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

Chapter 947: Singing from all sides

With the Han army's undeniable entry into Youzhou, some things finally settled down.

First, the powerful clans of Youyan completely submitted, voluntarily handing over their population registers, land maps, and agricultural records.

Secondly, there was a large-scale rebellion in the prefectures and counties of Youyan and Hebei. Regardless of whether they embroidered Han flags overnight, they ultimately made a gesture of submission.

But if you think about it carefully, these two things are actually one thing.

Because many official positions in Hebei, including those in Youyan, were actually controlled by powerful clans in Youyan.

This is only natural, because even if the powerful clans of Youyan did not receive initial shares in the expansion of the Jin Kingdom, they were still Jin Kingdom veterans who entered the second round of angel investment, and would naturally be valued by the Jin Kingdom.

The powerful clans of Youyan were also accustomed to hedging their bets, not only during the war between the Song, Liao, and Jin dynasties, but also during the Han army's northern expedition, trying to sway between the Han and Jin dynasties to gain bargaining power.

But who could have imagined that the Han army's invasion was like a raging fire, sweeping away the main forces of the Jin and Mongol armies in one fell swoop? This left these powerful clans with no time to prepare, and the major events were already over.

Therefore, they had no choice but to submit to Liu Huai in the most abrupt way, with a resolute attitude of obedience.

In the eyes of the powerful clans of Youyan, outstanding members of the Han clan such as Han Wenguang, heads of the Liu clan such as Liu E, and heads of collateral branches of the Guo clan such as Guo Anguo could all have a place in the Han army. If they joined them, wouldn't they be immediately employed?
"Zuo Yuan, is it?" Outside Yanjing City, in the main tent of the siege camp, Liu Huai said to the old man kneeling in the center, "Tell me, why did I appoint you?"

Zuo Yuan looked up at Liu Huai's cold and iron-like face and felt a chill run through his body. He was speechless for a moment.

Upon seeing Zuo Yuan's demeanor, Liu Huai merely shook his head slightly: "Zuo Yuan, I remember your father was Zuo Qigong?"

Although his deceased father was addressed by his full name, Zuo Yuan was not angry at all, or rather, dared not be angry: "It was indeed my father."

Liu Huai continued, "Back then, Wanyan Aguda wanted to cede Shannan to the Song Dynasty according to the maritime alliance. I remember your father used the poem 'An inch of land is worth an inch of gold' to advise Wanyan Aguda against it."

Later, when the tide had turned and the situation was irreversible, Zuo Qigong, unwilling to serve the Song Dynasty, took his family and children to Liaodong to seek refuge with the Jin Dynasty. He was killed on the way by Zhang Jue. Is that right or wrong?

Zuo Yuan awkwardly stammered, "That's exactly right."

Liu Huai's tone was once again filled with curiosity: "If that's the case, why don't you follow your father's example and go to Liaodong with the Jin master?"

Finally, Zuo Yuan could no longer hold back and kowtowed heavily once more: "Reporting to the King of Han, Father personally witnessed the cowardly and despicable behavior of the Song state. The ruler and the subjects were not acting like rulers or subjects, and the entire court was in disarray. At that time, Father felt that the Song state could not achieve anything great, so he could only seek refuge with the Jin state. But now... and now the King of Han is leading a kingly army, conquering the world with overwhelming force, and establishing systems. We have all seen this. The mandate of heaven is here, how dare we disobey it?"

"Moreover..." After hesitating for a moment, Zuo Yuan still threw out an important bargaining chip: "Moreover, Your Majesty... Ni Yong is still in Yanjing City and has not gone to Liaodong."

As Zuo Yuan spoke, he slightly raised his head and glanced at Liu Huai's expression out of the corner of his eye.

Liu Huai remained calm: "It's not hard to guess. Now that our army has made a show of ambush, if Wanyan Yong were even a little smarter than Emperor Tianzuo of Liao, he wouldn't abandon the fortified city and his troops to flee. Wouldn't that be courting death?!"

However, speaking of Emperor Tianzuo…

Zuo Yuan looked somewhat embarrassed, because he had also served as a subject of the Liao Kingdom. Although he was only an official under imperial grace at the time, he still had a relationship of loyalty to Emperor Tianzuo.

If Liu Huai were to expose him now and mock Zuo Yuan for abandoning his former masters twice, making him a complete traitor, he wouldn't know how to respond.

Liu Huai, naturally, had no interest in showing off in front of a wretched old man, and continued, "At that time, Emperor Tianzuo was captured by the Western Route Army. The Western Route Army was led by Wanyan Nianhan, with Wanyan Xiyin, Wanyan Yinshuke, and Wanyan Loushi as his civil and military generals."

Wanyan Nianhan's body was lost in the power struggles of the Jin Dynasty, needless to say. In the Battle of Huolu, I wiped out the descendants of the three chariots of the Western Route Army. Wanyan Shoudao and Wanyan Guying died in battle, while Wanyan Mouyan fled and hasn't been captured yet, truly disgracing his father Wanyan Loushi's reputation.”

After clicking his tongue twice, Liu Huai said, "I have already dispatched light cavalry to the south to hunt down Wanyan Mouyan. When the time comes, we will wipe out all three of their descendants. Don't you think that will avenge Emperor Tianzuo?"

Zuo Yuan revealed a smile that looked more like a grimace.

He genuinely didn't think it was necessary to avenge Emperor Tianzuo. That guy was ambitious but incompetent; once he got down there, he'd just get slapped across the face by Yelü Abaoji. But since the Prince of Han had said so, he naturally couldn't let the conversation fall flat.

"The King of Han is wise."

"It has to be wise," Liu Huai sighed. "I have many Khitans under my command who have come to submit, and I have to appease some of them."

Like Yelü Xingge, when I only had a few hundred men under my command, he became my close friend. Later, he even submitted to me and fought bloody battles for me, expanding our territory.

In the Battle of Huolu, his contribution could even be ranked among the top three. If he hadn't led several thousand light cavalry to charge and scatter tens of thousands of Mongol cavalry, the Battle of Huolu would not have been so easy.

I have to give him an explanation, don't you think?" Zuo Yuan nodded repeatedly.

But Liu Huai's next words plunged Zuo Yuan into fear once again.

"But then again, the Khitans risked their lives for my great cause. After many of them died, I carried out a comprehensive Sinicization reform, registering them as ordinary citizens, before they became my trusted confidants. What do you powerful clans of Youyan have that you dare to bargain with me here?"

Zuo Yuan trembled as if he were being shaken, and said in a shaky voice, "The area north of Youyan is safe and sound..."

Liu Huai immediately stood up, kicked over the table in front of him, and glared angrily at Zuo Yuan: "Are you saying that if I don't agree to give high-ranking officials and generous salaries to you powerful clans, Youyan will not be able to stay peaceful?"

"You underestimate me too much! Without the Battle of Huolu, the Youyan and Hebei regions remain unstable; even with the Battle of Huolu, the Youyan and Hebei regions still remain unstable!" Liu Huai roared angrily, "All those Jurchen and Mongol people I killed, weren't they killed in vain?!"

Zuo Yuan couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground, unable to even maintain his kneeling position: "I didn't... it's just Guo Anguo, Liu E..."

Liu Huai was even more furious: "Stop bringing up these few people. When did they pledge allegiance to me, and what about you? Why don't you mention Han Wenguang? He's already the prefect of Xuzhou, governing a region!"

But he defected during the Huai-Xi War, how dare you compare yourself to him?!
Even so, these men had still spent a year in hard labor before joining our army. If you dare utter another word, believe me, I'll throw your whole family into the Xuzhou Ironworks to smash stones!

Zuo Yuan was severely scolded and felt extremely wronged.

The powerful clans of Youyan had this rule since the mid-Tang and Five Dynasties period: the kings on the city walls changed, and whoever came had to be treated well. So why did it not count when Liu Huai came?

At the same time, Liu Huai also felt that Zuo Yuan's idea was somewhat absurd and laughable.

He had tried to win over the powerful clans of Youyan, but due to the Han army's policies of equal land distribution and other measures to suppress them, the powerful clans of Youyan were always very resistant. Even if someone tried to contact them, it was only a handful.

The main focus of the powerful clans of Youyan was still on assisting Dongjin. Among the new army that Dongjin had formed two years ago, there were many Han Chinese from Youyan.

Liu Huai naturally didn't care about this.

It's better to have a clear distinction between friend and foe than to have one side in the other. Ideally, all the opposition should step forward so that the Han army can annihilate them in one fell swoop and secure a century of peace in the northern frontier.

Today, the powerful clans of Youyan have neither paid the blood tax nor contributed money or effort; in fact, they have just fought alongside the Jin emperor against the Han army.

When the Han army reached the gates of Yanjing and was about to achieve complete victory, they shrugged and made their way in, even offering to switch sides to secure their political status.

Liu Huai could only say, "Aren't you guys being a bit too far-fetched?"

"Zuo Yuan, whether you surrender or not, the final result will be the same. It's just a matter of how many people are killed."

Liu Huai coldly said, "Even if I explained the great principles of the world to you, you wouldn't understand. But that doesn't matter. I don't expect you to understand profound truths; just understand that my knife is harder today!"
"Get back to Yanjing now! Whether you're all in cahoots with Wanyan Yong or simply following the will of Heaven, I'll keep a record of my wrongdoings!"

Zuo Yuan knelt on the ground and retreated in a disheveled state.

However, just as he retreated to the entrance of the main tent, he remembered another reason for his risky journey and could only say with a forced smile, "King of Han, is it really impossible to make peace with the Great Jin? It is possible to form a father-son state and remain a vassal state forever."

Liu Huai stepped forward slowly, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword. He was no longer as angry as before, but instead sighed, "Zuo Yuan, Zuo Yuan, what did I do wrong? Why do you always think that these things are negotiable?"

Do you really underestimate me? Do you think I would undermine my own foundation?

Go back and tell the person who sent you that they now only have one option: tie their hands, surrender, and let me do as I please!

Zuo Yuan nodded repeatedly, not daring to delay for the slightest, and jogged away.

Liang Su, who had been handling official documents in the back office, slowly walked out and said, "Young Master, don't let these clueless fools who can't see the situation get to you."

Liu Huai sat back down, his expression calm: "I don't have that much temper. I was just trying to scare this guy."

Liang Su nodded, then changed the subject: "The army has divided its forces and launched a combined attack, and they have already arrived at the gates of Yanjing. Does the eldest son have any plans?"

Liu Huai waved his hand with an air of great authority: "What else is there to say? Encircle from all sides and attack together!"

(End of this chapter)