Chapter 3: I Am Not So Easily Deceived

As soon as the emperor spoke, Guo Jing instantly broke into a cold sweat. "Your Majesty..."

"Don't speak, save your energy; I understand," Zhao Ning interrupted.

With that, Zhao Ning strode toward the city tower, swiftly surrounded by the imperial guards who flanked him closely. Behind them, Sun Fu and the others shouted, "Your Majesty, the city tower is dangerous!"

But Zhao Ning dashed upward without hesitation.

Guo Jing was dragged onto the city tower by the guards. The previous garrison troops had also returned to the battlements.

Once atop the city tower, Zhao Ning's gaze swept over the vast encampment of the Jin army stretching endlessly outside the city. Armored Jin soldiers drilled in the open fields, their shouts rising in waves, as if to intimidate the capital.

Not far off, ranks upon ranks of Jin soldiers marched in perfect formation, a dark, imposing mass. Their discipline was evident, their momentum overwhelming.

In stark contrast, the Song soldiers on the battlements appeared despondent, their eyes filled with anxiety and confusion.

The capital had enjoyed peace for over a hundred years. Such prolonged tranquility had lulled everyone into complacency, softening their resolve beneath a veneer of prosperity.

You know the Qingming Riverside Scroll, right? It depicts scenes of the late Northern Song capital. Anyone who’s seen it knows the city gates lacked even basic guards; the few present were often dozing.

Thus, during the joint Song-Jin campaign against the Liao, there were instances where a few thousand Liao troops routed over a hundred thousand Song soldiers.

Similarly, a few thousand Jin troops decisively defeated tens of thousands of Liao soldiers.

Remarkably, mere dozens of Jin soldiers even overcame two thousand Song troops in battle.

You might say a few thousand Liao troops routing a hundred thousand Song soldiers was just a rout—meaning they defeated the vanguard, causing panic and chaos among the Song ranks, who scattered in fear. That was plausible.

After all, even Fu Jian at the Battle of Fei River saw his million-strong army defeated by the Southern Dynasties.

In the age of cold weapons, once morale collapsed, troops fled; officers couldn’t command by shouting alone.

But seventeen Jin soldiers defeating two thousand Song troops—wounding half of them in the process—was beyond mere rout. Half their forces were lost!

Such miraculous events only happened in the Song dynasty.

So, you can roughly understand Zhao Ning’s state of mind.

A modern man transported back in time, leading a beaten-down Song army, endlessly trampled and humiliated, now facing the most formidable cavalry force on this planet.

Moreover, this was the Jin army at its peak strength, even fiercer than the later Qing Eight Banners.

Thankfully, the city walls of the capital were sturdy, and Northern Song military technology advanced enough. On the battlements were bolt throwers, catapults, incendiary oil, bows and arrows, thunder bombs—everything necessary.

Earlier this year, under Li Gang’s command, the Song forces had united, expertly wielding these technologies to hold the city, forcing the Jin army to retreat.

Strangely, after the Jin retreat, Emperor Qinzong Zhao Huan, wary of Li Gang, found an excuse to remove him.

When the Jin invaded again, Li Gang was gone. Inside the city, there were only surrender advocates and incompetents like Sun Fu.

As a 21st-century man, Zhao Ning was overwhelmed. This was no television drama; facing the cold, brutal battlefield in person, he felt an oppressive wave of murderous intent surge over him.

He nearly buckled, but forced himself to stand tall.

At this distance, across the wide moat, the Jin archers couldn’t reach them.

So there was no need to fear.

If even the emperor showed fear, how could others not?

No matter how afraid he was, he could not show it.

Waving his hand, he said, "Release the Great Immortal Guo."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jing desperately begged, "Your Majesty, have mercy!"

"Great Immortal Guo, do not be afraid! I am not here to kill you but to help you. Do not fear!" Zhao Ning reassured him.

He gestured to the guards, who began lifting Guo Jing onto the battlements. Clinging tightly to the parapet, Guo Jing resisted stepping down.

Sun Fu, standing nearby, could no longer watch quietly—after all, he had brought Guo Jing here.

"Your Majesty, though Great Immortal Guo understands sorcery, he has not attained corporeal sainthood. I fear he may be harmed," Sun Fu warned.

"It doesn’t matter. Let him go down. I’m not sending him to attack the Jin directly. He only needs to cast spells beneath the city tower," Zhao Ning replied casually.

He then looked at Guo Jing, still clutching the battlement. "Great Immortal Guo, do not be afraid. If the Jin come near, I will have my men shoot them with arrows."

"Do not be afraid, do not be afraid," Zhao Ning’s voice softened.

Turning to the guards, he instructed, "Gently pry open his fingers. Be careful not to hurt Great Immortal Guo."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The guards began carefully prying open Guo Jing’s fingers, which were gripping the battlement tightly.

Guo Jing trembled all over. "Your Majesty, I must have those people I summoned leave the city for me to perform the Six Jia Divine Soldier technique! They must leave the city! Your Majesty!"

"Send those people to be bound as well and lower them down with Great Immortal Guo."

The others looked at Guo Jing in confusion.

They weren’t sure if he was truly an immortal, but chose to believe him for now, so most remained calm.

Seeing that his bluff wouldn’t fool the emperor, Guo Jing considered confessing that he couldn’t perform magic.

No, that wouldn’t do! Deceiving the sovereign was a capital offense!

Better to wait until lowered down, then try to escape amidst the chaos.

Yes! Escape amidst the confusion!

Having resolved this, Guo Jing’s fingers were already pried open by the guards, and he cooperated fully.

He suddenly changed his tone, boldly declaring, "Your Majesty, once I cast the spell, I will surely drive out the Jin invaders!"

Filled with excitement, Guo Jing had barely been lowered a short distance when Zhao Ning called out, "Archers, be ready. If Great Immortal Guo cannot perform magic and tries to flee, shoot him down with a volley of arrows!"

Guo Jing’s face turned pale; he nearly fainted on the spot.

Zhao Ning smiled warmly down at him, the expression strangely kind.

Guo Jing was soon lowered fully, along with those he had selected.

At that moment, the Jin army noticed the scene before the city gate and looked on curiously.

Guo Jing’s legs weakened beneath him as he stood beneath the tower.

Zhao Ning called out, "Great Immortal Guo, cast your spell quickly."

In the bitter cold, Guo Jing’s head was drenched in sweat. Glancing upward, he saw the archers ready to shoot at any sign of escape.

Hence, he forced himself to begin pretending to cast spells.

Feigning the ritual, he also concocted excuses for himself.

Half an hour passed standing there.

Zhao Ning, growing impatient, asked, "Great Immortal Guo, what news?"

Sun Fu, sensing something amiss, suspected Guo Jing was a fraud.

Alarm bells rang in his mind—if the emperor uncovered this today, he himself would be implicated.

His thoughts raced; he quickly composed a string of words and stepped forward. "Your Majesty, in this bitter cold, Great Immortal Guo may be unwell and unable to fully perform his magic."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." Sun Fu decided to gamble everything; his political future at stake, he chose to brazenly lie with open eyes.