The voices of people mingled with the sound of carriages and horses. In the Daming Residence, the towering ancient city walls stood in the autumn sun, still carrying the chilling atmosphere of war several days ago. Outside the south gate, a pale stone statue stood quietly in the shade of a tree, watching the gathering and dispersing of the crowd.
A great migration began again at the end of the autumn of this year.
There were rich families who drove their carriages and dragged their rations, men who looked terrified and dragged their families, old masters who swayed in the crowd, women with big bellies who dragged their children who did not know what was going on … Among them, there were also officials in official robes, escorts and martial artists who dragged their sabers, spears, swords, and halberds on the carriages, as well as martial artists who were dressed lightly. On this day, people's status dropped to the same position again.
Their destination was either the rich and populous Jiangnan, the surrounding mountains, or the nearby remote relatives. They were all panic-stricken and uneasy. The dense and chaotic procession stretched for dozens of miles before gradually dissipating. Most people went south and crossed the Yellow River, while some went north, disappearing into the mountains and forests of some unknown place.
This was not the first time such a scene had happened in the past ten years. The Jurchens had gone south several times, and the harsh living environment had forced people to leave their familiar hometown. However, the situation in front of them was a little different than usual. More than ten years had taught people the experience of war, and also taught them the fear of the Jurchens.
On the 24th of the seventh month, as Wang Shanyue led the "Guangwu Army" of the Wu dynasty to attack the Daming Residence, a similar migration situation occurred uncontrollably. In a war, no matter who was righteous or evil, the civilians who were caught up in it would find it difficult to choose their own fate. The Jurchen army of three hundred thousand marching south meant that millions of civilians would be caught up in the war and be crushed to death, unable to do anything about it.
Some people left, and some people stayed. The towering city walls of the Daming Residence stretched for 48 miles. At this moment, cannons, ballistae, rolling logs, boulders, boiling oil, and all kinds of defensive objects were constantly being installed under the efforts of countless people. Under the protection of the fiery banners, the Daming Residence had to be built into an even stronger fortress. In this busy scene, Xue Changgong walked slowly with a long saber on his waist. What flashed in his mind was the great battle to defend Bianliang more than ten years ago.
More than ten years ago, Bianliang was facing the Yangtze River in the north. Under the leadership of Left Prime Minister Li Gang and Right Prime Minister Qin Siyuan, it experienced the baptism of the Nu Zhenren's army for the first time. The Wu dynasty, which had inherited the fate of the nation for two hundred years, was routed by the hundreds of thousands of Jurchens outside the city, including the Western Army, who numbered no more than a hundred thousand. Inside the city, the Imperial Guards, who were reputed to be the strongest of the Wu dynasty, went into battle repeatedly, suffering countless casualties and breaking through the city several times. That was the first time the Wu dynasty had faced the valiance of the Female Zhenren and their own weakness.
Xue Changgong made a name for himself in the first battle to defend Bianliang. Later, he experienced the humiliation of Jingping, accompanied the entire Wu dynasty in fleeing southward, and experienced the search of mountains and seas by Lady Zhenren. After that, NMAU had just stabilized, but he was disheartened and lived in seclusion in the south with his wife, He Lei 'er. After a few years, He Lei 'er was weak and critically ill. As the crown prince, Jun Wu came to ask him to come out of seclusion. After accompanying his wife for the last time, he finally got up and went north.
In the cruel battle to defend Bianliang, his wife, He Lei 'er, was injured by an arrow. Although she managed to keep her life, the child she was pregnant with was miscarried, and it was difficult for her to conceive again. In the first few years of wandering and the next few years of peace, He Lei 'er was always brooding over this. She tried to persuade Xue Changgong to take a concubine and have children, but Xue Changgong always refused.
In fact, thinking back to the beginning of their relationship, there might not have been any undying, irresistible love between them. Xue Changgong was not a general in the army and went to Fanlou only to vent and comfort his wife. He Lei 'er chose Xue Changgong not because she thought he was better than those scholars, but because the army was fierce and the war was dangerous, and she had someone to rely on. It was only when He Lei 'er miscarried under the city wall and Xue Changgong was in grief that the relationship between the two finally came to fruition.
After that, they accompanied each other all the way until He Lei 'er died of illness. Xue Changgong hugged his wife and cried loudly, burying her. In fact, he did not want to have children, but was it only because of He Lei 'er? Because he had seen the strength of the Female Zhenren, and because he himself was a general who had climbed through the ranks in the army without any connections, he knew the many drawbacks of the Wu dynasty's army. If it was the Female Zhenren, she would fight her way down and swallow all of NMAU. If he had children, he would only be born as the Female Zhenren's slave.
Now that his wife had passed away, he had no more worries in his heart. He went all the way north and joined forces with Wang Shanyue in Liangshan. Although Wang Shanyue looked weak, she was a ruthless person who did not care about eating people for the sake of victory. The two of them hit it off. In the following two years, they set up a series of strategies around the daimyo's residence.
The daimyo's residence was located on the north bank of the Yellow River. It was the defensive stronghold of the Female Zhenren's eastern army on their way south. At the same time, it was one of the checkpoints for the army to cross the Yellow River. When Liao was still around, the Wu dynasty set up a capital in the daimyo's residence to show their determination to resist Liao Nan. Now, it was after the autumn harvest. The officials under Li Xizhi's command were gathering resources without restraint, waiting for the Female Zhenren to go south to take them. The city changed hands, and these resources would all fall into the hands of Wang, Xue, and the others. They could fight a big battle.
The autumn wind blew, and the flags stretched out. Along the way, Xue Changgong saw Wang Shanyue and the others at the city wall in front of him, looking north. Around them were soldiers and workers who were setting up ballistae and cannons. Wang Shanyue wore a red cloak, and in her arms was his and Hu Sanniang's eldest son — little Wang Fu, who was already four years old. The child who had grown up in a lake was obviously curious about this majestic city. Wang Shanyue carried him, pointing out the scenery in front of them.
"… North from here, it used to be our territory, but now, there's a group of bad people coming from the direction you see. They're killing their way down, stealing people's things, burning people's houses … Daddy, Mommy, and these uncles are going to stop these bad people. Tell me, what can you do to help daddy …"
"Beat up the bad people."
"That's right, but we still have to grow up first. When we grow up, we'll be stronger and smarter … Of course, Daddy and Mommy hope is that when you grow up, these bad people will no longer exist. You have to read more books, and when the time comes, tell your friends about the fate of these bad people …"
While he was talking to the child, Xue Changgong had already walked nearby, passing through the entourage. Although he didn't have any children, he could understand how precious Wang Shanyue was. The Wang family was a loyal family. Before the Blackwater Alliance, when the Liao people came south, Wang Qisong led the men of the family to resist, leaving behind a house full of widows and orphans. Wang Shanyue was the only son in the third generation, and now little Wang Fu was the only son in the fourth generation. This family had made so many sacrifices for the Wu dynasty, so it wasn't too much to ask them to leave behind a child.
"I still don't think you should have brought little Fu here."
"Little Fu, look, Uncle Xue." Wang Shanyue smiled and placed the child in Xue Changgong's arms, slightly dispersing the somber expression on the general's face. After a while, he looked at the scene outside the city and said, "Having a child by your side isn't always a bad thing. Today, the elders of the city jointly came to see me and asked me if the Effulgent Army would defend the Daimyo Residence after attacking it. What they meant was, if you can't defend it, then scram and don't come and implicate us … I pointed at little Fu playing in the courtyard for them to see. I've brought my child. The Wu dynasty will do everything in its power to recover the Central Plains. "
The two of them had made countless deductions and discussions about the upcoming battle at the Daimyo Residence. In the worst case scenario, it wasn't impossible for the Effulgent Army to be nailed to the Daimyo Residence, but it wasn't as certain as Wang Shanyue said. Xue Changgong shook his head.
"Sending him away before the battle starts will inevitably lead to variables. The earlier he leaves, the better."
"That's his good fortune." Wang Shanyue looked at his son and smiled, but the smile quickly disappeared. "The Wu dynasty is weak. Even if it wants to change, it won't be the work of one generation. The Female Zhenrens are strong because they have dared to fight and kill since they were young. If our generation can't defeat them, I'd rather my child be used to seeing swords and spears from a young age! The Wang family doesn't have soft bones, but it doesn't have talented generals. I hope it will be different starting from him. "
Wang Shanyue's words were calm, and Wang Fu found it hard to understand. He asked in confusion, "What's different?"
Xue Changgong said, "Your father wants you to be a general in the future."
This wasn't the first time he'd heard such an expectation in the child's growth. Only then did he understand. He then nodded his head heavily. "Yes."
Xue Changgong smiled, and Wang Shanyue also smiled. At this time, the top and bottom of the city walls were in full swing, but the afternoon sun still seemed cold and indifferent. To the north of the Daimyo Residence, the vast sky was flat. Li Xizhi's 170,000 troops had split into three groups and had already passed Xing Province, which was a hundred miles away. The mighty flags filled every inch of their field of vision, and the dust they kicked up covered the sky and the sun. About ten miles to the west, a Female Zhenren army of more than 10,000 people was also rushing at the Yellow River at the highest speed.
Daqi's Pingdong General Li Xizhi was forty-three years old. He had a long face, bright eyes, and a high nose. He was a general who surrendered with the Qi family during the Female Zhenren's second expedition to the south. He was also valued by Liu Yu, and later became the representative of the Qi and Liu forces northeast of the Yellow River. The Central Plains north of the Yellow River had been occupied for ten years, and the original thinking of martial arts had gradually loosened. Li Xizhi could see the rise of an empire — it was time for a change of dynasty.
The rise of the Female Zhenrens was the trend of the world, and the trend of the times could not be resisted. But even so, being a running dog was not his ambition, especially after Liu Yu moved south to Bianliang. Li Xizhi's power expanded, and the area under his jurisdiction was close to a quarter of the fake Qi, larger than the combined territory of Tian Hu and Wang Juyun. He was already a real feudal lord.
To maintain his position as a feudal lord, he could even disrespect Liu Yu, but he could not disobey the Female Zhenren's will.
This time, the Female Zhenren's expedition to the south was no longer as noisy as in the past. After these years of recuperation, this new great empire was about to formally annex the land in the south. The Wu Dynasty was already in the twilight of the setting sun. Only those who went with the flow could survive this great battle.
Because of this consideration, before the Female Zhenren went south, Li Xizhi had sent trusted aides everywhere to carry out strict purges — since the three-year war at the Small Canghe River, this kind of purge had become the norm within the fake Qi forces. But it was a pity that after this, the news that the Daimyo Residence had been attacked from inside and outside still spread. After Li Xizhi flew into a rage, he could only quickly send troops to rescue them according to the plan.
Time was a terrible weapon that could crush everything. When the Female Zhenren first went south, there were countless resistance in the Central Plains. When she went south the second time, there were still many rebel armies struggling and active in the Central Plains after the shame of Jingping. However, by the time the Lady Zhenren had wreaked havoc in Jiangnan, there were not many rebels left in the Central Plains. Although every group of bandits who went to the mountains and fell into the weeds had to use the name of resisting the Jin, in fact, they were still relying on drugging, robbing, killing, and kidnapping for a living. As for who they were killing, it was nothing more than the defenseless Han people. When the Lady Zhenren flew into a rage, these chivalrous people actually did not dare to move.
The big fish ate the small fish and the small fish ate the shrimps. This was the truth of the world, and very few people could jump out. Therefore, when the Female Zhenren went south, Li Xizhi did not care about the many bandits around him, but he knew his own affairs. In his territory, there were two forces he had always been on guard against. Wang Shanyue's disturbance at the Daimyo Residence was not unexpected, and the power of the Effulgent Army made him vigilant. But outside of this, there was another force that always made him vigilant and even afraid, and that was the shadowy Black Flag Army that had always shrouded everyone.
No one wanted to be like Liu Yu, beaten up in the Imperial Palace in the middle of the night.
After the battle at the Small Canghe River, the only thing people could comfort themselves with was the death of the inner demon Ning Yi. It was only last year, when Tian Hu's power suddenly changed, that the people of the Central Plains truly experienced the oppression of the Black Flag Army. Later, the news that Ning Yi did not die was like a high-profile mockery of everyone in the world: You are all idiots.
Liu Yu was scared out of his wits in the Imperial Palace, and the Female Zhenren suffered a heavy slap in the face. However, the Jin Kingdom was in the north, and the Black Flag Army was in the southwest, so they could not express their anger. On the surface, they suppressed their anger, but internally, they punished many people.
Apart from this, the other powers of the Central Plains could only pretend to be peaceful. Li Xizhi strengthened the internal purge. In Zhending of Hebei, the old master of the Qi family, Qi Yan, was so frightened that he woke up several times in the night, repeatedly shouting "the Black Flag Army wants to kill me". Secretly, he offered a bounty of millions of coins for Ning Yi's head. Because of this, the number of Green Forest Travelers who went to the southwest to seek wealth, and the number of Confucian scholars who were instigated by Qi Yan to go to the Wu dynasty to lobby for wealth increased.
However, this Ning Yi, from the very beginning, had committed a great crime. He had killed Zhou Zhe like he was slaughtering a chicken in the Throne Room. Since then, his every move had been treacherous. He had offended the Wu Dynasty, the Jin Kingdom, the Central Plains, the Western Xia, and Dali … After he had offended the entire world, people like Li Xizhi had no choice but to admit that once they were targeted by such a ferocious person, no matter who it was, they would be skinned alive even if they did not die.
Old Master Qi of Hebei was on the list of Huaxia's treacherous officials. In the years he governed Jingdong and Hebei, Li Xizhi knew that there was a Black Flag force near Liangshan that was left for him and the Female Zhenren. After a few years of small-scale conflicts, the information about this force gradually became clear. Its leader, known as the "City-burning Spear" Zhu Biao, had been following behind Ning Yi ever since he massacred Liangshan's Song Jiang's faction. He had always been the right-hand man that Ning Yi relied on the most. He was highly skilled in martial arts and was vicious and merciless. He had received the true teachings of the Inner Demon.
With such a group of people hiding in the surroundings, it was only a matter of time before something happened. However, Li Xizhi did not dare to really put the military forces in his hands on the matter of eliminating the Black Flag. Times had changed. The valiant Liao had been destroyed, the Wu dynasty was on the decline, relying on its two-hundred-year-old foundation to make its final struggle. The Jin Kingdom had appeared out of nowhere and produced many heroes. They were the true favored children of Heaven and the general trend. As for Ning Yi's so-called Huaxia Army, it was the strangest devil born in this chaotic world.
When the immortals fought, the little devils suffered. It was inevitable that the so-called "Effulgent Army" led by Wang Shanyue would block the Jurchen Kingdom's path to the south. Even if they took the Daming Residence, the entire Yellow River was now in their hands. There would always be a solution. However, with this Black Flag, Li Xizhi could only hope that they appeared to be in harmony with the Effulgent Army, or that the Huaxia Army living in the south was still afraid of the Jurchen Kingdom. Seeing that the Jurchen Kingdom was going to take Jiangnan this time, they would not act rashly. As long as the Jurchen Kingdom could make it through safely, this trouble would no longer be their own.
"… The two princes of the Great Jin Kingdom have mobilized their troops to the south. Wang Shanyue's so-called Effulgent Army taking the Daming Residence seems brave and fierce, but in fact, they are bold but not astute! As for the matter of this Effulgent Army, I have already discussed it with Lord Wanyan Chang of the Great Jin. These thirty to forty thousand people are guarding the Liangshan Lake. If we want to encircle and annihilate them, it will be difficult to compete with them. However, they dared to come out. Now that we have taken the Daming Residence, it is time for us to annihilate them. Therefore, this battle should be delayed rather than rushed! Our first step is to slowly plan. We will drag all their troops under the Daming Residence and surround them! If they are really powerful, we will surround the Daming Residence and turn it into another Taiyuan Prefecture. We would rather kill until the ground is white than move an inch. Cut the weeds and eliminate the roots! Eliminate them forever! "
In the fourteenth year of Jinghan's reign in the Central Plains, the eldest son of the Qin family, Qin Shaohe, led a city of soldiers and civilians to defend Taiyuan for a year. In the end, because they were isolated and had no help, the city was breached and the entire city was massacred. Qin Shaohe was killed while escaping and his corpse was chopped up by the Jurchen Kingdom. This became one of the most tragic events of the Jurchen Kingdom's first trip south. The original sturdy city of Taiyuan was still in ruins after more than ten years.
On the first day of the eighth month, after the army passed through Xing Province, Li Xizhi decided in the army's meeting to nail Wang Shanyue and the others to the Daming Residence. Moments after this meeting, a scout came back from four hundred miles away, bringing with him news that there was no turning back.
"The Black Flag Seizing the City, from Zengtou City!"
Li Xizhi sat in the camp for a while. "So, Wang Jiya's twenty thousand men are gone?"
Ever since the Wu dynasty, many places on Jingdong Road were not safe and powerful people frequently appeared. Most of the time, Zengtou City was a mixture of good and bad people and tended to be autonomous. But in theory, there were officials and garrisons.
Ever since Li Xizhi took over Jingdong Road, in order to guard against the Black Flag's attacks, he stationed twenty thousand soldiers in Zengtou City. The commander of the army was his fierce general Wang Jiya. This person was highly skilled in martial arts, meticulous and cruel. In the early years, he participated in the battle at Little Cang River and had a deep hatred with the Huaxia Army. Since he guarded Zengtou City and cooperated with the Jinan Prefecture's garrison, it could be said that for a period of time, the surrounding mountains were subdued and most of the bandits did not dare to act rashly. Who knew that this time, the Black Flag Army would first attack Zengtou City.
On the twenty-eighth of the seventh month, eleven thousand Black Flag Army soldiers attacked Zengtou City, first taking down the eastern city wall. After the city was in chaos, it fell into street fighting. Wang Jiya gathered the army to defend the southern part of the city and even personally led the charge three times. The third time he led the army to seize the city, he was ambushed by the Black Flag Army. After exchanging a few blows with "Big Blade" Guan Sheng, he was beheaded. The leader of this Black Flag Army was the Black Flag General Zhu Biao.
And after defeating Wang Jiya and easily taking Zengtou City, the Black Flag Army had already released the news that they would directly attack Li Xizhi and the Daming Prefecture. When the messenger spoke of this matter, he somewhat cowered. Li Xizhi shouted a few questions and then saw the flyer that the spy had brought to the city on the way.
The message on the flyer was crooked and twisted like this: Li Xizhi, the adults want to fight, the children get out of the way!
"You're going too far!"
With a loud bang, Li Xizhi slammed his palm on the table and stood up. He was tall, and after standing up, his hair and beard all stood up. The entire tent was already filled with a murderous aura.
But after that, there was no more luck to speak of. Facing the Jurchen army of three hundred thousand moving south, the ten thousand Black Flag Army did not hide their strength and bide their time. They were already at the very front. For Li Xizhi, this kind of action was the most unplanned and the most terrifying. When the immortals fought, the little demons had no place to hide.
No one had a place to hide.
Speaking of which, it was strange. Following the unveiling of the Jurchen's southward march, the fierce battle situation in the world was still started by the Black Flag Army in the southwest. At this time, the Jurchen army of three hundred thousand had not yet crossed the Yellow River. On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, Lu Qiaoshan and Ning Yi conducted negotiations. Twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four. The army of one hundred thousand entered the Liang Mountain area one after another. First, they called upon the Mang Shan Ni tribe and began to intimidate and persuade the surrounding Ni tribes.
Regarding this battle, countless people held their breath and waited for it. This included the Gao family of Dali in the south, the resentful army of Tubo in the west, Long Qifei and the other Confucian scholars in Zizhou City, the various factions of the Wu dynasty, and even the distant Jin Kingdom's Wanyan Xiyin. They all sent out their spies and spies, waiting for the first cannon to sound.
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