[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shao-song":3,"chapter-shao-song-shao-song-chapter-72":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},1558238,2024,"Chapter 72: Crisis (Part 2)","shao-song-chapter-72",72,"\u003Cp>Returning to the present, with a single sentence from the Imperial Lord, almost everyone fell into deep thought, even Zhao Jiu himself stared at Han Shizhong without speaking. Thus, this wooden military quarters, which had just been recently rebuilt, fell silent again, with only the flickering candlelight casting shadows and the gentle ripples of the Huai River outside creating a sound of waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about sending Wang De to provide some support?\" After a pause, Drafter Hu Yin suddenly offered a suggestion. \"Make Wang Yecha the Prefect of Guangzhou?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\" Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun immediately rejected it. \"How could Wang De's seniority command Miao and Liu? Even when Minister Yuwen went to oversee Huaixi before, he was first given the title of Associate Administrator of the Privy Council! Besides, changing commanders on the front lines might backfire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what do we do?\" Hu Yin retorted, but ultimately couldn't help looking at Han Shizhong and Yang Yizhong, the two who understood military affairs… Since the naval battle that day, it had become public knowledge that the Imperial Lord disliked civil officials engaging in armchair strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for some reason, the Imperial Lord's backbone, Han Shizhong, was at this moment lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unless the Imperial Lord and Wang De both go to Huaixi!\" Yang Yizhong, seeing Han Shizhong standing in the quarters for half a day with his chin in his hand, silent, while the Imperial Lord only stared at Han Shizhong with an expectant look, could only spread his hands helplessly in reply. \"But wouldn't that put the cart before the horse?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then isn't there no way out?\" Hu Yin grew anxious. \"How can the situation become critical after winning a battle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's because the situation has never improved in the slightest.\" The Imperial Lord finally spoke, but his words were startling, ready to shatter some people's illusions. \"The so-called victorious battles are merely superficial victories, irrelevant to the fundamental military strength of the two nations…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does Your Majesty mean?\" Zhang Jun couldn't help asking. \"Before, Your Majesty was so desperate, stirring the generals to lead tens of thousands of soldiers to fight bravely. Now, righteous armies are springing up everywhere, the enemy has tens of thousands here, losing thousands and about to return empty-handed… The situation looks excellent, how is it superficial?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am talking about military affairs.\" Seeing that Han Shizhong was still pondering the issue, Zhao Jiu simply continued to recline lazily in his seat and answered succinctly. After all, he had an extremely clear understanding of this issue, far beyond his time. \"Deyuan, let me ask you, not to mention that the outcome of this battle is still undecided, even if Jin Wushu really retreats this time, so what? Next year, the year after, if he leads the main force of the Jin Army's Eastern Route, a combined force of a hundred thousand, can we really stop them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Deyuan was choked speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not only that, there's also Li Yanxian in Shanzhou. This man fought even earlier than us before the new year, almost single-handedly leading the righteous army to recover the entire Shanzhou, truly heroic… But from a military standpoint, when Wanyan Loushi abandons the Western Army in Shaanxi and turns his full attention to Shanzhou, can Li Yanxian really hold out forever?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Lord sighed softly, continuing his relentless questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And there's the Defender of the Capital in Dongjing, struggling hard at the very front. Starting almost at the same time as us before the new year, relying on a motley crew of routed troops, he held off tens of thousands of Jin troops at Huazhou, preventing them from crossing the river. He is undoubtedly a model commander… But whether it's Wanyan Eliduo, Zhanhan, or even Talan, if a truly elite Jin force of over fifty thousand were determined to destroy the Dongjing Defender's Office, given the weakness there, could it really hold on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jun was drenched in sweat, unable to reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But why fight? What is the meaning of such barely-won victories?\" The Imperial Lord spoke with emotion, and without waiting for the few before him to interject, he continued on his own, clearly answering his own question. \"Isn't it because after the Humiliation of Jingkang and the fall of the Two Rivers, there is absolutely no possibility of peace between Song and Jin? Unless one side is utterly destroyed, there is no hope of a good outcome. And such a war is what is called total war. In total war, what matters is not one city, one place, one victory, one defeat! Rather, it means that every city, every place, every victory, every defeat, even every blade of grass and every tree, must be fought for to the utmost!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Zhang Jun on down, most of the people had become solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For now, the military affairs of the Great Song are in fact already incompetent; there's no hiding that. But at this time, through two or three small local victories, to tell the people of the world that the nation still exists, that the nation has not given up resistance, and that the Jin people are not invulnerable—that is already a remarkable achievement! I have never expected to decide the fate of the world with these few victories; that is too far off… I only want to tell the people of the world that no matter how hard it is, there is always a way! This is the basic principle of this battle!\" Zhao Jiu continued with a sigh. \"Most people do not understand this principle, and I cannot easily speak of it and shake people's resolve, but you, as the young pillars of the nation, must understand it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant receives your instruction!\" Zhang Jun, understanding that the Imperial Lord regarded him as one of his own, quickly bowed his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, during this exchange, the Censor-in-Chief felt as if he had returned to that New Year's Eve, experiencing a rare, heartfelt tremor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yin, Lin Jingmo, and Yang Yizhong beside him also quickly bowed their heads… To be fair, aside from the excitement of being considered the Imperial Lord's own men, in the eyes of these close ministers, this Imperial Lord was sometimes too casual and too ignorant, but in the current situation, he still possessed a measure of great wisdom and courage, which truly moved them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!\" At that moment, the Imperial Lord's backbone finally spoke seriously. \"There is actually a way!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I knew Liangchen would not let me down.\" Zhao Jiu immediately smiled and turned his head. \"What is the way?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strike directly from before us, and overturn Wanyan Wushu's camp!\" Han Shizhong puffed out his chest and answered bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it to take the initiative to attack when the enemy is divided into three parts, leaving only the last part of six or seven thousand in the camp?\" Whether it was because he had just been taught by the Imperial Lord and was momentarily excited, Yang Yizhong rarely took the initiative to join the discussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still too difficult. How can six or seven thousand Jin troops be annihilated in a camp outside the city?\" Yang Yizhong shook his head repeatedly. \"It's not like they're in a lake that can rise with water.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I also think we cannot annihilate the Jin army! But if we can concentrate our forces and launch a fierce night attack, we might be able to burn down the Jin camp, making the Jin lose their foothold and no longer dare to plot against the Huai River region!\" Han Shizhong declared arrogantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uproot the camp without seeking to annihilate the enemy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But how can uprooting a single camp make the Jin lose their foothold?\" Yang Yizhong spoke bluntly, more like he was explaining to the Imperial Lord and the three civil officials than helping Han Shizhong find flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the Jin army were naturally retreating north, occupying Mengcheng behind them as a stronghold, and retreating step by step, this strategy would naturally be useless, because the Jin would have countless continuous footholds.\" Han Shizhong's momentum remained undiminished. \"But if the Jin army's original intention was to raid Guangzhou, then after the two detachments of thirteen or fourteen thousand cavalry leave the camp, they will inevitably circle around from the north towards Shunchang Prefecture. At that time, they will not occupy cities as strongholds, or even if they do, they won't station heavy troops to guard them… At that moment, their only foothold will be this camp outside Xiacai City! Uproot their camp, and the camp's defenders will have to go north to occupy a city for shelter! Those two detachments will also immediately turn back to protect these remaining six or seven thousand! Otherwise, in the open field, with all supplies lost, without support or protection, these six or seven thousand might really be annihilated by us!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong was already silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong then turned back to Zhao Jiu and spoke solemnly: \"Your Majesty, the key to this battle is timing. It must be launched shortly after the Jin army splits into three parts and two detachments have left! We need to prevent them from returning to reinforce and also prevent them from raiding Guangzhou! If the Jin withdraw the second detachment tomorrow, the battle should begin tomorrow night or the night after!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiu already understood; this was about forcibly seizing that fleeting opportunity created by the enemy's movement… In a word, the enemy couldn't swap bases faster than we could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still not right!\" Before the Imperial Lord could reply, Yang Yizhong, after pondering for a moment, shook his head again. \"To do this, we must concentrate as much combat power as possible by tomorrow night or the night after. Right now, Grand Defender Zhang in Xiacai City only has ten thousand usable troops; the rest are laborers and routed soldiers. If we fail, we'll lose the stronghold instead…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yang Dalang, don't flatter Grand Defender Zhang.\" Han Shizhong's lips curled slightly. \"Where does Xiacai City have ten thousand usable troops? If we really go out to raid the camp, only his three thousand or so veterans brought from Taiyuan are usable!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yizhong was momentarily speechless, unsure whether to agree or disagree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I have five thousand usable troops here!\" Han Shizhong raised his hands boldly. \"Your Majesty, Wang De's troops can also be used! Qiao Zhongfu and Zhang Jing's troops can be selected for a thousand more, Hu Yantong's thousand can also be used, and Yang Dalang's several hundred Imperial Guard can also be used!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the troops from Bagongshan cross the river to attack, they will already alert the Jin camp!\" Yang Yizhong grew more helpless. \"If we send troops in batches to attack, we'll just be feeding the fire…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand what Liangchen means!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the three civil officials were digesting the information, the Imperial Lord suddenly laughed as well. \"The ferry in Xiacai City has already been repaired. So starting tomorrow, I'll trouble Liangchen to work hard. Use large sailing ships to block the Huai River, use small boats in groups to ferry the routed troops of Liu Guangshi's old department from Xiacai City to the south bank, and then exchange all the usable troops from Henan and myself into Xiacai City! Catch them off guard and overturn the Jin camp!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the military quarters had changing expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Your Majesty going too?\" Not only the civil officials and Yang Yizhong, but even the plan's instigator, Han Shizhong, suddenly became somewhat flustered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I don't sit in Xiacai City, aren't you afraid that Grand Defender Zhang will screw you over?\" Zhao Jiu's expression was slightly odd. \"Or would Grand Defender Zhang dare to trust you? Unless I go, we can't overturn the Jin camp! Isn't that the logic?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Shizhong wanted to speak but stopped, only able to nod heavily. And among the civil officials, from Zhang Jun on down, although their expressions shifted uncertainly, they remained motionless, clearly having learned from experience that remonstration was useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Yang Yizhong, he rarely thought of another layer—if the Imperial Lord went, he was probably more worried that Grand Defender Zhang would sell out the Imperial Lord's top units.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, there was nothing these ruffians from the Western Army wouldn't dare to do!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this point, even though he, Yang Dalang, had a close relationship with Grand Defender Zhang, he wouldn't dare to vouch for him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Yang Yizhong also didn't object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And seeing no one object, the Imperial Lord actually felt a rare moment of pride—after all, looking at it this way, he was still quite useful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Twenty-ninth, steam buns… How are your New Year's supply preparations? Everyone, really don't go out recklessly, and if you do, be sure to wash your hands and wear a mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wishing everyone an early New Year, good night.\u003C\u002Fp>",2147,"2026-06-06T07:45:46.639Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","ad132360652a9ea8b393835004213be35439e29986e8c7cdd5f971c70db78d7c","shao-song-chapter-73","shao-song-chapter-71",489,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshao-song-cover.jpg"]