At the beginning of the third month of the lunar calendar in the eleventh year of Wu Jianshuo, the main force of the East Route Army led by Wanyan Zongfu, after more than two months of low-intensity warfare and preparations for siege, gathered nearby Han troops and launched a general attack on Jiangning. A part of the Han army was recalled, and a large number of Han armies crossed the river one after another. As for the middle and late March, the total offensive force once assembled reached 500,000.
Including the Wulie Battalion stationed in Jiangning, Han Shizhong's Zhenhai Navy, and the nearby Jianghuai troops also concentrated in Jiangning during this period of time. For a period of time, the scale of the entire war continued to expand. At the beginning of the new year This spring, it has attracted everyone's attention.
At the beginning of the war, there was a small episode that broke out just before the guns and swords became popular. The episode goes back up, probably starting in January of this year.
With the issuance of the Huaxia Army's slaughtering of traitors, the struggle for choice and standing in line became fierce, and the community's voice for killing traitors became louder. , Jurchen lobbyists have also stepped up their activities in private, and even took the initiative to arrange some "tragedies", urging the wavers who were in the military earlier to make a decision quickly.
An official surnamed Hou who was in charge of the Diting Si in Jiangning City was so instigated. During the war, the Di Tingsi was responsible for monitoring the movement of the ground and preventing the enemy from digging into the city. This official named Hou Yuntong was not a very vicious person, but his father and brother in the family had contacts with the Jurchen side earlier. With the assistance of the Jurchen forces, he gathered a lot of money and farmed and kept slaves. The Jurchen kidnapped a pair of his children, and then threatened the children's lives with evidence of fornicating Jurchen, making them cooperate with the Jurchen digging the tunnel.
In February, Han Shizhong confirmed the matter twice. The first news came from a whistleblower by a mysterious person—of course, it was confirmed several years later that the one who warned the Wu Dynasty at this time was Puyang, who is now in charge of Jiangning. Yi, and his deputy named Liu Jing, who served as a teacher in Jiangning Mansion for several years - the second news came from Hou Yuntong's surrender in mid-February.
Surrendering yourself to the top under such circumstances is almost certain that your children will die, and you may not get very good consequences. But in the years of war, this kind of thing is not an isolated case.
From February to April of this year, the Wu Dynasty and the Huaxia Army tried several times to rescue Hou Yuntong's children, but ultimately failed. His children died on the third day of the fourth lunar month, and his family was killed before that. Now, on the seventh day of April, Hou Yuntong hanged himself in a field after finding the chopped bodies of his children outside Jiangning City. In this turbulent tide where millions of people died, his experience was later recorded only because of the critical location. For him, it was probably meaningless.
In response to Jurchen's attempt to enter the city from the ground, Han Shizhong adopted a strategy of taking everything into account. In mid-February, the nearby troops had already begun to concentrate on Jiangning. On the 28th, the Jurchen side used the tunnel as a guide to attack the city. Han Shizhong also chose the troops and the navy, and on this day, they raided the only crossing the river garrisoned by the East Route Army. The ferry Ma Wenyuan, almost at any cost, wanted to replace the Jurchen navy troops on the Yangtze River.
Back then, when Jurchen searched the mountains and seas, after all, because the northerners did not understand the navy, Wushu was trapped in Huangtian for more than 40 days, and he was ashamed to this day. Later, the Jurchen urged the Southern Han Army near the canal to develop naval divisions. During this period, the Jin Guo army supervised the guards, and also invested a lot of technicians and money. Last year, in the Yangtze River water battle, although the Wu Dynasty had the upper hand, it was not a decisive victory. By the end of the year, Jurchen took advantage of the dryness of the Yangtze River and set up a boat to cross the Yangtze River as a pontoon bridge, and finally opened a road near Jiangning.
Now the Jurchen Marines live near the Ma Wenyuan in the west of Jiangning. That's why Han Shizhong took advantage of the plan and launched a surprise attack on the Jurchen when he thought he had a plan.
What's more dramatic is that Han Shizhong's actions were also noticed by the Jurchen. Facing the prepared Jurchen army, he finally had to withdraw his troops and leave. The two sides stabbed each other with knives at the end of February, and in March, a large-scale battle was launched on the dignified battlefield.
The battles on the battlefield cover up a lot of things like smoke, and no one knows how many undercurrents are surging in private. In March, the situation in Lin'an became even more chaotic. Outside Lin'an city, the Wushu troops running wildly burned and killed everything around Lin'an, and even several county towns were destroyed and destroyed. , Except for the army that came to King Qin, everything was in ruins. Sometimes Wushu deliberately sent cavalry to harass the city defense. When the huge smoke column rose outside the city, half of Lin'an City could be seen clearly.
The rumors were spreading in private, and the seemingly peaceful Lin'an City was like a hot iron pot. Of course, only the people who belonged to the middle and upper classes in Lin'an Mansion could feel this hotness.
In mid-March, in the courtyard on the side of Lin'an City, the ornamental mountains, rivers and rivers have already turned green in spring, weeping willows have grown new shoots, and ducks are swimming in the water. It is the afternoon when the sun shines from the side of the house After falling down, Qin Hui walked in the garden with a graceful old man.
"North of Gushan Temple in the west of Jia Ting, the water surface is flat and the clouds are low at the beginning. Several early warblers compete for warm trees, and whoever is newer swallows the spring mud... The spring in Lin'an is the worst this year. Last month was cold in the spring, and I thought that all the flowers and trees would be destroyed. Frozen to death... But even so, it still grows out after all, all living beings are trying to survive, and they are so tenacious that it is amazing and gratifying... "
When he walked to a tree, the old man patted the trunk of the tree and said these words, Qin Hui put his hands on his back and said with a smile, "Mr. Mei's words are very philosophical."
The old man known as Duke Mei smiled and said, "The virtuous brother of the meeting has been very busy recently."
"Fighting on the front line is really busy. I'm running around on weekdays, but I'm just doing my usual affairs." Qin Hui smiled and spread his hands, "No, Mr. Mei invited me, and I'll come right away."
"The important minister of the court in the meeting, and at this critical moment, I, a faint-hearted person who is idle at home, rashly invites me, which is really inappropriate. But at this time, I have some doubts in my heart, and I want to ask the virtuous brother of the meeting for advice. Taking the liberty to speak…”
"Hey, let's not talk about the decades-long friendship between Duke Mei and me. With Duke Mei's talent, it is very easy to become an official. The courtiers have been waiting for Duke Mei to leave the mountain for a long time. Duke Mei mentioned this time, I'd rather..."
"This matter is avoided." The other party waved his hand with a smile, and then a complicated look flashed on his face, "In the past few years, the court has been controlled by the ignorant, and I am old and unable to compete with them. , but the virtuous brother of the association has gone up and down in recent years, which is amazing. After your majesty and Baiguan are unhappy, the one who can still be summoned to the palace to ask the most advice is the virtuous brother of the association."
"Alas." Qin Hui sighed, "Your Majesty... he is also anxious."
"What do you think about the current situation?"
"If it can survive, my Wu Dynasty will be able to live a peaceful life for a few years."
"What if it doesn't last?" The old man cast his eyes on his face.
Qin Hui looked back: "What does Duke Mei mean by this?"
The old man spread his hands, and then the two walked forward: "The situation in Beijing is so chaotic, people who talk in private will inevitably mention these, people's hearts are already in chaos, this is a sign, you and I have known each other for many years, I will not shy away from you. In this battle in the south of the Yangtze River, in my opinion, I am afraid that there is no chance of victory in five or five, at most three or seven, me three, and Jurchen seven. How will the Wu Dynasty be at that time? ."
The old man went straight in, Qin Hui had his hands behind his back, and he was silent for a moment as he walked: "The people in Beijing are chaotic, and it is also the Jurchen spies who are confusing people, on the other side... Mr. Mei, since mid-February, there have been rumors that there has been a lot of trouble in Lin'an. Yes, there is news from the North that Emperor Wu Qimai of the Jin Kingdom is getting sicker, and time is running out. Maybe I, the Wu Dynasty, will be able to support it, and I will be able to last."
"Don't lie to me at the meeting, the news was passed down by the people of the Black Flag, and the Princess Mansion may be happy to see it happen. Whether it is credible or not is hard to say after all... But the news from the Jurchen side may not necessarily be the case. is fake."
"Mei Gong, people's hearts are like this, what's the difference between true and false, if you think it is true, it is true, if it is false, it is false, attacking one's heart, it is still the good play of the evil spirit in the southwest... If everyone can be deceived, how long will it take? Months, maybe the Jurchen really broke down without a fight, that's a good thing."
Birds fly over the yard, ducks paddle across the pond and quack away. The two of them walking in the sunshine smiled calmly, and the old man sighed: "...the old man was just about to talk about his inner demon, the virtuous brother of the meeting has an old relationship with the southwest, could it be that he can really let go of this worry Just because you attacked the southwest first and then the royal girl really suggested, the southwest will not let you go."
"The important affairs of the imperial court are important affairs of the imperial court, and personal grievances belong to personal grievances." Qin Hui turned his head away, "Could it be that Duke Mei is speaking on behalf of Jurchen?"
"I can't talk about it." The old man's expression was as usual, "The old age is very old, this bone can be thrown and burned, but there are still unfit children and grandchildren in the family. It's a little selfishness, I hope the worthy brothers of the meeting will understand."
As he said this, he gently cupped his hands: "Don't talk about the gold reduction, if the overall situation is really untenable, what is the retreat, I always want to have a number. The Jurchen has released the words, if you want to talk about peace, the court It is not necessarily a false proposal to cut off a thousand miles to the west of Xiangfan in order to facilitate Nianhan’s attack on the southwest. Brother, in the battle of Xiaocanghe, my second son was killed by the black flag bandits, if this happens, I would be happy to see it."
When the old man said this, his face was full of confidence, Qin Hui hesitated for a long time, and finally said: "... the ambition of the Jurchen wolf, how can you believe it, Mei Gong."
On this day, until he left the other party's mansion, Qin Hui did not express any more intentions and ideas. He has always been a very strict person, and many things have already been decided, but naturally he will not say. In fact, since Zhou Yong asked him for advice, many people wanted to visit him every day, and he quietly watched the changes in the hearts of the capital.
Since the Wu Dynasty moved to the south, Qin Hui has gradually reached the top of the officialdom of the Wu Dynasty, but he has gone through several ups and downs, especially the expedition to the southwest the year before, which made him almost lose his holy family. Above the officialdom, Zhao Ding and others took advantage of the situation to attack him. He was criticized, and even jumping clowns like Long Qifei wanted to step on him, and that was the most dangerous period of time for him. But fortunately, now that the extreme-minded His Majesty's trust in him has grown, and the place has gradually recovered.
But Qin Hui had no joy in his heart for such a proud expression. The situation of the family and country has reached this point, and those who are courtiers only feel that there is a frying pan under them.
In terms of his ambition to be an official, Qin Hui naturally also wanted to be a capable minister who could hold the sky in his arms. He once admired Qin Siyuan, but for Qin Siyuan's style of rushing forward without knowing how to advance or retreat, Qin Hui also warned him back then—once in the capital, when Qin Siyuan was in power, he repeatedly reminded him side by side that many things affected his whole body. , he had to make a plot slowly, but Qin Siyuan never listened. After he died, Qin Hui lamented in his heart, but after all, it proved that he still understood what was going on in the world.
If it weren't for the rules of the world, why would he kill such an outstanding disciple as Luo Jinyan
But at the time when Qin Siyuan fell from power, his presence still had some bad influences. After King Kang ascended the throne, his sons and daughters were quite competitive. With the support of their father, Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu did a lot of important things. They had the strength and support of the Jiangning Clan at the beginning, and were deeply influenced by Qin Siyuan back then. Although he never rehabilitated Qin Siyuan back then, most of the officials who were re-used were the disciples of the Qin family back then. Although Qin Hui and Qin Siyuan had a sensible "family" relationship back then, due to his subsequent isolation, Zhou Pei Yu Junwu On the contrary, this pair of siblings did not deliberately approach, but even if Qin Hui wanted to take the initiative to approach, the other party did not appear too close.
If possible, Qin Hui would prefer to be close to the prince Junwu. His indomitable personality reminded Qin Hui of Luo Jinyan back then. If he could teach Luo Jinyan better back then, the two sides would have better communication. A different result. But Jun Wu didn't like him, and regarded his sincerity and good seduction as a swashbuckling word like others. Later, the little prince stayed in Jiangning for many times. Qin Hui wanted to make more contacts, but there was no such opportunity. , he could only sigh.
The little prince is different from Luo Jinyan. His status gives him the capital to go forward, but after all, at some point, he will fall.
He understood this matter, just as from the beginning, he understood Qin Siyuan's ending. The problems of the Wu Dynasty are intertwined, and the problems are deep, just like a terminally ill patient. The little prince has a fiery temperament, just blindly let him contribute and stimulate his potential. Normal people can do this, but the patient will die. If it wasn't for this reason, why would he kill Luo Jinyan back then
Time is also fate, after all, I missed the opportunity in the past, obviously can become the prince of the virtuous king, but at this time it is worse than the more self-aware His Majesty.
As for Duke Mei, as for the Princess Mansion, as for the people in the city who were desperately releasing all kinds of inspiring news... Although the fighting was fierce, everyone was fighting for their lives, but they could only see the square inch in front of them. If it was the Ningren from the southwest Tu Zai, perhaps, can better understand what he is thinking. At least not far to the north, the Jurchen Valley God who secretly manipulates everything can understand everything clearly.
He can only close his eyes and quietly wait for what should happen. At that time, he will hold the authority in his hands, and maybe he will be able to find a chance for the Wu Dynasty.
Even if things don't work out...
For many days, the most common phrase in private flashed through his mind. Even if things are impossible, at least he is invincible... Such an answer flashed in his mind, but then he swung the inappropriate answer out of his mind.
Sighing softly, Qin Hui lifted the curtain of the car and watched the carriage drive past the city where all things grow. The spring in Lin'an was picturesque. It was only near dusk.
****************
It rains in April. The knights on the horse team are wearing black scorpions and galloping through the rolling low mountains. In the distance, they can see unploughed fields, deserted villages, human corpses lying on the side of the road, and crows with messy feathers. He looked up from the corpse and looked ominously at the man.
In previous years, the land in the south of the Yangtze River was already green.
The horse team drove over this ridge and headed forward. The outline of the military camp gradually came into view, and another patrol team came. The two sides reported their names in Jurchen. The human cavalry went into the barracks.
The formation of the cavalry team is all kinds of strange people, with fierce faces, and there are also many injured. The leader Wanyan Qingjue was pale, and her injured left hand was wrapped in a bandage and hung around her neck.
The barracks are layer by layer, battalion by battalion, and orderly. When you reach the middle section, there is also a more lively camp, where baggage is distributed, female slaves are kept in captivity, and some Jurchen soldiers exchange the treasures plundered from the south here. A soldier's bliss. Wanyan Qingjue waved the horse team to stop, then smiled and instructed everyone not to follow, the injured go to the hospital for treatment first, and the rest took his token and enjoyed themselves.
Jurchen killed the Yangtze River this time, and did not come to capture slaves, so most of them were murdered, and few were arrested and raised. However, Jiangnan women are soft and beautiful, and those who are of good quality will still be caught in the army. Soldiers have fun in their spare time. Such places in the military camp are often patronized by officers, and the supply is in short supply, but Wanyan Qingjue's subordinates have a high status and take With the brand of the little prince, all kinds of things can be enjoyed first. At the moment, everyone praised the benevolence and righteousness of the little prince and dispersed with laughter.
Wanyan Qingjue went inside, and the summer light rain gradually stopped. He entered the big tent in the center and bowed his hands first. Wanyan Xiyin, who was holding a few pieces of intelligence and comparing the map on the table, raised his head and glanced at him, but he didn't say anything about his arm injury.
"How's it going?"
"Report to the teacher, there are some results."
As Wanyan Qingjue spoke, she took out two personal letters from her bosom and handed them over to Xi Yin. Xi Yin opened it and read it quietly, then put the letters away. He looked at the map on the table, his lips slightly slightly. He moved, calculating in his mind the things that needed to be calculated, the tent was so quiet for nearly a quarter of an hour, Wanyan Qingjue stood aside, not daring to make a sound.
"What happened to the hand?" After a long time, Xi Yin said something.
"I met a group of people with a black flag near Changning. Someone attacked and fell from the horse. It's no big deal." Wanyan Qingjue replied simply. He naturally understands the teacher's character. Although he is famous for his literary name, in fact, Xi Yin in the army has an iron-blooded personality.
And the conflict near Changning was really not a big deal. The suspected black flag characters he encountered were actually not well trained. The two sides clashed and then left each other. Wanyan Qingjue wanted to chase, who knows. During the melee, he was hit by a dark gun. A musket bullet came from out of nowhere, and wiped his thigh and knocked his warhorse to the ground. Wanyan Qingjue broke a hand because of this.
Xi Yin nodded with his hands behind his back to show that he knew.
"It's really time for you to come back. The rain has stopped. Come out with me."
Wanyan Qingjue cupped her hands and followed and walked out of the big tent. A bright light appeared in the early summer when the light rain was resting. The old man walked forward: "Zongfu's attack on Jiangning has caught the attention of the people of the Wu Dynasty. The little prince of the Wu Dynasty wanted to stare at me, but he was repelled twice, and there was not much left, but the food around him had already been eaten. It's almost the same. He is now wary of me going south from Changzhou and eating the people... In the direction of Lin'an, people are frightened, and there are many who are shaken, but if they want to break their courage, they are still missing the most important link... "
Xi Yin is more like talking to himself, stating indifferently, but not confused, Wanyan Qingjue listens step by step, and finally says, "Teacher has a plan?"
Xi Yin shook his head and didn't look at him: "Recent events reminded me of the world 20 or 30 years ago. I waited to rise up with the emperor and the commander, and fought with hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers from the Liao Kingdom. At that time, I just kept going forward. The Jurchen full of invincible title was born at that time. After more than ten years or twenty years, and only in recent years, did I always talk to people about people's hearts, persuasion to surrender, rumors, and private exchanges. , to confuse others…”
A group of soldiers passed by and saluted the leader. Xi Yin waved his hand with complicated and solemn eyes: "Qing Jue, I told you about the Wu Dynasty."
Wanyan Qingjue said, "The teacher has said a lot."
"Back then..." Xi Yin recalled what happened back then, "Back then, I was just starting to get involved, and I often heard that there was a big country in the south, where everyone was prosperous and the land was rich. I studied Sinology since I was a child, and everyone around me was in awe. When the envoys sent by the Wu Dynasty were willing to form an alliance with us to fight against the Liao people, I was overjoyed by the late emperor and others. Who knows... Later, I saw a lot of Wu Dynasty The question, I have doubts in my heart... From doubts gradually turned into sneers, and then gradually turned into disdain. In the sixteen states of Yanyun, they are too powerful, but they often play tricks and intrigue in court, but they all think He was unparalleled in his own strategies, and later, Zhang Jue, who voted for them, also killed us. Guo Yaoshi was an outstanding man, and he entered the Wu Dynasty, and finally became disheartened. When the emperor was dying, he said that the attack on Liao was over, and he could take the Wu Dynasty. Yes, it should be..."
"Qing Jue." Xi Yin walked up the small hillside along the road of the military camp, "Now, it's our turn to play tricks and scheming, you say, is this smart? Or is it weak... "
"...It's weak." Wanyan Qingjue replied, "However, as the teacher said before, if the Jin Kingdom wants to grow, it can't use force to suppress everything. I have been in Jin for 20 years. Governing the country by force, I am afraid that one day in the future, it will only collapse faster."
A few years after the search of the mountains and the sea, Jin Guo fell in a carefree and hedonistic atmosphere. When he arrived at the battle of Xiaocanghe, the fall of Lou Shi and Cibuliu woke up the upper class of Jurchen, such as Xiyin and Zong. It is not the first time that John and others have discussed these topics. Xi Yin's emotion was not a question, and Wanyan Qingjue's answer did not seem to reach his ears. The wind after the rain blows from the low hillside. The mountains in the south of the Yangtze River are not high. Looking over from here, you can also see the camps that are full of mountains and valleys. Xi Yin looked at all this seriously.
After a long time, he said: "Have you heard about the situation in the cloud?"
Wanyan Qingjue hesitated slightly: "... I heard that someone is spreading rumors in private, and the east and west... are going to fight?"
"Last year, in the matter of Yunzhongfu, someone killed Shi Liai's grandson and put the blame on Zongfu. This is an unreasonable thing. This year, there are people spreading rumors in private, and the military affairs will be over, and there will be a war between things and things. , remind the people below to prepare early, if they are not alert, the opposite side is already sharpening the knife, and at the end of last year, it was only a few small frictions at the bottom, and starting this year, some people above are pulled into the water one after another."
"Several businesses under Da Yuanxi's subordinates were intercepted, but Wanyan Hongxin's subordinate Shi Dong dared to do it, saying that after the population business, things need to be demarcated. I'm ready to fight on both sides. The matter is still being discussed. The Xi people and the Han people under the two have fought several times. If I really believe it, he is just too tired to run and can't hold back."
The old man frowned, his words were quiet, but murderous aura was spreading. Wanyan Qingjue can understand the danger: "Someone is provoking in private..."
Xi Yin's eyes turned to the west: "The people of the black flag have started, and they went to the person in charge of the North, which is not easy. These people started from the bottom by taking advantage of the rumors of Liai when Zongsuke was beating... For this kind of thing , the upper level will not dare and will not move, even if Shi Liai dies a grandson, he will never make a big noise, but the people below can't figure out the truth, and when they see others preparing, they want to start first. Qiang, the lower part moves his hand, the middle and upper part are also pulled into the water, such as Da Yuanxi and Shi Donggan have already fought, who wants to back off? If Shi Liai intervenes, things will only get worse. These means, Qing Jue, you can try to figure out one or two... "
"… Yes."
Xi Yin walked towards the front, he sucked the refreshing wind after the rain, and then spit it out, thinking about things in his mind, the seriousness in his eyes did not weaken in the slightest.
"...Jiangning war, a lot of troops have been transferred." He seemed to be talking to himself, "Zongfu, at my request, has handed over all the remaining 'Heavenly Lady Scattering Flowers' and the remaining stone slings to Ah. When Lu Bao arrived, I fought several battles here, and the cargo was severely depleted. The people of the Wu Dynasty thought that I wanted to attack Changzhou and break through this city to replenish the food and grass and go south to Lin'an. This is naturally a good way, so the Wu Dynasty stationed Changzhou with 130,000 troops. , while the little prince guarded Zhenjiang with an army of 100,000..."
Xi Yin paused and looked at his old palm: "Our army is 50,000 people, and the other side is 100,000 and the other is 130,000... If it was ten years ago, I would definitely not have hesitated so much, let alone... these 50,000 Among the people, there are 30,000 Tu Shanwei."
Before he finished speaking, Wanyan Qingjue at the back already understood what the other party was talking about, and also understood where the sigh in the old man's mouth came from. The cool wind blew softly, and Xi Yin's words fell casually into the wind.
"After half a month, I, Yin Shuke and General Alubao will take Zhenjiang at all costs."
The old man walked slowly and sighed in a low voice: "After this battle, the world of the Wu Dynasty... it's time to decide..."