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A warm room with burning candles, filled with the smell of medicine.

A small wooden table was placed on a large bed piled with thick quilts. Several sheets of paper with writing on them already lay on the table. The old man's hand trembled as he continued to write a letter. After writing for a while, he gestured to the side. The elderly maidservant, also old, brought him water. "Master... you can't..." Her voice was slightly anxious and choked with emotion.

"It's nothing."

The water was diluted with ginseng. After drinking it, the old man's spirits improved, and he continued to write: "...There are not many days left. These few letters can ensure that my Shi family descendants will live a few more peaceful years in the Jin Kingdom. It's nothing."

The old man was over eighty years old and at this time, was one of the highest-ranking people in the entire Yunzhong Prefecture, and also one of the most respected Han Chinese in the Jin Kingdom. Shi Liai. His body was near its limit, not from a treatable injury or illness, but from old age, his days were numbered. He was already aware of this inescapable fate.

His first wife had passed away long ago. Although he had concubines, the old man always treated them as entertainment. At this moment, he didn't summon the women to attend to him, but only kept the old maidservant who had followed him all his life and never married. On this day, he had received an urgent report from the south, so he started writing letters after nightfall—not a will for his family; that had already been written and left long ago.

After writing several letters, he stamped them and personally wrote the addresses on the envelopes, sealing them with sealing wax. Only then did he summon the Shi family descendants who were waiting outside the room, handed them the letters, and gave them instructions.

At the same time, many people at Xi Yin's residence were preparing for a long journey. Chen Wenjun successively received several groups of visitors in the reception hall. Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi even selected their armor and weapons for the expedition, and many guards had already changed into travel attire. The kitchen was working hard to prepare food for the journey.

In the three months after the news of Zong Han's army's disastrous defeat in the southwest, the nobles of Yunzhong Prefecture mostly showed a gloomy and dejected air. This gloom and dejection sometimes turned into violence, into hysterical madness, but the truth of that gloom was unavoidable. Until this day, with the arrival of the news, only a few people in the city who received the news seemed to regain their vitality.

In the previous time, the Jurchen routed Western Route Army had a brief confrontation with Lou Shuwan and Yu Yulin's forces in Jin, but soon after, the two sides reached a preliminary compromise. The remaining Western Route Army was able to safely pass through the Central Plains. At this time, the army approached Yanmen Pass, but it would still take some time to return to Yunzhong.

The ordinary night became even darker. Around midnight, there was a sound of gongs and drums indicating a fire in the north of the city. Many people woke up in the night, then continued to sleep. Around dawn, after Yin time (3-5 AM), teams successively left Shi's residence, Xi Yin's residence, and some other places in the city on horseback.

Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi bid farewell to Chen Wenjun, who repeatedly gave them instructions, and reported to the training ground near the south gate of Yunzhong to assemble. The Shi family had also arrived at this time. They greeted them and inquired about the old master Shi's health. In the early morning north wind, more and more people arrived, many of them nobles of esteemed birth, protected by their guards like Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi. After meeting, they also came over to greet them.

Chief Constable Man Dudaru, who had made a contribution more than two months ago by capturing the highest intelligence officer of the Huaxia Army in this area, stood in the corner. His identity was completely ignored at this time.

The entire team numbered nearly two hundred, with even more horses. Soon after, they assembled and, led by an old general, left Yunzhong Prefecture.

When the team left the city, it was still dark. They ran for more than an hour on the relatively easy roads outside the city, and the sky in the east only began to brighten, then they sped up.

At this time, riding a horse was a necessary skill for the Jin people—especially those of high status. The team galloped all the way, resting only once to change horses. They stopped to camp only when it was completely dark on the night of the first day. The next day they marched again at a rapid pace, trying to avoid losing anyone. In the afternoon, they finally caught up with another team heading northeast.

This team was also a cavalry, flying the banner of Grand Marshal Wanyan Zong Han. At this time, the two teams merged into one. In front of the team, everyone saw Wanyan Zong Han, with his full head of white hair and thin figure, as well as Xi Yin, who was equally travel-worn.

This southern expedition lasted two years. The army was disastrously defeated in the southwest. Zong Han's two talented sons, Xiebao and Sheyema, died in battle one after another. Now the main force of the Western Route Army had only reached Yanmen Pass. Few people knew that Zong Han and Xi Yin had been traveling non-stop toward the northeast.

Zong Han had been seriously ill on the way back to the country, but had now recovered. Although his body had become thin due to the illness, his eyes and spirit had fully recovered to the appearance of the Grand Marshal who controlled half of the Jin Kingdom with a wave of his hand. Considering the deaths of Sheyema and Xiebao, everyone was in awe. After the teams merged, Zong Han did not stop the army's pace, but rode forward while letting the Shi family descendants and the others come over to talk one after another.

When Xi Yin left, his hair was half white, but now it was completely white. He and Zong Han received some of the main figures who had come—not including officials like Man Dudaru—and on the night of this day, when the army camped, he asked his two sons about the situation at home in the barracks.

Dezhong and Youyi told him everything about the situation in Yunzhong Prefecture and at home in recent days. After all, they had experienced too little, and they were worried about many things after the disastrous defeat of the Western Route Army.

"...The Eastern Route Army triumphed earlier, but we were defeated in the west. Many people felt that things were going to be bad. Merchants coming and going in the city these days also said that something was going to happen in Yunzhong. Even Zong Fu deliberately left tens of thousands of troops in Zhangjiakou after returning, and others said that it was to deter Yunzhong, and began to show their knives... Father, why did the Grand Marshal only bring such a small number of people to the capital this time? If a fight breaks out, Zong Fu and Zong Bi will rely on their strength to..."

In the past ten years, everyone had been talking about the struggle between the eastern and western factions of the Jurchens with certainty. After the Western Route Army's defeat this time, most people felt that the outcome had been decided, and the nobles in Yunzhong Prefecture who were on Zong Han's side were uneasy. Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi usually showed great confidence as representatives of the clan, but at this time, when they saw their father, they couldn't help but ask questions.

Xi Yin looked at his two sons, smiling and shaking his head: "The struggle between the eastern and western factions has nothing to do with the people below. If we were to use the army to resolve it in the end, why would Zong Han have bothered to send troops south? You don't need to worry about things outside. The opportunity for victory or defeat still lies in the imperial court. This time, the fate of our Jurchen clan is at stake, so I summoned you to come. You must watch and learn carefully about the matters in the capital."

The two young men's eyes lit up: "Is there still a chance for things to turn around?"

"You asked the wrong question." Xi Yin still smiled. Perhaps he was tired from the day's journey. There was some weariness in the smile, and fire burning in the weariness, "Whether there is a chance for things to turn around is not important. What is important is that we old things are not dead yet, and we will not give up easily. I am like this, and so is the Grand Marshal."

He didn't answer his sons' question directly, but when he said this, Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi both straightened their backs and felt a fire burning in their hearts. Yes, the Grand Marshal and their father had experienced so much to get to where they were today. Even if they had suffered a slight setback now, how could they retreat? They were still like this at their age, so what was there for them young people to be afraid of?

"Your son understands."

Wanyan Dezhong saluted with a solemn expression, and Wanyan Youyi also silently accepted the lesson. Xi Yin patted them on the shoulders and stood at the door looking at the sky outside: "However, there is indeed an important matter that I need to tell you about. It is what I saw and heard during this southwestern expedition. I need to tell you about what the so-called Huaxia Army is like, and why this defeat... came about..."

Night fell, and the north wind began to howl. The campsite was burning with firelight, flickering in the wind. In many tents, people endured the fatigue of the day and were still dealing with the things that needed to be dealt with, receiving people one by one, and saying what needed to be communicated.

From Yunzhong to the capital, Huining Prefecture, was a distance of nearly three thousand miles. Even if the team advanced at full speed, it would take more than twenty days to arrive. They had already experienced a disastrous defeat and lost the opportunity, but as Xi Yin said, the fate of the Jurchen clan rested on their shoulders, and no one would give up easily.

****************

"...The situation in the capital is like this at the moment..."

In order to wait for Tang Minjie's arrangements, Xu Xiaolin stayed in Yunzhong Prefecture for another two days. On August 11th, in the small courtyard where he was hiding, Tang Minjie summarized the intelligence from the Jurchen side and told Xu Xiaolin in detail—the concise and important intelligence could be compiled into secret reports, and the general situation could only rely on memory.

"...The Jurchens used to have a clan system. The selection of emperors was not as particular as in the south. The clan valued those who were capable. Although Aguda and Wuqimai were emperors one after another, in fact, the current high-level officials of the Jin Kingdom are all related. Their relationship can be traced back two generations. Basically, they belong to Aguda's grandfather, Wanyan Wugunai, branching out."

"Wanyan Wugunai had many sons. The three most promising families are Wanyan Helibo, the father of Aguda and Wuqimai. Their family owns today's kingdom. However, Helibo's elder brother, the Duke of Korea, Wanyan Hezhai, had a son named Sagai. Sagai's son is Zong Han. As long as everyone is willing, Zong Han can also be emperor, but it doesn't seem likely at the moment."

"Apart from Helibo and Hezhai, there is a brother, Wanyan Hesun, who was enfeoffed as the Duke of Yi. Hesun's son, Pujianu, you should have heard of him. He is currently the Zebo Jilie of the Jin Kingdom. Strictly speaking, he can also be emperor, but his chances are not great. In any case, the next emperor of the Jin Kingdom will originally come from these three factions."

"Among them, Zong Han was originally the first person under Aguda and had the highest voice." Tang Minjie said, "This is the old rule of the Jin Kingdom. The throne must be rotated. When Aguda died, according to this rule, the throne should have returned to the eldest son, Hezhai's line, that is, to Zong Han for a term. This was originally Aguda's idea, but it is said that the rules were broken later. Aguda's group of brothers, as well as his eldest son, Wanyan Zongwang, were very powerful and did not give up the throne. At that time, it was given to Wuqimai."

"Of course, there were transactions in secret for such things, or to appease Zong Han, promising that he would definitely be emperor next time. Everyone thought so too. Therefore, the reason for the struggle between the eastern and western factions came from this, but such promises cannot be taken seriously. After all, even if you are given the opportunity for the throne, you must have the strength to take it... Most people were optimistic about Zong Han for the fourth southern expedition, but unfortunately, he met us."

Tang Minjie smiled.

"In the past, in order to fight against Zong Han, Aguda's sons were very united. Aguda's legitimate son, Zong Jun, had no ability. The most powerful one back then was the God of War, Wanyan Zongwang, who could compete with Zong Han. Unfortunately, he died early. The third son, Zong Fu, and the fourth son, Zong Bi, the two bastards who led the Eastern Route Army south this time, are not powerful enough. They put forward Wanyan Zonggan, the bastard son of Aguda, who is currently the Hulumbo Jilie of the Jin Kingdom."

"Now speaking, Zong Han has been defeated and out of the game, and Pujianu has not enough brothers and sisters, then the most powerful person now is this Hulumbo Jilie, Wanyan Zonggan. If he succeeds to the throne, the throne will return to Aguda's family, and Zong Fu and Zong Bi will definitely seek revenge for their grievances. Zong Han and Xi Yin will be finished... Of course, there are also unexpected twists and turns."

"In the past, the struggle for the throne of the Jin Kingdom has been a struggle between Aguda's line and Zong Han's side. In recent years, Wuqimai has been fighting for power for his son. His eldest legitimate son, Wanyan Zongpan, was also promoted to Bo Jilie a few years ago. Of course, neither side took him seriously. Compared with Zong Han, Zong Gan, and Pujianu, Zongpan has no prestige. His promotion to Bo Jilie at most only makes everyone feel that Wuqimai is taking care of his son's personal interests, but in the past two years, the situation seems to have changed."

"While the two armies were going south, and Wuqimai suffered a stroke, Wanyan Zongpan has been recruiting troops and secretly building up support. Wuqimai's sons can also be emperors, and many speculators have joined him in the past two years. Although he still has no advantage compared with Zong Han and Zong Gan, who knows what will happen in the end... Something can be done in the middle... Of course, in the past, shopkeeper Lu has been stationed in Huining, and I don't know too much about the more detailed situation."

After all, Yunzhong and Huining are too far apart. In the past, Lu Mingfang would come to Yunzhong every once in a while to exchange information, but the lag in the situation was still very large, and Tang Minjie could not fully grasp many details in the middle. At this time, he roughly described the possible direction of the internal turmoil in the Jin Kingdom, and then said: "In addition, I heard that Zong Han and Xi Yin have left the army and set off for Huining in advance. This time, Wuqimai's funeral and the gathering in the capital will be very crucial. If they can kill each other in a river of blood, it will be the best news for us, and its significance is no less than a battlefield victory."

Tang Minjie said this, looking at Xu Xiaolin. Xu Xiaolin frowned as he remembered these things in his heart, and then smiled wryly: "I know what you're thinking, but in my opinion, shopkeeper Lu was the most familiar with Huining at the beginning. After his sacrifice, even if we intend to do something, I'm afraid it will be very difficult, especially in the current situation. When I set off, the staff headquarters had an estimate that the Jurchens' massacre of the Han Chinese would last for at least six months to a year, so... be sure to think more about the lives of the comrades. I haven't stayed here much and can't dictate anything, but this is also my personal opinion."

"What you said makes sense."

Tang Minjie nodded. In front of his own people, he was not someone who would argue unreasonably. In the current situation, the actions of everyone in Yunzhong have greatly increased in difficulty, let alone Shangjing Huining, two thousand miles away.

Lu Mingfang, you died at a very bad time...

He sighed in his heart.

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