[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them":3,"chapter-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-291":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Transmigrated to the Northern Song with Them",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2319181,4535,"Chapter 291","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-291",291,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the money is paid, the Zhao Song dynasty is still quite reliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Song and Jin states agreed on a price, Zhao Song’s ocean-going ships arrived at Lion’s Mouth one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——At this time, parts of the Dalian region were called Jinzhou, the Lüshunkou area was known as Lao Tieshan, and the harbor was named Lion’s Mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After unloading grain, they loaded up Jin’s gold, silver, cattle, sheep, and various specialty goods, then Zhao Song’s ocean-going ships departed Lion’s Mouth to return home, making way for the next vessel to arrive and trade with Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cycle repeated until both sides completed the transaction entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the most urgent grain secured and many cotton quilts and coats purchased, Wanyan Aguda and his ministers felt considerably relieved: this winter, fewer people in Jin would freeze or starve to death, and the newly reclaimed territories would not erupt in rebellion due to cold and hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet on the other hand, seeing the gold, silver, livestock, and rare goods the Jurchens had painstakingly amassed being shipped off to Zhao Song, Wanyan Aguda and his ministers—especially the younger Jurchens—felt deeply bitter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if their year’s hard-won harvest had been openly carried off by idle neighbors, leaving only bare branches and a heart full of resentment and helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the Jin people, especially the young Jurchens, what stirred was not merely material loss, but a blow to their dignity and pride. After all, these riches were forged in blood and iron, each coin and thread soaked in Jurchen sweat and blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang could not help but recall why they had rebelled against Liao: because Liao had been greedily exploitative, brutally oppressing them, treating them like grass, trampling their dignity and freedom until they could endure no more, rising up to establish Jin and vowing to reclaim everything from the Liao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, though they had driven Liao into retreat and seemed on the verge of toppling its tyranny, they found themselves trapped in another trading vortex—seemingly civilized, yet just as cold and heartless. Though Zhao Song used money as a medium and appeared fair, in their hearts, it was no different from another form of exploitation and plunder—a more subtle yet more piercing one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Zonghan’s eyes burned with defiance. He recalled the days of bloody battle against Liao troops, when Jurchen warriors, outnumbered, crushed enemy forces with unyielding will and fierce combat prowess. Back then, their hearts swelled with victory’s joy and boundless hope for the future. But the present reality was like a bucket of ice water, dousing their inner fire and forcing them to confront a cruel truth: even winning the war did not guarantee control over their own fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Zongwang voiced his discontent more directly: “The Song are as treacherous as the Khitans. One day, I will make them pay a hundredfold!” His voice rang strong, stirring a chorus of agreement among the young Jurchens present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many defiant young Jurchens wore faces full of anger and resentment, echoing Wanyan Zongwang’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Jurchens were skilled in patience, and they knew well that their enemy at this stage was Liao, not Zhao Song. To alienate Zhao Song now would leave the fledgling Jin state exposed to enemies front and back, surrendering hard-won victories and possibly plunging the entire Jurchen people into irrecoverable ruin—a catastrophic outcome. This rationality, like icy chains, tightly bound their boiling blood and thirst for revenge. Thus, though bitter, they understood the greater good and suppressed their rage and humiliation deep within, turning it into driving force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Aguda watched these fiery young tribesmen and was deeply concerned. He knew that if this discontent and anger were not properly guided, it would become an internal destabilizing force in Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, while Zhao Liangsi and Wang Huan were still in Jin negotiating trade, Wanyan Aguda decided to make a bold move—to intimidate Zhao Song and ideally force it into an alliance, sending troops to jointly divide Liao. At the very least, he hoped to secure alliance pricing for future goods, rather than enduring Zhao Song’s constant three- to fivefold price hikes. This would help the younger Jurchens regain some face before Zhao Song, sparing them constant feelings of humiliation; if this bitterness festered, they might make reckless moves against Zhao Song, leaving Jin vulnerable to dual threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this in mind, Wanyan Aguda resolved to strike swiftly while Yelu Yanxi least expected it, launching a surprise total assault on Liao’s capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He acted immediately, drafting a battle plan, personally commanding one army, and assigning Wanyan Xieye and Wanyan Hanlugu each to lead another army, advancing toward Liao’s capital, Shangjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Zhao Liangsi and the other Song envoys knew nothing of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after the Jin forces were fully prepared—and even after Wanyan Xieye and Wanyan Hanlugu had already marched out—did Wanyan Aguda summon Zhao Liangsi and the other Song envoys and say: “I intend to seize the Khitan Shangjing in one strike. Will you witness this historic moment with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wanyan Aguda rode a chestnut stallion, wearing a sable hat, a breastplate, and black leather boots, imposing and solemn, radiating an air of unquestionable authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Zhao Liangsi and the others find it hard to refuse—and they also wished to see what made these Jurchens so impressive to Zhao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Zhao Liangsi and the others accepted Wanyan Aguda’s invitation and joined the army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Aguda’s force was a formidable cavalry unit; every thirty li, they sounded horns to bolster morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several days later, Zhao Liangsi followed Wanyan Aguda to a hill south of Shangjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This hill was called Longgang, surrounded by mountains, teeming with birds, its pine forests lush and vibrant; standing atop it, one felt utterly refreshed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at nearby Shangjing, Zhao Liangsi’s heart surged with emotion. He knew this city well—once, when he was still a Liao subject, especially a Liao official, he had visited many times. Yet ten years had passed, time had turned, the land had shifted, the city remained, but all else had changed. He now stood here as a Zhao Song envoy, accompanying the Jin emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Aguda said to Zhao Liangsi and the others: “Come down with me and watch how I deploy my troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having come this far, Zhao Liangsi and the others could only obey Wanyan Aguda’s orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they descended with him, arriving at the front lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Aguda ordered his troops to beat drums to boost morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, horns blared and war drums thundered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cavalry charged forth with clashing weapons and iron steeds; infantry followed like surging waves, roaring forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From morning until just before noon, Jin general Wanyan Dhamu (Wanyan Aguda’s half-brother) led his troops to scale the walls and capture Shangjing’s outer city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liao’s Shangjing defender Yelu Dabuye led his remaining troops in surrender; Liao’s capital fell so easily into Jin hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After capturing Shangjing, the Jin forces conducted a highly systematic plunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They divided Shangjing into zones: Jurchens seized the wealthiest districts, Bohai people next, Han people after that, while Khitans and Xi were left to scavenge the poorest areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the plunder, other ethnic groups—even the Bohai—only took portable wealth; only the Jurchens burned, killed, looted, and committed every atrocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Jurchens seized and divided all Liao women in the city, capturing every Liao man to enslave them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, Jin forces not only plundered Shangjing Circuit extensively but also systematically excavated the tombs of Liao emperors. They breached Tianshan Hall in Zouzhou, burned everything to ashes, looted its gold, silver, and jewels, demolished all above-ground structures, and sought to sever Liao’s dragon vein to ensure its utter destruction. They also burned all ancestral temples of the Liao imperial Yelü clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notably, the Jurchens saw nothing wrong with this; they considered it their legitimate right, akin to a modern boss taking his top performers out for karaoke and massage after completing a project.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In essence, to the Jurchens, the most important purpose of capturing a city was to reward the brave warriors who led the assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Jurchen national consciousness was weak; many soldiers brought their own armor and horses, and some had even gone into debt to acquire them, relying entirely on plunder to recoup costs and grow wealthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In simple terms, the Jurchens treated this as a business transaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, capturing a city meant one thing above all: the post-breach burning, killing, and looting—the path to fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who tried to deprive the Jurchens of their spoils risked immediate mutiny—even Wanyan Aguda, the Jurchen hero and Jin emperor, could not change this unless he paid them himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, even with Zhao Liangsi and other Song envoys present, after capturing Shangjing, the Jin army still brutally plundered the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This shocked Zhao Liangsi and the other Song envoys profoundly; they finally understood Zhao Yu’s frequent warnings about Jurchen greed. They now approached dealings with the Jurchens with far greater caution and dread. Watching the horrors before them, they felt a storm of emotions. They had once believed that even war had its limits and rules—but the Jurchens had shattered that belief. The helpless cries of captured Liao women, the despairing eyes of enslaved Liao men, the desecrated imperial tombs—all spoke of the cruelty and sorrow behind this victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Huan stood beside Zhao Liangsi, his face equally grim. He whispered to him: “Given the Jurchens’ conduct, our Great Song must deal with them with extreme caution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Liangsi nodded slightly, thinking to himself: ‘The Jurchens are naturally greedy and cruel; allying with them is like making a deal with a tiger. The Emperor’s strategy of letting the sandpiper and the clam fight each other remains far safer.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhao Liangsi sank into thought, Wanyan Aguda, mounted on his tall stallion with a group of Jurchen generals, rode over. Their faces glowed with victory as they asked Zhao Liangsi and the others: “How are my Great Jin warriors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Liangsi smiled and replied: “The finest army in the world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Zonghan asked beside him: “How do they compare to your own army?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Liangsi replied calmly: “Each has its strengths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Zonghan pressed: “Oh? What are your army’s strengths?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Liangsi found this question hard to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, fifteen-year-old Ma Kuo replied calmly: “Our Song army excels at defense. If we were to defend Shangjing, according to Li Jing’s Military Art, we would divide our forces into five combat formations based on troop type and mission: Jumping Assault Teams, Cavalry Teams, Ambush Teams, Assault Spear Teams, and Reserve Teams. The Assault Spear Teams are for offense, while the Reserve Teams are for defense…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Kuo spoke at length, simulating how to defend the city from the perspective of a commanding general.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jin men soon realized that, if Ma Kuo’s defense plan were followed, capturing Shangjing would be far from easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key point was that Ma Kuo was only fifteen—though not young by any means, such insight was rare.\u003C\u002Fp>",1837,"2026-06-20T15:06:50.687Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4d76fd665e5ec58e476681c9975394c4d476b6157e3bd9880691259e985beedc","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-292","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-290",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]