Qingshan Army.
The people dragging their families with carts and horses in front of the city gate looked at this great banner.
They knew of the Qingshan Army. They had seen the might of those government soldiers with their own eyes, and they had heard of their fierce victories against the enemy in the northern lands—not just from the dynasty's announcements, but also from the praises passed among beggars and refugees from the north in the street corners and alleys.
When the Jurchen people heard their name and saw their banner, they would flee without a fight.
This was not empty boasting. It had been proven through several bloody battles.
Not only in the hearts of the people in the northern lands, but also in the hearts of the northern government soldiers, having the Qingshan Army meant certain victory.
If the Qingshan Army were here, then this city could really be defended.
The people's spirits were lifted.
"But hasn't the Qingshan Army returned to the northern lands?" someone loudly asked.
This brought everyone back to reality.
Yes, the Qingshan Army has already returned to the northern lands. Even if we were to call them back now, they couldn't fly back here overnight.
"Not all of the Qingshan Army returned to the northern lands," Manager Liu said.
Not all? Who else?
The people were stunned, and footsteps came from behind. Unlike the chaotic hustle of everyone fleeing, these footsteps were neat and uniform. Though there weren't many, it was particularly striking.
This kind of footsteps, they had heard when the Qingshan Army entered the city before.
Could it really be the Qingshan Army?
The people turned around with excitement and anticipation.
Among the crowd came another group of people, only twenty or thirty in number, dressed as ordinary civilians, including old, weak, women, and children. At first glance, they seemed no different from the citizens fleeing the city, but they didn't scatter in panic. Instead, they marched in a neat line, producing those tidy footsteps.
What is the meaning?
Qingshan Army?
Is it them?
Are these the Qingshan Army? They must be the families of the Qingshan Army, right?
The people's expressions were bewildered.
Are you kidding?
"They are indeed the families of the Qingshan Army," Miss Jun said, looking at everyone, finally resting her gaze on Ning Yan and the other general officers at the city gate, "but it is no joke to say they are the Qingshan Army."
When the Qingshan Army was initially formed and dispatched to the northern lands, knowing it wasn't as simple as fighting bandits and horse thieves, only the robust and some women were chosen. Most elderly, weak, women, especially children, stayed at Zhangqing Mountain, later coming to the capital with Miss Xiao.
Manager Liu bought them houses and settled them in an alley in the capital. They lived simple and low-key lives, farming and hunting as they did at Zhangqing Mountain. Now in the capital, under Miss Xiao's arrangements, though they lacked neither money nor food, they began small businesses like other ordinary citizens.
Some women cooked various foods at home, and the children went around the streets hawking. The older men repaired iron implements in the streets or worked in a blacksmith's shop. Their excellent weapon-repairing skills quickly gained them respect, with no one minding their age or weakness.
They integrated into the capital life so seamlessly that if not for their accent, many would think they had always lived in the capital.
Living according to the place, a saying of a wise master: Miss Jun saw this with her own eyes in the people from Zhangqing Mountain.
But they did not forget their identity while living as ordinary people. They trained while farming, practiced in the blacksmith's shop, and even the children herding cattle and cutting grass practiced martial arts, acting as scouts, and calling out in the streets, moving swiftly and not abandoning their skills.
"They are not just family members," Miss Jun said, her gaze again on the marching people standing under the city gate, "They are the Qingshan Army."
Though this was said, the officers of the Five Cities Military Department looked complexly at the elderly, weak, and women standing before them. Such a small number, and with these bodies, how could they withstand the well-equipped Jurchen Army?
"We have weapons," Miss Jun said.
Upon hearing this, the people didn't react much, but the officers and soldiers around lit up.
Why were the Qingshan Army invincible and fearsome? They were indeed brave in battle. While other armies would crumble when five out of a squad were killed, they stayed cohesive even when only three remained. They used cannons with stone bombs that could blast an entire area, different from the usual ones that just hit and damaged.
The Minister of War naturally hoped to produce more of these, but the Qingshan Army said it was too dangerous, citing the risk of making and using stone bombs, and thus refused to share the weapon formulas.
Unexpectedly, the Qingshan Army had left these weapons in the city, bringing true hope.
"Each city gate has an artillery carriage," Miss Jun said.
So many!
Then there's absolutely no problem.
The generals were elated, suddenly feeling the Jurchen attack was nothing to fear.
Some soldiers gestured about the power of the artillery, exciting the people. With the support of weapons, people began to see the elderly, weak, and female Qingshan Army more favorably.
Low murmurings arose before the city gate, calming the atmosphere somewhat.
"Of course, the most important thing is that we have quite a few people," Miss Jun continued.
The people looked at her and then at the officers and soldiers.
The soldiers in the Five Cities Military Department now numbered a few hundred, and there were also a few hundred Imperial Guards at the imperial palace.
"And the constables from the government office," Miss Jun said.
That amounts to no more than a thousand people, still incomparable to the tens of thousands of Jurchen Army outside.
"No, we have more people," Miss Jun said, her gaze shifting to the people before her, "and you, too."
Us?
The people were startled, stepped back.
"You number in the tens of thousands," Miss Jun took a step forward, "with so many of us, why should we fear his tens of thousands of Jurchen soldiers?"
The people smiled wryly.
"Miss Jun, don't joke. How can we compare with the Jurchen soldiers?"
"We can't fight," they said in confusion.
"I can teach you," Miss Jun said, "I can teach you to fight."
She pointed to the Qingshan Army standing here.
"Do you know how many the real Qingshan Army started with?"
"Less than forty. No matter how great these forty were, they couldn't make the Jurchen fear the Qingshan Army."
"The Qingshan Army was formed because everyone who joined it became incredibly brave, and the team grew stronger."
"So you can too. Please join us, face the Jurchen with us, and defend the capital."
"I'm not asking you to go into battle and kill the enemy. We don't need to kill the enemy. We have the city to rely on, with high walls and thick defenses. All I need is for you not to panic, help deliver weapons, and tend to the wounded."
Doing these things, well, that can be done.
The people looked at each other.
"What I need, what the capital needs, or perhaps what we all need, is unity and solidarity," Miss Jun said again, "Please trust me. I will lead the Qingshan Army and all the soldiers to defend the city. Also, please help me, unite with us to protect this capital. At this time, we have no choice. We can rely on this city, and only this city can protect us. We must protect it. We must save ourselves."
A silence fell before the city gate, then suddenly someone shouted from the crowd.
"Darn it, let's do it." A man shouted, throwing the bundle in his hand to the ground, "Going out means death. I don't want to die, so I'll fight the Jurchen."
Once someone led, others followed, and the atmosphere became enthusiastic.
Silent on the other side, Ning Yan stepped out.
"And please rest assured, there are those coming to rescue us. The government soldiers in the northern lands already know of the Jurchen's surprise attack; they are rushing to our aid," he said solemnly, "What we need to do is to hold this capital for a few days. Once they arrive, the Jurchen in the vicinity won't outnumber our forces. This is our great Zhou. All over, there are our great Zhou people. The people of great Zhou, everyone can fight the rebels and traitors."
Miss Jun slightly raised her hand.
"Fight the rebels! Everyone can!" the elderly, weak, and women of the Qingshan Army shouted in unison.
The generals raised their hands, and the soldiers behind them raised their weapons high.
"Fight the rebels! Everyone can!" they shouted loudly.
Fight the rebels, everyone can!
Fight the rebels, for everyone!
Indeed, everyone can, for everyone.
The people before the city gates echoed the shouts with rising voices, unlike the previous panic and despair; this time, the fervent spirit spread from the city gate into the city, engulfing the entire capital.