Back in the present, Zhao Guan Jia's words plunged almost everyone into contemplation, with Zhao Jiu himself staring at Han Shizhong in silence. Consequently, the wooden military building, recently rebuilt, fell silent once more. Only the flickering candlelight danced with shadows, and the gentle lapping of the Huai River waters outside created a soft, rhythmic sound.

"How about sending Wang De to reinforce them?" After a moment, Hu Yin, a drafter in the Chancellery, proactively suggested. "And make Wang Yacha the Guang Prefecture commander?"

"Absolutely not!" Zhang Jun, the Censor-in-chief, immediately rejected the idea. "How could Wang De, with his limited experience, possibly command Miao and Liu? Even when Chancellor Yuwen went to HuaiXi to oversee things, he was first granted the title of Associate Administrator of the樞密院! Besides, changing generals before a battle might backfire!"

"Then what should we do?" Hu Yin retorted, but ultimately couldn't help but look towards Han Shizhong and Yang Yizhong, the two military experts... ever since that naval battle, it had become public knowledge that the Emperor disliked armchair strategists.

And for some reason, Han Shizhong, the Emperor's backbone, seemed lost in thought.

"Unless both the Emperor and Wang De go to Huaixi!" Yang Yizhong, seeing Han Shizhong standing in the military building, propping his chin for half a day, while the Emperor only stared at Han Shizhong with anticipation, could only helplessly spread his hands in response. "But wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?"

"Then isn't there anything we can do?" Hu Yin exclaimed anxiously. "How can the situation become so dire even after winning battles?"

"That's because the situation has never actually improved." Zhao Guan Jia finally spoke, his words like a thunderclap, ready to shatter some people's illusions on a small scale. "The so-called victories are merely superficial, and irrelevant to the fundamental military balance between the two countries..."

"What does the Emperor mean?" Zhang Jun couldn't help but ask. "The Emperor spared no effort before, inspiring the generals to lead tens of thousands of soldiers to fight bravely. Now, various righteous armies are rising up, and the enemy has sent tens of thousands of troops here, resulting in thousands of losses, yet we are to return empty-handed... just as the situation seems to be improving, how can it be superficial?"

"I'm referring to military matters," Zhao Jiu said, seeing Han Shizhong still pondering the problem, so he simply continued reclining in his seat, answering decisively, because he possessed a far more advanced understanding of the issue. "De Yuan, let me ask you, even if we haven't determined the outcome of this battle, and even if Wanyan Wushu truly retreats this time, what then? If he leads the main force of the Jin Eastern Route Army, with a hundred thousand troops, next year or the year after, can we really stop them?"

Zhang Deyuan was speechless.

"And it's not just that, there's also Li Yanxian of Shaanxi Prefecture, who fought even earlier than us this year, almost single-handedly leading righteous armies to reclaim the entire Shaanxi Prefecture, demonstrating incredible bravery... but militarily speaking, if Wanyan Loushi abandons the Western Army in Shaanxi and focuses solely on Shaanxi Prefecture, will Li Yanxian still be able to defend it in the future?"

Zhao Guan Jia sighed softly, continuing his relentless questioning.

"And then there's Commander Zong in Tokyo, who is struggling to hold out at the forefront, starting almost at the same time as us this year, relying on a bunch of disorganized defeated troops to withstand tens of thousands of Jin troops in Huaizhou, preventing them from crossing the river, undoubtedly a model commander... but whether it's Wanyan Eliduo, or Nianhan, or even Talan, if a truly elite Jin force of over fifty thousand is determined to destroy the Tokyo Command, can it really hold out, given the weakness of its defenses?"

Zhang Jun was sweating profusely, unable to respond.

"But why fight at all? What's the point of these victories that are barely achieved?" Zhao Guan Jia said with emotion, and without waiting for anyone to reply, he continued on his own, essentially engaging in a self-answered question. "Isn't it because, after the Jingkang Incident and the fall of the Two Rivers region, there is absolutely no possibility of peace between the Song and Jin dynasties, unless one side is destroyed and its people exterminated? And this kind of war is a total war. In a total war, what matters is not a single city or a single victory, but rather, every city, every victory, and even every blade of grass must be fought for!"

Below Zhang Jun, most people had become solemn.

"As it stands now, the military affairs of the Great Song are, in fact, incompetent, and there's no hiding that. So, at this time, by achieving two or three small local victories, we can tell the people of the world that the country still exists, that the country has not given up resisting, and that the Jin are not invincible. That is already a remarkable achievement! I never expect to use these few victories to determine the fate of the world. That's too far off... I just want to tell the people of the world that no matter how difficult it is, there is always a way! That's the fundamental principle of this war!" Zhao Jiu continued to sigh. "Most people don't understand this principle, and I can't easily say it out loud to shake people's confidence, but you, as young people who are pillars of the nation, must understand it!"

"Your subject is enlightened!" Zhang Jun understood that the Emperor was treating him as one of his own, and quickly bowed his head.

In fact, during this exchange, the Censor-in-chief seemed to have returned to that New Year's Eve, and he felt a rare sense of genuine shock.

Hu Yin, Lin Jingmo, and Yang Yizhong also quickly bowed their heads... honestly, besides feeling excited about being treated as one of his own by the Emperor, these close advisors thought that the Emperor was sometimes excessively casual and unbelievably ignorant, but in the current situation, he did possess some great wisdom and courage, and they were genuinely moved.

"Your Majesty!" At this moment, Zhao Guan Jia's backbone finally spoke seriously. "Actually, there is still a way!"

"I knew Liangchen wouldn't let me down," Zhao Jiu immediately smiled and turned his head. "What's the plan?"

"Attack Wanyan Wushu's camp directly, right under his nose!" Han Shizhong raised his head and chest, answering simply.

"Is it to take advantage of the enemy dividing into three parts, with only the last part of six or seven thousand troops remaining in the camp, and launch a proactive attack?" Perhaps because he had just received instruction from the Emperor, Yang Yizhong rarely actively participated in the discussion.

"Yes!"

"It's still too difficult. How can we destroy six or seven thousand Jin troops in a camp outside the city?" Yang Yizhong shook his head repeatedly. "It's not like a watery marsh where we can flood them out."

"I also don't think we can annihilate the Jin army! But if we can concentrate our forces and launch a night attack, perhaps we can burn down the Jin army's camp, depriving them of a foothold and preventing them from trying to seize the area around the Huai River again!" Han Shizhong said scornfully.

"Attack the camp without seeking to annihilate the enemy?"

"Correct."

"But how can destroying a mere camp deprive the Jin army of a foothold?" Yang Yizhong spoke frankly, more like explaining to Zhao Guan Jia and the three civil officials than helping Han Shizhong fill in the gaps.

"If the Jin army intends to retreat north naturally, occupying Mengcheng behind them as a stronghold and retreating step by step, this strategy would naturally be useless, because the Jin army would have countless continuous footholds." Han Shizhong's momentum remained undiminished. "But if the Jin army intends to launch a surprise attack on Guang Prefecture, then the two divisions of thirteen or fourteen thousand cavalry that they sent out must go north, heading towards Shunchang Prefecture. At that time, they will not occupy cities as strongholds, or if they do, they won't station a large force there... so at this time, their only foothold is the camp outside Xia Cai City! If we destroy their camp, the camp's defenders will have no choice but to go north to occupy cities for support! Those two divisions will immediately return to protect the remaining six or seven thousand troops! Otherwise, in the open field, with all their supplies lost and without any protection, those six or seven thousand people may truly be annihilated by us!"

Yang Yizhong was silent.

At this time, Han Shizhong turned to Zhao Jiu again, seriously offering his advice: "Your Majesty, the key to this battle is timing. We must launch the attack shortly after the Jin army divides into three parts and two divisions have left! We must prevent them from returning in time to reinforce, and also prevent them from launching a surprise attack on Guang Prefecture! If the Jin withdraw the second division tomorrow, then we should launch the attack tomorrow night or the night after!"

Zhao Jiu understood. The plan was to forcibly seize the opportunity created by the enemy's dynamic movement... in short, they couldn't relocate as quickly as we could attack.

"Still not right!" Before the Emperor could reply, Yang Yizhong pondered for a moment, but shook his head again. "If we are to do this, we must concentrate all our available forces as much as possible tomorrow night or the night after. But right now, Grand Commandant Zhang in Xia Cai City only has ten thousand usable troops, and the rest are laborers and defeated soldiers. If we fail, we might end up losing the fortress..."

"Yang Dalang, don't flatter Grand Commandant Zhang," Han Shizhong said, a slight smile on his lips. "Where did Xia Cai City get ten thousand usable troops? If we really want to raid the camp, only his three thousand old soldiers from Taiyuan are usable!"

Yang Yizhong was speechless, unsure whether to agree or disagree.

"But I have five thousand usable soldiers here!" Han Shizhong proudly cupped his fist. "Your Majesty, Wang De's troops can also be used! We can select a thousand from Qiao Zhongfu and Zhang Jing's troops, and a thousand from Huyan Tong's troops. Yang Dalang's Imperial Guards of several hundred can also be used!"

"If the troops here at Mount Ba Gong cross the river to attack, the Jin army's camp will be alerted long ago!" Yang Yizhong became increasingly helpless. "If we divide our forces and attack one by one, we'll only be adding fuel to the fire..."

"I understand what Liangchen means!"

While the three civil officials were digesting the information, Zhao Guan Jia suddenly smiled. "The internal ferry in Xia Cai City has been repaired. So, starting tomorrow, I'll trouble Liangchen to work hard, using large sailing ships to shield the Huai River, and small boats to transport the defeated soldiers of Liu Guangshi's old troops from Xia Cai City to the south bank. Then, transfer all the usable troops I have with me in Henan into Xia Cai City! Surprise them, and destroy the Jin army's camp!"

Everyone in the military building changed their expressions.

"Is the Emperor going too?" Not to mention the civil officials and Yang Yizhong, even Han Shizhong, the initiator of the plan, suddenly felt a little flustered.

"If I don't go and sit in Xia Cai City, aren't you afraid that Grand Commandant Zhang will screw you over?" Zhao Jiu's expression was slightly strange. "Or does Grand Commandant Zhang dare to trust you? Unless I go, the Jin army's camp can't be destroyed! Isn't that the logic?"

Han Shizhong wanted to say something but stopped, ultimately nodding heavily. Among the civil officials, Zhang Jun and the others, although their expressions changed constantly, remained motionless, seemingly having learned their lesson and knowing that persuasion was useless.

As for Yang Yizhong, he rarely thought of another layer - the Emperor's main concern in going was probably that Grand Commandant Zhang would sell out the usable troops in the Imperial Guard, right?

After all, what was there that this group of rogues from the Western Army wouldn't dare to do!

Even if he, Yang Dalang, had a close relationship with Grand Commandant Zhang, he wouldn't dare to vouch for him!

So, Yang Yizhong didn't object either.

Seeing that no one objected, Zhao Guan Jia felt a rare sense of satisfaction in his heart - after all, looking at it this way, he was actually quite useful!

ps: The 29th, steaming buns... How is everyone's New Year's supplies stockpile going? Everyone really shouldn't go out unnecessarily, and if you do go out, be sure to wash your hands and wear a mask.

Wishing everyone an early Happy New Year, good night.