Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 334 A resounding victory! We must have a resounding victory!

The fast horse galloped from Datong straight to Xingqing Prefecture to deliver a military order, instructing the troops of Xingqing Prefecture to send scouts north to find Yelü Dashi, with a letter from Su Wu to accompany them.

There was also a specific route, leading straight to the Northwest Pacification Headquarters of the former Liao Dynasty, which was directly west of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of the later Mongolian Empire.

We headed towards the Zubu King's Palace, the former residence of the Zubu Kings of the grasslands, appointed by the Liao people. The Liao people did appoint many kings on the grasslands.

The Zubu King's Palace was located west of the Northwest Pacification Office.

Another route is to search along the Khangai Mountains.

These three routes, all heading north from the Hetao region, are not very far, ranging from about 800 or 900 li to about 1,500 or 1,600 li.

These routes were all carefully considered by Su Wu. Yelü Dashi would definitely pass through these administrative areas if he went west, because these places had money, grain, horses, and people, and they were generally friendly to the Khitans...

The various tribes of the grasslands are now living in fear, and they no longer harbor any hostility towards the Song people. Several fast cavalry groups heading north to search for people will not be in any danger, and they can even buy supplies and hire guides by spending money.

The tribes near the grasslands must have known by now that the Tanguts had been destroyed by the Song people. The Tanguts were once very powerful, and the grassland tribes dared not offend them. Now that the Song people had come, they would be even less likely to offend them.

To be honest, the Song people occupied the Hetao and Hexi regions and controlled the area north and south of the Yinshan Mountains, so they are now really their neighbors.

If the Jurchens were to truly unify the grasslands in the future, and the Song people were to re-enter the grasslands, they would face immense danger.

Su Wu made several copies of a letter and brought Yelü Dashi back, which may indeed be the key to solving the predicament of the grasslands.

What was Su Wu doing?
He was training the cavalry, and every day he would go out of the city to inspect the various cavalry units. This time, the number of cavalry was about 45,000, in more than 100 battalions.

There were over 10,000 heavy cavalry and more than 30,000 light cavalry!
We need to hurry; there's not much time left. Whether or not we find Yelü Dashi, Su Wu must set off north within a month and a half.

Su Wu also hesitated in front of the map, wondering whether to go north from Yanyun, or from the Hetao region, or even from Hexi...

Xu Guanzhong offered advice from the side: "History records span thousands of years. Your Majesty, what is happening now is nothing more than the affairs of our ancestors!"

Su Wu looked at the map without turning his head, and asked, "What do you mean?"

Xu Guanzhong slowly explained: "In the past, whether it was the Han Dynasty's attack on the Xiongnu or the Tang Dynasty's attack on the Turks, the main battlefields were in the west. Of course, the east was also important, and the Yan, Yun and Datong regions were of paramount importance. But since ancient times, in matters of strategy, it is always necessary to control the west first, and even control the Western Regions. Why? To cut off trade relations!"

Wu Yong was listening to this, but he couldn't quite get a word in edgewise.

Su Wu nodded: "That makes sense. The Jurchens originated in the east, and their homeland is also in the east. The further west you go, the less the Jurchens can reach you. But our Great Song Dynasty spans thousands of miles from east to west. From any point north, supplies are much easier to obtain than from the Jurchens..."

Sometimes, advantages and disadvantages are determined by perspective.

With such a long border, the Central Plains dynasties were easily attacked from both sides and lost their ability to defend one side while being attacked from the other.

However, if they become the attackers, they can launch attacks on all sides, and no place is too far away. On the contrary, the nomadic grasslands are the ones who are difficult to defend on several fronts.

Throughout history, the Han and Tang dynasties' campaigns to conquer the north have always employed a multi-pronged approach. The only difficulty at that time was finding the enemy's main force on the vast grasslands. Even later, the Ming dynasty's campaigns to conquer the north faced the same challenge.

Once the army truly enters the grasslands and finds the enemy's main force, there is little reason why they cannot win.

Su Wu nodded and said, "Then let's head west and completely cut off the Jurchens' possibility of trading westward!"

Going west has another advantage: it will definitely allow us to make contact with Yelü Dashi.

Don't think that the Jurchens would let Yelü Dashi off the hook. Later, the Jurchens did organize an expeditionary force all the way to Xinjiang and Central Asia to suppress Yelü Dashi, but the results were not ideal.

Su Wu desperately wanted Yelü Dashi. Since the Khitan were China, Su Wu wanted the Khitan. Rather than letting the Jurchens inherit the Khitan's influence on the grasslands and in Central Asia, it would be better to let the Song Dynasty do it.

How much influence did the Khitan have in Central Asia?
Even a thousand years later, many Central Asian countries, and even Eastern European countries such as Russia, still refer to China as "Khitan" (契丹), a syllable.

This is related to the various tribes of the grasslands and the kingdoms of the Western Regions. They had long forgotten about the Song Dynasty and only knew about the Khitan. After the Tang Dynasty, it was the Khitan. Since people all look the same, it is inevitable that the Khitan were seen as the successors of the Tang Dynasty. When the Khitan was powerful, it was indeed very strong.

This is also related to Yelü Dashi, who established the powerful Western Liao Empire in Central Asia. Yelü Dashi also represented the Khitan.

But people couldn't distinguish between Yelü Dashi, the Khitan, and China. Yelü Dashi was China, and Khitan was inevitably China!
None of these things are very important. What is important is that Yelü Dashi may be an excellent ally. As for where this ally will ultimately go, that remains to be seen.

But right now, finding Yelü Dashi would certainly be a great help.

The cavalry underwent serious training, mainly focusing on horsemanship, formations, and drills!
Everyone was busy with matters concerning Yan and Yun, and all the people were working the land for His Highness the Prince of Yan.

Even Cangzhou is busy, as it is imperative to open up the canal so that it can pass through Shandong and Cangzhou directly into Yanyun, then into Yanfangdian, and finally reach the vicinity of Yanjing.

There are inevitably two place names: Nantongzhou and Beitongzhou.

This huge project was handed over to Li Hang. He spent money to do it, and it goes without saying how he would recoup the costs in the future—it's all about tolls.

By now, the population of the Song Dynasty had reached the limit of agrarian civilization. There were plenty of people willing to work for money, especially in Hebei Province, where even after the devastation, there was still plenty of labor.

Working hard and quickly is a long-term strategy. Xu Lai Rizhen and the Jurchen have been locked in a standoff for years, and this is their lifeline. Cangzhou has many old river channels, and southeast of Yanjing is a huge wetland. It won't be difficult to work on it.

Even the vast, artificially planted thickets of thorns along the riverbanks on the former Liao-Song border had to be removed. They had to be burned first and then dug up. Burning wouldn't completely destroy them; the forest wouldn't be gone after the fire. The tree trunks would still be there, and they would have to be cut down and dug up again...

It's a big project, so give them money!

Inside the Prince of Yan's residence, orders were continuously issued.

Furthermore, in the northern part of Yanyun, manpower is needed to repair the city walls and passes. We can simply hire people from Jingdong and Hedong in Hebei. The King of Yan will pay them, even providing travel expenses and food along the way.

A large seaport needs to be built at the mouth of the sea in Cangzhou... This matter is entrusted to Lu Junyi, who will ensure that grain from Jiangnan, Zhejiang, and even the north and south of Jinghu will flow north continuously.

Su Wu also wanted to submit a memorial to the court, recommending several officials to go to Guangzhou and then to Quanzhou, especially Quanzhou.

At this moment, Quanzhou was no longer the Quanzhou of the Song Dynasty. Foreign merchants had become extremely powerful, even buying up almost half of the city. Some of these foreign merchants, who had been established for generations, had even begun to serve as officials in Quanzhou.

The most famous of them was the Pu family, who were practically local tyrants in Quanzhou.

This family committed countless atrocities during the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty. When the Southern Song imperial family was being chased by the Mongols and retreated to Quanzhou, they directly closed the city gates of Quanzhou and even helped the Mongols hunt down the Southern Song imperial family. For such meritorious service, they were valued by the Mongols.

During the Yuan Dynasty, Quanzhou became the territory of the Pu family. They monopolized trade in Quanzhou, slaughtered the people, and enslaved the local Fujianese.

It wasn't until Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty that the Pu clan was completely eradicated. The ancestors of the Pu clan were dug up and their corpses were whipped. Furthermore, an imperial edict was issued that the Pu family in Fujian would be barred from taking the imperial examinations for generations.

It was because the Song Dynasty court had always been indifferent to maritime affairs, and Quanzhou was far from the emperor's reach, that these foreign merchants were able to grow in power.

Even now, various religious sects have taken root in Quanzhou, from Zoroastrianism and Nestorianism to Brahmanism and Islam. Hundreds of years later, one can still see the remains of churches and temples of these sects in Quanzhou.

Many religious sects also showed a tendency to infiltrate the interior of China, and it cannot be denied that they were also involved in the chaos caused by various religious sects during the Song Dynasty.

The number of non-Han people in Quanzhou was already in the tens of thousands, followed by Guangzhou.

The place Marco Polo later described as being paved with gold is this very place.

Since Su Wu knew about this matter and was particularly concerned about maritime trade at the moment, he naturally had to take action.

The recommendation of officials to go to Quanzhou, and even to bring soldiers along, ultimately came down to Lu Junyi. The methods used in the Central Plains couldn't be applied to Quanzhou; a hard approach was necessary.

On land, we must be tough, even resorting to force and plunder; at sea, we must be even tougher, and we must establish a new order.

Another point is that Su Wu remembered Lu Junyi saying that it was better to build large ships in Guangzhou and Quanzhou.

Let's be blunt and take control of Quanzhou.

Those old naval forces can still be used; just let Lu Junyi use them.

Lu Junyi didn't want any high-ranking official position; he simply wanted to be appointed as the Director of the Maritime Trade Office in Quanzhou.

What would Su Wu need a seagoing vessel for?
At this time, the map only showed the western strategy, and the eastern strategy was not yet available. Su Wu kept his eyes on the Bohai Sea. Who said that crossing the sea was not realistic in this era?
From the Han Dynasty onwards, large armies crossed the Bohai Sea to the Three Hans, and then to the Korean Peninsula.

Not long after, during the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongols knew to cross the sea to fight Japan.

Now, why can't Su Wu lead a large army across the Bohai Sea? Once the Jurchen army marches south, he can send his elite troops to land at the Yalu River and strike straight into the Jurchen stronghold.

The grand strategy was slowly taking shape in Su Wu's mind: to strengthen the defenses of the cities and passes of Yanyun, to enter the grasslands from the Hetao region to confront the Jurchens, to compress the Jurchens' space, and to cross the Bohai Sea to raid the Jurchens' homeland.

We'll use money, resources, and manpower to overwhelm the Jurchens.

This is the most correct operational approach to warfare that Su Wu always upheld.

Another extremely important point is that Su Wu's horses had to leave quickly. Yan Yun could not afford to support them, nor could it. They had to hurry to the Hetao region, where they could support tens of thousands of horses.

Now that the grand strategy had been decided, Su Wu naturally began to send out official documents and memorials one by one.

Su Wu was speaking, while Zong Ying was busy writing.

Xu Guanzhong, Wu Yong, and others checked for omissions and filled in the gaps.

Supplies needed to be constantly transported, with food and fodder being the most important. People were also constantly migrating, and most of the workshops and craftsmen that used to live outside Dongping Prefecture also had to move here.

While they expand and hire more people over there, they also need to build and expand this place as well.

Ling Zhenxian did not come first because Dongping Prefecture has convenient transportation, and even within the two routes of Jingdong, there are abundant mineral resources that are being mined.

Su Wu is building two major bases, and perhaps in the future, Yanjing will be the true base.

Along with them came many military officers' families.

Cheng Jiyue and Meng Yulou also arrived; this was a move.

Meng Yulou will continue to run the main store. The laws within Yanyun remain unchanged. Ordinary merchants are not allowed to brew wine. The main store's brand can be distributed, but Meng Yulou must monopolize the source.

Controlling the brewing industry in Yanyun is a huge source of income that should not be underestimated. The profits involved are almost equal to, and sometimes even exceed, those of salt and iron.

The main store in Dongping Prefecture was temporarily handed over to Dong Huan to manage. It was also the Meng Niang main store in Dongping Prefecture. Compared with the business that Meng Yulou would take over later, it was just a drop in the ocean, because it could not be monopolized by the two routes of Jingdong.

Cheng Jiyue really came, heavily pregnant. She had originally planned to come after giving birth, but she insisted on coming at this very moment.

Fortunately, the official roads were all flat, and we could even travel some waterways, so the journey wasn't too bumpy.

When Su Wu saw Cheng Xiaoniang at the Prince's mansion, he couldn't help but complain, "Why did you travel such a long way?"

Cheng Jiyue said softly, "I think that, no matter what, my husband should see our child before he goes to war..." These words silenced Su Wu's complaints, but he added, "The day of departure has already been set, but I don't know... if it will be in time..."

That's true. There had been a meeting beforehand, and the day of departure was only about twenty days away.

"I know, I asked when I entered the city, and it seems there's still time..." Cheng Xiaoniang's face showed her grievance.

Despite rushing as fast as they could, they still encountered an unknown.

Why such an obsession? It's because she wanted to have a son, so that Su Wu would know she had one as soon as possible…

Life is unpredictable; I dare not think too much about other things, for the thought only makes me anxious and uneasy...

Su Wu sighed, "Alas... Go and rest first, rest well. I have many things to attend to here. I'll send someone to find your brother later and have him come to see you..."

Su Wu was really busy, but Cheng Hao was also extremely busy. However, no matter what, he should hurry up and come see his sister...

Cheng Jiyue still looked aggrieved, but she didn't say much. She just gave a soft "hmm" and walked towards the back of the Prince's Mansion.

All one could see in the front yard was a flurry of busy figures coming and going. The expedition was imminent, with 45,000 cavalry and tens of thousands of horses. The scale of the project could only be described as "massive".

He also needed to submit a report to Tokyo, detailing the upcoming expedition, including the date, route, and objectives...

Inside the city of Tokyo, at the Emperor's Dragon Pavilion, the newlyweds included Cheng Wanli, Liu Yanqing, Li Gang, and Qin Hui.

Some of the old acquaintances are still there; Pai Shih-chung and Li Bang-yen are temporarily still there, and Wang Fu is in good health and has good fortune, as he was found in time...

Liang Shicheng, however, died. He didn't die on the way there, but was caught and died on the way back. In a moment of excitement, he walked fast for days and fell ill and died.

People in this era really die from illness, especially as they get older.

However, there was also an old eunuch named Jia Xiang by Zhao Ji's side. He was considered to be of the middle or younger generation and was serving by Zhao Ji's side. He was also deeply trusted by Zhao Ji, and he even had some skills, namely, the skill of creating art and architecture.

Deliberation.

The discussion revolved around Su Wu's expedition, as well as the rewards and honors presented by the Privy Council, which Su Wu had sent from Yanjing...

The Emperor said, "I have briefly reviewed the memorials submitted by the Privy Council, and there is nothing wrong with them. I will proceed accordingly..."

Liu Yanqing simply nodded: "As you command!"

"It is said that this expedition, heading west, might seem like a case of abandoning what is near and seeking what is far. I have carefully read Minister Su's memorial, and the reasoning behind it is sound, but this approach is somewhat... Of course, I am not questioning Minister Su. I have summoned you all here to discuss this matter. Since we have a strong army at our disposal, why abandon what is near and seeking what is far? Why not head north from Yanyun and fight the Jurchens? We can attack or defend as we please, which would be more time-saving and labor-saving. In this way, we can also trap the main force of the Jurchens in Liaodong and prevent them from leaving the grasslands. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

As the emperor spoke, he looked around...

Cheng Wanli immediately frowned and looked at Liu Yanqing.

How could Liu Yanqing not say, "Your Majesty, the Jurchen cavalry are very brave, and it is not easy to confront them easily. That is why Prime Minister Su has this strategy, which is a safe one. If we launch a hasty attack and engage in a decisive battle, I fear we will not only fail to win but also suffer heavy losses!"

Cheng Wanli then chimed in, "Indeed, it is no easy feat for Ziqing to raise these cavalrymen. Our Song Dynasty already has few cavalrymen, and it is even more difficult to replenish their horses. If things go smoothly when we head west to the grasslands, we may indeed find a place to replenish our cavalry. Then, the decisive battle in the future will be a simple matter!"

The emperor then looked at the departing people. First he looked at Wang Fu, who remained silent. Then he looked at Li Gang and Qin Hui, who also remained silent. He even looked at Jia Xiang, who was completely clueless.

The Emperor nodded: "Well, since both of you ministers agree, then it's foolproof. Proceed accordingly! Provide as much financial and logistical support as possible, and make official correspondence as convenient as possible... Go back and report quickly..."

The crowd rose and obeyed the order.

Not long after, Wang Fu returned and accompanied the emperor to his side, along with Jia Xiang.

What official position does Wang Fu hold now? Nominally, he is the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but in reality, he has little real power. The power of the Secretariat-Chancellery is naturally in the hands of Cheng Wanli.

Returning now, Wang Fu naturally had something to say: "Your Majesty, I had something to say earlier... but I hadn't decided yet..."

The emperor smiled and said, "There are no outsiders here. Tell me yourself..."

Wang Fu glanced at Jia Xiang, but actually avoided him, and simply said, "I also think that going out from Yanyun to cross the border is the best plan!"

"Why is that?" the emperor asked.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Su said that we should compete with the Jurchens for a foothold on the grasslands. But in truth, since ancient times, the Central Plains, even the Han and Tang dynasties, have never truly controlled the grasslands. The problem with this move is that the army may be there when it goes, but it may not be there when it returns. We can't keep our troops stationed on the grasslands for long, can we? That's simply impossible... Therefore, launching a joint attack from Yan and Yun is the right thing to do. It also has the potential to relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao. As Your Majesty said, once the army leaves Yan and Yun and heads north, how dare the Jurchens go back to the grasslands?"

Wang Fu spoke slowly, partly because he genuinely shared the same thoughts as the emperor, and partly because he knew how to appease Emperor Zhao Ji. He had everything under control: simply praise the emperor and agree with whatever the emperor said, even if the emperor was wrong, he would find evidence to prove that the emperor was right.

This is Wang Fu's way of being an official.

The emperor sighed and said, "Does Minister Su understand military affairs better than you or I?"

"Your Majesty, that is not what I meant at all. I was saying that everyone makes mistakes; no one is right in everything they do. We are all just looking out for the country and the nation, filling in the gaps..."

Wang Fu seemed to be testing something.

"You're not suggesting that Su Qing deliberately went to such lengths, taking the long way around?" the Emperor suddenly asked.

This startled Wang Fu. Who was the leader in the court these days? How could Wang Fu not know? How could he speak carelessly about the Prince of Yan?

Wang Fu bowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, I had no such intention, absolutely no such intention. I only thought that perhaps Prime Minister Su's plan was flawed, and perhaps... Prime Minister Su had a deeper meaning that I was unaware of..."

The emperor suddenly shifted his gaze from Genyue to Wang Fu and said softly, "What are you afraid of?"

"Ah? Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation..." Wang Fu seemed to have received the result of his test. Although he said he was trepidation, there was a slight smile on his face.

The emperor suddenly laughed too...

Smiling, I shifted my gaze back to Genyue.

For a moment, they were speechless.

After a long while, the emperor turned around and sighed, "Even that unfilial son had his reasons and helplessness..."

Wang Fu's brainstorming session: What were the frustrating aspects? What were the frustrating aspects?
Was imprisoning her father out of desperation? Of course not, it was a deliberate act, intentional.

Was it out of necessity to remove Wang Fu and others from the court? Isn't that standard procedure for a new emperor's ascension to the throne?

What is helplessness? Was taking action against Su Wu a matter of helplessness?
This is perhaps truly a helpless situation; a commander-in-chief who commands almost all the nation's powerful armies...

Just as Wang Fu was thinking about this, he heard the Emperor speak again: "Tell me, how loyal and righteous is Minister Su to the country? Now the treasury inside and outside the court is almost empty. In the past, when we were fighting against the Dangxiang, the food and provisions of the various prefectures and counties were already running out. You were in charge of this matter, so you know it very well. Yet he was still able to lead a large army to and fro, even traveling from Xingqing Prefecture all the way to Datong, how many miles? All the troops from the Northwest followed him. Even the commander-in-chief, Old Zhong, did not say a word of complaint... At this moment, another 40,000 to 50,000 cavalrymen are to be sent out, and there are hundreds of thousands of horses... Minister Su is skilled in making money, and you are really incomparable... He is a pillar of the country!"

How could Wang Fu not understand?

There was no time to think about it at first, as things kept changing. One moment the Jurchens were besieging the city, and the next the court was in turmoil. How could I have the mind to think about these things?
Isn't it terrifying to think about this now?
At this very moment, the imperial treasury was nearly starving, yet Su Wu set off on his expedition without even asking the court for any provisions or funding...

And they even maintain troops, like the Jingdong troops and the Yanyun troops...

What business is the imperial court with this?

"His Majesty……"

"Hmm? Are you ashamed of your appearance?" the emperor asked.

“Your Majesty… Xu Xi, that person… that person truly had no other choice but to do so…” Wang Fu paused three times to finish these words.

"Perhaps..." the emperor sighed, looking at Genyue. There were many people busy on Genyue, making some repairs. Perhaps, as Su Wu said, a little repair would make it look more natural.

Unfortunately, the cranes that once flew and the deer that once cried out are now nowhere to be seen, not to mention the fish that once swam in the shallows and the beasts that once roamed freely.

Wang Fu remained silent... He understood, but there was nothing he could do...

He also knew that the emperor was helpless at this moment, so he could only sigh...

Then that...

Is there anything that can be done about it?

Wang Fu frowned repeatedly, feeling utterly helpless.

But then the emperor suddenly stood up: "A great victory! We must have a great victory!"

Wang Fu was suddenly startled!
Xu... Su Wu suffered a crushing defeat, a complete and utter humiliation... naturally, morale and the hearts of the people were shattered... and so it was...

I dare not think about it, I cannot think like that...

Wang Fu, however, still had many thoughts. Could they really lose? Did the emperor truly have such expectations? This was a matter of life and death for the nation; was the price really worth it?
This isn't some case of "the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked"—it's been like this since ancient times. What about Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty? What about Xiao He? What about Han Xin?
What about Emperor Taizu? After the Chenqiao Mutiny, he donned the yellow robe and seized all military power with just a cup of wine... What about those brothers who risked their lives alongside Emperor Taizu?
After much thought, Wang Fu finally understood the motive: the emperor is ruthless!

Wang Fu still couldn't believe it... Could it really be that much?
I can't help but recall that day, when the Jurchens besieged the city, and this vast city of Bianjing, which the emperor himself abandoned so easily...

I also recalled what I had heard on the way to escape with the emperor: that the new emperor, Zhao Huan, not only gave tens of millions of coins to the Jurchens, but also ceded the three important towns of Taiyuan and Hejian without hesitation...

Needless to say, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were also given away without hesitation.

Only now did Wang Fu understand that, in the emperor's heart, the world was nothing more than this price...

Having figured it all out, Emperor Xu Zhen truly hoped that Su Wu would suffer a crushing defeat...

In this way, everything will be settled. In such a vast country with countless talents, this is certainly not a problem.

The emperor might not actually punish Su Wu for his defeat, nor would he want to beat or kill him, as long as Su Wu was no longer that self-sufficient regional giant...

There are still soldiers and generals, old and young Zhong from the Northwest, Liu Yanqing in front of us, and even Liu Guangshi...

Wang Fu remained silent for a long time, his mind churning with countless thoughts, before finally speaking: "A great victory is assured!"

"Yes, Minister Su is so skilled in battle, he will surely win a great victory..." The emperor rose and walked slowly back to Yanfu Palace.

Wang Fu stood still, his brows furrowed. No wonder the emperor had said those things earlier; it turned out the emperor wanted Su Wu to have a quick decisive battle with the Jurchens.
Obviously not... Su Wu was extremely cautious... How could the likes of Cheng Wanli and Liu Yanqing be of the same mind as Su Wu...

Ugh……

Wang Fu sighed...thinking...and also wanted to try to devise a plan...

Since the emperor is willing to offer this price, isn't this also a path for Wang Fu to advance?
(End of this chapter)