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

Chapter 693 Carriages Clash, Close Combat Erupts

Chapter 693 Carriages Clash, Close Combat Erupts (Part 1)
Zhang Congjin felt a shiver run through his body.

He finally figured everything out.

Why did Tudan Hexi have the audacity to place Zhang Zhongyan under house arrest? Why was the Jin army able to assemble an elite force within Guanzhong? And why were these young men from Guanzhong willing to serve under the Jin army?

Because the Emperor of Jin has come in person!

Although the Jin Dynasty is now only half-existing, and the area under Wanyan Liang's rule is not peaceful, it looks like a wasteland.

But he was, after all, a legitimate emperor of the Jin Dynasty... well... one of the emperors of the Jin Dynasty.

With this pretext, Wanyan Liang could legitimately interfere in all affairs of the Jin Kingdom. Whether he tried to win some over or punish others, or made verbal promises, he would eventually win over some people.

The appearance of the Jin emperor on the battlefield had an immediate and significant effect on boosting the morale of the Jin army.

At least when they saw Wanyan Liang deploy his cavalry formation and slowly advance to prepare for battle, the more than four hundred Han soldiers led by Hu Yu were greatly encouraged and shouted loudly.

"Your Majesty, go into battle! Your Majesty, go into battle!"

"Long live!"

The Song soldiers generally didn't recognize what the Golden Banner was, but they weren't deaf. When they heard the Jin army's cheers, they were all slightly taken aback.

As the cheers of the Jin army grew louder and more orderly, the Song army stirred in unison, and the already deployed formation began to tumble and tremble like wheat being blown by the wind.

"quiet!"

"No talking!"

"Form ranks! Advance!"

Officers at all levels loudly issued orders.

Wu Ting's troops were all elites, and the commanders at all levels were seasoned veterans. They knew that since the Jin emperor had appeared on the battlefield in an offensive posture, the morale of the Jin army would continue to rise until Wanyan Liang died or fled, while the morale of the Song army would become increasingly unstable.

Even if the Song army has a numerical advantage now, it's still the same!
Moreover, the Song army's long-distance raid was an advantage given the weak defenses of Guanzhong. If they could capture Chang'an, the people of Guanzhong would likely welcome the royal army with food and drink.

With Wanyan Liang in command, whether the Song army could use the capture of Chang'an as a means to bring about the collapse of the Jin dynasty's rule in Guanzhong was indeed an unknown.

We must take the initiative and launch an attack! We must break through!

The Song army commanders acted swiftly, merging the defensive formations into a single horizontal line, coordinating their advance.

Wu Ting also noticed that something was wrong on the battlefield. After forcibly driving away Hu Yu's light cavalry, he immediately returned to his own banner.

"General Wu! Wanyan Liang has come in person! Things are going to go wrong!" Zhang Congjin said anxiously, "The entire plan is going to be in serious trouble, and Guanzhong is no longer a viable territory!"

Wu Ting wiped the dust mixed with sweat and blood from his face, staring intently at the golden banner. He was not discouraged or at a loss, but gradually became excited and jubilant.

"Steward Zhang, tell me, if we behead Wanyan Liang and cut down that damned banner with its talisman, will this battle be over?"

Zhang Congjin looked at Wu Ting, his mind instantly filled with turmoil.

Do you think I don't know that to catch the thief, you must first catch the king?

But throughout history, how many times have you actually taken the head of an enemy general amidst a vast army?

Guan Yu's slaying of Yan Liang is recorded in history, but why didn't other fierce generals and renowned warriors do the same? Was it simply because they didn't want to?
It's fucking impossible!
However, Wu Ting was different from Zhang Congjin.

He's only twenty-six years old this year, the perfect age to be bold and daring.

In Wu Ting's view, if Wanyan Liang had been hiding in the central command tent, there would have been nothing he could do. But since he dared to break through layers of protection and show himself on the battlefield, he was courting death.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a name for yourself.

However, Zhang Congjin still wanted to advise, "General Wu, you must not be rash! Since the Jin emperor has come, he might have a backup plan. Let's retreat to Fengxiang Prefecture first..."

Zhang Congjin had only spoken halfway when he saw Wu Ting looking at him with a strange expression, and he couldn't help but stop and hesitate.

"General Wu... why do you look at me like that?"

"Tsk, I originally thought that Steward Zhang and Commander Zhang had a good relationship, but now it seems... do you really not want Commander Zhang to die?"

Wu Ting initially spoke slowly, but eventually pointed to the large banner bearing the character "Zhang" behind him and rebuked Zhang Congjin: "Chief Steward Zhang, you have already revealed your true colors before Wanyan Liang! Wanyan Liang has schemed against both me and you. If we don't kill Wanyan Liang, even if his army collapses after returning to Yuanzhou, will he lack soldiers carrying poisoned wine? At that time, won't Commander Zhang be doomed?"

Upon hearing Zhang Zhongyan's name, Zhang Congjin's mind, which had been somewhat confused by the sudden influx of information, abruptly calmed down. Yes, Zhang Congjin could not possibly betray Zhang Zhongyan.

In public opinion, Zhang Zhongyan was the leader of the Kansai Han Chinese faction; in private opinion, Zhang Zhongyan was like a father and an elder brother to him.

Now is the time for Zhang Congjin to die for Zhang Zhongyan!

"General Wu, you're right!" Zhang Congjin removed the hilt from his longsword, his face contorted with rage, and said, "I'll return to the army right now and personally lead my troops into battle!"

Looking at Zhang Congjin's expression, Wu Ting hesitated slightly.

Although the possibility is small, the possibility that Zhang Congjin and Wanyan Liang were working together cannot be ruled out at this point.

But Wu Ting only hesitated slightly.

After all, these are a thousand elite cavalrymen, and they have a lot of room to maneuver on the battlefield.

"Good! General Zhang, you must leave some troops to protect my left flank." Wu Ting pointed his spear at the Jin army's cavalry formation: "Now it's our turn to attack, and we can't hold our ground at all. This terrain is quite unfavorable."

Zhang Congjin, after carefully observing the Jin army's formation, reined in his horse and said, "The Jin army consists entirely of cavalry. In this terrain, infantry cannot catch up. The cavalry should lead the charge and engage the enemy. What signal should we use?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Ting finally broke into a smile: "Chief Steward Zhang, how could I let you lead the charge? Just wait and see when my right flank charges, and then the left flank cavalry will move out!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Congjin slowly nodded, then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, picked up his long sword, took his banner bearing the character "Zhang," and turned to leave.

Before he had taken more than a few steps, Zhang Congjin heard a loud shout from behind him.

"Kill the sugar daddy!"

At first, it was only Wu Ting shouting at the top of his lungs, but then his personal guards joined in the shouting.

Although the army was forbidden to speak during the march, Zhang Congjin could clearly feel that the Song army's morale had surged instantly, breaking free from the state of hesitation and fear they had just been in.

Yes.

Just now we thought the Jin emperor had arrived, and that our army was doomed.

Why didn't they realize that killing the Jin emperor would bring them a life of wealth and honor?!
"Today is the day to make a name for yourself and achieve great things!"

It was Zhang Wen who first launched an attack on the Jin army.

This fellow originally led his troops to camp at Mawei Slope, using the terrain to block the Jin army.

But who would have thought that the tide of battle would turn so quickly? After the rest of the Song army bypassed the hill, dismounted, and formed ranks to attack the Jin army, Zhang Wen's thousand elite troops became somewhat disorganized.

Therefore, Zhang Wen immediately ordered the troops to disband their formation, mount their horses, and charge towards the Jin army.

This cavalry and infantry force quickly approached the Jin army's cavalry formation, braving the harassment of the enemy's light cavalry and armored cavalry, and facing the flying arrows, they formed ranks on the spot.

The Jin army would not sit idly by while the Song army swaggered into battle, and soon three strategists came from three sides to encircle them.

But before the Jin army could get close, they were hit by a hail of arrows.

The Song army had so many archers that after dismounting, hundreds of Song soldiers armed with powerful bows and crossbows began to fire wildly in all directions, and in one fell swoop, the Jin army that had come to meet them in a hurry was shot and fled in panic.

"Quick! Quick!" Zhang Wen shouted, "Spears, push forward! Old Zhao, Little Sun, each of you take two men and push forward!"

"Six Flower Formation! Form the Six Flower Formation!"

Taking advantage of this precious time, Zhang Wen's troops quickly formed a six-flower formation, which, like a nail, was crookedly stuck in front of the Jin army's side.

If the Jin army does not deal with Zhang Wen's troops, then the advance and retreat of Wanyan Liang's cavalry formation will be slowed down.

Upon seeing this, Wu Ting burst into laughter: "Old Zhang is truly outstanding! He deserves the greatest credit for this victory!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Jin army finally made some moves.

A force of about a hundred elite armored cavalrymen, bearing the banner of "Tudan," broke away from the formation of the "Guaizi Ma" (a type of cavalry formation).

They did not directly attack Zhang Wen's Six Flower Formation, nor did they try to break through the Song army's horizontal formation that had spread out. Instead, they took torches and arrows and began to drive away the warhorses that Zhang Wen had left behind.

Didn't you want to stay put?
Then don't leave!
(End of this chapter)