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

Chapter 852 The Jurchen Ruler and His Ministers Hesitate (Part 2)
The saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach," meaning that in any era, warfare is essentially about logistics.

Wanyan Liang was naturally aware of this, so he stockpiled a large amount of grain and fodder in Bianliang before his southern expedition.

But even with so much food and supplies, after so many years of fighting, it's almost all gone.

Zhang Hao was indeed still encouraging production in Henan, but after the entire southern part of Henan was turned upside down, Zhang Hao was like a skilled cook without rice to cook.

As for the loyal and righteous servants, he was even more powerless to help them.

At this point, he was still dealing with military affairs, let alone civil administration.

Moreover, the most important thing now is the relocation of the capital, so he immediately went to the Eastern Palace to find Crown Prince Wanyan Guangying.

This young prince, who should have been killed four years ago in history, is now sixteen years old. He has begun to show the majestic features he inherited from his father, and his physique has also become extremely strong, with the reputation of being able to draw a bow with a strength of three stones.

Aside from his Han-style hair bun, anyone who saw Wanyan Guangying couldn't help but sigh that he was indeed the son of Emperor Taizu Wanyan Aguda.

"Why has Marshal Du found time to visit the Eastern Palace today?"

In response to Wanyan Guangying's question, Pusan ​​Zhongyi first bowed respectfully, then said solemnly, "Does Your Highness know that the situation has reached an extremely critical point?"

Wanyan Guangying put down the documents behind his desk and nodded slowly: "Of course I know. I have known this ever since our army suffered a great defeat last year and Lord Heshilie died in battle."

Pusan ​​Zhongyi nodded with satisfaction. For the past two years, he had been teaching Wanyan Guangying military strategy, and was considered his tutor: "Then, Your Highness, what do you think is the best way for our Great Jin to survive?"

Wanyan Guangying remained silent for a moment, then earnestly said, "I know that the Grand Marshal wants to go to Luoyang to maintain control through the eight passes, and ultimately unite Guanzhong and Luoyang to contend for supremacy. However..."

At this point, Wanyan Guangying waved away the eunuchs around him. Only after he and his servant San Zhongyi were left in the huge East Palace Hall did he slowly say, "However, the rise of the Han people is now unstoppable. As far as the Jurchen people are concerned, the best choice at this time is for the whole tribe to surrender to Liu Dalang."

The saying goes, "If you don't say something amazing, you'll die trying."

Pusan ​​Zhongyi's smile froze instantly, and even his heartbeat slowed down.

In an instant, Pu Sanzhongyi understood Jiang Wei's state of mind in the Three Kingdoms stories.

We were ready to fight to the death, why did Your Majesty surrender first?!

Pu Sanzhongyi's breathing became heavy, and after a moment of calm, he finally calmed down completely: "Your Highness, these words must never be spoken to anyone else, and you should never say them again."

Your Highness, you must know that anyone in the entire Jin Kingdom can surrender, but Your Majesty and Your Highness cannot. Others can change their names and still enjoy high positions and generous salaries, but even if that traitor Liu is magnanimous, how can he tolerate the former imperial family?

The Crown Prince's words not only condemned us to death, but also rendered a mockery of those of us who risked our lives to protect the Great Jin!

When it came to his own life and death, Wanyan Guangying remained calm until Pusan ​​Zhongyi uttered his last words. Only then did he pause slightly, then rise and bow deeply: "Marshal Du, I am dull-witted and have spoken presumptuously. If I have offended you, I hope you will forgive me."

Pu Sanzhongyi was originally full of anger, but after seeing Wanyan Guangying's attitude, his anger gradually subsided. He then slumped down on the side seat and sighed, "Your Highness, logically speaking, at your age, whatever you say is right."

However, since the Crown Prince is the heir apparent, his every action represents the nation's policy. If the Crown Prince shows weakness, those who were originally willing to fight to the death for the Great Jin will immediately lose heart, and their previous slim chance of survival will completely disappear, leaving the situation utterly hopeless.

Wanyan Guangying remained bowing and listened quietly before sincerely asking, "Marshal, I am but a humble scholar, and I truly do not know where the two or three points of hope lie. Can the world be stabilized again by relying on Luoyang and Guanzhong?"

Pu Sanzhongyi's voice was firm: "It is certainly possible. Back then, the First Emperor and Emperor Gaozu of Han were able to rely on the Guanzhong Plain to establish their rule over the world. At the very least, Fu Tianwang of the Later Qin Dynasty swallowed up half of the country."

Moreover, we still have Luoyang. Even if it takes ten years to rebuild and ten years to learn from our mistakes, as long as we persevere, we will still have a two- or three-tenths chance.

Wanyan Guangying remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The world was different back then, and I still can't think of any way out."

Pu Sanzhongyi shook his head and put it more bluntly: "The answer is in the riddle itself."

"Your Highness, you are well-versed in literature. Let me ask you this: if the people of Guandong had united as one, could Qin have unified the world?"

Wanyan Guangying shook his head and said, "Of course not, even if Qin reforms its system, it won't work. The gap between the two sides is too great."

"What if the warlords of Guandong were of one mind with Xiang Yu (the Hegemon-King of Chu) against Emperor Gaozu of Han? Could the Han Dynasty have unified the country?"

Wanyan Guangying shook his head again, already somewhat understanding the situation.

“Last year, the Left Chancellor actually accomplished one thing, which was to sow discord between Liu Bei and the Song state.” Pu Sanzhongyi held up one finger and said, “After Wei Sheng died, Liu Bei could no longer be a loyal general of the Song state, and the two sides would inevitably clash sooner or later.”

Our goal is to survive until that moment, and when they are both exhausted from their fierce battle, we will seize the opportunity to break out and gradually take back the lost land.

"Your Highness, this may require enduring for many years, and I may not even live to see that day, but for the sake of the Jurchen people and the Great Jin Dynasty, we must persevere."

Wanyan Guangying wanted to ask a question: What if Liu Huai and the Song Dynasty both held back and only made the destruction of the Jin Dynasty their primary goal?
However, seeing the bloodshot eyes of Pusan ​​Zhongyi, he couldn't bear to further provoke this loyal minister and general of the Great Jin. He could only sigh and bow again, saying, "The Grand Marshal risked his life for the Wanyan clan's empire. As a descendant of the Taizu Emperor, I cannot lag behind others."

"If the Grand Marshal gives any orders, I will do my utmost without hesitation." Only then did Pusan ​​Zhongyi realize the difference between ruler and subject. He quickly got up and helped Wanyan Guangying up, but sighed repeatedly: "Now the Meng'an and Mouke households around Bianliang are unwilling to move to Luoyang. I cannot force them. I hope Your Highness can persuade them to change their minds."

"Your Highness, time is of the essence. If we delay until autumn... alas... that traitor Liu might attack again, and I will only be able to fight for my life with the last of the Jin army's soldiers."

Wanyan Guangying immediately nodded, then instructed the eunuch to help him change his clothes, and at the same time ordered the guards to prepare the horse, showing that he was ready to set off immediately without stopping for a moment.

Upon seeing this, Pu Sanzhongyi immediately dispatched his personal guards to follow.

Within half an hour, the Crown Prince's entourage was ready, and Wanyan Guangying, with more than two hundred attendants, left Bianliang in a grand manner, heading straight for Mutuogang.

Now, it is said that this place, Moutuogang, was originally a horse-breeding area of ​​the Song Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Shenzong of Song, the Tian Si Imperial Household Department was established to raise horses due to its abundant water and grass. At its peak, it raised 10,000 horses and stationed 5,000 imperial guards.

Later, when the Jin army marched south, Wanyan Zongwang seized more than 10,000 warhorses here, and the area gradually fell into disrepair.

However, during Wanyan Liang's southward migration, a large number of Meng'an and Mouke households were relocated to the Central Plains. Some tribes that maintained their customs from beyond the Great Wall took a liking to this place and simply settled there, forming a scale of seven thousand households.

Naturally, these tribes, who made their living by herding horses, also maintained a certain level of fighting strength and wildness, and their numbers in the army were the largest.

Wanyan Guangying did have some political acumen. He knew that if he relied solely on his words to persuade them, even if the Song army attacked, he would not be able to persuade so many Meng'an and Mouke households to leave.

But once the seven thousand households of Mutuogang are persuaded, the rest of the people can also be persuaded to leave.

"Your Highness has come from afar, and I am unable to greet you. Please forgive me."

When Wanyan Guangying arrived at Mutuogang, the oldest hereditary warrior in the area, Antu Danli, immediately came out to greet him.

Wanyan Guangying didn't put on airs. He stepped forward and helped Tudanli up, saying with a smile, "Lord Tudan, you flatter me. When you were protecting my father, I wasn't even born yet. How could I possibly trouble you with your presence?"

Tudanli laughed and led Wanyan Guangying into a dike.

As Wanyan Guangying walked, he observed his surroundings and found that most of the people who came to pay their respects were the elderly, women, and children, and there were very few adult men left.

The few young people who were there all had various disabilities and were unable to do heavy work.

After the two arrived at a fairly impressive house, Wanyan Guangying dismissed all the servants, leaving only himself and Tudanli.

"Lord Tudan, the situation is urgent. I hope that you can lend me a hand for my father's sake."

Tudanli remained silent.

He was once a bodyguard of Wanyan Zonggan, the eldest son of Wanyan Aguda, the grandfather of Wanyan Guangying. Logically speaking, he and Wanyan Liang shared the same fate, and should have responded to Wanyan Guangying's call at the first opportunity.

However, after experiencing so many hardships, these theoretically most loyal Meng'an-Mukehu were utterly exhausted and unable to accomplish anything further.

"Your Highness, now that you've come in person, there are some things I won't hide from you."

Tudanli's cloudy eyes dimmed. He pointed to the tightly closed door and said, "Your Highness, we have about seven thousand households. Do you know how many people have obeyed His Majesty's orders to go to war over the years?"

Without waiting for Wanyan Guangying's reply, Tudanli immediately said, "Twelve thousand three hundred and twenty-two people. Many households had all their men go to the battlefield and never returned."

"Many people were killed or captured, leaving them with no hope, but many others, such as my two sons and a grandson, are still serving His Majesty in the army. Four years have passed, but they have not yet returned."

"Your Highness, we are truly exhausted."

As he spoke, tears welled up in Tudanli's eyes: "If I have to do any more work, then this old man will have to go to the battlefield."

Wanyan Guangying sighed, took Tudanli's hand and said, "Lord Tudanli, I know you are facing difficulties, but the affairs of the state are also difficult. As long as Lord Tudanli takes the lead in relocating to Luoyang, I will definitely not make any more demands, is that alright?"

Tudanli closed his eyes and shook his head in anguish: "Your Highness, you don't understand. Now all the Meng'an and Mouke households around Bianliang, as well as those powerful clans, have united and want to surrender to that Han king."

Even though he had just spoken words of surrender to Pusan ​​Zhongyi today, Wanyan Guangying was still startled upon hearing this: "Lord Tudan, why is this?"

Tudanli said with a wry smile, "Some of our tribe's captured sons have returned, and some have sent letters saying that the King of Han's army is invincible and cannot be defeated. The sooner we surrender, the sooner we can save our lives."

"They also said that the King of Han was merciful, and those of them who had brandished weapons on the battlefield were not all killed, and the common people were even more unharmed. They only needed to change their surnames and customs. What do these things matter in the face of life and death?"

The Han army's previous policy towards the enemy played a huge role at this time, and even the Jurchens could not muster the courage to fight the Han army to the death.

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Guangying showed no sign of despair. Instead, he sighed slightly and stood up, saying, "Master Tudan, please take good care of yourself. I won't disturb you any longer."

After saying this, Wanyan Guangying didn't wait for Tudanli's reaction and hurriedly turned and left.

(End of this chapter)