But now, the Jin Dynasty's upper ranks were burning with enthusiasm for a counteroffensive. Song Qingshu could only wait until the Jurchen suffered setbacks in their southward campaign before taking the opportunity to propose peace talks. He believed in the Southern Song's strength. The Southern Song had never been good at attacking, but it was exceptionally skilled at defending. Even the Mongol Empire at its peak had needed decades to wear it down. With the Jin Dynasty's current national strength, destroying the Southern Song was utterly impossible.
Of course, he could at least order strict military discipline during the march south, forbidding the troops from plundering women and children. Pusuan Zhongyi objected to this. After all, Jurchen soldiers went to war precisely for plunder and spoils. Banning such things could easily damage morale and provoke dissatisfaction among the soldiers.
Song Qingshu explained that this campaign against the Southern Song was aimed at destroying the state. If they burned, killed, and plundered all along the way, they would easily arouse the hatred of the southern populace, adding unnecessary variables to the grand southern campaign.
As for morale, the official treasuries of the Southern Song's prefectures and counties were quite well-stocked, more than enough to reward the soldiers. Moreover, the imperial court would open the national treasury to reward the entire army.
Hearing this, Pusuan Zhongyi felt that Song Qingshu was being somewhat softhearted, but he said nothing further. After all, Song Qingshu was not only the foremost figure in the military, but also the foremost figure in politics. Since he had spoken, there would naturally be no issue with the court's future rewards.
Over the next few days, news came from the south. Because his military expedition had achieved nothing, Han Tuozhou dismissed Su Shidan and Deng Youlong from their command