Chapter Thirty-Four: Lonely City in Peril

  The next day, the Yuan army began to build an earth platform two thousand one hundred steps away from Xiangyang. At this time, the Song army also dismantled houses to make crossbows and built a "Tian Gan Broken Array Crossbow". Three crossbows were fired at the same time, with even greater power. Yun Shu saw that the Yuan army was building a platform and understood its intention, but the high platform was already several miles away from Xiangyang. Even if Yun Shu changed to use light and agile crossbow arrows, he could not attack the front of the platform. Liang Xiao used light cavalry to pretend to come out, relying on the speed of his horse to lure the "Tian Gan Broken Array Crossbow" to fire arrows, testing the farthest point it could reach. He drew a white line and when the Song army crossed the line, they would raise their troops to attack. If they didn't cross the line, they would use bows and crossbows to retreat from the enemy at a distance.

  After holding for three days, the earth platform was built. It was four zhang high and eight zhang wide. The Yuan people also built a four-zhang wooden platform on top of the earth platform, which was still six zhang short of being level with the outer city wall of Xiangyang. Then, Zha Ma Lu Ding had the Xiangyang cannon dismantled and hoisted onto the earth platform, where it was reassembled. At this time, the Xiangyang cannon was over ten zhang high and had already surpassed the walls of Xiangyang City.

  Yun Shu observed from a distance and guessed the intentions of the Yuan army, telling Lü De. Lü De was terrified and ordered the troops to attack Xiangyang, while Liang Xiao led his army to resist. The two armies clashed with loud shouts, but the Imperial Guards were too powerful, and although Yun Shu and others assisted the Song army, they found it difficult to shake Liang Xiao's formation. Yun Shu had originally planned to use the "Tianpeng Breaking Array Crossbow" to attack the enemy outside the city, but this crossbow was extremely powerful and large, making it difficult to transport through the city gate. Its structure was also very intricate, requiring a lot of time to assemble, and if it were disassembled and reassembled below the city, Liang Xiao would likely lead his elite cavalry to destroy it.

  When both sides were engaged in fierce fighting, the preparations on the high platform had been made. Zamarudin ordered to launch the "Xiangyang Cannon", and the situation was reversed. The "Xiangyang Cannon" was aimed at Xiangyang City, which was no different from striking from above. The Yuan army filled wooden basins with **, coated them with oil, put them in a net pocket, set fire to them, and fired the cannon. The wood material was very light, and as it flew through the air, it drew a trail of flames, crossing 2,100 steps, falling towards the top of Xiangyang City, reaching the sky above the watchtower. The fierce fire quickly ignited the oil, burning through the thick paper, igniting the ** in the wooden basin, like a huge firecracker exploding with a loud bang. In an instant, the watchtower was engulfed in flames.

  Lü De urgently ordered the fire to be put out, but the Jin army continued to bombard them. They were rescued and then set on fire again, and instead many Song soldiers were injured. In less than an hour, the watchtower of Xiangyang became a sea of flames. Two of the three "Tianxia Breaking Array Crossbows" were destroyed because they were deeply rooted in the city wall and could not be taken down in time. Another one was dismantled by Yun Shu at the risk of his life, but its axle was also damaged and it would take some time to repair.

  After several days of bombardment, the second Xiangyang cannon was built. Liang Xiao ordered the first cannon to continue suppressing the Song army on the city wall, preventing them from setting up the "Tian Gan Breaking Array Crossbow", and then suddenly advanced 1,100 steps with the Jin Cha Army as escort, forcibly building a six-zhang earth platform and installing the second stone cannon.

  This stone cannon, once erected here, is truly fatal. Hundred-pound boulders directly enter Xiangyang City, like thunderbolts. Yun Shu and others repeatedly exit the city to contend for the "Xiangyang Cannon". Both sides engage in bloody battles over a dozen times, but the Song army cannot withstand the iron cavalry of the Jin Dynasty.

  Liang Xiao saw that the Song army was so stubborn, to break Xiangyang, it was necessary to use more severe measures. He immediately ordered craftsmen to hollow out giant logs weighing over 100 kg, fill them with gunpowder, burn and throw them into the inner city. The power was stronger than the Song people's "shock thunder", within three mu, all people were turned to dust, and the Yuan army called it "wood thunder".

  They attacked for two days and nights. On the third day at dawn, a "wooden thunderbolt" hit the Song army's arsenal, piercing through the roof, and detonating the firearms inside. A deafening explosion shook Xiangyang City, with the sound shaking a hundred miles away, and the surrounding buildings were reduced to rubble. The fire spread rapidly with the wind, engulfing the city in flames, turning it into a sea of fire.

  This fire burned for half of Xiangyang City, destroying nearly half of the grain warehouses and leaving the arsenal in ruins. Tens of thousands of civilians were left homeless, sleeping on the streets, their cries shaking heaven and earth. The Yuan army took advantage of the situation to launch a two-pronged attack on Xiangyang from the southwest, but the Song army fought back desperately until Yun Shu repaired a "Heavenly Lance" catapult and set it up in the southwest, preventing the Yuan army from scaling the walls. Meanwhile, news of Xiangyang's peril reached Yingzhou, where Zhang Shijie repeatedly led relief forces, only to be defeated by Aju each time. The city of Xiangyang was now on the brink of collapse.

  Liang Xiao used such tactics, but his heart was always uneasy. Suddenly hearing the cries and wails of the people inside the city, he became anxious and ordered that the wooden thunderclap cannons were not to be used to attack the inner city, only giant stones were to be used to attack the city walls. The battle between the attackers and defenders was fierce, and Xiangyang held out for another month. Winter gradually approached, with each day colder than the last, snowflakes gently falling, drifting over Xiangfan, and after several nights, the sky and earth were a vast expanse of white. After the fire in Xiangyang, the soldiers and civilians lacked clothes and food, had no houses to live in, and many froze or starved to death. Some soldiers and civilians could think of nothing else, and began boiling and eating the corpses of those who had died in battle.

  Li Shang had been attacking for a long time without success, and he was filled with doubts. One day, he climbed to the top of the "Xiangyang Cannon" and looked down at the situation in the city. Suddenly, he saw such a tragic scene that he was stunned. He let his anger burn, determined to capture the city and kill Yun Shu and others, but he never expected it would end like this. For a moment, he stood on top of the cannon, filled with regret and wonder, not knowing why the Song army still refused to surrender. He stood there for a long time, then got down from the cannon platform, rode his horse to see Bayan, and asked him to persuade Xiangyang to surrender.

  Bo Yan listened to Liang Xiao's words, pondered for a moment, and summoned the generals to discuss in the account. Liu Zhengxuan harbored resentment over the arrow's feud, loudly saying that he would only be satisfied if Xiangyang City was blown to smithereens and all the soldiers and civilians in the city were killed. Most of the generals had been attacking Xiangyang for a long time without success, suffering greatly from this city's torment, also wanted to vent their anger, and upon hearing Liu Zhengxuan's words, they nodded one after another. Only Shi Tianze and Ali Haiya remained silent with gloomy faces.

  Liang Xiao saw that everyone was in agreement, and his heart was filled with great anger. He raised his voice and said: "Is it useful to be alive or is it useful to be dead? It's easy to smash a porcelain bowl, but it's hard to make one! It's easy to destroy Xiangyang, but it's hard to rebuild Xiangyang!" This reasoning was originally ordinary, but when the generals heard it, they suddenly felt hesitant.

  Liu Zheng was also momentarily arrogant, without much reason. Liang Xiao was young and vigorous, with a few words that were both flattering and threatening, forcing him into a dead end. As a great general with outstanding military achievements, how could he tolerate a little boy squatting on his head and defecating? Suddenly enraged, he shouted loudly: "What do you know? After the massacre of Xiangyang, all other cities trembled with fear, naturally no one dared to disturb my army's edge. You've only been a soldier for two days, achieved some minor merit, and think you're something? Hmph, when I was commanding thousands of troops, you were still drinking milk!"

  Liang Xiao said coldly, "Speak more clearly? Are you commanding the Song people or the Yuan people..." Before he could finish, everyone's faces changed color. Baiyan shouted sternly, "Liang Xiao!" Liang Xiao was startled and swallowed back the poisonous words that followed.

  Liu Zheng stood up, his face pale, and sneered: "Great! I, Liu Zheng, have met countless people, but for the first time I've encountered such a young and talented, eloquent youngster! The Yangtze River's rear waves push forward the front waves, Liu is old and useless, it's all about the young people now! General, please show mercy and let me go home to farm!" His words were laced with hidden meaning, extremely vicious, implying: "Either I, Liu Zheng, leave or he, Liang Xiao, will be finished, you choose one of the two, Bayan!"

  Bo Yan didn't respond to him, and instead called out: "Nasu!" His personal guard, Nasu, immediately came out. Bo Yan sternly ordered: "Take down Liang Xiao, remove his hat, take off his armor, give him 300 military lashes, and tie him up at the gate for a day as an example to the crowd!"

  Na Su responded promptly, leading his troops to rush up and capture Liang Xiao. Liang Xiao pressed his hand on his waist and shouted: "Who dares to come over?" The soldiers knew he was brave, and for a moment no one dared to go up. Bo Yan suddenly changed color and slowly stood up, saying: "Do you want to disobey my military order?" Everyone held their breath, wanting to know that in the army, disobeying orders only leads to death.

  "Li Xiang shouted: "I am not wrong!" Ah Su saw that he was so stubborn and the situation could not be salvaged, and hastily said: "Li Xiang, the commander's order is to be obeyed, those who disobey will be beheaded without discussion." Li Xiang still said: "I am not wrong." Ah Su said: "You speak wildly, offending your superiors, isn't that wrong? Since you are a soldier, military orders are like mountains. Tuhaha understands, Li Ting understands, don't you understand?" Li Xiang heard his hint, and although his own life was insignificant, but Tuhaha, Ah Xue and others were all in the army, and would inevitably be implicated by him."

  In an instant, he had a hundred thoughts in his mind, his eyebrows furrowed, and he lost the momentum of just now. The troops were about to move forward when Liang Xiao gritted his teeth and said, "I'll do it myself!" He took off his helmet and armor, walked out of the tent, and was immediately swarmed by the soldiers, who pinned him down. In a short while, the sound of beating could be heard. Bayan listened for a moment, furrowed his brow, and shouted, "That's enough! Don't hold back!" It turned out that That's enough knew that Bayan and Art loved Liang Xiao, so he had been holding back, but Bayan was an expert in martial arts and could tell the truth from the sound. Hearing this, That's enough had no choice but to swing his rod with all his might.

  Ah Shi heard the sound of the rod striking and turned pale, fearing that Liang Xiao would be beaten to death. He hastily said: "Chancellor, at present Xiangyang has not yet fallen..." Bo Yan sternly said: "If it weren't for your indulgence, this little brat wouldn't dare to be so presumptuous!" Ah Shi was rebuked by him and could only sit down reluctantly.

  Liu Zheng sat down, listening carefully to the sound, knowing that the beating was extremely severe. Even if Liang Xiao were brave and fierce, these three hundred lashes would be enough to kill him. This man was Ah Su's trusted general, with outstanding military achievements. If he really died, Liu Zheng feared that he would have to make an enemy of Ah Su. As a surrendered general, Liu Zheng had no foundation in the court, while Ah Su was a renowned general for three generations, conquering east and west, his power shaking the world. If Ah Su harbored resentment in his heart, it would be easy for him to plot against Liu Zheng.

  Liu Zheng was deep in thought, his mind racing with calculations. He stroked his beard and counted silently to over a hundred before slowly standing up, bowing his hands and smiling: "Great General, General Liang is still young and inexperienced in the ways of the world, it's inevitable that he would be hot-headed. For now, the Song Dynasty has not been destroyed yet, and we still need him to lead the charge against the enemy. As for Liu Zheng, I also have my own shortcomings, so please, General, spare him this time."

  Bai Yan saw that he was seeking favor, and if he didn't respond, it would be embarrassing for him. So he said: "Director Liu is so magnanimous, I won't beat him up. But to show the crowd for a day, it's absolutely impossible to avoid." He ordered Nuo to tie Liang Xiao to the flagpole to show the crowd, intentionally humiliating Liang Xiao and suppressing his arrogance. He knew that Liang Xiao was proud and arrogant, and making him show his face to the crowd would be ten times more painful than being beaten, but if he didn't do so, this foolish kid wouldn't know the height of the sky or the thickness of the earth, and might still make an even bigger mistake in the future.

  Liu Zheng smiled, feeling pleased with himself: "I also said some angry words just now. Thinking about it, surrender is still the best policy." The other generals thought to themselves: "He's really a sly old fox. One moment he's facing east, the next moment he's facing west, always ready to change direction with the wind, no wonder he abandoned Song and surrendered to Yuan."

  Shi Tianze remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Lord Liu is right, since ancient times those who attack cities are inferior, while those who attack the heart are superior. To defeat an enemy without fighting is the true way of military strategy. Now that the people of Xiangyang are wavering, it's the perfect opportunity to surrender." As he was the oldest and had the most merit, everyone nodded in agreement when he spoke. Liu Zheng stroked his sleeve and coldly smiled: "Liu will never go again."

  Bo Yan hesitated for a moment, furrowed his brow and said: "To gain the trust of Lü De, we must have a general with great prestige. Who will go?" Shi Tianze's eyebrows furrowed, and he remained silent. Just as A Tu was about to speak, Ali Haiya suddenly stood up and said: "I'll go!" Bo Yan was slightly taken aback, but then heard Ali Haiya say loudly: "When I met the Emperor, the Emperor once said: 'Since ancient times, those who have conquered Jiangnan, Song Taizu's general Cao Bin did it best. He pacified Jiangnan with minimal killing. If you can take Jiangnan without killing people, that would be my Cao Bin.' I often think about these words and feel uneasy in my heart. Are we Mongolians and Semu people really inferior to those Han people?"

  Bo Yan nodded and said, "The emperor is right, but this trip is indeed perilous!" Ali Haigya said, "I know it's dangerous, but to bet my life on saving a city's worth of lives, I think that's also a remarkable merit." He smiled slightly, "Moreover, I don't believe that Lü De would dare do anything to me at this critical juncture." Bo Yan furrowed his brow and remained silent. Ali Haigya laughed and said, "If the commander is still worried, I request that you send someone with me on this trip, and I will certainly be safe." Bo Yan asked, "Who?"

  Ali Haiya said: "Liang Xiao!" Bohai was surprised and asked, "Why?" Ali Haiya smiled and said: "That day, my life was saved by him from the Song people's hands after going through life and death. With Liang Xiao's bravery, even if there were a thousand arrows fired at me on the city wall, I wouldn't have been hurt." Bohai said: "He is still being punished!" Ali Haiya smiled and said: "Then please, General, show your mercy!" Liu Zheng secretly wiped away cold sweat, thinking to himself: "Good grief, almost even Ali Haiya has been offended."

  Bo Yan smiled and said: "Ali Haiya, you are using all sorts of methods to plead for him! Alright, considering the relationship between us in Xiangyang, I will spare his life." A Li said: "He has been beaten with a stick, it's unlikely he can ride a horse!" Bo Yan shook his head and said: "These two sticks are nothing, only suitable for tickling him! Ali Haiya, let him down, accompany you to Xiangyang." He deliberately let Ali Haiya release Liang Xiao, so that Liang Xiao would feel grateful and vow to protect him with his life.

  Ali Haiya rode his horse to the gate, but saw a crowd of people surging forward, with many soldiers gathered under the flagpole pointing and discussing. As he approached, he saw Liang Xiao hanging from the flagpole with iron chains, his eyes slightly closed, his face looking terrible. Ali Haiya secretly sighed: "The commander's move is too ruthless, he is a general who leads troops, suffered great humiliation, how can he command the army in the future?" He hastily ordered his personal soldiers to disperse the crowd, conveyed Bayan's orders, and released Liang Xiao.

  Li Xiang had a strong inner strength and was not afraid of rods, but after being so insulted, he was furious with hatred in his heart, until he heard that Bayan agreed to persuade him to surrender, and only then did he feel slightly relieved.

  Two men rode straight to Xiangyang City. Tuhutu and others heard that things were critical, all wanting to follow, were driven back by Liang Xiao. The two arrived under the city wall, only to see bows and arrows on the city wall, already aimed at the two of them.

  Ali Haiya took a deep breath, composed himself, and shouted loudly: "General Ali Haiya requests to see General Lü De!" Lü De was surprised that the Yuan army had stopped firing, and at this moment he was mixed in with the soldiers watching what would happen next. When he heard these words, his eyebrows furrowed deeply. Yun Shu was about to order someone to shoot an arrow when Lü De waved his hand to stop him, saying loudly: "I am Lü De, General Haiya, have you come to persuade me to surrender?" Ali Haiya said: "That's right, now Xiangyang City is in a precarious situation, with no way out, the people inside are suffering from hunger and cold, and they are even eating each other. It can be said that it has reached a desperate situation. General, if you don't surrender now, what are you waiting for?"

  Lü De said in a deep voice: "I have received great kindness from the Song Dynasty, and I have been entrusted with the responsibility of defending the land. When the war is over, I will die on the battlefield or perish with the city to repay the emperor's kindness. Lord Haig, I won't shoot you with arrows, please leave now. I only hope that when the city falls, you will remember today and spare a few more civilians, Lü De will be eternally grateful!"

  Ali Haiya didn't expect him to refuse bluntly, and just as he was about to persuade him again, he heard Liang Xiao say loudly: "Lord Lü, if you want to die, it's best to die!" The crowd on the city wall was furious, and Ali Haiya was also shocked. He thought to himself: "This is not good, I really shouldn't have brought him along, this has turned out to be a mistake." Yun Shu was just about to shoot an arrow when Lü De said in a deep voice: "Wait, let's hear what he has to say, and then we'll shoot!"

  Li Shao-yang said: "You probably think that after you die, your name will be remembered in history. That's right, when you're dead, your reputation is good, but what about the thousands of people who have died? You can't hear your wife calling you, no children to care for you, can't see your parents' loving faces, and won't see your sisters' smiling faces. After a thousand years, there will only be a pile of white bones left." The soldiers and civilians on the city wall heard this and were all moved, feeling a deep chill in their hearts.

  Lü De flew into a rage and shouted loudly, "You wicked thief! I spared your life, but you dare to utter such insolent words and confuse my army's mind!" Just as he was about to order his men to shoot arrows, Liang Xiao suddenly sneered and said, "What use is the army's mind? Within ten days, Xiangyang will definitely be broken. You scold me as a thief, but I think you are the great thief! Other thieves only steal gold and silver under the cover of night, exchanging them for temporary wealth and glory; but you, under the banner of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness, secretly take away the lives of this city's people, exchanging them for your eternal fame!"

  Li Xiang saw the cannibalistic elephant today, and his heart was filled with regret. On that day, he made a solemn vow on Mount Funiu, if he didn't destroy Song, it would be a self-destruction of his promise. Therefore, whether Xiangyang City was broken or not, in his heart, it had already become an extremely difficult problem. Just as he was struggling to resolve the contradiction, he suddenly heard that Lü De had decided to defend to the death, and couldn't help but speak out to mock him. Ali Haiya only listened with a startled heart, thinking: "Forget it, he saved my life once, at most I'll just owe him again!"

  The Song army on the city wall was in an uproar after hearing these words. Yun Shu couldn't help but shout, "This man is impossible to reason with! Lord Lü, quickly issue an order to shoot him dead, lest his reckless talk shake the morale of our troops!" However, Lü De fell silent for a moment, then slowly raised his hands and shouted, "Lord Haiya, the Mongol army has been blocked by the two cities of Xiangyang for ten years, exhausting our resources and suffering countless casualties. Who among them does not harbor resentment? Since Genghis Khan's time, whenever the Mongols encountered resistance, they would inevitably slaughter the city. Even if I were willing to surrender the city, can you guarantee that the other Mongol troops wouldn't kill a single soldier or civilian?"

  Ali Haiya let out a sigh of relief and said loudly, "The Holy One has said that as long as you are willing to surrender the entire city, we will not harm a single hair. There was an imperial edict, but it was stolen by the white-clad person beside you on the way here. Why don't you ask him to show it to you?" Lu De looked back at Yun Shu. Yun Shu said, "I've seen that imperial edict, and the Tartar emperor did write some flowery words to persuade you to surrender, sir!" Lu De furrowed his brow in contemplation. Liang Xiao saw that he was wavering and drew out a feathered arrow, saying, "Lu sir, do you know what is the most poisonous oath of the Yuan people?" Lu De hesitated for a moment before blurting out, "Breaking an arrow as a vow!"

  Liang Xiao handed the feathered arrow to Ali Haiya, who nodded and said loudly: "Good!" He raised the arrow above his head and declared in a clear voice: "I, Ali Haiya, make a vow to the heavens that as long as Lord Lü surrenders, I guarantee with my life that not a single person in Xiangyang will be harmed!" After speaking, he broke the arrow into two pieces and threw them on the ground. Lü De's expression changed slightly, and he sighed before saying: "Allow me to consider this for a while, I will give you an answer within three days."

  Ali Haiya nodded and returned with Liang Xiao to report to Bohan. Bohan ordered the generals to prepare siege equipment, if Lü De did not surrender within three days, they would launch a full-scale attack and force their way into the city.

  That night in Xiangyang City, the Song army leaders were deadlocked in argument. Some thought that at this point, surrender was unavoidable, while others would rather die than surrender, seeking to preserve their honor. Lü De alone ascended the city wall, gazing out towards the south, seeing only the Yuan army's flames illuminating the sky, their ships filling the river, his heart filled with unspeakable bitterness.

  He has been at war with strong enemies for half his life since he joined the army, from Hubei to Xiangyang, fighting thousands of miles and defending for over a decade. Although he knew that the Yuan army was powerful and it would be difficult to avoid this day, he had already made up his mind to die. However, when this day really came, he didn't know what to do. Surrendering would be a loss of integrity, but not surrendering would mean burying the entire city's civilians. The two thoughts of surrender and not surrender were fighting in his heart. Suddenly, the events of decades past flooded his mind, remembering how he and Liang Wenjing had joined forces to defeat the enemy at Hubei, killing the Mongolian Khan, feasting and singing together, so proud and carefree. Now, however, he was faced with an impossible choice between life and death.

  Lü De looked up at the sky and couldn't help but burst into tears, thinking: "Huai'an, oh Huai'an, where are you? The ruler of Great Song is incompetent, treacherous officials hold power, Lü De's heart to kill enemies is in vain, it's hard to fulfill his loyalty to the country. If only you were here, would there be such a situation today? Huai'an, where are you? Can you hear Lü De's cries?" For a moment, tears fell like rain, soaking through his armor.

  Just then, someone said, "Lord Lü?" Lü De hastily wiped away his tears and saw Yun Shu and Jing Fei walking towards him from afar. Lü De hurriedly stood up, and Jing Fei bowed and asked, "What plans do you have, sir?" Lü De shook his head without speaking. Jing Fei said in a low voice, "You must not be swayed by the Yuan people's words." Yun Shu said, "That's right, the Yuan people are cruel and unscrupulous, we can't trust them lightly."

  Jing Fei shook his head and said, "This has nothing to do with cruelty. As the saying goes, 'Life and death are trivial matters, but losing one's integrity is a serious matter.' Throughout history, loyal and heroic scholars have always been remembered in history, while those who surrender and lose their integrity have always been ridiculed. In the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Gongxun died defending Xiangyang, and even though the city was breached and he died, people still set up shrines to commemorate him after a thousand years. And how many surrendered generals can be remembered by later generations? You, sir, have defended the city until now, and your contributions to the Song Dynasty are immeasurable. If you take one more step forward, you will be remembered for all eternity; but if you take one step back, in the future, history books will only refer to you as a treacherous minister! As the saying goes, 'A mountain is nine zhang high, but it can be ruined by a single handful of earth.'"

  Lü De glanced at him and said calmly, "To build this mountain, we would have to use the corpses of all the soldiers and civilians in the city." Jing Fei sneered, "Sir, take a step back, and the common people behind you will pile up into a mountain of corpses. Moreover, as the ancients said, 'I advise you not to speak of becoming a marquis, for when one general's achievements are complete, ten thousand bones wither.' As a military commander, sir should understand this principle!"

  Lü Dé saw that his eyes were shining brightly, and his tone was getting more and more intense. He looked at Yún Shū's hand on the hilt of his sword, his gaze wandering around, and his heart couldn't help but beat faster. His wisdom and strategy ran deep, or else he wouldn't have been able to fight fiercely with the famous generals and elite cavalry of Dà Yuán for ten years. But judging from the expressions of the two men, he had already guessed a few things. It turned out that Jiǎng Fēi was observing Lü Dé's face and guessing his thoughts, intentionally trying to probe him, and if he uttered even half a word about surrendering, he would immediately use force with Yún Shū to coerce Lü Dé into making a last stand.

  Lü De pondered for a moment, then stood up and paced back and forth before saying loudly: "Brother Jing Fei is right! I have made up my mind. I will be loyal to the country and die with it if necessary. But... alas..." Jing Fei heard his resolute words and couldn't help but feel great joy: "Sir, what's troubling you?"

  Lü De said: "Now we lack clothes and food, the equipment for defense is also exhausted. If this continues, Xiangyang will be destroyed sooner or later. If it's broken, what difference does it make to surrender? I'm worried about this." Jing Fei and Yun Shu looked at each other and both became anxious. Lü De continued: "In the years I've been defending Xiangyang, only Cloud Gongzi and Jing Menzhu have managed to get through the Yuan army's blockade... Hmm..." His eyes revealed a hint of hesitation.

  Jing Fei said, "This matter is a must, but I ask Lord Lü to send a letter to the general of Yingzhou. Yun Shu and I will secretly leave Xiangyang on horseback, leading the Song people's water army, using the 'Water Fowl Fish Dragon Formation' to transport grain and equipment, and advance to aid Xiangyang." Lü De hesitated, saying, "Young Master Yun is my trusted assistant, if he leaves, it would be like cutting off one of my arms. Moreover, Liu Zheng has set up a water array below the city of Fan, and the Han River waterway has already been controlled by the Yuan people, so thinking about escaping from the city is extremely difficult."

  Yun Shu Dao said, "The Waterfowl Fish Dragon Formation's changes are mysterious and subtle. Without me, others can't control it. Hmm, if we don't take the water route, we can go by land. We can bring fewer people and sneak out of the city at night. General Wan, please hold on for a month or so, until I master the formation."

  Lü De repeatedly spoke of danger, and Jing Fei asked him to leave the city, only then did he agree. Jing Fei, due to the urgent situation, summoned his men that night, along with Yun Shu and Fang Lan, tied a rope around their waists, and lowered themselves outside the city walls. Lü De watched as the silhouettes of the crowd disappeared into the darkness, let out a sigh, suddenly fell to the ground, and said in a hoarse voice: "Young Master Yun, with time running out and no way to turn back, I, Lü, have thought it over repeatedly, but couldn't bring myself to abandon this city and its people. The fate of the Song Dynasty is now in your hands." With tears in his eyes, he bowed three times towards the direction the crowd had gone, then stood up and ordered his stunned soldiers: "Pass on my orders, seal off the treasury, destroy the Tianpeng Breaking Formation Crossbow. Order the three armies to open the gates and surrender at noon tomorrow!"

  Li Xiao returned to the camp from the commander's tent, and all the way back, he felt as if something was stuck in his chest. The wails of the civilians echoed in his ears, and whenever he closed his eyes, the tragic scenes in the city flashed before him. He couldn't help but think: "The Song Dynasty has hundreds and thousands of cities, must we fight a war every time we attack one? Alas, on the battlefield, soldiers are pitted against each other, generals against generals, it's all just a gamble with life and death. But if innocent civilians get caught up in it, that really puts me in a difficult spot. Military strategy often talks about 'defeating the enemy without fighting', but is there really a way to win a war without harming civilians?"

  He racked his brains, but couldn't think of a foolproof plan. In his frustration, an idea flashed into his mind: "I vowed to destroy the Song Dynasty, could I be wrong?" This thought was like a flash of fire that was immediately extinguished. He gritted his teeth and thought, "Mother always said: 'A great man must keep his promises, he cannot break his vows.' I broke my bow as a vow, just like Ari Haiya broke her arrow..." His heart felt stifled, and he didn't want to return to the camp to meet with the other troops. He rode his horse directly to Asha's tent, where he heard Lan Ya's voice coming from inside, seemingly telling a story. When he walked in, he saw Asha lying on the bed, her eyes wide open, listening intently. Seeing Liang Xiao come in, she smiled: "Brother came just in time! Sister Lan Ya is telling a story, it's called One Thousand and One Nights..." Lan Ya covered her mouth and laughed: "It's actually One Thousand Zero One Nights."

  Ah Xue smiled and said, "Right, one thousand and one nights." Liang Xiao looked at her smiling face, joyful expression, and his heart slightly widened. He said, "Lan Ya, thank you for taking care of her." Lan Ya smiled and said, "You're always so polite." She stroked Ah Xue's shoulder, "Ah Xue is lovely, I like her too." Liang Xiao sighed, "Unfortunately, she's too silly, it would be good if she could learn some cleverness from you." Ah Xue smiled and said, "Yes, I love listening to sister tell stories. Sister must stay with me and tell me a thousand and one nights."

  Lanya smiled, her smile somewhat forced, and said softly: "Unfortunately, sister can only tell you for one night." Ah Xue was taken aback, not understanding the meaning. Liang Xiao, on the other hand, looked surprised and asked: "Lanya, where are you going?" Lanya's eyebrows drooped, and she sighed: "The Xiangyang cannon is already built, the city will be breached soon, I don't want to see the tragic scene three days later when the city falls, it's better to leave early." Liang Xiao said: "Maybe we'll surrender in three days, who knows?" Lanya looked at him deeply and coldly said: "Can you be sure?" Liang Xiao opened his mouth but didn't speak, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles, unable to bear it, he stood up and paced back and forth.

  Lanya sighed, "The city must be slaughtered, it has always been the rule of the Mongolian army. In those years, Hulagu Khan conquered the West, attacked and broke through Baida City (Note: The Mongols' name for Baghdad), slaughtering for three whole days until there were no more young men left in the city. My teacher would often mention that matter with extreme sorrow." Her tone was calm, but her eyebrows and eyes had already turned slightly red.

  Li Xue's heart was cold, and he said: "Your teacher has a deep hatred for the Mongols, so why do you still want to design the Huihui cannon?" Lan Ya sighed: "The Great Yuan Emperor is the common master of all Mongolians under heaven. He gave an edict to Ilkhan, if Teacher were to disobey, then the light of wisdom from Maragha would be extinguished forever. This time it was supposed to be Teacher who came, but he's old and couldn't travel such a long distance, so Dad and I replaced him to come here."

  Liang Xiao was silent for a moment, and Lanyah gazed at him saying: "Liang Xiao, the Xiangyang cannon is the devil's arm, and the wooden thunderbolt is hell's evil fire. You have let the devil be reborn from the fierce flames, if you continue to wage war, even in death, your soul will not find peace." Liang Xiao slightly felt angry, and loudly said: "Lanyah, are you cursing me?" Lanyah bitterly smiled saying: "You are an extraordinary intelligent person, you must understand my words. My teacher is already old, just like the snow on top of a high mountain, with one strong gust of wind, it will fall down. Liang Xiao, put down your long spear and bow, follow me to Malaga! You are the greatest among today's mathematicians, you can certainly inherit my teacher's legacy, become the new wise king."

  The dialogue between the two was in riddles, and Ah Xue couldn't understand it. She only felt that the atmosphere had become heavy, as if the air in the room had solidified. She found it hard to breathe, her heart racing wildly, and she lowered her head to fiddle with the hem of her clothes, sneaking a glance at Liang Xiao's forehead, where his veins were bulging, his face alternating between red and white. Several times he seemed about to speak, but in the end didn't utter a word. Ah Xue was just starting to feel puzzled when Lan Ya suddenly turned around with a smile: "Ah Xue, do you still want to hear the story?" Ah Xue nodded repeatedly.

  Lanya told two more wonderful stories, and as the night deepened, Ah Xue listened and listened, feeling sleepy, and fell asleep in her arms. Lanya gently laid her on the bed, covered her with a quilt, and Ah Xue's face was filled with a smile, as if she had entered the world of "One Thousand and One Nights" and was having adventures with princes and princesses. Although Lanya and Ah Xue had only known each other for a short time, she had already deeply liked her innocence and purity. Thinking that they would soon be parting ways, she felt heartbroken and couldn't speak, so she leaned down and kissed Ah Xue's face, tears streaming down her cheeks. Ah Xue murmured softly, as if she were aware of something, and Lanya quickly wiped away her tears and stepped out of the tent. Liang Xiao also emerged from the tent and said, "Lanya, I'll see you home."

  The two rode to the outside of Zhamardin's tent, and Liang Xiao opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. Just as he was about to turn his horse around, he suddenly heard Lanya say: "Liang Xiao!" Liang Xiao turned his head to look back, and saw that Lanya had dismounted her horse and was standing elegantly in the deep moonlight, her expression overcome with sorrow.

  Liang Xiao's heart beats faster, and he asks, "Is there something?" The woman looks at Liang Xiao quietly, her dark blue eyes shining brightly, and says slowly, "Tomorrow morning, I'll be waiting for you at the pavilion on the east side of the official road. I hope you change your mind." Liang Xiao's heart is slightly disturbed. Lan Ya suddenly covers her face and rushes into the big tent like a flying bird.

  Liang Xiao watched her disappear into the thick night, his mind surging with emotions. One moment he thought of his father's death, another moment he thought of his mother's parting gaze, one moment he thought of Hua Xiaoxiao's delicate figure, and another moment he thought of Liu Yingying's gentle smile. Time passed, the moon was already high in the sky, a cool breeze blew, Liang Xiao shivered with surprise, only to feel a slight dampness at the corner of his eyes. He mounted his warhorse, looked back at Xiangyang, and felt an inexplicable sense of disgust: "Three days later, if the Song army doesn't surrender, what will happen? If Liu Zhi kills innocent people indiscriminately, I'll stake my life to kill him, making him fall like a flower in the water."

  He had made up his mind, and the heavy burden on his heart was slightly alleviated. He turned his horse back to the large camp at Bai Zhang Mountain, but before he approached, he heard a loud commotion. Liang Xiao knew that something big had happened and rushed into the camp on horseback. A scout cavalryman saw him and came up calling out: "General, the Song people have raided the camp!" Liang Xiao asked: "How many are there?" The scout replied: "There aren't many, but they're fierce warriors. Tu Tuo Ha is very angry and has chased after them all the way!" Liang Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily asked: "Where did they go?" The scout pointed in the southeast direction.

  Liang Xiao didn't ask much, patted the horse and left. Chasing out for less than two miles, he saw many human and horse corpses scattered on the ground, including both Yuan and Song people. Some had dozens of arrows in their bodies, like a porcupine; some were strangling the necks of the Jin soldiers, but their abdomens were pierced by curved blades, with both parties frozen to death with their mouths open and eyes bulging. Others had long spears piercing through the horse's belly, pinning the Jin soldier together with the horse in one place, while the Jin soldier's long spear nailed him to the ground. The deaths on both sides were extremely tragic, indicating that the two armies had encountered each other here and fought a fierce battle.

  Liang Xiao galloped his horse, his heart racing with anxiety. Suddenly, he saw a group of over 200 riders approaching slowly in front of him, led by none other than Tu Tu Ha. Wang Ke was holding someone in her arms, occasionally wiping away tears. Liang Xiao looked around the group but couldn't find Yang Yi, and his heart sank. The crowd saw him and rode over, their eyes red and swollen from crying. Liang Xiao glanced at the person in Wang Ke's arms, and it was indeed Yang Yi, but his face was deathly pale and he had been dead for some time.

  Liang Xiao's vision went dark, his mind a complete blank. He vaguely heard Wang Ke choke out: "Brother Liang, it's...it's that thief again..." He didn't say anything else, but Liang Xiao had already figured it out - the sword that struck Yang Zhong was from the "Dahou" position, bypassing the heart guard to pierce the "Xuanzhong" acupoint, a clear signature of the "Gui Cang Sword".

  Tu Tu Ha thrust his long spear and shouted, "If I don't kill that sword-wielding Song dog, I, Tu Tu Ha, swear not to return home!" Li Ting, Nangutai, and Wang Ke each shot a cold glance, shouting in unison, "Right! If we don't avenge this grudge, we swear not to return home!" As the commander-in-chief, Liang Xiao couldn't show his fear in front of others. He waved his hand and turned around to leave. As he patted his horse to move forward, tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

  That night, without preparing for the aftermath, the lamp in Liang Xiao's tent was lit all night, and everyone sat around Yang Yi's body. Until noon the next day, Ah Xue rushed over, also shed tears, and saw that everyone had not eaten a grain of rice, so she arranged some porridge, and everyone reluctantly ate it.

  Liango was startled by her, and only then remembered what Lanya had said the night before, so he hastily mounted his horse. He thought Lanya had already left, but to his surprise, she was still far from Changting Pavilion. Suddenly, he saw Zhamaluding and Lanya sitting in the pavilion, with over a hundred soldiers resting on the road, presumably to escort the two of them.

  Liang Xiao hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not go forward and retreated to the side of the road. From afar, he saw Lan Ya looking anxious, pacing back and forth. Suddenly, Zamaluding stood up and spoke to her in a low voice. Lan Ya turned around, her shoulders shaking continuously. Zamaluding sighed, patted her shoulder, and said a few words. Lan Ya stood there blankly for a while before finally wiping away tears with her sleeve and mounting an Arabian horse, slowly heading north. She rode for several steps before turning back to look repeatedly, more than ten times, until she turned onto the main road and disappeared from view.

  Liang Xiao rode his horse, gazing out at the unsettled dust and smoke, but there was no one in sight. His heart felt a pang of emptiness. He had not known Lanyue for long, but they shared similar interests and would often discuss mathematics, losing track of time. Now, with Zhao Shan and Yang Yi having fallen one after another, their grudges ran deeper, and it was impossible to put the matter to rest easily. Perhaps before long, he too would die in battle, forever lost in the underworld. Thinking this, Liang Xiao's heart turned cold, and he listlessly rode his horse back to camp.

  On the third day at noon, the city gate of Xiangyang opened, and Lü De wore a white hat and walked out of the city on foot. Bai Yan received the news and personally went to accept his surrender, sealing Lü De as the Grand Governor of Xiangfan, following him closely.

  The news spread throughout the Song Dynasty, and the court was filled with sorrow and grief. People wrote poems lamenting: "General Lü is defending Xiangyang, Xiangyang has been a fortress for ten years. The sound of scolding and killing Jia Pingzhang is endless because he didn't send reinforcements." Jia Pingzhang refers to Jia Sidao, who was blamed for not sending troops to reinforce Xiangyang, but in reality, Lü Wende fought alone and defended the city for over a decade. The Song court became increasingly corrupt and incompetent, and rescue troops never arrived, ultimately leading to the fall of Xiangyang and Fancheng. Jia Sidao's treachery brought chaos to the country, and he was truly responsible for the loss of Xiangyang. The poem doesn't blame Lü Wende for surrendering the city but instead blames Jia Sidao for bringing disaster to the country, showing that people have their own sense of justice.

  Xiangyang is known as the "waist of the world". One shoulder shoulders the south, one shoulder shoulders the north. To the north, it connects to Henan; to the west, it reaches Bashu; to the south, it extends to Huguang; and to the east, it advances into Jianghuai. Since ancient times, the north and south have been vying for control, with Xiangyang being the first to bear the brunt of war. If Xiangyang falls, the Great Song's border defense will be cut off at the waist, leaving a thousand li of the Yangtze River exposed to the Mongol army's blade.

  The snow melts and the ice disappears, and the weather gradually warms up. In the eleventh year of the Yuan Dynasty, it suddenly arrived, according to the Song calendar, it was the tenth year of Xianchun. At the beginning of the year, Kublai Khan issued an edict to conquer the Southern Song Dynasty. Unexpectedly, in March, Shi Tianze patrolled the military camp at night and caught a cold, but unfortunately fell ill and did not get up again. He was over 70 years old, his energy and blood were declining early, and he struggled for two days and one night before passing away.

  Bo Yan led the crowd to pay their respects and comforted the Shi family before bidding farewell. Liang Xiao followed the crowd out of the Shi residence, feeling depressed: "Tutuha, Li Ting is eager to build achievements, what if he ends up like Shi Tianze? Can fame, wealth, and fortune be brought into the grave?" As he pondered, he suddenly heard Bo Yan say, "Liang Xiao." Liang Xiao looked up to see Bo Yan's piercing gaze, saying, "Follow me." With a flick of the reins, they galloped straight for the city gate. Liang Xiao was perplexed and reluctantly followed behind.

  Outside the city, the fields were desolate and barren, with only a few farmers, their faces filled with worry and sadness, slowly walking through the fields. The ten-year war in Xiangyang had left nine out of ten homes empty, both inside and outside the city, and thousands of hectares of good farmland had all become battlefields.

  Suddenly, a wild rabbit jumped out of the grass and ran wildly, with a yellow wolf chasing after it, its front paws pressing on the ground, leaping into the air to pounce on the rabbit's head. At this moment, a strange sound suddenly appeared, an arrow flew over, passing through the wolf's neck and shooting into the rabbit's back.

  Bo Yan let out a breath, just about to put down his strong bow, when he suddenly heard the clear cry of geese in mid-air. He turned sideways and drew his bow, only to see a flock of large geese flying northward in a human-like formation. Bo Yan drew his bow for a long time but didn't release the arrow, gazing at the distant geese as they flew away. He relaxed his bowstring and sighed, "Liang Xiao, have you ever shot down a large eagle?" Liang Xiao shook his head.

  Bayan laughed and said, "A fierce horse galloping across the vast desert, a startled bow dropping a mighty bird - that's what it means to be truly carefree. Unfortunately, since the Song Dynasty has not been destroyed, it's hard to return north! Alas, I wonder when this battle will end?" Liang Xiao listened to these words and only then realized that Bayan had drawn his bow without firing, and was actually feeling homesick. He felt a surge of emotion and said, "Not fighting would be best!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them, thinking, "If we don't fight, how can we avenge ourselves?"

  Bo Yan looked at him and smiled, "Liang Xiao, I ordered to beat you last time, do you still resent me?" He saw Liang Xiao frowning and not speaking, knowing that he was still holding a grudge, couldn't help but smile, "I'm wrong, but you also overstepped your bounds. If I didn't beat you at the time, I would have had to chop off your head." Liang Xiao also knew that Bo Yan was right, and couldn't help but smile wryly. Bo Yan raised his eyes and pointed to an ancient temple with his whip, "Let's go take a look!"

  Two people arrived at the temple, only to see that the walls were crumbling and a stone monument stood in front of the gate. Bo Yan dismounted his horse, dismissed his attendants, and stroked the top of the monument with his hand, lost in thought. Liang Xiao saw that under the monument there was a stone tortoise carrying a heavy load, on which many characters were engraved, but they had faded and peeled off, seemingly having been there for a long time.

  Bo Yan suddenly said, "Liang Xiao, do you know the origin of this stone tablet?" Liang Xiao shook his head. Bo Yan pointed to the earth temple in front of him: "This is the Temple of Yang Taifu, used to worship Jin people's Yang Hu. This Yang Hu was a famous general among the Han people. In those years, when the Sima family destroyed Eastern Wu and unified the Three Kingdoms, it was all due to his plan. Unfortunately, this man thought of a strategy to eliminate Eastern Wu, but did not live to see the day when the world was at peace. Several times he petitioned the emperor to attack Wu, but was rejected each time. He had great ambitions that were difficult to fulfill, and every time he looked south, he would shed tears without stopping. Therefore, this tablet is also called 'Dropping Tears Tablet'." After a moment of silence, he looked at Liang Xiao and asked, "Do you know why there are wars in the world?" Liang Xiao was taken aback and replied truthfully, "I don't know!"

  Bo Yan said, "It's simple to say, as long as multiple countries coexist, they can't avoid war." Liang Xiaoqi said, "Multiple countries coexisting?" Bo Yan smiled and said, "Think back to the past, when my Mongolian tribes were in disarray, with over a thousand years of continuous warfare. It wasn't until Genghis Khan was born, relying on his divine intelligence and military strategy, that he went through all sorts of hardships and difficulties, and finally united the Mongolians as one, so they would no longer fight each other. You should also know that when the Han people were fighting the most fiercely, it was during the time of the vassals, with the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period above, and the Three Kingdoms and Two Jins below. After the Tang Dynasty, the rise and fall of dynasties was like a galloping horse, first with the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, then with the Song and Liao clashing, and later with the Song, Jin, Xia, Dali, and Tubo five countries at war, with extremely brutal slaughter. Now, although the Jin, Xia, Dali, and Tubo have been destroyed, there is still the Song and Yuan competing for dominance, so it can be said that 400 years of turmoil has never subsided."

  "Does that mean that only when the whole world is unified, there will be no more wars?" Liang Xiao asked. Bo Yan said: "That's right! Since ancient times, all wise men have wanted to unify the country and bring peace to the people. Only when the four seas are as one can we achieve great peace. Su Wu shed tears, not for personal glory or shame, but for the suffering of the common people! Today's Song Dynasty is like the Eastern Wu of old, if it doesn't unite, the north and south will fight endlessly, and the first to suffer will be the people of both countries."

  Li Xue frowned and said, "Why must we fight and kill? Wouldn't it be better to live in harmony?" Bai Yan waved his hand and said, "Have you ever seen a tiger that doesn't eat sheep? We are fierce and can defeat the Han people; when the Han people become strong, they will also defeat us! The Han general Huo Qubing once said, 'If the Xiongnu are not destroyed, how can we have a home?' When the Great Han was powerful, it attacked the Xiongnu to the north; when the Tang Dynasty prospered, it conquered the Turks and attacked Goguryeo; didn't the Song Taizong also defeat the Khitan? Ha! It's just that they underestimated their own strength and couldn't defeat others."

  Liang Xiao said with a sigh, "So to speak, when there are national divisions, there is strength and weakness, and when there is strength and weakness, there is war!" Bai Yan did not answer him directly, but instead changed the subject: "I heard that your partner died?" Liang Xiao nodded silently. Bai Yan sighed, "You value loyalty, which is good. But compared to the lives of billions, what is heavier, one person's life or the fate of the world?"

  Li Shao was taken aback. Bo Yan walked a few steps, suddenly turned around and said sternly: "As the saying goes, life is short, a seven-foot-tall man should draw a strong bow, ride a fierce horse, and conquer the world! Just like Yang Hu, after a thousand years, his beautiful name will still be passed down. If you are sad and sorrowful every day for the life and death of one person, who will remember you Li Shao after a hundred years? " He pointed to the farmer in the field, "What's the difference between you and this rustic villager?"

  Li Xue had never been ambitious, doing things based on his mood and had never thought about the grand principles of governing the country and bringing peace to the world. After hearing these words, he felt a bit dazed. Bo Yan's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he said loudly: "The best cowhide drum, with just a light touch, can produce thunder-like sounds. The smartest person doesn't need me to say too much! You have Genghis Khan's blood flowing in your veins, and your talents make the world jealous." He swung his arm and sneered coldly, "Liu Zheng is just a surrendered general, what does he count for?"

  Li Shao was young and hot-blooded, when he heard these words, he blurted out: "Great General..." His voice choked, and he couldn't continue. Bai Yan waved his hand and smiled: "You understand, that's good, no need to say it out loud. Now that Shi Tianze is dead, I'll give you command of his troops, do you dare take them?" Li Shao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled slightly: "The more troops Han Xin has, the better." Bai Yan looked him up and down, laughing and scolding: "You little brat, you're not afraid to speak big words." He turned his gaze, suddenly looking out at the southern horizon, "I only hope that this time we can unify the world, for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations, with no more war." Li Shao heard these words, his heart shook violently, muttering: "A thousand autumns and ten thousand generations, no more war..." He repeated it twice, yearning for it, gazing out at the distant wilderness, lost in thought.

  In July of that year, Song Du Zong Zhao Ji was exhausted and died in Lin'an. In the same year, Jia Si Dao established four-year-old Zhao Xian as Emperor, holding power over the court and blocking news from the front lines. The Song Dynasty was in a state of panic and turmoil. Bayan received detailed reports and knew that the time was ripe, leading an army of 200,000 south along the Han River. Along the way, Jing Fei and Yun Shu repeatedly raised righteous armies, but the Song army's generals were incompetent and weak, and although the righteous armies fought to the death, it was like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water.

  That winter, the Yuan army crossed the Yangtze River, and Bayan led his troops to advance along the river. The Grand Chancellor of the Ministry of War of the Southern Song Dynasty, Lü Shi-kui, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard, Fan Wen-hu, and other high-ranking officials and generals surrendered one after another, trying to curry favor with flattery, exposing their ugly side in every way.

  Xiangyang fell, and Jia Sidao had been blocking the news all along. Unexpectedly, the front line was defeated, and it could no longer be covered up. The news reached Lin'an, and the Song Dynasty was shocked. They strongly requested that Jia Sidao personally lead the army to defeat the enemy. Jia Sidao was forced to do so, and he appointed Xia Gui as his deputy commander. He led a large army of 200,000 soldiers, with over 3,000 warships, and marched westward against the current to fight the Yuan army at Lu Port.

  The two armies clashed, and the sound of their cries was like thunder on the river, rolling downstream. Although the Song army's land forces were weak, they were skilled in naval warfare and fought bravely against the current. The battle raged on for a long time without a decision, and Xia Gui's heart began to waver. Taking advantage of the chaos, he secretly fled by boat. At this moment, Jia Si Dao was holding a wine cup and leaning against his concubine Xiang's shoulder, watching the battle. He didn't understand military tactics at all and couldn't tell who was winning or losing as the two sides fought fiercely. Suddenly seeing Xia Gui passing by the command ship, he hastily asked, "Have we won?" Xia Gui shouted back, "We can't hold on!" Jia Si Dao's face turned pale with shock, and his refined demeanor disappeared. He jumped up and cursed loudly, "You scoundrel! Why didn't you say so earlier?" Hurriedly grabbing his concubine, he leapt onto a fast boat that had been prepared in advance and fled downstream, biting Xia Gui's buttocks as they escaped.

  Someone saw the commander and deputy commander slipping away one after another, shouting loudly. The front Song army heard the sound, and their morale disappeared. The generals in the army fled one after another, and for a time, the army was in chaos, colliding with each other. The Yuan people took advantage of the situation to launch a counterattack, and the Song army was defeated like a mountain, with more than 100,000 surrendering, and all grain and supplies were lost.

  The news of the defeat at Lu Harbor spread to Lin'an, and the Song Dynasty was filled with uncontrollable anger. Empress Dowager Xie ordered General Jia Sidao to be dismissed and arrested, exiled to Xunzhou. At this time, Jia Sidao's followers turned against him, and he was captured and executed by government officials along the way.

  After the defeat of Luhe, the Jianghuai Song army was completely demoralized, and some either fled or surrendered, with few resisting. The Yuan army divided into three routes, with Liang Xiao advancing south along the river to reach Jingkou in a short time, but suddenly received an order from Bayan, ordering him to return to Yangzhou.

  Liang Xiao arrived in Yangzhou, and Boyan gathered all the generals to meet in the central military tent. Boyan's expression was gloomy as he said: "The Emperor has an edict, ordering the army that is supposed to conquer Song to temporarily halt its southward advance and prepare for a western tour." Liang Xiao asked strangely: "Why go on a western tour? Are we not going to attack Song anymore?"

  "Azhu's face sank as he said: 'There is trouble in the northwest! The grandson of Wuhuatai, Yemilidai, and Haidu have taken advantage of our army's southern expedition to gather the kings of the northwest at the Tana River, where they formed an alliance. They believe that Your Majesty has implemented "Han law" and trampled on the legacy of Taizu. The rebel kings have assembled over 200,000 iron cavalrymen with Haidu as their leader, crossed the Altai Mountains, and are pressing in on the old capital and Lin."

  Bayan frowned and said: "Haidu is wise and good at using troops, he is the emperor's strong enemy. The emperor is now hesitant and undecided, letting people pass on a message saying: 'I have attacked twice, twice without success and returned. Seeing Bayan succeed this time, Haidu comes to stir up trouble again. If we lose the good foundation of the north for the sake of the southern marshes, it's like gaining a sheep but losing a cow, not worth it.' That's why he ordered me to negotiate with the Song court and divide the territory along the river."

  "Song people have suffered consecutive defeats, the army has no will to fight, it is the time to use troops! If we make peace with the Song people and let them catch their breath, it will be ten times harder to attack them in the future. Although Haodu's soldiers and horses are numerous, but the hearts of the northwest kings are not united, in my opinion, only a few tens of thousands of elite soldiers can contain their edge, why bother mobilizing the southern expeditionary troops?"

  Bayan smiled wryly and said, "Aju, you and I have the same idea! Now I'm going to Dadu to persuade the emperor. Since I won't be in the army, you'll take over as commander-in-chief." He paused for a moment, then said, "Liang Xiao." Liang Xiao stood up at once, Bayan said, "I appoint you as the Grand Marshal of Water and Land Troops, assisting Aju, commanding the great army." Liang Xiao responded, Bayan again instructed him several times, dispersed the crowd of generals, and rushed to Dadu overnight.

  It was night when Liang Xiao set up camp in Guazhou, and the camp had just been settled when he heard that Guo Shoujing had come to see him. He was overjoyed and went out of his tent to welcome him. The two men had not seen each other for a long time and shook hands warmly before Guo Shoujing said with a smile: "Liang, I have come to bid you farewell." Liang Xiao asked: "Are you going back to Dadu?" Guo Shoujing replied: "Now that the army is stationed here and not advancing, there is no need for me to build water stations again. Moreover, this year's Yellow River flood is very severe, with a tendency to overflow. The Emperor has summoned me to return north to discuss ways of dredging the river and releasing the floodwaters."

  Liang Xiao sighed: "The war is not yet over, and the flood has started again. This world is really restless!" Guo Shoujing also sighed: "As they say, heaven and earth are unkind, treating all things as straw dogs. The troubles of this world are endless!" The two men each had their own thoughts, holding their tea in silence. Ah Xue stood on the side, seeing the sudden change in the two men's expressions, wondering in her heart: "Just now they were still laughing and talking, why are they unhappy again?"

  Guo Shoujing said, "General Liang, I have something to say, but I don't know if it's suitable to say." Liang Xiao replied, "Mr. Guo doesn't need to be polite." Guo Shoujing stood up with the support of his desk and sighed, "General, you have a talent that can change the course of heaven and earth, but it's being used for war and killing, don't you think it's a waste?" Liang Xiao was taken aback. Guo Shoujing glanced at Ah Xue, wanting to speak but hesitating. Liang Xiao waved his hand and said, "There are no outsiders here, Mr. Guo can speak freely."

  Guo Shoujing nodded, and said seriously: "General Liang is not an ordinary person, so I can speak frankly." He stood up, walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the clear sky outside the tent. "The Emperor inherited the great undertaking of his ancestors, with ambitious aspirations to unify the four seas and establish a legacy that will last for centuries. General Liang's strategies are superior to others, he is sure to win in battle and capture in attack. However, as the saying goes: 'There has never been a country that lasted for a thousand years.' Even if the Great Yuan unifies everything, how many more years can it last? He turned his head around, his eyes shining like stars. "I ask you, after hundreds of years, what will the glorious history books say about General Liang? What will General Liang leave behind for future generations?"

  Liang Xiao did not expect him to say this, and he felt strange in his heart. He said: "As the saying goes: 'When a person dies, all things are empty.' What can be taken care of after death?" Guo Shoujing shook his head and said: "This statement is not appropriate. Although there is no country that lasts for thousands of years, there are things that last for thousands of years. It depends on whether the general has this interest." Liang Xiao's heart moved, and he blurted out: "Could it be that the court wants to rebuild the calendar?"

  Guo Shoujing clapped his hands and laughed, saying: "General Liang is indeed a god-like strategist! Since the creation of the 'Daming Calendar' by Zu Chongzhi, it has been over a thousand years, but there have been very few improvements. There are two reasons for this: one is that the measurement area was not wide enough, and the other is that there were insurmountable difficulties in mathematics. Now that the unification of the country is within sight, the vast territory of the Yuan Dynasty will surely far surpass that of the Han and Tang Dynasties. The emperor has a mind to set up astronomical observatories in various places to observe the sun and moon, and to compile a new calendar." He spoke to this point, but saw Liang Xiao leaning his ear to listen, knowing that he was moved, and smiled slightly, saying: "General Liang's mathematical skills are unparalleled in the present day. If you can work with me to complete the new calendar, it will be a blessing for the people of the world, and it will be enough to benefit future generations!"

  Liang Xiao had been trapped in the "Tianyuan Difang Dong" for days, and he had an idea to innovate and surpass his predecessors. However, such a major undertaking was not something that could be accomplished by one person alone. Over the years, he had experienced many changes, but this idea never faded away, instead it grew stronger day by day. Upon hearing Guo Shoujing's words, he couldn't help but feel excited and got up to take ten or so steps before suddenly sighing dejectedly: "What a pity that I'm tied down by military duties!"

  Guo Shoujing smiled and said, "This is not urgent! Guo has thought it through. This time, the measurement will be from Beizheng to Qinchai Khanate in the north, to Yeli Khanate in the west, to Goryeo in the east, and to Qingzhou in the south. Qingzhou belongs to the Great Song, and since the Great Song has not been destroyed, this matter cannot be discussed. When I return to Dadu this time, I will recommend that General take charge of the Taishi Bureau and supervise the revision of the calendar. The question is, can General put down his powerful military authority and boundless wealth?" Liang Xiao said calmly, "Compared to compiling the calendar, what does fighting mean? What do riches mean?"

  Guo Shoujing clapped his hands and laughed loudly, saying: "As expected, General Liang is indeed the one I've been looking for!" Liang Xiao said: "Now that military matters have come to an end, I'll go meet with the adults in the capital." Guo Shoujing stretched out his palm and smiled, saying: "A promise is a promise!" Liang Xiao also smiled and extended his palm, and the two men clasped hands three times, facing each other in laughter.

  By the time dinner was served, Ah Xue had prepared six small dishes and a jug of fruit wine. Liang Xiao and Guo Shoujing were engaged in a lively discussion, making bold conjectures. As they reached the height of their enthusiasm, Liang Xiao said: "If we want to improve the 'Da Ming Li', we need to focus on these five areas: first, the expansion and contraction of the sun; second, the rapidity or slowness of the moon's motion; third, the difference between the solar and lunar eclipses, seeking the accumulated differences in their rates; fifth, the intersection of the white path...". He spoke with great enthusiasm, and Guo Shoujing listened with a smile. The two men used their fingers to draw diagrams on the table, illustrating astronomical calculations and instruments, and became so absorbed that they forgot to eat or drink. Ah Xue couldn't help but remind them, and only then did they stop.

  After drinking and eating, the two men were still in high spirits, talking through the night on their beds, and didn't sleep until dawn. The next day, Guo Shoujing bid farewell to return north, and Liang Xiao went to see him off. He looked at Guo Shoujing's horseback silhouette, feeling melancholic: "Guo's wish has been fulfilled, he can leave the army and focus on water conservancy and calendar reform, but I still have to entangle with these Song soldiers, it's really suffocating. Alas, after this war, for thousands of years, may there be no more wars, so that I can create a calendar with Guo, paint mountains and rivers, govern the arts, manage agriculture, and build a prosperous era like never before." He had a long conversation with Guo Shoujing, his vision suddenly opened up, and his plans became even more ambitious. However, at this time, the world was not yet at peace, and astronomy, calendar reform, water conservancy, and mechanical engineering were all empty talks. After feeling melancholic, he felt helpless again.