[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-421":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},1558587,2024,"Chapter 421: The River","shao-song-chapter-421",421,"\u003Cp>Wang De led the vanguard into the fray, driving his troops with soaring morale. The Ali tribe, caught off guard at the forefront, wavered momentarily, but thanks to Ali's personal prestige and battlefield experience, as well as the tactical quality of his core followers, they quickly reorganized their forces. The two sides immediately became locked in brutal hand-to-hand combat on the small slope before the Stone Bridge under a drizzling rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this perspective, Wang De and his sons' assault seemed unsuccessful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, on a broader level, Wang De and his sons' charge was immensely significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, it greatly boosted overall morale... This goes without saying. Since ancient times, those who breach the walls and those who break the ranks have been valued by the entire army. With Wang De, a Military Governor, leading his three sons in the charge, the shock to the enemy and the inspiration to his own troops need no elaboration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, as the battle began and the sun rose in the east, the drizzling rain did little to block the sunlight behind the clouds. Under the increasingly bright visibility, the small slope before the Stone Bridge—already the most watched spot by both armies and the first point of contact—naturally drew the greatest attention on the battlefield. Even units that couldn't see it sent scouts to constantly inquire about the battle's progress there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the present, after the small slope fell into bitter fighting, the battle line ebbed and flowed. Wang De and his two sons, relying on their valor and heavy armor, led several dozen horsemen in constant charges back and forth along the line—left to rescue trapped subordinates, right to break up large-scale Jin counterattacks. The three of them, leading their elite personal guards at the forefront, were like a blade, sharp and unstoppable. Behind them, though the cavalry suffered continuous casualties and dwindled, they were constantly replenished by soldiers crossing the river, as if connected by roots to the Taiping River, making them inexhaustible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Ali personally supervised the battle, commanding skillfully, continuously deploying troops to pressure the front line, leaving Wang De and his sons exhausted and struggling to deploy their forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The details of such brutal fighting, given the vastness of the battlefield, were naturally unknown to the onlookers of both armies. Yet they could still see Wang De's banner moving left and right without pause, see the battle line surging back and forth, and see Ali's command flag at times no more than two or three hundred paces from Wang De's banner, yet never able to draw closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, relying on their experience, they judged the intensity of the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this led to the second major effect of Wang De's vanguard action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Military Governor Li, Commander Wu has issued an order: let the forward army take this opportunity to build pontoon bridges on a large scale.\" A Red Heart Cavalryman with a bell galloped up, passing through layers of passwords along the way until he reached Li Yanxian's grand standard, and simply delivered the message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yanxian thought for a moment, immediately understood, and then relayed the order to his troops: \"Order all units to advance to the riverbank and build pontoon bridges, but without orders, no one is to cross the river and attack.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forward army units dared not delay and acted at once. Generals Dong Xian and Niu Gao, who had already advanced to the riverbank, were just preparing to build bridges when they received a new, specific order: Li Yanxian permitted their two units to send small elite forces across the river to relieve pressure on Wang De, Military Governor Wang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the Taiping River was truly not a large stream. The recent days of rain had caused it to swell, but that couldn't hide the narrowness of its proper channel. Especially since, over several days, the scouts of both armies had thoroughly mapped the river's conditions, knowing where there were shallows, where the channel narrowed, and where the current was slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, just as Wu Jie had guaranteed, and as Wang De's unit had just demonstrated, the pontoon bridges were built quickly and simply. Soon, over a dozen crude but practical bridges were erected along the river. Small elite Song units crossed, trying to converge at the Stone Bridge, triggering a chain reaction along the Jin riverfront... The main Jin force stationed on the high ground was fine, but the Jin units on both sides of the high ground along the river, as the directly facing troops, instinctively reacted. Some cavalry and infantry moved to engage, attempting to stop the Song's \"large-scale river crossing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go tell Wanyan Bendu, the Song army is deliberately bluffing. They want to pin down Pusan Beilu, who's by the river. In reality, the Song cannot risk crossing the river here right now. Even Wang De's surprise attack is essentially a cover for Han Shizhong. He must not misjudge and lose the big for the small! Just have Pusan Beilu follow the original plan and quickly move upstream to block Han Shizhong... In short, these four Wanhu units in the west must advance and retreat together to ensure the stability of the battle line.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Southwest of the high ground, Tuhesu's Wanhu unit had already received orders and was marching further west to the upstream area to suppress the Imperial Guard Left Army's river crossing. However, on one side of the marching column, Tuhesu, reining in his horse to observe the situation, noticed the commotion by the river and keenly perceived the Song's intent. He turned to his personal guard and relayed the message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard listened, roughly repeated the words, and hurried off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no sooner had the guard left than Tuhesu still felt uneasy. He turned to another guard: \"Pass what I just said to Marshal Bolisu... If Bendu wavers or hesitates, have him directly issue orders to intervene.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another guard received the order and hurried away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Tuhesu urge his horse forward, continuing west with the main force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wanhu,\" a Han Chinese Meng'an beside him couldn't help but ride alongside and ask further. \"Han Shizhong's Imperial Guard Left Army has forty thousand men. Wang Sheng's ten thousand can't reach the battlefield. After months of constant fighting, there must be many losses. Now they're only twenty to thirty thousand. Is the upstream area so important that four Wanhu units are needed to block them? Meanwhile, Li Yanxian and Wu Jie's units facing the Stone Bridge have clear banners and strong troops, obvious at a glance... Isn't this likely the real main battlefield?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In this kind of battle, what primary or secondary? Everywhere is the main battlefield!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuhesu knew that this Han general, who had only become a Meng'an in Great Ming Prefecture, was essentially hovering around him out of a sense of insecurity. But at this point, he also had a responsibility to win over and reassure such men, so he didn't mind explaining during the march, even speaking a bit louder. \"The key is the sequence of the battle's initiation...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please enlighten me, Wanhu,\" the Han Meng'an interjected at the opportune moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's there to enlighten?\" Tuhesu sighed as he rode forward. \"Our army, with the newly arrived reinforcements, numbers 130 to 140 thousand. The Song army, with theirs, is 170 to 180 thousand. Too many troops; no one can command them properly, and we certainly can't all rush in at once—that would be self-destruction. At a time like this, we need to divide the battlefield and consider the waves and sequence of advance... And although Han Shizhong's unit is only 20 to 30 thousand, they are all elite, battle-hardened troops who have never lost, formed in complete units. Han Shizhong himself is a renowned general. They are perfect for crossing first and establishing a foothold...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And once they cross, those Khitans, Tanguts, and Mongols—a full forty thousand light cavalry—can easily cross under Han Shizhong's cover...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And once those forty thousand light cavalry pour over, their killing power alone isn't great, but they can harass and contain the entire line, splitting the battlefield. Then we won't be able to stop Li Yanxian's main army from crossing the river directly and contesting the high ground.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if Han Shizhong's unit and those light cavalry fail, although Li Yanxian will still have to lead his main force across before noon, they will inevitably suffer heavy casualties when our main force bears down from the high ground during the crossing... That's our chance for victory... And these things are all layered upon each other.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Han Meng'an nodded slightly on his horse, but clearly still had some doubts. He seemed to want to ask more but ultimately didn't dare. And soon, he didn't need to, because while maintaining a humble posture on Tuhesu's left, he suddenly noticed movement on the opposite riverbank and raised his hand slightly to signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuhesu turned in surprise, and his expression immediately changed... His worst fear had come to pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was the pressure from the dense Song army massed on the opposite bank, or Wanyan Bendu on the high ground making a direct misjudgment and issuing orders, in any case, this Eastern Route Wanhu unit on the west side of the high ground, by the river, had ultimately not abandoned its facing enemy as planned to march west with them. Instead, it had sent a large number of troops pressing toward the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case, even if this Wanhu unit later received support or orders and quickly turned west to advance, their own battle line would inevitably be affected... Especially his own unit—its flank would be exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the die was cast, and the leader of that Wanhu, Pusan Beilu, though a universally acknowledged good-for-nothing, was coincidentally the brother-in-law of the founding emperor Aguda. Moreover, the Pusan tribe itself was a major Jurchen clan, beyond Tuhesu's ability to interfere. So after watching for a moment, Tuhesu turned his head and continued west with his main force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, things weren't over. After marching no more than two or three li, in what seemed like an instant, having just lost sight of the rear high ground in the drizzle, shouts of battle suddenly erupted ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuhesu and his accompanying officers hastily climbed a slightly raised field ridge. One look, and they were half stunned, half enlightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that directly ahead, a familiar banner led a familiar unit, charging straight at them, launching a direct attack on the Jin army. It was the unit of Hu Yantong, the Commander of the Imperial Guard Left Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, after crossing the river, Hu Yantong's unit had not, as the Jin army imagined, first established a defensive line to secure a foothold, then covered the main force's crossing, and then had the main Imperial Guard Left Army form up to continue covering the light cavalry's crossing... The fact that Hu Yantong's unit could appear here and engage could only mean one thing: Hu Yantong had crossed first as the vanguard of Han Shizhong's force, and from a very dangerous position far downstream from the main battlefield. Moreover, as soon as they crossed, they didn't pause for a moment but immediately attacked and advanced toward the so-called main battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This offensive drive was astonishing, and in terms of covering effect, this offense-as-defense seemed no worse than a steady defensive formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The planned riverside suppression battle quickly turned into a direct encounter. Tuhesu, shocked and angered, while reporting the situation to the other two Wanhu units to prepare them for battle, immediately ordered his entire force to form up on the spot: infantry in the center, cavalry split on both flanks, meeting the advance with the standard and simple Crane Wing formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This simple, even plain formation was none other than the famous Guaizi Ma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's right, Guaizi Ma, like Wu Jie's Zhudui Shi, is a tactical term, not a description of a troop type... Tie Futu is the term for describing heavy cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the so-called Guaizi Ma, specifically, it involves iron cavalry on both flanks shielding the infantry in the center, coordinating with the infantry to advance layer by layer, launching short-range charges or flanking maneuvers. It is a typical wave-like cavalry-infantry coordinated advance tactic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This tactic, when explained, is not as magical as imagined. What is always magical is human resilience and courage. These qualities, combined with strict military discipline, excellent armor and weapons, ample supplies, and fair rewards and punishments, can make any tactic seem magical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early days of the Jurchen state, they lacked none of those excellent qualities, so even the most ordinary tactics and the most common administrative and military systems were mythologized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although the Prince of Wei is angry, he doesn't intend to kill you. Clearly, he has accepted the words of me and Gao Tongshi and is prepared to send you back when necessary, to use you to... to deliver a message to His Majesty Zhao.\" While the Song and Jin armies were clashing on the front and upstream simultaneously, in a camp on the side of the Jin army's main camp closer to the Hutuo River, it was noisy yet calm. In one of the stockades there, Hong Ya was speaking sincerely with Yu Yunwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In other words, the so-called Prince of Wei, the Fourth Prince, the commander of an army, also has no confidence in this battle?\" Yu Yunwen's eyes were bloodshot, and he asked back with a near-sneer from his cot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who has confidence?\" Hong Ya was not at all angry. Instead, he stood there with his hands in his sleeves, sighing. \"Who among the Jin or Song armies has confidence? It's true the Song army has a numerical advantage, but the Jin army is defending across the river and has the advantage of a large plain cavalry force. When the Guaizi Ma is deployed, charging back and forth for over a hundred rounds without breaking—is that fake? At this moment, no one has confidence. Even His Majesty on the opposite bank probably has no confidence!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two fell into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, Yu Yunwen asked calmly again: \"How many combat troops does the Jin army actually have? Everyone says the Jin army has 130 to 150 thousand, but is it 130, 140, or 150 thousand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ya shook his head with a bitter smile: \"Don't you think it's too late to be asking this now? There's chaos outside. I just asked personally—Wang De, the Nightmare, has led the vanguard across the bridge. The battle has already officially begun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since the battle has started, it shouldn't hurt to tell me, should it?\" Yu Yunwen stared at him intently, pressing the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not that I can't say, it's that I truly don't know.\" Hong Ya shook his head with a bitter smile. \"Tanhua Yu, to be honest with you, even Bolisu might not know exactly how many combat troops the Jin army has. The campaign was too hasty. There have been no replacements, no reorganization. Every unit has suffered losses. There were several engagements at Great Ming Prefecture, and a large-scale cavalry battle at Longde Prefecture...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yunwen remained silent, just staring fixedly at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you ask how many Wanhu units there are, anyone can tell you: sixteen Wanhu.\" Hong Ya, pressed by the stare, could only continue honestly. \"But among them, there are full-cavalry Wanhu units that came as reinforcements, with a full one hundred Mouke; there are Wanhu units like Yelu Ma Wu's that have been decimated; and there's a Bohai man, Pusuyue's Wanhu, which is just there to make up the numbers, currently acting as support by the Hutuo River, unable to even get on the battlefield! Their combat effectiveness varies greatly. Take that full-cavalry Wanhu—half are Han Chinese from Yan-Yun, half are miscellaneous barbarians from beyond the passes, all new troops who have never seen battle. Are they useful or not? But then there are the four Hezha Meng'an from Yan-Yun, led by Wanyan Poushu, the deputy general of Wanyan Loushi and son of the former Datong garrison commander Wanyan Shemu. Just those four Meng'an—who can take them lightly? Even setting these aside, what about those Wanhu units with a few dozen Mouke and a few thousand Han troops? Aren't they also vastly different? Are Bolisu's and Bendu's two Wanhu units the same as the two from Datong? It all has to be decided on the battlefield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yunwen finally sneered: \"So, the Jin army's combat strength is uneven. Sixteen Wanhu units are really just the strength of thirteen or fourteen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Probably around 130 to 140 thousand combat troops.\" After sighing, Hong Ya suddenly asked back: \"Everyone says His Majesty Zhao has 170 to 190 thousand combat troops this time. So, Tanhua Yu, is the Imperial Guard this battle 170, 180, or 190 thousand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two hundred thousand!\" Yu Yunwen replied calmly. \"Commander Qu brought over twenty thousand more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ya shook his head repeatedly, too lazy to argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two fell silent again in the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, Yu Yunwen suddenly asked again: \"How many troops are in the new Yanjing army? Why were they fighting so fiercely earlier? Why didn't they come together? Was it because they couldn't make it in time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ya narrowed his eyes and was about to speak when suddenly there was another uproar outside the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jin State Vice Director of the Privy Council was startled, quickly abandoned Yu Yunwen, and went out of the tent to investigate, only to hear the news that \"the Prince of Han has crossed the river upstream and is launching a major attack.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Prince of Han was of course not Wu Jie, but Han Shizhong. Only Han Shizhong could cause such a level of commotion among the Jin army's rear garrison troops and conscripts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, after Hu Yantong's engagement with Tusu, the remaining units of the Left Imperial Guard Army, after crossing the river without hesitation, had chosen to advance directly. By now, they must have engaged the main Jin left-wing force in full-scale battle. At the very least, Han Shizhong's personal banner must have appeared on the front line, otherwise it would never have caused this level of shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that Tusu?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the plain covered with green seedlings, beneath the peerless banner, the tall Han Shizhong, without his faceplate, reined in his horse in the increasingly heavy drizzle. He extended a hand in a leather glove, pointing at the Jin army before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shixiong, as his personal adjutant, naturally answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder that Hu fellow just smashed straight into them.\" Han Shizhong gave a scornful laugh. \"But I've heard that although Tusu is lame, he's also become much more steady... How come he's deploying his 'crooked horse' formation with his own troops spread so wide? Seven or eight thousand men, stretched out over four li?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Shixiong fell silent immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It must be because his rear units haven't arrived yet, so he has no choice,\" Xie Yuan, who had appeared nearby at some unknown time, suddenly said. \"The scouts say that the two Wanhu units lined up to the south, combined, are only spread over four or five li.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is an opportunity,\" Han Shizhong laughed again. \"I said it long ago—Wang the Night Devil is a true hero. He must have attacked at Stone Bridge and held back a Wanhu that was supposed to march parallel to us here. This is an opportunity!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the end of his words, his smile had turned into a savage grin. As soon as he stopped speaking, the Prince of Qin directly fastened his bronze faceplate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Xie Yuan down, everyone put on their faceplates, then fell into solemn silence, awaiting orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There's nothing more to say!\" Han Shizhong pointed. \"The Beiwei Army follows me. We'll use cavalry to counter cavalry, charge straight through the front, and break one horn of his 'crooked horse' formation. The rest of the army is under Xie Yuan's command, with one specific requirement: you must send troops to hold the flank we break, so he can't extend it again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\" Xie Yuan replied calmly from behind his bronze faceplate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, and one more thing.\" Just as Han Shizhong reined his horse and started forward two steps, he suddenly turned back to instruct. \"The Mongol light cavalry are about to cross, but I don't trust them... Send them to the southernmost point, and let Li Master's Tangut light cavalry be my backup!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry, Fifth Brother.\" Xie Yuan remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, the Beiwei Army of the Left Imperial Guard Army, which had just crossed the river and not yet fully assembled, launched a surprise attack along the riverbank. Their target was precisely the overextended right-wing 'crooked horse' formation that Tusu had deployed to control the battle line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes, those watching the scenery on the bridge do not realize they are also scenery for others. While Han Shizhong was eyeing Tusu's formation and quickly establishing his tactics, Tusu naturally also noticed that banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from the very first moment, he began to panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No other reason—whether superstition or battle record, no one could ignore that 'peerless' banner, nor could anyone ignore Han Shizhong's Left Imperial Guard Army and his Beiwei Army... After the defeat at Qiaoshan, Tusu no longer thought himself stronger than anyone else... But the problem was, what else could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was raining, his flank was exposed, and facing Hu Yantong's force, which was far smaller than his own, what reason did he have not to spread out his formation as a precaution?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Han Shizhong had arrived so quickly and acted so decisively—what could he do? Should he pull his flank back in now? Leave a gap for Han Shizhong to charge straight through?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, it was only when the fighting started that Tusu realized: from Wang De to Hu Yantong, to Han Shizhong's entire army... in this battle, the Song army was fierce and aggressive, as if victory was a certainty!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wanhu,\" the Han Chinese Meng'an commander said, breathing heavily as he approached just as Han Shizhong's banner began to slowly pick up speed. \"What do we do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Song army crossed the river too fast. There's no point in hoping to push forward now. I'll go to the junction of cavalry and infantry on the right, you go to the junction on the left.\" Tusu snapped back to reality and forced himself to speak calmly. \"Each of us does our duty, and holding the position is the priority...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can this stop the Prince of Han from breaking through our right-wing 'crooked horse'?\" The Han Chinese Meng'an was still completely uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The right wing was always meant to clean up after that bastard Pusan Beilu...\" Tusu felt an intense itch on his foot. \"He'll block Han Shizhong from behind. If we just hold our position and don't retreat, we'll have done our duty to everyone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Han Chinese Meng'an had nothing more to say and hurriedly headed for the cavalry-infantry junction on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, just as Tusu arrived at the cavalry-infantry junction on the right, he saw that banner leading several thousand bronze-faced iron cavalry charging directly from his far right, almost along the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to just one horn of a single 'crooked horse' formation, this iron cavalry was clearly more numerous, better armored, higher in morale, and stronger in combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two armies clashed, and Tusu almost forced himself to watch the section of the battle along the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no suspense. That banner, as always, cut through the opposing troops like a sharp knife and broke straight through... As an enemy, you should never doubt Han Shizhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this almost evasive reflection immediately vanished, because another unit of the Left Imperial Guard Army surged forward almost on the heels of the Beiwei Army, plugging the gap in his right flank. Hu Yantong, like some persistent ghost, also shifted his command flag and turned toward this spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Tusu realize that the time for each to do their duty had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, setting aside Han Shizhong's successful large-scale river crossing and full-front assault thanks to Wang De's distant cover, at Stone Bridge, Wang De had already fallen into a desperate bitter struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was unavoidable. Wang De had led only his own four thousand troops across the river alone. Although he had seized the initiative at the start, once his entire force had crossed and lost its backup, it naturally became exhausted. At the same time, the Jin army facing him could continuously receive reinforcements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without those reinforcements, Ali's own force of cavalry and infantry numbered over eight thousand, twice Wang De's strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the slightly thickening drizzle, looking from afar, Wang De's banners were still moving back and forth, but they had clearly slowed and become sluggish. The unstoppable momentum his troops had shown at the start was also gradually fading due to the numerical suppression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wang Zihua (Wang De's courtesy name) is a great general of the state; he cannot be lightly lost.\" On a makeshift 'observation platform' hastily built from debris, timber, and earth, in front of the main camp at Huolu County, beside the dragon banner, Lu Yihao, supported by someone, turned to address the Zhao Emperor sitting behind him, completely disregarding that it was he who had sternly declared that morning in the military council that no one should expect reinforcements and that any unit could be completely annihilated. \"If possible, Your Majesty should try to save him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the narrow and cluttered makeshift platform, a solitary low table was set, on which sat that pot of 'Blue Bridge Wind and Moon' and that solitary cup. There was still half a cup of leftover liquid, whether rainwater or wine was unclear. Zhao Jiu, now in armor, sat cross-legged behind the table. Upon hearing this, he frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course he also wanted to save Wang De to prevent a blow to morale, but the problem was, what could he use to save him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the sixty thousand troops upstream had all crossed and launched their attack, it was impossible to send out troops early. This would directly disrupt the advance plan of the main force on this front, and the stern demands made during the morning military council would become a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he let the battle continue like this, perhaps Wang De's troops could hold out until the scheduled major advance... After all, on a battlefield full of heavy armor, as long as they didn't collapse into chaos, large-scale casualties were difficult... and they could also rely on their initial advance to inflict an equal number of casualties on the enemy. But this would put Wang De and his two sons in great danger, because it was obvious from the movement of his command flag that the three of them had been constantly charging and fighting on the front line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this situation, once they became exhausted and made a slight mistake, they, as the primary targets of the Jin army, would meet their end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was precisely the fundamental reason why, since ancient times, those who led the charge and those who broke enemy lines were respected in the military—the courage of being the first to scale the walls or break the formation was heroic, but behind it lay the bloody, enormous risk of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his dilemma, Zhao Jiu could only turn to Liu Yan, who was standing by his side, and ask tentatively: \"Pingfu, can we have Li Yanxian concentrate some crossbowmen to suppress the enemy from across the river and carve out a safe zone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter hesitated for a moment, then shook his head: \"For Your Majesty's information, the rain is getting heavier. The biggest effect of rain on bows and crossbows is that it softens the bowstrings. Once the strings soften, the range is greatly reduced. If we shoot across the river with the crossbow mechanisms exposed, they'll be soaked after just three shots. Not only will they be unable to cover our troops, but the reduced range and accuracy might cause friendly fire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about sending some elite troops to support from Stone Bridge?\" Fan Zongyin, the chief academician, suddenly interjected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too few would be meaningless against the Jin army's suppression; too many would likely draw the main Jin force on the high ground opposite, making things worse.\" Liu Yan replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu finally fell silent, and Lu Yihao also said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty...\" At this moment, Mei Li, who was standing by, suddenly spoke up. \"Could we try using the Poxi Army? The small stone-throwers used by the Poxi Army can be operated under oilcloth frames. Their range is a bit longer than crossbows, and fist-sized stones are enough to kill heavily armored troops and suppress the Jin army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu was momentarily startled, then looked at Liu Yan again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yan thought for a moment and immediately nodded: \"It's worth a try. Moreover, the Poxi Army's camels are tall. They don't need to suppress from across the river; they can cross at Stone Bridge and provide support from the battle formation on the other side!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu didn't hesitate and quickly nodded: \"Order Weiming Yunge to deploy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Weiming Yunge had been following the imperial entourage since the beginning of this northern expedition and had achieved some merit in the attack on Queshugu. However, the special composition of his unit—camels plus small torsion catapults—made it difficult to replenish quickly through rest. So although the unit had not suffered defeat, its strength had dwindled from the original five hundred camels\u002Fmen at departure to less than three hundred camels\u002Fmen. When ordered to cross the river and fight, he was momentarily taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once the order was given, there was no room for thought. He immediately led his unit of over two hundred camel-mounted torsion catapults toward Stone Bridge. At the same time, over a hundred mules and horses, driven by Tangut auxiliary troops, followed behind, carrying fist-sized stones that had been polished and prepared as ammunition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About two ke later, the Poxi Army, originally invented specifically to counter Song heavy infantry, crossed the river and took position thanks to the camels' strong mobility, and immediately achieved remarkable results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fist-sized stones fell like rain, and the densely arrayed Jin Jun armored soldiers, whether on foot or horseback, were all beaten so they couldn't lift their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure on Wang De's unit was instantly greatly reduced, and Wang De and his son at the very front seemed able to catch their breath for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Weiming Yunge hadn't expected such an effect. He had to know that his own niche, hard-to-replenish troop type had long been argued for disbandment. If it weren't for his memorial last year saying the Poxi Army could fire gunpowder bundles, they would have been dissolved long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang De had a brief respite, Ali's unit was temporarily thwarted, and the battle on the small slope in front of the stone bridge showed a tendency to turn around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the high ground, Wanyan Bendu, commanding ten Battalion Commander, remained silent, not even glancing at the battlefield directly in front of the high ground. At the same time, in the camp on the high ground's flank and rear, Balisu, soaked through but only staring at the five-colored sun-holding flag above his head, naturally had no reaction either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside Balisu was a wooden watchtower. Prince Wei Wushu, disregarding his status, was personally climbing the watchtower to survey the situation, but he wasn't looking at the front of the high ground either. Instead, he was straining to look toward the west side of the high ground, the so-called upper reaches of the Taiping River, paying no attention to the fact that nothing could be seen clearly through the rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for this was simple: scout cavalry had reported in succession that first, Han Shizhong's Beiwei Army had broken through a corner of the Guaizi Horse at Linhe and formally engaged with Pusan Beilu's ten-thousand-household unit, and then a staggering number of light cavalry had crossed the river one after another, surging forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the upper reaches of the Taiping River on the west side of the high ground was the real battlefield. The forces engaged there on both sides had likely already reached seven or eight thousand men, and were still approaching the scale of a hundred-thousand-man battle without limit. Under these circumstances, who still cared about the small slope battlefield in front? Especially since it now seemed that Wang De's assault was more like a diversion for Han Shizhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning upstream, on the battlefield where fighting had already broken out across the entire line, Khurjakhs Khan, wearing a golden crown, led some Western Mongol tribesmen across the river first. He intended to advance directly along the river, following Han Shizhong's force, but received the Qin King's army order transmitted by Jieyuandai, requiring them to circle around behind the Song Jun, prepare to attack the high ground's flank and rear, attempt to insert themselves into the gap between the southernmost end of the Jin Jun line and the camp, and then complete the encirclement of the high ground from the low-lying area behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, \"encirclement\" was overestimating these ten thousand-plus Mongol light cavalry. Essentially, they were still meant to play a role of containment and harassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, after circling around the Song Jun force, Khurjakhs Khan suddenly discovered that Jin Jun cavalry and infantry had already been deployed here ahead of him. It was still the typical \"Guaizi Horse\" tactic, with infantry in the center and cavalry on both wings, and they had already successfully connected with the moat outside the southern camp, sealing off the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Khurjakhs Khan, who had long known how formidable they were, sucked in a cold breath. But thinking of the Zhao Song Emperor's promise of spoils from this morning, he gritted his teeth, turned around, and shouted encouragement in the steppe language:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My anda! My eagle and hound warriors! The Chinese Son of Heaven's promise has been made very clear! This is a fair reward! Now it's time for us to exchange our courage for that promise!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not fear the enemy, and do not fear this rain. I know the rain will soon soften our bowstrings and wet our arrow fletchings! But as long as you listen to my, Khurjakhs Khan's, command, wherever I point, shoot your arrows there, without stopping. Before the fletchings get wet, before the bowstrings go soft, shoot out both quivers of arrows, and the Jurchens will flee like rabbits, and victory will be ours!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, take all your bows in hand, nock your arrows, and follow me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Khurjakhs Khan, wearing heavy armor and a golden crown, turned his horse, took the lead, drew his bow, and shot a powerful arrow toward the Jin Jun formation. Several dozen Kereyid nobles, fully armored in standard Han army armor, followed closely, all drawing their bows and shooting arrows at the Jurchen formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their khan leading the charge like this, the Western Mongol army's morale soared. They immediately obeyed the order, imitating him, deploying in a typical light cavalry formation, and then trying to harass and suppress the Jin Jun with arrows across the broad battlefield. For a moment, arrows fell like rain behind this Western Mongol king, and the rain of arrows continued without end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after personally shooting only two arrows, Khurjakhs Khan, who had just been waving his great bow and rallying morale at the front, fell silently from his horse and could not rise again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Western Mongol tribesmen were momentarily at a loss, their formation thrown into chaos, and the morale that had just been boosted plummeted to rock bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toghril, standing seven or eight paces behind his own father, was equally stunned. To be honest, he had been prepared to hand his father over to the Zhao Emperor after the battle, but this time it really wasn't him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, it couldn't have been him either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several of Khurjakhs Khan's anda and several Western Mongol minor tribal chieftains dismounted together and lifted the now-lifeless Khurjakhs Khan from the ground. Toghril hurriedly dismounted to look, and only then, through his faceplate, realized what had happened. It wasn't a conspiracy, truly not a conspiracy. It was just an accident. A traditional Mongol arrow had struck the khan's neck, which was bare because he wore a crown instead of a helmet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And one side of the arrow's fletching was already soaked by the rain, the feathers disheveled. Under these circumstances, no one could control the arrow's trajectory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a common case of friendly fire on the battlefield, only this time the one killed by friendly fire was none other than the Western Mongol khan, and he died suddenly just as the battle was about to intensify and become full-scale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toghril, clad in lamellar armor, stood behind his own father, stunned, panicked to the extreme. The troops behind him were also in disarray. It must be remembered that the Western Mongol army had only just engaged, and not even all their troops had assembled yet. The Jin Jun, who had been tense due to the arrival of the large Mongol cavalry force, seemed to realize what had happened, and a small number of iron cavalry began to break ranks and attempt reconnaissance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this critical juncture, as if by some ghostly impulse, Toghril, under the gaze of the surrounding Kereyid nobles, actually fixed his eyes on the crown on his father's head. That little thing had just killed a khan, yet it seemed to possess some kind of magic. Toghril almost wanted to immediately remove his own helmet and put it on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as rainwater seeped from his helmet onto his face, Toghril, who had seen much while at the Zhao Emperor's side, quickly came to his senses. Then, in a daze, he realized that at this place, under these circumstances, this crown wasn't something he could just put on and have it count. It would only count if the Zhao Emperor, the core Kereyid noble warriors beside him, and the tribesmen behind him all agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to do something to prove to the Emperor manipulating events on the other side of the river, to the Kereyid nobles and tribesmen before and behind him, and to the scattered Western Mongol tribes not yet assembled on the battlefield, that he was worthy of wearing that crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was unprecedented danger, but also an opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, under the watchful eyes of the core Kereyid figures, this eldest son of Khurjakhs suddenly stepped forward, recklessly took the crown from his father's body, then mounted his horse, cut his own bowstring with a dagger, and used the bowstring to tie his father's crown to his own spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slightly younger Kereyid noble realized what was happening and quickly snapped the arrow in Khurjakhs Khan's neck. The other nobles also reacted, immediately lifting Khurjakhs Khan's body onto a warhorse. They drove the horse back into their own formation, then quickly returned to their own mounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Jurchens killed my father!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toghril took the lead, holding his spear aloft as he rode back toward the clearly wavering Western Mongol formation, shouting with all his might. Behind him were the warhorse carrying his father's corpse and several dozen Kereyid nobles. The eye-catching crown swayed incessantly in the drizzle, clinking against the spear. The sound seemed no different from the bells under the necks of the horses when Toghril served in the Red Heart Cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Jurchens killed my father, your khan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surrounded by several dozen Kereyid nobles, Toghril, in full lamellar armor, rode back and forth between the Western Mongol formation and his father's corpse, roaring incessantly in the ancient language of the Mongolian plateau. \"Do you still remember my father's kindness? Do you still remember your oaths to my father? Do you still remember the military orders my father just gave?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, anyone who still considers himself a Mongol, follow me, Toghril! I still promise you what my father promised you, but you must fight for me and my father, avenge me and my father! You must carry out the orders just given, pour out your arrows on the heads of the Jurchens, and prove our glory before the Great Song Son of Heaven! Otherwise, Eternal Heaven will not forgive you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Toghril turned his horse again, raised his spear high, shook the crown, and pointed it at the Jin Jun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding tribesmen, starting with the Kereyid nobles, suddenly erupted, and then the entire formation, just as before, furiously loosed a rain of arrows at the Jin Jun! And it was even faster and more intense than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many armored nobles, their blood up, even directly led their men in a charge against the formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be known that rain, snow, frost, mist, springs, streams, and ditches are all different, but once they converge into a river and then surge forward, it is no longer possible to distinguish the source of each drop of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1. Thanks to the big shot Shuichangdong for the Silver Alliance! Also thanks to the big shots adrian_fufu and sjhunter for another alliance! And thanks to the book friend big shot and the farmer scientist big shot for becoming new allies, that is, the 204th and 205th allies of this book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2. Routine sacrifice of the new book \"History Department Wolf,\" author History Department Wolf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3. The special event for Shaosong is online... everyone can go check it out in the event... and also, infinite gratitude to An Zong and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>",6987,"2026-06-06T07:46:32.508Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","1afca4d1225ebbd0d6a52bd401d6b786f0c1fc359709c8c319054b9732f23313","shao-song-chapter-422","shao-song-chapter-420",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]