New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

Outside the city of Tokyo, the vanguard of the Jin army, numbering 5,000 men, under the command of Wanyan Zongwang, had already reached the city gates. The Song and Jin forces faced each other across the city and were locked in a stalemate.

These past few days, Wanyan Zongwang has felt somewhat irritable.

His vanguard was the first to arrive, and the capital of Song was right in front of them. It was the perfect opportunity to make a name for himself. If he could capture the outer city before the main force led by Wanyan Xieye arrived, it would be a great achievement.

He thought the Song army on the city wall would collapse at the first touch as usual and be powerless to fight, but he underestimated the determination of the Song army and people to defend Tokyo to the death. The vanguard battalion launched two sieges at Xincao Gate in the east of the city and Chenqiao Gate in the north of the city, but encountered fierce resistance from the Song army. After several battles, the Jin army not only made no progress, but also suffered nearly 300 casualties.

Hearing the Song soldiers standing atop the sturdy city walls shouting "May the Great Song Dynasty be victorious!", Wanyan Zongwang nearly coughed up blood and fell off his horse. He drew his long sword from his waist and pointed it at the walls of Tokyo: "Li Gang, you old scoundrel, I swear I will take your head!"

After camping outside the city for several days, Wanyan Xun's supply corps successfully arrived at the battlefield.

Wanyan Xun had thought that by marching so hastily and completing the mission two days ahead of schedule, he would at least receive some reward. When he excitedly went to the vanguard camp to complete the handover, he didn't even get to see the vanguard commander.

Despite his resentment, Wanyan Xun did not show it on his face. The Jin army had a strict hierarchy, and as a grain transport officer, he was not part of the vanguard battalion's combat order, so it was not surprising that he could not see Wanyan Zongwang.

A great battle will soon take place, and Wanyan Xun is not worried at all about not having the opportunity to make a name for himself in one battle.

The city of Tokyo was also quite unsettled these past few days. Various rumors, both true and false, made the people of the city extremely nervous. When someone confidently claimed that the Jin army outside the city numbered at least several hundred thousand, the entire city was thrown into a frenzy.

I've heard that the Jin soldiers are eight feet tall, each with a blue face and fangs, looking like fierce demons. I wonder if the imperial guards can withstand them. If the city falls, wouldn't all of us unarmed civilians become sitting ducks?

The common people were filled with anxiety, and so was His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, who was in the imperial palace.

When Emperor Huizong first received news that the Jin army was approaching the capital, he thought he had misheard. The Jin were allies of the Song Dynasty and brothers who had fought together to destroy the Liao. How could they possibly turn their guns on the Song? It was utter nonsense.

When Wanyan Zongwang led his army to attack the city, he suddenly realized what was happening, his face turned ashen, and he completely lost his composure, only able to mutter repeatedly, "What should we do?"

At this moment, the members of the imperial cabinet were completely lost and confused. They had lost all the ruthlessness and cunning they usually displayed when forming cliques and engaging in infighting. Instead, they all looked dejected and had no idea how to defeat the enemy.

It was at this critical moment that the pro-war faction, Li Gang and Zong Ze, stepped forward. Under their direct advice, Emperor Zhao Ji personally wrote an edict of self-reproach and posted it throughout the city for the people to read. Li Gang even took the lead, leaping onto the city wall to fight the Jin army. This move was indeed effective. The imperial guards in the city were able to unite and engage the Jin army in close combat several times. They did not suffer any losses, but instead, they won several minor victories thanks to the strong city defenses.

The reports of successive heavy losses to the Jin army did not ease Zhao Ji's anxiety, because he knew that the troops outside the city were only the vanguard of the Jin state. Even if they were completely annihilated, the city of Tokyo was still in imminent danger, and the army led by Wanyan Xieye was rushing towards him.

As a series of urgent bugle calls sounded from the city walls, the defending officers Li Gang and Zong Ze strode up the walls. Looking out, they saw a vast expanse of open ground outside the city, with banners fluttering and a dark, imposing army stretching for miles, seemingly without end. Catapults and siege ladders were arranged in orderly rows, creating an overwhelming sense of impending dominance. Inside the commander's tent amidst the vast army, generals from various armies, clad in armor, stood on either side, all intently watching the middle-aged man seated in the center of the tent. Tang Qian, a Song general who had accompanied the Jin army as a staff member of Wanyan Xun, also stood in an inconspicuous corner of the lower right of the tent, observing this Jin general who had instigated the Jingkang Incident, forever branding Zhao Ji and Zhao Huan with infamy.

He was over seven feet tall, with a broad back and thick waist. His face was covered with wrinkles as if slashed by a knife and axe, and his beard was slightly white. His somewhat cloudy eyes revealed a resolute spirit. This image was not much different from the unkempt barbarian general in Tang Qian's mind.

only……

From the outside, Wanyan Xie was full of energy, and his attitude of not returning until Tokyo was conquered was indeed quite intimidating. However, Tang Qian vaguely sensed something unusual from the occasional signs of dejection that the other party showed.

The Jin general's face was unusually flushed, an unhealthy, liver-colored hue, and his body was swaying slightly as if about to collapse. Clearly, he was struggling to maintain his position in front of his soldiers. These subtle signs indicated that Wanyan Xieye's health was in trouble.

"That's not right. This old guy should still have five years to live, so why is he already showing signs of dying? Could the historical records be wrong?"

Tang Qian was lost in thought when the sound of armor plates clashing together brought him back to his senses. He saw a general standing at the head of the column step forward and kneel down in the center of the tent to apologize. It was Wanyan Zongwang, the commander of the vanguard battalion of the Western Route Army.

Wanyan Xie also waved his hand, signaling him to stand up: "The vanguard battalion's first battle was a defeat, not your fault. In war, people always die. As for your hundreds of casualties, we will make up for them after we capture Tokyo."

The vanguard battalion's duty was to clear obstacles along the way for the main army's march. The entire battalion consisted of the most mobile light cavalry, also known as the Jin cavalry as the "Hooked Horses" by the Song people. They were extremely powerful in field battles, and the sight of 5,000 men charging on horseback could probably terrify the Song army. However, when faced with the towering and sturdy city walls, the Hooked Horses could only look on with envy.

"The vanguard battalion's attack was not without effect. At least it showed us that the military and civilians in Tokyo are now united. This time, we should be prepared for a tough battle."

Wanyan Xie also glanced at the generals under his command and said, "It is the duty of all of you to expand the territory of the Great Jin, and it is also my long-cherished wish. The emperor of the Great Song is incompetent and foolish. How can he possess this vast land? Today is the day for us to create an immortal great cause. Are you all willing to go with me?"

"This humble general is willing to go through fire and water for the Great Jin Dynasty, and will not hesitate to die ten thousand times."

"Good! Then follow me out of the camp to fight the enemy." Wanyan Xie suddenly stood up and walked out of the tent. A group of generals followed suit, mounted their horses, and left the camp. They then rode to their respective military formations to await orders. Only Wanyan Xun and a few other logistics officers were left to climb the watchtower and gaze at the battlefield ahead with complicated emotions.

As the first drumbeat sounded, the shield bearers at the forefront of the formation raised their shields above their heads and slowly advanced.

Following closely behind were engineers working in pairs, each carrying a plank; these men were tasked with building a pontoon bridge over the moat in front of the city gate.

Further back were the soldiers responsible for setting up siege ladders, and finally the swordsmen who scaled the city walls and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Song army.

The vanguard began to move, with archers on both flanks providing cover. As they advanced, they drew their bows and fired arrows, and countless arrows rained down on the walls of Tokyo.

The Jin army below the city began to attack, but the Song army on the city wall did not make any move. Even after the barricades below the city were moved and the various traps were discovered one by one, there was still no movement on the city wall. The soldiers were all crouching behind the crenellations of the city wall, observing the Jin army's every move through the observation holes.

As the Jin army approached the moat and erected a pontoon bridge, a Song general drew his longsword and pointed it to the sky: "Brothers, kill the enemy!"

At the general's command, all the officers and soldiers began to move. The archers, positioned on higher ground, engaged in a volley of arrows with the Jin army. Countless stones the size of human heads rained down, knocking the Jin soldiers who were building the pontoon bridge off their feet. Many more stones fell into the moat, splashing water several feet high.