Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 475 Heavy Snow Full of Bows and Swords
"Your Majesty! We must not stop now!"

"It's freezing cold, we can't even tell which way is which. We've already lost our way. Aren't you afraid of walking into a trap if you don't figure out the direction?"

The night was deep, and at the foot of Baochan Mountain, there was a strong wind and snow.

Having just escaped from the pursuit of the Song army, Hu Temo, a close attendant of Wanyan Liang, had an argument with Daqingshan.

At this point, only seventy or eighty men remained at Wanyan Liang's side. This wasn't a case of the generals scattering after a defeat; Wanyan Liang had been deserted by his friends and relatives. Some of the Jin soldiers gave up their horses, dismounted, and fought on foot to stop the pursuers.

Some Jin troops, under the command of Da Huaizhong, fled in other directions to create confusion.

In addition, it was a snowy night, and the natural shelter provided by the environment caused many armored cavalry to run the wrong way without realizing it.

Although there were only a few people left at this time, in Da Huaizhong's opinion, these people were enough to ensure Wanyan Liang's safety. On the one hand, there were enough horses, and each person had three or four spare horses, which was enough to ensure speed; on the other hand, these seventy or eighty people were loyal, brave and reliable enough to ensure that the Song army that could catch up would not be defeated, and those that could be defeated would not be caught up.

At this time, it had been nearly two hours since they broke out from the foot of Tangshan Mountain. After galloping all the way and exhausting dozens of war horses to death, this small fleeing team finally slowed down. The reason was very simple.

They got lost.

"The Song troops who dared to fight in Lianghuai and Jiangnan are all in Chao County. Why would we fall into this trap?" Although Hu Temo's arm was bandaged, blood still seeped from the bandage. His face was pale and he looked shaky. However, he was determined to run as far as possible to avoid being caught by the Song army.

"There are many cases in history where famous generals and teachers who retreated were killed by the hands of the untouchables because of exhaustion. Is it possible not to find a place to rest?" Daqingshan said gritting his teeth.

To be fair, both of them had some truth in what they said. However, for Da Huaizhong, there were also two difficulties.

On the one hand, Da Huaizhong did not believe that the Song army in Chao County today would give up the pursuit, and perhaps they were already approaching.

On the other hand, it was freezing cold, and if they marched in the snow at night, even the strongest and toughest soldiers would get seriously ill from the cold if they didn't get enough rest and food!

Da Huaizhong could not care less about the life and death of others, but he could not ignore the safety of his own master.

"Your Majesty..." Da Huaizhong, dressed in armor, rode his horse to Wanyan Liang's side, holding a torch high. "Would you like to rest for a while?"

Although Wanyan Liang was tired, hungry and cold, he understood that although heavy snow could cover the march of a small group of troops, it would take time. If the Song army was chasing them, any trace of their march would definitely be discovered.

What’s more crucial is that they are still in Song territory at this time. It would be too unfair if they were surrounded and killed by a group of militia farmers.

"I'm fine..." Wanyan Liang struggled to say this, then looked around in the firelight. He saw only exhausted faces on the soldiers around him. He quickly changed his words and said, "But we are exhausted. There is not a single tile here. We must find a house first."

It wasn't that Wanyan Liang had any compassion. In times of trouble, the most dangerous weren't the high-ranking officials and generals with heavy troops, but the squad leaders and sergeants wielding sharp blades. If they turned against him, even if they simply dispersed, Wanyan Liang would lose his last remaining protection, not to mention blood splattered within five steps and mourning spread across the land.

Da Huaizhong nodded, raised his spear, and shouted at Hu Temo, "There's the sound of water about a hundred paces ahead. Send a few men over there and find a bridge to cross the river. Search along the river upstream and downstream, and you'll definitely find the village."

Hu Temo didn't waste any time and quickly ordered several Jin soldiers to disperse and explore the way forward in the wind and snow.

The cavalry team marched without stopping and soon arrived at the river.

The river was only slightly wider than a ditch, and only about ten steps from the other bank. If the Jin army encountered such an obstacle during a normal march, they wouldn't even bother looking for a bridge and would simply float across the river. However, in snowy conditions like today, forcing a crossing by exhausted soldiers would be a real loss of life!

Fortunately, it wasn't long before the scouts downstream reported that they had found a bridge. Not far from the bridge was a village. Although there were traces of fighting, there were still more than a dozen intact houses, enough for the seventy or eighty Jin cavalry to spend the night safely.

However, when Wanyan Liang finally arrived at the village, he found that only a few of the intact houses were usable. The rest were littered with corpses and blood. Although it was the coldest time of the year, the houses had begun to rot and stink, making them uninhabitable.

The Jin army did not dare to disperse, and simply gathered in a spacious courtyard in the village. They braved the wind and snow to chop wood, fetch water, and make a fire. They took out the dry food and dried meat they carried with them from their saddles and put them in their helmets to cook.

Wanyan Liang maintained his commanding style, standing in the snow, sword in hand. As the saying goes, a general won't complain of thirst until the well is filled. Whether it was a show or a sincere gesture, Wanyan Liang would lead by example and stabilize the morale of his troops.

Soon, the bodies in several houses were carried out and piled aside. The walls of the houses were knocked down by the Jin army, leaving only the pillars to serve as stables.

After a while, the batter made from a mixture of dry food and dried meat was ready. After Da Huaizhong and Hu Temo counted the number of people, they came to Wanyan Liang with the food.

"Your Majesty, there are a total of seventy-one armored cavalrymen, one hundred and eighty-three war horses, and all the weapons are enough to escort Your Majesty to the north." Da Huaizhong held the helmet filled with meat porridge in both hands, as if he could not feel the heat.

"Have you settled in?"

"Your Majesty, the rotation of night watch and rest has been arranged." Hu Temo took over the conversation and said respectfully.

Wanyan Liang did not take the food, but asked several close ministers to go back to the house with him.

This house is quite large and should be a ancestral hall for local nobles. Although the wind is freezing, Wanyan Liang did not close the door tightly. Instead, he built a fire in the middle of the room so that his subordinates can clearly see his position.

After they ate in silence for a while, Wan Yanliang broke the silence.
"I just don't know how many of our troops can escape." Wanyan Liang sighed.

Hu Temo quickly approached and said, "The Song army at the foot of Tangshan has been driven away by armored cavalry. Our army can escape from there and return north. The Song army has few horses, so those who cannot catch up will surely escape."

This is nonsense.

In such heavy snow, war horses were lost too quickly. And if the defeated Jin army relied solely on their two legs, how could they escape the pursuit of the Song army? And how could they withstand the wrath of the people of Huaixi?

"The defeat this time is entirely due to my incompetent command. All the generals fought bravely and made no mistakes. Alas, being stubborn and self-righteous is the way to death. This is what Wen Dun Sizhong warned me before he died, but I..." After Wanyan Liang finished speaking, he choked up for a moment.

The losses were so heavy that even someone as arrogant as Wanyan Liang felt heartbroken.

However, as soon as these words were spoken, the close ministers around him hurriedly comforted Wanyan Liang and also breathed a sigh of relief.

To be fair, who bears the greatest responsibility for this debacle?

Naturally, it was Da Huaizhen, who led an army of ten thousand households but lost both Chao County and Luzhou; the second was Han Tang, who led an army of ten thousand households but failed to stop the Cai Shi army or the Chao County army.

This actually has nothing to do with whether they tried their best or not. Victory is victory, defeat is defeat. The result of losing troops and territory is there, and no one can excuse it.

Only Da Huaizheng and Han Tang died in battle to repay their country, so there is no way to hold them accountable.

If a large-scale liquidation were to take place, the intentions of the Bohai clan and the Han clan's influence in the Central Plains would have to be considered. Any carelessness would lead to civil unrest.

Now that Wanyan Liang has taken the blame on himself, it can be said that everyone is happy.

"Your Majesty..." Da Huaizhong sat cross-legged, lowered his head and was about to say something, but his ears moved and he raised his hand to tell Hu Temo and Da Qingshan to shut up.

"The sound of horse hooves, more than ten riders." Da Huaizhong stood up and said.

"Hu Temo, protect His Majesty. You two come with me to take a look." Da Huaizhong picked up the iron spear and pointed at the two Hezhameng'ans.

After saying this, without waiting for Wanyan Liang's response, Da Huaizhong rushed directly to the small bridge at the entrance of the village with two neatly armed soldiers.

"Didn't you say there was a village here? Where is the village?"

Wanyan Wangxiang pulled the rope hard, causing a man who was staggering behind the horse to fall to the ground.

The man was dressed in rags, his shoes were worn out, and his two pairs of feet were dragged into a bloody mess.

"It's... it's nearby... there's a small bridge. Just cross the bridge and it's..." The man stood up shivering, not knowing whether he was cold or scared.

"Where's the bridge?"

"The snow is so heavy..."

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Wangxiang was about to draw his sword, but a voice stopped him.

"Wang Xiang!"

"Father." Wanyan Wangxiang turned and looked at Wanyan Yuanyi. Wanyan Yuanyi, holding his right arm, sat on his horse with a pale face, pointing to the side and front.

Although the wind and snow partially blocked the view, more than thirty steps away, several torches pierced the night and passed on the light.

Wanyan Wangxiang was delighted. He called his two attendants and led the prisoner on horseback towards the fire.

"Stop! Who is coming?!"

Just as the warhorse stepped onto the bridge, a loud shout came from the other side.

"Put down your bow." Although Wanyan Wangxiang could only see shadowy figures, he recognized the voices from the other side. He asked the guard beside him to put back the drawn bow and arrow, and responded loudly: "I am Wanyan Wangxiang, the inspector. How is your majesty?"

Da Huaizhong had already seen a gourd helmet with the help of the other party's torch, so he asked the question.

"Don't say too much. Where is Minister Wanyan?" Da Huaizhong did not answer the question directly.

"I'm here!" Wanyan Yuanyi also rushed over and shouted in response, "Mr. Li is here too!"

Li Tong's face turned pale. He drove his horse forward upon hearing that. He didn't know if he was frightened or tired, cold or hungry, or maybe all of the above, but his whole body was shaking violently. However, he still came under the torch so that the people on the other side of the stream could see him.

Da Huaizhong stepped onto the bridge only after seeing Li Tong, holding up the torch and saying, "There's a village ahead with plenty of houses. I'll wait there and rest."

As Wanyan Wangxiang breathed a sigh of relief, his hands involuntarily relaxed.

The prisoner he was leading seemed to have noticed this as well. He seized the opportunity and suddenly bumped into the neck of Wanyan Wangxiang's horse.

The warhorse let out a scream and was about to fall to the side. Wanyan Wangxiang quickly tightened the reins with both hands to control the horse.

We are on a bridge, and the wooden bridge is only three or four steps wide. If both people and horses fall into the river, it will be no joke.

"You are looking for death!" Wanyan Wangxiang was furious. He drew the long sword from his waist and was about to kill the prisoner on the spot.

However, the prisoner was also a man who knew the situation. He did not think of killing Wanyan Wangxiang. Instead, he took advantage of the other party's control of the horse, broke free from the rope, jumped off the bridge, and jumped into the icy river.

"Shoot him to death!" Wanyan Wangxiang was furious and ordered his guards.

"Enough! Save some arrows!" Wanyan Yuanyi scolded loudly.

Wanyan Wangxiang quickly bowed his head and said nothing.

Wanyan Yuanyi took a few deep breaths, supported his right arm, and said to Da Huaizhong, "My son is incompetent. I'm sorry, General. Is Your Majesty here? Is Your Majesty well?"

Although Da Huaizhong did not stop the prisoner, he knew that jumping into the river in such weather would be tantamount to seeking death, so he did not care at all and simply replied to Wanyan Yuanyi in a serious tone: "Your Majesty is resting in the village and is very safe."

Wanyan Yuanyi breathed a sigh of relief: "In that case, please lead the way quickly, General."

Regardless of how Wanyan Yuanyi and Li Tong got along with Wanyan Liang when they met, Wanyan Yuanyi showed his ability, Li Tong showed his loyalty, and Wanyan Liang showed his magnanimity, all of them looking disgusting as if they were jointly building the feudalism with the characteristics of the Great Jin Dynasty.

The prisoner did not die.

He jumped into the water and swam downstream. After drinking a bellyful of cold water, he was finally caught by his belt by a twisted tree root that had reached into the river before he lost consciousness.

The prisoner relied on the last bit of clarity in his mind and climbed ashore by grabbing the tree roots.

After spitting out several mouthfuls of cold water, the prisoner suddenly felt warmth on his body and began to have hallucinations.

That was Yanzhou, Shandong, the prisoner's hometown.

Before the disaster struck, his family had dozens of acres of land, a wife, children, and a large yard. The old and the young were content and happy.

Now everything is over. All the cultivated land has been replaced by wasteland, and the men in the family have been conscripted into the army and sent to Lianghuai to serve as pawns for Wanyan Liang.

I wonder how the whole family, young and old, can survive on dozens of acres of wasteland. Are my parents okay? Have my son and daughter grown up? Has my wife remarried because she couldn't bear the hardship?

"Dad, Mom, A Yue..." The prisoner recited a few names, struggled to stand up, and staggered forward.

"Can't stop...can't stop...I have to go back alive to see them...I have to go back alive to see them!!!"

With such a belief, the man ran in the opposite direction of the river. He actually didn't know which bank he was on, and he didn't want to figure it out at this moment, he just ran, and kept running.

The cold wind froze the blood that was whipped out, but it melted with the falling snowflakes as he ran, flowing down his cheeks into his eyes, making the man's eyes blood red.

It was unknown how long he had been running, perhaps half a quarter of an hour, perhaps an hour, but the man noticed several flashes of fire in his eyes.

The man's thoughts almost stopped, and he didn't react for a moment to what this meant. It was not until the rumbling sound of horse hooves reached his ears that the man showed fear on his face and wanted to hide.

"Ah, ah, ah... Watch the road! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

The warhorse stood up. Guan Chongyan, who was leading the way in front, saw the man ramming into his warhorse as if he was trying to scammers, so he quickly pulled the reins and angrily scolded the man in front of him.

The man just stared at Guan Chongyan blankly, and after a moment he collapsed to the ground, crying bitterly.

"what happened?"

Liu Huai held the torch, wrapped his robe around himself, and then came to the front of the queue.

"Who is this person?" Liu Huai pointed at the man who was soaked and ragged and asked Guan Chongyan.

Guan Chongyan felt that this person looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head.

"Hey, man, have you seen a large group of Jin thieves' cavalry? Which direction are they in?" Liu Huai thought for a while, took out a pancake from his saddlebag and threw it to the man.

The man took the bread and cried even harder.

Liu Huai shook his head, signaled Guan Chongyan to continue leading the way, and called on dozens of armored cavalry behind him to continue the pursuit.

"General...it's me...I'm Gu Shun...I'm Gu Shun!" The man stood up tremblingly, holding the bread in his hand, and said loudly to Guan Chongyan, almost shouting the last sentence.

Gu Shun?

Guan Chongyan was stunned for a moment, not being able to figure out who this person was. Then, when he saw the other person holding the pancake, he suddenly realized.

This person was the Shandong man who escaped from the Jin army with several Huaixi soldiers when Guan Chongyan and others crossed the river to the west bank of the river to contact Yang Chun on the eve of Li Dao's death and the Jingnan army crossed the river to attack Yuxikou and Dongguan.

It was the same at that time. Gu Shun took the bread given to him by Guan Chongyan and distributed it to several other people from Huaixi.

"Why are you here?" Guan Chongyan asked, "Didn't I tell you to find a way to cross the river and hide?"

However, Gu Shun did not answer him.

"I know where the Jin emperor is! General! General, do you want to kill him?!" Gu Shun stared at Liu Huai with bloodshot eyes. He didn't know if it was caused by the blood flowing in or the firelight. He clenched the bread tightly with both hands, and the bread crumbs fell to the ground from between his fingers: "General! Kill him! Let's vent our anger for all the men in the world!"

Liu Huai nodded: "Chen Liulang, go gather the troops! Tell them that we have caught the fox by the tail!"

"We'll gather right here, right here at Zhangjiaweizi!"

(End of this chapter)