11th Charge on the Front Line

  Wu Song was on the verge of going berserk, he thought that by following Yang Jia, this treacherous official, to the front line, he wouldn't have to go into battle. After the war ended, Yang Jia would flatter Emperor Zhezong a few times, take credit for others' achievements, and rise to prominence overnight. With some more scheming, he could ascend to the Dragon Throne and become an immortal. This is what treacherous officials throughout history have always done.

  Who would have thought that Yang Jiaolong, this dead eunuch, was so hot-blooded and actually volunteered to take on the most dangerous task. After Wu Song patiently explained it clearly to Yang Jiaolong, the manager's face also turned pale, and he stammered: "When I was in the capital, I also went to the training grounds and saw two armies facing each other, their big flags were all in the middle..."

  "That's a fine banner!" Wu Song exclaimed in a flustered tone, "Brother, good brother! Have you ever been on the battlefield?"

  "Our family once beat up more than a dozen good-for-nothings until they were covered in bruises and urine, does that count?"

  "What do you think?"

  The two men were silent for a while, then Wu Song ventured: "Can't we discuss this with Zhang Gong and let him make some concessions?"

  Yang Jian said listlessly: "The military orders have all been signed, if we go back on our word, he'll definitely chop off our head. Even if we produce the imperial edict, it won't be of any use, and if we file a complaint to the emperor, he'll still win. Moreover, we don't have anyone in the palace..."

  "Shall we run away?"

  Yang Jian heard this and suddenly became furious, saying: "Wu Er, I thought you were a man of honor, that's why I befriended you. I didn't expect you to be so cowardly! In consideration of the two sisters Yulian and Jinlian, I will let bygones be bygones this time. Don't mention the escape again, otherwise don't blame me for turning against you!"

  Wu Song felt extremely ashamed, having been despised by a eunuch, who would later become a great traitor. Ashamed beyond words, he hastily said: "I was just talking nonsense. Why not go ask Lu Da? He has experienced many battles and might have some ideas."

  The next day, the two arrived at the martial arts arena. Ruda was exerting his strength, wielding a sixty-pound moon-shaped shovel that shone with a silver glow, impenetrable and flawless. Next to him were four other commanders of the Tiger Wing Right Flank Third Army, each displaying their own unique skills: two wielded wooden swords, one used a spear, and another used a chain hammer. While they didn't compare to Ruda's exceptional skill, they too demonstrated impressive martial arts abilities.

  The soldiers in the four directions all cheered loudly when they saw him.

  Wu Song and the other two called Lu Da down, came to a quiet place, and told him about Zhang Jiao's order for the third army to protect the military flag. Lu Da was overjoyed and said: "I had this intention long ago, I also asked General Xiaozhong to protect the great flag, but General Xiaozhong did not allow it. It's more pleasant to follow General Yang! This is the first great achievement of our three armies. In the past, the Dragon Rider Battalion was in charge of the great flag, where do we have a share?"

  Yang Jiong sulked: "When our family discussed the matter, I wanted to be the first to succeed, and Commander Zhang agreed so readily. It turns out that being the first to succeed has its own rules..."

  Wu Song thought to himself: "I reckon it's that scoundrel Ximen Qing and Prefect Zhang in cahoots, clearly they want to get rid of you, let you die on the battlefield yourself. They have a military order in hand, even the Emperor can't say anything."

  "Listen up, I'm telling you, protecting the military flag is a top-notch good deed! But if you charge into battle, all the enemy soldiers big and small will swarm towards you like a tidal wave. It's every man for himself, just swing your sword fast and slash away!"

  "Is your sword not sharp?"

  "What's the point of asking about trivial matters? You're already dead anyway..."

  Wu Song and Yang Zong stared at each other in silence. Yang Zong was a Qi Gong master, but in the chaos of war, even this half-baked Qi Gong master couldn't display much skill, while Wu Song was just a beginner, his eyes still blurry.

  "Big brother, can you refine this armor into a magical treasure that makes it impervious to swords and guns?"

  "No, our family only knows how to refine the White Bone Flag, and this flag has been refined for over a decade, but it's still not fully completed. Younger brother, what about you?"

  "I won't either. I think it's better if we add a few more layers of armor..."

  Wu Song and Yang Zongbao both put on two or three layers of armor, wore steel helmets on their heads, and carried two sturdy rattan shields, one in hand and one on their backs. In the end, the two men reluctantly discovered that this set of equipment had an astonishing defensive power, but its agility was almost zero, and they would definitely be captured on the battlefield.

  The two had to abandon one side of the rattan shield and take off a layer of armor, only then could they move freely. By noon, Jingyuan Road ordered Zhang Kan to order the whole army to open up and rush straight to Wuyan Gorge.

  Before that, the garrisons of Qin Feng Road and Dongshan Military Road almost simultaneously launched an attack. The garrison of Qin Feng Road was in the southwest, holding back the Western Xia Zuo Luo and Nan Jun Si, while the garrison of Dongshan Road attacked Xiazhou, holding back the defenders of Xining Prefecture and Xiangqing Army.

  These two armies only cooperated with Zhang Jue's Jingyuan army, and in one fell swoop they took down the Wusong Gorge, opening up the road to the west. This was the most brilliant battle of the Northern Song Dynasty at the end of its reign, with famous generals such as Zhang Jue, Zhong Shidao, Guo Cheng, and Zhe Keshi, and cavalry that had never been stronger before, reaching 10,000 men. And in the rear, grain and fodder were being transported continuously from the True Definition Prefecture and the Great Ming Prefecture. This year, the Song Dynasty, which had been weak for a long time, had already waited for a century.

  By nightfall, the army of Jingyuan Road arrived at Wusong Gorge. Zhang Ke ordered his soldiers to build fortifications overnight while also sending cavalry forward six or seven miles to beat drums and fire cannons, making the Western Xia defenders in Wusong Gorge suspicious and sleepless all night. The monitoring general Mai Le Duo did not dare to fight at night for fear of being ambushed. By the next morning when the sun rose, Mai Le Duo stood on the city wall and looked out, almost falling off the wall in fright!

  But what they saw was that ten miles away, the Song army had built a continuous five or six-mile-long military camp overnight, divided into three large camps, connected front and back, left and right. Mie Duo hurriedly sent scouts to investigate, and after a while, the scouts reported: "From afar, there is not a single guard soldier outside the big camp, no smoke from cooking can be seen, nor is anyone patrolling, it's like a ghost camp."

  Mai Le Duo suddenly burst out laughing: "These Han people are cunning, they must be trying to lure me into battle, and then ambush me. I won't fall for his trick! Come here! I'll write a letter and have you deliver it to the Song army commander, tell him that his plot has been seen through!"

  The commander of Wuyan Gorge couldn't help but exclaim, "These Han people are cunning. Fortunately, there is the Surveillance Commissioner here; otherwise, we would have fallen into their trap."

  Before long, the messenger returned with a letter from Zhang Jiao, which read: "Decisive battle this afternoon!"

  Mie Duo looked at him again and laughed: "The Han people want to cheat me, if I let the army rest, they will surely raid the camp. This kind of trick is only suitable for cheating a three-year-old child!" He ordered the troops to be on high alert, but after waiting for half a day, he didn't see the Song army attacking the city. Those Western Xia soldiers had not slept all night and were tense for another half day, exhausted.

  They were exhausted, but the Song army had slept for a whole morning. When it was past noon, they heard a burst of cannon fire and the sound of war drums from the Song army camp. Tens of thousands of troops poured out of the camp, with cavalry advancing in unison on both wings, infantry swarming in the middle, and archers at the front. They rushed to a point three miles outside the city and stopped, drumming loudly for a decisive battle.

  Mie Lerdou did not want to start a war, but was afraid of losing morale. The defending general Ye Mazi presented a plan: "Sir, the Song army has always been weak and unaccustomed to fighting, while our army is fierce and brave, one can defeat two Song soldiers, what's there to fear? Moreover, on both sides of Wuyan Gorge, there are more than ten mountain peaks, each with a thousand troops. When the time comes, all the generals will shout together and charge down from the mountains like ferocious tigers. The Song army will surely be defeated and flee! Even if we lose, there are several high-ranking monks in the city who can perform rituals to kill tens of thousands of Song soldiers!"

  Mu Le Duo finally felt at ease, leaving 5,000 soldiers to guard the city. The remaining large armies from all directions also arrived outside the city. Archers shot arrows into the sky, and a dense rain of arrows fell in front of the formation. The two armies were only an arrow's distance apart. Wu Song and Yang Jie looked at this rain of arrows and both felt a chill run down their spines. They put their heads together and whispered: "I think our armor seems a bit thin..."

  "I think so too! Otherwise, shall we put on another set?"

  Mai Le Duo watched the Song army's formation for a long time, then suddenly looked up at the sky and laughed loudly. He turned to his left and right and said: "The Song soldiers already have the intention of retreating!"

  Ye Mou immediately stepped forward and said: "Sir, why did you say such a thing?"

  Mielle pointed with his whip at the position of Wu Song and others, laughing: "The Song army uses infantry to control the main flag, where is the cavalry fast? The infantry has weak combat effectiveness and runs slowly. It's clear that the commander-in-chief of the Song army knows he can't win over our army and has the intention to retreat."

  "What a wise and brilliant adult! It's as if Sun Wu has come back to life!"

  "Wei Lü was delighted, saying: 'Later when the generals are on the battlefield competing with each other, we must make a good start by killing some of them, making the Song army drop their helmets and abandon their armor, only then will our military prowess be displayed!' The Western Xia generals and soldiers heard this, one by one loudly shouting, all asking to be the first to go into battle."

  Under the command flag of Song's army, General-in-Chief Zhang Jiao said in a low voice: "We sent Yang Jian to his death, isn't that a bit excessive?"

  Zong Shidao shrugged: "He asked for it himself, what does it have to do with us? A eunuch, his death is not worth mentioning."

  Zhang Fei nodded and said: "Are you sure Wu Song can defeat the Western Xia cavalry?"

  "This man has a special physique, and is the Snow Lion Colt of the lower officials. Even in front of him, he can't stand his ground. Wu Song rushed out not far, and will inevitably be killed by Xia Jun's army, but this period of time is enough to stir up the Xia Kingdom's cavalry, our side's cavalry can take advantage of the situation to launch a surprise attack, break through the defensive line, and charge into the city gate. In the rear, use infantry to surround and annihilate the remaining enemy troops, one battle can be decisive. Then, take advantage of the opportunity to drive Ma Le Duhui's remnant troops towards Xianpo Kou, impact Eweni Amu's formation, and must be able to capture Xianpo Kou without any effort!"

  Zhang Jue's eyes flashed with emotion as he sighed: "Shi Dao is indeed a great talent, I am not worthy of comparison. It's just a pity that Lu Da, such a fierce general, was wasted."

  Zong Shidao also sighed and said in a low voice: "Who made him join the eunuch party? What a pity..."

  After 12 o'clock at night, rush to vote, hoping that book friends will vote for a certain pig at that time, thank you ~