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

Chapter 925 Straight to Yan You

The fourth year of the Longxing era of the Song Dynasty.

The sixth year of the Dading era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

The eleventh year of Zhenglong in Xijin.

The year 1166 in the Western calendar.

September 1st.

The Han army swore an oath in Daming Prefecture to launch a northern expedition, which shook the entire country.

Subsequently, the Han army, which had been prepared, crossed the Hutuo River, conquered cities and territories, and advanced northward.

The Wulu Army was the first to capture Xianzhou on the east side and then entered Hejian Prefecture.

The Tianxiong Army then set out from Jizhou, and the counties of Shenzhou surrendered. After occupying Raoyang and Anping, the Tianxiong Army advanced westward, entered Qizhou, and besieged Gucheng.

Liu Huai personally led the main force of 100,000 Han troops, which, like a bulldozer at full throttle, marched along the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains from Xingzhou into Wozhou. In ten days, they crushed the counties of Lincheng, Baixiang, and Ningjin, which had offered some resistance, into dust.

The Jin army's high hopes for the Gaoyi and Pingji defense lines were easily breached. None of the five thousand Jin soldiers stationed at Zanhuang Mountain and Wuwu Mountain, who were attempting to harass the Han army's flanks, escaped; they were all trapped in the mountain strongholds and captured or killed.

On September 20th, the last line of defense in front of Zhending Prefecture suddenly collapsed, and the general guarding Yuanshi City was terrified and surrendered.

As four banners bearing the inscription "Expel the Tartars, Restore China, Establish Order and Discipline, and Save the People" entered the territory of Zhen Ding Prefecture, they finally caused a full-scale shock across the Eastern Jin front.

At this point, the Han army had already adopted the posture of sweeping across Hebei and Yan, and it was up to the Jin army to respond.

The Jin army did not commit all its forces to defense. In fact, before the Han army launched its attack, the main Jin forces had already begun to assemble and retreat in large strides.

This was unavoidable, because the Eastern Jin court was in Yanjing and knew about the news from Liaodong earlier than Liu Huai.

After the Jin army transferred its main force away from Liaodong, He Zizheng, who was located on the Liaodong Peninsula, immediately led all his troops out to advance on Liaoyang Prefecture.

Meanwhile, the Han army appeared at the mouth of the Lu River from the sea, seemingly poised to advance upstream.

At the same time, the Khitan tribes who had migrated into the Yanshan Mountains also launched an uprising. Although they were not able to occupy the passes, they still set up checkpoints on the main roads to block traffic, which almost cut off the Jin Dynasty's communication with the outside world.

Wanyan Yong couldn't understand why his well-executed "close the door and unleash the dogs" tactic had turned into a trap in the blink of an eye.

And the vast Hebei province is like a jar, and he is the turtle inside it.

But now that things have come to this, can we really surrender?

Wanyan Yong quickly issued a military order, instructing Wanyan Guying to immediately lead all the troops in Jin, along with the Mongol cavalry, out of Jingxing to join the main force of Youyan.

This is a decisive battle that will require the full strength of the nation. Even if it means that northern Shanxi is ravaged, Dong Jin is willing to bring in the Mongols. How can we let Wanyan Guying's army sit still?

In order to smoothly mobilize this large number of troops, Wanyan Yong sent out Wanyan Shoudao, who was also a follower of the Western Route Army.

After Wanyan Shoudao arrived in Taiyuan, he went directly to the garrison headquarters and cried out to Wanyan Guying, "Uncle, do you really not want to risk your life for the Great Jin Dynasty?"

Wanyan Shoudao was the grandson of Wanyan Xiyin, while Wanyan Guying was the son of Wanyan Yinshuke. As descendants of the three musketeers of the Western Route Army, it was only natural for the two to address each other as uncle and nephew.

Wanyan Guying was in a state of utter distress, but upon seeing Wanyan Shoudao in such a state, he dropped all his documents and helped him up, saying, "Xileni, now even you doubt me?"

Wanyan Shoudao wept uncontrollably: "I can't help but be suspicious. The Great Jin is now on the verge of collapse, and everyone's hearts are filled with unease. Even I am filled with fear. I still believe in my uncle, but... but..."

Wanyan Guying sighed, pulled Wanyan Shoudao to a seat beside him, and waved for his deputy and staff to leave before continuing, "But you still came."

Wanyan Shoudao gritted his teeth and said, "That's right, Uncle. You and I are both descendants of meritorious officials of the state. At times like these, every action we take will be recorded in history. We must not tarnish the reputation of our ancestors..."

After a long silence, Wanyan Guying looked at Wanyan Shoudao with a strange expression and said, "Xileni, your family has a long history of learning and your knowledge is much more profound than mine. Have you thought of something?"

Wanyan Shoudao felt a sudden sense of unease: "What?"

"The history books of tomorrow will be written by Liu Dalang."

Wanyan Shoudao suddenly stood up, at a loss for words. After a long while, he finally said in a trembling voice, "Uncle... Uncle... you actually want to join forces with the traitor Liu?"

Wanyan Guying shook his head slightly, looking somewhat dejected: "How could I possibly do such a thing? I've simply been trying to figure some things out these past few days."

Wanyan Shoudao felt a sense of relief, but then his heart immediately went blank again.

As one of the main generals of the army, Wanyan Guying's defection to the enemy or his loss of courage was a devastating blow to the Jin state.

"Could it be... could it be that Uncle believes this battle is doomed to be lost?"

Wanyan Guying shook his head: "Not so. No matter how weak the Great Jin is now, it still has the same situation as the Great Liao of the past; and no matter how strong Liu Bei is now, he can never compare to the vast territory of the former Song Dynasty."

The Liao Dynasty defeated the Song Dynasty more than once, so how could the Jin Dynasty not have a chance now?

only……"

Wanyan Guying sighed and picked up the document in his hand, handing it to Wanyan Shoudao: "Even if we manage to hold out this time, what about next time? Our Jurchen population is small, and the Han people are also viewed with suspicion. Are we really only able to rely on the Mongols? Are they really willing to risk their lives for the Great Jin?"

However, the number of Han Chinese under Liu Bei's command is increasing, and they can't be eradicated no matter how many they kill. Don't forget, Liu Bei is only in his early twenties. Even if he launches a Northern Expedition every ten years, he could launch three or four in his lifetime.

I'm old; who will protect the Great Jin Dynasty next time?

Wanyan Shoudao took the document, glanced at it briefly, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.

The document details the brutality of the Mongols, who ravaged northern Shanxi in just two months.

This wasn't the worst of it. After the Mongols ravaged the land, the people of northern Shanxi were devastated, starving everywhere, and bandits roamed the country. In just a few months, there were six bandit armies with tens of thousands of men. Although they were all rabble, they still managed to trap Wanyan Yongdao, the garrison commander of Xijing, inside Datong City.

Among these bandits, some raised the banner of the White Mountains and Black Waters, and even the Meng'an Mouke households rebelled.

It can be said that the military and political situation in northern Shanxi has completely collapsed.

Wanyan Shoudao asked tremblingly, "Uncle, what are you going to do? Do you want to fight the Mongols first? Uncle, please listen to my advice..."

Wanyan Guying waved his hand: "I will not do anything drastic."

However, as I just said, the Jin dynasty doesn't value its own people, causing their numbers to dwindle; while Liu Bei, on the other hand, even registers the Jurchens as Han Chinese. In the long run, won't Liu Bei grow stronger and the Jin dynasty weaker?

Wanyan Shoudao's lips twitched slightly, but he still forcibly suppressed his inner emotions: "Uncle, these are all things to be discussed later. In any case, we must get through this."

Wanyan Guying lowered his head for a long time before saying solemnly, "That's right, and that's exactly how it should be."

After saying that, Wanyan Guying stood up and pulled Wanyan Shoudao in front of the map: "Xileni, I am not afraid of war, but I have some plans."

"Now the Mongols have been blocked by me north of Yangqu, and they are living off their meager resources."

Taking this opportunity, I drove away all the people in Meng County, Shouyang, and Pingding, so that when the Mongols went east to Jingxing, they would not be able to plunder anything.

In this way, by the time they reach Huolu, these puppies will be starving, and releasing them then will have a remarkable effect.

Wanyan Guying's finger traced across the map: "Originally, I wanted to wait a little longer, but since you, Xi Lenin, have come in person today, it means the situation is already very urgent."

The troops have already assembled, and the supplies are ready. However, when you return, you must inform the court that if we fail to defeat the traitor Liu this time, the Jin territory will no longer belong to the state.

After I personally lead all my troops out of Jingxing, Shi Qilang in Shexian and the bandits in northern Shanxi will not remain indifferent; they will surely annex the land of Shanxi.”

After a moment of stunned silence, Wanyan Shoudao shook his head and smiled bitterly: "If we cannot win this battle, the country will be lost, and we will have no reason to care about the Jin region."

Wanyan Guying was also slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter: "It's true, it's true, I must have been out of my mind."

But Wanyan Shoudao, amidst the laughter, put on a stern face: "Uncle, tell me the truth, is your delay in gathering military intelligence out of any pity for the people of Jin? Did your previous military orders imply that you wanted to spare the people of Meng County and other places from the ravages of war?"

Wanyan Guying's laughter stopped abruptly. He looked at the map and remained silent for a long time before sincerely saying, "Of course there are."

Wanyan Shoudao hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

But Wanyan Guying said to himself, "It's never too late to win people's hearts. As I said before, the Great Jin has too few capable people. It's good that we can save one person now."

Wanyan Shoudao finally couldn't hold back any longer and said anxiously, "Winter is coming soon, and the weather is getting colder. If you drive the people of these counties out of their homes, they will be killed or injured and will never be grateful for your kindness. Do you know that, Uncle?"

"I know."

"They may very well have gone south to join Shi Qilang, Uncle, are you aware of this?"

"I know too."

"Then why does Uncle still do such a laborious and fruitless thing?"

Wanyan Guying remained silent for an even longer time this time, and only after a long while did he mutter to himself: "Actually, I don't know either, but... I've been guarding Jin for many years, so I still have some thoughts."

Whenever I dream of it, I wonder why the Great Jin Dynasty is in such a state, why the Jin Dynasty is in such a state... and why I have ended up like this.

Wanyan Guying turned around and stared intently at Wanyan Shoudao: "I want to give myself an explanation. Regardless of the outcome of this battle or whether I live or die, I want to try and see if Liu Dalang's method is right or wrong."

He was able to bring the Jurchen people under his control, so why can't our Great Jin Dynasty consider the Han people as trusted confidants?

Wanyan Shoudao's expression immediately turned strange: "They are Han people... not Han children..."

Wanyan Guying's expression also became quite interesting.

Just now you said you would treat everyone equally, but now you still take the derogatory term "Han'er" for granted?
"You...ah..."

Wanyan Guying sighed repeatedly, but then, feeling disheartened, he waved his hand and said, "Xileni, you should leave quickly and report my words to His Majesty."

Wanyan Shoudao dared not linger and immediately got up.

However, just as he arrived at the commander's tent, Wanyan Guying's voice rang out from behind him: "By the way, has the commander-in-chief for this battle been decided? Is it really that scoundrel Tudankening?"

Wanyan Shoudao turned around and shook his head: "It's not Tudan Kening."

"It was His Majesty who personally led the expedition."

(End of this chapter)