Chapter 1 is like a dream

Northern barbarians! They are the cavalry of the Northern barbarians!

Chen Guodong looked around in confusion, and indeed, there were countless soldiers clad in scale armor on his side, forming equally orderly formations. These formations consisted of shield bearers, spearmen, archers, crossbowmen, and axe-wielders. At the forefront were the shield bearers holding large shields, behind whom were two rows of spearmen kneeling on one knee, each with a spear approximately four meters long resting on the edge of the shield, slightly angled upwards towards the front. Behind the spearmen were three rows of archers, each equipped with a longbow and two quivers of arrows hanging from their belts. Following the archers were three rows of crossbowmen, utilizing the renowned Divine Arm Bow, a famous weapon in later history. Behind the crossbowmen stood a row of axe-wielders, their broad blades gleaming coldly, ready to strike not only at the barbarian invaders but also at any soldiers of the Song Dynasty attempting to flee from the battlefield.

"Er Lang, please do not scare me. If anything were to happen to you, how would I explain it to the official!" This face spoke to Chen Guodong in a heavily accented Chinese, and although Chen Guodong could not immediately recall which dialect it was, he could understand it perfectly.

At that moment, a dull drumbeat suddenly sounded, and one could vaguely see the dense spears reappearing on the horizon.

Chen Guodong murmured to himself, suddenly closing his eyes tightly, then opening them again. The morning glow generously radiated its light, piercing his eyeballs with a faint pain. Before him lay an endless expanse of wasteland, as flat as a tabletop, devoid of trees, with only various low green plants gently swaying in the wind. The surroundings were enveloped in a suffocating silence, with no sounds of insects chirping, nor the disturbances of birds or beasts. Before him lay an endless expanse of wasteland, as flat as a tabletop, devoid of trees, with only various low green plants gently swaying in the wind. The surroundings were enveloped in a suffocating silence, with no sounds of insects chirping, nor the disturbances of birds or beasts. Only the deep and powerful sound of breathing could be heard, as if thousands of people were exhaling softly.

"Gentlemen, the Privy Minister has issued a decree: today's battle is of great significance to the Song Dynasty. I, the Privy Minister, vow to share the fate of Yangzhou, and I hope all of you will fight bravely against the enemy! Let us not betray the Emperor's great grace, nor the support of the common people!" It seems that several loud voices shouted simultaneously, likely conveying the order from the Privy Minister, though it is unclear who this Privy Minister is.

"Who am I? You say, who am I?" Chen Guodong spoke again, and surprisingly, it was the same voice.

What year is it tonight?" Chen Guodong asked again

The Privy Council has issued an order: Anyone who retreats without permission shall be executed without mercy

Chen Guodong turned his head to take a look, and saw a face that was both dark and thin, featuring a turned-up nose and a pair of triangular eyes, exuding an air of worry and anxiety.

The mounted knights appeared in great numbers, continuously emerging on the horizon, and then seemingly changing formation, forming one cavalry square after another, beginning to extend along both sides of the wilderness, soon covering the entire land. As far as the eye could see, there were only flags fluttering in the wind and knights wielding long spears, exuding an imposing presence, seemingly invincible.

A heavy armor made of an unknown number of iron plates is now draped over him, and a polished iron helmet is firmly placed on his head. He feels a heavy weight on his back, which he vaguely remembers to be an ancestral treasured sword. In his right hand, he holds a long infantry bow, and two quivers of arrows hang at his waist. He is positioned on the far left of the first row of archers in a certain infantry formation, and the tall, thin man beside him, who calls him "Er Lang," is similarly attired. He vaguely remembers to be carrying an ancestral treasured sword on his back, and in his right hand, he holds a long infantry bow, with two quivers of arrows hanging at his waist. He is positioned on the far left of the first row of archers in a certain infantry formation, and the tall, thin man beside him, who calls him "Er Lang," is similarly attired.

A voice shouted within Chen Guodong's heart, filled with fear, resentment, and desolation. Then, trembling images began to surface in Chen Guodong's mind

"Who am I? Who am I..." he suddenly asked loudly

In the sixth year of the Baoyou era of the Great Song Dynasty, that was..." Chen Guodong murmured in a barely audible voice, "So it turns out, I really have traveled through time! Why? Why is it me?"

Chen Guodong's mind just shifted to this point, and a name that nearly made his jaw drop to the ground suddenly appeared in his mind, the name is Jia Sidao! The Grand Scholar of the Song Dynasty, Vice Premier, Head of the Privy Council, Pacification Envoy of the Two Huai Regions, Governor of Yangzhou, and Duke of Linhai, Jia Sidao! ... It is that infamous chancellor Jia Sidao, who was unlearned and incompetent, and brought ruin to the Song Dynasty as recorded in history, the treacherous "Cricket Chancellor" Jia Sidao ...

"Er Lang! Er Lang, what is wrong with you? Please wake up, this is the battlefield..." A familiar yet strange voice rang in Chen Guodong's ear

This is not a dream, this is real, this is not a dream, it is real, this is a time travel reincarnation, this is actually real, but this is not scientific...

That face twisted slightly, and with a heavy sigh, "You are Chen Dexing, the military training officer of the Da Song Wu Rui Army, courtesy name Qingzhi, a person from the Anfeng Army in Huaixi, holding the official title of Cong Jiu Pin Chengxin Lang, aged twenty, born on the ninth day of the ninth month in the second year of Da Song Jiaxi at the third watch..." For three days now, this was not the first time he had said these words.

The Privy Council has issued an order: Today, those who have fallen in battle shall be granted an additional reward of one hundred guan each

The scene begins with a roaring wave crashing towards me, seemingly intent on flattening me entirely! Immediately, the image shifts rapidly to countless armored horsemen, brandishing long spears and sabers, charging forward with shouts! ... Next, the ground swiftly recedes only to rush back towards me at high speed ... Finally, there appears a young woman in ancient attire, her delicate features framed by bright red eyes, gazing at me with deep affection.

The Privy Council has issued an order: to behead the leader of the Northern barbarian Han army, a reward of fifty guan will be given for level one, a promotion of one official rank for level three, a promotion of two official ranks for level six, a promotion of three official ranks for level ten, a promotion of four official ranks for level fifteen... up to the rank of Wugong Lang

The Privy Council has issued an order: to behead the leader of the Northern invaders, promote one rank for level one, promote two ranks for level three, promote three ranks for level six, promote four ranks for level ten, promote five ranks for level fifteen... up to the rank of Martial Arts Officer!

"Er Lang, please wake up, the battle is about to begin! You cannot be like this..." That face was so anxious it was almost in tears

However, this time, the ones wielding spears are not the mounted knights, but foot soldiers clad in black leather armor, surging out from the gaps in the cavalry formations, and then forming one orderly line after another in the wilderness. Upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that not all of these infantrymen are armed with long spears; some are holding round shields and carrying longbows. Military flags embroidered with Chinese characters flutter in front of these infantry formations. Chen Guodong focused his gaze for a moment and noticed that the characters on the flags are traditional Chinese characters such as "Zhang", "Li", "Dong", "Yan", "Shi", and "Xiao".

No! On the battlefield, the soldiers of the Song Dynasty shouted in unison, clearly indicating that the rewards offered by Jia Sidao were quite appealing.

It is the sixth year of the Baoyou era of the Great Song, in the month of September

In front of him, at the distant horizon where the earth and sky meet, several white flags suddenly appeared, followed by pointed helmets, and then the faces, bodies, and the warhorses they rode beneath. Due to the great distance, Chen Guodong could not discern the features on their faces, but he could clearly see the black leather armor they wore, enveloping their entire bodies below the neck, with the warhorses beneath them also clad in armor.

Chen Guodong, oh, it should be that Chen Dexing has also gathered his thoughts at this moment—he was originally a senior seaman at the China Ocean Shipping Company in the 21st century, serving as the second mate on a Panamax bulk carrier, undoubtedly belonging to the middle-aged demographic, with a successful career and a happy family. If it were not for the sudden tsunami that appeared in the Bermuda Triangle, he should have already arrived at the Port of New Orleans in the United States by now, and now... Regardless of whether he is willing to accept it or not, he has already lived in this late Southern Song dynasty for a full three days, and has even stumbled onto the battlefield in a daze. If it were not for the sudden tsunami that appeared in the Bermuda Triangle, he should have already arrived at the Port of New Orleans in the United States by now, and now... Regardless of whether he is willing to accept it or not, he has already lived in this late Southern Song dynasty for a full three days, and has even stumbled onto the battlefield in a daze.

"No!" It seemed as if countless soldiers shouted in unison

Amidst the sounds of breathing, a piercing horn suddenly shattered the silence of the heavens and the earth. Chen Guodong abruptly raised his head and gazed straight ahead in the direction from which the sound came. Then, his expression became rigid, revealing a look of despair and helplessness.

As a side note: Let us discuss the combat effectiveness of the Song army. Luo Luo is aware that there are many Song enthusiasts online who exaggerate the image of the Song army. In order to write this book, Luo Luo has also reviewed numerous historical materials. The conclusion drawn is that during the Southern Song, particularly in the late Southern Song period, the combat effectiveness of the Song army in the Mongol-Song wars was indeed not weak. What does not weak mean? It means that they could engage in a protracted struggle with the Mongols in Jinghu (the southwestern route of Beijing and the northern and southern routes of Jinghu), Lianghuai, and Sihua-Tushu River for over forty years! Note that it was a war of attrition, not merely a stubborn defense of cities. The Song army had defensive strategies, field battles, and also took the initiative to attack the cities occupied by the Mongols. They achieved many victories. Not only did they kill the Mongol Khan Mongke, but they also killed the heir of Ogedei Khan, Kuo Chu (the achievements of Meng Gong). Meng Gong also recaptured Xiangyang and Sichuan, advancing from Kuimen all the way to Hanzhong! As for the two generals Yu Jie and Jia Sidao, they also had commendable achievements in battles against the Mongols. Even military amateurs like Pu Zezhi once commanded troops to attack the Mongol forces stationed in Chengdu (which was a ruined city at the time, as noted in the Chengdu Prefectural Gazetteer) and successfully captured it, killing the Mongol commander Ahuda in street fighting. This is the Song army! The Song army at the end of the Southern Song was entirely different from the Ming army at the end of the Ming dynasty. Even military amateurs like Pu Zezhi once commanded troops to attack the Mongol forces stationed in Chengdu (which was a ruined city at the time, as noted in the Chengdu Prefectural Gazetteer) and successfully captured it, killing the Mongol commander Ahuda in street fighting. This is the Song army! The Song army at the end of the Southern Song was entirely different from the Ming army at the end of the Ming dynasty. If they had encountered a super empire like the Mongols, they would definitely not have been able to withstand the Later Jin or the Qing. ... Of course, the Song army ultimately failed, not because they were defeated by the Mongols, but because they were defeated by their own court...

The armored soldiers on these horses all wield long spears, the metal tips glinting with a fierce cold light under the sun. From a distance, it appears as if a forest of long spears is advancing. Silently and slowly, they press toward the location of Chen Guodong.

This is the Han army's feudal lord of the Northern barbarians, aiding Zhou in his tyranny, which is most detestable! A voice echoed in Chen Guodong's mind again, filled with hatred. "Kill them all, kill them all..."

This is a dream, this is not real, this is a dream, not real

Chen Guodong was still murmuring to himself, as if the most unscientific and incredible miracle in human history—soul crossing—had unexpectedly happened to him!