Shi Weigeng arranged an empty residence for Wang Chongyang to recuperate. After three nights of continuous travel and the fierce battle just concluded, Wang Chongyang rested until the moon was high before stepping outside. He gazed at the riverbank, where the deceased and wounded lay scattered across the water, lamenting the loss of life regardless of whether they were Song or Jin. Catching sight of Yu Yunwen and Shi Weigeng standing by the river, he approached to greet them. Yu Yunwen said joyfully, "Thank you, righteous warrior Wang, for setting aside past grievances to come and help. Chief Shi is proposing a plan to deal with the Jin army tomorrow." Wang Chongyang looked at Shi Weigeng, who smiled faintly and said, "Continue to attack their minds." Wang Chongyang pondered for a moment and asked, "Using offense as defense?" Shi Weigeng nodded, "According to reports, the Jin Emperor has ordered another crossing attempt tomorrow, with military law for any disobedience. Since we are facing certain death, why not strike their weakness with our prevailing righteous spirit?" Wang Chongyang, his chest filled with righteousness, declared, "Tomorrow, Wang is willing to be the vanguard."
Before dawn, the Song army's fleet sounded their drums and gongs, attacking the Yanglin ferry crossing on the northern bank of the Yangtze River. The Jin ships hastily set sail, and the Song army unleashed powerful crossbow bolts and thunderous bomb attacks.
Wang Chongyang, acting as a lookout, stood at the bow of the main mast, observing. Bu Lin, the officer in charge of this particular ship, was impatiently rubbing his fists. He had witnessed Wang Chongyang's valor and might the previous day and had expected to fight alongside him, seeking revenge. However, the vanguard, instead of leading the charge, was constantly issuing orders to steer the ship eastward, then westward, darting about like a mouse. Deng Ying, one of the routed soldiers, who was tasked with relaying Wang Chongyang's orders, approached Bu Lin and whispered instructions, "Quietly approach that small boat." Bu Lin obeyed, muttering inwardly, "What trickery is this?"
Concealed by several small Jin vessels, Wang Chongyang spotted a long object covered with black cloth on the deck of one of the ships. He thought, "The Jin rascals have indeed deployed them. Fortunately, she mentioned it before." Wang Chongyang immediately instructed Deng Ying to have the other nine soldiers, selected from the routed淮西 (Huai Xi) troops, prepare for the "pre-departure deployment." Bu Lin, now also excited, quietly steered the ship closer.
Wang Chongyang leaped forth like an eagle spreading its wings, soaring across the river and directly towards the object. Three dark swordsmen emerged from nowhere, intercepting him from three directions with their swords. Wang Chongyang employed the close-combat techniques of "Golden Boy Swordplay" to counter them, breaking through their ranks. With one hand, he grabbed and tore off the cloth covering. Indeed, he saw about thirty warriors, known as 'Palm-wielding Warriors,' crammed into an iron cage. The sudden glare of the sun caused them to emit terrifying roars. The Jin officer in charge of this vessel, seeing Wang Chongyang easily neutralize the dark swordsmen's assault and Deng Ying and his men preparing to board, panicked and on his own authority opened the iron cage's gate on the other end. The dark swordsmen present shouted in vain to stop them, and the unleashed Palm-wielding Warriors swarmed out.
Wang Chongyang snatched the long swords from two dark swordsmen, climbed onto the cage's roof, and ran to the opened gate end, flipping down. He kicked at the gate with all his might and wedged the two swords horizontally, managing to re-close the cage. However, his right leg and both forearms sustained several deep scratches. The dark swordsmen and the official vanished without a trace. The thirteen or fourteen Palm-wielding Warriors who had escaped surrounded Wang Chongyang. They resembled Asura hungry ghosts, but in his eyes, they were more like drowning victims desperately grasping for something to cling to in a raging tide – much like himself that day. He recalled the time she had told him about the Palm-wielding Warriors and asked how to subdue them. She had calmly replied, "Twist off their heads, one by one." Now, facing them from all sides, with their claws and fangs bared, he longed to do the same, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He could only use another technique she had taught him: "Escape." But they were too close, too dense, and too terrifyingly aggressive. He couldn't help but strike them, but it was like hitting an unconscious stone wall. His arms were grabbed, so he could only kick wildly with his legs, fending off those who lunged at him. Two or three Palm-wielding Warriors moved towards Wang Chongyang's face, shouting. Wang Chongyang channeled his inner strength, pushing away the warriors around him. In an instant, four or five more advanced, their ferocity even greater. Wang Chongyang leaped upwards, stomping hard on the heads of two of them, using the momentum to jump to a distance.
As all the Palm-wielding Warriors advanced towards Wang Chongyang, Deng Ying, along with his colleagues Gao Jue and Zhou Bian, quietly brought out the pre-prepared equipment: an iron chain with five chained loops, two of which were used to ensnare the necks of two warriors. These two only struggled and pulled madly. Zhou Bian, terrified, his legs went weak, and he collapsed on the deck. Deng Ying and Gao Jue were pushed down. Behind them, Liang Xuan, though mute, was very brave. He grabbed the chain, climbed onto another warrior's shoulders, and put a loop around him. As that warrior charged forward, he looped two more warriors. Deng Ying stood up and pulled the right end of the chain, while Liang Xuan, understanding, jumped down and pulled the left end. They both ran towards the mast's end, towards the Jin soldiers and dark swordsmen observing from the distance. They swung the Palm-wielding Warriors caught in the chain as weapons, forcing the observers to dodge frantically. Gao Jue and his comrade Ye Wen, along with Wang Chongyang, managed to ensnare five more. Like Deng Ying, they herded the Palm-wielding Warriors towards the stern of the ship. Seeing the unfavorable situation, the Jin soldiers began to jump into the river to escape. The remaining four were also restrained by the chains. Bu Lin sailed the ship over and steered the Jin ship back to the western bank. Two captured Jin generals were wounded. Wang Chongyang interrogated them about the deployment of the Palm-wielding Warriors and learned that Wanyan Liang, fearing difficulty in controlling them, had placed all those brought along on this ship as a contingency.
Wang Chongyang reported to Yu Yunwen, saying, "These are the 'Palm-wielding Warriors' that Wang mentioned. It is likely that if the Jin army had not been fearful of their difficult control and had not released them during the battle, our army would have been in grave peril. They were ordinary civilians who were cruelly poisoned by traitors. I implore the military advisor to take pity and provide medical treatment." Yu Yunwen repeatedly agreed.
Subsequently, following Shi Weigeng's plan, Wang Chongyang led Deng Ying, Liang Xuan, and others aboard Bu Lin's "Sea Eel" ship and ventured to the front lines. They then released the fire rafts loaded with combustible materials, burning the Jin ships, and the Song army seized the opportunity to shoot down some of the Jin cavalry on the opposite bank. The Song army thus blockaded the river mouth, preventing the Jin from reinforcing the Caishiji navy.
That evening, everyone worked together to clear the battlefield. Wang Chongyang saw corpses of dark swordsmen scattered everywhere, roughly twenty to thirty in number. Recalling the group he fought on the ship that morning, their demeanor and martial skills were vastly different from what he had witnessed before. He wondered if it was related to the commander Wu Nanying. Deng Ying and Liang Xuan approached. Liang Xuan handed over a stack of notes. Deng Ying said, "This is what Liang Xuan found on the bodies of the dark swordsmen and Jin soldiers – a surrender letter." After reading it, Wang Chongyang instructed Liang Xuan to continue his search and accompanied Deng Ying to the camp set up by Yu Yunwen on the ridge.
Yu Yunwen read the notes and asked everyone in the camp, "Have any of you heard of this?" The defending general Shi Jun glanced at Cen Heyou, who replied, "We have not heard of it. I will immediately issue an order to investigate." Yu Yunwen nodded in approval and said proudly, "This surrender letter, disseminated during the cowardly reign of King Quan, might have been effective. Now that our army and people have experienced life and death and are united in purpose, this letter is written in vain." He then turned to Wang Chongyang and continued, "Brother Wang, you have arrived at a good time. We are listening to Chief Shi's arrangements for tomorrow."
Shi Weigeng stated, "Organize the ships and equipment, making the Jin army believe we are launching another attack. Tomorrow morning, we will conduct a grand drill by the river to shock them out of their wits." He then said to Deng Ying, "Later, you will report to General Shi and arrange for their incorporation."
The sky was overcast with snow, but how could the blood of men fear it? Under the supervision of Shi Jun, accompanied by the sound of drums and shouts, soldiers in groups alternately practiced with spears, sabers, and fist techniques, a dazzling display intended to confuse the enemy. Yu Yunwen invited Wang Chongyang to observe from his tent and thanked him again, saying, "In this battle, by luck, I had Chief Shi for strategy and you, Brother Wang, for martial prowess, enabling us to turn the tide. If I had to bear it alone, the Jin emperor's iron hooves would likely already be on the road to Lin'an Prefecture." Seeing Wang Chongyang's brows furrowed and his gaze fixed on the opposite bank, he knew his concerns were not about arrogance. He added, "Feel free to speak your mind." Wang Chongyang sighed and said, "Chief Shi is creating a 'show of strength,' but I fear the Jin emperor is secretly 'crossing the strait with hidden intent.'"
Shi Weigeng tidied his appearance and thoughts before lifting the tent flap and entering. He saw Yu Yunwen seated in the center and Wang Chongyang occupying the guest of honor seat. He reported directly, "As the official predicted, Wanyan Liang has secretly moved his troops to Yangzhou." Yu Yunwen worried, "He will surely rendezvous with the army at Guazhou and attack Jingkou. Liu Qi is old, and moreover, he is aggravated by the battle situation, his illness worsening. How can he resist the Jin? It seems I must immediately go to Zhenjiang Prefecture to report and assist." Wang Chongyang said, "Wang is willing to escort you." Shi Weigeng also stated, "Although General Li Xianzhong's troops are still a day's journey away, the Jin army is withdrawing. General Shi's current forces can defend for a day without difficulty. Weigeng is also willing to summon his gang members to accompany you." Yu Yunwen left a letter for Li Xianzhong, explaining the urgency of their trip and detailing matters of handover. He then repeatedly instructed Shi Jun and Cen Heyou to handle the strategy before departing for Zhenjiang Prefecture. Shi Jun urged him to take more troops, but Yu Yunwen smiled and said, "With the 'first person to valiantly defend Chuzhou' present, it is enough." Cen Heyou added, "What's more, there is the resourceful Chief Shi and the members of the Yangwu Gang accompanying us." Yu Yunwen and his party departed late at night, firstly because the matter could not be delayed, and secondly to avoid being known by others, fearing it would undermine troop morale.
Perhaps due to the enmity formed at the Golden Silk Grand Canyon, although the Yangwu Gang members no longer shouted or cursed at him, Wang Chongyang felt they always carried a hint of resentment and resistance. During the journey, his attempts to initiate conversation and help them open up were always met with indifference. Conversely, discussing issues with Shi Weigeng and Yu Yunwen, such as fortifying the dykes against the enemy and whether to proactively attack Guazhou, their frank and sincere expression of differing views, their unwillingness to yield to each other yet mutual appreciation, rekindled the camaraderie he felt with Yin Pingzhi and Wei Jietui when they defended their stronghold in Chuzhou years ago.
After five days and nights of continuous travel, they arrived at Jingkou. Liu Qi sent his subordinates Cai Lian, Zhang Shen, and Miao Ding to greet them. As Yu Yunwen made the introductions, Wang Chongyang noticed the three generals' very cold demeanor and was secretly puzzled. Cai Lian arranged for everyone to stay at an inn to rest. However, Yu Yunwen was eager to visit Liu Qi's residence with Wang Chongyang and Shi Weigeng that night. Cai Lian supported Liu Qi as he came out to the hall to greet them. Yu Yunwen stepped forward to express his condolences. Liu Qi took his hand and said, "This illness is not worth mentioning! As a soldier, I have received the court's salary for thirty years, yet facing the encroaching enemy, I have been unable to serve. This major battle achievement is solely due to you, a mere scholar. We are ashamed!" He became emotional and coughed incessantly. Cai Lian indicated that Liu Qi needed to be taken back to the inner chambers to rest, and Yu Yunwen took his leave.