dognovel Chapter 246 Wanyan Ping's Strategy Against the Mongols
Chapter 246 Wanyan Ping's Strategy Against the Mongols
In the heart of the magnificent palace in Zhongdu, the capital of the Jin dynasty, Wanyan Liang sat on his dragon throne, the sounds of his ministers' reports echoing in his ears.
“Your Majesty,” a minister stepped forward, his voice heavy with concern, “the situation on the Mongolian steppe is currently turbulent, with tribal conflicts escalating. In the past two months, our army stationed in Xijing Road has suffered repeated attacks from Mongolian tribes, resulting in heavy losses. To ensure peace on the border, I humbly request Your Majesty to send additional troops to strengthen the defenses of Xijing Road.”
Wanyan Liang slightly furrowed his handsome brows, finding the stubbornness and cunning of those Mongol tribes quite troublesome. He repeatedly dispatched elite troops, determined to completely pacify these nomadic peoples, but it always felt like he was fighting against an invisible phantom.
The Mongols were like the wind on the grasslands; as soon as the Jin army pressed in, they scattered and fled like quicksand, leaving no trace. When the Jin army's morale was low and their strength was exhausted, they reappeared like ghosts, delivering a fatal blow.
Large-scale expeditions were like chasing shadows; the Mongol tribes seemed to have vanished into the vast expanse of heaven and earth, their whereabouts unknown. Small-scale attacks, on the other hand, were tantamount to lambs to the slaughter, merely adding to the spoils of war for the valiant Mongol warriors. This situation truly troubled Wanyan Liang, as if he were trapped in an unsolvable game of chess, every move fraught with difficulty.
Liu E, a high-ranking official of the Jin Dynasty, slowly stepped out from the ranks and gave a deep salute to the Jin Emperor Wanyan Liang, his demeanor full of respect.
He spoke in a deep voice, his words carrying a resolute tone that could not be underestimated.
"Your Majesty, I have a plan in mind that may break the Mongol predicament. However, to implement this plan, the entire nation's resources and manpower will need to be mobilized, and the cost will be enormous. But once successful, the Mongol tribes will find it difficult to maintain their foothold on the vast grasslands, and their decline is inevitable."
Upon hearing this, Wanyan Liang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if drawn by an invisible force, and his entire being instantly invigorated. "Good! Minister Liu, quickly tell me, what exactly is this brilliant plan?"
Liu E's lips curled slightly, his tone gentle yet firm: "On the Xijing Road, we currently only control a few relatively prominent cities, and our soldiers are fairly capable of defending them. However, if we truly want to firmly grasp the Xijing Road, building military strongholds is the most urgent task. Not only that, we also need to systematically relocate a large number of people here, and through the rise of military strongholds, slowly and steadily erode the territory of the Mongol tribes on the grasslands, like streams converging into rivers and seas, silently changing the ownership of this land."
Wanyan Liang nodded slightly, lost in thought for a moment, and then slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of inquiry: "So, in your opinion, how long would it take for such a grand plan to take from its inception to its completion?"
Upon hearing this, Liu E's gaze became resolute, and he cupped his hands in a respectful reply: "Your Majesty, based on preliminary planning, if this plan can proceed smoothly, it will take approximately three to five years. During this period, it will be necessary to relocate approximately 300,000 to 400,000 people. Once we have established a firm foothold on the vast grasslands, the threat from the northern grasslands can be eliminated once and for all."
No sooner had Liu E finished speaking than Zhang Zhongke, the Minister of Revenue, could not contain himself, stepped forward, bowed to Wanyan Liang, and said:
“Your Majesty, Minister Liu’s plan does have merit. However, the population of our country is already sparse. If we rashly relocate a large number of people to Xijing Road, I fear that the foundation of our dynasty’s tax revenue and the lifeline of agriculture will be shaken. This matter is of great importance. I hope Your Majesty will weigh the matter carefully before making a decision.”
Wanyan Liang's gaze shifted slightly, landing on Wanyan Ping, who stood quietly to one side. His tone carried a hint of inquiry: "What are your thoughts on this, Prince Zhennan?"
Wanyan Ping had been quietly observing the lively scene among the civil officials, never expecting his father to specifically ask for his opinion. After a brief moment of surprise, he adjusted his pace and calmly strolled to the center of the hall.
Wanyan Ping respectfully replied, “Father, please forgive my ignorance. I have carefully considered the words of the two ministers, and they both have their merits and are reasonable. However, putting them into practice seems to be fraught with thorns and obstacles. Perhaps we could take a different approach and recall the troops of my sixth brother stationed in Shandong Road to concentrate our efforts on clearing out the Mongol incursions in Xijing Road. Afterward, we could select able-bodied men from the former Song territory and relocate them to Xijing Road. This arrangement would not only accelerate the recovery of Xijing Road but also strengthen the Jin Kingdom’s southern border defenses, truly killing two birds with one stone.”
After listening to Wanyan Ping's speech, the ministers in the Jin court nodded in agreement with the proposal. Now that the Jin and Southern Song had made peace and the war was over, the more than 100,000 elite troops were idle in the south, like pearls cast before swine. Why not turn their attention to the Western Capital Road and wipe out the restless Mongols?
Seeing that none of the court officials had any objections, Wanyan Liang was overjoyed and slowly said, "This plan is excellent! Since all of you ministers have no objections, let's proceed with it. The Ministry of War should quickly draft the official document to transfer the Sixth Prince's troops to Xijing Road. The Ministry of Revenue should also expedite preparations and carefully investigate where people can be relocated to Xijing Road to boost the army's morale."
Two days later, Wanyan Xu, who was in Dongping Prefecture, was busily mobilizing his troops when a sudden troop mobilization order was quietly delivered to him.
Wanyan Xu slowly unfolded the document, read it carefully, and then a bitter smile appeared on his lips: "It seems that my elder brother is worried because I hold a large army, and he's afraid that I'll become too powerful in Dongping Prefecture. Sigh, well, since the military situation in Xijing Road is urgent, I'll put aside my current affairs and head to Xijing Road. Send down the order for the soldiers to rest for a day and recuperate, and then the army will set off immediately, with Xijing Road as our destination."
On the dusty, bustling construction site of the ancient city of Hebi, Li Zhen was intently directing the complex civil engineering work. Sweat trickled down his resolute face, but it did nothing to diminish the determination and focus in his eyes. At that moment, Bu Liang hurried over from afar, his face beaming with undisguised joy, like a spring breeze that instantly dispelled the fatigue and tension around him.
"My lord, great news!" The unruly voice, brimming with barely suppressed excitement, gently handed the message to Li Zhen.
It turned out that the Jin army had quietly retreated, which undoubtedly gave Li's army, which had been on edge for days, a rare chance to catch their breath.
Li Zhen received the message, his eyes scanning between the lines, and a wave of emotion surged within him.
Although Li's army had a deep foundation and outstanding combat power, it also suffered heavy losses in two consecutive battles against the Jin and Song armies. The soldiers' fatigue and wounds were silent witnesses, telling the story of the cruelty and hardship of the battle.
At this moment, the Jin army's withdrawal undoubtedly bought them a precious window of opportunity for rest and recuperation. Li Zhen knew that this rest was not only for physical recovery, but also for the re-cohesion of morale and will. He looked up into the distance, his eyes shining with determination and hope for the future, secretly planning how to use this rare time to revitalize the Li family army and prepare them for the new challenges to come.