Chapter 322: Accompanying Tong Guan Presents Captives to Glorify the Imperial Might

…

In the early Jin state, 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 handled 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 troops, forming the "Old and Young Camp." This was common during the Jin's early expansion phase, when a stable ruling center had not 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 senior generals, who resided in major cities such as Shangjing of Liao, Dongjing of Liao, and Zhang Zhongjing of Liao, relying on city defenses for safety.

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

Notably, the Jurchens 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, when Wanyan Aguda launched his southern campaign, he took out the majority of the Jin army, vowing to utterly destroy the Liao, intimidate the Great Song, force the Great Song to sign a peace treaty, and make the Great Song supply the Jin with grain and other necessities.

This resulted in a large number of Jurchen women living in Zhang Zhongjing of Liao and Dongjing of Liao, with the families of Jurchen nobles and senior generals mostly residing in the closer Zhang Zhongjing of Liao.

This was a privilege exercised by Jurchen nobles and senior generals due to their high status.

Such a vital location must be guarded by a great general under Wanyan Aguda's command.

After careful consideration, Wanyan Aguda chose his half-brother Wanyan Dhamu to guard Zhang Zhongjing of Liao, leaving him five thousand elite troops.

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

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

Unfortunately, recently Wanyan Dhamu suffered a minor injury, so Wanyan Aguda wanted him to rest a few days and assigned him to guard Zhang Zhongjing of Liao.

In Wanyan Aguda's view, with Wanyan Dhamu's abilities, guarding a city should be easy and effortless.

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

But Wanyan Aguda was defeated, and the blockade of over four hundred thousand troops became a joke.

Worse still, Wanyan Aguda never expected that while stationed in the rear, Wanyan Dhamu spent his days indulging in wine, women, and revelry, neglecting Zhang Zhongjing's defenses.

Most importantly, Zhao Yu's son Zhao Di possessed immense courage and meticulous attention to detail; he followed Accompanying Tong Guan in pursuit of the Jurchens into the territory of Zhang Zhongjing of Liao and discovered not a single Jurchen was there.

Zhao Di immediately reported this to Accompanying Tong Guan and others.

After deliberation, Accompanying Tong Guan and his men concluded: they must have pursued too far—otherwise, this made no sense.

At the time, some proposed returning to continue pursuing the Jurchens; others suggested launching a surprise attack on Zhang Zhongjing of Liao.

Accompanying Tong Guan felt that no matter how many Jurchens they chased, the primary merit would never be theirs, so he favored the latter option.

But how to successfully launch a surprise attack and seize this crucial city left Accompanying Tong Guan uncertain.

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

Accompanying Tong Guan knew Zhao Di was eager for merit, and he also knew Zhao Di's mother was Ma Xiao Jiao, the favorite concubine of Zhao Yu—he would certainly grant Zhao Di opportunities to earn merit.

Thus, Accompanying 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 who understood Khitan and Jurchen languages.

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

Still not fully confident, Accompanying Tong Guan gave each of Zhao Di's men dozens of Thunderclap Bombs.

Meanwhile, to prepare for contingencies, Accompanying 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 Jurchen uniforms he had specially ordered stripped from Jurchen troops during the pursuit.

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

The Jurchen guards, seeing a large force of Jurchen cavalry outside, assumed it was indeed Wanyan Aguda's defeated troops returning to notify Wanyan Dhamu to evacuate the families, and immediately opened the gate, lowering 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 Thunderclap Bomb.

After a burst of explosions, Zhao Di led the charge against the Jurchen soldiers; all two hundred plus gate guards were killed.

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

Accompanying Tong Guan ordered: swiftly seize all other gates—let not a single soul escape.

Accompanying Tong Guan even ordered the drawbridge cut outright, severing all connection between inside and outside the city—no Jurchen was to flee Zhang Zhongjing of Liao; he intended to exterminate every Jurchen within.

Wanyan Dhamu and other Jurchen commanders remained 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 Dhamu and his men suddenly heard a series of explosions.

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

Soon after, two Jurchen soldiers rushed in to report: a force of Song army cavalry had attacked from the northwest, fierce and menacing.

Wanyan Dhamu gasped: "Where did these Song troops come from?!"

One of Wanyan Dhamu's Jurchen commanders speculated: "Could the Song have secretly infiltrated Dading Prefecture?"

Wanyan Dhamu asked: "Dading Prefecture is fully 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 Dhamu's commanders were puzzled, until someone suddenly realized a possibility: "Could it be that His Majesty has suffered a disaster, and the Song exploited our negligence to seize the gates?"

Wanyan Dhamu suddenly realized the gates might have fallen—he urgently ordered men to check all city gates.

Only then did someone tell Wanyan Dhamu the situation was dire and that he must immediately dispatch troops to escort important personnel's families out of Zhang Zhongjing of Liao.

But even now, Wanyan Dhamu still believed the situation was not that bad—even if Song troops had entered, they were walking into death.

Wanyan Dhamu ordered his troops to mobilize and fight, determined to show the Song army the most powerful army of this era.

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

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

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

But repeated victories had inflated the confidence of Wanyan Dhamu 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.

The Jurchens within the inner city, seeing their army so valiant, grabbed bows and arrows and followed the soldiers, eager to aid in defense—even Jurchen women took up bows and joined the fight.

In contrast, Accompanying Tong Guan and his men dismounted, walked on foot, ate dried meat, and advanced cautiously along one side of the street.

The street was wide, utterly silent.

Doors and windows of houses lining the street were tightly shut, no light visible, pitch black, and the atmosphere was eerie—the Song army seemed to have walked into a dead city.

Before long, the Song and Jin armies met on the main street of the outer city.

The Jin army took the initiative to launch an attack against the Song army.

Accompanying Tong Guan directed his light cavalry to meet the attack.