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

More than twenty days later, the Jin state arrived in the capital, at the Xuanzheng Hall of the imperial palace.

As dusk approached, the setting sun, like blood, stained the palace complex, built in the style of Bianjing but with a more rugged appearance, with an ominous crimson hue.

The hall was not a grand court session; only a few important officials were present.

Wanyan Zonggan, who was in charge of the affairs of three provinces; Wanyan Zongfu, the Grand Marshal; Wanyan Xiyin, the Left Chancellor; and Wanyan Ang, the Privy Councilor, etc.

At this moment, they were discussing with Emperor Wanyan Dan the possible movements of the Song army after the spring floods in the south, as well as the training progress of the Tantric "Vajrapani".

Wanyan Dan leaned back on the tiger-skin-covered throne. The young tycoon's face was pale from excessive indulgence, his brows were slightly furrowed, and his fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest.

He was somewhat impatient with his uncle, Wanyan Zonggan's, leisurely explanation of taxes.

Just then, a series of hurried, almost frantic footsteps were heard outside the hall.

"Report!!!"

"Urgent dispatch!"

"Urgent report from Huaibei!!"

A messenger, covered in dust, rushed into the hall and, before he could even kneel properly, roared hoarsely, "Your Majesty! Your Excellencies!"

"No, this is terrible!"

"The Song army... the Song emperor himself has led the expedition and crossed the Huai River!"

"What?"

Everyone in the hall, including Wanyan Dan, suddenly stood up!

"Didn't the Song army say they would come in the summer..." Wanyan Xiyin exclaimed.

"It's a decoy! It's a sneak attack!"

The messenger continued, "Suqian, Siyang, Taoyuan, Qinghe..."

"In less than twenty days, they have captured seven of my cities!"

"The defending general, Heshilie Zhining, has been killed in battle, and all reinforcements have been defeated!"

"That Zhao Gou was simply inhuman!"

"The city gate of Suqian was shattered with a single blow! Our army's morale is in chaos!"

"What's even more deadly is..."

"Wherever the Song army went, the Han people in the cities and countryside went mad!"

"They opened the city gates, assassinated our soldiers, and even attacked our rear in groups with farm tools!"

"Han people everywhere have sprung into action upon hearing the news, and fires have broken out everywhere. Our army... our army is now attacked from both sides!"

With a thud, the messenger seemed to have used up his last bit of strength. He fell unconscious on the spot.

Dead silence.

A deathly silence enveloped the Xuanzheng Hall.

The only sounds were the messenger's heavy, irregular breathing and the faint crackling of the charcoal fire in the incense burner.

Wanyan Dan's face turned from white to green, then from green to red. He suddenly kicked over the imperial desk in front of him, and the writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, fruit plates, and teacups on it crashed to the ground.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

"Seven cities! Twenty days!"

"Is my army made of paper?"

"And those Han traitors!"

"They should have been killed long ago! Kill them all!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Wanyan Zonggan, being an elder, managed to maintain a semblance of composure: "The most urgent matter is to respond!"

Grand Marshal Wanyan Zongfu, the elder brother of the frontline commander Wanyan Zongfu, had a grim face and felt a chill.

He understood better than the civil officials present what the capture of seven cities in twenty days meant...

That was a sweeping victory, a crushing defeat!

The Song army's new army is probably far more powerful than they estimated.

"Your Majesty, Zhao Gou's arrival is no ordinary act of conquering cities and seizing territory; his momentum is like that of a mad tiger, poised to strike at the heart of the nation."

"If they are allowed to continue northward and join forces with the Han Chinese rebellions in Hedong and Hebei, then Henan and Shandong will be in grave danger, and it may even shake the Yan and Yun regions!"

Left Chancellor Wanyan Xiyin, a civil official well-versed in Han studies, stroked his beard, his eyes flashing with fear: "What's even more terrifying is his incitement of the Han people."

"Our Great Jin Dynasty has only been established for a short time, and there are millions of Han Chinese in the north. If they are all bewitched by us..."

"Then you'll be surrounded by enemies everywhere, making it impossible to defend against them!"

"So what do you suggest we do?"

"His Majesty!"

Privy Councilor Wanyan Ang said in a deep voice, "The Song army is at its peak and has also received internal support from the Han people. They have divided their troops to guard various cities, and I am afraid they will be defeated one by one."

"The only way forward is to concentrate all of our Great Jin's elite forces and achieve a decisive victory in one battle!"

"decisive battle?"

"Yes, the final battle!"

Wanyan Zongfu slammed his fist into a pillar: "Zhao Gou is arrogant and reckless, relying on his strength. His supply lines will inevitably be stretched."

"Our army can abandon some cities to lure them deeper into our territory."

"Then, elite troops from Tokyo Liaoyang Prefecture, Zhongjing Dading Prefecture, Xijing Datong Prefecture, and even Shangjing were gathered, along with the 'Vajra Warriors' trained by Tantric masters, all converging at..."

He strode to the huge sheepskin map on the wall and pointed emphatically at a location: "Dading Prefecture, located in the southern part of Zhongjing Road, between Zezhou and Yuguan!"

"The terrain here is open, which is conducive to the deployment of our Great Jin cavalry. Backed by the Yanshan Mountains, it is convenient for resupply."

"Let's engage the main force of the Song army in a decisive battle here! Let's decide the fate of the world in one fell swoop!"

"As long as Zhao Gou is defeated or even captured and killed, the Song army will collapse without a fight, and those rebellious Han people will become like trees without roots!"

"Dading Prefecture..."

Wanyan Dan stared at the map, his chest heaving violently.

This is a battle that will determine the fate of the nation!

But right now, there doesn't seem to be a better option.

If Zhao Gou were allowed to continue his rampage, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Zongfu, how many troops do you need? How long will it take to assemble them?" Wanyan Dan asked through gritted teeth.

Wanyan Zongfu knelt on one knee: "The entire nation's army!"

"At least 300,000!"

"Give me a month, and I will surely present Zhao Gou's head before Your Majesty!"

"good!"

Wanyan Dan said, "As you say!"

"By imperial decree, all troops from various regions, except for essential garrisons, are to assemble at Dading Prefecture!"

"Please also ask the Tantric masters to do their utmost to help!"

"In this battle, victory is the only option; defeat is not an option!"

"I obey your decree!"

Several senior officials responded in unison.

.....

At the same time, in the Jin Kingdom, in the city of Wuguo, in a dark stone house.

The damp air was filled with the smells of mold, blood, and excrement.

A few pale rays of sunlight pierced through the narrow ventilation holes high above, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air, but failing to dispel the dungeon-like chill.

In the corner of the stone house, some moldy, dry straw was laid out. Two figures, dressed in dirty, old Song Dynasty official robes, with disheveled hair and emaciated bodies, were huddled there, shivering. They were none other than Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, and Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, who had been captured for many years.

"Snapped!"

A crisp, fierce crack of the whip suddenly shattered the silence, accompanied by the muffled sound of flesh being torn apart.

"what!"

Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, let out a piercing scream. Another bloodstain appeared on his tattered robe. His body convulsed violently, and he fell to the side.

"Useless! Two old useless cowards!"

A Jin army captain with a muscular face and bloodshot eyes, holding a still-dripping horsewhip, lashed out again at the cowering Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji!

*Smack! Plop!*

"what!"

Zhao Ji was beaten and rolled on the ground, letting out a wail. His once well-maintained face, now covered in dirt and wrinkles, was instantly torn open, and blood seeped out.

He curled up in terror, futilely covering his head and face with his arms, and mumbled pleas for mercy: "Spare me... sir, spare me..."

"Spare me?"

The captain, panting heavily, his eyes filled with violence and a near-mad agitation, pointed at Zhao Ji and cursed in broken Chinese:

"All because of the good son born to you, you useless, incompetent ruler!"

"That Zhao Gou! He killed so many of our brave warriors in the south!"

"You've made me want to be sent to the front lines to die!"

He grew angrier as he spoke, and raised his leather-booted foot to kick Zhao Huan hard in the waist and abdomen.

boom!

"vomit……"

Emperor Huizong was in so much pain that he arched his back, convulsing like a shrimp. He gagged, but nothing came out except for sour fluid.

Another Jin soldier stepped forward, swung his scabbard, and indiscriminately hurled it at Zhao Ji, shouting, "You're all Song dogs!"

"It's all because of that Zhao Gou!"

"You've ruined our lives!"

Bang! Thud! Smack!

The dull thud of a scabbard striking bone, the shrill whistling of a whip tearing through the air, and the heavy sounds of fists and feet striking flesh, intertwined with the painful wails, sobs, and intermittent pleas for mercy of two deposed kings, echoed within the cramped stone house.

"Stop hitting them...please stop hitting them..."

"I...no, this guilty subject knows his mistake...ah!"

"Zhao Gou...it was Zhao Gou's own doing...it has nothing to do with us..."

"Spare us..."

……

Nanjing Road of the Jin Dynasty, Luanzhou City.

Night had fallen, and the city was silent except for the sound of the night watchman's gong and the occasional barking of dogs.

From the direction of the granary in the backyard of the prefectural government office, one could vaguely hear firelight and human voices.

Suddenly, several dark figures leaped over the high wall like ghosts and landed in the courtyard. They were all masked with black cloths, revealing only a pair of gleaming eyes.

"Who goes there?" The patrolling Jin soldiers noticed something amiss and shouted the question.

"The one who'll take your life!"

The first figure was a burly man with an old yet loud voice; he was none other than Hong Qigong, the leader of the Beggars' Sect.

Without wasting a word, he darted into the ranks of the Jin soldiers, his palms flying, the wind from his hands sharp and fierce, carrying the faint sound of a dragon's roar.

"The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms? It's a Song Dynasty master!" The Jin soldier squad leader exclaimed in horror, raising his sword to block.

"Bang! Crack!"

The knife broke, and the person flew away.

With a single palm strike, Hong Qigong shattered his sternum, sending him flying backward and crashing into a corner of the grain storage.

"Enemy attack! There's a spy!" The other Jin soldiers were thrown into chaos, and the mournful sound of gongs rang out.

"Hurry! Burn the supplies!"

The other dark figure was elegant and graceful; it was none other than Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic.

He didn't use the jade flute, but only his bare hands. His finger strikes were as sharp as swords, instantly knocking down several Jin soldiers who rushed at him. Each finger struck a vital point, silently and without a sound.

Accompanying them were several of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, as well as many martial arts heroes from both the north and south who came to lend their support, totaling twenty or thirty people, all of whom were masters.

They had a clear division of labor: one group quickly eliminated the Jin soldiers who rushed to the scene, while the other group rushed into the granary and poured kerosene on the mountain of grain sacks.

"set fire!"

A torch was thrown in.

"boom!"

Flames instantly rose, greedily licking the dry grain and straw. Fueled by the wind, the fire spread rapidly, turning half of the prefectural government's backyard a fiery red. Thick smoke billowed straight into the night sky.

"Fire! The granary is flooded!"

"Quickly, put out the fire!"

The entire city of Luanzhou was alarmed, filled with cries, shouts of firefighters, the clashing of weapons, and the pitiful screams of the dying.

"That feels great! Haha!"

Hong Qigong slapped away a Jin centurion who tried to intercept him, then laughed loudly: "The Jin dogs have a fire in their rear! Let's see how they can fight His Majesty in peace now! Retreat!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The masked experts did not linger in the fight. They leaped away like night owls, quickly disengaging from the battlefield and disappearing into the darkness outside the city walls.

All that remained behind him was the raging fire, the chaotic Jin soldiers, and the incompetent and furious Luanzhou garrison commander.

......

On a hill several miles away, the group stopped and looked back at the firelight in the direction of Luanzhou City.

"Old Master Huang, your method is excellent. Target their grain and supplies, burn and kill them, leaving them unable to attend to both ends." Hong Qigong pulled off his mask and took a hearty gulp of wine.

Huang Yaoshi also removed his mask: "The Jin army has concentrated its forces on the southern front, leaving their rear vulnerable."

"While Your Majesty is conquering cities and capturing strongholds at the front, we will attack their strongholds from the rear and disrupt their morale."

"While Your Majesty is conquering cities and capturing strongholds at the front, we will attack their strongholds from the rear and disrupt their morale."

"Next stop, Jizhou. I've heard it's a key route for the Jurchens to transport military equipment."

The group looked at each other and smiled. Although the days of running around and raiding had been quite tiring, the results were remarkable, and they were able to contribute to the cause of the Northern Expedition. They were all delighted.

After a short rest, the group disappeared into the night again, continuing their patrols in the seemingly vast but actually leaky rear of the Jin Kingdom due to the tense situation at the front.

.....

Yingtian Prefecture, Imperial Study.

The candlelight was bright, as bright as day.

Li Qingzhao was still wearing her elegant palace dress, sitting on the imperial desk.

Below, the six ministers and several other important officials stood solemnly, their eyes all focused on her face, holding their breath in anticipation.

A short while later...

Li Qingzhao put down the secret letter in her hand, raised her eyes to look at everyone: "His Majesty has sent a message."

Everyone's spirits lifted.

"Since crossing the Huai River in May, His Majesty has personally led the expedition. Our royal army has won one victory after another, and has now recovered seven cities including Suqian, Siyang, Taoyuan, Qinghe, Muyang, Haizhou, and Ganyu."

"The Jin army was caught off guard, their defenses collapsed, and our army advanced with unstoppable momentum."

"What is even more gratifying is that when the people in the occupied areas heard that the royal army was coming, they all brought food and drink, and some even rose up in rebellion. With internal and external cooperation, the Jin invaders were already drowning in a sea of ​​people and were controlled everywhere."

"good!"

Minister of War Wang Jue couldn't help but shout, and the other ministers also showed excited expressions.

Li Qingzhao continued, "Currently, generals such as Han Shizhong, Yue Fei, Guo Xiaotian, and Yang Tiexin are dividing their troops to seize territory and consolidate the battle lines."

"Martial arts heroes such as Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi went deep into the rear of the Jin army, harassing their supply lines and baggage, making it impossible for them to support each other."

Minister of Revenue Li Wenyuan, most concerned with practical matters, hurriedly asked, "Secretary Li, are the supplies and provisions being delivered to the front lines proceeding smoothly?"

"How much money and supplies are needed to pacify the newly recovered areas and restore people's livelihoods?"

Li Qingzhao picked up another document: "Minister Li's concerns are very valid."

"The newly recaptured city will be temporarily managed by the military commander in charge of civil administration. Based on the 'Brief Introduction to the New Policies of the Great Song Dynasty,' order will be restored quickly. Unclaimed land will be surveyed and distributed to those who have contributed to the war effort, and taxes will be reduced or exempted."

"The initial funds and provisions required have been partially withdrawn from the first batch of confiscated Jin official granaries and surrendered wealthy households. The court needs to allocate seeds, farming tools, and some start-up funds as soon as possible."

"This is a preliminary list and estimate jointly drafted by General Yue and Marshal Han." She handed a list to Li Wenyuan.

Li Wenyuan took it, quickly glanced at it, and felt somewhat reassured. Although the amount was not small, it was still manageable given the current state of the national treasury.

"I will immediately consult with my colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue and finalize the allocation plan within three days!"

Wang Ciweng, the Minister of Personnel, also stepped forward: "The newly restored prefectures and counties have a huge shortage of officials."

"I believe that we should immediately compile a list of those who have never been granted a substantive post, as well as those who are loyal and capable and selected from the local state schools. They should be ready to be sent to the front lines at any time and await Your Majesty's and the generals' command."

"Very good."

Li Qingzhao nodded: "The Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, and the Imperial City Guard should work together to rigorously review the newly appointed officials and ensure that the right people are used."

She then looked at Shen Gai: "Minister Shen, His Majesty also issued an edict that in newly recovered areas, the application of 'greenhouses' and 'cement' can be promoted as appropriate, firstly to stabilize people's livelihoods, and secondly for long-term planning."

"The Ministry of Works needs to prepare craftsmen and materials in advance."

"Your subject obeys the decree!"