I was living in the Five Dynasties period, just after crossing the Zhongdu Bridge.

This armor was made by a warrior, not painted by a scholar.

Scholars emphasize freehand brushwork and leaving blank spaces in their paintings, while warriors only seek to save their lives and kill enemies when making armor.

Furthermore, the weapons and armor in this world are never made up out of thin air; they are all forged on the battlefield with human lives at stake.

Shen Lie naturally didn't know anything about forging techniques; what he drew on this paper was nothing more than copying what others had copied.

The artisans of the Jiafang Bureau in Daliang City would naturally not recognize it, but if someone from later generations who was knowledgeable in military history were here, they would definitely recognize it at a glance.

This is clearly taken from the heavy armor design of the Beiwei Army during the Southern Song Dynasty's resistance against the Jin Dynasty, a force known for its strength and discipline.

During the Five Dynasties period, warfare was fierce and dangerous, and warriors relied heavily on strong armor and sharp blades when fighting generals.

Shen Lie's only goal was to save his own life.

The armor depicted in this picture is so well-protected that it is astonishing.

The design abandons overly conspicuous items like breast protectors, focusing instead on protecting blind spots.

The helmet has a brow guard to protect the forehead and a drooping neck guard to protect the neck.

The face is covered with cast iron armor, and the neck is fitted with a ring-shaped brace.

As for the torso, the arms are broad and thick, and the waist is strong and sturdy.

The lower body armor opens from the center and is divided into a front trouser armor and a rear falcon tail armor.

When fully armored, a person becomes an ironclad phalanx, making it extremely difficult for swords, spears, and arrows to penetrate.

Such extreme protection makes the knight's defenses impregnable, but it is a hardship for the warhorse. Without cover in battle, the horse is at risk of death or injury when charging into close combat.

Moreover, the armor was extremely heavy, and the burden on the knights when they mounted their horses to fight was far greater than usual.

Once charging into battle, if the horse loses even a little strength, the rider is trapped, unable to advance or retreat.

However, while wearing this outfit would make joint movements a bit slower, the iron-clad structure clearly indicates that it was designed to abandon hit-and-run tactics and be born solely for charging into battle.

As the saying goes, advance means life, retreat means death.

When Fu Yanqing asked the question about risking his life, he naturally realized that this armor set had abandoned the advantages of hit-and-run tactics and was purely intended for head-on confrontation and breaking through enemy lines.

The knight used himself as an anvil and his warhorse as a base, disregarding life and death, seeking only to break through the enemy lines.

After Shen Lie replied "yes," Fu Yanqing saw through it but didn't point it out, and simply handed the blueprints to Guo Wei.

Guo Wei, who had commanded the army for many years, understood the deeper meaning at a glance.

This is a fierce armor, imbued with the will to die, ready to fight to the death on the front lines.

After everyone had seen it, they naturally understood the tragic implications behind the armor.

Guo Wei simply ordered Guo Rong to collect the blueprints and, the next morning, to take his order to the Jiafang Office to expedite their production overnight.

Before long, the banquet in the main hall of the mansion had begun.

Zhang led the women into the inner hall, leaving only Guo Wei and his son, Fu Yanqing, and Shen Lie at the table.

Guo Wei was the host, Fu Yanqing was a distinguished guest of the new dynasty, and Shen Lie was seated at the very end.

During the banquet, toasts were exchanged, and the men, all of whom were from military backgrounds, discussed the strength and weakness of the troops of various regional military governors and the military affairs of suppressing the rebellion in Ye City to the north.

On Shen Lie's official Weibo account, he simply kept his head down, drinking his wine, and didn't say much.

The rule at these dinner parties is to listen more and talk less, so you can live a long life.

After several rounds of drinks, Guo Wei put down his wine cup and brought up the war in the north.

The vanguard led by Murong Yanchao has already set off.

The mobilization of these guards was indeed more efficient than that of the imperial guards in earlier years.

Once the order is given, sufficient funds and provisions are provided, and the troops break camp and depart immediately, without any delay.

Guo Wei, emboldened by the alcohol, suggested that Shen Lie should have no more than half a month to recuperate.

Half a month later, the supplies will be transported north to Ye City to join the 100,000-strong army that is attacking Du Chongwei.

Upon hearing this, Fu Yanqing put down his ivory chopsticks, looked over the table, and abruptly asked a question.

"Shen family eldest son, let me ask you a question."

Gao Xingzhou and Murong Yanchao's armies joined forces to besiege Ye City, and Du Chongwei was a man who was indecisive and ambivalent.

If he sees the situation deteriorating, he should climb the city wall, raise the surrender flag, and then send an envoy to the emperor to submit a petition for surrender.

Considering the ongoing war and the wasted resources of attacking the city, the imperial court readily granted his surrender...

Fu Yanqing frowned slightly and leaned forward slightly.

"You, a vengeful person who uses the banner of the former Zhongdu Bridge troops, how do you intend to conduct yourself?"

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

This was by no means a jest made in the heat of the moment.

Why did Fu Yanqing ask this question?

This is all because he understands the survival rules of this chaotic world too well.

When the Khitan cavalry marched south, Fu Yanqing surrendered, as did Du Chongwei.

Although it was a move he had no other choice, once the price was lowered, it was lowered.

There are no eternal blood feuds in this world, only interests that can be converted into cash at any time.

Du Chongwei's surrender to the Liao Dynasty led to the loss of the Central Plains, but the emperor still first appointed him as Grand Commandant to appease him.

As long as we have 100,000 Yan soldiers in our hands, we can appease the local people and reduce casualties.

In the chaotic world, it was perfectly acceptable for the imperial court to accept another surrender, even if it meant holding its nose.

If that day ever comes, Shen Lie, the pawn who raised the banner of revenge for his comrades, will instantly become a stumbling block to the court's overall plan of pacification.

Faced with such a probing question, Shen Lie held the wine cup with unwavering composure.

He neither slammed his fist on the table to demonstrate his loyalty, nor did he weep and shed tears to denounce the evil of the traitors.

He simply sat upright at the table, without giving it the slightest thought, and replied.

"Du Ni will surely die."

Four words: decisive and resolute, leaving no way out.

Shen Lie knew this all too well.

In the original historical records, Gao Xingzhou and Murong Yanchao besieged Ye City for more than half a year, but failed to capture it.

Chongwei waited until his food supplies ran out, and finally surrendered the city.

Liu Zhiyuan indeed tolerated him, not only sparing his entire family but also bestowing upon him generous rewards.

It wasn't until the following year, when Liu Zhiyuan was critically ill, that he issued a secret edict to execute the arrogant warlord, fearing that his youngest son might not be able to control him.

But that's history.

Shen Lie couldn't wait until next year.

If Du Chongwei were to leave Ye City unscathed, and even return to the court in purple robes, then Shen Lie would become a complete joke.

On this chessboard of five generations, Shen Lie, as a chess piece, has the greatest value in the righteousness of revenge.

If he backs down, this banner of righteousness will fall, and he will lose his edge in the eyes of Liu Zhiyuan and Shi Hongzhao.

Politics requires compromise, but Shen Lie must be a complete madman in this matter.

Upon hearing this, Guo Wei glanced sideways, and Guo Rong's movements faltered slightly.

"Du betrayed the country for personal gain, leading to the loss of the Central Plains."

The emperor raised an army to punish the disobedient in order to uphold the established order and establish national prestige.

If we accept their surrender, the social order will collapse.

Even if we take a step back, I am a former subordinate of General Wang Qing, and I bear the blood feud of my comrades.

"If Du Chongwei comes out of the city to surrender, I will personally behead this traitor in front of both armies."

Everyone present was a shrewd and experienced official.

Fu Yanqing asked this question to test Shen Lie's true nature.

If Shen Lie were to agree to submit to the official's judgment, he would be a bureaucrat who knows the rules, but would have lost the courage and fighting spirit of a warrior.

If Shen Lie only talks about the outcome of battles, then he is just a reckless brute charging into battle.

Now Shen Lie insists on upholding justice and personal vendettas, even going so far as to declare that he will kill generals on the battlefield...

Fu Yanqing stared intently at Shen Lie.

After a long while, he clapped his hands and laughed.

"What a vengeful soldier!"

Fu Yanqing raised his wine cup and offered a toast from afar.

"The armor is good, but it's tough on the animals that ride it."

Wearing such heavy armor requires a fine steed and a good horse.

"If an ordinary warhorse carried you into battle, it would be worn out in less than half an hour."

Fu Yanqing finished his drink, his expression serious, revealing his intention to make friends and plot against him.

"I'll send someone to deliver a fine horse to you tomorrow. Let's see how you, young man, conquer Ye City!"