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The northern front was the most noteworthy, as the opponent was Du Fuwei, who dominated the Jianghuai region, possessed the strongest military force, and nominally accepted the title of King of Wu from the Tang Dynasty.

Cheng Yaojin was only in his early twenties at the time, and was known for his bravery and recklessness. He led an army of 10,000 men, a mixed force of infantry and cavalry, southward from Bozhou, with his forces aimed directly at Liyang (now He County), the core stronghold of Du Fuwei.

Du Fuwei commanded tens of thousands of troops, including brave and skilled soldiers from the Jianghuai region, and was also assisted by veteran generals such as Fu Gongshi. Initially, Du Fuwei was quite dismissive of Cheng Yaojin's invasion, believing that the enemy was throwing eggs against rocks. He personally led his army north, intending to annihilate this arrogant "child army" in the open field.

The two armies met on the banks of the Ruxu River (now the Yuxi River) north of Liyang. Du Fuwei saw that Cheng Yaojin's army formation seemed loose and that the vanguard cavalry were eager to charge directly into the enemy lines. He underestimated Cheng Yaojin and ordered the entire army to advance, hoping to defeat him in one fell swoop with superior forces.

Just as the main force of Du Fuwei's army began to move and the formation changed slightly, Cheng Yaojin personally led his most elite 500 heavy cavalrymen to strike at the junction of Du Fuwei's army's flank and center, a temporary weak point created by the advance of the troops!
This was completely unexpected by Du Fuwei! Cheng Yaojin, clad in heavy armor and wielding a horse spear, swept through the enemy ranks like a tiger among sheep! Five hundred heavy cavalry followed closely behind, tearing Du Fuwei's army formation apart in an instant with a desperate momentum!
At the same time, horns sounded in Cheng Yaojin's army, and the seemingly loose infantry formation suddenly tightened, advancing steadily forward like a rock, with crossbows firing in unison to suppress Du Fuwei's army, which was trying to close the gap.

Du Fuwei's army was stunned by this sudden and devastating attack! The breach at the junction caused a temporary loss of command, with each unit fighting independently. Cheng Yaojin's heavy cavalry repeatedly charged through the enemy lines, creating chaos and disorder.

Although Du Fuwei tried his best to organize resistance, the morale of his troops was already in disarray. Even more critically, just as the two armies were locked in fierce combat, bad news came from the rear—Liyang City, where Fu Gongshi was stationed, had been taken advantage of by an elite squad from the Heavenly Dao Alliance (actually a mix of Yin Kui Sect experts and Xuanjia elites) who had appeared out of nowhere. They had taken advantage of the situation and opened the city gates with the help of the enemy!
The news of the fall of the rear was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Du Fuwei's army completely collapsed and scattered in all directions. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Du Fuwei himself, with the desperate protection of his confidants, broke through the encirclement and fled south to Danyang (Nanjing).

Cheng Yaojin led his army south and took over the leaderless Liyang without bloodshed. He then pressed on towards Danyang. At this time, panic gripped the city, and Du Fuwei, a defeated general, was powerless to organize effective resistance. Meanwhile, he received a secret letter from Li Zitong.

After witnessing the swift defeat of Shen Faxing and the crushing defeat of Du Fuwei, Li Zitong, who was entrenched in Jiangdu (Yangzhou), knew that he could not stand alone. He assessed the situation and made a surprising decision—he took the initiative to send an envoy to Cheng Yaojin's army to express his willingness to surrender to the Heavenly Alliance.

Beset by internal and external troubles, Du Fuwei knew he had no chance of winning and that resistance would only lead to his death. On the third day after Cheng Yaojin's army besieged Danyang, Du Fuwei opened the city gates and surrendered.

The northern front battle lasted for twenty-seven days. Cheng Yaojin fought bravely and cunningly, combining orthodox and unorthodox tactics, and also coordinating with intelligence and special operations, thus demonstrating the might of the Heavenly Alliance.

Thus, from the Heavenly Alliance's oath-taking ceremony in the autumn to the news of victories from all three armies, only a month had passed!
Shen Faxing was captured, Lin Shihong was beheaded, Du Fuwei surrendered, and Li Zitong submitted! The entire South, except for a few remote areas and some opportunistic small groups that need time to be consolidated, has been incorporated into the Heavenly Dao Alliance's territory!
This swift and decisive war for the unification of the South left the entire world speechless with its efficiency and outcome!
All the leaders, strategists, and generals who received the battle reports—including Li Tang's Chang'an, Luoyang's Wang Shichong, Leshou's Dou Jiande, and even the Turkic strongholds on the grasslands—felt a chill to the bone.

The Heavenly Alliance has demonstrated more than just its military prowess.

It is not only the army's unimaginable combat power, strict discipline, efficient logistical support, and accurate intelligence support, but also the military talent shown by those "young generals" that is comparable to or even surpasses that of famous generals of the time!

Su Dingfang's ruthlessness and precision, Xu Shiji's composure and strategy, Cheng Yaojin's bravery and cunning... these young people, under the system of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, were able to unleash such terrifying energy!

What's even more alarming is that this is far from the full strength of the Heavenly Alliance. The unfathomable Alliance Leader "Nameless," Heavenly Blade Song Que, Empress Zhu Yuyan, and high-ranking officials like Song Lu and Xu Xingzhi, among others, didn't even personally participate in this battle!

what does this mean?
This means that the Heavenly Alliance possesses unfathomable war potential and talent reserves! It only used the tip of the iceberg, yet it swept away all decent resistance forces in the south with overwhelming force!

The stalemate between the three major powers in the north, who were originally wary of each other, was instantly broken by this sudden and dramatic change in the south.

The silence of the Turks seemed to offer a partial answer. Faced with a behemoth that had unified the south, possessed such formidable military power, and had a blood feud with them, even the wolf king who roamed the grasslands had to weigh the risks and benefits of a southward expansion more cautiously.

In the autumn of 620 AD, as the last vestiges of resistance in the south were extinguished, the Heavenly Alliance, with its undisputed strength, heralded the arrival of an era of southern unification. The center of gravity of the world seemed to be irreversibly shifting from the three-way balance of power in the north to a north-south confrontation.

………………

The Heavenly Alliance's next target exceeded everyone's expectations, pointing towards the turbulent sea beyond.

In stark contrast to the chaotic landscape of China, where warlords rose up and war raged on, Japan was undergoing a dramatic and crucial period of transformation.

The reforms of the Asuka period, spearheaded by Empress Suiko and Prince Shotoku, were in full swing. They attempted to rapidly transform the country from a clan-based confederation to a centralized, law-based state centered on the emperor by introducing and imitating the advanced systems and culture of China.

The "Twelve Ranks of Crowns" broke the monopoly of hereditary aristocratic families and established a bureaucratic system based on talent and merit; the "Seventeen Articles of the Constitution" emphasized the order between ruler and subject and Confucian ethics, laying the ideological foundation for a centralized state. Buddhism was vigorously promoted, not only as a religious belief, but also as an important tool for constructing a unified national consciousness and transcending the original clan totem worship.

Japanese society was greedily absorbing everything from China—writing, laws, architecture, crafts, and even clothing—in an attempt to lay a solid foundation for its upcoming golden age of "ritsō-gū" (the later Nara and Heian periods).

However, all of this predetermined course was ruthlessly interrupted by an order from Xiangyang.

After completely quelling the southern forces led by Lin Shihong, Shen Faxing, and Du Fuwei, and firmly controlling the entire area south of the Yangtze River and parts of the Jianghuai region, Yi Huawei issued an unexpected order at the Chengyun Palace in Xiangyang.

He appointed Shan Meixian, the leader of the Dongming Sect, as the commander-in-chief of the expedition against the barbarians, and Shan Wanjing as the vanguard general, leading 300 large and small ships and 30,000 elite naval troops, fully equipped with bows, crossbows, armor, and firearms, to set sail immediately for the eastern expedition across the sea, with the target being Yingzhou.

This order did not cause much of a stir within the Heavenly Dao Alliance. For the alliance's higher-ups, who had already consolidated the south and set their sights on a wider world, clearing the flanks and deterring potential overseas threats was a natural course of action. Moreover, the Eastern Sea Sect was renowned for its maritime trade and shipbuilding, making them the perfect choice to lead the cross-sea operation.

But for the world as a whole, this is undoubtedly a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing a great stir!

Upon hearing the news, the northern powers were first taken aback, then filled with deep apprehension. The fact that the Heavenly Dao Alliance wasn't heading north to contend for supremacy, but instead crossing the sea to launch an eastern expedition, meant that the Heavenly Dao Alliance possessed naval power and long-range projection capabilities that were beyond their reach!
As winter approached that year, the north wind began to rise, which was the perfect season for sailboats to sail south.

At a naval port near the mouth of the Yangtze River (located near present-day Shanghai), three hundred warships of various sizes were gathered. Among them were the sturdy seagoing vessels originally owned by the Dongming Sect, as well as new warships built under the guidance of Lu Miaozi and by skilled craftsmen from the south, based on partially improved blueprints provided by Yi Huawei. These ships were larger and more robust, equipped with improved sail and rigging systems, and some large multi-storied ships even had small catapults and crossbows installed.

The 30,000 naval soldiers were not ordinary sailors, but elite troops rigorously selected and skilled in naval warfare, some even having experienced the suppression of bandits on the Yangtze River. They were equipped with uniform black leather armor for naval combat, powerful bows and crossbows, armor-piercing spikes, broadswords, and a small number of successfully trial-produced "Sky-Shattering Thunder" and "Fire Dragon Arrows." Shan Meixian commanded the flagship in the central fleet, while Shan Wanjing was in charge of commanding the vanguard fleet.

The fleet sailed south along the coastline, using familiar waters and supply points along the way (some provided by coastal magnates who traded with the Dongming Sect, and some arranged in advance by the Tiandao Alliance), to reach northern Liuqiu for a brief rest and final resupply.

Subsequently, taking advantage of the Kuroshio Current and the prevailing northwest monsoon winds of winter, the fleet set sail from the northeast corner of Ryukyu. Like an arrow released from a bow, the fleet cleaved through the waves and plunged straight into the vast Pacific Ocean.

Although this route carries some risks, it allows for faster speeds by utilizing natural forces and avoids potential Japanese surveillance along the west coast of Honshu.

After nearly a month of arduous voyage, during which they encountered several storms and lost several small vessels, finally, on a gloomy morning, an exciting shout came from the lookout tower:

"Land! Land is seen!"

In the distance, a long, dark blue coastline appeared on the horizon like a sleeping giant.

Japan was not entirely unprepared. Coastal gentry (such as Tsukushi Kunizo in Kyushu) had set up simple lookout posts. But when that enormous, overwhelming fleet finally came into view, all the warnings proved utterly ineffective.

They had never seen such enormous ships, such a well-organized formation. The fleet, pressing down like a mountain, brought not only a visual shock but also a deep-seated fear.

The landing site chosen by Shan Meixian was the area later known as Hakata Bay (near Fukuoka). The terrain here was relatively flat and it served as a traditional gateway for exchanges between Japan and the mainland.

The landing encountered almost no significant resistance. The small number of Japanese soldiers stationed on the coast, dressed in simple bamboo armor and carrying crude iron swords or spears, almost instantly collapsed when they saw the Tiandao Alliance army, with its gleaming armor and orderly formation, surging ashore like a tide. They either knelt down and surrendered or scattered and fled into the mountains and forests.

After landing, the Heavenly Alliance army did not rush to advance inland. Instead, they first established a solid bridgehead and camp on the coast. The engineering corps quickly built defensive fortifications and dismantled some of the heavy crossbows from the warships, placing them around the camp to form a powerful fire support point.

Subsequently, a clearing operation began, spearheaded by elite Xuanjia cavalry and steadily advanced by infantry phalanxes.

Although Japan was undergoing reforms at this time, the local areas were still dominated by powerful clans, the military was scattered, the equipment was outdated, and the tactical thinking was still at a relatively primitive stage of individual bravery and fighting by clan warriors.

Faced with the Heavenly Alliance's infantry formations, which were like an impregnable fortress, and the Xuanjia heavy cavalry that moved like the wind and had an astonishing impact, the hastily assembled army of the local gentry of Japan was simply no match for them.

Often, at the start of a battle, Japanese samurai would shout and brandish their katana, launching a seemingly valiant but actually disorganized charge. What greeted them was a volley of crossbow bolts that blotted out the sky, like a deadly rainstorm, instantly scattering the charging ranks.

Those who managed to reach the front lines were met with a forest of towering halberds and longswords! The Heavenly Alliance infantry, in groups of three, coordinated perfectly, their halberds hooking and their longswords slashing, their movements fluid and efficient, like highly effective killing machines. The Japanese samurai's thin bamboo armor and outdated weapons were like paper before the superior Tang-style weaponry.

Occasionally, a skilled Japanese general would break through the front line with his personal bravery, only to be intercepted and killed by the guerrilla squads stationed in the formation or by the generals commanding from the rear.

The Xuanjia elite cavalry were like ghosts on the battlefield, always launching deadly attacks from the flanks or rear at crucial moments, completely breaking down, dividing, and annihilating the already chaotic Japanese army formation.

The battle was almost entirely a one-sided massacre. The Heavenly Alliance army displayed extremely high military skill, strict discipline, and excellent coordination between different units. In contrast, the Japanese army was disorganized, fighting independently, and easily collapsed once its vanguard suffered a setback.

Within ten days of landing, the main resistance forces in northern Kyushu had been largely wiped out. Some pragmatic local lords chose to surrender and provided guides and inside help.

After careful consideration, Shan Meixian decided not to give the Japanese court more time to react. She left some troops to guard Kyushu and maintain the supply line, while the main fleet continued eastward along the Seto Inland Sea, aiming directly at the political center of Japan—Asuka-kyo (Nara Basin) in Naniwa (present-day Osaka).

The fleet sailed along the coastline, and all the Japanese naval forces (actually just some large armed fishing boats) that they encountered along the way that tried to stop them were easily destroyed by the heavy ballistae on the warships and the ramming horns of the warships.

When the news reached Asuka-kyo, the Japanese court was in an uproar and filled with fear.

Empress Suiko, Prince Shotoku, and powerful minister Soga no Umako and others never expected the retaliation from the "superior country" to be so swift and brutal!
They hastily mobilized all available troops in the Kinai region (Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara areas), led by major clans, in an attempt to establish a defensive line around Naniwazu (Osaka Port) to prevent the Tendou Alliance army from landing in the core area of ​​Honshu.

However, when the Japanese court finally managed to assemble tens of thousands of troops (many of whom were temporarily conscripted peasant soldiers) and set up defenses along the coast of Naniwa, ready for battle, the Tiandao Alliance fleet did not directly launch a strong attack on the heavily defended Naniwa.

Taking advantage of the fleet's maneuverability, Shan Meixian executed a bold flanking maneuver. The main fleet bypassed the Kii Channel under cover of night and launched a second landing on the relatively weakly defended coast of Izumi Province (south of Osaka), catching the Japanese defenders off guard!
While the main force of Japan was still waiting foolishly in Naniwazu, the Tiandao Alliance's forces had already struck from the flank and rear, directly into the heart of Japan—Asuka-kyo!

The hastily returned Japanese army clashed with the main force of the Tendou Alliance army, which was on high alert, on the plains of Kawachi Province (east of Osaka), in a decisive battle that would determine the fate of Japan.

This battle was a foregone conclusion.

Although the Japanese army was numerous, its equipment, training, tactics, and command were all inferior. Faced with the Heavenly Alliance army's tightly formed formation, raining down crossbow bolts and wielding a forest of swords, as well as the black iron cavalry that seemed to have emerged from hell, the Japanese army suffered heavy casualties and completely collapsed. The various powerful clans fled for their lives, and the so-called "Bushido" spirit appeared pale and laughable in the face of absolute power disparity.

The road to Asuka Kyoto is now open. (End of Chapter)