旌旗 lay scattered, and warhorses emitted mournful whinnies amidst pools of blood. A pervasive, sickening stench filled the air. In the west, the fiery clouds had burned down to their final embers, and darkness, like a colossal beast possessed of life, was opening its maw to engulf the horizon.

To one side, the city walls of Zhenjiang loomed like a small mountain range. On the other, the battle within the city raged on. And here, on the open plain, the once-orderly Jurchen camp was now consumed by chaos and disarray. Catapults lay overturned, and the fiery glow of exploding bombs still burned fiercely.

In those areas illuminated by the flames, figures scurried amidst the pandemonium. Soldiers carried stretchers, rescuing comrades with severed limbs from collapsed tents and piles of equipment. Occasionally, dazed enemies would awaken from the wreckage, triggering small-scale skirmishes as Jurchen soldiers swarmed around and cut them down.

Just moments before, a fierce battle had erupted here. As dusk settled, and having pinpointed the location of Crown Prince Jun Wu, Wanyan Xiyin was preparing to pursue when five thousand elite cavalry of the Beiwei Army suddenly arrived, launching a brutal and resolute assault on the Jurchen camp's flank.

The Jurchen army, numbering tens of thousands, was concentrated at Zhenjiang, primarily focused on the siege, with minimal defensive preparations. Yet, they were not entirely unprepared for the sudden cavalry attack. Infantry rapidly formed ranks, and cannons were hastily re-positioned. In theory, any rational Wu Dynasty army would have chosen to engage in a standoff or retreat. However, the arriving cavalry merely executed a slight turn on the plain and then charged forward at full speed.

Over the past eight or nine years, the cavalry force that had seen the largest investment within the Beiwei Army was arguably among the most elite in the Wu Dynasty. But the Tushan Guard, known for its dominance across the land, had never been treated with such contempt. Confronted with the approaching cavalry, the square formation unhesitatingly closed in, leading to a merciless and desperate clash where both sides risked everything. The charging cavalry executed a slight detour, carving wide swaths of blood through the flanks of the enemy formation.

As the sun set, some warhorses, their eyes blinded, charged into the Jurchen lines as expendable units. Dismounted soldiers followed, relentlessly pursuing and slaughtering. Yue Fei, his figure drenched in blood, hacked his way towards Wanyan Xiyin's command flag. On the opposite side, Wanyan Xiyin instantly recognized the opposing general's audacious intent. They had clashed before at Xiangfan, where the Beiwei Army had been at a disadvantage against the Tushan Guard and had been repeatedly repulsed. At this moment, his hair stood on end, and he drew his sword.

"Yue Pengju! You callow youth, I'll flay you alive!"

With Zhenjiang already breached, Wanyan Xiyin held what seemed like the decisive card to determine the fate of the Wu Dynasty. However, the Tushan Guard's subsequent setbacks within Zhenjiang had somewhat tarnished his reputation—though these were minor issues. Had it been any other incompetent Wu Dynasty general, Xiyin likely wouldn't have felt insulted. The insult from an insect could be resolved by simply crushing it. But Yue Fei was a renowned general in the Wu Dynasty, known for his keen insight and tactical acumen.

Even with half of the Tushan Guard already inside Zhenjiang, at least twelve thousand elite Jurchen troops still accompanied Xiyin outside the city, supported by Yin Shu-ke's partial forces. Yue Fei, with five thousand cavalry, recklessly charged forward, his strategic objective being to directly slay him beneath the city walls, reversing the Wu Dynasty's losses at Zhenjiang.

This disregard for life and death, capable of inspiring an entire army to follow, was objectively admirable, but facing such an act from a junior general was somewhat of a slap in the face. He was both enraged and roused by the fierce, bloodthirsty spirit of his past days vying for supremacy. He immediately took command from the lower-ranking generals, rallying his troops to meet the challenge, vowing to cut down the tiger-provoking youth and leave the Wu Dynasty's most formidable force on the battlefield.

In a mere half-hour, the fiercest engagement of the entire Zhenjiang campaign unfolded on this plain. The clash between the two sides was like a cataclysmic collision of towering waves of blood, instantly vaporizing countless lives. The Beiwei Army advanced fiercely and fearlessly, while the Tushan Guard defended like an impregnable iron wall, resisting the Beiwei Army's advance and attempting to encircle and restrict their maneuverability from all directions.

During this brief period, Yue Fei led his troops in several attempts, and the path of battle and slaughter ultimately cut through the Jurchen camp. The attacking soldiers suffered nearly half their number in casualties, and were only able to break away. The losses among the Tushan elite, who had failed to keep the Beiwei Army pinned down, were even more severe. Not a single Jurchen unit dared to pursue the blood-soaked cavalry force as it rode away.

Wanyan Xiyin's expression shifted from anger to gloom, finally settling into a gnawing calm as he dealt with the ravaged aftermath. Thanks to the Beiwei Army's desperate attack, the plan to pursue Jun Wu's forces had been delayed.

On the road south from Zhenjiang, hordes of refugees streamed. After nightfall, scattered fires stretched along the roads, fields, and canal banks like a long dragon. Some paused and rested by the bonfires before continuing their journey, hoping to leave this war-torn land as quickly as possible.

Yue Fei and Wenren Buyi, along with others guarding the Crown Prince's camp, rendezvoused near midnight. During the earlier brutal battle, he had sustained several injuries. A cut ran across his shoulder and another across his forehead. Now, he was covered in blood and wrapped in a few bandages, his imposing presence radiating an aura of martial menace.

"Your subject is late in coming to Your Highness's rescue." Yue Fei and Wenren Buyi were already familiar with each other, so he offered only brief pleasantries. "I heard earlier that Your Highness had been wounded by an arrow. How are you now?"

"His Highness's arrow wound is not deep, only slightly injuring his organs, and it's not serious. But after several days of the Jurchen siege, His Highness has been running around boosting morale, without closing his eyes once. He's too exhausted and will need to rest for several days," Wenren said. "His Highness is still unconscious and hasn't woken up yet. Would you like to see him, General?"

"The country is fortunate to have such a ruler. Since His Highness is unconscious, I won't go in covered in blood. It's a pity… I couldn't kill Wanyan Xiyin…"

As the two walked through the camp, Wenren Buyi looked around. "I've heard of your bravery, General, in killing Alubao. It's inspiring. But… some in the military are saying that you were too reckless in charging Wanyan Xiyin with half your cavalry…"

The two were both connected to Ning Yi and were trusted aides of the Crown Prince. Wenren was speaking in a low voice, not to criticize but to inform Yue Fei of the situation. Yue Fei's expression was grave and somber. "Once I confirmed the news of Xiyin's attack on Zhenjiang, I suspected that something was wrong. Therefore, I led five thousand cavalry here immediately, but unfortunately, I was still one step too late. If the news of Zhenjiang's fall and the Crown Prince's injury reaches Lin'an, there will be a great change in this world. I guessed the situation was critical, so I had to take this action… I ultimately placed my hopes on luck. Brother Wenren, how is the situation in the capital? I need you to analyze and deliberate on it…"

As a general, Yue Fei was most aware of the rapidly changing situation. Wenren Buyi's expression also became serious. "...In the two days after the city fell, the Crown Prince ran around boosting everyone's morale. The soldiers inside and outside Zhenjiang fought hard, and I was also moved. When the Crown Prince was injured, there were too many people around. Soon, not only did the army show a posture of grief and move forward bravely, but the people also cried for the Crown Prince and rushed towards the Jurchen army. I knew that sealing off the news was the priority, but witnessing this scene, I couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion… Moreover, the news was really hard to seal off at that time."

He paused. "After things calmed down a bit, I wrote a letter and sent it to Lin'an, also informing them of your victory in killing Alubao. I only hope that the Princess's residence can still control the situation… Regarding Zhenjiang, although the Crown Prince was persistent and unwilling to leave, as a close aide, it was a great fault that I didn't advise and dissuade him. If this matter is temporarily resolved, I will write a letter of apology… Actually, looking back, at the beginning of the war last year, the Princess had told me that if the situation became critical one day, she hoped that I could forcibly take the Crown Prince away from the battlefield and protect him… The Princess had foreseen it…"

He closed his eyes in pain. As a close aide, Wenren Buyi knew what choice was best. But in recent days, Jun Wu's actions had been truly moving. It was a process of a young man truly growing and transforming into a man. After taking this step, his future would be limitless, and as a future ruler, he would be the ideal ruler that Confucians dreamed of, but this naturally contained dangers.

Wenren Buyi found it difficult to make a choice in this matter and ultimately could only focus on Jun Wu's will.

Yue Fei sighed. "Brother Wenren, don't be like this. As Mr. Ning said, what the world needs is the efforts of everyone in the world. The Crown Prince, you, and I have all done our best. Mr. Ning's ideas are as cold as ice. Although they are often correct, they don't leave any room for change. Back then, there were different ideas between my teacher and me. My teacher was upright and devoted his life to the cause of good and evil. He ultimately died trying to assassinate Nikan. Although he failed, he was righteous because my teacher believed that in addition to human effort, there is also a spirit and righteousness above humans. He assassinated Nikan without hesitation, ultimately believing that the Wu Dynasty had been passed down for more than two hundred years and had benefited thousands of people. The people would ultimately heal this world."

He smiled slightly, his body covered in bloodstains. "It's been more than ten years since my teacher passed away, but his spirit still influences the world. Although the Wu Dynasty is now full of chaos, I always believe that in the end, people will give this world a glimmer of hope."

After saying this, Yue Fei patted Wenren Buyi on the shoulder. Wenren Buyi was silent for a moment, then finally smiled. He turned his head and looked at the scattered fires outside the camp. "The battle of Zhenjiang is gradually settled. There are still hundreds of thousands of people fleeing south. The Jurchens may massacre them at any time. If His Highness wakes up, he will surely want to see them safe along the way. Therefore, the team evacuating south from Zhenjiang is still guarding against this."

"It should be so." Yue Fei nodded, then cupped his hands. "My main force will also come over, and I will definitely not let the Jurchen dogs harm my Wu Dynasty people. Brother Wenren, there is ultimately hope for this world. I hope you will take good care of His Highness. I will do my best to take back this world's righteousness from the Jurchen dogs."

In the dim light, the two who were already exhausted smiled at each other and cupped their hands. At this time, messengers and envoys were already running on the road south…

************

Lin'an, a night as dark as ink.

Qin Hui woke up from a nightmare. He quietly got out of bed and lit the lamp. There was a knock on the door that would only sound when there was an emergency message.

"Your clothes are on the screen…"

Unable to find his outer robe, Qin Hui was about to open the door wearing his inner shirt when his old wife's voice came from inside the bed. Qin Hui nodded, "You go to sleep." He opened the door a crack, and the servant outside handed him something. Qin Hui took it, closed the door, and went back to get his outer robe.

"I'll come over in a while, you go to sleep."

He repeated in a low voice, put on his robe, took the oil lamp, sat down in a corner on the side of the room, and then opened the message.

He looked at this message over and over again for a long time, and his eyes gradually lost focus. He just sat there in the corner, silent as if he were gradually dying. At some point, his old wife got out of bed. "...You have something urgent to do. I'll have the servants bring you water."

Qin Hui looked at his old wife, wanting to say something, but he didn't know how to say it. After a long time, he raised the paper in his hand. "I was right. This Wu Dynasty is finished…"

Qin Hui often made such complaints before. His old wife ignored him. After the hot water for washing his face came, Qin Hui slowly stood up. "Well, I need to wash up, prepare… I have to go over in a while."

"Go where?"

"Enter the palace," Qin Hui replied, then muttered to himself, "There's no way, there's no way…"

With his old wife's help, he combed his white hair meticulously. The face in the mirror looked righteous and resolute. He knew he was about to do what he had to do. He thought of Qin Siyuan, and soon after he thought of Tang Ke during the Shame of Jingkang, and said, "Look at me and Tang Qinso, we are a bit similar…"

His old wife didn't understand what he was talking about.

Not long after, people from the palace came, and Qin Hui followed them. The carriage left Qin's residence, and the fifth watch of the night sounded on the street. The city of Lin'an was still dark. It would never light up again.