The chaotic sound of footsteps broke the solemn silence of the imperial palace. Several officials were almost sprinting, and no one criticized them for their lack of decorum.
"When did they get here?"
"Are the feudal authorities' soldiers along the way all dead?"
"They disguised themselves and looted, burning and killing under the cover of night, exterminating all in their path."
"Punish Jingdong Road!"
Qingzheng Hall was even more chaotic.
"What punishment now!" the emperor shouted, slapping the table, "Even if we killed them all now, can it stop the Jurchen people?"
The hall quieted.
"What do we do now? What do we do now?" the emperor angrily said, pointing at the people in the hall, "What's wrong with you all? The Jurchen people are already under our noses."
All officials knelt down in unison.
"I am guilty."
"Your Majesty, it has been discovered that these are just scattered Jurchen soldiers," an official hastily raised his head and said, "Their numbers are few, less than three hundred men, disguising and covering tracks, which is why they managed to launch a surprise attack up to Jingdong Road."
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, Jingdong Road has already intercepted and killed them," another official hurriedly said.
While the words were being spoken, an urgent official rushed in.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, they have been stopped, blocked," he shouted, "Jingdong Road has already killed 108 Jurchen soldiers, captured 34 alive, the rest fled, and the whole region is pursuing them."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, and the emperor also sat down in his dragon chair.
"Leave none behind," he added, his face still unsettled, "Strictly guard both Jingdong and Jingxi, we cannot allow such a situation to happen again."
The officials responded in unison, and the emperor waved them away tiredly, and the officials hurriedly bowed and exited, Huang Cheng was called back.
"What exactly do the Jurchen people want? Have they sent a response?" the emperor asked anxiously.
Huang Cheng remained calm.
"They still want money and goods," he said, "They mentioned it's hard to survive through winter until spring, and I am negotiating…"
"What's there to negotiate? Isn't it just money and goods? Quickly send them away," the emperor interrupted him with impatience.
Huang Cheng hurriedly agreed.
"I will personally go to meet them." He lifted his head, as if making a decision.
The emperor waved dismissively.
"Go on, go on, hurry up and go," he said.
Huang Cheng bowed in response.
The capital streets were filled with anxious crowds, as discussions and inquiries were happening everywhere.
"Did the Jurchen people really come here?"
"It's terrifying!"
"Isn't the capital in danger then?"
"Quickly run southward."
Speaking of running, it wasn't that easy, the citizens were anxious and fearful, but soon someone conveyed the latest news.
"It was a group of scattered soldiers, already exterminated."
"That's what I thought, how could they get here?"
"The Jurchen people are adept at such bandit-like acts, often looting suddenly as a group when they were in the northern lands."
"There are a hundred thousand troops on Jingdong Road."
This news somewhat eased the fears of the citizens.
"Let's observe, after all, the emperor is here."
"Who has connections to inquire for the latest information?"
The gathered crowd blocked the street, forcing a team of guards to urge them to give way.
Upon seeing the guard team, many citizens recognized it as Lord Huang's carriage. Although they hurriedly gave way, some couldn't help but inquire.
"Lord Huang, did the Jurchen people really come here?"
Of course, Huang Cheng wouldn't answer this question, but he didn't pass through in silence; the managers accompanying the carriage indicated to the crowd.
"Don't spread rumors," he said, "The Jurchen people didn't come, it was just a small group of scattered soldiers, already exterminated."
Huang Cheng was a significant official in the dynasty, hearing this assurance from his men, the citizens felt relieved and began to inquire more eagerly.
The manager didn't answer again, just gestured.
"Military matters shouldn't be discussed frivolously," he said, escorting the carriage forward under the protection of guards.
The crowd was stopped and watched Huang Cheng's carriage move ahead, suddenly someone noticed the direction was wrong.
"Why is Lord Huang heading out of the city?" someone asked.
Many were weighing whether to flee during these times; was Lord Huang planning to do the same?
If officials were starting to flee, then…..
"Lord Huang is going to meet the Jurchen's envoy," someone with insider information said, making a face of joy, "This is good, if there's negotiation, there's no need for war."
Ah, so that's it, the surrounding citizens all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes, yes, the Jurchen people are just greedy for money and goods, just give it to them."
"We don't lack these things, quickly send them away."
The atmosphere on the street was considerably lighter than before, countless expectant eyes watched Huang Cheng's carriage depart.
Even outside the city gates, the manager felt a burning sensation on his back, and couldn't help but wipe his forehead's sweat.
"Master, are we really going to find the Jurchen?" he asked in a low voice after entering the carriage.
"Where would we find them?" Huang Cheng spoke indifferently with closed eyes, "The King of Hell's palace, or do you want to go to the northern lands?"
The ones originally from the capital that Yu Chihai left behind have been killed by them, and now going to the northern lands is nothing but seeking death, it's the palace of the King of Hell.
The manager felt embarrassed, but more puzzled, since why had they been deceiving the emperor about negotiating with the Jurchen, and why now they claimed they were going personally?
Huang Cheng opened his eyes.
"Are you foolish?" he said, "Of course it's time to flee. The Jurchen people have arrived, why stay, waiting to accompany Emperor Renxiao?"
Ah? It's a flight? Have the Jurchen really come? Is history repeating itself from Emperor Renxiao's days?
The manager stared wide-eyed in shock.
.......
......
Rapid footsteps echoed in the Northern Administrative Court.
"The lord has arrived."
Seeing Lu Yunqi approach, the crowd hastily made way, revealing a stretcher being carried behind them.
Lying on it was a person, covered in blood.
Lu Yunqi stepped forward and looked down.
It was Eighteenth Jin.
His face was pale like golden paper, clearly severely injured.
Seemingly sensing Lu Yunqi nearby, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Lord Lu," he called weakly, as if confirming.
Lu Yunqi nodded.
"It's me," he said, "You may speak now."
Eighteenth Jin exerted himself to lift his hand, grabbing Lu Yunqi's hanging sleeve.
"My lord, the Jurchen, are here," he exerted all his strength to say, "Jingdong West Road is already unable to resist..."
His words trailed off as he spent his last breath, his hand powerlessly falling, eyes still wide open.
The present Jinyiwei all changed their expressions, while Lu Yunqi's face remained impassive, and he reached out to close Eighteenth Jin's eyes.
.......
........
Dust flew across the wilderness, accompanied by shouting and cursing.
"Scumbag, weren't you pretty tough? Why run?"
"Fight with Grandpa."
Jokingly, "So fat, you can't run, can't catch up."
The chubby soldier panted, unable to resist leaning against his knees as he stopped.
"Brother Han, what you said was really inaccurate," he said, looking at the soldiers beside him, "You said I was fat, if so when encountering the Jurchen I couldn't run and would get killed; turns out I met the Jurchen, but when I couldn't run, it wasn't the Jurchen killing me, rather I'm the one going to kill them."
Brother Han laughed heartily, watching two Jurchen soldiers fleeing towards the mountain pass.
"Hurry up, hurry up, they're escaping!" the chubby soldier urged, "Their heads are worth a General Leader's!"
Others also wanted to chase, but Brother Han remained calm.
"Don't worry, they can't run, Old An and his troop are blocking ahead, just wait, those little punks will eventually come back," he said, and with a thud rest his long spear on the ground, looking like he's waiting patiently.
This was rather amusing, others laughed along, only the chubby soldier was discontented.
"Old An's men are very clumsy, maybe they can't block them," he said, sprinting forward, "I gotta go check."
After just a couple of steps, he was too exhausted to continue, again bending over to catch his breath.
The men behind, Brother Han Si and the others, burst into laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" The fat soldier retorted irritably, glancing back at them. "Even though I run slow, I'm good with a gun. Just wait, I'll take down those two by myself soon..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw the originally laughing faces of Brother Han Si and the others suddenly freeze.
"Fatty, run." Brother Han Si shouted abruptly.
Run? The fat soldier snorted twice.
"I won't run." He said.
Before the words were out, he saw Brother Han Si and the others begin to retreat.
"Fatty, quick, run." They all screamed hoarsely, and as they shouted, each began to run back.
The fat soldier was stunned for a moment and reflexively turned around to look; his face filled with horror.
The two woodcutters who had fled earlier returned, no longer in a panic, with menacing smiles. And behind them appeared a cavalry unit.
The front row of five, each riding so that one led two horses, armored with bronze helmets, wielding scythes, bows, and long spears, having a flag strapped to their backs.
How could there be Jurchen soldiers again?
And cavalry so formidable?
Not only five men, they were slowly advancing, and behind them, unit after unit of cavalry appeared, the narrow mountain pass seemed to have turned into a pocket continuously spewing forth as if endless.
"Fatty, quick, run."
Brother Han Si's desperate shout came over.
Quick, run, yes, quick, run, the fat soldier swung his arms and legs forcefully.
It seemed the way he ran was laughable; behind him, the Jurchen soldiers laughed heartily, speaking in languages unknown, horse hooves echoed behind, drawing closer yet hesitant, like a cat teasing a mouse.
"Fatty, Fatty, quick, run."
Brother Han Si turned back and shouted tearfully but saw the fat soldier had stopped his feet.
"Damn his grandmother." He suddenly shouted, "I can't run anymore, not running!"
He gripped the long spear and turned to charge back toward the Jurchen soldiers.
A nearby Jurchen soldier, without hesitation, swung a scythe at him, from height slashed, breaking the fat soldier's spear, directly cutting upon his head.
A scream rang out, bringing up a spurt of blood.
Brother Han Si had eyes reddened, gritted his teeth, and turned back.
"I'll fight you to the death!" He shouted.
Anyway, there's no escape; rather than being toyed with to death, it's better to try to drag someone down with you.
The other soldiers also turned around, clenching their long spears, roaring as they charged at the Jurchen soldiers.
...
....
Atop the high platform, a general watched the front with a pale face.
"How... why.. are there so many..." His voice trembled slightly, "Wasn't it said.. only three hundred scattered troops? This is nowhere near three hundred…"
In the wilderness, vision engulfed by Jurchen soldiers treading forward densely packed, as clouds covering the sky blocking the sun.
Three hundred? This thirty thousand is far too many...
"Can't withstand it anymore… the capital…" The general murmured, with hints of tragic solemnity, "Facing the enemy…"
...….
.....
"That's impossible! How could the Jurchen people have so many troops attacking into the capital?"
Uncle Qinghe shouted.
"Zhu Shan, stop fearmongering. You're currently a prisoner by decree, I won't let you lead the northern lands."
The Duke of Chengguo looked at him.
"Don't you think the whole thing is off?" He said, "Starting from the Jurchen people's sudden peace talks."
Off, how?
If you can't win, then naturally you talk peace...
The Duke of Chengguo nodded again.
"Hmm, with your brain, of course, you wouldn't notice." He said.
Uncle Qinghe was incensed once more.
"Zhu Shan, you..." He shouted.
The Duke of Chengguo raised a hand to stop him.
"Lord Bo, now is not the time for us to argue." He said, his words landing, as a general entered from outside, face ashen.
"Lord Bo." He knelt with a thud on the ground, voice hoarse, "Scouts report, Jurchen have reached Jingdong Road."
As expected!
Uncle Qinghe shot up.
"How many?" He asked shakily.
Jurchen breaking through the northern lands invading Jingdong Road isn't impossible; Jurchen light cavalry are adept at raids, but typically in packs of dozens or hundreds, either fleeing after harassment or being caught.
The general swallowed, seemingly unable to meet Uncle Qinghe's eyes.
"Not clear for now, approximately..." He seemed unable to stand, bending to lie on the ground, voice muffled, "Forty thousand..."
Forty thousand, not much in terms of battlefield numbers, and the Jingdong Road garrison far outnumbers that count, but that was before; now, half the garrison has been redeployed to support the northern lands.
No wonder the Jurchen could mount such a sizable raid…
No wonder the Jurchen laid a trap for him…
No wonder the Jurchen insisted on the northern lands three counties in peace talks for easier troop movements and deeper penetrations…
Their true intention lay not in the northern lands but the capital….
Uncle Qinghe lifted his foot to rush outside.
"Someone, gather the troops…" He shouted.
The Duke of Chengguo grabbed him.
"Gather, and then what? Do you intend to pursue?" He said.
At this point, there's no catching up.
Uncle Qinghe's face turned blue and white; the capital… the capital…
Are the old stories of Kaifeng about to repeat?
"While you were deploying reinforcements, I sent troops from Suning Pass toward the capital." The Duke of Chengguo said.
Uncle Qinghe jolted, eyes lit with hope.
Calculating by that time, there might be some chance….
However, the Duke of Chengguo shook his head.
"I said before, all I know is the Jurchen people's deceit, I'm not a deity, don't know what exactly they do or when they do it, hence, time still seems insufficient." He said.
"The most crucial thing is, near the capital, can't hold…" Uncle Qinghe continued.
Even if Suning Pass's Qingshan Army pressed close, it's still not intercepting ahead; as long as the Jurchen have a day's chance, bypassed Jingdong Road defenses, to them, the capital is like tofu...
"Hope the capital can hold its walls; as long as it holds out, until reinforcements catch up…" He murmured, clutching his hands, but face looked utterly forlorn.
The capital, impossible, to those there, having never experienced the brutality of war, the Imperial Guard, let alone if they have the courage to fight, even if they face a battle, fighting strength still…
It's over.
Uncle Qinghe's vision darkened, collapsing into the chair.
"However, although I'm not a deity."
The Duke of Chengguo's voice rang out again.
"But this world does indeed hold miraculous events, and miraculous individuals."
Uncle Qinghe puzzled looked at him.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
The Duke of Chengguo gazed towards the direction of the capital, his expression serene yet placid.
"That person is still there, there's still a shred of hope." He said.
That person?
Which person?
Uncle Qinghe furrowed his brow.
...….
...….
With a soft click, sitting on the bed, Miss Jun placed her hand on her knee, turning her head backward to look.
Light shone from above, then was immediately overshadowed; footsteps sounded, Lu Yunqi entered.
"You're back just in time, I have something to say." Miss Jun said, looking at him.
........
(Two chapters combined in one update.
Not tricking anyone, see, Miss Jun has appeared... pointing fingers, grinning happily, continue requesting votes, thank you all)