Chapter 222 Warming Weather and Unrest

Several days had passed since Zhao Guan's family had waxed sentimental at the Fen River. As the weather turned noticeably warmer, the river ice on the Fen River grew thinner and could no longer be relied upon. The laborers began to build temporary pontoon bridges on a large scale, or even some semi-permanent ones.

At the same time, the scale of the great camp beneath Taiyuan City had not decreased, but rather increased in size.

For every ten thousand troops sent out, several thousand more would converge from the rear after clearing out some city. More importantly, with the fall of Taiyuan, the powerful logistics line, built like a string of stations along the Fen River, was finally being constructed north of Sparrow Valley, within the Taiyuan basin. More laborers and logistical supplies began to flow continuously from the basins of Hezhong and Linfen, south of Sparrow Valley, along the Fen River.

Moreover, with the news of Yue Fei's forces beheading Wang Bolong and capturing Yuancheng, and the Jin army uniting its main forces and retreating north, it was foreseeable that the Henan and Hezhong regions, which had been under strict martial law during the winter, would reopen. More supplies would continue to arrive along this supply line after the brief Yellow River ice break.

In the short term, Taiyuan remained a huge barracks, command post, and logistics base, as well as a staging area for the next major battle.

However, as Zhao Jiu and many commanders had already realized, amidst the great victory and the almost frenzied excitement in the front and rear, some discordant battle reports began to trickle in from various places.

In the past few days, there had only been news of setbacks in the attack on Jingxing, and unsuccessful attempts to persuade certain places in Taiyuan Prefecture and Longde Prefecture to surrender. These were buried among the congratulatory messages and the wider reports of successful mopping-up operations, and were not considered significant.

However, on the eighth day of the first month, the day the center of the Fen River first thawed, someone finally made the first big news of the new year.

In Wenshui County, a large Jin army stronghold closest to Taiyuan, whether out of fear that the increasing reinforcements would lead to infighting for merit, or simply out of underestimation, or perhaps because they felt the place was too close to Taiyuan and wanted to put on a show for Zhao Guan's family, or most likely because they saw the smooth progress in other strongholds and felt impatient that this county, one of the closest to Taiyuan, remained difficult to capture...

In any case, Chen Yanzhang, the imperial army's Left Army Commander in charge of directing the siege of the city, abandoned the step of bombarding the city with artillery when the siege works were about to be completed. Instead, he heeded the information from the Han soldiers within the city and personally led a night raid to scale the walls. As a result, this high-ranking commander fell for an old trick – a feigned surrender – and was shot to death by Jin arrows in the barbican.

Since the start of the war, several high-ranking Song generals of the commander rank had disappeared.

There was Guo Zhen of the Imperial Army's Rear Army, who was beheaded and his head displayed to the public. There were Lu Heshang and Zhao Cheng of the Imperial Army's Central Army, who were dismissed and demoted for lax military discipline, defeats, and injuries. And there was Wang Gang of the Imperial Army's Front Army, who initiated the first defeat of the Song army's Northern Expedition and then died… But even Wang Gang was demoted before he died in battle.

In other words, Chen Yanzhang was one of only two Song commanders to die in battle while still in office since the start of the war, and the only one to die in the Hedong region. What was worse, unlike Hu Qing of the Imperial Army's Right Army, who died in a fierce battle against the enemy as reported, Chen Yanzhang's death was too ignominious. It directly caused shock throughout the Taiyuan base… The previous arrogance and impetuousness were temporarily restrained.

Fortunately, although Chen Yanzhang died easily, Yang Congyi, the Imperial Army's Rear Army Commander, and his reinforcements were already outside Wenshui City, preventing the loss of their backbone.

Next, realizing that even killing a major enemy general had not broken the encirclement, the Meng'an in the city lost patience and immediately mobilized elite troops to attempt a breakout. This time, however, there were no accidents or miracles. Heavily besieged, especially with Li Shifu's Tangut light cavalry nearby, this Jin army was completely annihilated outside the city.

When the news arrived, Wu Jie, who was in charge of the daily operations of the base, breathed a sigh of relief and ordered the Jin general's head to be displayed to the public, but did not say much about Chen Yanzhang… seemingly out of consideration for the reputation of Han Shizhong, the Prince of Yan'an, the most prominent figure in the army.

Zhao Guan's family also remained silent… This brought relief to many commanders and generals, but also a hint of tension… Fortunately, the matter had come suddenly and ended quickly.

But the news was not over.

On the twelfth day of the first month, just three days before the Lantern Festival, the Fen River had completely thawed. A gazette full of praise for the victories in Taiyuan and Daming Prefecture was urgently delivered to Taiyuan, and the envoy also brought good news that some sections of the upper reaches of the Yellow River were experiencing ice break, and some sections were directly open to traffic.

This was certainly good news, so Zhao Guan's family rarely took the gazette, carried a small stool to the bank of the Fen River, found a willow tree with branches beginning to soften, and read the newspaper under the willow… Accompanied by Yang Yizhong and only seventy or eighty Imperial Guards.

However, just as Zhao Guan's family was reading a congratulatory message written by a certain Imperial College student, a rider galloped out of Taiyuan City from behind, specifically looking for him.

"Your Majesty!"

Ping Qingsheng, who was on duty in the city today, rode over, dismounted directly, and spoke of terrible news. "Deputy Commander Wang suffered a great defeat at Pingxingzhai, with over a thousand casualties!"

"I know," Zhao Guan's family, sitting on the stool, was not angry, and did not even look up. "So惨 (cǎn – miserably), what happened?"

"Let Your Majesty know that, according to the military report, it was Yelü Ma Wu who had made preparations early on. He should have diverted troops from Hebei to that place long ago. First, he feigned defeat and abandoned the寨 (zhai – stockaded village), luring our army deep. Deputy Commander Wang was eager to kill the enemy, and the troops became separated. Unexpectedly, the Jin army ambushed in advance at the bottleneck outside the寨 (zhai – stockaded village), and remained hidden. After Deputy Commander Wang's main force had passed, they abandoned their horses and fought on foot, attacking from both sides, burning our army's logistics convoy, and killing nearly a thousand of our rearguard…" Ping Qingsheng on the ground spoke more and more cautiously, glancing at Zhao Guan's family's expression in the middle before continuing. "Deputy Commander Wang realized something was wrong in the front and quickly abandoned the feigned-defeat Jin army and turned back to Pingxingzhai… As a result, the Jin army dared not fight again and fled directly… But without the supplies, Deputy Commander Wang dared not advance again, so he could only station briefly at Pingxingzhai and write a memorial to beg for punishment."

"Our main force was lured past Pingxingzhai, the rearguard was wiped out by the Jin army at the bottleneck, and the supplies were lost. As a result, Wang Sheng turned back, and the Jin army scattered in all directions." Zhao Jiu finally looked up from the gazette, but he looked around at the close officials and guards accompanying him, and finally landed on Yang Yizhong. "I find this a bit strange. Zhengfu, you are from Daizhou, you know Pingxingzhai best. What do you think happened?"

Yang Yizhong's military experience was extremely rich, so of course he knew the situation. In addition, there were no important figures around today, so he did not hide anything and directly cupped his hands in response:

"I venture to say… the Jin army should have been retreating in the first place, so they were hastily prepared, or perhaps they had few troops, so their combat power was extremely weak… After a hasty ambush, a successful strike was their all-out effort, so they dared not entangle and fled directly. Otherwise, if they had any fighting power left, the Jin army would have only needed to lock down Pingxingzhai, and Deputy Commander Wang, who had lost his supplies, would have been suffocated to death in Puyinxing."

"That's the logic," Zhao Jiu nodded slowly, thoughtfully.

And possibly because his identity as a person from Daizhou was there, Yang Yizhong hesitated slightly, and in the end, could not help but say a few more words: "Your Majesty, if I am not mistaken, even if Yelü Ma Wu had the intention, he might not have been able to stretch his hand so long, so quickly… This battle is more like a desperate counterattack by the Daizhou garrison in their hasty escape. And the reason why Deputy Commander Wang said it was done by Yelü Ma Wu is firstly because Yelü Ma Wu is a Wanhu (commander of ten thousand households) after all, a famous general who has experienced the battles of Nanyang and Yaoshan, and it would not be too shameful to be defeated by him; secondly, it is because Daizhou was captured by another Deputy Commander Wang (Wang De), and the other Deputy Commander Wang (Wang De) previously reported victory, but said that he had completely annihilated the garrison in the state capital… If we forcefully pursue this matter, I am afraid it will cause trouble for Your Majesty to judge."

"You're right," Zhao Jiu sighed in response. "A desperate counterattack, yet nearly a thousand were killed… Two Deputy Commanders Wang, one underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly, one exaggerated the victory report… Did they think I wouldn't know these things?"

"Everyone has a侥幸 (jiǎo xìng – fluke) heart," Yang Yizhong responded helplessly, half-explaining and half-advising. "Moreover, when Wang De reported victory, the remnants of the enemy scattered, normally speaking, they should have completely collapsed. Even if the scattered soldiers organized later, it would not detract from his overall achievements in pacifying the three counties of Xinzhou, Daizhou, and Ninghua within ten days, and threatening Yanmen Pass; similarly, Wang Sheng's memorial of defeat did not dare to conceal the losses and the process of the defeat, but only made a literary adjustment to the enemy's attribution, seeking face and fluency… What if Your Majesty knows? Are you going to punish him beyond the rules for such a trivial matter? Besides, didn't Your Majesty issue a clear decree to temporarily let Commander Wu manage the imperial military affairs documents, and consult with the various Jiedushi (military governors) on everything? You always have to consider the faces of the various Jiedushi (military governors)."

Zhao Jiu glanced at him, and did not speak.

Yang Yizhong suddenly realized, and immediately stopped speaking… The meaning of this Guan’s family was very clear, those were the words he wanted to say.

On the other side, Ping Qingsheng waited on the ground for a while, and seeing that Zhao Guan’s family was silent, and Yang Yizhong just waved his hand to indicate, he also realized and simply went back to report.

However, as Ping Qingsheng turned to leave, he encountered another officer belonging to the Red Heart Team, who was unexpectedly the West Mongolian Prince Tuoli coming towards him. Under the afternoon spring light, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot. Ping Qingsheng was confused, but did not dare to ask more, just nodded and hurried past on horseback.

And Tuoli came to the willow tree, bowed his head and knelt down, just like Ping Qingsheng, and told Zhao Guan’s family several pieces of news that Wu Jie had handled on his behalf, and had just been received and archived to the Inner Attendants Province.

"The Jin army in Datong Prefecture took the initiative to retreat, and Yanmen Pass was captured… and then your father, as the vanguard, advanced from the northern route, first looting Dezhou at the foot of Jinhe Mountain, and then wanted to loot Datong Prefecture, but unexpectedly, halfway through the looting, Imperial Army Deputy Commanders Guo Hao and Wang De arrived with their troops along the Sanggan River, and the two sides quarreled over this matter… Is that the meaning?" Zhao Jiu held the gazette in his hand and pondered for a while, looking at Tuoli, his expression as usual.

"Yes," Tuoli's face was even darker… Wu Jie had him deliver the message, obviously with ill intentions.

"This is a good thing," Zhao Jiu sneered. "In the end, the Jin army in Datong has retreated, the north is stable, and Puyinxing 軍都陘 (Jūndū Xíng – military pass) is completely in my hands… What do these trifles matter?"

Tuoli felt his scalp tingle.

He, a West Mongolian prince, had been with Zhao Guan’s family for three or four years, and was no longer the wild man on the grasslands who only knew how to ride horses, drink alcohol, and find women… How could he not understand that if the matter of Wang De and Wang Sheng earlier was called a trifle, it was roughly okay, but right now it was a major and serious military and political issue.

Especially since he was a Red Heart Team attendant, and had been serving this Guan’s family, he knew that the other party could never tolerate such a thing.

As for the gains and losses of Datong Prefecture, to put it bluntly, even the stupidest person would realize after the fall of Taiyuan that the west of the Taihang Mountains falling into the hands of the Song army was only a matter of time, and not a military issue.

"Tuoli…" Zhao Jiu was silent for a moment, still holding the gazette, but only lowered one hand to the side, and then leaned forward to call out to the other party.

"Your subject is here," Tuoli quickly responded, while lowering his head.

"Raise your head," Zhao Guan’s family said, slightly impatiently.

Tuoli did not hesitate at all, and again raised his head to meet Zhao Guan’s family's gaze.

"I am actually very angry in my heart," Zhao Jiu said calmly. "But I know that you Mongols came south with the intention of looting and getting rich… and there is a big battle coming up, and the West Mongolian cavalry are of great use to me… so I cannot lose my temper at this time. And Tuoli, you have been by my side for a long time, and you know my taboos… Pretending not to be angry will only make you suspicious… is that right?"

Tuoli opened his mouth to speak, but had nothing to say, and instead, his forehead was slightly sweating in the chilly spring… as if he had run too fast earlier.

"This is good," Zhao Jiu sat up straight, expressionless, and coaxed him. "You take my decree and go north with Scholar Mei and Ren Sheren (Ren Baozhong) to mediate. Once you go, do not come back. Just assist your father in the army and also appease your father, so that he can serve me well and join me, and participate in the battle with all your heart… After this battle, your father will come to Tokyo with me to enjoy happiness, and you will become the King of West Mongolia… and I will personally crown you! When you go to West Mongolia, can you still be as ignorant as your father? In this way, isn't it a win-win situation?"

Tuoli listened blankly, stunned for a moment, and then suddenly kowtowed to the ground, pointing to the sky and vowing: "If your subject has this opportunity, the tribes of West Mongolia are complicated, and your subject really dare not say anything, but the Keraites will be the vanguard of the Imperial Song for generations to come!"

"It doesn't matter," Zhao Jiu picked up the gazette again. "I don't want anything for generations, and I can't manage generations. As long as I am alive, and you are alive, and we don't make mistakes, then we won't waste being ruler and subject… Go back and report to Wu Jiedushi, Shao Yazhiban, and Scholar Fan, but only tell Wu Jiedushi about the coronation after the war… Don't mention it to Scholar Mei or Ren Sheren."

Tuoli kowtowed heavily again before staggering away.

And as soon as Tuoli left, Yang Yizhong, for some reason, actually broke the silence again, and hesitantly said, "Your Majesty… Is Tuoli trustworthy?"

"Firstly, Tuoli has been with me for three years, and has opened up a little bit of literature, and has seen the vastness of the Great Song with his own eyes, and knows the reality of the Imperial Army. He may not be more trustworthy than Hu'er Zhahu, but he is more sensible," Zhao Jiu said calmly, still reading the newspaper under the willow tree. "Secondly, the Mongol rules are mixed. Sometimes the younger brother inherits, sometimes the eldest son inherits, and sometimes the youngest son stays home to inherit. Although Tuoli is the eldest son of Hu'er Zhahu, he has never been the heir to the Keraites and West Mongolia… This throne, without me, I dare not say it is 80 or 90 percent, but 70 or 80 percent unattainable. Thirdly, even if there is deep affection between father and son, is it bad for me to let his father come to Tokyo to enjoy happiness? Finally… is there a better way right now? Should this Tuoli be killed or imprisoned? What about Hu'er Zhahu? What about the 15,000 West Mongolian cavalry reinforcements? Before the war, we cannot do things that are too risky, so we must endure it one last time."

Yang Yizhong did not say any more, but felt a little uneasy in his heart… However, he quickly realized that his uneasiness was not because of Tuoli's disposal plan, and even if Tuoli's disposal plan was slightly risky, it was insignificant.

The key was that he had realized that before the war, there would inevitably be more similar things happening, which would be another burden for Zhao Guan’s family, who had been under tremendous pressure since the beginning of this Northern Expedition.

The Guan’s family seemed calm, seemingly without a ripple, but in reality, he was already a little overwhelmed.

Regardless of how Yang Yizhong thought about it, or how Zhao Guan’s family continued to read the newspaper under the willow tree, on the other side, just as Tuoli, unable to hide the intense shock and excitement in his heart, returned to the government office in the inner city of Taiyuan in a daze, before he could speak, he was stopped in front of the government office hall by Ping Qingsheng, who had returned a step earlier.

Tuoli wanted to scold him, but when he thought that he would be a prince in a few months, he did not want to argue with him.

"Something big has happened," Ping Qingsheng, of course, did not know Tuoli's thoughts, but lowered his voice and kindly told him in the corridor, "Before your West Mongolian affairs are clarified, East Mongolia has caused a great disaster… Datong's garrison commander, the Jin Dynasty's puppet king Wanyan Eluguan, and Wanhus Puchahu and Hu Zhan led two Wanhus along the Shunyang River (tributary of the Sanggan River) and escaped through Guihua Prefecture (Zhangjiakou)! Hebul Khan sent a letter to Datong saying that he was one step late… Wu Jiedu's military strategy was ruined, and he rarely lost his composure."

Tuoli was stunned again. Of course, he knew all the previous things, including the various defeats of the Imperial Army, and the troubles caused by his father, which were not worth mentioning compared to this matter.

Because this matter, on the one hand, ruined Wu Jie's most important plan, causing two Wanhus to escape Datong, which also meant that the Jin army might have two more Wanhus in the subsequent decisive battle; on the other hand, an equally important point was that no one knew whether Hebul was really late and failed to intercept them, or whether he deliberately did not intercept them? The latter was directly related to whether the 15,000 East Mongolian cavalry could be trusted and used in the decisive battle.

But conversely, if he really couldn't make it in time, and something extra happened here in Taiyuan, to the point of forcing East Mongolia to the opposite side, what would happen then?

Therefore, this matter was the truly big trouble that affected the overall situation in the future.

"It's hard to know a person's heart just by looking at their face," at this thought, Tuoli sighed with emotion. "The most difficult thing in this world is to see through people's hearts!"

These words were insightful, and Ping Qingsheng nodded repeatedly in agreement.

But the next moment, Tuoli continued to sigh, and his voice actually became louder: "How can it be like me, Tuoli-Lu Khan, there are not two suns in the sky, and my heart always has only one sun, Guan Jia (His Majesty)?"

Ping Qingsheng was dumbfounded, as if he was meeting this colleague with poor drinking habits for the first time.

ps: Thanks again to Little Guo classmate for another Moe.

Continue to sacrifice two books——《异世界征服手册》 (Yì Shìjiè Zhēngfú Shǒucè - Alternate World Conquest Manual) and 《振兴蜀汉：从天水麒麟儿开始》 (Zhènxīng Shǔ Hàn: Cóng Tiānshuǐ Qílín Er Kāishǐ - Revitalizing Shu Han: Starting with the Unicorn Child of Tianshui)