Chapter 223: Exterminate the Jin

"I, Han Shizhong, have never fought such an affluent battle in my life!"

Gazing at the military supplies and fodder delivered in countless large carts before him, Han Shizhong laughed proudly.

He originated as a rascal from Yan'an Prefecture, had spent years on campaign and established countless merits; even Fang La was captured alive by him.

Naturally, following Song Army tradition, the credit was seized by his superior from a military aristocracy background.

Only after he joined the Grand Marshal of Hebei did Han Shizhong finally get a chance to rise.

However, before the good days had lasted a few days, that damned Huang Qianshan, that filthy chaotic scoundrel, caused everyone to suffer a crushing defeat.

He gathered the remnant troops and joined Minister Zong, but was then dispatched to suppress bandits.

Although these bandits were previously the cowardly local government offices, powerful eunuchs, and landlords.

The nature of the work was still suppressing bandits, plus scraping up gold, silver, raw silk, medicinal herbs, timber, and the like.

Now he has finally come out on top, ordered to build a powerful legion similar to the Yue Family Army.

Various material support from Bianliang City arrived in a steady stream.

"This armor~~~"

"Click-click-click~~~"

Unlike that idiot Huang Qianshan.

Han Shizhong, a military general who climbed out of the battlefield, particularly valued armor and weapons.

"All are top-quality studded armor."

Tapping the armor, checking the luster, reaching out to pinch the thickness: "Better than what the Iron Falcons and Bubazi wear."

Iron Falcons, Western Xia elite heavy armored cavalry.

Bubazi, heavy infantry composed of Party Item Tribe nobles.

Han Shizhong had fought Western Xia year-round; the best armored troops he had encountered were them, leaving a deep impression.

"Han Commander."

Zhang Jun, also of Xi Army origin, immediately shouted: "These armors, you have to split half with me."

Han Shizhong shot him a sidelong glance: "I am the Commander; how to split, I have the final say."

The Xi Army was the Great Song's most powerful strategic legion.

Since the campaign to pacify Fang La began several years ago, the Xi Army had repeatedly marched east.

Northern Expedition to Yanyun, Rescue Taiyuan Prefecture, Loyalty to the Capital Tokyo, and so on.

Hundreds of thousands of Xi Army troops left Guanzhong for the Central Plains Two Rivers to fight.

Most of those troops had already died on the battlefield.

The rest had scattered everywhere.

Former Xi Army bigwigs, like Zhong Shizhong, Zhong Shidao.

Former Xi Army backbone, like Yao Pingzhong, Xin Xingzong, Yang Weizhong, Liu Yanqing, and other generals — some dead, some fled, some scattered.

Only now did Han Shizhong, Zhang Jun, and other once-insignificant junior officers finally have their day to rise.

Like Han Shizhong, becoming a Commander, bearing a Military Governor title, could also be called Commissioner Han.

"Han Pa Wu!"

Zhang Jun flew into a rage: "Others may not know you, but I still know you!"

"What thing that enters your hand do you still want to share out?"

The crowd of generals also clamored, demanding Han Shizhong distribute the armor right now.

All from the Xi Army, who doesn't know what kind of person Han Pa Wu is.

That is: only in, never out!

"What about it, what about it?"

Han Shizhong feared being threatened least of all in his life.

He lifted a leg and planted it on the cart frame, rolled up his sleeves, ready to brawl.

"You want to take Han Shizhong's things?"

"Go ask around in Yan'an Prefecture~~~"

"Commissioner Han, this is the first batch of armor and weapons." The escort officer delivering the supplies stepped forward: "The next several batches will all arrive within ten days."

"Distributed according to the set quota; every Regular Soldier gets a set of armor, all are iron armor."

Finished speaking, the escort officer handed over the scribe in his hand, waiting for Han Shizhong to affix his seal and signature.

"Go ask around~" Han Shizhong looked at the scribe in his hand: "In Yan'an Prefecture, who doesn't know that I, Han Shizhong, am a righteous and generous great philanthropist!"

"Within ten days, all departments get armor, everyone has one!"

Yue Fei's command mainly consists of the Two Rivers Righteous Army.

Han Shizhong's side mainly consists of routed Xi Army soldiers.

These routed Xi Army soldiers themselves already had sufficient military foundation, and previously had much battle experience.

With all categories of military supplies equipped, full pay and rations issued, high bounties offered, without needing long training, combat power immediately went up.

Han Shizhong, longing for merit, with supplies complete and pay and fodder received, immediately sent troops northward, heading straight for the Yan-Yun Sixteen Prefectures.

The Jurchen Main Force gathered at Yanyun were all blocking the Yue Family Army at Jun Du Xing.

Han Shizhong striking from the south entered as if into an uninhabited realm.

He fought all the way to the Gao Liang River Bank before encountering Jurchen reinforcements rushing from Guan Wai in great haste.

Originally these reinforcements were to go to Jun Du Xing to provide support; because of Han Shizhong's sudden northward advance, they were hastily dispatched here.

The Jurchen looked down on the Khitan, and even more so on the Song who had been defeated by the Khitan.

These Jurchen from Guan Wai had never suffered a beating.

Following the Khitan's old playbook, relying on fast horses, heavy arrows, and thick armor, they launched a fierce assault right away.

The result goes without saying.

Facing Han Shizhong's troops, where every regular soldier wore armor, they simply could not break through.

Their prized heavy arrows could not penetrate.

Forcing their way in, they crashed headlong into the iron wire nets and were trapped.

When Han Shizhong led the charge at the head of his fully paid army, the Jurchens who had previously dominated East Asia were beaten into a rout.

The news reached Yanjing City, and Wanyan Zongbi and the others were utterly dumbfounded.

The emergence of the Yue Family Army had already astonished them, making them feel that all the fierce men among the Song were in the Yue Family Army.

Yet here came another Han Family Army that could fight just as well.

"How is this possible!"

Wanyan Zongbi expressed disbelief at this.

"Months ago, I defeated them."

"Only a few months have passed, how have they become so capable of fighting?!"

Wendu Sizhong explained a few sentences: "They changed their armor."

"All kinds of weapons and armor are brand new, every man is clad in heavy armor."

"Blades and spears can hardly wound them, heavy arrows can hardly pierce them."

"Moreover, they all receive full pay."

"Full pay?" Wanyan Zongbi was confused. "What does this mean?"

Wendu Sizhong explained in words the Jurchens could understand: "It means our side allows plundering, distributes land and slaves."

The Jurchens' combat strength is strong; they dare to fight and battle.

The root lies in their wealth distribution formula.

Captured war spoils belong to oneself, and they are also granted the conquered land, along with the people on that land, all becoming personal property.

With sufficient benefits, once on the battlefield they naturally dare to fight desperately.

The benefits of the Liao State and Song State were all grasped by the powerful nobles; the soldiers had trouble even eating and supporting their families, so naturally they could not beat the Jurchens.

Now, the Song have changed.

The benefits of war are given in full, full pay and land grants; in morale and combat will, they are already in no way inferior to the Jurchens.

On top of that, the era's strongest military equipment, and logistical supplies sufficient to make one click one's tongue in amazement.

Being able to win is only natural.

"You go find Han Shizhong."

Wanyan Zongbi instructed Wendu Sizhong: "Take Wanyan Gou's (Zhao Gou's) imperial edict and go find him."

"Tell him, the Song Emperor has enfeoffed him as a King!"

Gao Liang River Bank.

In the military camp, Han Shizhong didn't even look at Wanyan Gou's imperial edict, casually tossing it onto the ground.

"I don't know any Imperial Edict of Wanyan Gou."

"I only listen to Minister Zong's orders."

Having said that, he ignored Wendu Sizhong and turned to look at a military officer being held in the tent.

"Wang Da!"

"Your guts are quite fat!"

"You dare embezzle the soldiers' reward money, do you think this is still the Xi Army?"

That Wang Da stiffened his neck in defiance: "We've always done it this way, passing the hand for a cut."

"I merely followed the old calendar and took some money and goods."

"Han Pa Wu, stop stirring up trouble!"

Han Shizhong sneered: "Old calendar?"

"The Great Song is gone, that is the Former Dynasty's old calendar!"

"You take the new dynasty's salary, follow the Former Dynasty's old calendar, you truly don't know how to write the word 'death'."

He raised his hand: "Drag him out and behead him, hang his head for public display."

After disposing of the officer who embezzled military pay and rewards, Han Shizhong looked at Wendu Sizhong again: "Are you surnamed Wanyan?"

Wendu Sizhong's heart gave a start; he understood Han Shizhong's meaning.

The news had long since spread.

One Wanyan head, reward money a thousand strings, land a hundred mu.

Ordinary Jurchens are worth only one percent of this price.

"The Grand Commandant jokes."

Wendu Sizhong hurriedly explained: "I am of the A Bu Shui Tribe, surnamed Nuowan."

Han Shizhong's next words made Wendu Sizhong tremble uncontrollably.

"A Mouke or above can also fetch several hundred strings."

"Men, drag him out and chop off his head, the reward counts as mine."

Wendu Sizhong was greatly surprised and changed color, hurriedly explaining he was an envoy.

But Han Shizhong simply wouldn't listen.

By the time he was dragged out of the main tent, Han Shizhong's gaze fell on the deputy envoy.

"Song? Han?"

The Song people surrendered to the Jurchens, along with the people of Song lands who fled with them.

"Han'er" refers to the Northern Han of the Yanyun Liao lands.

During the Tang Dynasty they were still one nation; unfortunately, a Shi Jingtang appeared.

The Deputy Envoy replied tremblingly, "This official is Liu Yu, of the Great Song's Privy Council~~~"

"You are Liu Yu?!" Han Shizhong slapped the table and rose, his eyes full of surprise and delight.

"Minister Zong specifically named you; your reward is the same as the Wanyan surname."

"Quick, bind him and send him to Bianliang City! The reward counts as mine."

A similar scene played out in Yue Fei's main camp.

The difference was that Yue Fei did not behead the envoy Ulin Tai who bore the responsibility.

He merely threw away Wanyan Gou's Imperial Edict and drove the envoys away.

On Yue Fei's side, he broke through Jun Du Xing, defeated Nianhan again, and pressed close to Yanjing City.

Han Shizhong in the south also advanced northward continuously, forming a pincer attack.

"Can't stay any longer."

Wanyan Zongbi conferred with the returned Nianhan and others, and finally decided, "Exit the Pass and go back."

Before leaving, the disgusted Wanyan Zongbi instructed, "Didn't expect that Kang Prince to be so useless; truly a disgrace to the Wanyan surname."

"No need to take him along."

"Throw him to the dogs!"

The Puppet Emperor Wanyan Gou, who hadn't eaten his fill for more than a few days, was thrown into a pack of wild dogs as the Jurchens withdrew.

Amid miserable screams, he was torn apart and devoured by dozens of red-eyed wild dogs.

Even his bones were gnawed to pieces; not a trace of remains was left.

Yue Fei and Han Shizhong pursued the Jurchens all the way.

They finally caught up with the fleeing Jurchen soldiers at the Liao Kingdom Central Capital Datong Prefecture.

Before battle, Wanyan Zongbi sent an envoy to declare: we have already withdrawn beyond the Pass, why still pursue and kill?

The answer to them was an Iron Wall formed by tens of thousands of armored soldiers!

The Jurchens' final main force suffered a crushing defeat.

Wanyan Zongbi, Nianhan, and the others all perished on the battlefield.

The various departments of the Liao lands broke away from Jurchen rule one after another, pledged allegiance to Bianliang City, and frenziedly exterminated the Jurchens, taking heads to exchange for rewards.

Han and Yue's spearhead did not stop; they continued northward all the way, killing until Huanglong Prefecture.

They wiped out the last of the Jurchens and occupied the place.

The Jurchen Emperor Wanyan Wugunai set fire to the Imperial Palace and, together with a crowd of Wanyans, was consumed by the raging fire.

The Jin State was destroyed!

The news spread to Bianliang City.

Lin Dao, lying prone on Zhao Huanhuan's belly listening for movement, discussed with the moved-to-tears Zong Ze.

Zong Ze said, "After reorganization, Han Shizhong can enter Guanzhong and go down to Chuan Shu, northward exterminate the Party Item Tribe."

"Yue Fei goes south to pacify rebellion."

"Afterward, combine forces and campaign west to the Western Regions!"

Lin Dao, however, brought up a person: "It's time to send Qin Gui on his way."

"Mo Xu You?"

"Yes, Mo Xu You!"

End of Chapter