In his previous life, Zhao Huan wasn't a true history buff; at best, he was a pseudo-history buff. He didn't know much about the history of the Song Dynasty, and much of his information came from unreliable online novels.

For example, he was unaware of the details of historical events like the "Yongxi Northern Expedition," which influenced the entire national policy and future direction of the Song Dynasty.

After arriving here, I finally had a proper meal to catch up on my diet.

History often repeats itself; for example, the Southern Tang Dynasty perished because of the pretentious Li Yu, and the Northern Song Dynasty perished because of the pretentious Zhao Ji.

Similarly, during the Yongxi Northern Expedition, the Song army split into four routes and marched north.

Similarly, during the Jingkang Northern Expedition, the Song army split into four routes and marched north!

The former was an active attack by the powerful Song Dynasty on the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, while the latter was an attack forced upon them by the Jin army's southward invasion.

Later historians, some of whom were bold enough to comment on these two Northern Expeditions, said: "The defeat at Yongxi was due to the emperor's rigid and haphazard command. The Song army's offensive could not adapt to the changing situation, hence the defeat. The victory at Jingkang was due to the unity of the entire army, the concerted efforts of the whole nation, the emperor's personal presence, and the appropriate command!"

In order to avoid repeating the mistakes of Emperor Yongxi, Zhao Huan was convinced that victory was inevitable in this war!

On the vast plain, Song soldiers gathered like a tide, and the generals of the three armies assembled their troops, quickly forming square formations on the plain.

One unit of one hundred men was late, and its leader was beheaded in public. This was used to send an order to the entire army!

The commander in charge of this capital was demoted on the spot and replaced by a deputy commander!

A cavalry unit in gleaming armor galloped across the still-unmelted snow and ice, eventually lining up before the commander-in-chief. This unit was none other than the renowned Peng Ri Army of the Great Song Dynasty.

Yao Pingzhong dismounted and shouted, "Reporting to Commander Zhong, our army has been assembled!"

Zhong Shidao nodded without speaking. The emperor drew his sword, and the imperial horse puffed out hot air from its nostrils as it paced back and forth in the damp, icy snow, appearing somewhat excited and passionate.

Below, men brought Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Salihe up, bound them, and made them kneel before the army.

A burly captain stepped forward, jogging over, raised his broadsword, and with a swift stroke, severed Wanyan Salihe's head. The head rolled several times on the ground before landing in the melting snow and ice. Blood mingled with the icy water, and the headless corpse slumped to one side.

Next was Wanyan Loushi, the war god of the Jurchens. Wanyan Loushi was surrounded by a group of people, but he was incredibly strong and struggled incessantly. He was held down by several people, but he couldn't hold them back, so the head constable couldn't cut him.

The group had no choice but to bring a piece of wood and tie Wanyan Loushi to it, rendering him unable to move. Wanyan Loushi roared like a wounded lion, scaring the head constable so much that he seemed unable to hold his knife steady.

Seeing this, Zhao Huan dismounted. Zhong Shidao tried to dissuade him but failed, and Han Shizhong quickly followed behind.

The soldiers all tried to surround him, but the emperor stopped them.

Before the battle begins, the enemy general is killed to raise the flag and boost the morale of the army. However, the fighting spirit of a cornered beast must not be intimidating, otherwise it will affect morale.

The emperor drew his imperial sword, which was incredibly sharp. As soon as it was drawn from its sheath, it seemed to emit a chilling aura in the sunlight.

The constable was about to stop the emperor to prevent the blood from defiling his sacred body when Zhao Huan pushed him aside. Zhao Huan walked straight up and slashed down without hesitation. It wasn't that Zhao Huan was particularly strong, but rather that the sword was so sharp that it could cut through iron like mud.

With this one strike, Wanyan Loushi's head was severed. All of Wanyan Loushi's strength dissipated at that moment, and his body slumped to the ground.

All the blood fell from Zhao Huan's precious sword, yet the sword remained unstained by blood!

Zhao Huan raised his imperial sword and roared, "In every dynasty that defended against foreign enemies, there were always those who sacrificed their lives. Today, the bloodshed and sacrifice of China begins with our generation!"

The messenger swiftly relayed the emperor's words to the entire army, and the Song soldiers roared across the vast plain: "Long live the emperor! Long live the Song Dynasty! Long live the Song Dynasty! Long live the Song Dynasty..."

The sounds rose and fell, like a raging sea, as if they were about to shake down the clouds in the sky.

Later historical records state: "The emperor summoned the three armies and fought Zonghan at the Tai-Liao Plain (the border between Taiyuan Prefecture and Liaozhou Prefecture), historically known as the Battle of Tai-Liao. The imperial army had 100,000 troops in the central army and 50,000 troops on the left flank. The emperor personally led the expedition, and his imperial might pierced the sun! Zonghan's army had 40,000 troops, all cavalry. The Jurchens were brave and hardy, and the army that destroyed Liao was magnificent. However, Zonghan was defeated!"

Another storyteller said, "The great Song dynasty's enemies on all sides began with the Liao dynasty!"

Around noon, after the entire army had eaten the rations they carried, scouts reported that the Jin army was already five miles away. The order to prepare was given, and all the soldiers were like springs that had gathered all their strength.

The bright sunlight shone on the empty plain, making it very quiet. After a short while, a long black shadow appeared on the horizon ahead. The shadow grew closer and closer, and slowly the figures of people and warhorses could be seen.

Wanyan Zonghan committed all his troops at once. There is a saying that goes, "The Jurchens are invincible if they have less than 10,000 men."

Zhao Huan had naturally heard this saying before, but when the country and the people were on the verge of destruction, who the hell dared to talk about proverbs? He picked up his weapons, and if he was unhappy, he would fight. He would use a bunch of people to drive the Jurchens out of Shanhaiguan!

In the past, when the Song army heard that the Jin invaders were coming, only one or two out of ten dared to fight them head-on; the majority either avoided them or collapsed on their own.

Now that the emperor is not cowardly, neither are the generals and commanders of the three armies. The cowardly officials and scholars of the court are far away in Tokyo. Even the captains who are late for the march are beheaded and their heads are displayed in public. Moreover, the soldiers receive generous pensions after their deaths and can be enshrined in the Martyrs' Shrine. The common soldiers are also filled with patriotic fervor.

But then a Jin cavalryman stepped forward and shouted, "Emperor of Song, the Marshal has something to say to you! Do you dare to come out of the fray?"

Zhong Shidao said, "Your Majesty, please send this old minister!"

"No need," Zhao Huan said menacingly. "Han Shizhong, shoot that cavalryman!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Han Shizhong raised his crossbow, aimed at the Jin cavalryman, and shot an arrow into the Jin cavalryman's head, knocking him off his horse.

Upon seeing this, the Jin commanders were all furious. In battle, basic etiquette must be observed, but the Song emperor had no regard for face and killed everyone on sight, which drove Wanyan Zonghan mad.

"Yao Pingzhong!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

Zhong Shidao handed him a vanguard token and said firmly, "I order you to defeat the enemy swiftly! Otherwise, you'll have to answer to me with your head!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Yao Pingzhong issued the token and addressed the Japanese soldiers, saying, "My comrades, the Emperor's grace is boundless; we will repay it with our lives. The Great Song Dynasty will surely prevail!"

Yao Pingzhong is an eccentric general who fled in official history, but before that, he was a well-known and ever-victorious general in the Shanxi area. He achieved success at a young age, had military talent, and dared to be a pioneer.

Yao Pingzhong took the lead, leading the vanguard like a sharp sword as they charged towards the Jin army, and the Song army camp resounded with thunderous war drums.