[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-47":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},1558213,2024,"Chapter 47: Inside the Tent (Part 2)","shao-song-chapter-47",47,"\u003Cp>\"Three reasons.\" Jin Wushu replied proudly. \"First, spring has arrived, and who knows when the weather might warm up. By then, the tributaries of the Huai River will thaw, possibly causing a spring flood... making it even harder to cross the river.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ali and Elubu, along with the other Jurchen Battalion Commanders, came to their senses and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second,\" Jin Wushu continued casually. \"You've all heard that Zhao kid's edict—stuff about defending the land and resisting the Jin, no peace talks—utterly pointless. Only one thing deserves attention: that decree to recruit volunteer militias and incorporate them into the state... I'm not saying I'm afraid bandits and militiamen from the Huai region will hear the news and come to support Shouzhou, but if one wave comes, we'll have to fight one wave. It's always time-consuming and laborious, so better to settle this early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elubu and the others frowned slightly, clearly thinking of the rebel militias in Hebei that popped up like gourds after pressing one down, and the bandits in Jingdong who had outright become the main force resisting the Jin, but they couldn't refute him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third, General Ali doesn't understand the cunning of these Zhao people.\" Jin Wushu continued to look down from his seat of authority. \"Take that Zhao Song emperor across the river—he fell for my provocation this time, got riled up and lost control, that's true. But that doesn't necessarily mean he truly intends to hold his ground to the death...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\" Ali frowned and pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has General Ali considered this?\" Jin Wushu replied proudly. \"Is it possible that the little ruler across the river is genuinely afraid of me, and that his outward show of firmness and intensity—spitting at me, calling for resistance and war, entrusting the heir to the chancellor—is actually a scheme to fool everyone and then seize the chance to flee?! If, as you say, we proceed cautiously and wait until boats and supplies are ready before crossing, by then the Song emperor might have already fled across the Yangtze River—what then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ali instinctively wanted to argue, but then thought of the actions of those so-called Two Sages in Dongjing back in the day, and found himself speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's how it is.\" Seeing he had refuted Ali, Jin Wushu felt completely at ease, and spread his hands. \"I've already made thorough arrangements. The day after tomorrow, we'll start building a pontoon bridge to cross the river! Do any of you have anything to say about this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ali and Elubu exchanged a glance, each thought it over, and since their earlier objections had already been wiped away in that humiliating military council, they had nothing more to say and nodded in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the two generals and the commander-in-chief in agreement, those below naturally had nothing to add.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But aside from crossing the river, there's one thing to watch out for.\" As the meeting broke up, Elubu, the first to rise, suddenly spoke casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's no big deal. General Elubu, if you think it should be done, go ahead!\" Jin Wushu was momentarily startled, then caught on, looking utterly indifferent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elubu nodded repeatedly and was the first to leave the tent, and the military council then completely disbanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as Shi Wenbin, who had barely managed to control his emotions, was following at the rear and preparing to take his leave, Jin Wushu suddenly called out to stop him: \"Staff Officer Shi, no need to go to the rear camp tonight. Just find a spot to sleep here in the front of my tent... This is a favor I'm granting you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Wenbin was bewildered, but had no room to refuse. He could only bow repeatedly, thanking the Fourth Prince for his grace, while Jin Wushu, without further explanation, turned and went to the back for his pleasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Shi Wenbin remained in the central command tent, with no bedding, no place to wash up, not daring to sleep on the fur pelt on the Fourth Prince's main seat, nor to use the wine in the tent to warm himself. He could only huddle in a corner and endure the cold and exhaustion... Amidst the freezing weariness, the sound of galloping horses never ceased outside the tent, along with the clatter of armor and blades, while from the rear came music and singing, and faintly, the pleading voices of women. It was only after things finally quieted down that this Staff Officer Shi, recalling the edicts he had read that evening, thinking of his family left behind in Yishui, remembering the days of fear and humiliation he had endured, and realizing he had no other way out, secretly wept for half the night before finally managing to fall asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that Zhengfu?\" In the imperial tent on Bagong Mountain, now much wider because it had been rebuilt with wood, Zhao Jiu turned over and sat up in the middle of the night, asking casually toward a familiar silhouette by the lamplight near the tent entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\" Yang Yizhong, who had been dozing on a chair inside the tent entrance, quickly rose to respond. \"Why is Your Majesty awake? Is something the matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, just worried about the battle situation... The Jin are clearly planning to bypass Xiacaicheng and attempt to cross the river. According to Han Shizhong's earlier arrangements and statements, this should be a good thing, but I still find it hard to bear!\" Zhao Jiu, sitting on the bed, confessed frankly. \"You must understand, I've never been on a real battlefield or seen proper combat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong clearly wanted to speak but hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\" Zhao Jiu could see clearly by the lamplight and pressed directly. \"Is there anything we can't say to each other?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, Your Majesty has been on a battlefield before.\" Yang Yizhong forced a smile. \"Before Your Majesty fell into the well, when we were traveling from Hebei to Nanjing (Shangqiu), we were blocked by bandits on the road. I was fighting at the front, covered in blood. Your Majesty thought I was wounded, called me over to ask, and then bestowed wine and rewards... That was when Your Majesty took notice of me and later requested me from Grand Defender Zhang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Yang Yizhong quickly explained: \"But fighting the Jin is naturally different... The Jin are fierce and endure bitter battles. Fighting them, unless the enemy retreats on their own, you can only claim victory by killing the enemy's main general, or even slaughtering them all. Not to mention that since the Jingkang Incident, the Jin have taken all our army's armor, making them seem even stronger than before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's exactly what I'm worried about!\" Zhao Jiu shook his head and sighed even more. \"Though I shouted fiercely the day before yesterday, in reality, at this moment, in this situation, the fact that the Jin army is strong and our army is weak is a reality that can't be easily reversed. I'm terribly uneasy inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we can hold this battle and wait for the enemy to retreat on their own, the momentum can gradually turn.\" Yang Yizhong quickly comforted him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's not talk about that for now,\" Zhao Jiu quickly shook his head. \"I have self-awareness. In this battle, all I can do is sit under the dragon banner on the northern slope of Bagong Mountain to boost morale. The fighting still has to be done by Han Shizhong, Zhang Jun, and Wang De... But Zhengfu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant is here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The things I said the night before last—I only cared about venting for myself, but I caused you trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant dare not accept that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I mean it sincerely... Listen to me.\" Zhao Jiu suddenly spoke again. \"I know what you all thought afterward. You probably think I was retreating in order to advance, that by saying such grandiose things, my real intention was to force the civil officials in the temporary capital to accept my bottom line of defending the Huai River to the death... But those were truly my heartfelt words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\" Yang Yizhong was utterly helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhengfu, think about it... You've been with me for months now, you should have seen clearly—I'm truly afraid of death, I really wouldn't dare end it myself!\" Several eunuchs poked their heads in from the rear entrance, then withdrew, but Zhao Jiu, ignoring them, continued frankly. \"And can anyone accept humiliation like being called the 'Rehired Duke'? So if this wave truly fails, I sincerely beg you to end it for me! This isn't a ruler's command to a subject, but a personal plea from me, Zhao Jiu, to you, Yang Zhengfu! You don't have to agree and leave a record, just remember it in your heart, for the sake of 'national vengeance and family hatred'!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From today on, don't stay up all night in the imperial tent.\" Having said this, Zhao Jiu forced himself to continue. \"Because we don't know when the battle will begin, and the Jin's strength is plain to see. When things come to a head, everyone will have to go to the battlefield. A talent like yours, a great general, shouldn't be left idle... You need to conserve your strength early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\" Under the lamplight, Yang Yizhong finally managed to reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night passed without further words, and soon it was morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Jin camp north of the Huai, Shi Wenbin, who had barely endured the night, apparently felt he had completed his 'overnight' task and hurried out of the tent, intending to return to his quarters in the rear camp to make some arrangements. However, no sooner had this staff officer under the Fourth Prince of Jin stepped out of the central command tent than he stood stunned at the entrance... It turned out that overnight, several dozen surrendered Song personnel from the Jingdongxi Circuit who had accompanied the Jin army—Shi Wenbin's companions in the rear camp, the same former colleagues who usually bickered and mocked each other—had all been beheaded!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, several dozen heads, varying in appearance, were all hung on both sides of the platform in front of the central command tent, faintly frozen over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the commotion, several soldiers on duty in the central command, still bearing the smell of blood—all Jurchens, Xi, Khitans, and the like—turned around. Seeing Shi Wenbin, who had been tied up and whipped here the day before but had escaped disaster today, they pointed and laughed among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this time, Staff Officer Shi collapsed to the ground, speechless and voiceless, but in the end, no tears came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ps: No good, I've been too busy at the end of the year. I need to adjust quickly... This half-exhausted state during the new book period won't do... If I can't even get excited myself, no wonder the collection numbers aren't rising.\u003C\u002Fp>",1825,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","a25bb8b157de5c6d7e49d25730218851f96912d88eae0c1850b8429e4ec0e49d","shao-song-chapter-48","shao-song-chapter-46",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]