Celebrate
Han Shizhong won several battles in Jiangbei, but no one came to support him. Unwilling to face death, he retreated to Zhenjiang and held his ground. Zhang Jun, a coward, led his troops to Changzhou and refused to advance even if beaten. Liu Guangshi also retreated to the Yangtze River, refusing to advance further. Yue Fei, having received the imperial edict, was on his way to Huaixi.
Han Shizhong was discussing war plans with his generals when a messenger suddenly burst into the tent, knelt down and announced, "General, the Jin troops have retreated."
The generals were in an uproar: "Why did they suddenly retreat?"
The messenger replied, "It is said that the Jin leader is critically ill, and the Jin army has no intention of fighting anymore, so they retreated."
"Go down."
The messenger retreated as instructed.
At this time, another soldier came to report: "General, Wei Liangcheng and Wang Lun, who are on a mission to the Jin camp, are in Zhenjiang now."
Han Shizhong was pleasantly surprised when he heard this: "You've come just in time!"
Upon hearing this, Liang Hongyu stepped forward worriedly and asked, "What are you going to do, General?"
"Of course I'm going to settle the score with him."
"He was sent by the government?"
"So what? I'm going to make him drink a pot this time."
Liang Hongyu was about to persuade them when Wei and Wang were taken to the camp by soldiers.
The soldiers escorting the two men pushed them to the ground and shouted, "Kneel down."
The two men had no choice but to kneel on the ground. Wang Lun, seeing that all the generals were ferocious, fell silent. Wei Liangchen cursed angrily, "General Han, you are so bold! I am the emperor's servant."
Han Shizhong gave Huyan Tong a look, and Huyan Tong stepped forward, holding a short knife in his hand and pressing it against Wei Liangchenbo's neck.
Wei Liangchen was so frightened at this time that he said tremblingly, "Everything can be discussed. General, put down your sword first."
Hu Yantong then drew back the dagger, put it into the scabbard, and stood beside the generals.
Han Shizhong finally spoke: "This general has asked you to come here to ask for a favor. If you two don't respond-------"
Han Shizhong looked at the two of them with a fierce look, and with a heavy punch, the table next to them shattered to the ground in an instant.
All the generals sighed: "General, you have great skills!"
Liang Hongyu, who was standing nearby, was also stunned with shock. She only knew that Han Shizhong was an extraordinary martial artist, but she had never imagined that his strength was also so astonishing. She wanted to see what Han Shizhong was up to today.
Wei and Liang were already pale with fear, and they lowered their heads even lower. "General, just tell us what you say, and we will do it."
"Remember, don't tell the emperor that I cheated the Jin people."
The two nodded repeatedly: "Yes-----yes"
"Also, go tell the emperor that the Jin people's peace terms are ----"
"Cede the land south of Jianzhou, and the Song Dynasty will be reduced to a small state. The emperor should kneel down to receive the Jin envoys and demand 10 million silver and silk."
"Do you two understand?"
Upon hearing this, the two men knelt down again and said, "We understand."
Han Shizhong thought: No matter how incompetent Zhao Gou is, he is still the king of a country. He will definitely not kneel down and kowtow to the envoys of the Jin Dynasty, and he will not hinder the Song Dynasty anymore: the soldiers of the Song Dynasty are fighting hard against the Jin Dynasty in the front, but our own emperor is begging for mercy from the Jin people and asking for peace.
What happened later proved that he had completely overestimated the Emperor of the Song Dynasty.
"The emperor is truly a rare talent. Any woman would fall in love with him." When he thought of what Liang Hongyu said to him that night, he became furious. What on earth did Hongyu see in such a weak emperor?
Putting aside other things, just the fact that Zhao Gou is incapable of human affairs makes me a hundred times better than him.
Thinking of this, Han Shizhong's eyes passed over the generals and fell on Liang Hongyu standing beside him.
Liang Hongyu also noticed Han Shizhong's eyes, but that look was extremely complicated and difficult to guess.
As soon as Wei and Liang arrived at Lin'an City at full speed, they drove their carriage towards the imperial palace.
That day, Zhao Gou was absent-mindedly reading memorials in the capital hall when the eunuch in charge came in and said, "Your Majesty, the envoys, Lord Wei and Lord Wang, are waiting outside the hall."
Zhao Gou was delighted when he heard this and said, "Please invite them into the hall."
Wei and Wang entered the hall, knelt down and saluted, saying, "Your humble servants pay their respects to the Emperor."
Zhao Gou hurried forward to help them up, saying, "My dear ministers, please come to me. You have worked so hard."
Looking at Zhao Gou's expectant eyes, the two of them lowered their heads and murmured, "We are guilty and have failed the emperor's great grace."
Zhao Gou's smile froze when he heard this, and he said awkwardly, "The Jin people don't want peace, and I don't want it either."
The two stood aside while Zhao Gou sat back on the throne. Wei Liangchen stole a glance at Zhao Gou, then glanced at the attendants in the hall. Zhao Gou naturally understood what he meant and ordered, "All of you, leave! No one is allowed to enter without my permission."
After the eunuchs left, Wei Liangchen finally said, "Your Majesty, the ministers of the Jin Kingdom have different opinions on peace talks."
Zhao Gou looked at Wei Liangchen and said coldly, "What's the difference?"
"In my opinion, Dalan is willing to negotiate peace with me, but Nianhan is opposed to it."
"What are the conditions for Nianhan?"
"When I met Nianhan, he said, 'The land south of Jianzhou should be ceded. Song is a small country. The emperor should kneel down to receive the Jin envoys and demand 10 million silver and silk."
Zhao Gou slammed the table and said angrily, "This clearly means they don't want to negotiate peace. They've sent me to Fujian and Guangdong to be a small king, and they haven't even granted me the title of emperor. I've been forced to kneel before envoys. This is simply too much."
Although the battle was a small victory, the whole country still celebrated.
After three rounds of drinks, the flickering candlelight in the tent illuminated Liang Hongyu's cheeks, a rosy red like rouge. She leaned against the table, the amber wine swaying in the glass cup in her hand, reflecting her slightly dazed, drunken eyes.
"General Liang, I'll toast you a glass! Today's triple-layer ridge method really frightens the Jin thieves!" Hu Yantong came over with his glass raised and his voice loud.
Liang Hongyu chuckled softly, tilting her head back and gulping it down in one gulp. The wine slid down her throat, burning all the way to her heart. Her eyes casually flickered to Han Shizhong, who sat at the main table, conversing with several generals. His profile, sharply defined in the candlelight, seemed as sharp as a knife or an axe. Tonight, he shone like a star in the sky. The strategy and courage he displayed during the Battle of Dayi Town had once again impressed her.
This battle, fought with a relatively small force of only 8,000 men, defeated the elite Jin army of 20,000, the "Iron Flotilla," and is considered the first of the Song Dynasty's "Resurgence Campaigns." With such a general, the Song Dynasty had no reason to worry about the Tartars' demise.
Han Shizhong seemed to notice her gaze and turned to look at her. Their eyes met. Liang Hongyu's heart skipped a beat and she quickly turned away.
"General Liang drank happily today!" Another general came forward to toast.
Liang Hongyu accepted every drink, one after another. As the alcohol slowly took over, the figures in her vision began to blur, but Han Shizhong's figure became increasingly clear. She recalled the last time she was drunk, in a similar situation, and had somehow kissed him... Later, she simply attributed it to a drunken confusion. As she thought about this, her fingertips unconsciously brushed against her lips.
As the banquet was about to end, Liang Hongyu was already staggering. When her maid came to support her, she waved her hand and said, "I can do it myself." Then she walked towards Han Shizhong's residence.
The cool night breeze blew away some of the drunkenness, but it also brought on another kind of dizziness. Liang Hongyu stood outside Han Shizhong's study. Through the half-open window, she saw him bent over his desk, reviewing military reports. His brows knitted slightly, and the candlelight cast a shadow on his straight nose.
At this time, he had taken off his armor and changed into a plain navy blue suit. A jade hairpin was pinned on his high bun, making him look like a jade gentleman. He just sat there, his noble and cold temperament was natural, like a bamboo or pine after the snow, which instantly attracted her attention.
"What a male demon!" she sighed inwardly.
His legs and feet were out of control and broke into the room, causing the wooden door to creak.
Han Shizhong looked up and saw that it was her. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Hongyu? How could it be you?"
"General Han—" Liang Hongyu's voice was soft and drunken, a stark contrast to her usual coldness. She approached the table, her body swaying slightly, and Han Shizhong quickly stood up to support her.
The faint aroma of alcohol mixed with the unique fragrance of a girl wafted into her face. Han Shizhong's Adam's apple moved slightly, but the hand holding her arm did not loosen. Liang Hongyu looked up at him. Through her drunken eyes, his outline was particularly deep.
"You've drunk too much again." Han Shizhong's voice was low and a little helpless.
Liang Hongyu chuckled and suddenly reached out to touch his cheek: "General Han looked so handsome on the battlefield today." Her fingertips were slightly cold, and when they touched his warm skin, both of them shuddered.
Han Shizhong's eyes darkened, and he held her restless hand: "Hongyu, you are drunk, I will take you back."
"I won't go back." Liang Hongyu said stubbornly, using her strength to press against his chest. "Han Shizhong... you know in your heart... why I came..."
Before she finished speaking, she stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips against his.
The kiss carried a strong aroma of alcohol, soft yet passionate. Han Shizhong froze, his mind telling him to push away, but his hands uncontrollably wrapped around her waist. Her lips were as sweet as he'd imagined, nearly causing him to lose control.
Liang Hongyu felt his response, her heart pounding. Their previous drunken kiss had been fleeting, but this time... she boldly deepened it, her tongue licking the seam between his lips. Han Shizhong's breath hitched, and he finally took control, holding her tightly and exploring the sweetness of her mouth.
After a long moment, the two separated, breathless. Liang Hongyu's eyes sparkled, and her lips were slightly swollen, adding to her allure. Han Shizhong looked at her, his voice hoarse, "This time...are you still going to say it was a drunken mess?"
After hearing this, Liang Hongyu seemed to sober up a lot and hurriedly took a step back: "I...I..." She bit her lower lip and suddenly turned around to leave.
Han Shizhong grabbed her wrist and said, "Want to escape again?"
Liang Hongyu turned her back to him, her shoulders trembling slightly: "Just pretend... nothing happened..." She broke free from his hand, staggered out the door, and disappeared into the inky black night.
Han Shizhong stood there, the warmth of her wrist still lingering on his fingertips. He smiled bitterly and shook his head, raising his hand to touch his lips, where the soft touch of her lips was still lingering.
The next morning, Liang Hongyu woke up with a splitting headache. Fragments of last night flashed through her mind. She sat up suddenly and held her forehead because of dizziness.
"Young lady, are you awake?" Jinxiu brought some hangover soup. "General Han sent someone to ask about it this morning. He said that if you're not feeling well, you don't have to attend the military meeting today."
Liang Hongyu's ears burned when she heard this: "No need... I'll go right away."
In the military tent, all the generals had already arrived. Liang Hongyu walked in with her head held high, her eyes deliberately avoiding Han Shizhong who was sitting at the main seat. During the meeting, she kept her eyes down, until -
"General Liang, what are your thoughts on the next deployment?" Han Shizhong's voice came, calm as usual.
Liang Hongyu had no choice but to look up and meet his deep gaze. He looked normal, as if nothing had happened last night. She breathed a sigh of relief, yet also felt inexplicably lost.
"I think..." She forced herself to focus on military affairs, and her voice returned to its usual coldness.
The meeting was over and the generals dispersed. Liang Hongyu was about to leave when she heard Han Shizhong say, "General Liang, please stay."
They were the only two left in the tent, and the air seemed frozen. Liang Hongyu's heartbeat quickened, but she forced herself to remain calm. "General Han, do you have any further instructions?"
Han Shizhong slowly approached her, his aggressive gaze making her feel like prey with nowhere to escape. Every step he took seemed to step on her heartbeat, and the sound of his boots rolling over the blue bricks was particularly clear in the silent room.
The footsteps finally stopped within an inch of her: "Last night... you... once again... flirted with this general."
The word "again" made her scalp tingle. When had she fallen to this point?
"I was drunk and lost my composure last night, and offended General Han. Please forgive me," Liang Hongyu said first, her voice stiff. "It was purely drunken chaos, and I will never do it again."
Han Shizhong stared at her quietly, his gaze sharp as if he could see through her disguise. After a long pause, he sighed softly, "I understand." He paused, then added, "But General Liang, alcohol can cause sexual debauchery, but it can also...bring out the truth."
Liang Hongyu's heart trembled, and she looked up at him, only to see that he had turned and walked towards the desk, his back as straight as a pine tree.
"I'll take my leave." She bowed hastily and left, her heart pounding like thunder.
As she stepped out of the tent, the sun stung her eyes. Liang Hongyu raised her hand to shield herself from the sun, but felt a burning sensation on her cheek.
Han Shizhong turned around and looked at her staggering back as she left, with the corners of his mouth slightly curved.
Didn't you say you were already in love with the emperor? It turns out you were just saying one thing and thinking another.
Thinking about it this way, he realized that he had been overlooking one thing. Liang Hongyu has always been straightforward and free-spirited. Why didn't she dare to face her own heart frankly?
Han Shizhong seemed to have sorted out some things, so he asked his personal guards to call Hu Yantong into the tent.
Hu Yantong had just left the tent when he was called back and stood in the tent in confusion.
"What else do you want, General?"
Han Shizhong ordered: "Go and find out why General Liang left the palace and how he left."
"Check carefully!"
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