The Song army's artillery vehicles displayed their power in the battle, naturally resulting in contrasting emotions inside and outside the city.

For the next two days, the Song army remained quiet within the city. The Jin army, however, showed no movement at all. Even Zhang Yu did not come out for his routine city assault.

There was no other way. After this battle, the Jin army faced a significant problem even with personnel adjustments, not to mention that the overall situation required them to make new decisions.

As December approached, on a day when the weather turned gloomy and a cold wind began to blow, the Jin army's remaining two ten-thousand households gathered in Wanyan Wushu's rear tent to discuss important matters.

"Fourth Prince, why not withdraw our troops!"

After a tense silence, Balisu suddenly spoke proactively after the three men sat down cross-legged.

"Since the founding of the army by the Taizu, I have never heard of withdrawing troops just because a few generals died!" Unexpectedly, Wanyan Wushu, with his unshaven beard and listless eyes, did not erupt in anger, as he had likely already considered that Balisu might raise this question.

"Your subordinate is not referring to the mud ball on the platform the other day!" Balisu, with his unhealed broken arm still drooping, calmly replied. "We stayed on the platform for half a month, and the man on the city wall endured it for half a month, painstakingly waiting for this one strike, which was almost like an assassination. Although it had a miraculous effect, it cannot be considered a military formation tactic... it cannot be repeated and does not affect the overall situation... Your subordinate has thought it through these past few days. The key lies in the advantage of the Song army's artillery vehicles!"

Wanyan Wushu fell silent... It had been several days, and if Balisu could think of it, how could he not?

As Wanyan Wushu remained silent, Han Chang warmed his wine and drank it by himself, and Balisu continued to speak slowly:

"In fact, I see clearly in the army that since the Fourth Prince marched south, there have been no mistakes. Not only that, but the previous ambush against Han Shizhong can be described as outstanding; even the siege of Nanyang for more than half a month, up to now, cannot be said to be mismanagement... But now, it is not that the Fourth Prince's command is improper, nor that the soldiers do not fight bravely. Even Zhang Yu can be said to have been dedicated, but Nanyang City is indeed well defended! Ordinary equipment and extraordinary equipment have been exhausted in half a month, but even the first city wall has not been crossed..."

"The first city wall?" Wanyan Wushu suddenly frowned and interrupted him.

"That's right!" Balisu answered solemnly. "Although we haven't been on the city wall, after this half a month, the city defense routines of Nanyang City have become clear. If there isn't a third moat and a second city wall in the city, your subordinate would find it incomprehensible! Furthermore, the urban area inside has been divided and built into fortresses and strongholds early on, which is also possible!"

Wanyan Wushu remained silent, seemingly unable to refute.

"However, these are all minor matters." Balisu continued. "Since our dynasty raised troops, we have fought with the Liao, Song, and Western Xia many times. According to what they said, strong and courageous tribes have suddenly risen up in the past hundred years, but only our Jurchen family has been able to annex the Great Liao and overthrow the Great Song... Why is that? In fact, Lou Shi and my elder brother once discussed it, and in the end, it was nothing more than our Jurchen cavalry being unparalleled in the field; when besieging a city, we can also set up artillery to break down walls, and there is nothing we cannot destroy! The artillery vehicles are no less important to our army than the cavalry! And the defeat the other day was not because a ten-thousand household died or a few Meng'an were lost, but because our artillery vehicles were unable to fight back. Before a day was over, the hundreds of artillery vehicles that had been painstakingly built for half a month were all turned to dust! Fourth Prince, without artillery vehicles, how exactly do you plan to fight Nanyang?"

Wanyan Wushu was still speechless... How could he know how to fight without artillery vehicles? In fact, it was precisely because he didn't know that he was holding this formal military conference!

"Fourth Prince!" Balisu was about to speak again. "Your subordinate..."

"Balisu!" Just then, Han Chang, who had been drinking with his head down, suddenly spoke sternly. "According to what you said, the Great Song can't be fought anymore? And if you say artillery vehicles are useless, I remember that your Western Route Army didn't gain any advantage from artillery vehicles in Taiyuan, did they? How was Taiyuan taken in the end? What method was used?"

"Taiyuan is different from Nanyang!" Balisu immediately retorted.

"Of course it's different!" Han Chang replied coldly. "When we first came to Nanyang, General Balisu himself said that Nanyang couldn't compare to Taiyuan in terms of its formidable defenses! And you spoke of how difficult the battle of Taiyuan was... Since such a formidable Taiyuan could be taken, how can we not take a Nanyang today?!"

"General Han, don't get angry!" Balisu was also somewhat angry.

"I'm not getting angry, but since it's just the three of us here today, I want to say a few heartfelt words!" Han Chang said seriously. "This time, we fought Nanyang and lost so many generals and wasted so many soldiers who came from afar. In the end, after half a month of hard work, we lost our courage and left... When the time comes, General Balisu, you can return to Taiyuan and just say that you were reinforcements, and this matter has nothing to do with you. On the contrary, someone was incompetent in using troops and caused you to lose your nephew! But what about someone like me, who has no support, when I return to Yanjing? Will I have the face to lead troops again next time?! How will the Fourth Prince explain to the Third Prince? And will your Grand Marshal take the opportunity to put pressure on the Fourth Prince?!"

These words almost exposed the portal antagonism of the East and West Route Armies, and were practically pointing at Balisu's nose, saying that he was not qualified to speak here in the East Route Army!

How could Balisu not be angry?

However, when Balisu glared at Han Chang, the latter was not afraid at all.

Although they were both ten-thousand households, Han Chang was, after all, a descendant of a surrendered general (following his father's surrender to the Jurchens), while Balisu was from a remote branch of the royal family, with impeccable roots and a capable older brother with political skills as a backer. The implicit status of the two sides was vastly different.

However, Han Chang was ultimately Wanyan Wushu's confidant. The two young men had contact even before the Fourth Prince ascended to his position. Later, when Wanyan Wushu came out to lead troops independently, it happened that Han Chang's father passed away, and Han Chang himself was able to take command of troops and join the ranks of ten-thousand households, and the two were able to form a subordinate relationship... And in the end, regardless of the Jurchen military conference tradition, only the Fourth Prince Wanyan Wushu still had the say in this military tent!

"After the artillery battle in Taiyuan was ineffective, how was it taken?" Wanyan Wushu suddenly spoke, deliberately asking Balisu a question he already knew the answer to.

"Lock the city!" How could Balisu not know that his argument for withdrawing troops had been rejected? In addition, he was angered by Han Chang, and he felt a tightness in his chest, but he could only respond.

"How to lock the city?" Wushu asked solemnly, repeatedly.

"That is, build another city outside the city to lock Taiyuan on all sides, and then wait until the overall situation is settled, and the city has run out of ammunition and food, and then concentrate the main force to attack the city..." Speaking of this, Balisu couldn't help but support his injured arm, lowered his voice, and tried his best to reply. "Fourth Prince, the method of locking the city in Taiyuan really cannot be used in Nanyang!"

"Why?" Wanyan Wushu raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Although the artillery battle in Taiyuan was unsuccessful, it was not as unsuccessful as it is today. By the time we locked the city, the artillery vehicles in the city had no more stones to use, so we could build the city with ease!" Balisu continued in a low voice. "But now, Nanyang's artillery vehicles are sharp, how can we lock the city under the opponent's artillery fire?"

"We can build the city outside the range of the artillery vehicles!" Han Chang interjected coldly.

"How much of an undertaking would that be?" Balisu felt even more absurd.

"It doesn't have to be completely locked." Han Chang replied calmly. "Just build some solid ramparts to show a long-term attitude!"

"So, this is the intention to besiege the city for a long time?" Balisu suddenly realized, but then he looked at Wanyan Wushu, because he had guessed that this was likely the Fourth Prince's intention, and Han Chang was just responsible for saying it... And today's military conference was also meant to subdue him.

"General Balisu, what do you think?" Wanyan Wushu didn't say much, and it was still Han Chang who asked. "Besiege it for a long time, wait for the city to be exhausted, and when Marshal Talan also gathers his troops, we can break through this city!"

"I don't think it's possible!" Balisu answered simply.

"Why?" Han Chang continued to ask. "Taiyuan was also besieged for more than half a year back then."

"Nanyang is really different from Taiyuan." Balisu sighed, but still spoke earnestly to Wanyan Wushu. "Fourth Prince, please think carefully... One is the supplies in the city. Taiyuan was suddenly besieged that day, and later, when the city was broken, people were almost eating each other. But Nanyang is the capital of the Song Dynasty, and there will definitely be no shortage of food and military supplies in the city; the other is the climate. Nanyang is different from Taiyuan. This place is already close to the Han River, and it only started freezing in the middle of this month. The place is humid and hot. Once it is difficult to capture for a long time, the soldiers will definitely not be able to bear it after it gets hot next year; the other is that there is a Song emperor in the city, and with him there, the morale will definitely be full! And with these three things, plus the powerful artillery vehicles in the city, which make it impossible for us to set up artillery, then even if Marshal Talan gathers his troops, how can we break through?"

Wanyan Wushu was somewhat shaken for a moment.

"Nanyang is indeed difficult to attack, but if this city can be broken, I'm afraid it will be because of this Song emperor!" Han Chang thought for a moment, but what he said was astonishing, and even Wanyan Wushu frowned for a moment.

And Han Chang didn't mince words, and directly revealed all his thoughts:

"Please, Fourth Prince, think about it. Taiyuan could be broken, largely because the reinforcements were all lost and the city was depressed. But now that the Song emperor is sitting in Nanyang City, after a while, the troops loyal to the emperor from all over the country will definitely not hesitate and will rush to Nanyang one after another. At that time, as long as we defeat the reinforcements one by one under the city, we can gradually shake the city, right?!"

Wanyan Wushu felt as if the clouds had parted and he saw the sun, and Balisu was choked there for a moment.

"As for besieging the city, I just thought about it, just like General Balisu said, Nanyang and Taiyuan are completely different, but we shouldn't just follow suit, but instead go against it." Han Chang continued. "As long as we build camps in the north and west of the city to ensure that the war horses have a place to graze and the supplies are continuously transported, the rest of the east can still be left empty, and the south can be completely opened up... It's good that General Chizhan Hui has passed away, and there is no need to promote a ten-thousand household. We can directly put the troops in the north under the command of the Fourth Prince."

"I understand 'surround three sides and leave one open', but why completely open one side?" Balisu stopped for a long time, but finally couldn't help but ask curiously. "Wouldn't that restore communication between the city and the outside?"

"If we can't restore communication between Nanyang and the outside, it will be useless!" Han Chang sneered. "If we want to 'surround three sides and leave one open' to lure and force the Song emperor to leave Nanyang, not to mention how to annihilate the troops loyal to the emperor in the future, just to say now, we have to let the city know about the bad news everywhere, right? Otherwise, wouldn't he be sitting as stable as Mount Tai?"

"This is a psychological warfare tactic." Wanyan Wushu finally spoke, but he touched the short knife in his arms and made up his mind. "Balisu, you can't say that this plan is not worth a try, can you?"

Wanyan Balisu thought again and again, but he couldn't refute it.