Chapter 320: Zhang Chun: The True Dragon Never Dies

…

Afterwards.

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 Luowan ascend the throne and repeatedly claimed he would ally with Liao to resist Jin's invasion, ostensibly to preserve Liao's realm and ancestral rites—but who among the perceptive couldn't see that the remnants of Liao would eventually be swallowed by Great Song?

Thus, Liao people in the Yanping region—including Guo Youshi 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.

This meant Zhao Yu never lacked women since arriving in Yanjing, especially after his great victory over Jin; those perceptive ones saw even more clearly that Zhao Yu would surely become the dominant lord of both Central Plains and the steppes, like Han Wu Di and Tang Taizong, and thus sent him more beauties, hoping to retain their noble status.

Zhao Yu accepted them all without refusal.

Not only did this bring Zhao Yu physical and mental 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 relationships and win hearts in political maneuvering.

Zhao Yu understood this well: these women from various Liao families were not merely soft, fragrant comforts at his side, but each a crucial piece in his strategy for Yanping.

Before sleeping, Zhao Yu remembered Zhao Tang, who had briefly rested and then anonymously joined the reinforcements heading to the front, and said to Zhang Chun beside him: "Excess is as bad as deficiency—if Tang'er truly suffers harm, you'll regret it too late."

Zhang Chun thought, 'True dragon never dies—if my son is truly the next emperor of Great Song, he cannot possibly die here.'

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

Of course, this was only Zhang Chun's inner thought—outwardly she obediently replied: 'Given Tang'er's achievements, he deserves promotion to commander; henceforth he need not risk himself so recklessly—I will surely instruct him to protect himself.'

Zhang Chun spoke truth: based on Zhao Tang's kill count in this battle, even if he weren't an imperial prince, he could still become an officer, and his future risk level would drop significantly.

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

Crucially, Zhang Chun had been Zhao Tang's sole educator these years, and Zhao Yu dared not interfere or undermine her years of effort before her.

Zhao Yu then turned to Li Lin and said: 'Qing'er is impressive—he has the bearing of a great general. I watched from the observation platform: he, Xiu'er, and Di'er were the most composed—not only were their military skills solid, but their obedience was strong.'

Li Lin replied matter-of-factly: 'A soldier's duty is obedience—this is merely Qing'er's due conduct.'

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

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

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

As a result, tonight he not only turned ten Liao maidens into young wives, 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 after, 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 leaned close to Zhao Yu's ear and whispered: 'The Liao army was ambushed by Jin forces—suffered heavy losses…'

…

Rewind to the day Jin suffered defeat.

Seeing Song forces were too formidable, and further delay might bring even heavier losses—possibly even the fall of Jin—Wanyan Aguda decisively ordered retreat.

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

Counting his men, Wanyan Aguda found fewer than thirty thousand remained.

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

At that moment, scouts reported: Accompanying Tong Guan led fifty thousand Song light cavalry, pursuing and slaughtering Jin troops.

Wanyan Lou Shi urged Wanyan Aguda to ambush those fifty thousand Song light cavalry.

But Wanyan Aguda shook his head: 'If we become entangled with them, their rear columns will catch up—it's a path to death.'

Accompanying 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 abscess, hard to shake off, and Song and Liao main forces would likely surge like a tide, drowning and annihilating Jin.

After thinking, Wanyan Aguda said with grim resolve: 'Let them pass—strike their rear columns.'

Upon hearing this, many Jin men realized: if they let the Song army pass, their families in Liao's Zhongjing might be in danger.

Wanyan Chang quickly warned Wanyan Aguda: 'If we let the Song army through, Dading Prefecture is doomed.'

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

Hearing Wanyan Aguda say 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 those Jurchen nobles still recognized Wanyan Aguda as emperor and obeyed his orders, Jin might still fail to withstand the combined assault of Song and Liao.

The urgent priority was gathering more Jin stragglers and restoring strength—not righteous pride.

Thus, all Jin men followed Wanyan Aguda's orders, hiding in a secluded valley.

This valley was strategically formidable, surrounded by steep peaks, easy to defend and hard to attack—perfect for Jin's rest.

Soon after, Accompanying Tong Guan led his fifty thousand light cavalry, chasing several thousand Jin troops, passing through this place.

Wanyan Aguda observed it all through his telescope but chose to hold his ground.

Soon after, Xiao Qian and Yelu Dashi each led over ten thousand Liao cavalry passing through—Wanyan Aguda still held his ground.

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

These Jin stragglers, learning Wanyan Aguda waited for them, overcame all difficulties 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 had over a hundred thousand troops!

Wanyan Aguda toured the ranks, comforting the wounded, mourning the dead, self-criticizing, and declaring: 'Once we had only two thousand five hundred men—we crushed Liao forces and grew stronger. Now we have over a hundred thousand—how could we be broken?'