At the beginning of the third lunar month of the eleventh year of Wu Jianshuo, the main force of the Eastern Route Army led by Wanyan Zongfu gathered the nearby Han army and launched a general attack on Jiangning after more than two months of low-intensity war and siege preparations. A part of the Han army was recalled, and a large number of Han troops crossed the river one after another, and by mid-to-late March, the total strength of the assembled attack had reached 500,000 at one point.

Including the Wulie Battalion stationed in Jiangning, Han Shizhong's Zhen Navy, and the nearby Jianghuai troops also concentrated in Jiangning one after another during this period of time, and for a period of time, the scale of the entire war continued to expand, and in the spring of the new year, it attracted everyone's attention.

At the beginning of the war, there were small episodes that broke out at the moment before the sword and the gun became popular. The episode goes back and probably began in January of this year.

With the issuance of the Chinese army's hoe and traitor papers, the struggle for choosing and standing in line became fierce, and the call for the killing of traitors in society became louder, and some wavering people no longer thought about it, but with the fierce situation of standing in line, the Jurchen lobbyists also increased their activities in private, and even took the initiative to arrange some "tragedy" to urge those who were wavering in the army earlier to make a decision quickly.

During the Great War, the Department of Listening was responsible for monitoring the movements in the underground to prevent the enemy from digging tunnels to enter the city. This official named Hou Yuntong himself was not a very vicious person, but his father and brother had dealings with the Jurchen side earlier, relying on the assistance of the Jurchen forces, amassing a large amount of money, and storing slaves in the fields for several years.

In February, Han Shizhong's side confirmed the matter twice, the first news came from a mysterious person's whistleblowing - of course, a few years later, it was confirmed that Pu Yangyi, who was now in charge of Jiangning, was the current head in charge of Jiangning, and his deputy was named Liu Jing, who had served as the master of Jiangning Mansion for several years - and the second news came from Hou Yuntong's surrender in mid-February.

Turning yourself in under such circumstances is almost certain of the fate of your children, and you may not get too good consequences in itself. But in the years of war, such a thing is not an isolated case.

Between February and April of this year, the Wu Dynasty and the Huaxia Army tried several attempts to rescue Hou Yuntong's children, but finally failed, his children died on the third day of the fourth month, his family was killed before that, and on the seventh day of the fourth month, after finding the bodies of his children who had been chopped up outside the city of Jiangning, Hou Yuntong hanged himself in a field. In this turmoil that killed millions of people, what happened to him was later recorded only because of the key position, and it probably didn't mean anything to him.

In response to the Jurchens' attempt to enter the city from underground, Han Shizhong's side adopted a strategy of taking the plan into account. In mid-February, the nearby forces had begun to concentrate on Jiangning, and on the 28th, the Jurchen side launched a siege with tunnels as the lead, and Han Shizhong also chose troops and sailors, and on this day raided the only crossing river ferry station of the Eastern Route Army at this time, Ma Wenyuan, almost at any cost, to replace the Jurchen sailor troops on the Yangtze River.

Back then, the Jurchens searched the mountains and seas, but after all, because the northerners did not understand the water master, they were trapped in the yellow sky for more than 40 days, and they were embarrassed to this day. Later, the Jurchens urged the southern Han army near the canal to develop a naval division, during which there were Jin troops to supervise and guard, and there were also a large number of technicians and money invested. At the end of the year, the Jurchens took advantage of the dry water of the Yangtze River to form a boat to force a pontoon bridge to cross the Yangtze River, and finally opened a road near Jiangning.

Now the Jurchen sailor lives near the Mawen Institute west of Jiangning, maintaining the north-south passage, but it is also the biggest flaw on the Jurchen side. It is also for this reason that Han Shizhong will plan and launch a surprise attack on the Jurchens while they think they have a plan

What is more dramatic is that Han Shizhong's actions were also detected by the Jurchens, and in the face of the prepared Jurchen army, he finally had to withdraw his troops and leave. The two sides stabbed each other at the end of February, and by March, a large-scale battle had begun on the battlefield.

The battle on the battlefield covered up a lot of things like smoke, and no one knew how many dark currents were surging in private. In March, the situation in Lin'an was even more chaotic, outside the city of Lin'an, the wanton Wushu troops burned everything near Lin'an, and even several county towns were broken and burned, in the area of the north side of the Qiantang River within fifty miles, except for the army that came to King Qin, everything was reduced to ruins, sometimes the Wushu deliberately sent cavalry to harass the city defense, when the huge pillar of smoke rose outside the city, half of the city of Lin'an could be seen clearly.

The rumors are going in private, and the seemingly calm Lin'an City is like a hot iron pot, of course, this hot can only be felt by the people who belong to the middle and upper classes in Lin'an Mansion.

In the middle of March, in the courtyard on the side of Lin'an City, the ornamental mountains and rivers have the emerald green color of spring, the weeping willows have grown new shoots, and the ducks swim in the water.

"Gushan Temple is in the north of Jia Tingxi, and the water surface is flat at the beginning of the clouds. A few early warblers compete for warm trees, whose new swallows peck the spring mud...... Lin'an spring, to this year is the most bad, last month of the spring cold, thought that the flowers and trees are going to be frozen to death...... But even so, it still grows after all, and all beings are alive and tenacious, which is amazing and gratifying......"

Walking in front of a tree, the old man patted the trunk of the tree, and when he said this, Qin Hui put his hands behind his back and said with a smile: "Mei Gong's words are very philosophical. ”

The old man known as Mei Gong smiled: "Brother Huizhi has been very busy lately. ”

"Fighting on the front line is really busy, I run on weekdays, but it's just mundane." Qin Hui smiled and spread his hands, "No, Gong Mei invited, I came immediately." ”

"The important ministers of the court, and at this critical moment, I am a little undesirable to rashly invite a dumb person who is idle at home. But at this time, I had some doubts in my heart, and I wanted to ask the virtuous brother of the meeting for advice, so I took the liberty to open my mouth......"

"Hey, let's not talk about the decades of friendship between Mei Gong and me, with Mei Gong's talent, if you want to be a leader, how simple it is, the court princes, I hope Mei Gong has been out of the mountain for a long time, Mei Gong mentioned this time, I want to ......"

"But it was spared." The other party smiled and waved his hand, and then a complicated look flashed on his face, "The court has been controlled by ignorant people all these years, I am old, and I can't compete with them, but the virtuous brother of the club has had several ups and downs in recent years, which is amazing." After His Majesty was unhappy with the hundred officials, the one who could still be summoned to the palace to ask for advice the most was the virtuous brother of the meeting. ”

"Ugh." Qin Hui sighed, "Your Majesty, he...... The heart is also anxious. ”

"What do you think of the current situation?"

"If I can survive, my Wu Dynasty should be able to live a peaceful life for a few years."

"What if you can't hold on?" The old man cast his gaze on his face.

Qin Hui looked back: "What did Gong Mei say?" ”

The old man spread his hands, and then the two walked forward: "The situation in Beijing is so chaotic, those who talk in private will inevitably mention these, people's hearts have been confused, this is a sign, you and I have been friends for many years, I will not shy away from you." In this battle in Jiangnan, in my opinion, I am afraid that there is no chance of victory in the fifth five, at most three seven, three for me, and seven for the Jurchen. At that time, what happened to the Wu Dynasty, it is impossible for His Majesty to ask questions and policies in the regular church. ”

The old man went straight in, Qin Hui put his hands behind his back, and was silent for a moment while walking: "The hearts of the people in Beijing are in turmoil, and it is also the spies of the Jurchens who are confusing people's hearts, on the other side...... Mei Gong, since the middle of February, there have been rumors in Lin'an, the news is from the north, the emperor of the Jin State Wu Qimai's condition has worsened, time is running out, maybe my Wu Dynasty can hold on, and finally be able to survive. ”

"Don't lie to me, the news is spread by the people of the Black Flag, and the princess's mansion may be happy to see it happen, whether it is credible or not, it is difficult to say after all...... But the news released by the Jurchen side is not necessarily false. ”

"Mei Gong, people's hearts are like this, what's the difference between truth and falsehood, you think it's true, when it's fake, it's fake, attack the heart, or the trick of the demon in the southwest...... If everyone can be deceived and hold out for a few months, maybe the Jurchens will really collapse without a fight, which is a good thing. ”

Birds flew over the yard and ducks rowed across the pond and quacked away. The two people walking in the sun were both laughing quietly, and the old man sighed: "...... The old man is also about to talk about the demons in his heart, the virtuous brother of the meeting has an old relationship with the southwest, can he really let go of this heart? Just by virtue of your previous proposal to attack the southwest first, the southwest will not let you go. ”

"The major affairs of the court are the major affairs of the imperial court, and personal personal grievances belong to personal personal grievances." Qin Hui turned his head, "Could it be that Mei Gong is talking about the Jurchens?" ”

"I can't talk about it." The old man's expression was as usual, "The old man is old, this bone can be thrown and burned, but there are still children and grandchildren in the family who are not successful, and there are some things, I want to ask the virtuous brother of the meeting first, this is a little selfish, I hope the virtuous brother of the meeting understands." ”

As he said this, he arched his hand slightly: "Don't talk about the gold cut, if the overall situation is really not supported, what is the way out, I always want to have a number." The Jurchens let go, if they want to negotiate peace, the court wants to cut off thousands of miles west of Xiangfan, so as to facilitate the attack on the southwest by sticking to Han, this proposal may not be false, if it is not possible, it is a way out. But His Majesty's heart now depends on the advice of the virtuous brother. Don't hide the virtuous brother, in the battle of Xiaocanghe, my second son died at the hands of the Black Flag bandits, if there is such a thing, I am 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, "...... Jurchen wolf ambition, how can you believe it, Mei Gong. ”

On this day, until he left the other party's mansion, Qin Hui did not say more intentions and ideas, he has always been a very strict person, and many things have been decided, but naturally he does not say it. 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 people in the capital.

Since the Wu Dynasty moved south, Qin Hui has gradually reached the top in the officialdom of the Wu Dynasty, but it has also gone through several ups and downs, especially the southwest expedition the year before last, which made him almost lose his holy family, above the officialdom, Zhao Ding and others took advantage of the situation to attack him, and even clowns such as Long Qifei wanted to step on him to take the position, which was his most dangerous period of time. But fortunately, now, the radical His Majesty's trust in himself is deepening, and the field has gradually recovered.

But for such an eyebrow, Qin Hui had no joy in his heart. The situation of the family and the country has come to this, and those who are courtiers only feel that there is an oil pan frying under them.

If it is about the ambition of being an official, Qin Hui naturally wants to be a capable minister who only holds the sky with one hand. He once admired Qin Siyuan, but for Qin Siyuan's style of blindly rushing forward without knowing how to advance or retreat, Qin Hui also had a warning back then - once in the capital, when Qin Siyuan was in power, he had repeatedly reminded him that many things affected his whole body, and he had to think about it slowly, but Qin Siyuan never listened. Later, when 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 an outstanding disciple like Luo Jinyan.

But when Qin Siyuan fell, his stay out of the matter still brought some bad influences after all. After King Kang succeeded to 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 support of the Jiangning Department at the beginning, and were deeply influenced by Qin Siyuan back then, after bearing the burden, although they had not been rehabilitated for Qin Siyuan that year, but most of the officials who were reused were Qin disciples of the year, although Qin Hui and Qin Siyuan had a "family" relationship that could be spoken, but because of the later stay out of the matter, Zhou Pei Yu Junwu and the two sisters and brothers, but did not deliberately lean over, but even if Qin Hui wanted to take the initiative to lean over, and the other party didn't show too close.

If it is possible, Qin Hui would prefer to be close to the crown prince Junwu, his indomitable personality reminds Qin Hui of Luo Jinyan back then, if he could teach Luo Jinyan better back then, and the two sides have better communication, maybe there will be a different result later. But Jun Wu didn't like him, and regarded his earnestness and kindness as a corrupt talk with others, and many times later, the little prince stayed in Jiangning, Qin Hui wanted to make more contact, and there was no such opportunity, so he could only sigh.

The little prince is different from Luo Jinyan, his status makes him have indomitable capital, 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 shortcomings are deep, just like a terminally ill patient, the little prince has a fiery heart, just blindly let him contribute and stimulate his potential, normal people can do this, but the patient will die. If it weren't for this reason, why would he have killed Luo Jinyan back then.

Time is also fate, after all, he missed the opportunity back then, and he was obviously able to become the prince of the virtuous monarch, but at this time, he is not as good as the more self-aware Majesty.

As for the Mei Gong, as for the princess's mansion, as for the people who desperately released all kinds of inspiring black flags in the city...... Although the battle is fierce, but all beings fight for their lives, but they can only see the square inch in front of them, if the Ning people in the southwest are slaughtered, maybe they can better understand what they are thinking, at least not far from the north, the Jurchen Gushen who is secretly manipulating everything, can clearly understand all this.

He could only close his eyes and quietly wait for what should happen when it was time to come, and at that time, he would hold the authority in his hands, and maybe he could still seek a glimmer of life for the Wu Dynasty.

Even if you can't do it......

For many days, this most common phrase in private flashed through his mind. Even if you can't do anything, at least you are invincible...... The answer flashed through his mind, but then the inappropriate answer was swept out of his mind.

Sighing softly, Qin Hui lifted the curtain and watched the carriage drive past the city where everything grows, and the spring color of Lin'an is picturesque. It's just nearly dusk.

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

It rained in April, and the knights of the horse caravan galloped over the low rolling hills, and in the distance they could see the uncultivated fields, the deserted villages, the corpses of men lying on the side of the road, and the crows with disheveled feathers raised their heads from the corpses and looked ominously at the people.

In previous years, the land in the south of the Yangtze River was already green.

The horse team drove across this ridge and went forward, and gradually the outline of the military camp came into view, and another patrol team came, and the two sides reported their names in Jurchen words, and the patrol team stood and watched this group of more than 300 cavalry people go towards the military camp.

The cavalry was formed by all sorts of strange things, with fierce faces and many wounded. Wan Yan Qingjue, who was the leader, was pale, and his injured left hand was wrapped in a bandage and hung around his neck.

The barracks are one by one, one battalion after another, in good order, and when they reach the middle section, there are also more lively camps, where they distribute baggage and keep female slaves in captivity, and some Jurchen soldiers exchange treasures plundered by the south, which is a soldier's blissful place. Wan Yan Qingjue waved his hand to stop the horse team, and then smiled and instructed everyone not to follow anymore, the injured first went to the hospital to heal, and the rest of the people took his token and had fun with each other.

The Jurchens killed the Yangtze River this time, and they did not come to capture slaves, so most of them killed people, and few people were arrested and raised. But Jiangnan women are soft and beautiful, and those who have good color will still be caught in the army** soldiers have sex in their spare time, and such places in the military camp are mostly patronized by officers, and they are in short supply, but Wanyan Qingjue's subordinates have a high status, holding the brand of the little prince, and all kinds of things can be enjoyed first.

After Yan Qingjue went inside, the summer light rain gradually stopped. He entered the big tent in the center, first bowed his hand to say goodbye, and Wanyan Xiyin, who was holding a few pieces of information against the map on the table, raised his head, glanced at him, and didn't say anything about his arm injury.

"How's it going?"

"Back to the teacher, there are some results."

Wan Yan Qingjue said, took out two close-fitting letters from his arms, came over and handed them to Xi Yin, Xi Yin opened it and read it quietly, and then put the letter away, he looked at the map on the table, his lips moved slightly, calculating the things that needed to be calculated in his heart, the camp was so quiet for nearly a quarter of an hour, Wan Yan Qingjue stood aside, not daring to make a sound.

"What's the matter with the hands?" It took a long time for Xi Yin to speak.

"I met a group of people with black flags near Changning, and someone sneaked up on him and fell off his horse, so it's no big deal." Wan Yan Qingjue replied simply. He naturally understands the teacher's character, although he is famous for his literary name, but in fact, Xi Yin, who is in the military formation, has an iron-blooded personality, and he is not interested in hearing about a small injury to his broken hand.

And a conflict near Changning, it's really not a big deal, the group of people suspected of being black flags he encountered is actually not highly trained, the two sides clashed, and then they left, Wanyan Qingjue wanted to pursue, who knew that in the melee was a hidden gun, a musket bullet came from nowhere, grazed his thigh and knocked his war horse to the ground, Wanyan Qingjue broke a hand.

Hee-in nodded with his hands behind his back to show that he understood.

"It's just a good time for you to come back, the rain has stopped, come out for a walk with me."

After Yan Qingjue arched his hands and followed, he walked out of the big tent, and the early summer sky when the light rain was resting revealed a bright light. The old man walked forward: "Zongfu attacked Jiangning, he has already caught the attention of the people of the Wu Dynasty, the little prince of the Wu Dynasty wants to stare at me, after all, he was repulsed twice, and there is not much strength left, but the food around him has been almost eaten, and he is now wary of me and others going south from Changzhou, and he will eat in the people...... In the direction of Lin'an, people are panicked and there are many wavering, but if you want them to break their courage, the most important link is missing......"

Xi Yin was more like talking to himself, stating indifferently, but he was not confused, Wan Yan Qingjue listened step by step, and only said in the end: "The teacher has a plan?" ”

Xi Yin shook his head and didn't look at him: "The recent events remind me of the world twenty or thirty years ago, when we followed the first emperor and the marshal, and fought with hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers of the Liao State, at that time we were just indomitable. The Jurchen's invincible reputation was made at that time, and for more than ten or twenty years after that, and only in recent years, I always talked to people about people's hearts, persuasions, rumors, private teachings, and confusing others......"

A group of soldiers passed by and saluted the leader, Xi Yin waved his hand, his eyes were complex and solemn: "Qing Jue, I told you about the Wu Dynasty." ”

Wanyan Qingjue said: "The teacher has said a lot. ”

"Back then......" Xi Yin recalled the events of that year, "back then, we had just started the incident, and I often heard that there was a big country in the south, everyone was rich, the land was abundant, and the people of the country obeyed the teachings, all were humble and courteous, and Confucianism was profound and benefited the world." I have studied Sinology since I was a child, and I am in awe of everyone around me, and I am very happy that the first emperor and others are in awe when they send an envoy to the Wu Dynasty to form an alliance with us and fight against the Liao people. Behold...... Later, when I saw many problems in the Wu Dynasty, I had doubts in my heart...... From doubt to ridicule, and gradually, to disdain. Receiving the sixteen states of Yanyun, their strength is unbearable, but they have repeatedly played tricks, the court is intrigued, but they all think that their schemes are unparalleled, and later, Zhang Jue, who voted for them, also killed us, Guo Yaoshi was originally a masterpiece, entered the Wu Dynasty, and finally became disheartened. When the first emperor was dying, it was said that the war of Liao had been completed, and it was also a matter of course to take the Wu Dynasty......"

"Qingjue." Hee-yin walked along the road of the barracks up the small hillside, "Now, it's our turn to play conspiracy and scheming, you say, how smart is this?" Still weak......"

“…… When it is weak. Wanyan Qingjue replied, "However, as the teacher said before, if the Jin country wants to grow, it can't be suppressed by force, and I have been in Dajin for 20 years, if I have always ruled the country by force from that year to the present, I am afraid that one day in the future, it will only collapse faster." ”

A few years after searching the mountains and inspecting the sea, the Jin Kingdom fell in a carefree and hedonistic atmosphere, and when it came to the Battle of Xiaocanghe, the fall of Lou Room and Ci Bu woke up the upper echelons of the Jurchens like a slap in the face, and it was not the first time that Xi Yin, Zong Han and others discussed these topics. Xi Yin's emotion was not a question, and Wanyan Qingjue's answer didn't seem to enter his ears. There is a wind blowing after the rain on the low hillside, and the mountains in the south of the Yangtze River are not high, but you can also take in the camp tents full of mountains and valleys from here, and the rain-stained military flags spread among the mountains. Hee-yin looked at all of this with a serious gaze.

After a long time, he spoke: "Have you heard about the situation in the clouds?" ”

Wanyan Qingjue hesitated slightly: "...... I heard that some people are spreading rumors in private, and the east and west sides are ...... Want to fight? ”

"In the matter of Yunzhong Mansion last year, someone killed Shi Liai's grandson and blamed Zongfu, which is unreasonable. This year, some people in private spread rumors everywhere, the Wu Dynasty is about to end, there will be a war between the east and the west, remind the people below to prepare early, if they are not vigilant, the opposite side is already sharpening the knife, at the end of last year there were only a few small frictions under the head, and since the beginning of this year, some people above have been pulled into the water one after another. ”

"Several businesses under Da Yuanxi's hands were intercepted, but Shi Dong, who was under Yan Hongxin, dared to make a move, saying that from now on, the population business, things should be demarcated, and now it is said that it will be good, so as not to cause another incident in the future, this is to be provoked by others, and be prepared for a war at both ends. The matter is still being discussed, and the Xi people and the Han people under the two of them have a few fights, and once they made trouble in the clouds, and Shi Liai was really angry...... But these things, as long as someone really believes in them, he is just tired and can't hold them down. ”

The old man frowned, his words were quiet, but there was already a murderous aura spreading out. Wanyan Qingjue can understand the danger of this: "Someone is stirring up ...... in private"

Xi Yin's gaze turned to the west: "The people of the Black Flag have made a move, and it is not easy for them to go to the person in charge of the Northland. These people took advantage of Sosuke's rumors of Shi Liai's love to start from the bottom...... For this kind of thing, the upper echelons will not dare and will not move, even if Shi Liai dies a grandson, he will never make a big fuss, but the people below can't figure out the truth, and when they see others preparing, they all want to strike first, and those who are lower move their hands, and the middle and top ones are also pulled into the water, such as Da Yuanxi and Shi Dongdang, who still wants to retreat? If Shi Liai intervenes, things will get bigger and bigger. These means, Qingjue, you can figure out one or two......"

“…… Be. ”

Hee-yin walked forward, inhaling the refreshing wind after the rain, and then spit it out again, thinking about things in his head, the seriousness in his eyes not diminished in the slightest.

“…… In the battle of Jiangning, many troops have been transferred. He seemed to be talking to himself, "Zongfu has already handed over all the remaining 'Heavenly Maiden Scattered Flowers' and the remaining catapults to Aru Bao to transport at my request, I have fought here several times, and the baggage consumption is serious, and the people of the Wu Dynasty think that I want to attack Changzhou, break this city to replenish grain and grass and go south to Lin'an." This is naturally also a good road, so the Wu Dynasty garrisoned Changzhou with 130,000 troops, while the little prince guarded Zhenjiang with 100,000 troops......"

Xi Yin paused, looking at his already old palm: "Our army is 50,000 people, and the other side is 100,000 and 130,000...... Ten years ago, I wouldn't have been so hesitant, let alone ...... Among these 50,000 people, there are 30,000 Tu Shanwei. ”

Before he finished his words, Wanyan Qingjue in the rear had 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 breeze blew softly, and Hee-Yin's words fell into the wind carelessly.

"Half a month later, I, Yinshuke, and General Alubao captured Zhenjiang at all costs."

The old man walked forward slowly and sighed in a low voice: "After this battle, the martial arts dynasty will be ...... It's time to ......"