Chapter 6: The achievements of heroes are not easily attained

"It's nothing, I'm not tired!" Chen Dexing felt more energetic than ever before—although he had a decent physique in his previous life, he was already middle-aged and not particularly strong.

If this continues, we will be defeated! The Mongols only need to launch two or three more assaults, and we will be exhausted!" Chen Dexing withdrew his gaze from the surrounding soldiers and turned to look back at the rear— the towering walls of Yangzhou stood just a thousand paces away, beside the wide Baozhang River, where a high platform had already been erected, with a banner bearing the character 'Jia' fluttering in the wind. The highest commander of the Song army in the Lianghuai region, the Privy Councillor Jia Sidao, should be overseeing the battle from there. Below the high platform, the brightly armored elite troops of the Qinjing regiment had already deployed two battle formations, with five thousand elite soldiers serving as the final reserve for this battle

"Er Lang, the Northern barbarians are coming!" Liu the Monk shouted once again. Chen Dexing turned his head to take a look, and indeed, a formation of heavily armored infantry was already about one hundred and thirty to one hundred and forty paces away.

Now he has transformed into a muscular man of merely 20 years, full of strength, and after two rounds of fighting, he truly does not feel fatigued. However, he also understands that being a martial artist in this day and age requires both physical strength and skill. If it were not for the rigorous training he underwent since childhood, he would not be able to qualify as a competent martial artist

Furthermore, to become a qualified officer, one must also be proficient in various military strategies and formations, and possess exceptional skills in managing subordinates. It is fundamentally essential to have a combination of physical strength, technique, and intellect. This profession cannot simply be undertaken by randomly selecting some farmers. Even Liu, a monk who served in the military during his youth and has not neglected his martial skills over the years, finds himself somewhat overwhelmed after two rounds due to his advancing age. As for the others in the formation, most are already panting heavily and on the verge of collapse.

Liao Yingzhong bowed respectfully and said, "Your Excellency is right; the student has been presumptuous." He then craned his neck to watch the battle, no longer speaking on behalf of Chen Dexing—because he knew that if he said one more word, Jia Sidao would surely recall Chen Dexing from the battlefield. However, such a significant favor was not something Jia Sidao would grant him frequently; he had to be frugal with it.

In addition to the desperate situation, both flanks of the Song army's formation have been heavily fortified with numerous caltrops. They are not afraid of being flanked by the Mongolian cavalry; if the Wu Rui army's three formations collapse, they can only retreat to the moat. Everyone's only chance of survival is to fight with all their might! As long as Jia Sidao does not retreat, and the elite troops can hold their ground, if the forces on both wings can timely converge towards the center, there is a possibility of turning the tide and achieving victory.

"Monk!" Chen Dexing glanced at his loyal subordinate and said in a low voice, "If we are defeated, you must follow me and Tushu. We will retreat to the riverbank to seek a way out together. Under no circumstances should you head towards the Minister of State."

If one were to seek a profession most similar to that of the past, it would likely not be a soldier, but rather a professional athlete. Furthermore, it would not be an athlete specializing in a single sport, but one engaged in multiple disciplines such as equestrianism, archery, combat, wielding large blades, throwing various objects, and various water sports, akin to an athlete competing in a triathlon.

I understand. Liu the monk nodded. He had this common knowledge; if the Mongols broke through the formation, they would surely target Jia Sidao's central army, and at that time, there would undoubtedly be a fierce battle! Moreover, one could not expect Jia Sidao's personal troops to show mercy to the fleeing soldiers from the front lines; it was quite possible that they would behead them to uphold military law!

After so many years of mingling in the military, he could certainly discern the trends of fortune and misfortune on the battlefield at a glance. The current intention of the Mongols is to concentrate their forces and repeatedly attack the central line of the Song army with infantry—specifically the formation where Chen Dexing is located, along with the two formations on either side of it! If the Song army cannot withstand this assault, the Mongolian cavalry will take the opportunity to trample through, and it is hard to say how many of the three formations of the Song army will survive. Moreover, after this battle, the Wurui army will undoubtedly suffer significant losses, and it is uncertain how many vacancies for generals will arise. If Chen Dexing survives, with his martial skills and status as a ninth-rank official, he would naturally be qualified to become a general.

It seems that Chen He, a well-known figure in Lin'an, is the inexpensive old man of Tu Shude Xing. Not only does Jia Sidao recognize him, but even the Song dynasty officials have heard him speak of military strategy... Yet, he has never been able to pass the imperial examination to become a Jinshi (the highest degree in the civil service examination)

The person then said: "Sir, should we call him up to pay his respects?"

Qunyu is the courtesy name of this civil official, whose surname is Liao and given name is Yingzhong. He is a trusted aide of Jia Sidao. While studying at the Taixue in Lin'an, he developed a close relationship with Chen Huaqing, who was then the military advisor. Although he entered officialdom several years later than Chen Huaqing, his career has been much more prosperous. He currently holds the rank of a minor official, specifically a Zheng Qi Pin Chaoqing Lang, and has recently been appointed to the lucrative position of Tai Fusi Cheng (the Tai Fusi is responsible for finances, granaries, and trade, overseeing the four markets of the capital, the left and right granaries, and the seven offices of Changping). This success can be attributed not only to Jia Sidao's support but also to his fortunate circumstances in the imperial examination, which were far better than those of Chen Huaqing. He passed the civil service examination and became one of the very few individuals standing at the pinnacle of the scholar-official class.

With a taut bowstring, Chen Dexing released another arrow, which shot forth like a meteor, striking down a robust soldier of the Northern Army with unerring accuracy. This arrow served as the signal, prompting over one thousand strong bows and crossbows to simultaneously unleash a volley of arrows, raining down upon the armored soldiers of the Han military's Dong family. Instantly, dozens of men fell to the ground, screaming in agony. However, the remaining warriors paid no heed to the incessant rain of arrows, continuing to march forward in unison, resembling a moving fortress amidst a thicket of blades and spears.

Jia Sidao looked at the official and said in a heavy tone: "Qunyu, I know that you have a close personal relationship with Chen Junzhi and wish to preserve his son's life. However, since his son has already gone to battle, he must accept his fate. If his son is indeed a fortunate general, how could I not support him in some way?"

"My lord, this Chen Dexing is the son of the martial arts doctor Chen." At this moment, a middle-aged man beside Jia Sidao, who had an elegant appearance and a short stature, and was dressed in a green robe and feathered crown like Li Tingzhi, reminded him.

Jia Sidao said lightly: "No need for that. If he does not die in this battle, he can be transferred to two official positions, serving as a general in either department. We can meet again when the time comes."

The brutal hand-to-hand combat soon unfolded among the sons of the Han family

Jia Sidao laughed and said: "There will be military fortune, and there will be official fortune in literature. Having talent without fortune is ultimately useless. Consider Chen Junzhi (Chen Huaqing), who is skilled in martial arts and well-versed in military affairs; who in Lin'an does not know him? Even the officials have listened to him discuss military strategy. If he had fortune in the examination hall, he should have been appointed to oversee the troops in the Lianghuai region today. How is it that he only has a doctor's degree?"

Jia Sidao's gaze returned to the battlefield, where the three formations composed of the soldiers of the Wushui army had once again repelled the attacks of the Mongolian Han army. However, they had also suffered considerable casualties! The front lines of shield bearers and spear men had become somewhat sparse. Meanwhile, the Mongols had launched their third wave of assault, with armored soldiers bearing the Dong character flag and 2,000 Mongolian archers steadily closing in on the Song army

This battle is indeed a fight to the death! After two armies clashed, Chen Dexing temporarily forgot about the matter of his soul crossing into another body and fully immersed himself in his "new life," his mind suddenly becoming sharp. He began to carefully observe the surrounding terrain and the deployment of the Song army.

"Er Lang, are you alright?" Monk Liu leaned on his bow, panting heavily. At dawn today, he donned a suit of armor weighing sixty pounds, along with two quivers of arrows, a bow, a knife, a bag of water, and a pack of dry rations, heading to the battlefield. The total weight he carried was nearly one hundred pounds! Just standing there was a tremendous test of physical endurance.

The elegantly featured official's pupils flashed with a hint of concern, "Both generations of the Chen family have perished due to royal affairs, I wonder if this child will have any fortune."

Jia Sidao's words sound somewhat chilling! However, he is not speaking without basis. This notorious traitor in historical records has not left military affairs since the first year of Chunyou (1241), and he has been "in the military" for seventeen or eighteen years. Moreover, he has been constantly busy shuttling back and forth between the two Huai regions and Jinghu, which are at the forefront of the battles against the Mongols, while also engaging with the Mongol forces that frequently invade from the south—being a notorious traitor in this era is not an easy task!

Jia Sidao, upon hearing this, laughed lightly and said: "No wonder he has a tiger's back and a bear's waist; he is indeed the son of that martial arts champion, Yan Chang. He is the son of an old acquaintance."