Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 324 Ziqing, are you still going to Tokyo?
West of Changqing City, there are two roads. One road leads north beyond the Great Wall into the grasslands, where the world is vast and nowhere is too far to go.

Another road continues westward, which leads directly to the city of Datong.

Su Wu continued westward, where there were few people left, but there were large cities and Wang Bing with tens of thousands of troops from Hedong.

The Jurchens behind them stopped. At this intersection, one way led directly home, while the other led Su Wu to Datong.

There was a commotion inside the Jurchen tent.

Wanyan Zonghan cursed, "The Song people are too cunning. Su Wu is truly cowardly and weak. They say Su Wu is good at fighting, but he doesn't even have the determination to fight our Jurchen warriors! Since he is so afraid of us, then let's chase him again and see where he can run to. Let's chase him to the ends of the earth and catch him one day!"

Upon hearing this, no one truly answered; everyone frowned. Whether Su Wu was a skilled warrior or not was no longer a question...

Su Wu's troops were indeed formidable, but Su Wu's true skill in battle lay even more in his strategic planning abilities...

Wanyan Xiyin sighed, "Su Wu is the greatest enemy of our Jurchen people!"

"Just wait as long as you want, I will personally intercept him, and that will be his doom!" Wanyan Zonghan was still extremely angry.

Wanyan Zongwang looked at the people inside the tent and asked, "How many people and supplies were transported out of Yanyun earlier?"

Before the Jurchens had even marched south from Yan, they had already transported supplies and people to the area beyond the Great Wall on several occasions. Wanyan Zongwang needed to make some plans at this time.

Wanyan Xiyin replied: "We escorted over 30,000 men, and over 10,000 women, along with over 200,000 shi of grain and other livestock, not counting the rest. The cash and valuables amounted to about seven or eight million guan... The ironware and other items were not much..."

The gains weren't much!
Wanyan Zongwang is frowning!
"Brother, shall we turn back and besiege Yanjing again?" Wanyan Zonghan asked again. He was clearly unwilling to go back like this. In his mind, they should either go towards Datong to catch up with Su Wu or turn back to attack Yanjing. In any case, they had to keep going.

Wanyan Zongwang suddenly remarked, "It's getting hot..."

What should we do when it gets hot?

In the past, when the weather warmed up in the mountains and forests, everything would revive, and the winter food supplies would be depleted. This would be the time to start large-scale hunting, and even herding, such as reindeer herding...

Now that the weather is getting warmer, the fields outside the Great Wall have thawed, and it's time to start preparing for planting. The rivers have thawed, so fishing can begin. There are still Jurchen tribes in the mountains and forests, and the reindeer can start eating fresh moss and the like...

Many things...

"Brother, are we just going back like this?" Wanyan Zonghan was unwilling, absolutely unwilling. It was too frustrating. It wasn't that they couldn't win or beat him, it was just that they felt so frustrated!
Wanyan Zongwang said in one sentence: "Xu Zhen really can't fight this battle like this. Just like when we destroyed the Liao Dynasty, we should have fought steadily and advanced step by step. This kind of deep penetration into enemy territory is not a good strategy and is really risky!"

This was a huge gamble, and historically they should have won, but Su Wu made them give back what they had won...

"Does Your Highness have new plans?" Wanyan Xiyin asked.

Wanyan Zongwang nodded: "Yes, let's discuss it together!"

At this moment, the Jurchens still maintained the old tribal deliberation habits, which was actually a very good habit. It had the flavor of military democracy and political consultation, and was not backward at all. On the contrary, it was quite advanced.

No matter what the issue is, good or bad, or the struggle for interests, bringing it out into the open for discussion can be very effective in resolving many problems, even if it's not perfect.

However, as Wanyan Zongwang and his generation grew old, this custom of deliberation in the Jin Dynasty gradually disappeared, and the Jin Dynasty began to decline rapidly. This is likely one of the reasons for the decline of the Jin people.

Everyone waited for Wanyan Zongwang to speak: "This is what I think. This time, it wasn't a complete loss. We didn't really suffer any losses in strength, and we gained quite a few things that can solve our immediate problems. If we really have to go to war with the Song people, next time we must not come in such a hurry. We must be extremely well prepared. If we go into Yanyun to fight again, we must proceed step by step. This time, we made a mistake because of this!"

Wanyan Xiyin nodded: "First, cultivate the land, prepare provisions, train the army, coordinate infantry and cavalry, formulate strategies, and proceed step by step!"

Wanyan Zonghan tilted his head: "How long do we have to wait? Do we have to wait until next year?"

Wanyan Zongwang waved his hand: "There's no need to wait until next year, just wait until winter comes again... Once we get a city, we need to defend it and manage it. We don't need to plunder it, we need to treat it as our own city. Even if we don't get much next time, as long as we take steady steps, slowly take over the city, and expand our territory, we can gradually take over and manage it for a few years. The Song people will be no problem!"

Wanyan Zongwang was actually reflecting on something, and also regretting something.

If only I hadn't thought of just grabbing a quick buck and leaving after entering Yanyun, but instead treated it as my territory and managed it properly, and if only I hadn't rushed south, but instead redeployed the former Song-Liao border and stabilized the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, how wonderful that would have been...

If only a year passes, wouldn't the Jin dynasty also have hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers? If we were to fight this offensive and defensive war again, victory or defeat wouldn't matter...

They were still blinded by greed, and this gamble yielded very little. Although they surrounded the capital, Bianjing (Kaifeng), and terrified the Song people there, the real significance was minimal.

Wanyan Zongwang reflected on his actions thoroughly, and the lessons he learned were immense.

Wanyan Zonghan was not truly without wisdom, and said, "In that case, wouldn't Su Wu also rebuild the defenses of Yanyun City? If we attack again in the future, it will be difficult!"

Wanyan Zongwang had to persuade Wanyan Zonghan, and even everyone else; he thought it through very thoroughly before he spoke.

Then he continued, "This time, we will not return in vain. The grasslands are vast, and there are many tribes. In the past, they were all vassals of the Khitan. Now we must quickly integrate the various tribes of the grasslands: Chazhala, Wugu, Dilie, Heichezi Shiwei, the nine tribes of Dadan, Naiman... We must completely wipe the Khitan forces out of the grasslands. From now on, these tribes, their people, horses, and livestock will all be in the hands of our Jurchens. This will be the compensation for what we have done this time..."

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Zonghan nodded in agreement. The Liao emperor Yelü Yanxi had not yet been captured, and it seemed that Yelü Yanxi was also accumulating strength recently, so they had to shift their focus to him.

Wanyan Zonghan simply said, "If that's really the case, then I'll do it myself!"

Wanyan Zonghan wasn't lying; he was extremely frustrated and wanted an outlet for his frustration. If he couldn't deal with the Song people now, how could he not deal with the disorganized grasslands?

"Good!" Wanyan Zongwang nodded, having convinced most of the situation, and continued, "In that case, there is another plan. As long as we integrate the grasslands, we will have a much better initiative when we attack Song in the future. We can not only descend from Yanyun, but also from Hedong, Hetao, and even Hexi. At that time, we will be able to cover thousands of miles from east to west. Wherever our cavalry and infantry rush, that will be the battlefield. The Song people will be overwhelmed and unable to attend to both ends. Their elite troops will have to be scattered across these thousands of miles. The Song people do not have many elite troops... This is a great plan!"

Wanyan Zongwang's strategic acumen at the top level is astonishing. Just like that high-stakes gamble earlier, although the gains may seem small at this moment, it still proves Wanyan Zongwang's strategic brilliance.

Wanyan Xiyin simply asked, "Does Your Highness intend to attack the Hetao region first? To attack the former territory of the Dangxiang?"

Wanyan Zongwang nodded repeatedly: "This is indeed a brilliant strategy. The Dangxiang lands are mostly grasslands and deserts, which are perfect for our cavalry to roam. We can also mobilize the enemy's elite troops to move around. In the future, we can even fight on two fronts, or even use feints to the east and attacks to the west, depending on how the battle situation changes. Su Wu is a formidable enemy. We must have a very comprehensive plan to deal with such a formidable enemy. Therefore, the first priority after we return is to manage the grasslands!"

After speaking, Wanyan Zongwang went directly to Wanyan Zonghan to await his opinion.

Wanyan Zonghan began to think seriously...

Wanyan Zongwang added, "Perhaps things could change when the Song people..."

Wanyan Zonghan then asked, "Brother, what other changes could the Song people possibly make?"

“That Su Wu is a powerful and resourceful man, a tiger and wolf. In contrast, we have all seen the people of Bianjing City clearly. Compared to Su Wu, they are far inferior, like lambs! What if something really happens…” Wanyan Zongwang was not so sure.

Why?

Because he couldn't quite understand the Song people's way of thinking, and recently he had heard about things like the relationship between ruler and subject, and so on... but he didn't really understand...

But then I thought, human nature is human nature. Can lambs and wolves really coexist? Can problems really be avoided?
Wait and see!

It would be best if the Song people themselves descended into chaos; that would be ideal.

To be honest, did the Jurchens in history treat Yue Fei in this way? It makes sense, doesn't it? How can tigers and wolves associate with lambs?
The so-called strategy of sowing discord is simply to make lambs fear their own wolves. Unfortunately, Yue Fei was indeed a wolf to outsiders, but not to his own people. Therefore, the historical Yue Fei died just like that! A fierce and invincible tiger was truly killed by a flock of lambs…

Wanyan Zongwang's sense of smell was incredibly sharp!
Wanyan Zonghan was delighted upon hearing this: "Yes, yes, brother is right. If I were Su Wu, how could I tolerate those people in Bianjing?"

Wanyan Zongwang waved his hand: "Let's wait and see. Right now, you and I should discuss and come to a conclusion!"

Wanyan Zonghan's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. He truly did not want to return, but his brother's words were all reasonable and his strategy was extremely clear. Wanyan Zonghan understood them all perfectly...

First, he sighed: "Sigh..."

Then he said, "Let's go back... let's go back... this time, although we didn't gain much, we didn't return empty-handed. I'm going to the grasslands, brother, you can't argue with me about that..."

“Alright, go!” Wanyan Zongwang nodded. The grand strategy had been discussed. As for the tactical aspects, Wanyan Zonghan’s abilities were beyond question, and he also had Wanyan Xiyin by his side to assist him.

Wanyan Xiyin nodded: "This time I have witnessed and understood the affairs of the Song Dynasty, and it has been a very rewarding experience!"

"Let's go!" Wanyan Zongwang said, though he wasn't really happy about it.

The Jurchen army was retreating, heading north from Changqing City. They were not in a hurry, as they had infantrymen to cover them and a considerable amount of captured supplies...

Su Wu has returned. He has to see them off, watch the Jurchens retreat with his own eyes, and then readjust the deployment. The initial deployment was to block the Jurchens' retreat, and the subsequent deployment was to block their advance...

The area along the line from Changqing to Tiancheng and Huai'an is of paramount importance. The cities here are small and low-lying. In the past, both the inner and outer parts of this area belonged to the Liao Dynasty, so for more than a hundred years, the Liao people did not focus on developing this area.

Things are different now. The city has become the top priority. The city needs to be expanded, heightened, and reinforced. Even the roads along this route need to be repaired...

This area later became the Xuanfu-Datong line of the Ming Dynasty, a crucial stronghold. How could it not be fortified? Furthermore… this area didn't yet have the comprehensive Great Wall system that the Ming Dynasty later developed…

It's not that there wasn't a Great Wall system here in the past; construction of the Great Wall began here during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. It's just that the Great Wall system here has fallen into disrepair and is no longer usable...

Su Wu also lacked the time and space to undertake a massive reconstruction of the Great Wall like the Ming Dynasty later did...

Strengthening the city's defenses is Su Wu's only option at present, which inevitably requires more manpower and funds...

Preparing a country is incredibly difficult...

Unexpectedly, just as the Jurchen army was retreating, Wanyan Zongbi arrived again.

Su Wu would not kill Wanyan Zongbi; he would naturally want to see him.

Upon meeting, the two tacitly agreed not to discuss the war, but instead talked about one thing: that the Jurchens wanted to sign a new alliance with Su Wu.

This was just standard practice for the Jin Dynasty, and Su Wu knew it too; the Jurchens were trying to lull him, their enemy, into a false sense of security...

Su Wu readily agreed, saying that as long as the envoys came and went several times in the future, the discussions would be finalized, and everyone would sign the agreement.

It was even a divisive tactic; Wanyan Zongbi didn't say he was signing an alliance with the Song Dynasty, but rather with Su Wu.

Su Wu didn't care anymore...

After finishing his business, Wanyan Zongbi left.

Su Wu was left wondering what the Jurchens would do next... The Jurchens could probably only completely eliminate the Khitan forces, then deal with the grasslands, thus securing their rear and allowing them to focus on fighting the Song Dynasty...

Tut tut...

Su Wu looked at the map, a smirk playing on his lips...

Su Wu could guess the general idea of ​​many things; if he put himself in their shoes, there was nothing difficult to guess...

Su Wu was also anxious. Why was time so tight? From Dong Ping to the Liangshan incident, then Fang La, then Yan Yun, and then the Jurchens...

One thing after another, leaving almost no room for rest; it seemed Su Wu hadn't had a single day of real rest...

At present, it seems that the Jurchens have been driven away again, and it seems that there is time and space. But that's not the case. We can't really confirm that the Jurchens have swept across the grasslands, can we?

If he doesn't do anything, what can Su Wu do?

Su Wu seemed to feel that he couldn't do anything, and there was a more pressing matter at hand, not about the affairs of Tokyo, but about integrating his troops, transferring those who needed to be transferred, and relocating those who needed to move with their families...

Cavalry needs to be trained, new troops need to be recruited and organized, and they also need to be trained; weapons and armor, logistics and supplies...

Military generals need to be selected, rewards need to be bestowed, territories need to be managed, and defenses need to be set up, from the four prefectures of Hexi to Xingqing Prefecture to Yongxing Military Road, to Hedong, and then to Yanyun...

These things are right in front of me, more urgent than anything else, I'm completely overwhelmed...

This dilapidated country, a huge mess, requires Su Wu to mend it from every angle...

Now, let's talk about Tokyo!

Su Wu simply took out a pen, not even needing a table, and laid out a large sheet of paper on the ground to write.

What to write?
When writing to the imperial court, it goes without saying that the victory report must be accompanied by a detailed account of the difficulties on the border, the subsequent actions of the Jurchens, and that the Jurchens would definitely come again after winter...

They want more money and food...

All of that is beside the point. What Su Wu truly desires is the power to manage the border regions, from Xingqing Prefecture all the way to Yanyun. Su Wu wants it all, and he knows the court will not grant it to him…

But I need to write...

Su Wu also wanted to claim credit for himself, not only for his generals but also for himself. Such a great achievement deserved a reward, right?
What kind of reward he received was secondary; Su Wu wanted a title, the title of Prince of Langya, but that didn't mean much!

The best would be the Prince of Yan!
Although Su Wu didn't say it directly, he implied that he didn't have the time or energy to deal with Tokyo, and those insects couldn't understand human language.

To give or not to give, it's just a matter of one word...

Su Wu wasn't really concerned about the matter in Tokyo; as long as Tokyo didn't cause him any trouble, he could postpone it further.

Because the immediate issues are more pressing, expanding the military and training troops is the most urgent matter.

After writing it while lying on the ground, Su Wu waved his hand and sent it to Bianjing with urgent mail.

Upon returning to the capital and seeing the Jurchens leave for the border, Su Wu immediately rushed to Yanjing, where he needed to stay and maintain control.

Su Wu was even more eager to do one thing: to gather and count all the gains he had made, and to spend money on a large scale, spending it in Hedong, Guanzhong, and even in Jiangnan and Liangzhe...

No matter what it is, as long as it is a basic resource, buy everything that can be bought. This is a huge undertaking.

South of Zhuozhou City, there is a large military camp.

Liu Guangshi looked at the official documents in front of him, feeling utterly overwhelmed, and sat silently in the tent for a long time.

Needless to say, the contents of the official document indicated that he had been promoted again, becoming the commander-in-chief of both the eastern and northern armies.

The Emperor's favor allows Liu Guangshi to pay homage to His Majesty's countenance, and the Emperor himself will offer encouragement...

These words...

There's another problem: his father, Liu Yanqing, will probably be arriving in Beijing in the next day or two.

Logically speaking, it's not unusual for an official to go to the capital to report on his duties, but Liu Guangshi knew that this matter was difficult to handle, and if things went wrong...

There was a dilemma for Liu Guangshi. He knew he had to make a choice: Su Wu, the Grand Chancellor and the Emperor Emeritus, or the new emperor and those new ministers.

There are both advantages and disadvantages.

If you choose Su Wu's side, you might find that Su Wu will actually come to the capital someday. The imperial power will inevitably fluctuate, and following Su Wu will ensure a smooth and successful rise in rank.

But if his father goes to the capital, he will inevitably become a hostage, which is only one reason. There's also the fear that Su Wu might... what if the plot fails...

Choosing a new ruler would mean facing off against Su Wu in battle, but it also had its advantages—the potential for rapid advancement. Once successful, the military power of the Song Dynasty would be entirely in Liu Guangshi's hands.

How to choose?
After hesitating for a moment, Liu Guangshi called out, "Someone come here!"

Armored soldiers entered.

Liu Guangshi continued, "Send this official document to Prime Minister Su in person by express courier, and ask him about this matter... what should I do!"

Perhaps there is a middle ground: being adept at diplomacy and maneuvering, making it easier to negotiate with both sides...

With Xu Su in such a way, one can better understand one's own difficulties...

In any case, there is one thing that must be avoided: a direct conflict with Su Wu.

Just thinking about this matter sent a chill down Liu Guangshi's spine, and the image of Su Wu charging in with ten thousand cavalry flashed through his mind...

It's unclear whether Su Wu will lead his troops into Tokyo at this time! It's neither easy to say nor easy to ask…

All that's left is a sigh...

Before Su Wu even entered Yanjing, this letter from Zhuozhou arrived.

Su Wu read it and replied with only one sentence: "We can go to the capital. After we come back, we can meet again to discuss this!"

Su Wu's thoughts were both simple and complex. He sent Liu Guangshi to do two things: first, to assess the situation in Tokyo and find out what the emperor was planning...

Secondly, it was also a test of Liu Guangshi's character. This man has always been politically conservative. If Liu Guangshi showed any signs of wavering, then we would have to be wary of him in the future...

After replying to the letter, Su Wu went straight to Yanjing City, where someone was waiting for him.

Tong Guan, the former Prince of Guangyang and the Privy Councilor of the Song Dynasty!
When they met Tong Guan, neither of them smiled; only the elderly Tong Guan shed tears that seemed to fall at any moment.

Tong Guan also said: "Ziqing, why is life so unpredictable? In the end, it's all for naught..."

Su Wu sighed, sat down beside him, took a sip of tea, and said in one sentence: "The Grand Chancellor... made a mistake..."

"What is it?" Tong Guan asked.

“It was absolutely wrong of Tong Guan to follow the Emperor out of the capital…” Su Wu replied. Tong Guan had truly made a grave mistake in this matter. If the Emperor wanted to run away, let him run away. Tong Guan should have stayed in the capital and remained in the Privy Council.

Tong Guan suddenly realized something...

“Alas… His Majesty personally appointed me to lead the Jiesheng Army as guards…” Tong Guan said.

Su Wu shook his head: "If we want to keep them, we can do it no matter what. But the Chancellor lost his composure back then, which is why we are in such a passive position now."

Tong Guan fell silent for a moment, then said helplessly, "Perhaps this is a mistake, a mistake... Is it possible that in old age, one can only reminisce about the glorious past? Can a hero only think of his former valor? At that time, I was truly flustered, afraid, terrified that I would fall into enemy hands. The military leader of a nation would fall into enemy hands, and I would become a laughingstock for all eternity..."

Who can say there's no reason behind it?
But Su Wu disagreed with this reasoning. He said, "If the military leader of a country can only flee in panic when facing the enemy, wouldn't he become a laughing stock for all time and be hated by the people of his time?"

These words stunned Tong Guan on the spot.

Su Wu said nothing and waited on the side.

After a long while, Tong Guan nodded: "I was really wrong... I was wrong! It's too late to regret it..."

Perhaps it is only now, having fallen into such dire straits and become a laughingstock, that Tong Guan has truly begun to reflect on his actions.

Su Wu added, "No matter what, that day I fled with the emperor, and history will record it for generations. The prime minister will never again be able to obtain that unparalleled glory!"

Upon hearing this, Tong Guan's face turned ashen.

He still harbored a sliver of hope, thinking that history would record him as a man of outstanding merit, praised throughout the ages, but that hope was now gone...

Su Wu was expressing his opinion that he was blaming him!

Yes, Su Wu and his ilk were such brave and courageous men, how could we not blame him?
Tong Guan was speechless with emotion, tears streaming down his face. It was all ruined; one careless mistake had destroyed everything.

Su Wu was indeed blaming him!

Let’s put one thing at a time!
Tong Guan suddenly asked, "Ziqing, are you still going to Tokyo?"

Tong Guan seemed to be trying to think of a way to cover up the emperor's power and authority.

"I will go!" Su Wu nodded and slowly stood up.

(Brothers, 6200 today, a bit low...)
(End of this chapter)