Sweep Yuan

Chapter 239 On the Sudden Enlightenment of Masters Through Succession

On the eastern peak of Niushou Mountain, Chongjiao Temple (later Hongjue Temple, renamed "Chongjiao" during the Song and Yuan dynasties) stands quietly in the warm spring sunshine. Its red walls and black tiles reflect the afternoon sun, making it appear particularly solemn and dignified.

Originally named Foku Temple, the temple was first built in the second year of the Tianjian era of the Southern Liang Dynasty (503 AD). During the Tang Dynasty, it was renamed Changle Temple and Fushou Temple, among other names. It has stood for 850 years and has witnessed several dynastic changes.

In the ninth year of the Dali era of the Tang Dynasty (774 AD), Emperor Daizong of Tang, Li Yu, "had a dream" and ordered the construction of a seven-story pagoda at the Foku Temple.

From then on, Chongjiao Temple became an important place for the royal family to pray for blessings and worship Buddha, and its incense offerings became increasingly prosperous.

This pagoda, built by Li Yu in response to a dream, is located at the highest point of the East Peak. The pagoda soars into the clouds, and the copper bells hanging from the upturned eaves make a crisp sound in the breeze, as if telling the story of the vicissitudes of the ancient temple.

Niushou Mountain, half of Jiangning's history.

The Southern Liang dynasty, which was confined to a corner of the country, vanished into thin air, and the once-prosperous Tang dynasty dissipated. Hundreds of years have passed, and dynasties have changed like a revolving lantern. However, Chongjiao Temple has always stood firm, and its incense has never stopped burning.

In the past, such clear spring days were the perfect time for devout men and women to climb mountains with their families and friends, enjoy the view, and offer incense for blessings. The mountain paths would be bustling with people, and the temple would be filled with the melodious sounds of bells and chimes and the swirling smoke of incense.

But today, from the foot of Niushou Mountain all the way to the gate of Chongjiao Temple, one can see soldiers in bright red robes, ready for battle.

Sunlight reflected a cold gleam off the armor, and battle flags fluttered in the mountain wind. Under such tight security, no ordinary tourist or believer dared to climb the mountain to worship Buddha.

Even the original monks in the temple were politely but firmly restricted from moving around, and were strictly prohibited from approaching the core pagoda area of ​​the temple. Today, the temple is destined not to receive any incense money or donations.

Several young monks hid behind the pillars of the side hall, peeking at the unfamiliar red-robed soldiers with a mixture of fear and curiosity. The soldiers, holding swords and spears, stood solemnly in response, guarding the pagoda.

At this moment, on the top floor of the pagoda, Marshal Shi Shan of the Red Flag Battalion was leading his core generals to gaze into the distance from the railing, taking in the surrounding mountains, rivers, and roads of Jiangning City, and thus assessing the latest battle situation.

A spring breeze swept across the top of the tower, fluttering the generals' battle robes. The space inside the tower was not large, and nearly ten high-ranking generals stood there, making it seem somewhat crowded, but no one complained. Everyone's attention was focused on the terrain in the distance.

"Everyone."

Shi Shan spoke, his voice steady, and said:

"No matter how detailed the maps and sand tables are, they will still differ significantly from the actual site. Today, we will take you to a high place to get a better view and see the terrain around Jiangning with your own eyes."

The generals nodded in agreement, their eyes scanning the surrounding landscape.

This is an excellent vantage point. From the top of the tower, you can see the surrounding terrain of Jiangning. The Qinhuai River meanders through Jiangning like a jade belt, and prominent landforms such as Fangshan, Zhongshan, Qixia Mountain, Jiulong Lake, and Dongmao Lake are also faintly visible.

"Marshal, I have already led my men to investigate thoroughly."

The first to speak was Feng Guosheng, the garrison commander of the Second Garrison of the Xiaojiwei.

He was covered in dust, his beard was disheveled, his eyes were sunken, and his armor was still covered in mud and grass clippings. Clearly, he had been traversing river channels and forests for the past few days to scout enemy positions and had not had a proper rest. But his eyes were still bright and sharp.

Feng Guosheng pointed southeast and said in a somewhat solemn tone:

"All the ferries along the Qinhuai River for nearly twenty miles around Fangshan have been seized and controlled by the garrison on the opposite bank. I personally led a scout team to approach the riverbank to observe. The enemy's camps set up in Fangshan are continuous and I estimate that they are enough to garrison about 20,000 troops."

If we cannot first eliminate this enemy force entrenched on the opposite bank, our main force will feel like it has a thorn in its side when attacking the city, and will never be able to exert its full strength!

At this point, Feng Guosheng became somewhat agitated and said:
"This humble general personally witnessed the flags waving in the camp on the opposite bank, and the garrison patrolling frequently, clearly indicating that they were actively preparing for war. We attempted to swim across at night to scout, but the current was swift and the opposite bank was heavily guarded, so we were unsuccessful."

Today the weather is clear and the view is wide open. Standing on the high pagoda of Chongjiao Temple, you can indeed see the outline of Fangshan Mountain in the southeast.

However, the two places are quite far apart. Even with Shi Shan's eyesight, he could only barely make out the shadows of the camps and fences that were as dense as anthills on the mountainside of Fangshan. He could imagine the scale of these camps and judge that Feng Guosheng's words were not unfounded.

Shi Shan gazed at it for only a moment before slowly turning his gaze back to the vast area west of Fangshan and on the west bank of the Qinhuai River, which was closer at hand. There lay expansive farmland, scattered villages, crisscrossing waterways and roads, and some buildings that resembled fortified villages.

His face showed no sign of anxiety, but rather a knowing smile as he calmly said:

"During the pre-battle simulations, we already knew that Jiangning City was a strategically important and formidable location, not easily conquered and impossible to take in one fell swoop. Our main force hasn't even reached the walls of Jiangning City yet, and we haven't even cleared the outer defenses completely. What's your rush?"

Due to the obstruction of the Qinhuai River, the Red Flag Battalion was not only temporarily unable to attack the Yuan army on Fangshan Mountain, but even the plan for Wang Bi's troops to capture Jurong County was forced to be postponed—the road to Jurong County was under threat from the Fangshan militia.

This also shows that the Yuan army was not without knowledgeable soldiers. The troop deployment at Fangshan was extremely appropriate. Although this force was not able to participate in the battle for the time being, it prevented the superior forces of the Red Flag Battalion from being deployed in time and thus played a greater role.

But as Shishan said, this battle was not expected to be won in one fell swoop. There would inevitably be a stalemate and a protracted process with the enemy, and this process would not be short. Both sides would not only have to compete in bravery and fighting spirit, but also in composure and strategy.

The saying "to strategize and win battles from afar" can only apply to strategic planning. To expect to stick to a single plan at the tactical level is to treat the enemy as fools and is irresponsible towards the lives of one's own soldiers.

Water has no fixed shape, and military tactics have no fixed form. The situation on the battlefield is constantly changing, and it is the norm for both sides to make timely tactical adjustments based on the other's actions.

In this kind of back-and-forth confrontation, the side that makes fewer mistakes and seizes more of the opponent's mistakes will win.

When Shi Shan said there was no rush, it wasn't to comfort Feng Guosheng and his generals, but rather because he was already mentally prepared. He turned around and said calmly:

"The essence of military strategy lies in knowing yourself and your enemy. We are standing here to clearly see the terrain around Jiangning, find the enemy's weaknesses, and locate a more suitable position to advance, so as to modify and improve our attack plan."

Feng Guosheng wasn't impatient, but as a cavalry commander, he should have been leading his troops to pursue and slaughter the poorly trained militia. However, the Qinhuai River blocked his way, preventing the cavalry from galloping, and he also had to guard against the enemy crossing the river and threatening his own rear.

This feeling of being powerless and forced into a passive defensive posture made Feng Guosheng, who was used to charging into battle, quite uneasy. He immediately feigned grievance and complained:

"This humble general understands the marshal's meaning, but I feel that in such a large-scale battle, it is a waste of our valiant cavalry to only be sent out to scout and act as lookouts."

The soldiers were all asking, "When can we ride into battle? Are we just going to have to sit by the river all day watching what's happening on the other side?"

Shi Shan knew Feng Guosheng's nature—he was overjoyed at the mere mention of war and would go mad at the prospect of battle. Since he had brought his valuable cavalry across the Yangtze River, he naturally wouldn't just assign them reconnaissance missions. He patted the railing, reassuring him with certainty:

"The land south of the Yangtze River is magnificent; soon it will be your time to ride forth and triumph!"

After saying that, Shishan turned around and looked toward Jiangning City to the north.

The distance between Jiangning City and Chongjiao Temple is much greater than that between Fangshan and the city. However, standing on the top floor of the pagoda and looking into the distance, one can still vaguely see the outline of this giant city with a circumference of more than 20 li (note), which is both indistinct and majestic, like a sleeping giant beast crouching between mountains and rivers.

The generals' gazes also returned to the stone mountain and fell on the vast area south of Jiangning City, south of the Qinhuai River.

There were countless fertile fields, villages scattered like chess pieces, crisscrossing rivers and canals, and interwoven roads. Its population density and prosperity far surpassed those of the Jiangbei region. It was a land of plenty, a scene of wealth and prosperity!
Beside and behind Shi Shan were Gong Wu, the commander of the Moon-Holding Guard; Chang Yuchun, the commander of the Sun-Supporting Guard; Zuo Junbi, the commander of the Loyal and Righteous Guard; Wang Bi, the commander of the Mighty Guard; and several garrison commanders who had been specially permitted to accompany the marshal to the tower.
Looking at this land that they were about to conquer and establish their base, everyone was filled with excitement and pride—this beautiful land in Jiangnan would be the new starting point for the Red Flag Battalion's rise to power, but it would also require all the soldiers to conquer and protect it with their blood and lives.

Fortunately, Marshal Shi assessed the situation and chose an excellent time to cross the river, coinciding with the time when the military strength of the Jiangzhe Province was at its weakest.

Perhaps the cost of capturing this city will be much lower than expected.

Zuo Junbi had previously defended Hefei, a formidable city with walls over 4,700 zhang long, only slightly shorter than the walls of Jiangning. Knowing that a city wasn't necessarily better the larger it was, and that longer walls meant a wider area to defend, increasing the likelihood of breaches, he couldn't help but speak up:
"Marshal, Jiangning City is so vast, yet the Yuan army only numbers eight thousand. Dividing them up, their defenses are bound to be stretched thin. There must be many weak points we can exploit, right? If we can find these weaknesses and concentrate our attacks, we could achieve twice the result with half the effort." "Hmm!"

Shi Shan nodded, agreeing with Zuo Junbi's assessment.

For a city of Jiangning of such size, having only 8,000 men to defend it is indeed a weak force, and there are bound to be oversights.

But he knew even more that Jiangning was far superior to Hefei. The city was backed by Zhongshan Mountain, faced the Qinhuai River, and had Xuanwu Lake as a natural barrier. Its moat was both wide and deep, and its terrain was far more advantageous than Hefei's.

Although the Red Flag Battalion had a large force, its effective attack area was actually quite limited in the face of such complex terrain. We must not underestimate the Yuan army simply because of their insufficient defensive strength, assuming it could be easily conquered.

Shi Shan's expression turned serious again, and he said in a deep voice:
"Jiangning is a strategically important place, with mountains behind and water by its back. Although the city's defense system was destroyed by the Yuan dogs themselves, it will be difficult to rebuild it completely in a short time. We still need to plan carefully and proceed steadily, and not be greedy for quick success and rashly advance."

Shi Shan turned to the Commander of the Mighty Guards standing to the side and called out:

"Wang Bi!"

Although the plan to lead his troops eastward to Jurong County had to be postponed due to the enemy's blockade of the passage at Fangshan, Wang Bi showed no sign of annoyance. Instead, his eyes shone brightly with the prospect of taking on a new and important mission.

Upon hearing the marshal call his name, Wang Bi immediately stepped forward and responded in a booming voice:
"The general is here!"

Shishan pointed southeast again and commanded:
"Weiwu Guard the entire army, stationed along the Niushou Mountain line. Your unit's mission is to thoroughly eliminate all enemy strongholds entrenched on the southeast side of Niushou Mountain, and to closely monitor the area opposite the Qinhuai River, preventing the enemy at Fangshan from taking the opportunity to cross the river and sneak westward to harass our army's supply lines!"

Suppressing local militias and fortified villages and garrisoning this area may seem simple, but it is actually a weighty responsibility.

Sunny weather like today is not an everyday occurrence. If small enemy units attempt to cross the river under the cover of rain or darkness, they are extremely difficult to detect in time. This necessitates that the Weiwu Guard quickly eliminate the enemy strongholds southeast of Niushou Mountain and use these strongholds to patrol and control the surrounding area.

Of course, the terrain of Niushou Mountain itself also limited the routes for the Yuan army to launch large-scale attacks from Fangshan.

Before the navy eliminated the remnants of the Longwo naval forces, the Red Flag Battalion's supply line was located west of Niushou Mountain. As long as Wang Bi could firmly control Niushou Mountain as a barrier, the Yuan army would find it difficult to pose a substantial threat to the army's logistics.

Wang Bi, a veteran of many battles, naturally understood the implications and immediately accepted the order with a resounding voice:

"This humble general is tasked with guarding the rear and supply lines of the army for the Marshal. If the Yuan dogs do not come, fine. But if they dare to cross the river and attack, we will make sure they do not return with a single piece of armor!"

Shishan knew that Wang Bi was adept at seizing opportunities, which was why he had placed his troops here. He didn't need Wang Bi to elaborate on the specific tactics, and nodded in satisfaction. He then turned around and prepared to descend the pagoda.

"The rest of the units, follow me to Yuhuatai! It's time we put some real pressure on the garrison in Jiangning!"

"The last general takes command!"

The generals responded with a thunderous roar, their voices echoing through the tower. Each face wore an expression of excitement and anticipation, clearly confident of the upcoming battle.

The group filed down the narrow tower stairs. The tower was dark, with only a few rays of light shining in through the windows, forming distinct beams of light in the air. The stairs were steep, and at their narrowest point, only one person could pass at a time. The generals held onto the walls as they slowly descended.

As the group stepped out of the pagoda gate, preparing to leave the temple, an elderly monk in a magnificent robe approached, followed by two middle-aged monks. They were the abbot of Chongjiao Temple and his disciples. The elderly abbot clasped his hands together, chanting Buddhist mantras, his expression seemingly respectful.
"Amitabha! This humble monk observes that Marshal Shi possesses the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, with a radiant countenance and a hint of purple aura between his brows. This is an auspicious sign, indicating that he will surely have extraordinary destiny in the future. This humble monk dares to speak, but I do not know whether I should."

The old abbot had white hair and beard, but was sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, and had a very good appearance. However, his words sounded quite flattering, but were actually empty and meaningless, just a typical charlatan's opening line.

Shi Shan thought to himself that he had encountered a cunning old fox, but he didn't want to offend someone who was smiling, so he remained calm and said indifferently:
"I, Shi, am borrowing this precious space in your temple today. Abbot, please feel free to speak."

The old abbot clasped his hands together, his appearance solemn and dignified, and raised his voice slightly as he proclaimed:
"I have heard that the Marshal's mighty army breached fortified villages without plundering the people's wealth, and today, even entering my temple, they did not disturb the peace. Their actions are all in accordance with the law, and their military discipline is truly rare. I recall that when Emperor Gaozu of Han entered Xianyang, he also made a three-point agreement with the elders, which won the hearts of the people and ultimately led to his imperial success."

The splendor of six dynasties still lingers in Jiangning, its imperial aura undiminished. We urge the Marshal to consider the well-being of the people, continue to discipline the troops, protect the populace, and preserve Jiangning's thousand-year-old cultural heritage—only then can we achieve unparalleled success; only by preserving its foundation can we secure a lasting legacy. The Marshal's benevolence will surely not fail the people!

Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries are supposed to be places of quiet cultivation, but ironically, these places are where powerful figures are most well-informed.

Shishan finally understood. The old monk must have seen that his soldiers were disciplined and treated the monks with courtesy. He also saw that the Red Flag Camp was powerful and that the fall of Jiangning City seemed inevitable. He wanted to place his bet in advance, or he wanted to use the name of "advice" to gain prestige for himself and Chongjiao Temple.

When the new dynasty is established in the future, these words of "admonition on benevolence and virtue" will spread, and the incense at Chongjiao Temple will likely become even more prosperous.

He didn't mind others using his influence. The world was so vast that if the Red Flag Battalion alone controlled everything—military, political, cultural, and religious—they wouldn't be able to unify the world even in a hundred years.

Shishan had no prejudice against Buddhism. After all, even in later generations when material culture was extremely abundant, religions such as Buddhism and Taoism still had a large market.

In this era of universal suffering, people only need this kind of religion to satisfy their religious needs and alleviate some social conflicts.

But looking at this magnificent temple, now overflowing with the offerings of pilgrims, and seeing the undisguised shrewdness and calculation in the old abbot's eyes, Shi Shan's smile grew even brighter. Yet, a subtle, almost imperceptible chill crept into his words:

"Oh? Along my journey, I've seen many fertile fields, beautiful houses, forests, and waterways around Niushou Mountain, and it seems there are many temples and monasteries. May I ask how large your temple's property is and how much income it generates annually?"

The abbot, a seasoned and shrewd man, could easily discern the hidden sarcasm and warning in Shishan's words. Realizing he had misjudged the situation, he felt a chill run down his spine and was about to offer an explanation or change the subject when Shishan suddenly countered with a question, his tone calm yet carrying immense weight:

"The abbot has been practicing here for many years. He knows that Jiangning City, located at the foot of the mountain, has seen the rise and fall of dynasties over the past few hundred years, with countless heroes and valiant figures rising and falling. Why is it that Chongjiao Temple has survived eight hundred and fifty years of trials and tribulations, with its incense burning and its lineage continuing unbroken?"

Upon hearing this, the old abbot's expression changed slightly; he understood the unmistakable warning in Shishan's words:

Secular power struggles are for the secular world, and tranquility is for the secular world. If Chongjiao Temple remains law-abiding, it can naturally maintain its peace; but if it tries to excessively intervene in secular affairs, or even take the opportunity to profit, then it is hard to say whether its 850-year-old tradition of incense offerings can continue.

He quickly bowed even deeper, his tone becoming extremely submissive, even tinged with fear, and said:
"Amitabha! I have sinned! I have been a monk for fifty years, chanting scriptures all day long, but I still cannot see through the illusions of the mortal world. This is truly my fault! Thank you, Marshal, for your timely warning, which has made me realize my mistake and return to the right path!"
In gratitude for the Marshal's guidance, our temple is willing to donate 300 mu of temple land, 500 shi of grain, and 1,000 guan of copper coins to support the military, contributing our modest efforts!

Shishan gave the old abbot a deep look, neither confirming nor denying, and simply said:

“Master, you are too kind. My Red Flag Battalion does indeed need supplies. Since your temple is so kind, I thank you on behalf of all the soldiers.”

The acceptance of money, grain, and land did not require Shishan and the old abbot to personally hand over the goods, and Chongjiao Temple would not dare to renege on its debts.

After speaking, Shi Shan did not linger and strode out of the temple, surrounded by his generals. The sunlight shone on his bright red battle robe, as if it were plated with a layer of golden luster.

On and around Niushou Mountain, the army was fully prepared for battle. Banners fluttered in the wind, soldiers gleamed in armor, and a chilling atmosphere permeated the mountain.

Shi Shan mounted his horse, surveyed his generals, and gave the order in a deep voice:

"According to plan, advance on Yuhuatai!"

Immediately, bugles sounded and war drums thundered, and the Red Flag Battalion surged down the mountain like a torrent, heading straight for Yuhuatai, a strategic location south of Jiangning City.

……

Note: The circumference of the city wall of Jiankang Prefecture in the Southern Song Dynasty was 25 li and 44 steps. According to the Song Dynasty system, one li is approximately 530 meters, which is about 13.3 kilometers. This is only about one-third of the circumference of the outer city wall of Nanjing in the later Ming Dynasty, which was 35.267 kilometers.

(End of this chapter)