Chapter 265: Zhao Yu

…

In the eleventh month of Hongwu Ten.

Xiao Sixian, the Liao commander-in-chief (younger brother of the Liao dynasty's foremost traitor, Xiao Fengxian), and deputy commander-in-chief Xiao Yixue led the combined forces of multiple routes, claiming one hundred thousand troops (actually about seven thousand), under orders from Yelu Yanxi to attack the Jurchens and extinguish the newly ignited rebellion.

Xiao Sixian assembled this elite Liao force north of the Yazi River, preparing to cross under cover of night to ambush the Jurchen army.

Unexpectedly, Wanyan Aguda held the same plan; he personally led three thousand seven hundred Jurchen troops, marching at night beating drums and carrying torches, reaching the river by dawn and crossing the frozen surface.

When only one-third of the Jurchen force had crossed, they encountered the Liao army at Chuhe Dian.

At that moment, a sudden gale arose, dust obscuring the sky; Wanyan Aguda ordered the Jurchen troops to launch a frontal assault, exploiting the wind's force, attacking the numerically superior Liao army, which collapsed in total rout.

Wanyan Aguda pursued the fleeing Liao army to Wulun Lake, killing and capturing countless Liao soldiers, carts, horses, weapons, and treasures; among the fallen Liao officers were deputy commander-in-chief Xiao Daban, as well as Cui Gongyi, Yelü Foliu, and Xiao Ge Shi.

Wanyan Aguda incorporated the captured Liao soldiers into his own ranks, expanding the Jurchen army to ten thousand men.

The great victory at Chuhe Dian strengthened the Jurchen army's power and prestige, laying the foundation for the establishment of Jin Chao.

At this point, the Jurchen army had severed the direct route from Liao's upper capital Linhuang to Huang Longfu, the northern stronghold controlling the Jurchens, thereby opening the northern frontier of the Liao dynasty and cutting off the economic region centered on Ningjiangzhou's market from supplying resources to the Liao.

Wanyan Aguda used captured carts and horses to replenish his army's equipment, conscripted prisoners to bolster troop numbers, and held a full-day feast to reward the participating soldiers, boosting morale.

Thereafter, the Jurchen army advanced in multiple columns; Wanyan Wulu gu killed the Liao regional commander Xiao Daban ye and captured Binzhou.

Wanyan Wudubu and Wanyan Pucha defeated the Liao generals Chigou'er and Xiao Yixue east of Xiangzhou.

The Liao forces of Wohu and Jisai surrendered.

Wanyan Wulu gu again defeated the Liao army west of Xianzhou, and together with Wanyan Lou Shi, captured Xianzhou.

Thus, the anti-Liao war achieved initial success.

During the anti-Liao war, the Jurchens gradually evolved into the preeminent power in Northeast China, with Wanyan Aguda emerging as the military leader of the rebellion.

Consequently, the conditions for transforming clan-based systems into state institutions grew increasingly ripe.

After Wanyan Aguda's successful campaign and the killing of the Liao general Yelü Xieshi, the national chancellor Wanyan Sgai sent his eldest son Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Huan du's son Wanyan Xiyin to urge Wanyan Aguda to establish a state and proclaim himself emperor.

After the Jurchens captured Binzhou and Xianzhou, Wanyan Wuqimai, Wanyan Sgai, Wanyan Xibushi, and others supported Wanyan Aguda in founding a state.

On the first day of the first month of Hongwu Eleven, Wanyan Aguda ascended the throne as emperor, declaring the state name Great Jin and the era name Shouguo.

After the founding of Jin Chao, the old tribal alliance leadership system was abolished; Wanyan Aguda declared himself emperor and established the Bojile system.

Simultaneously, the reformed Meng'an Moke system was implemented in Jurchen-populated areas and newly conquered territories to accommodate the rapid development of the slave-based state and its external wars.

At the founding of Jin Chao, Wanyan Aguda proposed a policy framework to develop a slave-based economy based on Jurchen institutions.

As his rule expanded, to govern diverse ethnic groups, Wanyan Aguda partially incorporated the feudal political and economic systems of the Liao dynasty, marking the beginning of Jin Chao's feudalization.

Soon, news of Wanyan Aguda's founding of Jin reached Dongjing Bianliang, delivered to Zhao Yu by Li Yan, Yang Jian, and Yuwen Xuzhong.

Seeing that Wanyan Aguda had indeed established Jin Chao as history recorded, Zhao Yu intensified his focus on the northeast, monitoring the war of annihilation between Liao and Jin, while also feeling a quiet anticipation.

Had Zhao Yu not crossed over, this era would unquestionably have belonged to Wanyan Aguda, to the Jurchens.

Zhao Ji was incompetent and tyrannical, obsessed with artistic creation, indulging in painting, calligraphy, and gardens, living in luxury and debauchery, pursuing grandiose achievements, and appointing corrupt ministers—resulting in rampant corruption and constant factional strife within the Northern Song dynasty. He had no strategy for governance, imposed brutal taxes on the people, plunging them into misery; peasant uprisings such as Song Jiang's and Fang La's erupted one after another, draining the Northern Song's national strength and elite troops, ultimately leading to the Jingkang Humiliation—the most shameful event in Han history.

Yelu Yanxi, by nature luxurious and debauched, neglected state affairs. During his reign, Liao was plagued by contradictions; nobles vied for power, politics decayed utterly. He imposed oppressive policies on the Jurchens and other minorities, continually increasing taxes and exploitation, provoking fierce resentment and rebellion. The Liao army, eroded by long-term corruption, had lax discipline and plummeting combat effectiveness; facing Jurchen attacks, it suffered repeated defeats and could not organize any effective resistance.

In contrast, Wanyan Aguda possessed exceptional military talent, frequently defeating larger forces, excelled at employing talent, united the Jurchen clans, and continuously expanded his power. Politically, he actively promoted institutional reforms, establishing a political system suited to state development, steadily strengthening Jin Chao's national strength and military power.

Such Zhao Ji and such Yelu Yanxi, facing such Wanyan Aguda, were utterly powerless in both military and political terms; their rule inevitably collapsed, while Wanyan Aguda led Jin Chao to rise upon history's stage, opening a new chapter.

Now Zhao Yu has replaced Zhao Ji, defeated Yelu Yanxi, even defeated Li Qianshun—what will happen when he confronts Wanyan Aguda?

Crucially, if Zhao Yu defeats Wanyan Aguda, he will nearly catch up to Liu Che and Li Shimin, joining the club of emperors of a thousand generations.

Who among true men could resist such temptation?

Yet before confronting Wanyan Aguda, Zhao Yu must first resolve the problems within the Zhao Song dynasty, so he may fight Wanyan Aguda without distraction or rearward concerns.

Based on this, Zhao Yu asked Yuwen Xuzhong, who had returned to his side: "What of Fang La's remnants?"

Yuwen Xuzhong replied: "Nearly exterminated."

After Fang La's execution, Song Jiang led the Hu Ben army to scour the mountains while setting fires, conducting a carpet-style search for Fang La's rebels, ultimately discovering the most stubborn elements—the core adherents of the Moni Sect—in an extremely hidden cave.

A bloody battle ensued; the core adherents of the Moni Sect fought to the last man.

In that battle, several thousand core Moni Sect adherents used the terrain to inflict over ten thousand casualties on the Hu Ben army.

The good news was that after the battle, Xu Ning and Yan Qing found Fang La's hidden treasure of gold, silver, and jewels in the cave.

Yuwen Xuzhong personally oversaw the accounting; the quantity of gold, silver, and jewels was not only vast but of extremely high value—at least thirty million guan.

Song Jiang surmised that Fang La had long ago transported the gold and jewels looted from Hangzhou and other cities to this location for emergencies or to rebuild his power.

Song Jiang and Yuwen Xuzhong silently thought, "Heaven favors Great Song!"

Had Fang La escaped with such vast wealth, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Yuwen Xuzhong immediately took reliable men, under the protection of Xu Ning and Lin Chong, to escort the treasure back to Dongjing Bianliang and deliver it to Zhao Yu.