Chapter 11: The Summit Showdown (Part 2)

  Late winter had not yet passed, and the temperature was still very low after several days of light snow. The night had already fallen, and except for a patrol of Golden Scales officers, the rest of the soldiers were already fast asleep. Zhao Yi led dozens of people out of the military camp quietly, each carrying two buckets of water.

  They evaded the patrolling Golden Scales guards and quietly climbed up to the city walls, pouring the recycled water from the buckets onto all the battlements. Before long, the entire wall was drenched. Several people then poured the remaining water onto the road surface not far from the city walls. Zhao Jie couldn't help but laugh maniacally in his heart, thinking "just you wait and see how you'll attack tomorrow". The group quietly returned to their military camp.

  A peaceful night passed without incident, and it was early the next morning.

  The two armies gathered in front of the viewing platform, and the Golden Scales Army looked at the crystal-clear city defense with extreme depression, all looking at Liang Fangxu with pleading eyes.

  Liang Fangxu was also frowning, in this situation attacking the city would be absolutely unprofitable, but if he delayed the attack, he would have to support the hundreds of Imperial Guards for a long time. One or two days were nothing, but ten days or half a month was absolutely unsustainable. The Northern Song Dynasty mainly valued scholars and had always been stingy with military officers and soldiers, how could they afford to support others? Moreover, it was impossible to directly drive them away. Earlier, he had sent people to clear the snow on the city walls, but unfortunately, many places were inaccessible, and even where they could be cleared, they couldn't be cleaned thoroughly. Liang Fangxu's teeth itched with anger, this Zhao Jiong was really bullying him too much. Liang Fangxu's face turned solemn.

  Zhao Yan's face showed a difficult expression as he said, "I didn't expect so much ice to form overnight. Is it heaven's punishment? It's not fair to the Golden Scale warriors. Why don't my Imperial Guard stay here for several months and wait until the snow melts before we have our competition?"

  Liang Fangxu was so angry that he wanted to draw his sword and slash Zhao Yin a few times to vent his anger. Suppressing this impulse, Liang Fangxu said in a deep voice: "My Jinxin Army has made preparations for the attack, please ask the Imperial Forest Army to ascend to the city defense."

  Zhao Kan wanted to persuade again, but saw Liang Fangxu only say one word: "Please."

  The two armies began to confront each other.

  The Golden Scales Army held round shields and short guns, pushing the cloud ladder to attack the city. Before they even reached the bottom of the city wall, they slipped on a large patch of ice. The Imperial Forest Army laughed loudly while shooting arrows at the fallen Golden Scales Army. Suddenly, a cloud ladder appeared, unnoticed due to its angle being in a blind spot. The first one to rush up onto the city wall was that young girl. She saw Xue Yue not far away and made several horizontal sweeps with her short gun, forcing back several surrounding soldiers and charging towards Xue Yue. At this time, Xue Yue had yet to notice the danger approaching him, still crazily shooting arrows at the fallen Golden Scales Army, extremely excited, occasionally letting out loud roars, making it seem like he was a madman to anyone who didn't know better.

  Suddenly a short spear stabbed fiercely at Xue Yue's head, "Which son of a bitch hit me." Xue Yue roared. When he turned around to see the mischievous expression on the girl's face, the girl's back had already been pierced by several long spears, and was considered 'killed in battle'. Xue Yue weakly asked: "When did you come?"

  The girl carefully sized up Xue Yue a few times, and said lightly: "It's clear now." After finishing speaking, she turned around to leave.

  "My name is Xue Yue, can you tell me yours?" Xue Yue asked further.

  "The fragrance of longevity is precious, the creepers show the Poria. If you ask about the three lights, it's benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, and integrity." The girl turned her back to Xue Yue, seemingly muttering to herself, then turned around and left. Xue Yue murmured to himself, what does this mean?

  Liang Fangxu watched as the Golden Scales Army was repeatedly repelled, his face growing increasingly unsightly. Most of the Golden Scales Army had fallen to the ground and become living targets, while those who had climbed up the city walls slid back down. Liang Fangxu let out a sigh and walked over to Zhao Song, saying dejectedly: "Lord Changsun, we admit defeat. From now on, this Golden Scales Garrison will probably be called the Imperial Forest Garrison."

  "General Liang, we are both part of the Song Dynasty army. If you're willing, you can still stay here, no need to leave." Zhao Zhen said sincerely.

  "Really?" Liang Fangxu was also overjoyed. Who would be willing to leave their home that they had grown accustomed to?...

  The duel was soon stopped, and the soldiers of both armies quickly lined up together. The most depressed person in today's duel is Xue Yue. The only casualty list of the Imperial Forest Army is him. At this time, he was hanging his head, accepting the teasing of other Imperial Forest Army soldiers.

  Li Fangxu walked over and stood in front of the stage, loudly saying: "From now on, both armies will be stationed together in this place. Everyone is brothers and will definitely support each other in the future."

  Please let His Highness Zhang Sun speak a few words. Although Zhao Jiong is young, no one dares to underestimate him. At first, it may have been out of fear for Zhao Jiong's status, but later they were intimidated by his cunning and unpredictable tactics. On the battlefield, people are most afraid of those who don't play by the rules.

  Zhuo Tuo walked to the front and said, "I won't say any more nonsense. If the soldiers are suffering, I will suffer with them. From now on, as long as I have a mouthful of food, no one will starve to death. Tonight, you can drink and eat freely, and I'll make sure everyone is full."

  "Long live your highness! Long live your highness!" The soldiers of both armies roared, their voices shaking the sky.

  Liang Fangxu furrowed his brow and pulled Zhao Yan to one side, saying in a low voice: "Your Highness is unaware of this, but my Golden Scales Army can barely get enough to eat. I hope you will reconsider the matter of wine and meat."

  Zhao Kuang didn't hesitate, handing over all the remaining silver tickets on his body to Liang Fangxu. Wealth is an external thing, let alone that he himself was poisoned and it was uncertain whether he could survive for half a year. What's the point of leaving the silver ticket? On the other hand, it also showed great magnanimity, giving Liang Fangxu and Jinlin's soldiers a good impression. Two years later, the Jinlinwei in Bianjing would be a crucial link, and the wildfire would be ignited here.

  At dusk, cattle were transported into the school grounds, and fine wine was also brought in. Liang Fangxu was reporting to Zhao Bian on the expenses for this time. Zhao Bian was studying a sandbox in the school grounds, which was originally abandoned, but he had arranged it into the terrain of Bianjing.

  "Daughter Red and White Tan cost...", Zhao Yan waved his hand to interrupt Liang Fangxu: "General Liang, this matter doesn't need to be reported. I trust you, besides, how can a great man calculate small accounts."

  Liang Fangxu also smiled and said: "I was being pretentious, please join me in a toast."

  "Alright, let's go, General Liang." Zhao and his companion made their way into the midst of the reveling soldiers.

  It was still unclear how much he had drunk, although Zhao Yun was not very old and the soldiers did not deliberately try to get him drunk, but just drinking on his own had already made him seven-tenths drunk. At this moment, a soldier from the Imperial Guard walked up to Zhao Yun's side, whispered a few words in his ear, and Zhao Yun smashed the wine jar in his hand, furiously roaring: "Bring the person up!" The surroundings immediately fell silent, with everyone looking at each other in suspicion about what had happened.

  Five or six Imperial Guardsmen brought a bound Imperial Guardsman before Zhao Yan. The soldier was drunk, his face bright red; the prisoner was pushed gently and fell to the ground, unable to get up.

  "Do you know your crime?" Zhao Yan asked in a low voice.

  "It's no big deal, Your Highness. As people say, 'after eating comes thinking', I just went out to have some fun, why do you have to be so angry?"

  Zhao Kuo looked at the fallen generals and felt a deep sense of gravity. At this moment, he also blamed himself for not having managed them well. Historically, the Western Army had been known for its strong fighting spirit but loose discipline. Now, it was necessary to execute this person immediately; otherwise, the army would be difficult to control in the future.

  Zhao Yan said coldly, "You not only killed him, but also slaughtered his whole family. Your crimes are heinous and you deserve to be executed. If I don't execute you, it would be a travesty of military justice. My Imperial Guards will have no face to show their hometown elders. Come, execute him immediately."

  "Yes, Your Highness." Four or five warriors hesitated for a moment, but orders could not be disobeyed.

  Xue Yue stepped forward and pleaded: "Your Highness, Peng Dong was also confused for a moment. I hope to let him wait for his crime and die in battle to make up for it. Please forgive him." Several other soldiers who had a good relationship with Peng Dong also came forward to plead for him.

  Zhao Yan looked at Xue Yue with a cold expression and said in a low voice: "If someone killed your whole family, what would you do?"

  Xue Yue wanted to say more.

  Zhao Zhan stopped him and said in a calm tone: "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Today you are poisoning the people, tomorrow you will not be able to survive here. I know that the Western Army soldiers have privileges on the border, but if they want to become true elites, they must have good discipline. If there are those who do not want to stay, I can give them travel expenses and let them leave the army."

  Zhao Yi said in a low voice to the soldiers who were escorting Peng Dong: "Behead him immediately."

  Peng Dong was shocked to hear that he was going to be killed, and immediately let out a cold sweat, sobering up a bit. He shouted: "Brothers of the Western Army, this Zhao Kan wants to use us as cannon fodder, they don't take us border generals seriously at all! Brothers, take care, I Peng Dong will leave first, hahaha!"

  As Peng Dong was taken away, the morale of the Imperial Forest Army officers and soldiers was generally low. They fought hard at the border, with the possibility of death every day, so the border commanders also turned a blind eye to the soldiers' misdeeds, slowly cultivating the "privileges" tradition of the Western Army. The border civilians dared not speak out in anger.

  Zhao Kan stood in front of the stage, saying in a deep voice: "Peng Dong's crime is punishable by beheading according to law. I will provide for his family later. As the commander, I cannot shirk my responsibility and will punish myself with 20 lashes. Execute it immediately." After finishing speaking, he called for Xing Tai to be brought over, and the executioner was summoned. Zhao Kan took off his upper garment, stood in front of Xing Tai, and ordered the soldiers to bind his hands. Zhao Kan said: "Are you not going to carry out the punishment? Do not show mercy to those under your command, or else they will be beheaded."

  The executioner in the Imperial Forest Army was originally at a loss, but upon hearing that not hitting would also result in death, he summoned his strength and struck Zhao's back with all his might. In less than five or six strikes, Zhao's back was lacerated and bleeding profusely. This was still due to the executioner holding back some of his strength. Zhao's final feeling was one of intense pain before he lost consciousness.

  When Zhao Xiao woke up, he found himself lying in a military tent, with the copper stove beside him heating up the entire room. As soon as Zhao Xiao moved his body slightly, he felt a sharp pain all over.

  At this time, the door was pushed open and a cold air rushed in. Liang Fangxu walked into the room, turned around and closed the door tightly. He walked to the bedside, first saluted Zhao Chen and said: "Your Highness is really too reckless, the icy snow-covered journey is likely to be infected, even if it's the imperial physician, there's no way to cure it. But in this way, the soldiers of the Imperial Forest Army will know that Your Highness rewards and punishes clearly, and they must truly surrender their hearts. Congratulations to Your Highness first."

  "Your Highness's body has recovered extremely quickly. Normally, after such a severe punishment, one would need to rest for at least a month. But Your Highness's injury will heal in just a few days. It's truly remarkable."

  Zhao Xian smiled and remained silent, understanding that this was the effect of the Yin Yang Creation Pill, but it was also his greatest heartache.

  Several weeks later, Zhao Yun recovered and came out, promulgated new military orders, reorganized the army training, during which dozens of people left the Imperial Forest Army, Zhao Yun gave them travel expenses to help them leave the army.

  After several days, Zhao Dun had the Imperial Forest Army ready to return to the capital. The matter of Ji Qu could not be glossed over, and in the capital, a trap was already waiting for Zhao Dun.