Chapter 008: Wang Bing

The three northern towns have been conquered, and from the three northern towns southward lies a vast plain, where the Jurchen cavalry is an invincible force! They will soon reach Kaifeng, and once Kaifeng falls, he will meet his demise

His ability to persevere is attributed to an indomitable spirit, which is, of course, also related to his innate cultivation. He is a rare innate master within the military, possessing a profound internal energy, which enables him to endure.

Unaware of how many enemies he had killed, Wang Bing finally felt a wave of darkness enveloping him. The wounds on his body were simply too numerous, and he had finally bled out! Even in his last moments, he forced himself to stand there, his sword propped against the ground, supporting his body! In the face of the Tartars, he would never allow himself to fall!

Quickly go find Wang De! Zhao Chen said loudly

Kill! With a furious roar, the surrounding city walls seemed to tremble. He swung the sword in his hand fiercely, and two more Jin soldiers fell at his hands.

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However, he has now also reached his limit

Over the years, the Jurchens have conquered the North, and countless unprincipled literati have sought refuge with them; this Han individual is one among them

Gradually, the Jin soldiers around him increased in number, surrounding him completely. These Jin soldiers seemed to be moved by his courage; they no longer rushed at him all at once, but instead approached one by one, each fighting desperately against Wang Bing. This was an army that had fought for ten years, one that possessed its own beliefs and pride, and they would grant Wang Bing a death befitting a warrior

The great master, the person depicted in the image is Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty!" said a Han scholar beside him

A glimmer of light has appeared in the east, the night is about to end, and dawn is approaching! Wanyan Zonghan stands atop Taiyuan City, gazing at the vast landscape in the distance, his heart surging with emotions! If all Han people were like Wang Bing, if all cities were like Taiyuan City, it would be as difficult for the Jurchens to march south as ascending to the heavens! However, fortunately, there is only one such city, and only one such general!

From the distant Changbai Mountain, he has fought his way to the present, conquering vast territories along the way. The only regret is that he has not encountered a worthy opponent. Now, he feels that he has finally met a rival, a hero! Although this opponent has only managed to withstand his assault thanks to the city walls, this is already a remarkable achievement. Many fortresses, even those more solid and grand than Taiyuan, including renowned cities like Shangjing, Zhongjing, and Yanjing, have crumbled before the Jurchen cavalry, yet Taiyuan has withstood them for 260 days, which is truly extraordinary! Many fortresses, even those more solid and grand than Taiyuan, including renowned cities like Shangjing, Zhongjing, and Yanjing, have crumbled before the Jurchen cavalry, yet Taiyuan has withstood them for 260 days, which is truly extraordinary!

From beginning to end, he remains merely a seventeen-year-old boy! He has only been in this era for a few months! To some extent, he still has not integrated into this era of *illustrated* books; his primary concern remains his own safety! The title of "Crown Prince" is merely a name, a code to him, rather than a designation of the heir to the Central Plains, holding no special significance! The "Father Emperor," "Mother Empress," and the various ministers in the court seem like strangers to him; the only person he feels some affinity for in this era is perhaps Wang De, or maybe those eunuchs and palace maids who attend to his daily needs!

"Yes, the commander of Taiyuan City is still leading the remnants of the army to fight against us," reported the Jurchen soldier.

What he did not know was that at that moment, three eunuchs were rushing through the rain towards the Eastern Palace. At the entrance of the Eastern Palace, the three eunuchs were stopped there. After a brief inquiry by the guards, they were allowed to enter the Eastern Palace. They proceeded forward and finally arrived in front of Zhao Chen's sleeping quarters. After reporting, they entered the sleeping quarters and knelt before Zhao Chen.

Taiyuan City has endured for 260 days since the first invasion by the Jurchens. As for Zhongshan and Hejian, they have not even achieved the goal of delaying Wanyan Zongwang's marching speed! Wanyan Zongwang captured Zhongshan in three days and Hejian in one day, with the commander of Hejian fleeing without a fight! Wanyan Zongwang's eastern army is advancing like a rapid march, moving forward without any pause, and they are now not far from the Yellow River

What exactly has happened? Why am I feeling so unsettled? Zhao Chen thought to himself.

Wanyan Zonghan nodded silently. After a moment, he suddenly spoke, saying: "What is it that Wang Bing is carrying? Bring it to me so I can have a look!"

All of his comrades beside him had long since perished, and he was the only one left on the city wall

I cannot die, I cannot die... Zhao Chen's voice trembled slightly

Wanyan Zonghan opened the wooden box, and under the illumination of the torch, he saw a scroll inside. He unfurled the scroll and beheld a figure depicted on it. This person was dressed in a dragon robe and wore a crown, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. A strong aura of royal dominance emanated from this image, leaving one to wonder who this person might be

The city of Taiyuan has fallen, and the Jurchens have entered Taiyuan City; however, the fighting has not ceased! Throughout the entire city of Taiyuan, the sounds of shouting and killing still resonate!

Your Majesty, I can no longer pledge my loyalty to you! Taiyuan has fallen!" Seeing the ever-increasing number of Jin soldiers pouring in, Wang Bing could not help but shed tears.

Wang Bing has just turned thirty-two this year, in the prime of his life, and should be in robust health. However, he is now emaciated! Since the beginning of the year, he has hardly eaten anything! Especially in the past half month, all the food in Taiyuan City has been completely consumed! The entire Taiyuan City has become a "desolate city"; there are no horses, oxen, or mules, no various types of leather armor, and no edible items such as duckweed, grains, chaff, or grass! In the past half month, Wang Bing has only eaten a single dead rat that he occasionally found!

In the midst of the continuous autumn rain, within the Eastern Palace, Zhao Chen had just ceased his training

It was unexpected that he was still carrying the imperial portrait of Zhao Kuangyin at the moment of his death, perhaps out of fear that the portrait would suffer damage amidst the chaos of war... At this moment, Wanyan Zonghan also felt a sense of shock in his heart

He does not want to die; he absolutely refuses to die here

Only the Jin soldiers have died, and he is also severely injured

"Have the Han people not surrendered yet?" Wanyan Zonghan said in surprise

What has happened? Why are you all so fearful?

The vital energy within him gradually depleted, and his strength slowly faded away. As he watched another Jin soldier charge towards him, Wang Bing roared and advanced forward. He allowed the soldier's spear to pierce his left shoulder while his sword struck fiercely at the soldier's head, instantly causing brain matter to spill forth. Wang Bing laughed heartily.

He has conquered countless cities of the Liao Kingdom and Han people. Generally speaking, as long as a city is breached, the defending troops will surrender! It is indeed rare for a city like Taiyuan, where the walls have been breached and the army has already entered, to still have the defenders resisting.

Wang Bing was surprisingly carrying a long wooden box on his back. At that moment, several Jin soldiers brought the wooden box over and handed it to Wanyan Zonghan. As for Wang Bing's corpse, they still allowed him to stand there, not letting him fall. Such an enemy earned their respect.

Great General, this person has already fallen in battle!" A soldier approached Wanyan Zonghan and reported.

His face was splattered with the blood of enemies. As he watched more and more enemies surge forward, he felt no fear; he simply pressed on! Before he died, he intended to take more of the Jin soldiers with him to the grave!

Kill! In Taiyuan City, a middle-aged general is valiantly fighting against the enemy; he is none other than Wang Bing, the defending general of Taiyuan City

Your Highness, a grave situation has arisen! Taiyuan has fallen, and Zhongshan... Hejian has also been breached by the Jurchen invaders

At such a critical moment, he had already begun to fight for his life, knowing that he would surely die today. Now, he only wished to take more enemy soldiers with him to hell with his own life

"Bury him with great honor! Inter the imperial portrait of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty alongside him! Let the entire army rest for one day, and after one day, the entire army shall march south, straight to Kaifeng!" Wanyan Zonghan clenched his fist and said.

"What? The three northern towns have fallen again?" A rumble of thunder echoed from outside, and lightning struck down. Zhao Chen felt as if the thunder and lightning were striking him directly, sending a chill throughout his body

He looked into the distance, only to see dark clouds gathering, occasionally accompanied by the muffled sound of thunder. He felt a heaviness in his heart, as if something significant were about to happen

Very well, after years of battles, I have finally encountered a true hero! Send the order down, I want to capture the commander of Taiyuan alive! A hint of excitement appeared on Wanyan Zonghan's face