Chapter 136 Fusu: A windfall from heaven. ...
Fusu never believed he possessed military talent. Of course, this depends on who you compare him to.
In his first life, during the era of "Qin King unifying the six kingdoms," he could readily name a string of famous generals who left their mark on history: Wang Jian, Meng Tian, Li Xin, Zhang Han...
Of course, there were also a few names he only learned about later from reading history books, names he was less willing to mention: Xiang Yu, Han Xin, Ji Bu, Peng Yue, and so on.
Fusu always believed that he was no match for them. Let alone them, he wasn't even a tenth as good as his father. After all, he only had a few short years of experience guarding Shangzhou and had never actually fought a battle.
But after he was reborn into the Song Dynasty, everything was completely different. Previously, the imperial court valued the distinction between "generals and ministers," meaning civil and military officials were not separated. Even Zhang Han, before being appointed general, was the Minister of the Imperial Household, one of the Nine Ministers. There was even a clear division between civil and military officials. Strangely, civil officials consistently discriminated against military officials.
Looking across the court, the only person who could truly be described as "both scholarly and martial" was his mentor, Fan Zhongyan. Even Di Qing, who possessed the qualities of a renowned general from the previous dynasty, was subject to suppression and suspicion. What could Fusu do? He could only bite the bullet and take matters into his own hands.
Even if he's only half-baked... he's still better than others!
Fortunately, the Emperor and Fan Zhongyan possessed extraordinary adaptability. When their eight-year-old son/disciple proposed to be the commander-in-chief, they were initially surprised but then readily accepted it, as if it were perfectly natural. They even meticulously studied Fusu's plan: "How many men will you take with you? Where do you expect to attack?"
Fusu pursed his lips.
After a long pause, he gave a number: "Five thousand."
The emperor was utterly astonished, even more so than when he learned his son intended to lead the troops himself: "Only five thousand? Is that safe? Su'er, why don't you bring more soldiers?"
Fusu wrinkled his nose: "It's not that having more people makes you safer, it's that winning a battle makes you safer."
His father probably didn't think he was going on a spring outing to Western Xia, and that the more guards he brought, the better, right? Unfortunately, he was going there to fight a guerrilla war.
"Our Great Song Dynasty is fighting on two fronts, and the worst thing we can do is get bogged down and bogged down. So we need to win quickly. Five thousand men is just the maximum we can maneuver. If we have any more troops, our marching speed will be slowed down. It would be bad if the Western Xia discovered our whereabouts."
This was the stated reason given by Fusu. There was another reason he kept to himself: because he himself wasn't confident in his abilities. But the opportunity was too good to pass up; it would be a shame not to try.
Five thousand is just the right number of troops—enough to sustain losses without crippling the enemy. Even if we fail, it won't disrupt the pace of the main battle.
“Alright. Five thousand men it is,” the Emperor said. But he paused for a moment, then spoke to Fusu in a consultative tone: “...How about we change the general? Su’er, write the plan down for him and let him act according to your ideas. You can just stay in the rear.”
"How can you say that?" Fusu said, both amused and exasperated. "The battlefield is ever-changing. Do you expect me to control everything remotely? Your Majesty, do you realize you'll be remembered in history for doing this?"
Emperor Yongzheng and Emperor Taizong of this dynasty were both renowned as "masters of battlefield micro-management" throughout their lives. Your Majesty, do you wish to follow in their footsteps?
"All right."
The emperor muttered a couple of disgruntled remarks. He knew it was wrong, but his worry for his son briefly overcame his reason. He reached out and patted his son's head—a gesture he rarely made after Fusu had come to believe he was grown up.
Today, it has reappeared in the martial arts world.
"I am worried that on the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. If you were to get hurt, what would become of me and your empress? And what would become of the future of the Song Dynasty?"
Fusu sighed and said, "I am going to war for the sake of the future of the Song Dynasty."
The Emperor remained silent for a while before speaking: "Yes, so I am blaming myself."
It was because he had neglected the promotion of military generals that, apart from Di Qing, there was no one else of value in the entire court, forcing Su'er to take on the role herself. How could her father not see the concerns that Su'er hadn't voiced?
But this battle against Western Xia is a must. Only by making them feel the pain will they obediently cower and retreat. We must prevent Di Qing from being directly blocked. Otherwise, even with gunpowder balls at hand, who can guarantee that they will be thrown accurately every time? Faced with the possibility of a sneak attack at any moment, the main force will find it difficult to remain vigilant at all times, and will eventually be completely worn down.
"Alright then." In the end, the emperor relented: "Go and come back as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Fan Zhongyan and the others looked at this and that, feeling a sense of unreality and disbelief: They'd already decided to fight on two fronts? The commander-in-chief had been chosen just like that? Weren't they going to discuss other candidates?
But the thought that the protagonist was His Highness the Crown Prince seemed to put their minds at ease. It was almost always the same. Matters of vital importance to the fate of the Song Dynasty were always decided in a few words, with a casual remark. What was even more frightening was that His Highness the Crown Prince had never failed.
So, this time they'll... believe it too?
They nodded in agreement, and the Crown Prince visibly breathed a sigh of relief, his expression much more relaxed. The Emperor, however, looked even more melancholy, propping his chin on his hand and remaining silent. The others could tell that the father and son still had things to discuss, so they quickly took their leave.
Upon reaching the outside of the Chui Gong Hall, the group exchanged glances. Someone, seemingly out of nowhere, uttered a blasphemous remark: "His Highness the Crown Prince is truly unworthy of his ancestors."
What were our ancestors like?
His Highness the Crown Prince's great-grandfather, Emperor Taizong, was defeated during his campaign against Liaodong and even fled on a donkey cart. His grandfather, Emperor Zhenzong, also attempted to desert during his personal campaign but was forcibly taken to the front lines by Chancellor Kou Zhun.
Compared to them, His Highness the Crown Prince, who volunteered to go to the front lines...
"In fact, he has quite the style of the founding emperor."
The group exchanged glances, all agreeing wholeheartedly.
Speaking of which, the emperor's sons have always been known for their pampered lifestyle and avoiding unnecessary risks. Having never been to the front lines, their character remains unknown. How could such a dramatic change have occurred in just two generations?
Could it be the influence of Empress Cao's words and deeds? As the daughter of a famous general, her education from childhood was different from that of ordinary women.
Are there any other reasons?
The group thought for a while but couldn't come up with anything else. They could only attribute this to yet another "abnormality" of His Highness the Crown Prince. Oh well, there were already enough abnormalities. They just had to accept it.
Little did Fusu, residing in the Chuigong Hall, know that several ministers he trusted were attempting to expose his past. However, his past was so extraordinary that it was difficult for ordinary people to uncover it. At that moment, he obediently bowed his head, facing the Emperor's incessant nagging.
Contrary to the stereotypical image of parents in ordinary families, Empress Cao, Fusu's mother, was the one who spoke little. She even accepted that her son would no longer be the crown prince, and when she heard that he was going to Yunzhou, she only said a light "Be careful."
The Emperor, on the contrary, was the one who talked incessantly. And this time, with real battles to be fought, his incessant talking doubled. He racked his brains to gather all the experiences Emperor Zhenzong had told him about going to the battlefield, and told Fusu about them bit by bit.
Fusu listened very attentively, nodding from time to time, showing no sign of impatience whatsoever.
He was enjoying his father's care for him.
Seeing his son's attitude, the Emperor felt embarrassed: "Alright, your grandfather's situation is completely different from yours. If I continue, you'll get annoyed, Su'er. I'll just give you one piece of advice—"
"Even for the sake of the future of the Song Dynasty, you should take good care of yourself and return safely."
"Huh?" Fusu was taken aback: he thought he would say something like, "Even if it's for the sake of the Emperor, the Empress, or Miaowu."
"What else can I do?" The Emperor's eyes were full of helplessness: "I'm afraid only these words can teach you a lesson and make you cherish yourself."
Fusu touched his nose: It really is true.
The future of the Song Dynasty is not just about his status as the Crown Prince. It also includes the reforms that are halfway through their implementation. If he, as the Crown Prince, is wounded on the front lines, the court's attitude towards Liao and Xia will completely shift to a conservative and contractionary stance. Then the reforms he has laid the groundwork for to recover the Sixteen Prefectures will ultimately be gradually shelved or canceled…
Fusu's face immediately turned ashen. That was far more painful than being injured.
The government is ruthless.
He would immediately give a reason that he couldn't refuse.
It's not that the Emperor, the Empress, and Miaowu aren't important. Of course they are. But on the battlefield, one naturally thinks about military strategy, troop deployment, and battle formations. Thinking about family is considered desertion. But the Emperor using the Song Dynasty to pressure him is on another level.
“Your Majesty, I promise you.” Fusu said.
——
Let's turn to two different sides of the story.
Meanwhile, Di Qing encountered the Western Xia army on the main battlefield and won a great victory by using gunpowder balls. The soldiers who had been deliberately let go returned to the capital and reported the news that very night.
Li Yuanhao frowned deeply as he listened to the report from below: "What kind of nonsense is this?"
Divine punishment from heaven? The Iron Falcon suffered heavy losses?
What are you saying?
Faced with such bizarre and chaotic news, most people's first reaction wouldn't be to accept it, but rather to wonder if it was some ridiculous excuse the commander was making up to avoid defeat. Li Yuanhao thought the same thing. He ignored the ugly face of the person who reported it, summoned the surviving soldiers, and questioned them personally.
The result he received made him frown even more.
What the heck?
After a deafening roar, flames and black smoke shot into the sky. The Iron Falcons were blasted out of formation. Then, Song soldiers emerged from the smoke, wielding swords, and sliced them down like vegetables. They had barely escaped with their lives.
No, listen to this! Are you even speaking human language?
But the genuine fear and involuntary trembling in the soldiers' eyes when they mentioned the loud noise proved that it had truly happened. Li Yuanhao then questioned each of them separately, and their answers were similar, with details corroborating each other.
All of this proves that the loud noise really did exist.
The question is, what exactly was that loud noise? And what about the flames and smoke that followed?
Li Yuanhao secretly clenched his fist.
As the founding emperor of Western Xia, he possessed extraordinary vision and knowledge, and naturally wouldn't believe in anything like "divine punishment from heaven." However, his talent also made him acutely aware that the object that caused the loud noise had struck the Iron Falcon's Achilles' heel.
The Iron Falcons were invincible, relying on two things: well-trained warhorses and heavily armored soldiers impervious to blades and spears. But that loud noise startled the horses, severing the connection between warrior and horse, and greatly reducing their fighting ability.
For soldiers seated on horseback, trying to maintain their balance, the heavy armor they wore was not protection, but a burden. They were extremely prone to losing their balance and being thrown to the ground. What difference was there between them and infantrymen then?
Thinking of this, Li Yuanhao clenched his fists.
A series of possibilities flashed through his mind: Was he a framing partner between the Liao and Song dynasties? Or was the Liao deliberately concealing their knowledge, leading him into a trap? Or was it the Song…?
But the most urgent task is to find out whether the so-called "divine punishment" was something Song obtained by chance, or whether they have already mastered the power.
If it's the latter...
Li Yuanhao waved for all the surviving soldiers to leave, and said to his men, "Summon the Crown Prince."
After a while, Crown Prince Ning Lingge arrived. He bowed to Li Yuanhao and said, "Father."
Li Yuanhao tossed the military report to the latter. After reading it, the latter looked greatly shocked and said, "Go and investigate immediately to see what's going on. Be careful not to let the Song army find you."
Ning Lingge: "Yes."
He bowed respectfully, unaware that a strange glint appeared in Li Yuanhao's eyes when he said "go to investigate personally."
This unpleasant report came to an end. The surviving soldiers were dragged away. In the palace, wine was added, lamps were relit, and the banquet resumed, a scene of prosperity and celebration.
At that time, no one realized that the short-lived Western Xia Dynasty was already on its last countdown.
——
In fact, Fusu hadn't expected this either.
He personally selected five thousand men from the Imperial Guard to depart, but this wasn't actually the most elite batch—the most elite were currently under Di Qing's command. However, he did bring a few extra gunpowder balls.
Gunpowder balls are most useful in two situations: first, against cavalry, they can disrupt the horses' movements and throw the cavalry into disarray; second, in sieges, gunpowder balls can be used to blast through city walls, quickly dismantling the enemy's defenses. No ladders or tunnels are as effective as directly blasting a path through.
Coincidentally, both of these points perfectly matched the weaknesses of the Western Xia. Who could resist taking advantage of the chaos?
Anyway, Fusu can't.
The route was exactly as he had planned—starting from the path Di Qing had taken. Surely the Western Xia wouldn't tread the same road twice? Were they just going to wait and see?
However, since this was Fusu's first time leading troops, out of caution, he still sent out scouts to investigate ahead. As a result, they actually discovered something.
"Enemy attack ahead?" He stared wide-eyed, repeating incredulously, "Do you recognize them? They're from Western Xia?"
“It seems so,” the scout replied. But after a moment, he changed his words: “But it seems they’re not lying in ambush; they’re just circling around in the same spot.”
"Where?"
"It is Your Highness..." The scout swallowed hard, "...an auspicious omen summoned from the heavens. They are circling around that large pit, as if searching for something."
"No way..." Fusu murmured, "Am I really that lucky?"
Just by sheer coincidence, he encountered the Western Xia investigation team on his way north? Not a single day, not a single hour, not a single minute off?
How many of them are there?
“If there are no other ambushes in the shadows,” the scout estimated with his eyes closed, “less than five hundred men. The leader is well-dressed and seems to be of some status.”
"Then what are we waiting for?" Fusu said, "The whole army, listen to my command and wipe them out in one fell swoop."
Five thousand men against five hundred, and the latter wasn't even the Iron Falcon. Anyone else would be crushed. As for an ambush? Fusu decided to take a gamble: the Western Xia would never expect the Song army to send another force north along the same route. Therefore, there wouldn't be an ambush.
He made the right bet.
The Song army was in the shadows, while the Western Xia army was in the open. The Song army also had a numerical advantage; how could they not capture them? Furthermore, Fusu did not demand to capture them alive. Many Western Xia soldiers didn't even have time to react before their heads were gone. Those who did react often faced encirclement and slaughter by dozens of soldiers, and were defeated without any suspense.
In this decisive victory delivered right to Fusu's doorstep, the Song army suffered negligible losses. On the Western Xia side, only a little over a hundred surrendered and became prisoners. This included, of course, the distinguished-looking man whom Fusu had instructed to spare alive.
It is said that when this man discovered the enemy attack, he bravely organized those around him to fight, but even the strongest men can't fight against overwhelming odds. Finding himself in the hands of the Song army, he contemplated suicide, but was fortunately stopped. Otherwise, the Song army would have been left with only a corpse.
"Suicide?" Fusu was shocked when he heard the report.
Generally, there are only two possibilities when a captured person chooses to commit suicide. First, he is fearless and has great integrity. Second, his position is extremely important to his own side.
So which one is it?
When the Song army brought that person to Fusu, he could tell at a glance that both were true.
No wonder the scout immediately recognized this man's extraordinary status. In feudal times, the difference between commoners and nobles directly affected their appearance. The man's physique clearly indicated he was raised on a diet rich in meat, eggs, and dairy. Ordinary people didn't have that kind of nutrition.
Given his noble status, the fact that he was sent by the Western Xia to investigate the secrets of the battlefield ruins was remarkable. Within an entire regime, there were fewer than ten people qualified to do so. Considering his age, Fusu had a general idea of who he could recruit.
He asked, "Who are you?"
The man's eyes glazed over instantly, as if he hadn't heard what Fusu said at all.
Fusu: "Whoa."
What a pretentious person.
The Western Xia did have its own language. However, their script was created by people commissioned by Li Yuanhao, who imitated Chinese characters. Therefore, how could the Western Xia elites, those with practical experience, not speak the official language of the Song Dynasty?
Absolutely impossible.
I simply don't want to answer.
But Fusu was not discouraged; he was quite patient. This man's refusal to speak must be because the consequences of his words would be severe. The more this was the case, the more Fusu pressed for details.
He added, "It doesn't matter if you refuse to confess now; the Western Xia have plenty of prisoners. They'll find out your identity in no time."
The man swayed slightly, still pretending not to hear. But Fusu knew that he was not only listening, but his heart was also deeply shaken.
He added one last point without mincing words: "You've been looking at that deep pit for so long, have you noticed anything? Do you figure out how we dug it out?"
The man turned around abruptly, his eyes widening in disbelief, and spoke in a heavily accented Song Dynasty Mandarin: "It really was you Song people who did it!"
For a fleeting moment, Fusu felt as if he were some kind of villain. The man's face clearly showed expressions of anger, worry, and regret, as if he knew important intelligence but was now trapped in enemy hands and unable to deliver it, and was worried about his homeland.
Fusu became even more curious about this person's identity.
Who is it? It's not just anyone who's loyal.
He beckoned and inquired about the results of the interrogation of the prisoners. The man's face immediately showed a look of utter despair, as if he wished he could just die.
"Your Highness, according to the prisoners, this man is the Crown Prince of the Tangut Kingdom, Ninglingge!"
The soldier reporting the news spoke with a trembling voice. They had captured a foreign prince almost unharmed while traveling! Wasn't this a windfall? Even without any other achievements, their mission wouldn't have been empty-handed!
Fusu then gave a knowing "Oh." So he was the Crown Prince of Western Xia, no wonder.
Knowing that gunpowder balls originated from the Song Dynasty, his anxiety stemmed from genuine concern for the future of the dynasty he was about to inherit.
...Wait a minute, will Ning Lingge succeed him as the future ruler of Western Xia?
It doesn't seem so.
Fusu's gaze suddenly fell on Ninglingge, his expression shifting several times as his mind raced. If not Ninglingge, the crown prince, then who was it again? What unexpected event had occurred?
Suddenly, his expression changed. He stepped back a little and ordered his men, "Untie him."
Zuo You: "Huh?"
Ning Lingge: "Huh?"
Even Ning Lingge himself hadn't expected that he was secretly cursing his bad luck and the injustice of fate. He had come to investigate the so-called "divine punishment" on his father's orders, but instead, he had fallen into the hands of the Song army and become a prisoner. And now he was being questioned by a short, scrawny baby.
If all his weapons hadn't been confiscated, he would have loved to die on the spot.
What did he hear? The baby was going to untie him?
He was just wondering if there was a chance to grab the baby and use him as a hostage to create an escape route when the baby nimbly dodged and was completely protected by the people around him, with not a single gap visible.
Ning Lingge got up regretfully, stretched his body, and prepared to plan for the future.
Then, he heard the most bizarre, unbelievable, and memorable words of his life.
The baby said, "Let him go."
Both Song Jun and Ning Lingge were stunned into silence. Neither of them had expected this sudden order. Ning Lingge asked in a hoarse voice, "Why?"
It doesn't seem like it's because the children are kind-hearted. When the order to surround and kill them was given, the despicable Song army killed them all without mercy.
Fusu looked at the people around him and said, "Uh, are you sure you want me to say this here?"
Ning Lingge didn't say anything, but his attitude was self-evident.
Fusu sighed: "Alright."
The reason is actually quite simple: historically, Li Yuanhao was killed by his own crown prince, Ninglingge. The actual reason is even more absurd and ridiculous.
Fusu's eyes were strange yet tinged with pity: "Your fiancée, or your current wife, is named Meiyi, right? You'd better go back and see if she's alright."
Ning Lingge was shocked: "!?"
Fusu's words were very cryptic. But Ning Lingge, being caught in the middle of it all, how could he not understand when suddenly prompted with such a remark? His wife... could it be his father, the Emperor...?
Damn it, how did the Song people know all this?! Could it be that there's a traitor within their Western Xia ranks?!
Ning Lingge simply didn't know how to treat this little brat. He had killed his subordinates, spared his life, and let him go, yet he had publicly exposed the shameful secrets the baby least wanted to hear!
No, I should go back and check on my wife first.
At this moment, some people around realized what was going on: "You want to let him go back, letting the father and son fight like the snipe and the clam, while we watch from the sidelines and the fisherman benefits?"
Fusu: I simply chose to believe in the inertia of history.
In the original history, it was this very crown prince who killed Li Yuanhao out of hatred for the theft of his wife.
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Author's Note: [Loud-eared rabbit head]
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