Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

No one expected that this street battle would last for five days.

Over five days and five nights, the Jin army mobilized more than 60,000 troops, yet they were unable to shake the Song soldiers and civilians who were determined to fight to the death.

As the war intensified, both sides committed more and more troops, which completely exposed the weaknesses of the Jin army in street fighting.

First, the command system went out of control. Once the battle lines were set up, the general's deployment could not be effectively transmitted to the scattered troops. As a result, when they encountered small ambushes, they fought independently and could not form effective group operations, which led to them being divided and annihilated by the Song army.

Secondly, due to the limitations of the terrain, the powerful cavalry could not exert their advantages in open areas. Not only could they not pose a threat to the soldiers and civilians in the city, but their warhorses became a burden, often obstructing the infantry's advance, causing them to miss many opportunities and even find themselves in a dilemma on several occasions.

Third, the infantry combat strength was not superior to that of the Song army's elite troops. The Jin people relied too much on cavalry and did not pay much attention to infantry tactics and techniques. When facing the well-trained garrison of the capital, they were always at a disadvantage. There were even times when the Song army could easily defeat two Song soldiers.

Fourth, their military discipline was questionable. Perhaps they were blinded by the prosperity of Bianjing, and even when they were engaged in fierce battles with the Song army, they did not forget to plunder the wealth of civilian houses, which directly led to them being surrounded and attacked by Song troops many times their size when they were alone.

Finally, the Jin army seriously underestimated the determination of the Song people and soldiers to resist to the end.

The Jin people had always held the stereotype that the Song Dynasty was weak and easily bullied, and that as soon as they brandished their swords, the Song people would be so frightened that they would kneel down and beg for mercy, and then let themselves be slaughtered.

But this time, even Wanyan Zongbi did not expect that the Song people's resistance would be so fierce, and they chose to fight to the bitter end even after the city was breached.

On the morning of the sixth day, as Li Gang led the death row inmates who had undergone emergency training to the battlefield, the stalemate in the battle instantly took a subtle turn.

After the last wave of Jin troops hastily retreated to the north gate tower, a thunderous cheer erupted within the city.

Covered in blood, Guo Huang stood before the ruins filled with the smoke of war, watching the fleeing Jurchens, and raised his nicked broadsword.

"May the Great Song Dynasty last ten thousand years!"

Behind them, soldiers and civilians waved their weapons and cheered together.

"Eternity~~"

"Eternity~~"

"Eternity~~"

On the city wall, Wanyan Zongbi and Wanyan Loushi looked at each other without saying a word, remaining silent at the same time.

The Song army's resistance this time completely exceeded everyone's expectations...

A terrible thought arose in Wanyan Zongbi's mind: if the Song people are so united, then my Great Jin will probably never be able to cross the line again.

"Report! Urgent report!"

Just then, a scout rushed in to report.

"The Song reinforcements have already broken through the defenses ten miles away and are heading towards Bianjing."

Wanyan Loushi's eyes turned cold: "How many troops do you have?"

"Approximately ten thousand people."

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Zongbi took a deep breath and clenched his fists, which were as big as sandbags, tightly.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and decisively ordered: "Order the entire army to withdraw from Bianjing City and re-establish camp at the Bianhe Camp!"

Wanyan Loushi: "We've fought our way to this point, are we just going to give up like this?"

Wanyan Zongbi shook his head: "No one can predict whether this Song army will be as tenacious as the defenders inside the city. If they cooperate from within and without, the losses of our Great Jin will be much greater than this."

Wanyan Loushi thought about it and agreed that it made sense.

"Damn it, I was just one step away!"

Out of resentment and anger, he slammed his hand on the wall.

Instantly, a corner of the wall shattered...

Inside the Bianhe camp outside the city, Wulu knelt before Wanyan Zongbi, filled with remorse.

Wanyan Zongbi remained silent, focusing only on slicing a half-cooked lamb leg at the table.

Seeing that he couldn't cut it, he simply tore off a piece with his bare hands, glanced at it, and stuffed it into his mouth to chew.

Wolu: "Your Highness, please give me another chance. I was just one step away from taking Bianjing, really just one step away!"

"I'll give you another chance?"

Wanyan Zongbi smiled slightly, stopped tearing the meat, stood up, picked up a knife, and walked to him.

The next moment, the blade was pressed directly against his neck.

Wolu remained expressionless, his eyes bloodshot.

“Wolu, stand up.”

Wulushun got up, but kept his head down and dared not look Wanyan Zongbi in the eye.

"hehe."

Wanyan Zongbi coldly sneered as he sheathed his sword, then held it in his hand and toyed with it back and forth.

"Give you another chance? I gave you a full six days, and in those six days, my Great Jin warriors, under your leadership, were utterly defeated by the Song people."

I just took stock of the casualties; do you know how many casualties our Great Jin suffered in these six days?

Wulu shook his head: "Your subordinate doesn't know, I was only focused on fighting the Song people at the time..."

"Only concerned with fighting? You truly are a warrior of our Great Jin Kingdom! But Wolu..."

Those were three thousand lives! Just because you said "only caring about fighting," they were all lost in vain. How can I give you another chance?!

Suddenly, Wanyan Zongbi lost control of his emotions and hurled his sword at Wulu.

The cold blade grazed Wulu's cheek, leaving a shallow wound.

With a crisp "thud" echoing inside the tent, the small cleaver used for slicing meat was deeply embedded in the target hanging at the tent entrance.

"Whoo~"

This was the first time Wulu had ever seen Wanyan Zongbi so angry, and he felt his breathing become rapid.

"I'm sorry, Oru, you must forgive me. I'm not that kind of person, I just..."

After venting his anger, Wanyan Zongbi seemed bewildered. He walked up to Wulu, opened his arms, patted his shoulder, and stammered incoherently, not knowing what to say.

"I'm sorry, Oru, I... I don't know what's wrong with me. I just feel a tightness in my chest when I think about how many warriors died."

"Your Highness, it is all my fault. Please, Your Highness, punish me according to military law."

"Don't misunderstand, I won't kill you, I... hiss..."

Wanyan Zongbi took a deep breath, sat back down at the main desk, and rested his head on one hand with a solemn expression.

"Wolu, I need some peace and quiet. You can go out now."

"Yes."

Not long after Wulu left, a servant came to report: "Your Highness, the Fourth Prince, Zhang Yu requests an audience."

"Let him in."

"Yes."

Before long, a middle-aged scholar with a feather fan and a turban, dressed in a black Confucian robe, entered the main tent.

His name is Zhang Yu. He was originally a senior official in the Ministry of Revenue of the Song Dynasty. Because he was not given important positions in the Song Dynasty, he and his family voluntarily surrendered to the Jin Dynasty when the Song and Jin Dynasties first confronted each other across the river. Now he is a staff member under Wanyan Zongbi.

Seeing Wanyan Zongbi's worried expression, Zhang Yu asked softly, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Wanyan Zongbi: "Why do you ask questions you already know the answers to? You're just wasting my time. Alas!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu smiled and gently waved his feather fan: "Your Highness, there is no need to worry. I have come here precisely to resolve the current predicament."

"Ok?"

Wanyan Zongbi immediately opened his wolf-like eyes and looked at Zhang Yu in disbelief.

"Do you have a way to breach the city?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu gently waved his feather fan and said, "If the general uses my plan, our Great Jin can easily take Bianjing without losing a single soldier."