Chapter 698: Blood-fertile Central Plains (Part 1)
In the evening, the sunset on Jiumuling changed. In the mountains in the distance, the lush trees were being swallowed up by darkness. When birds flew out of the trees, Lin Chong stood on the mountain road and turned back.
Jiumuling is still the same, a small mountain, and the surrounding area looks barren and dangerous. Several houses and an inn are all new residences of people who escaped later. Lin Chong and his wife Xu Jinhua have lived here for more than a year.
It's been a long time, and usually nothing major happens. Only in the past few days, more and more people have passed by accidentally while fleeing.
"somebody is coming."
Returning to the inn, Lin Chong whispered. There were already two families in the inn lobby. They were not very well-off families. Their clothes were old and patchy, but they came to this inn to buy some clothes because they were bringing their family with them.
Eat hot water. Fortunately, the couple who opened the shop didn't charge too much money. After Lin Chong finished saying this, both families fell silent and looked wary.
"Don't light the lamp." Lin Chong whispered again and walked towards the small room next to him. In the side room, his wife Xu Jinhua was packing her luggage. There were many things on the bed. After Lin Chong told the news about the person coming from the other side, the woman had
Slightly panicked: "Just, just leave?"
"No, I'll go take a look." He turned around and picked up the wooden stick in the corner that had obviously not been used for a long time and was a little crooked. Then he picked up a knife and gave it to his wife, "You have to be careful..." His eyes,
He gestured outside.
"I know, I know... they don't look like bad people, and they have children."
Xu Jinhua took the knife and put it aside. Lin Chong could actually tell that the two families outside were not bad guys. He nodded and went out with the stick. Before going out, he looked back at his wife's belly - Xu Jinhua at this time,
Already pregnant.
As the sky gradually darkened, he went to the other houses on Jiumuling and knocked on the doors, asking those still here not to turn on the lights. Then he crossed the road and walked forward. He arrived at a place.
Heading forward on the rocks at the corner, where there is almost no good road in the mountains, a group of people came out one after another, about twenty deserters, carrying torches, carrying knives and guns, and moved forward listlessly.
Walk.
The sound of talking occasionally came. It was nothing more than going somewhere, not being able to move much, looking for a place to rest, and so on.
Lin Chong didn't know what the fighting was like on the front, but from the refugees passing by in the past two days, he also knew that fighting had begun. The hundreds of thousands of soldiers who had fled were not a small number, and he didn't know if there would be new troops from the imperial court to greet them.
——But even if you go up to him, you will definitely not be able to defeat him anyway.
After the Jurchens invaded the south for the second time, the bandits north of the Yellow River arose together, each commanding tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people, occupying an area and becoming king. Compared with the Liangshan period in Shandong, they were incredibly powerful, and after the imperial rule weakened, for
They could only appease but could not attack them, so the existence of many mountains became justifiable. Lin Chong lived in this small mountain, and only occasionally visited nearby villages and towns with his wife, and he also knew the names of many people:
The great thief Wang Shan, who claims to have 700,000 men, "Hornless Ox" Yang Jin, "Jin King" Tian Hu, the Eight-Character Army "Wang Yan", Wang Zaixing, Li Gui, Wang Dalang, and the heroes of Wuma Mountain, etc., as for the small ones
On the top of the mountain, there are even more countless people. Even the former brother Shi Jin, now using the name of the "Eight-Armed Dragon King" of Chifeng Mountain, has once again gathered people to revolt and support the army to fight against the Jin Dynasty.
And the twenty or so people who luckily escaped with their lives on the battlefield planned to go all the way south to join the Jin Dynasty King Tian Hu - this was not because they were deserters and wanted to avoid guilt, but because Tian Hu's territory was mostly in
In the high mountains and treacherous terrain, even if the Jurchens went south, they would first treat them with gentleness. As long as the tiger king didn't become hot-headed and try to use his arms as a chariot, they would be able to live a good life for a while longer.
Looking back on the scene in Bianliang, it was still a good time for singing and dancing, but in recent years, the situation has become increasingly chaotic, making it difficult to see clearly. But Lin Chong's heart has long been numb, regardless of
Whether it is to lament the chaos or to take pleasure in the world's misfortunes, they are both in trouble.
After listening to these people's words and watching them walk straight ahead, Lin Chong quietly turned back after making sure that they would not go up to Jiumuling.
The wife was packing her things, and some items in the inn that could not be taken away had been dragged by Lin Chong to the woods in the mountains, and then buried. The night passed without incident, and in the early morning of the next day, Xu Jinhua got up and steamed the steamed buns and prepared them.
After getting dry food, the two of them set off with the other two families in the inn - they were all going to take refuge south of the Yangtze River. It was said that there would be no war there.
Looking back at the shabby little inn on Jiumuling again, the couple felt reluctant to leave. It was certainly not a good place, but they had almost gotten used to it.
Talking about life on the way south, at noon that day, I met another family of people who had fled. In the afternoon, when they got to the official road, there were even more people. There were families dragging their families, cattle, horses and vehicles, and there were also soldiers mixed in.
In the meantime, move forward fiercely.
Xu Jinhua, who was pregnant, could not walk fast and separated from the two families at noon. In the afternoon, she remembered that she had not taken away a piece of jewelry she liked when they were on the mountain. She searched for a while, feeling dazed. Lin Chong helped her search for a while before leaving.
When they found it in the package, they found that the jewelry decoration was just a beautiful polished stone. Now that Xu Jinhua had found it, she was not too happy.
Occasionally, an official would walk through the crowd. At this time, Xu Jinhua would hug Lin Chong's arm tighter and pull his body almost down - although the tattoo on Lin Chong's face had been scarred by a knife.
It's broken, but if you really have doubts, you can still see some clues.
That evening, the couple rested on a hillside. They squatted on the slope, chewing cold steamed buns, and looked at the refugees all over the mountains and roads, their eyes a little blank. At a certain moment, Xu Jinhua said: "
In fact, if we go to the south, there will be no one to go to."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Lin Chong did not speak.
"So many people are going south. They have no land and no food. How can we feed them? They go there to beg..."
The woman's eyes became more and more panicked, and Lin Chong took a bite of the steamed bun: "It's good for the child..."
"There are so many people left in the north. Even if the Jurchens come to kill, they won't kill everyone in the mountain."
Lin Chong was silent for a moment: "If you want to hide...of course you can, but..."
"I'm pregnant with my child, and I've walked so far. I don't know if I can keep the child. I...I can't let go of Jiumuling, and I can't let go of the small shop."
Xu Jinhua touched the scar on Lin Chong's face. Lin Chong stuffed the bun closest to him. After a long time, he reached out and hugged the woman beside him.
"Then we will go back." He said, "Then we will not leave..."
The two figures blended in among the refugees, passing each other insignificant warmth. Finally, they decided not to leave.
When the Jurchens went south, some chose to stay and some chose to leave. There were also more people whose lives had been changed in the past. In the east of Hedong, the number of soldiers under the command of the thief Wang Shan was already claimed to be 700,000.
The crowds and chariots are said to be tens of thousands, "Hornless Ox" Yang Jin has 300,000 troops, "King of Jin" Tian Hu, known to the outside world as an army of 500,000, "Eight-Character Army" 180,000, and the heroes of Wuma Mountain
There are more than 200,000 Juyi - these people add up to nearly two million people. In addition, the imperial court's numerous armies have also grown to hundreds of people north of the Yellow River in their crazy expansion and confrontation.
Thousands of people. However, the north of the Yellow River was originally the territory of these armies. After they continued to expand, they could not even suppress the soaring number of "rebels", which illustrates a simple truth.
--But that's of no use.
People are just trying to survive in their own way.
And a small number of people are doing what they should do in their own ways.
In Bianliang, an old man named Zongze, who was recruited in times of crisis, was doing his best. Within half a year of taking over the task, he calmed down the order around Bianliang and rebuilt the defense near Bianliang.
At the same time, they tried their best to recruit all the rebel armies north of the Yellow River to surrender and granted them status.
However, when the Jurchens really pressed south, the pressure among these "rebels" was also increasing. Wang Shan, Yang Jin, Tian Hu, Wang Zaixing, Li Gui and other leaders of the armies
They all gathered here and asked the imperial court for a large amount of grain, grass, ordnance, and even the truly recognized territory, title, and status. Just as the reason why Guo Jing took the initiative to open the gate of Bianliang City, the liar himself was the most sober.
Leaders, they know better than anyone else how powerful the hundreds of thousands or millions of troops under their command are - many of them want to fight the Jurchens, but there is no point in going through this.
Faced with this helpless and powerless situation, Zongze comforted these forces every day. At the same time, he kept writing letters to Yingtian Mansion, hoping that Zhou Yong could return to Bianliang and take charge of the army, so as to boost the morale of the rebel army and strengthen their will to resist.
This year, the sixty-eight-year-old Zongze has turned white. Yue Fei, who was training in the daimyo army, was recruited here from the first moment when the Jurchens went south to follow this old man. In order to pacify the order in Bianliang, Yue Fei
I know that this old man is doing his job very efficiently, but there is nothing he can do about the rebels in the north - he can give names, but it is nonsense to allocate enough food, grass and supplies to millions of people. At most, the old man has some fame as an official.
, the background is vastly different from that of Qin Siyuan and others back then. It would be difficult for 10,000 old people to support themselves, let alone one million people.
However, even though it seemed like futile efforts in Yue Fei's eyes, the old man was still decisive - even a little violent - he promised Wang Shan and others that there would be a turn for the better, and kept sending messages to Yingtian. On one occasion, Zongze privately
After summoning him to issue an order, Yue Fei asked.
"There are millions of people in the north, even if they have all the food, grass and baggage. If they encounter the Jurchens, they may not be able to fight or fly. It seems that the boss really places his hope on them... Even if His Majesty really returns to Bianliang, and
What’s the benefit?”
The old man glanced at him, his temperament had become a bit fiery recently, and he said directly: "Then what do you think we can do when we meet a Jurchen!?"
Yue Fei was stunned and wanted to speak, but the old man with white hair and white beard waved his hand: "These millions of people can't fight, why don't I know? However, in this world, how many people meet Jurchens who dare to fight!
I am not sure how to defeat the Jurchens, but I know that if it is really possible to defeat the Jurchens, everyone in the Wu Dynasty must be willing to risk everything! Your Majesty returned to Bianliang because of this desperate intention, Your Majesty
With this idea, only these millions of people dare to really fight against the Jurchens. Only if they dare to fight against the Jurchens, will a group of heroes and lofty ideals emerge among the millions of people and find a way to defeat the Jurchens! If
If you can’t do this, then you will really be dead and without life!”
"I just saw this and did what I had to do."
Yue Fei was silent for a long time before he handed over his hand and went out. At this moment, he seemed to see an old man he had seen before, doing something that might have only a slim hope in the turbulent torrent of the world. And his master
Zhou Tong was actually like this.
It's not that you can do it this way, it's just that if you want something to happen, you have to do this.
Ying Tianfu.
Intense discussions took place every day in the Jinluan Palace, but Zongze's memorial had already been suppressed among many others. Even Li Gang, who was a hard-line leader, did not agree with Zongze's constant request for the emperor to return to Bianliang.
This kind of proposal.
That ruined city that had been trampled over and over again by the Jurchens really shouldn't go back.
"...The real things to make a fuss about are the people inside the Jinren!"
"...Although the Jin army has been almost invincible since the Aguda uprising, the Jin Kingdom is no longer monolithic. According to Beidi Business Travel, there have been things in the Jin court since the early years.
In the two privy councils, Wanyan Zongwang was in charge of the military affairs in the east, and Wanyan Zonghan was in charge of the imperial court in the west. It is said that within the Jin Kingdom, only the imperial court in the east was under the control of Wu Qimai. Wanyan Zonghan had always had a disobedient heart.
When Zong Han went south for the first time, there were rumors that Zong Wang urged Zong Han, but Zong Han held back his troops in Taiyuan..."
"...Last year, the Privy Councilor of the Eastern Privy Council Liu Yanzong died of illness, and Wanyan Zongwang was also seriously ill due to years of fighting. The Jurchen Eastern Privy Council was no longer in name only. At this time, Wanyan Zonghan was as powerful as Wu Qimai. This time the Jurchens came south,
Among them was the struggle for power. To the east, Wanyan Zongfu, Zongbi and other princes wanted to establish a prestige, but Zonghan had to cooperate. However, he used Wanyan Lou's family to conquer the west, and it was said that he wanted to pacify the north of the Yellow River, which just proved that he
His intention is to expand his private land..."
"... From what I can see, there are a lot of provocations here that I can think of!"
The adults in the court were noisy and expressed their opinions. Apart from military affairs, what the scholars could provide was only the political and political wisdom accumulated over thousands of years. Soon, Ou Hongxi, an old Confucian who came from Chenzhou, invited himself to be an envoy.
, he went to the Jurchen Prince Zong Fu's army to state his interests in order to block the army. Everyone in the court praised his high justice.
Kang Wang Zhou Yong didn't have any knowledge at first, so he left them alone. He spent every day hanging out with Xin Na's concubine in the harem. Not long after, the news came out, and the scholar Ouyang Che posted a big-character poster in the city to denounce...
…
Xiaocang River, this is a quiet season. With the departure of spring and the arrival of summer, the valley has stopped frequent interactions with the outside world. Only spies sent out can return news from the outside world from time to time. In the second year of Jianshuo,
This summer, the whole world is pale.
If the death of Emperor Jinghan and the capture of Emperor Jingping symbolized the sunset of the Wu Dynasty, now that the Jurchens have gone south for the third time, the night of the Wu Dynasty has finally arrived...