[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-228":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Shao Song",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1558394,2024,"Chapter 228: Thoughts of Home","shao-song-chapter-228",228,"\u003Cp>\"I am truly forcing a campaign against Heaven's timing to dispatch troops...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In late April, it was already undeniably full summer. The weather grew hot, the summer heat impossible to avoid. At the mouth where the Ju River flowed into the North Luo River in Fangzhou, Wanyan Loushi, his body soaked through with sweat, sat in the shade of a tree not far from the riverbank. Gazing at the listless soldiers crowded into whatever cool spots they could find, he could not help but sigh inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, for this campaign out of northern Shaanxi, Loushi had concentrated most of the elite Meng'an and Mouke units of the Western Route Army, but had not brought along a full complement of Han supplementary troops. While this notably improved combat effectiveness, it also made certain things all too obvious:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, as the weather grew hotter, the elite troops from Liaodong and Yanyun found it increasingly difficult to adapt to this summer heat, not to mention that many of the Western Route Army's Jurchen elite were originally from the Anchuhu River area (present-day Harbin region). Loushi could not even imagine the campaign dragging on into late summer or early autumn, when the rains would be continuous. That would be a disaster not only for his cavalry but also for his own body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, the northern Shaanxi region was typical highland loess plateau terrain. This special topography allowed cavalry to be committed in local battles but made it difficult to exploit strategic mobility advantages. This made logistics arduous, and large-scale mobile warfare became almost a luxury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, in Loushi's view, while this campaign might indeed be necessary from the perspective of state strategy and personal need, at the specific operational level it was a campaign without favorable timing or favorable terrain... The only thing to rely on was harmony among men—depending on this group of core elite Jurchen cavalry from Liaodong, Yanyun, and even the banks of the Anchuhu River, and on his own resolve, to decide the battle in a single stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun slanted westward. The main force of Jin generals, having marched hard to this point, rested for a good while. As everyone's breathing gradually steadied, many Jin troops rose to cool off in the North Luo River and the Ju River, while the Han troops, under the scolding of Deputy Commander Wanyan Balisu, began to set up camp by the riverbank under the blazing sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the army's commander-in-chief Loushi still leaned against the original large tree, eyes closed in concentration. No one around dared to disturb him lightly... Of course, Loushi had long since stopped letting his mind wander and had focused his energy on the current battle situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Wanyan Loushi had led the cream of the Western Route Army southward. The specific troop strength was about fifty to sixty thousand, of which barely less than forty thousand were elite combat troops under the pure Meng'an and Mouke system, plus ten to twenty thousand Han supplementary troops serving as archers and auxiliary soldiers... The reason for this was that under the Meng'an and Mouke system, a Wanhu commanding ten Meng'an was correct, but each specific Meng'an often had only five or six, or even four or five Mouke. Ordinarily, if a Wanhu wanted to actually lead a full ten thousand troops, it would be four to five thousand cavalry under the Meng'an and Mouke system, plus four to five thousand Han supplementary troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, to ensure rapid deployment and to guarantee combat effectiveness under limited logistical conditions, Loushi had not mobilized too many Han auxiliary troops... Those troops were left to the nominal commander-in-chief, the Third Prince Wanyan Eliduo, who should by now be nearly at Hezhong Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for these fifty to sixty thousand troops, by now they had dwindled to only thirty to forty thousand... This was not because Loushi had suffered heavy losses, but rather a natural attrition from dividing forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, there were the necessary defensive and garrison forces. Under these terrain conditions and supply status, no one dared to be the least bit careless in this regard. And unfortunately, there were too many ravines and gullies along the way, making it seem like every spot needed a stockade and some troops left behind... Not to mention key points like Yan'an Prefecture and Luojiao City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, Wanyan Huonü had led a detached force of about ten thousand men, splitting off early from the Yan River to follow the Yellow River southward, capturing Danzhou and casting covetous eyes on Tongzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no question about this route. Huonü's performance was outstanding. Danzhou was taken easily, though he had been blocked at Tongzhou in recent days... To put it bluntly, this was only to be expected, because Tongzhou was garrisoned by the Southern Dynasty's greatest general, Han Shizhong, and his Imperial Guard Left Army of thirty to forty thousand men. Moreover, between Danzhou and Tongzhou lay a proper Liangshan mountain range. Add in the weather, if ten thousand men could really punch through Tongzhou, then Huonü would truly be qualified to replace his father's position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, after arriving at this confluence of the Ju River and the North Luo River, although Wanyan Loushi theoretically still had seven Wanhu under his command, he actually had only about thirty to forty thousand troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, most of these were the kind of core combat power of which \"ten thousand are invincible.\" With only ten thousand such troops back then, Loushi had relied on them to crush the Western Army's two hundred thousand, so there was no mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After mentally tallying his troop strength, Loushi began to ponder the advance route for his main force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This main force had basically advanced along the North Luo River. The two most important defensive nodes on the North Luo River were both upstream... One was the Diaoyin Mountain Pass, which Qu Duan had managed for a long time, but which lost its strategic value after the flanking Danzhou was broken by Wanyan Huonü's detached force. The defending general Wu Lin chose to abandon it and withdraw. The other was Luojiao City, located along the main channel of the North Luo River, which Loushi's army took at leisure. The defending generals Wu Jie and Wu Lin, the two brothers, split in two—one heading west, one heading south—and fled in disarray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, by now, the Jin army had fully taken Fuzhou and Danzhou, and had formally pressed into Fangzhou while casting covetous eyes on Tongzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this point onward, leaving aside the Danzhou detached force, the main force faced a road that split into three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One road naturally followed the North Luo River, continuing southeast along its eastern bank. The destination of this road was none other than Tongzhou, where Han Shizhong was stationed... This was a relatively \"orthodox\" road. The army could advance south along it, with Huonü's Danzhou force protecting the flank. Moreover, with the key town of Fucheng on the eastern bank of the Luo River in hand, the rear supply line was secure. They could leisurely join with Wanyan Huonü's Danzhou force to attack Han Shizhong from both sides, while also drawing the attention of the other major main force on the Hedong side—the Third Prince Wanyan Eliduo and Wanyan Wushu—to facilitate their river crossing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, this was also the decisive battlefield that most people guessed at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another road also followed the North Luo River south, but along its western bank, heading to Huazhou, then passing through Fuping and Sanyuan on the border between Huazhou and Yaozhou, formally turning onto the Weibei Plain and advancing on Jingzhao... Once this happened, Han Shizhong would likely be forced to abandon Tongzhou and turn back to protect Chang'an, allowing the Hedong army to cross the river smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third road, also aimed at advancing on Jingzhao, went southwest from here. It required breaking Fangzhou City, then turning toward Yaozhou to the southwest. As long as Tongguan (later Tongchuan) and Huayuan (later Yao County) were taken, then Fuping, Sanyuan, and other gateways to Weibei would be right before their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three roads, from west to east: Yaozhou, Huazhou, Tongzhou. Any road could be taken, but one had to be chosen. Dividing forces into three would be laughable... And among these, Loushi had already mentally rejected Tongzhou, which most people guessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not because Loushi was truly afraid of Han Shizhong, but because he worried about wasting too much time at Tongzhou... The roads in northern Shaanxi were too difficult, and they had already delayed considerable time... If they then got bogged down at Tongzhou, leaving aside the possibility of exhausting themselves to death, even just dragging on for another month or so would be unbearable for Loushi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the present was not like the past. Loushi vaguely felt that even if they defeated Han Shizhong, it might not mean winning the decisive battle. On the contrary, if they got entangled with Han Shizhong at Tongzhou, would it give the Song people more time to assemble? Would more troops, undeterred by Han Shizhong's major defeat at the front, continue to gather around the Wei River to protect Jingzhao? Would the Hedong army's grain supplies fail to keep up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The land was the same, but the people were different. With a Zhao clan sovereign of resolute fighting spirit driving them from behind, it was impossible to analyze and judge the Song people with past perspectives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old idea that a victory at the front would cause the Song army in the rear to collapse for a thousand li must absolutely be discarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if they took the other two roads—that is, directly abandoning Tongzhou to invade the Wei River and force Han Shizhong to withdraw—they had to ensure sufficient rear supply lines on the western bank of the Luo River. In other words, whether for Huazhou or Yaozhou, Fangzhou City had to be taken first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has Wulibu not returned yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, Loushi slowly opened his eyes. He first looked at the sun, which had already turned somewhat yellow, then asked his second son, Wanyan Mouyan, who was standing not far to his side, hand on sword, attending him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wulibu meant \"accumulation\" in the Jurchen language. There were far too many Jurchen officers with this name, just as it was common among Han Chinese to name someone Zhang Facai or style them with a character like Fu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Wulibu Loushi asked about could only be Jiagu Wulibu, one of the two full Hezha Meng'an that Loushi had brought on this campaign...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, a bit more explanation is necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called Hezha Meng'an meant Imperial Guard. Before the founding of the state, only Aguda, Wuqimai, Zhanhan, and a few others were qualified to have them—only six in total. After the founding, many nobles raised them, which was likely the true origin of the Iron Pagoda. But in any case, these six remained the most elite. And Zhanhan was truly generous; he had given both of his Hezha Meng'an to Loushi for this campaign... One was led by Jiagu Wulibu, the other by Pucha Huzhan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Loushi was now asking about Wulibu, it was because, according to Jin military tradition, once a battle was won, to ensure the expansion of gains at minimal cost, an extremely elite cavalry force would often be sent to pursue, attempting to intimidate cities into surrender or to exploit the rout. This time, the one pursuing Wu Jie was Jiagu Wulibu, leading a Hezha Meng'an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's back... He reported to Balisu. Seeing that Father was resting with eyes closed, he didn't dare disturb you,\" Mouyan said, stepping forward two paces to answer. \"But according to him, after Wu Jie fled into Fangzhou City, he didn't panic to the point of losing his composure. The city's defenses were still tight, so he didn't succeed. Instead, he suffered a small loss and simply withdrew directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loushi's expression did not change. He merely nodded: \"The Wu brothers are both rare talents. From the fact that they managed to gather their troops and establish a foothold properly after several defeats, it's clear. It doesn't matter that Wulibu suffered a loss...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanyan Mouyan also nodded: \"Indeed. The Wu brothers actually fight quite effectively. Leaving aside that ambush by Big Brother at this river early this year, when you're caught with your back to the river and cavalry charges you back and forth several times, there's nothing anyone can do... But a few days ago at Luojiao, the brothers really didn't lose many troops. Wu Jie took away four to five thousand, and Wu Lin also took two to three thousand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your brothers are not as good as their brothers,\" Loushi nodded again. His sallow, thin face showed no expression at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mouyan had only been following his father's words and making casual remarks. Hearing such a definitive judgment, he was naturally unconvinced, but dared not say more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go find Balisu and bring him here,\" Loushi ordered casually, not caring at all about his second son's thoughts. \"Call the Wanhu and the capable Meng'an in the army as well. I am going to issue military orders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mouyan dared not be negligent and hurried off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a short while, upon hearing that the commander-in-chief had summoned them, the Wanhu and deputy commander Wanyan Balisu, along with Wanhu Wanyan Tuhesu, Wanhu Yelu Mawu, Wanhu Wanyan Salihe, Wanhu Wanyan Zhehe, plus the two Hezha Meng'an commanders Jiagu Wulibu and Pucha Huzhan—a total of about a dozen men—all flocked to the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of the dozen or so men brought several personal guards, and for a moment the area around the tree became noisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Loushi, sitting cross-legged under the tree, looked up and simply swept his gaze around, the noise immediately ceased. Even Deputy Commander Wanyan Balisu, who had inherited his elder brother Yinshu's position in the Western Route Army and had been handling much of the daily military affairs on this campaign, immediately stood at attention with hands clasped, as docile as a mouse seeing a cat, showing none of the imposing demeanor he usually displayed when opposing the Fourth Prince in Wanyan Wushu's army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wulibu,\" Loushi said without any superfluous words, directly glancing at one of them. \"How is Fangzhou City? How many troops are needed to pave the way?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to the Commander,\" Jiagu Wulibu also clasped his hands solemnly. \"The city is not large, but the surrounding terrain is troublesome. There are mountain gullies everywhere. To attack the city, we can only cross the river from the north to assault it. But besides the Song using this Ju River as a moat around the city, there is also a mountain on the north side of the city that stretches to the riverbank. The nearest peak is several tens of zhang high, and the mountain is all rock, full of potholes. The Song had already prepared a stockade up there, controlling the main road and open ground north of the city. That open ground isn't large either—just enough for two to three thousand men to spread out... I took a volley of arrows there, got nothing for my trouble, and only scouted the rocks on the mountain before returning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So the troops cannot be deployed, and Wu Jie has long prepared this city. We must first take the stockade, then attack the city?\" Loushi frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's the idea,\" Wulibu clasped his hands again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can we circle around to the south of the city?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps, but we don't know the terrain. We'd likely get lost in the mountain gullies, and all the villages along the way are empty... It would take time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who will go?\" Loushi nodded, not dwelling on it further, and directly looked at the group of Wanhu who had fallen utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men exchanged glances. Just then, Wanyan Tuhesu, who had already been showing some impatience, suddenly stepped forward. He puffed out his chest, rested his hand on his waist, and answered. \"I, Tuhesu, am best at infantry combat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, a burst of laughter erupted under the tree shade, and the surrounding attendants also laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Tuhesu, as a famous general of the Western Route Army, was certainly not lacking in classic battle examples. On the day Taiyuan fell, it was he who killed Zhong Shizhong. But the \"infantry combat\" he mentioned this time referred to another battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically, after Taiyuan was taken, the Jin army was sweeping through Hedong. When they reached Shizhou (present-day Lishi area in Shanxi), the Song army, relying on mountain paths, successfully repelled the Jin forces several times. The Jin army lost three generals in succession and could only request reinforcements from Tuhesu, who was in Taiyuan. Tuhesu arrived at Shizhou, surveyed the terrain, and concluded they should dismount and fight on foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it turned out, the Jin general then in command, whether already intimidated or looking for an excuse for his defeat, told Tuhesu that the Song people knew sorcery—they tied talismans like those of the Divine Traveler to their feet, making them run faster than horses. If the Jin army abandoned their horses to fight the Song, it would only make things more difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result was that Tuhesu let out a cold laugh on the spot, then ordered the entire army to dismount and engage the Song Jun in mountain infantry combat, slaughtering the Song Jun in Shizhou to the last man... Historical records call it \"annihilated them all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loushi was actually dissatisfied with Tuhesu's arrogance and frivolity, but for one thing, Tuhesu was indeed a man of unmatched bravery in battle; for another, as the weather grew hotter and the soldiers grew increasingly weary, he was just about to make use of the other's momentum; and third, he truly did not wish to keep dragging things out on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, Loushi smiled back from beneath the tree: \"In that case, Fangzhoucheng is handed over to Tuhesu. Your ten Meng'an and forty-seven Mouke should be enough, and you may also deploy the Han'er Army as you see fit... Rest for a day today, and go tomorrow—how about it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Commander-in-Chief waits here for one day; tomorrow evening I'll send someone to escort you into the city,\" Tuhesu immediately cupped his hands in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loushi said nothing, merely raised his hand slightly. From Balisu on down, Tuhesu and the others each dispersed, leaving only Loushi alone to continue pondering beneath the tree... And not long after, as the sun moved further westward, pale yellow sunlight began to fall on Loushi's face, which, already sallow, stirred a slight reaction in him. Yet he gazed at the no longer dazzling setting sun, lost in thought and silent, no one knowing what he was contemplating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside how the Jin Jun's foremost general was seeking enlightenment beneath a tree, that same evening, at almost the same time, twenty li in a straight line from the Juluo River mouth, north of Fangzhouzhoucheng, another sallow-faced general was also pondering the situation by a riverside tree—none other than Wu Jie, the Grand Coordinator, who had suffered consecutive defeats over the past few months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, unlike Loushi, whose heart was restless but whose expression remained calm, Wu Jie, Wu Jinqing, after thinking for a long time, suddenly began wiping tears beneath the tree, and the tears flowed uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers ordered to accompany him grew flustered at the sight, and many soldiers digging horse-trapping pits on the main road nearby turned back in astonishment to stare, which only made the accompanying officers feel even more awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As luck would have it, at that moment Wu Gong (Wu Jie's adopted son, actually his younger brother) had escorted Grand Coordinator Hu to Ningzhou. Added to that were the consecutive defeats and the grim situation with the main Jin Jun force just twenty li away... More importantly, those who had long followed Wu Jie knew that this newly appointed Grand Coordinator was famously fond of reading history books among the Guanxi Army, and equally fond of pulling stunts like those in the books. No one knew what would happen if they stepped forward to take up the conversation... So, for a time, no one dared to offer advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wu Jie, Grand Coordinator Wu, cried more and more sorrowfully, making more and more noise. The surrounding officers could no longer avoid it. After shoving each other back and forth, a leading commander named Wang Xi, a native of Deshun Army and considered a trusted general and fellow townsman of Wu Jie, was pushed stumbling out of the ranks by his colleagues. Forced to steel himself, he stepped forward to inquire:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand Coordinator, didn't Chancellor Yuwen not pursue the matter of our defeats in Danzhou and Fuzhou, and instead just promoted you to Grand Coordinator? Why are you still weeping?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's because I, Wu Da, still know what shame is!\" Wu Jie immediately stopped crying and turned back, then rebuked sternly, resuming his usual solemn and severe demeanor. \"At first, when that Qu Da fellow was dismissed and there was no one available in Shanbei, the court and His Majesty saw fit to employ me—that was one thing. But now I have lost again and again, and Guanxi is crowded with generals, yet His Majesty and the court still treat me this way—how can I not feel shame?! You should also know shame! This time, we must hold Fangzhoucheng!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers knew that he had cried this whole scene precisely to say these words and spur them on. Added to the fact that after retreating to this city, they had discovered military stockades already built outside the walls, mountains of military supplies, and even dozens of bed crossbows set up on the hilltop stockades and the city walls... Knowing that he intended to make a stand here, they all chimed in, saying they would learn from Grand Coordinator Wu's sense of shame and so forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shame, my ass!\" Wu Jie watched coldly for a while, the tear stains on his face dried by the yellow dust kicked up on the road, before standing up and continuing to curse his subordinates. \"Do you think I don't know what's on your minds? Every one of you thinks I'm just putting on a show to force you to fight to the death... I certainly am forcing you to fight to the death... But have I ever been stingy with rewards or unfair in punishments in peacetime?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these rather blunt words, trusted generals like Wang Xi and Wang Wu, who were from the Deshun hometown troops, immediately felt a bit overwhelmed and stepped forward to request battle, saying they wanted to defend the military stockade on the hill outside the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the two leading generals had barely opened their mouths and finished speaking when a gust of wind swept up the yellow earth dug up by the roadworks, filling their mouths with grit. Finding it hard to bear, they had to shut up, and Wu Jie once again wept uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Coordinator had no choice but to turn his back, cover his face with his hand, and continue to rebuke: \"I only ask you—how do you know that today I am not feeling genuine shame from the bottom of my heart? You don't usually read books, but do you know that deep in the mountains to the north lies the mausoleum of our ancestor, the Yellow Emperor? And is the court's favor false? Is His Majesty's magnanimity false? Even a piece of trash like Qu Da came back alive and became a Grand Coordinator—can you still say His Majesty treats us military men falsely? Beneath the ancestor's mausoleum, with the court showing me such grace, if I retreat and lose again, what face do I have to go on living?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words were heavy. Wang Xi and Wang Wu led the way as all the generals knelt down, swearing oaths and vowing never to retreat again, or else be struck by lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Coordinator Wu wiped his face clean a second time, then asked coldly: \"And if you retreat again, and the heavens happen not to send lightning—what then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generals were at their wits' end. Finally, under Wu Jie's piercing gaze, Wang Xi drew his blade, held it up, and replied: \"Then let the General punish us by military law.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Punishment by military law is certainly acceptable.\" Wu Jie stepped forward, took the blade, and ran his hand along its edge. \"But if I were to punish by military law, I know you wouldn't truly be convinced... Because in those several defeats, I, Wu Jie, also fled. If I were to punish you, shouldn't I first punish myself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With things having come to this point, the generals were at a complete loss, and no one spoke up this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about this,\" Wu Jie returned the blade to Wang Xi and then said coldly. \"Let's wipe the slate clean on what's happened before... From today onward, let's follow the example His Majesty set back on the Huai River and establish a new rule: in battle, anyone who dares to retreat behind me will be executed without mercy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generals felt that this troublesome affair could finally be settled and each breathed a sigh of relief, then began swearing oaths again... This time, at least, no dust storm arose... And after the generals had finished their chaotic oath-swearing, Wang Xi and the others took the opportunity to invite Wu Jie to enter the city via the drawbridge, saying that the officers in the city had pooled together funds to hold a banquet to celebrate the newly appointed Grand Coordinator Wu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Wu Jie's face darkened. Instead, he turned and headed toward the northern mountain stockade. After taking a few steps, he turned back amid the stunned gazes of the generals and continued coldly: \"I know that no matter how much heartfelt truth I speak today, even if I cut out my heart and liver for you Western Army scoundrels to see, your rotten natures might still not believe me. Only if I, Wu Da, lead by example can I make you truly submit... Over four thousand troops, split in two. Pick out some good archers for me, Wu Da. I'll lead them to defend the mountain; you defend the city yourselves. This city can fall, but to break it, this Grand Coordinator must die first—that's all there is to it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Wu Jie did not look back again. He crossed the busy roadworks and went straight toward the military stockade on the opposite mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reached the fortifications at the hilltop camp, he leaned against a strange-shaped rock, raised his head, and looked around. To the east were tens of thousands of elite Jin Jun troops; to the south, according to the imperial messenger's private words, Chang'an was where His Majesty had secretly arrived; to the west, Ningzhou was where Grand Coordinator Hu, who had shown absolute favor to his brother, was stationed; and to the north, deep in the mountain ranges, lay the mausoleum of the ancestor, the Yellow Emperor... He stared for a long time, then lowered his head and walked forward into the stockade, unable to stop himself from weeping a third time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the officers who had been following behind him, they naturally hurried to keep up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Book recommendation: \"Great Wei Shadow Emperor,\" about Cao Zhi's son Cao Miao, a work by the great author Zhuang Buzhou. The author specializes in the Three Kingdoms period; I can only think it's out of true passion. Everyone might as well take a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being a prince? The kind that goes to prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A character actor dreams back to the Three Kingdoms, becoming Cao Zhi's son, Cao Miao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing layers of conspiracy and deadly traps at every turn, how can one carve out a bloody path and turn the tide?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life is like a play—it all depends on acting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feigning madness and idiocy, laughing and cursing, a thousand faces on one person, fake madness and true frenzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the court, I am a sickly prince afflicted with madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the martial world, I am the king of spies, whose name makes children stop crying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight bushels of literary talent? Father, just focus on your poetry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three horses sharing a trough? Sima Yi, your stable has burned down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Rui unhappy? You're not even worthy of the surname Cao?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Miao: Good little brother, you focus on being emperor—I am your shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Zhi: No, imperial brother, you are the shadow emperor, the emperor in the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>",4780,"2026-06-06T07:46:04.529Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","e092ab1befc49eef8020d8c5413c071c398b252a92149946718ff076a5e16537","shao-song-chapter-229","shao-song-chapter-227",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]