You have truly caused me great suffering!

Qu Duan stood up to greet the two people who entered.

Although he didn't smile much, he was indeed quite polite, so it can't be said that Chen Shao and Lao Zhu's advice was completely useless.

A fire was burning in the tent, with a chimney and an iron basin full of water on the lid, warming some wine jugs.

This was one of the first times Yue Fei had met this famous commander of the Dingnan Army.

He had a dark complexion, a short beard, and sharp eyes. Even in his own tent, he was still wearing leather armor, a dark battle robe, and leather boots—the attire for battle at any time. As a commander, he was strict enough with himself.

Yue Fei nodded secretly. It was rumored that Commander Qu was too strict in disciplining his troops, but since he himself could abide by military rules and laws, what could others complain about?

"Drinking is not forbidden in Dingnan Army, but today I would like to establish a temporary rule: no one shall drink again before we destroy the Jin," Qu Duan said. "Let us drink one last cup today to strengthen our resolve to defeat the Tartars and serve His Majesty."

Yue Fei rested his hands on his knees; he wasn't a heavy drinker, so it wasn't a problem for him.

For many soldiers, drinking alcohol could ward off the cold and sometimes relieve pain.

Excessive drinking was also uncommon in the military, because the transportation of supplies was decided by the rear, and generals had no authority to order caravans to bring them alcohol.

This meant that there wasn't much alcohol in the army.

Seeing that no one objected, Qu Duan nodded, and his personal guards took wine from the iron basin on the stove lid and poured it for the generals in the tent.

At this time, near the Yanshan Mountains, there was a scene of fur tents stretching to the horizon.

Uniform armor, colorful flags, and colorfully decorated military horses are either setting up camp, patrolling, or resting and recuperating in their camps.

In an instant, the number of elite troops from various units in sight was no less than ten or twenty thousand.

Banners fluttered in the wind, obscuring the sun, displaying the fierce and valiant spirit of the army.

Besides Yue Fei's Hebei army and Qu Duan's Dingnan army, there were also troops from the Goryeo, Shiwei, and Khitan camps.

The siege of Lulong Ridge already presents a significant advantage, making things relatively easier for each unit.

However, many of those besieged were powerful enemies from the Central Plains, including emperors and generals of enemy states whose status and military achievements were terrifying.

Everyone wants a piece of the pie in this final feast of military achievements.

The world is very different now than before. The soldiers are no longer anyone's private army, but the army of the Great Jing Dynasty, the emperor's army.

Because logistics and command are two separate systems.

They eat the emperor's grain, receive the emperor's salary, and are rewarded by the emperor for their merits.

This made the soldiers' fighting spirit even purer and their fighting will even stronger.

After Qu Duan and the generals finished drinking, he said, "The current situation is clear. Although the enemy is like a cornered beast fighting desperately, in my opinion, we still cannot let our guard down."

"Generals, after you return, construct more fortifications and set up multiple layers of defenses according to your respective defense zones. Be wary of a desperate attack from the Tartars. If necessary, allow them to move south, but do not allow them to flee north!"

Ma Kuo said, "Commander Qu is right. If we go south to the vicinity of Jizhou and Luanzhou, we can easily surround them again. But if we flee north, the Tartars will have the opportunity to escape into the extremely cold lands deep in the north."

"To eradicate them again would require an immense amount of effort and manpower."

The Tartars' only chance now is if the Jing army underestimates them and their formation becomes weak, allowing the Tartars to break through at all costs, abandon their supplies and the wounded and elderly to preserve their young remaining forces.

As the head coach, Qu Duan's ability to see this point is already quite commendable.

This battle doesn't require a brilliant military genius to command; being careful, cautious, and avoiding mistakes is the best command.

The current situation is so favorable that there's absolutely no need to force someone like Yue Fei to unleash his full potential and fight some god-like battles.
-
Night gradually fell, and the Jurchen camp remained silent in the darkness.

After Wanyan Zongwang's main force retreated from the south bank of the Luan River, it established a new position here. Now, a steady stream of Jin troops are coming to join them, or rather, being driven here.

It gave the impression that they intended to annihilate the entire Jurchen people.

Whether it was the deep forests of the Yanshan Mountains or the steep cliffs several miles behind, everything appeared dark and gloomy.

Only the lamps of the sentries guarding the village fortifications emitted a sound almost like sobbing when blown by the night wind.

Inside a felt tent deep in the jungle, both inside and outside the tent, stood many Jurchen nobles.

Most of them were members of the Wanyan clan, each dressed in armor. The flickering firelight cast long shadows on their faces, making them appear exceptionally deep.

The end of an empire and a tribe always carries a tragic air, lingering over the camp and manifesting in the faces and eyes of every Jurchen.

Inside the large tent, a campfire burned in the center, and the surroundings were desolate. The tables and wooden tablets had all been removed and were completely cleaned up.

These things are completely useless now.

Only the generals and soldiers in the tent gathered to discuss matters, just as in the beginning.

Once the most authoritative nobles have discussed and reached a decision, they will lead their troops into battle to seize a better future.

Many people were not qualified to speak; their attention was more focused on Wanyan Zongwang than on Emperor Wanyan Wugumai.

In fact, even the Jing army's shouts and curses from below the mountain were actually telling them to kill Wanyan Zongwang, come down the mountain and surrender, and they would be spared death.

Wanyan Wuqimai personally led troops to provide support during the Battle of Baigou River, which initially garnered him some support. Even Wanyan Xiyin completely joined his ranks.

At that time, the Jin Dynasty was still a struggle between three forces, and it was showing signs of gaining momentum.

Unfortunately, the situation at the front was terrible. Wuqimai was unable to hold Huining, which led to the exhumation of the old emperor's remains. Wuqimai escaped, and his prestige was instantly ruined.

Even at this moment, Wanyan Zongwang still stood upright, hands behind his back, his gaze slowly sweeping over the generals, his body and eyes exuding a sharp and murderous aura!
In fact, the wound on his left arm was already inflamed at this time, and black blood was constantly oozing out every day.

Everyone inside the tent remained silent, as if waiting for something.

Zongwang's appearance did indeed give everyone a glimmer of hope.

Finally, the silence outside the tent was broken, and people made way for the scouts who rushed in from outside, still covered in the cold.

Outside the tent, everyone uttered only two words: "They're here, they're here!"

Amidst these low murmurs, a Tartar named Puliyan entered through the crowd. As he passed by, each person patted him on the shoulder, and everyone's gaze turned to him eagerly.

The Tartar scout who arrived was no ordinary spy; he was none other than Puliyan Aguli, who was in charge of military intelligence reconnaissance!

Wanyan Zongwang remained motionless, his gaze as sharp as a knife fixed on Aguli's face.

The latter, covered in dust and looking travel-worn, glanced at Wu Qimai, then immediately bowed and said in a deep voice, "The main force of the Jing army has all arrived. They have surrounded Lulong Ridge like an iron barrel. At this moment, their forces probably number fifty to sixty thousand."

Wanyan Zongwang asked, "How many layers are there? Are they in the south or the north?"

"At least three layers, with the south side lighter and the north side heavier."

Wanyan Zongwang's voice suddenly turned sharp: "Southern Light and Northern Heavy? Are you sure it's Southern Light and Northern Heavy?"

Aguri nodded and said with great certainty, "Fortifications are being built day and night in the north, with countless auxiliary soldiers and laborers."

Wanyan Zongwang felt a chill in his heart, as if he had fallen into a freezing cellar, devoid of any warmth.

It's over, it's over.

Jingjun's last hope has been extinguished. My Jurchen Wanyan tribe is doomed to perish here.

Perhaps they should have surrendered long ago, or perhaps they should have abandoned all hope long ago, taking as much as they could with them as they could plunder over the years, and running as far away as they could!

But our father Khan was invincible with us, and now he's just running away like this. Who can accept that?
At this point, regret was useless, and Jingjun's actions were simply too swift. Even now, Wanyan Zongwang couldn't understand why his method of seizing supplies wherever he went was less efficient than the Western Barbarians' supply lines!

Wanyan Wuqimai shouted, "Three levels is fine, don't be discouraged. Back in the Battle of Hubudagang, who could have believed we could win? In the end, we still slaughtered the Liao dogs and they only knew how to run for their lives!"

As the emperor, he practically roared it out, which should have greatly boosted morale.

If Chen Shaolai were to shout something in Ding Nan's camp, I can't even imagine what the effect would be.

But the Jurchen generals remained unmoved. The Liao dogs truly only knew how to flee; they had thoroughly enjoyed killing them over the years. But could the Western barbarians be compared to the Liao dogs?

If the Western barbarians were like the Liao dogs, would we be in this situation today?

Wanyan Zongwang abruptly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he shouted, "Good!"

His shout caused the Jurchen generals to perk up and look at him.

To put it bluntly, the Jurchens value strength. Wanyan Zongwang's record was better than Wuqimai's, so apart from the deceased Aguda, he was the most prestigious.

"Three levels. If we break through these three levels, then Heaven will not destroy the Jurchen people. Even if we leave these ruined mountains and rivers, we will one day fight back!"

He had long understood Jing Jun's plan; he was just waiting for them to go south, where they would be surrounded by military prefectures, and escaping would be a pipe dream.

When the Jin Dynasty was powerful, it didn't care about any city. But now, Wanyan Zongwang had no confidence that he could conquer even one city of Dajing.

What can we use to besiege the city? I'm afraid that before we can even finish assembling, the enemy's army will have already arrived.

He knew perfectly well that the armored soldiers opposite him were all waiting for the heads of the Jurchens to be exchanged for military merit.

"Since our father Khan raised his army, he has led 20,000 troops to conquer the five capitals of Liao. His spirit remains, protecting us as we break through the encirclement. May the Jurchen Wanyan live on forever!"

Everyone inside and outside the tent was filled with fervor, shouting at the top of their lungs, "Victory! Victory! Victory!"

There are some people in this world who will never give up, and even when faced with dire straits, they will do everything they can to turn things around.

Among these people are those who are utterly loyal, such as Jiang Wei of Shu Han; and there are also cunning and despicable individuals, such as Guo Yaoshi not long ago.

Wanyan Zongwang was also such a person. Compared with Zonghan, Zonghan was actually the more radical one.

But in terms of tenacity, Zongwang is even more superior.
-
On the Hebei army's position, Yue Fei was directing his troops and auxiliary forces to dig the earth.

He predicted that if the enemy broke through, they would abandon some weak and wounded soldiers and concentrate their horses to supply the young, armored soldiers.

Then you don't need fancy fortifications; just dig a trench that's deep and wide enough on flat ground.

Setting up some horse traps and tripwires will make things much easier.

It would be even better if the enemy launched a surprise attack at night.

At this time, apart from him, all the other generals were also in their respective camps, climbing to high places to look into the distance.

Since the Dingnan Army emerged from Nuanquan Peak, they have been fighting fiercely with the Jurchens for so many years, and the battle is finally coming to an end.

At this time, anyone who can sleep soundly is truly a god.

Qu Duan is this extraordinary person.

Except during times of war, he always went to bed on time and was very self-disciplined.

Sure enough, I slept soundly until dawn.

The first half of my sleep was peaceful, but in the second half, I kept dreaming of iron horses and icy rivers!

As the sounds of battle reached their peak in his dream, Qu Duan suddenly awoke with a start. Looking around, he saw that dawn was breaking and his personal guards were already bringing out the morning porridge in the tent.

He hesitated for a moment, then put on his coat and boots and got up, asking, "What time is it?"

"At the hour of Mao."

Qu Duan walked straight out of the tent, where loyal guards stood silently waiting with their hands on their swords.

Light snow had begun to fall from the sky.

The surrounding area and the camp were completely silent; nothing was happening.

Only the commander's banner, not far away, still fluttered in the wind.

A gust of cold wind blew, and Qu Duan's spirits lifted, but then he suddenly realized something was wrong!
It's too quiet.

The Tartars on the other side didn't make a sound at all.

At this moment, a rapid sound of hooves came from inside the camp. Scouts rushed over and, seeing Qu Duan, shouted without even dismounting, "Commander Qu, the enemy is trying to break through!"

It was impossible to charge into the enemy lines undetected, not only for Qu Duan, but also for each camp, which had scouts and sentries.

Qu Duan clenched his fist and laughed, "Good, well done!"

He knew that, given Zongwang's methods, he certainly wouldn't wait until they were trapped for a long time, in dire straits, and on the verge of dying of thirst and hunger before breaking out.

He stretched out his arm, and his personal guards quickly draped his armor over him. By this time, the sound of drums and horns had already begun to sound in the camp.

From the deep mountains and dense forests, a dozen or so Jurchen armored soldiers charged out first.

The dozen or so riders crouched low as they galloped wildly. Suddenly, a whistle blew, and the sound of hooves behind them grew increasingly louder.

Wanyan Zongwang assigned the best warhorses to the youngest and most elite members of his own Wanyan tribe, and then had them sandwiched between the other troops.

During such a charge, the elderly and weak automatically become the targets of the Jing army's slaughter, creating an opportunity for them to find weak camps in the battle, break through the defenses, and escape north.

We'll see how many manage to escape.

A bloody interception unfolded in the Yanshan Mountains:

In the tenth month of the first year of Jianwu, after the Frost's Descent, light snow fell on Lulong Ridge.

Wanyan Zongwang stood atop the ruined fortress, his armor cracked and blood congealed, his left arm wrapped in hemp cloth, seeping black as ink. Below him were 30,000 remaining troops, many wounded and maimed; their horses had all been killed and eaten, their bowstrings frozen and broken, only their swords remained sharp.

The Jing army camp stretched for thirty li below the mountain, with fire drums beating incessantly, forming an encirclement as solid as an iron barrel.

Jing Jun cursed day and night, saying, "I will offer up the heads of the two princes, and the rest of us will return to Liaodong to be farmers and never be soldiers again."

Zongwang gathered the Jurchen bandits and then said to his generals, “My father Khan started from Huanglongfu and conquered the five capitals of Liao. He did not live to see this day, but the bloodline of the late emperor cannot be cut off by our hands.”

That night, he made a pact with his generals, vowing never to surrender.

Zongwang secretly met with Wanyan's disciples, telling them to leave Donggu and travel stealthily along the Qinglong River, reaching the old village of Daning in seven days. If the village was destroyed, they were to enter the Yiwulü Mountains to hunt, refraining from lighting fires for ten years and not using the surname Wanyan for twenty years. They were only allowed to leave when the Central Plains were thrown into chaos again.

The disciples kowtowed, their foreheads touching the frozen ground, without making a sound.

At dawn, Zongwang personally led his elite troops, lit pine torches as torches, and made a great commotion on the western cliff.

The drumbeats at Xiling suddenly fell silent, with only the north wind whipping up snow, like ten thousand horses galloping in mourning.

Suddenly, the enemy broke out from the north, wielding broken spears, iron maces, and fire sticks, and charged straight at Jing's central camp.

Before the drums sounded, they had already entered the battle.

Jing Jun unleashed ten thousand crossbows simultaneously, and poured oil on them, sending flames soaring over ten feet high.

The Jurchen soldiers charged forward one after another, dying without a cry, and countless more fell into the pit.

The battle lasted for three days. As the drumbeats gradually subsided, Zongwang committed suicide. Wu Qimai was surrounded and beheaded.

The Tartars have been annihilated.

Qu Duan ordered a pit to be dug and buried, three zhang deep, covered with rubble, and marked with signs. He also sent troops to Liaodong, Shangjing, and Huanglongfu, the former territories of Wanyan, to search for and capture the remnants of the Wanyan clan.

All those with the surname Wanyan, regardless of age, were bound by their necks and taken to Yanshan. Within three months, 327 people were captured and all were executed in the marketplace.

From then on, Aguda's bloodline ended, the Meng'an Mouke genealogy was burned, the ancestral temple in Huining Prefecture collapsed, and there were no descendants to perform the rituals.

The golden reign has come to an end.

From the time Aguda raised his army, it took eighteen years to destroy them. Zongwang died, his lineage became extinct, leaving no descendants. (End of Chapter)