Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 341 Down

With Fu Hong's navy destroyed, Liu Daogui gained control of the Yangtze River, eliminating the need for battles to be fought for every city or region.

Cao Ji's fleet, carrying Mao Dezhu and Liu Zun's infantry and cavalry, sailed up the river, bypassing Wuchang, which was under attack by Liu Yi and He Wuji, and headed straight for Jiangling.

No city along the way dared to go into the water to stop them, and with the help of the wind, they arrived in Jingzhou and Xiangyang in just five days.

Even at this point, Huan Xuan still did not give up the fight.

Heavy troops were deployed to defend the Jiangjin ferry crossing.

On the north bank, deep moats and high walls were built, with a watchtower every ten li and a fortified village every twenty li, blocking all the large and small ferry crossings that could lead to the shore.

He appeared to be serious, but he couldn't hide Huan Xuan's guilty conscience.

Many of the fortifications were just for show, merely for decoration, and some even had straw figures erected on them...

Liu Daogui couldn't help but laugh when he saw these shoddy imitations. "Could it be that Huan Xuan or Esen sees enemies everywhere? The riverbank is so wide, how can we set up defenses everywhere? If our army lands, Huan Xuan will surely flee in terror!"

Anyone with even a little military knowledge wouldn't set up defenses along the river; the city of Jiangling should be the one to be defended.

Huan Xuan's mobilization of such a large force can only mean that he lacks confidence in defending Jiangling.

In the Battle of Xiangcheng, the elite infantry of the Western Army were defeated. In the Battle of Luosangzhou, Huan Xuan's last reliance, the Western Army navy, was also defeated. Under such circumstances, no one would have confidence in defending Jiangling.

Mao Dezhu said, "Huan Xuan is already a frightened bird. We can make a big show of it and set fires along the river to boost our morale. The Chu army will surely be frightened and flee!"

“Okay!” Liu Daogui nodded in agreement.

With the wind at its best, the fleet approached the riverbank, and rockets were launched one after another, instantly igniting the reeds and dry grass along the river. Wildfires raged and spread towards the shore.

The Xifu flood disaster victims who had surrendered earlier stood on the ship's side and shouted in their local Jingchu dialect: "The General of Pacification has arrived, why didn't Xifu surrender sooner?"

The flames of war raged across both sides of the strait, their sounds amplified by the flames, captivating the soul.

In just half a day, the 7,000 Xifu soldiers defending Jiangjin abandoned the city and fled, even abandoning more than a hundred warships in the water fortress.

Now, not only Huan Xuan has become a frightened bird, but the Chu army is also in the same state, with no fighting spirit and no will to fight to the death.

Liu Zhong took over Jiangjin effortlessly, and the city still had more than 20,000 shi of grain and two to three hundred thousand arrows...

"On his way back to Jiangling, Huan Xuan wrote a record of his daily life, shifting the blame for the defeat onto his generals. After returning to Jiangling, he was capricious and would execute people at the slightest disagreement, causing panic among the people of Jiangling."

After making contact with the spy, Meng Ganzhi reported to Liu Daogui.

Jiangling was also a major commercial center on the Yangtze River, attracting merchants from all over the world. Where there were merchants, even without spies, all sorts of rumors would fly around.

There are even brokers who specialize in selling all sorts of information.

"Huan Xuan, a noble young master, is exceptionally intelligent, but he has never encountered any setbacks in his life. After the defeat at Jiangling, he was thrown into chaos. Order that after a day of rest, we will immediately attack Jiangling!"

Huan Xuan's rise to power was too smooth. His opponents were all people like Yin Zhongkan and Sima Yuanxian. He didn't even have to make a move, and they all lost their composure.

Yang Quanqi and Liu Laozhi were originally considered formidable enemies, but Yang Quanqi was tricked by Yin Zhongkan.

Liu Laozhi was brave and invincible on the battlefield, but terrifyingly naive in political maneuvering, which led to his being betrayed and abandoned by his followers, and he eventually committed suicide on the river...

The army landed, and a tall banner with the character "Liu" stood between heaven and earth.

"Take this grain and go home to protect your wives and children." Liu Daogui gathered the prisoners together and gave each of them a shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain.

"We will forever remember the Governor's great kindness!"

The prisoners were crying.

Liu Daogui reassured everyone, "Go on, and don't forget what I said. The Northern and Western Prefectures are one family. If I come to Jingzhou again in the future, I hope you will not turn against each other."

"How dare we!"

The prisoners happily carried away the grain.

More than 3,000 elite naval troops remained loyal to the cause. These men knew nothing but how to fight and kill enemies. They had no land and a single bushel of grain could not last more than a few months. Joining the Northern Army would give them a way to survive.

Liu Daogui granted his request and incorporated him into Liu Zhong's navy.

The next day, the army lined up in battle formation. Liu Daogui rode his horse to the front of the formation and shouted loudly: "This land belongs to China, and these people belong to China. They are all descendants of Yan and Huang, just like you. Anyone who dares to burn, kill, and plunder will be killed without mercy, and their families will be reduced to slaves!"

The thousand guards repeated it in unison.

The three armies were filled with awe.

Huan Xuan had lost his courage. It would not be difficult to conquer Jingzhou and Xiangyang, but it would be difficult to eliminate hatred and govern in the long term.

Like the Northern Prefecture, the Western Prefecture also has its own traditions.

If the soldiers commit arson, murder, rape, and looting, it will inevitably incite hatred. There may be no problem now, but once the army leaves, or if there is any disturbance in Jiangzuo, someone will surely rise up in rebellion.

Liu Daogui had full confidence in his soldiers; over the years, military discipline had become ingrained in their very being.

"Let's go!" Liu Daogui waved his hand.

Banners fluttered like clouds, and armored soldiers stood like mountains as they marched towards Jiangling City.

Before they had marched for half an hour, a force came galloping from the west. Liu Daogui thought it was Huan Xuan's reinforcements and had just set up his formation when several riders rushed out from the force, shouting, "Yin Zhongwen, the Attendant-in-Ordinary and General of the Left Guard, has surrendered to Commander Liu!"

"Pah! Spineless coward!" Liu Zun cursed.

Liu Daogui was speechless. Huan Xuan had shown Yin Zhongwen immense kindness and treated him as a confidant. Yin Zhongwen had even written the proclamation that proclaimed Huan Xuan's usurpation of the throne. Yet, unexpectedly, Yin Zhongwen turned around and surrendered...

However, this is also standard practice among the aristocratic families. One doesn't hit a smiling face; the army Yin Zhongwen brought numbered two thousand, well-equipped, and was likely the core of the Yin clan's forces.

"Could it be a trap? Yin Zhongwen is Huan Xuan's confidant, how could he surrender so easily?" Mao Dezhu, as a veteran general, only considered the military aspect.

"That requires courage. Yin Zhongwen is just a scholar who loves to dabble in literature. Would he dare to risk his life? Order Yin Zhongwen not to come and pay his respects. Let him be the vanguard and attack Jiangling City!"

Liu Daogui couldn't be bothered to see this kind of person.

He is not loyal to Huan Xuan now, and he will not be loyal to himself in the future.

"Hahaha, that's how you should treat him, let him die!" Liu Zun laughed heartily.

The western group hesitated for a moment, but still reluctantly turned north.

To boost his morale, Mao Dezhu led a thousand cavalry forward, carrying a large banner with the character "Yin" on it and making a loud commotion.

Liu Daogui's 20,000 infantry and cavalry followed behind...

At this moment, Jiangling City was in complete chaos.

Yin Zhongwen's surrender was like a sharp blade piercing Huan Xuan's heart. Huan Xuan leaned against the city wall and remained silent for a long time.

Bian Fanzhi said urgently, "The situation is urgent! There are still 30,000 troops in the city. Your Majesty can lead the army out of the city for a decisive battle to boost morale!"

Jiangling could no longer be defended; people were setting fires and causing chaos throughout the city, in response to the Northern Army outside.

They were all prisoners who had escaped from the Battle of Xiangcheng. They hated Huan Xuan to the bone and were extremely disappointed in Huan Chu.

"The General of Pacification has arrived, so we won't have to suffer from hunger and cold anymore!"

"The General Who Pacifies the Army has always been benevolent and righteous; he will distribute land and fields to the same people as those in Ru and Yu Prefectures!"

Yingchuan is not too far from Jingxiang, just above Xiangyang. Every move there has long been known throughout Jingxiang.

Distributing land to ordinary people is something that has never been heard of before.

Like Jiangzuo, Jingxiang was also filled with powerful clans, and all the mountains, rivers and forests were occupied by them, leaving ordinary people with nowhere to cut firewood.

"How can we fight? Liu Yu's three thousand men defeated my fifty thousand elite troops, and Liu Daogui's ten thousand rabble defeated my twenty thousand elite naval troops. Are you sending me out of the city to my death?"

Huan Xuan was furious.

Bian Fanzhi shrank back, "Your subject dares not, dares not."

"Your Majesty, do not worry! Your subject is willing to leave the city and fight the enemy to the death!"

At the critical moment, Huan Zhen stepped forward.

Huan Xuan looked his nephew up and down, then glanced at the chaotic Jiangling City. He was utterly exhausted. "Enough! The people have abandoned me. This city cannot be defended. Retreat immediately!"

"Your Majesty has abandoned Jiankang first, then Jiangling. Where else can you go? It is the ancient principle that a ruler dies for his country, a minister dies for the people, and a scholar dies for the state. If we abandon Jiangling now, the Huan clan will face extermination!"

Now that things have come to this, Huan Zhen dares to say anything, even urging Huan Xuan to die for his country.

If they had such courage, they wouldn't have abandoned Jiankang in the first place, ending up in this predicament. Huan Xuan, his face flushed, retorted, "Nonsense! Guards, throw him out!"

Several armored soldiers pushed Huan Zhen out.

Huan Zhen burst into tears, crying, "How heroic was my grandfather! How could his descendants have fallen to such a state? How could the Huan family possibly be fortunate!"

But the crying did nothing to move Huan Xuan; instead, it only made him more agitated. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

After saying this, he turned and went down the city wall. Just as he was about to mount his horse, several arrows were shot from the crowd. Immediately, a group of monks rushed out, all wearing iron armor and wielding swords and axes, shouting that they wanted to eliminate the traitor. They fought with Huan Xuan's armored soldiers.

These monks, who usually ate meat and drank alcohol, were all burly and strong. When they charged into battle, even Huan Xuan's personal guards couldn't stop them.

In an instant, a group of Huan Xuan's armored soldiers fell.

"Capture the traitor and rescue His Majesty!" The monks grew more and more excited as they fought.

When Huan Xuan first entered Jiankang, he discovered that Buddhism was rampant, harboring filth and corruption, and engaging in usury everywhere, forcing people to sell their children and not pay taxes.

By controlling the land, population, and finances, the Buddhist community suddenly became a lawless zone, posing a threat to Huan Xuan.

He then ordered the suppression of Buddhism, accusing it of "causing the imperial treasury to collapse and the taint of the state to become corrupt. People flee to temples for miles around, and abscondancers fill the temples."

However, Buddhism had already gained considerable influence and had intricate connections with aristocratic families.

Huan Xuan lacked both determination and courage. After ascending the throne, in order to win the support of the Buddhist community, he made an exception for them, which put him in a difficult position.

But no matter how much Huan Xuan tried to curry favor, he couldn't compare to the Sima family. Emperor Xiaowu, Sima Daozi, and Sima Yuanxian were all Buddhist believers who served the Buddha. Monks and nuns frequently entered and exited the palace, and they could even influence national policy decisions.

Buddhist monks are not even required to observe etiquette and show disrespect to the emperor.

With the restoration of the Jin dynasty imminent, this group is the most enthusiastic.

"Let's go, follow me to Liangzhou!" Huan Xuan shouted.

Huan Xi, the governor of Liangzhou, was Huan Xuan's cousin. The strategic location of Hanzhong offered a temporary respite from the Northern Army's advance.

Having said that, he ignored the fighting soldiers and led over a hundred followers and his confidants on horseback toward the West Market, fleeing in panic like stray dogs. He didn't even care about his family and jumped into the boat.

Emperor Sima Dezong of Jin, Prince Sima Dewen of Langya, Empress He Fani of Emperor Mu of Jin, and Empress Wang Shen'ai were all trapped in the city...

(End of this chapter)