[{"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-357":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},2364626,4623,"Chapter 357: Strike While the Iron Is Cold","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-357",357,"\u003Cp>Outside Jiujiang City, the Huguang Allied Army camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We just received word that the Militia Army suffered a devastating defeat on its way to Anqing; Militia Commander Bai Yifeng’s fate is unknown.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Due to the Militia Army’s crushing loss, the First Army of Jiangxi was forced into a strategic retreat; the plan to seize Anqing has failed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Li Mu finished speaking, everyone’s faces turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Militia Army plus the First Army of Jiangxi totaled over fifty thousand troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the original plan, even if Anqing could not be captured, it would still be a dagger thrust into the enemy’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But plans changed faster than expected; the much-anticipated military operation ended in the Militia Army’s catastrophic defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, since this was a joint operation, why didn’t the First Army of Jiangxi come to their aid?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Songde asked, dissatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what, the Militia Army was still Huguang’s armed force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Internally, it was fine to look down on the Militia Army, but externally, it still had to be protected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To immediately pin the blame for the defeat on one’s own troops made this Huguang Provincial Governor deeply resentful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Militia Army moved too slowly and failed to arrive at the rendezvous on time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not only did they miss the best opportunity to seize Anqing, they also gave the rebels time to redeploy troops—hence this defeat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The battle erupted at night; by the time the First Army of Jiangxi received word, the fighting was already over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The news came from fleeing Militia soldiers; the First Army of Jiangxi’s role must be verified once they are located.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the defeat at Anqing rests squarely on Bai Yifeng’s shoulders—there’s no escaping that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan answered without changing expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a senior figure of the aristocratic faction and concurrently Huguang Viceroy, he had to balance both sides’ interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the blame for the Anqing defeat not lain entirely with the Militia Army, he wouldn’t have dumped the entire burden onto Bai Yifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, the current situation is dire, and the Emperor’s pressure is immense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Militia Army is merely a civilian armed force, not the Imperial Army’s regular troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This minor matter doesn’t need to be reported to the court—it would only trouble the Emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provincial Administration Commissioner Ge Ningyuan immediately proposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Covering up failures was a traditional skill in Dahu’s bureaucracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing tens of thousands of troops was a fatal matter under any circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the court launched an inquiry, none of the senior officials in Huguang would escape blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Songde’s earlier rush to defend the Militia Army wasn’t out of friendship with Bai Yifeng—it was purely to shift responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Li Yuan was appointed by the late Emperor as a regent and had the merit of reclaiming Huguang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coming battles still required his service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the court demanded accountability, the blame for troop losses wouldn’t fall on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Viceroy didn’t bear responsibility, the burden would likely fall on the three top officials: the Provincial Governor, the Administration Commissioner, and the Surveillance Commissioner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dahu court had no shortage of civil officials to replace them—perhaps three or five hundred, if not a thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making them shoulder the political blame posed no problem whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not reporting it might not be wise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan spoke with feigned restraint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those below didn’t want the matter brought to court—he didn’t want it either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Militia Army’s greatest feature was its lack of official roster; the Ministry of War and the Military Command had no records of its troop numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only official on record was the irregularly titled Militia Commander, Bai Yifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For local authorities to cover this up was entirely feasible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, this is a critical moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If news of the Militia Army’s defeat spreads, it will inevitably damage morale.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the sake of the greater cause, we should suppress this matter for now; we can deal with it after locating Militia Commander Bai Yifeng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After all, the Militia Army is a civilian force—it’s no match for the Imperial Army’s valor and combat prowess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s entirely possible that Militia soldiers, unwilling to fight, simply deserted and returned home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Songde quickly changed his tune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the blame now rested entirely with his own subordinate, the cover-up had to be maintained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reporting good news but hiding bad news had always been the first rule of promotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever can be resolved internally should never be passed to the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As subjects, we must share the Emperor’s burdens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Militia Army launched its own offensive; the situation remains unclear—so we shall not report it to court for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once Lord Bai returns and the full circumstances are clarified, we can decide how to proceed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a change in phrasing, the nature of the matter shifted entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ordered to attack” became “launched independently”; responsibility for the defeat instantly moved from the Viceroy’s office to Bai Yifeng personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single person present voiced sympathy for Bai Yifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cover-up was temporary—it didn’t mean the truth wouldn’t eventually surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current framing was essentially a preemptive patch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With everyone aligned in their story, should the court later investigate, the blame would rest solely on Bai Yifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let the other guy die, not me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In shifting blame, everyone here was a professional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yangzhou City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, what should we do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yichen asked, anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wheel of fate turned; the sudden letter had once again pushed the Wang family to the edge of the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fact that Imperial troops have reached the gates of Yangzhou proves the battlefield situation is far worse than Wu’s propaganda claims.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve seen with our own eyes how formidable the Yangzhou Camp is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Qin Regional Commander leading this force may not match the Marquis of Han River, but he is still a fierce general.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our few thousand defenders here stand little chance against them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Yangzhou Camp’s influence in the region has not been eradicated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if we don’t act as internal agents, others will open the gates for them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When that happens, our Wang family will be at a terrible disadvantage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the court settles accounts later, we risk annihilation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Wenju spoke in a low tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he foreseen this outcome, when the Yangzhou Camp withdrew years ago, they should have left with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no remedy for regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before events unfolded, no one could have predicted Yangzhou Camp would rise so gloriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few short years, it had produced one Marquis and over twenty Regional Commanders; the number of Deputy Commanders, Assistant Regional Commanders, and Guard Commanders was far greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, nearly all senior officers in the armies of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Huguang, and Jiangxi had emerged from the Yangzhou Camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A real-life Dahu military academy, specifically training generals for the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang family followed the civil official path and seemed unrelated—but that didn’t mean there was no room for advancement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the rebels’ devastation, countless vacancies opened across the regions—all opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang family members with official degrees could be directly appointed to office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, supporting the court is only right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Wang family has long received imperial grace—we should stand with the court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Joining the rebels was merely to preserve our strength, preparing for the court’s counteroffensive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But since we defected to the rebels, we’ve received no real trust or promotion—they don’t believe in us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Opening the gates to welcome the Imperial Army will be difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One misstep, and our family faces extermination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, we have family members serving as officials among the rebels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we switch sides, the rebels will surely harm them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yichen frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For aristocratic heirs, who sat on the throne made no essential difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their first concern was always the family, then personal advancement—the court ranked far below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In times of chaos, they followed whoever was strongest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Imperial troops not appeared at the city gates, forcing him to realize the rebels’ weakening position, this discussion would never have occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Some things inevitably demand sacrifice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the family’s survival, the one sacrificed could be you, could be me, could be…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In short, everything must serve the family’s survival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We must join this high-stakes gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, when the imperial troops enter the city to purge the rebels, our Wang family will have no way to explain ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Wenju said with a solemn expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment we received the letter, we had no choice left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, receiving a letter is better than receiving nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that the imperial troops are reaching out to the Wang family means their previous ties with the Yangzhou Camp still hold weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest risk is not daring to escort the imperial troops into the city, but being ignored altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there is contact, we are still one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, our past defection to the rebels becomes, politically, an act of infiltration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we didn’t even receive a letter, it means we are marked for cleansing—no value in courting us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, we are willing to deal with sincerity, but the imperial troops outside the city may not trust us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’ve likely contacted many other families behind the scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, they refuse to reveal the full list; otherwise, a united operation would greatly increase our chances of success.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yichen said with a frustrated expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being cautious is only natural; if they weren’t, I’d dare not cooperate with them at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each contact is a single line; even if one leaks, the whole network won’t be wiped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a party involved, I still crave more trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not just about the probability of success—it reflects how much we’re valued, which will directly affect post-war benefits distribution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Time reveals a man’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before we deliver results, it’s hard to earn the court’s trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, when we defected to the rebels back then, we did plenty of dirty, grueling work—suspicion was inevitable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Wenju said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time they gave us is too tight—we must act tonight, with no room to weigh pros and cons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either we become one of them, or we become enemies—only two extremes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Yangzhou City, imperial troops were busy setting up camp, showing no sign of tension before a major battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General, the message has been sent back. Most families have given positive responses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But two families have not replied.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the deputy commander’s report, Qin Tianrui frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No reply could mean the city’s situation is tense and they’re under surveillance, unable to send word in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or they think it’s better to stick with the rebels and don’t want to get involved in this mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or they believe their patrons are strong enough to avoid retribution from the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, we took precautions: each family was given a different action time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If any of them defect and join the rebels, they can only expose their own schedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the aristocratic families of Jiangnan, the scholarly clans of Jiangbei have been lucky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Fu Haoxuan seized Yangzhou, he had already established the framework of the Great Wu regime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To win the support of scholars, he abandoned his former massacres and turned to political persuasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who joined the righteous army was spared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the luck of scholarly clans often means someone else must suffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much persuasion is used, it only works when one’s power is strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial troops arriving at the city gates silently declared that Wu’s rule was unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When family survival is at stake, everyone must choose the side of the victor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was originally a lone deep strike was mistaken by all as the main army returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the war wasn’t just burning in Yangzhou—Suzhou Prefecture and Xuzhou Prefecture next door were also fiercely contested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Carry out the original plan. Seize Yangzhou City tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Tianrui decisively issued the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrow is on the string—it must be fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides contacting the major families in the city, the Yangzhou Camp had other hidden preparations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, none of these covert measures were handed over to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surprise attack on Yangzhou Prefecture was his own sudden idea—he never reported it to Li Mu beforehand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no time to communicate, all these hidden tactics were unusable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Yangzhou is far from the front lines; the rebels cared about it mainly for its tax revenue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main forces are fighting on the front; the city’s garrison consists mostly of second- and third-rate troops and laborers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed second by second; as they watched the Yu army camp outside the city, the faces of the Wu officials grew grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The false dynasty is launching a massive assault—it seems they intend to seize Yangzhou Prefecture at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gentlemen, quickly propose solutions!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longer we delay, the harder it will be to act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Garrison Commander Liu Laoxu finished speaking, the room erupted into noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People whispered in small groups, beginning to debate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, the enemy arrived too fast—we had no time to clear the countryside and fortify defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We couldn’t even conscript able-bodied men from outside the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If these men fall into enemy hands, they’ll become a serious threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our only option now is to conscript civilians inside the city for defense while sending an urgent plea for reinforcements to the court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Lao Ming said with a grave expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had no idea how the imperial troops reached the city walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until today, the news they received still painted a picture of overwhelming success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such favorable conditions, the imperial troops suddenly stormed their doorstep—anyone would be stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they hadn’t reacted quickly and closed the city gates, Yangzhou might already have changed hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they said nothing aloud, deep inside, all of them felt a dark premonition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court’s propaganda that Wu’s army was “invincible and unconquerable” now looked like a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were truly that powerful, how could imperial troops have breached the heartland?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Issue orders: strengthen citywide vigilance. Do not give the enemy any opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Send an urgent plea to the court, detailing our predicament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prefect’s office shall be responsible for conscripting able-bodied men and calming the populace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Liu Laoxu’s order, the Prefect of Yangzhou nearly cursed aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conscription and calming the people seemed simple—but in practice, they demanded exceptional execution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slight misstep, and orders from above would twist into chaos below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you leave it to yamen runners, not causing a public outcry would count as success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Midnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Tianrui raised his farewell cup, rallying the troops for one final push.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve fed and trained these soldiers for a thousand days—now is the moment to use them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since ancient times, men of our kind have won glory on horseback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chance has come!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yangzhou City is weakly defended—this is our best opportunity to reclaim lost territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drink this cup, and let’s meet again inside Yangzhou City!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emotional speech elevated the atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless soldiers’ eyes burned with hunger for military merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the Great Yu system, this was the last chance for commoners to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2521,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","a9a7e98024ee885a53532927aa4964ab6b08ec64cb195c184ce1dc50f31e4da1","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-358","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-356",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]