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

Chapter 890: Singing from all sides

A sense of despair rose in Gu Qingchen's heart, not for himself, but for the thousands of Jurchen families here.

He had already died several times, and his purpose in coming here was to save as many Jurchen people as possible in the upcoming great battle.

But since Wanyan Guangying was here, all hope was shattered.

However, what Gu Qingchen didn't know was that Wanyan Guangying and Tudanli were also feeling a sense of despair.

They all knew Gu Qingchen's abilities; he was a leading figure among the younger generation. Even if he didn't become the Grand Marshal, he could still serve as a prime minister in the central government.

Moreover, he had no scars or disabilities, and he had not even become thin, which clearly indicated that he had not been mistreated by the Han army.

However, Gu Qingchen was at this moment trying to persuade Liu Huai to surrender, clearly feeling that the situation was hopeless and there was nothing that could be done.

How could this not drive the elderly and the young to despair?

The three men stared at each other in silence for a quarter of an hour before Gu Qingchen broke the silence: "Lord Tudan, Crown Prince, the strength of the King of Han is no exaggeration. Take yesterday's battle, for example. The Grand Marshal personally led 20,000 elite troops to face the King of Han's 3,000 men who had just crossed the river, and they suffered a crushing defeat..."

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Guangying's eyes widened, and he slowly opened his mouth, utterly dumbfounded.

Tudanli clutched his chest, gasping for breath for a long time before finally saying, "Wait... Qingchen, are you telling the truth?!"

Kiyotomi Kagaya was stunned again, but then suddenly realized something.

He arrived at Mutuogang under the cover of night with several attendants.

The Jin army completely retreated yesterday afternoon.

Why hasn't Wanyan Guangying received the news yet?
There's only one possibility left.

Pu Sanzhongyi, fearing unrest among the troops, blocked military intelligence.

Gu Qingchen slowly calmed his wildly beating heart: "It's absolutely true. Yesterday, in the auxiliary camp, I was setting up fences and digging trenches. I could clearly see from afar that when the elite Jin troops rushed up, they were immediately routed."

The King of Han crossed the river and had already established a foothold and fortifications south of the river!

Wanyan Guangying turned around and immediately stood up: "Lord Tudan, such a big thing has happened, I must return to Bianliang City."

Tudanli also stood up, leaning on his cane: "This old man will accompany the Crown Prince!"

After defeating Cheng Min and being driven back by Xin Qiji's army, Wanyan Guangying lived in Mutuogang with his loyal subjects.

Although Wanyan Guangying did not acknowledge it in his heart, his political parade still brought him great prestige, and both Han Chinese powerful families and non-Han ethnic groups tended to submit to him.

Therefore, Wanyan Guangying did not return to the Eastern Palace, but continued to win over people's hearts, talk about a bright future, and try to take more people with him when the capital was moved.

However, when the Han army comes with overwhelming force, how long can this superficial loyalty last?
"Qingchen, you come too!"

Left with no other choice, Gu Qingchen rode his mule, accompanied by a few attendants, and followed Wanyan Guangying and the others towards Bianliang City.

It was already afternoon on the eleventh day of the twelfth lunar month. Under the pale sunlight, the atmosphere became increasingly tense as they approached Bianliang City.

Soldiers traveled back and forth on the official road, and the already scarce civilians and merchants almost disappeared.

It had a distinctly white terror feel to it.

Just as they were about to reach the walls of Bianliang, Wanyan Guangying and his entourage were stopped by a troop of soldiers.

"This is the Crown Prince's ceremonial procession! Are you blind? How dare you stop us?!"

Faced with the shouts and curses from the Eastern Palace guards, the leading Jurchen general chuckled and said, "My lord... with the area around Bianliang in such a chaotic state, no one can be trusted."

Therefore, Marshal Du ordered that everyone, regardless of who they were, must be thoroughly investigated!

"You guy!"

Just as the guards of the Eastern Palace were about to shout and curse, they saw Wanyan Guangying ride out from the crowd and say: "I am Wanyan Guangying. Do you still want to check my seal?"

Upon seeing the young man dressed in noble attire, the leading Jurchen general immediately believed him, bowed respectfully on horseback, and said he dared not accept such a thing.

However, just as the dozens of palace guards relaxed, the armored Jurchen knight suddenly drew his sword, spurred his horse, and charged forward.

The Eastern Palace guards in front of them were terrified and tried to draw their swords, but it was too late.
The blade fell like a colorful ribbon, and a head flew up along with blood from the neck.

"Capture the young prince!"

More than ten Jurchen armored cavalrymen, their hair still braided, shouted "Kill!" and charged toward the Eastern Palace's entourage.

The palace guards reacted swiftly, drawing their swords and attacking. However, they were not armored and, facing the sudden attack of armored cavalry, had no effective means of defense and were forced to retreat.

The leading Jurchen general had been slashed more than a dozen times and stabbed five or six times by spears, but because his armor was intact, he was still alive and kicking.

His broadsword whirled around like lightning; if it grazed any of the Eastern Palace guards, it would immediately cause injury or death.

"Protect the prince!"

"Your Highness, retreat immediately!"

"Crown Prince!" the leading Jurchen general roared desperately amidst the attacks of the Eastern Palace guards, "Didn't you want to preserve the Jurchen nation? Come with me to see the King of Han! Come with me to see the King of Han!"

The sound was so loud that it echoed throughout the small battlefield, causing the knights on both sides who were fighting to change color. Wanyan Guangying, who was originally going to dodge, was clearly at a loss after hearing this and stood frozen in place.

Fortunately, the palace guards had recovered from the chaos of the surprise attack. After all, they were elite warriors, and they dismounted to fight on foot and counter the threat of the armored cavalry.

When everyone is unable to run, foot combat is far more agile than mounted combat.

Seeing his men being dragged off their horses, some being killed on the spot, and others being bound tightly, the leading Jurchen general let out a grief-stricken roar, raised his spear, and hurled it at Wanyan Guangying.

Wanyan Guangying seemed to be frozen in fear.

Gu Qingchen, standing beside him, reflexively swung his spear, deflecting the incoming spear into the air. However, after making the move, he stood there stunned for a long time, unsure of what he was doing.

So much happened in that instant, and the scene was so chaotic that everyone acted on instinct.

Only after the attacking Jurchen cavalry had been captured and killed did Wanyan Guangying spur his horse closer. His face was still deathly pale, and he asked tremblingly, "I...I know you. Your name is Wuyan Guang, and your father is a hereditary Meng'an of the Seven Mountains Tribe...Why did you do such a treasonous thing?"

Wuyan Guang was pinned to the ground, but he simply closed his eyes and remained silent.

Seeing this, Wanyan Guangying lost interest in interrogating him. He waved his hand, signaling the guards to kill him on the spot, and the matter would end there.

“Your Highness, go ahead and see for yourself, and you will understand why I did this.”

Before the blade fell, Wuyan Guang only shouted this sentence before his head was severed from his body.

Gu Qingchen stared at the head with braided hair, his mind in turmoil, utterly perplexed.

This is a well-established Western Jin general, and given that he still has a queue on his head, he couldn't possibly have been sent by the Han army.

Why did he want to take the crown prince to see the King of Han?

After yesterday's great battle, have the Jin army truly lost all fear?

Wanyan Guangying seemed to have the same idea. After leaving a few guards to clean up the mess, he immediately set off towards the city of Bianliang with a sullen face.

As they approached Bianliang, Tudanli, who had been silent and lagging behind, finally said to Wanyan Guangying, "My ears can't hear clearly, Your Highness, what is that sound?"

Wanyan Guangying reined in his horse, listening to the sound of the cold wind, his face gradually growing more grim: "It's crying... This is, crying..."

"go!"

Wanyan Guangying did not hesitate for long; his mind was in turmoil.

However, before even reaching the vicinity of the military camp, amidst increasingly clear cries, Wanyan Guangying unexpectedly encountered a group of Han army knights.

The Han soldier at the head of the troops spoke with a heavy Liaodong accent: "You Jin army, we are not here to fight you today!"

A guard from the Eastern Palace rode forward and asked loudly, "What are you doing here if not for fighting?"

The leading Han soldier seemed to recognize the Crown Prince's entourage, but didn't pay much attention: "In yesterday's great battle, your marshals suffered a great defeat, leaving behind a thousand wounded soldiers."

The King of Han was merciful and dispatched military medical officers to treat the wounded. He also provided tents and coal for their shelter. Those who could be saved were saved, but there was nothing that could be done about the seriously injured.

The desolate wilderness is ultimately not as suitable for recuperating as Bianliang City, and the King of Han is a kind-hearted man who cannot bear to see people suffer. This morning, His Majesty the King of Han ordered that we send all these wounded soldiers back.”

As he spoke, the leading Han soldier ordered several wounded soldiers to dismount, and then had the lightly wounded carry the seriously wounded or the dead to the Crown Prince's entourage.

The palace guards were somewhat at a loss.

The dozen or so Han soldiers did not linger and immediately turned their horses around and left.

Some of the Eastern Palace guards wanted to surround the Han army cavalry and capture two prisoners by outnumbering them, but when they saw their comrades in such a state and remembered that the Han army had come to return the wounded, they all lost heart and turned to look at Wanyan Guangying.

Tudanli clutched his chest, his breathing becoming rapid again.

Wanyan Guangying did not react at all, and was stunned on the spot once again.

Even though the wounded Jin soldiers had food, campfires to keep them warm, and tents to keep them from getting cold in the Han army camp, they were still defeated prisoners of war, and it was inevitable that they would be panicked and fearful.

Coupled with their own injuries, the serious wounds and even deaths of their comrades, they were like frightened birds.

When they realized they had escaped, the noblemen from the Jin Kingdom they encountered seemed indifferent to their plight. Overwhelmed with grief, all the panic, fear, and sorrow of the past two days erupted, and they burst into tears.

Crying is contagious, and soon all the surviving wounded soldiers were wailing.

Wanyan Guangying finally understood what the crying coming from afar meant.

"You few, take them to the nearby military camp for treatment. The rest of you, come with me!"

After giving a few instructions, Wanyan Guangying could only lead the remaining men toward the northern camp of Bianliang.

Only when he got closer did Wanyan Guangying realize why the cries of more than a thousand people were so loud.

The wounded soldiers were crying, and the family members who came to look for their loved ones also cried. Even the Jin soldiers, who were initially quite composed, were affected by the atmosphere and began to weep.

Although there were only a little over a thousand wounded soldiers, there were no fewer than ten thousand people weeping.

"Liu the traitor... Liu the traitor's plan is truly vicious!"

(End of this chapter)