Moma Liangshan

Chapter 235 The Princess's Value, The General's New Strategies

Yehenara Pingji pondered for a moment and concluded that Wanyan Gunuo's suggestion was indeed the only feasible option at the moment. He asked, "General, do you know how many days' worth of provisions the front-line camp can sustain?" Wanyan Gunuo instantly understood Pingji's implication and replied, "Thirty days!" Pingji nodded and said, "Provisions are sent to the front-line camp in convoys every three days. In other words, we can assemble a maximum of ten supply convoys!" Wanyan Gunuo shook his head and said, "The enemy is ruthless and experienced, unlike a first-time attacker. To avoid delaying the front-line battle, we can only assemble a maximum of five supply convoys!" After a brief pause, he asked, "Do you have anyone in your army familiar with the roads?" Pingji replied, "Yes!" A moment later, a strong and robust man arrived. Wanyan Gunuo said, "I have a fortune to offer you; let's see if you have the guts!" The man replied, "Men die for wealth, birds die for food; I am willing to risk my life!" Wanyan Gunuo was overjoyed and took out a tiger bone token, saying, "Use this token to quickly report the theft of our army's supplies to Anban Bojilie, and ask him to send troops to suppress the bandits!" The man took the token, carefully put it in his pocket, and said, "If you ask about the enemy's situation, how should I answer?" Wanyan Gunuo considered for a moment and said, "The enemy has a thousand men, well-equipped, fierce in battle, and swift as the wind!" He gave the order, and the man and three horses rushed to the front line of Shangjing.

The Battle of Shangjing was a life-or-death struggle for both the Jin and Liao dynasties. After a series of crushing defeats, Emperor Tianzuo had come to a profound understanding: "The remaining 50,000 troops in Shangjing are my last line of defense. If we win, the Liao might have a chance to rise again; if we lose, not only will the throne change hands, but the Khitan royal family will also perish!" Therefore, in response to the Jurchens' repeated provocations, Emperor Tianzuo strictly ordered all his troops to only defend the city walls and not to initiate combat. Conversely, the allied camp where Wang Hao and the Shu princess were stationed was not subject to any restrictions.

The battle line, stretching for dozens of miles, could only be divided into several positions in an era where orders were relayed by warhorses, each commanded by its own general. Wanyan Zongwang's 30,000-strong army and Wanyan Zonggan's 30,000-strong army from the Three Rivers were responsible for attacking the allied camp outside Shangjing. Within the allied forces, the Shu princess was the supreme commander, responsible for overseeing supplies and weaponry and unified command; Xiao Shanbie was the central army general, leading 10,000 palace troops returning from Liaodong; Yelü Dashi was the right army general, leading 30,000 Youdu troops; and Xiao Yu was the left army general, leading 20,000 Yunzhong troops. On the eastern front, both the attacking and defending sides numbered exactly 60,000. Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zonggan's Jurchen troops, riding high on their victories, were eager for battle, each soldier trembling with anticipation, fearing they would miss out on glory. Although the Khitan troops under the command of the Shu princess were one of the few remaining main forces of the Liao Kingdom, the overall situation was unfavorable and everyone was in danger. The strict defense could not hide the fear and anxiety in their morale.

On the watchtower, Princess Shu and Wang Hao stood side by side, watching the two sides about to clash. Princess Shu said, "This is our first major battle since we arrived in Shangjing, yet you want me to hand over command of the battlefield to Yelü Dashi without reservation. What is your intention?" Wang Hao nodded and said, "Standing here and letting the 60,000 soldiers see clearly that their beloved princess is always with them is what you should be doing!"

The Shu princess suddenly realized, saying, "So that's why you repeatedly instructed me to wear this enormous red cloak?" It turned out that Wang Hao, to stabilize morale, had specially ordered a cloak the size of a military flag to be made, and had the Shu princess wear it while standing on a three-zhang-high platform. Hearing the Shu princess's question, Wang Hao couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Neither of us are commanders; facing the enemy in battle would only throw us into disarray. We lack the courage to fight ten thousand men, and charging into battle would be of little value. Standing here, however, might have an unexpected effect!" The Shu princess glanced at Wang Hao's dark blue cloak and said, "I am the commander-in-chief of the three armies; my every move affects the morale of the troops. You are merely a county magistrate of Song; why do you need to attract so much attention?" Wang Hao wasn't angered by the Shu princess's slightly sarcastic tone, but patiently explained, "Precisely because I am an envoy of the Great Song, I can leave at any time. Staying here is to tell those confused soldiers that I have unwavering faith in victory in this battle!" The Shu princess was moved and said, "You really..." "Do you believe we can win?" Before Wang Hao could answer, the Shu princess suddenly asked, "Or are you willing to face whatever the outcome with me?" These two questions, especially the latter, were unexpected for Wang Hao. He could only smile awkwardly and stammered after a long pause, "Actually, I've made a backup plan. My guards have already packed their bags, and if the battle becomes irreversible, they will immediately retreat south!" The Shu princess never expected Wang Hao to answer like this, and she was furious. Seeing the Shu princess about to explode in anger, Wang Hao quickly tried to salvage the situation, saying, "I've also prepared a horse for you. If I can't help you recover the lost territories in the end, at least I'll ensure your safety!" The Shu princess suddenly didn't know whether to laugh or cry; her lips curled up, and tears welled up in her eyes!

Yelü Dashi and Xiao Yu were old friends, but Xiao Shanbie had always followed the Shu princess and had no connection with her. When Yelü Dashi first met the Shu princess, his anxiety far outweighed his joy. An army of 30,000 was a force to be reckoned with, and with the addition of Xiao Yu's 20,000 troops from Yunzhong, Yelü Dashi was confident he could secure a chance for Shangjing. However, after joining forces with the Shu princess, the best command of the army was no longer his. Although the Shu princess was no mediocre woman and had a track record of conquering Liaodong, the enemy was too strong, and a slight misstep could result in total annihilation. Until two days ago, when the Jurchen attack was imminent, the Shu princess announced the final personnel arrangements at a military conference without warning, and the final result was something no one had anticipated. Yelü Dashi always felt that while the Shu princess harbored no ill will towards him, she also held no affection for him. He believed that if the Shu princess would seriously consider his suggestions, that would be the best outcome. However, fate is a strange thing. At the moment when Yelü Dashi was most worried, the princess of Shu bestowed upon him the most effective reassurance in the world.

After assuming command, Yelü Dashi unsurprisingly deployed 30,000 Youdu troops to the front lines. Although Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zonggan were brothers, imperial families rarely showed much fraternal affection. Wanyan Zongwang firmly believed that his 30,000 elite troops alone would be enough to raze the camps outside Shangjing. However, on the first day of the battle, the Liao army suddenly underwent a complete transformation; their tactics, formations, and morale were all different from before!