Chapter 53: A Resounding Victory (Seeking Recommendations)

The Jin army’s camp was thrown into turmoil. Beset on all sides, even the valiant and warlike Jurchen people quickly began to crumble and retreat. The saying goes that a defeated army collapses like a mountain; once this rout began, not even a veteran commander like Wanyan Chang could stem the tide.

Watching his forces dissolve into chaos, Wanyan Chang could only helplessly command the withdrawal. Yet, at this moment, attempting a retreat was easier said than done. The armies of Song and Jin were already entangled in battle; whichever side tried to pull back now would pay a heavy price.

The Song troops had already been teetering on the brink of disaster, but now, seeing a new chance for survival, the entire army was suddenly revitalized.

“Sound the drums, order the entire army to attack!” Zong Shidao commanded.

Thus, the Song soldiers, who had been pushed to the brink, saw the Jin army’s intention to retreat and immediately pressed forward, attacking with a frenzy as if to vent the anger and humiliation endured under Jin oppression for so long.

If the Jin soldiers had been able to stand firm at this moment and fight the Song army to the bitter end, perhaps they could still have mounted a resistance—or at least prevented the Song from winning with such ease and achieving such overwhelming results. But in the end, Wanyan Chang grew fearful and cautious.

“Who are you? Why do you impersonate my troops?” Wanyan Chang shouted from afar, seeing the rugged man who had been masquerading as a Jin soldier and fighting so fiercely.

“Heh, I am the Grand General of the Western Garrison—Wu Jie! Wanyan Chang, if you’ve got the guts, don’t run. Let’s have a proper duel!” Wu Jie laughed heartily, full of bravado.

Although Wu Jie was not counted among the Four Generals of the Restoration, his achievements easily surpassed those of Liu Guangshi and Zhang Jun. His name was thunderously familiar to the Jin army. During his decade-long defense of Gansu and Shaanxi, Jin never managed to breach the west and enter the heartland. It was strange, then, that someone of Wu Jie’s caliber was not named among the Four Generals, while the honor went to second-generation nobles like Liu Guangshi and the spiritless Zhang Jun.

Zhao Huan naturally recognized Wu Jie’s talent and directly promoted him to Grand General of the Western Garrison, commanding sixty thousand troops on the western front. This time, he and the veteran Zong Shidao joined forces in a brilliant stratagem, encircling the Jin army and trapping them completely.

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“You Song people are truly deceitful, resorting to such lowly tactics. This victory is hardly honorable,” Wanyan Chang sneered.

“War is the art of deception, Wanyan Chang! You always claim to understand our Song dynasty best, but it seems your skills are lacking. Why not come meet our Emperor and stay to study our military treatises?” Wu Jie laughed.

“That won’t be necessary. Sooner or later, the iron cavalry of Great Jin will trample your court. Then everything belonging to the Song—including your books—will be ours. I’ll take whatever I please,” Wanyan Chang retorted.

“No need for idle boasting. If you have the courage, don’t run!” Wu Jie shouted, slashing down a nearby Jin soldier from his horse.

Wanyan Chang was a cautious general. Seeing the Song troops’ fierce charge, he was already considering escape. Now faced with two famous Song commanders, the prospect of victory seemed distant.

Thus, Wanyan Chang fled, marking the complete defeat of the Jin army.

He had not anticipated such a turn of events. Fleeing in panic with over ten thousand cavalry, he abandoned more than eighty thousand troops. Of those, the Song army slaughtered fifty thousand, and the remaining thirty thousand Jin soldiers were captured and marched back to the capital.

The three-pronged Jin invasion had now seen its eastern force utterly defeated.

The news reached Zhao Huan, who could not help but burst into song, his joy surprising the Empress Zhu.

“Your Majesty, I’ve never seen you so happy. Has something good happened? Would you share it with me?” Empress Zhu asked.

Zhao Huan took her hand, his voice brimming with happiness. “Let me tell you some good news. In the battle for Zhen Ding City, Zong Shidao led eighty thousand troops and crushed the Jin army. We captured more than thirty thousand prisoners. Since the war began, this is our first victory of such magnitude,” he said, almost trembling with excitement.

Hearing his joy, Zhu Lian was delighted, though still anxious. “But Your Majesty, when will the Jin army outside Bianjing finally withdraw? They’ve been lurking menacingly, watching us. I haven’t slept well at night for fear of their presence.”

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Zhao Huan gently stroked Zhu Lian’s hair, her ornate headdress accentuating her regal elegance. “Don’t worry, it won’t be much longer. Winter has come; can spring be far behind?”

Zhu Lian did not quite understand the meaning of his words, but seeing Zhao Huan’s demeanor, she sensed that everything was under his control.

Zhao Huan had every reason to be joyful. After this battle, the Song army’s numbers matched the Jin, and they held the defensive position. With the balance shifting, victory was beginning to favor the Song.

He felt as if his situation now resembled the three decisive battles fought by the founding emperor of the Celestial Empire; after the first of those battles, his forces surpassed the enemy, and Zhao Huan’s confidence soared.

He issued rewards to both armies, especially to Wu Jie and Zong Shidao.

Wu Jie was granted the title of Baron of the West. Though baron was the lowest among the ranks of duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron, in the Song dynasty—where civil officials were prized over military—such a title was an extraordinary honor.

Zhao Huan also rewarded Wu Jie with ten beautiful maidservants. He knew Wu Jie’s fondness for beauty; history records that Wu Jie once gifted two beauties to Yue Fei to forge a bond, though Yue Fei declined. Zhao Huan, mindful of Wu Jie’s preferences, catered to them. The longer he reigned, the more adept Zhao Huan became at managing his subordinates.

Zong Shidao was honored as Count of Loyalty and Courage, with his descendants allowed to inherit the title. The old general was advanced in years; if Zhao Huan’s memory served, the old man would soon pass away. This arrangement was Zhao Huan’s way of offering a final gesture of care.

“Well then, what is it you wish to see me about?” Zhao Huan asked, puzzled, looking at the young girl before him.

She was the same girl who had tried to steal from him days before, only to be caught. Zhao Huan had intended to punish her, but seeing her care for many orphans, he decided to let her go. By doing so, he also uncovered evidence against Cai Jing, the notorious traitor, and brought him to justice.

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