Autumn rain pattered down, knocking yellowed leaves and withered grass from the mountains, swirling them into streams and rivers, merging into the final torrent before winter's arrival. Search: \(¨Complete¨ Book¨ God¨ Station¨) to read premium literature for free.

From the mountainside, Xiao Cang River appeared calm in the autumn rain. The houses, lined up in rows, seemed somewhat monotonous, with straight and orderly streets and pedestrians walking along them, as well as an empty drill ground. Mountain water poured into the river, and the heavy rain rippled across the surface of the reservoir. Fan Hongji looked at it all, remembering the deafening roar of water being released from the dam at the entrance to the mountain, both lively and monotonous.

This mission was unlikely to have a good outcome.

When he entered the mountain, he already knew that the Jurchen spies originally placed near Xiao Cang River had been completely eliminated by the people of Xiao Cang River, without a single one remaining. Although these Jurchen spies might not have expected this beforehand, the ability to eliminate all of them without exception was enough to prove the extensive preparations made by Xiao Cang River for this matter.

Fan Hongji finished washing up and tidying his clothes in the room arranged for him by the Xiao Cang River soldiers. Then, guided by a soldier holding an umbrella, he walked up the mountain road. The sky was dark, and gusts of wind blew through the heavy rain. As he approached the mountainside, he could see the small courtyard with its warm yellow lights. The scholar named Ning Yi was talking to his wife and children under the eaves. Seeing Fan Hongji, he stood up. His wife smiled and said something, then took the children back into the house. Ning Yi looked at him and shrugged his shoulders: "Envoy Fan, please come in."

This meeting was different from any previous one.

Although Ning Yi still wore a smile, Fan Hongji could clearly feel the change in the atmosphere in the raining air. The smile on the other's face lacked many things and had become more profound and complex. Those intentions and purposes, the vague sense of urgency that Fan Hongji had felt in the previous exchanges and negotiations, had completely disappeared at this moment.

Fan Hongji was not a novice on the negotiating table. It was precisely because of the subtle things contained in the other party's attitude that he felt that there was still a breakthrough point in this negotiation, and he was confident that he could find this breakthrough point. But until this moment, the feeling of "as expected" suddenly sank in his heart.

He stood in the rain, not going in, but cupped his fist in salute: "If possible, I still hope that Mr. Ning can return the Jurchen brothers originally arranged outside the valley. If that happens, things might still be salvageable."

Ning Yi stood under the eaves, looking at him with his hands behind his back, and then shook his head: "Envoy Fan is thinking too much. This time, we didn't deliberately leave any heads."

Looking towards the distance, Ning Yi turned and walked into the room. Fan Hongji was slightly stunned, and after a moment, he could only follow him. It was still the same study. Fan Hongji looked around: "Every time I came in the past, Mr. Ning was very busy, but now it seems you have more leisure. However, I suspect you won't be idle for long."

"Please sit down. Stealing half a day of leisure is a good thing. Life is supposed to be busy, so why bother about so much." Ning Yi took a brush and wrote on the rice paper, "Since Envoy Fan is here, I'll take advantage of my leisure to write a piece of calligraphy for you."

"Mr. Ning defeated Western Xia and is said to have written a piece of calligraphy for the King of Western Xia, saying 'Having survived the calamities, brothers remain; a smile dissolves all enmities.' The King of Western Xia felt deeply ashamed and is said to hang it in his study every day as motivation. Is Mr. Ning perhaps going to write another provocative piece of calligraphy for me to take back? To provoke the adults in the Jin court?"

"Absolutely not, Envoy Fan is thinking too much."

Ning Yi smiled. Fan Hongji sat in the chair, watching Ning Yi write: "Under the heavens, there are few who can force Marshal Lou Shi to retreat head-on with equal forces. In the Battle of Yanzhou, you fought very well."

"The formation and coordination of the Huaxia Army, and the morale of the soldiers, were not bad." Ning Yi arranged the brush. "Marshal Wanyan's ability to deploy troops is superb and admirable. Next, it depends on who will die on this ancient plain."

"Does the Huaxia Army have to go to such an extent?" Fan Hongji frowned, staring at Ning Yi. "I, Fan, have always thought that I have been quite good to Mr. Ning and the people of Xiao Cang River. I have traveled for Xiao Cang River several times, and Lord Gu and the Master Shi have also changed their minds. It is not impossible for the people of Xiao Cang River to share this world. Mr. Ning should know that this is a dead end."

"Yes, mostly so." Ning Yi nodded.

"Then why?" Fan Hongji looked at him. "Since Mr. Ning no longer intends to beat around the bush and pretend to be confused with me, then regardless of whether Mr. Ning intends to kill me or not, why not tell me clearly before that, so that I can die knowing why."

Ning Yi was silent for a moment: "Because, you don't intend to do business."

"Haven't we been talking all along?"

"The people of Huaxia do not submit to foreign countries. This cannot be agreed upon. How can we talk?"

Fan Hongji laughed and stood up abruptly: "The trend of the world is like this, Mr. Ning can send people out to take a look! North of the Yellow River, my Jin Dynasty has already occupied the dominant position. This time south, my Jin Dynasty wants this vast land. As far as I know, Mr. Ning once said that within three years, my Jin Dynasty will occupy north of the Yangtze River! Mr. Ning is not an unwise person. Does he want to go against this trend?"

He paused: "However, Mr. Ning should also know that this occupation is not the other occupation. My Jin Dynasty will naturally have difficulty swallowing this world in one bite. In times of chaos, it is natural for heroes to rise together. My side has already occupied the dominant position in this world. What we want is first and foremost a proper title. If Tian Hu, the Zhe family, and others submit to our side, as long as they are willing to soften their words, our side will not be embarrassed in the slightest! Mr. Ning, may I be so bold as to ask you to think, if all of the land north of the Yangtze River - no, even north of the Yellow River - all submit to my Great Jin, and you are a person at the top of the Great Jin, no matter how powerful Xiao Cang River is, if you don't even soften your words, is there any possibility that my Great Jin will let you stay?"

"A great man can bend and stretch, and to achieve great things, sometimes one has to admit that the situation is stronger than people. Mr. Ning, at the beginning of my mission, I did not understand Xiao Cang River in many places, but this time, I sincerely want to promote this matter. This is the northern land and rivers. Now Prince Zongfu has descended on Yingtian and is attacking Xuzhou, and Marshal Zonghan has broken Bianliang. North of the Yellow River, no one can hold on! As long as you nod and indicate your willingness to submit, the rest can be discussed. Within a few years, my Jin Dynasty will not restrain you. After a few years, maybe we will not become friends. Give yourself a way out, and give the people in this valley and the heroes outside the valley a way out."

Fan Hongji's tone was sincere, and he paused again at this time: "Mr. Ning may not know that Marshal Lou Shi respects heroes the most. The Huaxia Army was able to force him to retreat outside Yanzhou City and fight to a draw. He must only value the Huaxia Army and will never be jealous. After this battle, you are the strongest in this world besides my Jin Dynasty. North of the Yellow River, you are most likely to rise up. Mr. Ning, give me a step, give Lord Gu and Master Shi a step, and give Marshal Zonghan a step. If you go any further, there really is no way. My heartfelt words are all here."

He stretched out a hand, tilting his head to look at Ning Yi, looking extremely sincere. Ning Yi looked at him and put down his brush.

"...There is a person named Liu Chen, the son of Liu Shan in the Three Kingdoms period." In Fan Hongji's sincere gaze, Ning Yi slowly opened his mouth, "He didn't leave behind many deeds. In the sixth year of Jingyao, Deng Ai led his troops to Chengdu, and Liu Shan decided to surrender. Liu Chen strongly opposed it. After Liu Shan surrendered, Liu Chen went to Zhaolie Temple, cried bitterly, and then committed suicide."

His tone was flat, without much intonation. After saying this with a smile, the room fell silent. After a moment, Fan Hongji narrowed his eyes: "Mr. Ning is saying this, is it really just to..."

"Is it not allowed?"

"I thought Mr. Ning was a smart man... You can do it for other reasons, at least, not for this..."

"A smart man..." Ning Yi smiled and repeated, "What about a smart man? The Jurchens went south, and the land north of the Yellow River has indeed fallen, but those who regard death as returning home, has Envoy Fan really not seen them? One or two, every day. In this world, many things can be negotiated, but there are always some bottom lines. On the first day Envoy Fan came, I already said that the people of Huaxia do not submit to foreign countries. Your Jin Dynasty is indeed powerful, and it is difficult to stop you all the way, but the bottom line is the bottom line. Even if all of the land north of the Yangtze River is occupied by you, and everyone submits, Xiao Cang River will not submit, and that is still the bottom line. Envoy Fan, I also really want to be friends with you, but you see, it can't be done. I can only send Lord Gu a piece of calligraphy. I heard that he likes Sinology very much - unfortunately, the ink has not dried yet."

Fan Hongji did not look at the calligraphy, but only looked at him. After a moment, he tilted his head again. He looked at the overcast rain outside the window, and after much deliberation, he finally nodded with great difficulty.

"I understand..." He said somewhat dryly, "I inquired about Mr. Ning's reputation outside. In Wu Dynasty, they call you a demon, and I originally thought you were a man of great ingenuity, but looking at the style of the Huaxia Army on the battlefield, it is not at all. I originally had doubts, but now I know that the world has misunderstood. Mr. Ning, it turns out that you are such a person... It should be so, otherwise, you would not have killed the Wu Dynasty ruler and ended up in this state."

Ning Yi smiled: "Envoy Fan has misunderstood again. On the battlefield, a head-on victory leaves room for cunning schemes. If there is no possibility of a head-on fight, using cunning schemes is just a laughing stock. Too many Wu Dynasty troops use cunning schemes, and I am afraid that this disease has not been eradicated, so I don't dare to use it too much."

The room then fell silent again. Fan Hongji's gaze casually swept across the characters on the table, and when he saw a certain place, his gaze suddenly condensed. After a moment, he raised his head, closed his eyes, and exhaled: "Mr. Ning, there will be no more living people in Xiao Cang River."

He said, word by word: "You, your family here, will not be able to survive. Whether Marshal Lou Shi or anyone else comes, the people here will die, and your small place will become a mass grave. I... I have nothing more to say."

When Fan Hongji strode out of the courtyard, the autumn rain in the entire valley did not stop, falling endlessly towards the sky. He walked back to the guest room where he was temporarily staying, spread out the calligraphy written by Ning Yi, looked at it again, slammed his fist on the table, and what resounded in his mind was Ning Yi's last words.

"No, Envoy Fan, we can bet that this place will definitely not become a mass grave. This will be a mass grave for ten thousand people, a mass grave for a million people."

——Take the poem, bring the people.

On the paper, the ink was not dry.

……

The ruler and ministers willingly kneel, but one son grieves alone.

……

Gone is the affair of Western Sichuan, heroic is the king of the northern lands!

……

Sacrificing himself to repay his heroic ancestor, he scratches his head and weeps to the vast sky.

……

His dignified presence remains, who says the Han is gone?

——In the small valley, Fan Hongji only felt the aura of war and life and death rising to the sky. At this time, he did not know whether this Ning fellow was a smart man or a fool. He only knew that this place had become a place of endless conflict. He no longer had room for negotiation and only wanted to leave as soon as possible.

************

History often does not change due to the participation of ordinary people, but the changes in history often occur due to the participation of ordinary people.

As Zhuo Yongqing trudged up the muddy path on the hillside, his chest still ached. Around him, his comrades in the company were still climbing up. Squad Leader Mao Yishan stood in the rain, wiped his face, which was covered in mud, and spat out a mouthful of saliva: "This damn weather..."

Not far away, the company commander of the First Company, Luo Ye, nicknamed Luo the Madman, fell accidentally and was now covered in mud, looking even more disheveled. Someone shouted in the rain: "Where do we go now?"

This was also the question of everyone. Luo Ye, supporting his leg, gasped for a moment, and pointed forward: "Forward! Catch up with the main force!"

"Where forward, Luo the Madman?"

"...In short, forward first!"

The cold, heavy rain filled the sky, soaking people to the bone. This was already the territory of Qingzhou, and the great battle between the Huaxia Army and the Jurchen Western Route Army was still going on non-stop.

The first two days of this great battle could be considered a complete chase and standoff. The Huaxia Army, relying on its tenacious formation and high morale, tried to drag the Jurchen army, burdened by infantry, into the quagmire of a frontal battle. Wanyan Lou Shi used cavalry to harass and retreated while fighting. By the third day, various intense frictions and small-scale wars began to appear.

Wanyan Lou Shi used the smallest scale of cavalry to harass the Huaxia Army in all directions almost non-stop throughout the day. The Huaxia Army, while escorting the cavalry, stubbornly held onto the enemy's infantry formation. At midnight, they took turns pushing the artillery formation towards the enemy's camp. This tactic could not kill the enemy's cavalry, but it could always keep the Jurchen infantry in a state of high tension.

The deterrence was not just deterrence. In several frictions and exchanges of fire, the high-intensity confrontation almost turned into a large-scale charge, but in the end, Wanyan Lou Shi disengaged with a feint. By the third day, there was an internal struggle of willpower. The Huaxia Army conserved its strength by taking turns resting, and the Jurchens also found it extremely difficult to harass. The opponent was not without cavalry, and the formation was like a tortoise shell. Once a charge began, the enemy's cavalry would find it difficult to guarantee being unharmed when firing with strong crossbows. By the fourth and fifth days of such battles, the situation in the entire Northwest was quietly changing.

The Zhong family's army caught up with the supplies and provisions, and anti-Jurchen operations began to be stirred up on a large scale in Yanzhou and other places. Every day that the Huaxia Army coerced the Jurchen army, the more intensely this flame would burn. Wanyan Lou Shi also began to send people to gather those who had surrendered from various places to come closer, including the Zhe family, who were watching. Messengers had already been sent, and they were just waiting for the other party to come forward.

While people were moving one after another, the friction between the two sides' 20,000 or so troops on the central battlefield was the most intense. During the constant transfers, Wanyan Lou Shi had already begun sending troops to try to strike the rear of the Black Flag Army and the supply trains coming from Yanzhou City, while the Huaxia Army had also sent out manpower, using military formations of about a thousand people to intercept and kill Jurchen cavalry teams in various places, trying to cut off and disperse the Jurchen's tentacles in the mountains.

For several days, every battle, regardless of its size, was so tense that it was astounding. It started raining yesterday, and the sudden encounter at night was particularly fierce. Luo Ye, Qu Qing, and others led their troops to chase down Jurchen cavalry teams, and eventually, it turned into a protracted chaotic battle. Many people were separated from the team. Zhuo Yongqing was knocked down the hillside by a Jurchen warhorse in the battle, and it took a long time for him to find his companions. It was still morning, and occasionally they would encounter scattered Jurchen wounded nearby, and they would rush over and kill them.

A group of people slowly gathered together and spent a lot of effort searching around, and in the end, there were forty or fifty soldiers of the Huaxia Army who had gathered, which showed how chaotic the situation was last night. After climbing up this hillside, they realized that they were lost.

The Huaxia Army's advance was mainly aimed at the Jurchen troops. Keeping an eye on them every day would strengthen the anti-Jurchen momentum in the Northwest. But Wanyan Lou Shi's use of troops was elusive. In last night's great battle, these people were on the edge of the battlefield. They were not sure which way the Jurchens would turn and where the Huaxia Army would chase.

After a brief stop, everyone decided to move forward in the previous general direction. In short, get out of this muddy place and dry off first.

And so, in the continuous rain, a group of mud-colored people walked forward on this mountain road...

Support (Complete Book God Station) to share this site with those little friends who need it! Leave a message if you can't find a book!