When something goes against the natural order of things, there is bound to be a demon at work!

Zhang Jun trembled with rage from head to toe. Stepping forward, he said to Han Shizhong, "General Han, if we win this battle, all will be well and everyone will rejoice. But if we lose, don't say this official didn't warn you. When the imperial censors impeach you then, even I won't be able to help you."

At this moment, Han Shizhong still maintained his bold and cheerful disposition. Hearing what Zhang Jun had to say, he burst into a hearty laugh and replied, "Military Counselor need not worry. The situation on the battlefield changes in the blink of an eye. Since such a wonderful opportunity is before us, wouldn't it be a pity if we failed to seize it? As for being impeached by all officials if problems arise, this general is willing to shoulder the responsibility entirely."

Seeing that Han Shizhong had already put it this way, Zhang Jun had no choice but to say, "I have said all that needs to be said." It was quite obvious that he still harbored dissatisfaction.

Having finalized the strategy, Han Shizhong led the generals and soldiers to withdraw from the city of Shangjing.

The Song army split into three separate routes, each garrisoning the vital access roads leading to Shangjing.

The northern route army, consisting of twenty thousand men led by Wu Xiaodong, lay in ambush at Fuyu City.

The central route army, consisting of twenty thousand men led by Han Shizhong, lay in ambush at Shuangcheng.

The southern route army, consisting of twenty thousand men led by Yang Zaixing, lay in ambush at Yushu.

No matter which route the Jin army chose to take, the three armies could provide mutual support. The disparity in numbers between the enemy and themselves was evident. Han Shizhong's intention was clear: this time, he merely wished to launch a surprise attack on the Jin army and deal them a heavy blow.

The three armies took up ambush positions on the slopes along the official roads, stockpiling massive amounts of rolling stones and falling logs. They rested and waited at their ease for the arrival of the Jin army.

Song scouts darted back and forth like revolving lanterns. Scouts were sent out more than thirty miles to report the marching position of the Jin army to the Song forces at any moment.

The following day, Song scouts reported that the vanguard of the Jin army had reached Dehui City. Dehui City was less than two hundred miles away from Shangjing and could be reached within a few days.

After resting for a day, the Song army grew tense once again. Unlike the siege of Shangjing, this time they were facing the main force of the Jin state.

Yang Zaixing stood on a high slope, gazing into the distance at the approaching Jin army. He was presumably the person present who most eagerly desired the arrival of the Jin forces.

Zhang Jun was also among Yang Zaixing's troops; Han Shizhong had assigned Zhang Jun to Yang Zaixing's sector precisely out of concern that Yang Zaixing might become blinded by bloodlust when the time came and charge forward recklessly.

The three armies maintained a cautious defense, awaiting the arrival of the Jin troops. At that moment, however, an unexpected little episode occurred.

The Jin army actually split its forces.

The Jin army marched all the way north, launching a swift assault toward Fuyu City, while another division continued onward, attacking toward Yushu City.

This move by the Jin army left Han Shizhong somewhat unable to figure out their intentions for a moment. Could the Jin army have already discerned the Song army's plan for an ambush?

Han Shizhong did not dare to act rashly. If the Jin army had truly perceived the Song ambush, they should have divided into three routes to defeat the forces one by one, rather than acting as they were doing now.

The Jin army numbered two hundred thousand in total. Among them, a force of one hundred and fifty thousand—with Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang leading one hundred thousand—was marching north toward Fuyu City; the remaining fifty thousand men, led by Wanyan Zongbi, were heading south toward Yushu. Ironically, they left Shuangcheng, where Han Shizhong lay in ambush, completely vacant.

Han Shizhong then understood: Wanyan Zonghan was leading troops to rescue the monarch. After all, the Jin emperor Wanyan Wuqimai had fled with his remaining defeated soldiers northward into the deep mountains and had yet to emerge. Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang were presumably going to protect the Jin sovereign.

From this perspective, the Jin army had not discovered the Song ambush.

As for Wanyan Zongbi, who was heading toward Yushu, his fifty thousand troops advanced at full speed toward the city of Shangjing. As a veteran general of the Jin army famed through a hundred battles, ever since he took up arms following Emperor Taizu Wanyan Aguda, Wanyan Zongbi had never suffered such great humiliation. First he had been chased by the Song army with their tails between their legs in the south, and now someone had severed his old base.

It was a forced march all the way.

When the army reached Yushu, Wanyan Zongbi ordered the entire force to halt its advance.

"General, the road ahead is overgrown with bushes on both sides. This subordinate worries there might be a Song ambush," the left deputy general said to Wanyan Zongbi.

Wanyan Zongbi's expression was somewhat heavy. Defeat could make a person clear-headed; after suffering a few setbacks at the hands of the Song army, Wanyan Zongbi had finally learned his lesson, realizing that the Song army of the present was completely different from the Song army of the past. If he underestimated them again, he would be the one to suffer a devastating loss.

"Have the scouts sent out returned?" Wanyan Zongbi asked.

"Reporting to the General, they have returned. There are no abnormalities whatsoever," the left deputy general replied.

"If we take a detour, how should we go?" Wanyan Zongbi inquired.

"If we take a detour, we can only head toward Shuangcheng, which will delay our journey by at least a day," the left deputy general answered.

Wanyan Zongbi shook his head and said, "No, that takes too long."

"I did hear that upon learning our army was retreating, the Song forces have already withdrawn from Shangjing, and now even their warships have vanished without a trace," the left deputy general added.

Wanyan Zongbi nodded, yet a vague sense of unease stirred within his heart. He said, "The forests on both sides of the road are lush, yet not even the sound of a single bird can be heard. It is truly rather eerie."

The left deputy general listened intently. Aside from the sounds made by the Jin soldiers, there was not even the slightest bit of ambient noise in the surroundings. It was indeed too strange.

When unusual things happen, demons are afoot!

The Jin army came to a standstill for a moment.

Hiding behind a low clump of bushes, Yang Zaixing watched the Jin forces carefully from a distance. Seeing that the Jin army had actually halted its advance, he felt a secret surge of anxiety.

"Hurry up and move," Yang Zaixing thought anxiously to himself.

Time ticked away second by second. After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, Wanyan Zongbi finally gave the order for the entire army to resume its advance.

"Pass down my command: the whole army must maintain strict vigilance and pass through slowly," Wanyan Zongbi ordered. Anxious in his heart and unwilling to make the detour through Shuangcheng, he had no choice but to take the risk of passing through this route.

The Jin army marched very slowly. It was evident that Wanyan Zongbi was being extremely cautious at this moment. Yang Zaixing nocked an arrow to his bow and whispered his command: "Later, when I shoot and kill that Jin general, all of you are to throw down the stones together."

Although the Jin army was moving slowly, they finally entered the Song army's ambush circle completely and slowly.

With a whoosh, Yang Zaixing took aim at Wanyan Zongbi and loosed an arrow. Yang Zaixing's archery was renowned for never missing its target. This arrow was aimed directly at Wanyan Zongbi's head; had it struck true, Wanyan Zongbi would likely have met his end right here.

Being a general seasoned through countless battles after all, Wanyan Zongbi felt a instinctive sense of danger at that instant and instinctively tilted his head to the side.

With a whoosh, the arrow grazed Wanyan Zongbi's cheek, cutting a deep gash and causing blood to begin welling up along his cheek.

Although Wanyan Zongbi had dodged that arrow, its momentum remained unspent, and it struck and killed a soldier right beside him.