Chapter 6

Here is the English translation:

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This is the third update. Luo Luo timidly asks, "Are there still recommendation votes? Do you still need to collect them?"

......

"Sir, this Chen Dexing is the son of the martial arts scholar Chen." Beside Jia Sidao, a middle-aged man with a refined appearance and a short stature, dressed in a green robe and winged hat like Li Tingzhi, reminded him.

Jia Sidao smiled and said, "No wonder he has a tiger's back and bear's waist. He is the son of that martial arts scholar who rivals Guan Yu. He is indeed the son of an old friend."

The man added, "Sir, should we call him up to meet you?"

Jia Sidao replied calmly, "No need. If he survives this battle, he can be promoted two ranks and appointed as a commander. We can meet then."

Jia Sidao's words sounded a bit ominous! However, he was not just talking nonsense. This notorious villain in history has been involved in military affairs since the first year of Chunyou (1241), and has been "in the military" for seventeen or eighteen years. He has been busy shuttling between the Huai River and Jinghu regions, where the Mongols frequently invaded. Being a notorious villain is not easy these days!

After so many years in the military, he naturally knew the trends of the battlefield. Now, the Mongols' intention is to concentrate their forces and take turns using infantry to attack the center of the Song army's line—where Chen Dexing and his two flanks are located! Once the Song army cannot hold, the Mongol cavalry will trample over them. It is uncertain how many of the three Song army formations will survive. Moreover, after this battle, the Wu Rui Army will surely suffer heavy losses, and many positions for commanders will be vacant. If Chen Dexing survives, with his martial skills and his rank as a ninth-grade official, he will naturally be qualified to be a commander.

The refined official's pupils flashed with a hint of worry, "Both generations of the Chen family have died in the service of the state. I wonder if this son has the fortune to survive."

Jia Sidao smiled, "Generals have martial luck, and scholars have official luck. Talent without luck is ultimately useless. Think of Chen Junzhi (Chen Huaiqing), who is skilled in martial arts and knowledgeable in military affairs. Who in Lin'an does not know him? Even the emperor has listened to his military strategies. If he had the luck in the imperial exams, he would be overseeing the Huai River region today. How could he just be a scholar?"

It seems that Chen Dexing's father was a well-known figure in Lin'an, recognized by Jia Sidao and even the emperor, who had listened to his military strategies... but he could not pass the imperial exams (for civil officials).

Jia Sidao looked at the official and said in a serious tone, "Qunyu, I know you are close friends with Chen Junzhi and want to ensure his son's safety. But once he is on the battlefield, he must accept his fate. If he is a fortunate general, how could I not help him?"

Qunyu is the courtesy name of this official, whose real name is Liao Yingzhong, a close confidant of Jia Sidao. He studied at the Imperial Academy in Lin'an and was friends with Chen Huaiqing, who was then a martial arts instructor. Although he entered the bureaucracy much later than Chen Huaiqing, his official luck was much better. His current rank is a seventh-grade official, and his new position is the Director of the Imperial Treasury (which oversees finances, storage, trade, and the management of the four markets, left and right treasuries, and seven departments in the capital). This is due not only to Jia Sidao's patronage but also to his better luck in the imperial exams, where he passed and became one of the few at the top of the scholar-official class.

Liao Yingzhong bowed, "Sir, your instruction is correct. I was rash." Then he stretched his neck to observe the battle and did not speak up for Chen Dexing again—because he knew that if he said another word, Jia Sidao would certainly recall Chen Dexing from the battlefield, but such a favor from Jia Sidao would not be given often, and he must use it sparingly...

Jia Sidao's gaze returned to the battlefield. The three formations of the Wu Rui Army once again repelled the attack of the Mongol Han troops. However, they also suffered significant casualties! The front ranks of shield bearers and spear wielders were already thin. The Mongols' third wave of attacks was already underway, with armored soldiers under the banner of Dong and two thousand Mongol archers advancing step by step toward the Song army!

"Second Brother, can you still manage?" Liu Heshang, holding a crossbow, was panting heavily. At dawn, he had donned a sixty-pound infantry armor, carrying two quivers of arrows, a bow, a sword, a water bag, and a package of dry rations, totaling nearly a hundred pounds! Just standing was a great physical challenge.

"No problem, I'm not tired!" Chen Dexing felt more energetic than ever—although his body in his previous life was good, he was in his middle age and not particularly strong.

Now, he had become a twenty-year-old muscular man, full of strength. After two battles, he did not feel exhausted. However, he knew that being a warrior in this era required both strength and skill. Without training from a young age, one could not be a qualified warrior.

If he had to find a similar profession in the modern world, it would not be a soldier but a professional athlete! Not a single-sport athlete, but one skilled in riding, archery, combat, wielding large weapons, throwing various objects, and various water sports—almost like an Ironman triathlete.

Moreover, to be a qualified officer, one must also be proficient in various military strategies and have excellent leadership skills. It requires a combination of physical strength, skill, and intelligence—this profession is not something just any farmer can do. Even Liu Heshang, who had been a soldier in his youth and had not neglected his martial skills, was feeling the strain after two battles due to his age. As for the others in the formation, most were already panting and struggling to hold on.

'If this continues, we will be defeated! The Mongols only need to attack a few more times, and we will be exhausted!' Chen Dexing withdrew his gaze from the surrounding warriors and looked back—just a thousand steps away, the towering walls of Yangzhou stood. On the wide Baizhang River, a high platform had been built, and a Jia-character banner was fluttering. The highest commander of the Song army in the Huai River region, Jia Sidao, should be supervising the battle from there. Below the platform, the well-armored elite troops were already forming two formations, and the five thousand elite soldiers were the last reserve force for this battle!

'This battle is with our backs to the city and the river!' After two battles, Chen Dexing temporarily forgot about his soul transmigration and fully immersed himself in his "new life." His mind became sharp, and he began to carefully observe the surrounding terrain and the Song army's deployment.

Besides being backed by the city and the river, the Song army's flanks were already sealed off with numerous barriers. There was no fear of a Mongol cavalry flank attack. If the Wu Rui Army formations broke, they could only retreat to the city wall, and everyone would have to fight for their lives! As long as Jia Sidao did not retreat, and the elite troops could hold, and the flanks could move in time to support the center, there was still a chance to turn the tide and win...

"Second Brother, the northern barbarians are coming!" Liu Heshang shouted again. Chen Dexing turned and saw that a formation of heavily armored infantry was already about 130 to 140 steps away.

"Heshang!" Chen Dexing glanced at his loyal subordinate and said in a low voice, "If we cannot hold, you must follow me. We will retreat to the river and find a way to survive. Do not go to the direction of the Chief Secretary."

"I understand." Liu Heshang nodded. He knew this common sense—once the Mongols broke through, they would directly attack Jia Sidao's center. There would be a fierce battle there! Moreover, Jia Sidao's elite troops would not treat the fleeing soldiers kindly and might even execute them to maintain military discipline!

"Twang!" Chen Dexing's crossbow sounded again, and an arrow shot out like a meteor, hitting a northern soldier. His arrow was a signal, and over a thousand strong bows and crossbows simultaneously fired, raining arrows down on the armored soldiers of the Han military leader Dong, causing dozens to fall with cries of pain. However, the remaining soldiers ignored the continuous rain of arrows and continued to advance in unison, like a moving forest of weapons.

A fierce hand-to-hand combat soon broke out among the Han soldiers!

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