[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-405":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},1558571,2024,"Chapter 405: Advance","shao-song-chapter-405",405,"\u003Cp>In mid-December, the weather was freezing cold, the coldest time of the year. In the past, at this time, large-scale trade and long-distance travel had long since ceased, and everyone would stay in towns and villages to prepare for the New Year, even in Dongjingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this year was different. Total war had changed everything. From east to west, from south to north, the atmosphere of war overshadowed everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Que Mouse Valley, which connected the Taiyuan Basin and the Linfen Basin, the situation underwent a further change at the very midpoint of mid-December. For the previous forty-plus days, the Que Mouse Valley had seen endless military activity, with troops coming and going in succession. This was understandable, of course, because the Song and Jin armies were engaged in a long, drawn-out advance and siege battle in the Que Mouse Valley. Starting from the sixteenth of December, as the entire Que Mouse Valley was opened up, it not only failed to calm down but instead suddenly became a bustling thoroughfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far exceeding the previous movement of over a thousand troops during the fighting, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians poured into the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Que Mouse Valley was formed by the Fenshui River, and the Fenshui also split the valley in two. A large number of combat troops advanced rapidly along the wider eastern bank of the Fenshui, while the frozen Fenshui itself and the hardened riverbed unexpectedly became a natural marching road for the supply troops. The laborers and livestock were all fitted with anti-slip straw sandals, and the wheel hubs of the carts were also wrapped with tough dry grass. Some carts and carrying poles were simply dragged along on the ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, the troop movement speed was astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, what truly ensured the speed of the advance along the Fenshui and its eastern bank was actually the slightly narrower western bank area of the Fenshui within the valley, as well as the mountain hollows and gentle slopes. On the western bank of the Fenshui, even earlier, during the advance battle, His Majesty the Emperor had personally issued an edict, ordering Military Governor Ma Kuo to take charge. For every li advanced, a comprehensive supply station was to be established on the western bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The supply stations were also personally designed by His Majesty the Emperor, with specific requirements for every personnel assignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, each supply station must have enough cooking staff and coal reserves to ensure an uninterrupted supply of hot water and to help the troops cook dry rations and thaw them out at any time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, each supply station must have at least three Jinshi accompanying the army. One was responsible for managing the daily operations of the station, one for mediating disputes and supervising military discipline, and the last for transmitting and announcing any military orders that might be issued at any time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third, each supply station must have a few extra heated rooms to ensure that the wounded from unexpected incidents had a place to rest and have their injuries treated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, all imperial edicts, military orders, and the comings and goings of officers, regardless of their importance, must all travel via the western side of the Fenshui. They were not allowed to use the eastern side, so as not to impede the advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the supply stations, there were also seven or eight mountain hollows and gentle slopes in the Que Mouse Valley, where fully formed military camps had been built. These were larger supply stations. In addition to the basic functions of the smaller stations, they also served as places for large-scale reception of the wounded, repair of vehicles, storage of supplies and livestock, and as local defensive points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, during the previous advance battle, although everyone had found these things convenient, they all felt that His Majesty the Emperor had gone a bit too far. A few camps were acceptable and were very good things. Having troops move in separate east-west columns and transporting supplies on the river, with everyone advancing in an orderly manner, was nothing new. In Dongjingcheng, they had long been shouting about keeping to the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But setting up a supply station like that every li advanced was a terrible waste of manpower and material resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were even rumors that His Majesty the Emperor had deliberately given Ma Kuo, who held a high position but little real power, something to do, just to keep him from losing face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, when the imperial edict was suddenly issued, ordering the entire army to advance rapidly on Taiyuan, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and laborers combined, plus countless supplies, needing to traverse the dozens of li long Que Mouse Valley, the front-line officers and officials could only regret that such supply stations could not be placed every three hundred paces, while also finally having a moment of sudden realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Majesty the Emperor had definitely been planning this for a long time. He was just waiting for the moment the Que Mouse Valley was opened up, and then suddenly changed slow to fast, small to large, mobilizing all his forces for a swift attack on Taiyuan City, catching the Jin army defenders in the Taiyuan Basin and the main Jin forces in the Hebei direction completely off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, leaving aside the fact that Taiyuan City was a naturally strong fortress and how effective this swift attack would be, in any case, everyone could feel His Majesty the Emperor's determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the troops advanced so quickly and in such an orderly manner, largely because His Majesty the Emperor's imperial carriage was right behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial edict, issued overnight on the fifteenth of December, reached all units.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sixteenth of December, the elite troops of Han Shizhong, Li Yanxian, Wang De, Li Qiong, and others, stationed inside the Que Mouse Valley and outside Yangliang Nanguan, set off in sequence. At the same time, His Majesty the Emperor's imperial carriage also unhesitatingly set out from Xiangling in the rear, escorted by the Imperial Guard, leaving behind the Japanese samurai who had just arrived at the temporary palace, and headed directly north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the afternoon, the imperial standard had reached Hongtong County, a full fifty li from Xiangling. Then, without a moment's pause, it traveled another ten-plus li, only stopping at dusk to camp nearby in a vacated Song army camp south of Zhaocheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was under the pressure of this speed of advance and this determination to advance that none of them, Han Shizhong, Li Yanxian, Wang De, or Li Qiong, dared to make a sound. The fifty to sixty thousand elite front-line troops advanced in an orderly sequence, without even anyone cutting in line, which was truly astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At noon on the seventeenth of December, the imperial carriage, maintaining its astonishing speed, also entered the Que Mouse Valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, the sky began to darken, and a light snow began to fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By evening, amidst the light snow, the imperial standard arrived at the foot of Lingshi City. Yet again, it passed by the city without entering and continued marching. Only when it became too dark to continue did the imperial carriage stop and rest briefly in a camp located in a mountain hollow on the western side of the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the imperial carriage stopped, the guards below were naturally happy to rest. No matter how orderly it was, this kind of marching was very hard work. It was just that because His Majesty the Emperor was also in the marching column, such complaints could not be voiced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, while the soldiers went to get hot water to soak their feet and rehydrate their rice, the accompanying close ministers became busy again. A large number of memorials and intelligence reports were brought before the Emperor, and His Majesty the Emperor, without time to say much, took a cup of hot tea and began to deal with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Send a golden token to Wang De. Tell him not to underestimate the enemy and advance rashly. He must wait for friendly forces to take over the siege positions at Jiexiu before heading north to besiege Qi County.\" Zhao Jiu opened the first memorial and was somewhat speechless, even a bit exasperated. \"What is this about a snowstorm night attack on Caizhou?! Who told him that story? Does he really think Yelu Ma Wu and Wanyan Zhehe are useless and can't snatch him right out of the tiger's mouth?! Isn't he just annoyed because he had to wait at Jiexiu for a while and saw Han Shizhong and Li Qiong get ahead of him again? Follow the previous military orders!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief academician, Fan Zongyin, dared not be negligent. He immediately took a brush and prepared ink, setting to draft the edict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu had already opened the second memorial and became impatient again. \"Send another golden token. Tell Han Shizhong that Qi County is not for the Left Army of the Imperial Camp. His task is to take Pingyao first, then Taigu, advancing in turn with Wang De! He must not be slow, nor too fast, and certainly not chaotic!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The direct academician, Mei Li, also quickly took a brush and ink to draft the edict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before Fan and Mei had written more than a few characters, His Majesty the Emperor threw a third document onto the table, then pointed at Wang Yan. \"Minister Wang, you personally ride fast to the mouth of the Shengshui River where it enters the Fenshui, forty li ahead. Find Li Yanxian and tell him this clearly for me. The line on the western bank of the Fenshui—Xiaoyi, Baibi, Guozha, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Qingyuan—that is, Wanyan Salihe's defense zone. I gave it to him not to capture it, but to keep it under surveillance, to ensure Salihe's troops cannot cross the Fenshui to harass us. Soon, Li Master will arrive from the rear with cavalry to relieve him and monitor the west bank. Wu Jie will also cross the Yellow River from Shizhou and Lanzhou to take over the fighting west of the river. Tell him to steady his mind, not to waste troops, and not to be greedy for merit. The main task now is still to assemble the army swiftly and steadily beneath the walls of Taiyuan City! After finishing this, don't rush back to report. Go inspect Pingyao, Qi County, and Taigu along the way, then wait for me at Taigu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp, who had previously been stationed in Linfen City with Lu Yihao, dared not be negligent. He acknowledged the order and, ignoring the darkness, immediately mounted his horse and led a few personal guards out of the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving these three orders, Zhao Jiu felt a sense of helplessness. Even though Li Qiong had not submitted any additional plans in a memorial, he still had someone draft an edict, emphasizing again the importance of blocking the Taihang Mountains and sealing off the passage between Shangdang and Hebei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Yu Yunwen also had to spread out his brush and ink and join the queue of edict drafters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the three finished drafting the edicts and presented them for imperial review. After His Majesty the Emperor nodded, the eunuch in charge, Shao Chengzhang, took out the imperial seal and affixed it. Then Liu Yan took out the golden tokens representing the highest military orders, summoned members of the Chixin Team, formed them into groups of ten, and they hurried off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after the edicts were issued, although His Majesty the Emperor was so agitated that he couldn't even be bothered to drink his tea, his expression showed nothing. He just sat there as immovable as a mountain, silently waiting in the camp, as if expecting someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mystery was soon revealed. After a while, when it was completely dark, several dozen riders holding torches came along the western channel of the Fenshui, straight to the camp where the imperial standard was located. It was Qu Duan, the Commander of the Imperial Camp Cavalry, who had not been summoned north this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he entered the camp, Yang Yizhong led him in, past the many guards, straight to the main tent beneath the imperial standard. There, in the brightly lit tent, he bowed his head and performed the ritual, greeting the Emperor: \"Your servant, Qu Duan, Commander of the Imperial Camp Cavalry, pays respects to Your Majesty...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have been waiting for you for a long time,\" Zhao Jiu said coldly, not even letting him rise. \"What exactly do you have to say that you must tell me in person?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Duan, hearing the bad tone, immediately looked up to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could say another word, His Majesty the Emperor, sitting there, spoke again, his voice clear and cold, pressing on relentlessly. \"Do you think that since I allowed you to come see me in person and explain yourself face to face, it means I have agreed with your request?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Duan's heart turned cold, and he became increasingly flustered. All the carefully prepared rhetoric he had thought of flew away to the Western Liao, and he could only stammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it wasn't just Qu Duan. The atmosphere in the camp also dropped to the same temperature as the outdoors. It wasn't that no one had thought that with His Majesty the Emperor's swift and decisive actions this time, someone would inevitably be punished. But when it came down to it, they couldn't help but feel terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Son of Heaven, who had been on the throne for nearly ten years and held military power firmly in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go on, what exactly do you want to say?\" Zhao Jiu finally lost patience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant...\" Qu Duan was extremely helpless, but he had to speak carefully and tell the truth. \"Your servant originally thought that the Battle of Taiyuan was of great importance, and perhaps the Imperial Camp Cavalry could participate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cavalry attacking a city?\" Zhao Jiu said coldly. \"Didn't I bring the Poxi Army? But even the Poxi Army can't attack a city, can they? They can only take stockades.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant doesn't mean attacking the city. For the Battle of Taiyuan, we also need to guard against the Jin troops stationed in various cities coming out to harass our supply lines. If the Imperial Camp Cavalry arrives, your servant can sweep the surrounding cities clean for Your Majesty, and Your Majesty can then focus on attacking the city with peace of mind behind you.\" Qu Duan's voice grew quieter and quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But didn't I already send Li Master with ten thousand Tangut light cavalry from the Imperial Camp Cavalry to do just that?\" As soon as the other party finished speaking, Zhao Jiu continued to press, without a moment's pause. \"Are Li Master and his troops not part of the Imperial Camp Cavalry? Aren't light cavalry better suited for this task?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Duan dared not speak again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leaving you in the south wasn't to guard against the Jin army making a desperate last stand and targeting my rear?\" Zhao Jiu continued to press. \"Minister Qu, why must you personally lead your core troops north?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Duan still remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak!\" Zhao Jiu finally lost all patience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Duan could no longer hold on. He finally looked up and told the truth. \"Your Majesty... Your servant is not trying to steal the credit. Your servant thought that the Battle of Taiyuan was no small matter. If things go wrong, it could turn into a decisive battle. And by Your Majesty's side, the Commandery Prince Han is arrogant and self-willed, Li Yanxian is better at defense than offense, and Ma Kuo can only build walls and fortifications...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are only good at spouting arrogant nonsense!\" Zhao Jiu directly interrupted him. \"So, I have already notified Wu Jie to cross the river quickly, coming from Shizhou and Lanzhou, to take charge of the central army for me... Understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Duan was momentarily speechless, but he was clearly unwilling to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Prince of Yan'an is not here...\" Zhao Jiu, seeing this, hesitated no longer. He turned his head to look at one person and spoke coldly. \"Yang Yizhong, go, take a whip to him on my behalf! Drive him out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the semi-permanent earthen fortress, no one spoke a word. The imperial decree had been issued, and no one dared to refute it. Armored guards and palace attendants surged forward, dragged Qu Duan out, and hauled him directly to the camp gate. Yang Yizhong picked up his horsewhip and followed. Before the crowd, he cracked the whip once inside the gate, then cast it aside and stood at attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Duan was mortified and furious to the extreme, but he knew that this request to fight had violated a grave taboo of the Zhao sovereign. He could only awkwardly go to fetch his horse, preparing to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Commander Qu, hold a moment.\" Yang Yizhong, having discarded the whip, took the initiative to block him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Controller Yang, what is the meaning of this?\" Qu Duan only wished to depart quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His Majesty heard earlier that Commander Qu was coming and had already left an order. He said he heard that the commander's steed, Iron Elephant, had died of old age in Jiezhou and could no longer gallop across the battlefield with you. So he instructed that you take this horse back as your mount.\" As he spoke, Yang Yizhong stepped aside, and a palace attendant led forward a sturdy, magnificent horse. \"This was a tribute horse sent last year by Yelu Dashi, the ruler of the Western Liao...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Qu Duan saw the horse, how could he not recognize it as the mount the Zhao sovereign had been riding for the past several months? Taking the reins from the attendant, he sighed awkwardly. \"Is His Majesty still worried that I might defect to the Jin over today's affair? Even if I truly surrendered, the controllers in the army would cut off my head...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Qu Duan could only force a wry smile and shake his head. He swapped to the imperial horse and, somewhat awkwardly, rode south through the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Qu Duan gone, the night passed without incident. The next morning, the eighteenth of the twelfth month, the light snow stopped early. The Zhao sovereign set out once more. The dragon banner pointed north, urging the forward army onward and driving the rear troops. The main forces from all routes in Hedong also immediately continued their rapid northward advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By noon that day, they had exited the Yangliang North Pass and entered the open terrain of the Taiyuan Basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Zhao Jiu looked back at the Queyue Gorge and couldn't help but sigh at the vicissitudes of fate and timing... According to the explanation of a local-born officer, the Queyue Gorge was truly perilous in summer. In summer, the Fen River often flooded, mudslides frequently washed away the roads, and the rising river would make the traversable ground within the gorge extremely narrow, forcing the army to cross the river repeatedly to advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had that been the case, with the Jin army setting up layered defenses, the Song army would either have to rely on Wu Jie to attack or be forced to turn and strike Shangdang... How could it be like now, where the river had frozen into a road, actually speeding up the army's passage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But setting aside these minor reflections, the Zhao sovereign's dragon banner, after a brief pause upon exiting the Queyue Gorge, headed north again. By evening that day, it had arrived beneath the walls of Jiexiu, which was already under siege by Niu Gao's troops from Li Yanxian's command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Zhao Jiu summoned Niu Gao, offered some words of comfort, and granted rewards for the earlier merit of breaking the Yangliang North Pass. That day, he encamped behind Niu Gao's stockade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, the nineteenth of the twelfth month, the imperial procession traveled sixty li and arrived beneath the walls of Pingyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garrison inside Pingyao, already shaken by the Song army's sudden rapid northward advance and encirclement of the city, saw countless troops passing beneath the walls heading north, and their resolve began to waver. Then, upon seeing the dragon banner arrive, they were utterly terrified. So much so that the next day, the twentieth of the twelfth month, just as the Zhao sovereign was about to leave the siege force here and continue north, some Han soldiers within the city revolted, opened the eastern city gate, and voluntarily surrendered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with such an opportunity, Zhao Jiu naturally did not give it up. He handed over the palace attendants to Qiao Zhongfu, the Controller of the Imperial Camp Central Army responsible for sealing off Pingyao. The latter immediately ordered his troops into the city. After a fierce battle, they seized this important stronghold in the Taiyuan Basin before noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, despite taking the city, the Zhao sovereign showed no intention of stopping. He left some palace attendants behind, assembled his troops, and immediately set out with Wang Sheng's force, which had just caught up. By evening, they arrived beneath the walls of Qixian and rendezvoused with Wang De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another day, the twenty-first of the twelfth month, Zhao Jiu arrived beneath the walls of Taigu at noon, gathering Han Shizhong and Wang Yan. Then, without pausing for a moment, they reached Xugou Town by evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-second of the twelfth month, upon learning that Yuci, the key town east of the Taiyuan capital Yangqu, had already been personally besieged by Li Qiong, the Zhao sovereign did not hesitate. He led the increasingly large main battle force at his side towards Yangqu, the capital of Taiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening, they arrived at Yonglijian, less than twenty li from the main city of Taiyuan, and established a large camp there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-third of the twelfth month, in the morning, setting aside the three hundred li distance of the vanguard force, the Zhao sovereign and his palace attendants, after eight days of forced march through the narrow Queyue Gorge, covering a total of nearly five hundred li, finally planted the iconic dragon banner beneath the walls of Taiyuan Prefecture City at a speed that was absolutely beyond imagination... This speed, from any perspective, was undoubtedly half a military miracle. Not to mention that during this march, key towns on the eastern bank of the Fen River were also rapidly isolated and besieged by the Song army, and they even captured the important town of Pingyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, at the same time, to maintain the advance speed, many towns on the western bank of the Fen River were virtually abandoned and ignored by the Song army. Wanyan Salahe, responsible for the defense zone on the western bank, whether startled by the Song army's advance speed or not, had been cowering and inactive under the watch of the Song monitoring forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to this, accompanying the Zhao sovereign's dragon banner to arrive beneath Taiyuan city were no fewer than thirty thousand elite troops from various Imperial Camp units. At the same time, countless troops and laborers were continuously converging from the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was conceivable that by evening today, there might be forty to fifty thousand troops arriving, and the numbers would only increase. If Wu Jie could arrive as promised, it would not be surprising to see a hundred thousand troops gathered here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside future matters for now, Zhao Jiu could finally rein in his horse by the Fen River and carefully examine the Taiyuan city of this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It should be noted that the Taiyuan city of the Song Dynasty was not the same as the Taiyuan city of the Han and Tang Dynasties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main body of the previous Taiyuan city was on the western side of the Fen River, the traditional Jinyang area, and the city was large. The Song Dynasty's Taiyuan city was a new city rebuilt by Pan Mei after Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, destroyed the old city, realizing that a large city was indispensable here. It was located in Yangqu County on the eastern side of the Fen River, rather than the traditional Taiyuan area, and was much smaller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this did not mean this city was inferior in defense to any Taiyuan city in history. Otherwise, there would not have been the experience where Nianhan, helpless, locked down the city and moved south, only to find upon returning that Taiyuan was still in Song hands. He then had to besiege the city and attack reinforcements, smashing hundreds of thousands of Song troops in the process yet still failing, ultimately relying on two hundred and fifty days to wear the city down until it fell, and then massacring the city to vent his anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, please look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong led his own Beiwei Army to the north of the city to block the road as a precaution. Li Yanxian went to oversee the establishment of the camp beneath the city walls. Unexpectedly, yet logically, it was Yang Yizhong, usually silent in public, who took the initiative to point out the Taiyuan city defenses for the Zhao sovereign... He was originally from the northern Daizhou region. \"The circumference of Taiyuan city is over ten li. It is not a large city, nor is it entirely built of brick and stone; mostly it is rammed earth... But the west side of the city faces the Fen River, and water is diverted from the Fen to form a moat around the city... There are only four gates. The east, north, and south gates each have a separate protruding barbican. The barbicans and the main city gates are connected by drawbridges, and these are proper brick and stone walls... Not only that, there is a separate inner city within. The inner city has a circumference of over five li, occupying nearly half of the city. The inner city does not house residents, only warehouses, government offices, and barracks...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In other words, although this Taiyuan city is small, it is actually a specialized flatland fortress?\" Zhao Jiu, standing by the Fen River, looked at the fluttering Jin banners on the southern barbican and suddenly realized. \"A place originally dedicated to military use?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Yang Yizhong nodded in agreement. \"It can only be said that fortunately it is winter and the river is frozen. Otherwise, with the Fen River encircling the city and three barbicans standing side by side, we would have to use trebuchets to smash them... And the city can use trebuchets to counter trebuchets... It would be a war of attrition...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong's words grew slower and slower. Zhao Jiu and his other close ministers were also gradually drawn to something else... It turned out that just as Han Shizhong was heading to the northern passage of Taiyuan, Li Yanxian was overseeing the main force to start setting up camp, and the Zhao sovereign was listening to the briefing under the dragon banner, the flags on the southern barbican shook. Suddenly, a squadron of Jin cavalry emerged from the east.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cavalry force was not large, seemingly only seven or eight mouke, about seven or eight hundred riders. Judging by the situation, they had clearly come out from the eastern barbican.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the gaze of the Zhao sovereign and his many close ministers, they first charged straight at the southeast corner of Taiyuan city, startling some laborers and soldiers who were setting up camp there, causing a small commotion... This was to be expected; it was a standard tactic for the defending garrison to launch a cavalry raid to blunt the enemy's edge while they were still establishing their foothold. However, after this successful strike, this small unit did not take the opportunity to turn back, or rather, after showing signs of turning back, they instead relied on the cover of the southern barbican, changed direction, and charged straight for the dragon banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Wanyan Zhehe treating me like Sun Quan?\" Zhao Jiu was stunned for a moment, then laughed. \"But I wonder, with the Fen River frozen, how did he cut down the Small Teacher Bridge?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, please take shelter for a while!\" Although they were still over a li apart, Yang Yizhong had no choice but to change the subject. \"Your servants will meet the enemy for Your Majesty...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will stay right here and watch you all break the enemy!\" Zhao Jiu reined in his horse and did not move, directly shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong glanced at Wang Yan, and upon seeing the other nod in understanding, he hurriedly donned his helmet with Liu Yan. One supervised the infantry, the other commanded the cavalry, and they hurried forward to form ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, because the enemy had come suddenly, and although the palace attendants had put on their main armor, they were not fully equipped. The speed of donning armor and forming ranks was inevitably a bit slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, this was likely the reason this Jurchen iron cavalry thought they could gain an advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it must be said, at this moment, how could Zhao Jiu retreat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, just as the two armies were about to hastily clash, a unit of troops suddenly surged out from the gap between the main Song army formation and the palace attendant ranks, colliding head-on with the Jurchen iron cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu was momentarily stunned, for he saw clearly that these were the Japanese warriors he had left behind when he set out, who had just now caught up from the rear... Several hundred Japanese warriors, some wielding bows that were frighteningly long, others holding greatswords as tall as themselves, riding unarmored horses presumably supplied by the logistics for travel, charged with astonishing momentum straight into the Jurchen iron cavalry formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Japanese warriors fighting on horseback was not new. Ever since Taira no Kiyomori joined the Chixin Company, they had become skilled riders. Zhao Jiu had asked out of curiosity at the time... Kiyomori told the Zhao sovereign that the northern warriors of Japan at this time mostly fought on horseback, only bringing foot retainers to assist. Their weapons, from greatswords to large bows, especially those greatswords with blades almost as long as a man, were specialized equipment for cavalry combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, the most crucial point was that, whether startled by the exaggerated weapons of the Japanese warriors, the Jurchen iron cavalry actually faltered. Not only that, but because the blades were so long and the bows so large, the visual impact was too strong, even Zhao Jiu couldn't help but show a glimmer of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was only a glimmer. The next moment, as these exaggerated greatswords scraped across the Jurchen iron cavalry's heavy lamellar armor, which weighed at least fifty jin, both the combatants and the onlookers, from the Zhao sovereign down, were all jolted awake from their dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the iron cavalry rampaged, and the Japanese warriors suffered heavy casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, they bought time for the palace attendants and the main Song army force, which could be considered loyal and brave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to the book friend boss for the alliance patron! Thanks to Suiyumao boss for the alliance patron! Thanks to Anzong for another alliance patron!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, I offer up a new book, \"Virtual Realm Investigator\"...\u003C\u002Fp>",5260,"2026-06-06T07:46:32.508Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","9d247b9c0b807975c072486dbea27e70cd060d5ac9d207a89895e169af7dea6e","shao-song-chapter-406","shao-song-chapter-404",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]