Chapter 39: The Deal (Part 1)

The Jin Jun envoy was a fellow townsman of Zhang Jun, a man from Fengxiang Prefecture, once a comrade-in-arms in the Western Army, who had surrendered during that wretched Taiyuan campaign. His name was Zhao Qiu, and he now served in the Jin Jun as a deputy to a *meng'an* (Battalion Commander), essentially a supplementary conscript in that *meng'an*'s retinue.

But regardless, meeting a fellow townsman and old acquaintance in a foreign land, Zhang Jun naturally gave him full face. He personally entertained him in his own residence. What was said, no one else knew, but in the afternoon, the man left the city looking thoroughly satisfied, which everyone saw with their own eyes. Consequently, military morale inevitably wavered. And when the newly appointed Shouzhou Prefect, Zhao Ding, heard the news and went to Grand Defender Zhang's residence to inquire, he entered but did not come out, further unsettling the troops.

"Did he say that?"

East of Xiacai City, near the riverbank of the main Jin Jun camp, in a newly established, open stockade, Jin Wushu, who was patrolling on horseback, heard the report and was overjoyed.

Of course he was overjoyed!

To elaborate, last night this Fourth Prince of Jin had floated on the river and personally seen the perilous terrain, the swift currents, the sturdy city walls, and the Song Jun's early preparations. Although he prided himself on the Jin Jun's invincibility in field battles, he couldn't help but feel a secret unease... To be honest, given such terrain and preparations, if Liu Guangshi hadn't fled so miserably, Jin Wushu would have almost thought he had fallen for the Song Emperor's ruse to lure him deep with a lone army, only to return empty-handed and boost morale.

But conversely, Liu Guangshi's flight was so wretched it couldn't possibly be faked. The crucial link in the Huai River defense system—the large-scale communication corridor between Xiacai City and the Huainan camp—had been severed. The strategic objective of this southern campaign was right across the river. If he, Jin Wushu, didn't make a move, that would truly be a missed opportunity!

And now, Zhang Jun's reply was so direct and crisp that Jin Wushu felt the clouds part—these Song people were, after all, mostly the usual sort; those like at Taiyuan and Shanzhou were the rare exceptions.

"Reporting to the Fourth Prince, he said to me personally: he wants one thousand *liang* of gold and thirty thousand *liang* of silver. As for other treasures and valuables, the Fourth Prince may bestow them as he sees fit!" Zhao Qiu said, kneeling. "He said the silver is to buy off the soldiers and laborers in the city, the gold is to buy off the officers, and the later treasures and valuables are the Fourth Prince's personal gift to him... He also wants the Fourth Prince to draw up a written pledge, to avoid going back on it later!"

"The hell I'd go back on it!" Jin Wushu laughed even harder, drawing laughter from the Jurchens around him. "But this Grand Defender Zhang is a bit too greedy... I can believe buying off officers, but what's the logic in buying off soldiers and laborers? Isn't he just trying to line his own pockets? Go again and tell him: I do have some treasures and valuables in my tent, and I don't mind giving him half, but so much gold and silver—where do you expect me to find it for him on such short notice?"

Zhao Qiu seemed about to speak but held back, not daring to refute, and simply accepted the order and left.

Once Zhao Qiu was gone, the short-statured Ali beside him couldn't help but frown: "Fourth Prince, since Xiacai City is wavering, after the lads drive the surrounding Han people here to cut wood and start work, should we first build siege engines, or first construct the pontoon bridge and gather boats?"

"Regardless of whether Xiacai City wavers, we must first build the pontoon bridge and gather boats," Jin Wushu replied with a haughty air. "How many times must I say it? This battle is mainly about that man on the northern bank of the Huainan! What use are the other prefectural cities and troops? If we truly wanted to take military prefectures, aren't the seven or eight south of Mount Tai ours for the taking now? And General Ali, why pretend? If I were intent on attacking the city first, why would I place this timber yard here instead of sheltering it north of the main camp? Placing it here means I intend to cross the river first! Of course, if we can take Xiacai City without a fight, that would be excellent!"

Ali frowned deeper: "I've heard people say that across the river there are only banners; the Song Emperor fled long ago..."

"No!" Wushu replied loftily. "I saw it myself in the river last night. The enemy camp across the way is very orderly. If the Song Emperor weren't there, how could Liu Guangshi's defeated troops be so well-disciplined? Even Wang Yecha couldn't control them! In short, General Ali, if you've sobered up, say no more. Though this is my first time leading a large army, I grew up in the military and made no mistakes in the two battles in Jingdong East Circuit. Why must you point fingers at me?"

Ali was helpless and immediately fell silent with a frown. Even Elubu, another *wanfu* commander who had been about to speak, no longer seemed inclined to say anything.

Instead, another Han defector, originally a county magistrate from Jingdong West Circuit, saw an opportunity and couldn't help but speak cautiously: "Fourth Prince?"

"Speak if you have something to say!" Wushu said without turning his head on his horse. "Afraid I'll eat you or something?"

"Yes... Although the Emperor... Although the Zhao Song Emperor might indeed be at Bagong Mountain to the south, the ferry crossing north of Xiacai City has been burned, so the two sides can only communicate through messengers. The ordinary soldiers in Xiacai City may not believe the Zhao Song Emperor is still here. Why not, while morale is unsettled, forge letters and proclamations, saying the Zhao Song Emperor has indeed fled, and only a dragon banner remains here as a bluff, then have that Zhao Qiu... Zhao... Grand Defender Zhao bring them into the city to shake Zhang Jun's resolve?"

"Forget Zhao Qiu," Jin Wushu said thoughtfully. "For a general like Zhang Jun, leading ten thousand men, whether he believes such things depends entirely on himself. But it's worth a try with the soldiers in the city... This idea is not bad. I promote you to staff officer in my tent. Go do it!"

"Thank you for the Fourth Prince's grace!" The man, excited, quickly dismounted, bowed, then hurriedly remounted and left.

After this man left, Wushu made another round of inspection. Besides continuing to urge people to drive the surrounding Han civilians to cut wood and work, he also ordered three elite *meng'an* (thousand-man units, thousand-man commanders) to be detached... One was to sweep north to make contact with the troops from the Jizhou direction and open up the rear route. The other two were to go east along the Huai River and bypass Xiacai City to cross the Fei River, to collect boats along the way, find suitable crossing points, and scout enemy movements.

These were all the proper duties of a military commander, beyond doubt.

After issuing these orders, even the ambitious Jin Wushu had nothing to do, so he simply returned to camp with the two *wanfu* commanders. But before he could reach the military stockade, Zhao Qiu, who had entered the city a second time, returned again.

"Zhang Jun won't change his terms? His resolve is firm?"

This time it was Jin Wushu's turn to frown slightly. After pondering for a long time on his horse at the camp gate, gazing at the sturdy city of Xiacai not far away, he couldn't help but ask for the other's opinion. "You are Zhang Jun's old acquaintance. Do you think his words are trustworthy? Since he wants to surrender, why does he dare haggle with me like this?"

"I think they are trustworthy," Zhao Qiu said after hesitating, gritting his teeth. "Let the Fourth Prince know: this Zhang Boying is good in every other way, but he is notoriously greedy for money. His reputation for greed is known to all, from Fengxiang Prefecture to Taiyuan Prefecture, from Jingdong to this Huai River region. And this time he also said..."

"Said what?"

"He said the Zhao Song Emperor had actually treated him well. If Liu Guangshi hadn't burned the ferry crossing, leaving Xiacai an isolated city, he wouldn't surrender. But given the current situation, if he is forced to become a defector, he doesn't plan to lead troops against the Zhao Song Emperor again... So, in the city, his own force of over ten thousand, plus ten thousand local able-bodied laborers from Shouzhou, and seven or eight thousand stragglers from Jingdong West Circuit who fled with Liu Guangshi—thirty thousand in total, with countless grain and fodder, and seven thousand armored men—he can hand them all over! He only asks for a county magistrate or vice prefect position back in his hometown in Guanzhong, to live as a wealthy gentleman..."

"I understand his meaning. This money isn't just to buy him, but also his troops, is that it?" Jin Wushu was suddenly intrigued.

"That's the idea," Zhao Qiu said, sweating profusely, continuing laboriously from below his horse. "And he also said..."

"Can't you say it all at once?" Before Jin Wushu could speak, Elubu, another *wanfu* commander who had returned with them, was already exasperated.

"Hurry up and say it!" Jin Wushu, excited, also urged repeatedly.

"Zhang Boying also said he knows the Fourth Prince's army definitely has this sum of money, both gold and silver. The price he named is not an empty one. He asks the Fourth Prince to show a little sincerity..."

"Nonsense!" Jin Wushu immediately scolded from his horse. "I chased Liu Guangshi all the way here without time to plunder along the route. Where would I get so much gold and silver? Even if there were some north of Mount Tai, could it be delivered in time?"

Zhao Qiu seemed about to speak but held back.

"Speak!" Elubu, completely enraged, directly lashed his whip onto Zhao Qiu's helmet.

Zhao Qiu quickly bowed his head and said through gritted teeth: "Zhang Boying said Liu Guangshi definitely has this money! Liu Guangshi's rule has always been to keep gold and silver for himself and distribute copper coins as rewards. This money must have been captured by the Fourth Prince by now!"

Jin Wushu, Elubu, and Ali exchanged glances, none knowing what to say... because Zhang Jun had hit the truth!

That evening, after careful discussion among the three Jurchen nobles in the army, they sent Zhao Qiu into the city that very night, agreeing in principle to the terms.

There were many reasons for this:

First, spending this money to buy Xiacai City and the twenty to thirty thousand men under Zhang Jun was absolutely worthwhile, a bargain. The three of them, Jin Wushu included, were not so degenerate as to consider troops inferior to gold and silver.

Second, after the destruction of Liao and Song, especially after the Jingkang Humiliation, the Jin army had captured vast amounts of gold and silver. The Great Song's century of accumulated wealth, all in Dongjing City alone, had fallen into Jin hands in one fell swoop. In other words, while this sum was large, it was nothing in the eyes of these three powerful Jin nobles. Their stockpiles in Yanjing were the real treasure!

Not only that, the leader of this campaign, the Fourth Prince Jin Wushu, had promised the two *wanfu* commanders that he would cover the debt, essentially taking on the risk himself.

Finally, they specially summoned several Song defectors and carefully inquired about Zhang Jun. The results were unanimous... this man was indeed notoriously greedy for money, and it was said his business acumen was sharper than his military skill!

But these were only the publicly discussed reasons. The three actually had two other important, unspoken reasons:

First, although Taiyuan was eventually breached by the Jin army, and they didn't think Wanyan Loushi would fail to take Shanzhou in the end, this kind of costly siege warfare was still too terrifying for the sparsely populated Jurchens and had left a deep impression on the Jin high command. In fact, avoiding storming fortified cities whenever possible truly aligned with the simple military knowledge the Jurchens had gained from their fishing and hunting lifestyle. The perception of them as barbaric and brainless was merely a misunderstanding by the Song and Liao states, born from their own arduous experiences fighting the Jin.

Second, the war was still ongoing. The Jurchens generally maintained a rough code of conduct toward defectors who brought troops. Perhaps Zhang Jun had set these terms for that reason, and perhaps Jin Wushu would not break his word... But as the saying goes, when hunting prey, you always set a bait. Once the prey is in hand, even its fur and hide become the hunter's clothing. This time, even if Zhang Boying took so much money back to Shaanxi, Jin Wushu would have ten thousand ways to slowly make him spit it all out!

In short, combining these considerations with the fact that Xiacai City was indeed an isolated fortress and the prevalence of defectors from the Great Song, the Jurchens, or rather Jin Wushu, still felt this deal could be made!

Of course, they couldn't agree all at once. On Zhao Qiu's third entry into the city that day, the terms he brought were: a written document could be drawn up, and the Fourth Prince could even personally affix his seal. However, much of the gold and silver in the camp had indeed been scattered and was hard to gather. So, they hoped to pay half first, and the remaining half would be made up after Zhang Jun opened the city, handed over the troops, and set off for Guanzhong!

What kind of man was Zhang Jun? How could he agree to such a muddled account? He held his ground stubbornly, even donning his armor that night in front of Zhao Qiu to participate in the night patrol on the city wall.

The next day, the afternoon of the second day of the first month, Zhao Qiu entered the city for the fourth time. The terms were changed to paying seventy percent of the gold and silver first, with the final condition that Jin Wushu was willing to give Zhang Jun himself more treasures and valuables!

This time, after deep deliberation, Zhang Jun finally agreed reluctantly. It was agreed that once the gold, silver, and valuables entered the city, and after he had counted and distributed them in front of the envoy, he would open the city and surrender the next day to welcome the Jin army, the imperial forces!

PS: A thousand thanks to the big shot Light-Colored Folded-Ear Psychic-Sucking Monster for becoming the 28th alliance member... Another Zhihu big shot has fallen into the pit.