Chapter 81: Victory (Part 1)

Han Shizhong's great victory was at the easternmost end of the battlefield, while Zhao Jiu at the westernmost end was too far away, naturally seeing it as vaguely as looking at flowers through fog or hearing thunder on New Year's Eve.

But at this moment, as the commander of the Jin army, Jin Wushu was positioned in the center of the battlefield and naturally received the news... this "naturally" was inevitable, because Han Shizhong's movements had been stirred up precisely on the march toward the Jin camp.

At this, Jin Wushu, after a sudden joy followed by a sudden shock, never figured out—his two core fierce units had been assembled into a counterattack force of fifteen hundred cavalry, a large and powerful bunch of elite horsemen, clearly there just moments ago, and they had already routed the besieging enemy on the eastern side as soon as they appeared. How could they suddenly vanish after just this short pursuit?

Where were his two fierce units?!

But regardless of how his cavalry had disappeared on the eastern wilderness, Jin Wushu, after all, was a veteran of many battles, and he immediately recognized a basic reality—his main camp was now completely empty, the eastern flank was wide open, and Han Shizhong had already arrived!

"Puluhun has ruined me!"

Jin Wushu jumped down from the watchtower, returned to his seat, stared blankly for two breaths, and then actually uttered a complaint.

"Fourth Prince, please do not delay. No matter what, armor up as quickly as possible!"

Shi Wenbin beside him was momentarily startled, but then quickly gritted his teeth and urged him.

As soon as he said this, the personal guards who had been holding the armor immediately surrounded him, ready to help Jin Wushu, who was still in his silk undergarments, put on his armor.

However, this Fourth Prince of the Jin Kingdom did not directly stand up to cooperate. Instead, he instinctively reached for the wine cup in front of him, as if intending to drink one last mouthful before rising. But as he grabbed it, whether because he had been drinking or because he had just seen Han's banner heading this way from the watchtower, he lost his balance, stumbled, and this veteran of the battlefield nearly toppled from his stool.

Fortunately, the several personal guards had already surrounded him, and they took the opportunity to support their commander and immediately began to help him armor up.

On the other side, Shi Wenbin hesitated slightly but still seized the chance to advise: "Fourth Prince, should we now dispatch two fierce units from the north and south flanks to move east and offer some resistance? And recall the two fierce units from the front (west)?"

"What nonsense are you talking?!" Jin Wushu stood there motionless, listening to the growing commotion from the east, and finally reacted somewhat, sneering in response. "Listen to that noise. Can a few hundred men from the north and south flanks hold them off? And can the two fierce units from the front make it in time?"

Shi Wenbin cowered for a moment, his face pale, but still seemed unwilling to give up. After a brief pause, he bowed his head again and earnestly advised: "Fourth Prince, your student's meaning is, if you have no troops by your side, wouldn't that be even more dangerous? So in your student's view, summon as many as you can right now!"

"Old Shi!"

Jin Wushu, with only half his armor on, sneered even more at the man before him. "Don't think I don't understand your little scheme... Your family is in Yishui. You're afraid that if I leave today, I'll have to temporarily abandon all the territory west of the capital, and then your wife and children will be separated from you, and might even be arrested by the Song as criminals, isn't that right? If it weren't for that, I'd have to suspect your intentions!"

Shi Wenbin's face immediately showed panic, but he couldn't refute it, and could only shed tears.

"Cry, cry, cry! What's there to cry about?!" Jin Wushu grew irritable, but because he was being armored, he had to turn around, spread his hands, and scold the man behind him. "It's nothing more than a few women and a few youngsters. Since you've become my official staff officer, when we go back north together this time, I'll casually give you a dozen or so slaves, and I can even grant you one or two imperial princesses. Then you can have more children!"

Hearing this, Shi Wenbin knew that Jin Wushu wouldn't give him any real promises, and his heart grew even more desolate. But being trapped in the situation, utterly helpless, he could only hold back his tears, wanting to speak but not daring to.

But just as Shi Wenbin was hesitating, the commotion from the east had already drawn near. Not to mention the Song army's thunderous cheers growing louder, Jin Wushu and Shi Wenbin on the command platform, which was elevated and faced east, could see with their own eyes the rolling dust and smoke approaching right up to the camp's edge. It was clear that the Song army had counterattacked all the way to the eastern stockade, which had absolutely no defensive capability.

Thus, both of them panicked.

Now, Shi Wenbin, dressed like a scholar, was naturally unable to armor himself on horseback, so that was one thing. But Jin Wushu, who had only half his armor on—his upper body fully armored but his lower armor skirt not even started—was equally caught off guard.

"Don't cause any more delays! All of you, go fetch the horses immediately!" Jin Wushu, with a ferocious expression, made a snap decision. "You go prepare the horses quickly. I'll put on the skirt myself! Also, have the two fierce units from the north and south flanks gather their troops, bring as many warhorses as possible, and follow me out through the main west gate. We'll link up with the two fierce units from the front and then decide what to do... Tell the men in the north, under no circumstances should they flee through the north gate. There are sure to be trip ropes and ditches there. Don't lose the warhorses for nothing!"

The several personal guards also knew the gravity of the situation and quickly scattered to carry out their tasks.

"Old Shi, what are you doing now?"

After issuing his orders, Jin Wushu picked up his armor skirt and turned around, only to see Shi Wenbin fastening a dagger to his waist while heading down the platform, which only angered him further. "Come back and help me fasten the back of my armor skirt!"

Shi Wenbin, still with tears on his face, dared not disobey. He turned back and bent down to fasten the armor skirt for Jin Wushu.

However, this Staff Officer Shi, on the one hand, was thinking about parting with his aging wife and young children for years, his heart wrenched with pain; on the other hand, he was anxious and fearful because the Song army was counterattacking. Moreover, he was worried that those Jurchen personal guards didn't take him seriously and wouldn't prepare a horse for him later. With all these thoughts swirling in his mind, tears streaming down his face and gathering into beads on his beard, how could he fasten the armor properly?

After a few tries, it was completely at odds with what Jin Wushu had fastened himself earlier. The armor skirt was crooked, exposing half of his buttocks.

Jin Wushu naturally felt something was wrong. He turned his head, saw this, and flew into a rage. He kicked out in anger, and then, ignoring the fact that the Song army had already poured into the empty eastern stockade, he picked up the horsewhip at his feet and lashed it wildly at the other man, venting his pent-up fury.

Poor Shi Wenbin covered his head and tried to flee, but as he turned, he tripped over a stool and fell onto the wine table, with nowhere to escape, taking a dozen lashes.

"You dead dog slave! Get back here and help me fix this properly!" After letting out his anger, Jin Wushu hastily tore off the back armor skirt and urgently called him back.

PS: On the fifth day of the first lunar month, first let me wish everyone a happy New Year. If you're heading back to the city, be sure to stay safe, but also keep a calm mindset.

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