In Zhongshi Daofu, the herald was ordered to go to Zhongshizhong's barracks and inform Zhongshizhong to form troops on the bank of the Yellow River to meet the Jin army. After the messenger left, Zhong Shidao thought of the abnormal phenomena and rumors in recent days and felt that if he did not hold back the formation, Zhong Shidao might not be able to command the Western Army around Bianjing.
The more Zhong Shidao thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, so he said to Li Gang: "Master Li, the situation is serious now and the fighting opportunity is fleeting. You must not be careless." Li Gang looked at Zhong Shidao and asked: "Old General Zhong is uneasy. You say this again, I wonder what you are worried about?" Zhong Shidao replied: "I want to follow the army to the north, urge the Western Army to seize the Yellow River ferry, block the return of the Jin Army, and then gather and annihilate it." Li Gang said: "There are also soldiers in the division. A famous general has the courage of thousands of men and is worthy of important responsibilities. The old general is in poor health and will fight with the army. It will be inconvenient. It is better to stay in Bianjing." Zhong Shidao shook his head after hearing this. Li Gang then said: "If General Zhong is worried, I would like to accompany the Lieutenant General of the division to the Yellow River ferry to intercept the Jin army." Master Zhong still waved his hands. Li Gang's face was full of doubts. Seeing this, Zhong Shidao said: "Li Liushou didn't know something. The people from the northwest are stubborn, unruly and difficult to control. In addition, the Western troops rushing to support Bianjing were mostly stationed in Jingqing and were always under my command. Only I can command. Recently, there have been many rumors in the capital, and the common people, soldiers and civilians are also aware of it, knowing that the Holy One has no intention of decisive battle with the Jin Army. Many common people, soldiers and civilians are also in a lazy war mood. I am afraid that the Western Army cannot be mobilized in the division, so we have to Acting with the army, this can encourage the Western Army to go north and annihilate the Jin Army. I accept Li Liubei's good intention, but the situation is not controlled by others, I must go to the bank of the Yellow River in person. "
When Li Gang heard what Zhongshi Dao said, he understood that Zhongshi Dao must come to the Yellow River ferry in person. Although Li Gang was worried that Zhongshidao was in poor health and would not be able to support this trip; but considering that Zhongshidao's trip was very important, it was related to whether the situation could be reversed in one battle, and it was related to the fate of the country of the Song Dynasty, so he endured the heartache and nodded and said: "Old General He is passionate and loyal to the emperor and serves the country. It is really shocking to the world and makes people cry. I admire him extremely. Since the old general has to leave, I will throw my head far away, shed my blood, and defend Bianjing to the death to ensure that Bianjing is not settled."
"Okay!" Zhong Shidao shouted: "That's it! Let's split up."
Immediately, Li Gang said goodbye to Zhong Shidao and rushed back to Tokyo to stay at the Yamen, organize troops and horses, and be responsible for the defense of Bianjing. Zhongshi Dao was fully clothed, carried a sword on his back, and held an iron gun, and left the government office. Then he followed the horse's reins and got on his horse, looking at the Xixi Army station in Bianjing City and galloping away.
When Zhongshi Dao arrived at the Xixi Army Camp in Bianjing City, Zhongshi had just gathered his troops and horses. Seeing Zhongshi Dao enter the camp, Zhongshi Dao rushed over, stretched out his hand to hold Zhongshidao's horse's reins, looked up and asked, "Brother is ill, why did he rush to the barracks?" Zhongshidao got off his horse and said to him The Zhongshi asked in a low voice: "How is the morale of the soldiers?" The Zhongshi also replied quietly: "To be honest with my brother, there are rumors that the Holy Emperor did not want to fight with the Jin army, and just wanted to settle the matter and left. The Jin people have finished their work, so many of the soldiers are tired of war and want to return to the northwest as soon as possible. It took a lot of effort to gather the troops and horses for my brother."
The seed master said: "You come with me."
Seed Master Dao handed over the horse's reins to his followers and led Seed Master Zhong up to the high platform. Under the high platform, teams of soldiers and horses were neatly arranged.
Zhong Shidao shouted: "Soldiers!"
The officers and soldiers below the high platform had already seen Zhongshi Dao and Zhongshi Zhong ascending to the high platform, and heard Zhongshi Dao shouting: "Soldiers!" Then they raised their swords and guns in their hands and shouted: "Old General Zhong ! Old general Zhong!"
Master Zhongdao waved his hand, and there was silence below.
Zhong Shidao said loudly: "Soldiers! I am seventy-six years old this year, and I always think about returning to the northwest to take care of myself. However, the Jin invaders' cavalry broke through the Central Plains, Bianjing was besieged, and the people of the Song Dynasty The situation was miserable, the strong men were killed, and the women were raped. It was terrible to see. We are the Western Army, the elite soldiers of the imperial court. What are we doing here? The gold miners are here! Now, the gold men are at the end of their powerful bows. Withdraw to the northeast, can we let them go?"
The soldiers in the audience looked up at the stage and listened to Zhong Shidao's passionate speech.
"No!" Zhong Shidao said loudly: "The Jin people are the masters of tigers and wolves, cruel and unethical. If they let the Jin people go back today, tomorrow will be a disaster for the imperial court! Raising troops for a thousand days, using them for a while, it's time for us to serve as the imperial court It’s time to serve. Soldiers! Now is the best time to destroy the Jin people. As long as we rush to the Yellow River ferry first, deploy heavy troops, and wait for work, when the Jin people retreat to the bank of the Yellow River, we will make a sudden attack. The Jin people will have no way to retreat. , will definitely panic, our army can take advantage of the situation to attack, which will definitely break the fighting spirit of the Jin people, and drive the Jin people into the Yellow River in one fell swoop or gather and annihilate them on the banks of the Yellow River. Do the soldiers dare to follow me and fight the Jin army?!"
"Dare! We are willing to follow the old general Zhong to fight against the Jin Army!"
The shouts below the high platform were thunderous and shocking.
The Western Army has been inspired by Zhongshi Dao.
"Okay!" Master Zhong shouted loudly: "I am taking the lead. I will not return to the teacher until I kill all the golden dogs!"
The soldiers shouted loudly: "Unless we kill all the golden dogs, we will never return to the army!"
Teacher Zhong was impassioned, his heart was filled with admiration, and blood surged into his throat again. Zhongshidao tried hard to swallow the mouthful of blood, but the blood finally broke through his throat and poured into Zhongshidao's mouth. Zhong Shidao couldn't hold back and spurted out the blood. The blood spread like a red mist.
The soldiers in the audience exclaimed: "Old General Zhong!"
Zhong Shidao suddenly straightened up and shouted loudly: "Soldiers of the Song Dynasty! Come with me!"
Master Zhong walked down the platform with his head held high.
The cultivator followed the path of the cultivator and walked down the platform.
He led the horse to the audience in person. Zhong Shidao took General Ma and, with the help of his personal attendants, climbed onto the horse's back. Zhong Shidao raised his riding whip and shouted loudly: "Let's go!"
After shouting, Zhongshi Dao took the lead and rushed forward.
Behind Master Zhongdao, thousands of troops and horses came galloping forward.
The sky was filled with dust, and the cavalry galloped in the dust. The cavalry was followed by the troops.
Before the two brothers Zhong Shidao and Zhong Shizhong led the Western Army to the Yellow River ferry, Wei Zhiyu, sent by Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan, had already led the imperial imperial army to set off for a long time. When Zhongshidao and Zhongshizhong led the Western Army to set off, the Jin State East Route Army led by Wanyan Zongwang also set out from Moutuogang and withdrew to the Yellow River ferry.
Zhongshidao and Zhongshizhong led the Western Army and watched the Yellow River ferry advance rapidly. About two hundred miles away from the Yellow River ferry, they suddenly saw a large military camp stationed on the road. Zhong Shidao reined in his horse, turned to his brigadier general Wang Wu and said, "Go and check quickly! Who is stationed at the road?" Wang Wu heard the order and rode forward.
Wang Wu was riding his horse forward, and a Song general galloped towards him. He shouted loudly: "Who is coming? Stop your horse!"
Wang Wu jerked the horse's reins. The maroon horse under Wang Wu's crotch neighed and stood upright.
Under Wang Wu's crotch, the maroon horse's front hooves fell to the ground. Wang Wu held a spear in his hand, pointed at the incoming general, and replied loudly: "I am the envoy of the Jingnan Army and the envoy of the Hebei Province, Brigadier General Wang Wu! Who are you?"
The general replied loudly: "I am the general Zheng Qizhang under the imperial general Wei Marshal!"
Wang Wu said loudly: "That's great! Master Zhong led the Western Army to the Yellow River Ferry to intercept the Jin Army. You and I happened to join forces together, concentrate our superior forces, and annihilate the Jin Army on the bank of the Yellow River in one fell swoop."
"Clumsy!" Flag Commander Zheng shouted loudly: "The Holy One has ordered that no soldiers or horses are allowed to go to the Yellow River ferry. My Marshal Wei was assigned by Prime Minister Bai and Li to station here. No soldiers or horses are strictly prohibited from passing through this place!"
Wang Wu said, shocked.
Captain Zheng straightened up his spear, pointed it at Wang Wu and shouted: "Go back quickly and tell your old general Zhong that the Holy One has ordered that no soldiers or horses can pass through. Please ask old general Zhong to lead his troops back."
Wang Wudao: "Isn't it right? We are here to intercept the Jin army."
Commander Zheng replied: "I have been ordered to guard this place and not allow any troops to pass through. Please come back!"
Wang Wula turned his horse's head, galloped, and reported back to the master.
Wang Wu rode his horse to the front of Zhongshi Road, pulled the horse, and reported loudly: "Report! In front of us are the soldiers and horses of Marshal Wei of the Royal Guards and Imperial Guards! Marshal Wei was assigned by Prime Minister Bai and Li to garrison here. No soldiers or horses are allowed to pass. .”
Master Zhongdao became anxious upon hearing this and said hurriedly: "Didn't you tell him that we were going to the Yellow River ferry to intercept the Jin army?"
"Report! I told you, the other party said that Marshal Wei is a general sent by the imperial army. He is only responsible for guarding this place and does not allow any troops to pass through."
The breeder Dao was furious when he heard the report and jerked the horse's reins. The yellow gelding under the master's lap was as fast as lightning, galloping forward. The breeder shouted: "Brother!" Then he rode his horse and followed behind the breeder's horse. The cavalry of the Western Army galloped forward, following closely behind Zhongshi Dao and Zhongshi Zhongma.
When Zhong Shidao came to Wei Zhiyu's formation, Wei Zhiyu had already set up his formation and was riding on his horse, waiting for Zhong Shidao to arrive.
Master Tao rode over. Wei Zhiyu also rode his horse to greet him. He bowed to Master Zhong from the horseback and said loudly: "Old General Zhong, I am in charge of military affairs. I cannot dismount from my horse to pay homage. Please forgive me!"
Zhong Shidao grabbed the reins of the horse, stopped it, looked at Wei Zhiyu and asked: "General Wei! The Jin army must withdraw through the Yellow River ferry. Our army went to the Yellow River ferry to set up an ambush, hoping to annihilate the Jin army on the bank of the Yellow River. Why are you here? Intercept our army?"
"Old General Zhong!" Wei Zhiyu bowed on his horse again and replied: "Old General Zhong, Prime Ministers Bai and Li have ordered me to lead the troops here and no soldiers or horses are allowed to pass. General Zhong, I have the military order with me. , I have offended you so much, please lead your troops back!"
Zhong Shidao said: "Second Prime Minister Bai and Li are civil servants. I am the envoy of the Jingnan Army and the envoy of Hebei Province. I am fully responsible for the military operations in Bianjing and Hebei. The orders of the two Prime Ministers Bai and Li have nothing to do with this envoy." Non-binding! When ordered by the envoys of this section and the envoys to make arrangements, they must give way immediately and shall not interfere with the military operations of this section."
