Despite some prior speculation, it only took a moment after the battle commenced for Zhao Guan Jia to understand, from the most direct perspective, why Han Shizhong had temporarily altered the time of attack... Simply put, the Song army, in its current state, was genuinely insufficient to support a night raid.

It must be understood that if a night raid succeeds, the effect is naturally astonishing. However, conversely, the success of a night raid requires the attacking side to maintain sufficient night combat power and discipline.

As it stood, what Zhao Jiu witnessed with his own eyes was that due to the spaciousness of the Jin army's camp, coupled with their lack of preparedness, when the Song army swarmed forward at sunrise, the Jin army's outer forts and sub-camps, such as the water camp guarding the water source along the Huai River, the workshop camp guarding the timber, and the mangonel camp that had been smashed to pieces at the front, fell almost instantly... But the devastating aspect of this was that many of the Song soldiers who charged to the front, after gaining one or two heads in the momentum of the surprise attack, often turned back, moving against the flow of the army, trying to report their merit!

Therefore, looking out from the city walls, it was clear that they had initially won a great victory, but the Song army suddenly slowed their attack after achieving some results. Some units even caused the entire force to turn around due to the retreat of the front lines! This allowed the Jin army's core camp to take the opportunity to begin assembling its troops.

It would be strange if this kind of army could carry out a night raid to the end!

On the city walls, the few key members of the temporary government showed varying expressions. Most were oblivious, still shaken by the close-quarters combat of tens of thousands of soldiers and excited by the fall of the outer forts. Only a few, perhaps those who had crammed a lot of knowledge in recent days and learned some basic military common sense, noticed this scene sensitively and revealed concern.

But at this moment, Zhang Jun glanced sideways and found that Zhao Guan Jia was still motionless, neither excited nor worried. He could only sigh inwardly at the emperor's composure and then ordered the soldiers next to him to wave flags and issue military orders.

As the flags waved on the city walls, another batch of elite armored soldiers, numbering several hundred, poured out of the city. This was none other than Grand Commandant Zhang's personal guard. However, this force did not participate in the attack on the city but instead surged forward to act as a supervisory force. They simultaneously tallied military merits on the spot and drove back the waves of troops trying to retreat!

Several military ruffians who tried to bargain were beheaded on the spot as a warning to others!

Clearly, Grand Commandant Zhang, as one of the two commanders on the scene, knew the behavior of the Song army better than anyone else and had prepared accordingly.

With this move, the attack resumed, and the atmosphere on and off the city walls was instantly solemn. Zhang Jun turned his head again to peek, only to find that Zhao Guan Jia was still calm and composed, even turning back to smile, "What do you mean by looking at me several times, Zhang Qing? Do you think my clothes are too bright?"

Zhang Jun quickly bowed and begged for forgiveness, "I am presumptuous... I was wondering if Your Majesty had any instructions?"

"You and Han Qing should do your best, and I will sit here and watch you two defeat the enemy," Zhao Guan Jia said lightly, displaying royal demeanor.

Like the civil and military officials around him who had already become numb due to the appearance of the supervisory force, Grand Commandant Zhang was also impressed and rose to his feet, then focused on the battle outside the city.

Furthermore, Zhao Guan Jia's posture was not really one of composure; on the contrary, it was more like a manifestation of helplessness:

First of all, Zhao Jiu had been psychologically prepared from the beginning because of Han Shizhong's last-minute change of plans.

Secondly, Zhao Jiu knew very well that to rectify the various malpractices in the Song army required a stable rear, strict morale, and reasonable and lasting military discipline. It was too early to talk about these things now... Besides, this scene was better than seeing the Jin army and being so scared as to jump into the Huai River, wasn't it?

Finally, and most importantly, compared to the many people on the city walls who felt they could rightfully sit and watch the battle, Zhao Jiu, based on some instinct of modern morality, felt from the bottom of his heart that he was not qualified to comment on the soldiers who were risking their lives in the front... He could execute deserters to rectify morale and sit on the city walls as a human flag, but that was the way he could exert the greatest effect, not his conceited capital.

Of course, the Liu Guangshi incident was an exception. That was when he really wanted to kill someone from the bottom of his heart and put it into practice. Just as he had suddenly felt a surge of sorrow when he faced Zhang Yongzhen's final honesty.

However, no matter how great and noble Zhao Jiu's sentiments were, he still found it difficult to truly feel the real state of mind of the Song soldiers below... It must be understood that they were actively besieging the Jin army's camp, and compared to the Jingkang Incident a year ago, many still felt like they were dreaming!

As for the mentality of the Jin army, Zhao Jiu could not feel it even more.

"Han dogs dare to come out of the city to attack us?! Today, I can actually see the Song dogs actively attacking us?!"

On the rammed earth platform in the middle of the Jin army's camp, Wanyan Wuzhu, who had just gotten out of bed, hadn't even had time to put on his armor, but was rambling incoherently, ranting and raving. The whip in his hand cracked loudly, and countless flagpoles, weapon racks, and tents were destroyed. The surrounding advisors, scribes, and even guards had long since hid as far away as possible.

At the same time, countless Song armored soldiers had already flattened the surrounding small forts, and like the black-brown water of the Huai River, they were divided into waves, rushing towards the Jin army's core camp!

It must be said that the Fourth Prince could not help but be so mentally unbalanced because he had not only encountered a strong attack by the Song army today, but also that his near-final attempt at planning under the political pressure of Wanyan Talhai and his third brother Wanyan E'li'du, as well as the military pressure of the defeat at Liangshanbo, had been completely seen through by the other party... That's right, Han Shizhong's judgment was not wrong at all. At this time, Ari and E'lubu, two Jin army myriad households, should be leading their troops to gather in the north, preparing to cross the river from Kantan Town in the upper reaches of the North Fei River and make a surprise attack on Guang Prefecture via Shunchang Prefecture!

So, at this excellent time for the Song army to attack, how could Wanyan Wuzhu not understand? The other party was clearly telling him that they had already guessed what you were going to do and had prepared for it! Now, they were going to cut off your thoughts!

In such a situation, how could Wanyan Wuzhu, who had always been proud, not be in a bad mood when he saw the armored soldiers pouring out of Xiacai City in abnormally large numbers?

This feeling of being seen through everything and played in the palm of one's hand was simply a humiliation!

"Fourth Prince!"

A rider galloped along the wide road in the central military camp, calling out from afar when he saw this situation. "Our Mouke sent me to ask the Fourth Prince, what should we do?"

"Pu Luhun has been in the army for decades. He is the closest and most trusted, and also the most brave and good at fighting, Mouke under my command. Doesn't he know what to do?" Wanyan Wuzhu roared in anger. "Has he really been confused by the Song people's surprise attack? Does a mere surprise attack require me to issue orders?! Why haven't the other four Mouke come to ask?!"

"Fourth Prince!" The knight dared not approach even more when he saw this, but continued to face him from afar. "Our Mouke means, in this battle, should we defend, or attack? Should we seek peace, or victory?!"

Wanyan Wuzhu was slightly stunned, and then laughed loudly on the platform, "I knew Pu Luhun was a good man, unlike others! Go back and tell him, since he wants to make a contribution so much, I won't stop him. I will also transfer a thousand cavalrymen from the Central Army to the East Fort to him. If he can win this battle, I will risk not being able to be the marshal that I have already decided to be, and I will promote him to be a Wanhu!"

The knight received the order and immediately rode away, and the many Mouke in the central army were relieved to hear this order, and then quickly gathered and went to Pu Luhun's defense area on the east side of the camp.

After everyone left, the central army camp was empty, and Wanyan Wuzhu suddenly felt refreshed. First, he found a horse stool that he had kicked over, straightened it, and sat down, and then called out to the people around him to come forward:

"Come, come, put the table up. I see the dragon banner hanging on the opposite city wall. The new Emperor of Song must be sitting there drinking wine. Set up wine and meat for me too, and watch my soldiers break the enemy!"

The people around him responded loudly.

It must be known that here in the central army camp, they could lack anything but Wanyan Wuzhu's meal. Moreover, it was early in the morning, and if it weren't for the Song army's sudden attack, they would probably be having a meal. So, in a short while, a table of wine and dishes was placed on the platform.

And just as Wanyan Wuzhu was about to pick up his chopsticks, he suddenly felt bored. After looking around, he pointed to a timid person around him:

"Military Advisor Shi, the Emperor of Song must have countless ministers accompanying him and flattering him. At this time, the officers in various places are all fighting in the front. You come and drink a few cups with me!"

It is said that Shi Wenbin, who was only wearing a single-collared jacket because of the sudden attack in early spring, was shivering, but he had been in contact with Wanyan Wuzhu for a long time and already knew the other party's temper. How dare he neglect when he heard this? He immediately forced a smile, stepped forward and sat carefully on the side, and took the initiative to hold the pot:

"I will pour wine for the Fourth Prince!"

ps: To be continued