Zhong Shidao was horrified when he received the letter from his brother, Zhong Shizhong. The scheme he, the emperor, and Li Gang had set up seemed to succeed, but it had been discovered by the Jin soldiers. This would bring eternal infamy to Zhao Huan, but if the Jin soldiers successfully crossed the Yellow River, he would be doomed.
Zong Shidao looked at the letter with trembling hands:
My brother kowtows.
"Teacher Zhong was unfilial, having farmed and studied since childhood. He knew that a minister should prioritize the world above all else. However, the Jin invaders have invaded the Song Dynasty, shattering our land and devastating our people. Allowing them to return north would be like raising a tiger to harm us."
I know I am doomed, and I shall repay the Song Dynasty with my remaining body. I hope you will come to Xiongzhou to help me quickly. Urgent! Urgent! Urgent!
"Gather the troops! Head to Xiongzhou!" Zong Shidao slammed the table and shouted at the top of his lungs.
The Zhong family army quickly assembled and rushed to Xiongzhou. By the time they arrived, the Qinfeng army was already lying on the battlefield. If it weren't for these 7,000 Qinfeng soldiers who held Wanyan Zongwang in check, the Jin bandits would have already reached the north bank of the Yellow River. The Qinfeng soldiers' sacrifices bought time.
Seeing that all their comrades had been killed in battle, the Zhong family army was filled with indignation. They rushed towards the Jin soldiers who were about to retreat northward like tigers.
The vanguard of 20,000 Song soldiers rushed forward like a tide, and the follow-up troops rushed to the east and west sides in an endless stream to surround the Jin soldiers.
"Revenge for Qin Fengjun!"
"revenge!"
The soldiers howled like crazy and fought with the Jin soldiers.
The Jin soldiers marched southward. Their advance was unstoppable, leaving the Song army vulnerable. Unexpectedly, such a sudden force would be so effective, fighting like a madman. Wanyan Zongmou was baffled by the Song people.
Under the fierce offensive of the Song army, the Jin soldiers were defeated and retreated northward.
Zhong Shidao knelt on the ground, cradling his brother's body. Not a single part of Zhong Shizhong's body remained intact, with countless knife and sword wounds, and the scars on his neck were clearly visible. His chest and legs were pierced by arrows, clearly the result of being shot by Jin soldiers after his suicide.
Zong Shidao burst into tears. Ever since he joined the army, he had been very strict with his younger brother, scolding him harshly for the smallest things. Thinking about it now, he felt extremely guilty.
The Song army around him howled and rushed past him. Zhong Shidao put down his brother's body, drew his long sword and rushed forward.
At the age of over seventy, Zhong Shidao, like his brother, led the charge. The morale of the soldiers was greatly boosted, and no matter how strong the Jin soldiers were, they had no fighting spirit at this moment, and the team was instantly in chaos.
The Jin soldiers continued to flee northward, and Wanyan Zongwang's personal troops were unable to stop them. The fleeing troops were like a broken dam, and the remaining Jin soldiers, carrying Wanyan Zongwang and his men, fled to the Xiongzhou Yellow River ferry.
At the Yellow River Ferry in Xiongzhou, Zhong Hong, the commander of the Zhong Family Army, led his cavalry and waited there.
When Yan Zongwang and his men arrived at the ferry, they were disappointed because the Song cavalry on the opposite side were already ready for battle.
"You old thief Wanyan! Today is the day you die!" Zhong Hong pointed at him angrily.
Wanyan Zongwang sneered: "Little boy! Who are you? Tell me your name!"
Zhong Hong pointed his long sword diagonally: "I am Zhong Hong of the Zhong family army."
Wanyan Zongwang roared to the sky: "Hahaha, who are you among the Qinfeng Army's division?"
Zhong Hong raised his head and said, "It's my father! He has fought all his life and hates the Jin thieves most. I will chop off your head and present it to him."
"Hahaha, your father has been pierced through the heart by my arrows. If you want to see him, go to hell!"
"What?" Zhong Hong was shocked: "What did you say!"
Wanyan Zongmou sneered: "You and your son will be reunited in hell!" Then Wanyan Zongmou rushed forward on his horse.
"Wow!" Zhong Hong was furious when he heard about his father's tragic death. He pulled up the reins and rushed forward, howling.
Wanyan Zongmou's Jin soldiers and Zhong Hong's subordinates followed behind and rushed forward, fighting fiercely.
Zhong Hong had always taken Zhong Shizhong as his role model and was proud of his father. Hearing about his father's tragic death, how could he not be furious?
The swords clashed, both were evenly matched, and each rushed forward on his horse.
"Gee!" Zhong Hong lifted the reins again, raised the front hooves of the warhorse, and with a long tearing sound, he charged again.
Wanyan Zongmou patted his horse's butt and rushed forward on the same horse.
"Bang!" The swords clashed once more, and the two rushed apart again. However, this time, as they crossed paths, the warhorse under Zhong Hong raised its hind legs and kicked Wanyan Zongwang off the horse.
Zhong Hong's warhorse was captured by Zhong Shizhong during his campaign against the Western Xia. He had fought with him in hundreds of battles, both large and small, and had experienced the test of battle. Zhong Hong had made great achievements in the war against the Liao Dynasty, but Tong Guan suppressed the Zhong family army, concealing their victories and instead claiming the achievements for himself.
His son charged into the enemy lines seven times, bravely killing them. He beheaded an enemy general, but the credit ultimately went to Tong Guan. Feeling guilty, Zhong Shizhong gifted his son his own mount and earnestly consoled him, saying, "Your Majesty has been deceived, but I, a general of the Great Song Dynasty, must not complain. The Zhong family army fights for the people of the Great Song Dynasty, not for personal loyalty."
What I mean is that we are defending our country for the people of the Song Dynasty and for the people of the world, not for you, Zhao Ji, or for the emperor.
Therefore, wherever Qin Feng's army arrived, the people knelt down and cheered to welcome them, often crying tears of joy. With people like this, what more could one ask for!
Wanyan Zongmou was kicked off Zhonghong's horse and rolled on the ground. When he stood up, his hair was disheveled and he looked in a miserable state.
Zhong Hong didn't want to take advantage of the situation, so he swung his right leg and jumped off the horse. He wanted to kill the enemy with his own hands and avenge his father.
Zhong Hong gripped the sword tightly in his hand and steadied his breathing. Despite his young age, he had already experienced countless battles and knew not to let hatred throw him off balance.
Wanyan Zongmou's eyes twitched, and the hand holding the sword trembled slightly. He thought to himself: Why are my hands shaking? Why are they shaking?
"You savage dog, prepare to die!" Zhong Hong's long sword flashed with a cold light, and the light blinded Wanyan Zongmou's eyes.
Zhong Hong raised his knife and chopped it off, but Wanyan Zongmou blocked it with his sword.
With a "puff" sound, Wanyan Zongmou couldn't hold on any longer and actually knelt down.
This wasn't just a loss; it was a humiliation, a confession to Master Zhong's spirit in heaven.
Before Wanyan Zongwang could change his tactics, Zhong Hong sheathed his sword and kicked Wanyan Zongwang away. The sword in Wanyan Zongwang's hand fell to the ground with a thud.
Zhong Hong rushed over, stepped on Wanyan Zongwang, and raised his long sword to hold Wanyan Zongwang's neck.
"Wanyan, the old thief!" With a wave of his hand, the knife slashed and Wanyan Zongmou's head fell to the ground.
The remaining Jin soldiers saw their commander being chopped off and immediately fell into chaos. At this time, Zhong Shidao had already attacked, and only a few hundred of Wanyan Zongwang's Jin soldiers broke through to the north bank of the Yellow River.
Zhong Hong's eyes were red. He held a knife in his right hand and Wanyan Zongwang's head in his left.
The entire Zhong family army cheered. The Song Dynasty paid the price of the entire Qinfeng Army and finally defeated the Jin army in the east.
Another Jin army, led by Wanyan Ang, broke through the northwest corner. Of the entire Jin Eastern Route Army of more than 60,000, only Wanyan Ang's less than 20,000 men managed to break through and cross the river.
PS: Thanks to Huya editor for recommending the new book.
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