Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 488: A Time of Turbulence

Not to mention Wanyan Fushou's complacency.

At about the same time, Wanyan Bendu and Ugulun Yuanzhong finally arrived at Wokou and met the worried-out Grand Chancellor Uyan Puluhun.

"Oh my God, finally someone's retreating." Wuyan Puluhun, without even putting on his shoes, rode out of the camp on his horse, grabbed Wanyan Bendu's hands, and asked anxiously, "What's the situation like?"

Although Wanyan Bendu was also a veteran, he was old enough after all. He stopped to take a few deep breaths, then dismounted with difficulty. He then slumped to the ground, grinning miserably and saying, "It's over. All 30,000 households are gone."

Wuyan Puluhun felt dizzy for a moment, and then he felt dizzy and had a sharp pain at the back of his head. He fell off his horse. Fortunately, his personal guards quickly supported him and he was not killed by the fall.

After sitting on the ground and gasping for breath for a long time, Wuyan Puluhun finally regained consciousness and said hopefully, "Did the navy lose its entire army? Including Da Huaizhen, a total of three thousand households were lost?"

Wanyan Bendu shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "No, it was the 30,000 households led by His Majesty himself, as well as the 3,000 Hezhameng'an, and the 3,000 elite soldiers from the 30,000 households in Huaidong. They're all gone... all gone!!!"

Wuyan Puluhun grabbed Wanyan Bendu's shoulders and shouted, "What about His Majesty? Where is His Majesty?"

"I don't know. There was chaos and turmoil, heavy snow blocked the roads, and it was nighttime. Everything was in chaos. I don't know, I really don't know!" Wanyan Bendu shook his head in pain. "I thought Your Majesty had already returned to Wokou."

Wugulun Yuanzhong was younger and held a lower position. He was not as heartbroken as the two elder ministers. Instead, he asked Wuyan Puluhun, "The great leader has been in Wokou for a long time. Didn't he gather his troops and hear the news?"

Wuyan Puluhun gave a bitter laugh. "We've gathered over a hundred defeated soldiers, and they all say we were defeated, but we can't explain exactly how we were defeated. There are all kinds of rumors. Forget about the generals, there's not even a marching commander..."

Having said that, Wuyan Puluhun shut up and looked at Wugun Yuanzhong with a strange look.

The reason is simple. Ugulun Yuanzhong was not only an official who followed Wanyan Liang in the southern expedition, but also had another identity.

Wanyan Yong's eldest son-in-law.

At a moment when the political turmoil caused by military failure is about to begin, although Ugun Mototaka's position has been determined, it is hard to say how big the trouble will be.

Sure enough, when Wuyan Puluhun heard that Wanyan Liang had not returned to Wokou and there was no news at all, Wugun Yuanzhong muttered to himself: "No news at this time... That's bad news..."

As the highest military and political leader, Wanyan Liang's loss of news was equivalent to losing power, which was very scary because power hates a vacuum and a new power center would inevitably emerge.

Therefore, if Wanyan Liang had any way, he would spread the message to the outside world at all costs to show his presence.

Wanyan Liang was either dead or captured by the Song State.

It would be fine if he died, but if he was captured by the Song State, then...

Ugun Yuanzhong's thoughts suddenly became extremely divergent.

The Song and Jin dynasties presented each other with emperors as a token of their everlasting friendship and their commitment to never again engaging in war.

No, no, Ugun Yuanzhong shook his head and threw the confusing thoughts behind him.

Wanyan Liang must be dead. Even if he is still alive, or even not captured, and is still circling with the Song army in the mountains, he is a dead man!

Otherwise, how could Wanyan Yong come to power?
Thinking of this, Wugun Yuanzhong collapsed to the ground and cried loudly: "Your Majesty is dead! Your Majesty is dead!"

Although this fellow was all talk and no action, he shouted the four words "Your Majesty has died" in a clear and loud voice, so that all the surrounding soldiers could hear it clearly.

However, Wanyan Bendu and Wuyan Puluhun were both watching this scene tiredly. They did not stop it, nor did they agree. They just watched.

These two old ministers who have been active since the time of Wanyan Aguda can no longer foresee how the situation will develop in the future, and are also helpless in the upcoming political turmoil.

Wanyan Liang's turmoil was equal. Not only the landlords and powerful people, but also the common people, even the royal family and the clan were tormented badly. After the failure of their desperate attempt, the two old ministers almost lost their subjective initiative for the future at the same time.

This is what is commonly known as being heartbroken.

In history books, many famous teachers and generals became completely depressed after a major defeat, and even fell ill and passed away. This is what happened.

After all, Ugun Yuanzhong was a young man with a higher spirit. After crying for a long time, he saw that the two old generals were silent, so he simply stood up, cried, and called his confidant, asking him to tell Wanyan Yong the news as soon as possible.

at all costs!
Tell those nobles in Liaoyang Prefecture that they can't wait any longer! Start a rebellion now!
Afterwards, Wugulun Yuanzhong rushed into the military camp, signed with his own seal, and was about to call the military envoys to spread the news of Wanyan Liang's death. However, someone strode in and firmly grasped Wugulun Yuanzhong's arm.

Wugu Lun Yuanzhong looked up fiercely, but saw that the man had white hair and beard, was over sixty years old, but was strong and healthy, dressed in formal attire, and looked like a Han minister.

As a member of the national clan, even though Wugu Lun Yuanzhong was young, he could look down on some Han officials. However, facing the man in front of him, he didn't even dare to curse.

The reason was simple: this Han official was named Zhang Shousu, and he had a great deal of experience. His father was a high-ranking official of the Liao Dynasty, serving as a Jiedushi. When Zhang Shousu was young, he had participated in Gao Yongchang's establishment of the Bohai Kingdom, and eventually defected to the Jin Dynasty.

He now holds several positions, including the Jiedushi of Xingping Army and the Transport Commissioner of Tokyo Road.

In the current situation, Zhang Shousu is equivalent to a real frontier governor.

And he was not completely in the dark in the court. This man's cousin was the current Shangshu Ling Zhang Hao, who was currently in Bianliang assisting the Crown Prince Wanyan Guangying in governing the country.

Zhang Shousu himself was no ordinary man. He had a kind and resolute character. Officials and people in the court and the local areas all respected and feared him. There was even a saying that if one had malaria, one could recover by writing the three words "Zhang Shousu" on a piece of paper and sticking it on their body.

Zhang Shousu was here because he was in charge of transporting grain and grass. After discovering that something was wrong at the front line, he rode his horse at full speed to Wokou, and then heard this shocking news.

"Mr. Zhang, why are you stopping me?" Wugun Yuanzhong frowned, looked at the other party's right hand that was grabbing his arm, and asked coldly.

Zhang Shousu's gray beard trembled, and he continued, "Yuanzhong, you are really too impatient."

Nonsense, how can we not be urgent about this kind of thing?

While thinking this, Wugu Lun Yuanzhong asked in return: "Oh? If it's what Mr. Zhang said, how should I do it?"

"I have a letter for you. Take it to Shangshu Ling Zhang Gong, and then go see the Crown Prince Regent. I'll find a way to deal with the situation in Wokou and with Tushan Zhen." Zhang Shousu was unwavering in his words, getting straight to the heart of the matter. "When you meet Duke Cao in Liaodong, just remind him that the situation is urgent, but not that urgent. The Khitan bandits must be destroyed! The key lies in the unity of our ancestral lands, that is, the support of the Pushan and Hesheli tribes!"

Although Zhang Shousu spoke quickly and profusely, Wugu Lun Yuanzhong still realized his mistake in an instant and bowed respectfully: "If it weren't for Master Zhang's reminder, I would have almost made a big mistake. I hope Master Zhang will forgive my previous rudeness."

There are several meanings in Zhang Shousu's words.

The first is that Wanyan Guangying, the crown prince, was still alive. At this time, Ugun Yuanzhong was loudly declaring that Wanyan Liang was dead. Wasn't he afraid that the central officials of the Jin Dynasty in Bianjing would make the crown prince the emperor?
Even if Wanyan Yong was certain of victory, would the Jin Dynasty abandon the Central Plains? Would it abandon the elites in the court? How would the high-ranking officials in the court cope with the situation?
Now Zhang Shousu has created an opportunity for Ugun Yuanzhong to conspire with Shangshu Ling Zhang Hao to control or even kill Crown Prince Wanyan Guangying and clear the obstacles for Wanyan Yong.

The second is that Zhang Shousu, as a transport envoy, can intervene in local affairs and use logistics to communicate with the army.

The 30,000 households following Wanyan Liang were completely destroyed, but there were still some troops in Wokou, and Tushan Zhen also had 30,000 households, so they could still deploy defenses.

The third is Wanyan Yong’s own problem.

At this time, Wanyan Yong was not in his old nest in Liaoyang Prefecture, but was taken to Linhuang Prefecture by Hesheli Liangbi.

Therefore, he could not ascend the throne directly, as there were two major obstacles before him. One was the Shangshu Zuo Cheng, Hesheli Liangbi, who was beside him; the other was Pushan Zhongyi, who was still fighting in Xiangfan with a large army.

As long as he can deal with these two people, Wanyan Yong can ascend the throne.

It doesn't even matter whether Wanyan Liang is dead or alive.

Zhang Shousu also pointed out the methods used. The first was to make the Jin Kingdom's ancestral land of Liaodong support him; the second was to defeat the Khitan uprising army. He did not need to annihilate them completely, but just win a battle, which would be enough to give him the prestige to command the army.

By then, Hesheli Liangbi would have no way to resist! Because even though he was talented and held a high position, his surname was only Hesheli, not Wanyan.

The political status of Shangshu Zuocheng was given by the central government of the imperial court, and Wanyan Yong represented the new central government of the imperial court!

After watching Zhang Shousu write a heartfelt letter and seal it in an envelope, Wugulun Yuanzhong finally couldn't contain himself and asked, "Mr. Zhang, I am the son-in-law of Duke Cao, so it is normal for me to run around for him. However, Mr. Zhang has always been a man of integrity, and he was promoted by the late emperor. Why are you helping him?"

Zhang Shousu sighed, waved his hand, and said, "I have served many emperors, even that fellow Gao Yongchang. I have to show my loyalty to him, but is the emperor the only one in the world? What about the officials? What about the people? Don't they need loyalty and protection? Let's not discuss other things. Just gather as many troops as possible and leave quickly!"

Wugulun Yuanzhong bowed deeply to Zhang Shousu, then turned around and left with the letter in his hand.

(End of this chapter)