Chapter 22: The Jin Army Attacks the City

The evening of the thirtieth day of the eleventh month in the first year of Jingkang had just begun to darken.

Inside the Jin army camp, Liu Yanzong said, "Marshal, it has been seven days since the last assault. It is time to prepare for the next one."

Wanyan Zongwang finished his wine and replied, "Would that be too frequent?"

"If the Marshal wishes for the Song Emperor to surrender sooner, we must intimidate him with force."

Wanyan Shemu added, "Keep the city under siege. They will grow weary and eventually seek peace; the Song people are spineless!"

"That is incorrect. The Song dynasty now has numerous reinforcements on the way. Once they arrive, our army will find itself in a passive position."

Wanyan Shemu retorted, "Ha! The Song forces from Shaanxi have been blocked at Tongguan by Wanyan Loushi. How could they possibly come to reinforce?"

"Not so!"

"Liu Yanzong, what exactly is your point?" Wanyan Shemu was furious. This man constantly contradicted him, yet he was nothing more than a Han Chinese!

The Jurchen nobles naturally looked down upon the Han. However, ever since Liu Yanzong surrendered from the Liao dynasty, he had not only been heavily relied upon but had risen to the rank of Chancellor.

Liu Yanzong stated, "There are still many reinforcements from the south. We must not underestimate them. If the Song armies in Hebei and Hedong implement a scorched-earth policy, we will face a severe crisis of provisions."

Deepening their penetration into enemy territory was a major military taboo; had the Jin army not been so formidable, they would never have dared to fight this way.

Wanyan Shemu roared, "Then let us concentrate our forces and take Bianliang at once!"

Liu Yanzong smiled without a word, his expression filled with disdain, as if to say: *You fool, if it were that easy, would our 150,000 troops still be out here shivering in the wind?*

Wanyan Zongwang set down his cup and said, "The Chancellor is right. We must exhaust the Song, using the siege as our primary strategy and assaults as secondary. Our goal is to negotiate. I do not advocate for the total destruction of the Song; we lack the capacity for it now, and a fight to the death would result in heavy losses for us as well."

Wanyan Zongwang’s considerations were not merely military or strategic, but largely political. The Jin state was fractured by several competing factions. Should they truly destroy the Song, the pro-annihilation faction led by Wanyan Gao and Wanyan Zonghan would grow too powerful to control, and the power dynamics within the Jin court would be completely distorted. This would be highly disadvantageous for Wanyan Zongwang.

"We attack tomorrow. We negotiate after the assault! Shemu!"

"Present!"

"You will lead the vanguard!"

"I obey. I shall not fail the Marshal's trust!"

Just then, a voice came from outside: "Report! Marshal, the Song army has fired arrows at us with letters attached."

"Bring them in!"

A scout entered, holding the arrows. They had been fired by Shenbi crossbows, which had a range of up to 400 meters.

Consider the significance of this: a 21st-century Desert Eagle pistol has a maximum range of 500 meters. One can imagine the terrifying power of the Shenbi crossbow. It was undoubtedly one of the most lethal cold weapons of the era, though its reliance on foot-powered tension made it difficult to master.

Wanyan Zongwang was curious. Were the Song seeking peace? The others thought the same. It was no secret that Zongwang belonged to the peace faction, and his subordinates naturally followed his lead.

Wanyan Shemu laughed, "It seems we won't need to attack tomorrow. The Song dogs are surrendering!"

Wanyan Zongwang opened the letter, taken aback. It did not look like a personal letter, but rather a gazette, though the layout was more compact. Being fluent in Chinese, he began to read.

The title read: *On the Jin Strategy for Attacking the City.*

At first, his expression was indifferent. Moments later, he began to frown. A short while after, his brow was furrowed in deep concentration. Then, his face darkened. Finally, he turned ashen.

Liu Yanzong asked, "Marshal, what is the matter?"

Wanyan Zongwang handed the paper to Liu Yanzong, who read it quickly, his face also darkening. Wanyan Shemu and Wanyan Chang were left completely bewildered.

Wanyan Zongwang stood up, walked out of the tent, and gazed at the towering walls of Bianjing. He exclaimed in shock, "The Song Emperor actually knows our true intentions!"

Only ten days prior, the Song Privy Councilor Feng Xie had secretly come to discuss peace, claiming that the Song Emperor was very willing to cease hostilities. After Feng Xie left, both Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang had agreed to use the opportunity to make exorbitant demands, forcing the Emperor to scramble for the funds himself.

But the contents of this "gazette" indicated that the Emperor was determined to defend the capital to the death. Wanyan Zongwang was briefly confused by the stark reversal. If the Song were truly determined to hold the city, the situation would become dire.

Their 150,000-strong army had 150,000 mouths to feed, requiring 300,000 catties of grain daily—nearly ten million catties a month. Currently, Song forces were present in Xiangzhou and Cizhou, Hebei. Anti-Jin volunteer armies had appeared in Shandong, and the southern reinforcements were on their way.

Song General Zong Ze in Xiangzhou was unusually valiant, and the rare instances where Song forces had defeated the Jin, though small-scale, indicated that the Song army's combat effectiveness was growing. If they implemented a large-scale scorched-earth policy across Hebei, Hedong, and Shandong, the Jin army would face a critical shortage of supplies, which would inevitably lead to a collapse of morale.

These were the decisive factors Wanyan Zongwang had to consider.

Liu Yanzong said, "Marshal, do not worry. The Song Emperor is likely just acting on a whim. Perhaps because we haven't attacked in seven days, they think we are weakening."

"You mean to say that even if they know our strategy, it doesn't matter? That before our overwhelming force, everything else is fragile?"

"Precisely. This only reinforces the need for uninterrupted assaults. We may not break through immediately, but we will certainly shatter their internal morale."

"You are right." Wanyan Zongwang held the paper. "This *Tokyo Daily* was meant for us to see. They want us to know they have seen through our plans, but war is not won by strategy alone."

"Send this *Tokyo Daily* to Marshal Zonghan."

"Yes."

After reading the paper, Marshal Wanyan Zonghan laughed, "The Song have finally made some progress. But even if they know our intent, the destruction of the Song hinges on this one move. Attack tomorrow!"

On the morning of the first day of the twelfth month, Zhao Ning received word that the Jin were preparing to assault.

He immediately commanded, "Quickly! Summon all civil and military officials to wait at the palace gate."

Wang Huaiji asked, "Your Majesty, what are you planning?"

"Just go."

"Yes, yes."

Zhao Ning was dressed in full military armor. Shortly after, Empress Zhu Lian arrived. "Your Majesty, where are you going?"

"I am going to the southern gate to put on a show."

"Your Majesty, I heard the Jin are attacking. It is far too dangerous."

"Rest assured, they cannot break in. I shall return shortly."

"Your Majesty..."

As she tried to speak further, Zhao Ning pulled her close and kissed her soft, fragrant lips. Zhu Lian's face flushed red, and her body softened. She whispered, "Your Majesty..."

"Wait for my return."

Clad in armor and surrounded by the Imperial Guard, Zhao Ning departed the palace.