Wanyan Dan changed his clothes and mingled into the crowd.

The south gate was in complete chaos, and the Song army's cannons were unstoppable.

The city walls, which were thought to be impregnable, were all blown down, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.

The deafening sound terrified countless people.

Some even prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling and kowtowing, believing it was the wrath of the heavens.

The cannons not only blasted open the city gates, but also completely crushed the morale of the Jin army.

The Jin army in the outer city was wiped out by rows of musketeers, and those who were not killed retreated back to the inner city.

The Song army advanced rapidly, closing in on the inner city, and artillery was transported between the outer and inner cities.

The inner city garrison was extremely tense; the cannons below were simply too powerful and beyond human resistance.

Countless Song soldiers crossed the outer city gates and approached the inner city.

The once impregnable city of Shenzhou turned out to be as fragile as paper.

Just as the inner city of Shenzhou was about to be breached by powerful cannons, a bugle suddenly sounded. This bugle was not for attack, but for retreat.

Should we withdraw our troops at this point?

Not only did the Song army officers think they had misheard, but even the tense and fearful Jin soldiers on the city wall thought they were hallucinating.

The outer city had already been breached, and the Song army's attack was so fierce that the Jin army was completely overwhelmed.

The Song soldiers were just waiting to blast open the gates of Shenzhou City and capture the enemy chieftain Wanyan Dan alive.

After all, His Majesty the Emperor had stated beforehand that whoever captured Wanyan Dan alive would be granted the title of King!

This is an opportunity for many to rise to the top in one step!

Even if they didn't capture Wanyan Dan alive, capturing a few Jin ministers, concubines, or the princesses and princes of the enemy chieftain would still be a fortune.

In life, opportunities to change one's destiny are few and far between, and right now, a great opportunity is right in front of us.

But at that very moment, the bugle call to retreat sounded from the main camp.

The Song army had an ironclad rule: absolute obedience was mandatory!

If anyone disobeys now and attacks without authorization, even if they rush in and bring Wanyan Dan's head to Zhong Shidao, I'm sorry, according to the Song army's military system, they will definitely have a knife to their neck.

This ironclad rule was personally issued by the emperor, and several brave generals who violated it were beheaded.

Moreover, one of them was protected and suppressed by his superiors, but was later discovered by the Control Yuan, and both he and his superior were beheaded.

In Zhao Huan's own words: Absolute discipline is the foundation of invincibility.

The Song army officers were unwilling to accept defeat; what did it mean to retreat at this point?

Indeed, the Song army below was retreating in an orderly fashion, their formation perfectly disciplined.

The Jin soldiers on the city wall looked at each other, puzzled.

We're not playing anymore?

This isn't right. They clearly had the upper hand, so why did they stop fighting?

The Jin army breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that the Song army had retreated to its main camp.

About half an hour ago, Imperial Marshal Zhong Shidao, clad in armor and surrounded by his guards, arrived at the front of the army formation.

He saw through the Thousand-Mile View that the Jin army on Shenzhou City was in complete panic, and the Song Dynasty's cannons were bombarding Shenzhou City with an invincible force, as if they could kill gods and Buddhas alike.

It's only a matter of time before the city falls.

The sky was somewhat gloomy.

As the most important military stronghold in the south of the Jin Dynasty, Shenzhou was the shield of Shangjing. Once Shenzhou fell, Shangjing would be exposed to the iron cavalry and artillery of the Song army without any defense.

The emperor's grand ambition to destroy the Jin dynasty was within reach.

Having accomplished the affairs of the emperor and the world, and won fame both before and after his death, alas, his hair has turned white.

This is a lament by Xin Qiji, a poet from the Southern Song Dynasty, about his own life.

At this moment, Zhong Shidao also felt this vicissitude and sorrow.

Originally, this was a vigorous and decisive battle.

At the age of eighty-six, he was entrusted with the imperial mission to lead the three armies on a northern expedition.

Three hundred years later, the Han dynasty's army once again arrived in this land occupied by barbarians.

This will completely eliminate the threat posed by the Celestial Empire.

Such achievements are comparable to those of historical generals such as Marquis of Champion and Li Jing.

Unfortunately, it seems that fate was playing a cruel joke on him.

He felt his eyelids growing heavier and heavier, and the breath of life was rapidly draining from his aging body.

He was appointed to a critical mission, commanding a million-strong army, sweeping across the north, and achieving great military exploits that have made him a legend.

But it cannot withstand the power of time.

When Xie Qian saw the old marshal, he carefully dismounted from his warhorse and stood in front of him, his posture as straight as a pine tree.

He took off the precious sword bestowed upon him by the emperor and planted it on the ground.

With a calm expression, he looked ahead, watching the city gates of Shenzhou City being blasted open, and seeing the passionate men of the Song army tearing through the outer city's defenses under the bugle call of the entire army.

What an exciting scene! The youthful passion is about to be spilled in Shenzhou and etched into history.

What a pity...

Zhong Shidao entered officialdom as a civil official, but later abandoned his literary pursuits to join the military.

He had also read extensively and dreamed of defeating the barbarians with three thousand light cavalry, just like Li Jing.

Unexpectedly, like King Wu of Chu, Xiong Tong, he died during a campaign.

Gradually, he closed his eyes, and the surrounding sounds receded like the tide, while the light quickly faded away.

His breathing grew weaker and weaker. He still wanted to think about things, but he was powerless to do so.

In the end, all I could feel was regret: I have failed Your Majesty's trust.

Jie Qian found it strange that the marshal had suddenly dismounted.

He wanted to say something, but seeing the marshal standing there quietly, seemingly deep in thought, he decided not to disturb him.

After an incense stick's time had passed, Jie Qian said, "Marshal, I see that the outer city has been breached. I request that you, Marshal, give me three thousand infantrymen, and I will surely take Wanyan Zonghan's head!"

Zhong Shidao did not respond to him, and an ominous premonition rose in Jie Qian's heart. In that instant, his palms were soaked with cold sweat.

In just a moment, countless thoughts raced through his mind.

Without further hesitation, he walked up and saw that Zhong Shidao's face was peaceful, his eyes were closed, and he was motionless.

"marshal."

Jie Qian called out again cautiously, but there was still no response.

Jie Qian immediately said, "Quickly, someone help the marshal back to the camp to rest."

Physician Hu, who was with him, rushed over in a panic. He took a closer look and was immediately scared half to death. Just as he was about to speak, Xie Qian shut him down with a look.

"The Marshal is advanced in years and should not be fatigued. Send the Marshal's reply immediately."

Jie Qian clenched his fist so tightly that his fingers almost dug into his flesh.

The marshal's death on the eve of battle will inevitably cause instability in the Song army, both publicly and privately. Zhong Shidao had been kind to him, and he was deeply grieved, but he had to suppress his grief and dare not reveal it in the slightest.

Jie Qian took Zhong Shidao's token and rode quickly to the messenger camp: "Pass on my military order to sound the retreat."

"Commander Jie, without the Marshal's personal order, I cannot make this decision."

"This is the Marshal's command token!"

"yes!"

As the bugle sounded to signal a retreat, Zhe Yanzhi, the commander of the Left Army, looked in the direction of the central army with suspicion. The officers beside him were even more astonished: "What the hell is going on? The city is about to fall, and they're sounding the retreat!"

Zhe Yanzhi lowered his brows and pondered for a moment before saying, "I will retreat with the central army."

The Song army retreated and camped five miles away from Shenzhou City.