Traveling back to the Northern Song Dynasty: Picking up a princess as my wife

Despite the fact that every soldier fought with all their might, their eyes burning with an indomitable flame, their swords flashing like lightning, determined to cut off the enemy's retreat.

Unfortunately, despite their high morale and brilliant tactics, Li Zhen's troops were outmatched by the cunning breakout of over a hundred Jin cavalrymen.

There are two reasons: First, the team lacked cavalry capable of engaging the enemy, like a tiger without its claws, making it difficult to hunt down the nimble enemy on the vast snowfield; second, the heavy snow not only obscured visibility, turning the world into chaos, but also impaired the soldiers' perception and reaction, making every precise interception extremely difficult.

On this snow-covered battlefield, the receding hoofbeats of each horse are like the quiet, metallic sound of the scales of victory tipping.

At this moment, Bu Liang was standing on the city wall, looking at the tragic scene outside the city. He said to Li Zhen in a deep voice, "Has the lord thought of a countermeasure? Once the Jin soldiers escape and report the news, it will attract more Jin people here."

Li Zhen sneered, "In this chaos of war, who knows if these Jin soldiers are actually Song soldiers in disguise?"

When Bu Liang heard Li Zhen's words, he was first stunned, and then he secretly gave him a thumbs up: You are shameless!

Wang Changdao, Li Zhen's die-hard fan, stood at the center of the battlefield, his figure elongated in the setting sun, appearing exceptionally resolute and lonely.

He held a long sword, its tip still dripping with undried blood, each drop seemingly telling the story of the battle's brutality. His eyes were cold and deep as he swept over the Jin soldiers still struggling in agony, not yet completely dead, without the slightest hesitation or pity in his heart.

"Finish them off!" His deep, powerful voice echoed across the battlefield, like the pronouncement of death. At his command, his soldiers moved swiftly, some wielding spears, others gripping short blades, closing in on the wounded enemies step by step, ending their pain and struggle in the most decisive way.

On the battlefield, even the wind seemed to freeze, leaving only the mingled scents of blood and tragic grandeur. Wang Changdao gazed at the scene, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Who could have imagined that the man who once trembled at the sight of the Jin soldiers would now lead thousands of his men in a direct confrontation with them? Truly, fate was cruel.

Li Zhen shouted to the soldiers who had fought: "You've all worked hard today. We'll have an extra meal tonight, a roast chicken for each of you."

Upon hearing this, the entire army was filled with fervor, waving their arms and cheering loudly like a surging tide. Indeed, on this arduous journey, the occasional meat dish was a rare comfort, like a spring of sweet water found in the desert, but today's gift was a whole roasted chicken, its allure so strong that it could move even the most resilient soldiers.

This is not just a feast for the taste buds, but also the highest praise for their fearless courage and unremitting efforts, allowing every weary heart to regain vitality and hope in this unexpected surprise.

The roast chicken was of course stored in Li Zhen's mysterious space. Before this time, Li Zhen specially bought all the cooked food he could think of, just to hold a large-scale gathering or something.

Just as Li Zhen was preparing to hold a celebration, Qian Dazhuang rushed over.

"Chief, a group of Song cavalry has been spotted three miles east of Tangyin County. Judging from their direction, they are heading towards us."

Li Zhen's heart tightened, and he quickly ordered: "Have all those cleaning up the battlefield outside the city withdraw, and close all the city gates."

Three miles is but a fleeting moment for swift cavalry, from the first light of dawn to the sun high in the sky. The echoes of the city gates slamming shut still reverberate in the air, and before the dust has settled, the vanguard of the Song army's iron cavalry has already descended silently like ghosts beneath the towering city walls. The sound of hooves is fine yet rapid, like a whisper of time, announcing the sudden arrival of a storm.

The Song army's vanguard scouts, like ghosts, darted along the edge of the battlefield, their sharp eyes piercing through the thin veil of morning mist. When their gaze unexpectedly fell upon a scene of devastation, littered with the remains of Jin soldiers not yet completely buried by the dust of war, a ripple of emotion stirred within them, and an indescribable sense of astonishment crept onto their brows.

These corpses, like silent testimonies, recount the fierce battle that had recently taken place here, and their current neglect only adds to the eeriness and unpredictability. The scout's heart pounded, his mind racing with possibilities. Tangyin City, this ancient and sturdy fortress, did it harbor like-minded allies, or lurking enemies waiting to strike?

The surroundings were so quiet that only his own heavy breathing and the soft clatter of his horse's hooves over the gravel could be heard. This stillness held an uneasy undercurrent, a hint of the unknown. The scout knew that every small decision could tip the scales of the entire battle; he had to be extremely cautious.

So he observed his surroundings more closely, trying to glean clues about the true situation within the city from every detail. The wind, too, seemed to become sensitive at that moment, gently caressing his resolute face, carrying away a trace of doubt, but also bringing deeper contemplation.

Scout captain: "General, a large number of Jin soldiers' corpses have been found outside Tangyin City. Judging from the situation, a battle has just ended."

Lin Pingzhi, a battalion commander under Han Shizhong of the Song army, looked at Tangyin City and pondered: There don't seem to be any of our people here. Could it be the rebel army?

Just as Lin Pingzhi was pondering this, another scout came running.

"Reporting to General Lin, this is intelligence sent out by our people inside the city."

Lin Pingzhi took it from the scout and carefully examined its contents.

After a long while, Lin Pingzhi said with a smile, "I wondered who was in Tangyin City. It turns out to be our Prince Consort Li Zhen. Let's go and meet this Prince Consort."

After saying this, Lin Pingzhi led his men on horseback toward the south gate, and soon they arrived at the city.

At this moment, on the ancient city walls of Tangyin City, hundreds of archers stood solemnly like a dense array of cold stars, each pair of eyes gleaming with a cold and resolute light.

Their figures blended seamlessly with the weathered city walls, their silence concealing a powerful, impending storm. Arrows were drawn, bowstrings twanged faintly, and the air itself seemed thick with tension, ready to explode.

Li Zhen stood atop the highest point of the city wall, his gaze sharp and piercing through the thick fog, fixed on the unknown, turbulent land below. Every subtle movement he made tugged at the taut nerves of the surrounding soldiers. At his command, hundreds of composite bows would instantly transform into the wings of death, countless arrows as sharp as eagle beaks whistling through the air, mercilessly striking the restless figures below.

This was a contest of strength and will, a split-second decision between life and death. On the city walls stood warriors sworn to defend their homeland; below, an unknown force sought to invade. In this tense standoff, every second felt incredibly long, as if time itself had frozen.

Lin Pingzhi seemed oblivious to the arrows gleaming coldly on the city wall. He smiled and called out to Li Zhen, who was standing on the wall, "Is that Lord Li Zhen, the consort of Princess Fushun?"

Li Zhen was taken aback for a moment, then his mind raced and he suddenly remembered that Princess Fushun was none other than the gentle and charming Zhao Yingluo.

A faint smile played on his lips, his tone laced with a hint of mockery and composure: "My name is Li Zhen, but I am not the prince consort you speak of. I am merely the lord of this small town of Tangyin. I am curious, what is the purpose of all of you venturing into my humble abode in such a grand manner?"

His gaze was gentle yet profound, as if he could see into people's hearts, yet it retained the dignity and composure befitting a ruler. His words demonstrated his nonchalance towards his past status while subtly steer the conversation toward the visitor's purpose, creating an atmosphere that was both polite and subtly inquisitive and wary.