Chapter 321 Yue Fei aims at Zhending City
The night is getting darker and the palace lanterns are starting to go on. In the Royal Study Room of the Northern Song Dynasty Palace, the candlelight swayed, stretching the figure of Princess Zhao Yingluo. She stood in front of the military map, her eyes as deep as the stars in the autumn night, both unfathomable and shining with perseverance.
"Princess, General Wang and General Han are ready. They can attack as soon as the princess gives the order." A guard knelt in front of the princess with a firm and powerful voice.
Zhao Yingluo nodded slightly, and her fingers gently slid across the mountains and rivers on the map, as if she could touch the distant battlefield. She knew very well that this battle was related to the national destiny of the Song Dynasty and the stability of the power in her hands.
"According to my order," Zhao Yingluo spoke slowly, her voice revealing unquestionable majesty, "I order Wang Zaixing to lead the West Route Army from Fenzhou and march eastward along the mountain road to contain the Jin Army's west route troops. Han Shizhong Then lead the Eastern Route Army north from Dezhou to distract the Eastern Route Army. The two armies must cooperate and support each other."
The guards followed the order and left, Zhao Yingluo's eyes turned to Zhending City on the map again. This city was the military center of the Jin Kingdom and the key to the Northern Expedition. She knew very well that only by capturing Zhending City could she completely break the Jin Kingdom's defense line and pave the way for the rise of the Song Dynasty.
"Where is Yue Fei?" Zhao Yingluo suddenly asked.
"Back to Princess, General Yue is waiting outside the palace." Another guard replied.
"Send him in." Zhao Yingluo ordered.
A moment later, Yue Fei, dressed in military uniform, strode into the imperial study.
He has a tall build, a resolute face, and a heroic spirit between his brows.
He knelt down and saluted: "General Yue Fei, please see Your Highness the Princess."
"General Yue, please get up." Zhao Yingluo signaled him to stand up, "In this Northern Expedition, I want you to be the commander-in-chief, leading our Song Dynasty's 300,000 elite troops to attack Zhending City. What do you think?"
Yue Fei stood up and looked at the princess with firm eyes: "The final general will definitely live up to his mission and will fight to the death to capture Zhending City!"
Zhao Yingluo nodded with satisfaction: "I believe in your ability. This battle is related to the fate of the country. I hope General Yue will go all out."
Following Zhao Yingluo's order, the entire Northern Song Dynasty court began to act intensively.
Wang Zaixing and Han Shizhong led the West Route Army and the East Route Army respectively. Their actions were quick and decisive, like two sharp swords, piercing the heart of the Jin Kingdom.
At the same time, Yue Fei also led 300,000 elite men on the Northern Expedition.
They have only one goal - Zhending City.
This is a heroic and capable army. They shoulder the hope of the country and march forward bravely for the rise of the Song Dynasty.
By the time the Jin court learned of the Song army's movements, it was already too late.
They discussed countermeasures in a panic. However, in the face of such a powerful offensive, although the Jin army struggled to resist, it was still difficult to withstand this fierce offensive like a violent storm.
The West Route Army and the East Route Army were like two sharp swords, dividing the main force of the Jin Army so that the head and tail could not see each other. The main army led by Yue Fei was like a tiger descending the mountain, unstoppable until it reached Dingding City.
The soldiers of the Jin Army on Zhending City looked solemnly at the Song army rolling in from the distance.
They knew that this battle would determine the fate of the Kingdom of Jin.
However, can they defend the city in the face of such a powerful enemy?
With the deafening sound of war drums echoing over the battlefield, the soldiers of the Song Dynasty bravely killed the enemy and fought bloody battles. Under the leadership of Wang Zaixing and Han Shizhong, the West Route Army and the East Route Army achieved remarkable results. They successfully contained the main force of the Jin Army and created favorable opportunities for the main force of the Song Dynasty.
And Yue Fei lived up to expectations. The army he led was so powerful that he secured the city within the city. The Jin army began to fall into trouble. Their forces were tightly restrained by the Song army and they were unable to form an effective counterattack.
The loss of Zhending City was an unbearable pain for the Jin court.
In this fierce battle, the soldiers of the Song Dynasty showed amazing courage and combat effectiveness. When the last batch of Jin troops were annihilated, the flag of the Song Dynasty flew above Zhending City.
At this moment, all the soldiers of the Song Dynasty cheered for joy. They knew that this victory was hard-won.
Zhao Yingluo also received good news from the front line in the palace. She showed a satisfied smile, knowing that this victory was of great significance to the Song Dynasty.
After the battle of Zhending City, Zhao Yingluo did not stop. She immediately sent a message to Wanyan Zongyi who was far away outside the pass, ordering him to enter the pass quickly to flank the Jin army court in Yanjing.
The messenger worked hard and traveled through the starry night, finally delivering Zhao Yingluo's autographed letter into Wanyan Zongyi's hands.
"General Wanyan, the princess has an order, ordering you to lead your troops into the pass immediately and attack the Jin army in Yanjing with us." The messenger conveyed Zhao Yingluo's order.
Wanyan Zongyi frowned. He knew the importance of this battle, but the interception of the Jin army at the pass was an insurmountable obstacle. However, he didn't show much emotion and just nodded calmly to show his compliance.
However, things did not go as Zhao Yingluo expected.
When Wanyan Zongyi led his troops to try to break through the pass, they encountered a stubborn obstruction by the Jin army. The Jin army seemed to have anticipated Wanyan Zongyi's actions and deployed heavy troops at the pass in advance.
"General, the Jin army is well-defended, and we were repelled many times in our charge." A deputy general reported to Wanyan Zongyi with his face covered in blood.
Wanyan Zongyi looked at the fierce battle ahead with a solemn expression, feeling worried in his heart.
He knew that if he could not break through the pass in time to join Zhao Yingluo's army, his plan to attack Yanjing would come to nothing.
Zhao Yingluo, who was far away from Yanjing, soon learned the news that Wanyan Zongyi had been blocked.
However, she did not panic because she had already anticipated that something unexpected might happen.
"Pass the order," Zhao Yingluo issued the order calmly, "Wang Zaixing will lead the West Route Army, Han Shizhong will lead the Middle Route Army, and Yue Fei will lead the East Route Army, with a total of more than 500,000 people, and they will attack Yanjing immediately!"
The three generals took the order and left. Zhao Yingluo knew that this battle would determine the fate of the Song Dynasty.
After the Jin army court in Yanjing learned of the approaching Song army, they immediately fell into panic.
Wanyan Zonghan, as the coach of the Jin Army, is also very worried at the moment.
"How is it possible? How could they be allowed to approach Yanjing so easily?" Wanyan Zonghan roared angrily.
However, anger does not solve the problem.
Wanyan Zonghan knew that he must come up with countermeasures as soon as possible to deal with this sudden crisis.
Facing the approaching army of the Song Dynasty, Wanyan Zonghan was caught in a dilemma.
On the one hand, he knew that Yanjing was the capital of the Jin Kingdom, and its fall would be a fatal blow to the Jin Kingdom; on the other hand, he also knew that the current strength of the Jin army could not compete with the Song army.