The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 565 The Overall Situation Remains Unchanged
The Xishan Island Militia Training Base in Suzhou's Taihu Lake area has a name that is quite out of step with the times: the Iron Blood Hall Army Officer Training School, which primarily trains low- and mid-level commanders in the army.

Of course, this name was given by Wu Chengyu, and it is really unoriginal in later generations.

After seven or eight years of large-scale renovations, Xishan Island is now undoubtedly the most advanced military training base during the Song and Jin dynasties.

A large number of trees on the island were cut down, and twenty training grounds were cleared out, each capable of accommodating five hundred people for training at the same time.

The training facilities in each training ground also exceeded the boundaries of this era. Wu Chengyu copied all the facilities from the military TV dramas he had seen in later generations, including military training grounds and technical training grounds.

Military training grounds primarily focus on training formations and combat drills, emphasizing small-scale troop attack and defense.

The technical training ground mainly focuses on training individual combat capabilities. For example, Wu Chengyu has adopted the same training programs as the parallel bars, barbells, free climbing, 400-meter obstacle course, and crawling training. There are also various weapons, sandbags, plum blossom stakes, and so on.

In addition, there is a large comprehensive training ground for practicing medium-scale battle formations and defenses, as well as for holding large-scale competitions on weekdays.

To the west of the drill ground, there is a primeval forest covering 500 acres, which is the site for the new army to simulate jungle warfare, ambush tactics, and group combat.

To the south of the drill ground, at the foot of the small hill on Xishan Island, are rows of military camps. To the north of the drill ground is a large logistics base, which has the best farmland on the entire Xishan Island. In addition to growing grain, there is also a large pig farm and several medium and small livestock bases.

Dongshan Island, which is next to Xishan Island, is slightly smaller in size but has a similar layout. If both islands are fully staffed, they can accommodate 20,000 troops for training at the same time.

Finally, there is a three-story building on the east side of Xishan Island training ground. This is the command center of the entire militia and also Wu Chengyu's office. The name on the gate is nothing new: Staff Office.

After receiving Guo Jing's message, Wu Chengyu immediately decided to return to Xishan Island to investigate the intelligence in detail. Over the years, the rebel army had been lying low, clearly capable of confronting the Jin Dynasty, but had always suppressed itself, just to wait for the unification of Mongolia.

The unification of Mongolia and its southward expansion was an inevitable historical trend. If the rebel army had fought a life-or-death battle with the Jin Dynasty first, even if they had won, they would have suffered heavy losses. In the end, they would have been unable to resist the southward expansion of the Mongol cavalry, and their hard-earned foundation would have been crushed by the Mongol cavalry.

This was the world's strongest army in the era of cold weapons, conquering and destroying countless countries, reaching the banks of the Rhine, and slaughtering those European countries that called themselves nations by the unit of villages.

Despite years of planning and preparation, Wu Chengyu never dared to underestimate the power of the Mongol cavalry.

The best plan would be for the Jin dynasty to resist the Mongol cavalry's advance immediately, then for the Song and Jin dynasties to unite against the Mongols, and for the righteous army to raise its banner at the most critical moment and reap the benefits.

Therefore, no matter how strong and powerful the rebel army became over the years, Wu Chengyu and Hong Niangzi always suppressed the rebel army's ambitions.

But ambition is the hardest thing to suppress in the world. The high-ranking generals of the rebel army have been full of confidence for years and are no longer satisfied with the rebel army's continued lurking in various bases and its refusal to take the initiative to resist the Jin.

If it weren't for the high prestige of Hong Niangzi and Wu Chengyu within the rebel army, the rebel army would probably have long since split into different factions and fought independently.

Fortunately, the day of Mongolia's unification finally arrived, and the world was about to enter a new era. Wu Chengyu, who had always told others to stay calm, couldn't help but feel a little excited when he heard the news.

Wu Chengyu had just arrived and was about to leave, but the three children refused to agree. Wu Pinghua didn't say anything, just silently watched his father. Wu Jiatong clung to his father's leg and wouldn't let go. As for Yang Guo, he burst into tears.

Helpless, Wu Chengyu brought the three children to Xishan Island. At this moment, Wu Chengyu was reviewing the latest intelligence, while Wu Pinghua was leaning on the windowsill, looking enviously at the new recruits training on the training ground in the distance, eager to try it himself.

Wu Jiatong only needs his father by his side. Right now, he's happily feasting on a pile of pastries, inheriting Aku's ability to eat a lot without gaining weight. As for Yang Guo, that little dumpling, he's fast asleep right now.

Mu Nianci placed the intelligence that had just been delivered in front of Wu Chengyu. Having returned to Jiangnan with Yang Tiexin and his wife, Mu Nianci had now become Wu Chengyu's assistant, and was responsible for organizing various matters related to the training base and handling the various intelligence reports delivered to her.

The Seven Heroes of Jiangnan and Yang Tiexin wanted Mu Nianci and Guo Jing to marry, but although Mu Nianci no longer had any feelings for Yang Kang, she also had no interest in her sworn brother Guo Jing. She simply chose to work for Wu Chengyu. It was unclear what this girl was really thinking.

Guo Jing, that brat, always treated Mu Nianci with utmost courtesy and politeness, but it was obvious to everyone that he had no romantic feelings for her.

Thus, the marriage plan came to an abrupt end, leaving Li Ping to sigh and lament to Guo Jing from time to time. According to the ideas of ancient people, Guo Jing was already over twenty years old and still unmarried, which was considered extremely unfilial.

There was a large stack of intelligence, not just about Mongolia, and Wu Chengyu picked up the most important one first.

This was smuggled into the Jin Dynasty by Hong Niangzi's secret agents in Mongolia, and then transported all the way to Suzhou by the Jin Dynasty.

"The two major forces of Temujin's son Chagatai and Jochi engaged in a large-scale war for some unknown reason. In the end, Chagatai was more skillful and launched a surprise attack on Jochi's camp during the great battle. Jochi was killed by Chagatai in front of everyone. Afterwards, Jochi's troops launched a fierce counterattack. Although the defeat was inevitable, it still caused great losses to Chagatai's troops."

Subsequently, Ögedei's forces used the pretext that Chagatai and Jochi were both sons of Temujin, and that their fratricide was unfilial and immoral, to launch a large-scale attack and encircle Chagatai's forces. At the same time, many small Mongol tribes also submitted to Ögedei.

Chagatai's forces were ultimately defeated, and his remaining forces, along with the remnants of Jochi's army, surrendered to Ögedei Khan. Chagatai was imprisoned by Ögedei Khan and never saw the light of day again.

Ögedei's power thus greatly increased, and he became invincible on the Mongolian steppe. Two months prior, he convened a grand assembly on the Onon River, formally unifying the various Mongol tribes. Claiming to be the successor to Temujin's will, he proclaimed himself Great Khan and was revered as Genghis Khan by the various powers of the steppe.

Upon seeing this, Wu Chengyu immediately knew that it must have been Ögedei who lured Chagatai and Jochi into a battle. Although the trick of the snipe and the clam fighting each other was old-fashioned, it always had a miraculous effect.

Wu Chengyu stayed in Mongolia for more than a year and knew that among Temujin's four sons, apart from the youngest Tolui and the seemingly most tolerant Ögedei, Chagatai and Jochi had always been at odds.

Chagatai was arrogant and domineering, and always suspected that Jochi's bloodline was impure and that he was not Temujin's biological son.

Jochi, with his tyrannical and insecure nature, was repeatedly slandered by Chagatai, and naturally harbored deep hatred for his second brother.

After Temujin's death, his sons split into three major factions. Ögedei and Tolui were the most low-profile, while Chagatai and Jochi were the strongest, each wanting to annihilate the other.

Over the years, the enmity between the two sides deepened to the point of being like the sea, but as Temujin's sons, they were extremely capable of military command, and neither could do anything to the other.

This sudden, reckless battle ultimately benefited Ögedei Khan. Although unaware of the details, Chagatai and Jochi must have fallen for Ögedei Khan's treacherous scheme.

Ögedei Khan, on the other hand, has always been portrayed as tolerant and magnanimous, and has the best reputation among Temujin's sons. In real history, he was the one who succeeded Temujin as the Great Khan.

Whether in history or in the world, Ögedei Khan was the ultimate beneficiary, which is enough to show that his cunning was far from simple.

In terms of military command ability and strategic brilliance, Ögedei was certainly inferior to Temujin, but in terms of cunning, forbearance, and political maneuvering, he was definitely one of the best among the Mongols.

Seeing this, Wu Chengyu couldn't help but sigh at the inertia of history. No matter how much he flapped his wings and assassinated Temujin, Mongolia was still unified, Ögedei still ascended the throne, and the title of Genghis Khan, which belonged to Temujin, fell on Ögedei's head.

Wu Chengyu suddenly felt a surge of impulse. If he set off now, he could reach the Mongolian grasslands in three or four months at breakneck speed. Then, he could assassinate Ögedei again, with a very high chance of success, unless Ögedei was currently protected by a master of the Innate Realm. This was almost impossible. Mongolia was still a makeshift regime, seen by the world as northern barbarians, just like Temujin. At this time, the Mongolian leadership did not have the ability to recruit top experts.

During the Legend of the Condor Heroes era, the Mongol army marched south and was invincible. There was no record of Temujin having any experts by his side. It wasn't until the Condor Heroes era, when the Mongol power was already established, that they were able to recruit experts to protect them. This is when people from the Western Regions Tantric sects, such as the Golden Wheel Monk, appeared in the Mongol army camp.

In other words, the current Mongol Golden Clan is virtually defenseless against experts of Wu Chengyu's caliber.

But after thinking it over, Wu Chengyu forcibly suppressed the idea. Just as the name Genghis Khan reappeared, the rise of Mongolia was almost inevitable.

It was already quite remarkable that they were able to kill Temujin first and slow down the Mongols' advance. Moreover, even if Mongolia were unified now, its strength would inevitably be weakened after years of war.

What difference does it make if Ögedei is killed? Someone will always unify Mongolia again. This idea of ​​unification mainly stems from hatred towards the Jin dynasty.

As the Jin dynasty reached its most corrupt point, its long-standing policy of reducing the Mongol population fueled years of deep-seated hatred among the Mongols, a hatred that was impossible to suppress.

Ögedei was skilled in political struggles, but far inferior to Temujin in military command, which was already the biggest advantage.

If Ögedei were killed, and a new figure emerged among the Mongols whom Wu Chengyu knew nothing about, and this person possessed extraordinary talent, Wu Chengyu would lose control of the overall situation.

Moreover, the rebel army has already gained momentum and is strong and well-equipped. They are currently lying low, and their hatred for the Jin Dynasty is no less than that for the Mongols.

If this forceful suppression continues, even Hong Niangzi and Wu Chengyu will not be able to guarantee their control over the rebel army.

Therefore, everything was perfectly timed, and the rebel army finally got the opportune moment. Soon they would be able to show their prowess and conquer the world.

Wu Chengyu then read on: "After Ögedei succeeded as Great Khan, he immediately sent envoys to the Song Dynasty to try to discuss the alliance between the Mongols and the Song Dynasty, so that they could attack from the north and south and jointly destroy the Jin Dynasty."

Sure enough, as soon as the Mongols unified the country, their next target was the Jin Dynasty. Just like in history, they sent envoys to the Song Dynasty to conclude an alliance.

Whether in history books or in The Legend of the Condor Heroes, there is a story about the alliance between the Mongols and the Song Dynasty. At that time, insightful people in the Song Dynasty pointed out that the Mongols were powerful and that if the Jin Dynasty were destroyed, the Mongol cavalry would march south and their hooves would surely point towards the Song Dynasty.

However, the hatred between the Song and Jin dynasties was irreconcilable. When the Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed, the Song royal family was bullied in every way, which was outrageous. Afterwards, the Southern Song Dynasty was oppressed by the Jin Dynasty for many years. Once the opportunity arose, the Song Dynasty only cared about taking revenge on the Jin Dynasty and did not think about the long-term situation at all.

In fact, after the Jin Dynasty was destroyed, the Jin royal family was divided in two, falling into the hands of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty respectively. The part of the royal family captured by the Southern Song Dynasty suffered even more horrific torture.

Therefore, it would be unjust if the Jin Dynasty hadn't been destroyed; it had attracted far too much hatred, and everyone wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible.

However, in terms of success or failure between nations, the Song Dynasty's choice to ally with the Mongol Yuan Dynasty to destroy the Jin Dynasty, rather than allying with the Jin Dynasty to fight against the Mongols, and thus keeping the battlefield within the Jin Dynasty's territory, was one of the reasons for its eventual demise, or at least it could have delayed the war for several decades.

Thinking of this, Wu Chengyu secretly made up his mind that he would eventually have to go to Hangzhou to change the Song Dynasty's choice. Only if the Song and Jin dynasties joined forces to resist the Yuan Dynasty would the righteous army have a chance to sweep across the world.

After reading this intelligence report, Wu Chengyu picked up the next one, raised an eyebrow, and thought to himself, "I just hugged Yang Guo, and now I'm seeing Yang Kang too."

"When the Jin Dynasty and the Mongols clashed, the Mongols, after being unified by Ögedei Khan, no longer obeyed the orders of the Jin Dynasty. There were many clashes on the border between the Mongols and the Jin Dynasty, all of which ended in defeat for the Jin army. The Jin Dynasty also sent an envoy to the Song Dynasty in an attempt to form an alliance with the Song Dynasty against the Mongols."

Prince Wanyan Kang, the heir apparent of the Zhao Kingdom, is the deputy envoy of this delegation. His martial arts skills have improved dramatically in recent years, reaching a super-first-rate level.

This is another plot point from the original novel, and although it was delayed for several years, it still happened. Yang Kang still went to Hangzhou with the Jin delegation.

The difference is that in the original story, the mission was wiped out by Lu Guanying and the Taihu Lake pirates, and Yang Kang also suffered a great loss until Mei Chaofeng forcibly broke into Guiyun Manor and demanded Yang Kang from Lu Chengfeng.

The situation has completely changed. Mei Chaofeng has been dead for many years, the Lu family and Guiyun Manor have moved to Gushan, and Taihu Lake has become Wu Chengyu's sphere of influence.

It's unclear whether the delegation will pass through Taihu Lake again this time. Once there, whether Yang Kang's martial arts have improved significantly is irrelevant. What Wu Chengyu is thinking about is whether he will let this kid pass through in order to form an alliance between the Jin and Song kingdoms.

However, Yang Kang practiced Wang Chongyang's version of the Innate Skill, and if he lost his virginity, he would lose all his martial arts skills. Originally, it was thought that this kid was already ruined, but who would have thought that he had persisted all these years and was still a virgin. I wonder if he was traumatized back then.

The Innate Skill is incredibly profound, and it was inevitable that Yang Kang would reach the top level after years of hard practice. However, this was ultimately a case of forcing growth, and further improvement would be extremely difficult.

Wu Chengyu put Yang Kang's matter out of his mind; the kid was no longer worth paying attention to. There were two more pieces of intelligence to follow.

"A few months ago, a conflict broke out in the Quanzhen Sect in Zhongnan Mountain. A girl dressed in apricot yellow clothes fought against the Seven Masters of Quanzhen with two swords. All the Seven Masters of Quanzhen were defeated and the situation was barely maintained by the Big Dipper Formation."

The young woman claimed to be a descendant of the Ancient Tomb Sect. For some unknown reason, she suddenly turned against the Quanzhen Sect. After a battle, she left the sect alone and disappeared without a trace. However, the Seven Masters of Quanzhen were severely injured and unable to descend the mountain for some time.

Wu Chengyu immediately thought of Li Mochou. When he first met her, she was a lovely young girl. After many years, she had finally returned to the world.

Although it's unclear why she fought the Quanzhen Sect, this girl has learned a portion of the Nine Yin Manual. Judging from her use of dual swords, she must have also mastered the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra Sword Technique. Compared to Li Mochou, who had just emerged from seclusion in the original story, this girl's strength should not be underestimated.

With her Jade Maiden Heart Sutra Sword Technique and the Ancient Tomb Sect's martial arts' ability to counter the Quanzhen Sect, it was only natural that she could defeat the Seven Masters of Quanzhen.

Wu Chengyu shook his head. He didn't know why Li Mochou had come down the mountain in this life, but it definitely had nothing to do with Lu Zhanyuan. This kid was already a representative of the young and vigorous faction of the rebel army. Now he lived in the Bright Peak base and commanded five thousand soldiers. He no longer had the opportunity to provoke Li Mochou.

Hong Niangzi knew that the Quanzhen Sect had a deep connection with Wu Chengyu, which is why she sent this message over, but Wu Chengyu didn't take it to heart.

Respecting other people's fate is enough. Whether Li Mochou in this life is a fairy or a female demon is no longer his concern, and it is estimated that he will hardly have the chance to meet her again.

The last piece of information, however, caught Wu Chengyu's attention.

"Ma Cheng, the prefect of Pingjiang Prefecture, is about to complete his term of office. The Song court intends to recall him to the court and reappoint him, and send another prefect to take charge of Pingjiang Prefecture."

This man, named Lü Fang, was the second-highest scorer in the imperial examination ten years ago. He originally had no powerful connections or backing and served as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. For some unknown reason, he has risen rapidly through the ranks over the past ten years, gaining the favor of the court, and has recently left Hangzhou for Suzhou to assume his new post.

Wu Chengyu frowned. The sudden change of prefect was really causing him trouble.

(End of this chapter)