You have truly caused me great suffering!

"Form local militia?"

Qu Duan sneered, "Our army is stationed here. Although we have divided our forces three times, we still have 20,000 troops. We are well-trained and well-fed. Why would we need local militia?"

His subordinate laughed and said, "They say they're guarding against the Jin army moving south, but I bet they're guarding against us."

"Let him build it!" Qu Duan laughed heartily. "Send someone to ask if they need some battle-hardened generals from our camp to help them train the new army!"

As he laughed, his expression turned somewhat somber. The entire Song Dynasty was currently engaged in military training.

This was all arranged by Li Gang.

What is he going to do? Who is he trying to guard against?
Yang Congyi shouted at the top of his lungs, "If you ask me, we should open up the defenses and let the Tartars march south again, and see if they can stop them!"

"Nonsense!" Qu Duan scolded, "Stop spouting nonsense."

Although he reprimanded his trusted subordinate, there was no further punishment.

To be honest, this was a highly treasonous statement, which had been frequently heard in the Dingnan Army.

Qu Duan knew that people's hearts were restless, but no matter how restless they were, they could only endure it.

This is nobody's fault but theirs. For example, everyone's current official position is only of a very low rank.

Since your family's military commander is only so tall, you can't possibly surpass him and be granted a title and position.

But everyone's achievements are real, so there is only one way to break the deadlock.

Ask yourself, who wouldn't want to be granted a high position and enjoy a prosperous future, sharing in the glory of the nation?

Even those who were somewhat loyal to the Song Dynasty in the past, after experiencing so much, especially those from the northwest and Hedong regions, found it hard not to want to start their own businesses.

"Let him build it. I want to see if it can defend against the Jin army, or if I'll let him build it!"

The Zhai family of Luoyang wielded influence in every corner of the region.

These local powerful figures were different from those in other places.

As the western capital of the Song Dynasty, Luoyang was undoubtedly the second most important city, even surpassing Bianliang in culture, and was the center of the literati.

This place could be considered the stronghold of the Song Dynasty's scholar-officials.

Moreover, geographically it controls the Guanzhong Plain, connecting Bianliang in the east and Chang'an in the west, and guards the strategic pass of Xiaohan.

Chen Shao sent Qu Duan south to Henan Prefecture, which was still some distance from Luoyang.

If we can capture Luoyang and Henan Prefecture, we can surround Guanzhong and Guanxi.

However, it was clear that the people of Luoyang did not intend to join the Dingnan Army like those in Hedong.

Qu Duan stroked his precious sword, walked around the tent, and suddenly said, "I'm going to Taiyuan Prefecture."

His men immediately perked up.

Qu Duan said, "Some things require the commander's approval before we can take action. Otherwise, if we're just sitting here on the eastern border doing nothing, how can we justify the money and provisions we spend every day?"

These words resonated deeply with the generals in the camp, and now the three armies have successively launched their campaigns.

Military merit is hard to come by, and such opportunities may not come again in the future. Who wouldn't be anxious?

Chen Shao mobilized troops from various places, gathering as many elite troops as possible, and they were being sent to the front lines one after another.

The front line from Datong to Weizhou is long enough, with crisscrossing mountains and dense valleys, to accommodate a large army.

Moreover, the road from Taiyuan to Yingzhou has been repaired, and supplies can be transported quickly without having to mobilize hundreds of thousands of laborers as before.

As a result, the troops in Hedong, Shuozhou, and Dongshengzhou were almost completely wiped out. Chen Shao ordered all the garrison commanders not to slacken their efforts, to strengthen the fortifications, to receive the wounded, to stabilize the people, and to get back on track as soon as possible.

In reality, no one would attack them, except for the various nomadic tribes further north, but they didn't have the strength to do so.

Chen Shao's actions naturally provoked a reaction from the Jurchens, who also frequently mobilized their troops.
-
Fengsheng Prefecture, Yongxing City.

A bonfire was burning in the hall, and the windows were wide open all around.

Dozens of Jurchen generals huddled around the campfire.

Zonghan sat at the head of the table, his face showing no sign of dejection.

Despite the interruption of their undefeated momentum since the start of the uprising, they remained full of confidence, after all, it had only been a year since the stalemate began.

In summary, their side did not suffer many losses; of the Jurchen elite forces, only a thousand or so died in Yunnei.

As for the Liao Kingdom's auxiliary and servant troops, they didn't care how many died.

Zong Han glanced at Liu Yanzong and asked, "The Western barbarians are strong, and our army can't break through their defenses. Now they've also gained access to the Song Dynasty's supplies. How do you suggest we defeat them?"

Liu Yanzong had been pondering something, but he didn't bring it up.

As a Han Chinese serving as an official in the Jin Dynasty, he had to be extremely careful.

Especially in Zonghan's camp, one should not stand out too much.

As a qualified leader trained by a Han Chinese military family, he had already seen that the Western Route Army had lost cities and territories, especially after the defeat in Yunnei, and it would be difficult for them to recover in the Jin Kingdom in the future.

The second prince, Zongwang, was so brave and invincible that he triumphed at the gates of Bianliang, causing the Song Dynasty to flee in disarray.

In comparison, the Western Route Army consisted of a small clan and tribe that relied on Zong Han's powerful connections to barely be ranked alongside the Eastern Route Army based on their military achievements.

Upon hearing Zong Han's question, he first pretended to think about it, and then said, "This humble general has an immature suggestion, please consider it, Marshal."

"you say!"

"Now the Western Barbarians have occupied the three cities of Datong, Yingzhou and Taiyuan. For the past six months, they have been reinforcing their fortifications and building fortresses day and night. If I may be so bold, this defensive line is very difficult to break through."

The Jurchen Tartars inside the tent, though fierce, did not utter a single curse upon hearing this.

They knew that the opposing forces were no weaker than their own, and that they couldn't fight back by simply holding their ground.

"Only by luring them out of here and having them fight a decisive battle on open ground can we bring out the advantage of our Jin army's fighting prowess."

Zonghan nodded repeatedly and asked, "You mean heading south?"

“That’s right!” Liu Yanzong said confidently, “The biggest folly of the Song Dynasty was to establish its capital in Bianliang. Now that the Youyan region is in our hands, there is no natural defense for our southward advance.”

"If we besiege Bianliang, those Western barbarians will have to come out from formidable passes and major cities like Yingzhou and Datong, and fight our Jin army on the plains around Kaifeng!"

Lou Shi suddenly interjected, "Will the Western Barbarians go? I've heard they're not very loyal. It seems the Western Barbarian soldiers only obey their commander Chen Shao's orders."

"Yes, he definitely doesn't want to see us break through Bianliang!" Liu Yanzong said decisively.

Wanyan Zonghan lowered his eyelids and began to ponder these words.

He knew that Liu Yanzong must have had this idea for a long time, rather than coming up with it on the spot in his own hall.

As for why he wouldn't answer without asking, Zonghan could probably guess.

This is precisely his current predicament. The only way to break out of this predicament is to head south and continue to plunder military merits and wealth in the war.

At this moment, Wanyan Xiyin, who had been silent until now, also said, "Liu Yanzong, your plan is indeed excellent, but now that we have all gone south, will they take the opportunity to advance eastward?"

"What if they don't go to Bianliang, but instead head east?"

Liu Yanzong said, "We can leave some troops behind to defend the strongholds and strategic locations; if we are attacked, we should try to delay them. Even if we lose Weizhou, they can't conquer the Youyan region, just like we couldn't take Yunnei."

Youyan and Yunzhong are indeed equally easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The defenses of Tanzhou, Yanjing, Zhuozhou, and Yizhou are in no way weaker than those of Datong, Yingzhou, Daizhou, and Taiyuan.

During the Liao, Song, and Jin dynasties, these cities were rarely captured during the numerous occupations of Youyan.

These were all due to the questionable actions of the Liao and Song dynasties, which led to either the cities surrendering outright or the cities being breached by traitors.

Xi Yin also pondered it carefully, and had to admit that this might be the only chance.

He was truly fighting to the death in the clouds, but like everyone else, he saw no hope.

Those barbarians from the west, let alone occupying such a strong defensive line, would be a headache even in open battle outside the city.

With half its troops lost and still fighting to the death, the thought of the light cavalry he was defending outside Datong City gave him a headache.

The only concern is that if Chen Shao is determined not to save Bianliang, it will be extremely dangerous.

The consequences of cutting off the retreat route would be unimaginable. Unless the entire Jin state united and mobilized its troops from the two capitals to the Yanjing line.

That's something Zonghan has to talk to; it's not something someone of his level can influence.

After Liu Yanzong offered his plan, he remained silent, retreated into the crowd, and waited quietly for Zonghan to make a decision.

His stronghold was in Yunnei, where they had been stationed for generations, but now it had been occupied by the Dingnan Army.

His nearly 100,000 Han soldiers all wanted to fight their way back, but precisely because they were local strongmen in Yunnei, they understood even more how difficult it was to fight there.

Most of the spies sent to Taiyuan were Liu Yanzong's men; he desperately wanted to kill Chen Shao.

Everything will be much easier if we kill him.

Chen Shao didn't come earlier or later, but only after I had surrendered to the Jin and had no way out.

If he had come a year earlier, he might have surrendered to the Dingnan Army as well.

They were all Han Chinese, and they lived relatively comfortably. Now, under the Jurchens, they have to be several times more careful.

Since he could surrender to the Jin, he might surrender to someone else again, since his hometown in Yunnei had been occupied.

These people are too brutal. When they fight amongst themselves, they don't even care about their own people, let alone the Han people.

Now the Jurchens are even more wary of him, fearing that he might surrender to the Dingnan Army, and his trusted subordinates have all been transferred away.

Some even reached Huining Prefecture, but their families were still in the hands of the Jurchen Tartars. They had to think carefully before they decided to defect.

Liu Yanzong sometimes deeply regretted not surrendering when Chen Shao attacked. In fact, he had a great opportunity when Datong fell.

That was precisely when the Dingnan Army needed him the most.

Zonghan did not make a decision immediately because he needed to consult with the emperor and Zongwang, who held significant military power, on such a high level of decision.

However, his own thoughts are also crucial.

Judging from the current situation, even if we were to retake Datong, it would be virtually impossible for us to advance south from the west.

The opponents before them were utterly hopeless, and upon closer reflection, it became clear why. It was always those Western barbarians who had initiated the attacks.

Since the Jurchens rose up, they had never encountered anything like this before.
The invincible Jurchens had been on the defensive against them, and before they could hold onto Yunnei, the land they lost was half the size of the present-day Jin Dynasty.

Although the area is mostly barren desert with large uninhabited areas.

Wanyan Zonghan stood up and slowly paced around the hall, the eyes of the others following him as he moved back and forth.

"I will discuss it with Zongwang."

Although this statement did not directly express his opinion, it revealed his inclination, indicating that Zonghan had this idea.

All the Jurchens breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, nobody wants to fight those Western barbarians to the death again.
-
Taiyuan.

Chen Shao, dressed in a soft robe close to his lining, stood behind his desk and picked up his brush to write.

His handwriting is quite ordinary, barely legible. Lately, he has become quite fascinated by calligraphy, so he practices it occasionally in his spare time.

In the inner quarters, the one with the best calligraphy was surprisingly Li Yumei, which made Chen Shao look at her with new respect.

It's understandable that she comes from a family with a long tradition of scholarship, after all, Li Tangchen was once a professor at Hedong College.

Most of the scholars in Hedong came from his school.

Li Yumei stood beside him, giving him pointers. Such an opportunity to be a teacher to a master was rare.

"How about it?"

Chen Shao finished writing with great effort and asked with a rather smug look on his face.

Li Yumei's clothes were made of thin fabric. She gently held the imperial edict in her fair hand, pulled it up to look at it, and her wide sleeves slipped down, revealing half of her snow-white and smooth lotus-root arm.

A well-fitting beige dress lightly draped the girl's voluptuous body as she looked at him intently, Chen Shao inexplicably feeling a little nervous.

Li Yumei clicked her tongue, shook her head slightly, and then sighed.

Chen Shao slapped her on the butt in annoyance.

"As long as there's progress, that's good. I didn't plan to achieve everything in one step. This kind of thing requires accumulation," Chen Shao said with a smile.

Just then, a voice came from outside, "General, General Qu Duan is requesting an audience in the reception room."

"Qu Duan?" Chen Shao sat down in a chair, puzzled, and asked, "Did I send him?"

“He came on his own initiative.”

Chen Shao hadn't seen any reports from him, so he knew the fellow wasn't in any serious trouble. Therefore, his purpose in coming was quite clear.

They didn't want to stay in the rear, or perhaps they had some ideas and were preparing to do something in Henan Prefecture, Luoyang.

Thinking of Qu Duan, Chen Shao didn't actually dislike such a subordinate.

When starting a business, what you should fear is not that your subordinates have problems, but that they are mediocre and incompetent.

What's there to be afraid of if someone's a troublemaker? As long as you can keep them in check.

He rushed over without his own transfer order or prior notice.

Chen Shao did not intend to see him immediately. At this moment, Qu Duan should be full of radical ideas and his blood was boiling.

Let him calm down first.

Chen Shao tugged at Li Yumei and patted her shoulder. She rolled her eyes at him, then sat down on the carpet beside him, her red lips...

As she twisted her body, her dress fell to the ground.

Half an hour later, Chen Shao arrived at the reception room.

By this time, Qu Duan had already drunk three cups of tea.

When he first arrived at the Marshal's Mansion, his surging emotions had indeed calmed down somewhat.

Upon seeing Chen Shao enter, Qu Duan quickly stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and bowed.

"Your subordinate pays respects to the Commander!"

Chen Shao nodded, sat down at the head of the table, and asked, "The water and rice in Hedong are good for people. You look a bit plumper and fairer, and your face doesn't look so fierce anymore."

Qu Duan chuckled dryly. If it were anyone else, he would have already lost his temper.

Although he felt embarrassed when Jie Shuai said it, he felt in his heart that Jie Shuai was close to him.

Most people wouldn't make this kind of joke.

He felt he couldn't be ungrateful, so he forced himself to say, "The commander looks much more heroic."

This guy was terrible at flattery, so he managed to stammer until his face turned red and his neck bulged. Chen Shao laughed and said, "Sit down, what brings you to Taiyuan?"

Qu Duan did not sit down, but stood in the hall and said, "General, the brothers Zhai Jin and Zhai Xing from Luoyang are recruiting militia in their hometown, claiming that they want to resist the Jurchens' southward advance."

"I know this."

Qu Duan asked, "Henan Prefecture is impenetrable, and the commander sent me south, but I am still stuck in Hedong. I have come here to apologize."

Chen Shao said, "Henan Prefecture is located in the heart of the Central Plains, and now it is home to countless great scholars and literary figures. It is normal that you cannot get involved."

"They look down on us warriors."

Qu Duan listened quietly to Chen Shao's words, which was unusual for him in his tent, as Qu Duan was somewhat stubborn and self-willed.

He was also ruthless; in order to enforce strict military discipline, he did not hesitate to execute his uncle who violated military discipline.

But he absolutely admired Chen Shao.

"In Taiyuan, because Li Tangchen, Liu Jizu and others were the first to surrender, I was able to subdue Hedong from top to bottom."

"Since the scholars of Luoyang do not respect you, this path is blocked for you. Why not try to rise from the bottom up?" (End of this chapter)