Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 309 This humble general knows his guilt, this humble general knows his guilt! In the future, this humble general will surely face a hundred deaths!
Coming from Datong to Hongzhou, there was actually nothing there—no people, no soldiers, and certainly no money or supplies.

The Jurchens had already plundered most of the money and provisions, leaving only the old, weak, sick, and disabled as soldiers. In front were Liao soldiers, behind were Song soldiers, and now, at this moment, it was the Jin soldiers.

The changing of the guard on the city walls is a rapid phenomenon, but it is not a particularly rare occurrence in history.

As for the people, it's not that the entire population was captured by the Jurchens; a large portion of them were hiding outside the city, not inside.

The suffering of ordinary people during wartime is self-evident. Even those who escaped were not necessarily safe; a single bite of food could cost many lives.

Su Wu arrived with his cavalry, but only glanced at the city wall a few times before turning his horse around and riding away without paying any attention to it.

It wasn't that the city was opened up immediately. There were still a few fierce Jurchens inside the city, not many, just a few, but they were enough to keep the city from opening up easily...

Su Wu was too lazy to waste time. He had a large army coming behind him, including Yao Pingzhong, Liu Guangshi, and others. With a little effort, the city of Hongzhou would fall...

Su Wu was heading to Weizhou, a place that connects the north and south. To the northeast lies Yanjing, and to the south, Hebei is not far away. By controlling this place, Su Wu could connect with Hebei and even establish communication with Jingdong.

They rushed to the city of Weizhou, where the city walls were covered with armored soldiers, making the defenses seem quite formidable.

Su Wu habitually circled the city, but there wasn't much to see except the flags on the city walls, Guo...

Su Wu frowned slightly, somewhat hesitant...

What are you hesitating for?

That Pharmacist Guo is quite the clever little devil! There are thousands of resentful soldiers, maybe even tens of thousands…

When the Song dynasty attacked Yan and Yun, he was unharmed; when the Jin dynasty invaded Yan and Yun, he was still unharmed…

Who in this world likes such a fickle person? Especially those in positions of power, they certainly wouldn't like such a fickle individual. Su Wu definitely wouldn't...

But sometimes, these kinds of people can be very useful.

Therefore, Su Wu hesitated.

Xu Guanzhong, who was standing nearby, noticed the hesitation on Su Wu's face and spoke up: "Sir, this man is capable!"

Su Wu nodded in agreement: "They are certainly usable, but what if these people... turn on me again in the future?"

Su Wu's perspective has changed, so he is naturally worried about this matter. Guo Yaoshi is not incapable of fighting; despite his humble origins, he possesses a ruthless streak and is capable of fighting even against resentful soldiers...

But Pharmacist Guo has a special quality, the quality of a street thug: he is extremely good at judging the situation and changing his stance according to the wind...

If one day Su Wu has any problems or falls into a disadvantageous position, without a doubt, this guy will betray him immediately...

Guo the Pharmacist is only concerned with his own interests. If he is good at judging the situation, he will rise to prominence; if he is not, he will suffer a miserable end.

Su Wu disagreed with the notion that Guo Yaoshi's rebellion had any understandable reasons. He believed that one should not only receive benefits but also endure any humiliation.

For example, did the Liao Kingdom treat Guo Yaoshi badly? Guo Yaoshi attacked and plundered his own prefectures, yet the Liao Kingdom tolerated him, even granting him official positions and making him important.

Were the Song people unkind to Guo Yaoshi? They trusted a surrendered general implicitly, allowing him to practically control the defenses of Yanjing (Beijing). They trusted him implicitly, and he was never shortchanged in terms of money and provisions…

If Guo Yaoshi was truly insecure because of Zhang Jue's affair, how could Zhang Jue's treatment compare to Guo Yaoshi's?
Even if this matter displeased Pharmacist Guo, why don't you mention the favors you received?

If you fought a battle with the Jurchens and lost, and were criticized, blamed, or treated unfairly, and then rebelled, Su Wu could understand to some extent.

You took the Song people's money and grain, served as an official of the Song people, and betrayed them without even fighting. How could Su Wu understand that?

What is Guo Yaoshi afraid of? In other words, Guo Yaoshi can only fight when things are going well, and he can't handle any adversity.

This reflects the mindset of Su Wu, who rose to a higher position; however, others may have a different perspective…

If Guo Yaoshi were to surrender again today, Su Wu could even imagine that Guo Yaoshi would change his mind again in the future, only the target would be different.

Xu Guanzhong then replied, "Sir, tomorrow's affairs are tomorrow's affairs, and today's affairs are right before our eyes. These people are not destined for greatness..."

Su Wu nodded and said, "I wonder if he's on the city wall right now, and what he's thinking about the situation. Is he preparing to negotiate, or is he convinced that the Jurchens are stronger...?"

Xu Guanzhong smiled and said, "Sir, why don't I make the trip?"

Su Wu turned to look at Xu Guanzhong: "Are you that confident?"

Xu Guanzhong replied: "People like this never stop doing things. If I go to talk to them, even if they don't agree, they won't kill me. They want to leave themselves a way out, and they won't say things that leave no room for negotiation."

Su Wu nodded: "Sir, you see things very clearly..."

"Then shall I go?" Xu Guanzhong asked.

Su Wu waved his hand: "Very well!"

Xu Guanzhong went there himself, and ordered three or five guards to escort him.

How could Pharmacist Guo not be on the city wall?
He was watching, frowning, his mind wavering. The Jurchens were indeed strong; he had already been thoroughly beaten by them and knew how powerful they were.

What about the Song people? The Song people were no weaklings either; at least this Prime Minister Su before us is certainly no weakling…

But Guo Yaoshi had a premonition that, in terms of military strength, the Jurchens were still a bit stronger for the time being.

But in reality, the Jurchens' strength was not immediately apparent, while the Song people's strength was already at the doorstep.

Five riders emerged from the cavalry and slowly approached...

Those around him asked, "Commander, shall we fire the arrows or not?"

Without a second thought, Guo Yaoshi said, "This is an envoy. Why shoot arrows? Drag him up to the city wall!"

The basket went down, and Xu Guanzhong got into it; it was just one person going up.

Inside the city gate tower, they also saw Pharmacist Guo.

Pharmacist Guo was quite enthusiastic: "Greetings, Mr. Xu!"

The two had met before and knew each other.

Xu Guanzhong also bowed: "Commander, it's only been a short time since we last met, and now we're enemies again, haha..."

Guo the Pharmacist simply said, "Those people like Tan Zhen and Wang Anzhong are truly not to be associated with!"

Xu Guanzhong then laughed: "Perhaps that makes sense. Why doesn't the commander retreat to Hebei? Why doesn't he retreat to Jingdong?"

Guo Yaoshi was immediately embarrassed and could only say, "Most of the soldiers under my command are former Liao people who do not want to go too far from home. It's also because the Jurchen army is surrounding us and we can't break through..."

"Perhaps that makes sense. But now, Prime Minister Su has arrived again, from Xingqing Prefecture and Datong. He brings with him the armies of the Northwest, as well as those from Hedong and Jingdong, with 45,000 cavalry and 100,000 infantry..." Xu Guanzhong's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.

Pharmacist Guo nodded: "I know, I know..."

“Then…” Xu Guanzhong looked over.

"I'm afraid my repeated insistence will displease Prime Minister Su!" Guo Yaoshi said, and immediately looked at Xu Guanzhong.

Xu Guanzhong stroked his beard and nodded: "That's true. Master Su really dislikes you. On the way here, he even said he wanted to kill you as soon as possible!"

"This...this is unavoidable! My husbands have no idea of ​​my suffering, and they dislike fickle people. I also know why you've come, sir. If the city gates were opened, how could I possibly survive..."

Guo the Pharmacist spread his hands, partly as a test, partly out of fear that many things might be false and he might end up dying.

Guo Yaoshi knew that the current situation was the last choice, the last choice between the Jurchens and the Song Dynasty.

If the Song people do not accept them, then they can only be devoted to the Jurchens.

Even if the Song people are willing to tolerate him, they should be cautious. Once the city is opened, there will be no way out. If the Jurchens gain power, they will never tolerate Guo Yaoshi again.

Xu Guanzhong stroked his beard again: "Commander, my husband naturally wants to kill you as soon as possible. If I hadn't persuaded him, he would probably be focused on attacking the city right now, and I wouldn't be here to talk to him. Tell me, how could I have persuaded him?"

Guo the Pharmacist waited to hear... he wanted to hear the answer to this test.

Xu Guanzhong continued, "I say... the commander can be used, for three reasons. First, the commander is like a rootless duckweed, never truly at ease. As long as you, my lord, are truly loyal to you, the commander is a man of chivalry and righteousness, and will naturally be a man of great loyalty and integrity!"

“That’s right, that’s right…” Pharmacist Guo nodded repeatedly.

"Secondly, if the chieftain were to surrender this time, the Jin people would no longer trust him. If the chieftain were truly willing, it would be a do-or-die move, with no possibility of turning back!"

"That's right..."

"Thirdly, in this way, the chieftain's life, his future, and his fortune all rest in your hands, sir. How can the chieftain's future possibly be reversed?"

Pharmacist Guo immediately nodded: "That's exactly right, sir, you should know that!"

“Then…” Xu Guanzhong also waited.

Guo Yaoshi's brows furrowed, and he looked troubled: "Many of the soldiers under my command are also somewhat displeased with the Song people, so it's difficult to persuade them..."

Still undecided, Xu Guanzhong understood and said, "Commander, the Jurchens are in grave danger this time!"

"How do you know?" Guo the pharmacist asked.

“With their army isolated and their retreat cut off, Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zonghan are now surrounded. How could they not be in grave danger?” Xu Guanzhong’s words were simple in reasoning.

Guo Yaoshi replied, "The Jurchen cavalry are unstoppable, coming and going with unstoppable force!"

Guo Yaoshi still had some psychological trauma towards the Jurchens; otherwise, he wouldn't have surrendered so quickly back in Yanjing.

Xu Guanzhong immediately retorted: "Is it the unstoppable force of the bulky army, or the unstoppable force of the light cavalry and swift horses?"

“Then it must be an unstoppable force of light cavalry and swift horses…” Guo Yaoshi replied.

“Yes, so this time, the Jurchens have only benefited my husband. Don’t you think so?” Xu Guanzhong asked.

“Oh…that makes sense, then…” Pharmacist Guo was also deep in thought.

Xu Guanzhong continued, "As you know, my lord now commands forty to fifty thousand light cavalry and fast horses. I may not be able to defeat the Jurchen cavalry by force, but delaying and entangled with them is no problem. This land north of Yanyun has many cities. My lord has one hundred thousand infantry, all of them elite. They have just destroyed the Dangxiang Kingdom and come with the power of annihilation. Can the Jurchen conquer these cities?"

"Besides, even if the Jurchens manage to leave the pass and return, how long can they survive with a lack of clothing and food? What did the Jurchens rely on when they came and went in the past? It was the money, food and weapons of the Liao Kingdom. What will the Jurchens rely on in the future? Will they grow their own crops? If they go back for three or five years, won't the warriors on horseback become farmers in the fields?"

Xu Guanzhong kept talking, he just wouldn't stop. If he stopped, he was afraid that Guo Yaoshi would overthink it. If he kept talking, it would be like constantly indoctrinating him.

Furthermore, his voice grew louder and his tone became more and more certain.

He added, "Does Commander Guo really think he can hold this city against the army that will destroy the country? Perhaps Commander Guo is still lucky and might be able to break through and run to Yanjing? But can Yanjing be held? Go out of the pass? Go and farm for the Jurchens?"

"In war, the first burst of energy is followed by a decline, and the third burst is exhausted. The same applies to conflicts between nations. Take the Jurchens' destruction of the Liao Dynasty, for example. It was fueled by hatred and anger, and that was the initial burst of energy. Their advance from Yanyun to Hebei was a surprise attack, taking advantage of the situation. Now that the Song Dynasty has destroyed the Xia Dynasty and has no more obstacles, it can focus on fighting the Jurchens. Can the Jurchens still maintain that momentum?"

"It is said that nations are at war, but now my lord Su has a strong army at his command, backed by a vast country and millions of people. Money and grain are flowing in continuously. Furthermore, with the Yan and Yun regions, there are many cities and the Yanshan Mountains. If the Jurchens invade, they will be fortified with high walls. If my lord attacks, the Jurchens will be exposed everywhere, and they will have no peace of mind in terms of grain production. Since ancient times, whether it was the Han or the Tang dynasties, or even the Northern Dynasties, how could they have been unable to defeat the barbarians? No matter how powerful the barbarians were, their rise and fall were always swift. As long as the Central Plains were not in chaos, when has the barbarians ever truly held power for a long time? Throughout the thousands of years of history, there has never been such a case!"

Xu Guanzhong finally finished speaking at this point, his words coming out in rapid succession.

Finally, Pharmacist Guo asked, "Does my husband truly still tolerate me?"

Xu Guanzhong said, "It's not true to say that we can tolerate it, but it's also not true to say that we can't tolerate it. Whether we can tolerate it or not depends on how the commander acts. At least we can tolerate it now. If we do a good job now, we can tolerate it in the future... Commander, don't you think that makes sense?"

"I'm afraid my husband won't tolerate me..." Guo Yaoshi was conflicted.

"If the commander has done well this time, and is willing to risk his life in the future, how can we not tolerate it? If the commander has not done well this time, and is unwilling to risk his life in the future, then I'm afraid his days are numbered!"

"Then I'll open the city gates?" Guo Yaoshi said.

Xu Guanzhong did not show any joy or happiness, but said, "Commander, have you thought it through? Now that the city has been opened, we will have to risk our lives to fight several times in the future. This is a very pertinent statement. If you are still unwilling to risk your life in the future, I'm afraid the consequences will not be good. Why not lead your troops to break through the encirclement and leave as you have done this time? Perhaps you can escape alive!"

This is Xu Guanzhong's method and ability, and also the source of his confidence.

"Mr. Xu may have misunderstood me. How could I, Guo Yaoshi, have risen from humble beginnings? My brothers have risked their lives to get to where I am today, and they all trust me implicitly. How could they trust a coward like me?" Guo Yaoshi patted his chest.

At this moment, Xu Guanzhong could also put himself in Guo Yaoshi's shoes and feel a bit of what he was going through. And it's true, if Guo Yaoshi's subordinates looked at him, wouldn't Guo Yaoshi be a good older brother?

When necessary, he could lead his brothers to attack and plunder their own city, ensuring they had food to eat and made a little money. At other times, he could be flexible and accept the Liao people's offer of amnesty, thus saving his brothers' lives.

When the Song army came, they surrendered without hesitation, and their lives were not bad. When the Jurchens came, they had to preserve their lives again...

In some respects, Pharmacist Guo may not be so despicable; at least, he is genuinely kind to his subordinates.

Xu Guanzhong glanced at Guo Yaoshi from head to toe and said, "Take this to your husband, and he will believe you more."

Guo, the pharmacist, quickly replied, "I am also grateful for Mr. Xu's kind words. The fact that you have been able to tolerate me is all thanks to Mr. Xu. If I do well in the future, it will also be thanks to Mr. Xu. As long as the city gates open today, I entrust my life and my family to you. I will always be of one mind with you!"

Pharmacist Guo is actually very smart.

Xu Guanzhong sighed deeply and said, "So it's me who's gotten myself into trouble?" Xu Guanzhong was even more adept at understanding people's hearts.

"No, no, how could I possibly be causing trouble for myself? In the future, when I, Guo, go into battle to fight the enemy, I will fight with my life! How could I let you be implicated by me!" Guo the Pharmacist pounded his chest loudly.

"Sigh... Oh well, what can I do? I took this job... Let's go to Kaicheng together..." Xu Guanzhong waved his hand and left.

Guo the Pharmacist took a step forward, seemingly about to go, but then stopped, hesitating...

"Commander, think it through. Once the city walls are breached, there will be no way out!" Xu Guanzhong didn't urge him; instead, he seemed to be putting himself in Guo Yaoshi's shoes.

Pharmacist Guo is never stupid, nor is he easily fooled; it's just that the current situation...

There's also an immediate, pressing issue right before his eyes. Whether he likes it or not, what can he do? If he defends the city to the death, no one can save him in the short term…

Moreover, Xu Guanzhong's words were all reasonable...

"Come on! Please come forward, sir!" Pharmacist Guo gestured with his hand.

“It seems the commander is determined. Let’s go then…” Xu Guanzhong stepped forward.

Before long, the city gates opened. Xu Guanzhong rode ahead, followed by Guo Yaoshi, and a hundred or so riders came out. How could there be no Jurchens in the city? But this place was different. A small number of Jurchens were meaningless. They could just take them.

Su Wu was just outside the city on horseback when Guo Yaoshi arrived at full speed. Without stopping, he dismounted and immediately knelt down before Su Wu, saying, "My lord, please forgive me! I deserve to die! All my words are but a moment of blind madness! I deserve to die!"

Su Wu looked down at him, but didn't say anything. His face was ashen and his gaze was cold.

Pharmacist Guo didn't even raise his head, waiting... waiting for his fate!

Xu Guanzhong immediately stepped forward and said, "Sir, we can't entirely blame Commander Guo. It's truly Tan Zhen and Wang Anzhong who are inhuman. Their handling of Zhang Jue's matter in Pingzhou was so outrageous that it angered both heaven and man..."

Su Wu coldly replied, "Get up. You have surrendered the city, and I cannot very well kill you back. Otherwise, who will be willing to surrender a city in the future?"

"This humble general knows his crime, this humble general knows his crime! In the future, this humble general will surely die a hundred times!" Guo Yaoshi kowtowed repeatedly, but did not get up.

"Hmph..." Su Wu sneered, not caring whether Guo Yaoshi could get up or not, and rode forward into the city. Now, the city was of utmost importance. Facing the Jurchen cavalry, each city was Su Wu's reliance.

Guo, the pharmacist, looked anxious. At this point, the city had already been mentioned, but all he got in return was two cold snorts from Su. How could he not be worried? He quickly looked to the side and said, "Mr. Xu, what should we do? My husband doesn't believe me!"

Xu Guanzhong waved his hand slightly: "It's alright, it's alright... Commander, there's no rush. How many troops are guarding Zhuozhou ahead?"

“There are several thousand soldiers in Zhuozhou, mostly old and weak, and several hundred Jurchens…” Guo Yaoshi replied.

"Several hundred Jurchens are enough to advance first. Let the chieftain lead the way! If the chieftain is willing to risk his life to advance first, the lord will naturally think highly of him!" Xu Guanzhong said.

"That's..."

"No rush, there's still Yanjing City. There must be at least one or two thousand Jurchens in Yanjing City. The chieftain has breached the walls of Yanjing City before. If he comes again this time, my lord should rely on him as a trusted confidant!"

How could Xu Guanzhong not have a solution?
"Really?" Pharmacist Guo asked.

Xu Guanzhong nodded earnestly: "Of course it's true!"

"Well... alright!" Pharmacist Guo gritted his teeth. His men would likely suffer heavy losses this time, but for the sake of the future, they had to risk their lives. They were already a resentful army formed from people who couldn't survive...

Do it!

Xu Guanzhong was saying, "Commander, hurry back to your troops, boost morale, and fight to the death! Don't let me lose face in front of you, sir."

Pharmacist Guo then got up from the ground, nodded and cupped his hands: "I'll be going now, sir, please rest assured!"

With that, Guo Yaoshi mounted his horse and galloped away, intending to have a heart-to-heart talk with his brothers. This time, there was truly no turning back.

Upon entering the city, Su Wu went to the government office to handle affairs, while his troops also rested, replenished their supplies, and had a hearty meal.

Xu Guanzhong stood in front of him and smiled slightly, "Your two cold snorts were truly excellent!"

"You and I are of the same mind without even planning it..." Su Wu smiled as well.

"It's truly worry-free to consult with you, sir! You are brilliant!" Xu Guanzhong praised again.

"It is indeed your brilliance, sir!" Su Wu also praised.

"Hehe... Husband, then we don't need to wait for General Wang Bing anymore. We can quickly capture Zhuozhou and Yanjing. We can send General Liu Guangshi south to capture Xiongzhou. Xiongzhou is a strong city and can block the Jurchens from crossing the former Song-Liao border. In this way, the Jurchens will have to give up a lot of things in Xiongzhou... We can also send General Yao Pingzhong to Tanzhou to guard the Shengkou and Gubeikou passes. General Liu Zhengyan will go to Yingzhou to guard Yuguan, and the most important Wende City. General Lu Da will take Wu Jie and Wu Lin there. In this way, all the major gaps along the Yanshan line will be completely blocked..."

Xu Guanzhong, please speak slowly.

Su Wu simply nodded, but then asked, "What about the cities of Yan and Yun?"

"The cities of Yan and Yun need not be concerned with. They have already been ravaged by the Jurchens. The people have either been abducted or fled. There is no money or food to replenish the cities. Just focus on Yanjing, Zhuozhou, Hongzhou, and Fengshengzhou. Yanjing will be overseen by you, my lord. Hongzhou will be managed by General Datong. Fengshengzhou is near Wende City, so General Lu Da will be in charge..."

Xu Guanzhong paused here.

Su Wu chimed in, "And there's another Zhuozhou, could it be Guo the Pharmacist again?"

Xu Guanzhong smiled and said, "He was originally the garrison commander of Zhuozhou in the Liao Dynasty. Zhuozhou is a fortified city. Let's see if he puts in his best effort when he attacks Zhuozhou again. If he does, it won't hurt him to defend it. Even if Zhuozhou falls again in the future, it won't be a big deal. They are all empty cities anyway. Only Yanjing City is safe from the Jurchens. Your Excellency can personally oversee Yanjing and see how the Jurchens will retreat!"

"Alright, once we've rested enough, let's set off. Let's see if Pharmacist Guo will fight for Zhuozhou City!" Su Wu really wanted to see if Pharmacist Guo was truly willing to risk his life!
Before long, the army headed towards Zhuozhou.

Inside the city of Tokyo, payments began. The first installment consisted of four to five million taels of silver, not much gold, but two to three hundred thousand bolts of silk, all to be transported out of the city…

They were really working hard to loot the city, and every household was willing to contribute some money, so the first payment was easy to get.

It will only get harder from now on...

Wanyan Zongwang accepted the money, but was furious: "The money came slowly, and they said they were raising it, but where is the document ceding Taiyuan, Zhongshan, and Hejian?"

The Song man who brought the money was trembling with fear, saying, "I'll go back and ask, I'll go back and ask, he'll probably come soon!"

Wanyan Zongwang simply said, "If I don't see this, tomorrow I'll kill that Prince Kang and throw his head into the city!"

Barbarians have their own way of doing things, and they have their own kind of wisdom. Just like in the past, when the State of Chu attacked the State of Sui, Sui asked Chu, "I am innocent, why are you attacking me?"

Chu said, "I am a barbarian."

At this moment, Wanyan Zongwang was acting like a barbarian, using barbaric behavior to intimidate the Song people. "You think I'm savage and unreasonable? Then I'll show you savagery and see if you're afraid..."

To say that Wanyan Zongwang and the other Jurchens were barbarians is clearly not true. Even Wanyan Aguda was a man who valued morality and promises the most.

The news naturally reached the capital city of Tokyo, where officials were in court and even the emperor frowned.

Just yesterday, there was no discussion about ceding territory at all; all we talked about was money. Why is that?

Has everyone forgotten?

Actually, no, it's just that everyone was intentionally keeping quiet, they all understood each other without saying a word.

After all, whoever spoke first and nodded first will inevitably be remembered as a sinner for all time, no matter how the story spreads.

Giving money would be fine, as long as we can regain our dignity later. After all, even the Khan Li Shimin did something like that – a feigned compliance…

Ceding ancestral land is a different matter; even if it is reclaimed in the future, the perpetrators' infamy cannot be completely washed away.

Taiyuan, Zhongshan, and Hejian are extremely important strategic locations. If they are ceded, future battles will be extremely difficult...

This matter must be discussed today; everyone is looking to the Emperor…

What is the Emperor's opinion?

The emperor also looked at everyone... and asked them what they thought.
Ultimately, no one took it seriously and spoke up.

The emperor said, "Give them a sum of money, and the barbarians outside the city will be temporarily appeased. I can finally get a good night's sleep tonight..."

The emperor made no comment...

Everyone looked at the prime minister, Bai Shizhong, who spoke up: "Your Majesty has truly worked tirelessly for the country!"

No attitude at all...

"Gentlemen, let's discuss this. We can't just stand by and watch my ninth brother be killed by the Jurchens!"

The emperor was getting anxious. The matter was of great importance. If he couldn't resolve the immediate issue, a war would break out, and he would inevitably have to flee. Once he fled, his imperial throne would be invalid. No matter where he was, even if he returned to Tokyo, the retired emperor would surely resume his reign one day.

Only when the emperor firmly sits in Tokyo and resolves the crisis for the country can his throne be secure!

This team cannot be disbanded.

The emperor is also making moves. Just now, Geng Nanzhong, the former Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince's Palace, was promoted to Grand Secretary of the Zizheng Hall and signed as a Privy Councilor. He has become the second-in-command of the Privy Council, which is actually the top position. At this moment, Tong Guan has left with the retired emperor.

Geng Nanzhong's promotion was so significant that he had skipped countless ranks.

Geng Nanzhong, the Privy Councilor, eager to share the Emperor's burdens, spoke up: "His Highness Prince Kang has sacrificed himself for the country and is in grave danger. How can we not rescue him? If such a loyal and courageous minister is not rescued, how can the people win their hearts? Moreover, there are family ties involved; we cannot stand idly by! You all must think of a way..."

Everyone remained silent...

For a moment, a strange and eerie atmosphere arose.

They neither agreed nor disagreed.

that……

Geng Nanzhong, being somewhat clever, observed both the emperor and the court officials, and said in one sentence: "Since none of you have anything to say, then let's not discuss it further. You may all return to your duties..."

The emperor was puzzled. What was his most trusted confidant, Geng Nanzhong, doing?

Geng Nanzhong quickly winked at the emperor a few times, and the emperor nodded and waved his hand, and everyone dispersed.

Once everyone had dispersed, the emperor asked, "This time..."

Geng Nanzhong replied directly, "Your Majesty, since this matter cannot be discussed, then just proceed with it. Let the Secretariat and the Chancellery carry it out. I will go and inquire about it..."

The Emperor suddenly realized that Geng Nanzhong's matter was indeed quite interesting, so he nodded and said, "Very well, I will grant you another position as Vice Minister of the Chancellery. Go to the Chancellery and Secretariat immediately and inquire about it..."

Why bother asking?
Just go ahead and draft the document. Don't ask who drafted it or care who drafted it. When the document from the Secretariat-Chancellery arrives, the Emperor himself will affix his seal and signature.

Thus, everything was a mess, no one was at fault, and no one could be found to take the blame. In any case, the emperor only affixed his seal because his ministers were in agreement...

As for which official it was, we really don't know...

The cession of three prefectures, which were important border towns, was done in such a muddled way.

Prince Kang, Zhao Gou, will not be killed tomorrow.

Wang Bing was unaware that his Taiyuan Prefecture had been ceded to the Jurchens. He was still setting up defenses in Datong and continuing to transport grain and fodder to Su Wu.

What is Su Wu doing?
Guo the Pharmacist was at the forefront, leading over ten thousand resentful soldiers, desperately climbing towards the top of Zhuozhou city.

This time, Su Wu wouldn't take the lead and do it himself; he would just sit quietly and watch.

Look how diligently Guo the Pharmacist is working. Zhuozhou is his old territory; he knows exactly where the breaches are in the city walls, and where the steps are inside…

He knew the city's roads and traffic like the back of his hand, where to launch the main attack, where to launch a feint attack, and how the enemy would come and go to provide support from afar and at a slower pace...

Watch as Pharmacist Guo attacks here and there.

The truly skilled warriors in the city numbered only a few hundred Jurchens. The Jurchen elites were all located in the south, as were the elite troops of the Jurchen's subordinate forces.

All that could be seen was Guo Yaoshi fighting in several moves, which seemed a bit flashy, but it was actually quite effective. He managed to keep the Jurchens on the city wall busy, and Guo Yaoshi finally managed to stand firmly on the city wall.

Even after the city walls were secured, a fierce battle was still to come.

Su Wu was also worried that Guo Yaoshi's troops might not be able to hold out in the fierce battle against the Jurchens, so he raised his hand and said, "Lin Chong, lead two battalions forward. If Guo Yaoshi is losing, go up to the city to provide reinforcements!"

When Guo Yaoshi saw that reinforcements were coming from outside the city, his heart tightened and he shouted, "Brothers, don't retreat! Charge with me! Charge with me!"

Urgent, truly urgent, for it is believed that Master Su thinks he is not brave enough to fight and is unwilling to risk his life, and is still cowering.

He immediately swung the hammer, and the armor crackled and popped!
We're about to pass Zhuozhou.

Su Wu smiled on the platform, but he still needed to be intimidated before he would truly risk his life.

I'm off to Yanjing!
I wonder what the situation is like in Tokyo, and whether the Jurchens have received news of Su Wu's departure from Datong and entry into Yanyun...

(Here it comes! Brothers, eight thousand... There have been quite a lot lately, mostly eight thousand or ten thousand...)
(End of this chapter)