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

Chapter 926 In this world, there are always two dilemmas.

"Don't try to persuade them anymore!"

Wanyan Yong rarely lost his temper, and he shouted in the hall: "What time is it now? Still talking about whether my status is noble or not? Do you think I can escape this calamity after the army on the front line is defeated?"

Prime Minister Li Shi, forcing a smile, said, "Your Majesty, in a great battle, swords and spears have no eyes..."

Wanyan Yong immediately turned his back on his uncle: "So what? It's safe to stay in Yanjing, but if we lose because of conflicting orders, do you think I can escape death?"

Even if they survive, must they be forced to strip naked and lead a sheep through the Five Kingdoms City like those two Song emperors? Is this the kind of humiliation a gentleman can endure?

Li Shi immediately fell silent.

Tudankening, steeling himself, advised, "Your Majesty, I will certainly do my duty and hold firm this time. We will absolutely not be defeated."

With the sudden attack of the Han army, the Jin army had no choice but to change its strategy of "closing the door and releasing the dogs" and concentrate its main force to deal with the Han army's offensive.

However, the Jin army still dared not engage in a strategic decisive battle with the Han army. This was not only due to the difference in morale, but also because the Jin army was no match for the Han army in terms of actual combat strength.

Therefore, Tudankening's strategic objective for the Jin army was to retreat, lengthen the Han army's supply lines, hold firm in certain locations, and then allow the Mongols to wreak havoc in the undefended rear of the Han army in order to cut off their food supplies.

If the Han army were to divide its forces to return and deal with the Mongols, then the Jin army could concentrate its superior forces to fight a decisive battle.

If the Han army disregards everything and fights the Jin army to the death, then if the Jin army holds out for two months, the Han army will collapse without a fight due to lack of clothing and food.

Under a strategic defensive posture, there weren't many tactical options available; the Jin army was simply holding out on the defensive line.

As emperor, Wanyan Yong's role in handling state affairs from the rear was far more effective than going to the front lines to brave the cold wind.

And there's also a story that's best left unsaid.

Wanyan Yong was not a military emperor. His only time on the battlefield was as a diplomat and cheerleader in Linhuang Prefecture. He made no military achievements.

But given Wanyan Yong's position, should Tudan Kening obey the orders he issued on the battlefield?

Sending orders from two different sources will lead to serious trouble.

Wanyan Yong merely snorted coldly, then glared at Tudan Kening with dark circles under his eyes: "If I didn't back you up, do you really think you could control those arrogant and fierce soldiers?"
Moreover, after carefully analyzing the outcome of the Battle of Daming Prefecture, I realized that if Zhi Ning had been able to throw out all of his remaining 10,000 elite troops, the outcome might have been different.

However, Zhi Ning is ultimately not the Emperor. At crucial moments, he was unable to make a decision that risked the fate of the nation, leading to his utter defeat.

"Given Zhi Ning's example, how could I possibly allow you to shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"

Tudankening's breathing was somewhat heavy.

It's true that generals are all gamblers, but there are very few generals who would dare to gamble everything knowing that a single battle could determine the fate of a nation.

At the very least, Tudan Kening felt he couldn't withstand that kind of pressure.

The decisions that determine the rise and fall of a nation truly require the emperor's personal intervention.

"Besides, Liu's attack is like that of ghosts and gods. If I hadn't been there to hold the line, could our army have really withstood Liu's attack?"

Seeing that Tudan Kening remained silent, Wanyan Yong knew he had persuaded his Grand Marshal, and then issued the first military order for this battle: "All troops, proceed! Join forces with the army of Zhen Ding Prefecture!"

At this time, the army gathered in Yanjing numbered only 20,000, of which 10,000 had come from beyond the Great Wall.

Of the remaining 10,000 Jin Kingdom regular troops, the most powerful force... or rather, the force equivalent to the emperor's personal guard, was naturally the 6,000 loyal and filial soldiers led by Wen Dunqizhi.

The military order to march forward was immediately delivered to Wendun Qizhi. As a general of the commander level, he naturally had nothing to say and immediately mustered his troops to prepare to escort the emperor into Zhen Ding Prefecture.

Before setting off, in the main tent of the Loyal and Filial Army, Wen Dunqizhi unexpectedly, yet predictably, encountered a person.

“Old Liu, you shouldn’t go with the army this time,” Wendun Qizhi said with a smile. “The outcome of this battle is uncertain. You are all weak and helpless; you’ll die if you get hurt.”

Dressed in white, as if in mourning, Liu Yungu remained silent for a long time before finally laughing and saying, "Qizhi, do you think our soldiers don't need to exchange spoils for money in this battle?"

Wen Dunqi spoke frankly: "That would only work if there were spoils of war. This time, the odds are really against us."

"Ha, if I had the skill to snatch the spoils from Liu Dalang, Shandong would still be under the control of the Jin Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunggu fell silent again, then pulled out a thick letter from his sleeve: "This is a letter from the old lady that she asked me to deliver."

Unlike usual, Wen Dunqi did not immediately tear open the letter. Instead, he looked at the envelope on the table, chuckled to himself, and asked, "What's written inside?"

Liu Yung-ku shook his head: "I don't know. You can check the seal of the inkpad; no one has opened it."

Wendun Qizhi waved his hand: "No, what I mean is, did you see this letter before it was put into the envelope?"
Or perhaps it was Mother who wrote this letter at the instruction of the King of Han? Although there were only two people in the tent, there was a fire pit in the middle, so the commander's tent was still warm.

However, as soon as Wen Dunqizhi uttered those words, the tent instantly felt like an ice cave.

But Liu Yunggu was only slightly taken aback before shaking his head and laughing: "The King of Han seized the world openly and honestly, and never used any underhanded tricks. Otherwise, how could he have conquered a vast territory in just a few years, and how could so many heroes have willingly served the King of Han?"

Would such a heroic figure order the mistreatment of an old woman?

Wen Dunqi tilted his head and thought for a moment, then could only nod and smile, "That's true. Besides, with the Han King's army so powerful, how could they possibly outmaneuver a mere commander of the Loyal and Filial Army like me?"

Despite this, Winston Kiss never opened the envelope.

Liu Yung-gu didn't pay much attention, but asked curiously, "Qi-zhi, when did you realize I was a spy for the Prince of Han?"

Wen Dunqizhi: "I'm not stupid. Even if I didn't know at first, with your connections and influence reaching such a high level, and your ability to move freely in Han territory, I should have some guesses."

"I was just trying to bluff, I didn't expect you to actually say it yourself."

Liu Yunggu said irritably, "You underestimate me too much. With your rough and simple mind, if I didn't want to tell you, who could trick me into it?"

The two had known each other for several years, and their relationship had become more than just a simple one of mutual benefit; it had developed into a close friendship. Therefore, even now that it was time to confront each other, they still spoke without restraint.

Both men knew that after the Shandong Wendun tribe was incorporated into the Han army, they were under the rule of the Han army. Therefore, Wendun Qizhi could not possibly kill Liu Yunggu. Thus, the two men took the opportunity to move past the stage of threatening and intimidating each other.

"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Liu Yunggu, the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Faced with Liu Yungu's sudden candor, Wen Dunqizhi remained calm and said indifferently, "Have you come here to persuade me to surrender?"

Liu Yung-gu nodded emphatically: "That's right, Qi-zhi. The King of Han is now ordained by Heaven. The Jurchen are a small tribe. Although they are rampant for a time, they will not last long."

General Wendun, now is the perfect time to pledge allegiance to the King of Han!

Wen Dunqi shook his head and sighed: "Are you advising me as a friend, or as that damned Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

“That was the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard just now, and next up is my friend.” Liu Yunggu simply pulled up a stool and sat down in front of Wendun Qizhi. He first sighed before saying in a deep voice, “Qizhi, I am both a subject of the King of Han and have been mingling in Youyan and Hebei for a long time. Do you think I can’t tell who is stronger and who is weaker?”

Forgive my bluntness, but after the Battle of Damingfu, the Jin Dynasty was finished. No matter how much it struggled afterward, it was merely prolonging its existence.

Liu Yung-ku pointed to the thick envelope: "Although I don't know the contents of the letter, I suppose the old lady is also trying to persuade Qi-zhi to defect. Parents always think long-term for their children. If the Jin Kingdom could really be restored, why would the old lady advise you to surrender?"

Wen Dunqi reached for the envelope, but then pulled it back as if he had been electrocuted: "Old Liu, wouldn't it have been better if you had explained this to me when we first met?"

Liu Yung-ku chuckled: "At that time, I was isolated behind enemy lines, and the King of Han was still recovering the Central Plains and Huaibei. How could I dare to do that?"

Wen Dunqi thought for a moment, then chuckled and nodded, "Indeed, if I were in that situation, I wouldn't have dared to reveal my identity either, but..."

Wen Dunqi's words became unusually sincere. Looking into Liu Yunggu's eyes, he said, "But if you had won me over back then, I would have been a subject of the King of Han from beginning to end, and I would have been at peace with myself no matter what I did."

But now I have received a great favor from His Majesty. If I do not repay it with my life, but instead betray His Majesty and cause the situation to deteriorate, how will history record me in the future? A fickle and treacherous villain?

Liu Yung-ku looked at Wen Dun-qi-zhi with a complicated expression: "It was my mistake not to pull you over immediately that day. Is it really too late to make amends now?"

Wen Dunqizhi's face showed an expression that was both crying and laughing: "I am a defeated general. After arriving in Hebei, I was first taken as a confidant by His Majesty and entrusted with important tasks. When I formed the Loyal and Filial Army, His Majesty simply treated my army as his personal guard, giving them his own clothes and food. How can I repay such a great kindness?"

Liu Yunggu's breathing was a little heavy, but the next moment, he actually grabbed Wen Dunqizhi's arm directly: "Then I will only save you, Qizhi, come with me, okay? Let's take refuge in Yanshan for a while. I don't want any merit. The Loyal and Filial Army can continue to fight against the King of Han. We can spend half a year peacefully in the mountains, how about it?"

Wen Dunqi's arms were as hard as iron, and he slowly shook his head again: "Since our army takes loyalty and filial piety as its name, it should naturally take loyalty and filial piety as its mission."

Old Liu, please don't try to persuade me anymore. If you truly consider me a friend, then I'd like to ask you a favor.

I have a house in Yanjing, and in the backyard are buried the gold and silver I've accumulated over the years, all of them are very clean. I will give you one-third of it; you will offer the remaining half to the King of Han for me, and apologize to the King of Han on my behalf. Tell him that I fought against the King of Han on the battlefield, each serving our own master, and although I know it was against the will of Heaven, I still followed my heart.

"Give the last half to my mother. Tell her that loyalty and filial piety are difficult to reconcile, but thankfully, my fifth and sixth sons can take care of her, so I can die in peace."

Seeing that he could not persuade Wen Dunqi, Liu Yunggu could only cover his face with his sleeve amidst tears streaming down his face.

"Alright, Lao Liu, stop acting like a child. Go now and don't come back."

Watching Liu Yung-gu stagger away, Wen Dunqi-zhi looked at the envelope on the table in front of him, reaching out several times but pulling back each time. In the end, he dared not open it, and could only weep as well.

Why is life always so full of such dilemmas?

(End of this chapter)