You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

A dozen days later, in the central command tent of the Jin army camp.

Inside the tent, a large tallow candle burned brightly, illuminating the hanging map of the Jianghuai region in exquisite detail.

Wanyan Zongbi, dressed in a sable coat, stood with his hands behind his back in front of the map. His rough fingers slowly traced the winding curves of the Yangtze River, finally stopping at several repeatedly marked ferry crossings and water fortresses.

His brows were furrowed. The defeat at Huangtiandang felt like a bone stuck in his throat. This southern expedition was a must-win, but it also required utmost caution.

"Report!"

A guard burst into the tent, knelt on one knee, and his voice rose slightly with excitement: "Reporting to the Marshal!"

"News has come from the craftsmen's camp that the newly made 80,000 eagle-feather arrows have all been completed, and together with the 200,000 eagle-feather arrows transferred from the rear, they are being delivered to the various camps in batches!"

"good!"

Wanyan Zongbi turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and the gloomy look that had been hanging over him for days vanished.

He slammed his palm heavily on the tiger-skin-covered desk, causing the wolf-hair brush on the brush holder to bounce slightly.

"With ample arrows, our army can fully utilize the advantages of its bows and crossbows!"

"Han Shizhong, let's see how long your shabby boat can hold me off on the river!"

A huge weight was lifted from his heart. Naval warfare was not the Jin army's forte, and the last time they suffered a loss was due to insufficient long-range suppression, which allowed the Song army's warships to get close.

Now, with these tens of thousands of new arrows, along with the arrow towers that have been built and reinforced over the past few days, and a large number of powerful bows and crossbows, he is confident that he can inflict heavy casualties on the Song navy before engaging in battle, suppress their range of operations, and create an opportunity for infantry and cavalry to storm the beach and land.

"Pass on the order!"

He shouted in a deep voice, his words echoing through the tent: "Sound the drums to gather the generals!"

.....

Boom!Boom!Boom!

The deep, resonant sound of drums instantly filled the camp, drowning out the howling north wind.

Before long, heavy footsteps sounded, and several Jin army generals, fully armored and exuding a fierce aura, filed in and stood in order.

Leading the group was Wanyan Zongbi's deputy commander, known as "Iron Spear" Wanyan Basu, who was famous for his bravery and skill in battle.

He then followed the fierce general "City-Breaking Hammer" Wugulun to fight the tiger. He was accompanied by the calm and wise Heshilie Zhining, and the general Jiagu Chali, who was skilled in both land and water warfare.

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly turned grim, the candlelight reflecting the cold gleam of the generals' armor and the murderous aura still etched on their faces from the dust of battle.

Wanyan Zongbi's gaze swept over his generals with lightning speed, finally settling on the map.

"The arrows are ready, the time is ripe!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a resolute force: "Han Shizhong relies on his navy to defend the river, and our army has repeatedly failed to break through. This time, I, the commander, will change our tactics and make him unable to defend both ends!"

"Ughullah fights tigers!"

"Your subordinate is here!" The burly, bear-like Wugulun Dahu stepped forward and clasped his hands in response.

"I hereby order you to lead 15,000 elite cavalrymen and select 5,000 infantrymen skilled in swimming, carrying three days' worth of dry rations, traveling light and simply, and sneaking upstream to this place under the cover of night."

Wanyan Zongbi pointed his sword at a remote mudflat called "Old Stork's Beak": "Let's find an opportunity to cross the river from here!"

"After crossing the river, there's no need to linger in battle. Quickly infiltrate to the Song army's flanks and rear, and strike directly at their land camps and supply lines!"

"Remember, your mission is to disrupt their rear, create panic, and lure Han Shizhong to send troops back to reinforce them!"

A fierce glint flashed in Wugulun's eyes as he fought the tiger: "Fighting the ship head-on is frustrating for me, but fighting on land is exactly what I excel at!"

"This order is exactly what I wanted!"

"This subordinate obeys!"

"This will surely cause trouble in the backyard of the Southerners!"

Wanyan Zongbi nodded slightly, moved the tip of his knife back to the front, and stabbed it heavily into the core area of ​​the Song army's water fortress.

"He Shi Lie Zhi Ning!"

"Your subordinate is here." With a calm expression, He Shilie Zhining stepped forward.

"You command the main force of the central army, including ten thousand newly trained archers and crossbowmen, and all arrow towers and artillery pieces are under your command!"

"At dawn tomorrow, we will make a great show of force, raising many banners, and feign a full-scale attack on the front of this water fortress."

"I don't expect an immediate breakthrough, but I want you to fight hard and fight real!"

"Don't hold back with the arrows, and hurl the stones at me too!"

"We must make Han Shizhong believe that my main force is concentrated here, firmly pinning his navy down on the main river front!"

Is the Marshal planning to feign an attack on one front while secretly advancing another?

Applying pressure head-on creates opportunities for General Wugulun's surprise attack and true killing blow...

He Shilie Zhining calmly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This subordinate understands!"

"We will ensure the Southern army has no time to spare!"

"Jia Gu Cha Ci!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"You will lead the remaining warships and five thousand daredevils. When the main battle begins, and the Wugulun tribe has also succeeded in attacking from the rear, and the Song army's formation begins to falter..."

"Force our way in from here!"

"Open a breach, at all costs!"

"Once one unit lands and establishes a foothold, the rest of the army can follow in continuously!"

Jia Gu Cha Ci licked his slightly chapped lips: "Your subordinate obeys!"

Finally, Wanyan Zongbi looked at the deputy commander, Wanyan Basu, who had been silent all along but whose aura was the most profound.

"Speed ​​up!"

"Marshal!" Wanyan Basu's voice boomed.

"You will lead all the armies in support and supervise the entire battle!"

"Wherever there is a stalemate, press forward! Wherever a breakthrough occurs, expand your gains!"

"What I want is not to repel, but to utterly crush! To completely open up this route to the south!"

"Yes, sir!"

With the deployment complete, Wanyan Zongbi sheathed his sword, inserting it into its sheath with a clear "clang".

He surveyed his generals once more, his voice softening but carrying an even greater weight of pressure: "This battle concerns the fate of our Great Jin Dynasty, and even more so, the honor and glory of each and every one of you present here!"

"The shame of Huangtiandang is still fresh in our minds!"

"I urge you all to advance bravely, with no turning back! Anyone who hesitates or shrinks back, thus jeopardizing military operations..."

"Military law will be applied without exception!"

The generals pounded their chests and armor in unison, letting out a deep roar: "We obey the Marshal's orders!"

"No retreat! Avenge our defeat and achieve victory!"

Wanyan Zongbi nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand: "Go back and prepare, and act according to the plan!"

"Tomorrow will mark the beginning of the annihilation of Han Shizhong's navy!"

The generals responded with a roar and left the tent with murderous intent.

Wanyan Zongbi returned to the map alone, his fingers lightly tapping the mark representing the Song army's naval camp.

"Han Shizhong, no matter how skilled you are in naval warfare or how tight your defenses are, this time I'll use a three-pronged approach. Let's see how you cope!"

"Once my iron cavalry crosses the Yangtze River, this beautiful land south of the Yangtze will be entirely mine!"

.......

Several hours later, at the Song army's naval camp, in the central command tent.

"Report!"

"Urgent military situation!"

A scout captain almost stumbled into the tent and knelt on one knee: "General!"

"There's unusual activity at the Jin army camp on the north bank!"

Han Shizhong abruptly looked up, his gaze sharp as lightning: "Speak!"

"Where is the unusual activity?"

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief!"

"Starting at three-quarters past the hour of Xu (7:45 PM), the lights in the Jin army camp suddenly increased, and shouts of men and neighing of horses continued unabated!"

"Especially opposite the water fortress on the front, a large number of soldiers can be seen being mobilized to reinforce the forward watchtowers, and vehicles carrying cannons and crossbow bolts are frequently moving back and forth! The scale is far greater than usual!"

"Several other small cavalry squads sped upstream along the river; their exact destinations were difficult to track in the darkness, but they made quite a commotion!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the generals standing in the tent immediately changed.

Lieutenant General Xie Yuan said in a deep voice, "General, judging from this situation, the Jin army is about to launch a major attack!"

Han Shizhong did not immediately express his opinion. He strode to the map and his sharp eyes swept over the areas mentioned by the scout.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly pointed to the direction of Laoguanzui on the upstream of the river and asked, "Is there anything unusual about Laoguanzui and Heishidu area tonight?"

"Water flow, mist, or a few scattered rafts?"

The scout paused, thought carefully, and replied, "Reporting to the commander, there seems to be no special military intelligence upstream..."

"But the north wind seems to be stronger tonight than usual, and the fog on the river is much thinner."

"The north wind is strong, the fog is thin..."

Han Shizhong repeated the sentence in a low voice, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, before slamming his fist on the map: "Well done, Wanyan Zongbi! Deception and trickery, his ambitions are indeed far from small!"

The generals were all taken aback, not understanding what he meant.

Jie Yuan asked, "General, the Jin army's frontal maneuvering is so obvious. If it's not a main attack, could it be a feint?"

"It's a feint!"

Han Shizhong said decisively, pointing his finger heavily at the Jin army camp in front: "Such a grand display, as if they want me to know, is clearly an attempt to cover up their true intentions!"

"He wants to keep our main force firmly tied to the front!"

He then quickly slid his finger upstream: "Look!"

"Upstream, around Laoguanzui and Heishidu, the water is gentle and the shoals are flat. While this is not ideal for large ships, it is suitable for small groups of people to cross by infiltration!"

"Tonight, the north wind is strong and the fog is thin, which is perfect for launching the raft with the wind, silently!"

"Those cavalrymen heading upstream must be going to cover and support the troops crossing the river!"

Wanyan Zongbi, are you planning to feign an attack on one side while secretly advancing another?

They will lure my navy with a frontal assault, then send their elite troops to sneak across from the weak points upstream, flank me to the rear, burn my land fortresses, or even join forces with the main force to attack my navy from the front.

Thinking of this, he broke out in a cold sweat.

If it weren't for his years of experience in naval warfare and his keen sensitivity to timing and terrain, he would almost have been misled by the Jin army's imposing presence.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the tremor in his heart, turned to face the generals, and with a steady yet swift voice, uttered a series of military orders: "Jieyuan, listen to my command!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"I hereby order you to lead twenty large warships, including the 'Sea Spinner' and 'Cart Ship,' along with eight thousand elite naval troops, to strictly blockade the river front!"

"If the Jin army attacks, rely on our naval fortifications and give them a good beating!"

"Don't be stingy with arrows and cannonballs; make sure the Jin army believes our main force is here!"

"But remember, without my order, the warships must not stray far from the naval camp in pursuit, lest it be a trap!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Suddah, listen to my command!"

"Your subordinate is here!" A bearded general stepped forward.

"I hereby order you to lead thirty fast boats, including 'paddle-powered boats' and 'multi-paddled boats,' along with three thousand skilled seamen, to set sail immediately and sail upstream along the south bank, secretly infiltrating to ambush in the reed marshes five miles upstream from Laoguanzui!"

"Deploy more patrol boats and keep a close watch on the river!"

"If you discover the Jin army's rafts or small boats attempting to cross the river, attack them when they are halfway across!"

"We must annihilate them in the river!"

"Understood, sir! We will ensure that the Jin dogs never return!"

"Jia and Zhong listen to the order!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"I order you to immediately mobilize 5,000 elite land troops to strengthen patrols along the coast, paying particular attention to the narrow passes and shoals! Set up more beacon towers and outposts!"

"Once a small group of Jin troops is spotted landing, we must encircle and annihilate them before they can establish a firm foothold!"

"We must not allow them to spread further!"

"Yes, sir!"

After Han Shizhong finished his deployment, his gaze swept over his generals, and his voice was solemn: "Gentlemen, Wanyan Zongbi is determined to win this time, and his offensive will undoubtedly be fierce!"

"However, their frontal attack is a feint; their true killing move will surely come from the side and rear!"

"All departments must remain at their posts and be prepared to adapt to any changing circumstances!"

"All troops in the water fortress are to refrain from action without my command! Upstream ambush troops are to be attacked without my signal cannon!"

"This battle concerns the safety of the Jianghuai region and the survival of the nation! I urge everyone to unite as one and fight with unwavering resolve!"

"Let the Jurchens know that the defenses of our Great Song Dynasty along the river are as solid as a rock!"

"I will obey the Commander's orders!"

"No retreat! We vow to defend the river!"

The generals responded with a resounding roar, their voices echoing above the tent. They then quickly turned and left the tent, each heading to their battle positions.

Silence returned to the command tent, with only Han Shizhong standing alone in front of the huge river defense map.

The faint sounds of troop movements and commands coming from outside the tent made the inside of the tent even quieter, but also made the shadow in his heart grow heavier.

The plan had been made, and the generals obeyed the orders. On the surface, everything seemed to be under control.

However, a cold, heavy worry, like the deep night outside the tent, quietly enveloped him.

Jie Yuan launched a frontal assault, Su De laid an ambush upstream, and Jia Hezhong patrolled the coast...

He mentally rehearsed the plan once more, seemingly targeting the Jin army's possible "openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass".

The clearer the deduction becomes, the more acute the hidden worries become.

Everything I did was based on the assumption that Wanyan Zongbi would act according to this plan.

But what if Wanyan Zongbi finds that his smuggling plan has been discovered, or that it has been thwarted, or that it was just a feint...?

or.....

He didn't care whether the surprise attack succeeded or not.

All the unusual movements tonight, whether it's the show of force or the troop movements upstream, are merely tests and deceptions...

How could they further disperse my already limited forces?

Thinking of this, Han Shizhong's breath hitched slightly.

He slowly walked to the tent, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked up at the dark sky to the north.

Wanyan Zongbi commanded an army of over 100,000, a fresh force, and with the advantage of newly manufactured arrows, their morale was high.

Although our army is well-positioned to defend the river and skilled in naval warfare, its strength is only tens of thousands. After the Battle of Huangtiandang, it is already an exhausted force, and its arrows and cannons are also in short supply.

If he truly hardens his heart, disregards casualties, gathers his main force, and stops playing these tricks, he will succeed.

Instead, they concentrate all their forces, select one or two points, and launch a fierce attack from three or even more points, regardless of the consequences, to break through my defenses with their bare hands...

At that time, with my limited forces, scattered across various locations, each one will be weak. How will I be able to resist?

A deep sense of powerlessness, mixed with the heavy responsibility for the lives of his men, weighed heavily on his heart.

He wasn't afraid of sacrifice, but he knew that the Song army couldn't afford to lose in such a war of attrition.

If the defense line is breached at any point, it could cause the entire line to crumble, with unimaginable consequences.

Your Majesty... reinforcements...

The image of that person in Yingtian Prefecture flashed through his mind again, then turned into a silent sigh.

Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst; even if the imperial court were to send troops now, it would be impossible for them to arrive in time for the impending decisive battle.

Han Shizhong closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths of the air, which carried the fishy smell of the river and the chill of early winter.

When he opened his eyes again, the hesitation and heaviness in them had been replaced by a resolute determination.

Thinking about it more is useless!

When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it!

Wanyan Zongbi, no matter how many schemes or changes you devise, I, Han Shizhong, will only do my utmost to counter each move!

If you want to cross the Yangtze River, you must first ask the swords in the hands of my men and the rolling eastward-flowing waters whether they agree!

The best course of action now is to remain steadfast and wait for the right opportunity.