Torrential summer rain.

It is said that summer is a time of abundant rainfall. The previous days of continuous drought seemed to be merely accumulating rain clouds for this downpour. The profuse rain served as a truce document, mandated by heaven, for the warring factions.

Indeed, it was heaven's will.

Firstly, as Academician Lin had previously pointed out, no matter how intense the fighting, it was merely a half-day outdoor rout, with no instances of encirclement. The Jin army's main force had ample livestock and was supported by Wanyan Huonv and Wanyan Salihe's 10,000 fresh troops in the north. Therefore, if the retreating Jin army truly desired to withdraw, the Song army was powerless to stop them.

Moreover, in this campaign, from the foot of Yaoshan Mountain to the Dongpo Plateau, the Song and Jin armies suffered countless casualties. Although the exact numbers were yet to be tallied, it was easy to conclude that the Song army's casualties were heavier, two to three times greater than those of the Jin army.

This could be gleaned from the condition of the Song army's renowned generals... Besides Zhao Zhe, the dignified Pacification Commissioner of a circuit who was executed on the spot for violating military law, five high-ranking generals with direct access to the Emperor, Qiao Ze, Li Yongqi, Jiao Wentong, Li Yanqi, and Murong Wei, were killed in action. This figure accounted for nearly a quarter of the participating generals of the same rank.

As such, the intensity of this battle was such that it would be hard to find another one or two like it in the war history of the Zhao Song dynasty.

However, precisely because of this, with the Jin army's main force retreating north beyond the Song army's reach, the Song forces, facing Wanyan Wushu's division, which still had a slight chance of being encircled, were willing to pay any price to swallow this force whole, in order to expand their victory and recoup their losses.

The effect was immediate. On the afternoon of the second day after the battle, amidst the rain, Zhang Xian's Song army finally encountered the last large-scale Jin army detachment in the marshlands east of the Five Dragon Mountains and west of the Beiluo River. They were gathering, attempting to break through the Song army's lines and retreat north to Jin-controlled territory. Upon arriving, Zhang Xian did not hesitate and immediately ordered the entire army to abandon their horses and engage the Jin army in foot combat in the marsh.

This Jin army detachment was clearly led by a senior general and knew that retreating north was their only chance of survival. Coupled with the rain, the fighting was exceptionally fierce at the beginning. However, as Song reinforcements continued to arrive, Xu Shi'an came from the Five Dragon Mountains, and Cheng Min, Liu Yan, and Li Yongqi's son, Li Shifu, led almost all of the Song army's cavalry, willing to accept losses in order to encircle them from the north. The Jin army's last effective resistance was easily extinguished.

Among the reinforcing armies, except for Liu Yan's detachment, which was willing to accept surrenders, all other detachments engaged in wanton slaughter. In this battle, a small portion of the Jin army surrendered, but the majority were killed. Only a handful desperately crossed the Beiluo River, which had not yet flooded, and continued east, attempting to escape.

Amidst the Song army's unrestrained slaughter, Liu Yan, an official of low rank but with clear higher political status, learned from the prisoners that Wanyan Wushu and Han Chang had likely fled east. He then ordered Li Shifu's detachment, the most bloodthirsty, to lead his Dangxiang light cavalry to continue crossing the river and pursue them... to cooperate with Dong Min, who had already secured the Beiluo River-Liangshan passage, to capture the latter two and bring them before the Emperor.

Regardless of Liu Yan's scholar mentality, which never aligned with other warlords, or Li Shifu's bloodshot eyes due to his father's death, the Fourth Prince of Jin, Wanyan Wushu, and Jin army Commander Han Chang, under the protection of their confidant guards, barely crossed the Beiluo River. They fled in panic in the rain, but still found no way out, and could only continue east to avoid the Song army's search.

Another day passed, and that afternoon, they heard the sound of roaring waves ahead in the rain. Then, through the rain, they saw a turbid yellow expanse and finally realized that they had traveled over a hundred *li* east in two days and nights, reaching the banks of the Yellow River.

At this moment, Wushu looked around and found that he was only surrounded by a dozen or so riders, each wounded. Recalling his boldness of leading 20,000 men west across the Longmen Pass upstream a few days ago, the hardship of the subsequent advance, the shock of that day's battle, the following relentless pursuit of scouring the mountains and valleys, and the current desperate situation, he could not help but feel sorrow and burst into tears facing the turbulent Yellow River.

Wushu's weeping caused the remaining dozen or so Jurchen soldiers to cry as well, becoming increasingly heartbroken and weak, crying until they were hoarse and exhausted, waiting only for death.

But it was this weeping that awakened a person tied to a horse.

"What are you crying about?" Han Chang was in disarray, half of his face swollen. He had been tied to the horse because he was delirious from fever. Hearing the cries, he slowly woke up, straightened his back with difficulty, and asked from the horse.

"To inform General Han," a soldier explained, wiping away tears. "We crossed the Beiluo River, but still couldn't escape. There are Song soldiers everywhere, searching for us everywhere. We tried to run north several times, but it was only to our deaths. We could only run east, and ended up at the Yellow River, completely cutting off our path..."

Han Chang nodded, but then vaguely looked at Wushu, who was crying the most bitterly: "The soldiers are at their wit's end, crying is understandable, but why is the Fourth Prince also weeping?"

Even though Wanyan Wushu was feeling miserable, he was stunned by the question. He wiped away his tears and looked at him blankly: "Why can't I cry? Am I different from them, not in a desperate situation?"

"The situation is desperate, but people shouldn't be the same when facing a desperate situation," Han Chang tried to shake his head on the horse, but even that movement was difficult. "They are ordinary soldiers, and no matter how desperate they are, it's only their own lives. They can do whatever they want. But you are the dignified Fourth Prince of the Great Jin, is your life only your own?"

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything, but hearing these words, Wanyan Wushu broke down and cried again: "General Han! It is my incompetence that has led to the loss of tens of thousands of soldiers... This time, not to mention being in a desperate situation, even if there is a bridge or a boat, how can I have the face to cross the river and see my brother?"

Hearing this, Han Chang scoffed, but then aggravated his wound, causing unbearable pain. He could only lean forward and bury his face in the horse's mane to endure it for a moment, before slowly speaking again on the horse:

"What the Fourth Prince said is very true... but the dead are already dead, what good is it to think more about it? Are you only thinking about dying, not thinking about the living? What is the situation between the Song and Jin after this battle? What about the East and West Route armies? What about the Emperor and the Grand Marshal? The Great Jin has only been established for twenty years, is it going to perish because of this one battle? As the Fourth Prince, with your extraordinary status, you can always do something for the country, right? Are you really just going to cry here and wait for death? Ignoring the overall situation?"

Wushu forced himself to stop crying and looked back at Han Chang, but could only see the other person lying on the horse's back, a bloody and dirty eye socket exposed on the wet mane... He was frightened for a moment, but also strangely moved.

The Fourth Prince of Jin knew that what the other person said made sense, but he still couldn't control himself: "General Han, what you said is very reasonable, I have many thoughts about the future in my heart... But as things stand, where can we go even if we want to? And you are so seriously injured, how can I abandon you?"

"Don't say such things," Han Chang supported himself with his hand and continued to sigh softly on the horse's back. "Heaven never seals off all exits. In this situation, if you take off your armor and jump into the Yellow River... there's a 90% chance of dying, but isn't there still a 10% chance of making it across? Leave your clothes here, pretend you entered the river, and then take advantage of the rain to drill into the mountains to the north overnight, isn't that also a way out? As for my life, even if you don't abandon me, how can I survive?"

Wanyan Wushu was speechless for a moment.

Han Chang continued, weakly urging him on: "Go quickly, a true man should die in this world like General Lou Shi, fighting to the last ounce of his strength. Crying by the river and waiting for death is ridiculous... you have the strength to cry, but not the strength to run?"

Having said this, Han Chang was extremely exhausted and only breathed heavily.

Wushu stood up and was about to speak when he heard the surrounding soldiers exclaim in surprise. He thought pursuers had arrived, but looking in the direction of the sound, he realized what was happening - a white dragon-like creature was floating downstream on the turbid Yellow River, writhing in the rain, striking fear into people's hearts.

Many Jin soldiers simply knelt down, while Wushu, who had been desperately encouraged by Han Chang to try to escape, completely lost his desire to flee.

Pursuers behind, a great river in front, and just as he was about to fight to cross the river, a dragon came downstream to block his path. In this situation, who could have even a shred of courage?

However, as the thing gradually approached and became stuck against the dead branches on the bank, Wushu and the others bravely looked closely and finally saw clearly that the so-called white dragon was just a long, barkless dead tree. Because the Yellow River was rising and the turbulent waves were rolling, it was drifting with the waves, and looked like a dragon controlling the water, writhing and brandishing its claws.

Wushu stood there blankly, watching the dead tree moving up and down, still like a dragon wagging its tail. He was silent for a long time, then suddenly began to tear at the tattered armor on his body, and soon stripped himself bare.

Then, the Fourth Prince turned around, bare-chested, and bowed vigorously on the sandy ground by the river toward the unconscious Han Chang: "I will never forget General Han's words!"

After saying that, regardless of whether Han Chang heard him, Wanyan Wushu turned and waded into the water, grabbed the dead tree from the debris, and pushed it forcefully into the river.

The dozen or so Jin soldiers accompanying him neither stepped forward to help nor imitated his action of attempting a crossing that was unlikely to succeed, but remained silent, staring at the Fourth Prince as he rolled into the Yellow River with the log, rising and falling, and quickly disappearing from view downstream.

Two quarters of an hour after Wushu disappeared, more than a hundred Dangxiang cavalrymen from Li Shifu's detachment arrived. The remaining Jin soldiers told them about Wushu's whereabouts and Han Chang's identity, then surrendered, but were all killed by the Dangxiang soldiers, who had already received Li Shifu's orders. Only Han Chang and Wushu's armor were taken back overnight.

At noon the next day, the rain had stopped early, and Han Chang was sent to the Yaoshan camp, where they were still waiting for news, by changing horses repeatedly. Hearing the news, knowing that this person's outcome would be the final conclusion of the Battle of Yaoshan, all the named officers of the army came to the central camp to observe.

"General Han, you must be a hero of the Han people. If you can surrender, you will immediately receive the treatment of a military commissioner. Although your injuries are serious, they may be healed in time. As for your family in Yanyun, we can take the initiative to retrieve them for you!" Seeing Han Chang being 'escorted' to the platform in front of the central tent, a civil official immediately came down from the top and tried to persuade him to surrender.

Although Han Chang had been tossed around all night, and his eye socket was already numb, he had avoided the rain and enjoyed a soup meal before coming up, so he had regained some spirit. He managed to lift his head and saw a middle-aged civil official, and laughed directly: "Who are you? Do your words count?"

"I am Zhang Jun, the Transport Commissioner of the Five Routes of Bazhong." Zhang Deyuan, who had arrived at the battlefield on the evening after the battle the day before, replied solemnly. "How can they not count?"

"What Transport Commissioner, you don't even have a seat. Your Emperor and that... should be the Chancellor, are sitting above. If you really want to persuade me to surrender, why don't they come and talk in person?" Han Chang squinted his only eye and looked up, winking vaguely at someone there.

Zhang Jun turned to look at Emperor Zhao and the Chancellor Yuwen Xuzhong, the only person sitting beside the Emperor. Yuwen Xuzhong, who had just arrived yesterday, hesitated for a moment and prepared to come forward to persuade him to surrender.

But at this moment, Zhao Jiu spoke loudly from his seat: "Han Chang, you have repeatedly invaded the South and committed heinous crimes. I originally wanted to kill you to appease the elders of Henan. But more than one person has suggested that Chancellor Yuwen and Zhang Jun said you came from a prominent Han family in Yanyun. If you can surrender, you can separate the Yanyun gentry and cause internal strife in the Jin Dynasty. Wu Jie said you are a proper commander of ten thousand, a dignified general in the Jin army. Once you surrender, it will shake the Jin Dynasty from top to bottom. And Liu Yan also said that you have always been brave in battle and are indeed a talented general... I thought about it and felt that what these four people said was indeed reasonable, so I agreed... That's right, if you can surrender, I will grant you the position of military commissioner and try my best to retrieve your family for you. Even if you continue to lead troops, it is not impossible!"

"This foreign general believes the words of Emperor Zhao and appreciates the Emperor's kindness." Han Chang took several deep breaths and finally became serious. "But unfortunately, this foreign general is a Han from Yanyun. Although I am willing to surrender to Your Majesty, this brave man of the Southern Court, I am not willing to surrender to the Southern Court... Your Majesty's willingness to say this is enough to make this foreign general die with self-respect and be recorded in history... Having received this kindness, I must let Your Majesty know that the Han families in Yanyun have been separated from the Central Plains for hundreds of years, and hardly one or two of them look up to the cowardly southerners! Now... this foreign general only seeks death!"

Upon these words, many generals were angered, and Zhang Jun wanted to argue with him.

But Zhao Jiu gave no chance, waving his hand directly: "General Han's words today, I dare not forget... Execute him! After death, first send his head to the various prefectures in Guanzhong to be displayed to the public, and then bury him here according to the rites."

Everyone from Zhang Jun downwards fell silent.

"This foreign general thanks you for your grace."

Han Chang reacted very quickly.

Next, Liu Yan, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, personally stepped forward and 'pushed' Han Chang off the platform. Shortly after, he brought his head to show Emperor Zhao.

Zhao Jiu only glanced at it before turning back to the tent behind the platform and summoning Chancellor Yuwen Xuzhong, Transport Commissioner of the Five Routes of Bazhong Zhang Jun, Pacification Commissioner of Yanfu Circuit Hu Yin, and Academician Lin Jingmo into the tent.

Seeing Han Chang die so decisively, the generals outside initially felt a little relieved, but then seeing the four ministers entering the tent, they each became uneasy... After all, since Han Chang was dead, this battle had officially come to an end, and some things should be said.

Sure enough, after only a moment, Hu Yin personally came out of the tent and called out in public, holding a nearly blank hemp paper: "Wu Jie!"

Wu Da immediately stepped forward anxiously, bowing his head in submission.

"By the Emperor's decree, Wu Jie oversaw the battle and fulfilled his duties. Although there were setbacks in the battle, he is ultimately a talented general. He is removed from the position of Commander of the various routes in Guanzhong, but remains a military commissioner, commanding the troops here, directing the assignments, to confront the enemy to the north."

After Hu Yin finished 'reading', Wu Da felt as if he had been pardoned. He knew that given the course of this battle, especially Lou Shi's final breakthrough, which forced the Emperor to come down the mountain in person, he would have been fine with being beheaded, but he did not expect the Emperor to approve of his command and preserve his position as military commissioner... He was relieved for a moment.

Then, Hu Yin stepped forward, stuffed a blank paper with few words into the other person's hand, and left in a hurry. Wu Jie looked closely and saw that it only said 'Merits and demerits are equal, the material of a great general' and below it was the Emperor's personal signature 'Zhao Jiu of Cangzhou'... He carefully folded it and put it away.

"Liu Xi!" Hu Yin turned back, Zhang Jun turned out of the tent again, and continued to carry out the post-war rewards and punishments with a blank paper.

Liu Xi, the Pacification Commissioner of Xihe Circuit, was frightened and walked forward on his knees.

"By the Emperor's decree, Liu Xi, the Pacification Commissioner of Xihe Circuit and the Commander of the Three Western Routes, used public office for private purposes, first clashing with the commander-in-chief, and then being incompetent in battle, almost causing a catastrophe. Considering his merits in the battle, he is stripped of his rank and demoted to a commoner, sent to the Imperial Water Army as a soldier, and will report for duty immediately after the roads are clear!"

Liu Xi took the white paper with 'Demoted to a water army boatman' written on it, trembling, and couldn't help but look at his younger brother Liu Qi.

"Liu Qi." After Zhang Jun finished reading Liu Xi's punishment, he did not turn back, but continued to declare the Emperor's decree to Liu Qi with empty hands. "Liu Qi, the Pacification Commissioner of Lizhou Circuit, is loyal and brave in his duties, with merits and no demerits. He will continue to hold his original position and lead troops, and will be rewarded in detail after the war."

Only then did the Liu brothers feel completely relieved.

"Li Shifu, father and son are both loyal and commendable. Li Yongqi is posthumously awarded the title of Duke of Nanyang!" Zhang Jun turned back, and Lin Jingmo turned out again, reading out a rough disposition of the two. "Qu Duan has not disappointed the Emperor and continues to be the Pacification Commissioner of Huanqing Circuit... Specific rewards and transfers will be discussed in detail after the war."

By this point, everyone understood that this was a form of post-war reward and punishment, expressed through the Emperor's decree, for a few of the most outstanding and highest-ranking military officers... This was also expected. After all, rewards of this level could not be achieved overnight, and the specific rewards and dispositions would probably only be decided after this battle was completely over. So, they could only use this group of outstanding people to make a gesture first, so that everyone above and below would have a clue and feel at ease.

And the most critical issues, such as whether Wu Jie's performance as commander-in-chief was qualified?

Also, Li Yongqi died in battle, and his son shot Wanyan Lou Shi with an arrow, seized his head, and captured Han Chang, so he should be commended as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the Liu brothers had one merit and one demerit. Having gone through this battle, how should the Emperor state his opinion?

Now that the Emperor had given his answers, people's hearts gradually settled down.

However, the question was, everyone had been mentioned, so why hadn't Han Shizhong?

In fact, Han Shizhong was already alarmed at this moment, because the title of Duke of Nanyang for Li Yongqi's father and son was not created out of thin air. It was the natural title when he was rewarded with the title of Junior Guardian and led two military commissions. Now, it had become the title of a Dangxiang boy? Could it be that the Emperor had long disliked this scoundrel, and after establishing his prestige in this battle, he simply wanted to get rid of him?

"Han Shizhong."

At this moment, Chancellor Yuwen Xuzhong stepped out, looked around, and finally called out the name everyone was waiting for... But to be honest, Chancellor Yuwen's face was a little too serious, so Han Shizhong did not dare to be negligent, and immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee, bowing his head beside Han Chang's head.

"By the Emperor's decree, Han Shizhong, the Commander of the Imperial Left Army, the Commissioner of Huaixi, the Junior Guardian, and the leader of two military commissions, is unparalleled in loyalty and bravery, with great merit and fame. He is always my confidant, and now has even greater merits. He should be promoted to Junior Tutor, and lead the three military commissions of Taining, Wuan, and Ningguo..." Speaking to this point, Yuwen Xuzhong paused at the nearly blank hemp paper before continuing seriously. "Tell Han Liangchen, I dare not forget the words in Jin Gou Town that day, and he is also awarded the title of Prince of Yan'an! The fief, residence, and bestowal of honors will be discussed in detail after the war! He will continue to lead troops as before! Return to Tongzhou quickly and carefully monitor Hedong!"

There was no sound in front of the tent for a moment, and no one made any movement. In the silence, Yuwen Xuzhong was helpless and could only personally step forward and stuff the hemp paper with only a few words into the hands of Han Shizhong on the ground.

Han Shizhong took the white paper in confusion. Ignoring the fact that he had just learned to read with a few children and didn't recognize many words, he quickly looked at it and saw only the four words 'Dare not forget' in the middle of the paper, plus the personal signature of Zhao Jiu of Cangzhou below. But as things stood, who would think this blank paper was useless? Han Wu, almost trembling, carefully folded the white paper and put it in his arms.

Immediately, Yuwen Xuzhong quickly returned to the tent, as there were obviously many things to be busy with.

As soon as Chancellor Yuwen left, Han Shizhong took advantage of the situation to stand up, but looked around with his head held high, not looking at any of the surrounding military generals and officials. He walked down the platform amidst everyone's silence and dumbfounded expressions, then mounted his horse and galloped away, wanting to return to Tongzhou quickly to take care of things.

It is said that it took a full quarter of an hour for the Prince of Yan'an to leave before anyone moved in front of the tent. Liu Xi, the new boatman of the Imperial Water Army, slammed his head heavily on the hard flagpole.

But soon, he held his breath and faced it, afraid of alarming the inside of the tent.

ps: Thanks to student Luliqin for the direct double cute, thanks to student Huanjia zhi wang for the third cute, thanks to student Yekuang xueji, student Lazhu chang lian shang for the second cute, thanks to student Shuichangdong~, student Dema xiya, student Tianxia qinglou junwang, student Balasen, student Xingzai shenhai 1i de mao, student Reimuu, student Yuwenganchou, student Wuzhuang caikuangche, student Mait kao suo en, student Tianzelv for the upper cute, thanks to student Wenying, student Yeyu liulan for the reward... 94 big cute, so grateful!

To be honest, everyone scared me...