The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 304 Huainan East Road
As for the Southern Song Dynasty, it remained the same, clinging to the south of the Yangtze River and desperately sending envoys to the Jin Dynasty to beg for peace.

Throughout the year, the only ones causing trouble were a large group of bandits, such as Li Cheng, Zhang Yong, Cao Cheng, and Kong Yanzhou. Oh, and there was also the Manichaean Chu Kingdom, which I don't know if it could be considered a country.

Hundreds of thousands of Chu troops, led by Yang Yao, Xia Cheng and others, moved into the Dongting Lake area, taking advantage of the lake's waterways and establishing fortified villages along the lake, combining military and agricultural activities to resist the Southern Song Dynasty.

Cheng Changyu, the garrison commander of Dingli and prefect of Dingzhou during the Southern Song Dynasty, led his naval forces in carts and sea rafts to attack Xia Cheng's water fortress. He was defeated by the Chu army at the mouth of the Xiazhi River (northeast of present-day Hanshou, Hunan).

After capturing the Southern Song army's wagons and ships, the Chu army extensively harvested pine, fir, camphor, and nanmu timber in the Ding and Li regions to build large wagons and ships, and set up strict defenses. By combining land farming with naval warfare, they gained an advantage in naval battles and also benefited from thriving agriculture and sericulture, thus increasing their strength day by day.
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In the spring of 1131 AD, the fifth year of the Jianyan era of the Northern Song Dynasty, the first year of the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty, and the eighth year of the Tianhui era of the Jin Dynasty!
Spring has arrived, and it's breeding season for animals again.

The figures of Gong Erniangzi and Yue Wenxuan are now stationed in Suqian, their military might subtly pointing towards the Southern Song Dynasty.

This was a grand strategy that Yue Wenxuan had discussed with his father, putting on the appearance of fighting the Southern Song Dynasty to avoid a decisive battle with the Jin army in the short term.

However, between Suqian and the Southern Song Dynasty, there was actually a Huainan East Circuit.

Huainan East Circuit was nominally still under the Southern Song Dynasty, but because Zhao Gou once fled south through Huainan East Circuit, a large number of local officials also fled south with him. With no local officials left, the Southern Song Dynasty had lost actual control over Huainan East Circuit.

After the establishment of the pseudo-Qi state, it claimed that this territory belonged to the Qi state. However, the pseudo-Qi state did not extend its influence here. Liu Yu originally intended to extend his influence, but the Northern Song Dynasty suddenly intervened and seized Weizhou, Mizhou, and Yizhou, which effectively severed the connection between the Northern Qi state and Huainan East Road. The pseudo-Qi state then had no way to send officials to take over.

Therefore, Huainan East Road at this time was a very complicated place, and the best people to get along here were thieves!
Yue Wenxuan flipped through the map and pointed to Chuzhou, not far southeast of Suqian, saying, "This is the route the Jin army took when they marched south, searching the mountains and seas to capture Zhao Gou."

Gong Erniangzi nodded, her finger tracing south along the map: "The Jin army marched south from Chuzhou towards Yangzhou, almost in a straight line. They didn't even glance at the cities along the way."

When Yue Wenxuan saw the Jin army's marching route, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. In history, there were very few armies that dared to fight like the Jin army.

In large-scale wars, most countries will "advance the battle line" and sweep across enemy territory like a carpet, thus essentially achieving actual control over a large area after the war ends.

However, the Jin army's sharp, spear-like tactics left many cities in their wake as unclaimed, beyond the control of anyone.

Gong Erniangzi said, "The scouts just reported that there are three forces entangled in Huainan East Road. One is the army of the pseudo-Qi Kingdom, one is the army of the Southern Song Dynasty, and the other is a bandit army led by a man named Li Cheng, who is roaming around burning, killing, and looting. Their strength is even greater than that of the pseudo-Qi and Southern Song armies."

Yue Wenxuan wasn't very interested in the rebel army and didn't want to ask any more questions, but he was quite interested in the Southern Song army: "Who is the general leading the Southern Song army currently operating in Huainan East Road?"

Gong Erniangzi: "The Southern Song army is commanded by Zhang Jun."

The name Yue Wenxuan is familiar. He was one of the four generals who revived the Southern Song Dynasty. Although he made some contributions in the fight against the Jin Dynasty, he was actually a proponent of peace and was involved in framing Yue Fei. He did not have a good reputation in later generations.

Since it's this guy, there's no psychological pressure in bullying him.

If Yue Family Army were here, Yue Wenxuan would really find it difficult to be ruthless.

"Alright, since that's the situation, let's be the troublemakers!" Yue Wenxuan waved his hand and said, "Advance into Huainan East Road and fight whoever we see!"

Gong Erniangzi laughed: "The phrase 'beat whoever you see' sounds a bit strange."

The Northern Song army was preparing to depart... From Suqian, they could enter Huainan East Road without taking the land route, but instead take the waterway of the Si River.

The shipping on the Sishui River was already highly developed during the Song Dynasty. Grain, tea, silk and other goods from the south were transported to the north via the Sishui River, while local specialties and handicrafts from the north were also transported to the south via the river.

To ensure smooth navigation on the Sishui River, the Song Dynasty government attached great importance to the maintenance and management of the river channel. They regularly organized manpower to dredge the river, clearing silt and weeds to ensure the depth and width of the channel met navigation requirements. At the same time, they constructed water conservancy facilities along the river, such as dikes and sluices, to regulate water levels and control flow, ensuring the safety and convenience of navigation.

However, Surabaya is now like a child without a mother.

The riverbanks are overgrown with weeds, and the dikes and sluices have been neglected for years. Everywhere you look, there is a scene of desolation. Occasionally, the fleet will pass by a small village by the river, but the village is deserted, the houses are collapsed, and there is only desolation.

Upon seeing this, Yue Wenxuan couldn't help but sigh.

But there was one person in the team who was very energetic.

Li Bao!

At this moment, he was standing at the bow of the boat, waving to Yue Wenxuan and Gong Erniangzi: "Young Master Yue, Privy Councilor Gong, look, look, I'm a great swimmer now."

After saying that, he jumped into the water with a splash. It was still early spring, and the river was icy cold, but he didn't care at all and swam around in the water.

Believe it or not, this guy is actually swimming really well now. He swings his arms back and forth, swimming incredibly fast, and laughing all the while: "See that? Hahaha! Young Master Yue, Privy Councilor! Give me a few more days, and I'll be able to lead the navy."

Gong Erniangzi was both amused and exasperated: "Just because you can swim doesn't mean you can lead a navy. Do you even know how to fight a water battle?"

“This…” Li Bao grinned, “I’ll learn more.”

Gong Erniangzi shook her head: "Come on a boat, don't sway in the water."

Sui Yi walked to the side of the boat and extended a long bamboo pole. Li Bao grabbed the pole and climbed onto the boat. Water droplets dripped from his body, but he didn't care at all.

Sui Yi couldn't help but shake his head: "I told you to practice firearms more, but you wouldn't listen and insisted on practicing swimming."

Li Bao: "You don't know anything! Every general in the Northern Song Dynasty is skilled at commanding firearms troops. If I follow them and learn firearms, I'll always be following in their footsteps. If I switch to the naval route, hehe, by then I'll be in heaven while you, Sui Yi, will still be an unknown general."

Sui Yi shrugged: "As long as I can win, that's fine."

Li Bao: "I also like to win, but it's even more satisfying to win as a general."

After saying that, he ignored Sui Yi and jumped to the helmsman's side, shouting, "Give me the rudder, I'll steer the boat, you teach me how to do it."

The helmsman was startled: "We can't give this to a novice. This is the flagship. What if it capsizes? Do you want to throw the Grand Councilor and Young Master Yue into the water?"

(End of this chapter)