Accompanied by the cold wind, snowflakes sprinkled down, and the streets of the capital were filled with hurried passersby.
The snow fell particularly early this winter, making life difficult for the beggars in the capital, especially since there have been many more of them recently.
About a month ago, many people with northern accents, old and young, bringing their families, began to gather in the capital. These people, exhausted from their long journey and without any special skills, could only beg on the streets and bridges to survive.
These were civilians who had fled the chaos of war in the northern lands.
Their arrival reminded the people of the capital that the war in the north was still ongoing, and the outlook was not optimistic.
The atmosphere in the imperial court was tense and anxious.
"To lose three cities just like that, is this what you call a temporary setback?" the emperor shouted angrily, "How many losses have we suffered now?"
Ning Yan stood before the court, his expression slightly determined.
"The Jurchen people are aggressively advancing; retreating to avoid their sharp edge is the right decision," he said. "Moreover, when the Duke of Chengguo retreated, he escorted the civilians and burned down the castles. What the Jurchen people have occupied is just an empty city, which they cannot supply or rebuild without manpower. Instead, their forces are scattered and drained."
Huang Cheng laughed on the side.
"According to Lord Ning, this defeat is actually a glory, deserving rewards now?" he said.
Ning Yan was unconcerned about the sarcasm.
"This is not defeat, this is strategy," he said. "A general has the right to disregard the emperor's orders because the battlefield is ever-changing, and only those who are there know what is the best course of action."
"These are all just the Duke of Chengguo's one-sided statements." Another minister stood up to speak, "I think he's just making excuses for his ambition leading to constant defeat."
"Indeed, in just a short period, we've lost three cities, lost a general, and two Supervisors have died. And still, they talk about 'strategy' and 'merits'?" Another minister was also furiously reprimanding, "And now he demands that all reinforcements from various places must obey his commands. What is he trying to do?"
Facing the interrogation, Ning Yan showed no fear.
"Why do you only see our casualties? Have you all forgotten the losses the Jurchen people have suffered?" he said.
With his words, several ministers also stood up to report the casualties of the Jin Army.
Compared to the losses of the Great Zhou government soldiers, the casualties of the Jurchen people were indeed greater.
"Who knows if these are actual captures or something else," a minister snorted.
Another minister immediately glared and became anxious.
"What do you mean by that? Are you saying the Duke of Chengguo is falsifying military reports?" he shouted angrily.
"True or false, who knows, but now the entire northern lands are in his hands," someone else said.
"Are you suggesting the Duke of Chengguo is manipulating everything behind the scenes?"
"I didn't say that, you're the one saying it, Lord Tang."
The imperial court suddenly erupted into chaos, with several ministers red-faced and spitting fury, almost ready to come to blows.
This kind of scene played out every day.
"Silence!" shouted the emperor from the dragon throne, pressing his forehead.
His voice sounded powerless, and it was the eunuchs who, with their shrill voices, yelled, with the censors and the Imperial Guards stepping forward to quell the noisy ministers.
"I don't want to hear about strategies. I want to know when the Jurchen people will retreat," the emperor said anxiously.
His words brought a hush to the great hall.
"Your Majesty, waging a war is not a task accomplished overnight," Ning Yan said solemnly.
"So it needs to wear down thousands of our soldiers?" Huang Cheng said quietly.
Ning Yan turned to look at him.
"'Wear down'? What do you mean by that, Lord Huang? Is it wrong for our soldiers to die in battle for their country?" he said.
"It depends if they die for the country or for the Duke of Chengguo's reckless glory," Huang Cheng spoke blandly.
"Lord Huang..." Ning Yan began to retort, but before he could continue there came an urgent report from outside the door.
Due to the war situation, urgent reports arrived every few days, a fact to which the court and the emperor were well accustomed. Hearing the report, they immediately ceased their quarreling and turned towards the door.
Everyone's expression was extremely tense.
Good news, it must be good news.
Ning Yan thought to himself, as did Huang Cheng, although the good news each hoped for was different.
"Announcing to His Majesty, Kaide Prefecture has fallen, the Magistrate Du Miao has perished with honor," the eunuch bearing the urgent report knelt and shouted tremulously.
Kaide Prefecture, that was a southern prefecture on the eastern route of Hebei. Twenty years ago, it was here that the Jurchen people broke through and surrounded the capital, rescue was impossible, the imperial palace was besieged, and the emperor was captured.
This was a humiliation that the Great Zhou Imperial Family did not wish to remember, it was also a nightmare that the people of the world did not want to recall.
No one thought that, after so many years, this scene would reappear.
History repeating itself.
There was a deathly silence in the great hall, which was then broken by the emperor standing from the dragon throne.
"Summon..." he began to shout, his voice trembling, his features ashen, but before he could finish, he shook and collapsed back onto the dragon throne.
The eunuchs were startled.
The ministers, too shocked to argue any further, rushed towards the dragon throne.
"Your Majesty."
"Summon the imperial physician quickly."
The grand hall plunged into chaos.
Ning Yunzhao still stood at the end of the line; he had neither the standing to squeeze forward nor did he try to, standing in place with an anxious expression like the other officials who couldn't make it to the front.
But if one looked closely, his anxiety was much milder than the others', yet no one was paying attention to him now. Everyone was tiptoeing, trying to see what was happening at the front, and whispering lowly to each other from time to time.
"This is just too coincidental," Ning Yunzhao murmured to himself, not joining in the discussions but with a slight frown.
...........
"This is just too coincidental."
Zhu Zan spit out the grass in his mouth and scoffed as he pointed to the ground.
A simple map was sketched out on the ground with stones representing cities and stalks of grass marking the routes taken by the Jurchen people.
"Only a handful of elite troops managed to break through here under the cover of the Jin forces from multiple sides. This is less of an invasion and more of a daring incursion," said Zhang Baotang, "We all know the Jin army is skilled in horsemanship and archery, and they are swift in movement; it is not impossible for them to achieve this."
"Perhaps, it's not just the cover of the Jin forces," Sifeng suddenly said.
Zhang Baotang was stunned for a moment, while Zhu Zan remained expressionless, his demeanor calm.
"Did you find out something?" he asked.
Zhang Baotang looked puzzled at Sifeng, who had been missing for some time on what he had claimed was official business. Was it an assignment from Zhu Zan?
"I couldn't find out any specifics, but there are true instances of generals openly obeying orders while secretly fleeing without a fight," Sifeng replied.
Such incidents are not uncommon on the battlefield and don't necessarily indicate anything.
"Indeed, it does not indicate anything on its own, but their actions have led to many unexpected consequences, which is just too coincidental," Sifeng added.
Zhu Zan kicked the stones and grass on the ground into disarray.
"I understand now. The Jin troops aren't here for battle, but to instill fear," he said, stepping on the spot they had designated Kaide Prefecture, "Their entire march follows the same route they took to breach our capital in the past, simply to remind the emperor, the courtiers, and the people of the past events, to reignite fear."
Zhang Baotang understood and chuckled spontaneously.
"These Jin thieves are playing the same old tricks," he commented.
"These tricks are quite effective, you know," Zhu Zan remarked.
Sifeng did not smile, his expression turning more somber.
"Just now, the emperor ordered Duke Chengguo to send troops to aid Kaide Prefecture and to reinforce Kaifeng," he reported.
Zhang Baotang's eyes widened.
"How can my uncle take action? Moving him would cause a ripple effect," he said, "Without my uncle returning, this group of Jin thieves won't last long at Kaide Prefecture."
Sifeng gave a wry smile.
"Because the emperor is afraid," he said softly.
Zhu Zan patted his clothes and looked towards the Xibei.
"I must leave," he suddenly declared.
Sifeng and Zhang Baotang were taken aback, seemingly not understanding what he meant.
"By your coming today and telling me about the fall of Kaide Prefecture, it's only right and fitting for me to go now and fight for my country, and you two won't be blamed," Zhu Zan continued.
Indeed, it made sense, but the crux of the matter was not about rationality at this moment.
"How will you leave?" Sifeng asked.
Zhu Zan had already taken a few steps away, but upon hearing the question, he turned back and smiled.
"Just... leave," he said, placing his fingers to his lips and whistling sharply.
Along with the whistles, Sifeng and Zhang Baotang heard horses neighing and felt the ground shaking. What happened? They turned around, their faces revealing utter astonishment.
A horde of horses rushed out of the stables, galloping in every direction. The entire Horse Factory felt like a thunderous onslaught.
"The horses are spooked!" Zhu Zan shouted, sprinting towards the horses. His speed was incredible, and soon he was amidst the chaotic herd, blending in like a small boat bobbing on turbulent waves.
But this boat wasn't overturned by the surging water; instead, it seemed to subtly lead the tide.
The entire Horse Factory was alarmed, everyone rushing out but unable to stop the flood-like herd of horses that leapt over the fences and scattered in all directions.
The horses were spooked, the horses were gone.
Shouts rose incessantly, and people scattered in all directions.
Damn it.
Sifeng and Zhang Baotang stood frozen in place, with only that phrase summarizing their state of mind, staring at the quickly receding figure in the distance, mouths agape in disbelief for a long while.
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Thank you to book friends 160815115426234 and Cat Cat Little Bug for raising the issue of both sides' military strength. I've rechecked the Song and Ming dynasties' materials and adjusted the army numbers, which doesn't affect the general situation. Detail-oriented readers, remember to delete and re-download the book to see the newly revised content.
Thank you all for the corrections.