Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1181 Someone has already surrendered.
After the entire army of Marquis Luoyun withdrew back into the city.

Inside the main hall of the Pingliao City government office, which was temporarily being used as the commander's residence, the lights were on, and the atmosphere was solemn.

After the generals finished their dinner, they all rushed over. Zhang Wenyuan, the commander of Pingliao City, changed into a clean brocade robe. His face was pale, but he forced himself to sit at the lower seat. Duan Hong and Zhang Chuanying sent their deputy generals in one after another. Several chieftains of the Wuyayu tribe and several deputy generals who had made meritorious contributions in defending the city had all arrived. Everyone's face was covered with blood and fatigue, but their eyes were filled with excitement.

After a simple meal, Zhang Jinyu and Wu Yayu sat in the center, their golden armor still on, making them appear even more imposing. They pondered the geomantic map on the table for a while, then shook their heads in resignation. To the east, apart from the bottom of Black Mountain Valley, there were no other strategically advantageous locations to defend. The Jurchens wouldn't easily retreat and break out unless Yinzhou City fell.

"Everyone,"

Zhang Jinyu's voice was not loud, but it sounded calm and composed.
"In today's battle, thanks to the bravery of our soldiers and the unity of all of you, we have finally defeated the main force of the Jurchens and trapped them in the Black Mountain Soul-Breaking Slope camp. However, even a cornered beast will fight. Huang Jitai has not yet been beheaded, and the foundation of the Jurchen Eight Banners has not been destroyed. This battle is far from over!"

He casually tapped his finger heavily on the makeshift map, pointing to the two narrow valley entrances of the Black Mountain camp:
"At the East Valley Pass, Zhang Chuanying has already established a fortified camp, forming a large, recessed stronghold. With powerful bows and crossbows, deep trenches and walls, 80,000 infantrymen are guarding this road, which is practically a dead end for the Tartars! At the West Valley Pass, I deliberately did not set up a permanent camp, leaving only General Duan Hong's elite cavalry and the warriors of the Uya tribe to patrol and maintain vigilance. This road seems like a gateway to life but is actually a gateway to death!"

Even if the Jurchen Eight Banners could break through, the Han Eight Banners still had infantry. Once they were entangled, they would surely die. Even if the Jurchen elites retreated and charged back, the remnants of the defeated army could pursue them relentlessly.

Duan Hong, his belly protruding, grinned and immediately stood up to reply:

"Rest assured, my lord, my men are keeping a close watch on the surrounding area. As soon as the Tartars make any unusual moves, the city will receive the news and will not let a single one escape."

Wu Yayu also spoke up, the blush on her face just fading.

“Our cavalry are already keeping an eye on the perimeter. As soon as they break through, we can surround them and engage them in a fierce battle, cutting them off from both sides, leaving them in a desperate struggle.”

Everyone expressed their opinions, except for Zhang Wenyuan, who sat there coughing a few times, his voice weak but his thoughts clear:
"My lord... cough cough... This humble general observes that the Black Mountain camp, relying on its advantageous terrain, is easy to defend and difficult to attack. A direct assault on the east and west valley entrances would likely result in heavy casualties. Moreover, Huang Jitai still has tens of thousands of troops, backed by the mountains. Although their supply lines have been cut off, the Black Mountain camp may still have stored grain, enough to sustain them for several days. Our army... has fought consecutive battles and marched for many days, and urgently needs rest and reorganization... Should we... postpone the direct assault and focus on encirclement, waiting for them to fall into disarray?"

What he said made sense, and most of the others seemed to be deep in thought. Zhang Jinyu, however, remained unhurried, touching the teacup on the table, picking it up, and taking a small sip.
“What you say makes sense. Today’s battle resulted in heavy casualties, but I am very pleased with the performance of the new army. The Jurchen tribes are all formidable fighters. If it weren’t for the timely arrival of the warriors from the Uya tribe, our casualties would have been even greater. Therefore, no matter the cost, we must preserve most of Huang Jitai’s main force. So, tomorrow we will prepare an army of 50,000 infantry and 50,000 cavalry to be stationed at Xikou. It will be a camp, without even city walls. We will burn it down.”

After all, with so much oil brought from Pingyang City, throwing it all over there would burn those camps to the ground. The blueprints for the trebuchets brought earlier have been used to build quite a few, and now they can be put to good use.

Seeing that the Marquis had made up his mind, all the generals nodded and dared not be negligent. Zhang Jinyu glanced at everyone and continued.

"Tonight, the brothers must get a good rest. Don't rush tomorrow. We'll have dinner at 7:00 AM and assemble at 9:00 AM to set off, waiting for the right opportunity. Scouts will take turns keeping watch, and if there's any unusual activity, they should report it immediately. Then we'll disperse!"

"I will obey your orders, Lord Marquis!"

The generals accepted the order in unison and withdrew hastily.

Only Zhang Jinyu and Wu Yayu remained in the lobby. The noise subsided, and fatigue returned. Zhang Jinyu rubbed her temples, looking at Wu Yayu who had quietly stayed by her side, her eyes filled with apology.
"Ayu, today..."

Wu Yayu walked behind him and gently pursed her lips;

“My lord, there is no need to say more. Matters of state and military affairs are of utmost importance. Fucha Zhen, the Khan of the Jurchen tribe, came to see me before and acted as an intermediary. Before leaving, he said that cooperation would benefit both parties and that he wanted to shake hands with the Marquis to make peace. He also said that if things were not going well in the end, Fucha Zhen would still maintain the friendship.”

In the end, Wu Yayu was also unsure of Fucha Zhen's thoughts, whether he truly thought that way or was doing it on purpose.

Zhang Jinyu squeezed her hand and said;
“Fucha Zhen, I still remember this man. During the trade, he was the one who made all the connections. Logically speaking, with the entire Pingliao City as the place for trade, I really did not shortchange the Jurchen tribes on what they needed: cloth, grain, smuggled salt, and even some pig iron. As for those leaders not having silver, that is laughable. Yinzhou produces silver all over the place, more than they can eat or use.”

This was also something Zhang Jinyu couldn't understand. At this time, the Jurchen tribes seemed to have a considerable number of people, but not many. These people were raised in Liaonan, a place that was still desolate and uninhabited. With the silver mines in Yinzhou, they could just lie down and relax. Why bother fighting outside the pass? He was really curious about what excuse that Prince Zheng had that could make Huang Jitai abandon the north and come to the pass. He also wondered if General Hou had captured those messengers.

"My lord, don't worry. Those tribal leaders are always arrogant. Why exchange silver for what can be stolen? My lord, you should..."

With a soft call, Zhang Jinyu had already pulled the beauty into his arms and was groping her all over.
The night was as dark as ink, so thick it was impossible to see through.

Inside the Black Mountain camp, an uneasy stillness permeated the deathly silence. The cries of wounded soldiers echoed intermittently in the autumn wind, like the wailing of ghosts. The footsteps of patrolling soldiers were heavy and dragging. The torchlight flickered in the damp mountain mist, appearing indistinct and eerie.

The high morale that had been there was no trace of it. At this moment, Fucha Zhen changed into a relatively neat dark blue brocade robe, removed all his armor and sword, and left the camp alone, accompanied only by Aqige and leading two ordinary black horses.

Upon reaching the inner side of Xigukou, I glanced back one last time at the vast, dimly lit but lifeless camp, and I could still feel the suffocating despair.

Outside the valley entrance, scouts from Marquis Luoyun were constantly stationed there.
"Let's go."

As the words were spoken, the two mounted their horses and slowly rode out of the West Valley entrance. Azig followed anxiously behind them and asked;

"Father, it seems that Marquis Luoyun was prepared all along. Will Marquis Luoyun agree to peace talks this time?"

Considering that the Great Khan has already passed away, although Domin Beile has succeeded to the throne, most of the leaders in the Khan's tent support Haoge Beile. It is unknown why the Great Khan would pass the throne to Domin Beile.

"There's no way they'll negotiate. Marquis Luoyun was already furious when we transferred him back to the border. Now that he has such a good opportunity, would you negotiate if you were in his shoes?"

Fucha Zhen's face was gloomy, still unable to understand why the Great Khan would pass the throne to Duomin. Hao Ge was generous and loyal, which was the Great Khan in their hearts. As for Duomin, Fucha Zhen narrowed his eyes. This man was not only jealous, but also had a reputation for stinginess throughout the entire tribe. If he really succeeded to the throne, the Jurchen tribes would probably have an even harder time in the future.

"Then, then we still have to go."

Azig opened his eyes wide, feeling somewhat incredulous. If there was no hope for peace talks, why go? Suddenly, he remembered the words of the Guarjia Banner Chief, and a thought struck Azig.

“Of course we should go. One reason is to test Marquis Luo Yun’s thoughts. If Marquis Luo Yun’s attitude is firm, then we should be prepared. It would be best if we could meet Wu Yayu. I think Marquis Luo Yun’s plan this time is not so simple.”

The scouts reported that the entire armies of Pingyang City and Pingyao City had been brought over by Marquis Luoyun. If there were no results, how could he let it go?

Azig fell silent upon hearing this. This incident was not due to a lack of fighting spirit, but rather to Huyan Han's instigation.

“Father, we heard that a Han Chinese caravan has arrived in Huyanhan’s tribe. Could it be that he has connections with the Han Chinese?”

“Azig, none of that matters now. What matters is the survival of our tribe and our power.”

Fucha Zhen's eyes gleamed with a sharp light. He spurred his horse and charged out of the valley.

Not far from the valley entrance, several riders darted out like ghosts from the shadows on both sides of the hillside and quickly surrounded them. They were the elite patrols sent by Duan Hong! The cold arrowheads gleamed in the night and were aimed at Fucha Zhen.

"Who is coming?"

The leading sergeant demanded an answer in a stern voice.

Fucha Zhen reined in his horse and replied loudly;
"Please inform General Duan Hong or General Ningbian under the command of Marquis Luoyun that Fucha Zhen, the Jurchen Blue Banner Gushan Ejen, has been ordered by my Great Khan to request an audience with Marquis Zhang of Luoyun on important matters. To show my sincerity, I have already laid down my armor and weapons and have come here with only one person."

The sergeant eyed him warily. Under the moonlight, Fucha Zhen's face was solemn and his eyes were open. He was indeed alone. He gave his men a look, and two cavalrymen immediately stepped forward to search him. They confirmed that the two men were indeed not carrying any weapons.

"Wait!" The scout left a message and sent a rider to rush towards Pingliao City to report the news. The rest of the men kept a close watch on Fucha Zhen and his servants, leading them to a sheltered hillside nearby to wait, as if they were prisoners.

A cold wind howled, fluttering Fucha Zhen's robes, but his expression remained unchanged.

Time slipped away slowly in the cold wait, each moment feeling exceptionally long, like hanging on a knife's edge.

I don't know how long we waited before the riders returned.

"Fucha Zhen, let's go into the city."

"Very well, thank you, General."

Seeing a deputy general leading troops, Fucha Zhen composed himself, mounted his horse, and, with Aqige in tow, gave chase.

The main hall of the Pingliao City government office
Inside the temporary residence of Marquis Luoyun, the lights were on full display.

Zhang Jinyu was enjoying herself on the bed in the back room, feeling completely relaxed. But outside, Ning Bian gently knocked on the door.
"My lord, my lord!"

He called out softly a few times. Inside the room, Zhang Jinyu, who was on the bed embracing a beauty and enjoying himself, heard Ning Bian's voice and knew that he had something to report. So he got up, changed his clothes, and went out of the back hall to the front hall to ask.
"What is it? Have the Tartars made a move?"

"My lord, that's not it. The Tartars haven't made any unusual moves at the Black Mountain camp. However, Huang Jitai sent an envoy, saying he wants to negotiate peace with you."

Ningbian reported in a low voice, also somewhat puzzled.

Zhang Jinyu's eyes were strange. Huang Jitai wanted to negotiate peace, just like before. It reminded her of the siege of Pingyang City, which was just like tonight. This peace talk...
Who was sent?

"My lord, it's still the same old friend, Fucha Zhen."

Ning Bian's face also became somewhat strange, as this scene was still vivid in his mind from that night.

"Interesting. That old fellow Fucha Zhen, the banner lord of the Plain Blue Banner?"

Zhang Jinyu put down her teacup, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. Then she thought of many things. Huang Jitai was truly a remarkable person.

Ningbian pondered for a moment and said:

"My lord, this must be because the Jurchens are at their wits' end and have internal conflicts. Huang Jitai has always been arrogant, but there is precedent for this, so he sent someone to negotiate, which is no exception."

"It is no exception, but now the offensive and defensive positions are reversed, and the advantage is in our hands. How can we let the tiger return to the mountain? Ningbian, do you think we can take this opportunity to test the attitude of the Jurchens? If so, we can win them over. However, the banner chief of the Plain Red Banner, Huyan Han, is not included in this list. I do not like this person."

Zhang Jinyu tapped her fingers lightly on the table, making a soft tapping sound. Her gaze was somewhat strange. If it were the Jurchens, and a tribe had truly surrendered, a tribe whose backbone had been broken would have no power to resist!

"Let him in! I want to see what conditions this old friend can bring."

"Yes, my lord."

Ningbian understood and immediately waved his hand, and the guards inside the room ran out.

Before long, Fucha Zhen was led in by two bodyguards. He walked hurriedly and looked calm. Aqige behind him, however, did not have such an expression. Only his slightly pale face and tightly pursed lips revealed a hint of inner tension.

After entering,
Fucha Zhen quickly surveyed the surroundings. It was an ordinary government office, simple and unpretentious. Upon entering the front hall, he saw a familiar figure in the main seat. Marquis Luoyun sat in the center, still in his golden armor, flanked by his personal guards.

Upon meeting the main figure, Fucha Zhen strode into the hall and, following the etiquette of a grassland tribe meeting a powerful leader, placed his right hand on his chest and bowed deeply to Zhang Jinyu, adopting an extremely humble posture.
"The defeated general, Fucha Zhen, the Gushan Ejen of the Blue Banner of the Jurchen, pays his respects to the Marquis!"

Azig behind him dared not be negligent and, imitating his father, performed a deep bow. This sight made Zhang Jinyu's face relax.
"I wondered who it was, but it turns out to be Fucha Zhen. Why aren't you making your fortune in Yinzhou? What brings you here to pay your respects?"

The words, spoken with a half-smile, made Fucha Zhen stiffen slightly. He forced a smile, maintaining his bowed posture, and his voice remained respectful:

"My lord, you are wise. As a defeated general, I dare not speak further. I have come not to beg for my life, but on behalf of the Jurchen people, together with you, to seek a lasting alliance. My lord... the Great Khan,"

When the topic of the Great Sweating appeared, there was a barely perceptible pause in his voice.
"The Great Khan is willing to negotiate peace and hopes that the two countries can reconcile and jointly achieve great things beyond the Great Wall."

"Tsk tsk, it's been a long time. Fucha Zhen, your tongue has become more and more eloquent. I led my troops and rushed back day and night, not to hear you come to beg for peace. Huang Jitai has come to make trouble for me time and time again. This time, it's a matter of returning the favor."

He gave a cold look and said that some things are best listened to but not taken seriously. Where is the loyalty of a wild wolf on the grassland?

Fucha Zhen straightened up, his forehead slightly damp with sweat;
"My lord, although there have been many misunderstandings these days, the trade between the Jurchens and you has been mutually beneficial. It is said that cooperation benefits both sides. The two families have reconciled, and we must also guard against the threat from the Yuezhi people in the north. I'm afraid you don't know that the Khan's westward advance was made by an envoy sent by the Prince of Zheng's mansion within the pass. He misled Huyan Hanjin with his slanderous words. Someone else went to the tent of the Right Wise King of the Donghu people for a secret meeting. I suppose the Donghu people are not content to be left out."

All of this information came from Guarjia.

"Renew the alliance, Fucha Zhen, the caravan you mentioned within the pass, isn't that just a servant of Prince Zheng's mansion? I don't understand, what conditions did Prince Zheng promise to make Huang Jitai agree? Besides, things are different now. Back then, I needed to catch my breath, but now, I want Liaonan."

Could it be that they're hiding something?

These words moved everyone in the hall.

Fucha Zhen was speechless. It turned out that Luo Yunhou had known about the previous plans and bargaining chips all along. It is said that the Han people are good at scheming, but I did not expect that Luo Yunhou was also quite shrewd. After struggling for a moment, Fucha Zhen lowered his head and clasped his hands in a fist.

"Since Your Excellency has been so frank, what conditions would Your Excellency require for the two families to reconcile?"

However, Zhang Jinyu's face remained expressionless. He picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, as if he didn't care.
"Fucha Zhen, to tell you the truth, I have taken a fancy to Liaonan. As you know, there are tens of millions of refugees sent from within the Great Wall, which are difficult to settle. Therefore, Liaonan has always been a place of favorable weather. So, since it is mutually beneficial, how about the various Jurchen tribes come into my manor?"

What appeared to be a negotiation was actually coercion. Fucha Zhen's face was grim, and behind him, Aqige was already dumbfounded. Seeing that they were at an impasse, he wondered if his father would leave in anger. But Fucha Zhen only thought for a moment and then suddenly spoke.
"Lord Marquis, you are a man of great talent and ambition, and I truly admire you. But I wonder how you will deal with the leaders of the various tribes? Do you have any autonomy? And what about the banner leaders of the Jurchen Eight Banners? How will you deal with them?"

Fucha Zhen straightened up, completely unlike his cautious demeanor when he arrived. This time, it was Zhang Jinyu's turn to be surprised. She stared at Fucha Zhen's face for a while, wondering if he was deliberately testing her, or if he had other intentions.

"The tribes and their forces will remain unchanged, but they will govern their own territories, engaging in both farming and herding. As for the banner leaders and soldiers of the Eight Banners, I will bring them all under my command. Such skilled warriors are certainly needed, but the positions of the banner leaders will be changed. As for that banner leader of the Plain Red Banner, Huyan Han, I can only kill him as a sacrifice to the banner."

To control these elite troops, it was necessary to replace them. Providing them with silver and provisions was like a godsend to those lower-class herders. Zhang Jinyu didn't even mention the potential for promotions and titles, but even so, Fucha Zhen suddenly knelt down.

"My lord, the Fucha Zhenhe and Plain Blue and Bordered Blue Banners are willing to surrender to you!"

"What did you say? Holy shit!"

(End of this chapter)