Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 904 Return to Yingzhou
The Xizhou granary was burned down, resulting in heavy losses.

Upon learning of this news, Wanyan Liang, unusually, did not get angry, nor did he intend to hold any minister responsible.

Wanyan Liang was a military strategist, and he was well aware of how serious the consequences of this matter would be.

Wanyan Liang, who was prone to outbursts of anger, knew very well that the most important thing for him at this moment was how to clean up the mess, rather than flying into a rage.

Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Wanyan Liang hastily convened his civil and military officials for a discussion that lasted less than an hour before making a decision.

Because the facts are there, there is no choice but to withdraw the troops.

With such severe losses of grain and fodder at Xizhou Granary, if they don't leave now, they will face starvation.

If it really comes to that, then there will be no one to turn to for help, and the situation will truly be hopeless.

The reason they discussed for nearly an hour was mainly because they were discussing the retreat route.

Ultimately, they decided to travel from Shouchun to Yingzhou, then cross the Huai River from Yingzhou, and then obtain supplies through Chenzhou (Huaiyang) before heading to Bianliang City in Nanjing Prefecture to deploy a second line of defense.

This is the shortest retreat route, and if it's a full cavalry force, they can return within five days.

Once the decision was made, Shouchun immediately began preparing to break out of the encirclement.

They first organized several raids, breaking through Shao Hongyuan's defenses and sending out some messengers.

Upon receiving the news, the Jin army troops, who were engaged in fierce fighting on the Huai River battlefield, immediately began to plan their retreat.

Retreat is a skill, even more difficult than winning a battle.

One wrong move and the retreat could turn into a rout, with very serious consequences.

The Song generals, seeing the various signs of the Jin army, naturally understood the Jin army's strategic intentions.

In particular, they also learned that the Xizhou granary had been burned down.

Before orders were even issued from above, the various Song army units began preparing to engage in the pursuit and annihilation battle.

The Jin army broke out of Shouchun City and forced its way into Yingzhou. Shao Hongyuan personally led the main force to block them.

This was Wanyan Liang's main force, and its combat power was exceptionally strong.

They eventually broke through Shao Hongyuan's defenses, but a large number of supply wagons were abandoned and captured by the Song army.

After successfully arriving in Yingzhou, Wanyan Liang took a short break and learned about the current situation of the Jin army units on the Huai River front.

He then hastily issued some military orders to the Jin troops in the Huai River region and began preparations to cross the Huai River.

As a result, they encountered the Song navy at the Huai River ferry crossing in Yingzhou.

After being severely reprimanded by Lin Rongyue and having two of his naval generals flogged, the Song army's navy went berserk.

Today, the "control of the river" on the Huaihe River battlefield is in their hands.

However, the main force of the Jin army's southward advance was the land force. The Jin navy was so badly defeated that it dared not patrol, only showing its face cautiously when escorting grain transport ships. Thus, the Song navy had no place to use its strength.

Now that the Jin emperor Wanyan Liang is about to cross the Huai River to escape north, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Huaixi navy.

If we miss today, will we ever have another chance like this to be promoted and given a higher rank?

The Song navy went berserk.

On the Huai River, every time the Jin army built a pontoon bridge, they destroyed it.

The two sides fought fiercely for several rounds, even turning the Huai River red.

The following day, Shao Zhengqing and Xiao Yifei's light cavalry arrived and launched a pincer attack on Yingzhou Zhengyang Pass by land and water with the naval officers and soldiers.

By the time Pusanhutu, Xiaoyu, and Tudanhexi arrived with reinforcements after the great battle, the river was already filled with corpses.

Only after the Jin army launched a full-scale offensive did they regain control of Zhengyang Pass and continue building pontoon bridges, forcing Wanyan Liang to flee north in panic.

Meanwhile, Xin Qiji, who was leading his entire cavalry force on a hurried northward march, had already reached a deserted ford and, with the help of a naval force, built a pontoon bridge and successfully crossed the Huai River.

He rushed towards Xincai, intercepting Wanyan Liang's destination, Chenzhou.

After sending Xin Qiji's cavalry ahead, Yang Yuan led Wen Xuanchen and his son Wen Shishuang, along with two sharp elite troops from Sichuan, Yang Shou's and Gan Quan's troops, across the Yangtze River and the Huai River.

No sooner had Wanyan Liang left Shouchun than Yang Yuan moved in.

No sooner had Wanyan Liang left Yingzhou than Yang Yuan arrived.

Yingzhou can be said to be a blessed land for Yang Yuan.

Back then, when he was sent as an envoy to the Jin Dynasty as a scholar of the Song Dynasty, he beat up the Yingzhou garrison commander Kong Yanzhou in front of the officials and elders of Yingzhou, in the manner of a civil official.

He then headed north, eventually arriving in Jinan, where he instigated the two Wanyan princes to rebel, splitting the Jin state in the north and south, thus beginning his extraordinary life.

Today, he came back again.

The officials, gentry, and elders of Yingzhou once again came out of the city to welcome them.

This time, there was no beastly Kong Yanzhou, but the people of Yingzhou were mostly the same as before.

Wanyan Liang's battle to cross the Huai River was too fierce.

Wanyan Liang naturally had a large army protecting him, but if the officials and gentry of Yingzhou wanted to escape with him, who would care about them?

Rather than following Wanyan Liang and becoming cannon fodder on the periphery, it's better to stay in Yingzhou and take a chance.

What if... the Prime Minister shows leniency beyond the law?

Therefore, among the Jin officials who remained in Yingzhou awaiting their fate, there were not only Han officials but also many Jurchens.

If they were all alone, they would have run away long ago.

But where can they go with their families?

So they all gritted their teeth and stayed.

Therefore, the welcoming procession that knelt to greet Prime Minister Yang outside the city today is as follows:

The spot that once belonged to Kong Yanzhou is now occupied by an old monk in a kasaya.

The old monk was over ninety years old and could barely stand, needing to be supported by two disciples. This old monk was Master Wunian, the abbot of Zifu Temple in Yingzhou.

With a highly virtuous monk standing here, surely the Prime Minister won't go on a killing spree out of respect for Buddha?
I heard that Prime Minister Yang had a concubine who was originally a Buddhist disciple, so roughly speaking, Buddha and Prime Minister Yang were related...

Behind the old monk with his hands clasped in prayer position, with his forehead touching the ground and his buttocks raised high, was a Jurchen official from the city.

They've been living a life of luxury and have long since become Sinicized.

There was no trace of Jurchen ethnicity in his entire being; even his hairstyle and clothing had been completely Sinicized.

However, they were still Jurchens, and they were usually proud of their identity.

Now, however, this very identity makes them feel uneasy and anxious.

Therefore, their kneeling welcoming procession appeared rather disorganized.

Because not only did they come in person to kneel and welcome the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty, but some of them also had rare treasures beside them, and others were accompanied by beautiful women.

This was a gift they prepared to present to Prime Minister Yang, hoping to gain his protection.

Next came Han Chinese officials, gentry, and prominent elders from Yingzhou.

Yang Yuan glanced at the old monk and saw that he had a kind and benevolent appearance.

In particular, as the abbot of the most prestigious mountain temple in Yingzhou, he did not wear a bright red robe adorned with jewels.

The old monk wore a drab, dusty robe and held no valuable prayer beads in his hand.

If you didn't know his identity, you'd think he was an old monk from some small temple.

Yang Yuan returned the greeting with his palms together and praised, "The old monk has no incense offerings on him; this is true virtue."

Master Wunian smiled slightly and bowed gently, saying, "The general exudes no murderous aura; he is a true master general."

"Ha ha……"

Yang Yuan glanced behind Master Wunian; the jewel-encrusted, charming beauties were all gifts, and they were particularly glaring.

Yang Yuan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Is Master admonishing me?"

Wu Nian flattered, "This old monk's compassion is confined to Zifu Temple. The general's compassion can benefit the whole world."

Yang Yuan knew why the officials and gentry of Yingzhou were so afraid, because he had issued an order after he took up residence in Shouchun City.

All the Jin soldiers captured in Shouchun, regardless of their rank or whether they were generals or soldiers, were beheaded and their heads were used to build a "jingguan" (a mound of heads).

This terrifying news reached Yingzhou much faster than his march.

The Jurchens in Yingzhou were so terrified that they put on this show.

When Yang Yuan glanced over just now, he only saw rare treasures and young beauties.

This is because all those golden lords were kneeling on the ground.

All that could be seen while shivering was a high, upturned buttock; nothing else was visible.

"What the senior monk says is true. I, Yang, also wish to be compassionate. So..."

Yang Yuan turned around and gave instructions to Wen Xuanchen's son.

Wen Shishuang is tall and handsome, holding a halberd. Both his appearance and weapon are very similar to the appearance of Lu Bu, the Marquis of Wen, in the TV series "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" by Yang Yuan.

“Take a thorough search of Yingzhou City. All Jin soldiers who participated in the Battle of Shouchun, whether they are soldiers, Han Chinese or Jurchens, shall be executed on the spot.”

Anyone who harbors or conceals them shall also be killed!

Wen Shishuang immediately agreed.

Yang Yuan then turned to the group of Yingzhou officials kneeling before him.

"The officials of Yingzhou, whether Han or Jurchen, will return to their positions and resume their duties."

I, Chancellor Song, will not pursue any merits or demerits you may have committed while under the rule of the Jin Dynasty.

From this day forward, all officials of my Great Song Dynasty must abide by my Imperial Song Criminal Code!

Upon hearing this, the Jin officials present were overjoyed.

They only hoped to save their lives; if Prime Minister Yang could leave them even a little bit of money to live on, that would be good.

I never expected to receive such a arrangement; I was truly overjoyed and wept tears of joy.

It was only at this moment that they realized that Prime Minister Yang was not bloodthirsty.

Yang Yuan went on a killing spree in Shouchun. Even the most severely wounded Jurchens were dragged away and beheaded.

It must be because of Wanyan Liang's order that "the sword should not be sheathed for three days".

For those three days, Shouchun City was almost turned into a ghost town!
Those Jurchens who participated in the Battle of Shouchun naturally faced certain death.

Yang Yuan took over the entire bureaucratic system of Yingzhou for four reasons:

Firstly, by utilizing these officials familiar with the local conditions, he could quickly and efficiently bring the occupied territories under his control as he marched north.

Secondly, this demonstration effect was fatal for cities and towns throughout the Jin Dynasty.

Once this news spreads, how many people in all the major cities and towns controlled by the Jin Dynasty will still be willing to defend them to the death and be loyal to that absurd emperor who always rapes and humiliates the wives and daughters of his subjects?
Thirdly, Yang Yuan... should set an example for Xinjin.

He already had an excellent foundation there, and with such favorable policies, the future...

Fourth, there's the issue of infiltration. The main obstacle preventing him from reaching even greater heights now comes from the scholar-official class of the Song Dynasty.

Even close friends like Zhang Xiaoxiang, Xiao Yiran, and Lu You, though they did not oppose him, found it difficult to wholeheartedly support him due to their deeply ingrained beliefs.

On the other hand, the generals who came from the Western Army, especially the rebel generals from Shandong, were particularly enthusiastic about promoting this matter.

Therefore, Yang Yuan needed to adjust the composition of the Song Dynasty's officialdom and bring in some fresh blood.

As expected, this news had a greater effect on destroying the morale of the Jin army than a major victory.

The morale of the Jin army was already low, but now the entire Jin state's upper echelons are also teetering on the brink of collapse.

(End of this chapter)