[Fantasy] Water Margin Heroes (Complete) - Chapters 34-35 (End)

Chapter 164 The Han People Turn

the Tables Lijiazhuang was a village outside Xijin Prefecture (the Liao Dynasty's name for Beijing). It was a small village with only a few dozen households, all Han Chinese who had lived there for generations. However, the village's name didn't come from the villagers' surname, but from the fact that it was inhabited by tenant farmers of the Li clan, and the surrounding land belonged to Li Chuwen.

The dozens of mud houses were mostly dilapidated, their walls crumbling, and the thatched roofs had turned gray-black from a year of rain and sun, looking extremely run-down. In the summer, there was so much to do in the fields that those who could carry hoes were busy weeding, while younger children had to dig for wild vegetables. Before the crops ripened, their rations consisted mainly of wild vegetables and grain. Summer was relatively easy for them; the hardest time was early spring. There wasn't enough grain, and the wild vegetables hadn't yet grown, so many people didn't survive the early spring.

The children dug for wild vegetables, while the adults diligently weeded, all to save food and have more left over after the autumn harvest. They had no time to repair their houses; as long as they weren't collapsing, they wouldn't bother. Only after the autumn harvest could they finally relax and begin repairing their houses, because not everyone had warm clothes, and drafty houses would cause them to lose more heat and get hungry faster—something they couldn't afford. To avoid hunger, they couldn't even go out much. They stayed indoors every day, living a hibernation-like existence to conserve their limited body heat.

At the village entrance, there was another mud house with a thatched roof, but the thatch was thickly laid out and covered with a layer of greenish thatch. The walls were also a fresher, earthen color, clearly recently repaired. With a

creak

, the door opened, and a child of about eleven or twelve years old emerged, wearing a cloth vest. He was clearly a mischievous boy; his exposed skin was tanned dark.

Then, a sturdy man came out of the house. The man's age seemed ambiguous, perhaps in his thirties or forties, yet also appearing to be over fifty. His hair was already streaked with gray, and his body was somewhat hunched. Judging by his hair alone, he was at least fifty, though his physique was robust, unlike the thinness of an elderly person.

The man stretched and said to the young boy, "Little Tiger, go and call everyone to the village entrance, lest we neglect our employer."

"Yes, Father,"

the boy named Little Tiger replied, skipping and hopping towards the village.

This man was Zhang Gen'er, the village head of Li Family Village, only in his thirties, but the toil day and night had already aged him prematurely.

Soon, all the men in the village had arrived at the village entrance.

These farmers, upon reaching the entrance, either squatted or took off their shoes, using them as cushions to sit, chatting about their work on the land, how many acres they had hoeed, and how much remained.

After a young man in his early twenties arrived, he said to Zhang Gen'er, "Uncle Gen, why did the master think of our little estate?"

Zhang Gen'er glanced at the young man and said, "Little Sanzi, you're so impatient. Look at your uncles, they're all sitting here. I'll say it after everyone's here."

"Yeah, Little Sanzi, you should squat here first, everyone's waiting. You're so impetuous, you'll never get anything done," another young man in his early twenties chimed in.

Seeing his childhood friend taking advantage of him, Little Sanzi ran over and started lecturing him.

After everyone had finally arrived, the young man called Xiao San called out again, "Uncle Gen, everyone's here, hurry up and tell us."

Zhang Gen'er glared at Xiao San, stood up from the ground, and said, "I don't know what the master wants to do. Yesterday, Steward Li sent word that we don't need to go to the fields today, saying that the master is coming in person. We'll know when he arrives."

A simple farmer asked curiously, "I went to the city not long ago and heard that the master has become a high-ranking official, and many Khitans bow to him. The master has only come twice before, so why does he have time to come to our little village now that he's a high-ranking official?"

Xiao San said, "Is it because they're raising the rent? They're fighting fiercely with the Jin people in the north, and the court's rent is getting heavier and heavier. Several villages nearby have already raised their rents. The master has always been stingy; will he let us off easy this time?"

“You idiot! Where did your usual shrewdness go? Even with the rent increase, Steward Li isn't coming. Do you think the master will come? I bet it's something else,” Zhang Gen’er scolded. He knew the neighboring estates had all raised rents, but last year the rent had already increased significantly; if it went up again, they wouldn't survive.

He had been worried that the stingy master would raise the rent, but in the past few days, even though the master's men had come a few times, they hadn't mentioned rent. He had also inquired a few times, and the master's other estates hadn't raised rents either. He clung to the hope that the master didn't want to force them to their deaths. If they were forced to their deaths, finding skilled farmers in Liao wouldn't be easy.

Therefore, he cursed Xiao San fiercely, afraid that Xiao San was right. If the rent really did increase, they wouldn't survive this winter. Now that they were being given a rent increase, they had no choice but to accept it. Even if the Li family told them to leave, they didn't know where to go. The Khitans forbade them to go south; their only way to survive was through the Central Plains. Otherwise, they would have gone long ago. They'd heard that a god-like emperor had unified the Central Plains, conquering Western Xia and several small southern kingdoms. Fertile lands were everywhere; the more you planted, the more the court would give you. In other parts of Liao, spring planting had long passed, and no one would let them eat for free for half a year.

However, what he didn't know was that Li Chuwen's refusal to raise rent wasn't because he didn't want to drive them to their deaths, but because after returning from the Celestial Empire, he was thinking of pledging allegiance to it. He also knew that Zhang Yang severely punished landlords who mistreated tenants, so he wanted to maintain a good reputation for himself; after all, he had already amassed a considerable fortune.

The villagers were usually very harmonious. Zhang Gen'er's face darkened, but Zhang San wasn't afraid. He stuck out his tongue and said, "Is it to recruit soldiers? The fighting in the north is fierce. I heard that after acquiring our Southern Dynasty's weapons, the Liao Kingdom has gained some advantage. Perhaps someone from the Li family wants to steal military merit. The Li family isn't a military family and doesn't have a private army. Could they be looking for tenant farmers to protect them?"

Han Chinese tenant farmers in the Liao Kingdom usually served as slaves, but in times of war, they might be called up as cannon fodder. The Khitan cavalry, the main fighting force, feared Han Chinese crossbows and often only charged after their cannon fodder had broken through Han lines or were already engaged in melee combat. Often, the first to fall under their iron hooves were their own cannon fodder. For Han Chinese to enlist in the Liao Kingdom was practically suicide.

Seeing that his words were getting worse, Zhang Gen'er's face turned ashen, and he angrily scolded, "Little Sanzi, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll beat you up. If you still want to say something, go back to your own home and talk, so you don't cause trouble for everyone."

Seeing that the village head was truly angry, Little San stuck out his tongue and squatted on the ground.

Seeing the look of surprise on everyone's faces, Zhang Gen'er comforted them, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Our master comes from a scholarly family; why would he try to steal military merit?"

Everyone nodded in agreement, but a gloomy feeling settled over them.

Finally, amidst everyone's eager anticipation, some servants in blue robes led a procession of carriages and horses slowly to the roadside.

Zhang Gen'er quickly called for everyone to rise and go forward to greet their master.

To everyone's surprise, the usually aloof master was not so unapproachable today; he was even somewhat approachable.

As soon as everyone bowed, Li Chuwen said, "Please, everyone, no need for formalities

. I've brought some clothes and food for you. What else do you need? Tell me, and I'll try my best to meet your needs." The group looked at Li Chuwen, somewhat incredulous.

Giving them things?

Had the sun risen in the west? Not only were they not raising their rent, but they were also being given gifts?

There must be some kind of conspiracy.

Although Zhang Gen'er was not very worldly, he sensed a conspiracy and refused, saying, "We are already extremely grateful to the master for giving us the land. How can we take more of his property?"

Li Chuwen jumped off his horse and said, "You don't need to hide it from me. In previous years, the Khitans demanded high taxes, so I had to collect more. You have suffered these years, and this is just my compensation to you. In a couple of days, our Han emperor will head north, and this world will belong to the Han people. After a hundred years of waiting, our Han emperor has finally arrived. How can you greet him in such tattered clothes?"

Xiao San couldn't help but exclaim when he heard Li Chuwen's words, "What? The Heavenly Emperor is coming to save us?"

"You really don't know your place. Do you even deserve to speak to me?" Li Chuwen thought contemptuously, but he still had things to get rid of them, so he couldn't turn on them on the spot. "Yes, the Liao Dynasty is gone. The former Liao Dynasty has become the domain of us Han people. The Khitan people can no longer oppress us."

Upon hearing this news, the group of Han people who had been stranded in a foreign land were immediately excited.

Li Chuwen, who had just arrived on horseback, was already feeling a bit uncomfortable in his backside. Seeing them still standing there dumbfounded in front of him, he could only give his steward a wink.

"Zhang Gen'er, why don't you invite the master into the village?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gen'er finally reacted and hurriedly invited Li Chuwen into the village.

Chapter 165 The Dilemma of the Jin Dynasty

When the Jin Dynasty first rose to power, it swept through the Liao Dynasty with unstoppable momentum. In its peak battle at Hubudagang, it defeated the Liao Dynasty's 700,000-strong army with only 20,000 troops. After that, its conquest of cities and territories was even smooth sailing. However, it did not expect that the newly emerging Celestial Dynasty in the Central Plains would not only no longer recognize the agreement between the two countries to jointly attack the Liao Dynasty during the Song Dynasty, but also break the precedent by selling weapons to the Liao Dynasty. The Liao Dynasty also dispatched elite troops to guard Zhongjing (the capital), and with the sturdy armor and weapons purchased from the Celestial Empire, the Jin Dynasty suffered heavy losses in several attacks. In one Liao surprise attack, even the eldest son of Aguda, the deputy commander of the Liao army, Woben (Zonggan), was killed. The

Jin commander-in-chief, Xieye, naturally wouldn't give up easily, but his repeated attacks only increased casualties. Yelü Dashi's feints and surprise attacks also exhausted the Jin army. Finally, Aguda conceded defeat and ordered Xieye to withdraw.

Seeing that the Liao Dynasty was no longer weak and easily bullied, the Jin Dynasty considered peace talks. A small tribe deep in the mountains had built a kingdom spanning thousands of miles—something they had never imagined, let alone the complete annihilation of the Liao Dynasty. If Yelü Yudu hadn't surrendered, saying that the Liao Dynasty was corrupt and could collapse at any moment, they wouldn't have dared to push their luck.

Now that they couldn't gain any advantage, seeking peace wasn't unreasonable. With a large number of slaves and wealth, the Wanyan tribes no longer wanted to fight. Therefore, on the advice of their strategist Yang Pu, the Jin army sent an envoy to the Liao Kingdom to negotiate peace and establish a territorial division. However, the Celestial Empire, watching from behind, was poised to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun at any time. If the Sixteen Prefectures were returned, leaving only the Zhongjing Circuit, the Liao Kingdom would be unable to maintain its position between the two countries. Under pressure from the Celestial Empire, the Liao Kingdom had no choice but to reject the Jin's peace offer. When the Celestial Empire wiped out the Western Xia, Yelü Dashi was forced to launch a counter-offensive, hoping to reclaim some lost territory.

The Liao's elite troops already possessed fighting power comparable to the Jin, but had previously been hampered by some poorly trained units. After Yelü Dashi took control of the military, he quickly realized this and assembled an elite force as a striking force. Coupled with the Celestial Empire's superior armor and weaponry, the Liao Kingdom reversed its decline, repeatedly defeating the Jin army and capturing several cities.

Finally, Xie Ye personally led the elite troops of the Wanyan tribe to repel the Liao counterattack outside Xingzhong Prefecture, making Xingzhong Prefecture a crucial frontline stronghold for the Jin Dynasty's resistance against the Liao. A Jin army of 50,000 was stationed there, with Xie Ye personally in command. Many of Jin's most capable and valiant generals, such as Pu Jianu, Nianhan, and Talan, also led their troops. However, what truly stopped the Liao was not these generals, but rather 10,000 Wanyan tribesmen. The Jin generals had only learned a few tricks from wild animals during their hunting trips, while the Liao had been Sinicized for a century. Some Liao generals were even well-versed in Han Chinese military texts, but in terms of command skills, the Jin generals could not compare to the Liao's fierce warriors. Only those fearless savages truly troubled the Liao generals.

"The Jurchen are invincible if they number less than 10,000, but invincible if they number 10,000." This statement, while somewhat exaggerated, illustrates the ferocity of the Jurchen savages. Especially the Jin people, fresh from the icy snows and deep forests, were even more fearless. Ruthless and callous. Although the Liao army possessed strong armor and powerful weapons, they gained no advantage against them.

However, Yelü Dashi also discovered that the Jurchen savages' fighting strength would greatly decrease after a period of enjoying life among humans. The earlier a Jurchen unit was organized, the lower its fighting strength became—this was clear evidence. The Jin dynasty also knew that its army was corrupting quickly, but they were powerless to stop it. The soldiers who went into battle first had already plundered a lot of wealth and women. With such temptations waiting at home, who would be willing to risk their life on the battlefield?

Therefore, Yelü Dashi sent some of his remaining soldiers to the Jurchen army to gain merit, and then withdrew his troops to wait for an opportunity.

Xie Ye had never suffered such a loss before. He was deceived by Yelü Dashi's trickery and thought that he had swallowed up the Liao army's elite forces. He then asked Emperor Aguda of Jin for help, preparing to send troops again to reclaim the lost territory.

Just then, Wuqimai returned from the grasslands and brought the elite troops of the Wanyan tribes who had been stationed in Huanglong Prefecture to come to the aid, preparing to reclaim the lost territory.

Yelü Yudu's several thousand Khitan soldiers were also among the reinforcements, but Yelü Yudu feigned illness and remained in Huanglong Prefecture.

Just as Wuqimai's army arrived in Xingzhong Prefecture, a steppe tribe invaded the heart of the Jin Dynasty, plundering. Due to the Jin Dynasty's vast territory and sparse population, coupled with a large influx of elite troops south to prepare for the Liao Dynasty's conquest, the steppe tribe continued its plundering, heading towards Huanglong Prefecture. Aguda, a powerful and ruthless ruler, could not tolerate the humiliation of a steppe tribe reaching the capital. He hastily dispatched Moulianghu, who was stationed in Huanglong Prefecture, to lead troops to intercept the invading tribe.

While Moulianghu chased the steppe wolf riders away, Yelü Yudu suddenly led his personal guards out of Huanglong Prefecture, protected by a cavalry force secretly left behind by the steppe tribe. Yelü Yudu, with his entire family, successfully escaped to the steppes.

Upon learning that Yelü Yudu had escaped the city with his family, Aguda coughed up blood and personally led all the Jurchen men in Huanglong Prefecture who could ride horses to pursue Yelü Yudu, while simultaneously ordering troops from various cities along the way to intercept and kill him. However, most of the troops from various cities also marched south, and Yelü Yudu broke through the remaining defenders' attempts to ambush them several times.

When they reached the edge of the grasslands, Aguda, who had been ill, finally succumbed and had to return to Huanglong for treatment. Unwilling to accept defeat, he ordered his personal guard commander, Wulu, to intercept and kill Yelü Yudu, thus losing two thousand elite Wanyan soldiers in Hua Rong's ambush.

Unfortunately, Hua Rong did not know that Aguda was personally leading the pursuit of Yelü Yudu; otherwise, he would have charged into the Jin Kingdom and killed Aguda, even at the cost of heavy losses.

News of Yelü Yudu's defection reached Xingzhong Prefecture, causing a group of hesitant Jin barbarians to halt their attack on the Liao Kingdom.

A few days later, Aguda formally sent a delegation to the Liao Kingdom to negotiate peace and discuss a joint resistance against the Celestial Empire. To show his sincerity, Wuqimai led the reinforcements that had just arrived at the front lines to retreat again.

To the Jin Dynasty, everyone assumed the Liao Dynasty would agree to peace talks. However, before the delegation could send back any news, Liao's actions shocked the Jin Dynasty once again, almost causing them to vomit blood.

"What? The entire Liao army on the southern border is moving north? And the troops from Zhongjing are heading towards Xingzhong Prefecture?" Wuqimai, who had just returned to Huanglong Prefecture with his troops, asked incredulously.

"Yes, it seems the Liao Dynasty is going all out. Anbanbojiliexie has also requested reinforcements again."

Hearing the envoy confirm this again, Wuqimai felt like vomiting blood. He had led his troops from Huanglong Prefecture to Xingzhong Prefecture, but before he could even fire an arrow, he received orders to return. He had just returned and disbanded his troops when the front lines requested reinforcements again.

Wuqimai, his eyes bloodshot, stood up and shouted, "Your Majesty, give the order! I will not return until I have captured Zhongjing!"

Aguda was already ill, and the pursuit, coupled with the successful defection of Yelü Yudu and the death of Wulu, had worsened his condition. The once-fierce man now appeared somewhat thin. He coughed, waved his hand, and said, "Now is not the time to act impulsively. Listen to what Mr. Yang has to say."

(Historically, Aguda did indeed die of illness a year later; this is not fiction.)

Yang Pu, mentioned by Aguda, was a descendant of the Bohai people. In his youth, he passed the imperial examination in the Liao Dynasty with his extensive knowledge and talent. He was generous, ambitious, resourceful, and well-versed in Confucianism and feudal institutions. However, at that time, Xiao Fengxian held power in the Liao Dynasty, and Yang Pu, who was not good at flattery and had no money, was not valued and only held a sinecure as a proofreader in the Privy Council.

After Aguda launched his campaign against the Liao, he joined the Jurchens and quickly became Aguda's most trusted strategist. In the ignorant Jurchen tribe, Yang Pu, who had studied Han Chinese culture, appeared even more profound. Using the ancient Han Chinese philosophy of life, dealing with a few barbarians was naturally easy, and he quickly established his position.

"A craftsman provides rules and regulations, but cannot guarantee skill; a teacher provides models, but cannot guarantee conduct. Your Majesty, in establishing your army, should transform your home into a nation, aiming to dominate the world and become a state of ten thousand chariots, far surpassing a state of a thousand chariots. All the tribes and their armies have submitted to Your Majesty; their strength is enough to move mountains and fill seas, yet they cannot reform the old order. I urge Your Majesty to bestow the title of Emperor, enfeoff the various tribes, issue proclamations in response, and pacify the land within a thousand miles. Connect the eastern coast, link the southern borders with the Song Dynasty, establish relations with the Western Xia in the west, and secure the people of the Liao Kingdom in the north, building a foundation for eternal prosperity and a thriving imperial state. Any doubt in this endeavor will bring swift calamity. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

With this letter of advice, Yang Pu successfully persuaded Aguda to heed his counsel, establish a nation, and become Emperor. Yang Pu thus became a founding hero, and Aguda thereafter consulted Yang Pu on every matter.

Wu Qimai, not daring to be disrespectful to this wise and insightful Han Chinese, suppressed his anger and said, "Have the Khitans gone mad? The Celestial Empire is about to attack us, yet they've mobilized troops from Nanjing Road to the north. Do they intend to surrender to the Celestial Empire?"

Yang Pu was also somewhat puzzled by the Liao's actions, but he didn't want to show it. He stroked his long beard and nodded, saying, "Surrender is unlikely, but they also dare not wage war against the Celestial Empire. In my opinion, they are most likely preparing to return the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, thus depriving the Celestial Empire of a reason to advance north. The Han Chinese have always valued a just cause for war. As long as the Liao returns the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, they won't attack the Liao until they find a suitable reason." Aguda's brother, Wodai, asked, "Then why did they invade our country without cause and kill two thousand of our soldiers?"

Yang Pu was also taken aback. In his books, the Central Plains was a land of propriety, and the Han Chinese valued etiquette; even in war, a just cause was essential. Unexpectedly, in this incident of Yelü Yudu's defection, the Han people displayed a cunning as fox-like as a fox.

Chapter 166 The Whole Country Submits

Yang Pu thought for a moment and said, "Han military strategy emphasizes deception and realism. Perhaps the emperor of the Celestial Dynasty believes more in military strategists than Confucianists."

Aguda had been sitting for a while and was already feeling a bit tired. He tried to straighten his back and said, "Let's talk about the Han people later. The most urgent matter is how to deal with the Liao Kingdom's actions?"

Everyone looked at Aguda, who could not hide his exhaustion, and could not help but sigh. Human life is always so fragile. Even someone as strong as Aguda could not escape the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Wodai said, "What's the point of discussing this? Let Fourth Brother take us to Xingzhong Prefecture again, gather Fifth Brother's troops, and take down the Liao Kingdom's capital in one fell swoop, so that the Liao dogs won't play hide-and-seek with us anymore."

Once Wodai started, Aguda's nephews and nieces all echoed him.

Aguda remained noncommittal, turning to Yang Pu and asking, "Mr. Yang, what do you think?"

Since Yang Pu's defection to the Jin Dynasty, Aguda had held him in high regard, even after ascending the throne, still addressing him respectfully as "Mr. Yang."

A scholar will die for one who understands him, and given Yang Pu's past hardships in the Liao Dynasty, he was even more grateful for Aguda's appreciation. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to the affairs of the Jin Dynasty. The Jin people were unfamiliar with etiquette, so he consulted historical records of the Central Plains dynasties to establish proper etiquette; the Jin people were illiterate, so he personally visited them to discuss matters.

Everything Yang Pu did was for the long-term survival of the Jin Dynasty, but the Jin people, newly emerged from the deep mountains and forests, could not understand his good intentions. In their eyes, the people of the occupied territories were their slaves, and all the wealth belonged to them.

They saw Yang Pu as a bully using their power to prevent them from enjoying their lives. Many princes and grandsons disliked Yang Pu, as the customs of the Jin and Han people differed. Furthermore, their numbers were small, with even teenagers joining the battles and learning to abduct women. If Yang Pu hadn't been Aguda's most trusted strategist, he would probably have been chopped into pieces by those princes and grandsons long ago.

Seeing Aguda's haggard appearance, Yang Pu knew he needed to plan for the future.

"General Wodai's words are not without merit. However, the Celestial Empire will likely soon march north. We and the Liao Kingdom are interdependent; a decisive battle with them now is inappropriate. In my opinion, we should send someone to inquire about the Liao Kingdom's troop deployment intentions. Of course, we must also prepare for war. If the Liao Kingdom dares to invade our country, we will teach them a lesson. However, the Liao people are skilled at defending cities, while we are skilled in open field battles. If we were to launch a strong attack on Zhongjing, the casualties would be heavy. That would give the Celestial Empire an advantage. Therefore, even if a battle breaks out, we should only force them to hold their ground or retreat; we must not attack the city."

Aguda listened to these words. Nodding, he said, "Let's do as Mr. Yang says. Have Xie Ye send someone to inquire about the Liao Kingdom's intentions, and at the same time, observe the progress of our delegation. Fourth brother, you lead men to aid Xingzhong Prefecture. Just hold your ground; do not initiate hostilities, and certainly do not attack the city."

The group of ferocious Jin soldiers received the imperial order and immediately roared as they went to gather their troops.

Aguda watched his fourth brother, Wuqimai, lead his nephews and nieces out in a flurry, and couldn't help but sigh. This Wuqimai was burly and incredibly strong. He could wrestle bears and tigers with his own hands, but he lacked composure and was too impulsive. In the past, under his leadership, the Jin Kingdom could have swept across the world. But now, with the rise of the Central Plains dynasty and the Liao emperor's determination to strengthen the country, making him his successor might not be a good thing.

The Liao Kingdom's response to the Jin Kingdom's inquiry was a normal troop deployment, while the peace talks between the delegation and the Liao Kingdom were at a stalemate. The Liao Kingdom was willing to acknowledge the Jin Kingdom as a friendly nation, but wanted to reclaim some lost territory.

The Jin Dynasty was skeptical of the Liao Dynasty's response, yet dared not be complacent, and could only station 150,000 troops in Xingzhong Prefecture for defense. The Liao Dynasty's demands for lost territory were not small, but not insignificant either. Aguda was quite frustrated by the Liao Dynasty's haggling; on the one hand, he was unwilling to go to war with the Liao Dynasty, but on the other hand, he was reluctant to give up all the cities, so he could only order his delegation to try to negotiate as much as possible.

While the Jin army was on high alert, news arrived from the Liao Dynasty that made everyone in the Jin Dynasty gasp in astonishment.

On July 10th of the second year of the Huaxia era, Yelü Chun, the last emperor of the Liao Dynasty, announced the entire nation's submission to the Celestial Dynasty. At the same time, the Celestial Dynasty's army began its northward march to take over the various prefectures. Since the garrison troops in each prefecture had already been transferred, the Celestial Army quickly took control.

Most of the Liao Dynasty's military commanders had already been replaced by Li Chuwen and others, so there were almost no major uprisings. Several small-scale uprisings were also quelled by the Xi tribe troops and the troops of the Imperial Uncle's camp. A few days later, Zhang Yang personally led his army to Xijin Prefecture.

Li Chuwen and a group of high-ranking officials went out ten miles outside the city to greet him and presented the Liao Dynasty's imperial seal. To please Zhang Yang, most of the people lining the streets to welcome him were Han Chinese.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

As soon as Zhang Yang's imperial carriage appeared on the horizon, the Han people on both sides cheered loudly. A century of anticipation had become a reality, and many people wept with joy, their shouts tinged with sobs. Many people couldn't help but run towards Zhang Yang's carriage, wanting to see their own Han emperor with their own eyes.

In the past few days, they had tasted the benefits of being in charge; walking on the streets, they no longer had to fear the Khitans, but rather, the Khitans who had usually oppressed them avoided them.

Seeing the chaotic crowd surging towards the emperor's carriage, Li Chuwen, fearing something might happen or displease the emperor, hurriedly shouted to the soldiers maintaining order on both sides, "Don't let them get close to the emperor's carriage!"

"Let us see our own Han emperor!"

"You damned Khitans, how dare you bully us!"

Unfortunately, the impassioned crowd paid no attention to the Liao soldiers. The Han soldiers were somewhat better, but when the Khitan soldiers blocked the Han people, the Han people's century-long hatred for being oppressed erupted, and they started fighting with the Khitan soldiers, causing immediate chaos.

Zhang Yang, seeing that most of the people welcoming them were Han, also came out, stood on his carriage, and shouted, "Let the people come over!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers retreated and formed a circle around Zhang Yang, allowing the people to catch a glimpse of his divine countenance.

Looking at Zhang Yang's handsome and kind face, the Han people immediately knelt down, shouting "A god descended to earth!" and "Long live the Emperor!"

Seeing his tearful compatriots and the weathered faces of some elderly people, Zhang Yang jumped off his carriage and walked into the crowd, helping them up one by one.

The people, not expecting the Emperor to help them, stood there dumbfounded, feeling a sudden lightness in their bones, standing there helplessly.

Seeing that many were still kneeling behind him, Zhang Yang had no choice but to say, "Everyone, get up. I can't help everyone."

Zhang Gen'er, who had been arranged at the front by Li Chuwen, was fortunate enough to be personally helped up by Zhang Yang, a fact he later boasted about.

Seeing the villagers still kneeling there dumbfounded, seemingly expecting the Emperor to help them up, he hurriedly shouted, "The Emperor has spoken! Get up! Do you expect him to help you up?"

The villagers finally reacted and stood up, though they harbored some resentment towards the village head, only a hint of envy in their hearts.

"You dog Emperor, prepare to die!"

Just as the crowd was slowly rising, a man suddenly stood up, pulled a crossbow from his robes, pressed the trigger, and a black beam shot towards Zhang Yang.

Zhang Gen'er, who hadn't even turned around after speaking, saw this and immediately turned to protect Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang couldn't let him sacrifice himself to save him, so he quickly grabbed Zhang Gen'er and caught the crossbow bolt.

The crowd, seeing Zhang Yang catch the bolt with his bare hands, immediately shouted, "A god has descended!"

"Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

Some of the more recovered villagers yelled and rushed towards the assassin.

The assassin, not expecting Zhang Yang to catch the bolt at such close range, was stunned and killed by the enraged crowd.

Zhang Gen'er had thought he was surely going to die, but unexpectedly, he was saved by the Emperor. It took him a long time to come to his senses.

Zhang Yang looked at the prematurely aged Zhang Gen'er, took his hand, and said, "I'm sorry you've suffered. I'm late."

Zhang Gen'er hadn't expected the Emperor to be so approachable. His lips trembled, but he couldn't speak.

Zhang Yang squeezed Zhang Gen'er's rough hand and smiled, "Relax, we are all Han Chinese, with the same blood flowing in our veins. Just treat me as your neighbor."

Zhang Gen'er forced a smile and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty's arrival is not late. Everyone heard that Your Majesty had unified the Central Plains, and we had been hoping that you would lead your troops north to rescue us. Now that you have finally come, it is enough that you came."

"Since my great-grandfather's generation, Youzhou was occupied by the Khitans, and we Han Chinese were oppressed by them. Generation after generation, we have hoped that our Han emperor would lead his troops north. The emperor of the Song Dynasty also led his troops north, but he was defeated by the Khitans. My grandfather and father also died with regret. I never thought that in my generation, we would finally see Your Majesty."

Zhang Gen'er was so excited that he couldn't help but burst into tears again. Zhang Yang patted Zhang Gen'er on the shoulder, comforting him, "From now on, it's the world of us Han people. No one can oppress you anymore."

Chapter 167: The Princess's Assassination Attempt.

Zhang Yang entered the city surrounded by the people, his arrival turning the place into a sea of joy.

People cheered and jumped for joy; a new dynasty had begun, the Han dynasty replacing the rule of the foreign tribes. Through merchants traveling between the two countries, they heard about the happy life under the new sun and moon, and they believed that the past pain and misery would be far behind them.

Today, all the gates of Xijin Prefecture were closed, and the Han people rushed to welcome the emperor. The Khitan people, on the other hand, locked their doors, hiding in their homes, waiting for the Han emperor's proclamation to reassure the people. They were no longer a superior race; the Han people, whom they had oppressed, had become the masters, and they feared the Han people would take the opportunity to retaliate. The

Han people, who had been exiled for a hundred years, escorted Zhang Yang to the palace in Xijin Prefecture. Seeing their own Han emperor enter the imperial city of Xijin Prefecture, another round of cheers erupted.

Zhang Yang entered the palace and breathed a sigh of relief. The compatriots were so enthusiastic that their cheers were like a surging river, wave after wave, so loud it hurt the eardrums.

Li Chuwen and his entourage finally had a chance to approach Zhang Yang, kneeling nervously on the ground, saying, "We were negligent, allowing the traitor to infiltrate the people and offend Your Majesty. Please forgive us, Your Majesty."

Zhang Yang helped Li Chuwen up, smiling, "Even the most meticulous plans can have oversights. I am unharmed. You may all rise. This time, the Liao Kingdom surrendered peacefully without resorting to force; you have all made great contributions. Let us proceed to the main hall to bestow rewards."

The Liao officials, still uneasy about the assassination attempt, breathed a sigh of relief when Zhang Yang didn't mention it.

At the main hall, Li Chuwen's substitute, Yelü Chun, presented the Liao imperial seal and other royal items. Zhang Yang also bestowed a marquisate upon Yelü Chun. Other high-ranking officials who had surrendered to the Liao Kingdom also received rewards, though most were honorary titles, the gifts were extremely generous. None of the Liao officials dared to dream of further advancement. They were already quite content to retain their current positions and receive generous rewards of gold and silver.

That evening, Zhang Yang held a grand banquet for both new and old officials of the Celestial Empire in the Liao banquet hall. Li Chuwen, Xiao Gan, Huilibao, and Yelü Dashi, having rendered great service, were specially granted the privilege of sitting at the same table with him.

Accompanying them were two veteran generals of the Celestial Empire: Yang Zhi, the Prince of Dingbei, with a blue mole on his face, and the imposing Lu Junyi, both holding the rank of Grand General and commanding 50,000 troops.

To commend Li Chuwen's merits, Zhang Yang specially seated him to his right, as a sign of special favor.

Ten thousand taels of silver—Li Chuwen had embezzled for years, yet his wealth was still less than that. He hadn't expected the Celestial Emperor to bestow such a large sum upon him with a single word.

While Li Chuwen was basking in the Emperor's appreciation, he also pondered how to better ingratiate himself with Zhang Yang.

The wine flowed freely... Li Chuwen leaned close to Zhang Yang's ear and said, "Your Majesty, you've already bestowed titles and rewards upon the Liao emperor and his ministers. Shouldn't you also bestow titles and rewards upon the women of the harem?"

Zhang Yang gave Li Chuwen an approving look. He nodded and said, "Is everything prepared?"

Seeing Zhang Yang's fondness for such talk, Li Chuwen couldn't help but praise his own brilliance, and lewdly said, "I've brought all the women from Yelü Chun and Yelü Yanxi's families who are worthy of being rewarded to the harem for Your Majesty."

Zhang Yang patted Li Chuwen on the shoulder and laughed, "Well done, I will remember your merit."

The two of them looked exactly like a tyrannical emperor and his sycophantic minister.

The Liao officials who had surrendered, seeing Zhang Yang's intimacy with Li Chuwen, were envious but also quite relieved. It seemed that the emperor of the Celestial Empire still rewarded those who had rendered meritorious service, and there was no need to worry about being discarded after serving their purpose.

After the banquet, Zhang Yang returned to the harem with a mind full of romantic thoughts. After

washing his face, Zhang Yang ordered that all the royal women selected by Li Chuwen be summoned.

As soon as the many beauties entered the room, the dimly lit hall seemed to brighten. Ten women, each with their own unique charm, stood out.

Although they had long heard that the Celestial Emperor was young, they were still astonished to see Zhang Yang in person, feeling his aggressive gaze. Their cheeks flushed.

Zhang Yang surveyed them, finding each woman appealing, and said, "Come here, all of you. Let me taste the beauties of Liao."

The women, though prepared to lose their virginity, were shocked that he would have them all serve him, and stood frozen in shame. "

What a foolish ruler! You Han people will never usurp our Khitan land! "

Yelü Ci'ao lowered his head, afraid Zhang Yang would see the hatred in his eyes.

Seeing the women frozen in place, Zhang Yang, though their shy beauty was alluring, felt that a distant view was not as appealing as a direct encounter, and coldly said, "What? Does my word not carry weight?"

Remembering Li Chuwen's instructions, a few of the more timid women slowly approached Zhang Yang.

Yelü Ci'ao also feigned shyness as she approached Zhang Yang, though her steps were slightly faster than the others. Just as she reached Zhang Yang, he pulled her into his arms, roughly sealing her lips with his.

Yelü Ci'ao, experiencing her first kiss, was immediately dizzy from Zhang Yang's skillful technique. When she came to her senses, she found herself in his mouth with another tongue, which, even worse, was teasing her own delicate tongue.

Yelü Ci'ao hadn't expected to be humiliated like this by the man who had destroyed her country, and a flash of shame and anger crossed her eyes. She wanted to bite off his tongue, but that wouldn't be fatal.

At this moment, Yelü Ci'ao missed the knife she had hidden earlier, intending to use it to kill this enemy of her fallen kingdom. However, an assassination attempt had occurred outside the city that day, alerting Li Chuwen to a search. Fortunately, she had acted quickly and hidden the knife; otherwise, she would likely be dead by now.

Unaware of the trick, Yelü Ci'ao quickly became breathless, struggling to break free from Zhang Yang's grasp and burying her

face in his chest. A tearing sound rang out, and Yelü Ci'ao felt a chill; her clothes had been ripped off by Zhang Yang, who was already untying her bodice.

She couldn't wait any longer, or she would be defiled by the enemy of her fallen kingdom.

Thinking this, Yelü Ci'ao raised her head to kiss Zhang Yang's neck. Seeing his throat so close, a glint of pleasure flashed in her eyes, and she bit down hard on his throat.

If she could break through his throat, he would surely die. A crisp

"snap" rang out

, and Yelü Ci'ao missed.

Zhang Yang had only managed to dodge because he felt her muscles tighten and her movements suddenly quicken. Hearing the crisp sound, Zhang Yang felt a wave of fear; if he had been bitten, he would surely have died.

"Impossible!"

Yelü Ci'ao hadn't expected him to dodge such a close-range attack.

"Is Heaven truly going to destroy my Great Liao?

No, it can't be."

Yelü Ci'aoye lunged at Zhang Yang's throat again, only to feel a sudden tightness in her breasts. Her breasts were being held firmly in the hands of her enemy, the one who had destroyed her country. She strained her neck but couldn't reach Zhang Yang's.

The other women, terrified that Yelü Ci'aoye had attempted to assassinate the emperor and had been caught red-handed, knelt and kowtowed, fearing they would be implicated.

Hearing the kowtows of her relatives behind her, Yelü Ci'aoye suddenly realized what was happening and cried out, "I've caught him! Come and kill him!"

Zhang Yang squeezed Yelü Ci'aoye's breasts forcefully and said coldly, "Give up. They're not as stupid as you."

Yelü Ci'aoye shook her head and said, "Don't listen to his nonsense. He's all alone. Come on, kill him and we can restore our country."

"Yes, kill me and we can restore our country!"

The women remained kneeling and kowtowing, none daring to rise.

"Get up, all of you,"

Zhang Yang shrugged helplessly and laughed. "See? They're all smart women. Women are meant to serve men. Khitan men are useless, so what can you do?"

Yelü Ci'ao struggled wildly, shouting, "I'm going to kill you!"

Zhang Yang threw her onto the bed and shook his head. "Today I'm going to show you what women are for. Hold her hands and feet down."

Yelü Ci'ao knew what Zhang Yang was going to do and could only struggle and cry out, "No!"

But no one listened to her; several women came forward and held her down.

Zhang Yang took off his clothes, grinning maliciously as he pinned Yelü Ci'ao down beneath him. His large hands roamed freely over her body, bringing her waves of indescribable pleasure.

"Get out... let me go!"

Yelü Ci'ao screamed. But even she knew how futile it was.

Zhang Yang grasped and kneaded the pair of pigeon breasts for a while, then lowered his head, sucking on the pink nipples and gently licking them with his tongue. Meanwhile, his right index finger and thumb pinched and rubbed Yelü Ci'ao's nipples, sending jolts of electric-like stimulation through her body. Yelü Ci'ao couldn't help but tremble slightly, her nipples gradually hardening.

"No...don't do this...um..."

Yelü Ci'ao writhed weakly.

At this moment, she had no murderous intent, only the desire to escape her fate of being ravaged.

Chapter 168: Fallen Temptation.

While sucking on her nipples, Zhang Yang's hand slid down her breasts, across her smooth abdomen, and into the grass, finding her peach blossom cave.

Yelü Ci'ao trembled, before she could even speak. Zhang Yang's hand touched her plump labia. Due to Zhang Yang's previous fondling, the labia were now slightly parted, and Zhang Yang easily found the delicate pearl within.

"Oh...no...don't...touch there...ah!"

Yelü Ci'ao had touched that pearl before while bathing, and each touch sent waves of fantasies through her, making her look ridiculous. Yelü Ci'ao desperately tried to squeeze her legs together, but they were held firmly by several relatives, preventing her from moving.

"Ah...please...no!"

With Zhang Yang's fondling, Yelü Ci'ao felt waves of familiar yet strange pleasure surging over her, almost making her lose herself in them.

Before long, Yelü Ci'ao's pleas for mercy had become more like moans.

"Mmm...no...don't...mmm...please...don't..."

Yelü Ci'ao was immersed in Zhang Yang's skillful techniques, enjoying it with her eyes closed, when she suddenly felt that magical hand leave her lower body. She couldn't help but pout and say, "Don't stop..."

Her tone was more like a coquettish plea. When she realized that she was being coquettish with the enemy who had destroyed her country, Yelü Ci'ao immediately lowered her head in a panic, her face blushing like two peach blossoms, the petals revealing regret and shyness. There was also a trace of lingering confusion.

Zhang Yang, however, had no intention of letting her go. He stretched his already wet fingers in front of Yelü Ci'ao and laughed mockingly, "You slut, what's this?"

Yelü Ci'ao looked at the glistening honey flowing from her lower body and immediately closed her eyes in shame.

"Don't you want me to continue? Beg me?"

Yelü Ci'ao bit her tongue. Struggling to banish that lingering infatuation, she trembled and said, "Don't even think about it. I'd rather die than beg you."

Zhang Yang stroked her firm, jade-like breasts and chuckled wickedly, "I'll make you beg me."

He then turned to the other women and said, "Tie her hands and feet to the bed."

With the women's help, Yelü Ci'ao was quickly bound to the bed.

"Kill me, you demon!"

Yelü Ci'ao seemed to already sense the inhuman torture about to befall her. She struggled and cried out. She was Yelü Yanxi's youngest princess. She had entered the palace intending to assassinate the Emperor, but instead, she had become a lamb to the slaughter. She wasn't afraid of death, but she was terrified of being humiliated and tortured.

"If you scream again, I don't mind stuffing your underpants into your mouth."

Yelü Ci'ao hadn't expected Zhang Yang to come up with such a disgusting plan, and immediately shut her mouth obediently.

Zhang Yang glanced at the women, pulled over the beautiful and mature Consort Xiao, and asked with a smile, "What's your name?"

Consort Xiao looked at the emperor, who was even younger and more handsome than she had imagined, and said shyly, "My name is Puxian Nu."

"A beautiful name, but you are even more beautiful. Could you dance for me?"

"Yes."

"I speak shyly," Puxian said, walking into the hall and gracefully beginning to dance. Though there was no music, it didn't diminish her ethereal beauty. Singing and dancing seemed to be innate to some ethnic minorities. Zhang Yang clapped his hands and laughed, "Very beautiful! Can you take off your clothes while you dance?"

Puxian was startled by Zhang Yang's words. She paused, but upon seeing the envious glances from the other women, she immediately resumed her dance.

Who doesn't have a competitive spirit? Besides, she believed that even if she didn't dance, the other women would rush to do so. After all, opportunities to please the emperor were rare. The Heavenly Emperor had conquered numerous kingdoms. There were probably already many women like herself in the harem, and more and more were likely to follow. If she couldn't leave a lasting impression this time, she feared a lonely life in the deep palace awaited her.

Puxian was a clever woman; she didn't want that kind of life.

At first, Puxian's dance was somewhat awkward, but it gradually became increasingly alluring. As she twisted and removed her bodice, she flirtatiously tossed it onto Zhang Yang, releasing a whiff of a young woman's fragrance.

Pu Xian Nu, her breasts swaying, jumped before Zhang Yang, displaying her beautiful, delicate body—white as jade, full and round.

Under Zhang Yang's burning gaze, Pu Xian Nu swayed her serpentine waist, slowly turning, slowly untying her belt, then hooking her hands around the waist of her skirt, wiggling her hips as she pulled it down…

Just as she was about to reveal her buttocks, Zhang Yang was practically bursting with desire, but she pulled it back up a little…

That alluring temptation finally ended when, with a seductive sway, the skirt broke free from the hold of the beautiful woman's full, round buttocks and fell to the ground.

Zhang Yang could no longer resist; he grabbed Pu Xian Nu and his hands began to roam over her body.

Unlike Yelü Chun's slow, leisurely caresses, Zhang Yang's touch was firm, powerful, and aggressive—the passion of a young man that Pu Xian Nu had never experienced before.

Puxiannu married the middle-aged Yelü Chun in her youth, and she had fantasized about a young, handsome man making love to her. It was somewhat different from what she imagined, but even more stimulating, and soon Puxiannu began to moan softly.

Seeing that things had progressed smoothly, Zhang Yang put Puxiannu down and quickly removed his clothes.

Puxiannu curiously looked at Zhang Yang's body. Unlike Yelü Chun's withered and thin physique, Zhang Yang's body was strong, athletic, and full of masculine energy.

"Ah!"

Puxiannu couldn't help but exclaim when she saw Zhang Yang's crotch.

Good heavens, it was so big! Until now, she had only seen one man's genitals, and she even thought that all men's penises were the same. But the dragon before her was so majestic and ferocious!

Not knowing if she would be killed by his penetration, Puxiannu stared blankly at Zhang Yang's genitals.

Zhang Yang didn't give her a chance to regret it. He hooked his hands around her knees and pressed her forward, leaving the young woman's lower body spread wide apart with her legs raised and knees bent. Her buttocks were also slightly lifted off the bed, revealing her cute little anus clearly, and her entire private area was on full display. But even with the legs spread apart, the depths of her private area were still "half-hidden behind a pipa," like a budding orchid in a deep valley, its fresh petals about to bloom but still concealed.

"Ah, it's too big."

As soon as it entered, she felt an unprecedented fullness—not just a normal fullness, but it was as if her entire private area was being stretched open! The super tight contact between flesh and flesh made her realize how empty her vagina had been before!

And the hardness made her heart tremble, feeling as if it was lifting her whole body! Not to mention the huge head of the penis, the flower core that Yelü Chun could only occasionally touch, was now being firmly pressed against, the sensation making her feel weak all over from head to toe! What was particularly agonizing was that as the dragon withdrew, it scraped across the tender flesh of her vulva from the inside out, making her itch from her vulva to her limbs, and from her limbs to her heart, as if insects were crawling all over her body…

Then came a passionate and unrestrained erotic performance.

The man's frenzied and lewd play was met with the woman's gentle and submissive pleasure; the man thrust in and out on top, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, while the woman responded with alternating shyness and eagerness…

The moans grew louder and more frequent, and more and more lewd sounds and whispers appeared, making the other women blush. Yet, from the woman's soft cries, one could hear how much pleasure she was experiencing. The other women, too, were aroused, their beautiful eyes filled with spring, their cheeks flushed.

"Mmm—humph…no…gently…oh! God!…slower, slower…mmm!mmm!mmm! I'm dying! I'm dying, I'm dying, I'm dying!…oh oh oh oh! Oh—"

With that long "oh!—", Puxian Nu's head was thrown back violently, her whole body trembling...then—her tense body went limp on the bed, her head falling weakly to the side against the pillow, only her body continued to twitch irregularly, her throat still breathing deeply and shallowly...

Zhang Yang leaned down and gently kissed Puxian Nu, laughing, "How is it?"

"It's so beautiful."

Puxian Nu gasped, looking at the valiant emperor with intoxication.

"Want more?"

Only then did Puxian Nu realize that the dragon inside her was as hard as ever, and in amazement, she hurriedly said, "I can't take it anymore, Your Majesty, let me rest."

The women around her didn't expect Zhang Yang to still be so valiant, and their eyes burned with desire.

To their disappointment, Zhang Yang patted Yelü Ci'ao's face and said, "How about it? Want to try it out?"

The close-up erotic scene had completely captivated this innocent girl, leaving her lost in lust. Her gaze towards Zhang Yang was no less fiery than that of other women. Without hesitation, she replied, "Yes."

Chapter 169 Conquering

Zhang Yang looked at Yelü Ci'ao's dazed expression, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. He parted her fair, pink thighs, thrusting his hips forward without restraint, and entered her body.

"Ah...it hurts..."

"Let go...I don't want it anymore..."

Yelü Ci'ao was blinded by lust, even raising her hips to meet Zhang Yang, anticipating pleasure, when she felt as if her lower body was being torn apart, a burning pain shooting through her, and she cried out.

"No pain, no gain, you know? Some things aren't as easy as they seem, like your attempt to assassinate me. And there's no going back."

Zhang Yang lectured her, showing no mercy whatsoever, his lower body thrusting like a pile driver, reveling in the tightness of her virginity.

"You scoundrel, let me go!"

Yelü Ci'aoye cried, tears streaming down her face as she struggled desperately. The ropes binding her hands and feet were stretched taut, making a series of teeth-grinding squeaking sounds.

Zhang Yang was also hit a few times, and his thrusting became less smooth. Disappointed, he stopped, slapping Yelü Ci'aoye hard across the face, staring at her and saying, "Stop making a scene, or I'll throw you into a military brothel and let all my soldiers taste the flavor of a Liao princess."

Yelü Ci'aoye met Zhang Yang's fierce gaze and trembled, no longer daring to resist.

Military brothel—what a terrifying word. She was Yelü Yanxi's youngest daughter, a precious gem, pampered and protected from childhood. Although she enjoyed horseback riding and martial arts, she never considered having any relations with the lowest-ranking soldiers. The thought of those dirty, rude, and ugly soldiers pressing down on her suffocated her.

Seeing her frightened, Zhang Yang continued his violent thrusting, coldly saying, "Remember, wrongdoing must be punished. Women are no exception. If you make the same mistake again, the punishment will be doubled."

Even if Yelü Ci'ao resisted, Zhang Yang wouldn't actually throw her into the military brothel. After all, she was Zhang Yang's woman; even if she made a mistake, Zhang Yang would at most execute her, but he would never allow other men to cuckold her countless times.

The surrounding women, their eyes filled with lust, stared at Zhang Yang's genitals while also firmly remembering his words.

Yelü Ci'ao felt as if her genitals were about to be ruptured, burning with pain, her two thick labia turned outwards, red and swollen beyond recognition.

Perhaps she shouldn't have thought of revenge in the first place; how could she possibly oppose an emperor who seemed to be a god descended from heaven?

Although she was reluctant to believe that Zhang Yang was a god, he had unified the Central Plains and conquered several kingdoms in less than a year. Even Emperor Taizu of Liao couldn't compare. History had many unparalleled heroes, but compared to Zhang Yang, they all paled in comparison. Zhang Yang's achievements made it impossible for her not to believe he was a god descended from heaven.

Yelü Ci'ao endured Zhang Yang's whipping. Although the intense pain made her face pale, she dared not struggle any longer and could only grit her teeth and endure it.

As her lower body went numb, Yelü Ci'ao felt a strange pleasure arising in her genitals.

"Ah,"

Yelü Ci'ao let out a delicate moan, immediately realizing what was happening, her face turning bright red. She buried her face in the sheets, no longer daring to face Zhang Yang directly.

At first, she could grit her teeth and endure the urge to moan, but as the pleasure intensified, she soon couldn't help but moan again.

Zhang Yang, however, seemed to want to see her embarrassed. As he thrust his lower body, his hands also intensified the stimulation of the girl's sensitive areas.

Under the teasing of this seasoned womanizer, Zhang Yang's lust quickly overwhelmed her reason again.

Later, Yelü Ci'ao's lewd moans even made the experienced Puxian woman blush. The group of women watching were also aroused by her.

Zhang Yang saw that Yelü Ci'ao was already lost in lust without realizing it. He tore off the strips of cloth binding her hands and feet and laughed, "Get up. I'm going to attack from behind."

Yelü Ci'ao felt dizzy at this moment, her lower body itchy, her heart tossed up and down on the waves of desire...

The sudden stop of the lovemaking left her with an unprecedented emptiness, and her eyes involuntarily looked at Zhang Yang's genitals.

What she had previously seen as grotesque and terrifying now seemed intimate and lovely.

Yelü Ci'ao swallowed, thought about the actions of the Bodhisattva, and lay on the bed, sticking out her snow-white buttocks. Her

wet flower valley was immediately exposed to Zhang Yang's eyes. Her pink labia were now swollen and red, and snow-white nectar mixed with virgin blood flowed between her flower valleys, a sight that aroused a sense of savagery.

Yelü Ci'ao lay on the bed, impatiently swaying her hips, turning back to give Zhang Yang a flirtatious wink, and whispered, "Come on."

Looking at her current wanton appearance, it was almost unbelievable that half an hour ago she was someone who wanted to assassinate Zhang Yang and was sworn to be his enemy.

Zhang Yang stepped forward and pulled Yelü Ci'ao's arms up, leaving her upper body suspended in the air. His hard, erect penis rubbed slightly against her labia before she swallowed it with a sway of her hips, and then began to move on its own.

"What a slut, you two come and hold her arms."

Zhang Yang had two women hold her arms, freeing his hands to grab her slender waist, and began to thrust forcefully.

Yelü Ci'ao felt as if her lungs were about to burst out of her chest; her full breasts surged like waves on her chest, her pink nipples swaying and dancing like snow lotuses on an iceberg.

Yelü Ci'ao felt like a small boat adrift on a giant wave, constantly being tossed and thrown about, on the verge of capsizing and drowning, yet she kept shouting, "Fuck me to death!"

Zhang Yang, naturally, wouldn't back down; his thick, erect member slid out of her swollen lower body from time to time, drawing burning gazes from the surrounding women.

"So beautiful!"

After only a few hundred thrusts, Yelü Ci'ao cried out, trembling as she reached her climax.

Zhang Yang thrust a few more times, then pulled out his wet member.

Seeing that Zhang Yang's member was still as hard as ever, the surrounding women, overjoyed, surrounded him, striking seductive poses, wanting to be the next one to be fucked.

Zhang Yang, however, ignored the women's advances, instead rubbing his member, still wet with her nectar, against Yelü Ci'ao's anus.

Just as Yelü Ci'ao was enjoying her first climax, she suddenly felt Zhang Yang's thick member forcefully pressing against her anus. She was

instantly terrified, her face turning green; if that thick thing went in, wouldn't she be fucked to death?

"No! I want to be your woman! Don't torture me!"

Yelü Ci'ao, already overwhelmed by Zhang Yang's prowess, seemed to sense what was about to happen. As if resigned to her fate, she pleaded desperately, no longer struggling as before.

Zhang Yang grinned maliciously: "To be my woman, you must give yourself to me wholeheartedly. I've made you feel good, you should make me feel good too."

With that, he thrust forward fiercely.

"Ah!"

Yelü Ci'ao screamed in agony, her eyes rolling back, almost fainting.

Pain!

Excruciating pain!

Her anus was being brutally torn apart; her body felt like it had been shattered into pieces. Amidst Yelü Ci'ao's hysterical screams, Zhang Yang continued his relentless assault, each thrust harder and more violent than the last. Yelü Ci'ao could only clutch the bedsheets tightly, hoping Zhang Yang would finish quickly.

Time passed slowly, and Yelü Ci'ao felt as if she had endured an eternity, a torturous century. Just as she was utterly exhausted, being relentlessly violated by Zhang Yang, she felt a wetness on her face. Zhang Yang had withdrawn his dragon, circled around to her front, and sprayed a milky white substance onto her face.

The milky liquid dripped from the corner of her mouth, and Yelü Ci'ao couldn't help but lick it; it seemed somewhat sweet.

Seeing that Yelü Ci'ao actually possessed some talent, Zhang Yang laughed, "Yes, eat it, don't waste it."

Having suffered such torment and ravages, Yelü Ci'ao was now completely conquered by Zhang Yang. At this moment, she had only one thought: to never disobey Zhang Yang again. Just as

the other women were disappointed by Zhang Yang's release, he pulled another woman aside and stirred up another wave of passion.

Today, he would let all the Khitan women know his power.

Chapter 170 Governance Strategy

Zhang Yang looked at the group of people below and couldn't help but shake his head.

This group, led by Zong Ze, consisted of recent imperial examination candidates and some officials awaiting appointment in the capital. They had just arrived north today, preparing to be distributed throughout the Liao Kingdom to consolidate the Celestial Empire's rule. The

journey from Bianjing to Beijing was only about 1,500 li (approximately 750 kilometers), and they had traveled for about twenty days, averaging only 60-70 li per day. Of course, they weren't walking; they rode horses and carriages as they pleased.

This should have been like a leisurely outing, but everyone looked listless, as if they had just completed a 25,000-li Long March. The middle-aged officials, pampered by years of official life, had long forgotten the hardships of the journey, but the young candidates weren't much better, which Zhang Yang found unacceptable.

Because the mission was rushed, Zhang Yang worried that the older officials wouldn't be able to endure the hardships of the journey. He didn't want to conquer the Liao Kingdom without losing a single soldier, only to have several officials sacrificed along the way. Therefore, he specifically instructed the Ministry of Personnel to select younger officials, and Zong Ze, over sixty years old, was the oldest among them.

However, Zong Ze was fond of martial arts and exercised regularly. Despite the long journey, he showed no signs of fatigue and appeared more energetic than most of the young scholars.

“Your Majesty, is there something troubling you? Speak, and we may be able to help you,”

Zong Ze asked tentatively when Zhang Yang shook his head and remained silent.

Zhang Yang didn't get angry, but coldly asked, “How many li have you traveled each day?”

Zong Ze was somewhat unsure of Zhang Yang's meaning. Knowing the Emperor was somewhat displeased, he could only tell the truth, saying, “After receiving Your Majesty's decree to select the candidates and prospective officials, we immediately set off for Xijin Prefecture, traveling no less than sixty li each day.”

“Lu Junyi, tell them how many li you have traveled each day,”

Zhang Yang said. Only then did everyone understand the source of the Emperor's displeasure.

Lu Junyi, not wanting to offend Zong Ze, could only say, "The daily march is at least eighty li."

Zhang Yang looked at some disapproving scholars and coldly said, "General Lu Junyi doesn't want to belittle you, but let me tell you, I lead my troops on an average daily march of one hundred li. Moreover, my soldiers walk on foot in full armor, while you ride horses and carriages. Along the way, have you seen any soldiers of the Celestial Empire looking as dejected as you?"

A young scholar muttered, "How can you compare us to them?"

Zhang Yang, with his sharp ears and keen eyes, and knowing that everyone in the hall dared not breathe, naturally heard the scholar's voice. He pointed at him and asked, "What did you say?"

The scholar, not expecting the emperor to call him out, was stunned for a moment, then forced himself to speak, "We are scholars, skilled in poetry, literature, and policy essays, while their soldiers train daily in marching and fighting. Your Majesty's comparison of our marching to theirs is perhaps somewhat biased."

Zhang Yang hadn't been contradicted in a long time. Hearing this, he angrily retorted, "Is that what you call a military campaign? Riding horses and traveling by carriage, what's the difference between that and a day trip? At each stop, the government arranges food and lodging for you. The soldiers, on the other hand, have to do everything themselves. The soldiers bear a heavier burden than you, have no carriages or horses, yet their journey is far greater. There's no doubt that your physical strength is inferior to theirs. But you are well-versed in literature and poetry. Your spiritual realm should be higher than theirs. Yet you are the ones complaining endlessly. Are you suffering more than them?"

"Perhaps you'll say you're studying the way of governing a country, not the way of traveling. But you become sickly after traveling these distances. If the court needs you to go to the frontier, tell me, once you arrive, will you still be able to serve the country?"

Zhang Yang coldly glanced at the scholar and rebuked him, "Go back. Remember, no matter what you do, only with a strong body can you talk about anything else."

"Zong Ze, from now on, every candidate must undergo three months of military training before being appointed.

Only those who pass will be allowed to take up official positions." Although Zong Ze felt the Emperor was making a mountain out of a molehill, the scholars who only knew how to study were indeed in poor health; quite a few had fallen ill on the way. Military training would also improve their physical fitness, preventing some officials from dying on their way to their posts and becoming a laughing stock. Moreover, military training could be combined with the Ministry of Personnel's training program, which might have other benefits.

"What about this year?"

The candidates looked at Zhang Yang anxiously. They were exhausted from the long journey, and making them undergo military training would be tantamount to killing them. Now that the court needed capable people, they should just let them be.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Zhang Yang said to them, "But you must also pay attention to your training. From now on, the Ministry of Personnel will include military training as a part of the evaluation of officials. Those who have not undergone military training must make it up during the review upon returning to the capital. Those who fail will not be promoted."

The expressions on everyone's faces, which had just relaxed, immediately turned bitter again, but no one dared to utter a word of objection. "

Remember, you represent our Celestial Dynasty. You must show the people your positive side, not this state. Alright, all of you, go and rest. I don't want to see you in this disheveled state. Minister Zong, please stay."

The scholars had longed for this word, "rest," but now their steps were much heavier.

Once only Zong Ze and Zhang Yang remained in the hall, Zhang Yang said, "Minister Zong, you must be tired from your journey. Let's talk in the Imperial Study."

Upon arriving at the Imperial Study, Zhang Yang had tea served to Zong Ze and smiled, "Minister Zong, I would like you to manage the territory of the Liao Kingdom that has submitted to the Jin Dynasty for a period of time. What do you think?"

"Cough cough,"

Zong Ze almost choked on his tea, not expecting the Emperor to entrust him with the governance of such a vast territory. Although the Liao Kingdom had lost nearly half of its territory to the Jin Dynasty, its current territory was still much larger than several regions in the Central Plains.

"Your abilities are limited; I'm afraid I cannot govern such a large area."

Zong Ze hadn't expected the Emperor to approach him like a junior, massaging his back to soothe him. He quickly tried to stand up and avoid the Emperor, but Zhang Yang held him back. "

I know your abilities, Zong Qing. And if you're not up to the task, then no one else in the court can shoulder this responsibility."

Zong Ze still hesitated to accept the assignment. Such a vast territory was practically a kingdom in the eyes of others, and the officials were all handpicked, wielding far too much power. One wrong move, and he could be accused of forming cliques and plotting treason.

"I'm afraid my abilities are insufficient," Zhang Yang said with a smile. "If Your Majesty divides the Liao Kingdom into several routes, I could oversee one of them."

"Others fear they lack power, why are you afraid of such a large territory, Zong Qing? Since I've entrusted you with this task, it means I have confidence in you. Of course, this territory is indeed quite large, and there are various problems left over from the Liao Kingdom, but I won't demand anything of you. Just do your best." Having said that

, Zong Ze could no longer refuse, lest he appear guilty.

He had considered various issues facing the Liao Kingdom along the way, but hadn't expected them to be left to him.

Zong Ze knew the Emperor was difficult to control, and that the Emperor needed to set the overall direction before he could act.

"What are Your Majesty's decrees regarding the resettlement of the various ethnic groups?"

Zhang Yang thought for a moment and said, "The various ethnic groups in the Liao Kingdom are essentially the Han and nomadic peoples. The Han people previously held a low status in the Liao Kingdom, many even becoming slaves. This is unacceptable. Your first priority must be the liberation of my Han people. Whether they are herding livestock or farming, you must provide them with a livelihood. As for the nomadic peoples? Let them herd livestock if they wish, but they cannot encroach on fertile land. I will take the men of each ethnic group to the battlefield; they are well-suited for combat. The generous rewards on the battlefield will also free them from production, thus benefiting our Han people's businesses. You must handle the conflicts between the various ethnic groups fairly, without escalating ethnic tensions, even if it means my Han people suffer losses." Zong

Ze also grasped Zhang Yang's meaning: to maintain a temporary balance among the various ethnic groups. Before long, those nomadic peoples would disappear into the sea of Han Chinese.

War would create a large number of nouveau riche among the foreign tribes, who would naturally choose to settle in cities and enjoy all kinds of extravagance. Meanwhile, the shops and businesses would mostly be run by Han Chinese. Before long, that wealth would return to the Han people.

Who would be more like an aristocrat? Of course, it would be the Han people, with their millennia-old traditions. It was foreseeable that the emerging foreign tribes would imitate Han etiquette and lifestyle. In the midst of extravagance, they would also lose their edge and become like the Han people around them. In just a few generations, they would become thoroughly Han Chinese.

May
9th, Chapter 171: Keep Your Head, Not Your Braid. The sky

was pitch black, like an overturned iron pot, shrouding the entire world and making people feel increasingly helpless.

The dark night obscured the entire Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region. The stars that used to twinkle in the sky all seemed to have agreed to hide, plunging the world into complete darkness.

Huanglong Prefecture was originally the Fuyu Prefecture of Bohai. When Emperor Taizu of Liao conquered the Bohai Kingdom, he died of illness upon returning to Huanglong Prefecture. Legend has it that a yellow dragon appeared at that time, hence the name Huanglong Prefecture.

Located at the intersection of the western grasslands and eastern hills, Huanglong Prefecture controlled the vital transportation routes along the Songhua River, making it a strategically important and fiercely contested area throughout history. During the reign of Emperor Shengzong of Liao, to better control Huanglong Prefecture, in addition to establishing an administrative governor, a military command was also established, and troops from tribes such as the Wuzhe and Tielihu were stationed permanently in the major cities under Huanglong Prefecture's jurisdiction. At the same time, the city's fortifications were significantly strengthened. Coupled with the Liao Dynasty's peak at the time, Huanglong Prefecture quickly became one of the most prosperous places in the region.

Along with political and economic development, Huanglong Prefecture's population grew rapidly. It became densely populated with numerous villages and towns, and various ethnic groups mingled, including Khitans, Bohais, Han Chinese, Jurchens, as well as Tielihu, Wuzhe, Turks, and Dangxiang peoples.

Aguda, due to the tense situation between the Jin and Liao dynasties, remained stationed in Huanglong Prefecture, remotely controlling the frontline battles. However, Yelü Yudu's escape worsened his condition, and he sensed his days were numbered. He then moved his capital back to Shangjing Huining Prefecture. Shangjing Huining of the Jin Dynasty was also called Baicheng at the time. Its location was similar to present-day Harbin, at the foot of the Daqing Mountains on the western slope of the Zhangguangcai Mountains, on the left bank of the Ashi River, nestled against the mountains and beside the water. However, it was not yet a prefecture and was not large in scale.

Huining was a capital city established by the Jurchen people themselves, during the reign of Aguda. He set up felt tents there, calling it Emperor's Village, which was essentially just a village. In his later years, as the Jin Dynasty's territory greatly expanded, Aguda felt he was constantly expanding his territory, and his attacks on the Liao Dynasty were unstoppable. He believed he would soon unify the country. With the world unified and all nations paying tribute, Huining, as the Jin capital, was too impoverished without a palace or city walls. Therefore, he ordered Yang Pu to build a palace modeled after Bianjing of the Song Dynasty.

Because the Liao Kingdom later purchased a large amount of strong armor and weapons from the Celestial Empire, and the war at the front lines became increasingly intense, many able-bodied men were conscripted to the front, thus slowing down the construction of the Huining Palace. At this time, it was only half-finished. It seemed as if half of it had been swallowed by darkness, with only half faintly visible under the dim light.

"Alas, I won't be able to see the capital city built by our Jurchen people. I wonder if they can complete this task,"

Aguda sighed again, looking at the newly erected corner of the wall in the distance.

Aguda was no longer the formidable Jurchen warrior of the past. Although it was July, he was wearing only an outer garment.

Aguda's wife, Empress Shengmu Tangkuo, pulled the outer garment tighter around Aguda and advised, "It's late. His Majesty isn't feeling well. Let's sleep."

Even in the dead of winter, when snow blanketed the land, Aguda dared to go fishing. But now, a night breeze blew, and he felt a chill.

"My days are numbered. I cannot bear to see Huining become a mere city like Huanglongfu. I am unwilling to accept this. In my life, I unified the various Jurchen tribes, led troops against the tyrannical Liao, and conquered thousands of miles of land. If it weren't for the Celestial Dynasty, I might have already conquered the entire Liao Kingdom. Not conquering the entire Liao Kingdom is my regret, but to unify the various Jurchen tribes and conquer thousands of miles of land makes me the first person in Jurchen history to do so. Whether or not this country can be defended and its territory expanded is a matter for future generations. My greatest regret is not establishing my own capital. Although I single-handedly built the vast country we know today..." "But where is our capital? None. Huanglong isn't it, nor is the Liao capital, Shangjing. Everyone knows our Jin people's roots are in Huining. I used to think Huining was quite large, but after visiting Huanglong and Shangjing, I realized it's just a village. No wonder the Liao people look down on us; in their eyes, we're just a bunch of savages from the mountains. I'm not reconciled! I want to build a city bigger than the five Liao capitals, to show them the capital of us Jurchens! But fate has other plans; it hasn't given me the time."

Alas, Aguda has truly grown old, becoming like any other old man, prone to rambling. In the past, he wouldn't easily share his thoughts with others, especially such disheartening words.

Tangkuo took Aguda's hand and said, "Your Majesty, don't say such discouraging things. You're still healthy. You've recovered from all those serious illnesses and injuries you've suffered before. In the words of the Han people, you are the true dragon emperor of our Jurchens, protected by Heaven. The ancestors of the Jurchens are also watching over you from above. You'll get through this one too."

"Cough cough,"

perhaps from the night wind, Aguda couldn't help but cough again, spitting out a mouthful of phlegm streaked with blood.

Seeing Aguda cough up blood, Tangkuo quickly said, "Your Majesty is seriously ill. Please rest, lest your condition worsen."

Aguda knew his own condition. He glanced reluctantly at the unfinished palace outside before returning to his room with Tangkuo to rest.

"Clatter clatter clatter,"

just as Aguda took off his clothes and rested, a rapid sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, arriving outside the palace in an instant.

Although Aguda ordered the establishment of etiquette and the construction of palaces, the customs of the Jurchens could not be changed overnight. In case of major events, the Jurchen soldiers were still accustomed to riding straight in on horseback to report to the emperor.

"I wonder what happened. I'll go out and take a look."

Aguda got up, wearing only his shorts, and walked outside.

Seeing this, Tangkuo quickly got up, grabbed his outer garment, and called out, "Your Majesty, put on your clothes."

Aguda turned around, took the outer garment, draped it over his shoulders, and nodded, saying, "Empress

, please rest first. I'll see what's going on, and then I'll rest too." Before Aguda even came out, someone outside called out, "Urgent report from Xingzhong Prefecture! Your Majesty is requested to see me!"

Hearing it was an urgent report from Xingzhong Prefecture, Aguda quickened his pace, opened the door, and saw his fifth brother, Xieye, and fourth brother, Wuqimai, returning with their attendants. He hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Stepping out of the warm bed, Aguda's chest was exposed to the cold wind, and he couldn't help but shiver, but he gritted his teeth and endured it, not showing any signs of illness.

Since he had heavily relied on Yang Pu and no longer allowed the Jurchens to indiscriminately kill other tribes, many Jurchens believed he was too old and incapable of leading the Jurchen tribes. The peace talks with the Liao Kingdom only amplified these voices. Therefore, Aguda did not want them to see him old and weak again.

Because few of the Jurchen high-ranking officials were literate, they rarely wrote memorials or letters, relying instead on their trusted confidants to submit reports using personal items.

The two men showed Aguda their masters' tokens and then complained bitterly, "The Liao Kingdom has made meticulous arrangements, and there has been no major internal rebellion. According to the Emperor's decree, the two Bojilie could only remain inactive, allowing the Celestial Dynasty to take over the Liao Kingdom. The other day, the Celestial Dynasty sent an envoy to Xingzhong Prefecture, demanding that our country, like the Liao Kingdom, submit completely, and giving us only five days to respond. If we don't respond by then, the Celestial Dynasty will send troops to attack."

The Bojilie system was established by Aguda, relying on high-ranking officials at the level of the prime minister to govern the country; all national affairs were handled by the Bojilie.

The Bojilie were five members, arranged in order of rank:

Aguda was the Du Bojilie, i.e., the emperor;

Wuqimai was the Anban Bojilie, the crown prince and successor after Aguda's death;

his cousin, Sagai, was the Guolun Bojilie, equivalent to the prime minister;

his uncle, Cibushi, was the Amai Bojilie, equivalent to the first deputy prime minister;

and his brother, Wanyan Xieye, was the Hao Bojilie, equivalent to the second deputy prime minister.

"What?"

Aguda felt a wave of dizziness and nearly collapsed. He swayed a few times before regaining his balance by leaning on the threshold.

"The Celestial Empire has issued an ultimatum?"

"Yes."

Seeing their confirmation, Aguda could no longer hold on and leaned against the threshold, barely managing to stand, asking, "Anban Bojilie, what do they mean?"

"Anban Bojilie told me to tell you that everyone in Xingzhong Prefecture is willing to fight the Celestial Empire to the death and will never accept their insulting demands."

Aguda sighed and asked, "What are their demands?"

"The Celestial Empire made us wear Hanfu and cut off our queues, saying things like 'Keep your head, lose your queue; keep your queue, lose your head.'"

Chapter 172: The Jurchens' Ferocity

. A few dim lanterns were hung ahead, but Yang Pu and several palace guards, disregarding caution, stumbled forward in the darkness.

The guards carrying the lanterns were only focused on walking quickly, and Yang Pu, unable to see the ground, almost fell, but fortunately, a guard behind him caught him.

Yang Pu patted his chest and asked, "What happened? Why are you in such a hurry to get me to the palace?"

The head guard leading the way turned around and said, "It's not that we want to hide it from you, Lord Yang, but we don't know either. The Emperor's guards only ordered us to bring you to the capital immediately, but they didn't tell us why. Lord Yang, just wait a bit, you'll find out once you're in the palace, won't you?"

Seeing that he couldn't get any answers, Yang Pu had no choice but to silently head towards the palace.

Aguda's palace was newly built, and yesterday he had said it was a bit too spacious, but ironically, today it was insufficient. Several concubines, young and old, stood tearfully by his bedside in the inner room. His untitled lovers, some maids with whom he had fleeting affairs, and a group of immature sons filled the main hall.

When Yang Pu entered the palace and saw this scene, a shadow fell over his heart. He respectfully said, "Yang Pu has come to pay his respects to His Majesty."

"Mr. Yang, please come in quickly, His Majesty is waiting for you."

Normally, Aguda would have personally greeted him and let him in, but today it was a woman's voice, choked with sobs, that came from within.

Yang Pu quickly entered the inner room and saw Aguda lying on the bed, pale-faced with his eyes closed. The concubines before him were all in tears, their faces filled with sorrow.

Yang Pu knelt before the bed and whispered, "Yang Pu pays his respects to His Majesty."

Unconsciously, Yang Pu's voice became much softer, as if Aguda might be frightened to death.

Aguda, hearing that Yang Pu had entered, struggled to open his eyes, his lips trembling as he said, "I'm dying. You must rush to Xingzhong Prefecture tonight and have Anban Bojilie succeed to the throne, assisting him in negotiating peace with the Celestial Dynasty. Unless... absolutely... there's no other way... you absolutely cannot... go... go... go to war."

With that, Aguda's head lolled to the side, and the once-powerful Jurchen man passed away.

"Your Majesty, how could you leave me like this?"

Tangkuo Shi checked Aguda's breath and immediately threw herself upon him, wailing.

The women outside, hearing Tangkuo Shi's wailing, also began to wail, their voices even louder than those of the concubines inside. But how much affection was contained within their cries remained unknown.

As an uncivilized tribe, the Jurchens' funeral practices were also rife with bestiality. Commoners were mostly buried without coffins, reflecting their impoverished circumstances. However, the funerals of the wealthy were extravagantly luxurious and cruel. When their master was buried, the servants he favored and the horses he rode would be burned alive as funerary offerings. Serving others in life was bad enough, but serving them in death was equally cruel.

Relatives attending the funeral would cut their foreheads with sharp blades, their tears flowing freely – a practice known as "sending blood tears." All sacrificial offerings were burned, a practice called "burning food."

After Aguda rose in rebellion, the Jurchens adopted the funerary culture of other ethnic groups, using coffins. Aguda even followed the example of some emperors, building lavish tombs before his death.

Those buried alive were no longer burned alive; instead, for aesthetic reasons, they were poisoned or strangled, their bodies preserved for burial in the tomb.

Dorgon, who later established the Manchu dynasty, had his mother forced to be buried alive by Huang Taiji. Whether this significantly impaired his intelligence, leading him to be led around by an old woman his entire life, remains unknown.

When Aguda dies, many will be buried with him. Some tremble and wail, probably out of fear and worry.

Yang Pu was also in tears, but he didn't think much of himself; instead, he grieved for the death of the man who had appreciated and valued him.

However, he didn't forget Aguda's instructions, and kowtowed several times before leaving.

Soon, several fast horses disappeared into the darkness.

Although Yang Pu could ride a horse, he was no match for those born on horseback. Furthermore, Aguda hadn't deliberately suppressed the news, so the news of Aguda's death spread like wildfire through the servants left behind in various households to Xingzhong Prefecture.

"What?"

Wu Qimai grabbed the family member who had delivered the message, asking menacingly.

The Jurchen man, already exhausted from the journey, blushed instantly when Wu Qimai grabbed him by the collar.

Wu Qimai's fearsome reputation was well-known among the Jurchen people, and this family knew their master's character well. If Aguda was a wild wolf from the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River, then Wu Qimai was a black bear, ready to tear anything in its path, and inherently ferocious, never caring even for the lives of his own flesh and blood.

The family member, clearly terrified, trembled as he said, "The Emperor is dead. He sent Yang Pu to deliver the decree, ordering the master to succeed to the throne. The mistress sent me to inform you."

Wu Qimai released his grip, and the family member, already limp, slid to the ground.

"Did Second Brother have any last instructions before he died?"

The family member cautiously glanced at his now-calm master, puzzled. Aside from the initial shock upon hearing the news, his master seemed completely unaffected by grief.

Perhaps he had long awaited becoming emperor, but if he did, the servants' status would rise accordingly, and he might even become a head of the imperial guards.

"According to the servant San, who was in the room at the time, the Emperor also instructed Yang Pu to assist his master in negotiating peace with the Celestial Dynasty, and not to go to war unless absolutely necessary."

Second brother, you're dead, why did you have to make him hold me back?

Wuqimai shouted outside, "Please have all the generals come here."

Soon, all the Jurchen commanders gathered in the room.

"Walibu, do you know your father has passed away?" Wanyan Zongwang was Aguda's second son. He had followed Aguda in his campaigns since childhood and had repeatedly made great contributions. He was also known as the "Second Prince" by the Song people, and was the Jin army's military genius before the "Fourth Prince" Wuzhu.

Perhaps everyone is more familiar with his other name, Wanyan Zongwang, one of the two commanders of the Jin Dynasty that destroyed the Northern Song Dynasty. He played a decisive role in commanding the eastern army.

However, at this time, he could not yet command independently, and his seniority was not high enough. He could only serve as a deputy commander in the Xieye army.

Several other princes also served in the army. They had long been dealing with various ethnic groups and had some understanding of the succession of the thrones of various countries. In every country, succession is from father to son; it would be hard for them to believe they had no ambitions.

However, the Jurchen custom was that succession was from brother to brother, and Aguda's tribal leadership was inherited after the death of his elder brother, Uyashu. Aguda had also designated his fourth brother, Wuqimai, as his successor early on, extinguishing any remaining illusions. Coupled with their lack of prestige, none of them could gain the support of the various Jurchen tribes.

Wulibu's mother was in the palace at the time, so the news traveled much faster than to Wuqimai's residence outside the palace. Knowing that his greatest supporter was gone and that his uncles would now hold power, he nodded and said, "Nephew understands."

Several generals who hadn't yet received the news gasped in shock. Although they knew Aguda's days were numbered, they hadn't expected him to die so soon.

After a brief commotion, the room quieted down again. Although Wuqimai was ruthless, he wasn't stupid; he knew some things were inappropriate to say.

“Walibu, your mother was by the Emperor’s side at the time, so you must know about the Emperor’s will. Tell everyone about it.”

“Yes, my mother was with my father at the time, and she heard all his instructions by ear. Before my second brother died, he instructed Yang Pu to come and let me succeed him, and at the same time, he also conveyed a message: my fourth uncle will succeed to the throne as the Emperor of the Great Jin, and Yang Pu will assist my fourth uncle in negotiating peace with the Celestial Dynasty. We must not go to war unless absolutely necessary.”

Everyone was not surprised by Wu Qimai’s succession, but when they heard that they were not allowed to go to war with the Celestial Dynasty, they immediately erupted in uproar again.

“We are not allowed to go to war with the Jin people? Isn’t that like making us cut off our queues? I would rather fight the

Celestial Dynasty to the death than cut off my queue.” There were many fearless generals in the Jin Kingdom, but there were very few people with good minds, and for a time, voices of opposition arose.

Seeing this, Wuli hurriedly said, "It's not that war is forbidden, but it should only be fought as a last resort. In other words, if the Celestial Empire crosses our bottom line, war is still possible."

"I don't care about any bottom line,"

Wuqimai waved to stop the argument, "No one can make me cut off my queue! Besides, this Great Jin dynasty was won by us with our own blood and sweat; we absolutely cannot give it away to the Han people for nothing!" He continued, "These past two days, I've also tested the Celestial Empire's envoys. They're as arrogant as if they have their eyes on the top of their heads; they don't even respect me, Anban

Bojilie. As for the terms of peace talks, there's no need to discuss them: the entire nation must submit, queues must be cut off, our slaves and property must be confiscated—not a single thing can be lost. What bottom line do we have?" Actually, Wuqimai's words were somewhat exaggerated. Zhang Yang wanted to force the Jurchens to resist, but he wasn't entirely without options; he only wanted them to liberate the Han and Khitan slaves. If they truly surrendered, Zhang Yang might have no choice but to accept it.

"What a load of rubbish! He doesn't even respect my fourth uncle! I'll go chop off his dog's head right now!" shouted Eluguan, Wulibu's half-brother.

Several high-ranking officials seemed unwilling to relinquish their power, and no one stopped him.

Seeing that Wuqimai's attitude was clear, Wulibu didn't dare to stop him anymore.

Chapter 173 The Jurchens Seek Death

In one day, the entire city of Xingzhong Prefecture was in mourning, and defenses were greatly strengthened.

Aguda's death, apart from bringing some sadness and fear of death to the elders, had no impact on the various Jurchen tribes. The young Jurchen soldiers were probably more secretly pleased. In their eyes, Aguda was too old to fight anymore. Only the young and powerful Wuqimai could lead them to continue conquering and plundering more slaves, women, and wealth.

Yang Pu was ultimately a scholar by birth. Although he was born outside the Great Wall and had to ride horses, the all-night gallop was still too much for him. In the end, he could only tie himself to his horse and let the warhorse run alongside the guards' horses.

The wind seemed sharper than before, stinging his face with a burning pain.

Although it was still late summer, he felt as if the sun was shrouded in a misty veil, its light faint and devoid of warmth. The gray clouds moved sluggishly and heavily, as if the sky of the Great Jin Dynasty had collapsed.

Because Wu Qimai's army frequently trained and rode horses outside the city, the wild grass and trees were withered and broken, their leaves dragging weakly, their withered leaves already showing the yellow of autumn, growing more bare each day. The distant mountains resembled the remnants of a fire, scorched here, rotten there. Everything had changed color, taking on a haggard and sorrowful appearance.

When Yang Pu arrived at Xingzhong Prefecture, seeing the white flags on the city walls, he knew the news of the emperor's death had arrived before him. However, he was unaware that an even greater surprise awaited him.

Yang Pu entered Wu Qimai's residence. To his surprise, he found that all the influential Jurchen generals were already waiting in the hall, as if they were specifically waiting for him.

Things were indeed as he had expected. Even when he was still dozens of miles from the city, Wu Qimai had already tracked his movements, but he hadn't sent anyone to greet him.

Dressed in mourning clothes, Wu Qimai waited for Yang Pu to enter before rising and saying, "We all know of my second brother's unfortunate passing. Lord Yang, you've had a long and arduous journey. I've already arranged accommodations for you; please go and rest. We can discuss anything later tonight."

Upon hearing this, Yang Pu hurriedly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Anbanbojilie. I can manage. However, time is running out due to the Celestial Empire's constraints; it would be best if we negotiated with them as soon as possible."

Wu Qimai had originally only intended to send Yang Pu away, but he hadn't expected him to be so ungrateful. Before, with Aguda around, he had shown Yang Pu some leniency; now, although he hadn't officially ascended the throne, he was the emperor of the Jin Dynasty, and naturally, he had no more reservations about Yang Pu.

Having figured this out, he said, "We've already taken care of the Celestial Empire's envoy; you don't need to trouble yourself, Lord Yang."

Yang Pu, upon hearing this, exclaimed in surprise, "Taken care of? How?"

Eru Guan, standing nearby, made a throat-cutting gesture and laughed, "Of course, we beheaded him. How else could we take care of him?"

Eru Guan was Aguda's eighth son, born to the Heshilie clan, and the younger brother of Wanyan Zongwang Wulibu. He was a burly man, but also cruel and bloodthirsty by nature. Although Aguda's son, he was closer to Wuqimai and was one of Wuqimai's trusted subordinates.

Yang Pu, already weak from days of travel, was so frightened by this news that he collapsed to the ground.

Eru Guan, seeing Yang Pu's reaction... He burst into laughter, "Lord Yang is too cowardly. He's scared like this just because a few people were killed."

Wanyan Zongwang Wulibusu, respecting Yang Pu's wit, helped him up and scolded his brother, "Eluguan mustn't be disrespectful to Mr. Yang."

Yang Pu stood up and couldn't help but sigh, "You were too reckless. The Celestial Empire wasn't really interested in peace talks to begin with, and now you've killed the Celestial Empire's envoy. What are we going to do now?"

Although Eluguan was the one who killed them, it was with Wuqimai's consent. Yang Pu's criticism of their recklessness naturally included Wuqimai as well.

Wuqimai had just ascended the throne and wanted to demonstrate his power through this incident; naturally, he wouldn't admit he was wrong.

"The Celestial Empire never wanted peace talks in the first place. How could we agree to such conditions? The Khitans can wear Khitan clothes, so why can't we? They never intended to talk to us. Even if we submit, what good will come of it?"

Not only did they not understand why Zhang Yang didn't treat them the same as the Khitans, but the entire Celestial Empire was also baffled by Zhang Yang's harsh demands. The Khitans, of course, did not want to accept the Jurchens' surrender. After all, the Jurchens had slaughtered countless of their people and brought shame upon the Khitan cavalry. If they couldn't defeat them on the battlefield, their shame would never be washed away.

The Khitans all thought Zhang Yang was being considerate of their feelings, hence his reluctance to accept the Jurchens' surrender. After all, although the Liao Dynasty had fallen, the Khitans still numbered in the millions, and their cavalry numbered in the hundreds of thousands. The entire Jurchen population was only tens of thousands, insignificant compared to them. Many in the Celestial Empire shared this view.

However, what they didn't know was that Zhang Yang's prejudice against the Jurchens was a product of later generations.

Keeping their heads but not their queues is merely an act of repaying them in kind.

The matter is now irreversible; those who have been killed cannot be brought back to life. The only hopeful solution is to send their killers to the Celestial Empire, perhaps allowing them to resume peace talks. However, Eru Guan is Aguda's son, and Aguda had shown him great favor. Aguda has just died; if Yang Pu were to send his son to the Celestial Empire to his death, Aguda would likely die with resentment. Even if Yang Pu were acting for the Jin Dynasty, few would support him.

Yang Pu knew that Wu Qimai had never taken him seriously before, and now that Wu Qimai was in charge, he would be even less likely to respect him. Eru Guan was his confidant; without Yang Pu's approval, Eru Guan wouldn't have dared to kill the Celestial Empire's envoy. Even if Yang Pu proposed this solution, Wu Qimai would likely refuse.

Sending someone else to the Celestial Empire wouldn't work either, but Wu Qimai and his men would certainly not admit their mistakes, and bringing it up would only cause further unhappiness. Yang Pu was intelligent and not a pedantic person. He would not do things that were thankless and difficult. The only chance for peace talks between the Jin Dynasty and the Celestial Empire ended with his abandonment.

However, based on Zhang Yang's impression of the Jurchens, even if he were to send Wuqimai to them, he might not be willing to give them another chance for peace talks.

Yang Pu thought for a moment and said, "Since we have killed the Celestial Empire

's envoy, it seems we have no choice but to fight the Celestial Empire. I wonder how Your Majesty plans to deal with the Celestial Empire's offensive?" Yang Pu seemed to have completely grasped the situation, and Wuqimai had gone from being an envoy to the emperor. Aguda's dying words had been forgotten, and he was only thinking about how to please the emperor before him.

Wuqimai still valued Yang Pu's wisdom, but he was not interested in his etiquette and benevolence. Seeing his loyalty, he was pleased and said, "The Celestial Dynasty is mostly composed of infantry; how can they withstand the charge of our Great Jin army? The Khitan cavalry has long since become a paper tiger, easily broken. Even if they were all tied together, they wouldn't be a match for us. If they dare to come, we'll show them our might outside Xingzhong Prefecture."

Although Yang Pu appeared to have sided with Wu Qimai, he actually knew that Wu Qimai and others had already decided to fight the Celestial Dynasty, and his opposition was futile. He might even lose his official position and have no say in the affairs of the Jin Dynasty.

His allegiance to Wu Qimai was merely a roundabout way to preserve the empire conquered by Aguda. Otherwise, he could have simply abandoned the cause or even sided with the Celestial Dynasty, which would have ensured his continued wealth and honor.

"Your Majesty must not underestimate the enemy. The Celestial Empire has been able to sweep across several countries in just one year; it must have its strengths. Moreover, the Khitan elite cavalry recently assembled by Yelü Dashi has been defeated by our Jurchen cavalry. We must plan carefully."

Elu Guan said in a rough voice, "What is there to plan? Yelü Dashi's Khitan elite cavalry has already been mostly wiped out by us. Even if some remain, they can no longer stop our Jurchen iron cavalry. Right now, Xingzhong Prefecture alone has 30,000 Jurchen iron cavalry. As for those Han people, they are only good at showing off in the Central Plains. Once they reach the border, it will be time for them to cry for their parents."

Seeing that they were all so optimistic, Yang Pu couldn't help but shake his head and say, "Yelü Dashi's Khitan elite cavalry probably still has more than half remaining. Even if the Han people fight in the field ..." "No, but there are still the steppe wolf cavalry. Their ferocity must be guarded against."

Xie Ye reported the credit for eliminating Yelü Dashi's elite Khitan cavalry. Seeing Yang Pu's suspicion, he stood up and said, "Lord Yang, do you suspect me of claiming credit for something I didn't do?" Xie Ye

held a high position and great power,

and Yang Pu didn't want to offend him. Hearing this, he quickly said, "I just think we should be careful, I have no other intentions." Wu Qimai interjected, "The steppe wolf cavalry are still on the steppe. We can detect any unusual activity from them. If we can defeat the Heavenly Dynasty and the Khitan forces first, the steppe wolf cavalry will retreat. Given their wolfish nature, they might even turn around and attack us. Then the Heavenly Dynasty will be in trouble. We have already agreed on this matter. Let's just wait for the Heavenly Dynasty to come and die."

Hearing this, Yang Pu could only shake his head secretly.

Chapter 174 Yue Fei's First Merit

Zhang Yang lingered briefly in Xijin Prefecture before leading his army straight to the Liao Kingdom's Zhongjing Dading Prefecture. Zhongjing Dading Prefecture held the majority of the Liao army. If a rebellion broke out there, or if troops defected to the Jin Dynasty, it would have a significant impact on the overall situation.

Fortunately, Yelü Dashi enjoyed high prestige in the army and successfully regained military command upon arriving in Dading Prefecture.

Zhang Yang rewarded the various armies in Zhongjing and then issued an ultimatum to the Jin Dynasty.

Early on the sixth day, generals from various ethnic groups of the Celestial Empire gathered at the imperial palace in Dading Prefecture, preparing to secure positions in the potential war.

The Khitans were waiting for revenge, while the Hedong troops of the Celestial Empire were waiting to achieve further merit. After the unification of the Central Plains, all armies had distinguished themselves in the southern and western campaigns, but the Hedong troops, guarding the border, had gained no merit. The Liao Dynasty, already terrified of being attacked, was happy that the Celestial Empire didn't come knocking on their door. They dared not launch another invasion, and even the previous frequent raids on their garrisons had ceased, leaving the Hedong troops without a pretext for attack. They had finally hoped for a northward advance, only to find the Liao Kingdom had surrendered entirely, leaving them with no chance to fire an arrow or earn any military merit. With only the Jin Kingdom remaining as a potential threat to the north, they were desperately hoping for a stronger stance.

Soldiers only proved their worth on the battlefield.

While awaiting news, Zhang Yang discussed the various military exercises with his officers, each confidently stating that the army would march forth and annihilate the enemy at the Emperor's command.

Amidst their conversation, Yelü Dashi strode in. Yelü Dashi was still in charge of the defense of Zhongjing Dading Prefecture and the front lines.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Yang frowned, "five days have passed, but our envoys have vanished without a trace. Until yesterday, they hadn't left Xingzhong Prefecture. However, the defenses of Xingzhong Prefecture were suddenly strengthened two days ago."

Could the Jurchens dare to detain their envoys?

"Send men to inquire in Xingzhong Prefecture. If our envoy is not seen within a day, our army will march on Xingzhong Prefecture."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became eager for battle.

The following evening, while Zhang Yang was having a drink with Yang Zhi, Yelü Dashi rushed into the palace seeking an audience.

Zhang Yang, seeing the hint of excitement in Yelü Dashi's eyes, smiled and asked, "Dashi, is there some good news?"

Yelü Dashi was taken aback. The start of war was good for him, but not necessarily for Zhang Yang. He had spent half a day outside the door trying to compose himself, but Zhang Yang still saw through him as soon as he entered. It seemed he was not suited to be a politician after all.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. This humble general has failed to bring you good news. Yesterday, I was ordered to send men to Xingzhong Prefecture to investigate. Unexpectedly, the Jin Kingdom actually cut off the ears of the men I sent and drove them back, claiming that the envoy had already been killed, and that if any of our troops dared to go to Xingzhong Prefecture, they would kill them all."

"Good!"

Zhang Yang slammed his hand on the table and shouted, seemingly with a hint of joy.

Yelü Dashi was somewhat bewildered by Zhang Yang's applause.

Personally, Zhang Yang still hoped to annihilate the Jurchen people, but now he was emperor and couldn't indulge his personal desires. War always meant death, and he couldn't allow countless soldiers to risk their lives for his own selfish reasons. Therefore, he sent an envoy, but the prejudices of later generations prevented him from easily accepting the Jurchens, leading him to demand that they keep their heads but not their queues.

Deep down, he hoped the Jin Dynasty would refuse peace talks, allowing him to wipe out the Jurchens in one fell swoop.

Yang Zhi, assuming Zhang Yang was merely laughing in anger, didn't sense anything amiss and rose, saying, "How audacious the Jurchens are! They dare to kill an envoy from our superior nation! Please, Your Majesty, issue the order! This humble subject is willing to lead a detachment to pacify the Jin Dynasty."

"The Jin Dynasty still possesses considerable military strength. A detachment may not be effective. Let's go to the main hall to discuss this."

Although Zhang Yang wanted to annihilate the Jin Dynasty, he dared not be careless; the Jurchens' military strength was undeniable. Especially now that they have just emerged from the deep mountains and forests, although they have become somewhat corrupted, their wild nature has not been completely lost. If they are careless, they may very well suffer a Waterloo.

As Zhang Yang walked, he said to Yang Zhi's personal guards who had been temporarily summoned, "Order the generals of all departments to come to the palace for a meeting."

Soon, a large map of Liao and Jin was hung in the palace.

When Zhang Yang and the others arrived, they said, "Da Shi has fought many battles with the Jin Dynasty. Please tell us about the Jin Dynasty." "

When the Jurchen Wanyan tribe first rose up, their main force numbered only 2,500. However, through the annexation of other Jurchen tribes, their military strength greatly increased. By the time they reached Hubudagang, they had 20,000 Jurchen soldiers. Afterwards, they began their westward advance, conquering many places. With each conquest, they greatly expanded their army, and now the entire nation has no fewer than 150,000 troops. All the generals and officers are Jurchens, and the Jurchen rule is that if a Jurchen general dies in battle, all his soldiers will be executed. Therefore, soldiers from all ethnic groups will do their utmost to protect their Jurchen commanders on the battlefield, while the Jurchens themselves charge forward relentlessly. Thus, their fighting strength is not weak. However, their most formidable force is the Jurchen cavalry. According to our scouts, the Jurchen cavalry in Xingzhong Prefecture number no less than 30,000, and there are also 70,000 to 80,000 mixed troops from various ethnic groups. If we can completely annihilate the Xingzhong Prefecture army, the Jin Dynasty will have no more troops to fight."

"Though the enemy is weak, we must fight with all our might. Leave 20,000 men to garrison Dading Prefecture, and the rest will accompany me on my personal campaign to Xingzhong Prefecture. Also, order Hua Rong to lead his steppe wolf cavalry directly to the Jin capital, Huining, so that the Jin army cannot defend itself from both ends."

Zhang Yang set the tone, and the only thing left for everyone to fight for was the right to participate in the battle. They didn't want to stay in Dading Prefecture to defend the city, envious of others' military achievements after the battle. Those who had just surrendered also wanted to take the opportunity to prove their loyalty.

Yelü Dashi was the first to step forward, saying, "My troops are familiar with the Jurchen army; I request to be the vanguard."

Following him, everyone else rushed to join the battle. To satisfy the Khitan's demand for revenge, Zhang Yang left two 10,000-strong units from Hedong to garrison Dading Prefecture, while the rest of the army marched towards Xingzhong Prefecture. Vanguard General Yelü Dashi led 100,000 Khitan troops, Central Army Commander Zhang Yang led 30,000 troops under Lu Junyi and Xi troops, and Rear Army General Yang Zhi commanded 50,000 troops.

After the three armies were assembled, Yelü Dashi said, "Although the Jurchen soldiers are fierce and brave, they are inherently cruel and hated both domestically and internationally. They are destined to be defeated. Most of the soldiers in our country are kind, poor people, driven by hunger and cold, who were coerced into joining us. Perhaps I could act according to circumstances, pacifying those ignorant and coerced rebels, and bringing those who were forced to surrender to us for border defense.

I hope you will issue an order." Zhang Yang nodded and said, "The Jurchens killing our envoy is an unforgivable crime; they must be exterminated. Those other tribes who are willing to surrender can be recruited and their past transgressions forgiven."

The next day, the army marched towards Xingzhong Prefecture.

On this day, as the army was marching, a cloud of dust rose from their flank.

Lu Junyi quickly ordered Yue Fei to lead his troops to investigate.

Although Yue Fei possessed numerous strategies and had Lu Junyi's support, the border was peaceful, and he had only risen to the rank of centurion. He had come with the intention of achieving merit, and immediately led a thousand elite soldiers on their way.

Upon closer inspection, they found several hundred Jin soldiers, who had somehow bypassed the vanguard to attack the central army.

Yue Fei's troops were also cavalry. Seeing that the Jin soldiers were already somewhat exhausted, he charged into the enemy ranks before they could even establish a foothold, wielding his eighteen-foot spear.

His soldiers followed closely behind.

The attacking Jin general was Elu Guan, who had bypassed the vanguard to launch a surprise attack on the central army, intending to intimidate the Heavenly Dynasty forces. If he could even assassinate the Heavenly Emperor, that would be even better.

Seeing the Heavenly Army send out a thousand Han soldiers, Elu Guan raised his double hammers, about to question them, when Yue Fei, horse and all, had already charged in. With a flick of his spear, he deflected Elu Guan's double hammers. Yue Fei, seizing the opportunity, raised his spear and instantly knocked Elu Guan off his horse.

His well-trained troops arrived one after another, their hard-earned skills finally coming in handy. They held their own against the fierce Jin soldiers, and in a single encounter, the Jin soldiers fell from their horses one after another.

Seeing their commander dead and their soldiers wounded and killed, the Jin army's morale collapsed. With the Heavenly Dynasty's central army behind them, the Jin soldiers dared not linger! Terrified, they fled back the way they came.

Yue Fei, wanting to achieve a complete victory in his first battle, shouted and led his troops in pursuit. After only a few miles, they encountered a second wave of Jin soldiers.

The Jin soldiers had just reined in their horses, preparing to form ranks and charge, when Yue Fei and his men charged in, routing them once more. They captured the Jin's large white banner and killed several enemy generals. His officers and soldiers rushed forward, shouting and fighting, inflicting a crushing defeat on the Jin army.

Two groups of Jin soldiers, intending to harass the central army, were completely defeated by Yue Fei before they even reached it.

Chapter 175 Yue Fei Meets the Emperor.

Zhang Yang also saw the dust on the flank and summoned Lu Junyi, asking, "What happened?"

Lu Junyi smiled and said, "Two groups of Jin soldiers bypassed the vanguard, intending to harass the central army, but most of them have been annihilated by our troops. Only about five hundred escaped."

"Oh? The Jin soldiers are very strong. I think I only saw one thousand-man unit go out just now. To defeat the Jin with fewer troops is truly remarkable. Summon that centurion; I want to see him."

Lu Junyi was overjoyed to hear that the Emperor wanted to see his junior brother and quickly ordered his personal guards to summon Yue Fei.

Soon, a handsome and strong young general arrived before the Emperor with the messenger.

Everyone was astonished to see that the newcomer was only eighteen or nineteen years old.

The position of centurion, while not high-ranking, held real power in the army, and daily training often involved units of a thousand men. Moreover, a ten-thousand-strong unit only has one pure cavalry thousand-man unit, whose rank is undoubtedly the first thousand-man commander below the ten-thousand-man commander. This position is usually held by seasoned veterans, possessing both wisdom and courage; a young man like this is rare.

Zhang Yang, however, knew the principle of not judging a book by its cover, and this battle victory also showed that Lu Junyi had a good eye for talent.

Yue Fei, not expecting to be summoned by the Emperor, excitedly rode with his senior brother's personal guards. Upon seeing the Emperor in his yellow robes, he lowered his head slightly, not daring to look directly at him.

Martial artists value composure, and Yue Fei was confident he could remain unfazed even facing swords and spears. But at this moment, he felt his mouth was dry, and his heart was pounding uncontrollably. He forced himself to complete the military salute, then stood tall and solemnly, awaiting the Emperor's question.

Zhang Yang looked at Yue Fei with slightly lowered eyes. But sitting upright on his horse, he nodded and asked, "What's your name?"

"Your Majesty, this humble general is Yue Fei of Xiangzhou

..." Yue Fei? Lu Junyi and Lin Chong are your senior brothers? Zhang Yang's voice held a hint of surprise.

Those around him, upon hearing this, suddenly realized, "So this is Lu Junyi, my junior brother! No wonder he holds such a position at such a young age.

" Yue Fei never mentioned being the junior brother of two great generals in the army, as that would be seen as abusing his power. But when the Emperor asked, he had no choice but to answer truthfully: "Yes, we are all disciples of Master Zhou Tong."

Zhang Yang knew this renowned general would always shine brightly, but he hadn't expected him to rise to prominence so quickly.

"One master, three outstanding disciples—Master Zhou's teaching is truly effective. This campaign against the Jin has been a resounding success; you deserve the greatest credit. I will personally award you a second-class merit. Further rewards will be discussed after the war." Yue

Fei knew the value of military merit. He had initially thought a third-class merit would be good enough, but he was surprised to receive a second-class merit. He quickly saluted and thanked the emperor for his grace.

Those around him knew that this second-class merit was not undeserved. Firstly, this was the first battle, of great significance. Secondly, the Jin army had bypassed the vanguard, undoubtedly to intimidate the main force; their commanders must have been powerful and valiant Jin soldiers. Yue Fei's victory over them was truly remarkable.

Seeing that Yue Fei still dared not look up at him, Zhang Yang smiled and said, "Now my rewards are complete. You may look up. Don't you want to see me with your own eyes?"

"This humble general dares not!"

Yue Fei saluted again and answered loudly.

"I and your two senior brothers are like brothers, what are you afraid of! You haven't even seen me in person before the emperor; it will be difficult to explain when you return."

Zhang Yang's voice softened, his tone slightly joking as he commanded.

"This humble general obeys the decree!" Yue Fei gritted his teeth and forced his head up to look ahead.

"What's meant to be will be," he silently murmured to himself. His gaze met the arrogant eyes of the man in the painting, then lowered again, settling on the man's face.

Handsome. As handsome as in the portrait, only seemingly too approachable. His warm smile was like that of a friend, completely different from the imposing figure in the painting and the overbearing figure in legends.

His Majesty the Emperor is the chosen one of Heaven, born at the right time, bestowing blessings upon all people. To even catch a glimpse of him is an extraordinary blessing. Even high-ranking officials cannot see the Emperor every day. As for military generals who lead armies into battle, though they appear imposing and powerful outside, they only have the opportunity to attend court once every three days after returning to the capital. Based on the number of times they meet the Emperor each month, officials are automatically categorized into three-tiered officials, six-tiered officials, and nine-tiered officials. As for ordinary soldiers, like junior officers such as Yue Fei, they would never have the chance to see the Emperor's face so closely in their entire lives unless the Emperor personally led an expedition.

Yue Fei cherished this opportunity but knew not to be presumptuous. He glanced at him and then lowered his head again.

Zhang Yang was fairly satisfied with Yue Fei's performance. Since ascending the throne, he had received many low-ranking officials, military generals, and the sons and nephews of officials. Some of them bowed and scraped upon entering, too frightened to even breathe; others deliberately feigned a carefree and fearless demeanor, behaving rudely. Zhang Yang had never encountered a young man like Yue Fei, who spoke with such trepidation yet stood ramrod straight.

Zhang Yang jokingly asked Yue Fei, "You come from a prestigious family, so your martial arts must be superb. How many Jin generals can you defeat?"

Yue Fei thought for a moment and replied, "Courage alone is insufficient. In warfare, strategy is paramount; strategy is the key to victory or defeat. Therefore, the way of a general is not to worry about a lack of courage, but about a lack of strategy. Those who command armies today all claim their strength is enough to conquer the three armies, yet before battle, they have no definite plan; after battle, they have no achievements to be made. Therefore, the best strategy is to attack

the enemy's plans, the next best is to disrupt their alliances." Upon hearing this, Lu Junyi couldn't help but worry for Yue Fei. The old men of Liangshan were now mostly powerful generals in the army, believing primarily in absolute force; those possessing both wisdom and courage were rare. The battlefield was a direct confrontation. The Emperor was even more invincible, having personally killed enemy generals on numerous occasions. Yue Fei's words were indeed somewhat disparaging of the Emperor.

Zhang Yang also admired those who could employ unconventional tactics, but few were like those from Liangshan. Given his own exceptional skills, he naturally wouldn't stray from the obvious.

Knowing that the historical Yue Fei was a brilliant general skilled in both literature and martial arts, Zhang Yang smiled and asked, "What books do you enjoy reading in your spare time?"

"In my leisure time, I like to read Zuo Qiuming and Sun Tzu's Art of War,"

Yue Fei replied. Zhang Yang nodded, "Excellent. True generalship lies in both literary and martial prowess. I hereby bestow this hundred-refined sword upon you, hoping you will use it to achieve further merit."

With that, he took the hundred-refined sword from his waist and tossed it to Yue Fei.

Amidst the envious gazes of the crowd, Yue Fei respectfully accepted the sword with both hands and bowed again in gratitude

for the emperor's favor. The sharpness of the imperial-bestowed sword was already widely known in the army, but only a few generals possessed it, and they rarely had the opportunity to use it to behead enemies. In the army, this sword represented a form of respect, signifying that military achievements had been recognized and remembered by the emperor. Those who wielded this sword would have a far greater chance of promotion than their colleagues.

"Do your best, I have high hopes for you!"

Just as Yue Fei bowed again in gratitude, Zhang Yang rode forward, patted him on the shoulder, and encouraged him.

"This humble general will go through fire and water, even unto death!"

Yue Fei heard his own tone change. He couldn't suppress the excitement from the depths of his heart. The history books he had read told him that the worst thing for a military general was not being appreciated by the emperor. Throughout history, countless heroes had been buried in waiting, his master Zhou Tong being one such example. But Heaven had been so kind to him; at just nineteen years old, he had encountered a great emperor with discerning eyes.

"I hope to see another miracle!"

Zhang Yang smiled and spurred his horse forward.

Chapter 176 The Legend of the Spy

"Elu Guan and Wodai are both dead?"

Wu Qimaihuo stood up, asking in surprise. To the people of the Central Plains, the mission to launch a surprise attack on the Celestial Empire's central army was undoubtedly suicidal. However, to the Jurchens, who had rarely encountered an adversary since the founding of their nation, this mission was not necessarily so terrifying. At most, it was a matter of life and death. Eruguan and Wodai were among the few fierce generals in the Jurchens, and they also had the advantage of terrain. Giving the Celestial Emperor a show of force would greatly increase their chances of survival. As for how many of the two thousand soldiers they could bring back, that was not within their consideration. The Jurchen nobles, both high and low, were also shocked by this unexpected news. They had gathered here today to await good news from the front lines and to discuss how to exploit the weaknesses exposed by the Celestial army. In their view, Eruguan and Wodai could disrupt the Celestial Empire's central army's formation, creating an opportunity for them to launch an attack, or even to kill the Celestial Emperor unexpectedly, thus causing the Celestial army to be defeated without a fight. But unexpectedly, what they received was this news. Wu Qimai seemed to realize his lapse in composure and sat down, feigning calmness, asking, "What results have you achieved?"

A centurion who had managed to escape hung his head and said, "We hadn't even seen the central army of the Celestial Empire when we were defeated by a Celestial Empire cavalry force."

Wu Qimai asked suspiciously, "How many of them were there?"

The centurion thought of the strict military law but dared not lie, saying, "It should have been no less than a thousand cavalry."

Upon hearing this, Xie Ye couldn't help but jump out and shout, "When did our elite Jurchen cavalry become unable to defeat Han cavalry even in a two-on-one fight?"

Meeting Xie Ye's cold gaze, the centurion quickly said, "Although the Han cavalry was few, the Han barbarians leading the troops were formidable. They killed Elu Guan and General Wodai with a single spear thrust. The Han barbarians' swords were also extremely sharp; our armor couldn't withstand them."

As he spoke, the centurion who had escaped pointed to a clean cut on his chest and said, "I was also slashed and nearly died."

The Jurchen generals gathered around and looked at the clean cut, all somewhat horrified. Although the armor of the Jurchens wasn't the strongest, it wasn't bad either. Judging from the break, it was probably useless against the weapons of the Celestial Empire. The Jurchen cavalry charged into battle with overwhelming force, relying not only on their bravery but also on their heavy armor. After the founding of the dynasty, these Jurchen generals plundered countless jewels and women, naturally becoming more protective of their lives and losing their former ferocity. Fortunately, they were protected by their strong armor. They weren't so afraid of charging into battle, but now, suddenly finding themselves without their support, they panicked. An old general exclaimed, "It seems the weapons the Celestial Empire sold us were all inferior. I told you before that these Han barbarians were treacherous and we shouldn't do business with them, but you wouldn't listen. What are we going to do now?"

Yang Pu shook his head inwardly upon hearing this. Everyone knew the Celestial Empire wouldn't sell them their best weapons, but they had tried the weapons the Celestial Empire sold abroad before. They were indeed better than those forged by the Liao and Jin dynasties, which was why they bought them. Without the weapons of the Celestial Empire, their weaponry gap would likely be even greater. The Jurchen people were generally boorish, and one man's words immediately drew a chorus of agreement from the veteran generals. However, Wanyan Zongwang, the Wanyan general, said, "The Han people may have powerful weapons, but they are weak at heart. How can they withstand our army? Give me ten thousand of my tribe's iron cavalry, and I will bring back the head of the Celestial Empire's emperor."

Other younger generals also volunteered for battle. Wuqimai, seeing the two diametrically opposed factions, was somewhat at a loss. Thinking of his elder brother Aguda's discussions during his lifetime, he turned to Yang Pu and said, "What are your thoughts, Mr. Yang?"

The noisy Jurchen generals, seeing Wuqimai speak, fell silent and looked at Yang Pu, many exchanging knowing glances. Yang Pu, feigning deep thought to avoid their gaze, pondered for a moment and said, "I believe we should not hastily send out troops..."

Pushing the cart, Wu Da glanced at the back wall of the hall a dozen steps away, a flicker of madness flashing in his eyes. But this madness was fleeting. Wu Da quickly reverted to his honest, unassuming demeanor. If a modern person saw him, many would guess his identity: a secret agent. Wu Da was an outstanding intelligence officer trained by Dai Zong using the methods described by Zhang Yang. This infiltration of Xingzhong Prefecture was to execute a top-level intelligence plan. If successful, the intelligence department would gain the greatest credit for destroying the Jin dynasty, and he would become a legend, though it would cost him his life. But as long as he could be remembered in history, he felt it was all worth it. After several days of reconnaissance, Wu Da had already figured out the layout of the commander's office. Xingzhong Prefecture was originally just a small prefecture of the Liao dynasty, with no large courtyards. The Jin dynasty commander's office was the original government office, but compared to the mansions of the Central Plains, its scale was not large at all. Wu Da stared directly at a door ahead, feigning fear and avoiding looking at the vigilant Jurchen guards, and quickly walked towards the door. "Why are you coming this way? Go through the back..."

The Jurchen guard on guard duty saw a Han Chinese man pushing a cart of vegetables, seemingly trying to pass through the east door of the hall. That way he would reach the back wall of the hall. Although it didn't seem dangerous, he still stepped forward and questioned him in broken Chinese. Wu Da trembled, looking at the Jurchen guard with "fear," and said in a trembling voice, "Qiao Fu's cart broke down, blocking the back door. The cooks are in a hurry for the vegetables, so they told me to go through here."

The Jurchen guard roughly understood Wu Da's words. Although they didn't know who Qiao Fu was, they guessed he was also delivering vegetables. There were no doors or windows in the back wall, so they weren't worried that he might suddenly barge in and injure the officials in the meeting. They were only standing there as a precaution. In their view, separated by a wall, Wu Da posed no threat to the people inside the hall. Although they knew that the Celestial Empire's gunpowder cannons could split mountains and shatter rocks, in their minds only catapults could launch gunpowder cannons. The Jurchen guard waved his hand, feigning generosity, and said, "Go, don't linger."

Wu Da thanked the Jurchen guard with trepidation, then pushed the cart towards the other passage. On the way, he suddenly charged towards the guards in the hall. Seeing this, the guards on both sides shouted and drew their swords to attack. Wu Da gave the approaching guard a strange smile, pulled a few vegetables from the cart, and chopped them down with his palm. The approaching Jurchen guard heard the sound of a clay pot shattering from the cart. Startled, he felt a powerful force from the cart, a sharp pain, and then lost consciousness. With a loud bang, the council hall was almost completely leveled. Soon, news that almost all of the Jin high-ranking officials had been killed in the explosion spread throughout Xingzhong Prefecture.

Chapter 177: The Jurchen Choice.

The reason was quite simple: Wu Da's cart contained hundreds of kilograms of gunpowder, and hidden among the vegetables was a clay pot containing burning charcoal. The vegetables insulated the scorching clay pot and gunpowder, but once removed and the pot broken, the terrifying gunpowder cart would undoubtedly be a deadly weapon. Although the Jin Kingdom had heard of the Celestial Empire's powerful gunpowder weapons, their defenses were limited to the battlefield; no one could imagine that gunpowder could be linked to assassination. The clash between millennia of defense and weaponry was a foregone conclusion. With a deafening roar, the council hall was instantly razed to the ground, and Wu Da, bearing the brunt of the attack, was reduced to dust, leaving behind a legend. The entire Xingzhong Prefecture trembled under the gunpowder's influence. Hearing the explosion from the commander's residence, the patrolling Jurchen soldiers rushed to the scene. Soon, bodies mangled beyond recognition, missing limbs and other debris, were unearthed. The emperor is dead… Anban Bojilie, the heir to the throne, equivalent to Crown Prince Xie, is also dead… Guolun Bojilie, equivalent to Prime Minister Sagai, is dead… Amai Bojilie, equivalent to First Vice Prime Minister Cibushi, is dead… The duty officer, Mouke, looking at the corpses being unearthed, felt as if the sky had fallen on the Great Jin. If all those in charge of the Great Jin were dead, he couldn't imagine what would happen next. The Celestial Empire's massive army was pressing in, and almost all the generals had been wiped out. Although the Jurchen cavalry were fierce, they were

like a pack of wolves without a leader, and he knew they couldn't resist the Celestial Empire's army. But whether to fight or defend, or to flee, was not his decision. "Dig faster, search carefully to see which general is still alive?" the duty officer shouted, hoping to find a surviving person to take charge. "General Wanyan Zongwang, Wulibu, is still alive."

Finally, a soldier found a survivor, thanks to the duty officer's prayers. Upon hearing this, the duty officer rode over and personally led the soldiers to carefully dig out Wulibu. It was no accident that Wulibu had escaped this calamity. Wanyan Wulibu was naturally fond of martial arts and always wore armor. The sturdy armor protected him. Since his rank was still low and he was positioned towards the back, he was only seriously injured by falling rocks and knocked unconscious. Although the Jurchen soldiers were careful, they inevitably touched Wanyan Wulibu's wounds. Awakened by the intense pain, Wanyan Wulibu felt as if all his bones were shattered. Recalling the loud bang he had heard before being injured, he looked at the ruins at his feet and said, still shaken, "What happened? Was it a lightning strike?"

The guard on duty said, "Reporting to the general, according to the guards on duty in the backyard, a man disguised as a vegetable farmer approached the back wall of the council hall under some pretext and then detonated the gunpowder."

Wanyan Wulibu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing it wasn't a natural disaster, but then his ferocity returned, and he shouted, "Execute all the guards on duty in the backyard!"

In the explosion of hundreds of kilograms of gunpowder, the guards on duty in the backyard also suffered heavy casualties. The few survivors, though also severely wounded, had been imprisoned by the duty officer. Following Wulibu's orders, their heads were quickly presented. Wulibu felt some relief, watching as another corpse was unearthed from the rubble. He then asked, "Has the Emperor been found?" "Reporting to

the General, the Emperor, Anban Bojilie, Guolun Bojilie, and Amai Bojilie are all dead. The surviving generals are also severely wounded and unconscious."

As Aguda's son, it would be self-deception to say he had no desire to inherit the throne. However, the Jurchen tradition was that the throne passed to the younger brother upon the death of the elder brother. Aguda had not broken this tradition, and Wulibu dared not overstep it. Upon hearing that all the key figures in the country were dead, Wulibu was shocked and grieved, but also couldn't suppress a sliver of secret joy. He had actually become the head of the Great Jin. After a long while, Wulibu said mournfully, "Heaven is unkind! It has destroyed such heroes of my Great Jin."

The duty officer also sighed in agreement. He then said, "The Heavenly Dynasty army is now less than a hundred li from Xingzhong Prefecture. Should we fight or defend? I urge the general to make a decision."

Wulibu then suppressed his elation, pondered for a moment, and said sorrowfully, "Previously, our Great Jin had many valiant generals and elite troops. Although the Heavenly Dynasty was powerful, we could still fight and defend. But now our generals are all gone, and we have no power to contend with the Heavenly Dynasty. Now we can only abandon Xingzhong Prefecture and avoid the Heavenly Dynasty's advance. As long as our Jurchen troops remain, our Great Jin can rise again."

Although the officer on duty knew the upcoming war would be difficult, he, accustomed to fierce attacks, still didn't expect Wulibu to retreat without a fight. "General, do you mean to retreat?"

Wulibu, equally accustomed to rapid advances, naturally understood his thoughts and nodded with difficulty, saying, "The only option now is to retreat. Our Jurchens cannot afford any more losses. While the Celestial Empire's army is still far away, let the Jurchen troops assemble and prepare to return to rescue Huanglongfu."

Although Wulibu was still young, he was already showing promise. With a quick thought, he devised a reason that would make the Jurchen tribes willingly retreat. The officer on duty, Mouke, asked doubtfully, "Only gather the various Jurchen tribes?"

"Yes," replied Wulibu, "the other ethnic groups' miscellaneous troops are disorganized and taking time to assemble. Moreover, now that the Liao Dynasty has submitted to the Celestial Dynasty, the Khitan and Han soldiers are unreliable, and our Jurchen generals have suffered heavy losses, making them unable to control us. Forcibly taking them away might cause a mutiny, only harming our Jurchen soldiers."

Although Wulibu had escaped with his life, he was also seriously injured. He was already somewhat out of breath after saying so much. He paused and then said, "Go and relay the order: make sure all tribes keep this a secret to avoid any unforeseen complications. Our Jurchen military law used to be very strict; if the Khitans and Hans knew we were trying to escape, a mutiny might occur."

To ensure its fighting strength, the Jin Dynasty often used Jurchen soldiers to command troops from other ethnic groups. To prevent soldiers from attacking their commanders on the battlefield, it was stipulated that if a Jurchen commander died, all his subordinates would be buried with him. Therefore, soldiers from various tribes could only desperately protect their Jurchen commanders on the battlefield. However, swords and spears are indiscriminate, and many Jurchens died in battle, with even more soldiers from other tribes perishing alongside them. It could be said that the Jurchens committed many atrocities. The officer on duty, Di Mouke, was aware of his own situation. Although reluctant to lose so many soldiers, he knew that it was already a miracle if he could preserve the Jurchen tribes.

Chapter 178

"Almost all of the Jurchen high command were killed in the bombing?"

Zhang Yang was incredulous upon hearing the news from his spies. Decapitation strikes were a tactic with a long history. In Chinese parlance, it's about capturing the king first, but it was rarely used in warfare between two nations. The emperor was always high above, and ordinary people found it difficult to even approach the palace. Moreover, the emperor was surrounded by numerous generals and soldiers, making opportunities like Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin extremely rare. Therefore, few considered such a tactic in wars. Only in modern times, with technological advancements, did decapitation strikes become commonplace. After a certain superpower first used it, it quickly became the preferred tactic in future warfare because it could achieve its objective with minimal cost. Zhang Yang was naturally familiar with this tactic of low investment and high return, and after returning to ancient times, he used his extraordinary skills to perfect it. His special forces and spies had also conducted in-depth research on this tactic, but Zhang Yang hadn't expected someone to successfully use it so quickly and achieve such astonishing results. Legends always seem to follow one after another. "Yes, according to our spies in the city, our spies detonated hundreds of kilograms of gunpowder on the back wall of the Jurchen council hall, wiping out almost the entire Jurchen leadership who were holding a meeting. Afterwards, the various Jurchen tribes abandoned the city, and now only Khitan and other tribal troops remain."

"Order the vanguard to march rapidly and take over Xingzhong Prefecture. Hua Rong's troops should temporarily halt their attack on Huanglong Prefecture and instead focus on intercepting the Jurchen cavalry. The key is to slow down the Jurchen's retreat; if absolutely necessary, allow them to enter Huanglong Prefecture."

Zhang Yang pondered briefly before quickly issuing two orders. Upon learning that the Jurchen leadership had been almost completely wiped out and that the Jurchen soldiers had abandoned the city, the astute tribal leaders of Xingzhong Prefecture immediately sent envoys to surrender to the Celestial Dynasty. Therefore, the vanguard's task of taking over Xingzhong Prefecture encountered almost no resistance. When Zhang Yang's central army arrived at Xingzhong Prefecture, it was already entirely under the control of the Celestial Dynasty. Over 100,000 troops from various northern tribes were also waiting outside the city for the Celestial Dynasty to reorganize and take over. Although these soldiers were not as well-trained as the Celestial Empire's troops, most were born in the harsh north. They were naturally fierce and never lagged behind in battle. Even more valuable was the fact that many were nomadic tribes, perfectly compensating for the Celestial Empire's lack of cavalry. While Zhang Yang's army swept through the land like a whirlwind, Hua Rong's cavalry and 50,000 wolf riders from the grasslands also swept through the land like a whirlwind, directly attacking the Jin capital, Huanglongfu. In less than half an hour, Huanglongfu was breached by the frenzied grassland tribes. The once invincible Jin capital groaned under the greedy onslaught of the grassland wolves. A lieutenant, observing the various steppe tribes looting and the rising flames within the city, frowned and said, "General, shouldn't we restrain the steppe tribes? Huanglong Prefecture is the capital of the Jin Dynasty, unlike other cities. If things escalate, officials in the court might impeach you for allowing your troops to plunder."

Hua Rong, however, looked at the ten thousand elite cavalrymen waiting in battle outside the city and shook his head, saying, "The Emperor has already decreed that the Jurchens should be killed if wrongly killed, but released if wrongly spared. Moreover, to keep the steppe tribes from continuing their attacks, some rewards are necessary. When the Emperor attacked Tibet, he didn't forbid the steppe tribes from looting. We just need to present the Jin Dynasty's imperial treasury intact to the Emperor. The steppe tribes have already entered the city. You lead a thousand-man team to the palace to prevent them from becoming greedy and taking what they shouldn't."

It was precisely because of the lure of Huanglong Prefecture's wealth that the steppe tribes swept through the cities along the way like a whirlwind, all in order to reach Huanglong Prefecture as quickly as possible to plunder. If their plundering were strictly prohibited, although Hua Rong believed they wouldn't dare resist under the Celestial Empire's intimidation, they would inevitably resort to trickery and deception during future sieges. Hua Rong didn't want his elite cavalry to attack the city. The lieutenant responded and headed towards the thousand elite cavalry outside the city. The ten thousand elite cavalry outside the city were a pure cavalry force of ten thousand men, drawn and reorganized from various units at the beginning of the founding of the dynasty. After several major battles, the weak were eliminated and the strong were retained, and these ten thousand men were all qualified cavalry. Moreover, after conquering the Western Xia and the grasslands, their warhorses were all top-quality breeds, making them a force of elite soldiers and brave generals. Unfortunately, this force hadn't yet achieved any merit commensurate with his status. At some point, wherever the Celestial Army went, they either surrendered at the mere sight of the enemy or were easy prey for their opponents. The Celestial Army's attacks were swift and ineffective. This made Hua Rong want to sigh to the heavens; his elite troops were lonely. This time, there was no chance to destroy the Jin. Although he was the commander-in-chief of an army, he was leading a detachment, advancing directly from the grasslands to the Yellow Dragon Prefecture. There was virtually no chance of engaging the main force of the Jin Dynasty. Even if they swallowed up the entire rear of the Jin Dynasty, there would be little merit to be gained. In Hua Rong's view, the probability of the Jin troops escaping from the watchful eyes of the Imperial Army was slim. "Report! Imperial messenger by carrier pigeon!"

Just as Hua Rong was lamenting, a messenger ran into the city, carrying a scroll of imperial edict with a gold border. "Haha!" Hua Rong respectfully accepted the edict, glanced at it briefly, and couldn't help but laugh. He had just been lamenting the lack of opportunity to gain merit, and now the Imperial Army had delivered such good news. As long as they could successfully intercept and kill this Jurchen army, it would be enough to earn them the greatest merit in destroying the Jin Dynasty. "Woo woo woo woo."

A chieftain of a grassland tribe had just massacred a mansion and was preparing to lead his troops to seize ownership of another mansion when he heard the bugle call for the entire army to assemble from the city walls. He frowned and said, "Why is the entire army assembling again so soon after we entered the city?"

A guard beside him asked suspiciously, "Chieftain, what should we do? The brothers over there have been surrounded by the Uga tribe. If we are too late, the Uga tribe will probably steal all the valuables inside."

"The military situation is urgent. I will lead the rest of the men out of the city first. You go and inform the others. If the Uga tribe dares to stop us, we can have General Hua deal with them."

As soon as the bugle sounded, the grassland tribes rushed out of the city. After several days of marching and fighting, the various tribes of the grasslands had come to know the strict discipline of Hua Rong's army.

Chapter 179 The Grand Finale

What the Heavenly Army saw as an easy victory was, in the eyes of the grassland tribes, a thoroughly satisfying massacre.

The Jurchen cavalry, who had galloped back overnight, were easily routed by the rested Heavenly Army and the ferocious grassland tribes after only a few charges.

To maintain the strength of his elite troops, Hua Rong withdrew the central Heavenly Army cavalry after only two exchanges.

Only the savage steppe tribes on both flanks continued their relentless slaughter of the exhausted Jurchens.

The enmity between the steppe tribes and the Jin dynasty had been accumulating since the Jin's rise. The steppes were prone to natural disasters like snowstorms, and the steppe people, lacking expertise in agriculture, had no means of storing food. When disaster struck, each steppe tribe faced starvation and food shortages.

Besides raiding within their own tribes, the steppe tribes frequently launched raids outwards, like locusts, plundering everything in their path.

The Central Plains, being wealthy, had always been a primary target for steppe raids.

However, during the Song dynasty, due to its weakness, the Central Plains and the steppes no longer shared a border.

Therefore, the Liao, Western Xia, and the newly risen Jin dynasties, which bordered them, became targets for the savage steppe tribes.

After the Liao dynasty was established, although it diligently managed the steppes, the fierce steppe tribes frequently rebelled and allied with it, and steppe tribes often raided Liao territory.

The Jin Dynasty, with its slightly weaker national power, was even less of a concern.

Within a few years, the various tribes of the grasslands and the Jin Dynasty had developed a deep-seated hatred for each other. Previously, due to the Jin Dynasty's power and the lack of sophisticated weaponry and unified planning, the grassland tribes dared not fight to the death.

Now, with the support of the Celestial Empire, the grassland tribes naturally sought revenge.

From the moment Hua Rong led his troops into Jin territory, the grassland people killed the Jurchens without restraint, sparing no effort beyond cutting off their limbs; those who could be subjected to slow slicing were not given a quick death.

Hua Rong, having received a secret order from Zhang Yang, did not obstruct the grassland people's massacre of the Jurchens.

After this battle, the Jurchen army was almost completely annihilated.

Given the Jurchens' tradition of near-universal conscription, the extinction of the Jurchen people was imminent.

Even if the Celestial Empire spared them, they would likely be quickly assimilated by other tribes.

But would Zhang Yang let go of this people who had left so much humiliation in Chinese history?

The answer was clearly no.

When Zhang Yang received news that Hua Rong had annihilated the remaining Jurchen troops, he immediately ordered Lu Junyi to lead the vanguard to advance and wipe out the remaining Jurchens.

In the Battle of Huanglongfu, the Jurchen remnants were utterly wiped out. Following this, the Celestial Empire's army advanced relentlessly, annihilating various Jurchen tribes. Only fewer than a thousand escaped to the northern tundra and the Korean Peninsula to join the local Jurchen population.

A month later, Hua Rong, using Korea's refusal to hand over the Jurchen deserters as a pretext, led Mongol cavalry to conquer Korea. Under the Mongol massacre, the Korean Peninsula's population plummeted, leaving vast stretches of wasteland. The Jurchen people of Korea were also nearly wiped out.

The hundreds of Jurchens who fled to the northern tundra also perished under the harsh weather and the combined attacks of the brutal natives. The survivors were assimilated into the local population, and the Jurchen people vanished from history.

In the following years, Zhang Yang granted a general amnesty and diligently governed the country. With the support of wealth and people from overseas, the Celestial Empire prospered. Under its unique promotion system, the Celestial Empire's martial spirit grew stronger.

Every year, disputes arose on the Celestial Empire's borders over military merit, leading to the continuous expansion of its frontiers.

In the tenth year of the Chinese Civil War, the Celestial Empire mobilized its entire navy to conquer and destroy Japan, which then became a supply depot for the Celestial Empire's eastern expeditions.

Afterwards, guided by flamboyant maps, other continents were successively exposed to the Celestial Empire's iron hooves.

At the centenary of the Chinese Civil War, the Celestial Empire's navy circumnavigated the world, its dragon flag flying high everywhere.

A century later, the First Emperor unified the Central Plains, and his fifth-generation descendant unified the entire country. Only then did the First Emperor show signs of aging, and after decades of traveling the world, he passed away in Tokyo.

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[Fantasy] Water Margin Heroes (Complete) - Chapters 34-35 (End)

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