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

The commander of the Jin army this time was Yelü Shu, a valiant general of the Liao Dynasty who had surrendered after countless battles. His 30,000 cavalrymen were a combination of Liao veterans and surrendered Song elites, forming a force to be reckoned with.

Although the Jin soldiers constituted only a small number in this mixed army, they were like brilliant stars embedded in the vast military formation. Most of them served as generals at various levels with decisive command. Having just experienced a battle with the Song army, the Jin soldiers' momentum remained undiminished, and the local people closed their doors and hid wherever they went.

Upon learning that one of his troops had been attacked by local armed forces in Tangyin, Wanyan Cong immediately dispatched his subordinate Yelü Shu to retaliate. Having suffered considerable losses during the recent Jin-Song conflict, he saw this as an opportunity to vent his anger.

On the roads of Daming Prefecture, trampled by the iron hooves of the Jin dynasty, though it was foreign territory, the lamentations of the people could not be concealed. Whenever the Jin cavalry slowly passed through the villages, their true forms were like hungry wolves in the night, mercilessly tearing apart the peace and tranquility of this land. They not only plundered resources but also took pleasure in brutality, using the suffering of innocent people as sacrifices to demonstrate their power.

Yelü Shu, a high-ranking commander with considerable military power, chose to turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by his soldiers, even condoning them. In his view, an elite army should be forged in blood and fire; only by immersing every heart in the abyss of ruthlessness and slaughter could they sweep away all obstacles and fear nothing in the flames of war. His belief was a cold, ironclad law, the most brutal page in the philosophy of war.

However, this logic came at the cost of countless lives. On this land shrouded in the shadow of war, people harbored both a yearning for peace and a silent protest against tyranny. Yelü Shu's indifference and stubbornness not only paved his path to military glory but also quietly sowed the seeds of a future turbulent one.

A nimble scout, riding a swift horse, galloped from afar, the sound of hooves echoing across the open plains with a sense of urgency and determination. He reined in his horse beside the general, his expression grave.

"Reporting to the general, the city of Tangyin lies ten miles ahead, hidden behind a thin veil of mist, its tranquility exuding an unusual aura."

He reported in a deep voice, his voice soft yet each word clear, like an arrow piercing the morning breeze, striking straight to the heart.

"According to our careful observation, it seems that there is a prophet in the city. The city gates are tightly closed like an iron wall, without the slightest gap, as if keeping all external threats out. What is even more remarkable is that on the city walls, banners flutter and armor gleams, with countless elite soldiers standing ready, their eyes sharp as torches, surveying every inch of possible threat. This scene clearly shows that they have made all the necessary preparations and are waiting for the invaders."

Yelü Shu's voice was deep and powerful, penetrating every inch of air in the tent as he calmly inquired, "Where is Zhang Chao, the left vanguard, at this moment?"

After he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became tense, and all the generals' eyes converged on one spot.

A moment later, a tall and upright Han Chinese general stepped forward from the ranks, his steps firm and his demeanor imposing.

He clasped his hands in salute, his voice strong and clear, echoing within the tent: "This humble general, Zhang Chao, respectfully obeys the general's orders, awaiting orders at any time, and is willing to serve the general with utmost loyalty!"

Yelü Shu nodded in satisfaction: "I hereby appoint you to lead three thousand soldiers as the vanguard of the main army. You must make sure to clear out the area around Tangyin."

On the city wall of Tangyin, Li Zhen retrieved the drone from the air.

"The Jin army has sent a large number of men this time. It seems we are in for a fierce battle."

Yue Ying rubbed his hands together and said, "Don't worry, Chief. A few Jin soldiers are no match for me. When they come, I'll run them over with my tractor and show them what I, Yue Ying, am capable of."

Wang Changdao, carrying his semi-automatic rifle, said, "My gun seems to be a bit thirsty; these Jin soldiers can just feed it."

Seeing his subordinates' arrogant and domineering behavior, Li Zhen couldn't help but laugh in anger.

"You two should learn more from that scoundrel. Look at your unruly behavior. How will you lead troops into battle in the future?"

Mr. Bad Guy bowed slightly to Li Zhen: "My lord, I have organized the laborers in the city. Once the fighting starts, they can help us transport supplies and equipment to the city walls. In addition, I have also arranged for yamen runners to guard the main roads in the city to prevent those villains from taking the opportunity to cause trouble."

Li Zhen nodded and smiled, then led everyone to the middle of the city wall, where a modern mortar was prominently displayed, with boxes next to it filled with shells.

"Who gave you permission to place them like this? Move the shells further away right now!"

Upon witnessing this scene, Li Zhen angrily rebuked the squad leader in charge of the mortars, saying that if a fight broke out, a single spark could easily ignite the shells, causing a major problem.

Qian Dazhuang ran over with a big smile: "Don't be angry, Chief. I told them to put them like this. I thought it would be more convenient to use them if they were closer together."

Li Zhen sighed with a sense of disappointment, just as he spotted Zhang Chao's Jin army rushing towards them in the distance. He said to the crowd, "Alright, I'll show you the power of this thing and see if you dare to release it carelessly again."

As he spoke, he adjusted the firing angle of the mortar. When the sights were almost there, he took a shell from a soldier. He gently placed the mortar shell at the muzzle, and with a release of his hands, the shell was fired.

"Tom!"

"boom!"

The cannonballs exploded in Zhang Chao's cavalry, killing three or four Jin soldiers on the spot.

The Jin soldier who had run to the front glanced back and immediately shouted, "Heavenly Thunder! They know sorcery!"

These words immediately caused panic among the Jin soldiers. They no longer cared about Tangyin City in front of them and fled to places they thought were safe.

The sudden, deafening explosion, like a thunderclap splitting the sky, instantly shook the surroundings. Even the usually composed Zhang Chao felt a sudden jolt in his heart, a torrent of emotions churning within him. However, as the commander-in-chief, he knew the immense weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. At this moment, his personal fear and wavering had to be buried deep within him, transformed into an invisible fortitude.

He took a deep breath, his gaze sharp and penetrating through the chaotic dust and terrified eyes, quickly and calmly assessing the surrounding situation. Sweat streamed down his resolute face, yet it did not shake him in the slightest. At this critical juncture, Zhang Chao displayed extraordinary composure and decisiveness; he knew that only by remaining calm himself could he stabilize the morale of his troops.

After a series of arduous efforts, relying on his extraordinary wisdom and exceptional leadership, Zhang Chao finally led his troops to gradually quell the sudden chaos.

Seeing that Li Zhen could kill several Jin soldiers a mile away with a single shell, Qian Dazhuang, who hadn't taken the mortar seriously before, was dumbfounded. If one was this powerful, what would happen if a whole bunch of them were blown up at once? Wouldn't everyone on the city wall be sent flying?