Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 358 East

After capturing Yidu and Hongnong, both Qiao Shu and Yao Qin were unable to continue the fight.

Liu Daogui was busy farming and had no interest in fighting, so Jingxiang entered a period of comprehensive development.

For a whole year, from Hongnong and Nanyang to Changsha and Wuling, there was large-scale land reclamation and farming. Although it was busy, it was also full of vitality.

This period of peace and development is crucial. Given the abundance of Jingzhou and Xiangyang, Liu Daogui is confident that he can transform it into the second granary after Huai and Si in less than three years.

However, while Jingzhou and Xiangyang were stabilized, the situation in Huai and Si was not optimistic. Murong De, who had spent his life on the battlefield, died peacefully, and Murong Chao succeeded him. However, he was like a mad dog, and his infantry and cavalry actually crossed the Huai River from Donghai County and attacked Guangling County and Pei County.

They defeated General Liu Huaijing, who was in charge of the campaign against the enemy.

Wherever they went, they left no chickens or dogs behind, filled the ditches with the old and weak, burned all the villages, threw infants into the air, and caught them with their blades for amusement.

When Liu Daogui received the battle report from Jiankang, he was furious. He even ordered the wells in the Guangling area to be filled in, aiming directly at the extinction of his lineage.

If Murong De was just an old dog with some sense, then Murong Chao was a mad dog.

Murong Chui raised an army in Hebei and established the Later Yan. Fu Chang, the governor of Zhangye of the Former Qin, captured and killed Murong's sons. His mother, Lady Duan, was pregnant at the time, and Fu Chang hesitated to execute her, instead imprisoning her in the county jail. Later, she fled to the Qiang region with former officials under Murong De. Murong Chao was born among the Qiang and Hu peoples and wandered from place to place. He pretended to be crazy in Changping to deceive Yao Xing and fled to the Southern Yan.

Murong De's sons were all killed by Fu Chang, leaving only his nephew Murong Chao, whom he then made his heir and succeeded to the Southern Yan dynasty.

Having endured so many hardships, Murong Chao's character had long been twisted. When Murong De was alive, he pretended to be a filial son, but after Murong De's death, his true colors were revealed. He captured and killed Murong Tong, the Chamberlain, and Murong Gen, the Right Guard General, who were at odds with him, and executed Duan Fengsong, the Attendant Gentleman of the Palace, by dismemberment.

General Murong Fa, the Grand General of the Southern Expedition, and General Feng Rong, the General of the Western Central Army, fled to the Northern Wei together.

"General, you can order Liu Yi and He Wuji to be the vanguard. You can use Murong Chao to weaken his strength. If you are defeated, you can take the opportunity to strip him of his military power and demote him to a commoner."

Yin Zhongwen devised a treacherous plan.

Liu Daogui said, "If Liu Yi and He Wuji are defeated, it will damage the prestige of our Northern Army and demoralize the people of Jiangzuo. If they are victorious, it will boost their morale. Murong Chao is as vicious as a snake, harming the people of Jin. He is in league with Shi Hu and Li Shou. He must be eliminated, but we must not let others do it!"

Being a tyrant requires skill and ability; not just anyone can do it.

Upon assuming power, Murong Chao immediately killed the group of veteran officials left behind by Murong De, seized military power, and defeated Liu Huaisu, demonstrating considerable combat strength.

At this point, Liu Daogui had to step in personally.

Liu Yu, the elder brother, shared the same idea: military power should not be entrusted to others, and he hoped that Liu Daogui could destroy the Southern Yan to pave the way for the future.

After all, the ranks of General of Chariots and Cavalry and General of the Flying Cavalry are somewhat low.

Without the ability to launch a northern expedition and without external military achievements, Liu Daogui and Liu Yu's rule lacked legitimacy and deterrent power.

Of the several northern countries, Southern Yan is the weakest and most arrogant, so it's natural to deal with it first.

Besides his elder brother's letter, there was also a letter from his mother, Xiao Wenshou, saying that his sister-in-law, Zang Aiqin, had also been in poor health in recent years and was often bedridden, and she urged Liu Daogui to take good care of his health, and so on...

Yin Zhongwen said, “However, if the general goes east, Jingzhou will be without a leader, and people will be in a state of panic. The Western Prefecture is an important town and cannot be entrusted to others.”

Liu Daogui thought for a moment, "Yao Xing is currently preoccupied with his own problems, Qiao Zong has just acquired the Shu Kingdom and is unable to advance eastward, and the Huan family has also been driven out of Jingzhou and Xiangyang. For the time being, there is no need to worry. I will have my eldest son stationed in Xiangyang."

Liu Yifu was only eleven years old when he was appointed as the governor of Yangzhou.

His own son, Liu Yixing, is ten years old this year, and it's time for him to go out and gain some experience.

These past few years, I've been busy fighting battles in the north and south, and haven't really disciplined my sons much, entrusting them all to Cao Sifei.

However, she was no ordinary woman. She was extremely strict in her upbringing. None of her four sons, Yiwu, Yixing, Yiding, and Yihong, were spoiled. She invited renowned scholars to teach them literature and had veteran generals from the Northern Army, such as Sun Wuzhong, teach them martial arts.

Especially the eldest son, Yixing, followed Cao Si in managing the Liu family and the Cao family.

Liu Daogui's energy is limited; he can't take care of everything, both external and internal. Without his virtuous wife at home, I'm afraid his children would have gone astray.

Yin Zhongwen nodded and said, "With you here, young master, there is nothing to worry about."

Not only was the eldest son in charge, but Liu Daogui also transferred Liu Huaizhen from Huatai, Shen Qingzhi from Jibei, and Tan Daoji from Shanyang, which was enough to stabilize the overall situation in Jingxiang.

Xiangyang was a famous and important town. To the north was Mao Dezhu, and to the south was Wang Zhen'e, both of whom were his own loyal followers.

With such a lineup, let alone the Huan clan, even if Fu Jian were to be resurrected and raise seventeen more men, he would find it difficult to conquer.

Liu Yixing's presence in Jingxiang was primarily to demonstrate to the people of Jingxiang that he would never abandon the city and that the campaign against the invaders would not stop.

With a large army by land and sea, Liu Daogui presented the imperial court with a military strategy.

The first step is to use superior naval forces to engage in a decisive battle with the main force of Nan Yan in Xudong, and severely damage Nan Yan's elite troops.

The second step was to order Liu Guangzhi and Xiao Chengzhi to join forces with the Yanzhou army to attack Licheng, while Liu Daogui led the main forces of the Western and Northern armies to attack Muling Pass.

The third step is to have the final battle in Qingzhou.

This military strategy is stable and balanced, maximizing strengths and minimizing weaknesses, and relying on the navy to gain an advantage.

Of course, if a real war breaks out, it depends on the specific situation.

Liu Daogui also sent a letter to Tuoba Gui, inviting him to a hunt in Qingzhou to completely resolve the Southern Yan issue.

A few days later, Liu Yixing, Liu Huaishen, Tan Daoji, Shen Qingzhi and others arrived in Xiangyang.

"Your son greets Father!"

Since raising an army against Chu, Liu Daogui has not returned to Pengcheng for nearly two years.

Little did they know that their son had grown up, inheriting the best qualities of the Liu family. He was strong and healthy, dressed in coarse linen clothes, yet very polite.

Liu Daogui was gratified. "Brothers fight together, fathers and sons go to war together. You have grown up and it is time for you to share the burden with your father. I will entrust Jingzhou to you from now on. Observe more, learn more and think more."

Children from ordinary families start helping in the fields at five or six years old, while children from military households start going to war at thirteen or fourteen.

Even more remarkably, Murong Chui was already the bravest warrior in the army at the age of twelve. In chaotic times, people mature faster.

"I will remember Father's teachings." Liu Yixing bowed respectfully.

"Okay." Liu Daogui gently patted his back.

For some reason, he thought of his two nephews, Yifu and Yizhen. His elder brother was good in every way, but he spoiled his sons too much. They were young, but their temperaments were unruly and spoiled, much worse than his own sons.

A banquet was held, which also served as an invitation to Liu Huaizhen, Shen Qingzhi, and Tan Daoji.

After several years of experience, all three have changed quite a bit, and their demeanor is different from before.

Especially Tan Daoji, with his bright eyes and spirited demeanor, was like a sword drawn from its sheath.

Liu Huaizhen and Shen Qingzhi became increasingly composed, as still as a deep pool.

"I entrust the affairs of Jingzhou and Xiangyang to you all." Liu Daogui raised his wine cup.

The three men raised their cups at the same time, saying, "General, rest assured, we will do our utmost to assist the young master!"

The following day, Liu Daogui led 10,000 Western Army soldiers and 7,000 Northern Army soldiers onto ships and sailed down the Han River to Xiakou, where they joined Liu Zhong's 13,000 naval troops.

The Yangtze River is like a ribbon, white sails are like clouds, and countless masts stand tall, piercing the sky.

Fifteen large ships lay across the river, like giant beasts, looking down upon the mountains and cities on both banks.

Each warship was adorned with two large banners, one bearing the name "Jin" and the other "Liu." Following behind these warships were various other warships, including the Mengchong and Doujian.

The battering poles and heavy crossbows on the ship's side resembled the menacing fangs of a giant beast.

Following closely behind were thirty or forty ships carrying grain, supplies, and provisions, as well as cargo ships.

Not only could people board the ship, but even warhorses could board it.

Several drumbeats sounded, and the warship sailed towards the north bank.

"Meet the General!"

Their morale was like a raging fire, their shouts like thunder, captivating all who heard them.

Liu Daogui knew without a doubt that it was a trick orchestrated by Liu Zhong, but it also gave him a glimpse into the navy's combat strength.

"Northern Expedition!"

The Western Army troops on the shore were participating in a military parade of this scale for the first time, and some couldn't help but shout.

With this shout, the call for the Northern Expedition resounded through the sky.

Their determination to launch a northern expedition was even more fervent than Liu Daogui's.

Under the banner of the Northern Expedition, the divide between the Western Army and the Northern Army disappeared.

Liu Daogui boarded the largest warship, "Feiyun," and the soldiers' enthusiasm reached its peak, as if the Yangtze River itself was boiling, with banners waving everywhere.

The commotion lasted for half an hour before it finally subsided.

The army set off, passing through Wuchang to Changchun, where a group of soldiers stood solemnly on the shore.

"Report! He Wuji, the governor of Jiangzhou, requests permission to join the northern expedition." The scout arrived on a small boat.

"What's he doing here?" Liu Zun grumbled.

Liu Daogui surveyed the force on the south bank, a group of over three thousand men, their armor gleaming and their formation imposing, clearly the elite of the Northern Army. "Approved. Order Li Damu to lead a boat to meet them."

Volunteering for battle and being ordered to fight are two completely different concepts.

Unlike Liu Yi, He Wuji, though devoted to reviving the Jin dynasty, was essentially a man of ambition and passion, dedicated to restoring the nation and China.

If we can win him over, the pro-Jin forces will be greatly weakened.

This battle was aimed at destroying the country, and the 30,000 troops under my command were just the vanguard.

Liu Yu, the elder brother, summoned the various tribes and laborers of the Northern Army in Jiankang to rush to the aid of the battlefield at any time. It was naturally a good thing that He Wuji's three thousand elite troops took the initiative to join.

More than a dozen cargo ships docked, and He Wuji led his men aboard.

"Greetings, General of the Cavalry." He Wuji stood tall and proud, displaying the demeanor of a fierce general from the Northern Army.

"Brother He, there's no need for such formalities. The Yan barbarians are cruel and inhumane. I am leading the Northern and Western armies to comfort the people and punish them. I hope Brother He will lend his full support to annihilate the Southern Yan!"

Regardless of one's stance, it's still necessary to say the polite words.

He Wuji declared loudly, “Murong Chao has slaughtered my people and abducted young men to serve as musicians for his own pleasure. This is intolerable! General, if you have any orders, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!”

"Brother He, with these words, the bandits will surely be wiped out!" Liu Daogui laughed heartily.

The army continued eastward. Liu Daogui originally wanted to go to Jiankang to meet with Liu Yu, but after Murong Chao gained an advantage last time, he became emboldened and returned to rest for a month before launching a counterattack, leading 30,000 troops to attack Lanling County.

Wang Zhongde personally guarded Chengcheng, while Wang Yuande went to its aid from the outside. They failed to capture it, but the surrounding cities were looted by the Yan army.

This time it was more brutal than usual; they slaughtered every single person from Jin.

Leveraging their cavalry advantage, they burned and killed indiscriminately, their forces even advancing to the outskirts of Pengcheng.

People in Huai and Si provinces were filled with anxiety.

Liu Daogui had no choice but to speed up his march and rush to the battlefield to confront Murong Chao, that mad dog.

(End of this chapter)