Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 276 Are we really going to war with the Song people?

Anxious, Su Wu spurred his horse to meet the cavalry. Upon approaching, Su Wu immediately asked, "Have you found them?"

Upon seeing his master approaching, the rider quickly reined in his horse. Before the horse had even come to a complete stop, he had already dismounted and stepped forward, bowing respectfully: "Reporting to my master, we've found it! We've found it!"

Su Wu was overjoyed and immediately got off the plane, asking, "Where are we?"

"The Tangut army is south of Dongsheng Prefecture, past the sand dunes, and is now roughly near Heqingjun Prefecture in Liao Kingdom, heading west!" The scout spoke very quickly.

Su Wu already had a map in his mind. Where was it? Dongsheng Prefecture, southwest of Hohhot, past the sand dunes, near Heqing Military Prefecture, about four hundred li away…

It wasn't far. Su Wu took a deep breath and told himself, "No rush, I can't rush."

"How many people?" Su Wu asked again.

"Your Excellency, I dared not approach to observe closely, but could only make out the beginning and the end, and roughly. Judging from the number of horses, there are at least more than ten thousand, so there are probably four to six thousand cavalrymen, and the remaining infantry number about twenty thousand..."

"Where is your Commander Yan?" Su Wu asked again.

"Commander Yan is alone, hiding on a hill. He says he will wait for the Tangut army to pass by before returning, to bring back definite news!"

Yan Qing, what a hero!

If they cannot get close, they should hide somewhere far away and wait for the Tanguts to come. The danger involved is self-evident; if they are not careful, they will be discovered by the enemy scouts. In this way, they may still have a chance to escape.

It's also possible that the enemy army will pass right by him, and once discovered, there will be no escape.

"Take your men back immediately and meet him!" Su Wu was also worried. Yan Qing, the scout commander, was now very capable and useful. If he were to be lost, it would be a huge loss.

Yet it was Yan Qing who possessed such astonishing courage!

The scout bowed respectfully, then turned and mounted his horse. He returned to the army camp first, ate and drank to his heart's content, and then gathered more men to go and meet them.

Su Wu suddenly looked around. The surrounding land was flat, but it was also uneven. At a glance, there was not much to see.

But Su Wu had a strange feeling that the Tangut scouts and riders had also arrived in the distance and were also scouting around.

Liu Zhengyan, standing nearby, asked, "Commander Su, should we head directly northeast along the edge of the desert to meet them?"

Su Wu said, "There's no need to meet them. Head straight east to Dahengshui. They will come south to find us. We still need to kill some people and replenish our supplies. My lads have been too tired lately, so they need to rest and recuperate properly at Dahengshui!"

"Commander Su, what if this Tangut army doesn't come looking for us?" Liu Zhengyan and Liu Guangshi were clearly two different kinds of people.

Su Wu replied, "If they don't come looking for us, then let's continue killing. Let's see how many Tanguts we can kill in this southern desert and the Hetao region..."

“That’s good. Resting and resupplying is a way to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out. Commander Su is right!” Liu Zhengyan nodded in reply.

"If he really doesn't come, then we'll go after him!" Su Wu planned carefully.

"Understood!" Liu Zhengyan looked at Commander Su again and was impressed. He felt that Commander Su was indeed a good commander and was greatly reassured. After all, he had never actually fought against Su Wu before, and this was his first time.

He was also observing whether Commander Su was as skilled in battle as rumored. Liu Zhengyan was a bold and unruly man. He had said he would lead Su Wu's horse and put him in the stirrups, but that came with conditions. Su Wu had made a promise first: to break through Xingqing Prefecture and hang the head of his father's killer, Richard, on the city wall for thirty to fifty years.

Su Wu did it, and only then did he lead the horse and put down the stirrup.

If Su Wu couldn't do it, what would he be in the eyes of someone like Liu Zhengyan? Just a boastful bum.

Ultimately, how much respect and admiration did Liu Zhengyan truly hold for Su Wu at this moment? Actually, not quite…

He had only a basic respect for Su Wu, the respect due to a superior, and some feelings of gratitude and nostalgia, but that didn't really mean anything.

If Su Wu wanted to truly earn Liu Zhengyan's heartfelt respect, he needed to prove himself to Liu Zhengyan.

An unruly person will defy everything, but there is one thing they will respect: those who are powerful, those who are stronger than themselves.

Su Wu seemed to know Liu Zhengyan's characteristics, so he would seriously discuss his plans and ideas with Liu Zhengyan.

The army marched straight east, heading straight for Dahengshui. Dahengshui is a place name, or the name of a small river, a branch of the Yellow River, the Wuding River, and can be considered an upper reaches of the Wuding River.

The Wuding River region, whether during the Han Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, or even the Sixteen Kingdoms period, has been the burial place of countless brave men of the Han Dynasty. Since ancient times, countless brave men of the Han Dynasty have fought and bled here.

A poem says: "Swearing to sweep away the Xiongnu, disregarding their own lives, five thousand sable-clad warriors perished in the dust of the barbarians. Pitiful are the bones by the Wuding River, still the dream of those in their boudoirs."

Su Wu once again led the brave men of Han to this place, where there was water, grass, and yellow sand rising from the sky.

Here, countless footsteps of Han and Tang soldiers have trod, countless men have died on the battlefield, and countless tears from the dreams of women in their boudoirs have flowed from thousands of miles away to this place.

Su Wu was actually being pretentious. He looked around, lost in thought, and then looked back at the ten thousand cavalrymen who had come to war once again. After An Qingze had eaten, drunk, and slept well, they were in a different state of mind, and many of them were even chatting and joking.

Listen closely, one person is saying that women's buttocks are rounder than men's, while another is saying that's not necessarily true, General Lu's buttocks are definitely not as good as a woman's...

Su Wu turned around and saw that the person speaking was Wu Song. Only Wu Song dared to tease Lu Da like that. Lu Da retorted, "Second Brother, your butt isn't much smaller than mine."

The crowd burst into laughter, but then someone else said, "The two generals may have big butts, but they're definitely hard and muscular. Women's butts, on the other hand, are soft. Oh, they feel so soft to the touch..."

Wu Song laughed and said, "My buttocks are definitely rock hard, but General Lu might not be so lucky. Look at his belly; it's about the same size as his buttocks, so it must be soft..."

Everyone burst into laughter, and Lu Da chuckled, "Erlang's skin is itching, he wants to try my fist, which is as big as a sand bowl!"

Su Wu, standing ahead, laughed, "You guys are the best! When you get back, there really will be a woman in your bed..."

One person answered, "Sir, once we enter Xingqing Prefecture, there are plenty of women there."

Su Wu also knew that this battle was different from the past, and he also knew what the Western Army men would do after breaking through the Tangut cities in the past.

It goes without saying, everyone's waiting...

If there are no women, why not just steal one?
These nomadic women were mostly beneath their notice, and they couldn't be taken along; the only option was to kill them.

But in Xingqing Prefecture, there are many cities, many Dangxiang nobles, many people, and even many Han Chinese.

How do you say something?

The Han people learned the language of the Hu people, but they cursed the Han people from the city walls.

This is a depiction of the late Tang Dynasty, and also of this very moment; it speaks of the Northwest, of the Hehuang region and the Dangxiang people…

In the past, the Han Chinese of Western Xia, such as the Empress Dowager of the Liang family, were almost war maniacs. It was during that era that Western Xia's attacks on the Song Dynasty reached their climax, with almost the entire country engaging in militarism and fighting to the death with the Song Dynasty.

It's easy to guess who made up the largest group in the Western Xia army; there were more Han Chinese than Tanguts.

Just like in the past, what kind of people were the most numerous in the Liao army? How could they not be Han Chinese? Historically, when the Jin dynasty came to power, apart from the brief period at the beginning of its founding, the majority of its army consisted of Han Chinese.

There's no point in saying all this; Su Wu just knows that once his soldiers actually storm a Western Xia city, they won't distinguish between Han Chinese and Tanguts.

Regarding the matter of looting, Su Wu would, to some extent, condone it. This time, unlike the war against Liao, if they were to actually invade the cities surrounding Xingqing Prefecture, they would truly loot and plunder openly and blatantly...

Of course, there are also distinctions between the poor and the rich, and between the noble and the lowly; this is a common practice.

Su Wu simply turned around and said, "Pass on my message: once the cities of Western Xia are breached, all the wealthy families can be plundered."

Who wouldn't be pleased with that? They immediately called out to those behind them.

In an instant, a commotion seemed to rise in the ranks. Such a military order was something Su Wu had never given before.

The Western Army was alright, but the Eastern Army had never actually experienced such large-scale looting before, and were mostly pleasantly surprised.

On the battlefield, the evil in people's hearts is fully unleashed. Yet, in the past, the Jingdong Army was still strict in its military orders. When they won a battle, did those bloodthirsty soldiers, armed with sharp blades, really not want to plunder? Did they really all become Buddhas?

How prosperous is Jiangnan? How prosperous is Yanyun? How could we not yearn for it? But alas, military orders are strict.

This time, my husband actually ordered a looting operation; it's like opening the box that holds the devil.

The soldiers' excitement and anticipation went without saying.

The only question is: Why did Su Wu do this?

Firstly, Su Wu needed to constantly boost the morale of his troops in this battle, as the morale of the troops was Su Wu's chance of victory.

Since ancient times, plunder has been the source of morale for armies. From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, to the Han and Tang Dynasties, whether it was Liu Bang or Li Shimin, not to mention the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, this was even more true.

In many cases, the bravery of the army and its soldiers was closely related to looting.

Secondly, Su Wu wanted money, quick money, and a huge amount of wealth. He knew that if the Tangut regime were truly settled, the road ahead would become increasingly difficult, as difficult as climbing to heaven.

There were even many struggles involved, including those between the imperial court, the emperor, the Jurchens, and Su Wu himself. Su Wu was walking a tightrope between these parties. Nothing made Su Wu feel more at ease than having money and food in hand.

Looting the cities of Western Xia was something that carried no moral or military burden, nor was it something that Su Wu felt guilty about.

Su Wu couldn't bring himself to rob other cities.

Thirdly, the Tanguts, especially the highly respected nobles of Western Xia, should be killed, preferably completely wiped out. This would be a permanent solution for a period of time. Su Wu was not afraid of the problems of governance, since Western Xia, in terms of population ratio, was mostly Han Chinese.

Killing the Western Xia nobles would prevent the Tanguts from rising again for a period of time.

National unity will be a major theme in the future, and we may even subsidize it with money and food, such as for education. But that's for the future, not for now.

The army was in an uproar, everyone dreaming of one day storming into the Tangut city. Some wanted women, others wanted money, and some even said they wanted to get a valuable piece of jewelry to take back to their mothers at home...

A good man always thinks of his mother at home.

Su Wu listened attentively, his mood extremely good. It was as if everyone in the army was talking about victory, and no one was discussing the 30,000-strong Western Xia army they were about to face. It was as if no one was worried about defeat, and no one was worried about dying on the battlefield.

Isn't this also a case of being happy at the mere mention of war?
Go, Dahengshui!
To the east, Liu Guangshi led several dozen riders, passing through Jinsu and the riverbank, and appeared just west of Datong.

Early on, they encountered Jurchen cavalry. Now, the Jurchen cavalry were different from before; there were indeed people who spoke Chinese. Just like the Jurchens today, they also began to use Han officials, including administrative officials in the court and envoys sent abroad.

Even without understanding Chinese, judging from Liu Guangshi's group's attire alone, there wouldn't be any misunderstanding, because Liu Guangshi had learned a Jurchen phrase: Wanyan, Wanyan Wuzhu. Just those two words were more than enough.

They went straight ahead and the first person they met was indeed Wanyan Wuzhu, because Wanyan Wuzhu had volunteered to fight against the Dangxiang before and was now in charge of guarding the west.

This was something Su Wu had secretly told Wanyan Wuzhu long ago, all for the sake of today.

The mere mention of the translator's arrival and departure was enough for Wanyan Wuzhu to know that Liu Guangshi was under the command of Su Wu's brother. How could he not be delighted? He was treated to wine and meat, and Su Wu's letter thus reached Wanyan Wuzhu's hands.

As more and more people around Wanyan Wuzhu became fluent in Chinese, Wanyan Wuzhu himself learned a lot of Chinese and began to recognize some Chinese characters.

Why? Because His Majesty Emperor Wanyan Aguda of the Great Jin Dynasty issued an order that learning was permitted.

This was not out of admiration for the emperor's rule, but rather out of necessity. Now that the Great Jin Dynasty had been established, although it had lost the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the cities outside the pass, such as Dading Prefecture and Liaoyang Prefecture, were still inhabited by countless Han people. In order to facilitate governance, the Jurchen nobles had no choice but to do this.

They even started adopting Han names. The literate Han officials began to exert their influence in front of the Jurchens, constantly teaching them the form of a nation. The form of a nation was no longer just a few cattle and horses in a tribe, nor was it about going out hunting today and coming back to eat meat around the stove tomorrow.

The form of a nation is multifaceted, encompassing ancestral temples, traditions, beliefs, history...

It is the continuity of education, the prosperity of culture, the orderly inheritance of traditions, and also good management and governance... and so on...

They also said things like, "What is the Mandate of Heaven? What is legitimacy? What does the emperor really represent?"

The Jurchen nobles were also very wise; they knew that these things were right and had to be done!

If we don't do it, the descendants of the Jurchens will likely find it difficult to establish themselves.

Wanyan Wuzhu actually had a Han name, a Han name with great aspirations: Zongbi. Zong means imperial clan or ancestral temple, and Bi means to assist.

From the perspective of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Zongbi lived a life worthy of his name.

After Wanyan Zongbi read the letter, he looked at it again. Although he didn't know many characters, he still read it carefully, folded the letter, put it in the envelope, and put it in his pocket. He also asked, "How many miles is my brother from Datong?"

“Right now, we are probably about 700 li away!” Liu Guangshi answered earnestly.

“Good, very good. Come, I will take you to see our Emperor. We are just waiting for His Majesty’s military order. I will take my men westward right away!” Wanyan Zongbi was very excited. He really wanted to do this and fight a battle with his sworn brother.

Liu Guangshi was overjoyed. Seeing Yan Zongbi get up, he quickly followed suit, and a fast horse galloped outside the tent.

They mounted their horses and set off; His Majesty the Emperor was in the northeast of Datong.

Along the way, Wanyan Zongbi also asked, "You're quite something, managing to travel through the territories of the Western Xia and Liao peoples."

Liu Guangshi also laughed: "There is no danger on the Dangxiang side. It's just that some Liao soldiers are running around everywhere. But it's not a big deal. The Liao people are barely surviving now and don't have many troops left. Most of them are hiding in cities and fortresses. If they encounter them outside, kill them if there are few, and avoid them if there are many. It's not difficult."

Liu Guangshi's words also touched upon the current situation of the Liao Kingdom. Although the Liao Kingdom had lost Yan and Yun, it still had a lot of territory, such as the Xijing Road represented by Datong, which was west of Datong, including Hebin, Ningbian, Dongsheng, Jinsu, etc.

Of course, these places are actually sparsely populated, with some fortified villages, but few people and no troops stationed there.

If we're really talking about something, it's the Southwest Circuit Pacification Headquarters of the Liao Dynasty, which is near Hohhot. They still have some strength there, with manpower and supplies.

"Not bad, you can be considered a warrior!" Wanyan Zongbi also praised Liu Guangshi.

Upon hearing this, Liu Guangshi simply smiled. He had not disgraced his brother nor the Song people. This journey had been arduous and difficult, but he had finally arrived.

Just head northeast of Datong to see the Great Jin Emperor.

Liu Guangshi bowed with the courtesy due to a foreign subject, and also looked around. The Jurchen emperor's tent was indeed imposing, with an indescribable yet perceptible aura of fierceness and bravery.

He also looked at the emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty, not daring to look up too closely, but he did manage to glance at the emperor briefly...

Its imposing presence is indeed great, but upon closer inspection, it seems... its health condition is not quite good...

This is big news. Liu Guangshi subconsciously glanced at it a few more times. It seemed... really bad. He had to tell his brother about this when he got back. This matter might be very important.

Along the way, Liu Guangshi was quite shrewd. He had also observed the city of Datong. The city seemed desolate. He could see that there were still quite a few soldiers on the city walls, but there were not many people actually standing guard. The banners were tattered and had not been replaced. Many of the crenellations were also broken and incomplete. Many sections of the moat protecting the city had been leveled.

This utopia probably won't last much longer.

I also saw the Jurchen armies we encountered along the way. The number of horses was so great that it was impossible to count them all, and the Jurchen soldiers were still full of energy and spirit...

This is also intelligence...

The Jin emperor in front of him was listening to the Han official's translation. The entire audience of Jurchen nobles, young and old, were discussing something. There was no need to avoid Liu Guangshi, as they knew he wouldn't understand.

Liu Guangshi went to see Wanyan Zongbi, whose expression seemed to have become somewhat complicated.

Liu Guangshi couldn't understand the words, but he could see the meaning. He knew that there seemed to be disagreement about this matter within the Jurchen court.

This naturally led to a disagreement. The Jin Dynasty was extremely angry. Wanyan Aguda's younger brother, Wanyan Wuqimai, whose Han name was Wanyan Sheng, spoke up: "Your Majesty, this matter should not be agreed to. We should let the Song people fight a bitter battle with the Tanguts in the west. Since ancient times, two tigers cannot share one mountain. Once we conquer Datong and capture Yelü Yanxi, the Liao Dynasty will perish. All the vast lands of the Liao Dynasty will belong to our Jin Dynasty. In this way, if there are two tigers on the mountain, they will surely fight each other!"

Wanyan Xieye, also known as Wanyan Gao, spoke up: "That makes sense, but right now is the time for our envoys to go on their mission. If we really ignore this, the matter of borrowing grain may change. We really need to borrow the grain, so this matter needs to be discussed further..."

Wanyan Sheng replied, "Going is not impossible, but it can only be a show. We must not actually help the Song people fight. Now that I think about it, the Dangxiang really cannot be wiped out by the Song people. I have also consulted many former Liao officials about many things. The Song people's military strength is not actually strong. On the contrary, the Dangxiang have always been quite good. The Song people have the advantage of vast territory, large population, and abundant resources. If we leave the Song people with another enemy, it will be easier for us to control them when we deal with them in the future. The Liao people used this method in the past. I think this method is very clever."

Yelü Yudu, who was standing to the side, was also nodding repeatedly. Many things and many words were spoken by him and Wanyan Sheng. He couldn't get a word in edgewise, but his opinions were being heard by the emperor and many Bojilie.

Bojilie means elder, or you could say prime minister.

Wanyan Gao nodded: "Yes, then let's send a troop to make it look like a show..."

Wanyan Zongbi's expression at this moment was extremely complicated. In the past, he had never thought about these things, but now that he was listening, how could he not know that the words of his elders were reasonable?

He was no longer the naive boy he once was. With the title of Zong Bi, how could he not be thinking about matters of national importance?

But he couldn't help feeling complicated. He thought of Su Wu, the Su Wu who had sailed across the sea from the Song Dynasty, the Su Wu with whom he had sworn brotherhood in the snow, the Su Wu who had given him armor. It was as if he had a premonition that one day they might meet with swords...

But then Emperor Wanyan Aguda spoke up: "Your words do not suit my taste!"

Everyone was taken aback, but Wanyan Zongbi suddenly felt a sense of relief...

Then Wanyan Aguda said, “What you all say makes sense, but the Jurchen people have come to this point because of loyalty and righteousness. That’s why everyone follows us. I know that in matters of state, loyalty and righteousness are often not so important. But the alliance with the Song people is not something that can be settled overnight. If the Song people borrow our supplies, how can we not sincerely help them? If the Song people betray us in the future, we can discuss it again. But now, the Song people have not betrayed us, so how can we betray them first?”

Wanyan Aguda clearly possessed the spirit of a rough-and-tumble hero, and this was no exaggeration. It was this very spirit that enabled him to unite three thousand Jurchen tribes and rise to power, thus achieving his current status.

After this was said, everyone fell silent. Only Wanyan Sheng and Wanyan Gao exchanged a glance and nodded.

Wanyan Zongbi was overjoyed and immediately went to tell Liu Guangshi, "His Majesty the Emperor has agreed."

Wanyan Aguda glanced around and his gaze fell on Wanyan Zongbi. Wanyan Zongbi then spoke up, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops there."

Wanyan Aguda chuckled and nodded: "Then you take your troops with you..."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wanyan Zongbi bowed deeply, covering his chest.

Wanyan Aguda nodded and waved his hands to the left and right: "You may all leave. I have a word with Wuzhu."

Everyone nodded and dispersed, with Liu Guangshi following them out.

Inside the main tent, only Wanyan Aguda and his fourth son, Wanyan Wuzhu, remained.

Suddenly, Wanyan Aguda's body went limp. He had been sitting upright just moments before, but now he leaned against the couch. The energy he had shown just moments before had also diminished considerably.

Wu Zhu hurriedly stepped forward. He didn't ask any questions; he was just secretly distressed. It hadn't been a day or two since his father's health deteriorated, and his spirit was also declining.

“Father…” Wuzhu said softly.

Agu waved his hand: "It's nothing... I have something to say to you..."

“Father, you said…” Wuzhu seemed about to shed tears, but he did not.

"Speaking of the Great Song Dynasty, I know that in the future, if there is a real struggle and battle, you are most like me, valuing loyalty and righteousness. You and that Song man Su Wu have a bond of loyalty, I know. This time, you should repay it. We Jurchens have always been like this. Loyalty is loyalty, and hatred is hatred. We must distinguish them clearly."

Aguda said this.

Wanyan Zongbi then asked, "Do we really want to go to war with the Song people in the future?"

Wanyan Aguda chuckled: "This matter isn't about you and me, but about the future, about the two nations. As for me... I fear my days are numbered. I know that the methods I devised in the mountains and forests are no longer effective between great powers. But now we are a nation spanning thousands of miles, and we must consider the future generations. Historical records tell me that the Khitans and Liao people have said many things about the Song people, that they are actually cunning and treacherous, and that the Song people will betray us... they definitely will. Perhaps it won't be Su Wu, but the Song people will definitely..."

Wanyan Zongbi nodded, listening to the teachings. His father was his heaven. From a clueless hunting boy to where he is today, he has always followed under his father's wings. He knows that his father's wisdom and courage are greater than anyone else in the world.

My father continued, "They, all of them, are hoping for a fight... They have no connection with the Song people, and they know that the Song army is not actually very strong. The Han people say so, and the Khitan people say so too... I know that, and you've heard it too..."

“Father, I don’t really believe what they say. The soldiers under my elder brother Su Wu are truly formidable…” Wanyan Zongbi said.

“I may not see these things, and you can’t control them, but you must know one thing: if a war really breaks out, you must win. We Jurchens are few in number, so everything is like walking on thin ice. We cannot afford to fail. If we fail, we will be doomed. So, we must win.” Wanyan Aguda knew his son well, which is why he kept him here to say these words.

"Why are they all looking forward to fighting?" Wanyan Zongbi asked. He was not yet the thirty- or forty-year-old general who led the army to conquer the Song Dynasty after the Jingkang Incident. Even during the Jingkang Incident, he was still just a mid-level officer in the army. Wanyan Sheng, Wanyan Gao, and others lived long lives, as did Wuzhu's brothers.

"Why? There are many reasons. They are good at fighting, the country needs to be strong, they want to be rich, the people below also want to be rich, the country needs to stand firm, for all these reasons, they have to fight..." Wanyan Aguda saw things very clearly.

Unfortunately, he truly knew that his time was drawing near.

Wanyan Zongbi nodded, muttering, "The nation needs to establish itself..."

Does conquering the Song Dynasty guarantee the nation's survival? The logic is actually quite simple: there's still the Western Xia, Goryeo, Japan, the Uyghurs to the west, and the Dali Kingdom to the south…

By defeating the Song dynasty, the nation's dignity would be firmly established, ensuring its prosperity for generations to come.

Wanyan Zongbi understood...

But it's also painful...

Perhaps he really is going to repay a favor...

(End of this chapter)