The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 159 Double Happiness Arrives At The Door
The hundred thousand strong Black Wolf Army marched day and night, reaching Datong Prefecture in just three days. For an ordinary army, not only would a surprise attack be out of the question, but they would also have to guard against Song army offensives. However, the Black Wolf Army not only did not rest and recuperate but instead took the initiative to attack. The Song army, having received intelligence in advance, retreated immediately, leaving the Black Wolf Army aiming at nothing. But in the military tent, the military officers were embroiled in heated debate.
"The arrival of the Black Wolf Army has greatly boosted the morale of the Liao soldiers! I told you earlier, we should have taken Jiaozhou before the Black Wolf Army arrived. Now that reinforcements are here, how are we supposed to fight?"
"That was the Grand Marshal's order. If you have any objections, go and tell him yourself."
"Hey, you pig-eyed, rat-nosed..."
Most of the generals in the Northwest Army came from humble backgrounds, having earned their positions through sheer combat prowess. In the military tent, as long as Grand Preceptor Zhou was not present, whoever spoke the loudest was listened to. Among them, Li Jingde, being the youngest, had the loudest voice. "What are you all arguing about? Are you trying to make us a laughing stock? The Grand Marshal naturally has his reasons, which you all can't possibly understand."
"Then do you understand?"
Li Jingde glared "I do, of course I do!"
"If you understand, then speak up."
Li Jingde rolled up his sleeves and said, "I may not understand, but my fists do."
As the two sides were about to come to blows, Yu Chaosheng, the imperial military inspector, immediately interjected, "The Black Wolf Army is indeed a formidable force. From Shangjing to Datong Prefecture, it normally takes six days of marching, and even with fast horses, it would take two days. The Black Wolf Army arrived in two days and still had the strength to launch a surprise attack. They are truly not to be underestimated."
As the only civil official in the tent spoke, the military officers all turned to look at him, making Yu Chaosheng's scalp tingle.
Li Jingde, who had been dealing with civil officials frequently in recent years, asked, "What is the Inspector's insight?"
Yu Chaosheng: "Previously, when the Liao reinforcements had not yet arrived, it was the perfect opportunity for us to attack Datong Prefecture, but the Grand Preceptor held back. In my humble opinion, perhaps the Grand Preceptor was waiting for the Liao reinforcements to arrive. Since the 27th year of Kaiping, our Great Song has been building official roads and establishing the Silver Pull Division, all in preparation for this great war. If our goal was merely to capture Datong Prefecture, the gains would be too small. What the Grand Preceptor aims for is the three states lost by our Great Song a hundred years ago, and to instill fear in the Liao so they dare not invade for another hundred years!"
Hearing his words, the previously loud and crude military officers suddenly fell silent, finally understanding the Grand Preceptor's intentions.
Li Jingde, however, thought to himself that Yu Chaosheng had just spouted a bunch of nonsense. He already knew all this; why did Yu Chaosheng need to say it? But then he realized that although Yu Chaosheng was ostensibly one of the leaders of the Silver Pull Division, he had not actually been involved in the department's plans against the Liao. He had deduced all this purely based on his own understanding of the situation.
For a moment, Li Jingde felt a bit of admiration for him.
These civil officials' brains were indeed not just for show.
Both the Cavalry General Wei Lü and Imperial Inspector Yu Chaosheng had arrived in Youzhou, and naturally, the Fourth Prince Zhao Jing and the Fifth Prince Zhao Ji had also arrived.
The two princes had just arrived in Youzhou and immediately rushed to the Northwest Camp to meet Grand Preceptor Zhou.
Zhao Jing, three years older than Zhao Ji, was somewhat portly in his middle age. As soon as he saw Grand Preceptor Zhou, his eyes reddened, and he said, "Upon hearing of the battle between the two armies, I was filled with anxiety, regretting that I was in Shengjing and unable to participate in the war. Today, with the grace of my Imperial Father, I have come to Youzhou to join the battle, and I will not disappoint my Imperial Father or the Grand Preceptor."
Zhao Ji, not wanting to be outdone, immediately said, "Zhao Ji also requests to join the battle. Imperial Father is getting old and can no longer personally lead the campaign as he did twenty-seven years ago. As his son and a prince, I will lead by example and shed the blood of our enemies."
In the military tent, the candlelight flickered, and Grand Preceptor Zhou looked at the two princes without any change in expression. He said, "With the three princes united, I believe this battle will surely be victorious."
Zhao Jing and Zhao Ji, hearing this, both slightly twisted their expressions in displeasure but quickly said, "This battle will surely be victorious!"
On the fifth day of the fifth month, the Black Wolf Army and the Song army clashed fiercely more than twenty miles outside Datong Prefecture, fighting until the heavens and earth turned dark.
Two days earlier, the Fourth and Fifth Princes had just arrived in Youzhou and immediately requested to join the battle from the Grand Preceptor. After they left, the Second Prince Zhao Shang also arrived, wanting to personally join the fight, using similar words to the previous two princes. "Imperial Father is getting old, and as his son, I will fight in his stead to boost the morale of our army."
However, when the real battle was imminent, all three princes showed signs of fear.
They paced back and forth in their military tents, terrified. They knew that this battle in the Northwest could very well determine the future struggle for the throne. But on the battlefield, swords and arrows have no eyes; even brave and skilled generals could die on the battlefield, let alone princes like them!
However, Grand Preceptor Zhou did not let these princes join the battle at all, nor did he even allow them to participate in the military meetings, directly sending them back to Youzhou City.
On the fifth day of the fifth month, the two armies engaged in a tentative skirmish, which ended in a draw, allowing both sides to gain a preliminary understanding of each other's strength. After this battle, Yu Chaosheng, as the Imperial Inspector, returned to Youzhou. As soon as he arrived at his residence, he received an invitation from the Second Prince Zhao Shang. Shortly after, invitations from the Fourth and Fifth Princes also arrived one after another.
If Wang Zhen and Su Wenyun were here, they probably would not have accepted these invitations, finding excuses to decline.
But Yu Chaosheng looked at the three invitations and remembered what his mentor had told him before he left.
"Xian Zhi, this is your only chance to save yourself!"
Yes, in the face of the difficulties of the Xingzhou case, no one else could save him. The only thing he could do was to save himself!
Yu Chaosheng ordered, "Tomorrow, we will host a banquet to entertain the three princes."
"Yes."
Fifteen miles outside Datong Prefecture, there was a steep and rugged hill called Zhanghu Peak.
Legend has it that during the previous dynasty, a fierce tiger often roamed the Northwest, feeding on human flesh. A merchant caravan passing through Youzhou encountered the tiger in the wilderness at night. The tiger was ferocious, devouring three caravan guards before the caravan retreated to Zhanghu Peak. The tiger was blocked by the mountain and never appeared again.
On the 19th day of the sixth month of the 36th year of Kaiping, the Liao's Black Wolf Army, known for their bravery and skill in battle, possessed the best iron cavalry in the world. They advanced swiftly, their iron hooves trampling the chests of countless Song soldiers, crushing them into pulp.
Li Jingde led the Flying Dragon Army in retreat to Zhanghu Peak.
The Liao general leading the troops was named Gunzha'er, a deputy general who had not yet been granted a surname. Gunzha'er had already routed the Flying Dragon Army and naturally sought to press the advantage.
Unexpectedly, Yelü Qin, a close aide of the Second Prince Yelü Shege, urgently rode to the front of the army and anxiously said, "General, we must not advance. This mountain is called Zhanghu Peak by the Song people. It is steep, and every morning and evening, mountain fog rolls in. We should not press the advantage but should retreat!"
Hearing this, Gunzha'er also began to consider retreating. "Are you sure about this?"
Yelü Qin: "Of course I am. If we fall into a Song ambush, it will be a disaster."
Gunzha'er: "Retreat!"
Li Jingde, hiding in Zhanghu Peak, saw the Liao troops retreating and breathed a sigh of relief. But he remembered this incident.
That night, the Liao general Xiao Han heard about Gunzha'er's retreat and was furious. "Zhanghu Peak is indeed a dangerous place, but it was noon, with no mountain fog to block us. Our Black Wolf Army was in high spirits, why didn't you press the advantage? The scouts reported that Li Jingde had no ambush prepared. If you had pursued, his twenty thousand Flying Dragon Army would have been our prisoners by tonight! You fool, take three military canes!"
Gunzha'er, holding back his anger, was punished with three military canes.
The next day, Gunzha'er secretly had someone replace the milk sent to Yelü Qin with unprocessed goat milk. The strong smell of the goat milk made Yelü Qin vomit on the spot. He knew it was Gunzha'er's revenge and that he should apologize with gifts to resolve the enmity. But Yelü Qin did not do so; instead, he poured out the bowl of goat milk.
When Gunzha'er learned of this, he was even more furious.
Yelü Qin went to see the Second Prince Yelü Shege, who had already heard about the incident. He asked with concern, "I heard that Yelü daren vomited. Are you feeling better now?"
Yelü Qin bowed and said, "I am fine. But from now on, Gunzha'er will surely hold even more resentment towards me."
Yelü Shege sighed, "If we want to annihilate the hundred thousand strong Black Wolf Army, relying on those incompetent Song people is useless. It's been a month, and the Black Wolf Army has only suffered six thousand casualties. That's far from enough."
Yelü Qin: "That's why I deliberately provoked Gunzha'er, to set a trap for the hundred thousand Black Wolf Army."
"Indeed, Yelü daren never does anything without reason, and you never disappoint me. How do you plan to proceed?"
"Zhanghu Peak will be the grave I have prepared for Gunzha'er and forty thousand Black Wolf Army! Moreover, I will accompany the army in this ambush. Even if the Grand Preceptor suspects something later, Your Highness need not worry."
Yelü Shege was shocked. "Yelü daren, are you willing to risk your life?"
Yelü Qin gritted his teeth, knelt, and bowed, his voice sincere, "Your Highness is the true wise ruler of our Great Liao, the only true master of the Southern officials! Even if I die in Zhanghu Peak, I will die without regret."
Yelü Shege immediately stepped forward and helped him up. "Shege will not let you down."
At the same time, in the Northwest Camp, Li Jingde also immediately requested an audience with the Grand Marshal and reported everything that had happened that day.
"That Gunzha'er is just a brute with strength but no understanding of military strategy. Today, I truly retreated to Zhanghu Peak, but he withdrew, wasting a perfect opportunity. When this news spreads in the Liao army, the Liao generals will surely punish Gunzha'er. In that case, I will do it a few more times! Next time, I will retreat to Zhanghu Peak again. After a few times, Gunzha'er will surely lose his patience and charge into Zhanghu Peak with his troops. Then, his thirty thousand Black Wolf Army will be completely annihilated."
Grand Preceptor Zhou pondered for a moment. "It is indeed a clever plan. But how do you know that next time Gunzha'er won't just press the advantage instead of waiting for you to prepare an ambush?"
Li Jingde was momentarily speechless, but then he laughed heartily. "The Black Wolf Army is the most formidable force in the world. To defeat them, we must be willing to sacrifice! If I, Li Jingde, am wrong, I will only lose my life and a few defeated soldiers. But if we win, our Great Song will truly no longer fear this greedy tiger lurking in the Northwest!"
Li Jingde did not yet know that his thoughts coincided with Yelü Qin's.
Three days later, Qiao Jiu managed to send the news to the Northwest camp. Grand Preceptor Zhou was overjoyed and called for Li Jingde. He looked him up and down and, for once, showed a smile, "If there is a way to both save your Flying Dragon Army and truly annihilate Gunzha'er and his thirty thousand Black Wolf Army, would you like to hear it?"
Li Jingde's eyes lit up, "Grand Marshal, please speak!"
Grand Preceptor Zhou: "This matter is related to the Silver Pull Division."
Li Jingde was no fool and immediately thought, "Could it be that the spies within the Liao also want to target Gunzha'er?"
"I can tell you, but you must first agree to one thing."
"What is it? I, Li Jingde, am not afraid of anything, even if it means climbing mountains of swords or descending into seas of fire!"
"Shave off your beard."
"...What?!"
Grand Preceptor Zhou said calmly, "Shave off your beard."
Li Jingde: "..."
"Grand Marshal, what does this have to do with my beard?"
Grand Preceptor Zhou stroked his own elegant beard and smiled, "I heard that a few years ago, you ambushed someone in the camp and put a sack over their head?"
"..."
"I told you before, don't offend those civil officials for no reason. Even I, back in the day, wouldn't quarrel with people like Zhong Taisheng. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and today, someone has come to seek revenge with merit. If you want the information, you, Li Jingde, must shave off your beard."
Li Jingde was utterly humiliated. "Grand Marshal, how can you let such petty people turn matters of state into a joke?!"
Grand Preceptor Zhou's voice was majestic, "Of course not. But I also want to see what you look like without your beard."
"..."
On the fourth day of the seventh month of the 36th year of Kaiping, Tang Shen left the Ministry of Works in a hurry, holding a memorial, and anxiously went to the palace to see the emperor.
Outside Chuigong Hall, the chief eunuch Ji Fu saw that it was Tang Shen and quickly walked over, his wrinkled face breaking into a smile, "Tang daren, what brings you here today?"
Tang Shen could not hide his joy and took a deep breath, "Please inform His Majesty that lower official Tang Shen requests an audience."
Ji Fu's eyes flickered, "Is there good news?"
Tang Shen smiled.
Ji Fu immediately went in to report, and soon came out to escort Tang Shen into the hall.
Tang Shen entered Chuigong Hall and saw Zhao Fu sitting on a luohan bed, eating melon. Two eunuchs carefully picked out the melon flesh and seeds, leaving only the crystal-clear fruit.
Zhao Fu saw Tang Shen and said kindly, "Jing Ze, I heard you have good news to tell me?"
Tang Shen held up the memorial in his hands and was about to speak when a young eunuch hurriedly ran in.
Ji Fu scolded, "You ignorant thing, who let you in?"
The young eunuch immediately whispered something into Ji Fu's ear. Ji Fu's expression changed, and he quickly said, "Your Majesty, it's a military report from the Northwest."
Zhao Fu put down the slice of melon. "Summon him in!"
The scout officer strode into Chuigong Hall, and Ji Fu quickly took the wooden tube from his hands, presenting it to Zhao Fu with both hands. Zhao Fu opened the tube and read the military report. Suddenly, his gaze paused. The next moment, he burst into laughter, walked up to Tang Shen, and patted him heavily on the shoulder.
Seeing Zhao Fu's expression, Tang Shen already guessed that there must have been a great victory in the Northwest.
Zhao Fu said, "Jing Ze, you are truly my lucky star. As soon as you entered the palace, the Grand Preceptor's military report arrived. Li Jingde annihilated thirty thousand Black Wolf Army at Zhanghu Peak, and the Liao army was defeated! You and Jing De have not disappointed me. This is double happiness!"
Annihilating thirty thousand Black Wolf Army!
Hearing this short sentence, Tang Shen felt his heart race and his blood boil.
Tang Shen respectfully said, "I congratulate Your Majesty, and I congratulate our Great Song!"
Zhao Fu was overjoyed, his laughter echoing throughout Chuigong Hall.
Ji Fu, standing to the side, quietly observed Tang Shen, thinking to himself: This Tang Jingze is really lucky. Look, he hasn't even said a word, and the emperor has already called it "double happiness." Even if he came to report some trivial matter today, his future merits would not be small. It seems that Tang daren's promotion is not far off!
AN: Ji Fu: Tsk, so lucky, I'm envious!
Tang Shen: ??? Who said I'm lucky? What I have to say is a big deal, a huge deal, but Li Jingde had to butt in!
Li Jingde: My chin feels so cold...
Su Wenyun: Trying to ship me with someone? The person worthy of me, Su Feiran, hasn't even been born yet!
Next-door old Wang: ... [Those who didn't appear today have no right to speak!]