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

Chapter 907 Ice Jams Separate North and South

Gu Qingchen kept his word and released Jing Sihui after Wanyan Guangying left Bianliang City.

Although Jing Sihui had been slapped in the mouth and was bleeding, he did not harbor much resentment towards Gu Qingchen. After bowing goodbye, he left without looking back.

As the saying goes, everyone should accept their fate. Since we've made our own choices, let's not regret them to the end.

Without hesitation, Gu Qingchen led over a hundred surrendered Han soldiers and rushed toward the Han army camp.

Even though they had bypassed the main battlefield, the density of the Han army's cavalry patrols meant that this strange cavalry unit was quickly discovered.

As the Han army's cavalry continued to gather, some assimilated Khitans recognized Gu Qingchen's identity and, while reporting this up the chain of command, guided them to the vicinity of the Han army's main camp.

That evening, Gu Qingchen, along with Wu Yong, Qin Hao, Zhou Hua, and others, arrived at the Han army's command tent.

"Your subject pays respects to the King of Han!"

Gu Qingchen knew the rules of the Han army, which did not allow kneeling in ordinary situations, so he simply bowed.

The Han Chinese generals, however, were influenced by the barbarian customs and would kneel and kowtow at the drop of a hat. As a result, Zhou Hua, who was tightly bound, lost his balance and fell to the ground.

"Get up and talk."

Liu Huai was eating his soup noodles while processing documents, and he was used to this situation.

"Haven't you eaten yet? Tell the kitchen to bring four more bowls of soup noodles. We can talk while we eat." Liu Huai looked up at Zhou Hua and ordered his guards, "Go and untie him. Even if he's guilty of a capital offense, he should at least die with a full stomach."

The three Han Chinese generals seemed somewhat flustered by Liu Huai's courteous treatment.

Gu Qingchen, however, was unfazed and went directly to sit down at the table below.

After a long day of running around, he felt very hungry and his stomach was empty. In addition, it was freezing cold, so a bowl of soup noodles was a dream come true.

“You lot, don’t be shy. The soldiers you brought are eating and watering their horses. We can’t let you generals go hungry.” Liu Huai finished his soup noodles, broke them into pieces, and threw them into the hot soup. While eating, he mumbled, “Qingchen, tell me everything that happened.”

"Yes!" Gu Qingchen bowed slightly, and before the soup dumplings were served, he succinctly recounted his experiences along the way.

Liu Huai listened attentively, while also observing the expressions of the Han soldiers.

The clerk took notes, then presented the sealing wax and hurried off to the rear camp.

"Qingchen, the military judge will verify your merits. If the facts are as you say, then the greatest credit for this battle will be yours. Defending Bianliang is truly a great achievement."

Liu Huai gestured for Gu Qingchen to quickly eat the mutton soup noodles, and then said to the other three Han generals, "You should also learn from Gu Qingchen."

Of all things, humanity is fundamental. In the face of 100,000 people in Bianliang, what are a few ministers and high-ranking officials, or even the young prince of the Jin Kingdom,?

But please don't put the cart before the horse.

"Qin Hao, Wu Yong, I will personally write two letters. After you return, please give them to your respective commanders. Let them know that as long as they can protect Bianliang City, it will be a great achievement, enough to establish themselves in my service and even advance their careers."

"As for Zhou Hua..."

Zhou Hua was initially quite assertive, constantly arguing with Wu Yong along the way. However, he became well-behaved after entering the Han army camp. Once inside the commander's tent, he became as calm and collected as a quail.

Upon hearing that the King of Han was about to deliver the verdict, Zhou Hua became uneasy.

After a moment's thought, Liu Huai offered a compromise: "Detain Zhou Hua for now, and discuss Zhang Shousu's merits and demerits in detail after the war before taking any further action."

Not taking immediate action was already a stance in itself, but it still gave the Han army some face and served as a form of appeasement.

Wu Yong could only agree immediately.

After the group finished eating the mutton soup and left the command tent, Liang Su rushed over.

He waved the document in his hand and said, "Gu Qingchen has made a great contribution this time! If what he said is true, the Jin invaders will completely abandon Bianliang City today!"

"Young Master, the Jin invaders are retreating!"

Liu Huai nodded: "That's right. Based on that, Gu Qingchen's contribution is indeed the greatest this time."

As a strategic stronghold for the Jin army in Kaifeng, Bianliang City would absolutely not be abandoned for no reason.

Therefore, after stabilizing several garrison troops, Crown Prince Wanyan Guangying returned to Bianliang City to take charge.

Wanyan Guangying's departure signifies that the Jin army's relocation of the capital is nearing completion. What needed to be abandoned has been abandoned, and what could be withdrawn has been withdrawn. The main force of the Jin army led by Pusan ​​Zhongyi should also be ready to move.

This made the Han army's leadership realize that the decisive battle to pacify Kaifeng Prefecture was likely just around the corner.

Liu Huai rose, supporting himself with his sword, and went to the sand table in the rear tent. Liang Su also looked at it for a while, but finally he couldn't hold back any longer: "Young Master, it's time to make some adjustments. Our army is currently more than capable of defending itself, but it is not enough to launch proactive attacks."

After weighing the pros and cons, Liu Huai decisively ordered: "Let Xin Wulang leave behind 1,000 regular troops plus all auxiliary troops to deal with the Song state. The entire army of 5,000 shall set off immediately and come to join forces with us along the southern branch of the Yellow River."

Then send another order to Zhang Baiyu, instructing him to lead all his troops to converge on me. The auxiliary troops can arrive later, but the main force must arrive within two days!

Liang Su immediately wrote the document and affixed his official seal.

Just as the document was being sealed with wax, a military envoy came in from outside the tent: "Report! Military intelligence has arrived from Hebei!"

Liu Huai immediately took the question: "The ice jam has already started, how did Hebei manage to get the military intelligence from here?"

"Reporting to the King of Han, the military envoy took a long detour from Dongping Prefecture before finally arriving at Kaifeng Prefecture."

Liu Huai opened the document, glanced at it twice, and couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "Now Shanxi is truly in chaos."

The military intelligence came from Shexian County.

Although Wanyan Guying's troops were elite, they were no match for Shi Qilang's artillery and ability to wait in ambush.

After being inexplicably bombarded, the Jin army was immediately routed.

Shi Qilang had relatively few troops and was burdened with important responsibilities, so he did not pursue them, but only captured some prisoners.

By obtaining information about Hexi from these prisoners and combining it with intelligence from the rebel army in Hedong, Shi Qilang finally pieced together what had happened on the west side of the Yellow River.

Wanyan Liang has completely invaded Western Xia territory, breached the Western Xia Hengshan defense line, and occupied the land of Yinxia.

The fundamental reason why Wanyan Guying did not launch a desperate attack on Shexian County lies precisely in this.

Across the Yellow River, Shanxi has witnessed a dramatic reenactment of the Three Kingdoms period – something no one could have predicted.

The document sent by Shi Qilang was accompanied by the opinion of He Boqiu, the Grand General of Hebei.

Because the situation in Shanxi was unpredictable, the feint attack launched by Marshal Tudan Kening in Hebei was now meaningless.

Dongjin was already at a disadvantage, and the generals of various armies were somewhat demoralized, so they stopped fighting as a result.

At this point, the war in Hebei had come to an end. He Boqiu believed that there was now a foundation for a major annihilation battle in Henan. As long as Liu Huai could hold off the main force of the Jin army for 10 to 20 days and wait for the Yellow River ice flood season to end, at least 13,000 Han troops from Hebei could come south to provide support.

Unless Wanyan Liang can fly over with the main force from Guanzhong, Pusan ​​Zhongyi is doomed!
"Mr. Liang, what do you think?"

Liang Su skimmed through the document, then chuckled and said, "Really... I don't know what to say. Oh well, now that we have definite news from Kansai, it's a good thing."

However, this could actually make Xijin our greatest enemy.

Liu Huai waved his hand: "It's alright. Wanyan Liang must have been planning to attack Western Xia from the beginning, but for some reason, he broke through the Song army in Guanzhong first."

Now that Wanyan Liang has not taken advantage of the situation to invade Sichuan, with Mr. Lu's abilities, he will soon be able to regroup and rebuild.

Upon hearing this, Liang Su smiled wryly, recalling his senior brother's assessment of Yu Yunwen and Lu You: "Now that Prime Minister Lu has taken charge, it's just that we don't know whether it's a good thing or a bad thing."

Liu Huai also sighed.

It may sound like a great thing to govern a region and wield both military and political power, but there is no such thing as having power without responsibility.

With great power comes immense responsibility, a responsibility that can crush a person.

Liang Su continued to peruse the documents, and after flipping through them for a while, he finally became somewhat annoyed: "Commander He is truly ignorant; why has he forgotten such a crucial matter?"

Liu Huai was slightly taken aback, but couldn't recall anything else.

Liang Su, brandishing the document, said, "Why not include a note along the way inquiring about the Princess's well-being?!"

Liu Huai was somewhat amused and exasperated: "Ten days ago, before the flood season even started, A-Jun had already sent a letter, and I even showed it to Mr. Liang. Has Mr. Liang forgotten?"

Liang Su solemnly replied, "Your subject naturally remembers, but since it concerns the safety of the Princess Consort, how can we not include a report with every military intelligence briefing? This is a matter of utmost importance, and it is also a dereliction of duty by Commander He!"

This matter actually had nothing to do with He Boqiu, because Wei Rujun was recuperating in Jinan Prefecture, but that didn't stop Liang Su from throwing the blame onto He Boqiu.

Who caused the Yellow River to divert to the Huai River and change course to the Si River?

Theoretically, Shandong is also considered Hebei.

Liu Huai simply shook his head and chuckled, then a sense of worry crept into his heart. War was fraught with danger and the conflict was dragging on. He didn't know if he would live to see his child born. It was truly a worrying thought...

(End of this chapter)