Chapter 390: Chapter Fifty-Five: One Advance, One Retreat

Before November arrived, the Song army launched a swift and fierce attack on the Linfen basin.

The first to strike was Wang De's force. Wang De, Zhang Jing, and Qiao Zhongfu—three renowned Western Army generals famous even before they came under Liu Guangshi's command, and also the earliest direct military forces won over by His Majesty Zhao—formed a triangular formation. Leading three divisions that were likely the best-equipped, most elite, and largest within the Imperial Camp Central Army, totaling nearly fourteen thousand men, they crossed the Fenshui first and drove straight for Jiangzhou city in three columns.

Close behind them came the forces under Controller-General Xie Yuan, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Camp Left Army, including the units of Hu Yantong, Chen Jue, Xu Shian, Dong Min, and Chen Yanzhang, also numbering some seventeen or eighteen thousand.

Now, Jiangzhou city theoretically had enough defenders. The Jin army Battalion Commander Wanyan Zhehe had been resting his main force there since that night raid with mixed results. Inside and outside the city, there were thirty to forty mouke units and a full five thousand Han'er troops.

Certainly enough to defend the city.

However, Jiangzhou city was very close to the Fenshui. On the day of the crossing, although there was frost and light fog, it dissipated quickly once the sun came out, so visibility was generally good. Under these circumstances, when Wanyan Zhehe ascended the city wall to observe, he saw countless Song troops with gleaming armor, clear banners, and orderly formations, openly building countless pontoon bridges on the Fenshui. This veteran general of the Jin Western Route Army immediately ordered his well-prepared forces split in two: the Han'er troops would first escort the supplies north, while all Jurchen cavalry donned full armor and followed him out of the city.

Once the Han'er troops had left, Wanyan Zhehe personally led the main Jurchen force out of the city. Avoiding the fearsome Wang De, known as Wang Yecha, he struck directly at Qiao Zhongfu's unit, which he had identified from the city wall as having the most scattered formation among the three.

Three to four thousand Jurchen armored cavalry, catching Qiao Zhongfu while he was halfway across the river and not yet firmly established, struck successfully, taking several hundred heads. But they showed no desire to linger and quickly withdrew.

And sure enough, no sooner had the Jurchen armored cavalry turned back than Wang De handed over his just-crossed troops to his eldest son Wang Qi to reorganize, then personally led over a thousand elite mixed cavalry and infantry to the rescue. His reaction speed and fierce desire for battle were astonishing.

At the same time, the rest of the Song army continued their advance and crossing without pause.

At this point, something interesting happened. Facing Wang De's relentless advance with a small elite force, Wanyan Zhehe, personally commanding several thousand Jurchen armored cavalry, clearly had an absolute advantage in numbers and mobility. Yet he advanced and retreated with Wang De, showing a clear intent to maintain a standoff. When he reached the side of Jiangzhou city, whose four gates were wide open, he showed no intention of entering, instead continuing his orderly march north.

Wang De was visibly stunned. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if there was some trick in the city. But looking back to see his eldest son leading his elite troops just two li away, he finally gritted his teeth and ordered his men to enter the city and investigate.

Wanyan Zhehe made no extra moves, simply continuing to calmly command his troops in an orderly retreat.

Only when the main Song force surged forward and fully took control of the city did everyone realize without doubt—Wanyan Zhehe had abandoned Jiangzhou city at the first opportunity. His earlier actions were unmistakably clear: he was personally leading a large force of Jurchen iron cavalry to cover the retreat of his own Han'er troops!

In a certain sense, this was practically a textbook example of a cavalry rearguard action. Otherwise, Qiao Zhongfu would never have accepted it.

The battle report was quickly sent to Han Shizhong, but he paid it no mind. The disparity in forces on the west bank of the Fenshui was too obvious. An isolated city thrust forward, once it lost the cover of the Fenshui, Wanyan Zhehe's choice to abandon it and leave was expected. As for Qiao Zhongfu taking a hit... to put it bluntly, you came to fight a war—did you expect no casualties?

In fact, at this moment, Han Shizhong, Li Yanxian, and the others were waiting for the battle report from the east bank of the Fenshui, because that side was more important.

On the east bank of the Fenshui, because only the smaller Huishui River blocked the way, the battle had already begun on a larger scale.

The vanguard on this side was the Eight-Character Army led by Li Qiong, who were familiar with the Taihang Mountain terrain. However, because a considerable portion of the Eight-Character Army had been split off earlier to head toward the Zhiguan Pass and also had the task of blocking various passages on the western flank of the Taihang Mountains, Li Qiong now had only a little over ten thousand troops, far fewer than the Shaan-Luo forces "assisting" him.

Five Controller-Generals, typical of Henan volunteer army origins—Zhai Jin, Zhai Cong, Zhai Chong, Niu Gao, and Dong Xian—formed a large column convenient for advancing, marching steadily along the Fenshui.

At the same time, Shao Long, Song Yan, Jia He, Lü Monk (demoted to Deputy Controller-General after the defeat at Tieling Pass), and Zhang Qi Zhang Boyu (originally Dong Xian's deputy, promoted by Li Yanxian over objections from Luoyang to replace Zhao Cheng, who was dismissed for misconduct, in commanding his unit)—another five Controller-Generals—led the Shanzhou forces. They also formed a column but chose to advance further east of Li Qiong's Eight-Character Army, bypassing Quwo city and marching toward Yicheng, northeast of Quwo.

It seemed they were preparing to cut off the main Jin army's retreat.

This posture could be described as a full-scale deployment of the entire Shaan-Luo Group Army, except for Li Yanxian's own main force, which maintained its dignity, and Yan Ping's unit, which had suffered heavy losses and was unfit for battle.

However, in the afternoon, slightly later than the Song army on the west bank of the Fenshui, the Song army on the east bank encountered a similar situation.

The similarity was that at Quwo, the Jin army also voluntarily abandoned the city. Faced with the overwhelming Song offensive, the main Jin force that had been entrenched there simply turned and retreated.

The difference was that, unlike Jiangzhou city on the opposite bank of the Fenshui, the Jin army here and in the surrounding area should have had three to four chiliarchs concentrated. Moreover, the terrain around Quwo was flat, with sufficient distance from the Huishui River... and don't forget, apart from the vanguard Eight-Character Army, whose combat effectiveness was guaranteed, the Shaan-Luo Group Army, acting as the main force on both flanks, had already been proven to be relatively weak in field battles, with uneven combat capabilities among its units.

Especially now, the Song army's formation on both flanks was too stretched, making it convenient for the Jin iron cavalry to force a breakthrough.

In other words, the Jin army had absolutely enough strength, enough room to maneuver (the distance from Quwo city), and even enough preparation time to deliver a heavy blow to the Song army.

But the main Jin force of tens of thousands simply abandoned Quwo, without even making any tactical moves relying on their cavalry numerical advantage like Wanyan Zhehe on the opposite bank. They didn't even touch the Song army and just retreated in an orderly fashion.

Judging by the banners, Yelu Ma Wu was covering the rear.

"The Jin army isn't stupid!"

When the news reached the bank of the Huishui River, lined with pontoon bridges, Han Shizhong, standing by his main banner, finally frowned slightly.

Beside him, naturally, stood Li Yanxian, Military Governor Li, with his main banner. Behind them were Li Master, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Camp Cavalry Army; Cheng Min, Commander of the Imperial Camp Left Army Beiwei Army; and Wei Ming Yunge, Commander of the Imperial Camp Cavalry Army Poxi Army... Behind these men, a full fifteen thousand cavalry were fully equipped, dismounted and sitting in ranks, resting.

In addition, there were Li Yanxian's own main force and Shao Yun's unit, thoughtfully assigned by His Majesty Zhao, totaling nearly ten thousand men—Li Yanxian's most precious assets—who had already crossed the river and were sitting on the ground on the east bank, slightly to the north.

Clearly, this Prince of Yan'an was trying to catch a big fish.

But the other side didn't even look, let alone take the bait.

"Why does the Prince think the Jin army is stupid?" Li Yanxian saw this and let out a rare sneer. "Should have expected this, right?"

"Why does Military Governor Li laugh?" Han Shizhong, who seemed to have become extraordinarily calm since the startling words at the pass, turned his head and showed no anger at all.

Li Yanxian had intended to use this opportunity to mock him, but seeing the other's demeanor, and knowing that the troops being used as bait up ahead were his own men, he had no room for petulance. He could only sigh:

"Prince, in recent years, the Jurchen famous generals have withered away, losing their former momentum. As I see it, the Jin generals no longer have top-tier commanders or strategists... but the veteran generals are still here! Gao Jingshan, Ali, Elubu, Wang Bolong of the Eastern Route Army; Tuhesu, Zhehe, Ma Wu of the Western Route Army; Wulin Da Taiyu, Wanyan Huonü of the Yanshan New Army... These men, even if they are younger now, were all old subordinates of Aguda when he rose to destroy the Liao. They have never left the military. They may have different personalities and incomplete talents, but they all lack basic military experience and will not make obvious mistakes."

Han Shizhong nodded slightly. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly realized something: "Military Governor Li, why didn't you mention Bolisu?"

"Because I want to talk specifically about him." Li Yanxian replied seriously. "Bolisu cannot be regarded as a mere veteran general... From the very beginning, when he still led two hundred men, he fought alongside Loushi and Yinshu Ke, and was often assigned by them to tasks that, while not fully independent commands, were indeed independent missions. Nianhan had to oversee military and political affairs, and the Western Route Army was often divided between Loushi and Yinshu Ke, who in turn often had Bolisu lead detached forces independently... Prince, this man was groomed as a commander from the very start."

Han Shizhong thought for a moment, looking thoughtful: "Bolisu was originally the Commander-in-Chief of the Taiyuan Marching Army, a standard commander. Military Governor Li, you mean to say that this man is a competent one among the Jin commanders?"

"No." Li Yanxian shook his head slightly. "I mean to say that this man is a true commander."

"Are there true and false commanders?" This time it was Han Shizhong's turn to laugh.

"Commanders are not true or false, but there are substantial and nominal ones. Just like how you told me at the pass, Prince, that the real commander-in-chief for this Hedong campaign is His Majesty, while you, nominally the commander-in-chief, are actually just a vanguard." Li Yanxian turned and fixed his gaze on him. "Do you remember, Prince?"

Han Shizhong finally grew solemn. Behind him, the others all reined their horses back, swaying and retreating, clearly having developed a habit from these two at Tieling Pass.

Han Shizhong waited a moment until the men behind him had moved away, then spoke seriously to Li Shaoyan: "If that's the case, then the true commander of the Jin army would have to be the deceased Third Prince Eliduo, or the Fourth Prince Wushu, who should have reached Taiyuan or Jingxing by now."

"What I'm about to say is not meant to mock you, Prince, nor to quarrel with you. If I offend, I hope you will forgive me." Li Yanxian sighed softly and, rare for him, clasped his hands in salute while holding the reins on horseback.

Han Shizhong hesitated for a moment, then also returned the salute while holding his reins.

After they both lowered their hands, Li Yanxian immediately spoke:

"In my view, commanders also have distinctions. There are substantial commanders and nominal commanders, principal commanders and auxiliary commanders... all are commanding talents."

"Are you trying to say I'm an auxiliary commander?"

"Yes." Li Yanxian replied without hesitation. "Prince Han, your talent is outstanding, your natural gifts extraordinary. Your bravery and tactical acumen are truly reminiscent of the famous generals of antiquity, inspiring awe and impossible to learn... But such talents of yours often stop at commanding ten thousand men. Your ability to command above ten thousand only reaches the level of knowing how to use people well and enforcing military discipline strictly. In battlefield coordination and operational planning, you often have to rely on broad strokes, and then you still have to personally lead elite troops into battle to decide the outcome."

"Not bad." Han Shizhong nodded with a smile. "You know me well, Military Governor Li. That's why I promoted Wang Sheng and always keep Xie Yuan by my side... Wang Sheng is a good hand at commanding large forces, and Xie Yuan is a trusted confidant who can coordinate with me. In battle, I use Wang Sheng as the anvil, Xie Yuan as the flank guard, and then I personally lead the Beiwei Army as a thrown spear to deliver the decisive blow. Oh, and I forgot to mention Xu Shian. Xu Shian has no outstanding qualities, but he is steady and good at filling gaps. I always have him cover deficiencies and oversee the rear."

"This is also why I call you an auxiliary commander, not merely a general of one army." Li Yanxian sighed. "Otherwise, what difference would there be between you and Wang Yecha?"

Han Liangchen smiled ambiguously: "Wang Yecha is also a good man."

Li Yanxian was momentarily startled, then immediately changed his expression: "Indeed, Wang Yecha is also a good man."

"I am an auxiliary commander. Who is the principal commander?" Han Shizhong continued to ask with a smile, seemingly still in good spirits. "His Majesty?"

"His Majesty is a nominal commander." Li Yanxian smiled back. "That's what I'm trying to say... His Majesty's kind of command lies in overawing superiors and subordinates, harmonizing yin and yang, making decisions and judgments. He doesn't necessarily need to understand military strategy. The deceased Third Prince Eliduo and the living Fourth Prince Wushu on the other side are also half-nominal commanders... In terms of military strategy, Wushu has no great strategy, and Eliduo had no outstanding qualities either. But the Great Jin belongs to the Wanyan clan. As long as they can listen to advice and make the best decisions, that already counts as a kind of commanding talent."

Han Shizhong nodded slightly, with a hint of emotion: "A good sovereign is hard to find, and a good crown prince is also hard to find... There is some truth to that."

"Indeed, a commander-in-chief also needs capital and effort." Li Yanxian continued. "We won't say much about flattering the sovereign. Let's just talk about this Fourth Prince of the Great Jin. He loses battle after battle, but he can't help that those around him who could be commanders-in-chief are either dead or useless. Instead, he gets propped up even more. The Great Jin is his family's; if not him, who else? Others, like Talan, once his son-in-law died and he lost that spirit, could no longer be his 'Dragon-Tiger Great King.' Yinshu, once he became a petty man in internal strife, the Western Route Army and those several princes could no longer truly trust him. Even his own younger brother, Balisu, was not allowed to return."

"Does the Military Governor mean that Balisu is a substantive commander?"

"Yes!"

"What is a substantive commander?"

"The one who actually devises strategies and implements plans." Li Yanxian replied seriously. "The difficulty of using troops lies first in commanding the masses. A force of fifty thousand men is a threshold... Commandery Prince, this advance is clear proof. The sovereign has given you free rein, but you cannot deploy properly, and you underestimate the enemy opposite."

"Correct." Han Shizhong smiled. "I don't have the ability to command a hundred thousand men... Is Balisu that kind?"

"I believe he is... and I also believe Wu Jinqing is. He was the substantive commander at Yaoshan before!" Li Yanxian replied earnestly. "I'm afraid that after passing through Queshu Valley and reaching Taiyuan, when the real decisive battle comes, the sovereign will still need to be the commander-in-chief, and Wu Jinqing the substantive commander... But this is not something to discuss today. What needs to be said today is this: on the Jin side, the Fourth Prince Wushu can be the commander-in-chief, and Balisu can be the substantive commander. The two of them together can accomplish great things just like our side." Li Yanxian reminded him seriously. "Commandery Prince, I believe that the Jin army's decisiveness this time can no longer be explained by the word 'veteran general.' They must be like us... a great figure has taken responsibility, and they have an overall strategy. Only then could both the left and right wings, regardless of troop numbers, withdraw so cleanly and directly, just as we advance so swiftly and recklessly."

Han Shizhong thought for a moment, put away his smile, and replied solemnly: "Yes!"

"I can roughly guess what the Commandery Prince is thinking." Li Yanxian continued. "In fact, the Commandery Prince said during the military council that if we were the Jin army commanders, we would never dare to fight a decisive battle in a place like this... The reason we know the Jin army shouldn't fight but still use this baseless strategy here is nothing more than hoping the Jin army will hesitate and make mistakes, giving us an opening. But in reality, at this point, the Jin army should have long had someone to clean up the mess and make a decision. We can no longer hope for any mistakes."

"Yes." Han Shizhong nodded slightly. "Military Governor Li is right. I know how to fight now..."

Having said this, Han Liangchen turned his head to signal. Li Master, who had been dazedly retreating with the others to who knows where, only realized after a long while that the other was speaking to him. He quickly spurred his horse forward: "Commandery Prince?"

"Send an order to Wang De: no need to worry, leave Jiangzhou city to the follow-up troops, continue north to seize Taiping County. Send an order to Li Qiong: also hand over Quwo to the follow-up, quickly take Yicheng to the north... Your unit need not stay here either. You personally lead the cavalry to reinforce the right wing." Han Shizhong ordered solemnly. "Once Yicheng is taken and the east-west corridor narrows, order both wings to advance side by side, hugging the river north, straight for Linfen... Advance every day, the wings must not become separated. Halt every night, and fortifications must be firmly established! At the same time, build a pontoon bridge every three li on the Fenshui River to ensure east-west communication... Do you understand?"

Of course Li Master understood. Wasn't this just what they did in the Hengshan Mountains when fighting the Western Xia?

Build strong fortifications and fight a slow, steady battle.

However, given the current situation, there wasn't much to say against this method.

So Li Master cupped his hands from his horse, then led his men away.

Over ten thousand cavalry crossed the Huishui River via dozens of pontoon bridges, then, with a continuous rumble, they gathered, reorganized, and marched northward without pause. Han Shizhong stood beneath his grand banner on the south bank of the Huishui. Seeing this, he suddenly laughed again, and his laughter was unceasing.

"Why does the Commandery Prince laugh?" This time it was Li Yanxian's turn to ask.

"I was just thinking..." Han Shizhong's laughter continued. "We've been talking all this time about this commander and that decision. Isn't the current situation just that the Jin army saw the opportunity quickly and fled en masse?"

Li Yanxian was momentarily stunned, then also laughed: "Exactly... No matter what, it's a great victory for us. The Jin army flees at the mere sight of us... Well, Commandery Prince, have you been inspired to compose another poem?"

Han Shizhong shook his head: "A little, but not quite yet."

Li Yanxian forced himself not to bite his nails and also suppressed the urge to ask what 'eight hundred li' meant... It was a reference his trusted staff officer Xie Sheng had explained to him that night. He was curious whether Han Shizhong actually knew... but he just shook his head.

"Business is done." After watching the cavalry cross the river for a while, Han Shizhong suddenly spoke again. "A large army's movement isn't something done in a moment... Military Governor Li, wasn't there something you didn't finish saying earlier?"

"I've said it all." Li Yanxian was baffled. "I originally just wanted to say that on the Jurchen side, Wushu and Balisu must have already coordinated. We can't hope to gain an advantage with petty tricks..."

"You left out one true commander." Han Liangchen turned his head, with a half-smile. "Isn't that right?"

Li Shaoyan was slightly startled, but slowly nodded.

"Who is the true commander? Yue Pengju?" Han Shizhong asked, looking as if he were looking down on the world.

"It looks like him, but it might not be." Li Yanxian replied solemnly. "Because a true commander is not something people can see; it's determined after the fact."

"What do you mean?"

"Not to mention anything else, since ancient times, how many people have had the chance to be a commander?" Li Yanxian sighed softly. "And among those who were commanders, how many had the sovereign not suspect them, their subordinates not envy them, and got a solid opportunity to display their talents? Just as Commandery Prince Han lamented in his lyric... 'Pitiful white hairs grow.' Since ancient times, famous generals are like beauties, most afraid of growing old. A lifetime passes in a flash, and they can't even touch the position of commander. If they do, there's no place to display their skills. How could it be so coincidental that a person with true talent as a commander takes the post and also encounters a time of earth-shattering change? Before Jiang Ziya's Muye campaign, before Bai Qi's Battle of Changping, before Han Xin's conquest of Qi, before Wei Qing and Huo Qubing's pursuit across the northern deserts, before Zhou Yu's Red Cliffs, before Wei Rui's Battle of Zhongli, before Tang Taizong's Battle of Hulao Pass, before Li Yaoshi's snowy night campaign against the Turks—which of them didn't have a fine reputation? But which of them could be called a true commander? It was only after a single battle that they earned that name."

"Yes." Han Shizhong narrowed his eyes. "I understand your meaning. Yue Fei is still young. He might be a true commander, or he might be a useless fool. But for now, he's just gotten this opportunity to lead ninety thousand men on his own... As for how he truly is, it will have to be decided by his performance in Hebei this time. It's not something we can judge blindly from a thousand li away."

"That's the idea." Li Yanxian nodded, but after a moment's hesitation, he looked dejected. "Actually, back when I was in Shanzhou, I also thought I could achieve a great feat. But now, I've given up on that idea first."

"You're only just over forty this year. Why are you like this?" Han Shizhong instead tried to console him. "It's just a temporary gain or loss. This Jin state is also a country of ten thousand li; we can't take it all in one breath... There will still be opportunities in future northern expeditions."

"Perhaps." Li Yanxian shook his head. "But my eagerness isn't just because I've been cooped up in Shanzhou for too long... It's that in the past few years, I've vaguely felt that armor gets thicker every year, army logistics and training get more rigorous every year, and with cannon carts, gunpowder, and hot air balloons, scenes where someone like the Commandery Prince overturns the battle situation through individual brilliance alone will probably become rarer and rarer... I'm afraid that after our generation, there will be no more famous commanders or famous generals. Victory will truly depend on strategic planning at the court."

Han Shizhong thought for a moment and nodded: "There is some truth to that."

However, he then laughed heartily again: "But if that's the case, haven't we gotten a great bargain? The world's famous generals will end after Han, Li, Yue, and Zhang! And I, Han Shizhong, will take the first step, leading the world!"

Li Yanxian was dazed and lost in thought.

But it wasn't over yet. Seeing that the cavalry under Li Master had mostly crossed the Huishui, and Li Master himself was about to cross, Han Liangchen, beneath the peerless grand banner, clicked his tongue from his horse, then shouted into the distance:

"Li Master, come here!"

Hearing the voice, Li Master, though he found it strange, how could he refuse? It wouldn't delay matters anyway. So he immediately spurred his horse over again, cupped his hands in greeting, and addressed him as Commandery Prince.

And the next moment, Han Shizhong couldn't help but look down from his horse in public: "Before crossing the river at Pujin, I started a poem. During a month of chaotic fighting in Hezhong, I never got the last few lines. But just now, standing here with Military Governor Li discussing military affairs and pointing at the landscape, thinking of the Jin army's main force fleeing at the mere sight of us, I've finally been somewhat inspired... I'll recite it, and you can pass it on to the men at the front for me!"

Li Yanxian's scalp tingled, and Li Master was so startled he reined his horse back two steps.

Only Commandery Prince Han remained composed and heroic. Holding the reins with one hand and pointing north with the other, he recited on the spot:

"Sweating horses and yellow sands, a hundred battles' merit; the crimson land faces many woes, awaiting you, my lords.

Never has the imperial enterprise been for any but Han; how can the rivers and mountains be shared with thieves?

Warm sunlight melts the frost on a thousand trees; the cold wind scatters the clouds across the sky.

Still many foxes and rats flee to their hiding places; north of the River, every household gazes for the Six Armies."

Once the poem was finished, before the two Lis could recover or say anything, Han Shizhong became solemn again and ordered sternly: "Tell them! This battle is a great victory, the enemy fled at the mere sight of us! Don't overthink it! But the victory in this battle is the victory of the sovereign and the central government's three years of hard work and strategic planning. We must absolutely not rest on our laurels and become arrogant! Moreover, the state has long lost the Two Rivers, and millions of scholars and commoners have long awaited the Imperial Army. As the main force of the Imperial Guard, if we don't fight today, we will fight tomorrow. We must strictly enforce military discipline, temper ourselves, and keep our edge hidden! Do not be lax!"

Li Master assented and left.

As for Li Yanxian, after this incident, he would rather die than ask about 'eight hundred li' again.

PS: Thank you to the big shot Tell Xiao Guo for becoming a patron again! This is truly a patron I managed to get from Zhihu.

Then I'll continue to offer up a new book, "I Can Magically Modify Black Technology."

I still need to explain to everyone... An unexpected situation occurred that I didn't anticipate when I asked for leave... Roughly, a phone got stranded in another city, and I had to do an overnight nucleic acid test to get back... After returning, I was tired and exhausted, and I still haven't recovered. If there are any problems with this chapter, I hope everyone will point them out directly.

This is my personal mistake, which took up far more time than I imagined. I apologize to everyone.