Chapter 350: The Eve of Battle

Nanjingcheng.

“Your Majesty, good news!”

“A large-scale uprising has erupted in Shaanxi—the fake dynasty’s days are getting harder!”

Yang Jingren said, his expression flushed with excitement.

They also contributed significantly in inciting their followers to rebel.

Over the past two years, dozens of elite squads had been dispatched one after another, penetrating the north to establish contact with local Bai Lian sect members.

Now, several units within the Shaanxi rebel forces were backed by them.

“Good!”

Fu Haoxuan said, his face lighting up with joy.

The imperial troops are mobilizing; a new round of major battle is about to erupt.

Facing a multi-province allied army without civil officials dragging them down, Fu Haoxuan had no confidence at all; internal morale within Wu was also in chaos.

The arrival of news about the Shaanxi rebellion played a crucial role in stabilizing public sentiment.

“Your Majesty, the Shaanxi rebellion is good for all rebel forces across the land, but for us it brings mixed fortune.

The fake dynasty will not halt its major campaign against us just because Shaanxi has erupted in turmoil.

In the coming Jiangnan campaign, the main forces of the fake dynasty will be the five provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Huguang, Fujian, and Zhejiang; their logistics rely entirely on local self-sufficiency.

No matter how fierce the unrest in the northwest, it cannot reach them—our military pressure will not diminish.

The true beneficiaries will still be the Eastern King in Shu.

The chaos in Shaanxi has shattered any hope the Shu imperial troops had of receiving support from the fake dynasty; the Eastern King’s conquest of Shu is now virtually certain.

Once that happens, with a pincer attack, seizing Hanzhong will merely be a matter of time.

If we simultaneously hold Shu and Guanzhong, with good fortune, we might even replicate the power of the mighty Qin.

We must accelerate our pace; otherwise, in the coming struggle for the realm, we will face yet another formidable rival!”

When Hu Yuzhe, Minister of Rites, finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.

In the struggle for the realm, the saying “four borders, four corners, one central plain” has long been passed down.

From historical experience, regimes controlling Shu and Guanzhong have always been the strongest contenders in the struggle for the realm.

One could say that this Shaanxi uprising has handed the Eastern King an outright victory.

In contrast, Wu’s situation is far from pleasant.

With the development of Guangdong and Fujian, the Jiangdong region has long ceased to be a peripheral land and has become a battleground on all sides.

Since Wu’s failed northern expedition, its strategic position has gradually slipped into passivity.

Enemies surround them on all sides; now, to launch an offensive is extremely difficult.

“Minister Hu speaks truly—our current situation is indeed perilous.

But the Shaanxi rebels cannot remain in Guanzhong forever.

Prolonged drought and lack of rain mean even the grain reserves of Guanzhong’s great clans remain severely limited.

The rebel forces now number over a million; Shaanxi cannot feed them.

If these rebels break out of Tongguan, our advantage will be immense.

Your Majesty, I propose we support the Shaanxi rebels and incite them to march into Henan!”

Fan Xiwen, Minister of War, was the first to propose a solution.

In the struggle for the realm, today’s ally may become tomorrow’s enemy.

The Eastern King Wei Hao growing too powerful does not serve Wu’s interests.

Their bottom line is that he be confined to Shu.

If the Eastern King gains Guanzhong as well, this struggle for the realm will have no place for us.

“Minister Fan, urging the Shaanxi rebels to break out of the passes is not as simple as saying it.

Even if Shaanxi is desperately short of supplies, it can sustain them for a year or more.

The Jiangnan campaign is imminent; the imperial troops will launch a full-scale offensive against us no later than next month.

By the time our envoys even reach Shaanxi, the battle will already have begun.

Relying on the Shaanxi rebels to break out and divert imperial forces is pure fantasy.

Our immediate priority is preparing for the great battle!

As for the broader situation in the realm, we can consider it after we win this war.”

Xie Ruiyu’s words ignited chaos in the court.

Officials voiced conflicting opinions; every argument had merit, leaving Fu Haoxuan with a pounding head.

“Enough!”

“I called you here to deliberate, not to shift blame and bicker.

I want solutions—not excuses!”

Fu Haoxuan could no longer hold back his temper.

No matter how dazzling the rhetoric, if it solves nothing, it’s useless.

Wu needs to win this war; all other problems can wait until after the battle.

…

Nanchangcheng.

“General, the imperial army has left Linjiang Prefecture and is advancing toward us.

Zheng Ruitao and Li Mu are both present in their ranks.”

…

Upon receiving this news, Xiang Qinghong, the commander defending Nanchang, turned grim.

What merit did he have to face two of Dayu’s greatest generals at once?

He had thought fifty thousand defenders would make Nanchang impregnable; now it seemed insufficient.

“Send an urgent plea for reinforcements to court—make clear to Your Majesty the gravity of our situation!

Order all units to immediately conscript laborers and fortify every key route.

Along every path the enemy might take, implement scorched earth: not a single grain of grain, a single bolt of cloth, or a single pound of firewood may fall into enemy hands!”

Without hesitation, Xiang Qinghong issued his orders.

Learning from the previous defeat of Chu, Wu had not immediately gathered its main forces for a decisive battle with the imperial troops.

Of course, even if they had wanted to, the reality did not permit it.

Imperial forces from Huguang were advancing on Jiujiang; those from Jiangxi were attacking Nanchang; those from Zhejiang were targeting Hangzhou; northern imperial troops had set their sights on Xuzhou.

All these regions were strategic strongholds.

Losing any one would cripple Wu.

Beyond the four main battlefronts, coastal areas also faced threats from the imperial navy.

Imperial troops stationed in Songjiang were advancing toward Suzhou Prefecture.

Fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously, Wu struggled desperately and could only adopt a defensive strategy, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

“General Xiang, we cannot do this!”

“The area around Nanchang is densely populated; the city cannot accommodate so many people.

If we implement scorched earth, we will drive these civilians straight into the arms of the fake dynasty.

Then…”

Prefect Kong Zhichen hurriedly pleaded.

These were the surface reasons; the real cause was that nearby land and property had already been seized by officials.

To win the support of scholars, after establishing Wu, Fu Haoxuan made a series of concessions.

The once-bloodily purged gentry class had revived within Wu.

They allied with the meritocratic military faction, becoming the new rulers and seizing the richest lands.

The situation in Nanchang was even worse; local bureaucrats were all former Chu officials absorbed into Wu.

Higher officials could be replaced, but replacing the grassroots level was too costly—Wu had not touched them.

These men had defected to Wu merely to follow the tide; their inner loyalty was shallow.

If their interests were threatened, they would easily turn against Wu.

Between Dayu and the rebels, most gentry still favored Dayu.

After all, in this new rebel regime, the highest authority rested with the meritocratic military officers; civil officials held far less power.

If joining the rebels brought no additional benefit, why should anyone risk rebellion?

“Hmph!”

“Whoever dares defect to the fake dynasty, I’ll exterminate his entire family.

At this critical moment, defending Nanchang comes first.

If the prefectural city cannot hold them all, disperse them to the counties and fortresses below.

If even that is impossible, send them into the mountains to take shelter.

We need only concentrate the able-bodied men and women to defend the city.”

Xiang Qinghong’s words left the local officials ashen-faced.

Taking shelter in the mountains was pure nonsense.

After decades of development, the mountains around Nanchang were barren, with barely a tree left.

The profession of hunter has vanished from all surrounding areas.

They seized their grain and drove people into the mountains—clearly intending to let them die.

The lives of common folk meant nothing to them, but their own clans had to be considered.

If you didn’t want to climb the mountains and eat dirt, you could only retreat into the city.

The lives of their entire clans were tied to the Wu state’s war chariot; they had no chance to jump off.

Xiang Qinghong’s actions clearly drew lessons from the earlier collapse of Chu—she distrusted people like them.

“My lord Xiang, this cannot be done!”

“The Chu state collapsed because…”

Before the middle-aged official could finish speaking, a great blade pierced through his body.

“It’s settled. Anyone who undermines troop morale will meet the same fate as this man.”

In the coming defense of Nanchang, I expect all of you to unite and defend the city together.

To concentrate our strength against the enemy’s advance.

I will temporarily requisition the retainers from your households.”

Xiang Qinghong said coldly.

He did not trust any of these men in the room.

The earlier collapse of Chu was significantly aided by traitors within.

Without turncoats defecting, the imperial troops could never have reclaimed vast territories so quickly.

For safety’s sake, he decided to strike first and seize control of the forces held by these unstable elements.

Once the great battle erupted, they would be sent to the front as cannon fodder to be consumed.

Without power in hand, even if one had thoughts, one could do nothing.

…

Imperial army camp.

“Your Excellency the Viceroy, Your Excellency the Provincial Military Commander—the forward scouts report the rebels are implementing scorched earth tactics.”

Upon hearing this news, no one was surprised.

For defenders, scorched earth is standard procedure to increase their chances of victory.

Relatively speaking, the rebel commanders still lack experience.

They didn’t even send troops immediately to destroy nearby roads and bridges.

“Understood!”

“What strategies do you propose to counter the rebels’ actions?”

The Marquis of Wuyang asked, expressionless.

The commander’s name was not to be hung in vain; presiding over military meetings was his primary duty.

For this Jiangnan campaign, the court had invested heavily.

Every battlefield could become a breakthrough point.

It was still impossible to determine where exactly to tear open the rebel lines.

“Your Excellency the Viceroy, Nanchang’s walls are strong.

Previously, when Wei the Rebel attacked Nanchang, it took over a year to capture the city.

Now that the enemy is implementing scorched earth, they clearly intend to wage a prolonged war—we’re unlikely to break through in a short time.

Why not shift to besieging Nanchang while first seizing surrounding cities, then join forces with the Huguang imperial troops to take Jiujiang?

Even if Nanchang holds out, once it becomes an isolated city, they won’t last long.”

Qin Tianrui proposed.

As acting Regional Commander of Jiangxi’s First Garrison, this battle was crucial to his political future.

Only by performing well on the battlefield could he hope to reclaim his family’s legacy.

He had risen this far thanks largely to the powerful backing of the noble elite, exhausting nearly all his ancestors’ connections.

Now, with no ready-made achievements handed to him, advancement depended entirely on himself.

“Nanchang’s walls are strong, but Jiujiang Prefecture is no easier to take.

On what grounds do you assume we and the Huguang imperial troops can swiftly capture Jiujiang?”

The Marquis of Wuyang asked, frowning.

Leapfrog attacks had frequently appeared in past rebellions.

But such tactics were usually employed to lure the enemy.

The problem now is the enemy is prepared—Nanchang and Jiujiang are both hard to take, and no one can guarantee either will fall quickly.

If we cannot crush the enemy or remove these two nails, the risk of our army penetrating deep into enemy territory becomes too great.

“Your Excellency the Viceroy, whether we can swiftly capture Jiujiang is not the point—the key is to make the Nanchang defenders believe we can capture Jiujiang.

Many in Jiangnan still favor the court, and some hold high positions within the rebel ranks.

If we can persuade them to act as inside agents and influence rebel commanders’ judgments, the battles ahead will be easier.

Even if the plot fails, we can seize the opportunity to take control of Poyang Lake and advance to threaten Anqing Prefecture, disrupting the enemy's deployment.

Anqing is the gateway to Nanjing; the rebels dare not ignore it—they will be forced to station heavy troops there.

The more enemy forces we draw away, the fewer the enemy face our allies, helping them achieve breakthroughs elsewhere.”

Qin Tianrui immediately explained.

On the issue of suppressing the rebellion, the noble elite’s senior leadership held a unified stance.

His special status compelled him to prioritize the greater good.

No matter how much he desired glory, he must restrain his desires and demonstrate strategic vision.

Only by placing the group’s interests first could he hope to gain support from the noble elite’s top figures.

“Li Provincial Military Commander, what do you think of Qin Regional Commander’s proposal?”

The Marquis of Wuyang asked with a smile.

It sounded good, but whether it would work in practice, he had no idea.

To avoid embarrassment, he simply passed the buck.

After all, these men were Li Mu’s own; letting him comment was perfectly reasonable.

“It’s worth attempting, but we must control the intensity.

From the enemy’s troop deployment, it’s clear they’re preparing to defend.

As the saying goes: prolonged defense inevitably leads to failure.

Try repeatedly—their long front line will eventually reveal a weakness.”

Li Mu replied with a smile.

He was glad to see his former subordinates growing.

Though the noble elite had produced many generals, they were merely the result of sheer numbers.

Among the younger generation, those with even slight military talent had already been filtered out.

Those capable of commanding independently remained exceedingly rare.

With the realm in chaos and everywhere needing generals to suppress rebellions, having more commanders to share the burden was beneficial.

In the twilight of a dynasty, someone always rises against the tide, attempting to turn the tide.

Under his influence, the noble heirs who should have merely lived idle lives became the last backbone of the Great Yu dynasty.

How long they could prolong the dynasty’s life remained unknown.

…

(End of Chapter)