"Your Excellency has already guessed it, so why do you still say it's impossible? In fact, whether it's possible or not, we can just write a letter back and ask, can't we?"
Seeing Xu Churen shaking his head like a rattle drum, Zhong Yanchong couldn't help but find it amusing.
"What are you two playing at? I've been listening to you talk for ages and I still don't understand!"
Watching the two of them exchange cryptic remarks, speaking in riddles, Zhao Zhen became even more bewildered.
"Replying to Your Highness, it's actually like this. A few days ago, our men discovered the wreckage of many warships on the beach near Dengzhou, along with fragments of Jin banners. Your subordinate suspects that the soldiers escorting the provisions might have already fought a battle with the Jin navy, and sunk at least dozens of Jin warships..."
"You mean to say they fought such a massive battle, yet there was no report of victory?"
Upon realizing this, Zhao Zhen's eyes widened.
How was this possible? Did the current Song army still have such fools?
Dozens of Jin warships sunk?
This was an immense achievement! Especially at this sensitive time when the imperial court had been on the defensive against the military.
Not only the entire Hebei region, but the entire Song Dynasty was yearning for a resounding victory. Regardless of who brought this great victory, whether it was the navy or some other unit, the news of victory alone would be enough to boost morale!
If Zhong Yanchong's suspicion was true, the general who led this war might even be promoted to Military Commissioner in one fell swoop, which was quite possible!
Although the Military Commissioners of the Song Dynasty were always titular, for military officials, this was already the highest honor!
Were there really people in this world who were not interested in such things?
Zhao Zhen certainly didn't believe it!
But little did Zhao Zhen know, Li Bao and Yue Fei, who were only good at fighting, were absolute masters of warfare, but when it came to vying for power and influence, they were truly incompetent.
Let alone the fact that Bianliang was currently tightly besieged, even if Bianliang was not under siege, they wouldn't dare to report their achievements directly to Han Mo!
After all, they were commanding the navy. Furthermore, after winning the battle, they immediately turned around and launched a surprise attack on the Jin forces, and then busied themselves with transporting the captured supplies.
After delivering good news to Han Mo, they simply began to count the spoils of war on the ships. As for sending someone to inform Hebei, they never even thought of it from beginning to end...
"This is what I don't understand. If it wasn't them, then where else could there be other groups of this scale in the vicinity..."
Zhong Yanchong's final sentence completely piqued Zhao Zhen's curiosity. He had led 100,000 troops to Hebei, and it had been nearly a month since he arrived.
But until now, apart from a few skirmishes with small Jin units on the way, they had not encountered each other again.
The Jin forces and Zhao Zhen maintained a strange tacit understanding. The Jin army only stayed near Zhending and the Yellow River crossing, silently guarding their retreat routes.
Zhao Zhen's forces also remained in the vicinity of Yuancheng. Although they were opposing sides, the Jin only wanted to silently guard their rear, make a fortune in Bianliang, and then leave directly.
Zhao Zhen did not want to deplete his limited strength in meaningless wars. Both sides maintained this strange balance until now.
If this battle really happened, and if Zhao Zhen could claim credit for the strategy and decision-making of this war!
The benefits for him to consolidate his position and for his potential rise in the future would be immeasurable!
"Alright, immediately write a letter in my name and clarify this matter. What exactly is going on! Write it here and send it out immediately!"
After taking a deep breath, Zhao Zhen finally made up his mind.
"Yes!"
Seeing the excited look on his face, Zhong Yanchong knew that this prince was definitely set on this victory.
Without further ado, he picked up paper and brush, quickly drafted a reply, had Zhao Zhen and Xu Churen review it, and upon confirmation, he rewrote a copy and immediately sent it out by carrier pigeon.
After the letter was sent, all that remained was a long wait.
Since Zhao Zhen had tasted the sweetness of power, this was the first time something had made him so eager!
How wonderful it would be if this guess were true?
How wonderful it would be if this battle was commanded by Han Mo?
How wonderful it would be if Han Mo could give this credit to him?
After sending the letter, Zhao Zhen soon experienced what it meant to feel like every day was a year, and what it meant to yearn for something desperately!
Li Bao and his group, after resupplying at the supermarket in Dengzhou, immediately set off for Cangzhou again. They naturally did not receive Zhao Zhen's carrier pigeon.
After waiting for seven days, Han Mo's carrier pigeon from Mingzhou finally returned!
The letter did return, but the string of great victories revealed in the letter completely stunned Zhao Zhen...
Great victory in Suzhou, annihilating 3,000 enemies, burning down one city, capturing 50,000 shi of grain and provisions, and a total of 800,000 guan in gold, silver, and copper coins.
Great victory at Yuguan Pass, annihilating 5,000 enemies, burning down one city, capturing 100,000 shi of grain and provisions, an incalculable amount of gold, silver, and copper coins, and 5,000 warhorses.
Great victory in Yingzhou, burning over 300,000 shi of Jin grain and provisions, killing over a thousand Jin soldiers, and capturing 300 heads...
Great naval victory, completely annihilating over 600 Jin warships, capturing 30 warships, and capturing alive the Jin naval commanders Yelü Zhenghuan and Wanyan Xuanzong, along with nearly 800 officers and soldiers under their command!
Great victory in Laizhou, launching surprise attacks on five coastal cities of the Jin, burning down two, killing over 10,000 Jin soldiers, capturing over a thousand Jin heads, and an incalculable amount of weapons and equipment...
If the person who wrote the letter was not Han Mo, Zhao Zhen would have thrown the letter in his face long ago.
If Han Mo had reported only one of these string of achievements, he might have been able to believe it to some extent. But with so many great victories listed together, Zhao Zhen found it a bit hard to believe?
Was this even possible? If this were true, the Jin emperor would be furious to death by now!
"Sir, what do you think of this matter?"
Scratching the back of his head with a slight headache, Zhao Zhen handed the letter to Xu Churen beside him. Was this really possible?