Chapter 888 - 83: Breaching Yingtian Prefecture, Hounded Like a Stray Dog (Part 1)

"This humble general is willing to lead five thousand elite cavalry to scout ahead. If we encounter small enemy groups, we can seize the opportunity to strike and boost our army’s morale!"

"It’s better than sitting here waiting!"

"Nonsense!" Zhao Gou suddenly raised his voice with a mix of shock and anger, "Five thousand elite cavalry? Are you scouting or sending them to their death?!"

"If we encounter Yue Fei’s main force, won’t it be like throwing dumplings to dogs, never to return?"

"Such an act will certainly alert the enemy, provoking the rebel army to attack!"

"Are you trying to place me in a perilous position?!"

He grew more agitated as he spoke, pointing at the general and reprimanding, "Dismiss yourself! Without my command, no one is to engage the enemy at will. Violators will be executed!"

The generals inside the tent exchanged glances, their hearts chilled.

Their so-called "emperor leading the expedition" was not here to fight but seemed more like someone seeking a supposedly safe corner to hide.

Zhao Gou’s fear was growing day by day.

At night, even a rustle outside the camp would make him anxious, suspecting Yue Fei’s assault, causing him to repeatedly order his personal guards to maintain vigilance through the night, leaving the whole army exhausted.

During the day, discussions had shifted entirely from how to attack to how to defend more securely, even secretly discussing how to retreat to the line of the Huai River if circumstances changed.

His ambition to "emulate his ancestors and recover the Central Plains" had long vanished in the face of real and boundless fear.

Of course, Zhao Gou still wanted to save some face.

He wouldn’t always remain cowering.

But he proposed an idea so ingenious that it exceeded everyone’s expectations.

"I have pondered deeply for days and have devised a brilliant strategy!"

In the Song Army’s camp, Zhao Gou scanned the generals within the tent, deliberately raising his voice: "Ancient masters of warfare first secure themselves against defeat, and then wait for the enemy’s defeat."

"Our army is new to this place, unfamiliar with the terrain, how can we engage recklessly?"

"I have decided to emulate the ancient methods and lay... the Nine Palaces Turtle Shell Interlocking Formation here!"

With these words, the generals in the tent froze, looking at each other in bewilderment.

The name of this formation sounded peculiar, combining the mystery of "Nine Palaces" with the clumsiness of "Turtle Shell," making it hard to imagine its efficacy.

Zhao Gou, however, seemed unaware, explaining to himself, growing more excited as he spoke:

"This formation was created through my study of the ’I Ching’ hexagrams, combined with the various battle diagrams of the ’Essential Military Classics,’ comprehensively understood and integrated!"

"Listen carefully—"

"With the main camp as the core, divided into nine camps, arranged according to the Nine Palaces direction, with deep ditches, barricades, and wheeled wagons connecting them, archers hidden inside, flags planted everywhere, with many feigned units!"

"The troops in each camp rotate defenses by the Five Elements flag during the day, and at night, torches are lit according to the Northern Dipper’s position, creating endless variations to confuse the enemy about our army’s real state!"

Seeing the generals still confused, he slightly frowned and said, with a tone of admonition: "You warriors only know how to charge, don’t you understand ’a master of warfare stands in an invincible position, without missing the enemy’s defeat’?"

"The essence of this formation lies in the words ’still as a mountain’!"

"Our army, with deep ditches and high fortifications, fortifies itself like a great turtle bearing its shell, no matter how valiant Yue Fei’s camp may be, it won’t have an easy target!"

"They come from afar, benefiting from quick battles, while I benefit from steadfast defense."

"Over time, their spearheads will blunt, supplies will become scarce, and when their troops are wearied and flaws revealed, I will then, with elite cavalry, break out through the life gate or scenery gate indicated on the formation diagram, attacking their flanks or cutting off their supplies, how can we not win?"

He spoke more smugly, as if he could already see the Northern Border Army suffering headlong against this "Nine Palaces Turtle Shell Formation."

"This formation is both offensive and defensive, combining movement and stillness, deeply embodying the subtleties of military tactics!"

"It fully satisfies my need for steadiness, yet does not lose the opportunity for advance, perfectly fitting the current situation!"

He glanced over the generals with unquestionable determination: "From today, each camp will follow the formation diagrams I have shown, mobilizing troops and building fortifications, practicing flag conversions! Without my directive, no one is to leave their position unauthorized, violators will be treated as disrupting the formation!"

The generals listening to this theoretical but empty strategy were all inwardly wailing.

This so-called "Nine Palaces Turtle Shell Interlocking Formation," sounded all-encompassing, yet in reality, it bound tens of thousands of troops within fixed fortifications, abandoning mobility and waiting passively to be attacked.

Moreover, the deployment was cumbersome, and mobilization complex. Should the enemy choose not to assault the camp directly, but rather cut off supplies or launch precise attacks, this cumbersome "turtle shell" would instantly become a self-inflicted prison.

Immediately, there were generals intending to object.

But Zhao Gou did not give them any chance, simply waving his hand to suppress all their voices.

This was a clever plan he had spent much thought on devising.

Not only would it save him as the emperor from embarrassment, but it also allowed him not to meet the enemy head-on; how could it be altered?

The matter was settled under such circumstances.

No one could understand what the Song Army intended to do.

It all sounded so grandiose, and such great commotion was made, but when faced with the enemy forces, they became hesitant.

However, neither Gu Hui nor Wanyan Digunai would accompany Zhao Gou in wasting time like this.

...

Yingtian Prefecture.

Currently stationed at Yingtian Prefecture is Zhao Gou’s confidant, Wan Qixie.

Wan Qixie truly is a clever man, although in the past his status in Zhao Gou’s eyes was far inferior to Qin Hui, after all that has happened now, he had long since replaced Qin Hui, becoming one of Zhao Gou’s most trusted ministers.

And it is precisely because of this that he guards Yingtian.

But Wan Qixie’s thoughts clearly were no longer here.

As the saying goes, "A wise bird chooses the tree upon which to perch."

The current Zhao Song can no longer provide him much sense of security, and he cannot align with Gu Hui, the choice Wan Qixie can make is self-evident.

At that moment, within the government office.

"Your Majesty, oh Your Majesty, it’s not that I’m disloyal, it’s just that the Celestial Mandate is no longer with Zhao Song..."

He murmured, a cold curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Zhao Gou’s stubbornness and incapability, he sees clearer than anyone.

Royal expedition?

It’s nothing but seeking one’s own demise.

Wan Qixie doesn’t wish to accompany this doomed sinking ship to a watery grave.

From the moment Zhao Gou left Yingtian with the army, Wan Qixie knew, his opportunity had arrived.

He had long sent a letter of allegiance through secret channels to Digunai in Kaifeng.

The Jin Monarch greatly praised his "abandoning darkness for light," promising riches and high positions, commanding him to control Yingtian as an inside agent for the Jin Army’s southward push.

"Come here," Wan Qixie said in a deep voice.

A sharp-eyed confidant dressed in civilian clothes responded and entered, respectfully greeting, "Master."

"How is the matter of the city defense map progressing?" Wan Qixie asked in a flat tone, as if enquiring about a routine affair.

"Reporting to Master, we have succeeded, several of the defending generals were stubbornly resistant, have been..." The confidant made a throat-slitting gesture, "Now all four gate generals have been replaced by sensible ones."

"Night passwords and patrol routes are all under control."

Wan Qixie nodded in satisfaction.

The cleansing operation was proceeding quietly and methodically.

Those loyal to Zhao Song and potentially obstructive generals were either framed with charges thrown in prison or died in ’accidents,’ replaced by officers he bought with gold, futures, or those harboring ulterior motives.

The entire process was cleverly packaged as military discipline consolidation and guarding against Northern Border spies, even occasional doubts from the court were forcibly suppressed using the highest authority left behind.

Besides, by now, how many stubborn ones can be left in Great Song?

"What about the granary and arsenal?"

"All arranged properly."

"The ones managing keys and accounts are our own people, waiting for the Jin Monarch’s army to arrive, and all in-city supplies can be utilized."

Wan Qixie picked up his teacup, gently blowing away the foam, a fierce glint passing through his eyes: "It’s still not enough."

"Those in the city who pride themselves on pure integrity, ready to die in remonstration, and those few royal members controlling parts of patrol troops are all hidden dangers."

He put down the teacup, lowering his voice: "Go find some evidence, claim they colluded with Northern Border’s Gu Hui, intending to cause chaos during Your Majesty’s expedition."

"Arrest who needs to be arrested, kill who needs to be killed, ensure that before the Jin Army arrives, Yingtian Prefecture is thoroughly cleared out!"

"Yes!" The confidant complied, quietly retreating.

The government office suddenly fell quiet once again.

Wan Qixie’s eyes were exceptionally fierce, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.

He does not feel ashamed of his actions.

Though he was also a scholar.

But scholars have disparities.

To Wan Qixie, he is just finding a way out for himself, for his family.

Of course, he also knows his actions will surely be condemned by future generations, but he had long prepared a defense in his heart.

"If it weren’t for you Gu Hui forcing me like this."

"How would I have arrived at this state?"

He murmured to himself, his hand uncontrollably clenched into a fist at that moment...

.....

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