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

The great author, whose mental illness has improved, has joined the platform with his new work, "Wandering the Heavens as a Tyrant, You Don't Understand My Happiness"!

The next day, at the beginning of the Chen hour (7-9 AM), on the north bank of the Yangtze River.

Waaaaah!

The deep, desolate sound of the horn, like a death knell, shattered the tranquility of the river.

Boom!Boom!Boom!

Immediately, the war drums thundered, making the river water seem to tremble.

On the north bank, amidst the Jin army's ranks, Moukeheshilie Zhining stood on his horse beneath the commander's banner, gazing at the seemingly calm Song army's naval camp on the opposite bank, a cold, stern smile playing on his lips.

He raised his right hand and swung it down violently!

"put!"

At a single command, the artillery vehicles, which had been poised for battle, roared into action!

Dozens of millstone-sized boulders, trailing a mournful howl, crashed down on the Song army's naval camp like meteorites falling from the sky!

Boom!

A huge rock struck the hull of a large ship called "Sea Spinach" directly. The thick wooden planks shattered like paper, and wood chips mixed with severed limbs flew everywhere. The screams were instantly drowned out by the huge impact.

Another log struck the water fortress fence, snapping in two. The Song soldiers behind it were pierced through the chest by flying splinters and died instantly.

"Archers, three volleys! Cover the stockade walls!"

Heshilie Zhining gave another order: he would first use overwhelming firepower to crush the Song army's will to resist.

Whoosh whoosh!

In an instant, a black cloud of thousands of arrows rose into the sky, obscuring the rising sun, and poured down with a deathly shriek!

A series of rapid "thud thud thud" sounds suddenly rang out from the Song army's stockade walls. It was the sound of arrows piercing shields and wooden walls, interspersed with the muffled groans and screams of those hit by arrows.

As soon as a young Song soldier peeked out, a stray arrow pierced his eye socket and exited through the back of his head. He fell backward without uttering a sound.

"Hmph, let's see how long you can hold out!"

He Shilie Zhining sneered inwardly, as if he could already see the Song army's defenses collapsing.

However, just as the Jin archers were preparing for their fourth volley and the mortar crews were busy loading stone projectiles, their formation became slightly lax.

"Counterattack!"

On a Song army ship in a naval stronghold, the scholar, covered in blood, angrily pointed his sword at the opposite bank!

"Crunch, bang! Whoosh!"

Inside the Song army camp, dozens of crossbows fired simultaneously!

The giant crossbows, as thick as a child's arm, transformed into streaks of black lightning, hurtling straight towards the Jin army's lines at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye!

"Pfft!"

A Jin army artillery operator was struggling to push the winch when a giant crossbow came hurtling towards him, instantly tearing him and his armor in two. The crossbow continued its momentum, stringing two soldiers behind him together like a string of candied hawthorns, pinning them firmly to the ground!

"boom!"

Another oil canister was launched by the catapult, hitting the top of an arrow tower with pinpoint accuracy. Flames exploded, and the archers inside were instantly turned into human torches, letting out mournful howls as they fell from the height like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

The cold smile on He Shilie Zhining's face froze instantly, and his pupils shrank sharply!

How is that possible?

How could their counterattack be so swift and precise?!

He watched helplessly as one of his carefully constructed arrow towers collapsed in the flames, and the artillery positions were riddled with crossbow bolts, causing men and horses to fall.

"Han Shizhong... he was prepared!"

"Did he figure out my main attack strategy?"

......

At the same time.

Upstream at Laoguanzui, a thin mist still lingered on the river surface.

Wugulun personally oversaw the operation, watching as dozens of rafts and small boats carrying five thousand carefully selected elite troops silently glided toward the south bank.

"Hurry! Speed ​​it up!"

"Once we're on shore, all the wealth and women are yours!"

Wugulun roared in a low voice as he fought the tiger, his eyes gleaming with greed.

"Han Shizhong's main force is tied up at the front by He Shilie Zhining, leaving the defense here vulnerable!"

"If this plan succeeds, I will be the one to deserve the greatest credit!"

A short while later, the vanguard had approached the shallows on the south bank, and Wu Gulun Dahu could even see the swaying of the reeds on the beach.

suddenly!

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The rapid, rain-like sound of Song army war drums exploded from the reeds on the south bank!

"Oh no! An ambush!" Wugulun Dahu's expression changed drastically, and he turned pale with horror!

"Kill all the Jin dogs!"

"Leave no one alive!"

Amidst thunderous roars, dozens of Song army speedboats emerged from the reeds like ghosts!

At the bow of the lead "paddlewheel boat," the bearded and fierce general Su De, wielding two swords like a mad tiger, slammed the sharp ram on the bow of the boat into the largest Jin army raft!

Click!

The raft disintegrated instantly, and the Jin soldiers on it fell into the water like dumplings in a pot.

"Go into the water! Strangle them!"

Su De roared and jumped into the icy river first. Countless Song soldiers, wielding water-splitting spears and short axes, pounced on the Jin soldiers who had fallen into the water like sharks.

The river water was instantly churned up, and blood gushed forth.

Just as a Jin soldier struggled to the surface, a hand reached out from underwater, grabbed his ankle, and dragged him into the depths, leaving only a string of bubbles.

Another Jin soldier struggled to swim towards his own ship, but was shot through the back by an arrow from a crossbowman on a Song army boat.

Wugulun watched the tiger fight from the shore with eyes wide with rage. He witnessed a brave and fierce warrior, who, despite his brute strength, was unable to use it in the water and was entangled by three Song army water ghosts, eventually drowning.

Finished!

It's all over!

Han Shizhong has deployed a large force here!

My five thousand elite troops…

.....

Almost simultaneously, a seemingly deserted mudflat downstream.

Five hundred Jin soldiers, led by Meng'an Jiagu Chaci, successfully waded ashore. Soaked to the bone and panting for breath, they prepared to regroup and launch a deep assault.

Jia Gucha had just wiped the water droplets from his face, and felt a little relieved: 'It seems the Song army was indeed drawn away by the feint attack from the front, leaving this place undefended!'

Just then, a cold command came from the woods on the shore:

"Release the arrows!"

Whoosh whoosh!

A dense rain of arrows emerged from the forest like venomous snakes!

Caught off guard, the Jin soldiers fell in droves! One of Jia Gucha's personal guards had just raised his shield when a sharp arrow pierced through the gap in the shield and went straight for his throat. He clutched his neck, making a hissing sound as he collapsed to the ground.

"There's an ambush! Form a circular defensive formation!" Jia Guchaci roared hoarsely, his heart pounding with fear.

However, the beach was narrow and the troops were in disarray, so there was no time to form ranks.

"kill!"

The battle cries shook the heavens. Jia Hezhong took the lead and led his ambush troops out of the forest, overwhelming the landing Jin soldiers like a tidal wave.

Jia Gucha wielded his long sword and slashed down two Song soldiers, but Jia Hezhong deflected his weapon with a single sword strike, and then several spears pierced his body at the same time!

He stared wide-eyed at the gun tip piercing his chest in disbelief before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Five hundred Jin soldiers were slaughtered in the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, their blood staining the entire mudflat red.

……

On the south bank, at the Song army's naval fortress, stands the flagship "Flying Tiger" warship.

Han Shizhong, clad in black armor, stood at the bow of the boat, his hand on his sword, as the river wind carried a heavy, pungent smell of blood.

His face was calm and composed, with only a faint, sharp glint in the depths of his eyes.

"Report!"

A messenger rushed up the gangplank and knelt on one knee: "Reporting to the Commander!"

"General Su De reports a victory! Approximately 5,000 Jin troops who had attempted to cross the river were ambushed by us at Laoguanzui. Their vanguard has been routed, with over a thousand killed, countless drowned, and captured. The remaining enemy forces have scattered and fled north!"

"Report!"

Another scout rushed in: "General Jia Hezhong from downstream reports an urgent message!"

"The 500 Jin soldiers who launched the surprise attack on the beach have all been annihilated!"

"Report!"

"General Jieyuan reports: Our army, relying on the water fortress, has repelled three fierce attacks by the Jin army. The enemy's artillery and arrow towers have been damaged in many places, and their casualties have been heavy. The offensive has been temporarily suspended!"

Good news kept coming in, and the soldiers on board were overjoyed, which eased the atmosphere.

However, Han Shizhong's face showed no sign of pride; instead, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Order Su De and Jia Hezhong not to pursue the routed troops, but to immediately regroup, strictly blockade the river, and strengthen defenses to prevent the Jin army from launching another surprise attack!"

"Order the top scholar to reinforce the fortified camp, rescue the wounded, and replenish arrows and cannonballs. The Jin army's offensive has slowed down slightly; they are surely conserving their strength. The real battle is yet to come!"

"All units, stand ready! Anyone who attacks without my orders will be executed!"

.......

Meanwhile, on the north bank, in the central command tent of the Jin army.

The atmosphere was completely different from the caution on the south bank; inside the tent was a suffocating mix of anger and frustration.

"marshal!"

He Shilie Zhining, his armor covered in dust, stepped into the main tent first, his voice filled with resentful anger.

"This humble general is incompetent!"

"Our feint attack on the front was thwarted. The Song army put up a fierce resistance. We lost five artillery pieces and two arrow towers. Many of our soldiers were killed or wounded!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the tent flap was flung open again, and Wugulun Dahu, soaking wet and with a livid face, stumbled in and knelt down on one knee with a thud: "General!"

"This humble general...this humble general has failed the marshal's trust!"

"The five thousand elite troops who had smuggled themselves across the river... were ambushed by the Song army at Laoguanzui!"

"The casualties were heavy; of those who survived... less than one in ten remained!"

Almost simultaneously, a military academy student, covered in blood, scrambled into the tent, wailing, "Marshal!"

"Something terrible has happened!"

"General Jia Gu Cha Ci... the five hundred elite soldiers he led were completely wiped out on the downstream mudflats!"

One piece of bad news after another. The generals in the tent all looked grim, gritting their teeth. Some beat their chests and stamped their feet, while others cursed loudly.

"That old bastard Han Shizhong is incredibly cunning!"

"How dare they set up such an ambush!"

"I swear I will not rest until I avenge this!"

Amidst the fervor of the crowd, only Wanyan Zongbi sat upright in his command seat, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. His face showed no anger whatsoever; instead, a strange expression slowly appeared on his face.

The expression gradually widened, eventually turning into a low chuckle, which then became a hearty, unrestrained laugh!

"Haha...hahaha...good! good! good!"

He said "good" three times in a row, his voice echoing through the tent!

The tent fell into a deathly silence!

All the generals looked up in astonishment, like ducks being choked, staring at their commander-in-chief with disbelief and confusion on their faces.

He Shilie Zhining's pupils dilated, his mind a complete mess...

it is good?

The Marshal said yes?

Our army suffered setbacks on three fronts, incurring heavy losses...

What's so good about that?

Is the marshal perhaps delirious with anger?

Wugulun, in his tiger-hunting spree, even forgot the grief of his followers' tragic deaths, and was left only with utter astonishment.

Five thousand elite troops were almost wiped out, and this is considered good?

What exactly does "Marshal" mean?

Is it...

Were those young men abandoned?

The other generals exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes quickly conveying the same confusion.

How can you cheer after suffering a defeat?

Wanyan Zongbi slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping across the bewildered faces like that of a hawk, finally settling on the huge map.

"You all think we've been defeated?"

"Although the three routes suffered setbacks and some men were lost, it suits my purposes perfectly!"

The generals held their breath, even Heshilie Zhining and Wugulun Dahu forgot their dejection and stared blankly at their marshal.

"Why should I divide my forces into three groups and launch such a large-scale attack?"

"The goal is to force Han Shizhong to divide his forces!"

"His naval strength is formidable, but he only has so many warships. He has to defend the main naval base, prevent insurgents from upstream, and block the downstream mudflats..."

"If you focus on one thing, you will inevitably lose on another!"

Wanyan Zongbi's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Han Shizhong is cunning and shrewd. His military tactics are like looking at flowers through fog, making it impossible for people to figure out where he hides his elite troops or what is just a facade."

"Those three blows he struck today, seemingly blocked, actually cleaved through this fog of mystery!"

"He Shilie Zhining, you launched a frontal assault, but he defended as solid as a rock. This shows that this place is indeed the focus of his operations, but it is also the main force he must contain!"

"When Wugulun attacked the tiger, you smuggled yourself upstream, and he deployed all his ambush troops, which shows that he anticipated I would take this risky move, and thus planted sharp spies here!"

"As for Jiagu Chaci..."

"He personally tested the Song army's defenses against such unconventional methods, and they were equally thorough!"

"Don't you understand now?"

"We traded thousands of casualties for Han Shizhong's complete map of the Jianghuai defense line, both real and simulated!"

"He knew I was probing his strength, but his forces were limited, like a clenched fist. No matter how tight the gaps between the fingers, if you try to pry them open, you can always see which finger is strong and which is weak!"

"Han Shizhong knew all this, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept the challenge!"

"Because... he can't afford to lose anywhere!"

"So, this defeat was a good one!"

"Worth the loss!"

The generals inside the tent were deeply moved by what they heard. Their blank expressions disappeared, replaced by a sense of realization and a growing fighting spirit.

"Next..."

"That's the real attack!"

"Pass on the order!"

"Starting tomorrow, we will launch a three-pronged attack—no, a five-pronged, even a ten-pronged attack!"

"Every path was a hard-fought, all-out attack!"

"I want Han Shizhong's front, upstream, and downstream areas to be in dire straits, to be engulfed in flames of war!"

"Isn't he short-handed?"

"I'll force him to engage in a multi-pronged, head-on battle with me!"

"With the might of my great Jin'erlang, we will crush his pitiful forces inch by inch on the banks of the Yangtze River!"

"Isn't he good at naval warfare?"

"Once my infantry and cavalry have all landed and formed a pincer movement, what can his few dilapidated ships do to me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a brief silence in the tent, followed by a deafening roar!

"The Marshal is wise!"

He Shilie Zhining was the first to react, his face flushed red, and he excitedly clasped his hands and roared.

"We are all foolish and dull-witted!"

"The Marshal's strategic thinking is far beyond our reach!"

Wugu Lun, who was fighting the tiger, suddenly realized the truth, and his grief and indignation were replaced by a burning fighting spirit.

If the casualties of a few thousand men can be exchanged for the army's victory and the opening of the road to the south, then all these sacrifices will have been worthwhile!

"We swear to follow the Marshal to the death!"

"Crush the Song army and cross the Yangtze River!"

The generals were filled with excitement, their previous frustration vanished, and their eyes were filled only with the desire for victory and their almost fanatical faith in Wanyan Zongbi.

Wanyan Zongbi looked at the generals who had regained their morale and nodded in satisfaction.