Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 289 Jurchen Rebellion: The Opportunity for Unification?

March 18th, the sixth year of the Xifeng reign.

Weizhou, Fanshan Military Camp.

"fire!"

At a command, the flag was waved.

The fuse rustled.

"Bam—"

The explosion was like a thunderclap, dull and deafening, making people's eardrums numb.

A strong smell of gunpowder, mixed with the earthy odor, made one's heart involuntarily uneasy.

Then came a series of explosions.

"Bam—"

Dozens or even hundreds of shots exploded in succession, causing the ground to tremble.

"The gate!"

"The men from the first and second platoons, all aim at the gate of the stockade and fire!"

"The rest of the people were depicted fighting with horses."

Duke Ningguo, Gu Tingye, held the horse's reins in one hand and gripped his long sword tightly in the other, his face solemn.

At a single command, cannon fire erupted in unison, showing no sign of abating.

until
"Bang! Squeak—bang!"

A strange sound came from behind.

It's neither too light nor too heavy, but it's quite unique, making people notice its slight difference as soon as they hear it.

"broken!"

"My lord, the door has been broken down!"

"The gate to the stockade has been breached!"

Several shouts followed, filled with joy.

"Aim your cannons at the rear of the stronghold, or you might hurt someone," Gu Tingye shouted.

At the command, the artillery fire veered inwards towards the village, no longer confined to the village gate.

"The Emperor has given an order!"

Gu Tingye said in a deep voice:

"A reward of twenty strings of cash will be given to anyone who beheads a person of the first rank!"

"Anyone who is beheaded three times will be granted twenty mu of land!"

"Anyone who beheads ten enemies will be granted 100 acres of land and a three-year tax exemption!"

"Whoever captures the enemy general will be promoted three ranks, and his descendants will be exempt from military service!"

Gu Tingye roared and swung his ring-blade fiercely: "Kill!"

"kill!"

The gates of the stronghold have been breached; the victory is within our grasp.

The soldiers, their killing intent boiling, charged forward in unison.

Whether it's a charge of warhorses or a gallop of infantry.

Armor clashed, metal clashed, and the sounds of battle echoed endlessly.

Limbs and torsos were frequently found scattered, blood was everywhere, and corpses littered the ground.

An atmosphere of grim solemnity pervaded the entire place.

About three incense sticks' worth of time.

The main camp was completely destroyed. The remaining soldiers either abandoned their armor and weapons and surrendered voluntarily, or, in despair, fled at the mere sight of the enemy.

It's just two or three miles away, on a small hill.

Emperor Zhao Ceying, clad in heavy armor and a phoenix-winged helmet, stood guard in the center of the army, observing everything.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Chancellor has sent a message." The chief eunuch approached in small steps and handed over a document.

Zhao Ceying reached out and picked it up, then looked at it intently.

Just then, Duke Ningguo Gu Tingye and Marquis Funing Shi Yuansun returned, their faces grim and their bodies covered in blood.

"Your Majesty, the Fanshan military camp has been breached." Gu Tingye bowed and solemnly said, "I request that we set up camp on the spot and make temporary repairs."

"Alright." Zhao Ceying raised her head and nodded.

Since the three major regimes of Liao, Zhou, and Xia fully deployed their forces, there was war everywhere, both above and below, left and right.

Fortunately, thanks to the advantage of artillery, they were almost always victorious in any battle involving attacking cities and capturing strongholds.

In just thirty or forty days, they had moved from Yunzhou to Yingzhou and then to Weizhou.

Now that Fanshan military camp has fallen, it means that Weizhou has basically fallen into the hands of the Great Zhou.

The constant movement of the army was undoubtedly a very tiring task.

During the march, it shook and bounced constantly.

Even Zhao Ceying felt a slight soreness in his left arm and was somewhat listless.

It's a good thing to make some repairs or adjustments.

"I will take care of it."

Liang Zhao, the eldest son of the Earl of Yongchang, squeezed his legs together and stepped forward, holding the reins.

Just now, Gu Tingye and Shi Yuansun were the ones who planned almost everything regarding the breaching of the stronghold.

A state of high-intensity tension can easily lead to mental and physical exhaustion.

Such trivial matters as setting up camp could not possibly be arranged by the two deputy privy councilors.

The most important thing is to have self-awareness and to find one's place.

Without a doubt, Liang Zhao was a smart man.

Setting up camp may seem like a trivial matter, but it is no small thing.

In a serious discussion, this is also a unique form of "coordinating a large army," which is quite a test of one's skills.

Moreover, as the saying goes, even if one has no merit, one has still put in hard work.

Managing the establishment of camps and fortifications is undoubtedly a demanding task.

Whether it's merit or hard work, it's definitely much better than no "work" at all.

“Okay.” Zhao Ceying nodded.

Besides Gu Tingye and Wang Shao, Liang Zhao is also a relatively outstanding military general and is worth cultivating.

After establishing their rule over the world, it's impossible that even minor conflicts or "hard work" like guarding the borders would require the help of Gu Tingye and Wang Shao.

Military generals of similar caliber to Liang Zhao, Jing Sili, and Yang Wenguang could undoubtedly be trained to handle minor skirmishes and guard the frontier.

As for Zhang Ding, Zheng Xiao, and Zhong E, they are similar to subordinate replacements, capable of serving as commanders of medium to large-scale operations.

As long as it does not involve a national war, it can be entrusted to Zhang, Zheng, and Zhong.

The Emperor Zhao is no fool.

Emperor Zhao knew perfectly well the true level of his military generals and their proper place in the ranks!
"promise."

Upon receiving the order, Liang Zhao pulled on the reins and galloped away.

Gu Tingye and Shi Yuansun approached, holding the reins, and stood to the left and right of the Emperor.

Since the army moved to Yingzhou and then into Weizhou, Yunzhou has been vacant.

To prevent others from taking advantage of the situation, he appointed the Marquis of Zhongjing to guard Yunzhou, commanding 30,000 troops.

During this military campaign, apart from the Duke of Liang who was still stationed in Jiaozhi, the other deputy privy councilors had all gone north.

Among them, Zhang Ding and Wang Shao were in Shaanxi Road, while Gu Tingye, Zheng Shun, and Shi Yuansun were in Yanyun.

Since Marquis Zhongjing was stationed in Yunzhou, Zhao Ceying has only had two deputy privy councilors by his side, one on the left and one on the right, which naturally became "fixed positions".

"Zichuan has sent a letter."

Zhao Ceying pondered for a moment, then passed the document in his hand to the two men.

As commanders, Gu Tingye and Shi Yuansun must always be aware of the overall situation in order to make comprehensive considerations.

Therefore, Zhao Ceying would send more than 90% of the documents to the two of them for review.

The document's content is clear and concise, mainly covering three points:

First, it expresses care and concern.

Jiang Zhao was very worried about Zhao Ceying's left arm injury and had sent someone to the border to treat it.

Second, it elaborates on domestic affairs.

Jiang Zhao delivered a report in classical Chinese on matters such as the change of cabinet members, related administrative affairs, and the Duke Yansheng's intention to become a disciple.

Thirdly, regarding the Jurchens.

The entire plan is gradually being implemented.

"The official's left arm"

After a quick glance, Gu Tingye hesitated, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes, before looking over.

To be honest, it wasn't just the eldest son who was worried about the Emperor's left arm; Gu Tingye was also concerned.

A year has passed, and the old injury is inexplicably itchy, which is not good news. According to common sense, Zhao Ceying is only thirty-two years old, which is the age when his blood and energy are in full bloom. Even if he broke his leg or his arm, as long as he is properly treated, he will not feel any pain.

Even if it were to flare up, it should only be in old age!

"No problem!"

Zhao Ceying patted his left arm nonchalantly.

During the march, he was often accompanied by imperial physicians for treatment.

However, most people say it's due to excessive internal heat or too much qi and blood, which leads to a "too much of a good thing" situation and causes the body to feel slightly weak.

It's not surprising that someone with pre-existing injuries would occasionally experience soreness, numbness, or itching during marches.

Compared to his left arm injury, Zhao Ceying was more focused on expanding his territory.

Once the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun are truly recovered, it can be considered a unified empire.

If the Liao and Xia kingdoms were destroyed
hiss~!

Emperor Shizong, a great emperor throughout history, wouldn't it be easy for him?
Tiger Water.

The Jurchens lived in a tribal system.

Based on their living areas, there are approximately twenty tribes.

Among them, the Wanyan, Tudan, and Wugulun tribes were the most powerful.

In particular, the Wanyan tribe produced a formidable figure in this generation—Wanyan Wugunai.

This person was Wanyan Aguda's grandfather.

In fact, the establishment of the Jurchen regime was not achieved overnight.

Starting with Wanyan Wugunai, there was already a gradual trend of the Jurchens unifying and establishing a regime.

It can even be concluded that Wanyan Wugunai had already laid the foundation for the unification of the Jurchens.

Currently, of the more than twenty Jurchen tribes, nine major tribes—Pucha, Tongmen, Yehui, Yelan, Ali, Pennuli, Aolimi, Yuelidu, and Yueliji—have submitted to Wanyan Wugunai and are now under the command of the Wanyan tribe.

As for Wanyan Aguda, his role was similar to that of Qin Shi Huang in unifying the six kingdoms. He was the one who combined the right timing, location, and popular support to unify the country, establish a regime, and complete the final step.

Of course, this step sounds easy, but it's actually not easy at all.

Wanyan Wugunai almost unified the Jurchen tribes!
Wanyan Aguda unified the Jurchen people!
In terms of actual history, there is a difference of forty or fifty years between the two.

It's just one step away from success, but to truly get in, it would require a "heavenly intervention."

Hushui was the living area of the Wanyan tribe.

This place is close to water sources and convenient for fishing and hunting. It is mainly plains with abundant water and grass, making it a rare and fertile land.

Recently, several special visitors arrived at the Wanyan tribe.

Ordo.

This is the core residence of the tribal chief.

The Jurchens had not yet formed a political power, so it would be entirely true to say that they were "not yet civilized."

Their settlement method usually involves moving logs to make sheds and digging holes in the ground to make rooms.

This refers to a semi-subterranean house where a pit half a meter long is dug in the ground, wooden pillars are built into the pit walls, and the roof is covered with wooden rafters, birch bark, or thatch, with a sloping passage at the entrance.

Even the leader's residence was the same.

The dry wood crackled and popped.

There were about ten people gathered around the fire, one on the left and one on the right.

One of them, dressed in a red robe, had a calm expression and an indescribable air of confidence in his eyes.

His demeanor alone gives people the feeling of a "civilized person".

This was none other than Miao Shou, the Commander-in-Chief of the Pinghai Army of Huainan East Road!
Apart from them, everyone else was an elder of the tribe, the actual ruler.

"Chief Wanyan, I am not the one who stirs up trouble."

Miao Shou looked serious and spread his hands.

"But even though I am a Han Chinese, I am truly outraged by the plight of the Wanyan tribe!"

"Leaving aside the exorbitant taxes levied by the Silver-Ranked Angels, let's just talk about the deflowering practices of some of them."

Before he could finish speaking, the faces of nearly ten elders turned ashen.

Miao Shou stopped there and slowly said, "It's not that I, Miao, am spreading rumors."

"However, as the saying goes, opportunity knocks but once."

"In my humble opinion, now is the perfect time for the Jurchens to achieve unification and establish a regime."

Miao Shou held up one finger: "Firstly, the Liao Kingdom's military strength is unstable."

"The Khitans comprised only one-eighth of the Liao Dynasty's population."

"Since Yelü Hongji's defeat at Yanmen Valley in the fourth year of the Xifeng era, he has lost nearly 60,000 of his own troops."

"This time, an army of 100,000 has entered the border, reducing the total force to 150,000. This comes at a time when the country is vulnerable and unable to attend to local affairs."

"This is the opportune moment."

"Secondly, the three major regimes of Liao, Zhou, and Xia are vying for power, and the Great Zhou intends to lend you a hand. Moreover, Yelü Hongji's prestige is insufficient."

Miao Shou glanced at the group and continued, "Spears and armor—these are all top-notch weapons."

"The Jurchens are skilled in warfare, and their combat strength is truly remarkable. In the past, they were bullied simply because they lacked spears and armor, putting them at a disadvantage in terms of weaponry."

"Now, with the help of the Great Zhou, this deficiency can be made up for."

"Moreover, Yelü Hongji lost nearly 60,000 troops in one fell swoop, greatly diminishing his imperial prestige, and various parties were eager to make a move."

"This is harmony between people."

"Ugh!"

"Given this opportune moment and the support of the people, if they still refuse to wage war and instead seek a way to survive for their descendants..."

Miao Shou sighed, shook his head, and stared at Wanyan Wugunai, saying, "To be honest, I look down on you!"

"If we raise an army, we can solve the problem once and for all."

"On the contrary, if we hesitate and act like a submissive daughter, once Yelü Hongji turns his attention back and notices the strength of the Wanyan tribe, he will surely send troops to attack and use this opportunity to establish his authority."

"Decades of hard work, all for naught!"

"this--"

The fire burned intensely, and several people's expressions changed slightly.

Judging from their behavior, it's not hard to see that they also quite agree with Miao Shou's statement.

Strength cannot be hidden!
If Yelü Hongji really turns back, the Wanyan tribe will definitely suffer a blow.

Now is the best time to fight back.

Only by establishing a political power could the Jurchens possibly stand up and live as human beings!
Not to mention.
Silver medal angel, a perfect start to your journey!
This is the deepest pain felt by Jurchen men.

Nearly ten elders all looked toward their leader.

Wanyan Wugunai leaned back in his chair, his eyes slightly narrowed, and remained silent.

He was hesitating.

Recently, there has indeed been a first-rate opportunity to resist.

But the problem is, he's old!

Wanyan Wugunai was already fifty-two years old.

Given the Jurchen people's lifestyle and harsh living conditions, fifty-two years old was already considered a very long life.

As people age, their youthful vigor inevitably diminishes, and their behavior naturally tends to be more cautious and hesitant.

For example, if the Wanyan tribe actively resisted, was it possible that they would be used as a "scapegoat" and suffer a devastating blow?

Or, once the Wanyan tribe's rebellion reached a certain scale, would the war between the three major regimes of Liao, Zhou, and Xia come to an end, leaving the Wanyan tribe in a rather awkward position?
"Chief Wanyan."

"Mr. Miao knows you have worries, which is perfectly understandable."

Miao Shou looked intently over and continued to persuade, "But if you want to achieve your goal without taking any risks, where in the world is there such a good thing?"

"The reason why the Great Zhou chose to help the Wanyan tribe was simply to create internal and external troubles for the Liao, so as to deliver a fatal blow and make Yelü Hongji collapse."

"Although it was intended to exploit them, it was ultimately beneficial and harmless to the Wanyan tribe."

“Miao has made the stakes very clear.”

"Whether or not to resist is an internal matter for the Jurchens, and has nothing to do with me!"

With that, Miao Shou stood up, dusted off his sleeves, and walked out.

"The Grand Chancellor asked me to convey a message to Chief Wanyan: From a strategic perspective, the Jurchens will only have this one chance in the next thirty to fifty years!"

"Miao is going out for a stroll. Whether he takes the job or not is up to you to decide."

"despair!"

The wooden door closed.

The firelight illuminated the nearly ten elders, who looked at each other in bewilderment and exchanged silent glances.

Soon, people started discussing it.

After about two incense sticks' worth of time, Wanyan Helibo found Miao Shou.

This is Wanyan Wugunai's son.

Of course, Wanyan Helibo also had a son named Wanyan Aguda, who was only five years old.

"How is it?" Miao Shou asked casually, his hands behind his back.

Wanyan Helibo said in a deep voice:

"Send troops and resist!"

(End of this chapter)