Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 364 Abandon

The Great Wall of Qi was first built during the Spring and Autumn Period and completed during the Warring States Period, taking more than 170 years to build.

Starting from Pingyin in the west, it passes through the Taishan mountain range in Changqing, Licheng, and Zhangqiu, crosses the Lushan mountain range in Laiwu, Boshan, Zichuan, and Yiyuan, and then runs eastward along the Yishan mountain range in Linqu, Yishui, and Anqiu.

Because it was built amidst towering mountains, it has remained well-preserved.

Facing the Huai and Si rivers, there are only two routes of advance: one is Licheng, and the other is Muling Pass.

Previously, when vying with Nan Yan, the focus was on Licheng.

Now that the great battle has broken out in Xudong, the only way is through Muling Pass.

If Murong Chao holds this pass, the Jin army will have virtually no chance of breaking through from the front.

Liu Daogui gazed at the map in thought. He had originally intended to have a decisive battle with Murong Chao in Xuzhou, but unexpectedly, the fellow turned around and left when he saw that things were not going well.

Plans can never keep up with changes.

However, Murong Chao had Zhang Liang's plan, and Liu Daogui also had his own tricks up his sleeve. Pointing to the blank area east of Qingzhou on the map, he said, "Although the Great Wall is strong, it can't be built on the sea, can it? I have hundreds of warships and ocean-going vessels. We can cross the sea from Langya Port, head north to land in Donglai County, attack the enemy's weak points, and take Guanggu directly!"

Five hundred years ago, Emperor Wu of Han attacked Wiman Joseon. His army of 50,000 men advanced by land and sea. The navy, led by General Yang Pu, crossed the Bohai Sea from Qi and landed in Liaodong.

Modern shipbuilding technology and navigation skills are far superior to those during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han.

One hundred and seventy years ago, Sun Quan of Eastern Wu sent Wei Wen and Zhuge Zhi with more than 10,000 soldiers to sea to seek the legendary Yizhou and Danzhou. The two found Yizhou and led their army into the South Seas.

Later, they opened up sea routes to Japan, traded goods and earned a lot of money. Japanese clothing and customs began to imitate those of China, with clothing called "Wu clothing" and shoes called "wooden clogs"...

Afterwards, they even planned to organize a large fleet to sail around to Liaodong, join forces with the Gongsun clan, and launch a pincer attack on Cao Wei from the north and south.

When the Jin dynasty moved south, it inherited many of the navigation and shipbuilding technologies of the Eastern Wu.

Attacking Qingzhou by sea is entirely feasible.

Langya Port had trade relations with Qingzhou, Baekje, and Japan in the past, and the routes and hydrology were readily available.

Langya Port is not far from Donglai, and it is easy to bypass the Great Wall by following the coastline.

Another major advantage of taking the sea route is that it allows for unrestricted attacks on various parts of Southern Yan, making them difficult to defend against.

"I followed the general northward, but I have not achieved anything. This time, I should lead the way!" He Wuji said excitedly.

Throughout the chase, he had little opportunity to prove himself.

Just as Liu Daogui was about to agree, Liu Zun shouted, "This matter concerns the success or failure of this battle, why should I send you?"

Hu Fan bowed and stepped forward, saying, "Naval warfare has always been the specialty of the Western Army, so there's no need for General He to take action."

The two seemed to be targeting He Wuji, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Although He Wuji was from the Northern Mansion, he was still an outsider. The occasional conflicts between the Western Mansion and the Northern Mansion were family matters and brotherly disputes. When it came to dealing with outsiders, they were still united in their goal.

This is already a great improvement.

"General!" He Wuji was speechless for a moment and looked at Liu Daogui.

"No rush, let's wait until the glacier melts and the navy sets sail."

Taking advantage of this lull, Liu Daogui organized the arriving soldiers and volunteer troops, appointing Tan Zhi, Xu Kuizhi, and Liu Huaijing as the main generals, each leading 5,000 men, to rush to the aid of Kaiyang.

To mislead Murong Chao, he also ordered the supply troops and civilian laborers to go up the mountain to cut firewood and build siege weapons.

Many cities in the three counties of Xudong have not yet surrendered, and siege weapons are very useful.

People from all over the country also spontaneously chiseled ice to melt the ice in advance. Liu Zhong and Li Damu led their navy from the Huai River into the sea and headed north to capture Langya Port.

Good news soon came from the south as well: Meng Longfu and Shen Tianzi's four thousand elite troops, with the support of Tan Zhi, Xu Kuizhi, and Liu Huaijing, broke through Kaiyang.

He captured alive Murong Zhen, the Grand Commander and Secretary of the Southern Yan.

More than 7,000 people were captured.

However, after breaching the city, Shen Tianzi unleashed his troops to plunder, and the tribes of Tan Zhi and Xu Kuizhi joined in one after another. Kaiyang City was completely looted, and the methods of burning, killing, raping, and plundering were no less than those of the Hu people. Many civilians also died tragically.

After reading the battle report, Liu Daogui couldn't help but frown. So many years had passed, but Shen Tianzi's temperament hadn't changed at all.

He was Liu Yu's favorite general and had made great contributions in capturing the city. Liu Daogui couldn't say anything for the time being, as this was the usual practice among the generals of the Northern Army.

The only option was to issue a military order instructing Meng Longfu and Shen Tianzi to restrain their troops.

"Now that we have captured Langya Port, we can cross the sea and head north!" Liu Daogui summoned the generals for a discussion.

Liu Zun, He Wuji, and Hu Fan all had expectant looks on their faces.

Although the level of naval navigation in this era was far superior to that during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, there were still many risks involved in going to sea. Liu Daogui could not send the entire army on ships to go north; he could only select elite troops.

On the main battlefield, sufficient troops are also needed to hold off Murong Chao.

Just as he was about to give the order, Meng Ganzhi rushed over and said, "General, Murong Chao has abandoned Muling Pass and retreated to Linqu."

"What?" The generals looked at each other in bewilderment.

Liu Daogui was also astonished, completely baffled by Murong Chao's actions.

Abandoning Muling Pass was tantamount to opening the southern gate, leaving Qingzhou without any natural defenses.

"I understand now, Murong Chao is really delusional." Liu Daogui stared at the map for a long time before realizing his intention, and couldn't help but laugh.

Murong Chao may be young, but his ambition is greater than the sky...

Linqi.

The generals of the Yan army were also full of doubts about Murong Chao's actions.

General Gongsun Wulou said, “The Wu soldiers are reckless and decisive, and their advantage lies in battle. Their initial advance is brave and fierce, and they cannot be defeated. We should occupy Daxian to prevent them from entering, prolong the war, and dampen their morale. Then we should select two thousand elite cavalry to go south along the sea to cut off their supply lines. Finally, we should order Duan Hui to lead the army from Jibei down the mountain to attack them from the front and rear. This is the best strategy.”

At this point, the Jin army had not yet attacked, and there was still room for recovery.

Holding the Muling Pass at Daxian Mountain would put us in an invincible position. At most, we would only lose the three counties of Xudong. But as long as we held the Muling Pass, we could seize any opportunity to march south.

Murong Chao's dark eyes, mostly white, flickered, but he did not agree.

Gongsun Wulou continued, "Each local official should be ordered to defend their territory, and after assessing their supplies, burn and destroy everything else to deprive the enemy of resources. This strategy of fortifying the walls and clearing the fields to await their attack is the best course of action."

Murong Chao remained unmoved.

Gongsun Wulou sighed, "Letting the enemy into Xian and then going out of the city to fight back is a poor strategy!"

Murong Chao rolled his eyes. "Your inferior strategy is actually my superior strategy. The Jin dynasty's elite troops are all in Liu Daogui's hands. Now, by opening up Daxian Mountain and leading the Jin army north, they will be exhausted from their long journey and their supplies will have to be transported over thousands of miles. We only need to close the gates and beat them, and we can wipe them out! Defeating Liu Daogui means defeating the Jin dynasty. I will then lead the victorious army south and take over Jiangzuo in a flash. After that, I can conquer the Central Plains and compete with Tuoba Gui for the world!"

At best, defending Muling Pass only managed to hold off the Jin army, and they also lost the three counties east of Xu.

However, letting the Jin army in would create an opportunity to defeat them.

Murong Chao is only twenty-one years old this year. Young people have big ideas and ambitions. Once he takes over Jiangzuo and the Central Plains, he will be qualified to compete for the world!
Of course, this was not just wishful thinking on his part.

As the Jin army marched north, it faced difficulties in supplying provisions, while the Yan army, consisting mostly of cavalry, was poised to attack the Jin army's rear at any time.

If this goes on for too long, the Jin army will definitely not be able to withstand it.

This is similar to the method Murong Chui used to deal with Huan Wen. Qingzhou was like a pocket, and Muling Pass was the opening of the pocket. If the Jin army was allowed to enter, they could be wiped out in one fell swoop.

Murong Chao believed that if Murong Chui could succeed, so could he!
All the generals in the hall were dumbfounded.

Prince Helai Lu of Guangning earnestly advised, "In the past, Lord Cheng'an failed to defend Jingxing Pass and was ultimately defeated by Han Xin; Zhuge Zhan failed to hold the strategic pass of Shuma and was eventually captured by Deng Ai. I believe that the timing is not as important as the terrain. Defending Daxian is the best strategy. Liu Daogui and Liu Yu are two dragons and tigers of their generation. Now, the elite troops of the Northern and Western armies have all arrived. Our army has lost its fighting spirit. How can we resist them?"

Helai Lu came from the Helan tribe of the Xianbei and was the maternal uncle of Tuoba Gui. He was at odds with Tuoba Yi. When they attacked Ye City together, he was tricked by Murong De and led his people to defect to Southern Yan, where he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Guangning.

However, such wise and strategic advice was destined not to be adopted by Murong Chao.

Murong Chao is now like a possessed man, single-mindedly focused on annihilating the main forces of the Northern and Western Prefectures, and then conquering Jiangzuo and the Central Plains. This is the only chance for Southern Yan to turn the tide.

"No need for further words. Liu Daogui is a hidden dragon, while I am the true dragon. When a hidden dragon meets a true dragon, how can we not be defeated?" Murong Chao was determined.

Helai Lu sighed and said to the civil and military officials in the hall, "You are neither able to fortify the walls and clear the fields, nor willing to relocate the people. You are just like Liu Zhang. If the country is destroyed this year, I will surely die. You, the people of China, will be tattooed again."

The people of the Wu region, with their long hair and tattoos, were considered barbarians.

After the Jin dynasty moved south, it was referred to as the Wu dynasty by the northern states, which denied its connection to the Western Jin dynasty.

In the eighth year of Yonghe (352), the Former Yan destroyed the Ran Wei, and Murong Jun ascended the throne as emperor. He declared to the Jin envoy: "You return to the Heavenly Emperor. I have taken over the mantle of the people and have been chosen by the people of China. I am now the emperor."

From that time on, the Murong clan considered themselves the legitimate rulers.

"How dare you!" Murong Chao roared in fury. "How dare you, you old scoundrel, insult me? You fear the Northern Army like tigers, but I can wipe them out with a flick of my wrist. Guards, take him to prison. I will punish you after I capture Liu Daogui alive and conquer Jiankang!"

Immediately, armored soldiers dragged Helailu away.

Murong Chao grew up in the Western Qiang region, so he didn't think the Northern Army was that powerful.

Previously, during the confrontation at Rongqiu, the Northern Army and the Western Army held their ground and did not come out, which made Murong Chao even more contemptuous, thinking that they were no different from the Northern Army led by Liu Huaisu.

After Helai Lutuo was captured, none of the ministers dared to speak out.

Murong Chao was smug and triumphant. "Gentlemen, you may follow me and wait in comfort to face Liu Daogui!"

(End of this chapter)