晋 (Jin) Province, the late spring rain had finally arrived.

The gloomy city was soaked in water, and there was a smell of blood in the water. In the early hours of the morning, in a dark attic, You Hongzhuo applied wound medicine to his shoulder. As the pain came, he gritted his teeth, trying hard not to make any noise.

The long saber, already with small chips and nicks, lay within easy reach beside his leg.

After applying the medicine and pulling up the bandage, he fastened his clothes, his fingers and jaw trembling in the darkness. The subtle movements below the attic were coming to an end, and a figure pushed open the door and entered.

"Old Five is dead..." The figure sat down on one side of the attic. "The one named Cen wasn't found."

You Hongzhuo leaned against the wall, saying nothing. On the other side of the thin wall, in the darkness, there was only the sound of rain. In such a quiet night, only those who were involved could feel the surging waves behind the night, countless undercurrents surging and accumulating.

After arriving in Weisheng, You Hongzhuo was greeted by one life-and-death struggle after another. After Tian Shi's death had brewed, in the dark corners of this city, blood splattered every day. Those who surrendered began to move in the open and in the dark, and the passionate loyalists launched the most primitive confrontation with them. Some were betrayed, some were purged, and in the process of choosing sides, every step was fraught with danger.

The battle on the front line had already begun. In order to pave the way for compromise and surrender, the lobbyists of the large families, led by Liao Yiren, were talking every day about the situation not far to the north, saying that Shulie Su surrounded Linzhou, and the Black Flag Army had nowhere to retreat and would inevitably be completely annihilated.

But facing more than 30,000 Jurchen elites, the 10,000-odd Black Flag Army still chose to fight.

They actually...did not retreat.

During these days of fighting, You Hongzhuo had met some people, and some of them had died during this period. Tonight, they went to find a Jianghu leader named Cen under Liao's command, but were ambushed. You Hongzhuo had quite an impression of the man named Old Five, a lean and suspicious-looking fellow. When he was carried back just now, he was covered in blood and was already dying.

Because of his injuries, You Hongzhuo missed tonight's action, but he didn't regret it. It was just that such a night, so depressing and oppressive, always made one's mood uneasy, so the man on the other side of the attic said a few more words.

"Do you think...how many people are still standing on our side?"

"The Black Flag Army roams the world, I wonder how long they can hold Shulie Su in Linzhou..."

No matter how long the Battle of Linzhou lasted, facing more than 30,000 Jurchen elites, and even the 200,000-odd Jurchen main force behind them, the 10,000 Black Flag Army could not escape. In the past few days, the information gathered privately had all said the same thing.

The night was dark, making it impossible to see the way forward in the cold.

But You Hongzhuo closed his eyes, gripped the hilt of his saber, and did not answer.

Forging the blade a hundred times, the heart is unwavering. When he learned to use a saber, he first learned to be flexible, but with the guidance of the Zhao couple, he gradually melted this flexibility into an unchanging mind. In Mr. Zhao's teaching, Grandmaster Zhou once said that scholars have rules, and martial artists have sabers. His saber cuts through thorns and obstacles, advancing bravely. The darker the front, the more valuable this saber becomes.

For the past two years, although he had never mentioned it to anyone, he often thought of that couple. In such darkness, that pair of seniors must also be somewhere, using their swords to cut open a path in this world, just like the former Grandmaster Zhou and the comrades who died today. With these people existing or having existed, You Hongzhuo understood what he should do.

He suddenly opened his eyes and placed his hand on his long saber.

In the dark night, a sound came, approaching from afar, with the faint friction of metal, it was the city's army. In such fierce confrontation, the Weisheng city's garrison was divided into two sides, and no one knew when the other side would launch an attack. The garrison running in the heavy rain carried torches, and soon, they ran past the front of this residence.

--They were heading towards Tianji Palace.

"I'll go take a look."

You Hongzhuo's figure had already risen silently, rolled up an oilcloth, and slipped out of the attic window like an eel. He ran on the roof, looking around in the heavy rain, and only after confirming that only that small team of soldiers had run past did he feel relieved.

If a large team of soldiers were to rush towards Tianji Palace at this time, it might mean that a coup had begun, and at that time, all of them would have to join the battle.

And on such a night, a small team of soldiers, with such hurried footsteps, probably meant...delivering a message.

You Hongzhuo returned to the attic, leaned in the corner and became silent, waiting for the night to pass, and after his injuries stabilized, he would join the next round of fighting, even if it was endless...

...

In the heavy night, the soldiers guarding the city led a scout covered in mud through the gates of Tianji Palace.

The latest news from the Linzhou battlefield was transmitted to Weisheng as soon as possible. The scout crossed mountains and ridges, but broke his leg in the heavy rain and darkness. But he still did not stop and arrived in Weisheng in the early morning of the tenth day.

This was the most urgent news, and the scout

chose to enter through the city gate controlled by Lou Shuwan's side, but due to the relatively serious injuries, the messenger was mentally exhausted. The guarding generals and soldiers were also a little frightened. Thinking of the rumors in the city in the past two days, they were worried that the scout would bring the news of the Black Flag Army's defeat.

Lou Shuwan, draped in clothes, arrived at the council hall as soon as possible. She had just gone to bed to sleep, but in fact, she had blown out the light and was unable to close her eyes. The scout with a broken leg was soaked in rain, and was still shivering as he passed through the empty and cold periphery of Tianji Palace. He handed the letter to Lou Shuwan, and when he said the news, no one dared to believe it, including the guarding lieutenant who was helping him and had not yet gone out.

"...The Chinese Army defeated Shulie Su at Linzhou City, and has directly defeated the offensive of Shulie Su's more than 30,000 Jurchen elites. The Jurchens suffered heavy losses, Shulie Su's life and death are unknown, and the army has retreated twenty miles and is still retreating..."

"What?" Lou Shuwan stood there, the cold wind outside the door blowing in, raising the hem of her black cloak behind her. At this time, she clearly heard a hallucination. So the scout repeated it again.

And that's what the message on the letter said.

"Why hasn't the charcoal fire come yet, where is the medical officer, treat this warrior, and arrange a place for him to live." Her eyes were confused, and she looked at the simple letter twice and still seemed at a loss, but she had already spoken continuously, giving orders. The scout looked too weak. She looked at him twice, "Can you hold on, after bandaging, I want to hear you say it yourself...the situation in Linzhou...they said...it would take a long time to fight..."

An superior should not reveal all of their thoughts, but at this moment, Lou Shuwan couldn't help but say it. In the Battle of Linzhou, Shulie Su set off on the fourth day, arrived on the sixth day, and fought on the seventh day. The situation was actually clear on the sixth day. Since the Black Flag Army hadn't left, if they couldn't repel Shulie Su, then they would never be able to leave - the Jurchens had many horses, and it was impossible to retreat calmly after a battle. And even if they were to decide the outcome, most people with brains could imagine what would happen when 30,000 Jurchen elites fought 10,000 Black Flag troops.

It was the early morning of the tenth day, and such news suddenly came, and Lou Shuwan couldn't help but feel that this was a bad conspiracy, however, the scout's identity was trustworthy.

"I can hold on..." The scout nodded strongly, and then said, "Madam, it is a real victory."

"...The Chinese Army, together with the Linzhou garrison, took the initiative to attack Shulie Su's army..."

"...The fighting was extremely fierce, but, they directly defeated Shulie Su..."

"...The Chinese Army had 12,000 men, and defeated 35,000 Jurchen elites. During the period, the Chinese Army was scattered and regrouped, regrouped and scattered again, but...directly defeated Shulie Su."

The medical officer came, and the scout was helped aside. The wind blew in, and the cloak behind Lou Shuwan was swaying, making her figure appear extremely thin, but she didn't feel cold. She walked quietly to the desk and was silent for a long time: "Send my order..." she said this, but her voice was very low, and then she didn't issue any orders. On her thin face were tired eyes, and something sparkling dripped from her eyes.

She shed two lines of tears, raised her head, and her eyes had become firm.

"Send my order--"

The night wind was fierce, and Weisheng City was about to move.

...

The sky gradually brightened.

You Hongzhuo woke up from his dream, and a team of horses was running past the street outside.

The rain was still falling, and someone was ringing a gong in the distance, shouting something.

He listened carefully.

Soon after, You Hongzhuo put on his raincoat and went out of the door like everyone else, and walked onto the street. People came out from another house next door, and from the houses opposite, asking: "...What did they say?"

"A great victory in Linzhou, the Chinese Army defeated the Jurchen army, and the Jurchen general Shulie Su is missing in action--"

"Twelve thousand Chinese soldiers, together with the Linzhou garrison of more than 20,000, defeated Shulie Su's Jurchen elites and rebel army totaling more than 70,000, a great victory in Linzhou, Jurchen general Shulie Su was killed in battle--"

There were all kinds of voices sounding, and people rushed out of their rooms and onto the streets in the spring rain.

In the old mansion of the Liao family in the suburbs, people were running around in panic. Liao Yiren, with white hair, placed his palm on the table, his lips trembling in intense emotion: "Impossible, 35,000 Jurchen elites, this is impossible... that woman is using tricks!"

"Uncle, many people believe it, and some people on our side are also sending messages... The second and third houses are making a lot of noise, wanting to pack up their things and run away..."

"The soldiers guarding the city have already gathered. Wu Xiangyuan and the others have received orders. That woman wants to take the opportunity to attack... With this news coming, I'm afraid that some people below have already begun to betray us..."

"Stupid, stupid--find them, I'll talk to them... We must hold the situation, the Jurchen army of more than 200,000, led by Zongwang and Xiyin, can attack at any time. We must hold the situation, if we can't hold it, we will all die--"

Countless orders had been issued from Tianji Palace as the center, chaos was spreading, and the contradictions were about to become sharp.

In Tianji Palace, the maid Yuan Xiaoqiu walked into the room and quietly tightened the curtains that were being blown by the wind. As she passed the bed, she saw that the Madam, after washing up, had fallen into a peaceful sleep for the first time in these days. She was hugging the quilt, her face was fair and thin, and the corners of her mouth were slightly relaxed, as if

she was showing a smile.

This was the first time Yuan Xiaoqiu had seen the Madam's smile after she had let go of her burden.

She quietly left the room and closed the door. In the square outside, the rain was still falling. In the distance, on the towering city wall, there was a tall figure standing there, gazing at the scene outside Tianji Palace, it was Shi Jin.

The clouds were still gloomy, but it seemed that at the end of the clouds, a ray of light broke through the clouds and descended.

***************

--That was a false light.

In the Jurchen camp, the generals were gathering, and people were discussing the news coming from the south. The war report from Linzhou was so unexpected that even the Jurchen army initially thought it was fake news.

"Maybe it's a trick of that demon." After receiving the news, the general Wanyan Saba pondered for a long time and came to this conjecture.

But soon after, the matter was confirmed to be true.

More detailed information also gathered.

In a small tent, Wanyan Xiyin questioned the Jurchen soldiers who had withdrawn from Linzhou one by one, personally, for almost a day. When Zongwang found him, he was as silent as a stone.

"How is it?"

"...No trick."

"..."

"...More than 12,000 Black Flag soldiers, and more than 20,000 Linzhou garrison soldiers, some of whom were instigated by us. Shulie Su was eager to attack the city, and the Black Flag Army chose to launch a surprise attack. Although Shulie Su was eventually seriously injured, but before he was seriously injured...35,000 people against 12,000 Black Flag soldiers were actually defeated. The situation was too chaotic, the Han army was just a mere addition, and they were of no use. The Black Flag Army was scattered again and again, and our people were also scattered again and again..."

Xiyin said these words calmly: "...After being scattered, they regrouped, and after regrouping, they were scattered again, but before Shulie Su was seriously injured, 35,000 people were already on the verge of defeat, that is to say, even without his serious injury, this battle would also..."

He opened his mouth, but the last words were not spoken. Zongwang had already fully understood. He patted his old friend on the shoulder: "After thirty years of roaming the world, experiencing countless battles, it's a bit sad to encounter this kind of thing in old age, but...Shulie Su was too eager to win, and was taken advantage of. Guchen, as soon as this matter comes out, those people you arranged in the south must be scared out of their wits, and the little girl in Weisheng is probably laughing."

Xiyin also laughed: "The Marshal already has a plan, there is no need to laugh at me."

"Yeah." Zongwang nodded.

"Set off tomorrow."

In the dim sky, the Jurchen camp was like a huge anthill, and the flags, war horns, and transmission sounds began to surge with the sound of the early spring rain.

When the conspiracy can no longer go on, the truly huge war machine will wake up ahead of time.

Tian Shi was ultimately dead, and the split had already appeared. Even in the most difficult circumstances, defeating Shulie Su's army, the original Black Flag Army of only over 10,000 men had been severely damaged in such a major battle. This time, including the entire Jin Province, no one would be able to stop this army's southward march.

At the same time, the Battle of Xuzhou kicked off.

Spring thunder crossed the sky, startling the heavens and earth.