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

Chapter 812 Heaven favors loyalty, but not the times.

When Liu Huai came to his senses, it was already the morning of the next day, July 16th.

The long march and fighting had left him extremely exhausted, and yesterday, overwhelmed with grief, he nearly fainted.

He got up from the bed, and after a moment of distraction, he forced himself to clench his fists and slowly get up.

Wei Rujun, who was resting outside the house, heard the noise inside and immediately got up, took a clean coat and came inside. When she saw Liu Huai, her eyes immediately reddened again.

"Brother..."

Liu Huai's nose also felt a little sore, but he immediately held it back: "A-Jun, help me change my clothes. There are still many things to do today."

Wei Rujun threw herself into Liu Huai's arms and burst into tears again: "Father..."

Liu Huai patted Wei Rujun on the shoulder and said through gritted teeth, "Ajun, don't worry, I will definitely avenge my father. None of them will escape!"

Wei Rujun nodded repeatedly, not daring to delay the important matter, and immediately began to tidy Liu Huai's hair and put on his coat.

Afterwards, Liu Huai took Wei Rujun directly to the main hall of the government office and summoned the military officers for a military meeting.

Although one of the Han army's top leaders died and the other fell into a coma that night, the battle continued in an orderly manner thanks to the presence of Xin Qiji, one of the Han army's main generals.

Soon, the civil and military officials in Qixian County gathered at the government office.

Liu Huai regained his composure and first looked at Wei Jiao: "A Jiao, although Father instructed that everything be kept simple, we children cannot be completely unfilial. You and A Jun should take care of Father's funeral arrangements together."

Wei Jiao immediately bowed and agreed.

“Achang, you are your father’s son and a martial artist. You should come with me to kill our enemies and appease our father’s spirit in heaven!”

Wei Chang immediately stood up: "Yes, sir!"

Liu Huai continued, "Was any military intelligence delivered last night?"

Xin Qiji immediately stood up: "Yes."

Firstly, Liang Yuan'er led the Wucheng Army to Jizhou two days ago, and I have already ordered the military envoy to convey the message that they should speed up their southward march.

Secondly, Huyan Nanxian sent a military report that he had led more than 3,000 armored cavalry to besiege Mengcheng. It seemed that not only the Jin general Heshi Lieliangbi was in Mengcheng, but also a portion of the Jin army from Xiachai.

Thirdly, Shi Ju and Mr. Lu sent a joint document stating that the Henan Han'er Army had defected the night before, crossed the river, and attacked Cai Jin's army. Pu Sanzhongyi retreated, which aligns with the situation in Mengcheng.

Liu Huai nodded slowly: "Wu Lang's handling of the situation was very appropriate. Send a message to Liang Yuan'er, telling him not to continue along the Nanqing River. The Wucheng Army should cross the Yellow River and come from Guide Prefecture to Mengcheng. It doesn't matter if it takes a little longer, but don't stop."

"Here!"

Xin Qiji's heart skipped a beat. He knew that since Liu Huai had not ordered the Wucheng Army to turn towards Bianliang after the Jin army's defeat in Huaibei, but instead ordered them to continue south, he must be planning to settle accounts with the Song Dynasty.

But could Xin Qiji stop Liu Huai?
Of course it's impossible.

At this time, Xin Qiji was also filled with anger and wished he could kill all the Song soldiers who refused to come to his aid.

However, regardless of Wei Sheng's dying words, Liu Huai's promise to Wei Sheng, or the current state of affairs, it is not yet time to turn against the State of Song.

To be honest, if we could destroy the Jin Dynasty and unify the north, the Song Dynasty would have no chance of escaping. But if we were to fight the Song Dynasty now, wouldn't that give the Jin Dynasty a chance to breathe?

Liu Huai, however, paid no attention to Xin Qiji and continued to issue orders: "Dong Cheng, Zhou Xinglie, Zhang Anguo."

"The general is here!"

“Each of you select one thousand soldiers to serve as auxiliary troops, and release the rest. Do not delay the autumn harvest.”

"Here!"

This was indeed the proper course of action, but it left Xin Qiji somewhat confused.

If we are going to fight the Song state, then we should not disband the garrison troops and auxiliary troops; but if we are not going to fight the Song state, what is the purpose of the Wucheng Army?
Xin Qiji was also exhausted from fighting for days, and his mind was a little foggy.

Soon, Liu Huai issued his third military order: "Send word to Huyan Nanxian, instructing him to besiege Simeng City and ensure that the Jin invaders do not escape. I will personally lead elite troops to provide support."

“I will personally write a letter to Lord Shi, asking him to lead the Chenzhou army to Mengcheng to join our army. Wulang, you should also be prepared.”

Xin Qiji then suddenly realized what was going on.

Liu Huai's decision to send the Wucheng Army south was not merely to compete with the Song Dynasty, but also to completely subdue the Chenzhou Army, using both kindness and force to win over the hearts of several prefectures in Henan.

After issuing a few orders, Liu Huai's voice was somewhat dry: "As for the news about my father... it can't be kept secret after all. Send letters to Shi Ju, Yu Yunwen of Xia Cai, Chief Secretary He of Hebei, and Minister Li Tong of Jinan so that they can be prepared."

After Liu Huai finished speaking, he raised his bloodshot eyes: "Everyone should do their job. No matter whether the culprit is a Jurchen or a Song person, no one can escape responsibility!"

The generals were invigorated and readily agreed.

With Liu Huai as their leader, the Han army sprang into action and rushed towards Mengcheng.

The Jin army in Mengcheng also realized that something was wrong and tried to break out, but they were driven back by the furious Huyan Nanxian and his armored cavalry.

The failure to break through the encirclement on this day was extremely fatal for the Jin army.

On July 17th, Liu Huai led the main force of the Han army to Mengcheng and began to set up a siege camp, showing a strong posture of besieging the city.

This caused great panic among the Jin army.

Because there was hardly any food left in Mengcheng.

In truth, this was a disaster caused by the Jin army themselves. They conscripted the people of Mengcheng into the army and sent them to the front lines, both to find cannon fodder for the Jin army in Xiachai and to quietly garrison troops in order to achieve the element of surprise in their attack on Wei Sheng.

As a result, Montreal had become almost a ghost town at this time.

The grain and fodder in the government granaries and the hands of the people had long been transported to the Qixian camp.

Before the remaining supplies could be delivered, Zhang Shu intercepted them in Chenzhou, leaving Mengcheng's treasury completely empty.

With nearly 10,000 troops gathered here, the daily consumption of food and supplies for people and horses is astronomical. How can we afford to wait?

However, as the number of Han troops increased, the Jin army, which had already become a defeated force, ultimately dared not leave the city to fight back, and could only wait for their fate to befall them in the city.

That night, just as the document personally written by Liu Huai reached Shi Ju's hands, Yu Yunwen finally learned of Wei Sheng's death.

"I do not believe!"

A loud roar from inside the command tent stopped Li Xianzong, who had just arrived outside and was about to report on the military situation.

However, as a general commanding the army, Li Xianzong still had some sense of responsibility.

He immediately called out the name and entered, only to find the commander's tent in a mess. Yu Yunwen, with disheveled hair, stood in the center of the tent, holding a document, gritting his teeth and roaring, as if he had gone mad.

"I do not believe……"

"I do not believe……"

Seeing the usually well-mannered Yu Yunwen in such a state, eventually collapsing to the ground in dejection and muttering to himself, Li Xianzong was shocked.

He rushed forward, snatched the document from Yu Yunwen's hand, and after just one glance, he felt dizzy.

Wei Sheng is dead.

The tiger's only weakness is dead.

Moreover, it was because the Song army was only a hundred miles away, and although they clearly had the ability to send troops to rescue them, they died because of this.

Li Xianzong was in a state of confusion when he heard crying beside him.

He hurriedly turned his head to look and saw that Yu Yunwen was already in tears. He couldn't help but say, "Prime Minister Yu, there's no need for this. Even if Liu Dalang comes, he's a weary soldier who has fought many battles. How could our army be afraid of him?"

Yu Yunwen simply closed his eyes and shook his head in anguish, letting tears stream down his face and wet his beard: "It's not that I'm afraid of Liu Dalang, but of Lord Wei..."

As he spoke, Yu Yunwen covered his face with his hands: "I have long admired Lord Wei, but we have only corresponded through letters. We are in the south and the north, far apart. Although we are comrades, we have never been able to meet."

Now, wanting to remember Duke Wei, yet not even knowing what he looked like; wanting to weep, yet knowing not to weep to anyone—how heart-wrenching this is!

After saying this, Yu Yunwen could no longer hold back and cried even louder until he burst into tears.

Although Li Xianzong did not share the same deep friendship with Wei Sheng as Yu Yunwen, as fellow military men loyal to the Song Dynasty, how could he not feel saddened by the loss of a fellow warrior?
The general and the prime minister were dejected in the command tent for a long time, but Yu Yunwen was the first to cheer up.

"Something bad is going to happen, something really bad. Liu Dalang isn't the type to swallow his anger."

Li Xianzong nodded in agreement: "That's natural. However, in my humble opinion, Liu Dalang takes the distinction between Chinese and barbarians very seriously and would absolutely not attack the Song Dynasty before the Jin invaders are defeated."

Yu Yunwen shook his head and sighed repeatedly, but remained noncommittal.

Li Xianzong finally remembered the important matter he had come to report: "Lord Yu, the Chenzhou army seems to be making some unusual movements, and has dispatched troops eastward."

Yu Yunwen: "It's not surprising. Now that Liu Dalang has arrived, these Henan men will naturally go to show their loyalty."

Li Xianzong: "But if we do that, won't Liu Dalang be able to swallow up Henan and Hebei? Who will be able to strike him down then?"

Yu Yunwen glanced at Li Xianzong, then said, "So, what do you plan to do?"

Li Xianzong was speechless.

Yes, what can he do?

Theoretically, now is the best opportunity. Taking advantage of the fact that the Han army in Huaibei is small in number and extremely exhausted, we should launch a large-scale attack, cut off Fei Huzi's head, and the matter will be settled.

However, putting aside the political risks of doing so, if a war were to break out, the Chenzhou army would definitely have to participate, and the total number of troops on both sides would be roughly the same.

In a decisive open-field battle without numerical superiority, could the Song army really defeat the Han army?

Seeing that Li Xianzong remained silent, Yu Yunwen sighed and then took the document back from Li Xianzong's hand: "Make a copy of this document and send an envoy to the Chenzhou military camp to deliver it to Prime Minister Lu."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a military envoy called out the names of those entering.

When the military envoy entered the commander's tent, he was startled by the mess, but he dared not delay his business.

"Lord Yu, Lord Lu has sent word." The military envoy swallowed hard before speaking: "Lord Lu already knows about Lord Wei's matter and is currently on his way to Mengcheng with the vanguard of the Chenzhou army to see Liu Dalang, hoping to salvage the situation."

Lord Lu also said…

Seeing the military envoy hesitate, Yu Yunwen shook his head and said, "It's nothing more than him scolding me a couple of times. Do you think I don't even have that much magnanimity?"

The military envoy hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and saying, "Lord Lu said that the Song Dynasty has lost thirty percent of its national fortune for no reason, and he is heartbroken. I just wonder if Lord Yu, as the de facto commander-in-chief of the Song Dynasty's Northern Expedition, knows that he is already a sinner for all time?!"

After the military envoy finished speaking, he immediately had the urge to run away.

However, Yu Yunwen did not get angry at all upon hearing this. He simply waved for the military envoy to leave and remained silent.

(End of this chapter)