Chapter 216 Famous General
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, spring rains arrived in Guanzhong and Shaanxi areas at the right time, but unexpectedly, the area was already rife with war.
In the dilapidated site of Tongguan, in the Jin army camp that was roughly built according to the old checkpoint, around a watchtower with obvious signs of fire, there were rows of armored soldiers and neatly arranged curtains. Soldiers carrying armor and weapons were constantly patrolling the camp outside, and they were not affected by the heavy spring rain at all... Obviously, this was a vital point in the army.
As expected, on the top floor of the watchtower, a Jin general in armor was sitting behind a desk with a frown on his face, watching the soldiers around him hurriedly take away his flag and set up a simple canopy above his head and around him. His brand new gourd-shaped silk-lined iron helmet with a red tassel was placed on the desk, but the red tassel had been wet by the rain.
At the same time, just behind him, the majestic Yellow River was still clearly visible in the very light rain...The so-called Tongguan Road surrounded by mountains and rivers was exactly here.
This Jin army general was about fifty years old, with a thin and yellow face, but a very large frame and eyes as bright as lightning... If Zhao Jiu were here, he would definitely think that this man was a bit like Han Shizhong.
However, no matter how down and out Han Shizhong was, or how prosperous and proud he was, he could never hide his ruffian nature. However, this Jin army general clearly had something in him that was the opposite of that ruffian nature, a kind of spirit that was full of bitterness, hatred, and yet a little cruel.
This kind of temperament can be seen in many senior generals of the Jin army. It should come from the fishing and hunting era between the White Mountains and Black Waters. It is a unique temperament brought about by the identity of hunters who are desperate for survival.
That’s right, this person is none other than Wanyan Loushi.
As we all know, the Jin Dynasty rose suddenly and emerged out of nowhere. In just 20 years, it achieved military hegemony in East Asia. Although anyone can give a so-called reasonable explanation for the rise of this country from multiple angles such as politics, economy, military, culture, and geography, in the final analysis, no one can deny that at that time, the Jurchen heroes gathered around Wanyan Aguda, the founder of the Jin Dynasty.
Otherwise, why didn't the Song Dynasty destroy the Liao Dynasty?
If we count these heroes carefully, there is Wanyan Aguda himself, not to mention his brothers Wanyan Wuqimai, Wanyan Jiemu, Wanyan Wusai, and Wanyan Xieye; his own sons, the eldest prince Wanyan Wuben, the second prince Wanyan Wulibu, the third prince Wanyan Erlido; his distant supporters Wanyan Nianhan, Wanyan Xiyin (Wanyan Gushen), Wanyan Yinshuke, Wanyan Bendu, Wanyan Moulianghu, Wanyan Ganlu... All these characters, most of them have experience in military affairs, and a few are both civil and military, but each of them is worthy of special mention.
However, the levels of these heroes are uneven, and they can be divided into grades or rankings if necessary.
For example, after the Liao Dynasty was destroyed, the general consensus within the Jin Dynasty was that the greatest hero was none other than Wanyan Nianhan, who was always called the "Prime Minister" by the people of the Song Dynasty.
Wanyan Nianhan was certainly extraordinary, and no one could deny his talent.
But he was, after all, the first meritorious official at the level of a political leader, the highest commander, and was supported by the entire Western Army of 100,000 men and the entire distant branch of the Wanyan clan. It does not mean that this person was a god-like commander of troops, unparalleled in military power, amazing in strategy, and capable of proper domestic affairs.
In fact, apart from anything else, everyone knows that in terms of specific military merits, 80% of Wanyan Nianhan's military merits were earned for him by his two subordinates, Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Yinshuke.
Among them, Wanyan Loushi is generally recognized as being superior to Wanyan Yinshu.
There is no need to say more about this man's military achievements. Let me just say one thing: this fifty-year-old general who frowned in the spring rain was the first person to obtain the hereditary Meng'an status through military merit under the Meng'an and Mouke system of the Jin army.
He is the number one general of the Jin army!
At least that's what the now-dead Wanyan Aguda thought on that day.
However, such a great general has been frowning and rarely smiling since the expedition to the south... After the shed was set up, Wanyan Loushi still sat behind the gorgeous tortoise-shell table, looking upward without saying a word. Except for his frightening eyes that occasionally flashed, he looked like a puppet. None of the generals and attendants on his left and right dared to step forward and speak, until the sound of horses neighing was heard downstairs and a man hurried over.
“Daddy…”
The man was about thirty years old, and was none other than Wanyan Huonu, the eldest son of Wanyan Loushi, who had just conquered Huazhou in the west. When he came upstairs and saw his own father, he could not help but walk up to him and asked in a low voice, leaning against the tortoise-shell table. "Is it because of the rainy weather that you are suffering from the old injury?"
"Can you still bear it?"
Wanyan Loushi finally laughed, and the officers and guards on his left and right were also relieved.
Seeing this, Wanyan Huonu also forced a smile... He naturally knew what kind of suffering his own father was going through on that rainy day, but in the end he was powerless to do anything.
"What about Fushui Town?" After laughing, Wanyan Loushi remained motionless, but asked about military affairs again. "Is there a sentence in the military order I gave you asking you to deal with that place before you come back?"
"Reporting to Father, we have slaughtered them all as you ordered." Wanyan Huonu replied immediately. "But the two Meng'an who took action also said that quite a few people fled to the south between Taihua Mountain and Shaohua Mountain... and according to them, the rain in the west is heavier, and even if the fire is lit, it is estimated that it will not burn out completely."
"Just kill them all." Wanyan Loushi nodded slightly, not taking it seriously.
Wanyan Huo Nu nodded, paused for a moment, but still took the initiative to ask: "Father... Fushui Town is opposite Shayuan Prison, between Chang'an and Tongguan. We have been here seven or eight times in the past few years. No matter how rich the village is, it has no money now. Moreover, there is no fortress or soldiers there, let alone any resistance. Why must we massacre them?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com