"Outside of Chang 'an, the white clouds in the autumn, the bleak wind and the flowing water. When the Han Dynasty was in chaos, Zhongxuan went to Jingzhou … "
The old stage faced the rolling river. The singer on the stage was an old man with a deep but slightly hoarse voice. His voice was accompanied by the sonorous sound of drums.
A round table had already been set up in front of the stage, and before long several people in armour or fine clothes entered the stage. Some of them knew each other, and greeted each other amidst the sound of the poem, while others just sat down quietly and watched the others. There were nine people in total, half of them looking travel-worn.
The drum on the stage stopped for a moment and then sounded again. The old singer sang, "Looking back at Qin Pass from Xian Mountain, how many days south to Jingzhou. Today, I only have tears, I don't know where the scenery is … "
The old man's singing was very infectious. One of the people sitting sighed, "Today, I only have tears, I don't know where the scenery is …"
Beside him, a scholar dressed in a scholar's robe laughed, "Looking back at Qin Pass from Xian Mountain, how many days will it take for the south to Jingzhou … Sikong Shu wrote 'Xian Mountain Pavilion', which is a few days away from here …" He slapped his palm on the table, "You sang it wrong."
As they spoke, a person dressed in martial attire came up from the stairs to the side. When the tenth person appeared, the previous nine people stood up one after another, "Lord Liu."
"General Liu."
"Uncle Ping."
The tenth person cupped his hands and smiled, "Time was short, sorry for the delay." His voice was dignified and steady. This person was Liu Guangshi, who had taken over Baling, Jiangling and other places after the turmoil of the Wu dynasty.
The scholar who said he sang wrong said, "Uncle Liu, the song on the stage has a deeper meaning. You did it on purpose. "
"To be honest, this uncle's singing is different from the previous Wu dynasty. It is solemn and generous, which I like. So I asked him to sing a few songs for me in the army. Today's meeting, firstly, needs to be kept a secret. Secondly, it is a little rushed, so I asked him to sing a few songs for me in the army. I know Ping Bao, my dear nephew's preferences. If you don't leave today, there are two singers with amazing skills in River Tomb City. Chen Fu, Yan Jiu Er … After the official business, uncle will make arrangements for you. "He smiled majestically and warmly." Sit. "
Everyone took their seats. Liu Guangshi waved his hand to dismiss the old singer, and a maid came up to prepare tea. After the maid left, Liu Guangshi looked around and smiled.
"The affairs of the world change quickly. Today's meeting is not a simple matter. Some of you have come here on behalf of your respective clans, and some have come here in person. All of you have sensitive identities, so I won't introduce you one by one. In any case, it's enough for now. What do you think? "
It was obvious that this was a secret meeting, and Liu Guangshi had thought things through thoroughly. But as soon as he said those words, a man dressed in half an armor shook his head, "It's fine. With Lord Liu taking care of the selections, and the people here today are all Han people with large businesses, I trust everyone here. My name is Xia Zhongxin, and I'm not afraid of being known by you. As for whether you say it or not, it doesn't matter. "
"I've long heard of General Xia's fame." The young scholar from before cupped his hands.
Xia Zhongxin said, "Defeat after defeat, defeat after defeat. There's no fame to speak of, just struggling at death's door."
The young scholar smiled and stood up. "I am Xiao Pingbao. My father, Xiao Zheng, pays his respects to all the uncles and elders present."
Liu Guangshi smiled as he watched this. Not long after, the others also stood up and began to introduce themselves. The names that each of them mentioned represented a power in Jiangnan. For example, Xia Zhongxin was the commander of a branch of the Han army that had defected to the Jurchens and was now under Wanyan Xiyin's command. The Xiao family behind Xiao Pingbao was an aristocratic family near Hanyang.
Although this gathering was held in Liu Guangshi's territory, it was equivalent to a gathering of friends. If Liu Guangshi was the only one who knew everyone's identity, then he would truly be the leader of the alliance. Everyone understood this logic as well, so Xia Zhongxin straightforwardly revealed his side. Xiao Pingbao followed closely behind, slightly breaking this asymmetrical situation.
Liu Guangshi didn't mind. Although he was a military general, he had spent his entire life as a civil official. When had he ever been unfamiliar with such a scene? He had long since stopped rigidly adhering to this level.
He waited until everyone had finished their introductions and there were no more pleasantries. Then he smiled and said, "Everyone's appearance here is actually a kind of declaration. Now that everyone knows each other, this Liu will not beat around the bush. Everyone should already be aware of the changes in the southwest. "
Everyone's eyes were solemn as they nodded. Someone said, "Coupled with the situation in the battle of Tanzhou, everyone is now grasshoppers on the same rope."
"I never imagined that Wanyan Zonghan, with his illustrious reputation, would stumble and suffer such a loss."
"You can't say it like that. The Jurchens' defeat is still a good thing."
"But what if the Black Flag wins?"
After everyone had said a few words, Liu Guangshi raised his hand. "Everyone's words make sense. Actually, the Jurchen's defeat isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the Black Flag has won both battles. This situation is somewhat unexpected. I won't hide it from everyone. In the last ten-some days, this Liu has seen a lot of people. Ning Yi's actions make one's hair stand on end. "
At this point, he took a sip of tea. No one said anything. They could all understand the shock of these last few days. The southwest had been fiercely fought for four months, and Wanyan Zonghan was still advancing with great difficulty. But as Ning Yi led seven thousand soldiers to attack, the Jurchens' army of one hundred thousand collapsed on the frontlines. Afterward, the entire army was forcibly pushed back in the southwest mountains, and Ning Yi's army was relentless in its pursuit. Now, in the southwest mountains, it was like two giant pythons were entangled in a bloody battle. The originally weak Jurchens were now biting to death the Jurchens' Western Army, which originally had several times their number, in the boundless mountains of Swords Gate Pass.
In the eyes of everyone, this kind of action was even more shocking than when he killed the king in a fit of rage. After more than ten years, this demon had become so powerful that he could kill anyone in the world if he wanted to. Even Wanyan Zonghan, who had previously been recognized as the world's number one general, was now being ruthlessly slapped in the face by him and was about to be beaten to death.
Although victory and defeat had yet to be decided in the southwest mountains, countless people were already secretly making plans for the future.
Things had changed too quickly, and there had been no plans beforehand. As a result, everyone was in a hurry for this round of activities.
"Let me talk about the situation over there." Xia Zhongxin said, "On the tenth of the third month, Elder Qin made a move. The Jurchens' Wanyan Xiyin was also very powerful and had already mobilized troops to guard against that side. But everyone knows the result. Old Yu was unlucky, and his twenty thousand subordinates were attacked by Elder Qin twice. Some were killed, some were injured, and some were killed. After that, Wanyan Xiyin mobilized troops almost every three days. It was like a game of chess. I don't know who will be unlucky next. We all said that they might attack the Sword Pavilion next. Once they block both sides, Nihan really won't be able to go back. "
"Last year … I heard that they fought seventeen battles in a row. Even General Qin's side was not injured. "Someone continued," Is the Chinese army really that powerful? "
"In seven days, they fought seventeen battles in a row." Xia Zhongxin's face was expressionless. "It's hard to say how powerful they are. If they meet them, they will lose. Wanyan Xiyin is powerful, but he doesn't treat us Han people as humans. He has the Jurchens' strongest Mountain Slaughtering Guards under his command, but he doesn't dare to charge directly and only plans to slowly wear them out. Come to think of it, Second Brother Qin's subordinates were actually the people from Little Canghe. Think about it, in three years, they killed a million soldiers from the Central Plains, killed Ci Buxie, and caused a lot of trouble for Lady Zhenren. They endured in the barren west for several years before coming out. They're not humans, they're ghosts looking for death. "
He paused. "I won't hide it from everyone. Everyone on the front lines is afraid. The southwest has been won, and Old Qin has come with the intention of exterminating his family. Once the game of chess is over, the dagger will be revealed. Whoever touches the black flag and the Mountain Slaughtering Guards will die. "
The corner of Xiao Pingbao's mouth twitched. He smiled. "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but why don't we just surrender to the black flag?"
His words implied that he already knew the answer, but since everyone was sitting together, it was necessary to unify the meaning of their words, so he didn't get angry. He just expressionlessly said, "Everyone now knows how the southwest recruited Li Rulai. If you surrender to the Jurchens, you'll be sent to attack Old Qin. If you surrender to Old Qin, you'll be sent to attack the Mountain Guards. You'll both die."
He paused. "In truth, death isn't something everyone is afraid of. However, the words of those old boys in the capital aren't without reason. Since ancient times, if you want to surrender, first, you must have a bargaining chip and be valued. Only by surrendering can you have a position of power. Today, surrendering to the black flag is just struggling at death's door. Who knows what will happen after a few years? Second … General Liu's side has a better idea, which isn't necessarily a bad path. A real man can't live without power for a single day. If there is a path, I don't want to join the black flag and become a cook's soldier. "
Hearing these words, everyone naturally turned their gazes to Liu Guangshi. Liu Guangshi smiled. "General Xia is unduly undervaluing himself. The Wu dynasty's present situation is, in many cases, not a crime of war. For more than two hundred years, the dynasty has emphasized civil affairs and belittled military affairs, accumulating old habits that are difficult to reverse. Today's predicament is also something that can't be helped. In fact, General Xia's bravery and martial prowess on the battlefield, your military strategy has reached the acme of perfection, even I, Liu, admire you. But to put it bluntly, General Xia's background is in the textile industry. Over the many years you've been commanding troops, there hasn't been a day where you haven't been hindered by all sides, with civil officials pointing fingers and giving orders, coming and going like the autumn wind. To tell you the truth, the few battle-ready soldiers that Liu has left in my hands are only because of the light of my ancestors. "
Liu Guangshi's words could be considered to have spoken to Xia Zhongxin's heart. This cold-faced middle-aged man cupped his hands, unable to speak. He heard Liu Guangshi continue, "After all, the situation today is different. To tell you the truth, the few jumping clowns in Lin 'an have no chance of succeeding. Guangshi has a sentence to say here: if everything goes smoothly, in less than five years, this emperor will dispatch troops from Fuzhou and will certainly recover Lin 'an. "
When he said this, he cupped his hands. Everyone looked at each other, clearly understanding the hidden meaning in Liu Guangshi's words. Liu Guangshi stood up and asked someone to push up a map. "In fact, this time, Guangshi invited you here to push forward the future situation with you. Everyone, please take a look."
He pointed his finger on the map and said, "The world has changed. The situation today is completely different from half a year ago, but speaking of which, there are only two unexpected points. Chen Fan has occupied Tan Province, Ning Yi has stabilized the southwest, and the Jurchen army … The best situation is that they will escape all the way to the north through Jingxiang and other places. But then, the Huaxia army has actually more or less lost its vitality. Of course, in a few years, they will recover their strength, and then the two sides will join forces. To be honest, the territory that I have occupied now is right in between the two sides of the Huaxia army."
Speaking of this, Liu Guangshi only smiled. "Defeating the Jurchen army will make the Huaxia army famous, and it is not impossible for them to sweep the world in the future. But, first, General Xia is right. If you want to surrender to the Huaxia army and become a soldier, they may not accept you. Second, the Huaxia army is indeed strict. Once we win, it may be as bad as not doing enough internally. I also think that some problems will inevitably arise. Of course, we can only wait and see about this for now. "
"No matter what, we have a few years." Liu Guangshi stretched out his hand and drew a circle between Tan Province and the southwest. "But there are only a few years left. Sooner or later, there will be friction with the Black Flag in this place. We have to consider where we should go."
"I have a few considerations about how to deal with this situation." Liu Guangshi smiled. "First, there's nothing wrong with strengthening ourselves. Whether we want to fight or to make peace, we need to have strength. Today, none of us here may be able to wrestle with forces like Black Flag and Jurchen, but if we join forces, we'll be able to take advantage of the fact that the Huaxia Army has been weakened. We'll have some advantages in this area for the time being. Secondly, without the restraints of the civil officials, we'll be able to learn from our painful mistakes and have a chance to develop."
"But just joining forces is not strong enough. To put it bluntly, even if we repeat the old view of the Wu dynasty, between the Jin and the Black Flag, the Wu dynasty is the weakest. Even if we don't have the right to win, we will still have the right to talk. Everyone, please look at the situation. The Black Flag needs to recover its strength and stabilize the situation. It will not move. The Jin army will retreat to the north. Today, we will confront Lin 'an in the east. Everyone, look at how much space there is now empty. "
Liu Guangshi slapped his palm on the map, his eyes shining. "Everyone, the Central Plains! As long as the war in the southwest stops and the Jurchen army goes north, we will join forces to break through the Yangtze River and take the Central Plains. Then we will attack Bianliang and repeat the old view of the Wu dynasty. Everyone, this is a great achievement! For our Wu dynasty, for our Han people, for our Huaxia … "
As soon as he finished speaking, someone at the table stood up and slapped his folding fan on his palm. "Indeed, if the Jurchen army is defeated and leaves, their control over the Central Plains will fall to the lowest point. They will no longer have any influence. As for Lin 'an, a bunch of jumping clowns will not be able to attend to the Central Plains for a while. "
Someone else said, "Zong Han has been beaten black and blue in the southwest. Whether or not he can withdraw, when the time comes, the ones defending Bianliang will no longer be the Jurchen army. If it's the people on the scene, perhaps we can easily recover the old capital without any effort. "
Liu Guangshi smiled. "Moreover, if the name is not right, then the words are not true. Last year, our Wu dynasty was defeated. Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, and the others went to the east, but they could not even defend the former emperor. Liu cannot say that I blame them for these matters. Later on, the Jurchen army became stronger and some people … turned traitors! They really surrendered. There are also many people who are still loyal, like General Xia. Although they had to feign civility with the Jurchen, in their hearts they have always been loyal to our Wu dynasty. In any case, there will be an opportunity. Everyone, Liu is also waiting for this opportunity to come. By the will of the heavens and the imperial decree, we will preserve the seed of our Wu dynasty and restore the old view of the Central Plains. In the future, no matter who we face, we will be able to explain ourselves. "
As he said these words, he took out a charcoal pencil and circled one area after another on the map. This large circle of territory included Bianliang and other places. It was just like one of the greatest powers in the world. Someone slapped his fist against his palm.
Liu Guangshi no longer smiled. With a solemn expression, he tapped the charcoal pencil on the map.
"Everyone, in a few years, anything can happen in this place. If we learn from our painful mistakes, resolutely reform, and learn from the southwest, what will happen? If, after a few years, the situation changes and a problem really does arise in the southwest, what will happen? And even if it is really as people say, that our Wu dynasty's national destiny will unfortunately decline in the end, everyone, if we protect the people, that will also be a great merit. We will be able to face the world, and we will also be able to face China. "
The river wind whistled. Liu Guangshi's words were powerful and resonant. Everyone stood there, solemnly gazing at this scene. After a moment of silence, someone spoke.
"After defeating the Jurchens in the southwest, our vitality has been damaged and we will no longer be able to carry out a northern expedition. The millions of people of the Central Plains have suffered for more than ten years. Now that we have this opportunity, if we sit back and watch, the common people will not be able to do anything wrong. Everyone, General Liu is right. In truth, regardless of those plans and interests, the people of the Central Plains need everyone to cast aside their former enmity and save them from disaster. We can't delay any longer. General Liu will take the lead in today's matter. In truth, in all of the Han, only General Liu, a person of virtue and prestige, can assume the position of alliance leader in this matter. From now on, the entire Chen clan of River East will listen to General Liu's orders! Dispatch! "
In the scenery of the great river flowing east, there were many meat-eaters who had made difficult choices for the future of this country.
The banner atop the city walls had changed. How many people would remember them?
It was the end of the third month. Zong Han had yet to leave Jiange, while Qin Shaoqian and Wanyan Xiyin were in a standoff north of Jiange, constantly mobilizing troops. On the 27th of the third month, Qin Shaoqian's subordinate, Qi Xinhan, led 3,000 men and appeared near Fan City, a thousand li away. But Wanyan Xiyin was already prepared.
Thus began the first round of battle between the elites of the Seventh Corps of the Huaxia army and the Jurchens' Mountain Slaughtering Guards.
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