Chapter 902 - 90: Wanyan Liang’s Demise, River All Red

The situation is constantly changing.

It’s undeniable that Digunai Wanyan’s decision was indeed unexpected for everyone.

Even figures like Yue Fei and Gu Hui didn’t foresee it.

This is ultimately the throne.

To directly choose to abandon all this foundation before the overall situation is settled, leaving behind an opportunity for descendants to rise again, is ultimately not a choice that ordinary people can make.

Gu Hui is not a deity, ultimately it’s impossible for him to foresee everything, and naturally, it’s impossible for him to expect Digunai Wanyan to have such courage.

He conducted everything in the world of human stories methodically.

Steadily and securely commanding the army, continuously recovering lost territories, advancing towards Jiangnan.

....

In the sixteenth year of Shaoxing, April.

Spring is as deep as the sea, but in the land of Jianghuai, there is no leisure for spring outings; only the aura of weapons accompanies the increasingly warm east wind, invading southward grandly.

On the eastern line, by the banks of the Huai River.

After receiving Gu Hui’s clear instruction to "increase pressure," Yue Fei changed his previous entangled stance in Huaidong and concentrated the main forces of the Beiwei Army along the Chuzhou and Haizhou line.

He was in no rush to forcibly cross the Huai River but controlled the water routes with naval forces, using elite infantry and cavalry to repeatedly sweep the north bank remnants of Jin Army strongholds, compressing Han Chang’s defensive line thinner and thinner, and their activity space growing increasingly narrow.

What’s more troubling for Han Chang is that envoys and small elite squads sent by Yue Fei infiltrated the Huai River under the cover of night and complicated terrain, frequently making contact with the Rebel Army, already restless on the south bank.

Delivering them a small amount of fine weaponry and instructing on harassment tactics.

This behavior is extremely annoying.

Leaving the already pressured Jin Army even more unable to deal with these rebels, the situation is quite a mess.

On the Huai River defensive line, reports of Jin Army posts being wiped out and small patrols ambushed are increasing in number; although not undermining the foundation, it resembles an inescapable dreadful disease, wearing out the garrison and steadily lowering morale.

The order from Yingtian Prefecture for Han Chang to "not yield an inch" is becoming increasingly difficult to enforce.

On the northern line.

As Wanyan Digü discreetly withdrew the most elite forces according to a secret order, the overall Jin Army, although maintaining a strong offensive, had its intensity greatly diminished.

In such an offensive, any change in the enemy forces couldn’t escape the eyes of the Song Army.

Liu Qi and Zhang Xian keenly noticed the change, yet they still did not launch a direct counterattack.

However, following Gu Hui’s orders, they did not rashly pursue out of the city, seizing this precious breathing moment to repair walls, reorganize the wounded, replenish supplies, and dispatch a large number of light cavalry southwards and eastwards, widely spreading scouts to continuously report the Jin Army’s realities back to the rear.

Simultaneously, after having stabilized the situation in Shandong, Wang Gui’s unit.

Began using elite troops as the vanguard, supplemented by a large number of newly defected soldiers and mobilized laborers, steadily advancing towards Kaifeng through the gaps in the Jin Army’s weakened forces.

Along the way, they steadily recaptured states and counties, established military stations, gradually connecting the Central Plains with Shandong into one, applying massive strategic pressure on the Jin Army retreating to Kaifeng.

At the same time, Gu Clan members lurking in Jiangnan and capable officials and students dispatched from the Northern Border also played their roles.

Using pre-established network channels, they secretly delivered notices stamped with the "Regent Grand Tutor’s Mansion" Great Seal, along with earnest and incisive proclamations, into the offices, marketplaces, and even village shrines of various states and counties.

The notice detailed the atrocities of the Jin Army, clarified the righteousness of resisting the Jin, announced generous policies for those who submit, and stern warnings for those who resist.

More impressively, among these, there was some "verified" evidence of the gentry in various places in Jiangnan secretly contacting the Northern Border, subtly creating suspicion and fear.

——Human hearts are weapons!

Especially under the current situation, these people will have an even better effect!

In late April, in the important town of Luzhou in the Huainan Eastern Route.

The prefect appointed by the Jin, upon receiving the alert that Yue Fei’s camp was about to cross the Huai River, hesitated repeatedly, and under pressure from subordinates’ persuasions and the sudden appearance of a ten thousand people petition in the city, opened the city gates at night, welcoming a vanguard unit sent by Yue Fei.

Almost bloodlessly, Luzhou changed hands.

The news spread, shaking the Huai River.

——This seemed like a breach; from here, the Jiangnan defense line quietly collapsed.

In early May, in the Jiangnan Eastern Route regions like Taiping Prefecture and Guangde Army, the armed forces of local large families united with unsatisfied militia towards the Jin rule to suddenly rise, driving out or beheading Jin officials, declaring "Following Grand Tutor Gu’s order," and proactively dispatching emissaries north to seek alliance and support.

Above the Yangtze River, though the past transportation was not entirely severed, the boatmen were tacitly aware. Originally planned materials to be shipped to Jin Army-controlled areas began to be "unexpectedly" delayed, lost, and even "robbed by bandits."

There were even daring merchant ships secretly carrying Northern Border documents and sporadic personnel going south.

Before Gu Hui’s army had fully crossed the Yangtze River, half of Jiangnan was already slightly tilting under his literary conduct and psychological strategy, revealing cracks everywhere.

Digunai Wanyan’s high pose of "deciding a battle to the death," appeared increasingly pale and isolated in the face of Gu Hui’s flexible and strategic chess moves, attacking from multiple angles.

As the armies on various fronts continued to advance, the flames of war rapidly spread to the Yangtze River line.

Next,

What remained for both sides was——

The battle to cross the river!!!

....

In the sixteenth year of Shaoxing, late May, by the banks of the Yangtze River.

The vast river water flows endlessly eastward.

Yet at this moment, it seemed to halt the murderous atmosphere of thousands of troops.

On the north bank, Yue Fei’s camp stretched for tens of miles, flags fluttering, boats and ships gathered;

Including the troops under Liu Qi’s command, as well as the central army led by Gu Hui.