Shangyang County, 130 li east of Changsui City, is a plain with barren vegetation and scattered rocks.

Zhao Cheng was familiar with this place. The last time he returned to Yanchuan from the state banquet, he came to this plain after passing through the rapeseed field where they had been ambushed.

This plain has no official name, but the local people arbitrarily call it 'Suidong Plain'.

Here, Zhao Jiajun and Wang Ren's Jingjun met for the first time.

Wang Ren divided the Jing Army into two armies, front and rear. He led the vanguard with 100,000 cavalry and 100,000 infantry, a total of 200,000 troops, while leaving 100,000 to cover the rear.

The two sides tacitly avoided fighting upon meeting, instead setting up their own camps.

"Xiao Fei, who is the vanguard of the Jing Army?"

In the central command tent, Zhao Cheng sat in the commander's seat, with generals such as Yang Taozhi, Yue Jiti, and Xiao Luofeng standing on either side.

Yuan Fei said, "Reporting to the young marshal, the vanguard of the Jing Army is Zhang Dalian."

Zhao Cheng said, "It's not Wang Yuluan? Didn't he come?"

Yuan Fei said, "They've arrived. Wang Ren left the old generals to cover the rear, and brought Wang Yuluan with him."

“Although the Jing Army has 300,000 men, the number of men in the vanguard is the same as ours. We should go and challenge them first, so that our soldiers don’t think we are afraid of fighting.”

Zhao Cheng looked at Yang Taozhi and the others and asked, "Three commanders, which of you will go and meet Zhang Dalian?"

“Let me go!” Xiao Luofeng immediately volunteered.

Zhao Cheng said, "When Yuan Xiu was conferring titles, Zhang Dalian was not among the top four young generals, simply because his age was awkward. He was older than you young generation generals, but younger than Wang Ren of the middle generation. However, he had fought alongside Wang Ren in countless battles and should not be underestimated."

"This subordinate knows!" Xiao Luofeng said firmly, "The Battle of Lingshan was the young marshal's achievement, that's no secret. My position as the head of the four supreme young generals is just a formality; I must prove myself!"

Zhao Cheng waved his hand and smiled, "Your ability to hold off Du Yucheng in the canyon has already proven your strength. I'm not saying this to boost the enemy's morale, but because we must win the first battle."

Xiao Luofeng clasped his hands and said, "Please rest assured, young marshal, this humble general will not fail in his mission!"

Zhao Cheng nodded and said, "Then go ahead."

At this moment, a messenger hurriedly entered the command tent and said, "Young Marshal, someone outside the camp requests an audience!"

Zhao Cheng asked, "Who is it?"

He called himself Yu Changsi.

"Wow, I was wondering why the Jing Army was holding back; it turns out this guy is also in the army."

Zhao Cheng stood up and said, "There's no need to let him in. I'll go out to greet him."

Outside the camp, Yu Changsi waited with only two personal guards. From afar, he saw Zhao Cheng leading Xiao Luofeng and Yan Zheng toward them.

Yu Changsi bowed to Zhao Cheng and smiled, saying, "A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after a day's separation. The former young prime minister is now a young marshal commanding an army of 200,000. My apologies for my disrespect!"

Zhao Cheng stood still and said, "There's no need for formalities. With two armies facing each other, what brings Mr. Yu here?"

Although he was in the army, Yu Changsi was still dressed in plain clothes, just like his usual attire. He said calmly, "I am not good at fighting. I was just selected by General Wang to join the army. I am here on behalf of General Wang. The General has a few questions for the young marshal. If the young marshal can answer them, I can go back and report."

Zhao Cheng said, "I came out to greet you for two reasons. First, to show my respect for you. Although I know that you have a great deal to do with the fact that you have driven my Zhao family to this point, I admire your strategy. Second, I do not intend to let you into the military camp. After all, with your wisdom, you can find out too much information once you enter the camp, and then it will be difficult for me to let you go back. Let's talk here."

"It seems I won't be able to get a cup of tea from the young marshal."

Yu Changsi laughed heartily a few times and said, "The Grand General asks, is the Dragon Marshal and the Young Marshal's target Wen Hu, or His Majesty?"

Zhao Cheng said, "Purge the court of corrupt officials."

Yu Changsi said, "The General asked, whether it is the Jing Army or the Zhao Family Army, they are all soldiers of the Great Jing. He can fight against the Yedan, against the rioters, and against the Western Regions, but he is unwilling to fight against the Jing people. If the Zhao Family Army retreats, he will withdraw his troops, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers will be spared. I wonder if the young marshal has such compassion?"

"mercy?"

Zhao Cheng gave a strange look and said, "I really will answer this question properly. Go back and tell General Wang that someone my age doesn't know what compassion is. Perhaps my father had it, but unfortunately, I am the commander-in-chief of the Zhao family army's vanguard. Tell General Wang that I, Zhao Cheng, originally thought highly of him, considering him a decisive and ruthless hero, but he actually talked to me about compassion? Doesn't he even understand such a simple principle as 'compassion doesn't lead an army'? Does he think I'm stupid, or is he stupid himself?"

Yu Changsi smiled slightly and said, "I will definitely deliver the message."

Zhao Cheng glanced at Xiao Luofeng beside him and said, "Tomorrow morning, Xiao Luofeng will go to challenge us. Have your vanguard Zhang Dalian prepare. Things have come to this point; there's no retreat, we must fight. I know your true purpose in coming, Mr. Yu. You are the regular army of the imperial court, while we have been labeled as rebels by the court. The court will still treat us with the proper courtesy. If persuasion fails, then you won't have the burden of public opinion if we start another war."

Yu Changsi said, "The young marshal is indeed intelligent."

Zhao Cheng said, "Mr. Yu, you are the clever one. General Wang certainly wouldn't have thought of this."

"In that case, I'll be going."

Yu Changsi turned around, and after taking a step, he turned back and said, "I almost forgot, the General has another question."

"Speaking."

"Wang Yucen, how are you?"

The previous two questions concerned the war, but this one concerned a personal matter. Zhao Cheng's tone softened as he said, "My mother and the Princess treat her like family. General Wang, please rest assured that the Zhao family will not mistreat Sister Yu Cen."

Yu Changsi nodded slightly and walked away.

Yan Zheng leaned close to Zhao Cheng's ear and said, "Wen Tai's scheme, Wen Hu's actions, and even the fact that the Zhao family was driven to the brink of ruin are all thanks to this man. Young Marshal, kill him."

Xiao Luofeng frowned and said, "Mr. Yan, this is the behavior of a despicable person."

Yan Zheng said solemnly, "Even Mr. Lian admires his strategies. If we let him return to the Jing Army, it would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains, causing endless trouble. In a battle between two armies, what is there to consider petty or base?!"

Zhao Cheng shook his head and said, "Precisely because it is a battle between two armies, we must have integrity and moral character. If it were in private, I would definitely want to get rid of him as soon as possible, but if I kill him now, it doesn't matter if I get a bad reputation, but the Zhao family army behind me will be looked down upon. Can a team that is so afraid of fighting that it has to break the rules and kill the enemy's strategist still have any fighting spirit?"

Yan Zheng sighed and said nothing more.

Zhao Cheng looked at Xiao Luofeng and said, "To win, we must win fair and square. We must win not only the battle, but also the morale of our troops."

"General Xiao, let's fight tomorrow and wipe them all out!"