Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 351 No Hope
On the battlefield, in front of the city of Linhuang Prefecture, the two armies faced each other across a small river no more than twenty or thirty paces apart, with their camps ranging from seven or eight li to more than ten li apart.

The crossroads had already been blocked by Su Wu's army, and the high ground near the battlefield had also been occupied by Su Wu.

There were about seven or eight thousand Jin soldiers in the city, and about forty or fifty thousand civilians, all of whom were from the lower classes. The Khitan nobles in the city were all dead.

The Jin army outside the city numbered at least 80,000 to 90,000.

Su Wu's side had over 50,000 light and heavy cavalry, and over 20,000 auxiliary troops.

There were also cavalry from various grassland tribes, totaling about 30,000, but they were all stationed in the rear, mainly responsible for escorting supplies.

Meanwhile, the cavalry of Shiwei in black carriages were slowly gathering. There weren't many of them at the moment, but if they all arrived, their numbers would probably be around 17,000 or 18,000.

It was the words of the Shiwei King Morgen that he wanted to be the first to climb the city wall for Su Wu.

Inside Su Wu's main tent, numerous military tents and strategists were gathered, naturally discussing matters.

Su Wu asked, "The Jurchens are now on the defensive, planning a long-term standoff. They clearly won't launch an attack anytime soon, thinking that we've come from afar and can't stay for long..."

Everyone frowned; they were all veteran generals, and they understood the situation perfectly well.

Lu Da immediately retorted, "Let me go and give him a good beating!"

Su Wu nodded: "Fighting is inevitable, and testing each other's skills is also necessary, but we need to see how to fight properly..."

Su Wu clearly did not seek victory in a single battle.

Throughout history, major battles have always been protracted and drawn out when both sides possess elite and skilled warriors. Regardless of the era, these battles are rarely decided upon at the first encounter.

Wu Yong seemed about to speak, but then remained silent...

Su Wu didn't ask any questions, but continued, "In this battle, we should attack their weakest point first, then surround and attack their strongest point... However, the Jurchens are not taking the initiative to fight this time, which seems unlikely..."

Everyone was pondering that breaking out of this stalemate would be extremely difficult.

Su Wu himself wondered how those great battles in history were resolved.
For example, the Battle of Guandu between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, or the Battle of Tongguan during the An Lushan Rebellion...

There seems to be a reason for this: to wait and endure, hoping for a change.

This kind of battle seems to have a core principle: sometimes, the way to win or lose does not necessarily depend on how clever one is.

It's not about who makes a mistake first, or who reveals a weakness first.

Sometimes, you don't even need to be particularly clever. As long as you can endure and outlast your opponent, and seize the opportunity when your opponent makes a mistake, a great victory will come.

"Today, we probably won't be able to come up with any plans," Su Wu said. "Then let's talk about two things first. The first is logistics and supplies, which is of utmost importance. We must immediately open a new grain transport route from Datong. Grain from the Northwest, no matter how far, must not stop flowing to the grasslands. All the tribes along the route must ensure the smooth transport of grain. Grain from the grassland tribes must also be collected... well... bought with money. The transport and escort of grain cannot be entirely entrusted to others, especially here. The Jurchens will definitely be watching our logistics closely. We must have at least 15,000 cavalry escorting the grain within a 200-mile radius..."

Everyone nodded, and Wu Yong and the others turned around to make some deployment plans, which were like a duty roster.

Su Wu continued, "The second thing is that the defenses of the camp must be strengthened. As long as there is no war, construction must be carried out every day. The walls should be built as high as possible, and the trenches should be dug as deep as possible. There should be no stopping for a single day. The grain should not be stored in one place, but in multiple separate locations..."

Everyone nodded in agreement. These things, though seemingly insignificant, were actually quite important.

"Let's disperse..." Su Wu waved his hand and left.

Everyone dispersed...

After everyone had left, Su Wu looked at Wu Yong and said, "Does Lord Wu have something to say?"

Wu Yong immediately nodded, looked around, and said, "How about I accompany Your Majesty for a walk?"

"Then let's take a walk..." Su Wu also got up. Wu Yong's intention was to avoid being seen by others, as it was common in the army to keep things secret.

This is not about distrusting the people inside the tent, nor is it about suspecting there are spies inside. Rather, it's about the fact that the fewer people who know about something, the less risk of it being leaked.

The two went out and walked slowly. Su Wu chatted idly, saying, "At this time, Tokyo must already be extremely hot, and Jiangnan must be even more so, making people restless with the heat..."

Wu Yong nodded in agreement: "Yes, I didn't expect the temperature here to be so pleasant...not too hot, not too cold, it's so comfortable..."

"If we achieve a great victory this time, and then destroy the Jurchens, this place will be a perfect summer retreat!"

Su Wu thought a lot, and couldn't help but think of a place name: Chengde Mountain Resort.

That place is further south than here.

Southeast of Linhuang Prefecture, about 300 li away, lies Zhongjing Dading Prefecture. Southwest of Linhuang Prefecture, about 400 li away, lies Chengde.

It is about 1,400 to 1,500 li southwest of Linhuang Prefecture to Datong.

If Linhuang Prefecture were to travel south to Yanjing, it would actually be closer, only about 800 li.

Wu Yong didn't immediately respond to Su Wu's words. After a moment's thought, he laughed and said, "Your Majesty is indeed far ahead, so you are bound to win this battle. The Jurchens will surely perish in the future!"

Su Wu smiled and nodded. He needed to relax a bit and not always be under pressure. Imagining the future was his greatest motivation at the moment.

He also asked, "Tell me your plan..."

Wu Yong nodded, his expression turning serious. After organizing his thoughts, he continued, "In the midst of war, one can devise strategies to strategize against others..."

"Oh? Whom are you plotting against?" Su Wu asked. This was Wu Yong's specialty. No matter what he did, he always plotted against people first, and he was single-minded in his pursuit of people.

This is an advantage. Everything in the world is about people. If you can manage people well, then managing things will be much more efficient. This principle applies to all times and places, both ancient and modern!
"I have thought about it a lot, and after much deliberation, I have decided that the one person I should be most interested in is Yelü Yudu!" Wu Yong said with certainty.

"Continue..." Su Wu hadn't had time to think about this further...

“Your Majesty, there are three aspects to this plan. First, Yelü Yudu did not surrender to the Jin Dynasty for any glory or wealth. He was forced into a corner by the emperor and court officials in Yanjing, so he had no choice but to surrender to the Jin Dynasty. Since he had no choice, he must have been unwilling or resentful in his heart. Therefore, his heart can be moved!”

"What's the second one?" Su Wu was already nodding; that made sense!

"Secondly, there is his situation. I do not know the current situation of Yelü Yudu, but I am just guessing. So I will tell Your Majesty my guess."

"Um……"

"I suppose the Jurchens are mostly barbarians. Although there are some talented individuals among them, most are still barbarians. Barbarians treat surrendered soldiers and prisoners of war like slaves; this has been the case since ancient times. I imagine that Yelü Yudu would not receive enough respect from most Jurchens. What was Yelü Yudu's status and position in Liao? If he were frequently slighted or even mistreated, he would surely be even more unhappy and resentful..."

"This second point makes a lot of sense! Just look at the Battle of Yan and Yun in the past. Yelü Yudu was always the one charging ahead and climbing the walls first. It must have been him. The Jurchens were behind, urging and pushing, but they couldn't take the city. Yelü Yudu must have been even more resentful!"

Wu Yong's words made Su Wu think even more.

Wu Yong added, "Furthermore... the Jurchens probably don't trust Yelü Yudu either. The Jurchens can trust anyone, just like the Xi people, the Han people, and even the people of the grasslands. They can't possibly trust Yelü Yudu!"

Su Wu nodded: "That makes sense. The Jurchens can't trust the surname Yelü, especially since Yelü Yudu is one of the most outstanding Khitans with many followers. I imagine Yelü Yudu himself knows this, and is even more uneasy, fearing that when the time comes, the Jurchens will truly take his life! Now, let's talk about the third point..."

"Your Majesty, the third point is really just about reputation. Yelü Yudu betrayed his country and surrendered to the Jin in the past. His reputation is not only terrible in the hearts of the Khitans and the Liao people, but also in the hearts of the Shiwei King. Even in the hearts of the Song people, it is the same. This is probably the most important reason why he is truly helpless and has no other way out. If we can resolve this matter, then Yelü Yudu will not be difficult to deal with!"

Wu Yong looked at Su Wu with anticipation.

Su Wu was already smiling: "Excellent, excellent, excellent, this plan is brilliant!"

Wu Yong was overjoyed: "Your Majesty is brilliant!"

"You're brilliant!" Su Wu laughed. Wu Yong is truly professional. His three points are perfectly linked, each one in turn. Wu Yong has analyzed the matter of scheming against people thoroughly!

Wu Yong was very pleased with himself, but he still showed humility on his face: "Your Majesty is truly wise. I was just making a wild suggestion. If it is to succeed, Your Majesty will definitely have the means. Just like this third matter, only Your Majesty can do it!"

Su Wu smiled and looked at Wu Yong, saying that people's hearts are really strange! Sometimes Su Wu couldn't stand anything about Wu Yong, and sometimes Su Wu even wanted to slap Wu Yong across the face.

At this moment, I felt that Wu Yong was pleasing to the eye in every way, and he looked much better!

He's even kind of handsome!

Su Wu said, "This matter is not difficult. Isn't there still a Liao emperor in the capital? As long as we use the name of this emperor to denounce the crimes of Yelü Yanxi and Xiao Fengxian, we can first exonerate Yelü Yudu, then appease him and restore his reputation, then talk about his merits, and then talk about the great righteousness of life and death for the Khitan people. Just make sure it is moving, and this matter will be resolved on its own!"

Wu Yong chuckled, "Your Majesty is truly brilliant. The most difficult things are nothing more than a piece of cake for you!"

Su Wu glanced at Wu Yong, knowing full well that Wu Yong had probably already thought of this, but he still felt comfortable looking at him...

Then Wu Yong said again, "I will write this letter myself, and I guarantee that Yelü Yu will be so moved by it that he will burst into tears!"

"Good! Add some more, and have the King of Shiwei write a letter to him as well, to talk about brotherhood, national righteousness, and the survival of the Khitan..."

Su Wu added that if the King of Shiwei had already "forgiven" Yelü Yudu, it would be very convincing, and Yelü Yudu would certainly not be a traitor...

Of course, in Su Wu's mind, Yelü Yudu did not have such a great crime.

If we compare them, wouldn't the situation and choices that Yelü Yudu encountered be exactly the same as those that Yue Fei faced in history?
Thinking about this, Yue Fei's death becomes even more worthy of respect.

Wu Yong continued to praise, "Your Majesty is indeed much more thoughtful than I am!" Su Wu, however, was no longer enjoying this flattery. His mind was elsewhere, and he said, "This matter has only just begun to be planned..."

Wu Yong nodded in agreement: "Indeed, the difficulty lies in secretly meeting Yelü Yudu. Yelü Yudu must be under close surveillance and control in the opposing army, and he can't possibly have much freedom..."

This is a very troublesome matter...

Su Wu frowned in deep thought. What should he do? How could he send someone with a letter to secretly meet with Yelü Yudu?
I finally came up with a way to break the deadlock, but it's as difficult as climbing to the sky!
The Jurchens weren't fools. Besides, the Jurchens intended to kill Yelü Yudu anyway, so they would definitely keep a close watch on him during such a major battle.

If we send people out lightly, no matter how they go—whether secretly, openly, or by some shady means…

No matter what, the chances of success are extremely slim. If it fails, it will alert the Jurchens, making them even more vigilant, and it will be even less likely to succeed in the future!
Therefore, we cannot act rashly on this matter.

that……

Then we'll have to wait, we'll have to drag it out and wait for the right opportunity...

Another wait...

Su Wu frowned repeatedly; the pressure he had just begun to ease returned, and he was filled with worry.

Wu Yong frowned as well, but he spoke up to reassure his lord: "Your Majesty, rest assured, even the strongest defenses will eventually crumble. No matter how tightly fortified the fence, there will always be a breach..."

This also implies waiting for the right opportunity.

Su Wu smiled slightly: "Your analogy makes us sound like thieves..."

Wu Yong was about to be startled upon hearing this, but seeing Su Wu's smiling face, he was no longer surprised and simply smiled along with him...

Suddenly, he realized that the king wasn't so terrifying after all, and his temper had improved. Unlike before, when he would glare at people with a cold look, as if he were about to fight or kill them...

"Hehe, I was just being a bit out of line and talking nonsense..." Wu Yong laughed happily, suddenly feeling that his life was really getting better, or more accurately, he felt like a fish in water.

"Go back and finish the paperwork properly. When we get back, I'll promote you. This time it's a proper promotion, and I'll give you at least a fourth-rank official position!"

Su Wu waved his hand and scattered the flatbread, but he was also telling the truth: it was time to give!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" How could Wu Yong not be overjoyed? Truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable. Back then, Song Jiang risked his own life, and the lives of his brothers, for what he sought…

Su Wu returned to his tent and felt much more at ease. Although his worries had not diminished, he was at least much more at peace.

That means this war, at least, has a direction, and a clear way to strive to achieve it.

Unlike before, I'm a bit like a headless fly, not knowing what to do.

One can't help but think of the Jurchens on the other side. At this moment, the Jurchens are probably like headless flies, not knowing what to do.

Then let's keep busy. Go and inspect what needs to be inspected, go everywhere, inspect the camps and supplies, the soldiers and auxiliary troops, inspect them one by one. At this moment, the most important thing is not to make mistakes.

We also need to plan the food and fodder supply in detail, making sure there is a surplus and room for error, and that it's not just enough to eat...

The various Khans also need to meet again to discuss the requisition and sale of grain and fodder on the grasslands in detail...

Especially regarding the matter of the King of Shiwei, of course, at this time it's just about seeing him more often, communicating more, and building a better relationship... As for the matter of Yelü Yudu, we don't need to talk about it yet...

Secondly, there is the matter of provisions. Since Heichezi is closest to Shiwei, the troops need to prepare even more provisions.

But Su Wu had a better plan. He could prepare plenty of provisions from the Black Cart Shiwei, but he absolutely could not use them first just for convenience. The provisions used first would definitely come from afar...

In this way, if they were to encounter any trouble with food supplies, the Black Carts of Shiwei could provide emergency assistance nearby.

These grassland tribes were truly poor, destitute, and had just been tricked by the Jurchens. When the Jurchens needed supplies, their methods were far more sophisticated than Su Wu's.

Therefore, the eastern tribes of the grasslands did not have a very good ability to replenish their food supplies, and could only use them as emergency relief in the worst-case scenario.

It is also necessary for the King of Shiwei to truly be of one mind with Su Wu, to be truly willing to sacrifice, and to be able to fight alongside Su Wu when the time comes. If the year comes, he must fight alongside Su Wu to determine the victor of the Jurchens.

Of course... the safest way is not to rely on others, but on oneself. In his heart, Su Wu also had another thought: what if the black carriage driver Shiwei was no longer on his side...

Then we'll have to rob them, but we'll have to rob them from the nearest source. So, the grain supplies from the Black Cart in Shiwei are not an option right now...

These are all details, and Su Wu needs to understand them clearly. The more he understands something, the less worry and pressure he will feel...

Several days passed, and it was all the same thing, from all aspects. Su Wu was so busy that he didn't have time to rest. War is a management science, and the management of war is extremely complicated.

The Jurchens on the other side were the same; their stronghold gates were tightly closed, and they remained unmoved day after day, focused solely on preparation.

Today, Su Wu was sitting in his tent when he suddenly received a report that a fast horse had arrived from Datong.

Su Wu initially didn't take it seriously. After entering the eastern part of the grassland, Su Wu maintained contact with Datong. A few days ago, he even sent someone to Datong to order Datong to transfer grain and fodder here.

It's normal for a fast rider from Datong to come.

Upon seeing that it was a letter from Wang Bingzhi, Su Wu was immediately startled.

Looking at the date again, it was already eight days ago, oh no...

From Datong Prefecture, the former western capital of the Liao Dynasty, to Linhuang Prefecture, the upper capital of the Liao Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty had been operating for over a hundred years. The roads were not actually difficult to travel, but the journey of 1,400 to 1,500 li (approximately 750-775 kilometers) was simply too slow...

Then there were the Song cavalry in Datong, who were actually all from Taiyuan. They were not familiar with the roads here, and the roads were not very safe. They had to avoid the Jurchen cavalry, so they were naturally quite cautious...

We're too late, we're really too late this time...

The shortest route from Datong to Kaifeng (Bianjing) is only about 1,500 to 1,600 li (approximately 750-700 kilometers), and the road is much easier to travel. Except for crossing rivers, the road is almost flat, and supplies are readily available along the way.

In Su Wu's mind, alarm bells immediately rang!
Why?

Based on the contents of Wang's letter, Su Wu almost had a premonition that he would suffer the consequences in place of Yue Fei.

He too was about to face the same choice that Yue Fei had faced.

It seems that the delegation that submitted the petition to submit as a vassal state has already begun its journey south from Datong to Bianjing.

Perhaps, the Emperor's decree will soon reach Su Wu's army.

Wu Yong, who had just finished reading the imperial edict, frowned deeply and said urgently, "Your Majesty, I have planned everything, but I did not foresee this. It is my fault, my great fault!"

Su Wu raised his head slightly and sighed, "This has nothing to do with you. Even I didn't expect this to happen. The barbarians who came up with this method are truly no ordinary barbarians!"

Wu Yong nodded in agreement: "Indeed, this person must be well-versed in the history books of our Han Dynasty!"

"What do you think the emperor will choose?" Su Wu asked.

If you asked someone else this question, they might have to analyze it from various angles, but if you asked Wu Yong, he would immediately have an answer. This has nothing to do with whether someone is smart or not, but only with the way and perspective they take when thinking about the matter.

Wu Yong replied with a single sentence: "I'm afraid they've stopped fighting and withdrawn their troops..."

Su Wu then asked, "Do you think... this war can end here?"

Wu Yong fell silent for a moment, glanced at Su Wu, and hesitated to answer.

"It's alright, just say what you've decided in your heart!" How could Su Wu not have an answer in his heart?
Upon hearing this, Wu Yong replied, "Absolutely not! Although the Jurchens have suffered a defeat, they have only weakened their strength. Their fighting power remains formidable. Leaving aside the prospect of a great victory and the annihilation of the Jurchens, if we fail to capture this city, the Jurchens will simply retreat, and who on the grasslands can withstand their onslaught? The might of our army on the grasslands will be utterly destroyed. Your Majesty's fierce battle at Wugu Mountain will have been nothing but a mirage. Even if our army returns to the grasslands in the future, we will find it difficult to gain the trust of the people, not to mention that the Jurchens' power will only increase further!"

Su Wu nodded: "Yes, this battle has come to this point, and we absolutely cannot stop now!"

Unexpectedly, he really became Yue Fei!

Su Wu then asked, "What if we disobey the imperial decree and more decrees come one after another? What should we do then?"

Thinking of Yue Fei naturally brings to mind those twelve gold tablets and such... Sigh...

"Master Cheng..." Wu Yong immediately thought of a solution and entrusted it to Cheng Wanli.

Su Wu waved his hand: "Don't put your hopes on it!"

At this moment, Cheng Wanli is unreliable... Although he holds the position of prime minister, he does not have the ability to contend with the emperor!

"That Liu Shuxiang..." Wu Yong was still thinking about personnel matters.

Su Wu waved his hand again: "We should not place our hopes on it!"

Liu Yanqing was no match for the emperor. That old man was just a soldier; in the central government, he was nothing.

"If we continue to defy imperial orders like this, I'm afraid the whole world will be in uproar..." Wu Yong's brows were already furrowed!

(Goodnight, guys. I'm heading back to the hospital. I've booked a hotel outside the hospital to write this...)
(End of this chapter)