BSI Chapter 74. There's no other reason, I just couldn't suppress the fire in my heart.
Chapter 74. There's no other reason, I just couldn't suppress the fire in my heart.
Lin Zhou was born to be combative. He liked anything that could be fought, from airplanes to playing cards, and fighting people was naturally among them.
These past two days he's been more proactive than anyone else, spending every day squatting on the riverbank studying tactics.
This riverbank is no longer the desolate place it once was. Since the steel plant started operating, it has become a small town. The daily lives of thousands of people are an entire industry chain, and the place has naturally become lively. Whether it's vendors selling fried dough or farm women tending wild vegetables, they all come here spontaneously.
The workers' children chased and laughed on the riverbank, the aroma of steaming rice wafted from the large pots and stoves, and the sound of women washing clothes by the river added an unprecedented vitality to the place.
"This battle of Xiahetan is extremely important. We must not only fight, but also fight with great momentum! Yangti, you are a military general, so arrange the tactics."
Yangti, who was also squatting on the riverbank with his rice bowl in his hand, picked up a twig and gestured after hearing Lin Zhou's words: "I think we should use a wedge formation right now. Brother Lu, myself, and about ten of the most experienced fighters should form the arrowhead to carry out the main breakthrough. Lin Zhou and others with average to below-average martial arts skills should provide support in the center. The rest of us should surround the flanks and rear to prevent being divided and encircled. The Song people are good at defense, and if we are not careful, we will be defeated one by one."
"Wait a minute."
Lin Zhou raised his head: "What do you mean by 'average to below-average martial arts ability'? Explain yourself, what does 'average to below-average martial arts ability' mean?"
"Then fight me. If you win, you can be my striker."
Lin Zhou rolled his eyes: "Forget it, I can't explain it to you. I'll just provide support then."
By now, Yangti had drawn the terrain of the riverbank on the sand: "The riverbank is soft or the water is ankle-deep. Song people mostly wear boots, which makes movement difficult. Lin Zhou, you can choose to wear shoes or go barefoot to gain an advantage. We will divide their positions, and you can take the opportunity to break through! However, you must avoid fighting on hard ground. Remember, retreat immediately after contact and do not linger in battle."
Lu You then added, "Once the battle begins, the arrows should be aimed at several enemy generals without regard to cost. Once their core is defeated or forced back, the Song forces will fall into disarray."
At this point, he exclaimed, "I'm actually on the Jurchen side..."
"Then go over there." Lin Zhou looked up. "Your wife issued the challenge. If you go over there now, they'll kill you."
As the group was discussing tactics, they saw a group of Song dynasty youths arriving from afar. Some of them were familiar to Lin Zhou, while a large portion were people he had never seen before. Judging from their physiques, they were all descendants of military generals and nobles.
Even Cheng'er was among them...
The two exchanged a glance from afar, and indeed they were a pair of star-crossed lovers.
"Ha, I knew there would be traitors among them."
The young men of the Song Dynasty were naturally dissatisfied upon seeing Lin Zhou and Lu You. Some of them had already been beaten by Lin Zhou twice, so how could they not be angry? Moreover, the two of them were clearly Song people, yet they were helping the Jin people, which was simply unforgivable. If the Song Dynasty were to regain control of the country one day, they would definitely kill their entire families.
But at this moment, only Xu Cheng knew who the traitors were in the world. Lin Zhou was definitely not a traitor. There was no Han Chinese more pure than him, and no one more selfless than him. After all, his roots were not here, but in the unified Han dynasty.
Lin Zhou once mentioned to him that there was something called an ID card where he lived, and there was a column for ethnicity on the ID card, similar to the household registration system in the Song Dynasty. However, the household registration system in the Song Dynasty did not have an ethnicity column, and there was no such thing as Han ethnicity.
But he also knew very well that Lin Zhou could not hide his disgust for the Song Dynasty in every word he spoke. His disappointed expression was like a long sword piercing Cheng'er's heart, making him sad but helpless.
The Song Dynasty was truly disappointing.
So this time, even the more mature Cheng'er accepted the invitation to the battle on the riverbank. Although he usually acts like a proper driver, how many people can suppress their anger?
"We outnumber the Jurchens, but the Jurchens are known for their bravery and skill in battle, so the arrangements are as follows."
The speaker was no ordinary person; he was Han Liang, the son of Han Shizhong and Liang Hongyu. He was twenty years old this year and was the most skilled in military affairs and the strongest in combat among the group. He was once known as "Little Yue Yun".
Although his father was Han Shizhong, he had been ostracized by the descendants of civil officials over the years. However, this time they shamelessly invited him out, which could be considered for the sake of the prestige of the Song Dynasty. Therefore, Han Liang became the commander-in-chief of this group.
"Cui Da, Xu Cheng."
"arrive!"
"have!"
Han Liang glanced at the two men, then coughed and said, "You two are brave and skilled. Each of you will lead fifteen men to flank them from both sides using guerrilla tactics. Your goal is to capture the leader first, with the Jin prince and that man as your targets."
He pointed at Lin Zhou from afar. Although he didn't know his name, he knew from the information he had gathered that Lin Zhou was the "commander" in the Jin army, and the Jin prince was obeying his orders.
"Yes, sir!"
"Lu Heng, I've heard that Lu You is your cousin, so I'm entrusting him to you."
"Huh? Me?" The man named Lu Heng pointed to himself, "He...sigh...I..."
"How is it?" Han Liang frowned. "It won't work?"
"It's not a matter of whether he can do it or not, he is... the Sword Saint of the Lu family, he could kill me with one sword."
His words drew laughter from those around him, but Han Liang shook his head and didn't look at him again, continuing, "Han Shilin."
"have!"
"Take twenty men and fight Lu You. Don't tarnish the reputation of the Han family."
"Yes, sir!"
After issuing orders to contain the enemy's three leaders, Han Liang stood up: "The rest of you, those whose names are called, lead twenty men to form a three-pronged attack, creating an impenetrable encirclement. The Jurchens excel at offense; we are no match for them in a direct confrontation. Harass and defend, and wait for the opportune moment!"
"Yes, sir!"
Although the two sides were less than fifty meters apart, they were as if they were sitting in their respective military camps, deducing the tactical changes for tomorrow.
Such things can't be kept secret forever. The news of the Song-Jin battle at Xiahetan tomorrow naturally spread, and half of Lin'an City knew about it. Many people were eager to come and see, after all, the Song Dynasty had even lost to Tokyo, and they wanted to win, even if it was a battle of this level.
Even the most cowardly person has a backbone, and there is no shortage of passionate people among the common people. The casino secretly opened betting odds. Although the odds showed that those who gambled on the Song Dynasty still lacked confidence in it, the common people didn't care about that. They voted with their backsides, and the number of people betting on the Song Dynasty to win far exceeded the number betting on the Jin Dynasty to win.
Even the older generation of military officers took out their coarse clothes to check on their sons' battles the next day. Win or lose, at least they still retained a touch of Song Dynasty passion, which was already comforting.
"Go and announce that tomorrow is a day off." Ninth Sister, who was also in the palace at that moment, issued a decree, then took out a set of coarse cloth clothes: "Zhengfu, tell me, which side will win tomorrow?"
"Your Majesty, this matter is difficult to predict, but I believe that our Great Song Dynasty has a better chance of winning." Yang Cunzhong cupped his hands and smiled, "Those children are all quite brave."
"Hmph, just reckless courage. What do they know about national affairs and people's livelihood?" Zhao Gou sneered. "Come with me tomorrow and see for yourselves."
His heart was filled with disdain. At this moment, Zhao Gou actually hoped that the Song people would lose, because only if they all lost would he not have to bear so much infamy, and he could rightfully say, "Look, the Song Dynasty is weak, it is not my fault alone."
With such trepidation, he decided to take his commander of the palace guards, Yang Cunzhong, with him to take a look.
Unbeknownst to them, a brawl caused by Lin Zhou venting his personal grievances had turned into a battle for dignity that gripped the entire city of Lin'an and even the entire Song Dynasty.
As I said before, the Song Dynasty desperately needs a victory.