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

Chapter 916 Frequent Clashes Between the Jurchens and Mongols

The two grassland warlords were indeed quite extraordinary.

They arrived at the Jin army camp with over a hundred personal guards to participate in the banquet, and surprisingly, they spoke as usual, without showing the slightest sign of fear.

They had no concern whatsoever that this was a trap.

Of course, it is also possible that the Mughal people, who were still in the tribal period at that time, did not have the custom of killing people at banquets, which is why Yesugei was so easily poisoned by his nemesis, the Tatars.

Regardless, everyone had a good time that day.

Yesugei did not follow his grandfather Khabul's example and pull the Jin emperor's beard.

Wanyan Yong did not follow his second uncle's example and drag the Mongol Khan away to spank him.

The banquet ended in a harmonious atmosphere, with both sides offering each other compliments.

Of course, it was only after the banquet ended that it was time to discuss serious matters.

As the saying goes, important matters are discussed in small meetings, and minor matters are discussed in large meetings. Soon, only a handful of people remained in the imperial tent.

At this moment, Yesugei tore off his cautious facade and, wiping his oily hands, said, "Your Majesty, I have a question. If Your Majesty does not give an answer, we cannot continue our discussion."

Wanyan Fushou was about to draw his sword and rebuke him, but Wanyan Yong stopped him: "Yesugei, you are a man of the grasslands, you should be as straightforward as an eagle, why are you now like a snake in a ditch?"

Yesugei sneered twice, without refuting: "I just want to ask, how could my fourth brother lose his life here, even his head, after just one trip to Linhuang Mansion?!"

Wanyan Yong said in a deep voice, "This was the work of a spy sent by Liu Dalang! My trusted general also lost his life that night. Can we really say that it was the Mongols who did it?"

In truth, the night was extremely chaotic, with several factions fighting fiercely under the cover of darkness. No one knew whether these distinguished guests had actually died in the chaos.

No one even knew whether there were actually Han spies sneaking in.

However, Wanyan Yong still had some political acumen. He understood that there would always be beneficiaries in any political turmoil, and as long as he kept a close eye on who the beneficiaries were, he could roughly guess who the mastermind was.

The Khitan tribe's abandonment of their ancestral homeland, Linhuangfu, and retreat into the Yanshan Mountains was clearly unpleasant for the Jurchen, Khitan, and Mongol tribes. The only beneficiary was Liu Huai, who was hundreds of miles away.

Therefore, Wanyan Yong could only pin the blame on Liu Huai.

He has to carry it, whether he likes it or not!
Yesugei naturally knew that asking with just his mouth would only lead to this result, so he didn't press the matter. Instead, he said, "Your Majesty, I have heard of the name of that Flying Tiger on the grasslands. He is truly a hero of the world."

"The descendants of the Eternal Heaven are all wild wolves. Now Your Majesty actually wants wolves to fight tigers. Please forgive us, we cannot do it."

If you can't do it, why did you gather such a large army here? Are you just bored and looking for something to do?
After muttering a few complaints to himself, Wanyan Yong calmed down and explained: "Although Liu is powerful, he doesn't have many cavalry. The plains of Hebei and Henan stretch for thousands of miles. With the Mongol cavalry's ability to move like the wind, who can stop them?"

Yesugei squinted, scratched his braided hair, and laughed, "Does Your Majesty mean we don't need to fight that flying tiger?"

Wanyan Yong shrugged and replied, "That's right. Moreover, all the wealth, women, people, and food you've plundered are yours to take as much as you want! As long as you can carry it."

It was also time for his heart to flutter.

If Wanyan Yong were to summon the Mongol tribes to fight a tough battle in the Central Plains, very few would be willing to do it.

The saying goes, "Some people will do a business that could cost them their lives, but no one will do a business that loses money." Given the great distance between them, even if they were to conquer the country, it wouldn't be the Mongols who would sit on it.

Yesugei lacks a great spirit of internationalism; why would he be so foolish as to take a risk for Wanyan Yong?

But burning, killing, and looting were exactly what the Mongols wanted.

The Central Plains and Hebei were a land of plenty, rich and beautiful scenery, while the Mongolian grasslands were a desolate place lacking everything. It could be said that in the eyes of the Mongolians, the Central Plains were full of good things.

The Mongols didn't need to fight at all; they simply dispersed and looted along the way.

They couldn't conquer the famous cities and towns of the Central Plains, nor could they defeat the regular troops of the Han army. Were the villages and manors in Han territory really that fortified? Were the Han army's supply trains also that capable of fighting?

Wanyan Yong had the same idea.

If tens of thousands of Mongol cavalry could be brought into Hebei and the Central Plains, even if they achieved nothing on the battlefield and only knew how to burn, kill, and plunder, it would be enough to severely damage the fragile livelihood of the Han people.

At that time, we won't even need to provide food and supplies to the Mongols!
Without food, with refugees everywhere, let's see what you'll use to launch the Northern Expedition!

Moreover, the Mongol cavalry would need to enter Hebei via the Taihang or Yanshan Mountains. If the Jin army locked the passes, wouldn't they still be able to force the Mongol army to fight the Han army head-on?
Wanyan Yongyuan called this tactic "closing the door to drive away the dogs and then striking the tiger".

Yesugei and Toli exchanged a glance, thought for a moment, and then said, "Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Jin, we are willing to send troops to the Great Jin, but we must first feed the Mongol tribesmen."

"If you want wolves and tigers to fight, you have to feed the wolves first."

Wanyan Yong looked into Yesugei's eyes and asked, "What do you want?"

Yesugei's breathing quickened slightly: "I want Linhuang Mansion, I want the rivers and grasslands here, and I want the women of the village even more."

I also require the Great Jin to formally bestow upon me the title of Great Khan of the Eastern Mongol Empire, and to bestow upon my sworn brother the title of Great Khan of the Western Mongol Empire. In this way, all the Mongol tribes will naturally become permanent vassals of the Great Jin.

Wanyan Fushou finally lost his temper, stood up with his sword, and shouted, "Insolence!" Wanyan Yong's face also darkened, and he cursed inwardly that these two were simply shameless.

The Jin state could not possibly agree to these two conditions.

Linhuang Prefecture holds special significance for the Khitan tribes. Although the tribes outside the mountains now obey orders but not summons, the tribes inside the mountains are still insecure.

If Linhuang Prefecture were ceded to the Khitans, their sworn enemies, the Khitans would surely launch another rebellion!
Moreover, Linhuang Prefecture is too close to Liaodong.

If the Mongols were determined, they could easily march into Liaodong and stab the Jin Dynasty in the back.

The Han army still occupies the Liaodong Peninsula. If the Mongols are also drawn there, and the Khitans rebel, Liaodong will really become a hotbed of trouble.

Besides, the idea of ​​enfeoffing the Great Khan Mengwu was also wishful thinking.

This is equivalent to the Jin Dynasty giving up its rule over the various tribes of the steppe and finding them two new masters. In the future, Yesugei and Toghril can annex the Mongol tribes with a clear conscience.

Given their abilities and strength, they will become too powerful to control within three years and develop unwarranted ambitions.

Although Yesugei was not angry upon seeing this, he still sneered, "General, don't try to scare me. Your Majesty, it is the Great Jin that is begging us, not the other way around."

"The fierce tiger among the Han people isn't preying on us Mongols. Let me be clear today: without our help, the Great Jin Dynasty's lifespan is only a few years. Then, what we Mongols desire will naturally come into our hands."

Actually, Yesugei was talking nonsense. Although he knew that there was a Han King in the Central Plains and that the Emperor of the Great Jin Kingdom had come to the grasslands to ask for help, and that the Han King was indeed fierce, he really didn't think that the Jin Kingdom, a great power spanning thousands of miles, would be destroyed in just two or three years.

However, Yesugei didn't know that Wanyan Yong was very knowledgeable.

The Jin Dynasty is truly doomed.

The Jin army was completely suppressed by the Han army in every aspect, not just in one area.

In terms of manpower reserves, the Jurchens are limited, while the Han Chinese are endless. Even if the Jurchens start having children as many as they want right now, they still won't be able to keep up.

In terms of field combat capability, the Jin army was repeatedly defeated by the Han army; their cavalry was ineffective, and their infantry was ineffective as well. Previously, it was easier to shake a mountain than to shake Yue Fei's army; now, it's even harder to shake Yue Fei's army, and even harder to shake the Han army.

In terms of defensive capabilities, the Han army also had a wide variety of gunpowder weapons, including explosives and cannons. Which fortified city could withstand the repeated bombardment by cannons and counterweight catapults?

Especially cannons, which are not like gunpowder that has been developed to a semi-mature stage and can be modified for military use.

Casting cannons is a highly technical task, and even though Wanyan Yong gathered bell-casting masters from all over the country to tackle the difficulties, he still couldn't achieve a result.

The Jin army's overall military inferiority made it impossible for them to even defend themselves.

Wanyan Yong knew that if it weren't for the Three Jin regions tying them up on the flank, the Han army would have already been fighting the Jin army head-on on the Hebei Plain.

As long as the Han army bombs cities along the way, it can force the Jin state to concentrate all its elite troops for a decisive battle.

If they win, the Jin dynasty will only be able to prolong its existence for a few years, and the Han army will regroup for two years before making a comeback.

If we lose, wouldn't the Jin Kingdom be doomed?!
However, at this moment, Wanyan Yong absolutely could not show weakness: "If that's the case, that's fine too. But since the Mongol tribes have become vassals of my Great Jin, why don't you two come and stay in Yanjing?"

When I re-establish the Ji Army, your sons, nephews, and brothers can also seek a future in the army. Why not?

Yesugei's expression changed, and he abruptly stood up: "Is Your Majesty perhaps toying with us?!"

Wanyan Yong spread his hands and said, "Don't you all know that all talk about vassal states and barriers is just nonsense?"
Why are you trying to fob me off? Do you not take me, the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty, seriously?

Both sides accused each other, but they still had to sit down and continue talking.

There was no other way; the grasslands were simply too poor. They lacked everything from silk and gold to iron pots and hoes. Yesugei had just unified the Eastern Mongol tribes and was eager to establish his prestige. He had an extremely strong desire to plunder the Central Plains and Hebei.

And Wanyan Yong did indeed need the Mongol cavalry.

"Your Majesty, we can do without the Linhuang Prefecture. But we must be given a title, otherwise we won't be able to attract so many tribes."

Although Yesugei took a step back, he didn't retreat too much.

Because Linhuang Prefecture is effectively empty, after the Khitan tribes withdrew, a large amount of grassland was left vacant. Wanyan Zonghao's army alone could not cover it all. If they shamelessly came over and occupied the grassland, would Wanyan Zonghao still be able to raise his butcher's knife?

After thinking for a moment, Wanyan Yong smiled and said, "I have a better idea."

On June 19th, the Jin Dynasty and the Mongol Empire held a ceremony at Linhuang Prefecture to worship Heaven and Earth and swear an oath of allegiance by drinking blood.

On the altar, Wanyan Yong, Yesugei, and Tuoli drank blood wine together, witnessed by countless soldiers of the Jin and Mongol kingdoms.

This is not over yet.

In the latter half of the sacrificial ceremony, Wanyan Yong stepped down from the altar, and his eldest son, Wanyan Yungong, ascended the altar. He, Yesugei, and Tuoli exchanged personal swords according to the customs of the grasslands and became sworn brothers.

Yelü Wowo watched this scene from below the stage with complicated emotions. He wanted to say something, but his brain, destroyed by alcohol, was in a daze, and he forgot everything he had just been thinking.

(End of this chapter)