Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 905 Target: Bianliang

After Yang Yuan settled in Yingzhou, he stopped chasing after Wanyan Liang and continued northward.

The Huaihe River front has achieved a complete breakthrough, and the battle, which lasted for more than two months, has finally begun to shift from defense to offense.

When Yang Yuan was on the defensive, he wasn't very careful.

The attack has begun, and the Song Dynasty has gained the upper hand, with morale soaring.

Yang Yuan, on the contrary, became cautious.

The key lesson learned from the Jurchen invasion's decline was the logistical problems that led to its downfall.
Yang Yuan only wanted to proceed steadily and cautiously, so as not to lose the gains he had just made before he could even enjoy them.

Eager to make a name for himself, Xin Qiji charged forward with great speed.

Xin Qiji did not attack Xincai. Instead, his iron cavalry swept around the city and chased after Wanyan Liang through the heavy snow.

When Wanyan Liang had just escaped to Wanqiu, and was only a short distance from Chenzhou, Xin Qiji arrived.

After a fierce battle, the demoralized Jin army suffered a crushing defeat.

Although Wanyan Liang successfully escaped into Chenzhou City, he lost 7,000 soldiers.

At this time, Xin Qiji's troops faced a supply problem.

There were no supplies available for them to resupply, and there was also Xincai, which had been occupied by the Jin army.

Such a cavalry unit, with its men and horses fed, was beyond the capacity of those villages to provide for.

Xin Qiji stripped the clothes off the Jin soldiers on the battlefield, raised their flags, and turned to go to Shangshui.

The Jin army in Shangshui City actually fell for the trap. The city gates were flung open, and Xin Qiji charged in first.

Shangshui was an important agricultural production area of ​​the Jin Kingdom. The grain and fodder obtained from capturing Shangshui City would be enough to meet their needs.

But what's the point of using cavalry to defend a city?
Therefore, Xin Qiji tried to use the same method to deceive Yancheng again, but his plan was exposed.

He was a cavalry unit, so he couldn't exert his combat effectiveness in sieges either.

Fortunately, he had left troops stationed in Shangshui, so he had no choice but to retreat to Shangshui again.

Upon learning of this, Yang Yuan immediately ordered Wen Shichen to lead troops to Shangshui overnight to relieve Xin Qiji and defend the city.

Shangshui is located along the Shaying River, with convenient water and land transportation. It is an important node connecting Nanjing (Kaifeng) to Chenzhou (Huaiyang) and Caizhou (Runan).

Occupying Shangshui would sever the connection between Nanjing (Kaifeng) and Caizhou, threatening the Jin state's Nanjing (Kaifeng).

Given the strategic importance of the location, now that we've secured it, why wouldn't we hold onto it?

Wen Shichen had been anxiously waiting for credit, but he couldn't get any recognition.

However, he also knew that he was not Yang Yuan's confidant, and that it would take time for him to gain the Prime Minister's approval.

Therefore, he has always just patiently done his job, like a hardworking and conscientious old ox.

Now that Yang Yuan has finally sent him out, Wen Shichen is overjoyed.

Xin Qiji breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Wen Shichen.

Being forced to stay in Shangshui City with his cavalry would be as unbearable as taking his life.

Now finally someone has come to guard the Shangshui River.

Xin Qiji quickly handed over the reins to Wen Shichen and then led his cavalry away from Shangshui City.

At this time, some high-ranking civil and military officials that Yang Yuan had transferred from the rear also arrived in Yingzhou from Lin'an.

This includes Lu You, Yang Wanli, and Fan Chengda.

Once, the five of them had shared a meal and drinks together at the Phoenix Tower while watching the Qiantang River tidal bore.

Yang Yuan knew that they still had a lingering resentment about his path to becoming a powerful minister, or even an emperor.

They wouldn't necessarily turn against themselves because of this, but they also wouldn't be enthusiastic.

Yang Yuan transferred them here because he wanted them to participate in his great cause of restoring the Central Plains.

This land was reclaimed inch by inch by them, which will deepen their sense of self-identity.

Because of the halo that history bestowed upon them, Yang Yuan valued them especially.

Yu Yunwen and Wu Ting cooperated well in Huaidong and fought the Jin people with great success. His mentality was already subtly changing.

The same thing could certainly change Lu You, Yang Wanli, and Fan Chengda.

After these civil and military officials arrived in Yingzhou, Yang Yuan summoned them to discuss the upcoming situation.

Yang Yuan stopped at Yingzhou and did not continue forward. He also strictly ordered the troops in Lianghuai to proceed steadily and cautiously after crossing the Huai River.

The reason is that he hadn't decided whether to attack Kaifeng first or go straight for Yanjing.

"Advance westward into Henan and seize Bianliang!"

Upon hearing this, Lu You's eyes immediately lit up, as if he had been injected with chicken blood.

Lu You, who wrote "When the royal army has pacified the Central Plains, do not forget to tell your father at the family sacrifice," indeed had an inexplicable obsession with Bianliang, the former capital of the Song Dynasty.

However, there is some truth to what he said.

"Prime Minister, Lin'an is merely the temporary capital of our Great Song Dynasty!"

Bianliang has always been the capital of my Great Song Dynasty!
Even now, it still is!

"The recapture of Bianliang, the capital, is of paramount importance!"
Our ancient capital of the Song Dynasty has only been lost to the enemy for a little over thirty years!

There are many Han Chinese in the north who were once subjects of our Great Song Dynasty!

Once Bianliang is recaptured, the hearts of all Han people on the homeland of our Great Song Dynasty will awaken to their longing for the Song!

Fan Chengda pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Recapture Bianliang, and then occupy the entire Nanjing Road."

Then we marched westward and occupied the Jingzhao Prefecture of the Jin Dynasty, thus connecting the Huai River region, Jinghu region, and Sichuan and Shaanxi into one area.

This also aligns with the Prime Minister's strategic intention of proceeding cautiously and steadily.

Yang Wanli said, "This way of fighting is indeed appropriate."

"Integrate Jingzhao Prefecture Road and Nanjing Road with our Great Song Dynasty. Then, plan for Hedong Road, Zhongdu Road, Shandong Road, Xijing Road, Beijing Road, and other roads belonging to the Jin Dynasty; this would be the safest course of action."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Of course, there are also advantages to taking Yanjing directly."

That means that once Yanjing (Beijing) is captured, the Jin Dynasty will be essentially destroyed.

We can recover the entire Central Plains much faster. Unless…

Yang Yuan smiled and said, "Unless Xin Jin jumps out at this time, creating a situation where the snipe and the clam fight, and the fisherman benefits."

"Perhaps, we'll just wipe out Wanyan Liang's stronghold, only to be swept away by the rested and prepared New Jin army."

"You're right!"

Yang Yuan stood up: "I have decided that all future operational plans will be formulated around the objective of occupying Nanjing Road and capturing Bianliang City."

Once the entire Nanjing Road area is under control, then infiltrate westward, cooperating with troops from Sichuan and the Three Gorges region, to then target Jingzhao Prefecture and reclaim the entire Shaanxi province.

At this point, Yang Yuan paused and asked, "Are the Western Xia tribes still delaying and observing?"

Lu You nodded and said with a wry smile, "That's right. They use all sorts of excuses to delay, and each time they find some trivial matter that is neither here nor there to be sent to Lin'an as a key point in the negotiation."

The round trip from Lin'an to Western Xia took more than half a month.

Using this method, they only had to repeat the process a few times to get to this point.

Yang Yuan was not annoyed at all, but instead smiled and said, "This just shows that they don't have the confidence to really oppose my Great Song Dynasty."

If it weren't for Wanyan Liang's sudden invasion of the south, they would have surrendered long ago.

They're just watching and seeing who wins this battle before deciding whether to surrender or seize power.

Yang Yuan paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Then let's take over the entire Nanjing Road area first!"
Once we retake Bianliang, I believe those Western Xia bastards will make a wise choice.

With the plan finalized, Fan Chengda drafted the military order, which Yang Yuan reviewed and then issued to the entire army, and reported to Lin'an.

The core message of Yang Yuan's military edict to all the generals was:
Control the strategic points that have already been captured, advance steadily and cautiously, and avoid going too far into enemy territory alone.

Abandon preparations to advance towards Shandong Road, occupy the entire Nanjing Road area, and focus the main attack on Bianliang City.

The Lianghuai region was transformed from the front line to the rear, responsible for establishing logistical supply lines to ensure that the soldiers on the front lines had no worries about their rear.

At the same time, Yang Yuan also gave orders to generals such as Wu Gong, Chen Zhuoguang, and Li Dao, making it clear that they were preparing to advance northward.

This was done to contain the Jin army in Shaanxi and prevent the Jin state from transferring troops from Shaanxi out of Tongguan and joining the Central Plains war.

As for Xinjin, Yang Yuan used to send a letter to this younger brother whenever there was a major military operation, hoping that they could cooperate.

Initially, the collaboration between Xinjin and others went quite well.

However, gradually, Xin Jin developed his own ideas.

Therefore, Yang Yuan did not contact Xin Jin at all this time.

Whether to join in and get a piece of the pie, or sit back and watch the tigers fight, is up to Xinjin to choose.

As long as Yang Yuan's main attack is directed towards Bianliang, rather than penetrating Jin territory to directly seize Yanjing, there is no need to worry about whether Xin Jin will send troops or who their target is.

After leaving the Prime Minister's residence, Fan Chengda said, "Although the Prime Minister is young, he is steady and able to resist the temptation to take Yanjing directly, and instead adopt a cautious and methodical approach."

In your opinion, how long will it take for the Prime Minister to conquer the Central Plains?

Yang Wanli smiled and said, "From responding to Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's uprising to establishing the country and becoming emperor, it was only seven years."

From joining the Green Forest Army to becoming emperor in Hao City, it took only three years for Emperor Guangwu of Han to achieve this goal.

It took Emperor Gaozu of Tang only a year from raising an army in Taiyuan to becoming emperor in Chang'an.

The only one faster than them was the founding emperor of this dynasty.

"How long do you think it will take for the Prime Minister to recover the Central Plains?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Chengda and Lu You's lips twitched slightly.

When did Yang Tingxiu start speaking so rudely?
That's ridiculous! Our founding emperor ascended the throne even faster than Li Yuan did in just one year.

He was incredibly fast; he just went out of the city for a short while and came back to become emperor!

Liu Bang and Liu Xiu started from scratch, Li Yuan rebelled against the Sui emperor as a former Sui official, and the founding emperor of this dynasty... that was a coup!

Suddenly, Lu You and Fan Chengda understood what Yang Wanli meant.

This bastard, as the commander of the Western Army, had fought against the Western Xia alongside the Prime Minister.

It now seems that not only has Yu Binfu's mindset changed, but Yang Tingxiu has also started to have his own ideas.

Fan Chengda and Lu You exchanged a silent glance:
When the Central Plains return to Han hands, will the world... also change?

With the plan finalized, Yang Yuan dispatched Yang Wanli and Lu You.

Both of them are skilled in military tactics and have good personal combat abilities. Sending them out to lead troops into battle would allow them to integrate into his camp more quickly.

Fan Chengda stayed by his side, taking charge of political and diplomatic affairs.

Well, it sounds grand, but in reality it was about bribing, sowing discord, and recruiting officials and generals from all over the Jin Dynasty to surrender, and conducting war propaganda, including but not limited to spreading rumors, slander, insults, and incitement...

Now that the objective and the strategy and tactics have been determined, if we proceed steadily and gradually advance according to the current plan, it will be difficult to see results in the short term.

Although it's only a little over 600 li from Yingzhou to Bianliang, if you travel at a fast pace on a smooth road, it will only take a few days.

However, Wanyan Liang, who had already fled to Bianliang, was not idle. He was deploying troops everywhere and setting up defenses at every level.

As a result, there were almost no tricks to be used in the following battles; it was all about direct offense and defense.

If the Song army did not want to be completely wiped out in the siege, then the so-called siege was actually a matter of attacking only, and besieging was the main objective.

That would take an extremely long time.

Therefore, after settling everything, Yang Yuan decided to return to Lin'an Prefecture.

It was now March, the third month of spring, and the flowers were in bloom along the paths; it was time to slowly return home.

(End of this chapter)