Chapter 152 The Military Parade, the Third Company Sets the Trap. ...
Di Qing is currently in hiding.
Since last winter, the Song Dynasty had been fighting and winning battles. In every battle, he was the undisputed commander-in-chief. After returning to the capital in triumph, his status and prestige rose steadily, to the point that the emperor had no more titles to bestow upon him, which caused him considerable distress.
But Di Qing's heart was not entirely at peace; he still harbored regrets. He had captured Juyong Pass, establishing the Yanshan Mountains as the border between Liao and Song, but due to considerations of the battle lines and national strength, he was forced to sound the retreat. However, this did not mean he was truly satisfied.
According to Di Qing's plan, only by recovering the sixteen prefectures in one fell swoop and restoring the lost lands of China could he finally quell the pent-up feelings in his heart. He originally thought that this wish would not be fulfilled for several years or even more than a decade, but unexpectedly, His Highness the Crown Prince soon presented him with the opportunity to realize his wish once again.
"How about we go and scare the Liao people?"
Di Qing: "Scare me?"
“That’s right.” Fusu said, propping his head up with one hand. “Let’s use our military strength to intimidate the Liao delegation and make them obediently return the seven prefectures in front of the mountains. General Di, what do you think?”
If anyone else had said those words, Di Qing would have politely called a doctor to examine their brain. But the one who said them was His Highness the Crown Prince…
He gave a helpless smile: "What does Your Highness want me to do?"
Fusu clenched his fist and said, "That's exactly what I was waiting for!"
He beckoned Di Qing closer, gesturing for him to listen: "The Liao cavalry are not to be underestimated. Ordinary soldiers probably won't be able to intimidate them; we need to think of a different approach..."
Now is the time for those methods to be put to use.
Di Qing rode a tall, steed, clad in iron armor that reflected a chilling gleam in the sunlight. Behind him, one hundred and forty-four identically dressed soldiers marched forward in orderly square formations to the beat of drums.
Their heads were covered by hard iron armor, only their eyes were visible. Accompanied by the neat, menacing sound of their footsteps, they seemed like emotionless assassins who would never tire, never fear pain, only know how to move forward. It was clearly mid-spring, April, with warm sunshine, but wherever they passed, the air seemed to freeze slightly due to the chill brought by their armor.
As the drumbeats reached their six hundredth, Di Qing raised his hand, and without any other unnecessary movements, or the chaotic footsteps of the horses and soldiers, the square formation came to a neat halt. Turning his head again, he found himself directly facing the high platform where the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Liao delegation were located.
More than a hundred people were swiftly and efficiently guided, seemingly with only one mind. Their perfectly synchronized movements drew the attention of everyone on the high platform. Upon seeing this, Fan Zhongyan exclaimed in admiration, "When Sun Tzu trained his troops, it was probably no different than this!"
“Sun Tzu trained his troops by employing only concubines and women,” Fusu continued. “But General Di trains his troops by commanding completely different people. Don’t believe me? Take a closer look.”
He pointed, and everyone looked in that direction. Suddenly, a surprised cry was heard.
"How could that be!"
The speaker's tone was strange, completely unlike any Central Plains accent. The crowd looked again to see who this person was who had lost their composure in public, and were utterly speechless. It really wasn't from the Central Plains; wasn't this the Duke of Xia's uncle?
The Duke of Xia was still an infant, and Fusu, worried that he would be frightened by the military parade and cry incessantly, gave him a leave of absence, with his mother, Empress Li Yuanhao, accompanying and caring for him. Representing the Western Xia was this uncle. Coincidentally, if he hadn't become a prisoner, he would have been the de facto ruler of Western Xia.
Ignoring the strange looks around him, the unfortunate uncle's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. He kept muttering, "This is impossible! How could the Song state possibly have learned this? This is clearly..."
"Iron Falcons?" Fusu replied, "But even the Iron Falcons are no match for our Song army; they've already been defeated. If our Great Song wants to learn, what can't we learn?"
He said calmly.
The Iron Falcons consist of two parts: tall, sturdy horses and full-body iron armor. With these two powerful weapons, even ordinary soldiers of average strength could see their combat effectiveness increase exponentially. If they were supplemented by elite soldiers, they truly deserved their fearsome reputation of being "invincible."
But in Fusu's view, this was merely the Western Xia taking advantage of their geographical location. After all, the area they occupied was rich in iron ore and a natural pasture for horses. But now that Fusu had taken over, replicating or improving upon it would be incredibly easy.
For example, he used honeycomb briquettes instead of charcoal when blacksmithing, which greatly improved the efficiency of iron smelting. He also sewed a soft lining of cotton inside the heavy iron armor, solving the problem that the heavy iron armor absorbed too much cold in winter, making it impossible to wear.
His prized weapon was easily replicated and exhibited by another country, leaving the Duke of Xia's uncle with more than just a broken heart.
Before this, he had always thought that the Song Kingdom was just lucky. First, they used the Heavenly Punishment Thunder to break the Iron Falcon, and then Ning Lingge, that scoundrel, assassinated Li Yuanhao, taking advantage of the chaos to fish in troubled waters and reap the benefits.
His entire family became prisoners of the State of Song, but it was simply because the time was not right.
It wasn't until he saw the Song army replicate the Iron Falcon to a one-to-one scale, and even with an imposing presence and equipment no less than their own, that he was forced to confront the fact he had always been unwilling to admit.
—The State of Song came prepared.
The Western Xia did indeed possess iron hawks, and had once fought fiercely with the Song army ten years prior. However, at that time, the Song army, with inferior soldiers and equipment, managed to drag the war out for three years. The Western Xia was nearly out of ammunition and food, and the Liao Dynasty was on the verge of collapse, while the Song Dynasty only showed signs of minor damage.
Once the war ended, even after paying two sums of tribute, the country was still a prosperous and thriving place.
They understood then that, in terms of national strength alone, the Song Dynasty far surpassed the other two. But now, they had even caught up in terms of equipment. Wasn't the outcome self-evident?
The Duke of Xia's uncle lowered his head, but the Emperor raised his head high. He patted Fusu's head: "The people in the formation walk, sit, and lie down in perfect unison, looking as if they were made by one person. Su'er, can you tell your father how this was done?"
Yes, how did they do that?
Everyone nearby, including Yelü Chongyuan, pricked up their ears with curiosity, eager to know the secret.
Fusu looked around, arms crossed, and said casually, "I don't know. I was only responsible for selecting people to form the square formation. The training was all handled by General Di."
It makes no mention of how he imparted military orders and slogans, how he corrected formations, or how he set up reward and punishment mechanisms.
Upon hearing this, Yelü Chongyuan's heart skipped a beat: Di Qing? Wasn't that the name of the general who defeated them?
Di Qing rose to fame in the Song Dynasty for suppressing the rebellion of Nong Zhigao in Guangyuan Prefecture. However, in the Liao Dynasty, he is the name most frequently mentioned recently, even surpassing Yelü Zongzhen himself at one point. The loss of eight out of nine prefectures behind the mountains, as well as the fall of Juyong Pass, are all inextricably linked to him, making him a figure whose name is mentioned in every historical document.
Yelü Chongyuan has learned another piece of new information today. This General Di, who is known for his skill in battle, is also so good at training and commanding troops? It is only recently that the Western Xia has been conquered, yet he has been able to replicate a better-equipped and more disciplined Iron Falcon.
He watched the cavalry formations passing by, three, five, eight... and gradually lost his focus.
Could all of this have been Di Qing's doing? Does he have the ability to be in two places at once? How could he possibly manage it all?!
During the late Qin and early Han dynasties, there was a legend about Han Xin, who believed that the more soldiers the better. No matter the number of soldiers under his command, they could quickly become as efficient as his own arms. Although Di Qing was also a famous general of his time, he was hesitant to compare himself to this ancient military genius.
He could quickly train ten or even twenty formations, training them to be of one mind, not because of his outstanding abilities or the ability to split himself, but because of something else.
—Seeking Knowledge Daily
For four years, Fusu diligently published the "Seeking Knowledge" newspaper, and his persistence in sending students from the Imperial Academy to the Imperial Guard camp to read and explain every article finally paid off.
The current "Seeking Knowledge" newspaper can be unceremoniously called the national reading material of the Song Dynasty. But who remembers that it started because Fusu made promises to Mei Yaochen and Di Qing, promising to enlighten the soldiers and write a book suitable for them?
For four years, they consistently listened to and read newspapers, and even the illiterate gradually learned commonly used characters. Moreover, they listened to a great deal from the *Seeking Knowledge* newspaper, covering everything from natural geography to literary debates to national affairs…
It has been proven that soldiers who have been culturally educated are more obedient and have greater potential for growth. This group of highly qualified soldiers also understands the importance of considering the bigger picture. When rehearsing the formation, Di Qing only needed to recite the eight characters "Crown Prince's Order" and "Deter the Liao People," and their enthusiasm soared. They even corrected the details themselves and practiced overtime.
Di Qing felt incredibly relieved.
He led a dozen or so square formations, each stopping before the high platform. They saluted or brandished their weapons, each paying their respects to the emperor and officials in their own way. When one formation stopped to salute, they produced their military flags from somewhere and waved them in unison.
Those standing on the high platform of the drill ground even felt a rustling wind blowing in their faces.
Yelü Chongyuan: "..."
Whether it was his imagination or not, he felt that the entire formation, along with many people around him, were secretly watching him. What did it mean to wave the Song Dynasty's military flag at a Liao envoy?
Yelü Chongyuan knew that the more critical the moment, the more composed he should appear. Unfortunately, his sleepless night hadn't given him a pleasant expression. The information he'd just received about Tie Yaozi and Di Qing only worsened his mood.
He tried to pretend nothing had happened, but it was incredibly difficult to force a smile. Even without looking in the mirror, he knew his smile looked awful.
Seeing this, the emperor secretly made a hand gesture to his son.
How about it? Is it part of your plan, Su'er?
Fusu crossed his arms and shook his head.
This is nothing! It's just an appetizer.
Although Iron Falcon was a formidable fighter, he could only go toe-to-toe with the Liao cavalry in a real battle. If he wanted to intimidate the Liao, brute force alone wouldn't suffice. He needed to kill them, but also defeat them psychologically.
The drumbeats grew increasingly rapid, and the processions marched past the platform in succession, sending dopamine levels soaring through the spectators. In contrast, their eyesight began to tire slightly.
Even the most perfectly synchronized, perfectly coordinated square formations become monotonous and uninteresting after a while. Some even secretly craned their necks to look at the end of the column, hoping for some new tricks. The cavalry must be finished by now, right? What about the infantry? Infantry is the standard unit of our Great Song Dynasty, isn't it?
At such a critical juncture, a formation that is not marching in perfect unison becomes particularly eye-catching.
They were clad in the same iron armor as the previous formations, entirely in black, but they were not wearing helmets, and their average height was also more varied than before. Visually, they lost that pleasing sense of uniformity.
What happened?
Has training become lax?
Many people noticed the unusual formation from afar and prepared to investigate as they approached. The Liao delegation was among them.
Most of them, whose composure was even less than Yelü Chongyuan's, felt they had been intimidated by the Song's iron hawks and were eager to get revenge. Even just to mock their less impressive formation would be enough.
They craned their necks, waiting and waiting, until finally the formation drew near. But upon closer inspection, they suddenly sensed something amiss.
The environment shapes the people. Previously, Fan Zhongyan had guessed at a glance that Apu was a Liao person from the north. Now, the diplomatic mission faces a similar situation: What? This policy… looks so much like that of the Liao people?
Fusu stepped forward at the opportune moment and explained to the crowd, "This is a square formation composed of prisoners."
"oh……"
A chorus of knowing voices rose and fell.
All the anomalies they had just observed were now explained: the uneven heights were due to Liao policy, limiting their selection pool; the lack of uniformity was due to limited training time and lower obedience compared to the Song army; and the absence of helmets was for easy identification as Liao soldiers.
I understand, I understand everything.
The envoys who were about to use these points to mock the Song Dynasty now had their faces flushed red and were gritting their teeth: it turned out that the Song army was intentionally mocking them!
Fusu swore he didn't do it on purpose.
He brought all the captured soldiers from the Liao and Xia states back to the Song Dynasty. If they had been released to save food, they would likely have fled to the mountains and become bandits, making a living by arson and robbery, just like the Liangshan heroes in "Water Margin," posing a great threat to the local people.
So Fusu simply brought them all back. He figured he could feed them potatoes, he could afford it. Of course, they also had to listen to the *Seeking Knowledge Daily* every single issue for "re-education," even if they didn't understand it.
When he first started preparing for the military parade, he hadn't thought about these captured soldiers. They had approached him on their own initiative. They had heard from other Song soldiers that being selected for the formation would result in better treatment, and they were envious of the good food and drink others received, which is why they were chosen to be in the formation today.
What even Fusu didn't know was that one of the prisoners of war was the very soldier who had defended the city during his last battle at Juyong Pass, and the very one who had started the argument that the Song Dynasty would never provide salt to prisoners of war.
He was captured, but he was well-fed and clothed all the way to the warm south, where he spent the most pleasant days of his life. When he was selected for the parade team and trained daily, he finally proved his earlier rumors wrong and ate the finest, pure white salt.
All I can say is, it's really good.
He ate with gusto and marched with utmost seriousness. The other prisoners shared similar thoughts. They had fought tooth and nail for this opportunity to eat and drink well; what if they didn't train diligently and got pushed aside?
Those on the high platform, upon learning that this was a formation of Liao and Xia soldiers, no longer found it disorganized. Looking at their somewhat unusual appearances, they even found them quite handsome.
What's that saying again? "Barbarians enter China and become Chinese." To train them to this extent in just one month—truly, this reflects the will of the people of the Song Dynasty! General Di's methods are truly extraordinary!
The Song Dynasty officials raised their heads, smug and self-satisfied. But the Liao delegation saw it as a provocation. They held back, but could no longer bear it, and were about to retort. So they all looked at their delegation leader, waiting for him to nod before speaking.
But then they discovered that Yelü Chongyuan... was in a daze? No? Commander, you've been provoked like this, what are you still dazed about? Snap out of it! Counterattack!
Yelü Chongyuan wasn't in a daze. Rather, he was being reminded of many unpleasant memories.
The captured Liao soldiers blended in with the Song army in just one month, becoming almost indistinguishable due to the low saturation of the terrain. How similar this was to Yunzhou on their way here!
In just half a year, the people of Yunzhou became so ignorant of the Song Dynasty that they no longer cared about the Liao Dynasty, and they completely disregarded the country that had ruled them for nearly a hundred years!
Yelü Chongyuan's gaze slowly shifted to Fusu. He asked in a deep voice, "Your Highness, was it your idea to form this square formation with these prisoners?"
These words, which sounded like a prelude to trouble, suddenly made the emperor uneasy. He immediately put his arm around his son's shoulder, shielding him behind him. At the same time, he shot a warning look at Yelü Chongyuan.
“Yes.” Fusu stood obediently behind Emperor Renzong, but showed no fear in his reply: “They came to me on their own initiative, and I felt that this was a good idea. In general, it was my idea.”
Yelü Chongyuan: "I understand."
Then he lowered his eyes and continued to look at the square formation walking below the platform. It was as if he had only just confirmed something and there were no other questions.
Is that... all there is to it?
Those who were watching and eager to try were dumbfounded.
Only Fusu saw through the situation: it wasn't that he didn't want to cause trouble, but rather that his Daoist heart had been shattered, Yelü Chongyuan. He had used the word "also" when he asked himself that question. What could have made him ask such a question? Perhaps only Yunzhou.
This was also the purpose of Fusu's arrangement of the prisoner formation. It wasn't for humiliation or provocation, but rather to create a dramatic effect: not only ordinary people, but even the most resilient soldiers could be assimilated into the Song Dynasty. You Liao people should stop indulging in self-comforting dreams of "conquering the world is easy, but maintaining it is difficult."
Whatever we conquer with our own hands is ours.
It seems Yelü Chongyuan understood his subtext, didn't he? Fusu tilted his head.
For some reason, seeing his smile sent a shiver down the emperor's spine. He glanced down at the platform below and made a gesture: "Is this the ultimate weapon?"
Fusu returned the gesture: It's not over yet.
The official nodded, as if reassured. The ultimate weapon of deterrence, it seemed, was that one. Perfect; he'd only ever heard of it, never seen it in person. This was a good opportunity to see just what kind of devastating weapon it was.
After the prisoner formation passed, several more infantry formations marched past. Infantry had always been a dominant force in the Song Dynasty, and their discipline during drills surpassed that of cavalry. Their steps were more intimidating than the sound of horses' hooves, more like the earth turning over.
Many people felt uneasy upon hearing this, as if something incredibly powerful was about to overturn the world. They didn't even notice that the drumbeats used to maintain the rhythm suddenly stopped at a certain moment.
After the infantry formation passed, the person who appeared before everyone was not anyone else, but Di Qing, who had just led the charge.
How did he end up here?
Has the military parade already ended?
Many felt the story started strong but ended weakly, but Di Qing didn't offer any concluding remarks. He simply looked around and nodded in Fusu's direction.
Fusu nodded back, then tiptoed and whispered something to the Emperor. The Emperor blinked and said loudly, "Gentlemen, please follow me down from the platform."
Behind the high platform lay another wide, flat area. The official walked at the front, and the others had no choice but to follow closely behind, none of them knowing what he was up to.
"How do you all feel after watching today's military parade? Minister Fan, what are your thoughts?"
The two men who orchestrated the military parade, one a prince and the other Di Qing, were both his prized students. How could Fan Zhongyan's evaluation be low?
His tone was one of utmost confidence: "In my opinion, this military parade is unprecedented and rarely seen in history."
The emperor smiled and asked, "Minister Fu?"
Fu Bi said, "Only today do I truly feel the reality of those military reports of great victories."
As someone who was once involved in dealing with the Liao Kingdom's opportunistic plundering during the Song-Xia war, he is the most qualified to say this, and he has the deepest feelings about it.
It is not incomprehensible that the invincible Liao cavalry would be defeated by the Song army as it is displayed today.
The Song Dynasty officials all nodded in agreement: that was what they thought too.
The official shook his head: "Not only."
More than that? What's more than that?
Everyone expressed their incomprehension, but the Emperor pointed to the high platform in front of him and said, "Please see for yourselves, gentlemen."
Then, he was the first to cover his ears.
Fusu was both amused and exasperated: Oh dear, I forgot to tell the Emperor that he had prepared earplugs in advance.
He patted the official on the shoulder, placed the cotton earplugs in the official's hand, and then directed the soldiers to distribute them. During this process, the clever ones seemed to have realized something, looking incredulously at the high platform they had just descended.
Could it be that the high platform is...?
The high platform on the drill ground was built to be extremely flat and wide, about two and a half stories high in modern terms. Moreover, it was so spacious that even if a hundred people lined up in a long snake formation, it would not feel crowded at all.
Yelü Chongyuan stared blankly, wondering if the young prince meant he was going to tear it down? To... defeat the Liao Kingdom's divine thunder?
How could that be?
Yelü Chongyuan's reason screamed that it was impossible, but his facial features witnessed a scene he would never forget.
Later on, his memory of the scene became almost entirely blank. When others asked him to describe it, he couldn't give a coherent explanation, only repeatedly saying "very loud" and "very scary"...
Just like the Liao soldiers who came down from the battlefield and survived the divine lightning strike.
How to describe it? First, a heavy, muffled sound came from underground, causing the ground to shake, as if a sleeping beast had suddenly turned over. Then, the sound grew louder and clearer, like thunder about to strike a person.
Some people were so frightened that they almost fell, but were fortunately caught by those around them.
At the same time, the massive stones that formed the high platform began to crumble from bottom to top, gradually turning into collapsed ruins. The high platform before us collapsed with a deafening roar. Towering dust billowed upwards, seemingly tainting even the air with the bitter smell of flying ash, almost blotting out the sun.
"..."
At this moment, regardless of whether they were from the Song or Liao kingdoms, everyone shared a remarkably similar thought: So that's how it is. The "auspicious thunder" the Liao army encountered on the battlefield was actually this very scene, a near-apocalyptic spectacle.
They had been warned beforehand by the Emperor and the Crown Prince, but the actual scene still filled them with apprehension. How could soldiers and horses, completely unaware of this, possibly fight in such a chaotic state?
Yelü Chongyuan felt his ears ringing intensely and his heart pounding. The apocalyptic scene before him was like the last straw that broke the camel's back.
"..."
"What?"
Suddenly, he saw the young crown prince of Song mouth something to him. But he couldn't hear what he was saying.
"I say, do you need the Song Dynasty to provide a sketch of today's scene so you can send it back to your people?"
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Author's Note: This is truly devastating! [doge head with rose in hand]
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