Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 172 The Order to Annihilate the Jin Dynasty Shocks the World!

With the military council settled, Zhao Shuo issued five imperial edicts from within Helin City, urgently dispatching two 10,000-man commanders from the Plain Red Banner, two 10,000-man commanders from the Plain Blue Banner, and one 10,000-man commander from the Plain Yellow Banner, totaling 50,000 troops, with three horses per person, to rush to the aid of Yanzhou in Shaanxi.

The most capable fighting force in the Jin Dynasty right now is the Loyal and Filial Army.

This force numbered only about seven thousand men, but it was the only organized cavalry unit in the Jin Dynasty. Among them were Naiman, Tangut, Uyghur, Jurchen, and Han Chinese.

The Tanguts need no introduction; they had a deep-seated hatred for the Mongol army, which led to the destruction of their families and clans. The Naimans were the remnants of the Naiman who, after Genghis Khan destroyed them, refused to submit to the Mongols and instead became mercenaries in the Jin Dynasty.

Most of the Uyghurs, Jurchens, and Han Chinese in the Loyal and Filial Army had relatives who died at the hands of the Mongol army, and they had a deep-seated hatred for the Mongol Empire.

These men were not only the most valiant and resolute in their resistance against the Mongols, but they also received three times the treatment of the regular Jin army, making them the Jin's elite force.

Wanyan Chenheshang, the most valiant general of the Loyal and Filial Army, is recorded in history as having decisively defeated an army of 8,000 Mongols with only 500 Loyal and Filial Army soldiers at the Battle of Dachangyuan. In the Battle of Daohuigu, he even defeated the famous Mongol general Subutai. Had it not been for Tolui pleading for Subutai's life, Ögedei Khan would likely have beheaded him.

But then again, what does it matter if the Loyal and Filial Army is the elite force of the Jin Dynasty? What does it matter if Wanyan Chenheshang is brave?
Zhao Shuo refused to believe that a mere 7,000-plus loyal and filial soldiers could be a match for 50,000 Eight Banner soldiers. No matter how fierce Wanyan Chenheshang was, could he be a match for Shi Tianni, Zhang Rou, and the other five Han military hereditary lords?
Zhao Shuo is too powerful now. He wants to use his power to suppress others, so that even if Wanyan Chenheshang's Loyal and Filial Army has extraordinary abilities, they will not be able to use them effectively!

As for the other Jin troops? Bolu, a hermit of ten thousand households on the grasslands, was still stationed in Shaanxi.

With only 60,000 troops, it was wishful thinking for the Jin state to make any progress in Shaanxi.

After arranging for the reinforcements of five 10,000-household commanders, Zhao Shuo returned to Zhongdu City under the protection of the Black Riders.

In Zhongdu City, Zhao Shuo instructed Yelü Chucai to draft and issue the "Decree to Annihilate the Jin Dynasty".

In this "Decree to Annihilate the Jin," Zhao Shuo first listed the atrocities committed by the Jin against the Mongols, such as "reducing the population" and "the wooden donkey torture of Anbahai," as well as the Jin's actions against the Han people, such as "contracting labor," "confiscating land," and "devaluing paper money ten thousand times." He then declared that he, the king, was acting in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people, and would destroy the Jin dynasty to avenge the Mongols and the Han people.

Then, Zhao Shuo announced a general mobilization in Hebei and Shandong.

Currently, the number of soldiers in each county of Shandong and Hebei is an average of 1,000, totaling 280,000. Zhao Shuo announced an emergency expansion of the soldiers by 50,000, bringing the total strength of his troops to 330,000.

Of these 330,000 soldiers, 200,000 were to participate in the war to destroy the Jin dynasty.

Soldiers who made great contributions, such as beheading three or more people, could be directly promoted to the Eight Banners Army.

Soldiers who make meritorious contributions, such as beheading someone of a higher rank, will be rewarded with five mu of land or an equivalent amount of money.

All soldiers who participated in the war and were wounded or disabled as a result of the war will retain their soldier status for life and will no longer be required to pay land taxes. Those who died will have their families exempted from land taxes for twenty years and will receive a pension of twenty taels of silver.

In addition, the soldiers who participated in the war to destroy the Jin dynasty were included in the distribution of spoils of war. Their rewards were half that of Zhao Shuo's regular army.

If the Jin dynasty is successfully destroyed, it will also benefit the people of Shandong and Hebei. Five years after the Jin dynasty is destroyed, the land tax in Shandong and Hebei will be permanently reduced from 40% to 30%.

Of course, taxes couldn't be reduced immediately. After all, cleaning up the mess left by the Jin dynasty and expanding the army to occupy more territory would require a lot of money and grain. Zhao Shuo had no shortage of money. But he couldn't conjure up grain. Apart from trying to extort some money from the Song dynasty after the Jin dynasty was destroyed, he could only make the people of Shandong and Hebei bear the burden.

The third part of the "Decree to Annihilate the Jin" outlines the policies towards the people in the Jin-occupied territories.

If any city of the Jin Dynasty surrendered when the Mongol army arrived, and provided able-bodied men to help the Mongol army attack the city, the Mongol army would guarantee the safety of their lives and property.

Not only that, the territories originally belonging to the Jin state will also implement the equal-field system and the military system, just like Shandong and Hebei, to reduce the burden on the people.

Moreover, the government would only collect land taxes from the people two years after the equal distribution of land.

In other words, Zhao Shuo wanted to give the people two years to recuperate.

After all, in order to cope with the immense pressure from the Mongols, the Jin Dynasty was both militarily aggressive and unable to levy taxes on the wealthy and powerful, leaving the common people suffering greatly. These people truly needed time to recuperate and develop their livelihoods. At the very least, one can't properly farm on an empty stomach, can they?
For the stubbornly resisting Jin cities, Zhao Shuo's policy was to follow the old Mongol army's rules: except for artisans, young women, and children no taller than a cartwheel, everyone was to be executed. Of course, anyone who turned against the Jin within the city would not only be spared death but would also receive a reward.

In addition to the "Decree to Annihilate the Jin," Zhao Shuo also issued an imperial decree to Sun Wei, ordering him to organize the stock of cotton armor and expedite its production for use after winter.

It's still early summer, but destroying the Jin dynasty is far more complex than destroying the Xia. The Jin still has tens of millions of people and countless fortified cities. Zhao Shuo estimates that it will take at least one or two years to completely annihilate the Jin.
In the dead of winter, when water freezes instantly, it's obvious who has the advantage: one wearing iron armor and the other wearing cotton armor.

Of course, the decree to prepare cotton armor only needed to be sent to Sun Wei. The "Order to Annihilate the Jin," however, was issued openly to the entire realm.

The "Determination of Jin" edict shook the world!

For Zhao Shuo, giving these soldiers generous rewards was a natural and inevitable thing.

After destroying the Jin dynasty, he would definitely want to expand the Eight Banners. Where would the reinforcements for the Eight Banners come from? Of course, they would be selected from the local militia.

Let's see what it's really like.

Soldiers who have been tested in war are more reliable than those who were recruited through the Eight Banners system.

Furthermore, Zhao Shuo has already relocated 850,000 people from Shandong and Hebei. The land vacated by these relocations can't just be left barren, can it? It's perfect for distributing to the soldiers who have rendered meritorious service in battle.

But for the soldiers of the garrison, it was a different story.

They don't have to pay taxes as long as they participate in military training. What kind of good deal is that?

The saying goes, "An army is raised for a thousand days to be used for one." All the soldiers in the garrison had long been prepared to go to the battlefield when attacking the Jin Kingdom.

Unexpectedly, in addition to the usual benefits and treatment, the king also gave extra rewards in this war to destroy the Jin dynasty, and even provided compensation for the soldiers who died or were wounded in battle. It was a huge and unexpected surprise.

Moreover, which of the soldiers didn't want to join the Eight Banners and become a formal officer? The generous treatment offered by the Han Chinese Eight Banners was something they were extremely envious of.

Previously, for soldiers to join the Eight Banners, in addition to being brave and capable of passing the Eight Banners' examinations, they also had to wait for enough openings in the Eight Banners, which was extremely difficult.

This war to destroy the Jin dynasty provided them with another path to advancement. Simply behead three enemy soldiers, and they could be directly promoted to the Eight Banners Army!

Those soldiers who considered themselves brave and fierce were eager to try their skills.

Even ordinary soldiers felt they had a chance, since there were too many unexpected factors on the battlefield, and it was really uncertain who would make a great contribution!
Sunjiazhuang, Ziyang County, Yanzhou Prefecture, Shandong Province.

"Erhu, you must be careful when you get to the battlefield. This is a peace talisman I got from Qingxu Temple. Wear it well and it will surely protect you and ensure your safe return."

The wife, Li, carefully placed a good luck charm around her husband Sun Erhu's neck.

"Understood." Although Sun Erhu felt that the amulet might not be of much use, he solemnly agreed in order to put his wife at ease.

He instructed, "Don't worry about the fields after I'm gone. The village head said he'll organize the villagers to help. After all, five years after the Jin dynasty is destroyed, the court will permanently exempt 10% of the land taxes in Shandong and Hebei from payment! I'm fighting not only for the king, but also for my fellow villagers, and they will all be grateful to me. Even if I fight..."

He originally wanted to say that even if he died in battle, the village head would have the villagers continue to take care of you orphans and widows.

But Li had already guessed what he was going to say, so she quickly covered her husband's mouth and said, "Don't say anything unlucky. You will definitely come back safe and sound and reunite with us, the three of us."

"Not only will I return safely, but I will also achieve great merit and join the Eight Banners Army. You three will also have a good time!"

At this moment, Sun Erhu was filled with boundless pride and high hopes for the future.

He is thirty-four years old this year, and his martial arts skills are quite good. He passed the Eight Banners Army's test without any problem.

However, there were far too many qualified soldiers, while the Eight Banners' ranks were limited. Currently, the Eight Banners army doesn't even consider soldiers over thirty years old.

What about immigration?
His wife, Li, was unwilling to leave her hometown, feeling that her current life was good enough and there was no need to take risks. Sun Erhu had no choice but to continue working as a soldier in the local government.

Now things are much better. The king has launched a war to destroy the Jin dynasty, and the imperial guards can now go to the battlefield.

Sun Erhu wanted to give his wife and children a better life.

Sun Erhu wanted to go to the West to see the mountains and seas that the soldiers who had led the westward expedition had described, and to see the customs and culture that were different from those in the Central Plains.

Sun Erhu wanted to stop toiling in the fields before he died, and instead make something of himself, so as not to waste his martial arts skills and his life.

So, let's start with this war to destroy the Jin!

……

……

Inside the imperial palace of the Jin Dynasty.

"What should we do? Yilapua, what should we do?"

When Emperor Wanyan Shouxu of the Jin Dynasty saw Zhao Shuo's "Decree to Annihilate the Jin," he was terrified.

Others may not know the current situation of the Jin Kingdom, but does Wanyan Shouxu not know?
Since the loss of the three prefectures of Fu, Huan, and Chang, the whole country has been in dire need of horses. Later, the loss of Zhongdu, the Northeast, Shandong, and Hebei made the shortage of warhorses even more severe.

At this point, the only organized cavalry force in the entire country is the Zhongxiao Army, with over seven thousand men. All other units, whether regular or conscripted, are infantry. Only the commanding generals and scouts are equipped with a small number of horses.

It is precisely for this reason that, despite the Jin dynasty's troop deployment in preparation for attacking Shaanxi, more than three months have passed and they have still not launched an offensive against the Mongol-controlled Shaanxi region.

With such limited strength, how could we possibly fight the Mongols in open battle?
The real hope is that after Temujin's death, the various princes will govern independently. The Jin dynasty, avoiding its most capable general Zhao Shuo, could then attack Ögedei's territory and gain some advantage.

I never dreamed that Mongolia was not as disunited as rumored.

Zhao Shuo, the most capable warrior in the Mongol army, directly issued the "Destroy the Jin Dynasty Order," aiming to annihilate the Jin Dynasty in one battle!
Wanyan Shouxu truly regretted that he had listened to Chizhan Hexi's instigation and set his sights on Mongolia and Shaanxi.

Now look what's happened, they've gotten themselves into trouble!

Why not just enjoy your wealth and comfort in Bianliang? Why deliberately seek death?
He quickly summoned Prime Minister Yilapua to the palace for a meeting.

Yilapua was a military general, and although he was also unwilling to go to war with the Mongols, he was not as panicked as Wanyan Shouxu.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty."

Yilapua comforted him, saying, "As far as I know, the Mongols have divided their troops into three routes. One route is led by Ögedei's eldest son, Güyük, to attack Persia. Another route is led by Ögedei himself, with the main Mongol army, to attack the Eastern Jin and Goryeo. To put it bluntly, what our Jin state is dealing with is only the army of Zhao Shuo, the Mongol prince consort."

"Just pay it back?"

Wanyan Shouxu said with a bitter expression, "Zhao Shuo is not only known as the greatest warrior of Mongolia, but he also personally led an army to capture Zhongdu and take over Hebei and Shandong. I'm afraid Zhao Shuo alone is not someone our Jin state can handle!"

Yilapua shook his head again and said, "Actually, it's not that serious. Back then, our Jin Kingdom lost all its main force and could only let Zhao Shuo run rampant. But nearly ten years have passed, and our Great Jin Kingdom has learned from its shame and become stronger. We have now built a regular army of 120,000 men, including the Zhongxiao Army, a fierce and powerful force."

"As far as I know, Zhao Shuo's troops consist of only ten thousand households of Han soldiers and one ten-thousand-household unit of grassland troops, totaling at most 120,000 men. With 120,000 against 120,000, and with countless fortified cities to rely on, why should Your Majesty fear Zhao Shuo like a tiger?"

Wanyan Shouxu was still somewhat uneasy and said, "It is clearly written in the 'Destroy Jin Order' that Zhao Shuo still has more than 300,000 soldiers."

"My Great Jin has 400,000 conscripted soldiers! What are we afraid of Zhao Shuo's 300,000-plus garrison troops?"

"In your opinion, Yila, is our Great Jin Dynasty safe and sound in this battle?"

"Uh……"

Despite Yilapua's confident and assertive words, he knew in his heart that the regular Jin army was probably no match for the Han Eight Banners army that had slaughtered countless lives in the west. The Jin conscripted soldiers were likely no match for Zhao Shuo's well-fed and trained soldiers.

He simply believed that, given the advantage of Jin's fortified cities, Zhao Shuo might not be able to gain much of an advantage.

Yilapua thought for a moment and said, "In my opinion, for the sake of completeness, the court should do two things now."

Wanyan Shouxu quickly pressed on, "Which two things?"

Yilapua said, "Firstly, we should order Wanyan Saibu, the Deputy Privy Councilor, to lead 40,000 troops to reinforce the Tongguan defense line. No matter where Zhao Shuo's main force attacks, the Tongguan army can advance to rescue all sides or retreat to protect Bianliang."

"Secondly, we sent envoys to the Song Dynasty to seek help. Although our Great Jin and the Song Dynasty have clashed many times in recent years, the Song Dynasty's rulers and ministers surely understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'?"

Wanyan Shouxu pondered for a long time before saying, "Alright, let's do as you say, Pu'a. Wanyan Sai is not an invincible general of our Great Jin. As long as Tongguan is not lost, Bianliang will be safe. As for the Song Dynasty... I hope they can understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,' and send troops to help our Great Jin."

Ten days later, Wanyan Ahu, the Jin envoy seeking aid, arrived in Lin'an, the capital of the Song Dynasty.

Emperor Zhao Yun of the Song Dynasty, who had been on the throne for less than three years, quickly summoned his ministers to the palace for a meeting.

(End of this chapter)