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

Chapter 690 A Small Strike for a Big Win: Victory is Inevitable
"Do you think that kid Zhang Congjin has already let the thieves in?"

Wanyan Liang was now fully armed and standing on a high platform in the military camp, gazing south and muttering to himself.

As the executor of the overall plan, Wanyan Wangxiang, who was standing by with his sword at his side, hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Your Majesty, I do not know."

Wanyan Liang hadn't expected anyone to answer, but upon hearing Wanyan Wangxiang's words, he became intrigued and couldn't help but tease him, saying, "Wangxiang, you're a leading figure among the younger generation, surely you have some idea of ​​the situation?"

Wanyan Wangxiang said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I have some guesses, but if I were to speak them out, it would not only offend Minister Zhang, but also delay Your Majesty's decision. Therefore, I dare not speak them."

"Tsk." Wanyan Liang smiled and turned his head to say, "Wang Xiang, you've been through thick and thin with me, so why can't you speak frankly? Don't be like your father."

After a moment of silence, Wanyan Wangxiang said, "I think that Chief Steward Zhang Congjin will likely defect to the Song Dynasty, but it is precisely because he dared to make a decision when Prime Minister Zhang was isolated in Yuanzhou that he is in even greater danger."

"Oh?" Wanyan Liang was somewhat surprised.

Wanyan Wangxiang continued, “Your Majesty, the situation is chaotic now. Not to mention those who are capable of accomplishing things, even those who want to do things and dare to do them are in great danger.”

Therefore, if Zhang Congjin simply holds Chencang, that's fine; but if this man is truly audacious, Your Majesty should not send troops into battle.

Wanyan Liang laughed out loud: "Hehe, just as Wang Xiang said. If Zhang Congjin does not defect to the enemy, then my plan is useless and there is no need to fight; if Zhang Congjin defectes to the enemy, then this person is a military man with great ambitions who wants to do things, and I should not fight him because I want to avoid his sharp edge."

Wanyan Wangxiang's expression became even more serious, and he bowed deeply on the spot: "Your Majesty, this is exactly what I wanted to say. Your Majesty's body is of utmost importance and you should not take risks here. Please sit here and I will go and retrieve the heads of the Song dogs and the traitorous generals to present to Your Majesty!"

Wanyan Liang reached out and helped Wanyan Wangxiang up, then sighed: "If it were before the southern expedition, I would have had many fierce generals under my command, so naturally I wouldn't have needed to step forward. But now they have all perished on the southern expedition, and the remaining loyal ministers must not risk their lives again."

Alas, it's a pity that I was too arrogant and conceited before the southern expedition, and didn't understand this principle, which led to such a great disaster.

Wanyan Wangxiang was about to continue his persuasion: "Your Majesty..."

Wanyan Liang waved his hand and said, "Don't say any more. The world is in chaos now. It is the time to take up a three-foot sword and sweep away the chaos. If I sit in Bianliang and watch my subjects fight each other, this throne will be too hot for me to sit on."

"Go and organize your troops, raise your banner, and let those Guanzhong men see the majesty of the Great Jin General."

Wanyan Wangxiang could only bow again: "Yes!"

While Wanyan Liang and Wanyan Wangxiang were chatting, four thousand cavalrymen had already lined up in the training ground.

Two thousand five hundred of them were Jurchen armored cavalry, traditionally used by the Jin dynasty.

Originally, the Jin Dynasty's western army had a considerable number of cavalry units of five 10,000 households, but due to nearly two years of war, they had lost many warhorses.

Moreover, the Jin Dynasty was in great turmoil and split into two. The largest Jin Dynasty's herding office was located in Linhuang Prefecture, which was the place where Wanyan Yong quelled the Khitan rebellion. At this time, it was under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

As a result, the western army's warhorses were not replenished normally, forcing many armored cavalrymen to fight on foot.

It can be said that these 2,500 armored cavalrymen were the last organized mobile force of the Western Route Army.

The remaining 1,500-odd cavalrymen were the sons and private soldiers of wealthy families from Guanzhong who had come to join the army.

Compared to Shandong, which has been in chaos for decades, Guanzhong is also in chaos, but the way it is in chaos is different.

This place was the front line directly facing the military pressure from the Western Xia.

Regardless of whether the Western Xia later declined, Li Yuanhao had utterly defeated various Western armies when he founded the state, leaving a deep shadow on the Song Dynasty. As a result, Han Qi even revived the personal guard system that had been abolished for decades.

Under such circumstances, it is only natural that many people in the Kansai region practice martial arts, which is one of the reasons for the rise of the Western Army's military families.

These 1,500 knights, selected from the 20,000 recruits, carried their own warhorses. After more than two months of training, their combat strength was not comparable to that of the Jin Dynasty's regular cavalry, but they could still act as light cavalry to harass the enemy lines in groups of a dozen or so.

At this moment, these Kansai cavalrymen were somewhat flustered by the sudden assembly.

To maintain secrecy, the newly recruited 20,000 Han soldiers, along with 2,500 Jin cavalry, were stationed in Binzhou, a hundred li from the Guanzhong Plain—neither too close nor too far.

Here, the mountains act as a barrier, isolating us from news from both inside and outside the area, and ensuring that we are not caught off guard when we need to send troops to provide support.

Wanyan Liang also knew that Wu Lin was a general in Guanzhong and must have extensive connections there. He would be aware of major events happening in Guanzhong and could not be kept in the dark.

Therefore, after discussing with Wanyan Yuanyi, the solution he came up with was not to conceal or block the truth, but to mislead.

We need to use nine parts true and one part false intelligence to mislead Wu Lin's strategic actions.

In fact, Wanyan Liang had already succeeded.

Wu Lin knew that 20,000 Han soldiers had gathered in Binzhou, but he didn't take it seriously. These newly recruited troops hadn't undergone several months of training and were simply unfit for battle.

Moreover, he was confident that even if some of the Han Chinese from Guanzhong defected to the Jin Dynasty, they would not turn against him. Especially when the number of people reached tens of thousands, their thoughts were mixed, and when they were about to face a formidable enemy, they would not be able to form a united force.

This is just 20,000 conscripts; even if they were forced into battle, they would only collapse at the first touch.

Wanyan Liang naturally understood this principle, so he never expected that the 20,000 Han soldiers would play a significant role in this battle.

Wanyan Liang's goal was to use 20,000 Han soldiers as a cover to focus on training 1,500 Han cavalry.

The 2,500 armored cavalry were openly transferred to Binzhou long ago, ostensibly to suppress the Han army, but their real purpose was to serve as the core force in critical moments.

Now is the crucial moment!
"Unleash my Golden Banner, there's no need to hide it anymore."

Wanyan Liang said to the newly appointed commander of the Palace Guard, Shitu Shanshousu, "Have my personal guards shout that the Emperor of the Great Jin is here to boost morale!"

"Here!"

The disciple, keeping to his own standards, loudly agreed.

He was about thirty years old and was originally the deputy commander of the Wusheng Army. He was the deputy of Da Huaizhen, the unlucky guy who was attacked from both sides by the Ezhou Army and the Jingnan Army.

Historically, he was supposed to join Wanyan Liang in attacking Lianghuai, and in the end, he was supposed to join Wanyan Yuanyi in assassinating the emperor and killing Wanyan Liang at Guazhou Ferry.

However, history has taken a slight turn. Tu Dan Shousu stayed in Bianliang and, because of his merit in protecting the Crown Prince, became the new Commander of the Palace Guard.

The fact that someone who killed Wanyan Liang in the original history has now become the leader of Wanyan Liang's personal guards is a kind of dark humor in history.

Regardless, the already somewhat noisy training ground became even more chaotic after the exceptionally magnificent Golden Banner was raised.

Five well-prepared soldiers immediately led their personal guards to reprimand and suppress the situation.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty!"

Wanyan Liang's hundred or so personal guards shouted at the same time, which inspired many people around to cheer as well. After a strange and fervent emotion swept across the entire training ground, Wanyan Liang then personally waved the flag on the platform.

The training ground fell silent.

"I am Wanyan Liang, the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty!" Wanyan Liang shouted with all his might.

He didn't talk about national righteousness or boast of his bravery; instead, he directly tempted people with benefits: "Whoever kills one bandit will be rewarded with ten acres of land and one string of cash! Whoever kills ten bandits will be promoted to centurion and rewarded with one hundred strings of cash!"
From the platoon leader down, anyone who causes excessive injury or death will be promoted to an official position and their rank will be raised three grades!

Every time Wanyan Liang spoke, several military envoys would ride off on horseback to relay the message back and forth within the army formation, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

After all the words were spoken, the cheers in the training ground were deafening.

Wanyan Liang handed the flag in his hand to his personal guard, and then mounted his warhorse on the platform.

The sound of war drums then boomed loudly.

"Mount!"

"Mount!"

At the command of officers at all levels, the four thousand Jin soldiers mounted their horses.

Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Wanyan Liang, carrying his own banner and accompanied by his personal guards, led the way out of the camp and immediately marched rapidly southeast along the Jing River.

"Follow His Majesty!"

"Come on! Come on!"

Seeing their emperor so valiant, the Jin cavalry were greatly encouraged and spurred their horses onward.

This last mobile elite force of the Jin Dynasty's western army has finally shown its fangs.

(End of this chapter)