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

Hedong City was originally the prefectural government office of the Jin Dynasty, and is now the temporary headquarters of the Song army.

A rough military map was laid out on the case that was originally being heard. Lu Zuo, Han Shizhong, Yue Fei, Guo Xiaotian, and Yang Tiexin stood around it. The candlelight cast their solemn faces onto the wall, flickering with the flame.

The night outside the window was deep, with only the footsteps of the patrolling soldiers reminding us that a bloody battle had just taken place here.

Hedong City was the first tough nut to crack since the Northern Expedition began. The Jin army resisted fiercely. Although it was eventually captured, the new army suffered the heaviest casualties since the start of the war.

Han Shizhong pointed heavily at a spot on the map and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, gentlemen, our army has won consecutive victories and has penetrated deep into the heart of the Jin territory."

"The Jin invaders lost key locations and suffered heavy losses, causing shock to their court and panic among the military and civilians."

"Even a cornered beast will fight, and Wanyan Dan and Wanyan Zongfu were by no means people who would sit and wait for their death."

"According to the latest scout reports and information obtained from interrogating prisoners, the Jin army is massively reducing its forces, abandoning some outer cities, and its main force..."

"It is continuously converging on the area of ​​Dading Prefecture, between Zezhou and Yuguan, in the southern part of Zhongjing Road!"

He drew a circle around Dading Prefecture with his fingertip: "The terrain here is flat and level, which is exactly where their iron cavalry can gallop."

"With the Yanshan Mountains at its back, supplies can flow in steadily from the north; its intentions are obvious..."

"The intention is to amass a large force here and engage our army in a decisive battle that will determine the fate of the nation!"

"They lost the initiative, and now they want to rely on their superior military strength and terrain to achieve a decisive victory in one battle and reverse the decline."

Yue Fei's gaze was sharp, and he slowly nodded: "Marshal Han is absolutely right."

"Dading Prefecture is indeed an excellent place to set up a battlefield."

"Our army has won consecutive victories, its morale is soaring, the new troops are fierce and brave, and His Majesty's divine might is awe-inspiring..."

"However, if the Jurchens can truly gather 300,000 or even more troops here, and with the advantage of the terrain, even if our army wins a direct confrontation, it will be a Pyrrhic victory, and the momentum of the Northern Expedition will likely be completely crushed here."

He paused, his voice growing deeper, "Moreover, the Jin army must have so-called 'Vajra Warriors' trained by Tantric Buddhism leading the vanguard. Their combat strength is unknown, so we must be wary."

"Your Majesty, if we wish to achieve a complete victory with minimal losses, relying solely on a head-on battle, even with Your Majesty's personal intervention to break through the enemy lines, is not the best strategy."

"Our forces are already outnumbered by the enemy, and a direct assault would play right into their hands."

"I believe we should use a surprise attack."

"A surprise attack?"

Han Shizhong frowned: "Pengju's words are quite right."

"However, our army's strength is already stretched thin; dividing our forces would weaken us further. Where can we find a surprise force to deploy?"

"Moreover, this surprise attack requires penetrating deep behind enemy lines to deliver a fatal blow to the Jin invaders at the crucial moment of the decisive battle, disrupting their morale and inner strength. How difficult that is!"

A glint flashed in Yue Fei's eyes as he looked at Han Shizhong: "Marshal, do you still remember that your wife secretly contacted fishermen and heroes along the river to offer assistance?"

Han Shizhong was taken aback, then suddenly realized: "You mean... Hongyu?"

"Exactly!"

"The lady is known for her courage and resourcefulness, and is well-versed in the ways of the martial world and the common people."

"The Jianghuai region suffered greatly from the invasion of the Jin dynasty. There were many righteous people, heroes of the Jianghu, and even fishermen and woodcutters familiar with the water and land routes."

"They may not be familiar with large-scale military formations, but they are surprisingly effective at harassing enemy lines, burning supplies, and even disrupting enemy formations at crucial moments!"

"This is a hidden force, a secret weapon operating among the common people!"

He continued, "Furthermore, under His Majesty's command, there are still a large number of martial arts masters with high skills and a heart for their country, such as Chief Hong and Island Master Huang, who are currently harassing the Jin invaders from the rear."

"If we can combine these two forces, unify our commands, and secretly assemble them in a hidden place behind the battlefield of Dading Prefecture."

"Once our army is locked in a decisive battle with the main force of the Jin army, this surprise force will suddenly strike out, heading straight for the Jin army's central command flag, or burning their rear supply and provisions camps..."

"The Jurchen invaders are attacked from both sides; how could they not be in chaos?"

As Han Shizhong listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table as he rapidly calculated the feasibility of the plan in his mind.

Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin listened with great interest, feeling that General Yue was far-sighted, bold and meticulous, and had incorporated seemingly impossible civilian forces into a grand strategic game.

Lu Zuo listened quietly to the discussion between the two renowned generals of the time, his heart also stirred with emotion.

He came from a later era and knew the illustrious reputation and military prowess of Yue Fei and Han Shizhong in history, but being personally involved in this strategic planning that determined the fate of the nation gave him a different perspective.

Han Shizhong was mature and prudent, and had a precise grasp of the overall war situation.

Yue Fei, on the other hand, was ambitious, insightful, and adept at utilizing all available resources to achieve unexpected victories.

Although I possess foresight and martial prowess that transcends my time, when it comes to the strategic planning, terrain utilization, and troop deployment of large-scale battles in this era of cold weapons, I am indeed inferior to these two seasoned generals.

His previous "summer northern expedition" was more of a strategic surprise attack, a kind of "momentum building".

When it comes to the specific tactical planning of a decisive battle, how to make the most of every bit of strength, and how to outwit and outmaneuver the enemy commander, that is truly the domain of these renowned generals.

Military campaigns are ultimately a professional matter.

Lu Zuo thought to himself, "What I can do is set the direction, give trust, and use force to overcome cleverness when necessary."

But this ingenious game still needs to be played by them.

He glanced at Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin beside him, who were also listening intently, their eyes filled with admiration and contemplation. He knew that these two generals, both from the ranks of江湖豪杰 (jianghu heroes), were probably sharing similar insights at this moment...

On the battlefield with thousands of troops, individual bravery is certainly important, but what truly determines victory or defeat is often strategy.

"This plan is brilliant!"

Han Shizhong: "Hongyu has a long-standing reputation in the Jianghuai region, so contacting righteous men should not be a problem."

"Old Master Hong, Master Huang, and others are also believers."

"With the two forces converging, coordinated by Hongyu, and with veterans like Hong and Huang responsible for breaking through enemy lines, they are indeed a formidable force capable of changing the course of the battle!"

"However... communication, assembly, concealment, and timing are all interconnected and cannot be neglected."

Yue Fei interjected, "Therefore, our army needs to maintain continuous pressure on the Jin invaders, but we cannot engage in a decisive battle too early. We need to buy time for our surprise forces to assemble."

"At the same time, we should make a big show of it, making it seem as if our army is a little arrogant and eager to seek a decisive battle because of our consecutive victories, so as to further confuse the Jin invaders and make them focus their attention on the movement of our main force on the front."

Seeing that the two had already come up with a general strategy, Lu Zuo made the final decision: "Okay!"

"We will follow the strategy of the two generals."

"Han Qing, immediately use your most confidential channels to send a message to Madam Liang, informing her of the strategy and ordering her to take full responsibility for contacting and gathering anti-Jin righteous people, heroes of the Jianghuai region and the north, and people familiar with the routes."

"Strive for efficiency, not quantity."

"I will also write a secret order and instruct the Beggars' Sect elders to deliver it to Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi as quickly as possible."

"Order them to cease their scattered harassment and secretly assemble at a predetermined location behind Dading Prefecture to rendezvous with Lady Liang, where they will be under her unified command and cooperate with the main army in the decisive battle!"

"Your Majesty, we obey!" Han Shizhong and Yue Fei solemnly accepted the order.

Lu Zuo looked at the map: "Our army will rest and reorganize in Hedong for five days."

Five days later, the army set off, making it clear that they were heading straight for Dading Prefecture in search of a decisive battle.

"The march can be slowed down. If we encounter any small groups of Jin troops or strongholds along the way, we must sweep them away with lightning speed. This will not only train our soldiers but also continue to put pressure on the Jin, forcing them to speed up their regrouping and keep their eyes firmly on our main force."

"Your Majesty is wise!" they exclaimed in unison.

The plan was finalized, and everyone went off to prepare.

Han Shizhong personally arranged for his most trusted bodyguards to carry a secret letter south.

Lu Zuo also summoned the Beggar Clan's Nine-Bag Elder who was accompanying the army, whispered instructions, and bestowed upon him a handwritten order and tokens.

The atmosphere in the commander's mansion was tense yet orderly, as the shadow of a larger and more deeply planned decisive battle slowly loomed over Dading Prefecture in the north.

......

Five days later, at dawn, outside Hedong City.

After resting, the morale of the Song army was restored, their formation was orderly, and they were ready to set off.

However, the army had barely gone a short distance from the city gate when a scout on horseback came galloping up to report: "Your Majesty!"

"A large number of civilians, numbering several thousand, carrying makeshift weapons, have appeared ahead and are marching towards our army!"

"The leader, who identified himself as Geng Jing, requests an audience with His Majesty!"

"Geng Jing?"

Lu Zuo was slightly taken aback, then remembered that there seemed to be such a name in history, who was the leader of the anti-Jin rebel army. He signaled the army to stop and looked ahead.

In the distance, where dust rose, a dark mass of figures gradually became clear.

Most of them were dressed in rags and looked pale, but their eyes revealed a kind of longing and determination.

The weapons they carried were varied, including rusty knives and spears, sharpened wooden sticks, farm tools, and some even carried hunting bows.

The lead rider was a boy who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. He had a dark complexion, a strong physique, and wore an old military uniform covered in patches, yet he tried his best to straighten his back.

He rode alone to the front of the army a hundred paces away, dismounted, and quickly stepped forward. Under the watchful eyes of the guards, he knelt on one knee facing the direction of the commander's flag. His voice trembled slightly with excitement, but it was loud and clear:

"Jing Gengjing, leading 4,728 fellow villagers from Xiangzhou, Daming Prefecture, and other places who are resisting the Jin, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Hearing of the royal army's northern expedition and the recovery of our lost territories, we, the people of the Great Song Dynasty who have been captured, slaughtered, and enslaved, yearn for victory day and night!"

"I have come here today to serve, willing to be at the forefront of the army, braving fire and water to reclaim our lost lands. Even in death, I will have no regrets!"

"Please, Your Majesty, take me in!"

Thousands of rebels also knelt down. Although the ranks were disorderly, their spirit of fighting to the death and sharing a common hatred for the enemy was moving.

Lu Zuo rode forward a few steps, his gaze sweeping over the faces of these people who had endured so much hardship yet still longed for their homeland. He said loudly, "Geng Jing, you have not forgotten your country and have gathered behind enemy lines to fight against the Jin. Your loyalty and courage are commendable."

"Now that the royal army has arrived, heroes from all directions are needed to unite as one!"

"I hereby grant you permission to serve in the army!"

Geng Jing was overjoyed and kowtowed deeply: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your divine grace! Geng Jing and all my fellow villagers are willing to die for Your Majesty!"

Lu Zuo hesitated for a moment, then said, "Geng Jing, I have an important task for you."

"As the main force advances, it needs a reliable person to contact and support a force coming from the south."

"You and your righteous men are familiar with the local situation, making you perfectly suited for this task."

"Immediately send men south to find any groups that use the characters 'Han' or 'Liang' in their names or that communicate in a江湖 (jianghu) manner, and secretly lead them to a safe area behind our army's flank."

Geng Jing: "Your Majesty, rest assured! Geng Jing will not fail in his mission!"

......

The army continued its march, billowing dust as it headed north.

Geng Jing: "Your Majesty, rest assured! Geng Jing will not fail in his mission!"

......

The army continued its march, billowing dust as it headed north.

However, within the city of Hedong, there was a place with a somber and oppressive atmosphere, completely different from the fervent and passionate atmosphere outside the city... the wounded soldiers' camp.

The once spacious temple halls and makeshift sheds were now filled with wounded soldiers groaning and wailing.

In the Battle of Hedong, the New Army demonstrated its formidable fighting power, but the Jin soldiers' desperate struggle resulted in the heaviest casualties since the start of the war, with over a thousand seriously wounded.

The strong smell of blood, sweat, and the stench of rotting wounds mingled together, making one want to vomit.

The limited number of military doctors were so busy that they barely had time to breathe, their foreheads were covered in sweat, and their eyes were bloodshot.

"Hold him down! Quickly!"

An elderly military doctor, well past fifty, screamed as he tried to stop the bleeding of a soldier whose abdomen had been ripped open and whose intestines were spilling out, using a red-hot branding iron.

"Wound medicine! Quickly, bring me wound medicine!"

"Medic, we're...we're running out of wound medicine! The last shipment we brought is almost all gone!" a young medical assistant cried out, his voice trembling with tears.

"A bandage to stop the bleeding! We're almost out of clean bandages!"

"This person's wound has become infected and they have a fever!"

"Li Laosan is dying! He can't breathe!"

The sounds of wails, urging, clashing of equipment, and the unmistakable aura of death enveloped the entire wounded soldiers' camp.

The old military doctor looked at yet another young soldier suffering from a persistent high fever due to a wound infection and closed his eyes in anguish.

They can treat simple knife and arrow wounds, but their methods are extremely limited when it comes to severe trauma, especially subsequent infections…

Just then, the heavy straw curtain at the entrance of the shed was suddenly thrown open, and a young soldier, covered in dust, rushed in.

He was holding a ceramic jar in his arms: "Medicine!"

"Old Chen! The medicine is here!"

"It was just delivered to the camp!"

"medicine?"

Dr. Chen looked up abruptly, strode forward, took the earthenware jar, and pried open the sealed opening.

A strong, pungent, and even slightly choking odor instantly wafted out, quickly overpowering the blood and putrid smell inside the shed.

The smell... is hard to describe; it's somewhat like rotten garlic, yet carries an indescribable, similar...

A sharp, lime-like feel?

It was definitely not the scent of any herbal or mineral medicine that he was familiar with.

Dr. Chen frowned and peered into the jar.

Inside was a large jar of clear liquid with a slight yellowish-green tinge. The liquid was watery yet slightly viscous, and it was difficult to see clearly in the dim light.

He dipped his fingertip in the tincture, brought it to his nose and smelled it carefully, then stuck out his tongue to taste it.

An indescribable spicy and bitter taste exploded on his tongue, making him hiss and spit it out immediately.

"What the hell is this thing?"

"The smell is so strange and pungent; it's definitely not an ordinary wound medicine or decoction!"

"You must have taken the wrong one, kid?"

"I didn't take the wrong one!"

"Old Chen, you've been in the north all these years, you probably haven't heard of this new contraption that our Ministry of Works has come up with, have you?"

"This garlic extract was produced at His Majesty's personal instruction, and the Ministry of Works went to great lengths to create it!"

"Specially treats external wound ulcers and prevents pathogens from entering the wound!"

"Allicin?"

"Made with garlic?"

"The miracle drug?"

Dr. Chen was even more confused, and his brows furrowed into a knot.

He certainly knew about garlic; there were folk remedies that used garlic paste as a poultice to treat boils and carbuncles. But could a jar of this pungent-smelling liquid really cure such a serious injury and prevent it from festering?

"This is unheard of!"

"The festering wound is caused by heat toxins, requiring medicine to clear heat, detoxify, remove necrotic tissue, and promote tissue regeneration. What good is this garlic water?"

"Stop taking the lives of these young men!"

"Mr. Chen, you must believe me!"

The soldier replied, "This was personally instructed by the military commander. He said His Majesty had already issued a clear order that the Northern Expeditionary Army needed to be issued this medicine, but the journey is long and transportation is difficult. The first batch has been delivered urgently."

"Let the wounded soldiers' camp use the wounded soldiers' camp first for those with deep wounds that are prone to suppuration."

"The method is simple: use boiled and cooled salt water or clean water to rinse away as much dirt as possible from the wound."

"Then apply the garlic extract to the inside and outside of the wound with a clean, soft cloth, or soak clean cotton balls in the garlic extract and apply them to the wound, changing the dressing two to three times a day."

Dr. Chen looked at the pungent-smelling earthenware jar in his hand and said, "In that case, let's do as you say."