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

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A dozen days later, in Hedong City, at the wounded soldiers' camp.

The strong, pungent smell of allicin in the air has faded considerably.

The groans inside the shed had not stopped, but they were less of the despair of impending death and the delirium of high fever, and more of the muffled groans of pain and the exhaustion of sleep.

The old military doctor, Mr. Chen, inspected the wounds of several seriously wounded soldiers. Although they were still lying weakly, the horrifying redness and swelling around their wounds had subsided by most, and their originally ashen faces had regained some color.

"A miracle...it truly is a miracle..."

Dr. Chen stroked his gray beard, his eyes filled with disbelief and deep emotion.

He had practiced medicine for most of his life and had seen countless wound medicines and detoxifying powders, but he had never seen such a miraculous medicine that was so effective and specifically effective against "ulceration and evil toxins".

Although this "garlic extract" has a strong odor and causes pain when applied, its remarkable effects far exceed his most optimistic expectations.

Many seriously wounded soldiers who he initially judged to be "certain to die" or "certain to be maimed" were actually pulled back from the brink of death by this jar of "garlic water," saving their lives and limbs.

"Your Majesty...Minister of Works...what kind of magical technique did you use?"

He looked south, his heart filled with awe and gratitude.

This small medicine pot not only saved the lives of hundreds of elite soldiers, but also preserved the army's fighting spirit.

One of the biggest logistical concerns since the Northern Expedition was the loss of wounded soldiers.

He carefully locked the remaining "garlic extract" into a specially made wooden box; these were treasures more precious than gold.

.....

Meanwhile, the Northern Expeditionary Army had left Hedong and continued its northward advance for several days.

As June approaches, the green of the northern plains deepens, the sky is high and the clouds are wide, and the wind carries the dry scent of the Yanshan Mountains.

The army marched along the somewhat desolate official road, with abandoned villages and fields visible on both sides, indicating that the Jin Dynasty was withdrawing its troops and implementing a scorched-earth policy.

Under the banner of the commander, Lu Zuo and Yue Fei rode side by side.

Yue Fei, clad in black armor, his eyes sharp as a hawk, scanned the surrounding terrain and the distant horizon, and said, "Your Majesty, since leaving Hedong, our scouts have encountered fewer and fewer Jin soldiers."

"Many of the fortified towns along the way were poorly defended, or even abandoned."

"It seems that Marshal Han's prediction was correct. The Jin army has indeed made up its mind to fight a decisive battle with our army in Dading Prefecture. Therefore, it has gathered all its surrounding forces and even withdrawn the small detachments that were harassing and delaying us."

Lu Zuo nodded slightly. The journey had been too smooth, which only confirmed the correctness of his previous strategic judgment.

The Jin state was determined to achieve its goal in one decisive battle and reverse its decline.

"It seems that at this moment, the Dading Prefecture is probably already teeming with tens of thousands, or even more, Jin soldiers, sharpening their swords and waiting for me to arrive."

"Exactly."

Yue Fei: "The Jin invaders are well-rested and ready, occupy a strategic location, and have gathered their troops. Their offensive is at its most powerful."

"Although our troops are in high spirits, they are outnumbered due to the long-distance raid."

"However..."

"They only consider military strength, but they may not be able to understand the hearts of the people or the difference between orthodox and unorthodox tactics."

Just then, a scout on horseback galloped back from the front, reined in his horse as he approached, and urgently reported: "Your Majesty! General Yue!"

"A large contingent of Jin troops has been spotted fifty li ahead!"

"A large number of people, with banners obscuring the sun, are marching northwest along the official road, towards the direction of Dading Prefecture!"

"Judging from their ranks, they must be reinforcements gathered by the Jin invaders from various places!"

Lu Zuo and Yue Fei exchanged a glance, then Lu Zuo ordered, "Investigate further!"

"Ascertain their specific troop strength, composition, marching speed, and whether they have follow-up troops!"

"Understood!" The scout turned his horse and rode away.

Lu Zuo hesitated for a moment, then said to Yue Fei, "Pengju, you and Marshal Han will stay in the central command and proceed according to the original plan."

"I will go and see for myself."

"Your Majesty, there may be Jurchen cavalry ahead..." Yue Fei said with slight worry.

"It's alright, I know what I'm doing."

After Lu Zuo finished speaking, he selected more than ten of the most elite Imperial City Guards, plus two experienced scouts familiar with the route. He spurred his horse, broke away from the main group, and galloped off in the direction the scouts had indicated.

.....

Fifty li is not a long distance when the elite cavalry is galloping.

Lu Zuo and the others climbed to a high mound and, under the cover of a sparse forest, gazed into the distance.

In the distance, on the vast plains, a "long dragon" composed of countless black dots was wriggling along the official road toward the northwest.

Under the sunlight, one could vaguely see weapons and various flags reflecting a cold metallic gleam.

The procession stretched out so long that no one could see the beginning or the end, and dust rose more than ten feet high.

The pace of travel wasn't fast, but the heavy and immense pressure could be faintly felt even from this distance.

Many cavalrymen patrolled the outer flanks of the column, clearly acting as sentries.

"Judging by the flags, some are from Tokyo Road, some from Zhongjing Road, and some are from the direction of Xijing Datong Prefecture..."

The old scout squinted and whispered, "Your Majesty, this is probably no less than fifty or sixty thousand people, and it's just one of the routes."

"It seems that Jin Gou has emptied his coffers and sent them to Dading Prefecture."

Lu Zuo watched quietly, his admiration for Han Shizhong and Yue Fei's judgment growing even stronger.

Although we have military advantages and information gaps, at the strategic level of large-scale military operations, we do need to rely on such professional commanders.

After observing for a while, and finding no signs that the enemy had split up or set up an ambush, Lu Zuo did not linger and led his men back.

Back at the central command, Lu Zuo informed the generals of what he had seen.

Han Shizhong stroked his beard and said, "The Jin army is so openly mobilizing troops because they are indeed short of manpower and need to draw troops from all sides."

"Secondly, it may also be a show of force to our army, demonstrating its determination to fight a decisive battle and putting our army in a hurry."

Yue Fei said, "Now that we understand their intentions, our army needs to remain calm and composed."

"Your Majesty, I suggest that the army need not rush to approach the city of Dading."

"We can continue forward and, thirty to fifty li outside Dading Prefecture, choose a strategic location or a place where our army can make its move, set up camp, dig deep trenches and build high walls, and prepare for a decisive battle."

"Firstly, it can further pressure the Jin invaders, making them dare not easily divide their troops to attend to other matters."

"Secondly, we can wait in comfort for news from Madam Liang and Chief Hong."

Lu Zuo nodded: "Order the entire army to arrive at a location thirty miles outside Dading Prefecture tomorrow and set up camp."

"Send out more scouts to monitor the movements at the four gates of Dading Prefecture, paying particular attention to nighttime."

.....

One day later, thirty miles outside Dading Prefecture, Song army camps were erected.

The camp was situated on a gentle slope, backed by a shallow river. It had been fortified with trenches, fences, barricades, and watchtowers, presenting a scene of full readiness for battle.

Inside the central command tent, Lu Zuo and his generals held another meeting, deliberating on various possibilities.

Meanwhile, on the high city tower of Dading Prefecture, several high-ranking Jin generals were gazing at the lights of the Song army camp.

"Hmph, a mere tens of thousands of troops, yet their camp is set up quite neatly."

The speaker was Wanyan Gouying, a Jin general, who was burly and had a face full of scars.

He was a trusted and beloved general of Wanyan Zongfu, known for his bravery and fierceness. Although he had heard of the Song army's, especially Emperor Zhao Gou's, martial prowess, he did not entirely believe it. He always felt that the Southerners were exaggerating or using some kind of sorcery.

"Judging from the size of their camp, it could not exceed 70,000."

"Our Great Jin has now gathered more than 250,000 elite troops in Dading Prefecture."

"Moreover, tens of thousands of Vajra warriors will arrive soon!"

"With such a disparity in troop strength, do these Song dogs dare to come and die?"

Another general, Kiyoshi Kagaya, a strategist known for his cunning, narrowed his eyes and said, "General Gouying, you must not be careless."

"The Song army was able to capture more than ten cities in succession, so the fighting strength of its new army should not be underestimated."

"It is probably no exaggeration to say that Zhao Gou could shatter a city gate with a single palm strike."

Wanyan Gouying scoffed: "The disparity in troop strength is overwhelming, and the terrain is in our hands. Even if he has cunning schemes, they are futile in the face of absolute power!"

"In my opinion, Zhao Gou knows that his forces are insufficient and that there is no hope of capturing the city, so he has no choice but to hold out here and wait for reinforcements or supplies from the rear!"

A young and ambitious commander named Pucha Ali stepped forward and said, "Generals, I have a plan."

"The Song army is exhausted from their long march and has only just set up camp today. Their defensive fortifications may not be complete, and their morale has also been somewhat weakened due to the continuous march."

"Why not take advantage of tonight to send an elite force to raid their camp? We don't aim to annihilate them completely, but rather to burn their supplies, kill their soldiers, and demoralize their troops!"

"If we're lucky, we might be able to startle their central army, and if we can take advantage of the chaos... hehe."

Kagaya Kiyotomi hesitated: "A night raid?"

"The Song army's commanders were Han Shizhong and Yue Fei, neither of whom were incompetent. How could they not have guarded against a night attack?"

"Precisely because he is not mediocre, he might have acted contrary to the prevailing opinion, believing that our army has superior strength and would therefore hold its ground and await reinforcements or an attack, rather than taking such a risky move!"

Pucha Ali said, "Moreover, I observed that the Song army camp has a well-organized distribution of lights and many sentry posts, both visible and hidden, which seems to indicate that it is heavily guarded."

"However, their camp was newly established, the soldiers were exhausted, and even the most skilled sentries could have oversights."

"Our army only needs to select the most valiant and courageous soldiers, not many, just twenty or thirty thousand. Taking advantage of the late night when people are most tired, we will launch a surprise attack on one point, storm in with lightning speed, burn it down, and then leave. We will not linger in battle!"

Even if we cannot achieve complete victory, we can still greatly dampen their morale and boost our army's morale even more tomorrow!

Wanyan Gouying was intrigued. He always advocated offense and felt that although the plan was risky, the potential gains were great.

If successful, it would be a great achievement, bringing great prestige to Commander-in-Chief Wanyan Zongfu and His Majesty.

"Ali's statement is not without merit!"

"The Song dogs' camp is newly established, and it is at its most vulnerable moment!"

"Qingchen, you're being too cautious! What war isn't risky?"

"I am willing to personally lead my 20,000 elite cavalry, in coordination with your 10,000 infantry, to launch a surprise attack under cover of night!"

Seeing that Gou Ying, who advocated war, was determined to fight, and also finding some merit in what Ali said—that the Song army might indeed become complacent due to their overconfidence in Han Yu and Yue Fei—Jia Gu Qingchen ceased his insistence.

"In that case, we shall follow General Gouying's advice."

"A careful plan is needed, choosing a relatively weak point in the Song army's camp defenses, preferably its flank or rear camp."

"After breaking in, prioritize burning the grain, stables, and supplies to create chaos. Do not be greedy and venture too deep into the enemy's heartland."

"Okay! Let's do it this way!"

Wanyan Gouying was overjoyed and immediately went to muster troops and select generals, preparing flammable materials such as oil and rockets. Pucha Ali also excitedly went to select daredevil infantrymen.

.....

That night, past midnight, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

The west gate of Dading Prefecture opened silently, and the drawbridge was lowered.

Wanyan Gouying took the lead, leading 20,000 elite cavalrymen. With men gagged and horses' hooves wrapped in mud, they surged like an iron torrent from the night, silently rushing towards the Song army camp 30 miles away.

Pucha Ali led 10,000 infantrymen, carrying flammable materials, and followed closely behind.

Thirty thousand Jin soldiers moved like ghosts in the darkness, getting closer and closer to the Song camp.

"My men! Follow me and charge in! Burn all of Song's supplies! Kill!"

When they were less than a mile from the eastern fence of the Song camp, Wanyan Gouying drew his sword, roared, and charged ahead towards the eastern side of the camp, where the defensive fortifications did not appear to be fully completed!

The cavalry behind him let out a thunderous shout and suddenly accelerated!

However, just as the Jin cavalry charged into the last open area outside the Song camp, only two hundred paces from the palisade...

A sudden change has occurred!

Chi Chi Chi!

Bang bang bang!

A sharp whooshing sound and a muffled clanging of machinery suddenly erupted from the darkness on both sides!

Countless tripwires sprang up from the ground without warning!

Caught off guard, the dozens of riders at the forefront were tripped and fell with their horses neighing, throwing their riders off their backs. The sounds of breaking bones and screams filled the air, and the charging formation was thrown into chaos!

Immediately afterwards, the seemingly calm ground on both sides suddenly collapsed, revealing cleverly disguised pits with sharpened wooden stakes stuck upside down inside!

Many cavalrymen were unable to stop in time and fell into the pit along with their horses, their screams echoing through the sky!

"There's an ambush!" Wanyan Gouying exclaimed in alarm, quickly reining in his horse.

"Release the arrows!"

A clear, cold shout rang out from the Song camp; it was Yue Fei's voice!

"Buzz!"

Like locusts swarming the moon, countless arrows shot out from behind the fences of the Song army camp and from the crossbow formations that had been lying in ambush in the darkness on both sides!

The rain of arrows was so dense it was suffocating, carrying the shriek of death as it enveloped the chaotic Jin cavalry!

Puff puff puff puff.....

"what!"

"My eyes!"

The dull thud of arrows piercing flesh, the neighing of warhorses, and the screams of Jin soldiers instantly tore the night to shreds.

Many Jin soldiers fell like hedgehogs, their bodies riddled with arrows, some even a dozen or more.

The momentum of the charge was completely interrupted by the oncoming rain of death.

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

Wanyan Gouying brandished his sword to deflect the arrows, shouting at the top of his lungs.

We've fallen for their trap!

The Song army was well prepared!

How could this be a newly established camp with lax defenses?

It's clearly a trap, waiting for them to crawl into it!

"Want to leave? Stay!"

The gates of the Song army camp burst open, and Han Shizhong personally led the Beiwei Army heavy cavalry, which had been waiting in ambush, like an iron torrent, crashing head-on into the chaotic Jin army ranks!

"Golden Dog, prepare to die!"

At the same time, from the darkness on both sides, Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian each led an army, holding torches high and shouting battle cries that shook the heavens, launching a fierce pincer attack from the flanks!

This was exactly the trap that Yue Fei had set out to close in!

In the darkness, Yang Tiexin took the lead, his spear flashing with more than a dozen cold stars, instantly piercing the throats of three Jin soldiers who were trying to form a battle formation.

The spearmen behind him formed a tight, small-scale formation, in groups of three or five, covering each other, thrusting with long spears and slashing with short swords, tearing apart the weak defensive line that the Jin soldiers were trying to establish.