Volume 1 Chapter 51: Life and Death (Part 1)
Moreover, as Han Shizhong personally led a sailing fleet upstream, the Jin army almost instantly lost the desire to cross the Huai River.
In fact, think about it, the Jurchens are just barbaric, not stupid, on the contrary, they have a high level of awareness of military technology. Therefore, facing the obvious gap in the water, you can close your eyes and think about it. What floating bridges, what big ships and small boats before, are enough for them to break through the waves in front of such a sailing ship?
In this situation, where does the desire to fight come from?
Of course, their courage and will to fight would not be lost, as the Jin army had not yet fallen to that point. However, before they figured out how to deal with this fleet, they would certainly be frustrated and try to avoid fighting with this fleet...
In short, no matter how indignant General Zhang was, Han Shizhong's timely arrival actually changed the strategic balance of the entire battle, and in fact made today's battle end with the successful defense of the Song army.
However, it was not only the credit of Han Shizhong and his sailing fleet that allowed the Song army to end the battle decently today.
"The officials are here!"
"The emperor is here to see Brother Zhang Qi!"
"Commander Qiao and Yang Dalang are here too!"
"Zhang Qilang is so proud!"
At dusk, in the main camp at the western passage at the foot of Bagua Mountain, which is behind the western water fort, after a commotion, Zhao Jiu, the official Zhao, who was wearing a hard-winged hat and a golden belt, appeared outside a densely populated military tent with a serious look on his face.
Obviously, he came to visit Zhang Yongzhen, the great hero of today's battle... Zhang Yongzhen almost turned the tables with the strength of a single ship, and his contribution is unquestionable; more importantly, his counterattack was particularly precious when the entire army was on the verge of collapse and no one dared to fight; in addition, when this "direct subordinate" of Zhao Jiu was about to be carried back, everyone discovered that he had been hit by nineteen arrows and his blood was almost drained, and it seemed that his life was in danger!
At this time, Zhao Jiu, who had already gained absolute autonomy in the Huainan camp, had no reason not to come and visit in order to win people's hearts and set an example.
As soon as I entered the tent, the fishy smell of blood and river water hit me in the face. In addition, there was the sweat odor brought by the crowded crowd, the smell of burnt fuel, and the strange smell of Chinese herbal medicine, all mixed together, which was really suffocating.
To be fair, Zhao Jiu had been out of the well for half a year, and he should have gotten used to certain scenes. He was shocked by the bloodshed at the beginning, and then he killed people himself, and then he crossed the river with Liu Guangshi's head. However, when this Zhao official came to Zhang Yongzhen's bed, he saw that his robe was untied, and the blood holes and gold wound medicine on his body were mixed together, reflecting his almost pale skin. He lost his composure in public again, and turned his head away... I don't know if he was frightened or he couldn't bear to watch.
After adjusting for a moment, Zhao Jiu still looked at Zhang Yongzhen, but he only stared at the other's face and tried to avoid the other's body.
"The governor...as expected, I knew...I knew the governor would come..." Zhang Yongzhen tried to speak, forcing a smile, but he was out of breath, which was exactly the posture of a dying person. "I also guessed...guessed...the governor would definitely...be...horrified by my appearance."
"Zhang Qing, do you have anything to say?" Zhao Jiu tried his best to respond.
Zhang Yongzhen did not waste any more precious energy. Instead, he rolled his eyes and glanced at the people around him.
Zhao Jiu understood and turned back immediately. Without the official saying anything, Yang Yizhong beside him knew what was going on and immediately ordered, "Everyone get out. Zhang Qilang wants to talk to the official in private!"
Although everyone in the tent was curious, no one dared to neglect it. Under the leadership of Commander Qiao Zhongfu, a group of onlookers, including soldiers, doctors, and civilians, left the tent and hid.
After a moment, Zhang Yongzhen still said nothing, but his gaze remained on Yang Yizhong again.
This time, without waiting for Zhao Jiu to turn around, Yang Yi Zhong wisely stepped aside. For a moment, Zhao Jiu and Zhang Yongzhen were the only two people left in the tent.
"I, I have brought honor to the emperor today. I, a dead man, must get a high position, one that can...the kind that can ennoble my wife and children..." It was a little unexpected, but not enough to surprise Zhao Jiu, that when Zhang Yongzhen was dying, he did not have the heroic ambition of ancient times, but asked for posthumous treatment.
"Of course." Zhao Jiu instinctively held the other person's cold hand and answered without hesitation. "After Zhang Qing leaves, there will definitely be a posthumous title. If I find your family members who stayed in Yan'an Prefecture in the future, your elders and wife will be given imperial titles and official positions, and your son will also be given a high position... Not only that, if there is a day of peace in the future, I will make you, Zhang Yongzhen, the river god of the Huai River, and build a temple for you, and receive incense from people all over the world."
Hearing this, Zhang Yongzhen's pale face flushed, and his hands regained some strength, but he forced a smile: "How can someone like me... How can I become a god?"
Zhao Jiu was about to say something else, but Zhang Yongzhen on the other side did not stop: "The gods fell, fell, the officials can do whatever they want... the officials, the officials."
"you say."
"Today...my brothers on the boat today..."
"Don't worry, there are nine people on this boat. We will all become immortals with you in the future. If you have families, I will find them in the future and I will definitely give you an explanation! Is there anything else to say?"
"Yes, yes! My wife...if, if she remarries...I am narrow-minded...the official must..."
"I know," Zhao Jiu was slightly moved and tried to answer. "You must not give her an imperial decree!"
Zhang Yongzhen's breath slowed down slightly, but he tried to speak again: "Still, still give it to her...it's difficult for her...and if, if Yan'an Prefecture can't find them, he, they might...go back to their hometown in Longxi."
"I've got it all down!" Zhao Jiu's nose was slightly sour when he heard this, but he managed to stop and continued to maintain a serious demeanor. "Your wife will be given an imperial decree no matter who she remarries. If you can't find your family in Yan'an Prefecture, you can go to your hometown to look for them... Don't worry, I'll promise you everything. As long as we can fight back, I will definitely find your family for you. I want to see them alive or dead! Not only you, but all your brothers on the boat today, I will do my best to give you a result!"
Zhang Yongzhen was finally relieved and a slight smile appeared on his face.
"Is there anything else to explain?" Zhao Jiu continued to ask.
"Official, Official." Zhang Yongzhen spoke again, but his breathing became shorter and faster, and there was a clear noise in his chest. "You, you are so, so generous to me and us... If I, if I don't say something, I'm afraid, I'm afraid... I'm sorry for you... You, you lie down... Don't, don't let outsiders hear..."
Zhao Jiu quickly leaned over to listen.
Zhang Yongzhen suddenly used up all his strength, tightly grasped Zhao Jiu's hand, and whispered in the ear of the official Zhao with all his strength:
"I know that the government is trying to win people's hearts. I knew it from the beginning! I went crazy on the river today, not for you, the government, not because of loyalty, and not for any reward or grace... I, I just want to go home, I want to go home... I want to go crazy! Yes, I'm sorry..."
After saying this with all his might, Zhang Yongzhen just lay back, took two more breaths, but before he could take the third breath, he died on the couch on the spot.
When Zhao Jiu heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then he saw the other person die in front of him. For some reason, he felt as if something had smashed his heart and lungs, and he held the other person's hand. For a moment, tears could not be controlled and dripped down. Then he felt it difficult to breathe, so he simply let go of everything and cried wildly like a flood breaking through the floodgates!
It is said that countless Western Army officers and soldiers who came to watch outside the tent, as well as important civil and military officials who rushed over after hearing the news, wanted to go in to persuade them to stop crying. Yang Yizhong, who was closest to the tent, had even reached out to lift the tent curtain, but when they suddenly heard such unbridled crying behind them, they almost all stopped and no one dared to step forward easily.
