[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-385":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},1558551,2024,"Chapter 385: Now Dark, Now Bright","shao-song-chapter-385",385,"\u003Cp>The battle that took place on the banks of the Fen River in mid-October was unquestionably a rout, and a cavalry rout at that—a chance encounter on the road where the smaller force defeated the larger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such a battle, the only way to expand the gains was to pursue immediately afterward, either to inflict casualties or to seize some strategic strongholds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, this battle could only be said to have thwarted the Jin army's scheme to raid Hezhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was already remarkable, but Han Shizhong's temperament being what it was, he would never let it rest at that... So, after his charge succeeded, he merely turned back to exchange a word with Xie Yuan, then immediately urged the Beiwei Army eastward along the Fen River in relentless pursuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was truly difficult to cause a major collapse of the Jin army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both sides were cavalry, both had arrived at the battlefield after hasty marches, and both had managed to rest their horses during the fighting. Now, with one chasing and the other fleeing, it was impossible to catch up. Moreover, the Jin cavalry was far more numerous; many had dismounted to fight earlier, whether voluntarily or not, which had bought the rear Jin forces time to reorganize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a sense, Salihé could be considered decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening, when Han Shizhong ordered a halt to the pursuit due to darkness, they had already entered Jixian County—the hometown of his brother Xie Yuan—truly living up to his word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, perhaps because he needed to clear the road and gather stragglers, Xie Yuan arrived at the village where Han Shizhong was encamped nearly an hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the village, he saw it empty except for a few elderly people, which made Xie Yuan, accustomed to such sights, unusually restless and irritable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the brothers met, Han Shizhong, who was wiping down his spear by the campfire, spoke first: \"Shanliang, is this place your hometown?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Xie Yuan shook his head. \"My home was already passed on the road—it's in a mountain hollow. I dismounted and took a look; it's long been abandoned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong nodded and asked again, \"How is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not good.\" As brothers for decades, Xie Yuan knew what he meant and shook his head again. \"The Fen River has become shallow now... And the midday sun wasn't too cool. Many scattered Jin cavalry, those with horses clung to their necks, those without simply shed their armor and swam across. It's only slightly better than that time south of Tieling Pass... I estimate barely over a thousand kills.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad,\" Han Shizhong said, completely unbothered. \"In ten days since crossing the river, three battles, three to four thousand kills... A great victory in my life. What more could I hope for?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan nodded in agreement: \"The key is still Hedong City. After this battle, the Jin army can't rescue Hezhong... Then Wendun Sizhong and his Wanhu are trapped.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's one and a half Wanhu.\" Han Shizhong, sitting cross-legged on the ground, fitted a cover onto his spear and said proudly, \"Then the world should know why I, Han Shizhong, am unmatched under heaven.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fifth Brother,\" Xie Yuan did not sit down but instead admonished him seriously from across the campfire. \"This battle is a national war. We have over three hundred thousand men, and the Jin also have twenty Wanhu plus the new Yanjing army. A few thousand kills and one Wanhu is just the first blow to their morale—we must not become arrogant. Besides, Bolisu is still ahead and shows no sign of retreating, and Hezhong Prefecture is not yet settled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" Han Shizhong replied with a smile. \"But this time, since he's been thwarted, there's no point in him staying. It's time to drive him away!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've already sent men to find Xu Shian and Chen Jue,\" Xie Yuan responded immediately. \"They should arrive by tomorrow. We'll rendezvous with the troops, cross the Fen River in force, take Jixian County on the north bank, then press toward Jiangzhou City, making it look like we're heading north along the Fen to cut off the Jin army's retreat. Bolisu will either have to split his forces to cross the river and confront us, or simply get out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too slow!\" Han Shizhong shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fifth Brother has another idea?\" Xie Yuan thought for a moment and understood his meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you think of that mountain?\" Han Shizhong gestured south with his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan turned in surprise and saw, in the twilight still lit by the moon, a row of mountain ridges with clear outlines, squatting there in the darkness. One, closer than the others, was clearly taller and wider than the rest, likely the one Han Shizhong meant... but Xie Yuan still didn't understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To drive away Bolisu, it's best to strike while the iron is hot,\" Han Shizhong explained calmly. \"While he's still unsure of today's casualties and our strength, we rest a bit tonight, then immediately launch another raid, following Salihé's routed troops to hit his camp and force him to withdraw to Linfen... But we're short on men, and if we rush forward, our supplies are insufficient. If we fail, and dawn comes, it could turn into a disaster...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan nodded repeatedly. Not just in history, but in their own experience, they had countless examples of joy turning to sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, fortunately, the enemy camp is separated from Tieling Pass only by a small Hui River. If Li Yanxian could know our plan in advance and join forces with us, even if we fail, we can advance or retreat at ease,\" Han Shizhong continued, revealing his idea. \"So, I want to imitate what Ma Kuo did that day—set the mountain on fire as a threat and also as a signal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan was stunned for a moment and instinctively shook his head: \"General Ma didn't set the mountain on fire that day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Same idea,\" Han Shizhong scoffed. \"We've charged sixty li this afternoon and need to rest. Are we going to have the men make torches on the spot and then climb the mountain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan nodded, said nothing, and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where are you going?\" Han Shizhong asked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To set the mountain on fire,\" Xie Yuan said without stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren't you going to rest?\" Han Shizhong was even more puzzled. \"Besides, setting a fire like that—why does a Vice Commander need to go? A Company Commander is enough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fifth Brother,\" Xie Yuan finally stopped a few dozen paces away and turned back. \"Your idea is excellent—the best plan for now. We have to do it... But look at the villages along the way, all empty. Where have the people gone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong was momentarily taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not trying to hinder military operations,\" Xie Yuan continued. \"But I'm the Vice Commander and a local. If I tell the soldiers and personally stand at the foot of the mountain, they'll naturally drive out the villagers first before setting the fire... Otherwise, in their current exhaustion, they'll just torch it directly. What then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong said nothing, just nodded and went back to his work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yuan said no more and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, by midnight, on the mountain peak piled with fallen leaves of early winter, the fire gradually rose, then became uncontrollable, blazing brilliantly, illuminating both banks of the Fen River as if it were day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the Song army, which had hastily followed Han Shizhong in pursuit, stared blankly at this giant torch from the plain, at the same moment, Bolisu and his main Jin forces—who had already made contact with some of the defeated troops and were encamped on the south bank of the Fen River, sandwiched between the Fen and its tributary, the Hui River—along with Li Yanxian and his main Song forces, who were facing Bolisu from Tieling Pass, and the generals of the Imperial Left Army, Xu Shian and Chen Jue, who had been notified and were positioned at several gaps south of Han Shizhong, were all simultaneously stunned, aware of the commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Xu Shian and Chen Jue acted fastest. Having already received Xie Yuan's orders, they hesitated no longer and immediately dispatched troops northward through the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Li Yanxian on Tieling Pass instantly grasped Han Shizhong's intent—it was he who had spotted the possible weakness in the western gap, he who had urged Han Shizhong to send reinforcements, and now, at the expected time, such a disturbance appeared east of the predetermined battlefield. Anyone could figure out what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong must have successfully intercepted the Jin army, routed them head-on, and pursued them here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for setting the mountain on fire, with Ma Kuo's precedent, the meaning was self-evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the unspoken understanding after days of mutual shouting from the pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, Li Yanxian did not hesitate either. He urgently sent men to Jiangxian to notify Ma Kuo to guard the flank well, lest the Jin turn desperate, while simultaneously mobilizing through the night, sending the seven armies from south of the pass and the troops left behind by Han Shizhong, including Hu Yantong's forces, out of the pass northward to once again attack Bolisu, who was encamped between the Hui River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, while issuing these orders, Li Military Governor did not forget one thing: to pull down Han Shizhong's obstructive banner from Tieling Pass!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if only for half a day, it felt good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the same logic, Bolisu, as the target of all this, had already guessed what Han Shizhong was up to the moment he saw the fire. Since early in the night, he had been receiving Salihé's retreating troops and scattered remnants; even Salihé himself had galloped back after an afternoon and the first half of the night. He already knew the west had lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his place, he would certainly take the opportunity to attack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when Tieling Pass stirred, the commotion was impossible to hide, and this Jin Commander-in-Chief saw the situation as clearly as fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there was a problem: in the pitch darkness, the all-seeing Commander-in-Chief Bolisu had no idea how many troops Salihé had lost on the south bank of the Fen River that morning, nor how many troops Han Shizhong had used to rout Salihé's ten thousand riders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking Salihé—Salihé didn't know either!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it just the Beiwei Army and Cuipian Army, or were there tens of thousands of Imperial Cavalry following behind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was entirely possible. With his eyes closed, he knew that over the past half month, the Song army must have been continuously moving troops, grain, and supplies into the Hezhong Basin (Yuncheng Basin). Perhaps those tens of thousands of Imperial Cavalry had already reached Hezhong Prefecture, and the Jin army, cut off from information by the corridor, simply didn't know—hence this defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he considered that the Song army had stuffed the newly arrived troops behind Tieling Pass, or that they hadn't moved many troops over, he still had to consider that Hedong City had fallen and that Black Dragon Wang Sheng had appeared on the battlefield with the main force of the Imperial Left Army, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, caught off guard and amid the chaos of night, Bolisu simply couldn't make accurate reconnaissance or intelligence assessments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, while he could see the Song army's tactical moves as clearly as fire, he had to assume the worst!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assuming the worst—that is, supposing Han Shizhong had enough Song main force following behind—the worst outcome was that if he didn't act, he could be surrounded and annihilated here, losing his entire army and handing over all of Hedong... or worse, effectively conceding defeat for the Great Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because at the Tieling Pass battlefield, the Jin army had a full five or six Wanhu—nearly a quarter of their main field forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the actual situation couldn't be that dire; the more likely scenario was that Wanyan Tuhesu's ten-thousand-man unit stationed on the south bank of the Huishui River, along with a considerable number of Wanyan Salihe and Yelu Ma Wu's elite cavalry who hadn't yet managed to flee, were caught between the Song forces on the south bank of the Huishui and suffered heavy losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have Tuhesu withdraw first to this side of the Huishui and camp with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting in silence for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, inside the brightly lit Jin army camp, Bolisu finally made a decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also send word to Quwo—tell Zhehe to stop resting and march west immediately through the night, cross the Fenshui River, and garrison the prefectural city of Jiangzhou. He must secure both banks of the Fenshui and leave no room for the Song army to outflank us...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also dispatch troops, light torches, and build temporary pontoon bridges along the Huishui to receive the defeated soldiers...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, and tell Tuhesu that no matter how difficult, he must try to send men through the Song army's corridor positions tonight to notify Elubu at Xilengshan Pass to withdraw... Once Tuhesu leaves, he'll be the most vulnerable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant abandoning the Hezhong Basin (Yuncheng Basin) entirely to preserve as much effective strength as possible, retreating back into the Linfen Basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generals below naturally understood the implication, but no one objected; they merely acknowledged with a roar and then departed each to their own tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Salihe!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Bolisu suddenly called out to one of them. \"Where are you going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other generals all turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salihe, who had just returned to camp in a disheveled state, was startled for a moment, then quickly became cautious, saluting solemnly: \"Commander-in-Chief, I was going to oversee the construction of the pontoon bridge to receive my own troops...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let Ma Wu go!\" Bolisu turned his head to look at a silent officer—it was the Khitan ten-thousand-household commander Yelu Ma Wu. \"That's also your unit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yelu Ma Wu, who had been standing silently at attention, gave a slight salute and immediately turned to leave the camp. The surrounding generals, after sizing up Salihe, who was clearly flustered, ultimately dared not openly wait to watch a ten-thousand-household commander make a fool of himself, and they too followed Ma Wu out of the camp to busy themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Salihe, he stood there at a loss, not daring to move, especially since once the others left, only Bolisu and his personal guards remained in the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Salihe.\" Bolisu took a deep breath. \"You were defeated by Han Shizhong, and everyone above and below says that the Cuipian Army and Beiwei Army were both present on the front lines—that can't be faked... So I don't blame you for the defeat; instead, I should say that if it weren't for my oversight in always believing Han Shizhong was still at the pass, you wouldn't have suffered this defeat...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salihe felt somewhat relieved but knew he couldn't offend the other man at this moment, so he quickly blamed himself: \"In the end, I was the one defeated. How could Han Shizhong's cunning be the Commander-in-Chief's fault?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In a battlefield confrontation, if the opponent makes a better move, there's nothing to say—especially against the South's top general?\" Bolisu nodded but continued solemnly. \"But Salihe, why is it that when your ten thousand cavalry scattered, you were the first to arrive here? To the point that we know nothing about the Song army's strength or details, forcing us to shrink back and abandon Hezhong Prefecture?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salihe pursed his lips and explained earnestly: \"Let the Commander-in-Chief know, at that time the vanguard had already collapsed, and Han Shizhong's two elite units were both present, along with at least one other force. Forcing another battle would have been futile. Rather than continuing to face the enemy, it was better to cut losses and preserve as many troops as possible... So I directly ordered the army to retreat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bolisu nodded and then asked again: \"But what about that Taishinu? Why do several officers say that the Khitan commander Taishinu sensed something was wrong and repeatedly advised you, but you wouldn't believe him, thereby missing the opportunity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salihe was finally speechless. After a long moment, he replied helplessly: \"Commander-in-Chief, at that time I truly couldn't believe Han Shizhong was on the opposite side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's understandable.\" Bolisu nodded again. \"But the fact that Taishinu came to you several times with advice is already widely known. After you returned, why didn't you deal with it? Either kill him to eliminate future trouble, or promote him to show you've learned from the mistake? Instead, you ignored it, letting this matter and this man unnecessarily shake the army's morale?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salihe was stunned, then suddenly enlightened. He hastily saluted and took his leave, going to find Taishinu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he was gone, Bolisu sighed in the tent for a while before finally turning his gaze toward the rear of the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, someone had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Bolisu look over, he immediately stepped out... It was none other than the Khitan commander Taishinu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Commander-in-Chief.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taishinu was clearly cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ever since he was beaten to tears by Wu Jie at Yaoshan, Salihe has become more and more worthless.\" Bolisu sighed, lamenting from his seat. \"But Taishinu, you also muddled through the old Liao state, so you should understand my helplessness... He's a Wanyan after all, raised in the Grand Ancestor's tent just like Wanyan Bendu. With three... two Crown Princes in power, how could I deal with him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your subordinate understands the Commander-in-Chief's difficulties.\" Taishinu saluted in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, if you want to prevent today's events from happening again, if you want to avenge Yelu Yizhen, there's only one way.\" Bolisu perked up and spoke seriously. \"That is to bypass people like Salihe, and even me, and go serve directly before those who truly hold power... I'll give you a marching silver tablet. Go north immediately to Jingxing to welcome Prince Wei, Wushu. Tell him the full story of this battle's situation, hold nothing back, just report everything! Then tell Prince Wei that Salihe wants to kill you, but you are utterly loyal to the Great Jin and unwilling to betray, so you took the risk to come to me. Seeing your sincerity, I gave you this tablet to let you seek him out, hoping to stay by his side as a staff officer. Also ask him to seriously reconsider my overall strategy! Our cavalry must ultimately be concentrated to fight field battles on the plains to be effective!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your subordinate understands. Your subordinate will certainly persuade the Fourth Prince to follow the Commander-in-Chief's strategy to engage the Song army.\" Taishinu took the silver tablet from the hands of Bolisu's personal guard beside him and immediately prostrated himself to show his loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go!\" Bolisu gestured with his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, as Taishinu left, the tent gradually fell silent, but Bolisu remained silent for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At daybreak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chaotic battle ended... Han Shizhong had achieved his set objectives without even reaching the south of Tieling Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only two ten-thousand-household units the Jin army had sent out—one to the south, one to the north—Elubu at Zhiguan Pass and Tuhesu on the south bank of the Huishui facing the Jiangxian corridor, both withdrew overnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, as the Song forces advanced north and the Jin army urgently reinforced the prefectural city of Jiangzhou on the other side of the Fenshui, there was no doubt that the stalemate had been pushed out of the Hezhong Basin (Yuncheng Basin).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just that one line given up, the fall of Hedong City was essentially a matter of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At noon, Han Shizhong returned to Tieling Pass. After immediately re-erecting his own banner and consolidating military intelligence, he felt a surge of pride... He personally wrote a military report to His Majesty Zhao, reporting on the various fronts, taking the opportunity to boast and lodge complaints; at the same time, he didn't delay in issuing a direct victory bulletin, while also exchanging documents with Wu Jie, sternly interrogating him about Guo Zhen's related matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside for now how passive Wu Jie was and how Li Yanxian was suffering again, as these documents and the victory bulletin were transmitted southward, the situation in Henan was not so easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: after three years of peace, suddenly imposing heavy corvée labor and mobilizing for a northern expedition would inevitably cause problems. And as this situation fermented and spread over the past half month, the full mobilization of the Central Plains and Guanzhong regions had finally fully unfolded, triggering unprecedented chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was, of course, expected, because even the hasty mobilization along the Yellow River line had caused so many problems, let alone the current situation of nationwide mobilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take a simple example: the Great Wisdom Monk from the southeast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fellow, after the autumn harvest this year, took the grain from Jingshan Temple and, as previously agreed, personally led several monks from the temple to deliver it. When they reached Kaifeng Prefecture, they happened to encounter the outbreak of war in the north. He delivered the grain to the granary outside Dongjing City as agreed, but unexpectedly, the Ministry of Works officials there refused to accept it, quibbling over the wording of the documents and forcing the venerable monk to deliver the grain to the Imperial Guard Cavalry originally stationed outside Dongjing City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they set a one-month deadline, with execution for non-compliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Needless to say, anyone could realize this was encountering lazy and corrupt governance, being forcibly oppressed by wicked officials, assigned military grain transport work, and passively conscripted as labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the venerable monk was truly well-connected. Although he realized this immediately, seeing many monks and merchants from the southeast delivering grain being similarly oppressed, he ultimately didn't mention that he knew your Ministry of Works Vice Minister Zhang Jiucheng, nor did he mention that he was an old acquaintance of your Privy Councilor Zhang Jun's mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't about indulging these wicked officials, nor was it because the venerable monk was thin-skinned and embarrassed to ask for favors. Rather, the Great Wisdom Monk knew full well that such things were unavoidable. Zhang Jiucheng's and Zhang Jun's influence could save him and a few Jingshan Temple monks from hardship, but it could not stop this large-scale disguised corvée labor assignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was better for these well-fed Jingshan Temple monks to bear this burden than to let the common people suffer... Wasn't it what the abbot said? The temple at least had the sesame oil for enemas and the three pecks, three sheng of rice grains exchanged for scriptures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, without a word, he led the monks again, escorting the temple's grain toward Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this journey was ten times harder than the previous one traveling by boat along the canal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because by now, the entire Central Plains was mobilized. Supplies in Luoyang were piled up like mountains, yet river transport to the front lines was difficult. The roads were clogged with soldiers and laborers everywhere. Not only was the route obstructed, but food was hard to find, prices were skyrocketing, and vegetarian meals were impossible to find in the shops—if available, the prices were jaw-dropping. And if they just endured the hardship and ate their own new rice, they feared they'd have less grain to deliver upon arrival and fail to meet the quota.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were actually beheaded by some rough military officer, Privy Councilor Zhang's mother and Zhang Jiucheng couldn't fly over to save them, could they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the Great Wisdom Monk was a man of experience. Seeing how severe the congestion was at Sishui Pass, he immediately gathered some people who had come together from the southeast, formed a group, and turned south, taking the route via Shaolin Temple through Goushi toward Luoyang... Although this route was far longer, at least they could still buy flatbread and stuffed buns to carry as dry rations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the Great Wisdom Monk encountered many things that were both worth recording and not worth mentioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrogance of low-level wicked officials bullying others, the common people's fear of the war's prospects, the slickness of merchants, monks, and Daoists—it wasn't quite like the \"Three Officials\" or \"Three Partings,\" but the atmosphere was truly bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This depressed popular sentiment caused by the hasty start of the war, combined with the chaotic information just after the fighting began and the hollow official proclamations that didn't know what to write in the gazettes, further fueled various folk rumors... One day it was said Yue Fei had been defeated, the next that Han Shizhong had won but was wounded, the day after that some Vice Minister had embezzled so much grain and money, some commander had snatched a beautiful official's daughter in Hedong, and the day after that, it was said the temperature had suddenly dropped in Hedong, winter clothes couldn't be sent across, and many laborers had frozen to death on the opposite bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Wisdom Monk could naturally see that many of these were nonsense, but everyone was suffering and resentful, and the situation across the river was truly a complete mystery. Even if he wanted to explain and reassure, he truly didn't know how to do so... This personal helplessness gradually dampened the venerable monk's spirits as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, after enduring about twenty days of torment, on the seventeenth day of the tenth month, the Great Wisdom Monk and his Jingshan Temple front-support transport team finally arrived at Mangshan. There they encountered units of the Imperial Guard Cavalry, entered the laborer camp under the Imperial Guard Cavalry's jurisdiction, successfully handed over the military grain, and brought this matter to a close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on this very day, the Great Monk, who had already prepared to return to the southeast, saw at the Mangshan camp the courier of Han Shizhong's victory bulletin galloping in, followed by the posting of the relevant documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, what does this mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of the conscripted laborers gathered around the wooden board by the camp gate. Although the accompanying military officials had made some announcements while posting the notices, the laborers only knew that Commandery Prince Han had won another battle. They still didn't understand the specifics, and dared not ask those scholar-officials, so they naturally waited for the military clerks to leave before asking the Great Wisdom Monk to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early winter season, the Great Wisdom Monk wore a tattered hat and, with several sturdy monks, stood with his hands tucked in his sleeves by the side of the board. After reading it roughly twice, he was utterly overjoyed... Others might not know, but how could a man of his cultural level fail to understand? Han Shizhong's victory was one thing, but the key was that it had directly forced the Jin Army back to both sides of the Fenshui River. The Jin Army at Zhiguan Pass had also withdrawn directly, and the Song Army pressed forward in the momentum... It was crystal clear that Hezhong Prefecture had become a prize within the Great Song's grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, this should be one of those strategic victories often spoken of in the official gazettes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how you looked at it, this hastily launched Northern Expedition by His Majesty the Emperor had already yielded sufficient returns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, turning back, the Great Wisdom Monk wanted to explain this to the laborers, but found himself momentarily at a loss for words, because he truly didn't know how to explain geography and strategy to these people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you said Han Shizhong had won a battle and taken so many heads, they might understand, but how could they grasp that taking advantage of the momentum to burn the mountains and force the Jin Army to retreat was the most crucial result?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, after thinking for half a day, the monk finally gritted his teeth, waved his hand grandly, and used a doggerel verse he was best at to 'explain' to the laborers beneath the board:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The divine arm bow lets fly, piercing through layered armor. Look at it from the monk's gate, what is it but a stinking sock!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding laborers still didn't understand the meaning, but they knew what a divine arm bow was, what layered armor was, and what a stinking sock was, and then they couldn't help but burst into roaring laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone said that the Great Monk's explanation was the clearest—that Commandery Prince Han had used the divine arm bow to win a great victory over the Jin people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as the laborers were finally letting loose in laughter, suddenly, drums rumbled layer upon layer from the camp. From afar, at the dragon banner outside the central army camp, horns sounded in unison, and a hot air balloon rose smoothly from the ferry crossing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This startled the laborers' camp into utter confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, a laborer foreman who had hurried over from the central army camp shouted from a distance:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crossing the river! His Majesty is going to cross east of the river! The Chancellors and Grand Marshals have presented their advice, His Majesty is going to cross the river!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his words had even stopped, from the distant central army camp, countless officials and armored soldiers surged out from under the dragon banner and scattered. Then, in an instant, like thunder, shouts came from all directions—His Majesty the Emperor was going to cross the river!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed His Majesty truly was going to cross the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You all go back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the chaos, the Great Wisdom Monk first stared blankly at the disorder, then his body swayed a few times. He pressed his palms together and turned to the sturdy monks from Jingshan Temple. \"I'm not going back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monks from Jingshan Temple were momentarily confused and instinctively panicked... If they went back having lost the temple's only purple-robed master, wouldn't they be sent to hull rice as punishment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't overthink it. I know this myself—my opportunity has arrived.\" The Great Wisdom Monk's body swayed as if he were drunk, but his palms remained pressed together without moving. \"No matter the outcome, the Buddha wills that I too must cross this river, to bear witness for all under heaven, north and south... This is my opportunity! I cannot avoid it! Nor should I!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The several monks exchanged glances, could only press their palms together and bow to the Great Wisdom Master, then went back to pack their things, preparing to return to Jingshan Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, perhaps because these monks were particularly sturdy, they happened to run into Xiahou Yuan, an officer of the Imperial Guard Cavalry who was also rushing back to pack his things for departure. He casually pointed at them and impressed them into service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You see, when the Buddha's opportunity arrives, there's no stopping it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to new alliance leader Mengchacha, this is the 183rd alliance leader of this book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, everyone, continue to enjoy the Lantern Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>",5185,"2026-06-06T07:46:04.529Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","b4ebd2423fed9645df664525f7b4f4111db80ef87af63a7557e2a2997b2b12b6","shao-song-chapter-386","shao-song-chapter-384",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]