You have truly caused me great suffering!

After the rainstorm subsided, night fell.

The air wasn't as humid and hot as before, but it was still very uncomfortable.

Nowadays, there are no cement and asphalt roads, no urban drainage systems, and the whole land has become muddy.

Wanyan Zongwang was somewhat disappointed. After crossing the Yanshan Mountains, the main force of the Dingnan Army, which he had anticipated, did not appear.

On the flat land, waterways crisscrossed and rivers were densely distributed; everything was as expected, except that the enemy was gone.

Scouts reported that the main force of the Dingnan Army had entered Shicheng and had been resting and recuperating from the rain.

This is completely different from the Jurchens' previous impression of the Western Barbarians.

In the past, whenever there was war, this group of people would pounce and tear at the enemy like hungry wolves seeing meat.

Fearless and undaunted.

Who would have thought that they would seek shelter in Shicheng to escape the rain?

Zongwang was somewhat confident in fighting on the plains, but he was a little apprehensive about attacking a city, especially one of the Western Barbarians.

Since joining his father Khan in raising an army, Zongwang has attacked countless cities. He once blocked the city of Pingzhou, which he captured in just two days.

Zhongjing, Xijing, Yanjing—he trampled countless cities of the Liao Kingdom under his feet.

But the Western Barbarians are different. They can fight me to a standstill in open battle, and defending cities is their specialty.

I heard that nowadays there's some kind of cannon, with terrifying power.

The Jurchen warriors, each one a warrior capable of taking on ten men, were most afraid of this type.

The loss of one cannonball is greater than the loss of dozens of Khitans. There are plenty of Khitan soldiers, but there are not many Jurchen armored soldiers to begin with, and the loss of one means one less.

Unable to find the enemy, they dared not attack the city, and the surrounding area had been fortified and cleared of the land, leaving them nowhere to plunder.

Wanyan Zongwang was in a very depressed mood. During his illness, he thought about many things.

Dajin rose to prominence too quickly, and later on, it became too arrogant.

Perhaps Father Khan was right.

If they could first occupy and manage the Liao territory, stabilize their rear, and then invade the Song Dynasty from the south, that might have been the best option.

At that time, even if we were defeated, there was still room for reconciliation.

Unlike now, after the sudden defeat, the forces on Liao territory are all restless and eager to make a move.

In particular, the various nomadic tribes of the desert frequently invaded, taking advantage of their large numbers and the fact that the Jurchen troops needed to be deployed in the north, thus becoming increasingly audacious.

Even if several thousand cavalry were dispatched to sweep through and slaughter the population, these lowly barbarians wouldn't care.

In the eyes of these rabble people, their own lives were not even worth as much as an iron pot.

Even more critical was the weakening of the Jurchen people themselves.

There's a phenomenon in Water Margin where, during the early stages of the story, all 108 heroes seem to have divine assistance, and none of them die.

Once the first one dies, it's unstoppable.

The Jurchens were similar; when they were fighting against the Liao, they were conquering all sides, and there was no news of any generals dying in battle.

However, since the southward invasion of the Song Dynasty, one fierce general after another has died in battle. Even members of the royal family, such as Wanyan Zhamu and Wanyan Zongfu, were killed in battle.

Looking at the troops outside the tent, Zongwang's only consolation was that the Jurchen warriors still had the will to fight.

Moreover, their fighting spirit is extremely strong; under their command, they will obey orders and fight to the death without hesitation.

I must never squander the lives and spirit of my subordinates.

Zongwang made a decision: Shizhou City could not be visited, and it could not be attacked.

The most important thing right now is to occupy this territory, the land where Xiao Gan originally established the Xi Kingdom, repair the defensive fortifications built by King Xiao Gan of Xi, and wait for the right opportunity.

Wanyan Zongwang's plan was just like how the Dingnan Army seized Yingzhou and blocked the southward offensive of the Jurchen Tartars.

Over the years, the roles of offense and defense have completely shifted.
-
In Shizhou City, Zhu Lingling looked at the letter in her hand, extremely excited.

Finally, there's some movement from the King's side.

He didn't even want to stay on the front lines anymore, but instead followed Chen Shao into Bianliang.

For Zhu De, his achievements were already greater than the sky, and accumulating military merits was meaningless.

It may even have the opposite effect.

That's why Lao Zhu was able to stay calm. During the frost heave season, I didn't risk my life; I just stayed in the city to avoid the rain.

There was no way before, but look at me now, all dressed in silk and satin. How am I supposed to fight in the rain?

What if it’s broken?
The main problem is that the battle situation is one-sided. Brother Qu Duan has already surrounded Liaoyang Prefecture, and Pharmacist Guo is just a lamb to the slaughter.

If he knew what was good for him, he should have surrendered today.

Not coming means you can't let go of your worries.

Guo Yaoshi, who had surrendered his whole life, stood up for himself for once before he died, but that was the only time he stood up for himself.

I heard that this brother Qu Duan, after besieging Liaoyang, didn't fight, but forced surrenders everywhere.

Many places in Liaodong defected and surrendered, opening the city to the enemy.

This is clearly much smarter than Pharmacist Guo.

You, Guo the Pharmacist, have neither the future of the Prince of Dai nor the kindness of Zhang Jue. Everyone is just bored and has nothing better to do than follow you to the bitter end.

"General, Wanyan Zongwang's troops have stopped at Yanshan and have not come over."

Zhu Lingling put the letter in his sleeve. It wasn't the right time to tell everyone about the Prince of Dai's plans. He nodded and said, "Let it stop. Zongwang may not be old, but he's a veteran. The fact that he didn't come to Shizhou City shows that he hasn't lost his mind."

Seeing him so relaxed and carefree, the generals were somewhat dissatisfied. Among them, the barbarian general Wei Mingli Tongdao said, "General, it's just a little rain outside. The soldiers are tough and not afraid of getting wet. Wanyan Zongwang is a defeated general and nothing to fear. I am willing to lead my troops as the vanguard to break through his Yanshan defense line."

"The general is also willing to go!"

"I go!"

Zhu Lingling waved her hand and said, "The Jurchens are our mortal enemies, so of course we have to fight, but we must be strategic. If we fight now, we'll be wading through mud and water, and the Tartars will only need to be on high ground. Even if we win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory." "Back then, we fought every battle because the Tartars were powerful. They had just destroyed the Khitans and had hundreds of thousands of vassal troops. Now that we are strong and they are weak, why should we fight desperately? We should patiently wear them down."

Zhu Lingling knew that in the past, the measure of success was how much land she had conquered for the Prince of Dai, but now it was how many people she had brought back.

The 100,000 iron cavalry of the three main forces are the lifeblood of the Prince of Dai, the four legs of his dragon throne. It is no longer appropriate to sacrifice lives to save the battle lines.

Continuing with such desperate measures, crippling the throne of the Prince of Dai, and then returning to a place like Yanshan, is putting the cart before the horse.

The best course of action now is to occupy this place, threaten Pinglu, and let Qu Duan deal with Guo Yaoshi first.

After taking Liaodong and the Prince of Dai ascending the throne, whether he personally leads a northern expedition or selects generals to do so, the Jurchens cannot stop him!

"Alright, take stock of the city's provisions, and no one is to cause me any trouble." Zhu Lingling looked at his subordinates and said earnestly, "The days of enjoying good fortune are almost here. If you die now, it would be a huge loss!"
-
The military reports accumulated over the past few days were piled up in the main hall of Marshal Chen Shao's mansion.

Closing the latest military report in his hand, Wu Jie said, "Pharmacist Guo is already at his wit's end."

Zhong Shidao nodded and said, "That's right. He was able to hold on until now only because of the torrential rain in Pinglu, just like Zhang Jue blocked Wanyan Zhamu."

Zhang Jue's victory over Wanyan Zhamu brought him great fame, as it was the first time the Jurchen Tartars had suffered a setback.

Therefore, this battle has been repeatedly discussed, and everyone has thoroughly analyzed it, finding that Zhang Jue had all the advantages in terms of timing, location, and popular support.

As for Wanyan Zongwang's arrival later, he still managed to capture Pingzhou in just two days with the previously defeated Jurchen troops, which shows how capable Zongwang was.
After listening to their analysis, Chen Shao nodded and said, "Then I will set off for Bianliang tomorrow."

The Prince of Dai's arrival in the capital was undoubtedly a major event, and everyone would have many thoughts about it.

When Chen Shao last visited Bianliang, he was still Tong Guan's henchman.

Zhong Shidao felt a little regretful because, due to his age, he was unable to go with him.

This will inevitably cause you to miss out on many things.

During his time in Taiyuan, he felt extremely homesick and hoped to spend the rest of his life in Yongle City.

Wu Jie longed to hear from Chen Shao about his future plans. With several generals under the Prince of Dai at the front lines, the task of conquering Jiaozhi seemed to fall to him alone.

He had thought it over repeatedly and felt that he had a great chance, but he was not at ease until Chen Shao said something.

Finally, after a moment's hesitation, Wu Jie asked directly, "Your Majesty, Jiaozhi is small but extremely dangerous, especially with its dense forests and rough customs. We cannot be careless in conquering Jiaozhi. Although I am not talented, I am cautious enough and am willing to lead Your Majesty on the southern expedition."

Chen Shao nodded and said, "This matter certainly needs to be planned for as soon as possible. The chronic problem in the southwest is not just Jiaozhi. The Song Dynasty is weak and has never had enough control over the southwest. After you arrive, you must stabilize the local area and unite the majority of people. You must also guard against cunning and treacherous people, and if necessary, you can use swift and decisive measures."

"We will not fail in our mission once the target is achieved!"

Having received Chen Shao's personal confirmation, Wu Jie finally felt relieved.

Chen Shao laughed again, "Brothers fight together, fathers and sons go to war. Wu Lin is currently in the north with half of the Lingwu Camp, ready to fight at any time. Although you are separated in the north and south, if you can achieve great things in both, it will be a wonderful story."

When Wu Jie heard him mention his second brother, he laughed heartily, a rare occurrence for him.

The two brothers had a very close relationship; although they were separated, they often kept in touch.

"This time when I go to the capital, I will have the court issue an edict to reprimand Jiaozhi and make them hand over the murderers who have harmed the people of the Song Dynasty on the border," Chen Shao said. "Jiaozhi has always been arrogant and will definitely not submit, and may even provoke us on the border."

"If they dare to cross the border and act recklessly, you must strike decisively and first extinguish their arrogance."

Wu Jie nodded. If it was about defending the area at home, the troops he brought would be sufficient.

However, if you are going to march south, it would be best to bring some soldiers from Guangnan with you.

Chen Shao said, "I have already told the gold-hunting team about the so-called miasma. It is just that mosquitoes spread diseases. Bring more doctors and prepare medicines. Boil the water before drinking it to avoid many casualties."

"Remember, you must be ruthless!"

These words carried a hint of personal emotion, and Chen Shao's pronunciation was different from usual; he almost spoke through gritted teeth.

Wu Jie raised an eyebrow slightly. The Prince of Dai rarely gave such an order, but since he had said so, he would definitely obey.

The fighting capacity of the Song army, especially the Xiang Army, was extremely low.

This fostered a sense of contempt among the people of Jiaozhi.

Although they consistently adhered to the tributary policy, they never ceased their small-scale harassment of the Guangnan (Guangxi and Guangdong) border region in private.

Their tribute was more about taking advantage of others. Each time they presented ten trained elephants and gold, silver, and rhinoceroses as tribute, they would receive gifts from the Song court and take away large quantities of silk, porcelain, tea, and other goods, making a fortune.

On the one hand, the rulers and ministers of Jiaozhi were reluctant to give up these benefits, but on the other hand, they coveted the land of Guangnan.

So they paid tribute to the emperor while secretly committing crimes and murders, a classic case of wanting to have your cake and eat it too.

They continuously sent troops to plunder villages along the Guangxi border, massacre civilians, and seize land. According to the "Guihai Yuheng Zhi", from the reign of Emperor Taizong to Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, Jiaozhi had already occupied 62 villages in Guangxi. Xiao Zhu, the prefect of Yongzhou, also pointed out that Jiaozhi "encroached and swallowed up villages year after year", expanding the scope of their encroachment year by year.

Even during the Jingkang era, this "nibbling" strategy continued, but because the Song Dynasty's main enemies were the northern barbarians and western raiders, no large-scale military action was taken against Jiaozhi.

They all operated on the same suzerain-vassal system. Jiaozhi was different from Goryeo. Goryeo genuinely treated the Central Plains dynasty as its elder brother, while Jiaozhi treated the Central Plains as a sucker.

Later, he encountered a ruthless man, Zhu Di, and suffered so much damage that he came to regard the Central Plains as his enemy.

Chen Shao wanted to take control of Jiaozhi, and the first step was naturally to gather intelligence. What he found almost made him laugh in anger.

The Song Dynasty had only a thousand local soldiers on the border between Guangnan and Jiaozhi.
This is basically a complete lack of defense.

Last year alone, in the second year of the Jingkang era, according to the local government's "Nanning Prefecture Gazetteer: Military Preparedness Records", about 2000 troops from Jiaozhi crossed the border and attacked villages such as Yongning and Nalou around Yongzhou, robbing more than 1000 shi (15 jin) of grain, more than 500 head of livestock, and burning down more than 300 houses.

Because there were no border troops, the people were forced to flee to the mountains to hide, and some of the elderly, women and children were killed because they could not escape.

According to the "Records of Disasters and Anomalies" in the Annals of Qinzhou County, in the autumn of the second year of the Jingkang era, about 3000 troops from Jiaozhi invaded Kangxiling Town and Huangwutun Town in Qinzhou and carried out a bloody massacre of the local border residents.

The Jiaozhi army "killed anyone they saw, regardless of gender or age, and even played with babies by impaling them on the tips of their spears," resulting in the deaths of approximately 800 border residents and the abduction of over 1000 women (some of whom were later ransomed).

In addition, they looted more than 2000 shi (approximately 30 jin) of grain from the Qinzhou warehouse, causing a severe famine in the surrounding areas of Qinzhou.

Li Qiande, who is currently in power, is a typical example of a scourge that lives on for a thousand years, having already been in power for over fifty years.

He was responsible for the massacre in Yongzhou back then, when Emperor Shenzong was in power, and Jiaozhi invaded Qinzhou. Emperor Shenzong issued an edict demanding that Li Qiande return the occupied land and stop the abuse of the Song Dynasty's border people.

As a result, Li Qiande directly claimed that the Song Dynasty was at war with the Western Xia and had no energy to attend to the southwestern border. Using this as a pretext, he sent troops to invade Yongzhou and carried out a brutal massacre of civilians in Yongzhou and the surrounding villages.

Historical records state that over 50,000 officials, soldiers, local laborers, and residents were killed, with each hundred heads counted as a pile, totaling over 580 piles. Including those killed in Qinzhou and Lianzhou, the total number killed was no less than 100,000, and their cities were destroyed to fill the river.

This mad dog-like creature, spoiled by the Song Dynasty over the years, has lost all humanity. If I were to let him open the road and allow me to transport gold...

It would be strange if he didn't bite. (End of Chapter)