Chapter 146: Fall of the City

This night was destined to be a sleepless one for Han Shizhong.

Han Shizhong led a detachment of the Song army to guard the newly reinforced embankment of the Songhua River, waiting patiently. Watching the river level rise bit by bit along the banks, Han Shizhong reached the absolute peak of tension. The outcome of this endeavor would determine the success or failure of the entire expedition to Shangjing.

"General, the night is already deep. Your subordinate can keep watch here; you should go back and rest first," Wu Xiaodong approached Han Shizhong and said.

Han Shizhong waved his hand and replied, "How could I possibly sleep at this hour? It is far better to stay here with everyone; at least my heart feels more at ease."

"Judging by the current rate of the water flow, we should be able to breach the embankment by daybreak," Wu Xiaodong said to Han Shizhong.

Han Shizhong nodded. Most northerners were terrible swimmers. This time, forcibly diverting the Songhua River artificially would deal a completely fatal blow to the Jin army in Shangjing if executed well.

The night passed in silence. At the Hour of Yin—the coldest time of the day and also the darkest—Wu Xiaodong reported to Han Shizhong, "General, the river water has already submerged the top of the embankment. Shall we breach it now?"

Han Shizhong walked to the edge of the Songhua River, looking down at the churning torrent beneath his feet. Blocked ahead, the water of the Songhua River relentlessly battered the banks, as if expressing its fury against the confinement of the dikes.

"Breach the embankment!" Han Shizhong shouted aloud, issuing the order to break the dam.

With a thunderous crash, once the embankment was breached, the river water, suppressed for the entire night, finally found an outlet and began to roar, charging toward the opened gap. The Songhua River water, which the Song army had initially released through only a small opening, swiftly destroyed and completely tore apart the rest of the dam with the force of a collapsing mountain and a toppling sea, surging toward the city of Shangjing with lightning speed.

The Hour of Yin was the time when people slept most soundly and comfortably.

"Dong, dong, dong..." Suddenly, deafening drumbeats sounded from the West City Gate, immediately followed by someone shouting at the top of their lungs, "This is a disaster! The flood is coming..."

The man's cries sounded like the curtain-raiser to a tragedy. Water and fire are ruthless; the roaring river surged in from afar, slamming violently against the city walls upon impact.

While the city walls might have been able to withstand the attacks of the Song army, they were entirely powerless against the rampage of the river. Before long, the lower half of the towering city walls was submerged by the floodwaters.

Pouring through the city gates and the gaps in the ramparts, the river water forced its way into Shangjing, beginning its frantic and devastating rampage within the city.

"Clang, clang, clang..." Urgent gongs sounded throughout the city. Neighbors ran to and fro, rousing those still deep in their dreams, shouting that a great flood had arrived and everyone must run for their lives.

Inside the Jin army camp, Wanyan Wuqimai was sleepily shaken awake. Hearing the chaotic commotion outside, he frowned and asked, "What is happening outside?"

The guard knelt before Wanyan Wuqimai and said in a panic, "Your Majesty, a sudden flood has broken through the West City Gate. The floodwaters are already pouring into the city through the gates and will reach here before long. For Your Majesty's safety, please evacuate the city temporarily as soon as possible!"

Hearing the guard's words, Wanyan Wuqimai felt his mind buzz. He asked urgently, "What did you say? Has the West City Gate fallen?"

The guard shook his head and replied, "Your subordinate does not know. The flood came too suddenly, and we can no longer make contact with the garrison at the West City."

"Damn it! Send men immediately to make contact and ensure that the West City Gate does not fall!" Wanyan Wuqimai said to the guard with a stirring of agitation.

The guard understood Wanyan Wuqimai's anxiety. If the West City Gate fell, the city of Shangjing would effectively be breached, and the situation would become perilous indeed.

Wanyan Sadan soon appeared in Wanyan Wuqimai's tent as well.

"For Your Majesty's safety, this old minister implores Your Majesty to leave the city immediately," Wanyan Sadan said urgently to Wanyan Wuqimai.

Wanyan Wuqimai frowned, let out a cold snort, and said, "The Song army is truly treacherous, actually using a flood to attack our forces. What is the current situation inside the city?"

Wanyan Sadan shook his head and told Wanyan Wuqimai, "Your Majesty, the city is already in utter chaos. Half of the Western District is already submerged under the river water, and the torrent is about to arrive here."

Even as Wanyan Wuqimai frowned, while they were still speaking, the river water arrived. It surged right up to Wanyan Wuqimai's feet, soaking his golden boots.

"Urgent report! The western city wall has collapsed! The western city wall has fallen! The Song army is now attacking the city through the breached wall!" The messenger's voice carried from afar well before he even came into Wanyan Wuqimai's sight.

"What did you say?" Wanyan Wuqimai's expression changed drastically. As long as the city walls held, he could still sit here securely, but once the walls were breached, the situation became precarious.

"Your Majesty, if we do not leave now, it truly will be too late," Wanyan Sadan said anxiously to Wanyan Wuqimai.

Wanyan Wuqimai clenched his fists tightly and finally said bitterly, "Evacuate the city!"

Evacuate the city—but through which gate should they leave? That instantly became another problem.

The eastern, western, and southern directions were all surrounded and besieged by the Song army; only the northern city gate remained unguarded. Could it be that the Song army was not attacking the northern gate? Or was it possible that the Song army had deliberately left this opening so that the Jin army would flee through it, allowing the Song forces to set an ambush at the northern gate?

"Your Majesty, order the entire army to withdraw through the northern city gate," Wanyan Wuqimai commanded.

"But Your Majesty, the Song army has never attacked the northern city gate. This minister fears the northern gate is nothing more than a trap set by the Song army," Wanyan Sadan said to Wanyan Wuqimai.

Wanyan Wuqimai shook his head and replied to Wanyan Sadan, "Even if it is a trap, we have no choice but to plunge into it. Do you have any better suggestions under the present circumstances?"

What Wanyan Wuqimai said was true. At this very moment, retreating through the northern city gate was their only option. As for whether there was a trap outside, the worst that could happen was a fight; a battle was unavoidable regardless of which direction they broke out from.

Thus, Wanyan Wuqimai led his generals out through the northern gate, preparing to make a detour westward to join up with the main force of the Jin state.

However, the Song army had clearly anticipated this. Not long after the Jin army left the city, a force of the Song army charged in from afar.

Billows of dust rose behind this detachment of the Song army. The Jin forces had no idea how many soldiers the Song army possessed as they flooded toward them like a tide, launching a fierce assault.

Normally, the combat effectiveness of the Jin army far surpassed that of the Song army, but now it was severely diminished. Because this time, their retreat was encumbered by their entire households and families, dealing a heavy blow to their martial prowess.