Chapter 322

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In the early Jin dynasty, many nomadic tribal traits were retained, and the “meng’an-mouke” system was implemented. During campaigns, families typically remained at their tribe’s base, places usually relatively safe grasslands, valleys, or river basins, guarded and managed by the elderly, weak, and women who oversaw production such as herding and farming to ensure rear-area supply.

But as the Jin state was established, during large-scale military operations or migrations, families began to accompany the army, usually stationed in secure zones behind the front lines, forming “old and young camps.” This was common during the Jin’s early expansion phase, when no stable ruling center had yet been established; close ties between families and military groups meant family accompaniment prevented dispersal and strengthened army cohesion through kinship bonds.

After the Jin conquered the Liao and expanded its territory, families were now settled in already-stabilized cities and fortresses, guarded by troops or local officials—especially the families of nobles and high-ranking generals, who resided in major cities such as Shangjing of Liao, Dongjing of Liao, Zhongjing of Liao, relying on city defenses for safety.

Overall, the Jin family's settlement followed the principle of "safety first," adapting to their production methods and evolving governance stages, gradually shifting from early tribal bases to fixed cities, reflecting the transition from nomadism to settlement.

Notably, the Jin brought their families along during campaigns because their population was small, and they urgently needed to reproduce to strengthen the Jin state.

Precisely for this reason, Wanyan Aguda led by example, bringing his family along during campaigns, settling them nearby to enable rapid reproduction among the Jurchens.

This time, Wanyan Aguda led out the majority of the Jin army, vowing to utterly destroy the Liao, intimidate the Song, force the Song into a peace treaty, and compel the Song to supply the Jin with grain and other necessities.

This resulted in large numbers of Jin women living in Zhongjing of Liao and Dongjing of Liao, with the families of Jin nobles and high-ranking generals mostly residing in the closer Zhongjing of Liao.

This was a privilege exercised by Jin nobles and high-ranking generals due to their elevated status.

Such a vital location must be guarded by a major general under Wanyan Aguda’s command.

After careful selection, Wanyan Aguda chose his half-brother Wanyan Damu to defend Zhongjing of Liao, leaving him five thousand elite troops.

Wanyan Damu was a great Jin general—he had captured Shangjing of Liao in just half a day.

Over these years, Wanyan Damu had consistently followed Wanyan Aguda in northern and southern campaigns, earning countless merits.

Unfortunately, recently Wanyan Damu had sustained a minor injury, so Wanyan Aguda wanted him to rest a few days and assigned him to defend Zhongjing of Liao.

In Wanyan Aguda’s view, with Wanyan Damu’s abilities, defending a single city should be effortless.

Crucially, Wanyan Aguda himself led over four hundred thousand troops ahead—who could possibly launch a surprise attack on their rear?

Yet Wanyan Aguda was defeated, and the blockade of his four-hundred-thousand-strong army became a joke.

Worse still, Wanyan Aguda never imagined that behind the lines, Wanyan Damu spent his days indulging in wine, women, and revelry, neglecting Zhongjing’s defenses.

Most importantly, Zhao Yu’s son Zhao Di possessed immense courage and meticulous attention to detail; he followed Tong Guan in pursuit of the Jin army into the territory of Zhongjing of Liao and discovered not a single Jin person remained.

Zhao Di immediately reported this to Tong Guan and others.

After deliberation, Tong Guan and his officers concluded: they must have pursued too far—there was no other explanation.

Some proposed returning to continue chasing the Jin army; others suggested launching a surprise attack on Zhongjing of Liao.

Tong Guan felt that no matter how many Jin soldiers they killed, the primary credit would never be theirs, so he favored the latter option.

Yet how to successfully launch a surprise assault and capture this critical city left Tong Guan uncertain.

At that moment, Zhao Di stepped forward again, offering to lead a force disguised as Jin soldiers to try tricking open the gates of Zhongjing of Liao.

Tong Guan knew Zhao Di was eager for merit, and he also knew Zhao Di’s mother was Ma Xiao Jiao, Zhao Yu’s most favored concubine—Tong Guan would surely grant Zhao Di an opportunity to earn glory.

Thus, Tong Guan immediately ordered five hundred of the finest among fifty thousand light cavalrymen assigned to Zhao Di, and also provided him with Song soldiers fluent in Khitan and Jurchen languages.

—In fact, these men were Khitans, even Jurchens themselves, mostly “Han” people from Yun territory.

Still not fully confident, Tong Guan gave each of Zhao Di’s men dozens of thunder bombs.

Simultaneously, to prepare for contingencies, Tong Guan personally led troops up a hilltop to monitor Zhao Di’s every move, ready to reinforce him at any moment.

On the way, Zhao Di ordered all soldiers to change into the Jin army uniforms they had stripped from slain Jin troops during the pursuit.

At dusk, Zhao Di led five hundred elite cavalry to the western gate of Zhongjing of Liao, then ordered those fluent in Jurchen to shout up at the gate tower: “His Majesty has suffered a crushing defeat on the front—quickly open the gate so we may report to the Lord!”

The Jin soldiers guarding the gate, seeing a large force of Jin cavalry approaching, assumed it was indeed Wanyan Aguda’s defeated troops returning to notify Wanyan Damu to evacuate the families, and immediately opened the gate and lowered the drawbridge.

Zhao Di led his five hundred elite cavalry charging into the city.

As soon as they entered the gate, Zhao Di ordered each of the five hundred cavalrymen to throw one thunder bomb.

After a burst of explosions, Zhao Di led the charge against the Jin troops, killing all two hundred-plus defenders at the gate.

Tong Guan, watching from afar, immediately led his fifty thousand light cavalry to storm Zhongjing of Liao, joining Zhao Di inside the city.

Tong Guan ordered his troops to swiftly seize all other city gates—no one was to be allowed to escape.

Tong Guan even ordered the drawbridge cut entirely, severing all connection between inside and outside the city, ensuring not a single Jin person fled Zhongjing—he intended to exterminate every Jin inhabitant within.

Wanyan Damu and other Jin generals remained utterly unaware of the Song army’s entry. Having drunk all day, they still sat half-drunk, watching Liao beauties dance while continuing to drink.

As night fell, Wanyan Damu and his men suddenly heard a series of explosions.

This startled Wanyan Damu—he immediately sent men to investigate what had happened.

Soon after, two Jin soldiers rushed in to report: a Song army had attacked from the northwest, all cavalry, radiating murderous intent.

Wanyan Damu gasped: “Where did this Song army come from?!”

One of Wanyan Damu’s generals speculated: “Could the Song have secretly infiltrated Dading Prefecture?”

Wanyan Damu asked: “Dading Prefecture is entirely under our control—how could they enter? And with His Majesty’s hundreds of thousands of troops blocking the front, how could they possibly advance?”

Wanyan Damu’s generals were puzzled, until one suddenly realized: “Could it be His Majesty has suffered a setback, and the Song exploited our carelessness to seize the gates?”

Only then did Wanyan Damu realize the gates might have fallen—he urgently dispatched men to check all city gates.

Only now did someone tell Wanyan Damu the situation was dire and that he must immediately send troops to escort important personnel’s families out of Zhongjing of Liao.

Yet even then, Wanyan Damu still believed the situation wasn’t that bad—even if Song troops had entered, they were walking into death.

Wanyan Damu ordered his troops to mobilize for battle, determined to show the Song what the strongest army of this era could do.

Meanwhile, Wanyan Damu prepared for battle; on the other side, Tong Guan had already led his army charging forward.

Zhongjing was built in 1007, the third year after the Treaty of Shanyuan, when the Liao dynasty was at its peak. Zhongjing was modeled after Dongjing of the Song, Bianliang, and consisted of three concentric walls: outer city, inner city, and imperial city.

Had Wanyan Damu chosen to defend the imperial city, he might have held out for days.

But repeated victories had inflated the confidence of Wanyan Damu and his battle-hardened officers—they chose to leave the imperial city, even the inner city, and engage the Song army in the outer city.

Jin civilians within the inner city, seeing their army’s boldness, grabbed bows and arrows and followed the troops, eager to assist in defense—even Jin women took up bows and joined the fight.

In contrast, Tong Guan and his officers dismounted, walked on foot, ate dried meat, and advanced cautiously along the edges of the streets.

The streets were wide, utterly silent.

Doors and windows of houses lining the streets were tightly shut, no light visible, pitch-black, and an eerie atmosphere prevailed—the Song army seemed to have entered a dead city!

Soon after, the Song and Jin armies met on the outer city’s main street.

The Jin army launched an offensive against the Song.

Tong Guan ordered his light cavalry to meet them in battle.