Chapter 125 Cold Moon

A chestnut horse newly straddled with a white jade saddle, the battlefield done, the moonlight chills.

The iron drums on the city walls still resound, the golden saber in its sheath yet undried of blood.

It is said that on the last day of the ninth year of Jianyan, Zhao Guan'jia and Yue Fei conquered cities on the same day, with both Taiyuan and Daming falling.

Without mentioning the situation outside Daming, within and around Taiyuan, the main Song forces were in a state of chaos. However, given the exaggerated disparity between the enemy and ourselves in Taiyuan, as long as the Jin troops within the city could be swept clean, a night of chaos was just that – a single night.

Moreover, the most common manifestation of this chaos was that the exhilarated Song soldiers were unwilling to return to the camps outside the city for rest, instead searching everywhere for Jin soldiers.

In one afternoon, three Meng'an and dozens of Mouke were captured alive or killed, and either bound or beheaded, directly delivered to Zhao Guan'jia. It is worth mentioning that, up to this point, no Jurchen Meng'an was willing to surrender. As a result, in front of the main hall of the Taiyuan inner city government office, where Zhao Guan'jia was temporarily residing, executions followed one after another.

"Let Guan'jia know, this man is Wanyan Zhehe."

Just as Zhao Guan'jia and his close ministers, military officers, and ‘consultants’ were growing slightly bored, Wang De, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, suddenly personally led a man into the hall, stepping on dark red bloodstains. Upon hearing Wang De's words, the crowded government office was immediately stirred, and even Zhao Jiu's spirits were greatly lifted.

There was no other way. This was the Jin commander of Taiyuan, and the second Jin Wanhuzhang (commander of ten thousand households) captured alive after Han Chang.

The Song and Jin armies had different military systems. When the Jin state was prosperous, a single Wanhuzhang could lead an advance in one direction, so that the marching Wanhuzhang could be directly compared to the Dutong (commander) in the Song army's Imperial Guard, and the Meng'an was almost equivalent to a Tongzhi (regional military commissioner). Later, as the situation became slightly more balanced, the marching command system was widely used, and the Jin army also had standing Dutong commanding tens of thousands of troops. Naturally, it was Dutong against Dutong. Even so, it could not be said that Wanhuzhang had fallen to the level of Tongzhi.

What's more, this was Zhehe, a well-known figure who had been famous in both countries since the Jingkang Incident ten years ago, and later repeatedly swept through Guanzhong with Wanyan Loushi, and participated in the Battle of Yaoshan, making it onto the list of war criminals as a veteran Wanhuzhang?

No wonder Wang De had to personally report his achievement.

Enough with the digression. Back to the present, Zhao Jiu nodded to Wang De, then looked at the bound Jin general, but hesitated for a moment.

Soon, in the breathless silence of everyone, the Song Guan'jia still seriously addressed the man below: "Zhehe... Let me be frank with you. According to the proclamation and list of war criminals I issued earlier, there is no need to persuade you to surrender. But you are the first Jurchen Wanhuzhang I have captured alive, and you are from the Wanyan clan. Therefore, if you are willing to surrender, I can make an exception and pardon you... Are you willing to surrender?"

Zhehe, who was tightly bound, had been staring at Zhao Guan'jia, who was sitting in Baliusu's former position, ever since he entered the door. Hearing this, he sized up the other party even more carefully, as if to remember the other party's appearance, and then slowly shook his head, calmly responding:

"This general's death is nothing. At first, the city was captured too quickly, and I was disheartened. After being surrounded, I just wanted to take a closer look at Guan'jia's appearance... Now that I have seen it, I have no regrets in death."

Many of the civil officials who had followed later, especially some of the younger ‘consultants’ from the southeast, sighed upon hearing this, as if they had stumbled upon a major news event, and wanted to see how Zhao Guan'jia would respond, so they could write it into their *Campaign Records* when they returned home today.

However, Zhao Guan'jia simply nodded upon hearing this, and then, without changing his expression, directly waved his dark hand in the seat, succinctly saying:

"Execute him!"

The surrounding civil officials were immediately discouraged, while the Banzhi (imperial guards), who had carried out this order countless times that afternoon, immediately swarmed forward, dragged the man out, held him down on the ground in front of the hall, and beheaded him with a single stroke. In a moment, they presented his head, but Zhao Guan'jia simply waved again, clearly not caring.

Only the bloodstains on the ground became more obvious with each back and forth, allowing many latecomers to know how these bloodstains came to be.

"Add a sentence to the express report to Dongjing," Zhao Guan'jia thought for a moment, then turned to the close ministers beside him. "Tell them to revise that statement again... Anyone from the Jin state who is the first Meng'an or Wanhuzhang to surrender will be pardoned of their death sentence."

The close ministers understood and hurriedly went to work.

Zhao Jiu also looked at Wang De, and finally smiled: "Wang Qing, you have made a good profit today. Do you have anything to say, or will you temporarily keep it for public record until the total is calculated after the war?"

"Guan'jia!"

Wang De immediately knelt down in the hall, extremely eagerly. "Calculating merits is naturally a matter for after the war. This is Guan'jia's rule, and I dare not say more at this time. But I do have a small matter... Please Guan'jia pardon my second son, Wang Shun, and do not grant him an official position, as long as he can continue to serve in the army as a regular soldier, I will be endlessly grateful... Let him earn his own merits and future."

Zhao Jiu immediately smiled again: "What did Wang Shun do that I have forgotten? But in any case, can I pardon a Jin person but not him? Add him to the reserve official ranks and let him serve before you as before."

Wang De was relieved for a moment, hurriedly thanked him, and clasped his hands to the civil and military officials in the hall, then simply stood in the hall, no longer paying attention to matters outside.

With this matter settled, before anyone could congratulate Zhao Guan'jia on capturing and killing Zhehe, another military officer hurriedly came to ask for instructions. But for some reason, when this person came to the hall and saw the hall full of people, he became somewhat timid and hesitant, only lingering at the door.

Seeing this, Zhao Jiu slightly pursed his lips, and Ren Baozhong, who had been impatient for a long time, immediately stepped forward with his saber and spoke with this person outside the door.

After a moment, Ren Baozhong returned, and was quite straightforward: "Reporting to Guan'jia, there have been more captures, and those below do not know how to deal with them?"

"Who is it this time?" Zhao Jiu did not care. "Zhehe has been killed, and dozens of Meng'an and Mouke have been killed. Just report anyone directly..."

"It is the family of the Jin Taiyuan Marching Command..." Ren Baozhong bowed his head in response. "They were just found in the warehouse in the northwest corner of the inner city."

"The female relatives of Baliusu's family?" Zhao Jiu suddenly realized.

"Not only the family of Baliusu, but also the family of Zhehe himself, as well as the families of some Meng'an and Mouke directly subordinate to Taiyuan, and the families of local officials. They were all unified by Zhehe and placed in Baliusu's mansion in the inner city. When the war broke out, they fled to the warehouse under the leadership of Baliusu's concubine, Da-shi, and stubbornly resisted."

"Da-shi?" Zhao Jiu pondered.

"Bohai Da-shi." Perhaps it was just an illusion, but after the battle today, Ren Baozhong's behavior and demeanor were clearly more cautious. "The Da-shi clan of Bohai is of noble Bohai lineage. In the Jin state, their status is second only to the Jurchens. Many high-ranking Jin officials marry into the Da-shi and Gao clans of Bohai. For example, the current ruling Grand Crown Prince Wanyan Wuben has a concubine of the Da-shi clan, and his eldest surviving son, namely his second son Wanyan Liang, was born to the Da-shi."

Zhao Jiu became more and more aware, and then asked: "And then? Are you asking me how to deal with them?"

"Yes." Ren Baozhong was still respectful and cautious. "Those Jin women and youths are mostly unruly... We dare not bring them before you, so please Guan'jia directly dispose of them."

"Mostly unruly." Zhao Jiu thought for a moment and directly gave his long-considered answer. "Then keep them under surveillance first. When we have gathered enough of them, send them to Lanzhou, hand them over to the Xiliao officials, and say that these people are all descendants of the Liao... Let them exchange them for warhorses, Persian goods, and products from the Hexi region."

As soon as these words came out, the hall suddenly fell silent, but unexpectedly, there was no voice of advice or opposition.

As for Ren Baozhong, although he was knowledgeable and experienced, he could not help but be stunned at this time. But after being stunned for a moment, he had nothing to say... The Bohai people and the Jurchens, were they not descendants of the Liao? Even Yelu Dashi could not deny this point.

However, he still spoke: "There is one more thing."

"Speak."

"The commander who captured the female relatives said that in addition to the barbarian women and young men who were somewhat unruly, some people also took the initiative to beg for leniency. One of them claimed to be Li Shishi from Dongjing..." Ren Baozhong continued to report seriously.

A pin drop could be heard in the hall. Even Wang Yan and Wang De were just pricking up their ears and lowering their heads, let alone Wu Jie and others who were looking at the roof.

However, Zhao Guan'jia smiled almost without any pause: "That's strange... Liu Zihui, the younger brother of Liu Ziyu, once said to someone that he had seen Li Shishi in Jiangxi... How did this Li Shishi run to Hedong?"

Ren Baozhong did not know how to respond for a moment.

Zhao Jiu, however, clearly did not care and instead smiled: "Forget it, regardless of whether it's true or false, it's nothing more than a desire to survive... And even if she is not Li Shishi, she is still a Han woman who was plundered during the Jingkang period. Just follow the army rules. Anyone who asks for it can be directly dismissed and settled. So, according to precedent, give her a sum of money to settle down and let her return to Dongjing... As for whether she is Li Shishi or Wang Shishi, it doesn't matter. Anyway, we can't send her to the Shaolin Temple, right? Wouldn't that be humiliating the Supreme Daoist Emperor?"

Ren Baozhong nodded heavily and turned to leave, making special arrangements.

A small interlude, not worth mentioning. In this way, a few more small matters were dealt with. It was nothing more than sending out the imperial guards to supervise military discipline, taking over the warehouses for inspection, and another Meng'an and two Mouke were captured, but still no one was willing to surrender, and they were all beheaded. After a short time, it was completely dark. It was conceivable that this temporary incident would come to an end today, but what followed seemed to be the main course.

Sure enough, after dark, Han Shizhong, Li Yanxian, who had been scattered in various places, and Ma Kuo, who had stayed behind in the camp outside the city, came one after another. Including the veteran Tongzhi officers under their respective departments, they all gathered together. In addition to Wu Jie, Wang Yan, Yang Yizhong, Liu Yan, and others who had been by Guan'jia's side all along, and Wang De, who had captured someone in the middle... It could basically be said that the vast majority of the Song army's high-ranking officers in the entire Taiyuan Basin, except for Li Shifu and Li Qiong, who were monitoring the Jin army on the east and west sides, had gathered again in one hall.

This time, because of the chaos in the city, there was actually no special decree to hold a military conference. However, almost all senior generals with rich military experience unanimously realized that this meeting should be held.

Zhao Guan'jia also took the opportunity to launch the military conference directly.

"I only have one sentence to say, and that is to send an envoy to tell Hebul, if he doesn't come again, then don't come." Zhao Jiu said bluntly. "The rest, Wu Jie will explain, and I will be responsible for conveying the decree."

There was a slight commotion in the hall, which had already been lit with candles, but it quickly subsided, because none of the three people with the big banners, Han Shizhong, Li Yanxian, and Ma Kuo, actually said anything. Especially Han Shizhong, the nominal marshal of Hedong, who had always been proud and upright, did not say a word. Although Wang Yan and Wang De had always been somewhat improper in personality, for some reason, perhaps because the capture of the city today was too shocking, they actually held back... Since the marshals were like this, naturally others would not say much.

"Let Guan'jia know," Wu Jie stepped out with his dark hands clasped, first saluted Guan'jia, then clasped hands with the various Jiedushi (military governors), and then turned back to respectfully address Zhao Jiu. "I believe that the most important task at hand is not to take Jingxing, but to quickly dispatch some elite troops north to Yanmen Pass, and unite with my Imperial Guard Rear Army, the Yinshan Khitan-West Mongol coalition, and the Hebul East Mongol army that Guan'jia sent someone to notify, to try to encircle Datong... There are two reasons. First, Datong still has two Jin army ten-thousand households. If we can eat them in one fell swoop, it will be enough to shake the Jin army's foundation. Second, since we have obtained Taiyuan and taken Datong, then the effect of Jingxing blocking Hebei and Hedong will be in name only... Compared to this, suddenly taking Jingxing at this time, Yelu Ma Wu is a good and attentive fighter, and it will definitely take time and effort. As for attacking Shangdang, it is just a matter of course..."

It is said that Wu Jie officially took over the Hedong Army after dark, and began the next step of coordination in an orderly manner. However, in the Hesi region of Daming, the high-ranking officials of the main Jin army did not hold a temporary military conference by a large bonfire outside Li Gu Town until the third watch, finally suppressing all kinds of unease.

There was no other way. Although the chain explosion caused both armies to explode their camps at the same time, the Song army quickly realized that it was their own miracle, destroying the enemy's city defenses, so they entered the city calmly in the afternoon. On the Jin army's side, it was already very difficult and tested people to just gather the troops and rush back the several ten-thousand households on the north and south banks of the river to ensure the safety of the camp.

It could only be said that fortunately, the vast majority of middle and low-level Jin soldiers did not have the vision to witness that chain explosion, otherwise, even the process of gathering the troops would have been very difficult.

Even this military conference seemed a little awkward... because the vast majority of the ten-thousand households had not recovered from the earth-shattering capture of the city during the day. Many people directly lost their basic logical thinking and were obviously in a daze.

This even included Baliusu and Wushu, the two highest leaders in the army.

In fact, the top elites of the Jin state knew in their hearts that they had to quickly and decisively make a decision at this time and immediately change their strategic deployment, but knowing was knowing, and the sense of shock of being there in person was simply not something that could be easily dismissed.

Several times, everyone tried to speak, but Baliusu and the other generals of Hedong could not help but mention Taiyuan, and as they spoke, they became incoherent. Shaohe and Ali also spoke of Yuancheng and Gao Jingshan, and were also filled with grief, and even Elubu, Wanyan Bendu, and other generals were in a daze, without the stability of veteran generals, nor the arrogance of previous power struggles.

"Everyone, how about this," Wushu wanted to speak several times, but several times he did not know where to start, but he vaguely remembered someone, so he barely supported his body and got up by the bonfire. "You and I all saw what happened during the day with our own eyes. We say we understand that it was gunpowder, but in reality, we were still shocked, so that our hearts are in turmoil and we cannot speak properly... I will change a staff member, and you all know him. The Tongshi (translator) of the West Route Army before, and later Gao Qingyi, who followed Gao Jingshan. His ability should be beyond doubt. Let him speak for us."

By the bonfire, Baliusu and the other generals looked at each other, all with dark and unclear expressions, and they were helpless, so they had to nod.

After about a moment, Gao Qingyi was summoned, and after listening to Ali relay a few words, he did not say a word. Everyone looked at him, only to see that this person's eyes were bloodshot in the reflection of the firelight, and his expression was calm, but they did not know what was going on.

Only Wushu secretly called himself confused—others did not know, but did he not know? This Gao Qingyi was greatly favored by Gao Jingshan, and the latter was now most likely dead without a burial place, so how could the former's state be good?

With this thought, the Fourth Prince was about to wave his hand to dismiss the other party.

However, unexpectedly, at this time, Gao Qingyi actually spoke. Although his voice was slightly hoarse, it could be called calm and serious, which cheered everyone up.

"Please forgive my bluntness," Gao Qingyi said with a calm expression. "The matter itself is very simple. The reason why the Fourth Prince, the marshal, and the generals cannot properly analyze is not because they do not know, but because they are unwilling to say it... Allow me to do some interpretation."

By the bonfire, there was no sound of words, only the sound of the wind howling and the bonfire crackling.

"First, the marshal is right. Yuancheng can be blasted open like this, then Taiyuan must also be possible. Considering that today is the end of the year, and the Song Guan'jia advanced into Taiyuan so quickly before, I am afraid that there was an agreement from the start. At this time, Taiyuan must also have been blasted open like this... Since Taiyuan City has fallen, then General Zhehe has most likely died for his country."

Baliusu pursed his lips, wanting to say something but stopping.

"Second, since both Taiyuan and Daming have fallen into the hands of the Song army, let's not talk about Daming, but just talk about Taiyuan. Once Taiyuan is lost, the fundamental foothold of our Jin defense in Hedong will also be lost. The entire Hedong, from Datong to Shangdang, will inevitably be easily swept clean by the Song army without any scruples... Now, don't expect these two places to be defended. We need to quickly issue a military order to let the two ten-thousand households in Datong, the remaining troops in Taiyuan, and the few left in Shangdang quickly evacuate. If they are late, they will be blocked by the Song army and will end up being wiped out in vain."

"Is there really no hope?" Baliusu finally spoke, his words difficult.

"How can there be hope?" Unexpectedly, it was Wanyan Bendu, whose face was swollen, who responded to Baliusu, who was generally frustrated and uncontrollable. "Gao Tongshi is right, not only is Taiyuan hopeless, but Longde Prefecture can only retreat. One step late, the Song army will press in from the north and south, and it will be a dead end... Looking at the commotion during the day today, it is clear that majestic passes and cities are useless in front of the Song people. The several passes in Longde Prefecture cannot stop the Song army at all. How many troops are left in Taiyuan Prefecture's cities, they will all be slaughtered... Salihe is also waiting to die!"

The scene became cold for a while, but soon, Wanyan Tuhesuo suddenly sighed to the sky almost like a roar.

Wushu and the other generals knew that his family was all on the west bank of the Fen River, and it was estimated that they had not been captured yet, but they probably could not escape, so they were all saddened and speechless.

"The key is Datong Prefecture." After an unknown amount of time, with the help of Gao Qingyi's explanation, Wushu finally admitted the reality with gritted teeth. However, from his point of view, he was obviously more concerned about other things. "The two ten-thousand households left behind in Datong Prefecture are the key... Gao Tongshi, is it useless to have troops in Taiyuan Prefecture?"

"It is more dangerous to have troops." Gao Qingyi said calmly. "Fourth Prince... let alone whether Yanmen Pass can still stop the Song people, just say one thing, Hebul has been hesitant in the north. Now that Taiyuan City has been captured, will he continue to be neutral? If Hebul goes south, then Datong will be surrounded on three sides, four sides, and even the entire area may be surrounded."

Wushu was shocked and immediately looked back and called out: "Where is Taishi Nu?"

"Your subordinate is here." Taishi Nu in the darkness suddenly paused, and then came back to his senses.

"Quickly send someone to convey my gold medal and let Yelu Ma Wu be sure to hold Jingxing, and then go to Datong Prefecture to find Elu Guan and let him immediately retreat, taking as many people as he can."

Taishi Nu agreed.

"Borrow the gold medal of the Prince of Wei." Wanyan Bendu also followed with gritted teeth. "I will immediately dispatch my five thousand cavalry, along with the Prince of Wei's gold medal, to Longde Prefecture to pick up the families of the generals of the Longde Prefecture Marching Command... Move as much of the treasury as you can, and burn what you can't move!"

Wushu nodded blankly.

"Is Gao Dutong (commander-in-chief) really destined for certain death?" At this difficult time, a slightly younger voice said with difficulty. "Can't we investigate?"

A few chuckles rang out sparsely in the darkness on the side of the bonfire, and Gao Qingyi, who had a calm expression by the bonfire, did not move, as if he had not heard that it was Pu Suyue's voice.

Wushu, after sighing slightly, continued to turn around and instruct: "Taishi Nu, tomorrow morning, send an envoy to the opposite side to ask Yue Fei... The other party is reasonable, and if he has any whereabouts, he will definitely not hide it... Gao Tongshi, you continue to explain."

After these words, the bonfire side became quiet again. Gao Qingyi waited for a while before seriously explaining the situation: "Fourth Prince, what follows is actually a countermeasure... The countermeasure is also very simple. After today's incident, as the Jinpai Langjun (envoy carrying a gold-plated tablet) said, cities cannot be relied on, and passes cannot be relied on... Then, for now, if we want to avoid a complete collapse before the main force of the country is still there, we can only resort to field battles."

Everyone was speechless.

"And if we want to fight in the field, where should we fight? If cities cannot be relied on, should we give up?" Gao Qingyi became somewhat frustrated at this point. "Zhending Prefecture has always been the place where the presiding prince personally inspects and allocates military supplies for all the armies, and there are countless military supplies, food, and storage there. Should we give up directly? If we abandon Zhending, what about Hejian? If we abandon Hejian again, wouldn't we have to abandon Yanjing directly again? Therefore, if we want to fight in the field, we can only abandon Yuancheng, take advantage of Yue Fei's lack of horses, and quickly lead the main force north to deploy around Zhending and try to fight a decisive battle."

Everyone was still speechless... because what the other party said was too correct, so correct that it was impeccable.

Right now, they were being forced by the Song army to do so.

"But if we want to fight in the field, how easy is it?" Baliusu suddenly spoke. "With the current morale, how can we fight a field battle with the Song army?"

"Restoring morale is nothing more than those few things, either rewards and appeasement, or actively seeking opportunities to win a few small victories... Including how to explain gunpowder to the soldiers and those ignorant officers who do not read the *Dibao* (official gazette), are all matters for the Prince of Wei and the marshal." Gao Qingyi said calmly. "My responsibility is nothing more than to say what the generals have long been clear about in their hearts, but dare not say."

Baliusu and Wushu looked at each other across the bonfire, both speechless. Wushu was even preparing to cheer up and comfort the generals.

But at this time, someone did not know who, a gust of cold wind blew, and the wind was constantly whimpering, as if someone was sobbing.

When the wind stopped, the sobbing did not stop. Wushu paused and realized that someone was really crying, so he quickly went to look at Baliusu, and Baliusu and Wushu looked at each other, but there was no intention to stop it. Wushu was completely helpless, so he wanted to get up and see who it was, so as to persuade them to stop.

However, as he pondered in his mind, he also gave up getting up... The reason was very simple, he did not know how to comfort the Hedong generals who had lost their families and ten years of residence, nor did he know how to comfort the Hebei generals who were about to lose their homes. Even if Pu Suyue wanted to cry for Gao Jingshan, he did not know how to comfort him.

In fact, as another gust of cold wind attacked, Wushu sniffed at the bonfire, but found that he also wanted to cry wantonly with the wind... For no reason at all, how did it fall into such a situation?

ps: Thanks to Xiahou for the Moe and Mengzhong Zhangjian Tianya, Did Today's Ashes Pass the Fire, Huang Erma, and Mei Xueshi for the rewards... At the beginning of each volume, there is a sense of confusion as to where to write.