Chapter 320: Zhang Chun: The True Dragon Cannot Die

…

Afterward.

Zhao Yu held Zhang Chun in his left arm and Li Lin in his right, while ten newly married Liao women lay scattered around them.

After arriving in Yanjing, Zhao Yu helped Yelu Ao ascend the throne and repeatedly claimed he would ally with Liao to resist Jin’s invasion, ostensibly to preserve Liao’s realm—but who among the astute could fail to see that the remnants of Liao would eventually be swallowed by Great Song?

Thus, Liao people in the Yanping region—including Guo Yaoshi of the Yuan Army and Zhang Jue of Pingzhou—all secretly sent women from their families to Zhao Yu, securing a future path for themselves and their clans.

As a result, Zhao Yu never lacked for women since arriving in Yanjing, especially after his decisive victory over Jin; the astute saw even more clearly that Zhao Yu would surely become the dominant lord of both Central Plains and the steppes, like Emperor Wu of Han or Emperor Taizong of Tang—and thus offered him more beauties, hoping to retain their noble status.

Zhao Yu accepted them all without refusal.

Not only did this bring him physical and emotional pleasure, but it also greatly aided his rapid stabilization of the newly reclaimed Yanping region, for marriage alliances had always been an effective means to solidify ties and win hearts in political maneuvering.

Zhao Yu understood this well: these women from various Liao families were not merely soft, fragrant companions at his side, but crucial pieces in his strategic layout across Yanping.

Before sleeping, Zhao Yu remembered Zhao Tang, who had briefly rested before anonymously joining the reinforcements and heading to the frontlines, and said to Zhang Chun beside him: “Excess is as bad as deficiency—if Tang truly meets misfortune, you’ll regret it too late.”

Zhang Chun thought: ‘The true dragon cannot die. If my son truly becomes the next Emperor of Song, he cannot possibly die here.’

Seeing Zhao Yu now show concern for Zhao Tang, Zhang Chun thought further: ‘One was born in the deep palace and raised by women; the other climbed from the lowest ranks, enduring the most rigorous trials. I shall see how you choose in the end!’

Of course, this was only her inner thought—outwardly, she obediently replied: ‘Given Tang’s achievements, he deserves promotion to Commander. From now on, he need not risk himself so recklessly—I will surely instruct him to preserve himself.’

Zhang Chun spoke truthfully: based on Zhao Tang’s kill count in this battle, even if he were not a prince, he could still become an officer, and his future risk level would be greatly reduced.

Moreover, Zhao Tang rushed to the frontlines merely to prove himself and show everyone—especially Zhao Yu—his courage and ferocity, not because he wished to die or craved danger; he would not lightly risk himself again.

Crucially, Zhang Chun had been the one educating Zhao Tang all these years, and Zhao Yu could not openly criticize her or undermine her years of effort before her.

Zhao Yu then turned to Li Lin and said: ‘Qing is impressive—he has the bearing of a great general. I watched him from the observation platform; he, Xiu, and Di all displayed calmness, not only excelling in military skills but also showing strong obedience.’

Li Lin replied matter-of-factly: ‘A soldier’s duty is to obey orders. This is merely what Qing should do.’

From Zhang Chun and Li Lin’s differing approaches to raising their sons, Zhao Yu realized that a mother’s character truly reflects in her son’s demeanor.

These past few days, with constant warfare, Zhao Yu, a severe sex addict, had been forced to abstain for several days.

Now that he could finally break his abstinence, he naturally indulged thoroughly.

As a result, tonight he not only turned ten Liao maidens into married women but also thoroughly exhausted Zhang Chun and Li Lin.

Consequently, Zhang Chun and Li Lin—especially the former—were left utterly drained by Zhao Yu.

Soon, Zhang Chun fell into a deep sleep in Zhao Yu’s arms, even emitting soft snores.

Shortly after, Li Lin also fell asleep.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu too grew drowsy.

Just as Zhao Yu was about to drift into sleep, Liang Hongyu approached his bedside and gently touched him.

Zhao Yu opened his eyes and asked: ‘What’s happened?’

Liang Hongyu whispered into Zhao Yu’s ear: ‘The Liao army was ambushed by Jin forces and suffered heavy losses…’

…

Rewind to the day Jin suffered defeat.

Seeing the Song army’s overwhelming strength, and fearing further devastation that might even lead to Jin’s annihilation, Wanyan Aguda swiftly ordered a retreat.

Wanyan Aguda, barely surviving, led his shattered troops on a retreat of nearly a hundred li before halting.

Counting his forces, Wanyan Aguda found he had fewer than thirty thousand men left.

He realized he could not flee further—if he did, Jin would be finished, and his army would lose all will to fight.

At that moment, scouts reported that Tong Guan was pursuing them with fifty thousand Song light cavalry, slaughtering Jin stragglers as they advanced.

Wanyan Loushi urged Wanyan Aguda to ambush these fifty thousand Song light cavalry.

But Wanyan Aguda shook his head: ‘If we let them engage us, their rear forces will catch up—this is a path to death.’

Tong Guan’s fifty thousand light cavalry would fight if they could win, flee if they couldn’t; once they latched on, they clung like a bone-deep ulcer, hard to shake off, and Song and Liao main forces would likely surge forward like a tidal wave, drowning and annihilating Jin.

After thinking, Wanyan Aguda declared with grim resolve: ‘Let them pass—strike their rear.’

Upon hearing this, many Jin men realized: if they allowed the Song to pass, their families in the Liao Central Capital might be in grave danger.

Wanyan Chang quickly warned Wanyan Aguda: ‘If we let the Song pass, Dading Prefecture is doomed.’

Wanyan Aguda replied calmly: ‘If we cannot turn defeat into victory, our Great Jin is doomed.’

Hearing this, many Jin men finally grasped how dire their situation truly was.

To speak plainly, if they returned to Jin now, Wanyan Aguda might not even retain his throne.

Even if the Jurchen nobles still recognized him as emperor and obeyed his orders, Jin might still be unable to withstand the combined assault of the Song-Liao alliance.

The urgent priority was to gather more Jin stragglers and restore strength—not to indulge in righteous pride.

Thus, all the Jin men followed Wanyan Aguda’s orders and hid within a secluded valley.

This valley was strategically formidable, surrounded by steep peaks, easy to defend and hard to attack—perfect as a resting ground for the Jin army.

Soon after, Tong Guan led his fifty thousand light cavalry past this place, chasing thousands of fleeing Jin soldiers.

Wanyan Aguda observed it all through his telescope but chose to remain motionless.

Soon after, Xiao Gan and Yelu Dashi each led over ten thousand Liao cavalry past the valley—Wanyan Aguda still held his ground.

Only then did Wanyan Aguda dispatch Wanyan Zongjun and others to seek out scattered, lost Jin troops.

Upon learning Wanyan Aguda awaited them, these Jin stragglers overcame all obstacles and gradually converged.

Soon after, severely wounded Wanyan Zonghan arrived with over thirty thousand western Jin troops—mostly former Liao light cavalry who had surrendered to Jin.

Wanyan Aguda ordered a headcount and was astonished to find he now commanded over a hundred thousand men!

Wanyan Aguda toured his ranks, comforting the wounded, mourning the dead, conducting self-criticism, and reminding them: ‘Once we had only two thousand five hundred men—we crushed the Liao army and grew stronger. Now we have over a hundred thousand—we will not be broken.’