Chapter 503

Inside the secret valley of Shandong

Chen Wen was guiding several core members of the Northward Aspiration Army in small-unit tactical coordination drills.

He did not use Ability Granting, but instead through precise guidance.

Correcting the subtle flaws in their coordination, cover, and assault transitions.

These screened men already had good comprehension, and with belief supporting them, their progress was astonishingly swift.

Suddenly, Chen Wen felt something, and abruptly lifted his head.

His gaze seemed to penetrate the valley's barrier, aiming toward the distant north.

The ease and focus on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.

In his Shi Yong

That patch on the northern horizon, originally just dense and chaotic blood-colored soldier-killing aura.

At this moment it is undergoing a drastic change!

It is no longer merely stagnant and swelling, but like boiling water.

And like a flood about to burst its banks, it begins to churn and surge violently!

Strands of dark red current filled with aggression, slaughter, and destruction.

They are separating from the center of that blood-colored killing aura, like the forked tongue of a poisonous snake.

Carrying an oppressive, suffocating feeling, they slowly yet firmly move toward the south.

——False Song's territory spreading and infiltrating!

This is not a Fortune Momentum change that ordinary border friction or small-scale clashes could provoke.

This is a large-scale, organized war cloud bearing a clear will to conquer.

It is accumulating, and the prelude has already begun!

"Finally... is it coming?"

Chen Wen muttered softly, his voice carrying a hint of heaviness.

Although he had long known from the "causal fragments" the heaviness represented by the two characters "Jingkang".

But when he truly, through his own ability, so clearly perceived the impending disaster's killing aura covering sky and earth.

His heart still suffered a huge shock.

It is not merely a war between two dynasties, but a collision of two civilizations and two fates.

The turmoil of Fortune Momentum behind it far exceeds ordinary warfare.

"Master, what's wrong?"

Chao Gai beside him noticed Chen Wen's expression had changed and hurriedly asked.

Several core members around also stopped their actions and looked over.

Chen Wen withdrew his gaze, looking toward Chao Gai and the few people gathering around, his tone solemn:

"Something big is going to happen in the north."

He cannot explain the details of his Shi Yong, but can describe it in a more direct way.

"The Jin people... probably are no longer satisfied with mere raids; they intend to launch a large-scale southern invasion."

"The scale will be beyond imagination; the border troops of False Song cannot stop it."

Hearing this, Chao Gai's tiger eyes widened, and a surge of anger and fighting spirit instantly rose.

"These gold-plunderers who kill for a thousand gold! Are they finally going to show their fangs?!"

His fists clenched, making a crackling sound.

"Master, then what about us...?"

"Prepare for war."

Chen Wen said firmly.

"Immediately notify all covert lines, raise alertness, and activate the highest-level emergency plan."

"Qian Gui's side, strengthen military intelligence gathering on False Song's northern frontier, especially the line of Zhen Ding Fu, He Jian Fu, and Zhong Shan Fu."

"I need to know the movements, troop numbers, and False Song border defenses' responses of the Jin main force; the more detailed, the better!"

"At the same time, through all our channels, to the mountain-and-forest heroes and local righteous armies of Shandong and Hebei, and even to those False Song officers who still have some spirit."

"Spread the news that the Jin army is about to launch a large-scale southern invasion, warn them to prepare early, and covertly guide them; if things become hopeless, they may turn to the Northward Aspiration."

"Understood!"

Chao Gai solemnly accepted the order and immediately turned to arrange.

Chen Wen then looked at those several core members; their faces showed tension.

But more so was an aroused, high-spirited fighting will.

"You have also heard."

"Usually we sweat a lot; in battle we bleed little."

"The upcoming drills will be more arduous and also closer to actual combat."

"I want you, and every brother you will lead in the future, to become the sharpest spear piercing the chest of the barbarians!"

"We swear to follow the master unto death! Northward Aspiration, slay the bandits!"

Several core members responded with a resounding assent, their voices echoing in the valley.

Liangshanpo, Hall of Gathered Righteousness.

Although the aftermath of the jade seal incident has not faded, undercurrents surge within the stronghold.

But the surface order has, thanks to the strenuous efforts of Song Jiang and Wu Yong, temporarily been restored.

However, a new, even more unsettling atmosphere begins to spread throughout the stronghold.

Some minor chieftains from the north, or bandits with connections to the Hebei and Shandong borders.

They began to bring scattered yet astonishing news.

"Brother, it's terrible! I heard the Jin have already broken through several border forts, killing and burning, and many civilians have fled south!"

"I have a relative in western Hebei who sent word that he saw massive ranks of Jin cavalry heading south, a black mass stretching as far as the eye can see!"

"What about the government? Where are the Imperial Court's troops?"

"What troops! I heard some government soldiers fled before even seeing the Jin, and some cities simply opened their gates!"

These rumors initially circulated only in small circles, but soon they spread across Liangshan like the wind.

Unlike the ideological dispute brought by the jade seal, the threat of the Jin marching south is real and concerns everyone's lives and property.

Panic, anger, confusion… various emotions intertwined.

In the Hall of Gathered Righteousness, the chieftains assembled once again.

This time, the topic was no longer the illusory 'Mandate of Heaven,' but an imminent survival crisis.

Lin Chong's expression was solemn as he stepped forward first:

"Brother Gongming, brothers! Urgent report from the northern frontier: the Jin barbarians launch a massive southern invasion, their forces fierce and sharp, the False Song's border defenses are as nothing, and the people of Hebei and Shandong are about to suffer!"

This is a national calamity! We of Liangshanpo have gathered here under the banner of 'Acting for Heaven's Will'—how can we stand idly by while the barbarians trample our lands and slaughter our compatriots?!

His voice rose with fervor, carrying an unquestionable resolve.

"Lin Chong requests permission to lead a force north at once, to rush to the aid of the still-resisting prefectures, to harass the Jin troops, and to defend the land and pacify the people!"

"Instructor Lin is right!"

Ruan Xiaoqi immediately jumped out to show support.

"We Liangshan heroes—if we don't step up now, are we really going to hide in this marsh and wait for the Jin dogs to come to our doorstep?!"

Song Jiang's expression shifted uncertainly.

He too had received the news of the Jin marching south.

Furthermore, through the Iron Crow Army's channels, he knew this was no empty talk but a crucial link in the 'script'.

According to the Iron Crow Army's plan, Liangshan—or rather, he, Song Jiang—should act at the opportune moment.

Through appeasement, to integrate into the False Song system, and then play a role in the subsequent 'history'.

Rather than confronting the Jin head‑on now.

He glanced at Zeng Tu standing in the shadows; the other's eyes were icy, and he gave a slight shake of his head.

Song Jiang drew a deep breath, suppressed his inner agitation, and strove to make his tone calm:

"Instructor Lin is loyal and brave, commendable; Brother Ruan Xiaoqi is also full of fervor

However, the Jin forces are mighty, their weapons sharp and strong, and although Liangshan is strong,

But after all, our troops are few and our generals scarce; if we rashly march north,

to confront the Jin army head‑on would be no different than striking a stone with an egg.

"Have you not heard the saying, 'He who cannot endure small hardships will ruin great plans'?"

He tried to steer the discussion back to the old path of 'waiting for appeasement, then plotting later.'

"Wait? Wait until when?"

Lin Chong showed no retreat, his eyes blazing.

"Wait until the Jin horses drink at the Yangtze? Wait until Bianjing falls? Wait until hundreds of millions of common folk become slaves of the barbarians?!"

"Is the 'great plan' you speak of, brother, nothing but to watch our country fall and our homes be destroyed, then to accept an appeasement that may never come, and become a minister of a lost state?!"

These words struck like a heavy hammer on many hearts.

The hall once again fell into heated debate.

"Northward Aspiration faction" advocates taking the initiative, uniting all forces to resist the Jin.

"The Appeasement faction" stresses preserving strength and waiting for an imperial edict of appeasement.

The middle faction wavered even more, fearing the Jin and growing more doubtful of Song Jiang's course.

Wu Yong stood to the side, lightly swaying his feather fan, silent, yet a glint of insight flashed deep in his eyes.

For those who long for "Northward Aspiration," the Jin southern invasion is a crisis, and moreover the greatest opportunity to break the stalemate!

In the shadows, the specters of the Iron Crow Army were also communicating swiftly.

"The situation has changed: the 'Jingkang' node has been triggered ahead of schedule, and the fluctuations are more intense than anticipated."

"The interference of that 'variable' is stronger than we estimated."

"Song Jiang's prestige has been damaged, making it hard for us to effectively control Liangshan; our 'script' has deviated. Over on the master's side…"

"The master is at a critical juncture, and the restoration of his authority is constrained by the smooth progress of the historical nodes."

"Now that the node has been disturbed, the master's recovery of power is also affected."

"Furthermore, due to regulatory restrictions, until that 'variable's' power reaches a certain threshold,

"The master cannot directly act upon its essence, and can only contend and eliminate it through the world's internal interplay."

"No wonder the master has always urged us to drive history forward and eliminate the variable, rather than act himself. It turns out there are such restrictions."

"Therefore, we must rely on the forces we presently have."

"Activate the backup plan: guide Song Jiang to agree that part of the war faction marches north, but we must limit its scale so that it serves as a check and a drain.

Meanwhile, we will use the Jin forces to weaken the strength of the 'Northward Aspiration,' while we accelerate contact with the peace faction within the False Song court.

"We must ensure that the appeasement process is completed within controllable limits."

"What about Chen Wen and the 'Northward Aspiration Army'…"

"They are the greatest obstacle in our plan, but also the key to restoring our authority and letting the master act more freely."

"When they engage the Jin forces and their strength is worn down, we will seek an opportunity to deliver a decisive blow!"

Once we eliminate this biggest variable and restore order, the master will gain enough power to fully control the situation!

The beacon fires of the northern lands have already risen.

It not only lit the path for the Jin Kingdom's iron cavalry heading south, but also thoroughly ignited the long‑standing tensions within Mount Liang.

It also pushed Chen Wen and his Northward Aspiration concept to the forefront of history's tumultuous currents.

A massive storm sweeping across all of Zhongyuan has begun.

And within the storm, unseen rules and schemes are also quietly unfolding.