At the beginning of the third lunar month of the eleventh year of Wu Jianshuo, the main force of the East Route Army led by Wanyan Zongfu, after more than two months of low-intensity war and siege preparations, gathered nearby Han troops and launched a general attack on Jiangning. Part of the Han troops were recalled,
A large number of Han troops continued to cross the river, and by mid-to-late March, the total offensive force assembled once reached 500,000.
Including the Wulie Camp originally stationed in Jiangning, Han Shizhong's naval forces, and the nearby Jianghuai troops also gradually concentrated in Jiangning during this period. For a period of time, the scale of the entire war continued to expand. At the beginning of the new year,
This spring, it attracted everyone's attention.
At the beginning of the war, there was a small episode that broke out at the moment before the swords and guns became red. This episode goes back to January of this year.
With the issuance of the Chinese Army's proclamation on hoeing traitors, the struggle over choosing and taking sides has become more intense. The public's call for killing traitors has become louder and louder. Some people who are wavering no longer think much about it, but with the fierce situation of taking sides,
, Jurchen lobbyists also intensified their activities in private, and even took the initiative to arrange some "tragedy" events to urge those who had already wavered in the army to make a decision quickly.
In Jiangning City, an official surnamed Hou who was in charge of the underground listening department was instigated to rebel in this way. During the war, the underground listening department was responsible for monitoring the movements underground to prevent the enemy from digging tunnels into the city. This official named Hou Yuntong himself was not a vicious person.
, but the father and brother of the family had early contacts with the Jurchen side. With the help of the Jurchen forces, they collected a large amount of money, farmed and kept slaves, and they had been prosperous for several years. In this way, the Jurchens kidnapped a pair of his children, and then
Using evidence of adultery with the Jurchens and threatening their children's lives, they made them cooperate with the Jurchens in digging tunnels.
In February, Han Shizhong's side confirmed the matter twice. The first time the information came from a tip from a mysterious figure - of course, it was confirmed a few years later that the person who warned Wu Chao at this time was the person in charge of Jiangning.
Pu Yangyi, and his deputy is named Liu Jing, who has served as the master of Jiangning Mansion for several years - the second news came from Hou Yuntong's surrender in mid-February.
Surrendering yourself to the top under such circumstances almost guarantees that your children will die, and the consequences may not be very good. However, in the years of war, this kind of thing is not an isolated case.
From February to April of this year, the Wu Dynasty and the Chinese army tried several times to rescue Hou Yuntong's children, but they ultimately failed. His children died on the third day of April, and all his family members were killed before that.
On April 7th, after finding the minced bodies of his children outside Jiangning City, Hou Yuntong hanged himself in a field. In this chaos where millions of people died, what happened to him was also later revealed.
Just being recorded because of its key location probably has no meaning to him personally.
In response to the Jurchens' attempt to enter the city from underground, Han Shizhong adopted a strategy of taking advantage of them. In mid-February, nearby troops had begun to concentrate on Jiangning. On the 28th, the Jurchens used the tunnel as a guide to launch an siege. Han Shizhong also chose his troops.
On this day, they raided Ma Wenyuan, the only cross-river crossing stationed by the Eastern Route Army, almost at any cost, to replace the Jurchen naval forces on the Yangtze River.
At that time, the Jurchens searched the mountains and inspected the sea. After all, because the northerners did not understand the navy, they were trapped in Huangtiandang for more than 40 days and were embarrassed until today. Later, the Jurchens urged the southern Han army near the canal to develop the navy. During this period, they had gold
The Chinese troops supervised the defense, and a large number of technicians and money were invested. In the Yangtze River water battle last year, although the Wu Dynasty had the upper hand, it was not a decisive victory. At the end of the year, the Jurchens took advantage of the dry water in the Yangtze River to build a boat and build a pontoon bridge to cross it.
The Yangtze River will eventually open a road near Jiangning.
Nowadays, the Jurchen navy lives near Ma Wenyuan to the west of Jiangning, maintaining the north-south route, but it is also the biggest flaw of the Jurchen side. Therefore, Han Shizhong used his plan to launch a surprise attack on the Jurchens while they thought they had a trick.
What is more dramatic is that Han Shizhong's actions were also noticed by the Jurchens. Facing the prepared Jurchen army, they finally had to withdraw their troops. The two sides stabbed each other at the end of February, and in March, they were still on the battlefield.
A large-scale fighting broke out.
The battle on the battlefield covered up many things like smoke, and no one knew how many undercurrents were surging in private. In March, the situation in Lin'an became even more chaotic. Outside Lin'an City, the Wushu troops running wantonly burned
Everything near Lin'an was killed, and several county towns were even captured and burned. In the area within fifty miles on the north side of the Qiantang River, except for the army that came to King Qin, everything was reduced to ruins. Sometimes Wushu deliberately sent cavalry to harass the city defenses, huge
When the smoke column rose outside the city, half of Lin'an city could see it clearly.
Rumors spread in private, and the seemingly peaceful Lin'an City was like a hot iron pot. Of course, only the middle and upper class people in Lin'an Mansion could feel this heat.
In mid-March, in the courtyard on one side of Lin'an City, the ornamental mountains and rivers already have the color of spring green, the weeping willows have grown new buds, and ducks are swimming in the water. It is the afternoon, and the sun shines from the side of the house.
After falling, Qin Hui walked in the garden with an old man with a graceful appearance.
"North of Gushan Temple and west of Jia Pavilion, the water surface is initially flat and the clouds are low. There are several early orioles vying for warmth in the trees, and some new swallows are pecking at the spring mud... The spring scenery in Lin'an is the worst this year. It was cold last month, and I thought the flowers and trees were all blooming.
He was frozen to death...but even so, he still grew out after all. All living beings are struggling to survive, and they are so tenacious, which is amazing and gratifying..."
Walking to a tree, the old man patted the trunk and said these words. Qin Hui put his hands behind his back and said with a smile: "Mei Gong's words are very philosophical."
The old man known as Mei Gong smiled and said: "My dear brother Hui is very busy recently."
"Fighting on the front line is really busy. I run around on weekdays, but it's just mundane duties." Qin Hui smiled and spread his hands, "No, Duke Mei invited me, and I came right away."
"I am an important minister in the court, and at this critical moment, I, an ignorant person who has nothing to do at home, rashly invite me, which is really inappropriate. But at this time, I have some doubts in my heart, and I want to ask my wise brother Hui for advice, so I
I take the liberty to speak..."
"Hey, let's not talk about the decades of friendship between Mr. Mei and me. With Mr. Mei's talents, it is so easy to become an official. All the princes in the court have been waiting for Mr. Mei to come out for a long time. When Mr. Mei mentioned it,
I would rather..."
"This matter is avoided." The other party smiled and waved his hand, and then a complicated look flashed across his face, "The whole court has been controlled by ignorant people over the years. I am old and can no longer compete with them.
, on the contrary, the good brother of Hui has had many ups and downs in recent years, which is surprising. After Your Majesty was unhappy with all the officials, he was still able to call into the palace to ask for advice the most. It is the good brother of Hui."
"Alas." Qin Hui sighed, "Your Majesty... he is also anxious in his heart."
"What do you think of the current situation?"
"If we can hold on, our Wu Dynasty will be able to live in peace for a few years."
"What if you can't hold on?" The old man cast his gaze on his face.
Qin Hui looked back and said, "What does Mr. Mei mean by his words?"
The old man spread his hands, and then the two of them walked forward: "The situation in Beijing is so chaotic that those who talk in private will inevitably mention these things. People's hearts are in chaos. This is a sign of it. We have known each other for many years, so I will not avoid you anymore."
. In this battle in the south of the Yangtze River, in my opinion, I am afraid that there is no chance of victory for the 5th and 5th. At most, there will be 37, 3 for me, and 7 for the Jurchens. How the Wu Dynasty will fare at that time, His Majesty’s regular meeting to ask questions, it is impossible that he has not discussed it, right?
.”
The old man went straight in. Qin Hui put his hands behind his back and was silent for a moment: "The people in the capital are in chaos. It is also the Jurchen spies who are confusing people. On the other side... Meigong, since mid-February, there have been rumors of trouble in Lin'an."
There is an uproar, and it is said that news came from the North that Emperor Wu Qimai of the Jin Kingdom is getting worse and his time is running out. Maybe I, the Wu Dynasty, can hold on and survive."
"Don't lie to me. The news was spread by the Black Flag people. The Princess Mansion may just be happy to see the success. Whether it is credible or not is hard to say... But the news released by the Jurchen side is...
It may not be false.”
"Mei Gong, this is how people's hearts are. It doesn't matter what's true or false. If you think it's true, let it be true. If you think it's false, let it be false. Attacking the heart is still the specialty of the inner demon in the southwest... If everyone can be deceived, hold on.
In a few months, maybe the Jurchens will collapse without a fight, which would be a good thing."
There were birds flying over the yard, ducks paddling across the pond, and quacking away. The two people walking in the sunshine smiled calmly, and the old man sighed: "...I was just about to talk about my inner demons.
Come on, my dear brother Hui has an old relationship with Southwest, can he really let go of this matter? Just based on Yu Nuzhen's suggestion after you attacked Southwest first, Southwest will not let you go."
"The major affairs of the imperial court are the major affairs of the imperial court, and personal grievances are private grievances." Qin Hui turned his head and asked, "Could it be that Mr. Mei is trying to make a case for the Jurchens?"
"It's out of the question." The old man looked as usual, "I'm old, I can throw these bones away and burn them, but I still have unworthy children and grandchildren at home. There are some things that I would like to ask my dear brother Hui first.
It's just a little selfish, I hope my dear friends will understand."
When he said this, he gently cupped his hands: "Not to mention the matter of paying gold, if the overall situation is really unfavorable, I always want to have a way out. The Jurchens have said that if they want peace talks, they can go to court
It is necessary to cut off the land thousands of miles west of Xiangfan to facilitate Nianhan's attack on the southwest. This proposal may not be false. If it cannot be done, it can be regarded as a retreat. But your Majesty's heart now depends on the advice of your wise brother. Don't hide it.
Dear brother, in the battle of Xiaocanghe, my second son died at the hands of the black flag bandits. If this happened, I would be happy to see it happen."
When the old man said this, his face was full of sincerity. Qin Hui hesitated for a long time and finally said: "...The Jurchen's wolfish ambition, how can you believe it, Mr. Mei?"
From that day until he left the other party's mansion, Qin Hui didn't say any more intentions or assumptions. He had always been a very strict man. Many things had been planned for a long time, but he naturally didn't say them. In fact, since Zhou Yong asked him
Since the beginning of the policy, many people wanted to visit him every day, so he quietly watched the changes in the hearts of the people in the capital.
Since the Wu Dynasty moved south, Qin Hui gradually rose to the top of the officialdom of the Wu Dynasty, but he also experienced several ups and downs, especially the expedition to the southwest the year before last, which almost caused him to lose his holy family. In the officialdom, Zhao Ding and others took advantage of the situation to attack him.
Even clowns like Long Qifei wanted to step on him and get the upper hand. That was the most dangerous period for him. But fortunately, now, his extreme-minded Majesty has gained more trust in him, and the situation has gradually found his way.
return.
However, Qin Hui was not happy about such a proud and proud person. With the situation of his family and country at this point, as a minister, he only felt like there was a frying pan frying under him.
In terms of his ambition to be an official, Qin Hui naturally wanted to be a capable minister who could hold the sky with one hand. He once admired Qin Siyuan, but Qin Hui had warned him about Qin Siyuan's style of rushing forward without knowing how to advance or retreat - once in the capital
, when Qin Siyuan was in power, he had repeatedly reminded him in a circumstantial way that many things could affect the whole body and had to be dealt with slowly, but Qin Siyuan never listened. Later, when he died, Qin Hui lamented in his heart, but it was finally proved that,
It’s better to understand everything in this world by yourself.
If it weren't for the rules of the world, why would he have killed such an outstanding disciple as Luo Jinyan?
But when Qin Siyuan fell, his staying out of the matter still had some bad effects. After King Kang succeeded to the throne, his son and daughter were quite successful. With the support of their father, Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu accomplished many major things. They had
The Jiangning clique had strong support at the time and was deeply influenced by Qin Siyuan. After taking up the heavy responsibility, although Qin Siyuan was not rehabilitated, most of the officials who were given important positions were disciples of the Qin clique. Although Qin Hui had a good relationship with Qin Siyuan back then.
The "family" relationship mentioned above, but due to the subsequent stay out of the matter, the siblings Zhou Pei, Yu Junwu, and brother did not deliberately come closer. However, even if Qin Hui wanted to take the initiative to come closer, the other party did not show too close
.
If possible, Qin Hui would prefer to get close to Prince Junwu. His indomitable character reminded Qin Hui of Luo Jinyan back then. If he could have taught Luo Jinyan better back then, and the two sides would have better communication, maybe there would be a better relationship in the future.
A different result. But Jun Wu didn't like him, and regarded his sincerity and kindness as the same rotten words as others. Later, the young prince stayed in Jiangning for many times, and Qin Hui wanted to have more contact with him.
, there was no such opportunity, and he could only sigh.
The little prince is different from Luo Jinyan. His status gives him the capital to move forward, but at some point, he will fall.
He understood this matter, just as he understood Qin Siyuan's ending from the beginning. Wu Dynasty's problems were intertwined and had deep-seated shortcomings, just like a terminally ill patient. The young prince had a fiery heart and just let him contribute his efforts to stimulate his potential.
, Normal people can do this, but patients will die. If it weren't for this reason, why would I want to kill Luo Jinyan back then.
Time is also fate, after all, I missed the opportunity back then. I could obviously become the prince of a wise king, but now it is better to have a more self-aware majesty.
As for Mr. Mei, as for the Princess Mansion, as for the Black Flag people who are desperately releasing all kinds of encouraging news in the city... Although the fighting is fierce, everyone is fighting for their lives, but they can only see the square inch in front of them. If it is Ning in the southwest,
Ren Tu might be able to better understand what he was thinking, at least not far to the north, the Jurchen Valley Goddess who was secretly controlling everything could clearly understand all of this.
He could only close his eyes and wait quietly for what was to come. By that time, he would have the authority in his hands, and perhaps even seek a glimmer of hope for the Wu Dynasty.
Even if nothing can be done...
For many days, this most common phrase in private flashed through his mind. Even if nothing could be done, at least he was invincible... Such an answer flashed through his mind, but then he changed it.
The inappropriate answer was wiped from my mind.
With a gentle sigh, Qin Hui opened the car curtain and watched the carriage drive past the city where all things flourished. The spring scenery in Lin'an was picturesque. But it was almost dusk.
****************
It rains in April. The knights on the cavalry are wearing black raincoats and galloping through the undulating low mountains. In the distance, they can see unplowed fields, deserted villages, human corpses lying on the roadside, and crows with messy feathers.
He raised his head from the corpse and looked at the person ominously.
In previous years, the land in Jiangnan would have been green.
The cavalry drove across the ridge and headed forward. Gradually, the outline of the military camp came into view. Another patrol team came over. Both sides reported their names in Jurchen dialect. The patrol team stopped and looked at the group of more than three hundred people.
The human cavalry headed towards the military camp.
The cavalry consisted of all kinds of strange people with ferocious faces, and there were also many injured. The leader, Wanyan Qingjue, looked pale, and his injured left hand was wrapped in a bandage and hung around his neck.
The military camps are arranged one floor after another, one camp after another, in order. When you reach the middle section, there is also a relatively lively camp. Here, baggage is distributed and female slaves are kept. Some Jurchen soldiers also exchange treasures plundered from the south here.
A soldier's paradise. Wanyan Qingjue waved the cavalry to stop, and then smiled and instructed everyone not to follow. The injured should go to the medical center for treatment first, while the others took his token and enjoyed themselves.
The Jurchens crossed the Yangtze River this time and did not come to capture slaves, so they killed most of them and captured and raised few people. However, the women from Jiangnan are soft and beautiful, and some of them are of good looks. They will still be captured and sent to the army to have sex in their free time.
, such places in the military camp are often patronized by military officers, and the supply exceeds demand. However, Wanyan Qingjue's subordinates have a high status. With the young prince's sign, they can enjoy all kinds of things first. At the moment, everyone praised the young prince's benevolence and righteousness, laughing.
Dispersed.
Wanyan Qingjue headed inside, and the light summer rain gradually stopped. He entered the large tent in the center and first offered his regards. Wanyan Xiyin, who was comparing several pieces of information with the map on the table, raised his head and looked at
She glanced at him and didn't say anything about his injured arm.
"how's it going?"
"Reporting back to the teacher, there are some results."
As Wanyan Qingjue spoke, she took out two personal letters from her arms and handed them to Xiyin. Xiyin opened them and read them quietly, then put the letters away. He looked at the map on the table with a slight smile on his lips.
He moved, calculating the things that needed to be calculated in his mind. The camp was so quiet for nearly a quarter of an hour. Wanyan Qingjue stood aside, not daring to make a sound.
"What's wrong with your hand?" After a long time, Xiyin finally said something.
"We met a group of people with black flags near Changning. Someone attacked and fell off his horse. It's no longer serious." Wanyan Qingjue answered simply. He naturally understood the teacher's character. Although he was famous for his literary reputation, he was actually
Xiyin, who was in the military formation, had an iron-blooded character. He was not interested in hearing about minor injuries like a broken hand.
The conflict near Chang Ning was really not a big deal. The group of people he encountered who were suspected of being black flags were actually not highly trained. The two sides clashed and then left separately. Wanyan Qingjue wanted to pursue them, but who knew?
During the melee, he was shot secretly. A musket bullet came from nowhere, grazed his thigh and knocked his horse to the ground. As a result, Wanyan Qingjue broke one of his hands.
Xiyin clasped his hands behind his back and nodded to show that he understood.
"You came back at the right time. The rain has stopped. Please come with me for a walk."
Wanyan Qingjue followed him with her hands raised and walked out of the big tent. A bright light appeared in the early summer sky after the light rain had stopped. The old man walked forward: "Zongfu's attack on Jiangning has caught the attention of the people of the Wu Dynasty. The young prince of the Wu Dynasty wants to keep an eye on him."
After all, I was repulsed twice, and I don’t have much energy left, but I have eaten almost all the food around me. He is now wary of us going south from Changzhou to feed the people... In the direction of Lin'an, people are panicked, and some are even shaken.
There are many, but if you want them to be bold, the most important link is missing..."
Xiyin seemed to be talking to himself, stating in an indifferent tone, but not confused. Wanyan Qingjue listened step by step, and finally said: "Teacher, have you made a plan?"
Xiyin shook his head and did not look at him: "Recent events remind me of the world twenty or thirty years ago. We followed the late emperor and the general to rise up, and fought with hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers of the Liao Kingdom. At that time, we were just moving forward.
.The Jurchens’ invincible reputation was established at that time. In the following ten or twenty years, and only in recent years, they have always talked with people about people’s hearts, persuading them to surrender, rumors, and private exchanges.
, to confuse others..."
A group of soldiers passed by and saluted the leader. Xiyin waved his hand, his eyes complex and solemn: "Qingjue, I have told you about the Wu Dynasty."
Wanyan Qingjue said: "The teacher has said many things."
"Back then..." Xiyin recalled the events of that year, "Back then, we had just started the uprising. We often heard that there was a big country in the south. Everyone was rich and the land was rich. The people in the country followed the teachings and were respectful and polite. The Confucianism was profound and benefited the world.
.I have studied Chinese studies since I was a child, and I am in awe of everyone around me. When the envoys sent by the Wu Dynasty were willing to form an alliance with us to fight against the Liao people, I was extremely happy with the late emperor and others. Who would have known... Later I saw Wu Dynasty.
There are many questions in the court, and we have doubts in our hearts...the doubts gradually turned into ridicule, and then gradually turned into disdain. In the sixteen states of Yanyun, they are not powerful, but they often play tricks and intrigues up and down the court.
But they all thought they were unparalleled in their schemes. Later, Zhang Jue, who had surrendered to them, was also killed by us. Guo Yaoshi was originally an outstanding person, but after entering the Wu Dynasty, he finally became disheartened. When the late emperor was dying, he said that the expedition against Liao had been completed,
It is advisable to choose the Wu Dynasty, and it is also the right thing to do..."
"Qingjue." Xiyin walked along the road to the military camp and walked up the small hillside. "Now, it's our turn to play conspiracy and scheming. Do you think this is smart? Or is it weak...
…”
"...It must be that we are weak." Wanyan Qingjue replied, "However, as the teacher said before, if the Jin Kingdom wants to grow stronger, it cannot suppress everything with force. I have been in Jin Dynasty for twenty years, if I have been strong from then to now.
If the country is always governed by force, I am afraid that one day in the future, it will only collapse faster."
A few years after searching the mountains and seas, the Kingdom of Jin fell in a carefree atmosphere of enjoyment. At the Battle of Xiaocang River, the fall of the Lou family without missing a word was like a wake-up call to the Jurchen upper class, such as Xi Yin, Zong Zong and others.
This was not the first time that Han and others discussed these topics. Xiyin's emotion was not a question, and Wanyan Qingjue's answer did not seem to reach his ears. There was the wind after the rain blowing on the low hillside, and Jiangnan's
The mountain is not high, but when you look over it from here, you can still see the tents all over the mountains and valleys. The rain-stained military flags spread across the mountains. Xiyin looked at all this with serious eyes.
After a long time, he finally spoke: "Have you heard about the situation in Yunzhong?"
Wanyan Qingjue hesitated slightly: "...I heard that someone is spreading rumors in private, and the east and west sides...are going to fight?"
"In the case of Yunzhong Mansion last year, someone killed Shi Liai's grandson and put the blame on Zongfu. This is unreasonable. This year, some people are spreading rumors in private. The affairs of the Wu Dynasty are about to end, and there will be a war between the East and the West.
, remind the people below to prepare early. If you are not alert, the other side is already sharpening the knife. At the end of last year, there were just a few small frictions at the bottom. Starting from this year, some people above are being dragged into the water one after another."
"Several businesses under Dayuan Xi were intercepted, but it was Wanyan Hongxin's subordinate Shi Dong who dared to take action. He said that in the future, the population business would have to be demarcated from east to west. Let's make it right now to avoid trouble again in the future. This is someone's instigation.
They were ready for a war on both sides. While the matter was still being discussed, the Xi people and the Han people under the two men had several fights. Once they broke out in the clouds, Shi Liai became really angry... But these things, as long as
Some people really believe it, but they are just exhausted and unable to hold back."
The old man frowned and spoke calmly, but murderous intent was spreading. Wanyan Qingjue could understand the danger involved: "Someone is secretly instigating..."
Xiyin's eyes turned to the west: "The people from Black Flag took action. They went to the person in charge of the Northland. It was not easy. These people started from the lowest level through the rumors about Zongfu's attack on Shi Liai... For this kind of people
The higher-ups dare not and will not mess with things. Even if a grandson of Shi Liai dies, he will never make a big fuss. But the people below can't figure out the truth. When they see others making preparations, they all want to take action first.
In order to be stronger, those at the bottom took action, and those in the middle and above were also dragged into the water. For example, Dayuan Xi and Shi Donggan were already fighting. Who wants to retreat? If Shi Li Ai intervened, things would get worse.
Qingjue, you can figure out a few of these methods..."
"……yes."
Xiyin walked forward, inhaling the refreshing wind after the rain, and then spit it out again, thinking about things in his mind, the seriousness in his eyes not weakening at all.
"...Many troops have been mobilized during the Jiangning battle." He seemed to be talking to himself, "Zong Fu, in response to my request, has handed over all the remaining 'Tiannu Sanhua' and the remaining slinging equipment.
Arubao arrived. I fought several battles here and the baggage was severely depleted. The people of the Wu Dynasty thought that I wanted to attack Changzhou. They broke the city to replenish the food and baggage and went south to Lin'an. This was naturally a good road, so the Wu Dynasty stationed 130,000 troops.
Changzhou, while the young prince defended Zhenjiang with an army of 100,000..."
Xiyin paused and looked at his old palm: "Our army has fifty thousand people, and the other side has one hundred thousand and one hundred and thirty thousand... If it were ten years ago, I would not have been so hesitant, let alone... this
Among the 50,000 people, there are still 30,000 Tushan Guards."
Before he finished speaking, Wanyan Qingjue behind him already understood what the other person was saying and where the sigh in the old man's mouth came from. The cool breeze blew gently, and Xiyin's words fell into the wind carelessly.
.
"In half a month, General Yin Shuke and I, Arubao, will capture Zhenjiang at all costs."
The old man walked forward slowly and sighed in a low voice: "After this battle, the world of Wu Dynasty...it's time to decide..."