, it is still far inferior to these troops further west.

Jiang Cheng indeed had a very high opinion of himself. He walked at the front, looking at the central army camp in front of him, and was still not afraid at all.

Just a warrior.

The Lingwu Army's infantry were all clad in armor, holding a forest of long spears, and stood ramrod straight.

Each cavalry commander rode the same type of horse, and the camp was filled with flags and banners, exuding a fierce aura.

Jiang Cheng walked through these soldiers and arrived at the central command tent.

Someone lifted the curtain and let them all go inside.

At the head of the tent sat a young man, carefully examining a military report.

Is this Chen Shao?
At first glance, Jiang Cheng felt that he was too young, probably only in his early twenties. Could he really keep the fierce generals and soldiers of the Northwest in check?
He nodded to himself, no wonder the court hadn't bestowed great rewards upon this man; most of the credit probably went to the Western Army or Tong Guan.

Tong Guan was granted the title of king for his campaign against Liao, but the Western Army was to be disbanded by the court, so neither could be rewarded again.

That's why Chen Shaolai was promoted.

The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.

But seeing that Chen Shao didn't look up, Jiang Cheng felt a little angry. He treated thousands of troops like children, marched forward with his head held high, and entered the camp alone. Such demeanor almost moved him to tears. Why didn't Chen Shao even glance at him?

Jiang Cheng coughed lightly, reminding Chen Shao that he had arrived.

Chen Shao looked at Zhu Lingling's military report and saw that on the first day of the battle in Yanshan Prefecture, Tanzhou had already been lost.

This surprised him.

The Tartars at Gubeikou were not actually the main force of the Jurchen Eastern Route Army, yet they fought so poorly.

How should we defend against Wanyan Zongwang's main force in the Pinglu direction?

Hearing Jiang Cheng cough, and seeing him pretending to be something he was doing, Chen Shao finally found an outlet for his pent-up anger.

Who is under your command?

“Prefect Jiang of Fenzhou!” Prefect Jiang replied in a clear and resounding voice, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Why don't you bow to me now that you've seen me?"

Jiang Cheng was stunned for a moment, then angrily said, "I am a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) of the fourth year of Chongning!"

Xu Jin, the military commissioner accompanying the army, sneered from inside the tent: "Since you are a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), have you not read the 'Ritual Regulations' of this dynasty? Don't you know that when you see a third-rank official, you must kneel and bow in the courtyard outside the Hall of Ceremonies, and bow with your hands clasped inside the Hall of Ceremonies?"

Although the Song Dynasty had regulations on etiquette, in official circles, everyone was considered one of their own, so these rules generally didn't apply.

When they meet, they might just exchange a few words with a cupped hand, and that's it, especially among civil officials, where this custom is particularly prevalent.

When Tong Guan served as the Pacification Commissioner of Shaanxi, he was very strict, but he was exceptionally lenient towards the generals of the Western Army.

Jiang Cheng was so angry that he couldn't speak. If he knelt down, wouldn't all the prestige he had worked so hard to maintain become a joke?

However, if one does not kneel or bow, there is indeed such a law, even though no one follows it.

According to the ceremonial regulations of the Song Dynasty, deliberately violating etiquette (such as failing to yield to someone on the road or failing to attend a public meeting) could lead to impeachment by high-ranking officials for "usurpation" or "insolence." The punishment ranged from a salary deduction and reprimand to demotion or dismissal.

Seeing that he still dared to hesitate, this was exactly what Xu Jin wanted. He scolded, "Come on, drag this rude person out of the hall and make him kneel down before he can enter the tent."

"you dare!"

Without a word, the guards dragged Jiang Cheng out, who continued to shout, "I am a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) of the fourth year of the Chongning era! My name was called out outside the Donghua Gate! Who dares to drag me!"

After two loud thuds, Jiang Cheng outside the tent opened his mouth wide, unable to utter a sound, and his knees buckled, causing him to kneel uncontrollably on the ground.

He was indeed a tough nut to crack; his face was still contorted with rage as he tried to get up.

His personal guards showed him no mercy, and the entire Dingnan Army was seething with anger. They forced Jiang Cheng's head down and made him kneel three times, while the surrounding officials from Fenzhou were too frightened to utter a word.

I never imagined the prefect wasn't just pretending; he really was that tough. But what good is it now?

His personal guards pulled him back in, and Chen Shao put down the military report in his hand and said, "Jiang Cheng, the Jurchens have invaded the south, and our country has been lost. Have you not heard that Yanshan Prefecture is a wasteland, and the people of Tanzhou are less than one in ten? If I had not subdued Yunzhong Prefecture, Hedong would have suffered the same fate long ago."

"You're so self-righteous and ignorant of the bigger picture, obstructing my grain transport team. If this delays the battle at the front, you'll have enough heads to go around."

Jiang Cheng was about to speak, his neck stiff, when his personal guard grabbed his chin to prevent him from interrupting Chen Shao.

"Fortunately, no major mistakes have been made yet, otherwise killing you ten thousand times would not be enough to make up for the losses at the front."

Chen Shao was really annoyed; the war in Hebei was going terribly wrong.

This will also affect his plans in Hedong, all of which is due to the incompetence of the emperor and his ministers in the Song Dynasty.

Hebei!

Every dynasty has been a force to be reckoned with in terms of military strength, but only now has it been rendered so weak by the ravages of the Song Dynasty.

At this rate, it won't be long before Wanyan Zongwang besieges Kaifeng again.

But this jerk in front of me is still pretending to be high and mighty.

I don't care if you're truly virtuous or not. Obstructing the delivery of supplies and affecting the battle situation on the front lines is a crime deserving of death long ago.

"Let me ask you, will Fenzhou allow passage?"

Jiang Cheng glared angrily at Chen Shao, speechless.

"Drag him to the Fen River and behead him as a warning to the public!"

After Chen Shao finished speaking, Jiang Cheng's heart pounded faster and faster, and with his mouth dry, he finally lost the courage to stand up for himself.

Will I really die?

He couldn't believe it; he was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and a fine young man whose name was announced at the Donghua Gate.

Aren't we the most noble and respected people in the Song Dynasty? How could we possibly die? He certainly wouldn't dare!
Chen Shao's personal guards in the tent did not hesitate at all. Even if you were a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), or even the Emperor Zhao of the Song Dynasty, if the military governor ordered us to kill you, the brothers would not hesitate.

Although they were Han Chinese, most of them were originally subjects of the Western Xia.
Liu Yu and the other officials and staff of Fenzhou all knelt down and begged for mercy, saying, "Please spare our lives, General!"

"I only killed Jiang Cheng. What does it have to do with you? Quickly return to the city and maintain order. When my grain escort team arrives, they will temporarily take over the city's defenses."

After realizing he was really going to die, Jiang Cheng trembled all over, like a leaf falling in the wind, and all his previous bravado was gone.

Ultimately, he was simply convinced that his noble status meant Chen Shao wouldn't dare kill him.

No one is truly unafraid of death.

Besides, I'm living such a comfortable life, how can I just die like that!
He wanted to beg for mercy, but he had no chance. A group of people dragged him out of the hall and away from Chen Shao.

Finally, when they were a hundred paces away from the main tent, Jiang Cheng could no longer hold on. Tears streamed down his face as he cried out, "Spare me! Spare me! Don't kill me!"

"Do not kill me!"

Jiang Cheng felt as if he had no bones left; his body was limp, especially his legs, which he couldn't stand on at all, and he could only be dragged along by his guards on either side.

He turned his head, his face full of panic, pleading with both sides, "Please pass on a message for me, say that I'm willing to cooperate, I'll cooperate with anything!"

Without a word, the guard dragged him outside the camp, swung his sword and chopped him down. A moment later, he returned with the severed head.

Chen Shao looked at the map, sighed, and said to Xu Jin, Wu Lin, and the others, "I just received news that Tanzhou has been lost, and Jizhou has also been lost."

"Jizhou has also fallen!" Xu Jin exclaimed in disbelief, "Is the Ever Victorious Army really so easily defeated?"

Chen Shao said, "Guo the Pharmacist of the Ever Victorious Army has surrendered to the Jin."

This was to be expected. When the Song Dynasty cut off Zhang Jue's head and sent it to the Jin Dynasty, Chen Shao knew that Guo Yaoshi was going to surrender.

He and Zhang Jue were close friends, and both were Han Chinese military leaders in the Liao Dynasty. How could he not feel sorrow for their kind?

Moreover, others might not know the strength of the Song army in Yanshan Prefecture, but surely Guo Yaoshi could see it clearly.

After Guo Yaoshi led the Ever Victorious Army to surrender to the Jin, he turned his horse around and headed straight for Yuyang, Sanhe, and Luxian. Within a few days, he had reached the outskirts of Yanjing.

The Jurchens at Gubeikou, acting with lightning speed, marched south from Tanzhou, sweeping through Miyun, Shunzhou, Huairou, and Xingtang.
Xu Jin murmured, "If Pharmacist Guo surrenders to the Jin, then Yanshan Prefecture would already be in the hands of the Jurchens."

Chen Shaodao said, "What the Song Dynasty cut off was not only Zhang Jue's head, but also the loyalty of all the Han people in Liaodong."

The powerful Han Chinese clans in Liaodong, who already harbored deep prejudices against the Song Dynasty, would probably never again regard the Song Dynasty as an object of their loyalty.

Wu Lin leaned over the map, his finger pointing down from Yanshan Prefecture. "What about Hebei? The Hebei troops haven't arrived yet?"

Chen Shao sneered, "The imperial court sent Cai You to prepare for war in Hebei. He took the opportunity to levy exorbitant taxes and repeatedly incited public resentment. On the most serious occasion, he was surrounded by refugees and fled in panic to Daming Prefecture."

Hebei itself was already in a mess because of Cai You's actions.

Let alone supporting Yanshan Prefecture, it itself is like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.

Xu Jin and Wu Lin exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment and confusion in each other's eyes.

They didn't understand why the Song Dynasty still had an official like Cai You at this time.

Even if your father is Cai Jing, even if you've been on good terms with him since the time the Emperor was Prince Duan, even if you hold a high official position
But is there nothing in this world that you care about, and nothing that you dare not cause trouble?
Chen Shao killed Jiang Cheng in Fenzhou.

In the past, this would have shocked the world and caused scholars to rise up in condemnation.

But this time it was like throwing a pebble into a lake, without creating any ripples.

Because the war in Hebei was so chaotic, the imperial court issued several imperial edicts, ordering Chen Shao to lead troops to Hebei to defend against the enemy.

He was given an exorbitant promotion, and was promised that after defeating the Jurchens, he would be directly granted the title of Duke.

In response, Chen Shao resorted to a tactic commonly used by the Song Dynasty, dragging out the matter.

His most important task right now is to quickly open up the caravan's transport routes to avoid shortages of troops and supplies in the various states of Yunnei.

Given the current situation, the only option left is to help the superior and not the inferior.

If the Lingwu Army were to be deployed to the Hebei battlefield, detached from the Dingnan Army's system, it would probably be of little use.

Just like in history, when Zhong Shizhong led the last of his Western Army to Hedong, only to have his entire army wiped out in one battle.

Because of the matter concerning Jiang Cheng of Fenzhou, Chen Shao's journey became much smoother afterward.

He successfully arrived in Taiyuan in September.

The Prince of Taiyuan personally came out to greet him, his face ashen and weary, yet also revealing an unconcealable anxiety.

The two had briefly worked together under Tong Guan, and at that time, in Tong Guan's eyes, Chen Shao was a treacherous and hypocritical villain.

At this moment, however, he carried the hopes of the entire world.
Looking at Wang Bing, Chen Shao felt complicated. He didn't know that Wang Bing's choice to stay was because he, like himself, had correctly judged the situation and didn't want to go to his death.

Or perhaps they were afraid of death and dared not go to Hebei.

Based on the military reports I've collected from the Song Dynasty's campaign against the Liao, it's highly likely the former.

If that's the case, then Wang Bing is a rare talent, and also very intelligent.

Upon seeing Chen Shao and his men approaching on horseback, their army was indeed well-armored and gleaming, with each soldier wearing helmet and armor, their expressions resolute and their gazes cold and hard.

A torrent of iron surged forth, heading towards Taiyuan City.

He could tell at a glance that this army was extremely skilled in battle and had an unyielding will, making them very difficult to defeat.

At this moment, Wang Bing, who was extremely distressed, seemed to have grasped at a straw.

He bowed to Chen Shao from his horseback.

Wang Bing was the top general in Hedong and Hebei, and his official rank and position were similar to Chen Shao's.

Chen Shao also returned the greeting with his hands clasped.

As the two rode closer together, Wang Bing made no mention of Fenzhou and earnestly said, "Commander Chen has been working tirelessly for the country and its people, marching day and night, which is truly admirable! Now that Yanshan Prefecture has fallen and Hebei is in dire need, only Commander Chen and his elite troops can save the Song Dynasty from this crisis!"

"Why don't you go?"

Chen Shao was not fooled by his flattery and directly asked a question in return.

Wang Bing was speechless for a moment.
He knew that what he was doing was absolutely right, but Chen Shao could also think that way.

When questioned by the young general Yue Fei in his own tent, Wang Bing still had the confidence to argue with him, saying that he had a clear conscience.

But faced with Chen Shao's counter-question, he was truly speechless.

He himself was the number one general in Hebei and was in charge of the defense of Hebei and Hebei. Chen Shao was the Pacification Commissioner of Yunzhong Prefecture, whose duty was to pacify the various prefectures in Yunzhong.

By sending Chen Shao to Hebei, he was essentially imposing his own responsibilities onto Chen Shao.

"The Huanqing Army suffered heavy losses during the campaign against Liaodong, while the new army in Taiyuan, Hedong, has only just been recruited. If I go to Hebei now, I'm afraid I'll only increase casualties and be of no use."

Chen Shao snorted coldly, too lazy to pay any attention.

At this time, apart from its own Dingnan Army, the Song Dynasty had no other capable fighters.

The fierce generals and elite soldiers of the Southern Song Dynasty were all forged in the flames of war after being slaughtered during the Jingkang era.

Therefore, Chen Shao can no longer care about others; the only way to protect himself is to preserve his trump card in resisting the Jin.

Seeing that Wang Bing had no rebuttal, Chen Shao did not press the matter further, saying, "It is already extremely difficult for me to defend the various prefectures within Yunnei. Dividing our troops would only be a waste of our brothers."

"Furthermore, who will supply the supplies for Yunzhong Prefecture after I leave? And what will happen to the Song Dynasty if Yunzhong Prefecture is also lost?"

Chen Shao's words were reasonable and measured; he was a very reasonable person most of the time.

When doing something, try to make sure you have a legitimate reason for doing it.

This may seem like a bit of a hassle, but it will actually save you a lot of trouble in the future.

The two discussed matters on horseback, neither showing any intention of dismounting.

Wang Bing, in particular, was in a state of utter confusion. The Hedong New Army had only just been recruited, and the Huanqing Army lacked any will to fight.

If the situation in Hebei collapses, I will have no choice but to lead my troops to the vicinity of the capital to defend the emperor. At that time, the court will probably blame me, and I will definitely not have an easy time.

But what can I do?
Are we to lead our current troops to their deaths?
Wouldn't that further boost the morale and fighting spirit of the Jurchen Tartars? (End of Chapter)