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

Chapter 875 A Thousand Riders Lure the Enemy into a Massive Enemy's Attack
Given Xin Qiji's abilities and prestige, once he took command of the military affairs in Henan, it would inevitably cause a stir throughout the land.

Putting aside other matters, Li Xianzong of Huainan and his two armies will have to make preparations as if facing a formidable enemy, and Pusan ​​Zhongyi will inevitably feel even more uneasy. Even the Song Dynasty's heavy field forces in Xiangfan will feel the pressure from the flanks.

Of course, these are all for later.

Xin Qiji couldn't fly there, and even if he did arrive, he would have to rebuild the command system and familiarize himself with the officials and generals, which couldn't be accomplished overnight.

Therefore, in this major battle to besiege Bianliang, Xin Qiji was destined to maintain a defensive posture in Henan.

As expected by the Han army's staff, Pusan ​​Zhongyi's strategic plan indeed reinforced Xuzhou, implying that he intended to wipe out both the Song army and the Han army in Henan at the same time.

However, the Jin army's specific tactical implementation was somewhat unexpected.

Yu Yunwen was trying hard to eat a bowl of millet rice. Although he was already 80% full, he still forced himself to finish it.

Since the saying "Eating little and doing much, how can one last long?" came out, all those with ambitions have realized that no matter what great things they want to accomplish, the first thing is to take good care of their health.

Being in excellent health and having a good appetite is not only fundamental to a prime minister's success, but also his responsibility to the entire political faction.

"Lord Yu! Lord Yu!"

Tall and imposing, with white hair and beard yet still full of energy, Cheng Min strode into the tent, shouting as he went: "Important military intelligence!"

Yu Yunwen put down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and then smiled and asked, "What important matter could make you, Grand Commandant, so rushed?"

Cheng Min said mysteriously in a low voice, "We have found out that there are three thousand Jin bandits who went to Xuzhou. They arrived in Yancheng two days ago. They are all cavalry, but they are flying the banner of the Jin bandit prince Wanyan Guangying."

Yu Yunwen frowned and muttered to himself, "Wanyan Guangying?"

Cheng Min nodded emphatically: "It is indeed Wanyan Guangying, Lord Yu. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

The only reason Pusan ​​Zhongyi was able to maintain order was because the Crown Prince was stationed there. If he could be killed, the Jin invaders would surely fall into chaos!

Yu Yunwen stroked his beard, frowning in thought.

The first question is whether the news is true or false.

While Cheng Min wouldn't lie about such an important matter, exaggeration is still possible.

Moreover, as he just mentioned, Wanyan Guangying's banner has appeared, but whether Wanyan Guangying actually came is really hard to say.

However, considering the fact that the Jurchen men were known for their fierce and ruthless nature, it was indeed possible that Wanyan Guangying would personally go to the front lines.

Let alone the Crown Prince, who is no longer a prince, the Western Jin has become so depraved that even the emperor has to personally risk his life in battle. How much more so would the Crown Prince?
Secondly, there is a political issue that is difficult to discuss.

Should the Song state ultimately recapture Bianliang?

At first glance, this issue seems to have no need for discussion at all.

It should be returned to the old capital.

It's simply a matter of course.

However, if the Song army were to recapture Bianliang in a grand manner, it would be as if the Song army had replaced the Jin army and walked into the encirclement of the Han army.

Moreover, this raises a political and ethical issue.

Should the imperial court and officials return to the old capital?

Therefore, Yu Yunwen needs to find a balance when faced with the sweet poison of Bianliang.

We cannot truly avoid fighting at all, allowing the Jin and Han armies to completely underestimate the Song Dynasty, and discouraging those who still regard the Song Dynasty as a great and powerful nation.

We can't really fight to the death and waste the resources of the Northern Expedition in Xuzhou, just to let Liu Huai pull chestnuts out of the fire.

The timing and temperature required are extremely difficult to control.

"Grand Commandant Cheng, what are your thoughts?"

Cheng Min slammed his fist down: "Now that the Jin invaders have reached Yancheng and are so close to our vanguard, it would be truly unacceptable not to fight. The heroes of the North would laugh at us for being cowards. How are we going to win over the hearts of the people with Liu Dalang then?"

"Does Grand Commandant Wu think the same way?"

Cheng Min hesitated for a moment before saying, "Alas, Grand Commandant Wu is naturally a hundred times more composed than I am. He just advised me to remain unchanged in the face of all changes."

After all, with such a small territory as Xijin, supporting an army of 100,000 is simply too difficult. We don't even need to fight; we can just wait for the Jin invaders to run out of food and fall into internal strife.

Yu Yunwen nodded slightly: "These are indeed wise and prudent words."

Seeing this, Cheng Min became somewhat anxious: "Prime Minister Yu, my army is stationed in Nanyang, and our daily provisions and funds are being spent like water. If we don't achieve any results, how will we report back to the court? Moreover..."

Cheng Min leaned closer, his voice growing even lower: "Moreover, I've heard that things seem somewhat unstable in the court. Prime Minister Yu... do you realize that you bear the weight of not just personal honor and disgrace, but the fate of the nation?" "What should we do if you are dismissed from your post?"

As he finished speaking, Cheng Min's breathing became somewhat rapid: "Prime Minister Yu, now is not the time to choose. We must deliver some results to the court to shut those big-headed turbans up!"

"And this young prince, raised deep within the palace, is the best victory, even more effective than occupying a prefecture or county!"

After Cheng Min gave a reasoned and well-founded analysis from both political and military perspectives, Yu Yunwen remained silent.

After a moment, Yu Yunwen asked, "How many troops do you need to mobilize?"

Cheng Min's eyes lit up: "No need for reinforcements, no need for a full-scale attack, and no need for distractions on both flanks. I just need Grand Commandant Wu's thousand crossbowmen to break through the enemy lines, plus my own three thousand elite troops, to charge forward at top speed. If there's an opportunity, I'll capture and kill that little prince. If there isn't, I won't linger and will retreat immediately. What do you say?"

After a moment's thought, Yu Yunwen nodded with difficulty: "Then let's do it this way. Let Grand Commandant Cheng fight on the front lines, and I will follow in his footsteps!"

Cheng Min was overjoyed and immediately went to make preparations.

Three days later, on the sixth day of the eleventh month, Cheng Min led four thousand elite troops eastward.

This was almost all the cavalry of the Jingxiang army. Each of them had three horses and set off from Xiangcheng. They arrived near Yancheng in just two days.

The Jin army seemed to sense the danger and hastily retreated northward.

Cheng Min was overjoyed at the sight, because it was very difficult for cavalry to retreat in the face of battle. They could maintain their formation when pursuing, but once they started to retreat, they were likely to be unable to organize themselves and would be at the mercy of others.

It can be said that as long as they can persistently pursue, the Jin army will definitely become more and more scattered until they are completely defeated.

On November 10th, Xin Qiji and Zhang Shu arrived in Chenzhou and immediately learned about the battle situation in Xuzhou from Li Tong.

When they learned that an elite Song cavalry force had reached Xuzhou and was pursuing the Jin army northward, they immediately had a bad feeling.

What was mentioned in the previous military council—that Pusan ​​Zhongyi might try to defeat the besieging forces—could it be that this will happen to the Song army?

Xin Qiji hesitated only slightly before immediately ordering, "Chen Liulang, is the Flying Tiger Army ready to fight?"

Chen Wenben grinned and said, "Fifth Brother is joking. How could a mere two or three hundred miles possibly tire my Flying Tiger Cavalry?!"

Xin Qiji remained noncommittal, then looked at Zhang Shu on the other side: "Commander Zhang, tell me the truth about how many troops you can send immediately?"

Zhang Shu seemed to realize something. Sweating profusely in the winter sun, he pondered for a moment before saying with difficulty, "I don't know either, but I should be able to muster two or three thousand proper soldiers."

Li Tong waved his hand dismissively: "Although I know nothing about military affairs, I am not so ignorant as to be this foolish. Commander Zhang, I have prepared five thousand useful Chenzhou soldiers for you, and they are all your old subordinates."

Only then did Zhang Shu calm down and nod emphatically.

Soon, Xin Qiji led a thousand Flying Tiger soldiers from Chenzhou and headed straight north to Changshe.

Zhang Shu led 5,000 infantrymen westward along the Shang River to attack Yancheng.

Xin Qiji's arrangement clearly showed his distrust of the Song state, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Although he had fought alongside Cheng Min, Xuzhou was now a crossroads of the Han, Song, and Jin forces, and the situation was tense. No one knew what the Song Dynasty was planning.

Only by first seizing Yancheng and securing this strategic location can we have the flexibility to attack or defend as needed.

Just as the Han army was advancing like the wind, Cheng Bofeng, the commander of the Beiwei Army in Changge County, north of Changshe, shouted: "Grand Commandant! We can't pursue any further! We're getting too close to Bianliang."

Cheng Min snapped out of his excitement at pursuing the enemy, reined in his horse, looked around, and his expression changed slightly.

The three thousand Beiwei soldiers under his command, plus the one thousand Cui Pian soldiers under Wu Gong's command, were undoubtedly the absolute elite of the Song army.

However, once the battle formation was deployed during the pursuit, some would naturally advance while others lagged behind, and by then they had completely scattered across the Henan plains in winter.

With Cheng Min's keen eyesight and military experience, a quick glance around was enough to tell that only two thousand men could still clearly see the Cheng-character banner and were ready to carry out the orders immediately.

Cheng Min's breathing became slightly heavy. He pulled on the reins, circled around once, and then asked, "Ah Da, how many Jurchen prisoners have we captured?"

Cheng Bofeng wasn't quite sure either, but since the commander-in-chief had asked, he dared not refuse to answer. He simply said in a low voice, "There are still five or six hundred. The Grand Commandant, however, is not one of the Jin's elite troops; they are mostly old and weak."

Cheng Min narrowed his eyes, paused for a moment while pulling on the horse's reins, and then loudly ordered: "Gather the troops and slow down the advance!"

After Cheng Bofeng loudly agreed, he then asked in a low voice, "Should we withdraw the troops immediately?"

Cheng Min frowned slightly, but then sneered: "Withdrawing the troops now would be exactly what the Jin invaders want. I'm going to push forward and see what tricks the Jin invaders have up their sleeves!"

After saying this, Cheng Min continued to ride north, while the Song army continued its advance as before.

(End of this chapter)