Chapter 562: Limited Northern Expedition

Ten days later.

The main camp of the Yue Family Army.

Inside the central command tent, the atmosphere was solemn.

Yue Fei sat upright in the chief seat.

Zhang Xian, Wang Gui, Yue Yun and the other chief commanders stood in two rows on either side.

Every face bore an inescapable fatigue.

And a hint of repressed resentment.

On the case lay a document urgently sent back from Lin'an.

It bore vermilion annotations.

But its contents made the officers in the tent feel chilled.

"Pengju, my younger brother, your aspiration for a northern expedition is commendable."

"However, the state's resources are strained, supplies are insufficient, and raising a large army hastily may not be foolproof."

"Order your forces to act opportunistically, with the priority of recovering Xiang and Deng and intimidating the puppet Qi."

"Do not underestimate the enemy and rashly advance, nor engage in wasteful battles that cause loss."

"The required provisions have been ordered to be allocated appropriately by the authorities, but transport is difficult; your unit must also raise supplies locally to make up the shortfall."

"Heed this order earnestly."

Below it bears the seal of the Imperial Secretariat.

Also present is the personal seal of the current emperor, Zhao Zhen.

It appears gentle.

In reality, it is icy cold.

"Act opportunistically."

"Do not underestimate the enemy and rashly advance."

"Allocate appropriately."

"Raise funds locally."

Each word exudes evasion, limitation, and distrust.

"The Imperial Court…… is this the Imperial Court's reply?"

Wang Gui could not hold back; his voice turned hoarse.

"Xiang and Deng? Our vanguard has already reached Cai Prefecture; it's only a few days' journey from the old capital, Bian Liang!"

"Should we now turn our forces to attack Xiang and Deng at this moment?"

"What… what kind of northern expedition order is this?!"

Zhang Xian's face turned ashen, his fists clenched.

"Provisions 'allocated appropriately'… yesterday the grain officer reported that the camp's stores are sufficient for only half a month."

"Where is the subsequent grain and fodder?"

"'Raise funds locally'? In Henan, ravaged by war, nine out of ten homes are empty; the populace resorts to cannibalism!"

"Where are we supposed to raise supplies?"

"Are we expected to plunder the people?"

Yue Yun, young as he is, grew so angry his eyes reddened.

"Father! This edict clearly intends to bind our hands and feet, rendering us immobile!"

"Once provisions run out and troops grow weary, we will collapse without a fight!"

Yue Fei raised his hand.

He quelled the officers' indignation.

His face showed little expression.

He simply rolled up the document slowly and set it aside.

His gaze swept over each familiar face in the tent.

"The edict, you have all seen it."

His voice was calm, yet carried a weighty force.

"The Imperial Court has its own difficulties, its own concerns."

"But we…"

He paused.

"We too have our difficulties, and our battle must be fought."

"The puppet Qi's Li Cheng faction has just suffered a new defeat; the main force of the Jin army is being harassed in the north by the Northward Aspiration Army, leaving them no leisure to look south."

"In Henan's prefectures, the people's hearts yearn for the Song, and righteous armies rise up like swarms."

"Now is the best time to recover lost territory."

"If we wait for the Jin army to recover, the puppet Qi to solidify its footing, and the Imperial Court to reach another peace agreement…"

"then our years of effort, the soldiers' bloodshed and sacrifice, will all come to nothing."

"The people of Zhongyuan will never again see the light of day."

He rose to his feet.

He walked to the huge map hanging on the tent wall.

His finger traced the Yellow River, then pointed to the location of Bian Liang.

"The Imperial Court wants us to fight Xiang and Deng."

That's what a flank commander should do.

Our main force has already come this far...

His finger pressed heavily on the area around Zhuxian Town southwest of Bian Liang.

Just take it as pointing straight at Bian Liang.

Even if we cannot recover it in one fell swoop, we must bring the troops to the city walls and shock the world.

Let the Jin people know that the Song army still has a daring fighting force.

Let the people of Zhongyuan see that the banners of the Great Song have not fallen!

The tent was silent.

Only the sound of heavy breathing could be heard.

"But... provisions?" Wang Gui worried anxiously.

"In the secret letter from Mr. Shi Dun of the Northward Aspiration Army, it was mentioned that the first batch of 'northern grain transported south' has already passed Dongping Lake."

Yue Fei said.

"Though it's a drop in the bucket, it can still serve as an emergency measure."

"Furthermore..."

A glint of determination flashed in his eyes.

"Issue orders to all armies: starting today, rations are halved."

"Our officers shall eat the same rations as the soldiers."

"Tell the troops that the court's provisions have run out, and it is my, Yue Fei's, inadequacy."

"But recovering our lost lands is right before our eyes."

"Tighten your belts, and after this battle!"

"If we can take the outskirts of Bian Liang, we can live off the enemy, or even join forces with the northern volunteer armies to form a contiguous front and open the supply route."

"This is a risky move."

"It is also the only viable move."

The generals were moved.

Rations halved, sharing the same food as the soldiers.

This means the commander-in-chief will go hungry together with the entire army.

But this is also the most direct way to unite the troops' hearts.

"Moreover..."

Yue Fei's gaze turned sharp.

"Rectify military discipline, strictly investigate inside and out."

"In these extraordinary times, anyone who has abnormal contact with Lin'an, spreads rumors, or undermines morale..."

"Regardless of rank, seize them on the spot and punish them without mercy!"

Zhang Xian and Wang Gui exchanged a glance, then solemnly accepted the orders.

They recalled the reminder in Shi Dun's secret letter.

It seems the marshal also sensed something.

"Everyone, get ready."

Yue Fei waved his hand.

"Three days later, we will break camp and march north."

"The vanguard, Yue Yun, target Yingchang."

"The central army will follow me directly to Yancheng."

"Remember, steady and solid, step by step, building camps as we go."

"Our goal is not to crush how many enemy troops."

"It is to recover the land, establish a firm foothold, and join together!"

"It is to let the court and all under heaven see..."

"This northern expedition route is passable!"

"Yes!"

The generals shouted their assent, and the fire reignited in their eyes.

Although the road ahead is arduous.

Although the rear is cold.

But the commander-in-chief has not lost his resolve.

Then they have a direction.

The generals withdrew from the grand tent.

Yue Fei alone remained before the map, motionless for a long time.

He reached into his bosom and took out a warm, smooth jade pendant.

It was sent by his lady via a messenger.

It is also the sole indirect token between him and the mysterious 'Mr. Chen' of the Northward Aspiration Army—Shi Dun had said when passing it along that this object might help with contact.

He did not understand its mysteries.

But holding it, thinking of the northern volunteer armies who, though never having met him, have wholeheartedly assisted, his heart warmed slightly.

At least.

He is not completely alone.

"Northern Expedition……"

He whispered to himself.

"This road, no matter how hard, must be walked."

Almost at the same moment.

Black Cloud Stronghold

Chen Wen stands on the newly built "Observation Platform"

This place is actually the highest point in the stronghold, offering a distant view of the surrounding mountains and fields

He also holds something in his hand

A piece of uncarved dark iron-wood token blank

The surface is rough, but the wood is dense and heavy in the hand

This is the latest sample sent by Zhao Lao Nian

It is said that trace amounts of "inert gloom energy crystal powder" refined from evil objects in Wang Family Hollow were mixed in, and it was processed with the Chen Dynasty's secret method

Theoretically, it can better bear the "Fortune Momentum mark"

Chen Wen has spent several consecutive days, each day devoting half a shichen

Immersing mind and spirit, guiding the mysterious "multiple" power within the body, and a faint, hard-to-describe "momentum" vaguely connected to the Chen Dynasty's destiny, gently nurturing this token

The process is slow

And it greatly consumes energy

But he can feel that the token blank is undergoing extremely subtle changes

It becomes more lustrous

Between him and it, a faint connection has arisen

"Not enough"

He muttered to himself

"To lay down a sufficiently stable 'mark', probably still needs more than a month"

"I hope…… Peng Ju can wait that long"

He raised his head to look south

Lv. 5's "Shi Yong" ability gives him a vague sense of the distant "major trend node" intertwined with his own fate

He felt

South

A sharp, sword-like momentum, yet bearing a heavy shadow

It is slowly and firmly moving

Northward

"It has begun……"

He murmured

The "script" stipulated Northern Expedition

In another form, under the harsh conditions of scarce resources and limited authority

Stubbornly pulling open the curtain

He knows, soon

The Northward Aspiration Army's units will also, according to the established strategy, advance toward the Jin Army strongholds in North River and East Mountain

Launch fierce harassment

For the lone army to the south

To share even a bit of pressure

The autumn wind grows fiercer

It ruffles his robe

The token blank in his hand seems to warm slightly

As if responding

A thousand miles away, the war flames are being ignited

The war being ignited.