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

Chapter 920 The relocation of the capital to Jiankang involves a wide range of issues.

In Lin'an City.

Luo Huaiyan brandished a large spear in the courtyard, sweat pouring down his body and soaking his trousers; his muscles were already beginning to take shape.

Su Kuan watched for a while, and only after Luo Huaiyan put away his spear did he clap his hands and say, "Young master, what skill you have!"

Luo Huaiyan tossed the spear onto the shelf, waved his hand, and laughed, "It's just for show. Didn't you see that Brother Cheng didn't say a word?"

Cheng Tianpeng cupped his hands and said, "In Lin'an, we'll use our wits, not our strength. Young Master's skill lies in using his wits, so let us handle the martial arts."

Luo Huaiyan pointed at Cheng Tianpeng and smiled at Su Kuan, "Did you hear that? Brother Cheng means my skills are simply not up to par."

Just as Cheng Tianpeng was about to wave his hand to say something, he saw Luo Huaiyan beckon him, indicating that they should talk inside.

After the three of them sat down, Luo Huaiyan picked up a letter from the desk: "The main reason I called you two here this time is because of this matter."

After the two passed the letter around and looked through it, they handed it back to Luo Huaiyan.

After Luo Huaiyan took it, he lit it over the candle flame. After watching the letter burn to ashes, he said, "This winter, Dongjin may make a big move and wants to send Mongol troops to Hebei and the Central Plains."

The central staff believed that the Jin invaders might not necessarily go all in and send all their forces to fight a decisive battle. However, the Prince of Han would certainly not stand idly by while the Mongols ravaged the Central Plains of Hebei, and would very likely send troops to meet them.

Once an army of hundreds of thousands is mobilized, no one can control how it will end up fighting.

The best outcome would be a decisive victory, annihilating the Eastern Jin; the worst outcome would be our army being cut off from its supply lines by the Mongol cavalry, resulting in a major rout at the front and the loss of all territory north of the Yellow River.

Cheng Tianpeng was the only one of the three who had participated in large-scale military operations and was also the military guarantor of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Lin'an. Upon hearing this, he shook his head repeatedly: "Although I don't know what happened with the Mongol cavalry, I have heard from the Khitans in the army that the Mongols are the sworn enemies of the Khitan tribe in Linhuang Prefecture."

If they can only fight the Khitans to a standstill, given our army's strength, why should we worry? The central government is being far too cautious.

Luo Huaiyan had once served as a military advisor to Liu Huai, so he naturally knew how the General Staff operated. He held up a finger and shook it: "The General Staff has always been like this: make the worst preparations and strive for the best, but that doesn't mean our army is really afraid of those Mongol barbarians."

Su Kuan scratched his head and said, "Whether we're fighting the Mongols or the Jurchens, what can we do in Lin'an?"

Luo Huaiyan replied seriously: "There is so much we can do. In any case, this winter, most of the country's military forces will be in Hebei, leaving Shandong and even Henan vulnerable. The mission of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is to use every means to prevent the Song Dynasty from launching an attack on Henan and Shandong."

Even if we can't stop it, we must at least issue an early warning. Currently, it's Brother Xin Wu handling military affairs in Henan; we need to establish a rapid communication channel, and even a personnel transfer channel, between Lin'an and Xuzhou.”

Su Kuan immediately nodded: "I'll prepare the route. We have some evacuation methods before, so we just need to modify them a little."

Luo Huaiyan nodded, but then instructed again: "Not only the roads leading to Xuzhou, but also the other roads, including those leading to Bashu, Jingxiang, and Huaixi, all need to be repaved, and several more should be prepared as backups."

Su Kuan was slightly surprised: "Is it that serious?"

Luo Huaiyan didn't answer, but turned to Cheng Tianpeng: "Brother Cheng, do you dare to die?"

Cheng Tianpeng smiled, then turned to look at the candlelight: "I was originally a stable boy from the Meng'an Mouke household of the Jurchens. My father was hung up and whipped to death because he had a few words with the Jurchen bandits after eating a couple of mouthfuls of horse feed."

Later, it was the Duke of Wei and the King of Han who led a northern expedition to Linyi, relieving us from our dire straits. Because I didn't understand the King of Han, I even insulted him behind his back, but the King of Han didn't care and sent Zhang Silang to personally persuade me to stay. He also changed my name from Da Niao (Big Bird) to Tian Peng (Sky Roc), which brought me wealth and peace later on.

Such immense kindness and virtue cannot be repaid even with ten thousand deaths.

Luo Huaiyan gritted his teeth and said, "That's good. We have about two hundred cavalrymen hidden around Lin'an. They are all brave and skilled in archery and horsemanship."

If things reach a point of utter crisis and there is no way to salvage the situation, I hope you can lead them directly into the Song capital and kill the Song emperor!

"Let me be frank with you, even if this succeeds, you'll most likely all die. Do you dare to do it?"

Su Kuan's expression changed drastically, but Cheng Tianpeng remained calm and smiled, "Young Master Luo, wasn't Commander Shen sending us here that day precisely so that we could fight to the death? Since we were prepared, why would we be afraid of dying?"

Luo Huaiyan nodded slightly, then said to Su Kuan, "What are these cowardly Jiangdong rats who are content with their little corner of the country incapable of? What if they launch another white-robed crossing of the river?"
Are we to sit idly by and watch the Prince of Han, like the First Emperor, fail to realize his ambitions? Are we to watch Brother Xin Wu meet a violent end like Guan Yu?!
I was someone who was about to starve to death and was stealing horse feed when the King of Han led me out of the reeds and saved my life by sharing a piece of cake with me.
You were someone who, after your entire family and village were wiped out, and you could only seek justice with a knife, were taken to Shandong by the King of Han to divide up the land.

We have both received great kindness from the King of Han, and now is the time to repay him with our lives. Are you afraid of death?

Su Kuan's face flushed red, and he immediately pointed to the sky and swore: "I will never forget the kindness of the King of Han! I will surely repay it with my life!"

Luo Huaiyan grabbed Su Kuan's arm: "I don't want you to die, I want you to risk your life to get this done!"

Su Kuan nodded emphatically.

After the three chief officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Lin'an reached a consensus, spies throughout Jiangnan and even the entire Song Dynasty sprang into action.

The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) stationed in various industries were all following instructions, either finding ways to be placed on key roads, purchasing carriages, boats, and horses, or working closely with Song officials. Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

However, just one day later, Su Kuan came to find Luo Huaiyan again: "Young Master, there are some problems in Jiankang."

Luo Huaiyan frowned: "Jiankang?"

"Yes, the ten men that Crab led secured the position of deputy commander of the city gate in Jiankang, but were replaced yesterday."

"Has someone discovered it?"

"No, the Imperial City Guard only knows how to cause trouble in Lin'an. Recently, they've only increased their manpower in Jiankang; they haven't gone to the point of handling every little detail." "Is it that someone is taking money and not doing their job? Or are they just not using the name of Prince Gong's Mansion?"

Prince Gong, also known as Zhao Shen's son Zhao Dun, was a strong candidate for crown prince.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards couldn't reach Zhao Dun himself, but they could easily place people in the Prince's residence and win over one or two stewards and instructors to act under his authority.

Moreover, anyone living in the human world needs money.

Under Luo Huaiyan's secret instructions, a local merchant found a trade route to the north for Prince Gong's mansion, which brought Zhao Dun huge income every year. This made Princess Li Fengniang stand out among her sisters-in-law and she praised the Imperial Guard highly.

Using the name of Prince Gong's Mansion to place city gate officials in Jiankang, a key commercial hub, was a matter that benefited both the public and private interests. It was also something that Li Fengniang had whispered in Zhao Dun's ear.

Now it's inexplicably gone, how can this be?
This isn't just slapping the Embroidered Uniform Guard's backside; it's slapping Zhao Dun in the face!
Su Kuan frowned and said, "It's not targeting any one person, but all the city gate officials have been replaced. It was all done by Shi Hao, the current garrison commander of Jiankang."

Luo Huaiyan stood up and paced back and forth: "Shi Hao... what is this guy up to now? Could it be... could it be that he wants to move the capital?"

Rumors of moving the capital have been circulating for a long time, but since the major defeat in Kansai at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, and the demotion of the current Right Chancellor Shi Hao to Jiankang Prefecture, these rumors have gradually subsided.

The location of a country's capital is so important that a single move can affect the whole situation. If the monarch does not have great prestige, how can he mobilize it?
But if the capital really has to be moved, then all the previous worries will disappear.

No matter how capable Zhao Shen was, it was impossible for him to deal with internal pressures and resolve differences while simultaneously waging war against the north.

He's not Li Shimin!
However, there is another possibility.

That is, Zhao Shen was going to personally lead an expedition, sending troops from Lianghuai to attack Shandong in the Central Plains. Jiankang was the Song army's forward base, so it needed to be strictly controlled.

Although the possibility is small, it is by no means nonexistent.

"No, I have to go to Jiankang myself to see what's going on."

Without further ado, Luo Huaiyan immediately led a few people, disguised as a caravan, and set off northward.

Amidst the sweltering heat, Luo Huaiyan met Wu Zhong, who was using the alias "Crab": "Explain yourself clearly, what exactly happened?"

Sweat beaded on Wu Zhong's forehead, but he still said helplessly, "Nobody knows what Shi Hao has gone mad with, actually dismissing all the city gate officers..."

“I know all of that. Now, let me tell you what I don’t know.”

Wu Zhong thought carefully for a moment: "Then we need to repair the roads and build a port."

Upon hearing this, Luo Huaiyan's heart sank.

"...Besides that, I heard that the princes and nobles of Lin'an paid a high price to buy land and build houses."

"Furthermore, many minor officials have become highly esteemed. I heard that even the minor officials in charge of documents in Jiankang Prefecture have become sons of dukes and marquises. A few days ago, many long-serving officials went to the prefectural office to cause trouble, but Shi Hao ordered them to be driven out."

"As for official positions, they are even more coveted. Wei Qi, the former registrar of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, actually gave up a prestigious official position in the court and became a high-ranking official in Jiankang Prefecture. It is said that he is incorruptible and has won widespread praise from the people."

"A while ago, rice prices suddenly soared, but Shi Hao was quite capable. He transferred dozens of boats of grain over, and the price immediately stabilized."

"There's also the Imperial City Guard, which is also located in Jiankang Prefecture and has had some conflicts with the Street Cleaners."

Luo Huaiyan breathed a slight sigh of relief; it seemed the capital really was going to be moved.

If it were a war, given the nature of those scholar-officials, why would they really send their sons and grandsons to fight to the death?

"Any more?"

Wu Zhong pondered carefully for a moment before saying, "Oh, right, there's one more thing. It seems that the construction of the Jiankang Palace has been halted. I heard it's because there isn't enough timber."

Luo Huaiyan was taken aback: "Timber? What's that reason?"

Seeing Luo Huaiyan's serious expression, Wu Zhong became somewhat flustered and quickly said, "It is indeed timber..."

Luo Huaiyan found it somewhat absurd.

The capital was moved here by the emperor. If the palace hadn't been built, where would the emperor live?

Is it an open-air convertible?
Luo Huaiyan paced back and forth in the same spot again.

It's so weird, so weird.

Originally, it was the emperor who wanted to move the capital, but the high-ranking officials and nobles were blocking it.

In Jiankang, the actual situation was that the high-ranking officials were very enthusiastic, while the emperor was uninterested and indifferent.

"No, we still need to test the waters!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Luo Huaiyan's eyes.

(End of this chapter)