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

Chapter 946 The Han army has already seized territory

According to historical records, the Battle of Huolu-Zhending was ultimately just a small episode in the turbulent lives of the Han emperor and his ministers.

This is not to say that this battle was unimportant, nor that there were no noteworthy aspects to it.

It was just that everything happened too fast, to the point that it was almost overwhelming.

It was as if a newly established dynasty, about to unify the world, had casually thrown a punch at the local regime, causing the main force of the separatist regime to vanish into thin air.

That's really too fast.

If we consider the entire campaign, from the Han army's oath to launch the northern expedition on September 1st to their great victory in the Battle of Huolu-Zhending, only a mere month had passed.

In terms of combat, the Han army's night raid, which wiped out nearly 140,000 Jin troops by noon the next day, can be considered a minor miracle in feudal times.

Because it was all so fast, the morale of the Han army was not diminished in the slightest by the battle, and they remained in high spirits.

Because everything happened so fast, the Dongjin ruler and his ministers were still in a state of confusion.

At this time yesterday, the combined forces of the Eastern Jin and the Mongols still held a vast army. The prevailing opinion was that although these troops might not be enough to fight the Han army head-on, they could still hold their ground, harass, and engage in small-scale skirmishes.

Why did the army completely collapse after only one day?

Is all of this real? Or could it all be a dream?

In layman's terms, he was completely stunned.

If the emperor and commander-in-chief of Dongjin are no longer capable, what about the ordinary generals and soldiers?

Especially when retreating in the face of battle, large armies are already prone to collapse under pursuit, and the mindset of Jin generals makes it impossible to maintain military operations.

Soon, the originally orderly retreat gradually turned into a rout. At least 20,000 Jin cavalrymen, who were initially in a relatively good position, scattered and fled like beehives after being hit by a mischievous child, pursued by a small number of Han armored cavalrymen.

Tudan Kening protected Wanyan Yong as they fled north. The more they fled, the more disheartened they became. After crossing the Hutuo River and arriving at Zhen Ding City, he looked at the defensive system he had built with his own hands and was overwhelmed with heartache, almost bursting into tears.

At this point, it was Wanyan Yong, who knew nothing about military affairs, who proved to be much more reliable.

Perhaps because he had spent his entire life under immense pressure, Wanyan Yong quickly calmed down in this desperate situation.

"Try to gather as many troops as possible and get as many people across the Hutuo River as possible. If they can't cross, let them take refuge in the Taihang Mountains for the time being."

Wanyan Yong calmly gave the order, then stopped on the north side of the Hutuo River and raised the Golden Guard banner, which represented the emperor's identity, to maintain order.

Because the Jin army needed to deploy troops quickly, several wide pontoon bridges were built across the Hutuo River.

However, no matter how wide the pontoon bridge was, it could not stop the chaotic and defeated troops from rushing forward.

The Jin army numbered less than 10,000 when they crossed the river, and several pontoon bridges were completely blocked.

On the bridge, the sounds of men neighing and horses neighing filled the air, and cries of despair shook the heavens. The once battle-hardened elites were now bobbing up and down on the pontoon bridge with the waves, looking weak and helpless, as ridiculous as a flock of pheasants whose nest had been disturbed.

Nearly ten thousand Jin soldiers were trapped on the south bank of the Hutuo River. Some soldiers, under the command of their officers, discarded their armor and led their warhorses into the icy Hutuo River to cross it.

However, most people ignored the officers' orders and rushed onto the bridge, becoming part of the traffic jam.

No matter how good-natured Wanyan Yong was, he became extremely frustrated when he saw his elite soldiers lose their will and courage.

With the arrival of the Han army's vanguard light cavalry, the Jin army stranded on the south bank was thrown into chaos. They abandoned their armor and fled in all directions. Some even jumped into the icy river in their armor, only to be swallowed up by the Hutuo River after a short while.

This is understandable, since the Jin army is currently in a state of defeat.

What Wanyan Yong found most unacceptable was that the loyal and filial army, with its valiant and determined spirit, had clearly achieved its goal of blocking the Han army's advance, greatly slowing down the Han army's pursuit. As a result, only two or three hundred light cavalry had reached the banks of the Hutuo River.

The Jin army south of the Hutuo River numbered nearly ten thousand!
Even if only one-tenth of them could be organized, it would be enough to easily wipe out the pursuing Han light cavalry.

However, these elite Jin cavalrymen preferred to jump into the winter river to risk a chance of survival rather than continue fighting.

“Your Majesty, there’s nothing strange about this.” Tudan Kening looked at the scene and his expression changed several times before he said calmly, “This kind of scene has happened repeatedly when the Great Jin was conquering the world.”

The Khitans were like this in Huanglongfu; the Song people were like this in Bianliang, Hebei; the Tanguts were like this on the banks of the Yellow River. Now it's our turn, the Jurchens, what is there to say?

"We Jurchens don't have more hands or eyes than the Han people." Wanyan Yong turned his head away, unable to bear looking closely.

Tudan Kening also lost interest in speaking. He gazed at the opposite bank of the Hutuo River, and as the number of Han army banners increased and the dust from the galloping warhorses grew, he immediately ordered: "Cut off the pontoon bridge!"

Gao Anren was stunned, then turned to look at Wanyan Yong.

Tudankening shouted angrily, "Does this kind of thing also require an imperial decree?! Or do you want to pin all the blame on the emperor?!"

Gao Anren immediately realized what was happening, and then, without saying a word, led more than a hundred palace guards to the pontoon bridge. Ignoring the fact that the pontoon bridge was still blocked by Jin soldiers, he began to cut the chains and wooden stakes that were securing the pontoon bridge.

The pontoon bridge was already nearing its limit. After several fixed points were cut, the bridge bent to its limit under the scouring of the water, and after one end left the bank, it drifted towards the middle of the river.

The Jin soldiers, blocked on the pontoon bridge, cried out in despair. But soon, the pontoon bridge lost its orientation and tilted into the river. After a burst of unified screams, the Jin soldiers fell into the icy water, their figures and voices disappearing completely.

For a moment, the Jin troops north and south of the Hutuo River completely lost their ability to speak. Their cries and screams seemed to have sunk into the river along with the pontoon bridge, leaving only the cold wind blowing from the north still howling incessantly.

Wanyan Yong covered his eyes with his sleeve, not daring to look at what was happening.

Tudan Kening's eyes were bloodshot, as if he were about to spit blood. But he remained calm and said to Gao Anren, who had just returned, "The Hutuo River is not a great river; it can only hold off Liu the traitor for a while. You must immediately take His Majesty back to Yanjing."

There were still some garrison troops stationed in Yanjing, as well as powerful clans from Youzhou and the Meng'an Mouke households, so they could always be replenished.

After replenishing supplies, we must not linger. Blockade Yuguan Pass and head directly to Liaoyang. With the Liaoze River blocking our way, the Han army won't be able to launch a large-scale attack. This will give the Jin army a chance to regroup.

Wanyan Yong covered his face with his sleeve. Upon hearing this, he finally lowered his arm, tears streaming down his face, and grabbed Tudan Kening's hands: "Marshal Du, are you also going to abandon me?"

Tudan Kening sighed, then pointed a finger at the Hutuo River: "Your Majesty, since I have issued this military order and abandoned so many men, I should do something to prove that I am not afraid of death, but for the sake of the Great Jin Dynasty."

"I know that there are still loyal and righteous people in Hebei. I will gather them together and command them to buy time for the Great Jin and wait for the world to change."

Wanyan Yong knew that Tudan Kening wanted to die in Hebei. Even Wanyan Yong, as the planner and executor, did not know if the variable that could change the world would come, let alone Tudan Kening.

However, if there were no powerful figure in Hebei to stop them, wouldn't the Han army have been able to march straight to Yanjing without any hindrance?
Therefore, Wanyan Yong could only hold Tudan Kening's hand and say, "Marshal, you must protect your health and not waste your life."

Tudan Kening nodded haphazardly, then said to Wanyan Fushou, who had just arrived, "General Fushou, almost all the great generals of the Jin dynasty have been wiped out. Only you can shoulder this responsibility. Remember, you must ensure His Majesty's safe return to Yanjing!"

After speaking, Tudan Kening withdrew his hands, bowed respectfully on his horse, and then led several dozen personal guards eastward.

Wanyan Fushou never expected that such a heavy responsibility would fall on his head, so he could only bite the bullet and command his troops to bypass Zhen Ding City and continue to flee north.

The Han army was not deterred by the mere Hutuo River. After arriving in succession, they first subdued the Jin army stranded on the south bank, and then immediately sought out ferries to rebuild the pontoon bridge.

By evening, the first batch of over a thousand soldiers crossed the Hutuo River and bypassed the defensive system of camps and trenches surrounding Zhengding City without bloodshed, arriving at the city.

The few remaining defenders in Zhen Ding City lost all morale upon seeing the heads, drums, and banners displayed by the Han army and immediately surrendered.

On the third day of the tenth month, the main force of the Han army scattered to attack cities and seize territories, and the prefectures and counties that were still holding out, such as Dingzhou, Qizhou, and Lizhou, raised their flags and defected.

Liu Huai personally led 30,000 regular troops in pursuit northward, easily breaching the Jin Kingdom's second line of defense before drinking from the Nanyi River.

By the fifth day of the tenth month, as news of the Battle of Huolu and Zhending spread throughout Hebei, large-scale surrenders finally began.

Tudan Kening only managed to gather a little over three thousand Meng'an Mouke households. He wanted to use the remaining foothills of the Taihang Mountains to entangle with the Han army, but the county he occupied was completely overrun by riots. He had no choice but to retreat northward.

As for Wanyan Yong, he naturally didn't get the better end of the deal either.

During their retreat, these remnants of the army were constantly pursued, and the Wulu Army and Tianxiong Army also frantically chased and intercepted them.

Wanyan Fushou could only rely on his limited military strategy, constantly dividing his troops and wasting the last loyal ministers and generals of the Jin Dynasty on the journey. Finally, on October 10th, Wanyan Yong returned to Yanjing City with 5,000 remaining soldiers.

On the same day, Liu Huai led 30,000 Han troops to capture Fanyang.

Guan Chongyan led 5,000 cavalrymen around Yanjing and headed straight for the Yanshan fortress of Juyong Pass.

The Wulu Army and the Tianxiong Army joined forces and captured Bazhou.

Thus, the main force of the Han army finally officially entered the Youyan region. Two hundred years after Shi Jingtang ceded Youyan, the Han people finally set foot on this ancestral land of the Han people for the first time with an unstoppable and magnificent momentum.

(End of this chapter)