The Cold Door Hero

Summary

In the Jin Army's grand tent, Wan Yan Zong Wang reports to Wan Yan Xie Ye about the heavy casualties faced during a recent probing attack on Bianjing. Despite recognizing the need for improvement, Zong Wang struggles with personal rivalries and hesitates to seek advice from his cousin, Zong Han. Wan Yan Xie Ye emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the Jin Kingdom's interests over personal grudges and provides Zong Wang with a battle report detailing strategies to counter the Song army's Thunderclap bombs. Zong Wang proposes training the troops to minimize losses, and they agree on a training period of ten days. Meanwhile, in the Song capital, Li Yan Qing focuses on strengthening defenses and addressing vulnerabilities exposed during the battle. He plans to equip crossbowmen with city defense longbows for close combat, while also organizing efforts to clean up the battlefield to prevent disease outbreaks. The capital experiences economic decline due to population migration, but grain prices stabilize as the government implements rationing to support civilians. In a dilapidated inn, He Nan, a former Deputy Minister of Military Affairs of the Liao Kingdom turned Jin spy, receives boxes filled with silver and gold from his subordinates. The valuable items are rare in the current market, and He Nan is alarmed when informed that a carrier pigeon has landed in the courtyard, realizing the potential danger of sending a message during wartime.

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