[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-350":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364619,4623,"Chapter 350: The Eve of Battle","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-350",350,"\u003Cp>Nanjingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, good news!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A large-scale uprising has erupted in Shaanxi—the fake dynasty’s days are getting harder!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Jingren said, his expression flushed with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They also contributed significantly in inciting their followers to rebel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, several units within the Shaanxi rebel forces were backed by them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Haoxuan said, his face lighting up with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial troops are mobilizing; a new round of major battle is about to erupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrival of news about the Shaanxi rebellion played a crucial role in stabilizing public sentiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, the Shaanxi rebellion is good for all rebel forces across the land, but for us it brings mixed fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fake dynasty will not halt its major campaign against us just because Shaanxi has erupted in turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how fierce the unrest in the northwest, it cannot reach them—our military pressure will not diminish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true beneficiaries will still be the Eastern King in Shu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once that happens, with a pincer attack, seizing Hanzhong will merely be a matter of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we simultaneously hold Shu and Guanzhong, with good fortune, we might even replicate the power of the mighty Qin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We must accelerate our pace; otherwise, in the coming struggle for the realm, we will face yet another formidable rival!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Hu Yuzhe, Minister of Rites, finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the struggle for the realm, the saying “four borders, four corners, one central plain” has long been passed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From historical experience, regimes controlling Shu and Guanzhong have always been the strongest contenders in the struggle for the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could say that this Shaanxi uprising has handed the Eastern King an outright victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Wu’s situation is far from pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Wu’s failed northern expedition, its strategic position has gradually slipped into passivity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enemies surround them on all sides; now, to launch an offensive is extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minister Hu speaks truly—our current situation is indeed perilous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Shaanxi rebels cannot remain in Guanzhong forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prolonged drought and lack of rain mean even the grain reserves of Guanzhong’s great clans remain severely limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rebel forces now number over a million; Shaanxi cannot feed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If these rebels break out of Tongguan, our advantage will be immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your Majesty, I propose we support the Shaanxi rebels and incite them to march into Henan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiwen, Minister of War, was the first to propose a solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the struggle for the realm, today’s ally may become tomorrow’s enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern King Wei Hao growing too powerful does not serve Wu’s interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bottom line is that he be confined to Shu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Eastern King gains Guanzhong as well, this struggle for the realm will have no place for us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minister Fan, urging the Shaanxi rebels to break out of the passes is not as simple as saying it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Shaanxi is desperately short of supplies, it can sustain them for a year or more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jiangnan campaign is imminent; the imperial troops will launch a full-scale offensive against us no later than next month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time our envoys even reach Shaanxi, the battle will already have begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying on the Shaanxi rebels to break out and divert imperial forces is pure fantasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our immediate priority is preparing for the great battle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the broader situation in the realm, we can consider it after we win this war.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ruiyu’s words ignited chaos in the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officials voiced conflicting opinions; every argument had merit, leaving Fu Haoxuan with a pounding head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I called you here to deliberate, not to shift blame and bicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I want solutions—not excuses!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Haoxuan could no longer hold back his temper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how dazzling the rhetoric, if it solves nothing, it’s useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu needs to win this war; all other problems can wait until after the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nanchangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General, the imperial army has left Linjiang Prefecture and is advancing toward us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ruitao and Li Mu are both present in their ranks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving this news, Xiang Qinghong, the commander defending Nanchang, turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What merit did he have to face two of Dayu’s greatest generals at once?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had thought fifty thousand defenders would make Nanchang impregnable; now it seemed insufficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send an urgent plea for reinforcements to court—make clear to Your Majesty the gravity of our situation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Order all units to immediately conscript laborers and fortify every key route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Xiang Qinghong issued his orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning from the previous defeat of Chu, Wu had not immediately gathered its main forces for a decisive battle with the imperial troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, even if they had wanted to, the reality did not permit it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All these regions were strategic strongholds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing any one would cripple Wu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the four main battlefronts, coastal areas also faced threats from the imperial navy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial troops stationed in Songjiang were advancing toward Suzhou Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously, Wu struggled desperately and could only adopt a defensive strategy, waiting for an opportunity to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Xiang, we cannot do this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The area around Nanchang is densely populated; the city cannot accommodate so many people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we implement scorched earth, we will drive these civilians straight into the arms of the fake dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prefect Kong Zhichen hurriedly pleaded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the surface reasons; the real cause was that nearby land and property had already been seized by officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To win the support of scholars, after establishing Wu, Fu Haoxuan made a series of concessions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once-bloodily purged gentry class had revived within Wu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They allied with the meritocratic military faction, becoming the new rulers and seizing the richest lands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation in Nanchang was even worse; local bureaucrats were all former Chu officials absorbed into Wu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Higher officials could be replaced, but replacing the grassroots level was too costly—Wu had not touched them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These men had defected to Wu merely to follow the tide; their inner loyalty was shallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their interests were threatened, they would easily turn against Wu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between Dayu and the rebels, most gentry still favored Dayu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, in this new rebel regime, the highest authority rested with the meritocratic military officers; civil officials held far less power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If joining the rebels brought no additional benefit, why should anyone risk rebellion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoever dares defect to the fake dynasty, I’ll exterminate his entire family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this critical moment, defending Nanchang comes first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the prefectural city cannot hold them all, disperse them to the counties and fortresses below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even that is impossible, send them into the mountains to take shelter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We need only concentrate the able-bodied men and women to defend the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qinghong’s words left the local officials ashen-faced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking shelter in the mountains was pure nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After decades of development, the mountains around Nanchang were barren, with barely a tree left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The profession of hunter has vanished from all surrounding areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seized their grain and drove people into the mountains—clearly intending to let them die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lives of common folk meant nothing to them, but their own clans had to be considered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you didn’t want to climb the mountains and eat dirt, you could only retreat into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lives of their entire clans were tied to the Wu state’s war chariot; they had no chance to jump off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qinghong’s actions clearly drew lessons from the earlier collapse of Chu—she distrusted people like them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord Xiang, this cannot be done!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Chu state collapsed because…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the middle-aged official could finish speaking, a great blade pierced through his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s settled. Anyone who undermines troop morale will meet the same fate as this man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the coming defense of Nanchang, I expect all of you to unite and defend the city together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To concentrate our strength against the enemy’s advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I will temporarily requisition the retainers from your households.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qinghong said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not trust any of these men in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earlier collapse of Chu was significantly aided by traitors within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without turncoats defecting, the imperial troops could never have reclaimed vast territories so quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For safety’s sake, he decided to strike first and seize control of the forces held by these unstable elements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the great battle erupted, they would be sent to the front as cannon fodder to be consumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without power in hand, even if one had thoughts, one could do nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial army camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency the Viceroy, Your Excellency the Provincial Military Commander—the forward scouts report the rebels are implementing scorched earth tactics.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this news, no one was surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For defenders, scorched earth is standard procedure to increase their chances of victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relatively speaking, the rebel commanders still lack experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t even send troops immediately to destroy nearby roads and bridges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What strategies do you propose to counter the rebels’ actions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis of Wuyang asked, expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commander’s name was not to be hung in vain; presiding over military meetings was his primary duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this Jiangnan campaign, the court had invested heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every battlefield could become a breakthrough point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still impossible to determine where exactly to tear open the rebel lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency the Viceroy, Nanchang’s walls are strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, when Wei the Rebel attacked Nanchang, it took over a year to capture the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why not shift to besieging Nanchang while first seizing surrounding cities, then join forces with the Huguang imperial troops to take Jiujiang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Nanchang holds out, once it becomes an isolated city, they won’t last long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Tianrui proposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As acting Regional Commander of Jiangxi’s First Garrison, this battle was crucial to his political future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by performing well on the battlefield could he hope to reclaim his family’s legacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had risen this far thanks largely to the powerful backing of the noble elite, exhausting nearly all his ancestors’ connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with no ready-made achievements handed to him, advancement depended entirely on himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nanchang’s walls are strong, but Jiujiang Prefecture is no easier to take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On what grounds do you assume we and the Huguang imperial troops can swiftly capture Jiujiang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis of Wuyang asked, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leapfrog attacks had frequently appeared in past rebellions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such tactics were usually employed to lure the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we cannot crush the enemy or remove these two nails, the risk of our army penetrating deep into enemy territory becomes too great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many in Jiangnan still favor the court, and some hold high positions within the rebel ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we can persuade them to act as inside agents and influence rebel commanders’ judgments, the battles ahead will be easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anqing is the gateway to Nanjing; the rebels dare not ignore it—they will be forced to station heavy troops there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more enemy forces we draw away, the fewer the enemy face our allies, helping them achieve breakthroughs elsewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Tianrui immediately explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the issue of suppressing the rebellion, the noble elite’s senior leadership held a unified stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His special status compelled him to prioritize the greater good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much he desired glory, he must restrain his desires and demonstrate strategic vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by placing the group’s interests first could he hope to gain support from the noble elite’s top figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Provincial Military Commander, what do you think of Qin Regional Commander’s proposal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis of Wuyang asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded good, but whether it would work in practice, he had no idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid embarrassment, he simply passed the buck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, these men were Li Mu’s own; letting him comment was perfectly reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s worth attempting, but we must control the intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the enemy’s troop deployment, it’s clear they’re preparing to defend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes: prolonged defense inevitably leads to failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Try repeatedly—their long front line will eventually reveal a weakness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu replied with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was glad to see his former subordinates growing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the noble elite had produced many generals, they were merely the result of sheer numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the younger generation, those with even slight military talent had already been filtered out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those capable of commanding independently remained exceedingly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the realm in chaos and everywhere needing generals to suppress rebellions, having more commanders to share the burden was beneficial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the twilight of a dynasty, someone always rises against the tide, attempting to turn the tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under his influence, the noble heirs who should have merely lived idle lives became the last backbone of the Great Yu dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long they could prolong the dynasty’s life remained unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2414,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","4250f793f4b4bcbad7d023a2b68b0cacd1e715dc8b70cde1744d76035d7aaa7b","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-351","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-349",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]