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

Chapter 911 Rebuilding the Old Lands
The process of registering these 30,000 Jurchen households into the general population will inevitably be a long and arduous undertaking.

Even if the Han army mobilized all its strength, it would be quite an achievement to finish the spring plowing at the tail end.

However, Kaifeng Prefecture is currently in complete chaos, and these hundreds of thousands of Jurchens are just one of the problems.

Some things are even more urgent.

The most typical example is the water conservancy project around Bianliang.

The Jin ministers were capable and tried their best to maintain order, but they focused most of their efforts on the Yellow River. The waterways around Bianliang had long been in disrepair, and even the Bian River, which flowed through Bianliang, was silted up.

If it is not renovated, Bianliang will lose its status as a commercial center.

These tasks certainly could not be accomplished in Zhongmu County; they had to be coordinated from the central city of Bianliang.

However, facing the nearby city of Bianliang, Liu Huai did not rush to enter. Instead, he continued to send out scouts, spreading out in all directions like a large net.

With meticulous investigation, many things were quickly resolved.

First of all, the Jin army had truly collapsed, and collapsed completely. Apart from those who fled to Xingyang, one or two thousand cavalrymen actually went south, passing through Xuzhou and entering the Nanyang Basin. It is unclear whether they wanted to surrender to the Song Dynasty or wanted to take a long detour and return to Guanzhong via the Wuguan Pass.

The banner of loyalty and righteousness also appeared in Heyin, and the Jin army along the entire Xingyang defense line was like a giant hedgehog, adopting a posture of full alert.

Secondly, Yu Yunwen's messenger also found Liu Huai and presented him with a plan to attack the Jin army from both the north and south, which left Liu Huai somewhat amused and exasperated.

This plan is indeed very comprehensive.

Liu Huai marched south across the Yellow River, approaching Bianliang and drawing away the main force of the loyalist army. Subsequently, the Song army broke through Yique Pass and occupied Luoyang.

With their combined efforts, the two sides swallowed up Xijin's main force in the east in one fell swoop.

This plan is indeed feasible to some extent, but its only drawback is that it is half a month too late. Now the Jin army has all retreated to the Xingyang defense line.

If the Song army were to launch a strong attack on Yique Pass at this time, they would face a devastating blow from the combined forces of Pusan ​​Zhongyi and his son Pusan ​​Kui.

Despite his apparent weakness and hasty retreat when facing the Han army, Pu Sanzhongyi was still capable of fighting the Song army.

After replying and briefly explaining the situation, Liu Huai met an unexpected person in Zhongmu County.

Xijin actually sent envoys to try to reclaim those Meng'an-Muke households.

Liu Huai's heinous act of killing Jin envoys was notorious throughout the land, so the fact that he still dared to come on a mission at this time can only be described as a man of great courage.

The letter was written by Pusan ​​Zhongyi himself, using extremely humble language. The central idea was simple: he wanted the King of Han to release the Meng'an Mouke households so that they could reunite with their families.

As usual, Liu Huai asked the envoy whether he was willing to die or surrender, and the envoy seemed to have been prepared and decisively chose to surrender.

Liu Huai didn't make things difficult for him; he simply wrote a note and had the envoy's attendant take it back.

The note contained only one sentence: Let the young and strong Jurchens come to Bianliang to reunite with their families.

The meaning is simple: you either fight back or surrender; there is no third option.

After sending the Jin envoy away, the main force of the Han army's infantry finally arrived at Zhongmu County.

This was not Xin Qiji's delaying tactic, but rather that although the Han army did not want to directly confront the Xingyang defense line at this time, they could not simply leave it unattended.

After the Jin army collapsed that day, the Han infantrymen took Yuanwu like a bulldozer and built a military camp on the upper reaches of the Jinshui River as the foundation for a castle.

This means establishing a similar defensive line.

At this point, a group of warriors from Bianliang, led by Lou Wangsun, finally panicked and left the city to come to Zhongmu County to pay their respects to the King of Han.

These men were somewhat aggrieved, because Liu Huai's military orders to them were to maintain order in Bianliang. However, more than ten days had passed, and apart from a few military advisors escorting several large ships of grain to stabilize grain prices, the Han army had not taken any action against the vast city of Bianliang.

These people were also worried that their sitting comfortably in the city might have made the King of Han dislike them.

"How could that be? You all have truly done a great service by ensuring the safety of Bianliang City."

Faced with Lou Wangsun and others' apologies, Liu Huai did not criticize them harshly. Instead, he held a banquet and comforted them with gentle words.

Although there was no wine or song and dance at the banquet, and the food was just ordinary millet rice as usual in the army, the only difference was that there was some stewed mutton, as well as some tofu and bean sprouts, which was more plentiful than what ordinary soldiers ate.

After receiving comfort from Liu Huai, the generals of Bianliang breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Liu Huai's next words made them jump to their throats again.

"However, according to my military order, whether you can still be employed after the forty-day deadline, and in what position, depends on the military judge's merit record book." Liu Huai raised his wine cup and drank the water in it in one gulp: "But don't worry, protecting Bianliang is a great achievement, and I have no reason not to reward you for your merits."

Lou Wangsun stepped forward first, bowed and said: "The way the King of Han is the way of the king, and we have no complaints. It is only regrettable that we did not recognize the mandate of heaven earlier and changed our flag and started a rebellion earlier, which is why we are in this predicament today."

Liu Huai waved his hand, gesturing for Lou Wangsun to sit back down: "I don't blame you. In the end, one must assess the situation and act accordingly. For example, if you had switched sides that day, Pusan ​​Zhongyi would definitely have been the first to strike."

Zhang Hao, on the contrary, did the right thing, which avoided the use of force in the city, and that was a great act of kindness.

Oh, by the way, since Zhang Hao didn't leave, didn't he send any message either?

Lou Wangsun shook his head: "Lord Zhang was merely handling government affairs in the government office and did not say anything."

At this point, Lou Wangsun said somewhat nervously, "Young Master Han, Minister Zhang is a true gentleman. He meant no disrespect to the Prince of Han, it's just... it's just..."

Liu Huai waved his hand dismissively and said, "It's just that he's concerned about saving face, a bit of a scholar-official's fault. It's nothing. If Zhang Hao really has the talent to save the world and the people, why shouldn't I treat him with respect and personally invite him?"

Lou Wangsun was completely relieved upon hearing this.

The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely that day, but the generals of Bianliang still couldn't understand why Liu Huai was staying in Zhongmou and refusing to leave, or what he was waiting for. Of course, since their lord hadn't brought it up, they had no reason to ask.

However, Liu Huai did not delay any longer.

On the third day after the generals of Bianliang left, the Han army finally broke camp and headed east under the watchful eyes of the masses.

All the generals participating in the battle were fully armed and in high spirits.

Each unit polished its armor until it gleamed, washed its robes clean, and marched along the official road, singing triumphant songs.

Because spring plowing has already begun, there are already scattered farmers working in the fields along both sides of the official road.

The people of Kaifeng Prefecture, unlike the people of Shandong who had long been under the rule of the emperor, were more afraid of the army and fled to distant places when they saw the army approaching.

However, seeing that this large army did not capture people to be enslaved, nor shoot people for amusement, and even deliberately bypassed the fields and marched along the roads, many farmers nervously carried their hoes back to the fields.

It just rained, so it's the perfect time to prepare the fields. We mustn't delay.

As soon as the Han army set off, people in Bianliang City learned that the Han army was about to arrive, and soon someone reported this to Zhang Hao, who was in charge of the city.

Lou Wangsun bowed deeply, his attitude extremely humble: "Prime Minister Zhang, the current situation of the world is in the hands of the King of Han. Before, when you did not go to Zhongmu, you could have made an excuse that it was to stabilize the situation in Bianliang. But now, if you do not welcome him at the city gate, it is simply unacceptable."

Zhang Hao took off his stiff-winged turban and leaned back in his chair with complete relaxation. He patted a stack of documents beside him: "Sigh... I always ask you to read more books, but you always make excuses."

What the King of Han wants are these documents and account books; isn't that more important than this old man going out of the city to greet him?"

Lou Wangsun was very anxious and was about to offer some advice when he heard Zhang Hao stroke his snow-white hair and mutter to himself, "However, what you said makes some sense. Here's what we'll do: you go outside the city to prepare, and I'll change my clothes and then come over."

Lou Wangsun was relieved to hear this.

However, as soon as he left the Hall of State Affairs and returned to his residence to fetch his horse, he felt increasingly flustered.

When Lou Wangsun passed by the place where they had ambushed and killed Wanyan Guangying, he suddenly realized what had happened and immediately ran back to the Hall of State Affairs.

After kicking open the locked door, Lou Wangsun was not surprised to find that Zhang Hao had hanged himself.

Whether out of fear or shame, Lou Wangsun burst into tears.

Suppressing his pain, Lou Wangsun laid Zhang Hao's body down before taking a letter from his hand. Upon seeing that the envelope was addressed to the King of Han, Lou Wangsun dared not delay. He instructed the clerk to take good care of Zhang Hao's body before rushing out again.

As Lou Wangsun, with tears streaming down his face, braved the stares of the crowd to join the welcoming Han army, the vanguard of the Han army had already arrived at the gates of Bianliang.

"Old Lou, what's wrong with you?"

Someone whispered harshly, "Don't you know what time it is? What are you crying about?"

Normally, Lou Wangsun would have reprimanded him before he would have stopped, but now he could only shake his head and choke out, "Master Zhang... Master Zhang is gone..."

"What……"

"How could this be... this... Master Zhang..."

Lou Wangsun's words elicited hushed gasps from the crowd.

But there's no time to think about that now.

The vanguard cavalry of the Han army swarmed into the city and quickly occupied all the key city gates and passageways.

The knights and armored soldiers who followed lined up on both sides of the road, and several banners arrived from afar.

However, those with keen eyes noticed that the leading flag was not the well-known Chinese character flag, but a flag that looked very old and worn, with obvious signs of burning and arrow holes.

The character "魏" was written on it in a large font.

A few quick-witted, or perhaps slow-thinking, individuals suddenly came up with an absurd idea.

Could it be that someone is replacing the Han dynasty with the Wei dynasty?

In the next instant, everyone realized what was happening.

Behind the large Wei-character banner were two brand-new, ornately decorated flags.

One side reads: Han.

One side of the inscription reads: Yue.

Only then came the large banner with Chinese characters, and the four banners bearing the political program of the Han army.

The large banner bearing the character "Liu" was not alone, even though it was at the very back.

On the left is a large flag with the character "陆" (Lu), and on the right is a large flag with the character "虞" (Yu).

While the officials of Kaifeng Prefecture were still in surprise and doubt, the insightful Lou Wangsun had already realized the truth.

Nearly forty years have passed since the Han Chinese dynasty of Song surrendered the Central Plains to others.

After countless heroic tales, tragic deaths, and fierce battles, the Han king finally led those who had failed to reach this place back to fight their way back.

Lou Wangsun, clutching Zhang Hao's suicide note, promptly knelt down on the ground.

On the fifteenth day of the second month of the fourth year of the Longxing era, the Han army entered Bianliang City, and Kaifeng Prefecture was restored.

(End of this chapter)