Huyan Tong couldn't help but panic.

Although he was from a military family, he was a descendant of the Huyan clan, whose ancestors were known for being a bit dim-witted and lacking in cunning. He had only been assigned to follow Emperor Zhao by Han Shizhong on a whim, so he was never quite comfortable with the inner workings of the imperial entourage.

He was nothing like the smooth and sophisticated Yang Yizhong, and didn't know how to read the Emperor's mind, nor how to deal with civil officials and eunuchs properly. Some of his inappropriate remarks had even led to impeachment by the censorate. In this respect, the commander Huyan was not even as good as Liu Yan, who at least knew how to remain silent.

However, he was still a general from the Western Army, and knew the importance of things. Given his awareness of his responsibilities and his discomfort in his position, it was understandable that he was a bit flustered.

Besides, no matter what, the enemy had arrived too quickly. Scholar Lin had only arrived in the morning, and the enemy troops appeared west of Ruyang City at noon. Even taking into account Scholar Lin's terrible riding skills, the speed suggested that the Jin likely moved directly from Dengzhou after defeating Zong Yin's monks.

Such a swift reaction and decision were shocking.

But all of this was beside the point. With the enemy at hand, all pretense and reassurance were meaningless. Huyan Tong reported to Emperor Zhao with the professionalism of a seasoned general, ordering the gathering of all stragglers outside the city, hastily dismantling the floating bridge outside the city, and closing the city gates. The four councilors who had just left were instructed to oversee various locations in the city to calm the populace, and Emperor Zhao himself ascended the west city wall.

This time, he wasn't wearing armor.

"The enemy has only five hundred cavalry." Under the afternoon sun, Huyan Tong, having regained his composure, pointed towards the shimmering Ru River and briefed the Emperor. "This is a common Jin tactic. They always send a small, elite force ahead for a rapid assault. If they can successfully intimidate or seize a city gate by surprise, they can easily achieve their objective. Before, outside Xiacai City, the vanguard was that Pulu Hun who was killed in battle. He was the first to reach the city."

Emperor Zhao, sitting on the city wall and looking at the flags across the Ru River, recalled the scene he had witnessed on the banks of the Huai River and nodded slightly. "In that case, it should be one of Aguda's most capable *mengkuns* (thousand-man commander) under Wushu's command?"

"That's likely the case," Huyan Tong shook his head, looking slightly doubtful. "But the scouts reported that the flags bore the characters 'Yelü' and were white horse banners..."

Yelü and a white horse undoubtedly meant Khitans. Zhao Jiu realized Huyan Tong's reaction, but remained silent.

The Jin military had been a mythical force for the past decade, so many Song ministers, generals, and even civilians believed that Jurchens were simply better at fighting than Han Chinese, Khitans, or Xi people, as if they had two extra arms.

According to this line of thinking, the traditional Song generals had a hard time understanding why the Khitans, Xi, and Han Chinese from the Liao territory, who used to be on their level, suddenly became so formidable after surrendering to the Jin.

For Emperor Zhao, the answer was simple. From its inception, the Jin had high-ranking Han Chinese, Xi, Khitan, and Bohai officers. The strength of the Jin army came from its strict discipline, the morale boosted by successive victories, and its emphasis on military technology, not from race or ethnicity.

But it wasn't the right time to say this, and even if he did, it wouldn't make much difference.

"It should be Yelü Ma Wu." After hearing the introduction, Liu Ziyu, standing behind the Emperor, pondered for a moment and guessed the likely candidate. "A Liao defector, formerly a recruiting commissioner. During the Taiyuan battle, he served as a general under the brothers Wushu and Bali Su... He was unremarkable before defecting, but after joining the Jin, he reportedly always fought personally at the front, fearless of death. Judging by the current situation, he probably earned many merits and was formally integrated into the *mengkuns* system, becoming a proper *mengkuns*."

"If that's the case, I'm willing to lead troops down and meet him!" Huyan Tong couldn't restrain himself and volunteered to fight.

After all, the Emperor's reprimand earlier had made him quite ashamed, and the fact that it was a Khitan made him even more indignant.

"Defend the city," Zhao Jiu said helplessly, and reprimanded again. "You are the only commander in the city, and most of the garrison are your old subordinates. What if something happens to you? Besides, there's the Ru River in between, and the pontoon bridge has been dismantled. Is he waiting for you to come, or are you waiting for him to come?"

Huyan Tong was embarrassed.

"Commander Huyan, don't take it to heart." Liu Ziyu quickly advised. "Being careful and guarding the city is a great contribution... This Yelü Ma Wu didn't cross the river upstream beforehand. When he arrived here and saw the pontoon bridge was broken and the city was tightly defended, he must be at a loss."

"That's right. Instead of worrying about these mere five hundred men, while the enemy is still looking for a chance to cross the river and the main force hasn't arrived, quickly send more messengers out." Zhao Jiu arranged. "Send more messengers to tell the surrounding towns to guard themselves carefully and not to come to Ruyang. Send formal envoys to Han Shizhong and Wang De to warn them to be careful of being surrounded and attacked."

Huyan Tong knew the importance of things and acknowledged the order. After giving his instructions, Emperor Zhao stood up to return to the city to reassure the people, as previously discussed, leaving Huyan Tong to oversee the defense of the city... Because in that short amount of time, due to the closing of the city gates and the withdrawal of people from outside the city, there had already been some disturbances in the city.

Thus, Zhao Jiu led Scholar Lin and Adjutant Liu, along with about thirty or forty armored palace guards, down from the city wall. They ran into Zhang Jun, the Censor-in-Chief, and Wang Yuan, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, who had come specifically to find the Emperor. After a few words, they rode along the streets together to patrol and calm the people... But after only patrolling one street, before Emperor Zhao could find a good opportunity to perform, Huyan Tong suddenly sent another team of guards, saying there was serious military intelligence and requesting the Emperor to return to the city wall.

Helpless, Zhao Jiu had Zhang Jun, in his capacity as Censor-in-Chief, lead half of the guards to suppress the unrest, while he led the rest back immediately.

Unexpectedly, this time he didn't return to the west city wall, but under the guidance of the guards, directly ascended the north city tower, which had no Ru River obstruction. There he met Huyan Tong.

As soon as he climbed onto the city tower, without Huyan Tong saying a word, Emperor Zhao realized what was happening... Because with the naked eye, dust was rising in the northern fields, indicating a large military force was approaching. Judging by Emperor Zhao's rudimentary eyesight, honed at Mount Bagong, it looked like there were about four or five thousand people.

"Is the main Jin force also this fast?" Zhao Jiu felt as if his opponents were cheating. "And they crossed the river so early?"

"They're not Jin," Liu Ziyu blurted out. "This isn't the kind of movement cavalry would make..."

Emperor Zhao felt embarrassed, but also puzzled.

"Indeed, they're not Jin." Fortunately, Huyan Tong immediately reported, covering up the Emperor's momentary embarrassment. "To inform Your Majesty, this subject was ordered to send messengers out of the city from this side to transmit messages to various places. But not long after leaving the city, someone encountered this force on the northern road. The leader claimed to be surnamed Zhai, a member of the Xiping righteous army. Hearing that the Jin had defeated Zhao Zongyin in Dengzhou, they guessed that the Jin might launch a surprise attack here. So, without reporting, they immediately led the various tribes northwest of Caizhou to come here to protect Your Majesty..."

"Zhai Chong of Xiping, whom Yan Xiaozhong spoke of?" Emperor Zhao was overjoyed, almost ordering to receive this army into the city, but he stopped himself and forced himself to remain calm. "Is Yan Xiaozhong among them?"

"I don't know!" Huyan Tong shook his head. "Because the situation is unclear and the timing is too coincidental, this subject dared not act on his own and requests Your Majesty to make a clear judgment..."

"Send someone to investigate clearly, and ask about Yan Xiaozhong's whereabouts. If he's there, have him come to the city to see me first!" After thinking for a moment, Zhao Jiu could only give this order.

Huyan Tong accepted the order and immediately went down the city wall to make arrangements.

Regardless of how Huyan Tong went to find Yan Xiaozhong, with this army gradually approaching Ruyang City and displaying Song military flags, the atmosphere on and off the city was already different. Yelü Ma Wu, who had been unwilling to give up and was looking for a shallow place to cross the river on the west side, immediately abandoned the idea of crossing the river when he saw such a large Song army appearing on the north side of the river. He only gathered in the northwest of the city and monitored from afar across the Ru River.

On the other side, the Song army on the city wall was naturally invigorated by the arrival of reinforcements. Even as many of the court officials with official positions, without organization or discipline, went up the city wall to take a look and then returned to spread the news, the originally turbulent streets gradually calmed down.

After a long time, seeing that the sun was setting and Yelü Ma Wu was setting up camp on the other side of the river, the righteous army, which had been visible on the plains, gradually arrived at the city. Yan Xiaozhong, whose stature and appearance were hard to forget, was riding a donkey and reappeared in Zhao Jiu's field of vision.

"Minister Yan, how did you come here?" Zhao Jiu was relieved to see him on the city wall.

"Your Majesty!" Yan Xiaozhong, covered in sweat, dismounted and bowed with his hands clasped in front of the city, holding the donkey's rope. "I served as a laborer in the Jin army and learned some of their military tactics. Then, in Xiping in the west, I heard of the great defeat at Wuguan, so I immediately urged Zhai Chong to set off here... Besides Zhai Chong's troops, there are righteous armies gathered along the way from various places northwest of Caizhou, totaling no less than five thousand men, arriving just in time! With these five thousand men, we can fill the entire city wall, and Ruyang City will be as solid as a rock!"

Zhao Jiu nodded repeatedly and was about to order the city gates to be opened to let him in.

But at that moment, Liu Ziyu, who had been silent, suddenly tugged on Zhao Jiu's sleeve and whispered, "Your Majesty, even if Yan Xiaozhong is here, we can't open the city! This man must have been captured by the Jin!"

Zhao Jiu's expression didn't change, but he was startled. After thinking for a moment, he was about to refute.

At this time, Wang Yuan on the other side also lowered his voice and said seriously, "Your Majesty, I also think Prefect Yan is reliable, but what about Zhai Chong?"

Zhao Jiu remained unconvinced. "Yan Xiaozhong's resistance in Tangzhou is not a fiction, and Zhai Chong and Yan Xiaozhong were united before the Jin arrived. Furthermore, We and the entourage made a temporary decision to come here after the Shouzhou battle. Could they have been spies before Wushu came to Jingxi, and foreseen the present situation?"

"We are not doubting Prefect Yan." Liu Ziyu sighed and said helplessly. "The key is that Commander Huyan was too right with his earlier statement... Your Majesty, the timing is too coincidental! Even if Yan Xiaozhong or Zhai Chong are trustworthy, are all the others in Zhai Chong's army reliable? If one or two hundred of them are planted by Wushu, can Great Song withstand it? To take a step back, even if they are all trustworthy now, once they enter the city and see that Your Majesty's troops are few, and the city is surrounded by the Jin, will they all still be reliable then?"

Zhao Jiu was speechless, but only for a moment. Then he slowly shook his head again. "That's still not right... If we don't allow them to enter the city, what if they resent us for not trusting them and scatter? What if they surrender to the Jin? When the main Jin force arrives and defeats them, what will happen to the morale in the city?"

Liu Ziyu and Wang Yuan were both alarmed and speechless. However, one thing was very clear: the two of them remained steadfast in their decision not to let the righteous army enter the city.

To repeat, it was good that reinforcements had arrived, but the problem was that, first, the timing was too coincidental, making it impossible not to be suspicious; second, at this moment in the city there was an Emperor, four councilors, and what was needed was to consolidate the defense, but adding additional complications would be a mistake. In fact, Emperor Zhao had just sent messengers to tell these people not to come.

But then again, the people had already arrived, and they hadn't received any orders when they came. Could they scold them for not coming to protect His Majesty?

While hesitating, Yan Xiaozhong down below seemed to realize something. He grabbed the donkey's rope again and tried to stand on tiptoe to speak. "Your Majesty, I will tell Zhai Chong to set up a camp on the north side of the city, with its back against the city wall and the river! How about that?"

Zhao Jiu was about to speak when suddenly, a person stepped forward and spoke clearly, "In today's situation, it is clear that I am not good at riding a horse, and this has delayed the opportunity. Therefore, I, Hanlin Scholar Lin Jingmo, presume to speak and request to go out of the city to appease the righteous army and make amends!"

ps: Offering sacrifices to a new book... "I Want to Be a Grand Secretary," a new book by Yi Xiu Ju, about the mid-to-late Jiajing period, the most exciting period of Ming Dynasty civil servant politics.

I can't do it anymore, I feel like a vicious cycle is coming... I'm going to die!