[{"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-359":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},2364628,4623,"Chapter 359: Restarting the Nanjing Campaign","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-359",359,"\u003Cp>“Impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The prominent families of Yangzhou pledged allegiance to our dynasty, and they submitted their letters of loyalty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given the deeds they’ve committed, returning to the fake dynasty would mean certain retribution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qin Tianrui lacks the weight to protect them all before the false emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if some betray us, it can only be a few families—there cannot be collective treason!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yuzhe hastily rebutted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He proposed the alliance between court nobles and scholarly families; the Yangzhou clans were merely part of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect was strikingly clear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with well-bred noblewomen offered willingly, the Wu state’s newly rich had no defense against it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without much effort, they all became one of us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With whispers from the concubines’ chambers, the faction of surrendered officials led by him swiftly integrated into Wu’s power center.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Fu Haoxuan placed great trust in him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yangzhou clans’ rebellion threw him into an awkward position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once trust is lost, the good days of these surrendered officials are over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Hu, if not for these traitors, even if I were utterly incompetent, I would never have lost Yangzhou Prefecture so quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just wait and see!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they did not betray our Wu state, the Great Yu side will surely punish them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Conversely, if the fake dynasty accepts them, then my words are proven true!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Laoxu swore firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know how many had betrayed, but he had already done the cleaning-up work for Great Yu in advance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Yangzhou City, every family was in mourning, everyone weeping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some unfortunate ones were completely wiped out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many dead, if Great Yu still pursued their responsibility, it would be unjust.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was utterly unafraid to let time verify it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared careless and uneducated, but all that was just an illusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone took him for a brute, they’d be waiting to be tricked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordering the massacre of the city’s clans before withdrawal was both an act of vengeance and a search for scapegoats for the loss of the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Whether true or false, we’ll know soon enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that Yangzhou has fallen, our Great Wu state hangs by a thread—my ministers, do you have any clever strategies to turn the tide?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Haoxuan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Yangzhou clans were implicated, the matter should end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Digging deeper would set fire to everyone’s backyards—even his own harem would be affected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As emperor, Fu Haoxuan valued face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such an embarrassing matter should be handled privately; there was no need to make a public spectacle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than worrying over these trivialities, consider the aftermath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, Yangzhou Prefecture has been lost—reclaim it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The enemy forces entrenched in Yangzhou consist solely of the First Jiangxi Garrison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From Anqing all the way to Yangzhou, the enemy could not have emerged unscathed; the fake dynasty’s generals love to pocket empty rations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An under-strength garrison can number at most six or seven thousand men.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, by mobilizing troops, we can reclaim Yangzhou Prefecture before the fake dynasty reacts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Jingren’s words infuriated Fan Xiuwen half to death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Right Chancellor merely needs to offer advice—the implementation is entirely the Ministry of War’s duty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Theoretically, concentrating our forces now could indeed reclaim Yangzhou Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The problem is, the Ministry of War currently lacks that many mobile troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The enemy swiftly captured Yangzhou City—not only due to internal traitors, but because they possessed sufficient strength themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given the combat effectiveness of our own imperial troops, going there without several times their numbers would merely hand them victories.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, now the enemy holds the defensive position, further increasing the difficulty of war.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, most of our nation’s troops are concentrated on the front lines; the garrison forces are limited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The mobile forces we prepared have been taken by the Marquis Wu Mu to Suzhou Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There, fighting has likely already begun; withdrawing them in the short term would inevitably shake the morale of our front-line troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To swiftly reclaim Yangzhou Prefecture, we must summon troops from the capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But once we do, the capital will be left vulnerable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the enemy seizes the opportunity and marches straight for our Great Wu capital, it will be a disaster!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiuwen politely refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yangzhou City is the gateway to Nanjing—he too wanted to reclaim it quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But having the desire does not mean one can accomplish it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With insufficient troops, even he, as Minister of War, could do nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In truth, his position as Minister of War was merely prestigious on the surface.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The arrogant generals and hardened soldiers beneath him were beyond his control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The authority to mobilize troops and appoint commanders rested entirely in the emperor’s hands; the Ministry of War served mostly as the emperor’s assistant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Its primary purpose was not to manage the nation’s armies, but to take the blame for the emperor when problems arose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The capital’s forces are already scarce; we can spare at most twenty or thirty thousand troops—more would compromise the capital’s defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the fake dynasty’s army dared to advance alone to seize Yangzhou, they might also launch a surprise attack on Nanjing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If our forces are insufficient, the enemy will easily find an opening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Ministry of War faces difficulties, find a way to overcome them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Great Wu commands a million troops—when manpower is lacking, we squeeze harder, and it will appear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Yang Jingren deliberately glanced at Hu Yuzhe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nanjing is a great city—its defensive strength goes without saying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the rebel army attacked Nanjing, they stormed it for over a year and paid a terrible price to take it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Yu army attacked, they too could not capture it quickly—the only risk is internal collusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, numerous Chu officials defected; then came the Yangzhou clans’ betrayal—trust crises inevitably arose within the Wu court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even Hu Yuzhe, once the most trusted, was now under suspicion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All the former Great Yu officials and scholar-officials now looked like traitors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yangzhou City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the victor of the great battle, Qin Tianrui was busy comforting the wounded families of the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The battle was horrific—every family, without exception, suffered devastating losses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those who survived were all lucky ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This letter of loyalty was surely the most brutal in history.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At this point, even pleading is unnecessary—anyone looking at it would say they are loyal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deep inside, Qin Tianrui felt a touch of embarrassment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The horrific scene resulted entirely from his miscalculation of the clans’ strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He had merely intended to weaken them—never imagining he’d overdone it so badly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, no need to fear—this loss will take them decades to recover from.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Within the scholar-gentry group, competition exists—they won’t let these families recover.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“During this time, many challengers will seize their interests.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He knew this well, yet felt no sympathy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The rise and fall of families is normal; even the great clans cannot escape historical law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My own Xingguo Marquis House was far more illustrious than these Yangzhou clans at its peak—yet still declined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They couldn’t even reclaim the hereditary title left by their ancestors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their interests in court were entirely carved up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they hadn’t been pragmatic and adjusted their strategy in time, they wouldn’t have had a chance at revival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I myself am still fighting to restore my family’s fortunes—how could I spare energy to pity others?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Issue orders: immediately send word of victory to the Viceroy’s office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After scanning the documents and confirming no omissions, Qin Tianrui immediately ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With the victory of reclaiming Yangzhou, my position as Commander of the First Jiangxi Garrison is now truly deserved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When war merits are awarded, my ranking will certainly not be low.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The more critical this moment, the more cautious one must be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without reinforcements, being trapped in a lone city is extremely dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nanchang Camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the initial probing attacks, both sides soon fell into a staring contest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally bored, government troops and rebels engaged in verbal battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the government sent eloquent scholars to fight back—but they were utterly defeated in the verbal duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All their classical phrases and literary allusions meant nothing to the rebel soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how refined their insults, they were useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the contrary, the rebels’ foul language, though lacking depth, was instantly understood by everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, both armies switched to direct mutual insults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not heard it with his own ears, Li Mu would never have believed the world contained so many curses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regional Commander Qin has sent word: the First Army of Jiangxi seized Yangzhou City five days ago, slaying enemy troops...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swift arrival of this victory report left everyone bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Army of Jiangxi had marched toward Anqing, then turned toward Luzhou Prefecture; Marquis Wu had already contacted government forces in Huguang and Henan to prepare for their support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one expected that within just a few days, news arrived of Yangzhou’s recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief moment of stunned silence, all eyes turned to Li Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a tactic of striking where least expected—thoroughly bearing Li Mu’s signature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t look at me like that. I already told you before: the First Army of Jiangxi might move to reclaim the lower Yangtze region.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that Regional Commander Qin has retaken Yangzhou, it’s entirely reasonable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This answer clearly failed to convince anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Might move to reclaim” meant nothing but empty promises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lower Yangtze region held only a few prefectures; Yangzhou City was unquestionably among the most important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, the First Army of Jiangxi alone could never seize Yangzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advancing alone into enemy territory was nearly suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the very promise they’d dismissed had become reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much so that everyone suspected Li Mu had secretly orchestrated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, since the campaign began at Anqing, he had fully relinquished control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commanding from hundreds of miles away, pulling off clever maneuvers remotely, was extremely dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To unleash maximum combat effectiveness, commanders must be allowed to act independently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original goal of this campaign was sabotage; reaching Yangzhou was already a strategic victory—seizing the city itself was beyond expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director, how many things have you been hiding from us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiangxi Provincial Governor Bai Pan Shan asked, visibly frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deceiving the enemy was one thing—but now he was deceiving his own side too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lone force penetrating deep behind enemy lines and capturing a key city? That defied all military doctrine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet given Li Mu’s track record, no one dared cite doctrine to him anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as they won battles, everything else was secondary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Governor Bai, I haven’t lied to you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This operation was purely accidental.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our original strategic target was Anqing—but we were forced into a tactical withdrawal after encountering the incompetent troops of the Bandit Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subsequent capture of Yangzhou resulted from multiple factors; you can discuss the exact details once Regional Commander Qin returns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu explained calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t trying to show off—retaking Yangzhou was truly an unexpected windfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no need for military merit; he had no reason to steal credit from his subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Retaking Yangzhou is like a dagger plunged into the enemy’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now on, the strategic initiative in this rebellion lies firmly in our hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All we need to do is send troops to use Yangzhou as a pivot and launch an assault on Nanjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The importance of all other fronts will diminish drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How exactly to proceed? Director Li will handle the arrangements!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wu exclaimed joyfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t read military texts in vain—he knew every strategic location in the Great Ming by heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yangzhou Prefecture was isolated, yet not truly isolated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The navy could transport reinforcements and supplies directly by sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nanjing, in both political status and strategic value, far surpasses Nanchang, Jiujiang, Hangzhou, and other cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court is closely watching Nanjing’s fate; seizing it directly offers far greater value than pouring heavy forces into other regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leave one army behind to continue tying down the rebels in Nanchang; all other forces must hurry to join the Nanjing campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just us—our colleagues must coordinate quickly too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once news of Yangzhou’s recovery spreads, anyone with ambitions for the glory of retaking Nanjing will rush to join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unite all forces and seize Nanjing as soon as possible—I intend to break the rebels’ backbone in one blow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yongning had long demanded Nanjing’s recovery; now that the opportunity had arrived, they must seize it without delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Nanjing retaken, this rebellion would enter its final phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>War is fought for hearts and minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lose Nanjing, and the rebels’ dream of contending for the throne becomes a joke—their morale will inevitably crumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this battle, he could turn his attention to reclaiming Jiaozhi Province, free from internal power struggles among his peers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We obey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officials replied in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear—the lure of retaking Nanjing was immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even just joining as a token force, they were eager to participate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Hangzhou City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Jiangxi troops have retaken Yangzhou. Marquis Wu invites us to join the Nanjing campaign and capture the rebel leader in one stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fellow officials, any objections?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he held the official document, Jing Guoliang’s hands trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yangzhou’s swift return to government control had completely stunned him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not trusted Marquis Wu and Li Mu, he wouldn’t have dared even read the letter aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The government forces had moved too fast—there had been not a single warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director, what’s there to hesitate about? We must join the Nanjing campaign immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I propose mobilizing the navy to transport all units there at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Launch a two-pronged advance from Suzhou and Yangzhou Prefectures toward Nanjing, aiming to retake it before year’s end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let the court officials see the spirit of our Fujian-Zhejiang men!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhejiang Provincial Governor responded at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His excitement was so intense, an outsider might think he’d just been promoted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2316,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","307f2c81bef33fad5785025fdfe11bf455fc546392a534b01d9623504b9ca0ed","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-360","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-358",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]