Chapter 30

From Fengxiang County to Linyou County is about two hundred miles, which takes a day and a night to ride. Considering the snow, two days would be sufficient for a round trip.

It has been five days since Wanyan Moli dispatched two hundred cavalry, but there has been no news from them, as if they had vanished into thin air.

Wanyan Moli could almost certainly conclude that the two hundred men had been completely annihilated, and that Linyou County was hiding Song troops, most likely Chen Qing. Wanyan Moli immediately sent an eagle message to the Grand Marshal Wanyan Wushu for instructions.

Wanyan Wushu is Wanyan Zongbi, who succeeded Wanyan Lou Shi as Grand Marshal.

On the city wall, Wanyan Moli gazed at the gloomy sky, which had not seen the sun for nearly half a month, with dark clouds hanging low, as if a ladder could reach the black clouds from the city wall.

"General, I have asked the local officials, and they all say this is a sign of a blizzard. It is now late November, and a heavy snowstorm could strike at any time. We must be careful!"

Wanyan Moli's gaze was stern as he looked northward, and after a moment, he said helplessly, "Military orders are as heavy as mountains, and we have no choice."

"But the Fourth Prince cannot issue orders recklessly!"

Wanyan Moli sneered, "He is about to return to the Central Capital to report. Without Chen Qing's head, how can he explain to the Khan? The coffin of Grand Marshal Lou Shi has not even been buried yet!"

At that moment, an eagle flew in from the east, circling over the county town before landing on the eagle tower on the north wall. The falconer took the message and handed it to a soldier.

Soon, a soldier ran to Wanyan Moli, knelt on one knee, and presented the message tube high, "Urgent message from Jingzhao!"

Wanyan Moli took the message tube and slowly opened the eagle message. There was only one bloody Chinese character on it: "Kill!"

Wanyan Moli had no choice. He ordered his deputy, Zhe He, to guard Fengxiang City, and personally led four thousand Jurchen cavalry and four thousand Han troops, a total of eight thousand men, claiming to be a thirty-thousand-strong army, and marched toward Linyou County in grand procession.

...

The next afternoon, the eight thousand Jin troops arrived at Wujiang River, the boundary river between Qishan County and Linyou County.

The cold wind was biting, and the Jin troops struggled through the thick snow. Wanyan Moli looked up at the sky, where the dark clouds were shifting and rolling, unlike the lifeless sky of the past two days. The clouds suddenly became active.

He suddenly felt a chill on his face, reached out, and a snowflake melted on his fingertips.

"It's snowing!" a soldier shouted.

The sky finally began to sprinkle fine, dense snowflakes.

Wanyan Moli immediately ordered, "Command the army to camp here!"

A strong sense of foreboding rose in Wanyan Moli's heart. He needed to observe the weather before making a decision.

The accumulated dark clouds finally unleashed their fury. The cold wind carried snowflakes, and the snow grew heavier and denser, obscuring the distant mountains and forests, leaving the world a vast expanse of white.

A once-in-a-century blizzard swept across the Guanzhong region...

Chen Qing stood on the city wall, looking up at the snowfall, the howling wind, and the blizzard that obscured his vision. The villages and mountains outside the city were no longer visible.

County Magistrate Wei Qing walked over and said with a smile, "Commander, I have lived in Guanzhong for thirty years, and this is the biggest blizzard I have ever seen. The weather has been abnormal this year, with continuous heavy rain followed by this blizzard."

Chen Qing smiled faintly, "This is the will of heaven. I estimate the Jurchen army is already halfway here, and this blizzard will force them to retreat. They won't come again until the weather warms up. Everyone can have a peaceful New Year."

"Commander, there are still several thousand stones of grain in the warehouse. Giving out porridge is not a long-term solution. Why don't we distribute the grain to the people?"

"Sure! You decide how to do it, and I will provide you with the manpower you need. Go directly to Deputy Commander Yang."

Chen Qing had little interest in the繁琐的政务. He was now focused on practicing archery and horsemanship, and he felt he was about to break through.

...

A batch of Song army supplies arrived at Dasha Pass.

Commander Zhang Jun also arrived at Dasha Pass with the supplies.

Since he presented Wanyan Lou Shi's head to the court, the emperor specially issued an edict to commend him, which made Zhang Jun's stance a bit firmer after the disastrous defeat at Fuping.

He also began to pay attention to the defense of Shangyuan. After several months, he stepped onto the land of Guanzhong again.

In the main tent, the five generals Wu Jie, Wang Yan, Qu Duan, Wu Lin, and Sun Wu gathered. Although they held the same rank, their grades were different, with Wu Jie, a loyal and martial general of the fourth rank, being the highest.

Zhang Jun listened calmly to Wu Jie's report.

He stood in front of the map with his hands behind his back for a long time and asked, "Do all the generals believe that the Jin army will flank Shangyuan from the west?"

Wu Jie said calmly, "The biggest weakness of Shangyuan is the West Valley. If the enemy bypasses Long Mountain and attacks Dasha Pass or Shangyuan from the West Valley, it means we will be attacked from both front and back. Wanyan Zongbi cannot be unaware of this."

Wang Yan added, "The enemy is unlikely to bypass Long Mountain from the central or eastern lines, as the journey is long and the logistics are difficult. Both I and Commander Wu believe that Wanyan Wulu will definitely advance from the west and establish a western logistics channel."

Although Qu Duan and Wu Jie did not get along, he could still distinguish between major and minor issues and agreed with Wu Jie's judgment that the Jin army would definitely flank from the west.

However, he had his own ideas about the appointment of key commanders.

Zhang Jun carefully examined the map and nodded, "You are right. This is the most suitable strategy for the Jin army, and I believe Wanyan Zongbi can also think of it. Does General Wu plan to divide the troops to defend the West Valley?"

Wu Jie picked up a wooden rod and pointed to the West Valley behind Shangyuan, "Given the openness of the West Valley, one or two thousand soldiers are not enough for defense. At least six thousand are needed, but our troops are limited, and we cannot spare so many."

"Do you mean to ask the Bashu army to send a force to Shangyuan?" Zhang Jun asked coldly.

He still had forty thousand troops, with ten thousand guarding the passes in Hanzhong and the other thirty thousand being the last line of defense for Sichuan.

Zhang Jun would never send more troops to Shangyuan, and the generals present were well aware of this.

"Commander, our intention is to take the initiative and repel the enemy from a distance," one of the generals said.

"What do you mean?"

Wu Jie pointed to a pass in the northwest of Longzhou with the wooden rod, "This is Jianque Pass, the inevitable route for the western Jin army to advance south to Fengxiang Prefecture. The terrain is perilous, and it is said that one man can hold it against ten thousand. This pass is currently occupied by the Jin army. If we can capture and hold it, the Jin army's western strategy will fail, and we will have no worries about our rear."

Zhang Jun looked at Jianque Pass and agreed with the plan, "That's right. Not only will it block the western Jin army from advancing south, but it will also help Liu Ziyu and Liu Qi's armies return, as they are running out of food and cannot hold out much longer."

Zhang Jun then asked, "Who do you plan to send to carry out this blocking mission?"

Wu Jie glanced at the others and said helplessly to Zhang Jun, "There is a significant disagreement among us about who should be sent to guard Jianque Pass. I recommend Commander Wang Shu, Commander Wang recommends Commander Chen Qing, General Wu Lin recommends his subordinate Yang Zheng, and Commanders Qu and Sun also have their own recommendations, all of whom are capable commanders. I am still undecided."

Zhang Jun walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and asked Wang Yan, "Guarding Jianque Pass is of great importance. Why does the commander recommend Chen Qing? Does he have the ability to defend the pass?"

The others' faces turned uneasy, as they understood that Zhang Jun was clearly leaning towards Chen Qing. If Wang Yan could provide sufficient reasons, Zhang Jun would certainly agree.

It seems that the head of Wanyan Lou Shi had a good effect.

Wang Yan said calmly, "Commander, Chen Qing led five hundred troops to resist Wanyan Huonü's six thousand-strong army at Qilin Fort in Linyou County, and annihilated three thousand of them, retreating safely. This battle has caused a sensation in Guanzhong, and I believe he has the ability to defend Jianque Pass."

"What do you think?" Zhang Jun asked the other four.

Wu Jie and Wu Lin had a good impression of Chen Qing. Since Wang Yan strongly recommended him, they did not oppose it. Qu Duan and Wang Yan were close friends, and he would give him this face.

Only Sun Wu was dissatisfied. He said coldly, "Chen Qing is just a newcomer who has just emerged. Regardless of his ability, he is not senior enough to take on such a responsibility. Besides, the defense of Qilin Fort is just a rumor, and no one has seen it with their own eyes. Who knows if it's true?"

Wang Yan said angrily, "This is a fact acknowledged by the Jin army. Do you think they would make up a story to boost our morale and undermine their own?"

"It's just a rumor. If he fails to defend Jianque Pass and ruins the entire plan, Commander Wang will be held responsible!"

Wang Yan bowed to Zhang Jun, "Commander, I will vouch for Chen Qing. If he fails to defend Jianque Pass, I will take full responsibility!"

Zhang Jun stroked his beard and pondered, "I also believe the rumor is true. To face six thousand with five hundred, just this courage alone makes him the right choice to defend Jianque Pass!"