Guo Yaoshi's deputy general was a Jurchen Mouke named Saici. He was a big and strong man with a full beard. It was unknown how long he had not washed his face. His beard was greasy and stained with food crumbs.
"Pharmacist Guo, aren't they just a few broken farms? Send out some scouts, hurry up and capture them as soon as possible so we can return to the main camp."
Although Pharmacist Guo despised Sai Ci, he didn't dare offend him, so he patiently said, "Zhang Tianshi is a martial arts expert with unparalleled courage. But that's not all. The key is that he also knows magic and is adept at using thunder, like the Sky-shaking Thunder. Even Deputy Commander Jiemu suffered great losses at his hands."
"Your hands and ears were chopped off by Zhang Tianshi, weren't they?" Sai Ci squinted at him and said sarcastically, "To use the words of you Han people, you are a defeated quail, a defeated chicken. You are scared."
Pharmacist Guo originally wanted to drive the team forward, but after being stimulated by Sai Ci, he calmed down.
"Saci, don't forget what Marshal Wuliebu told you before you left. Zhang Shixun is a tough foe to deal with. When facing him, you must proceed cautiously and don't let your guard down."
Sai Ci waved his hands impatiently. "Alright, you're the commander, you have the final say. But let me warn you, if you lose, don't blame me for being rude."
A trace of anger flashed across Pharmacist Guo's face. "If we lose this battle, I will kill myself without you having to do anything."
"snort!"
…
When the team was about three miles away from Zhang Xiaozhuang, they found several scouts that had been sent out earlier.
They were stripped naked and hung high on a tree by the roadside. They had already frozen to death.
One of them had a white cloth hanging around his neck with the words: This road is blocked!
Pharmacist Guo snorted coldly, "Don't try to scare me with such a trick."
After saying that, he waved his hand and loudly ordered the team to speed up.
Half an hour later, the team finally arrived at Zhang Xiaozhuang.
When Pharmacist Guo saw the ice wall clearly, he couldn't help but gasp.
Saici opened his mouth in surprise, staring blankly at the ice city wall standing in front of him, speechless for a long time.
The two of them could not imagine that such a small village could have built such a high wall.
It is higher than the city wall of Kaifeng.
The key is that it looks so slippery.
How do we fight this battle?
Pharmacist Guo and the other man looked at each other, both with a look of despair on their faces.
After a while, Sai Ci scratched his head and said, "Let's go back. Even gods can't conquer this city. We can only wait until next spring and the snow melts."
Pharmacist Guo smiled bitterly.
This guy is a fool. He just goes back when I tell him to. Is this like playing house?
The military law of the Great Jin Dynasty was not easy to enforce. Anyone who deserted from the battlefield would be beheaded.
Sai Shi was a deputy general and a Jurchen. It was unlikely that Wulie would show leniency and spare his life.
Guo Yaoshi was a Han Chinese who surrendered to the Liao Kingdom and was not welcomed. If he dared to run back, he would definitely be beheaded.
"Set up camp right here!"
Pharmacist Guo gave the order with a dark face.
Although Sai Ci was a reckless man, he dared not disobey the orders of the commander-in-chief.
After a busy period, thousands of Jin soldiers set up a camp.
On the top of the city wall, Zhang Shixun watched with interest.
Beside him stood Yue Fan and a group of leaders of the National Protection Army.
Yue Fan couldn't help but be curious and asked, "Military Commander, in this kind of weather, aren't they afraid of freezing to death by camping in the snow?"
Zhang Shixun did not answer directly. Instead, he looked at an officer of the National Protection Army and said with a smile, "Chen San, you answer this question."
Chen San was the fifty-year-old captain of the resentful army who surrendered in Magedang. After joining the National Protection Army, he was promoted to platoon leader because of his bravery in the Taiyuan guerrilla warfare and his ability to withstand the test. This time, he was promoted to company commander when he supported Zhang Xiaozhuang.
"This freezing weather feels very cold to the Han people, but it's nothing to the Jurchens. They've lived in the bitter cold of Liaodong for a long time and are accustomed to the cold... I don't know if you noticed just now, but when they set up camp, they first dig a deep pit and then pitch their tent over it. This has the advantage of keeping them warm."
After listening to Chen San's explanation, Yue Fan said, "Now I understand. If you dig a hole and start a fire, the heat won't dissipate easily."
"That's about it."
Zhang Shixun stood on the "city wall" and watched for a while before giving the order: "Chen San, I leave this to you. There's no need to have too many people stationed on the city wall. Just send a few sentries to keep watch. The rest of you can rest in the ice house below. Be sure to keep warm."
Chen Sanli said: "Yes!"
Afterwards, he glanced at Yue Fan again and said anxiously, "Military Commander, let's let Yue Zhuangtou take command here."
Zhang Shixun asked, "Why?"
"I... I used to be a member of the Resentful Army, my identity..."
"In my eyes, you, the company commander of the National Protection Army, are one of my own... Chen San, you originally joined the Resentment Army out of necessity and the circumstances. You had no choice. Now you've joined the National Protection Army voluntarily, and your purpose has changed. Please remember that the National Protection Army, as a group of the poor, exists to save the people from danger and create a peaceful world for all people. In this world, there is no oppression or exploitation, no evil gentry or corrupt officials, and everyone is equal."
He spoke passionately, not only to Chen San, but also to everyone present.
From now on, we must set a lofty goal for them.
Although he didn't say much, when everyone heard it, their hearts were filled with excitement and their blood boiled.
Chen San looked longingly, "Military Commander, can this equality for all that you talked about really be realized?"
"Of course it can be achieved, and it will definitely be achieved."
As Zhang Shixun spoke, he couldn't help but hum "The Internationale".
Arise, you starving and cold slaves.
Arise, you who suffer throughout the world.
My blood is boiling with passion to fight for the truth.
The old world is in ruins, slaves, rise up, rise up!
Don’t say we have nothing, we want to be the masters of the world.
This is the final struggle, unite until tomorrow.
…
Zhang Shixun sang louder and louder, and the passionate melody echoed in the air.
"Don't say we have nothing. We want to be the masters of the world."
Chen San's eyes filled with tears when he heard this. He came from a poor family. After joining the Yuan Army, he first worked for the Liao people and then surrendered to the Song Army. He thought he had found his home, but unexpectedly, the fickle villain Guo Yaoshi rebelled again and surrendered to the Jin Kingdom.
Fortunately, he turned from evil to good and met Zhang Tianshi.
Yue Fan looked at Zhang Shixun and thought to himself: If Zhang Tianshi became the emperor, he would definitely be a good emperor who loves the people.
Everyone has simple thoughts. Although they have different understandings of the lyrics, they have one thing in common: if they follow Zhang Tianshi, they will definitely have a bright future.
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