The first year of Shaotai, the festive atmosphere of the New Year dissipated.
In hopes of a smooth new year with favorable weather, the emperor and his ministers earnestly debated for a month before issuing an edict to change the era name to Shaotai. No one expected that the first day after the change would witness a sudden invasion of Junzi Pass by the Jurchen people.
Led by Jurchen Prince Yingwu, Tuoba Tai commanded thirty thousand troops from Junzi Pass along the Hutuo River, advancing directly into Hejian Territory, while Roc King Tuoba Wu led more than thirty thousand troops to attack Changfeng Town from Zhang Family Village in Bazhou as reinforcements.
Meanwhile, farther afield, tens of thousands of Jurchen soldiers were crossing the Great Wall Pass in Baozhou.
In an instant, Dingzhou, Qizhou, and Hejian were engulfed in flames like hell.
The army from east and west Hebei moved urgently, and the Minister of War ordered all generals to lead reinforcements once more.
The capital was under martial law.
There was not a hint of the New Year atmosphere in January, as posthouse soldiers galloped through the streets regularly.
Although there were still quite a few people on the streets, it was not as bustling as in previous years during the New Year, with people shoulder to shoulder. Posthouse soldiers moved freely without needing to crack their whips to clear the way.
"Why is there fighting again?"
"Weren't peace talks initiated?"
"It's been said all along that the Jurchen people can't be trusted."
"This is terrible. Duke of Chengguo has fled. Can Uncle Qinghe handle the Jurchen people?"
"Have you packed your things? Are you planning to flee?"
"Isn't it alright? Didn't they say it's been stopped?"
Such were the conversations on the streets; tense and uneasy, yet without panic, perhaps because they had just experienced war last year and emerged unscathed.
The public could remain calm largely because they didn't know the specifics of the war. Meanwhile, the emperor hadn't slept for several days.
"... The Jurchen people claim that our military and civilians have stolen their livestock..."
"....This is nonsense..."
"... No, they say they were urged by the dynasty to pay tribute..."
"...Ridiculous, who's been urging them... By the way, the tribute hasn't been paid yet...."
"...The Jurchen people are inherently deceptive and untrustworthy. The peace talks should never have been initiated..."
"...Lord Huang, have the Jurchen people given you any explanations?...."
The emperor slapped the desk with a resounding noise, causing the noise in the grand hall to immediately quiet down.
"I don't want to know about their treachery! I don't want to hear whose fault it is!" he shouted. "What I want to know now is whether they've been stopped?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, the northern army has intercepted the Jurchen soldiers in three directions. Additionally, the generals of Shandong and Shanxi are on their way to support the two routes of Hebei. The Jin thief will surely be exterminated."
With no other options, an official from the Minister of War had to step forward and speak.
But contrary to his usual practice of listening to whatever his ministers said, the emperor sneered at this moment.
"You've said so much, but doesn't it mean you haven't stopped them?" he shouted, both angry and frustrated. "What on earth are you useless people doing?"
The official from the Minister of War lifted his head.
"Your Majesty, this is all because of Uncle Qinghe's redeployment of defenses, leading to unstable morale and unfamiliar soldiers, which gave the Jurchen people an opportunity," he said through gritted teeth.
"Lord Liu, you're hostilely accusing without any evidence," immediately another official stood up and retorted angrily.
The emperor also looked coldly at this official from the Minister of War.
Unstable morale, unfamiliar soldiers, and giving the Jurchen people an opportunity?
These two reasons aren't enough. Surely there's another reason?
Duke of Chengguo Zhu Shan being stripped of his military command, that's what they're really hinting at, isn't it?
The emperor's face showed a mix of shame and anger.
This wasn't his mistake. It was your mistake, Uncle Qinghe's mistake.
"Tell Uncle Qinghe, I want an explanation from him," he stated coldly.
Just like before, without any conclusion, the officials left after a round of noise and continued anxiously mobilizing troops and awaiting news.
Huang Cheng's expression was also very unpleasant.
"What exactly happened that allowed the Jurchen people to attack?" he asked.
"My lord, it was kept secret for a long time, but initially there was an internal traitor who opened the gates of Junzi Pass, allowing the Jurchen people to enter silently. The guards at Junzi Pass were caught off guard and slaughtered. If it weren't for an unknown guard who set fire to the beacon, Hejian Prefecture would have received the message even later," a low-ranking official said in a low voice.
Huang Cheng cursed, but then appeared thoughtful.
"How could there have been a spy?" he asked, suddenly turning his head to ask, "Where did Zhu Shan escape to now?"
The officials exchanged glances, as if understanding something.
Indeed, by now, the entire court had to direct their blame towards the peace talks and towards punishing Duke of Chengguo, led by the emperor and Huang Cheng. The emperor would certainly not acknowledge his own mistakes, so the unfortunate one left would only be Huang Cheng. If Huang Cheng fell, they wouldn't have a good end either.
At this point, a scapegoat was needed.
And with Duke of Chengguo carrying the crime of treason and fleeing, he couldn't be more suitable.
"I will have Uncle Qinghe investigate," an official said formally.
Watching the officials leave with their orders, Huang Cheng's brows slightly relaxed as he approached his carriage and received his little servant.
"Get in touch with Yu Chihai's people," he said in a low voice. "I want an explanation!"
The servant boy agreed quietly, helping Huang Cheng onto the carriage.
.......
.......
In the frozen, snowy wilderness, the sound of horns echoed, accompanied by the thundering hooves of horses. A formation of Jurchen soldiers seemed to emerge from the desolation, advancing in a wave towards a city ahead.
The sound of hooves, the howling, the red and white banners like a sea behind them.
As far as the eye could see, there were thousands of heavily armored elite soldiers, advancing with an imposing momentum like an overwhelming tide.
The city ahead seemed silent and desolate. Upon closer approach, countless corpses were scattered on the ground, and climbing marks were left on the city walls, indicating it had already endured several assaults.
The city wasn't tall and was somewhat dilapidated. With the tremors from the horses' hooves, the entire city wall seemed to breathe heavily like an old man.
The Jurchen soldiers drew closer, and just then, the tightly closed city suddenly opened, and troops surged out.
The scene startled the Jurchen soldiers.
In all their sieging attempts, this was the first time they had seen Zhou soldiers coming out to engage.
Are they crazy?
But that wasn't all. As the Zhou soldiers charged out, their formation changed to reveal a series of shield carts behind them.
Never heard of using shield carts to counter cavalry...
The Jurchen soldiers thought, just as the thought flitted across their minds, they heard a sharp whistle. Before they could react, spears rained down like fire.
The cavalry at the forefront were instantly pierced, not just one, but in a series. Simultaneously, stone bullets flew, and with a roaring blaze, the front of the city instantly turned into a hell on earth.
Amid screams, fire smoke filled their vision, leaving the Jurchen soldiers in the rear camp startled and pale.
"Which army is garrisoned at Suning?" a shout rose from within the Jin Camp. "How did they withstand three attacks and even dare to counterattack?"
Along with the questioning, thousands of the Jin cavalry had already been repelled, the survivors fleeing back swiftly, pursued by the advancing Zhou cavalry, who adjusted their formations as they moved.
The cavalry stood tall with long spears and flags fluttering, one banner particularly eye-catching.
"It's the Qingshan Army!" a Jin General exclaimed, his face changing color.
The mention of the name plunged the formerly solemn military formation into immediate commotion. Even the horses seemed to understand, neighing and stamping anxiously.
This annoyed the Jin General sitting among them somewhat.
"Just a Qingshan Army, how many can there be?" he barked, "We have so many men, and not far behind, we have the Prince Yingwu's army for support."
Yes, this reassuring thought gradually calmed the distressed formation. But in the next moment, above the city ahead, fireworks bloomed with sharp whistles, in shades of red, orange, yellow, and green.
What is this now?
The Jin General appeared dazed; at such a time, were these Zhou Soldiers still celebrating the New Year?
"My lord, my lord, it's bad, Zhou Soldiers are coming from all sides," a scout urgently reported.
From all sides?
The Jin General climbed onto the cart and looked around, indeed seeing the smoke and dust billowing from all directions on the plain, with countless war flags, and dense troop formations advancing this way.
There were indeed many stationed troops at Suning, but those garrisoned here seldom cooperated in battle, let alone actively leaving the city for reinforcements when a city was besieged.
What was happening this time?
The sound of war drums came from the city ahead.
And these were not merely the drums of engagement—the Jin General, observing from a high place, clearly saw that as the war drums beat, the advancing formations of Zhou Soldiers were also beginning to change formations.
Though somewhat disorderly and awkward, the formations created in haste carried an aura of deathly resolve.
Were they planning to encircle and annihilate them?
This was something they often did themselves.
The Jin General was both shocked and enraged, raising his great knife high from the high platform.
"Engage!"
Horns blared all around, war drums crackled, the battle cries shook the heavens.
.......
.......
Those stationed at Beiwang Pass, far from the battle at Suning, could not see the slaughter firsthand but watched with intense attention.
The torches illuminated the entire fortress as if it were broad daylight, making it hard to distinguish whether it was day or night.
Uncle Qinghe stood before the map and the sand table, sometimes silent, sometimes pacing back and forth. The generals around him dared not speak loudly, either whispering or softly coming in and out.
Outside came a sound of hurried footsteps.
"Victory report, victory report," a messenger shouted hoarsely, stumbling into the room and falling to his knees.
Uncle Qinghe, as if awakened by a splash of cold water, looked over sharply.
"Where?" he barked.
"Suning Pass," the messenger cried.
A wave of joyous exclamations filled the room, even Uncle Qinghe clenched his fist tightly in delight.
"I knew the Qingshan Army would surely hold," a general said.
Uncle Qinghe's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, his expression became complex upon hearing this remark.
However, now was not the time to get distracted.
"If Suning is secured, our situation will be alleviated," Uncle Qinghe said, "Next, it is our turn to attack."
He spoke as he stood before the sand table, and the generals quickly gathered around.
The morning light streamed into the tent, the torches' reflections made one somewhat dizzy, and soldiers cautiously extinguished them one by one.
.....
......
Flags waved, and horns sounded; this was the order to cease pursuit. The advancing military formations came to a halt.
With the formation paused, waves of cheers broke out on the morning-lit earth.
The winter morning light was piercingly cold, with every soldier's face flushed red and white, covered in bloodstains, yet their eyes were bright with jubilance.
They felt both the joy of survival and the thrill of victory after a fierce battle.
The horns sounded again. Watching the waving flags, the soldiers instantly stood erect, instinctively adjusting their steps, shifting formations, and beginning to collect the spoils of war and their fallen brothers.
"Who could have thought we actually besieged the Jin troops and sent them fleeing?" muttered a general.
"Indeed, to be honest, I really didn't want to fight," another general whispered.
They whispered to each other, when the sound of galloping hooves intensified, accompanied by the soldiers' shouts. The two looked up to see a group of riders, led by a woman.
This woman wore a battle robe with a thick hat, with faint scars on each cheek, although on the battlefield, no one paid attention to this.
Zhao Hanqing halted before them, her back adorned with a bow still stained with blood, looking down on them from her position.
The two generals exchanged a glance, respectfully raising a hand towards her.
Their rank was far higher than Zhao Hanqing's, and showing such proactive respect already signified great esteem.
"I said, everyone listen to me, I won't send them to die," Zhao Hanqing proclaimed loudly, not looking at them but instead surveying the surroundings, "But this time, there was still a unit that disregarded the orders to leave the city. Since they disobeyed my command, I won't consider them as comrades."
Is this a young girl throwing a tantrum? The two generals exchanged puzzled looks.
Doesn't seem logical; shouldn't everyone listen to your commands? Uncle Qinghe said you were here to assist us with training, not to be the commander, so how did it come to everyone obeying your orders?
"Indeed, in maneuvering troops, formations are crucial—she taught us that when the time comes, the formations should shift following her drums," a general whispered.
Alright, there's no choice there—after all, if the formations can save lives and win battles, people will follow them.
"...We must hold Suning Pass, so I will assign each of your units a cannon and a crossbow carriage..."
The young woman's clear voice echoed.
The two generals suddenly snapped to attention, no longer caring about any tantrum or her dismissing disobedient soldiers as comrades.
Everyone saw how powerful these cannons and crossbow carriages were. Getting one would indeed be like adding wings to a tiger.
Warfare is the greatest drain on troops; no general wants to see heavy losses in their forces, thus striving for better equipment and weapons.
That the Qingshan Army was willing to share such divine weapons with them truly treated them as brothers.
On the battlefield, these were bonds of life and death—what more need be said?
Surrounding cheers erupted thunderously.
Zhao Hanqing's horse trotted in place, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"Live and die together, fearless and unyielding!" she shouted, raising her bow high.
"Live and die together, fearless and unyielding!"
The shout swept across like a tidal wave.
Li Guorui couldn't help but shiver with goosebumps.
Alright, from this moment on, the Qingshan Army at Suning Pass was in charge.