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620 AD.

Winter has passed and spring is just beginning to sprout, yet the flames of war still linger on the land of China, and bloodshed continues.

After the fall of Yang Guang in Jiangdu, the Sui Dynasty existed in name only, and the world was plunged into a chaotic quagmire of warlordism and regional separatism. After several years of fighting and annexation, the spheres of influence gradually became clear, forming a complex situation with the three major groups in the north standing in a tripartite balance, and new and old forces intertwined and clashing in the south.

At this time, the north was the core vortex of the world's strife, with the three most powerful forces being the Li Tang, Wang Shichong, and Dou Jiande. Their territories were adjacent, and they were constantly clashing, with a major war imminent.

With its base in Guanzhong and capital in Chang'an, the Tang dynasty, riding on the legacy of the former Sui dynasty and backed by the enormous wealth of the Yang Gong Treasury, seemed poised to conquer the entire world.

Last year, he annexed Liu Wuzhou of Mayi and Liang Shidu of Shuofang, taking over their territories. This not only eliminated the threat to his flanks but also expanded his sphere of influence to the entire Hedong (Shanxi) and southern Hetao region, thus consolidating the foundation of Guanzhong.

In August, Prince Qin, Li Shimin, decisively defeated Xue Rengao, son of Xue Ju of Western Qin, at Qianshuiyuan. Xue Rengao surrendered after his defeat and was soon executed in Chang'an. This battle completely pacified Longxi, bringing Tianshui, Longxi, and other prefectures into the territory. The Li Tang dynasty's worries about the west were temporarily relieved, and it also gained access to the land of fine horses in Longyou, which replenished its cavalry.

However, the situation for the Li Tang dynasty was far from secure. To the east, Wang Shichong, who held sway over Luoyang, declared himself emperor and established the Zheng dynasty, blocking the vital passage out of Guanzhong. To the northeast, Dou Jiande dominated Hebei, his military power at its peak, constantly threatening the western flank of the Tang dynasty. To the north, although Luo Yi had been pacified, the threat of the Turks remained a constant threat. Furthermore, the newly annexed territories needed time to be digested and integrated, and the subtle power struggle between Crown Prince Jiancheng and Prince Shimin was beginning to emerge.

Currently, the territory actually controlled by the Li Tang dynasty includes: the Guanzhong Plain and the capital region, the entire Hedong region (Taiyuan, Jinzhou, Jiangzhou, etc.), parts of northern Shaanxi (Yanzhou, Suizhou, etc.), and the Longxi region of Xinping. Its territory is the most complete, and its rear is relatively stable, but it is located in a strategically important area surrounded by powerful enemies.

Wang Shichong seized control of Luoyang, the eastern capital of the Sui Dynasty, and formally usurped the throne, establishing the Zheng Dynasty. He held Emperor Yang Tong (who was deposed and killed last year) hostage. He controlled the heartland of the Central Plains, centered around Luoyang and Bianzhou (Kaifeng), a densely populated and fortified region that was once the heart of the Sui Dynasty.

But Wang Shichong's situation was the most perilous. To the west, the Li Tang army was watching him closely, ready to march out of Tongguan and Hangu Pass and head straight for Luoyang; to the north, he was facing off against Dou Jiande's Xia regime across the Yellow River, and Dou Jiande had long coveted the wealthy Henan region; to the southeast, he was also in contact with forces such as Du Fuwei, who were active in the Jianghuai region.

Although Wang Shichong possessed elite troops and fortified cities, his rule was brutal, he was suspicious and bloodthirsty, and his internal situation was unstable. Furthermore, geographically, he was caught between two powerful enemies, the Tang Dynasty and Dou Jiande, making his situation precarious. His controlled territory mainly included Henan Commandery (around Luoyang), Xingyang Commandery, Xiangcheng Commandery, Yingchuan Commandery, and parts of Huainan. Although this was his core area, he was surrounded by enemies on all sides, hindering his expansion.

Dou Jiande rose to power in Hebei, establishing his capital at Leshou (present-day Xian County, Hebei) and naming his state "Xia." Born into a peasant family, Dou Jiande deeply understood the hardships of the common people. He implemented benevolent policies in Hebei, lived frugally, and shared the joys and sorrows of his soldiers, thus gaining widespread support from the Hebei military and civilians, and his power expanded rapidly. He commanded a large army with many generals, and high morale, making him the strongest and most popular force in Hebei.

Currently, the controlled area includes most of Hebei (Wei Commandery, Wuyang Commandery, Qinghe Commandery, Bohai Commandery, etc.), southern Youzhou, and has moved south to occupy parts of Shandong (Qi Commandery, northern Lu Commandery). Their military might is aimed directly at Liyangcang, which is occupied by Wang Shichong, and the territory of Li Tang in Shanxi.

Dou Jiande's territory was located in Hebei, backed by the Taihang Mountains and bordering the sea to the east. This gave him relatively less geopolitical pressure, allowing him to seize opportunities to move south into the Central Plains or west into Shanxi, giving him greater strategic initiative. However, his internal structure was relatively loose, relying heavily on Dou Jiande's personal prestige, and his cultural foundation and talent pool were slightly inferior to those of the Li Tang dynasty.

Besides the Li, Wang, and Dou families, there are several other small factions in the north struggling to survive in the cracks.

Li Gui controlled Liangzhou (Wuwei) and Ganzhou (Zhangye) in the Hexi Corridor, proclaiming himself King of Liang. Located in a remote area, he could only temporarily maintain his own security, but internal instability and the dual pressures of the Turkic tribes to the west and the Tang dynasty to the east made his situation precarious.

Luo Yi had surrendered to the Tang Dynasty and was granted the surname Li, enfeoffed as the Prince of Yan, and stationed in Youzhou (present-day Beijing area). Although nominally under the Tang, he actually possessed a high degree of autonomy and, with the help of the elite troops and generals of Youzhou, became an important barrier against the Turks' southward advance from the east.

The Gao Kaidao regime occupied the area from Beiping County to Yuyang County (present-day eastern Beijing and northern Tianjin), with Yuyang as its core. This group was fickle, sometimes surrendering to the Tang Dynasty and sometimes allying with the Turks, taking advantage of the chaos to establish their own independent regime. Although their strength was not great, they were like maggots clinging to bones, difficult to eradicate.

Above all the northern powers was the Turkic Khaganate, which dominated the steppes. Although Shibi Khan had died two years prior, his brother Chuluo Khan succeeded him, and subsequently, Jieli Khan's power grew daily, yet the Turks' ambitions towards the Central Plains remained undiminished. When Li Yuan raised his army in Taiyuan, he submitted to the Turks and borrowed troops. Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, Gao Kaidao, and others openly or covertly pledged allegiance to the Turks in exchange for support or to avoid attack. The Turks adopted a policy of "supporting the weak and suppressing the strong," constantly instigating internal strife in the Central Plains through investiture and aid, weakening various factions, and reaping the benefits. Their cavalry could march south at any time and intervene in the wars in the Central Plains.

Since the Heavenly Alliance publicly executed the Turkic Grand Preceptor Zhao Deyan and royal member Chijishe in Xiangyang early last year, the Turkic side has acted unusually, not immediately launching a retaliatory military campaign southward, but instead falling into an unusual silence. Although small groups of cavalry have been harassing the border, large-scale military action has been slow to materialize. This silence is more like the calm before the storm, full of uncertainty, forcing the various forces in the north to not only be wary of each other but also to pay attention to the movements of the grasslands and the attitude of the emerging superpower in the south.

Compared to the chaos in the north, the situation in the south underwent a dramatic transformation in just one or two years.

The Heavenly Alliance, centered in Xiangyang and created by the mysterious leader "Nameless," has rapidly consolidated its influence in the south. Its sphere of influence stretches from Baling and Lingnan in the west, controlling Xiangyang and Jingling in the north, and occupying Jiangling in the east. It has also extended its reach north of the Yangtze River, seizing strategic locations such as Bozhou, and has virtually complete control of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River, this formidable natural barrier, has now become the Heavenly Alliance's inland waterway.

The Heavenly Alliance is known for its efficient administration, encouraging agriculture and sericulture, reducing taxes, strengthening its military, developing water conservancy, and promoting education. In a short period, it has achieved a level of stability and prosperity rarely seen in chaotic times. Its military is well-organized, with elite troops and ample supplies, and its navy is the strongest on the Yangtze River. Furthermore, it has attracted the allegiance of demonic forces such as the Yin Kui Sect, who have built a vast intelligence network called "Shadow."

The Heavenly Alliance of today is no longer a warlord controlling a region, but a powerful and ambitious group with a well-established system and solid foundation. It controls most of the south, holds the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, and can either advance north to conquer the Central Plains or retreat to maintain its own independent territory. Its next move affects the nerves of all forces in the land. Neither the Li Tang, Zheng, and Xia dynasties in the north, nor the remaining forces in the Jianghuai region in the east, can ignore the existence of this southern giant.

Under the strong pressure from the Heavenly Alliance, the remaining forces in the already chaotic Jianghuai and Southeast regions are facing an increasingly difficult situation.

Du Fuwei and Fu Gongshi occupied important towns such as Liyang and Danyang (Nanjing), controlling a large area between the Yangtze and Huai rivers, and possessed considerable military strength. However, they faced a precarious situation with the Tiandao Alliance to the west, the remnants of Shen Faxing's forces to the east, and the remaining power of Wang Shichong to the north. Du Fuwei had accepted a title from the Tang Dynasty (Prince of Wu), but being far from the emperor's reach, he was effectively independent.

Lin Shihong proclaimed himself Emperor of Chu and controlled most of Jiangxi, centered around Yuzhang (Nanchang). Located in the south, it was relatively remote, but bordered the territory controlled by the Heavenly Dao Alliance, putting it under immense pressure. Among the major powers in the south, it was the weakest, and its demise seemed only a matter of time.

Shen Faxing held sway over parts of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, including Piling (Changzhou), sandwiched between Du Fuwei and Li Zitong. His territory was small, his military strength limited, and he was barely surviving.

Li Zitong occupied Jiangdu (Yangzhou) and Hailing (Taizhou), former territories of Emperor Yang of Sui, and was engaged in endless battles with Du Fuwei and Shen Faxing in the Jianghuai region. They were mutually depleting each other's strength and were unable to form a united front, let alone turn their attention westward to deal with the threat from the Heavenly Alliance.

By the spring of 620 AD, the格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall political landscape or social order) of the world had become clear. The three major powers in the north were locked in a stalemate, each restraining the other, none daring to launch a full-scale attack for fear of being taken advantage of by others. In the south, the Heavenly Dao Alliance had essentially established its dominance, while the old separatist forces struggled to survive in its shadow.

The biggest variables come from the north and south ends.

Behind the unusual silence of the Northern Turks, a greater storm is surely brewing. Are they gathering strength for a swift retaliation after Zhao Deyan's death? Or are they adjusting their strategy and seeking new proxies? After consolidating its internal power, will the Southern Heavenly Alliance continue to bide its time and consolidate its gains? Or will it turn its attention to the north and embark on a journey to unify the world?
The entire world is like a giant powder keg, waiting for a single spark to ignite an unprecedented war that will determine the fate of all parties. All factions are secretly accumulating power, waiting for the opportune moment.

...............

Autumn of 620 AD.

When the three major powers in the north, Li Tang, Wang Shichong, and Dou Jiande, were locked in a stalemate along the Luoyang-Hulao Pass line, each holding the other back and unable to move.

The Heavenly Alliance, this behemoth that has been biding its time and accumulating strength for so long, has finally revealed its sharp fangs.

What sent chills down the spines of all observers was that the Heavenly Alliance did not mobilize its entire force this time, nor did it even deploy its renowned top figures such as Song Que, Zhu Yuyan, and Dong Jingzhen. Instead, it sent only three young generals, each leading ten thousand elite troops, in three separate columns, to launch a thunderous attack on the last remaining separatist territories in the south.

Its targets were Shen Faxing, who dominated Jiangsu and Zhejiang; Lin Shihong, who reigned supreme in Jiangxi; and Du Fuwei, who held sway over the Jianghuai region!

Su Dingfang was twenty-five years old at the time, and was already known within the Heavenly Dao Alliance for his strict military discipline and ruthless and precise use of troops. The ten thousand troops he led were not all infantry, but included three thousand elite Xuanjia cavalry and seven thousand well-equipped and well-trained infantry. They sailed down the river from Jiangling to the east, heading straight for Lin Shihong's stronghold—Yuzhang (Nanchang).

Lin Shihong proclaimed himself Emperor of Chu, occupied most of Jiangxi, and commanded an army of 100,000, but in reality, he had only 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers capable of fighting, and they were stationed in various places.

Upon hearing of Su Dingfang's invasion, Lin Shihong initially did not take it too seriously, believing that the enemy's forces were limited and that he was a young general. He intended to rely on the Gan River and the fortified towns along the way to resist step by step and wear down the enemy's army.

However, Su Dingfang did not launch a direct assault on the strongholds along the way. Instead, he used his elite Xuanjia cavalry as the vanguard, accompanied by guides familiar with the terrain, to bypass the fortified cities and march day and night, directly attacking Chaisang (near present-day Jiujiang), a strategic location west of Yuzhang. Lin Shihong's defensive line on the north bank of the Gan River was instantly breached.

The general defending Chaisang attempted to hold the city, but Su Dingfang besieged it without attacking, only using a portion of his troops to feign movement and distract the enemy. Secretly, he dispatched elite squads in small boats to infiltrate along a tributary of the Gan River, launching a night raid and burning several important grain transfer points and water fortresses set up by Lin Shihong on the Gan River, cutting off Yuzhang's connection with the northern defense line and the supply of provisions to the front lines.

Upon hearing the news, the morale of Lin Shihong's frontline army wavered. Su Dingfang seized the opportunity and personally led the main force of the Xuanjia elite cavalry in a lightning-fast raid of a hundred li. In a field encounter, they decisively defeated Lin Shihong's vanguard of over 20,000 men, whose morale was low due to lack of supplies and who were about to retreat!
Su Dingfang led from the front, and under his spear, no general could withstand him; his ferocity and bravery shocked the entire field.

In this battle, Su Dingfang did not charge blindly. After the cavalry charged, the infantry followed closely, firing crossbow bolts and advancing with swords and shields. Their coordinated attack left Lin Shihong's rabble with corpses strewn across the battlefield, and countless soldiers surrendered.

After this defeat, Lin Shihong lost all courage and hastily withdrew his troops to defend Yuzhang. However, Su Dingfang did not give him any chance to catch his breath. With the momentum of his great victory, he marched to the gates of Yuzhang and released the thousands of captured Chu soldiers after a brief screening and reprimand. He then returned to the city to proclaim the power of the Heavenly Alliance and the policy of "only punishing the ringleaders and not questioning the coerced followers".

Meanwhile, Su Dingfang displayed the captured flags and heads of generals from Lin Shihong's army outside the city, and mobilized the artisans accompanying the army to work overnight to make a large number of simple catapults, which were used to launch surrender documents and stones into the city day and night as a form of psychological intimidation.

The city's garrison, already demoralized from their recent defeat, was further demoralized by the release of their comrades outside the city and the news that the Heavenly Alliance army was disciplined and well-treated, while their own emperor, Lin Shihong, only cared about plundering and neglecting his soldiers.

On the fifth night of the siege, a mutiny broke out in Yuzhang City. Some junior officers and soldiers opened the city gates and welcomed Su Dingfang's army into the city. Lin Shihong was killed by his own traitorous general in the chaos, and his head was presented to Su Dingfang before his horse.

In the western front, from the dispatch of troops to the pacification of Yuzhang, Su Dingfang only took twenty-three days. His cunning and swift military tactics, and his precise and effective psychological warfare, greatly surprised all the forces that had expected a protracted siege.

Meanwhile, Xu Shiji led an army of 10,000 men eastward from Jiangling, heading straight for Shen Faxing, who was entrenched in Piling (Changzhou) and other places.

Xu Shiji had already displayed a maturity and strategic acumen beyond his years. His force of 10,000 men consisted mostly of infantry, but was reinforced with crossbowmen and engineers, as well as a small river fleet.

Shen Faxing's territory was small, with a force of about 20,000, but he controlled the densely networked waterways of the Taihu Lake basin and attempted to maneuver using the complex terrain and his navy.

Xu Shiji did not rush to engage Shen Faxing's main force in a decisive battle, but instead adopted a strategy of "steady advance and gradual encroachment." First, he used his elite troops to launch a brilliant ambush at Yixing (now Yixing) on ​​the west bank of Taihu Lake, annihilating a detachment sent by Shen Faxing to probe the enemy. This initial victory stabilized his position.

Subsequently, Xu Shiji used his inland river fleet to control key waterways, gradually eliminating Shen Faxing's small naval forces and strongholds around Taihu Lake, severing connections between his various cities. After conquering each territory, he immediately pacified the people, restored order, and appointed officials, displaying remarkable composure.

Seeing that Xu Shiji was advancing step by step and that his own space for maneuver was being constantly compressed, Shen Faxing became anxious. He mistakenly judged that Xu Shiji was young and cowardly, and attempted to gather his main force to fight a decisive battle with Xu Shiji outside Piling City, in order to defeat this "isolated" Tiandao Alliance force in one fell swoop.

However, this was precisely the trap that Xu Shiji had meticulously set.

On the day of the decisive battle, Shen Faxing led his main force of 15,000 men out of the city and formed ranks. Xu Shiji, with his back to the camp and relying on fortifications, used powerful bows and crossbows to launch a series of attacks, wearing down Shen Faxing's army's morale. Shen Faxing's army, unable to break through after a prolonged siege, gradually lost ground, and their morale waned.

Just as Shen Faxing's army's offensive was waning and their formation was beginning to crumble, Xu Shiji's two thousand elite infantrymen, who had been lying in ambush in the mountains on the flank, suddenly attacked, striking straight at Shen Faxing's flank! At the same time, the gates of Xu Shiji's camp were wide open, and the main force of infantry, who had been resting and recuperating for a long time, launched a counterattack!
Shen Faxing's army was attacked from both sides and fell into chaos. Xu Shiji, commanding from the central command, directed the troops to divide and encircle the fleeing soldiers, annihilating them. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Shen Faxing fled in panic towards Wu County (Suzhou) under the protection of his personal guards.

Xu Shiji gave them no chance to regroup, personally leading his cavalry in pursuit, catching up with Shen Faxing's remaining forces on the shores of Taihu Lake. After a fierce battle, Shen Faxing was captured alive by Xu Shiji's generals.

In the eastern front campaign, from the deployment of troops to the capture of Shen Faxing, Xu Shiji took twenty days. His military tactics were calm and experienced, his actions well-planned and executed, demonstrating the demeanor of a great general. (End of this chapter)