A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Chapter 257 Famous Generals Should Not Be Allowed to Grow Old

After receiving the divine garment lent by Guan Luoyang, Dai Zong felt as if he had inexhaustible strength. He unleashed his divine speed technique to an even greater level, moving like a shooting star and leaping like a ball, his shadow as swift as lightning.

Beneath his feet, he saw mountains like boxes, undulating like pythons, and flowing water like jade belts encircling him, spreading out many silk threads that reflected the sunlight. Before long, he saw a great river lying across the landscape.

The sound of rushing water was vast and majestic. Many shipwrecks were still floating on the water. Looking downstream, the floating corpses of soldiers from both countries could be vaguely seen. On the shallows on the opposite bank, there were many traces of broken armor.

Dai Zong dared not be careless. He slowed down slightly, and about a hundred feet off the ground, he walked in the air, crossed the boundary river, and followed the traces of the battle. He identified the largest group of marching hoofprints and went to find them.

Along the way, he saw many more captured cities and abandoned camps. The corpses of Liao soldiers lay like anthills beneath the city gates. Markets were desolate, and the people in the cities dared not go out, but countless wisps of smoke still rose from the chimneys.

In each city, only a few hundred elite Song soldiers remained, always with their swords in hand, ready for battle. Although the number of soldiers was not large, the difference between elite soldiers and ordinary civilians was enormous. As long as there was no counterattack from the Liao army, they were enough to maintain order in the city and prepare for the future.

Not long after, Dai Zong arrived at the place where the Song and Liao armies were facing off.

Across from them stood the Liao Kingdom's city gate, imposing as iron, built against the mountain in a strategically important location. Banners fluttered like clouds within the city, and all was silent except for the strong winds blowing through the mountains.

Meanwhile, the Song army camp stretched for several miles in front and behind, and more than twenty miles in the rear. The moats, fences, and tents were all in place, and soldiers patrolled back and forth. Outside the larger tents, there were soldiers queuing up, waiting to receive some gold, pearls, silk, money, and food as rewards to continuously boost morale.

Hundreds of large cauldrons were set up, used for slaughtering sheep and cattle, and for any kind of poultry and livestock. The aroma wafted into the clouds, steaming like mist, and was dispersed by the strong wind.

Soldiers who practice demonic arts cannot abstain from grains unless they reach the level of a divine demon with precious bones. In addition to consuming minerals, they also need ordinary food. Moreover, the enjoyment of meat and the gathering around the fire for conversation are not just for filling their stomachs. Even the generals in the army who no longer need to eat grains are quite looking forward to it.

In the army, there was a general named Hua Rong, who had a handsome face, a short beard, and was extremely skilled in archery. He was chatting and laughing with several generals around him when he said regretfully, "It's a pity that there's only the aroma of meat, but no aroma of wine."

Song Wan, the Cloud-Piercing Vajra, and Lu Fang, the Little Marquis of Wen, who were standing nearby, were also tempted by his words and laughed, "Actually, we are all capable of drinking a thousand cups without getting drunk. Even if we drink several jars, we won't be afraid of going soft on the battlefield. Why don't we go to the quartermaster's office and ask for some wine, and then we can set up a few tables ourselves?"

Hua Rong was greatly intrigued and said, "But it would be best to report to Commander Han first."

"No."

Yang Zhi, sword in hand, appeared behind them, his cold eyes sweeping over them as he said, "The army will soon face a series of fierce battles. What kind of behavior is this, with people indulging in alcohol? As generals, we must set an example."

Everyone was silent. After he had walked away, Lü Fang said softly, "Are you going to ask for more wine?"

Song Wan, the Cloud-Piercing Vajra, shuddered and said, "Yang Zhi is an aloof fellow and a former military judge. It's best not to provoke him. Actually, some hot soup noodles with big bones and meat would be quite nice."

Hua Rong and the others nodded repeatedly.

Suddenly, Hua Rong's body trembled, and his gaze turned to the distant high sky and clouds, only to find that there was nothing there.

His eyelids remained still, but his eyes seemed to shimmer with feathers. With each shimmer, his pupils changed color, and a red-purple trail appeared in the air under his divine eyes, spreading into the tent.

Without saying much, Hua Rong took his bow and arrows and immediately gave chase. When he was almost in front of the main tent, he saw Han Shizhong's personal guards coming to greet him.

"General Hua, the commander-in-chief knows you are coming and sent me to deliver a message. There is nothing else in the tent, you may leave."

Hua Rong remained suspicious. After retreating, he would occasionally peek over there. Soon after, he saw the curtain move again, and an indistinct figure went straight into the clouds and disappeared.

At this moment, only Han Shizhong and his wife remained in the central command tent.

Liang Hongyu was also a female general of the imperial court. She went to war as a general and was just as capable as any man on the battlefield. It was only natural that she would appear here.

But if the other generals found out that Dai Zong had just been in the main tent, there would probably be some commotion.

"You are unwilling to go back and fight the rebels, but once the emperor arrives here, you will have no choice."

Liang Hongyu whispered, "Whichever path you choose, I will be by your side with my sword."

After a long silence, Han Shizhong said, "The emperor's cultivation is profound, and not all the generals in the army are willing to betray him. You and I cannot kill the emperor."

Liang Hongyu said, "Dai Zong said he won't go far and is still waiting for news. As long as you give him a signal, Guan Luoyang and the others will come to help. Then we can coordinate an attack from the inside and outside..."

"Wouldn't Guan Luoyang worry that this was a trap to lure him into an ambush?"

Han Shizhong sighed deeply. They communicated secretly and had a tacit understanding, but it was only in secret.

The border troops were, after all, still the imperial army, and Han Shizhong's confidants were only a minority among them.

There are too many uncertainties. If he makes the wrong bet this time, it won't just be him who dies, but all the people around him who are as close as brothers and sisters.

"Let me think about it some more."

Han Shizhong didn't have time to think for long, because about 25 minutes later, auspicious clouds surged in the sky, and illusory golden scales swam among them. All the generals who also cultivated the imperial dynasty's fortune-telling methods felt a kind of pressure from the same source.

That was the manifestation of the Song Dynasty emperor's destiny.

The hundreds of officers, both high and low, in the military camp were shocked and bewildered. They hurriedly put down their bowls, chopsticks, and cooking utensils, and gathered in small groups to chat. They also quickly straightened their armor and rushed to the central army camp to accompany Han Shizhong to welcome the emperor.

Only the emperor arrived, without his entourage, and he looked rather haggard and travel-worn, as if he had rushed here in a great hurry.

The generals dared not show the slightest change in expression. Outside the camp, they performed the grand salute, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" to welcome him into the camp.

Emperor Tianming entered the central military tent, took the main seat, and the generals bowed again. After the emperor told everyone to rise, he did not say anything more and ordered the generals to stop attacking Liaodong, retreat to the border river, and send the main army back to quell the rebellion.

As the saying goes, "To repel external threats, one must first pacify internal strife!"

The emperor's voice boomed like thunder, majestic and imposing. He glared at his surroundings and declared, "The various rebel groups, led by Liangshan, have colluded with each other, their audacity boundless, their schemes numerous. They have become a raging inferno. Only by killing them can we appease public anger, and only by suppressing them can we pacify the people's hearts."

"Only by annihilating them first can we reassure the scholars and encourage the local gentry to provide funds and provisions. Only then will it be the right time to attack the Liao Dynasty."

The generals had been stationed on the border for many years and had finally gotten the chance to attack their old enemy and recover their homeland. They were in high spirits, but they did not expect that the situation in the Song Dynasty was so critical. They also saw that the emperor was extremely angry about their campaign against Liao and did not give them any approval. They were all trembling with fear and dared not say a word.

"Your Majesty."

As the commander-in-chief, Han Shizhong could only offer advice: "In this great battle, the Liao Kingdom launched the first attack, and we were merely fighting back. If we were to cease hostilities, I fear the Liao Kingdom would not give up its evil intentions."

The Emperor of Heavenly Mandate said, "Just hand over the peace treaty. At worst, we can give them some preferential treatment. Once the rebels are quelled, we'll have a chance to make them give it back in the future."

Han Shizhong said urgently, "The imperial army is advancing with unstoppable momentum. In a little over a month, it will reach the walls of Youzhou. At that time, whether to fight or make peace will be decided by Your Majesty's word, and the Liao Kingdom will not dare to raise any objections."

The so-called Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun refers to sixteen prefectures centered around Youzhou and Yunzhou, with Youzhou being the most important. Among the five capitals established by the Liao Dynasty, Youdu Prefecture in Youzhou was the southernmost of the five capitals.

On the eve of the founding of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty, Chai Rong, led his army to attack the Liao Dynasty. He advanced by land and water and recovered the three prefectures of Ying, Mo, and Ning, as well as the three passes of Yijin Pass, Waqiao Pass, and Yukou Pass within a little over a month.

In May, he fell seriously ill while attempting to capture Youzhou and had to withdraw his troops. He died in Kaifeng on June 19th.

If Han Shizhong's army captures Youzhou, Emperor Tianming only needs to release a small amount of information to make the Liao Kingdom sue for peace. The initiative will be in the hands of the Song army, and it will be much easier for them to attack Yanyun again and recover lost territory in the future.

Upon hearing these words, all the generals in the camp looked at their emperor with expressions of anticipation and agreement.

However, the Emperor of Destiny disappointed them.

"It will take more than a month to reach Youzhou, one of the five capitals of the Liao Kingdom. How long will it take you to completely conquer it?"

The Emperor of Heavenly Mandate said, "I'm afraid that before you even reach the walls of Youzhou, Bianliang will already be occupied by those bandits and rebels. The legitimate rulers of our Great Song Dynasty, the imperial family and nobles, and most of the important officials will fall into the hands of a bunch of lowly thugs."

"Han Shizhong, how could you bear to see these officials suffer like this? How could you disregard the Emperor's grace and your position as a subject? How could you scorn the authority of the court?!"

"Your subject dares not!"

Many generals knelt down. Han Shizhong struggled internally and wanted to say a few more words of advice, saying, "Your Majesty, even if we are to retreat, we must do so with our banners in perfect order and in a slow retreat, so as not to give the Liao army any opportunity to take advantage of us."

The Emperor's eyes flickered: "Speak."

"The Liao army has suffered repeated defeats and retreated to this point, already filled with fear and unease. If we can achieve another great victory tomorrow, break their formation, and crush their morale, they will certainly not dare to pursue us when we retreat."

Han Shizhong sighed inwardly, "At that time, we can retreat back to the border river at our leisure, leaving only a part of our troops to defend the strategic location, while the rest of the army can follow the Emperor back."

"good!"

The emperor agreed with unusual ease, saying, "Then tomorrow, Liangchen, you will personally lead the troops into battle, with your most capable men, and achieve a swift victory."

The generals all knelt down to express their gratitude.

The emperor, looking down from his high position, observed the group of generals whose expressions of joy and despair had most clearly shifted, and secretly made a note of them.

Now that the emperor has arrived, the military regulations governing the generals and soldiers are naturally no longer applicable to him. After bathing, fumigating, and washing, the quartermaster serves him fine wine and delicacies.

The best silk fabrics, which were usually given as rewards to soldiers and even some junior officers, were selected and spread on the ground.

All the oil lamps were removed and replaced with the pearls used by the Taoist priests for their rituals. The climate in the emperor's tent was adjusted to be cool, and the finest furs were provided for the emperor to wear to keep warm.

Today's rewards and gifts for all the soldiers have been transformed into the emperor's decree, and the sounds of kowtows outside are endless.

Han Shizhong mobilized his troops and reported back to the emperor from time to time, striving to win the battle the next day.

As night deepened, the tents remained brightly lit. The emperor dismissed his attendants, covered Mingzhu, and said he wanted to go to sleep.

Shortly afterward, Emperor Tianming met Zhao Kuangyin in the wilderness outside the camp.

There are no more indestructible golden cores or demonic treasure bones in Bianliang City. Although there are still many soldiers, they are absolutely no match for the Liangshan army.

Emperor Tianming and Zhao Kuangyin immediately decided to go to the border army. They had a long talk on the way, which allowed Zhao Kuangyin to learn about the current situation. However, when they arrived at the border army camp, Zhao Kuangyin concealed his presence and did not show himself.

"You were absolutely right."

The Emperor briefly recounted the reactions of the generals in the camp.

Zhao Kuangyin nodded slightly, his eyes gleaming: "After seeing those battlefield ruins on the way here, I know that this Han Liangchen is indeed a rare general. He leads from the front and has extremely high courage and strategy. It is inevitable that he would have the idea of ​​crushing the morale of the Liao Kingdom before retreating."

"pity."

He then changed the subject, saying, "The more outstanding such a person is, the less he should be kept. Back then, I wanted soldiers to have no fixed commanders and generals to have no fixed army, precisely to prevent such people from developing any improper thoughts. How dare you let him serve as the commander-in-chief of 300,000 border troops?"

The Emperor Tianming said calmly, "This person would never have openly rebelled against the Song Dynasty, but unexpected changes occurred within the territory."

Zhao Kuangyin said, "You don't mean you still want to keep him to quell the rebellion, do you?"

Emperor Tianming said, "We still need to be wary of the Liao Kingdom. I will leave him with fewer troops and let him continue to garrison the border river. Even if he dies, he will not allow the Liao army to cross the river easily."

Zhao Kuangyin shook his head and said, "Even if he has a thousand good qualities, his previous actions deserve his immediate death. The Liao Kingdom is now not ruled by Yelü Abaoji or Yelü Deguang. The current commander of the Liao army is just a mediocre talent with some military ability. Why leave such a hidden danger for the sake of resisting Liao?"

The Emperor of Heavenly Mandate raised his eyes: "If our ancestors had any good strategies, they might as well speak frankly."

"I……"

Zhao Kuangyin paused slightly, then spoke again with a smile, changing the subject to something unrelated: "After I ascended to heaven, the Song Dynasty became weak and ineffective, which shows that none of my descendants have been wise rulers. Only under your rule have scholars served you faithfully, and military generals have been numerous. The court is filled with upright officials, and even the local powerful clans, who have never been known for their manners, know how to serve the court to the death. You are truly a great ruler."

The Emperor of Heavenly Mandate bowed slightly: "Ancestor, you flatter me. Now, bandits are rising up everywhere and rebels are causing trouble. Your return is just the right time for the Great Song to lead the army again and sweep away the scorching seas."

"Ha ha ha ha."

Zhao Kuangyin smiled kindly and amiably, and even his golden forehead showed a few wrinkles because of his gentle smile.

He wasn't born with a golden forehead. It was his younger brother Zhao Guangyi who went to great lengths to find a divine elixir that was said to have been left by Zhang Liang in the early Han Dynasty, which caused him to have this appearance.

Zhang Liang transitioned from the art of war to the path of immortality, gaining profound knowledge of the changes between heaven and man. The elixirs he left behind were naturally extraordinary.

Zhao Kuangyin was already fifty years old at the time, and both the dynasty's fortune and his demonic cultivation had reached a bottleneck, making progress difficult. Tempted by the divine pill, he soon swallowed it.

However, it turned out to be a failed pill, a product of Zhang Liang's failed alchemy attempt. Although it was still full of medicinal power, it also had the added effects of pill poison.

Zhao Kuangyin didn't even have time to say a single extra word before he had to fly away, using the demonic technique of flying and chasing the sun to fall into a deep sleep in order to save his life and refine the poisonous pills.

Since their meeting, Emperor Tianming and Zhao Kuangyin have not mentioned Zhao Guangyi's past actions at all. However, Zhao Kuangyin understands very well that as long as he stays here, the two will only hinder each other.

"The Song Dynasty's troops should still be under your command."

After laughing, Zhao Kuangyin said, "The emperor of my Great Song Dynasty is the supreme ruler, the master of life and death of millions of people. Nothing should be above you, and you should not mention any ancestors anymore."

The Emperor, filled with trepidation, cupped his hands and said, "Ancestor, what are you saying?"

Zhao Kuangyin waved his hand and said, "I will not be your ancestor, but I still need your help. Take those people who should not be kept and help me become the ancestor of another family."

(End of this chapter)