Song Dynasty: Yuan Dynasty, you didn't expect this, did you? I'm still alive.

In October of the second year of Jingyan, the autumn wind in Lingnan, carrying salty and damp air, swept over the city of Fuzhou. The Song army flags on the city wall had long since faded and fluttered in the wind, telling the story of the hardships of defending the city.

Yuan general Arahan had been besieging Fuzhou for nearly a year, launching dozens of fierce attacks, all of which were repelled by Chen Yizhong through his brilliant strategies and strong city defenses. What troubled him even more was that, under the secret instigation of Wen Tianxiang, anti-Yuan rebellions had broken out one after another in Guangdong and Fujian during this year—Chaozhou and Huizhou had been recaptured by the rebel army several times, and even Guangzhou, which had already fallen into the hands of the Yuan army, was besieged by the rebel army, and the situation was unstable.

When the news reached Dadu (Beijing), Emperor Kublai Khan was furious. He slammed his fist on the table and rebuked Araqan for his incompetence, immediately ordering his dismissal and investigation. Subsequently, Kublai Khan appointed Grand Marshal Zhang Hongfan to lead 100,000 elite Yuan troops to Jiangnan to wipe out the remaining Song forces.

Unlike Arahan's brutal conquests, Zhang Hongfan, being a Han Chinese, was well-versed in the customs and social dynamics of Han China and the psychology of the gentry. He understood how to dismantle the Song army's resistance. Upon arriving in Jiangnan, he did not continue Arahan's oppressive rule but instead adopted a strategy of "combining suppression and appeasement": on the one hand, he dispatched large armies to wipe out the remaining resistance of the Song army, and on the other hand, he secretly contacted powerful clans and gentry in Guangdong and Fujian, promising them the appointment of local officials and the privileges they would enjoy for generations.

What excited the powerful clans even more was that Zhang Hongfan brought Kublai Khan's special "tax farming system"—the right to collect taxes in each occupied territory was contracted out to designated tax farmers. The Yuan army would provide absolute military protection for the tax farmers' collection work, and after paying a fixed amount of taxes to the court as agreed, the tax farmers could dispose of the remaining taxes at their own discretion and obtain huge profits.

Such lenient conditions are unparalleled in Chinese history, even during the height of the aristocratic clans of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Upon hearing the news, powerful clans from all over the country were overjoyed. After convening their elders to discuss the matter, they all praised Emperor Yuan's "wisdom" and rushed to surrender to the Yuan army.

With the cooperation of powerful clans, the Yuan army's advance proceeded exceptionally smoothly. Within just a few months, the rebellions in Guangdong and Fujian were completely quelled, and the previously scattered anti-Yuan forces were also eliminated one by one. With his rear secured, Zhang Hongfan immediately led a large army to reinforce Fuzhou, once again completely surrounding this last isolated city of the Song Dynasty on the mainland.

Looking at the dense defensive fortifications on the city wall—the result of Chen Yizhong's continuous reinforcement over the past year—Zhang Hongfan issued a perplexing order: to besiege the city without attacking, severing all contact between Fuzhou and the outside world.

The generals under his command were all puzzled. One of the lieutenants couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Marshal, Marshal Arahan was dismissed and punished by His Majesty precisely because he failed to capture Fuzhou for a long time. Now our army is at its peak, yet you have ordered us to only besiege and not attack. If this drags on, how can we bear the blame from His Majesty?"

Zhang Hongfan stroked his beard and chuckled, his eyes full of confidence: "Gentlemen, please be patient. Fuzhou is now an isolated city, with tens of thousands of troops holding out for over a year. Even if they had stockpiled ample provisions initially, they are bound to run out soon. The day their provisions are exhausted will be the day the city falls. Why rush things and cause unnecessary casualties?"

As Zhang Hongfan had predicted, food supplies in Fuzhou were already critically low. Initially, they could reduce rations and subsist on wild vegetables, but later, even the city's warhorses and livestock had been slaughtered. The soldiers were emaciated, yet they still stubbornly held their ground on the city walls. Chen Yizhong, despite his exceptional strategic acumen, was helpless in the face of this dire situation. Standing atop the city wall, gazing at the densely packed Yuan army camp outside, his brow furrowed, he finally gritted his teeth and ordered: "Send an elite squad to break out under cover of night and request reinforcements from Prime Minister Wen, including provisions!"

At this time, Ryukyu was in a critical period of large-scale land reclamation and construction, and food supplies were extremely scarce. Although the autumn harvest had just occurred, the harvested grain was only enough to barely feed the 600,000 Song people on the island, and there was simply no surplus grain to support Fuzhou. After receiving the letter requesting assistance, Wen Tianxiang was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth in his residence, but he could not come up with a solution.

Just as Wen Tianxiang was at his wit's end, a soldier announced from outside: "Prime Minister, Lord Lu Xiufu has sent provisions from Luzon, enough to feed an army of 50,000 for a year!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Tianxiang was greatly shocked and stopped abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief: "The conditions for land reclamation in Luzon are even worse than in Ryukyu. How could Lu Xiufu have accumulated so much grain in just one year?" He immediately ordered the messenger to be summoned to his residence and carefully read Lu Xiufu's handwritten letter.

After reading the letter, Wen Tianxiang suddenly realized what was going on and couldn't help but sigh, "Heaven has not forsaken the Song Dynasty!" It turned out that Lu Xiufu had vigorously promoted the cultivation of taro in Luzon. This high-yield crop was harvested twice a year, and its yield was five times that of rice. In just one year, a huge amount of grain was harvested.

Wen Tianxiang immediately devised a plan: he distributed the taro and grain supplies sent by Lu Xiufu to the Song people in Ryukyu in exchange for the rice and other grains they had stockpiled. He then dispatched a fleet to transport the grain to Fuzhou overnight, relieving Chen Yizhong's urgent need.

The resolution of this food crisis also led to a shift in Wen Tianxiang's strategic thinking. He originally planned to develop Ryukyu into a core base for resisting the Yuan army, but after witnessing the high yield of taro and the vast land of Luzon, a new idea arose in his mind: Luzon is twice the size of Ryukyu and has such a wonderful crop as taro. If all the Song people were relocated to Luzon, wouldn't they no longer have to worry about food?

He immediately summoned all the officials in the court to discuss the matter. After hearing about the wonders of taro and the potential of Luzon, everyone expressed their agreement. In the end, Wen Tianxiang made the final decision: to relocate 400,000 Song people to Luzon Island. Ryukyu would no longer be a major production center, but would instead be fortified and transformed into a military fortress to resist the Yuan army.

Meanwhile, in Zhang Hongfan's tent, a scout rushed in to report: "Marshal, hundreds of Song army ships have broken through the blockade and delivered a large amount of grain into Fuzhou City!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hongfan's smile froze instantly, his eyes filled with doubt. He had already ascertained that the remnants of the Song army had fled to Ryukyu, a wild and resource-scarce land. The more Song people migrated, the greater the food pressure on Ryukyu would be, and logically, there should be no spare capacity to support Fuzhou. "Could it be that Song officials are so heartless as to disregard the lives of the Ryukyu people and forcibly requisition grain in order to defend the city?" Zhang Hongfan pondered to himself.

After much deliberation, he felt that he could no longer delay according to the original plan, so he immediately changed his strategy: on the one hand, he ordered the army to launch a fierce attack on Fuzhou City, and on the other hand, he sent people to collect craftsmen, cut down timber, and build warships—both to completely block the sea passage of Fuzhou City and to prepare for the future attack on Ryukyu.

However, Zhang Hongfan soon discovered that most of the skilled craftsmen in Fujian Province who were best at building ships were concentrated in Quanzhou, and these craftsmen had all been relocated to Ryukyu when Zhang Shijie moved the capital. The Yuan army searched the area for many days but could not find enough skilled craftsmen, and had to urgently transfer them from other places, making the construction of warships extremely slow.

Time flew by, and it was now June of the third year of the Jingyan era. After more than half a year of preparation, Zhang Hongfan finally gathered enough warships to completely blockade the sea routes of Fuzhou, severing Fuzhou's last connection with the outside world.

Upon learning of the complete blockade of Fuzhou, Zhang Shijie led over 500 warships and 50,000 naval troops from Ryukyu to its aid. In recent years, the Song navy had been training day and night in Ryukyu, mastering naval warfare techniques and greatly enhancing its combat effectiveness. The two armies engaged in fierce fighting off the coast of Fuzhou. The Song warships moved nimbly, while the Yuan warships were cumbersome and slow, suffering repeated defeats at the hands of the Song forces. Ultimately, all the Yuan warships were sunk, and the entire Yuan navy was annihilated, completely thwarting Zhang Hongfan's naval blockade plan.

The naval defeat did not deter Zhang Hongfan. In October of the third year of the Jingyan era, he ordered the use of gunpowder to launch a fierce attack on the walls of Fuzhou. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" After a series of loud explosions, several breaches were blasted into the sturdy walls of Fuzhou, billowing smoke and flying debris. Chen Yizhong knew that the city could no longer be defended. He drew his sword and shouted, "Soldiers, today is the day to fight to the death! We will live and die with Fuzhou!" With that, he charged into the breach and engaged in a fierce street battle with the Yuan army.

The Song army in Fuzhou, which had held out for three years, was exhausted and covered in wounds, but not one of them retreated. Relying on their familiarity with the streets and alleys, they fought the Yuan army house by house, turning every street and alley into a battlefield, with blood staining the bluestone pavement.

By evening of the third day of fierce fighting, the resistance in Fuzhou was gradually weakening. Chen Yizhong's soldiers dwindled in number, and he was eventually surrounded by a group of Yuan soldiers. His armor was already soaked in blood, and the blade of his sword was dulled. Dozens of Yuan soldiers' corpses lay scattered around him. The Yuan soldiers surrounding him, looking at the blood-soaked Song general with his piercing eyes, dared not approach him.

Chen Yizhong, leaning on his sword, struggled to stand upright. Looking at the cowering Yuan army before him, he suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter filled with pride and disdain: "The Yuan army is nothing but this! My lord is wise and will one day return from Japan, restore our land, and then you will all be reduced to ashes!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he exerted his strength and charged towards the Yuan army again, dragging his exhausted body. With a flick of his sword, several more Yuan soldiers fell in pools of blood. But he was ultimately outnumbered, and several spears pierced his body from all sides. Chen Yizhong groaned and slowly collapsed, his eyes still fixed on the Central Plains, filled with endless longing and anticipation.

When Zhang Hongfan arrived, this was the tragic scene he witnessed. Looking at Chen Yizhong's body, a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes, and he exclaimed, "A loyal and righteous man, worthy of respect and lament!" He then ordered, "Give Chen Yizhong a proper burial, erect a monument in his memory, and do not neglect this duty."

However, Chen Yizhong's dying words planted a seed of doubt in Zhang Hongfan's heart: "The Song emperor has returned from Japan? Could it be that they intend to use Japanese troops to launch a counterattack on the Central Plains?"

By this time, Zhang Hongfan's warships had been almost entirely destroyed in the naval battle, making it impossible for him to sail out and attack Ryukyu. He secretly dispatched a small fleet to Ryukyu to investigate. However, when the scouts arrived at Ryukyu, they found the island deserted. The original settlements had all been burned down, leaving only dilapidated fortifications, with no trace of Song activity whatsoever.

"Could it be that the remnants of the Song Dynasty have really retreated to Japan?" Zhang Hongfan's doubts deepened. After clearing out the remaining Song troops in Fuzhou, he led his army back to the capital.

While passing through Liangzhe East Road, they encountered Japanese pirates raiding coastal prefectures and counties by boat, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities. Zhang Hongfan was already troubled by the whereabouts of the remnants of the Song army, and seeing the rampant Japanese pirates, he was furious and ordered a large army to surround and suppress them. Seeing the strength of the Yuan army, the Japanese pirates dared not fight them and hurriedly boarded their ships to escape.

"How dare these lowly Japanese pirates offend the might of my Great Yuan!" Zhang Hongfan was furious. Upon returning to Dadu, he reported two matters to Kublai Khan: first, the remnants of the Song Dynasty might have fled to Japan, intending to use troops to launch a counterattack; second, Japanese pirates were frequently raiding the coast and harming the local area.

Upon hearing this, Kublai Khan immediately ordered the nationwide search for artisans to build warships on a large scale, preparing to launch a decisive attack on Japan when the time was right, thus completely eliminating the remnants of the Song Dynasty and the threat of Japanese pirates.

Unbeknownst to them, this was Chen Yizhong's final plan before his death. As early as the beginning of the third year of the Jingyan era, Wen Tianxiang had already carried out the plan to relocate all the remaining Song people in Ryukyu to Luzon and burn down all traces of construction on the island, creating the illusion that the Song people had migrated to Japan.

Chen Yizhong held Fuzhou for three whole years, using this isolated city to hold off the Yuan army's advance for nearly three years, buying precious time for the Song Dynasty's development in Southeast Asia. It was during these three years that Wen Tianxiang and Lu Xiufu were able to successfully settle immigrants in Luzon, promote taro cultivation, and build fortifications, allowing the flame of the Song Dynasty to take firm root in Southeast Asia.

When news of Chen Yizhong's death reached Luzon, the entire Song court was deeply grieved. Although Emperor Zhao Shi indulged in pleasure, he was well aware of Chen Yizhong's merits and issued an edict posthumously conferring upon him the title of Duke of Fu. The character "Fu" (福) not only highlighted the place of his meritorious defense of Fuzhou but also implied the profound meaning of "protecting the remaining lineage of the Song Dynasty." Duke was a first-rank noble title, the highest posthumous honor a civil official could receive, perfectly befitting his status as "the foremost meritorious official of the late Southern Song Dynasty."

The imperial court also bestowed upon Chen Yizhong the posthumous title of "Duke Wenzhonglie" (文忠烈公). Subsequently, a stele was erected in his honor, with the inscription reading:

In the third year of the reign of Emperor Jingyan, an imperial edict posthumously conferred upon the late Left Chancellor Chen Yizhong the title of Duke of Fu and the posthumous name Wen Zhonglie (文忠烈). For three years, he defended Fuzhou, halting the advance of the Yuan army and securing crucial time for the expansion of Southeast Asia. He fought bravely in the face of danger, sacrificing his life to uphold loyalty and righteousness. Even on his deathbed, he devised a plan to drive the Yuan invaders from their campaign against Japan. His contributions to the nation are indelible in history; the posthumous name Wen Zhonglie is truly well-deserved!