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

Before Liu Feng could finish speaking, a man in a blue shirt with a short beard, holding a chain dart, spoke impatiently in a hurried voice:

"Sect Leader Liu, let's cut to the chase!"

"There's no major danger here anymore. Quickly eliminate these small fry; His Majesty is waiting for us to come and serve him!"

This man is the second-in-command of the "Lianhuanwu" gang in Jiangbei, known as "Chen Meng, the River-Turning Giant," and is extremely impatient.

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng's expression turned serious, and he nodded, saying in a deep voice, "Brother Chen is absolutely right; it was my oversight."

"Madam Liang, please rest for a moment. We will take care of this place."

After saying that, his gaze suddenly turned cold as he swept over the Jin soldiers around him, who had been slightly delayed by the unexpected turn of events but were now gathering again and charging forward under the shouts of officers further away.

"Let's do it!"

"Clear the area!"

With a clear shout, Liu Feng moved like lightning, taking the lead. The pair of judge's pens in his hands transformed into two cold stars, heading straight for a Jin army captain who was yelling and charging at him.

The squad leader raised his sword to parry, but the brush flashed and bypassed the blade, striking his wrists with perfect accuracy.

"what!"

The centurion felt a sharp pain and numbness in both arms, and his scimitar clattered to the ground. Before he could react, Liu Feng's other brush, like a venomous snake's tongue, swiftly struck his Adam's apple.

With a soft "crack," the sergeant's eyes bulged, and he clutched his throat as he collapsed to the ground, groaning.

Two Jin soldiers thrust their spears at him, but Liu Feng did not retreat. Instead, he advanced, ducked under the spear shafts, and thrust his two pens backward, striking the two men squarely in the ribs.

The two men were struck as if by a heavy blow, screaming and staggering backward, only to be cut down one by one by the burly man with the ghost-headed knife who suddenly appeared from the side.

"Haha, that's exhilarating! Watch me sweep through the enemy ranks!"

The burly man wielding the ghost-head saber laughed wildly, swinging his thick-backed blade in a wide arc, the wind whistling through the air, unstoppable.

clang!

Click!

With a loud crash, wood chips mixed with shattered flesh and bone flew everywhere. The three-sided wooden shield was cleaved in two by this one strike, and the Jin soldiers behind it suffered broken bones and tendons, coughing up blood as they flew backward.

"Anyone who keeps whining and blocking my way shall die!"

He roared and charged into the enemy ranks like a raging bull. Wherever his blade flashed, severed limbs flew everywhere, and he was no match for any of them.

The skinny man wielding the steel brass knuckles was even more ruthless, his figure moving like a ghost among the Jin soldiers, specializing in attacking the lower body and joints.

A Jin soldier raised his sword to strike down, but he only swayed slightly before closing in on him. The protruding spikes on his brass knuckles slammed into the side of the soldier's knee with a soft thud.

"what!"

The Jin soldier screamed and knelt on the ground. The skinny man had already circled behind him, grabbed his throat with his thumb and forefinger, and twisted it with a snap, ending his life.

The movements were swift, precise, and ruthless, exuding a chilling efficiency.

Almost at the same time that Liu Feng and his group made their move.

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!

From the depths of the reeds, dozens more whooshing sounds rang out, and figures flew out like large birds, landing lightly and immediately charging into the battle.

These people wielded a wide variety of weapons: longswords, short halberds, steel whips, iron rulers, water-splitting daggers, Emei daggers...

There were even those who used unusual weapons such as flail and tiger baskets.

An old man in black, wielding a pair of mace-axes, charged into the Jin soldiers' ranks. Wherever he went, the Jin soldiers' spears and swords were snatched from their hands, and blood blossomed from their throats and hearts.

"Go!"

A middle-aged woman dressed as a Taoist nun held a whisk in her hand. The whisk strands were taut and hardened like iron after being infused with internal energy. With a wave and a sweep, she knocked the weapons out of the hands of two Jin soldiers. She then thrust the whisk handle out to strike vital points, causing the strikers to collapse to the ground.

"Form the formation! Quickly form a small circular formation!"

One of the Jin soldiers, Meng'an, realized the danger and roared in alarm, trying to organize the dozens of panicked soldiers around him into a defensive formation.

"Form ranks? Too late!"

With a cold snort, a man in a blue robe wielding a Wu hook sword slashed in like the wind. His sword flashed like a bolt of lightning, circling the newly formed circular formation. The tip of his sword flickered erratically, aiming to pierce wrists and ankles. Amidst screams, the circular formation instantly collapsed.

Another exceptionally burly man, wielding a one-legged bronze figure, resembled a ferocious humanoid beast. He roared, "Get out of my way, all of you!"

Immediately, he swept the strange weapon in his hand, which weighed dozens of kilograms, and the two Jin soldiers who could not dodge in time were hit as if by a battering ram. Their sternums were shattered and they flew back several feet, knocking down a group of their comrades.

The addition of these dozens of martial arts experts was like a red-hot knife cutting into solidified grease.

The Jin soldiers' originally fierce formation appeared clumsy and fragile in front of these martial arts masters who moved swiftly, used ingenious techniques, and possessed considerable internal strength.

Often, before swords and spears were even drawn, vital organs were already struck. A large area of ​​the battlefield was cleared out in an extremely short time!

Leaning on her sword, Liang Hongyu knelt on the ground. Although Liu Feng had stopped the bleeding from her leg wound by applying acupressure, the pain was still excruciating. But at this moment, she couldn't care less about that; her heart was already overwhelmed by unparalleled horror.

His Majesty's order...

Did Sect Leader Liu and his men come on His Majesty's orders?

His Majesty is still waiting for us to come and serve him.

Listen and use?

Your Majesty... Your Majesty, could it be...?

A thought that made her blood almost freeze exploded in her mind like a thunderclap!

His Majesty actually came to the bloody front lines in Jianghuai?!

How is this possible?!

For an official of immense wealth, sitting in the central government and strategizing is already the limit.

Since ancient times, when has an emperor ever personally visited such a perilous frontier?

Not to mention that swords and spears have no eyes, and stray arrows and cannonballs, the danger on the battlefield is something that the inner palace could not even imagine!

My husband Han Shizhong fought desperately, wasn't it precisely to keep the Jurchens at bay north of the Yangtze River and protect Your Majesty and the court?

Can……

Judging from Chen Meng's tone, His Majesty seemed to be nearby, perhaps even...

Somewhere on this perilous battlefield!

After the initial shock, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

It was a mixture of disbelief, a subtle excitement, and a deep sense of unease. His Majesty's presence was undoubtedly a tremendous encouragement, but the dangers of this place...

In case of any loss...

Just as Liang Hongyu was overwhelmed with emotion, the remaining Song soldiers, fishermen, and martial artists around her also witnessed this scene that seemed like divine intervention.

"They're heroes of the martial world! So many heroes of the martial world!"

"My God, these heroes are incredibly skilled! They're killing the Jin dogs like cutting vegetables!"

"His Majesty has sent experts to assist in the battle!"

"Brothers, what are we waiting for? Let's fight our way back!"

"Fellow villagers, let's charge together with the heroes!"

"Drive the golden dogs down into the river!"

The ecstasy of escaping a desperate situation invigorated the already exhausted defenders and militia, as if they had been injected with new strength.

Wielding their broken weapons, they unleashed a terrifying battle cry and, following the figures of those martial arts masters, launched a fierce counterattack against the chaotic Jin soldiers!

In an instant, this beachhead, which was about to be swallowed up by the Jin army, was turned around and the battle cries shook the heavens and the earth!

……

Half an hour later, in the Jin army camp north of the river.

Inside the tent, a large tallow candle burned brightly, casting flickering light on Wanyan Zongbi's angular face.

He sat upright on the commander's chair covered with tiger skin, his fingers unconsciously tracing the smooth wood grain of the armrests, listening to the continuous reports from the military academy under his command about the battle situation at the front.

"Report—!"

A messenger burst into the tent, knelt on one knee, and announced in a booming voice, "Reporting to the Marshal!"

"The left-wing force under Heshilie Mouke has broken through the Song army's second water barrier, burned three warships, and beheaded over two hundred. They are currently engaged in a fierce battle with the remnants of the Song army in the shallows!"

"Good!" A glint flashed in Wanyan Zongbi's eyes, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Report!"

Another military academy student rushed in: "Urgent report from Wulin Dameng'an downstream!"

"Our grappling hook team has successfully entangled a Song army warship. Our brave warriors boarded and killed its captain, seizing the bow. We are currently fighting the enemy for control of the cabin, and most of the enemy ship is now in our hands!"

"Hmm." Wanyan Zongbi let out a soft hum of satisfaction, leaned back slightly, and tapped his knuckles lightly on the armrest.

"Report!"

"The frontal artillery barrage unleashed its power, firing three volleys in a row, destroying one of the Song army's watchtowers. The cannonballs landed in their water fortress's supply area, igniting a fire. The Song army was unable to extinguish the blaze in time, and their ranks were thrown into disarray!"

"Report!"

"Right-wing cavalry scouts report that Song troops on the south bank are firing warning shots in multiple locations and are frequently moving around, clearly indicating that their forces are stretched thin and exhausted!"

"Report..."

One after another, reports of good news or smooth progress arrived, though there was no decisive breakthrough.

All of this demonstrates that the immense pressure exerted by the Jin army on all fronts is continuously transforming into an advantage, like a tightening noose firmly around Han Shizhong's neck.

The generals standing in the tent gradually relaxed from their initial solemn expressions, and some even showed a hint of excitement at their impending victory.

As Wanyan Zongbi heard these reports, the tension that had been building since the start of the war seemed to ease slightly.

good very good.

They've pushed forward from all sides. Han Shizhong, even if you have three heads and six arms, how many places can you possibly cover?

Frontal assault, flank attack, flanking maneuver—fire raged everywhere. Your forces were already fewer than mine, and now they've been torn to pieces.

Let's see how long you can hold out.

The motley crew of fishermen at Laoguanzui seems to be a flash in the pan and nothing to worry about.

If this continues, breaking through one line will destabilize the entire front. Han Shizhong, oh Han Shizhong, no matter how brilliant your military strategy, what can you do against such absolute power?

The Jianghuai region will eventually fall into my hands!

A barely perceptible smile crept onto the corners of his mouth.

It was as if one could already see the Song army's defenses collapsing and their iron cavalry crossing the Yangtze River.

"Report!!!"

Just then, a drawn-out proclamation, completely different from before and filled with obvious anxiety and even horror, pierced the gradually heating atmosphere inside the tent like tearing silk!

A military officer, covered in blood and with tattered armor, scrambled into the tent. Before he could even kneel properly, he banged his head on the ground and cried out hoarsely, "Marshal!"

"Something terrible has happened!"

"Urgent report from upstream...upstream Stork's Beak!"

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly froze.

Wanyan Zongbi's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, the joy that had just risen within him instantly freezing, and his voice deepened:

"Speak. What's the matter that you're so alarmed about?"

The military academy officer looked up, his face a mixture of blood, sweat, and incredulous fear: "Our army... our army's offensive upstream has been thwarted!"

"Frustrated?"

Wanyan Zongbi's voice remained steady, but his fingers stopped tapping: "He Shilie Zhining's 20,000 infantry and cavalry can't even take a broken beachhead?"

"But has the Song army received a large reinforcement?"

"No...it's not a large reinforcement force!"

The military academy student's voice trembled, as if recalling some terrifying scene: "It was...it was a martial arts master!"

The military academy student's voice trembled, as if recalling some terrifying scene: "It was...it was a martial arts master!"

"So many martial arts masters!"

"Each of them is highly skilled in martial arts, capable of scaling walls and leaping across rooftops, and their attacks are incredibly ruthless!"

"Our soldiers... our soldiers can't hold them off!"

"A martial arts master?"

Wanyan Zongbi was slightly taken aback, leaned forward, and shot his gaze like lightning to the military academy: "Where did this martial arts expert come from?"

Can Han Shizhong still command江湖人 (jianghu people)?

How could those unruly and reckless individuals be used by him? And how could they appear on the battlefield so neatly in formation?

The military academy student swallowed hard and described with difficulty, "We don't know the specifics of its origins..."

"But their fighting style is far from the usual military tactics. Some use unusual weapons, and some have extremely high levels of agility. They specifically target our generals and standard-bearers..."

"General Heshilie sent Balisumengan to supervise the battle, but he was fatally struck by a tall, thin man wielding a judge's pen in the very first encounter..."

"And there are those who wield greatswords, capable of cleaving a person and shield in two with a single strike..."

"Even our combined formation couldn't stop them; the casualties were heavy, and the vanguard... the vanguard has already collapsed!"

The tent was deathly silent.

The generals looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment.

Are martial arts masters making large-scale intervention in the battlefield?

This was completely beyond their expectations.

In a battle between two armies, discipline, formation, and coordination are crucial; individual bravery has limited impact.

However, if martial arts experts form a team to launch a surprise attack, specializing in killing generals, seizing flags, and disrupting the formation, the impact on morale and the command system will be devastating.

Wanyan Zongbi's brows furrowed completely, the smile vanished without a trace, replaced by a deep gloom.

martial arts masters...

Han Shizhong, you have such a backup plan?

No...it doesn't seem like it.

People in the underworld and the government have always been at odds. Although Han Shizhong was famous, it was difficult for him to command so many desperate men to serve him.

……

Meanwhile, outside the Jin army camp.

More than a hundred figures stood or sat, their breaths heavy and their eyes piercing, all fixed on the enormous structure with its banners obscuring the sun and its fortified camp.

It was a group of over a hundred martial arts masters, including Lu Zuo, Huang Yaoshi, Hong Qigong, and Lu Youjiao.

Even though they were far apart, the overwhelming sense of impending doom and the Jin soldiers, moving in an orderly fashion like ants inside and outside the camp, their armor gleaming, still made these seasoned heroes of the martial world look solemn.

The military camp stretched along the terrain, with trenches dug and fences erected, and watchtowers facing each other.

Squads of elite cavalry patrolled outside the camp, while on the open ground inside, organized infantrymen stood with their swords and spears gleaming in the sunlight. A rough estimate suggests that the number of troops remaining behind was no less than tens of thousands, all of whom were fresh troops who had rested and recuperated and had not yet participated in the fierce battles on the front lines.

Huang Yaoshi, dressed in a blue robe, stood with his hands behind his back on a protruding rock and whispered to Hong Qigong, who was grabbing a wine gourd and chugging it down:

"Seventh Brother, it seems that Wanyan Zongbi is quite adept at conserving strength when it comes to military strategy."

"Han Shizhong is holding out desperately at the front, yet such a formidable army is hidden here."

"Look at that central army banner, the armored soldiers are like clouds, their aura is solid and imposing, and it is probably not something that you and I, with our scattered attacks, can easily shake."

Hong Qigong put down his wine gourd, wiped his mouth with his tattered sleeve, squinted at it, and clicked his tongue: "Brother Yao is right."

"These gold dogs really do have a deep pocket."

"This camp is set up in layers, exuding a murderous aura."

"With just a hundred or so of us, no matter how skilled we are, it's easy to break in, but to actually reach the central command tent and come out unscathed..."

He shook his head, his graying eyebrows furrowing: "I'm afraid I'll break a few good teeth."

"We're here to help the enemy defeat us, not to impulsively fill this bottomless pit. We need to figure out a clever strategy, like finding a weak point to infiltrate, capture a few of their generals, or burn their supplies..."

bass!

Before he could finish speaking, a soft yet sharp, ear-piercing sound of clothes rustling through the air suddenly rang out in the ears of him and all the experts present!

Everyone was shocked and turned around abruptly!