Zhang Cai nodded thoughtfully. In the end, military officers like him were promoted because of their bravery in battle, but they did not yet have the macro-strategic ability to judge the overall war situation.

Otherwise, he could have been promoted to Commander of the Garrison.

After hearing Yue Fei's words, Zhang Cai, Peng Chang, and the others admired Yue Fei even more.

The rumors circulating about Yue Fei, such as that he rose to power only because of the emperor, are utter nonsense.

The emperor merely gave Yue Fei an opportunity; his rapid rise within the Song army was due to Yue Fei's own talent.

Even if the emperor gave Zhang Cai a chance, Zhang Cai knew he was not up to the responsibility of commanding the entire army.

Therefore, opportunity favors the prepared mind.

Six days earlier, Liu Qi, the military commander of Xuanhua Prefecture, had already assembled a large army and was approaching Heishui City.

Of the soldiers Liu Yanqing fled south, except for the 10,000 led by Peng Chang who went north with Yue Fei, the vast majority were recruited by Liu Qi along the way, forming an army of 120,000 that approached Blackwater City.

Moreover, Wang Si, the military commander of Xiliang Prefecture, had already marched north and joined Liu Qi five days ago.

The Song army boasted an army of 200,000, and under the command of the commander of Xingqing Prefecture, the grain transport teams from all directions began to gather a dozen miles south of Heishui City and began to build fortifications.

It seems that Liu Qi is planning to wage a war of attrition against the Mongols in Blackwater City, preventing them from advancing south while also ensuring they have no easy time.

After they finish eating the food supplies in Blackwater City, they will wait to evacuate.

What he didn't know was that Yue Fei was even more ruthless.

When Yue Fei returned from the northern desert, he brought back the supplies that Yelü Dashi had abandoned halfway. He also built a simple fortified village a dozen miles north of Heishui City, intending to intercept this Mongol army and prevent them from heading north.

To paraphrase what the emperor often taught his troops: Anyone who dares to offend our Song Dynasty, no matter how far away, shall be punished!