Volume 3 Chapter 70 Reflections
In late May, in midsummer, 80,000 Song troops, led by Wu Jie, marched to Yaoshan and set up camp 30 miles away from the Jin army. Probably because of the intense summer heat, the Jin army chose to set up camp near the water, while the Song army chose to set up camp on the mountain in order to maintain vision to deal with cavalry raids.
Of course, the two sides are cramped between Yaoshan and Wulongshan, on a plateau that is only more than 30 miles long and more than 10 miles wide. Those that are close to the water are not far from the mountains; those that are along the gentle slopes at the foot of the mountain are also quite close to the water.
This terrain, which combines plateaus, swamps, hills and gullies, also makes the routine small-scale explorations by both sides after setting up the camp difficult and complicated.
After all, as the saying goes, a horse can die if it runs too fast on the plateau, and a person can be drowned in shallow water. If there is a satellite view of this kind of broken terrain, combined with the light green of summer, it may look like a smooth road, but in fact, running or walking on it is another matter. For scouts and small units, a shallow puddle, a ditch two or three feet wide, a small forest, or a small hillside are all pitfalls that have the probability of being fatal.
In fact, only two days later, as the Song army camp was gradually completed, the Song and Jin armies also got to know each other's camps. After a summer rainstorm, both sides tacitly stopped the consumption of small forces.
But this does not mean that the coaches of both sides will stop testing the waters.
On the afternoon of the day after the sudden rain ended, Wu Jie took the initiative to send an envoy to visit Wanyan Loushi, asking him to complete the unsuccessful duel in Fangzhou. In response, Loushi calmly replied that he was the commander of the Jin army, and if a duel was to be held, it could only be Yuwen Xianggong who would come forward to duel him. As for Wu Taiwei's desire to come, his second son Mouyan would do it for him.
Wu Jie was not angry at all. He wrote another letter the next morning, saying that since Marshal Lou Shi was unwilling to fight in a duel, it would be better to agree that three days later, the two sides would line up their battle formations in the middle of the two camps at the foot of Yao Mountain, and then join their armies to fight a life-and-death battle.
The letter was sent out hurriedly again, and this time, Lou Shi also replied quickly and agreed directly.
When the news came out, the entire Song army was shocked.
"So, there was a quarrel up front?"
In a spacious camp somewhere on the foothills of Yao Mountain, Zhao Jiu was sitting on a small stool, eating melon with his head down.
"Yes." Yang Yizhong stood with his hands in his hands, looking somewhat helpless.
"Liu Xi and Wu Jie again?" Zhao Jiu continued to look at them.
"No, this time it was Vice Governor Wang De and General Liu Qi." Yang Yizhong explained quickly. "Vice Governor Wang said that he would be the vanguard in three days, and that all the cavalry in the army would be at his disposal, and also said..."
"You also say that the troops of the Western Third Route are incompetent, unable to fight, and are waste?" Zhao Jiu swallowed a mouthful of melon and continued casually.
"No, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Wang said that the troops of the three western routes are all poor and the cavalry is useless to the brothers Liu Qi and Liu Xi." Yang Yi Zhong corrected immediately.
"Too poor."
Zhao Jiu made a symbolic condemnation and threw down the melon peel. Then he wiped his mouth slightly, stood up, walked to the side of the open space, looked at the green Yaoshan Mountain and took several deep breaths.
The air is fresh after the rain, and it is even more refreshing at the foot of Yao Mountain.
Why? Of course, it’s because plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis.
However, when he thought of this, Zhao Jiu became dazed again.
Zhao Jiu had been an official for three years, and some things had become vague to him. In the beginning, the notebooks in his account basically only recorded the "Song Dynasty figures, common sense, and experiences" that he had thought of and encountered. But now, he gradually recorded the later knowledge that he suddenly thought of.
This is not a well-thought-out consideration, nor is there any philosophical thinking about his own positioning... For example, is he an ordinary college student, or an ordinary Zhao official... etc. Who am I, where do I come from, and where am I going?
In fact, it's not just the things in the little notebook. Many of his actions and words, after all, are just out of a survival instinct.
Because in these three years, Zhao Jiu was very clear about what kind of situation he was in... In the first year, his life could be lost at any time, his official status could disappear at any time, the small exiled court around him could be destroyed at any time, and the Zhao Song Dynasty could also be destroyed at any time; in the second year, the situation seemed to be better, but he was still overwhelmed by the Jin army; in the third year, the situation was much better, but in fact, the existence of 200,000 Jin troops still made the country and he personally seem shaky.
In this state, Zhao Jiu often hid his feelings, in-depth thoughts, and those specific ideas that only time travelers could have deep in his heart.
During these three years, he did not dare to enjoy life, nor did he dare to stop the phenomena that he did not like. Except for the initial period, he did not even dare to spy on the lives of the lower-class people... because he was afraid that this would shake his determination to fight against the Jin.
Resist the Jin, resist the Jin!
Everything is for the purpose of resisting the Jin Dynasty. Resisting the Jin Dynasty is for everything. This is because the Jin Kingdom and its army are always active around you like a tiger, and you don't even have a fence.
Before going to the battle, Zhang Jun held his hand and cried, saying that if everyone in the country could endure for the past three years, they would surely win this time... Without mentioning the emotional conclusion in the second half of the sentence, the first half was indeed true. However, Zhang Deyuan had no way of knowing that other people endured mostly for profit, while he, Zhao Jiu, the official Zhao, endured his own personality and emotions.
After pretending to be a Psyduck for so long, I sometimes doubt if I am really just a Psyduck.
Of course, it certainly doesn't look that way to outsiders... This is not just because he, as an official, has more or less withstood the pressure, preserved the Central Plains and Lianghuai, and returned to the old capital, but also because he always throws away rationality at the last minute and uses the most drastic means to promote national affairs.
No matter how you look at these behaviors, they seem to be driven more by emotion than rationality, and they seem to be the result of impulsive behavior.
In fact, sometimes Zhao Jiu himself didn't know whether his words and gestures towards those civil officials and military commanders were just acting or were they really sincere? When he made those decisions, was it rational or emotional? When he was forced into a corner were his decisions considered reckless and ignorant, or were they a strong release of emotion?
At least this time, Zhao Jiu was really confused about the various events and decisions that happened after Concubine Pan became pregnant.
Of course, whether it is releasing emotions or obeying reason, there is nothing to say at this point. Or perhaps, it is precisely because there is nothing to say or think that I can empty myself and have these strange thoughts in my mind, which are like raising a flag.
As for raising the flag, Zhao Jiu was even more worried about the debt.
"The melons here are good, with plenty of sunshine, so they are big and delicious." Zhao Jiu came back to his senses, but suddenly turned back and gave an order to Yang Yizhong, who was stunned. "Don't write a letter. Let the messengers who report military intelligence to pass a message to Zhang Jun of Jingyao, Yuwen Xianggong of Chang'an, and Wu Guifei of Chang'an on the way, saying that after the battle, I invite them to eat melons here in Yaoshan... As for these fruits, distribute them to the guards below."
Yang Yi Zhong listened to the order blankly, but after taking two steps he turned around and stared at Emperor Zhao motionlessly.
"What's the matter?" Zhao Jiu put his hands behind his back, not caring. "Zhengfu thinks the melons here are not good?"
"That's not what I meant." Yang Yizhong couldn't help himself. "Sir, the decisive battle may start in three days..."
"That's not true." Zhao Jiu shook his head repeatedly. "Neither Lou Shi nor Wu Da are corrupt scholars. Wu Da's behavior is just to test something. If I were Lou Shi, I would just use this reply to tease us. After three days, I will still stay in the camp and make us restless in vain." At this point, Zhao Jiu laughed again. "In fact, even if the fight really starts in three days, will it delay us from delivering the message and eating melons?"
Yang Yizhong was silent for a moment, nodded, and turned around to dispatch the messenger and distribute the fruits. But before he took a few steps, he saw the yellow-faced Wu Jie walking towards him accompanied by Xiaolin Xueshi, and he also bowed his head in greeting.
"Deputy commander." Wu Jie hurriedly bowed to Yang Yizhong, then quickly came to Zhao Jiu, and bowed again, his expression stern. "I presume to guess... I'm afraid that Huo Nu has already gone to the camp at the mouth of Luoshui River in the north of Fangzhou. I'm afraid that my brother and Qu Da will be frustrated. The strategy of attacking both ends will fail."
Zhao Jiu nodded, but laughed again: "It's not a loss actually... 20,000 for 10,000, just consider it as even. We still have the advantage in manpower, and the smaller the scale of the local battlefield is, the easier it will be for us to command it properly."
Wu Jie heaved a sigh of relief, but his expression was still stern: "That's true. After all, if the living girl doesn't come, Loushi only has 30,000 soldiers, and 10,000 of them are Han'er soldiers. How can they fight against our 80,000 people? I'm afraid he will avoid fighting and wait for the reinforcements from Longmen. If so, with our army's strength, it will be difficult to take the initiative to attack..."
Zhao Jiu nodded, but then shook his head: "Jin Qing, I am not as good as you in fighting... In the future, you don't have to report all military matters to me, you can make your own decisions... In this battle, just treat me as a dragon banner."
Wu Jie bowed his head and looked at him, but he came and went in a hurry, while Yang Yi Zhong just followed Wu Jie and walked slowly down the mountain.
