Chapter 103: The Defeated General

How depraved can human nature become? Liu Wenguang’s actions provided the clearest answer.

Before Zhao Yu, this man fawned over him excessively, as if willing to hand the entire Taiyuan over to Zhao Yu. Yet, as soon as Zhao Yu departed, he immediately shut the city gates and sent urgent reports eight hundred miles to the imperial court, falsely claiming that Zhao Yu had breached Yanmen Pass, was stationed at Taiyuan’s gates, and had colluded with the traitor Han Shizhong to seize all the grain supplies in Taiyuan.

In his memorial, Liu Wenguang painted Han Shizhong as a cunning and treacherous rebel, while portraying himself as a lone hero leading the city’s soldiers and civilians in a desperate battle against Zhao Yu’s Liao forces, ultimately driving them back.

It’s important to note that the Taiyuan troops had suffered no losses. Once they realized it was the Liao forces attempting to steal grain, several generals immediately wanted to lead troops to reclaim it.

But every such request was sternly rejected by Liu Wenguang. What a joke — what if they provoked Zhao Yu and he counterattacked? Even if they could withstand Zhao Yu’s troops, could they fend off his elusive subordinates?

So, no matter who petitioned, Liu Wenguang shut it down with a single command: hold fast and await reinforcements.

Yue Fei’s men quickly relayed this information back. Yue Fei was deeply surprised—never had he imagined the enemy commander was the formidable Zhao Yu.

Yue Fei had too few troops to intercept and seize the grain convoy outright. Even a direct confrontation offered little chance of victory.

But Yue Fei was Yue Fei—neither one to shrink from difficulty nor act rashly. Thus, the night raid was launched.

Amid the flickering flames, Zhao Yu immediately guessed who the attackers were.

“Xiao Yi Ge, flee! It’s Yue Fei!”

Facing such a god of war, Zhao Yu could not muster the will to resist. He leapt onto his horse and fled at full gallop.

This moment revealed the importance of worldly experience. Had Yan Qing dragged Zhao Yu out of the tent, they surely would have been spotted by Yue Fei. Moreover, Yue Fei did not know Zhao Yu personally and charged directly toward Zhao Yu’s command tent based on prior reconnaissance.

Though inexperienced, Zhao Yu still ostentatiously raised a flying eagle banner, making it impossible to conceal his position.

And lacking military experience, upon discovering Yue Fei’s presence, Zhao Yu did not attempt to organize a defense but focused solely on escape.

Soldiers scattered like bears fleeing from a den. With such an incompetent commander as Zhao Yu, it was no wonder the army failed.

Over three thousand Liao soldiers could not find Zhao Yu’s trace. Confused and facing an unknown number of Song troops in the darkness, they soon fled in disorder.

When Yue Fei thrust open Zhao Yu’s tent and found it empty, he tried to track him down but was overwhelmed by the chaotic mass of people, unable to distinguish Zhao Yu from the others. Frustrated and furious, he issued an order to give no quarter to the Liao troops.

Under Yan Qing’s protection, Zhao Yu fled deeper into the darkness. Only after distancing himself from the sounds of battle did he rein in his horse—and then realized only Yan Qing remained at his side.

Once dreaming of roaming the world wielding a sword, Zhao Yu now saw how harsh reality truly was.

Gazing at the towering flames in the distance, Zhao Yu suddenly laughed. After a moment, he said to Yan Qing, “Xiao Yi Ge, do you believe Yue Fei will still be punished even if he wins?”

Yan Qing, surprised that the prince could still laugh at a time like this, looked up at the night sky and around them, then said, “Your Highness, this place is no longer safe. We should hurry to Yanmen Pass!”

Ancients were skilled in reading the stars; even at night, Yan Qing could discern directions by the constellations.

“You really can’t be a great official—you don’t know how to support your leader at all.”

Though he teased, Zhao Yu admired Yan Qing’s character the most: unpretentious, unflattering, loyal to his duties alone. Such a guard was the most reliable.

Without rest, the two hurried toward Yanmen Pass under Yan Qing’s guidance.

Yue Fei’s forces were too few to block all routes to Yanmen Pass, nor did he anticipate that the famed Zhao Yu would be so incompetent at command—this allowed Zhao Yu to escape unhurriedly.

At dawn, the casualties were tallied: Yue Fei’s men suffered eighteen dead and forty-five wounded, while the Liao lost nearly a thousand, with the rest dispersed.

Fifty to sixty wagons of grain were burned, and most of the conscripted laborers were killed or wounded.

Under such circumstances, Yue Fei had no means to pursue Zhao Yu and had to guard against a Liao counterattack, as their losses were minimal.

After securing the battlefield, Yue Fei escorted the survivors back to Taiyuan.

Not far from there, Zhao Yu and Yan Qing encountered Liao troops sent to support them. These soldiers had been ordered to guard the flanks and knew trouble had befallen Zhao Yu, but fearing a Song ambush amid the late hour, they had held their positions.

Upon seeing Zhao Yu alone, they immediately requested permission to counterattack, but Zhao Yu dissuaded them.

“We are compatriots; killing each other is pointless. Besides, avenging this insult doesn’t require mobilizing the army.”

He ordered strict vigilance and to gather the scattered troops. Then, pulling Yan Qing aside, he said, “Xiao Yi Ge, you have one more task. Go to Taiyuan and find Liu Wenguang. Tell him to arrest Yue Fei, but do not harm him—only strike him mentally.”

“Your Highness, rest assured, I will handle it.”

Yan Qing’s virtue was that he never questioned orders.

Zhao Yu was a man with a strong sense of justice. He knew that in the Song dynasty, where his opportunistic father held sway, loyal and righteous men like Yue Fei and Han Shizhong would meet grim fates. Better to align himself with power.

Unlike Han Shizhong, Yue Fei was blindly loyal, so it was best to keep him in the Song realm for now.

The next morning, over two thousand retreating soldiers gathered.

Zhao Yu again performed a melodramatic display of self-reproach before leading them swiftly to Yanmen Pass.

The distance was short, and with a cavalry force, they reached the pass by noon.

It was Zhao Yu’s second time at Yanmen Pass. Upon arrival, he found the entire area flying Liao banners.

He realized Yelü Min must have arrived. Before entering the pass, he saw the laborers who had delivered grain kneeling in submission, while Liao soldiers raised their steel blades behind the platform, preparing to execute them.

“Lower your blades at once!”

After a night of fury with nowhere to vent, Zhao Yu’s anger flared anew at the sight.

The commanding officer in charge of the executions hurried to stop his men upon seeing Zhao Yu, approaching with a forced smile.

“Your Highness, these Song pigs refused to accompany us. The deputy commander ordered their execution.”

“I am also from Song—does that make me one of your so-called Song pigs?”

“Your Highness, please calm yourself. I dare not speak further.”

“Enough nonsense! Release them!”

Zhao Yu’s anger deepened. Casualties on the battlefield were inevitable, but to harm unarmed civilians was unconscionable.

The officer’s expression changed upon seeing Zhao Yu’s wrath; he dared not argue and quickly ordered the prisoners freed.

At that moment, Yelü Min, having received the news, galloped out from inside the pass...