You have truly caused me great suffering!

Outside Taiyuan City, Chen Shao's camp was bustling with activity.

Zhang Xiaochun, the Pacification Commissioner of Hedong and concurrently the Prefect of Taiyuan, came to the camp today to offer his condolences and presented the troops with military provisions, pigs, sheep, and wine.

The camp began preparations early in the morning, making it a rather grand affair and giving him ample face.

Zhang Xiaochun came with trepidation, because Chen Shao had a notorious reputation.

Previously, his presence was deliberately downplayed by the Song Dynasty, and no one knew him. Many people even thought that he was just a pawn left behind by Tong Guan in the Northwest.

Some even believed that the territories in the Northwest were actually conquered by Tong Guan and then brought under the control of the imperial court.

What truly made Chen Shao famous was his killing of Jiang Cheng in Fenzhou.

Upon arriving at the camp, Zhang Xiaochun was somewhat surprised to see Chen Shao, who came out to greet him with a smile.

Isn't he quite easy to talk to?

Chen Shao was a very easy person to get along with, with no strange temper and a fairly good tolerance.

He generally won't use his power to intimidate people unless you cross his bottom line.

Many civil and military officials in the Dingnan Army were quite casual when facing Chen Shao.

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face. He had no grudge against Zhang Xiaochun, and Zhang Xiaochun had come to reward the troops with good intentions, so Chen Shao certainly wouldn't have a sour face.

"I have long admired your name, General, and seeing you today, I can confirm that you are indeed a young hero!"

Chen Shao smiled and made a few self-deprecating remarks. The two then entered the tent, and the accompanying officials also came in.

The local officials and gentry of Taiyuan welcomed Chen Shao's arrival even more warmly.

They were all in a state of extreme fear, feeling that the Jurchen Tartars were about to besiege Taiyuan.

Indeed, without Chen Shao's intervention, this was the case. Although Taiyuan held out for nearly 300 days, the price it paid was absolutely devastating.

That scoundrel Tong Guan refused to transport any grain, and after the city was breached, the few remaining people were already starving to death.

The Jurchen Tartars ignored all of this and once again raised their swords to vent their anger.

Chen Shao's troops were stationed at Yunzhong Prefecture, and the people of Hedong were the happiest of them.

After the pleasantries and formalities were finished, Zhang Xiaochun asked with a smile, "May I ask when you will depart, General? The officials and people of Taiyuan would like to host a banquet to welcome you before you leave. We would be honored if you would grace us with your presence!"

"Set off?" Chen Shao's eyes widened slightly, and he spread his hands, saying, "I didn't say we were leaving!"

don't go?

The officials in Taiyuan were also bewildered. This is Hedong, and you are the military governor of Dingnan Army and the pacification commissioner of Yunzhong Prefecture. What are you doing staying in Hedong?
You go to Yunzhong Prefecture and just guard the northern gate for Hedong. If you station so many troops next to your pillow, who can sleep soundly?
Chen Shao looked at the stunned officials of Taiyuan, stood up and said with a smile, "I forgot to tell you, I am going to officially station troops here. We can go north to support Yunzhong Prefecture, and go south to protect Kaifeng and the capital region!"

"As you all know, the fighting in the Yanshan and Hebei regions is not going well. The second prince of the Tartars, Wanyan Zongwang, could attack Kaifeng at any time. If I go north now, what will happen if Bianliang is in trouble in the future?"

Zhang Xiaochun inwardly groaned in despair; these soldiers from the Northwest weren't planning on leaving!
-
Inside the Jietang Hall of Wanyan Zonghan in Datong Prefecture.

A large group of Jurchen ministers, along with surrendered Han and Khitan officials, gathered together.

Most of the Jurchen generals had their clothes open, and although it was already autumn, they still didn't feel cold.

On Zonghan's left and right were his beloved general Xiyin and Liu Yanzong, a Han Chinese military officer from a family that had surrendered to the Liao Dynasty.

Liu Yanzong's ancestor, Liu Peng, served as the military governor of Lulong during the Tang Dynasty.

Shi Jingtang ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun to the Liao Dynasty, and the Liu family served as officials in the Liao Dynasty for six generations, successively becoming prime ministers.

Liu Yanzong's father, Liu Xiao, held the official position of Zhongjing Garrison Commander.

Their family has been the local tyrant in this land for a period dating back to the Tang Dynasty, even longer than the founding of the Liao Dynasty.

Not to mention the Jurchens of the Jin Dynasty.

So even though Zonghan didn't like him much, he still respected him greatly because he needed to use Liu Yanzong to rule Yunnei.

Unlike other generals who wore armor, Liu Yanzong wore only light clothing, making him look more like a civil official.

Seeing his expression, Zonghan knew that he was afraid that he would be wary of him. In fact, everyone knew that Liu Yanzong was both a scholar and a warrior, and was very brave.

Zonghan couldn't expose his behavior, as this was precisely the time when they needed to risk their lives.

At this moment, Liu Yanzong looked very solemn. He was considering the battle situation in Yunnei. In fact, he had suggested to Zonghan a long time ago that they should first consolidate Yunnei before making any further moves.

It wouldn't take that many people to chase after Yelü Yanxi, a stray dog.

Unfortunately, the Jurchens valued this achievement too much and refused to listen to him. Only Wanyan Xiyin was reasonable, but he was of low status and his voice carried little weight.

“Lu Kai, you are from Yunnei, and you are most familiar with this Yingzhou capital. Tell me, how should we break through the city?”

Liu Yanzong was slightly surprised, not expecting Zonghan to ask him such a question. The Jurchens always attacked wherever they wanted, charging in without hesitation. There was no pass they couldn't break through, and no city they couldn't conquer.

It seems that this setback has changed them quite a bit.

In fact, this should be the greatest resistance the Jurchens had encountered since they started their rebellion.

He took a few steps forward, and was about to clasp his hands in greeting, but then remembered that the Jurchens did not like Han etiquette, so he placed his arms in front of his chest, bowed slightly, and then said, "Marshal, Yingzhou is a strategically important and difficult place to conquer, especially now that 30,000 troops are stationed there."

Zong Han frowned and said, "According to you, we're not fighting anymore?"

"Of course we have to fight, but the question is whether we should first gather our troops and prepare our weapons before taking things slowly."

Seeing that he couldn't come up with a solution either, Zonghan asked Xiyin beside him, "Gushen, do you have any ideas?"

Wanyan Xiyin shook his head; he was helpless in the face of Yingzhou's predicament.

In fact, the only solution now is a direct attack; there is no other good strategy.

Everyone understands this principle, but since the Jurchens started their war, they have repeatedly been able to conquer cities and seize territory at very low cost.

This battle against Yingzhou is clearly going to be a tough one, and they are all afraid of suffering too many casualties.

In particular, too many Jurchen warriors must not die.

At this point, no one was willing to step forward, not because they weren't brave enough, but because their previous record was so good that they were somewhat hesitant.

After a moment of silence in the tent, Wanyan Loushi finally stepped forward and said, "Zonghan, let me give it a try."

Looking at his most powerful general, Wanyan Zonghan was very pleased and nodded, saying, "Zongwang has already swept through Yanjing. We cannot be stopped by the small Yingzhou. You will command the attack on Yingzhou this time. If we can take Yingzhou, I will promote you to deputy marshal!"

Lou Shi clasped his hands in a fist salute, but his expression was anything but relaxed.

The Dingnan Army's battles with them in various places on the western front have fully demonstrated their combat effectiveness; this is an army completely different from the Song and Liao armies.

Now that they have occupied the strategic passes and fortified cities, they are even more difficult to conquer.

Zong Han turned around and said to Liu Yanzong, "Go back and make more siege weapons. If you can't take Lou Shi, then you can go up and take over."

Liu Yanzong nodded, but inwardly he was somewhat skeptical, thinking that they shouldn't be focusing on Yingzhou at this time.

While invading the Song Dynasty from the south was important, the initiative had already been lost.

Zonghan was single-mindedly focused on vying with Wanyan Zongwang for the credit for destroying the Song Dynasty, completely disregarding his own predicament. The most crucial thing for the Western Route Army was to first reclaim Yunnei.

Otherwise, even if Yingzhou is captured, the nearly 100,000 troops in Yunnei could provide support at any time, or even cut off the western army's rear and supply lines.

Further south, there's Taiyuan!
At this time, Hedong and other places experienced the happiness of having Yunnei as a northern bulwark for the first time since the end of the Tang Dynasty.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun were of utmost importance in preventing the southward advance of foreign tribes.

Chen Shao held off half of the defenses of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, leaving the Jurchen Tartars with no way to advance south. Unfortunately, the other half was riddled with bullets.

If a complete defense line of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun were in place, it would be difficult for the northern barbarians to invade the Central Plains, no matter how powerful they were.

Even if they manage to break through, their supply lines and retreat routes will be cut off, putting them in a perilous situation.

The Jurchen camp couldn't come up with any solutions, except for Lou Shi, who reluctantly took on this difficult task.

Fortunately, he had fought many tough battles like this. After leaving the Jietang, Lou Shi watched as Yin Shuke walked with his head down.

He walked over and said, "Yin Shuke, I thought you would compete with me for this vanguard position. Are you afraid of being beaten?"

Lou Shi always regarded Yin Shuke as a fierce general of similar stature to himself. The two had previously served under Zong Han and often competed for the opportunity to fight.

Lou Shi was very dissatisfied that he did not volunteer for the battle this time.

Yin Shu didn't say anything, and continued walking forward with his head down, feeling quite stifled.

He had suffered an undeserved calamity and fallen to the bottom, but Lou Shi helped him up. Yin Shuke was able to defeat Yelü Yanxi's last army in one battle, thus allowing him to rise again.

Then the emperor took notice of him and summoned him specially, ordering him to take Yingzhou first, which would make it much easier for the western army to march south.

The emperor's special summons and secret decree demonstrate the immense trust and importance placed upon the emperor.

Yin Shuke still remembers the excitement of that day.

Unfortunately, I messed it up again.

After taking a few steps forward, Yin Shuke suddenly stopped and turned around, saying, "Lou Shi, I'm not afraid of being beaten; I'm just thinking of a way to break through the city."

Wanyan Loushi's expression improved slightly, and he said, "That's good. Before we followed the old emperor and defeated the Khitan dogs at Hubudagang, no one believed that Yingzhou would be so difficult to conquer."

“This time is different,” Yin Shuke said. “Don’t underestimate them. You must take them seriously. Those people are not the same as the Liao army.”

He thought of Meng Nuan and the Yinzhou soldiers who had been pursuing him. In the past, the Jurchen's enemies had surrendered easily, but these people, even though he had only met them once, Yin Shu could already sense that they were difficult to surrender.

Wanyan Loushi nodded, his expression grave, and strode away. Their entire western army knew the importance of this battle; Zongwang had already routed all the enemies near Yanjing.

He didn't even have to lift a finger; the newly surrendered Pharmacist Guo helped him sweep through the Yanjing area.

The former Liao people there, regardless of their ethnicity, all harbored deep resentment towards the Song Dynasty. This made Guo Yaoshi and his ever-victorious army invincible, conquering cities and seizing territory with minimal effort.

If the Western Route Army is blocked south of Yingzhou, then their entire interest group, from Zonghan down, will completely lose the opportunity to fight for power.
-
Since the Jin Dynasty declared war and planned to march south to attack the Song Dynasty, it has been concentrating its military forces.

Wanyan Zonghan left behind very few troops on the vast western lands, which gave Han Shizhong an opportunity.

It should be noted that Han Shizhong's troops were directly connected to the Dingnan Army.

The Jurchens were no longer able to attack the Dingnan Army's homeland, and Han Shizhong only needed to leave some forts and villages behind before advancing towards Datong Prefecture.

Because their goal was never defense; their strategic objective was clear from the moment Li Xiaozhong marched east to Yingzhou.

They want to take Datong Prefecture.
If the Dingnan Army were to capture Datong Prefecture and connect it with their homeland, it would be very difficult to take it back.

At this moment in Yingzhou, amidst the rolling mountains, standing in the Sanggan River Valley, one can look up and see the majestic Yingzhou fortress walls standing tall.

Long ago, when Yingzhou was a bulwark of the Central Plains, this place had a complete defense system, complete with watchtowers and stockades.

However, after falling into the territory of the Liao Dynasty, Yingzhou Prefecture declined because it was located inland and the Song Dynasty could not threaten it.

Many fortresses were abandoned, and large areas of fortifications were dismantled, but a considerable amount of fertile land was developed in the valley.

This is why, despite repeated plundering by the Jurchen Tartars, remnants of the Liao Dynasty, and local powerful clans, there were still many people and stored grain in Yingzhou.

Because this area is mountainous, it provides good hiding places, and it is crisscrossed by rivers, with abundant water resources, ensuring a stable harvest regardless of drought or flood.

Li Xiaozhong led his men through the abandoned fortresses, looking at the dilapidated villages that guarded them, feeling somewhat sorry for them.

Fortunately, the main village wall was still very tall and sturdy. Although when we first arrived, we could see that there were many breaches in the main village wall. Some of the gaps were so large that two or three soldiers could probably walk through them side by side.

But those were all gaps newly created by the Silver Arts' siege tactics, and they were all easy to repair, having been completed long ago.

In the Sanggan River Valley, there is an abandoned fortress. Around the fortress, wherever there is a slightly flat area, fields have been cultivated, mulberry trees are planted, and there is even a small coal kiln.

In terms of management skills, the chieftain of this stronghold is quite remarkable, but he seems to have completely neglected his duties as a military commander.

Seeing him staring at the ruined fortress, Meng Nuan said, "This used to be Cui Family Fortress, and the fortress lord was Cui Dachuan. When the Jurchen Tartars marched south, I told him to hide in Yingzhou, but he refused. As a result, the Jurchen Tartars captured him alive and drove him to attack the city. In the end, he was crushed to death under the city walls."

Li Xiaozhong shook his head with a wry smile, "Judging from his arrangements, he also wants to live a peaceful and good life, but unfortunately he was born at the wrong time."

“The Tartars are rampant now and are gaining momentum. If we don’t think about how to subdue them, we will be enslaved and killed by them. How can we have a peaceful life?”

Meng Nuan deeply agreed. He had originally wanted to live a happy life in Yingzhou, but the Jurchen Tartars wouldn't allow it. They would come to raid his territory every few days and kill people at will.

If they hadn't been so brutal, the people in these areas wouldn't have been very loyal to the Liao and Song dynasties.

Surrendering to anyone is the same as surrendering to anyone else. As long as the Jurchens are willing to appease them, these powerful clans will have already submitted eagerly.

Li Xiaozhong pointed to the north and said, "If we can take Datong Prefecture and establish a defensive line along the north, even a million-strong army will not be able to cross it!"

Meng Nuan swallowed hard. Before encountering the Dingnan Army, he thought no one in the world would dare to launch a preemptive attack on the Jurchen Tartars.

But after encountering the Dingnan Army, he discovered that everyone dared to take the initiative to attack the Jurchen Tartars.
Zhu Lingling rushed from Shuozhou, disregarding her exhaustion, and immediately confronted the Jurchens.

Li Xiaozhong even wanted to attack Datong. And this wasn't just Li Xiaozhong's idea; in Yingzhou City, they discussed the attack on Datong almost every day.

Deep down, Meng Nuan was still somewhat afraid, having witnessed the defeat of the Liao army.

It's really scary.

Moreover, Datong Prefecture was not easy to attack; it was fortified with high walls and deep moats, and there were also Han Chinese military families who had been operating there for hundreds of years.

Li Xiaozhong stepped on the stones of the valley, almost measuring the land beneath his feet with his eyes, bit by bit.

If troops are to be sent to attack Datong, they will definitely have to take this route.

How to march, where to focus the scouts, and where to store provisions and supplies—every detail flashed through his mind as if it were a tangible image.
-
Han Shizhong led the Helan Mountain Legion and finally arrived at Baidaoban, weary from their journey. What they saw was a peaceful scene.

The Jurchen flags still fluttered weakly in the autumn wind on the stockade walls.

Some people with good eyesight could even see the shadowy figures on the village wall.

They sat or stood, their leisurely and listless demeanor making them seem unlike a group of soldiers.

Han Shizhong's eyes were the sharpest; on the battlefield, he could often see things that others couldn't.

So he could vaguely see a group of soldiers escorting refugees through the village, but it didn't elicit much of a reaction from the guards on the village wall.

Han Shizhong was somewhat puzzled, as he had been wreaking havoc in Dongsheng Prefecture for two months.

How can this place be so lax and negligent? There must be an ambush!

He glanced back and saw that his troops were strong and well-equipped, and the valley stretched as far as the eye could see, offering no place for an ambush.

There's no reason to be afraid!

Han Shizhong didn't care whether they had set up an ambush or not, and directly ordered an attack on the camp.

A large band of knights rolled in from the valley, raising clouds of dust.

At this point, the commotion was finally noticed by those on the stockade walls.

A group of people were startled and ran around, shouting loudly, as if to inform others that a large army was suddenly approaching from the direction of Dongsheng Prefecture.

Amidst the billowing dust, Han Shizhong, accompanied by his personal guards, took the lead, acting as the commander-in-chief and a sharp scout.

The guards around him also took it lightly and did not try to persuade him. This General Han did not care much about his reputation for bravery.

He was not particularly prominent in the Western Army, and despite his many military achievements, no one spoke of his martial prowess.

This is because Han Shizhong didn't care much about these things, and he was also suspected of being lazy and averse to work. His hobbies were eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring.

However, only his personal guards knew how terrifying Han Shizhong was when he fought. Often, it wasn't his personal guards protecting him, but rather he rescuing his own personal guards.

Han Shizhong was particularly skilled at using long, heavy weapons to break through enemy lines and kill generals, making it difficult for ordinary enemy soldiers to get close!

Moreover, General Han's archery skills were even more astonishing; he could hit a target from a hundred paces away, and his arrows were both accurate and deadly.

After dealing with most of the defenses along the various lines in Dongsheng Prefecture, Han Shizhong began his eastward advance.

There are very few Jurchen troops in the west now, so these troops pose no threat whatsoever if they want to cause trouble behind our backs.

Those fortified villages alone are enough to give them a headache; once they get trapped, it's easy for them to get lost.

Including Han Shizhong, all the guards had already put on their armor when they were about seven or eight miles away from Baidaoban Village, and everyone's face was covered in dust.

Their lips and tongues were dry, and both men and horses were drenched in sweat.

Wei Minglitong rubbed his hands together excitedly and said, "General, let's charge in and take this bird stronghold!"

Han Shizhong glanced at Baidaoban Village, thought for a moment, and smiled coldly: "There are definitely no Jurchen Tartars here, only some auxiliary troops. You can take a whole group of men up there and investigate the situation."

The Sanfan Camp under Weiming Litong was entirely composed of Khitans, Jurchens, and Tatars.

This battalion was extremely skilled in battle. Originally belonging to the Xiazhou Legion, they were supplemented to the Helan Mountain Legion in Dongsheng Prefecture. At this moment, with Weiming Litong's roar, the entire battalion charged forward with him.

Han Shizhong had already dismounted and, with his two soldiers, switched to bows and crossbows, formed ranks, and slowly made his way up the mountain path.

Fortunately, his Helan Mountain Legion was composed entirely of elite troops. After galloping at high speed, they suddenly dismounted, formed ranks, and continued up the mountain road.

Although every soldier was extremely exhausted, they still formed a battle formation quickly, with a strict and solid gait, slowly ascending like an iron wall.

Despite the lax defenses on the opposite stockade wall, this group of people still acted as if facing a formidable enemy!

When a lion hunts a rabbit, it exerts all its strength and never lets its guard down.

A guard handed Han Shizhong his usual iron bow. This bow was two sizes larger than the most powerful foot bow, and one end of the bow tip seemed capable of striking the ground with a single shot.

The actual bow strength is unknown, perhaps around a few stones; there aren't many people in the entire camp who can draw it.

Only Han Shizhong himself could both fire accurately and open fire.

In fact, the Song Dynasty army was full of hidden talents and extraordinary people. For example, under Han Shizhong, there was a man whose archery skills were divine. He could perform all kinds of archery techniques with great skill, and he was both accurate and fast. When he fired a barrage of arrows, he could create a volley of arrows like locusts flying from one person.

While Han Shizhong may not be as visually appealing as him, he is far superior in terms of battlefield lethality.

The two guards who closely followed Han Shizhong carried extra-long and extra-heavy arrows in their quivers. Each standard military quiver could only hold six of these specially made arrows with added materials.

Not only was he strong, but he also had great stamina. When Han Shizhong fired his arrows, the force was astonishing. With just one person and one bow, he could shoot continuously, just like a small crossbow!

With Han Shizhong and others providing support and cover for the vanguard of the attacking camp, the poorly defended and lazy Baidaoban Village was quickly captured.

Han Shizhong captured the garrison soldiers and interrogated them, only to learn that the Jurchen army had already retreated to Datong.

It seems they are heading south to attack Yingzhou, and even the general leading the troops has been chosen—Lou Shi, the most valiant and fierce general of the Jurchens.

Han Shizhong ordered them to rest at Baidaoban Village, even though they had already entered the territory of Datong Prefecture.

Standing on the white boardwalk and looking east, the Great Wall, built during the Qin and Han dynasties, stretches endlessly.

It stretches along the mountain ridge like a giant dragon.

This proclaims that this place was once the border and bulwark of Han Chinese civilization. (End of Chapter)