Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Two hundred li south of Tongzhou, there is a campsite for six thousand Shenji soldiers.

After Jia Cong finished speaking, the officers and soldiers in the camp all had different expressions and were filled with doubt and worry.

The 6,000-strong Divine Machine Battalion had only been deployed for two days when they encountered such a thorny situation, but they did not find Jia Cong's assessment alarmist.

Although this commander was exceptionally young, he was a rising star in the Great Zhou army and was known as a born general.

Before he was even a teenager, he had already distinguished himself in Liaodong, strategizing and winning several major victories, wiping out the three Jurchen guards and expanding the territory of the Great Zhou by thousands of miles.

He was thus granted the hereditary title of Earl, making him arguably the most dazzling figure in the army in recent years.

……

Although seniority is the most important factor in the military, brilliant military achievements are enough to overshadow everything else.

The officers and soldiers of the Shenjing Camp present were not so foolish as to underestimate Jia Cong's words and actions simply because he was young.

Not to mention that Jia Cong's appointment as a military general was merely a matter of opportune circumstances; the current emperor valued him too much, which is why he was allowed to lead the army into battle.

He was still a civil servant, a former second-place finisher in the imperial examinations, and the youngest Hanlin Academician in the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The Great Zhou Dynasty continued the traditions of the Song Dynasty, and after nearly a century of stability, a culture of valuing civil affairs over military matters became prevalent.

Civil officials often look down on military generals for being crude and vulgar, while military generals dare not despise civil officials, at least not openly.

Jia Cong was not only a young general, but also a brilliant civil official. In the eyes of these rough and uncouth military men, he was a literary star descended to earth.

It is not uncommon for civil officials to be able to decide the future of a military general with just a few words at many crucial moments.

……

For military men to rise above others, the only way is to fight and achieve merit. Whether or not they can achieve merit in this campaign against the Mongols depends entirely on the young commander's word.

Moreover, Liang Chengzong, the commander-in-chief of this campaign against the Mongols, was Jia Cong's former superior, and had promoted and mentored him. It is said that the two had a very close personal relationship.

It involves power and interests; a slight difference can lead to vastly different outcomes. No matter how brave you are in the army or how many meritorious achievements you make, it's not worth a few kind words from your superiors.

Anyone who has served in the military and earned a military rank is not a fool or an idiot.

Whatever their reasons, these military generals would not do anything ridiculous, such as belittling Jia Cong's youth or showing any rebelliousness.

It's not about shamelessly flattering or fawning, but strictly adhering to military discipline and etiquette, being respectful to the commander-in-chief, and winning Jia Cong's favor is of utmost importance.

Moreover, Jia Cong was not only a scholar of high rank and noble birth, but also a legitimate descendant of a Duke of the State and a military general, sharing the same lineage as these military generals.

With such a prominent young commander, which officer wouldn't try to cultivate good relationships? Otherwise, he would be ridiculed by his colleagues, and if he were to fall on hard times, no one would help him.

……

Deputy General Lin Zhenyuan had only heard of Jia Cong's reputation. Back when Jia Cong returned to Beijing in triumph from Liaodong, it was Lin Zhenyuan who led the five-army honor guard to greet him.

But it was only after he went on this expedition with the army that he truly experienced Jia Cong's ability to lead troops.

The method of setting up camp ordered by Jia Cong yesterday, and the theory of layered defense and preparation for attack, are all quite different from conventional military tactics, and have never been mentioned in previous military treatises.

Lin Zhen already knew that Jia Cong was not only good at developing firearms and divine weapons, but also at managing generals to deploy firearms.

Following such a strategically astute general on campaigns can not only greatly reduce the probability of defeat and death, but also greatly increase the chances of meritorious service and promotion.

Therefore, Lin Zhen dared not ignore Jia Cong's words in the slightest and asked, "Does Your Excellency mean that the Mongol Anda Khan has another scheme?"

Jia Cong said, "There are common principles in the way of commanding troops. The commander-in-chief's actions affect the whole situation. Anda Khan is leading his army south, intending to seize the land of the Great Zhou and restore the glory of the former Yuan dynasty."

If I were Anda Khan, and I wanted to achieve victory in one battle and shake the world with my army, my only strategy would be to take the capital directly; everything else would just be a means to an end.

Yaoshan Post Station, with only three thousand garrison troops, was utterly insignificant to the nearly one hundred thousand Mongol troops. Why waste military resources on it?

If I were Anda Khan, I would lead my army around Yaoshanyi and head straight for Yuanzhou and Tongzhou. Only by opening the three northern passes can we secure our rule and achieve our goal.

However, the 3,000-strong garrison at Yaoshan Post Station is not enough to put the remnants of the Mongol army in a pincer movement. As long as they lead a large force to attack Yuanzhou, they can cut off the connection between Yaoshan Post Station and the three northern passes.

At that time, Yaoshan Post Station will be an isolated city, and it will fall on its own in no time. Taking advantage of the situation without fighting and directly attacking the central route is the usual strategy of military strategists.

Anda Khan was an unparalleled hero of the steppe, who subdued various tribes in the northern desert with his power. The imperial court had repeatedly launched large-scale military campaigns against him, but the threat never completely disappeared.

Before I set out on the expedition, I reviewed the documents from the Ministry of War. In the past, Anda Khan had launched several invasions. He was a man of outstanding strategy, cunning and unpredictable, and difficult to deal with.

I could think of it, so surely he could too. Mobilizing a large army to confine someone to one place is hardly a sound military strategy.

If the remnants of the Mongol cavalry had not appeared in the heartland, all of this could have been concealed, but now things have become suspicious.

Anda Khan has amassed tens of thousands of troops, creating a stalemate with the defenders of the three passes. This is likely a feint; he must have other plans!

……

Lin Zhen asked, "Does Your Excellency mean that Anda Khan's entanglement at Yaoshan Post Station is merely a feint to contain our army?"

Jia Cong nodded and said, "The Mongol forces have broken through Xuanfu Town and seized the military depot in Donggang Town. They are advancing south with unstoppable momentum, and the imperial court already regards them as a major enemy."

If Yaoshan Post Station could hold off the Mongol army, the 80,000 troops at the Northern Three Passes would surely spare no effort and continue to mobilize heavy forces to resist them.

Anda Khan can thus restrain our army to the greatest extent. Under such circumstances, the relaxation and emptiness within the pass is simply an unavoidable result of the imbalance between internal and external forces.

At this point, he could send another army, along the dense forests of the eastern foothills, hiding by day and traveling by night, forging a new path to evade scouts along the way, and within a few days they could directly seize the capital!

Upon hearing Jia Cong's words, the officers and soldiers in the camp were all horrified. The great battle had just begun, and they had already been directly attacked at the core, putting the military in grave danger.

……

Lin Zhen said, "My lord, Shenjing is the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It is a city with high walls and deep defenses, heavily guarded. Even if the remnants of the Mongols sneaked through with tens of thousands of elite troops, they would not be able to break through it easily."

Jia Cong said, "General Lin is right. Shenjing is the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It has been the capital since the Yuan Dynasty and is a huge city that has been developed for hundreds of years."

Marquis Zhongjing commanded 65,000 elite troops, tens of thousands of imperial guards in the city, and soldiers under the guards of various government offices, totaling nearly 100,000 troops.

It wasn't something that tens of thousands of elite troops could easily conquer, but if the remnants of the Mongol army sneaked into the pass, they wouldn't need to directly attack the capital.

As long as the army is led to raid and attack towns around the capital, and cut off the capital's supply lines, it will stir up chaos in the heartland.

The capital city has more than 130,000 households and nearly 600,000 people. Even if the grain and fodder are plentiful, they cannot last long.

If the remnant Mongol troops who sneak into the pass cut off the capital's supply lines or burn the grain supplies along the way, chaos will surely break out in the capital.

Most of the troops from the four surrounding prefectures have been mobilized to the three northern passes, and they are short of manpower, making it difficult to provide immediate support to Shenjing.

Once such harassment spreads, it becomes an uncontrollable problem, plunging Shenjing into a critical situation, leaving the garrison of the three northern passes unable to attend to both ends.

The army's morale was in disarray, a major taboo in war. The campaign against the Mongols had barely begun when the army at the three passes was already in a state of decline, with endless troubles to come.

After that, no matter how many elite troops and generals we have, we will be exhausted from dealing with them. This is a major taboo in war between the two nations, and the situation could deteriorate beyond our wildest imagination.

Anda Khan is indeed not to be underestimated; this plan is quite cunning and ruthless…

……

Lin Zhen looked surprised and asked, "Sir, given the current situation, how should our army respond?"

Jia Cong said in a deep voice, "If the scouts find the elite of the remnant Mongol army within 150 li to the southeast, the 6,000-strong Shenji Battalion will not stand idly by."

I have been appointed by His Majesty to command the Shenji Battalion, under the command of the Grand Marshal Pingyuan, but as a general in the field, I am not bound by some military orders.

Once the scouts have located the enemy, I am determined to lead my troops back to completely thwart the remaining Mongol intentions, so as to prevent any unforeseen events from occurring in the campaign against the Mongols.

All officers and soldiers, you must unite as one and help me quell this war!

Lin Zhen said with great emotion, "If you have any orders, sir, we will go through fire and water, risking our lives for you."

The other officers in the tent all readily agreed, and Jia Cong ordered each army to check their packs, ready to depart at any time.

He opened the leather bag, took out his writing implements, and prepared to lay out the paper to write.

Ellie stepped forward to grind the ink for him and asked, "Yuzhang, why are you still writing at this hour?"

Jia Cong laughed and said, "I don't mean to write an article. The third batch of scouts has not yet reported back, but it is already a certainty that the elite of the remnants of the Mongols have sneaked into the pass."

I need to write a memorial beforehand to the Emperor, explaining the advantages and disadvantages involved, and also write a letter to Marquis Zhongjing, so that the capital can provide timely assistance should the incident occur.

The entire army will be on a hasty march soon, so it's essential to write this down beforehand. Once the enemy situation is confirmed, scouts will be dispatched to send it back to the capital immediately. After Jia Cong finished the draft, he carefully revised and finalized it, then placed it in a box and envelope, and sealed it with wax and his seal.

……

He took out his pocket watch; it was almost noon. Just a moment later, he heard hurried footsteps outside the tent.

Seeing Jiang Xiaoliu covered in sweat, he abruptly lifted the tent flap and entered. Jia Cong immediately asked, "What is the enemy situation to the southeast?"

Jiang Xiaoliu said, "When I led my team a hundred miles to the southeast, I discovered the activities of the remnant Mongols. Fortunately, I am from Shenjing and am familiar with the roads in the surrounding villages and towns."

I led my team to avoid the main road and take a secluded mountain path, dodging scouts along the way. When we were about three miles from Wawu Town, we dismounted and climbed the mountain ridge.

Finally, as we approached the ridge north of the town, we looked out from a high vantage point and saw a large number of troops gathered inside and outside the town. I had my brothers divide into teams to take a count.

It is roughly estimated that there are fourteen to fifteen thousand-man units, all of which are cavalry, indicating that the Mongol Tartars are coming with considerable force.

They collected the carriages and horses from the city, and gradually transported out many corpses, dumping them all in the ravine south of the town. The townspeople will likely not survive…

Jia Cong's face turned ashen as he said, "Fourteen to fifteen thousand-man units, that's fifteen thousand cavalry, taking up almost half of the elite Mongol forces. Anda Khan's scheme is far from over!"

Jiang Xiaoliu said, "Lord, according to my investigation, there are probably more than this number, because there are fast horses constantly traveling between the east and south of the town."

There must be other troops in these two directions, so the two armies are in frequent contact. Although I have returned to report the news, I have already set up sentries near Wawu Town.

Beacons have been set up along the return route, and the location and density of scout patrols have been clearly recorded.

Jia Cong said, "Select another twenty elite soldiers to scout the southeast. Make sure to identify the enemy forces. You will stay behind as the vanguard to lead the way."

When Jiang Xiaoliu left the camp on business, Jia Cong ordered his personal guards to summon all the officers and generals and immediately issue military orders into his tent. The entire Shenji Camp was in an uproar...

…………

In just a short while, the officers and soldiers of the Shenjing Camp had gathered in their tents.

Jia Cong said, "The scouts have traveled 150 li to the southeast and have just reported back that a large number of remnant Mongol cavalry have gathered in Wawu Town, numbering no less than 15,000."

As soon as Jia Cong finished speaking, the officers and soldiers were in an uproar. Almost everyone looked shocked, and a very few even showed fear.

Their reaction is not surprising, as the Zhou Dynasty has always faced a shortage of warhorses and its cavalry has always been under-equipped.

The capital city has 100,000 elite troops in five military camps, with only about 10,000 cavalry. This number is only possible because of the defense of the capital region.

The number of cavalry in the other prefectures was mostly only two thousand. The cavalry of the Great Zhou were mostly gathered in the important towns along the nine borders, so as to confront the nomads outside the pass.

Fifteen thousand elite cavalry is already an astonishing number for the officers and soldiers of these five armies. If the enemy were to launch a full-scale attack, it would be an overwhelming and terrifying force.

Jia Cong observed the expressions on everyone's faces and said, "The enemy cavalry is indeed numerous, but don't forget, you are not ordinary soldiers."

You are the Divine Machine Battalion of the Great Zhou Army, wielding the most formidable weapons in the world, far surpassing swords, spears, and halberds!

With the rise of firearms and the rampant warfare of cavalry, the glory days are over; we just need time.

Six thousand soldiers of the Shenjing Camp can still win against fifteen thousand elite cavalry, provided the strategy and tactics are appropriate!
In war, victory is not only achieved through brute force, but also through strategy, and above all, through morale!

Jia Cong's words were delivered with a powerful and resolute tone, conveying an unquestionable confidence.

Upon hearing the news of the enemy cavalry's overwhelming strength, the morale of the officers present immediately plummeted.

Jia Cong's inspiring words ignited their fighting spirit, instantly dispelling the previous astonishment and unease, and greatly improving the morale of the troops.

Ellie watched from the sidelines, secretly amused. Scholars really know how to talk. Yu Zhang only said a few words offhand, and these officers immediately got excited and were willing to risk their lives for him.

She glanced at Jia Cong's expression and saw that his words were encouraging, and his face seemed to have a kind of radiance that was dazzling and mesmerizing. He looked pleasing to the eye no matter how you looked at him...

……

Jia Cong said, "A large force of elite Mongol cavalry has appeared near the capital, and the capital is in a precarious situation. I have decided to return and lead my troops to meet the enemy."

I will lead two thousand cavalry as the vanguard, with each cavalryman equipped with two basic loads of gun ammunition and grenades. The quartermaster will complete the distribution within two quarters of an hour.

The remaining four thousand Shenji Battalion soldiers will be led by Lin Zhen. I will send out safety markers by fast horse, and you can march along the designated route.

Thirty cannons, including the main guns and cannons, were transported separately. If an unexpected situation arose en route and the enemy was too strong to reach them, the lighter cannons could be used for evacuation.

Even if they capture the main gun, it's just a pile of useless scrap metal.

At this final juncture, the well-trained soldiers of the Divine Machine Battalion are more important than these inanimate objects. General Lin, you must remember this!

Lin Zhen, his expression filled with fervor, said, "Your Excellency cherishes your soldiers more than these national treasures. You possess the spirit of ancient generals. We, your humble servants, will surely serve you to the death!"

Jia Cong nodded slightly to him, led him to the table, unfolded the map, and pointed to a place on the map.

He said, "This place is thirty miles from the capital. It is a low hillside. I passed by here when I escorted the Mongol delegation away from the capital."

As Jia Cong spoke of this, he recalled that he and Noyan Taiji had once stopped here to say goodbye, and now he realized how ironic fate had been...

He gathered his thoughts and continued, "The gentle slope here has a moderate gradient, which can slow down the cavalry's charge."

The top of the slope is spacious enough to set up dozens of cannons. You can set up the cannon array there, and in front of the cannon array, set up the musket array..."

Jia Cong personally instructed Lin Zhen on the details of leading troops and deploying them in battle.

He sent out scouts last night to investigate, and while he was unable to sleep, he had already planned and arranged the formation in his mind. Now he is naturally confident.

After he and Lin Zhen finished speaking and the other party had no further doubts, the two thousand cavalrymen had completed the addition of firearms.

Jia Cong, accompanied by Ellie, led two thousand firearms-wielding cavalry, surging out of the camp like a tidal wave, and galloping rapidly southeast...

…………

The Great Zhou Palace, Qianyang Palace, the rear hall and warm pavilion.

The heated walls on both sides of the room radiated heat, and the floor was covered with an exquisite foreign-embroidered carpet. A bronze incense burner inlaid with blue auspicious symbols of good fortune and longevity was placed there, exuding a warm and fragrant aroma.

Tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The severe cold in the capital has subsided slightly, but it is still very cold in the mornings and evenings. Emperor Jiazhao continues to govern from his warm chambers and has not moved back to the front hall of Qianyang Palace.

Wei Guanyao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, stood before the Emperor's desk. He glanced at Emperor Jia Zhao, who was reviewing memorials, but their eyes met only briefly before he quickly lowered his gaze.

Emperor Jiazhao carefully read the memorial from the Court of Judicial Review, his face filled with anger, his eyes bloodshot and slightly red, and his hands trembling slightly.

Standing before the imperial desk, Wei Guanyao, though some distance from the emperor, clearly felt the chilling murderous intent emanating from him, which sent shivers down his spine and made him involuntarily take a step back.

After reading the memorial, Emperor Jiazhao slammed his hand on the imperial desk and roared, "The grandson of the dignified Commander-in-Chief of the Expedition against the Mongols is actually the culprit who leaked military secrets!"

Chen Ruichang neglected his duties and acted corruptly. It was because of his one sentence that 600,000 dan of grain were given to the enemy, and 40,000 soldiers and civilians in Xuanfu Town perished.

The imperial army of over 100,000 was in turmoil, the war raged on, and the people suffered. These sons of nobles were incompetent and absurd, ruining the country. They all deserve to be killed!

Minister Wei, now that the case has been largely clarified, I order the Court of Judicial Review to swiftly apprehend the key criminals, expedite the interrogation, and uncover the remaining accomplices.

The war against the Mongols has already begun, and the scourge of leaked military secrets must never be repeated. This time, we must thoroughly investigate and eliminate all potential threats!

……

Wei Guanyao said, "Your Majesty, Yang Hongbin, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, has already deployed manpower in various places and is ready to arrest the wanted criminal at any time."

However, the commander-in-chief of the campaign against the Mongols, Liang Chengzong, has not yet arrived at the army camp. The army at the three northern passes is being commanded by the Duke of Qi, Chen Yi. At present, our army is engaged in a fierce battle with the remnants of the Mongols at Yaoshanyi.

Your humble servant is worried that if Chen Ruichang is arrested now, Duke Chen Yi of Qi may become panicked, which could hinder the war against the Mongols..."

Emperor Jia Zhao snorted coldly and said, "Chen Ruichang deserves to die ten thousand times over for his crimes. Does Chen Yi dare to rebel? Isn't he afraid that I will exterminate his entire family?"

The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "What you said makes sense. Now that the great war has begun, we must proceed with caution in everything we do."

But I will never tolerate Chen Ruichang's crimes just because Chen Yi temporarily holds military power; otherwise, where is the law of the land!
Guo Lin immediately dispatched secret cavalry northwards to track Liang Chengzong's itinerary and inform him of Chen Ruichang's affairs, so that he could rush back to the main army at the North Three Passes.

The emperor then issued another edict to Xu Kun, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, ordering the immediate closure of the nine gates of the capital, citing the critical nature of the war, and prohibiting entry and exit until an imperial decree was issued to reopen them.

Xu Kun was instructed to work with the Dali Temple to deploy plainclothes officers from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to keep a close watch on the Qi State Duke's residence. Any unusual activity was to be immediately and secretly countered without fail.

"Minister Wei, once the nine gates are closed, immediately arrest all the criminals. The scale of the arrests will be determined by the Court of Judicial Review."

Just as Wei Guanyao and Guo Lin were about to leave the palace to handle some business, Emperor Jiazhao said in a gloomy tone, "Minister Wei, according to the investigation by the Dali Temple, members of the Xue family in Jinling are involved."

I think I've heard Guo Lin mention Xue Pan before. He's a relative by marriage to the Rongguo Mansion and has been living there for several years..." (End of Chapter)