In the second year of Jianwu of the Song Dynasty, in the Xinmao year, in the tenth month of autumn, in the northwest of Jinjing, on Lintaofu Road, Gongchang Mansion.
Entering the golden autumn in the northwest, the autumn wind is bleak, and the mountains in the distance are covered with white gauze. The rainy season in the northwest has passed, and the cold autumn has enveloped the entire land of Qin Gong.
It was dark in Gongchang Mansion at night, but the lights were still on in the study of Wang Mansion on South Street in the city. A majestic man in his thirties was sitting at the table, frowning and lost in thought under the light.
Wang Shixian, a member of the Wanggu Tribe of Mongolia, a wealthy family in Gongchang Prefecture, a co-president of Gongchang Prefecture, and a counselor in charge of the military affairs of the Marshal's Mansion. He assisted Marshal Wanyan Zhongde of Qin Gong in summoning tens of thousands of scattered soldiers from Longyou prefectures to prepare for the invasion of the Mongolian army or the Song army. .
Under the rule of the Jin State, Lintao Road originally governed Lintao Prefecture, Gongzhou, Hezhou, Jishi Prefecture, Taozhou, Lanzhou, Huizhou and other places. However, in the third year of Xingqing of the Song Dynasty, most of it was occupied by the Song army, leaving only Gongzhou and Huizhou was still under the rule of the Jin army.
After Wokuotai of Mongolia came to the throne of Khan, the Mongolian army went south to conquer the Jin Dynasty, but suffered disastrous defeats in Dachangyuan and Huaihui Valley of Shaanxi Province, where the Jin Dynasty was located. Wokuotai was furious and personally led the army. He and Tuo Lei led the army across the desert and marched south. They entered Shanxi, crossed the Yellow River, joined the Mongolian army of Shaanxi, and attacked Shaanxi. The Jin Dynasty gave up a large area of Shaanxi territory, guarded Tongguan, and withdrew to Henan. .
Now that the weather has turned cold, the Mongolian army is attacking Fengxiang Mansion, hoping to wipe out the remaining Jin army in Shaanxi in one fell swoop.
Fengxiang is six hundred miles away from Gongchang Mansion, with only Qinzhou sandwiched in between. Once the Mongolian cavalry turns to attack Qinzhou, where will Gongchang Mansion go?
Powerful enemies surrounded them, with the Mongolian army to the east, and the Song army's sphere of influence to the west, south, and north. Gongchang Mansion was caught in the middle, with no escape route.
There is also a way out, which is to surrender to Kaicheng, but I don't know whether to surrender to the Song Dynasty or to the Mongols?
There was a knock on the door, and several military generals and Confucian scholars came in and sat down one after another, all of them frowning.
Wang Shixian glanced at everyone and remained silent. Wang Shide, the general and cousin sitting on the chair in front of him, stood up in a hurry and said with deep thoughts:
"Brother, in this situation, all of Shaanxi will be lost, and only Henan is left in the Kingdom of Jin. I am afraid that the country will soon be destroyed. Brother, you must make a decision quickly, or else you will not know how you will die by then?"
"Yes! General, you have to make a decision as soon as possible!"
"General, we can't hesitate any longer!"
Several confidant generals Wang Zhong and Li Dajie also spoke together.
Everyone understands the situation at hand. The Great Jin Kingdom is about to end, and it is not certain whether it can withstand the attack of the Mongolian army. Now let’s see which side we vote for.
"Has the power of the Great Jin Kingdom really been exhausted?"
Wang Shixian looked at everyone and let out a long sigh, seemingly answering a question to himself.
First it was driven to the south of the Yellow River, and now Shaanxi has been lost again, leaving only a dilapidated Henan. It’s not that its strength has been exhausted.
"Brother, a gentleman does not stand under dangerous walls, and good birds choose trees to roost. For the tens of thousands of brothers in the camp, for the lives of hundreds of members of the Wang family, and for the future of the brothers here, we must not hesitate! "
Wang Shide once again urged his cousin.
"General, in this situation, we are surrounded by enemies from all sides. No one can save us. We can only save ourselves!"
Military General Li Dajie's words clearly explained everyone's current situation.
Once the Mongolian army attacks, there is only one way to die.
"However, the court treats me well and asks for glory behind the Lord. In my heart..."
Wang Shixian smiled bitterly, seeming very embarrassed.
"Brother, we open the city and surrender, not for ourselves, but for all the brothers and people in the city. Brother, if you are foolish and loyal, you will be the sinner of the brothers and the people!"
Wang Shide couldn't wait, and his reasons were high-sounding and sufficient.
"Being disloyal to the Lord, being unkind and unjust, I don't know how the history books of future generations will be written?"
Wang Shixian sat up straight and said solemnly.
"For the lives of tens of thousands of brothers in the army, and for the sake of a way out for the people of Gongchang Mansion, I decided to surrender and save Gongchang Mansion from the devastation of war."
“Brother’s wise choice!”
"Listen to the general!"
Wang Shide and Li Dajie were relieved and spoke one after another.
The Mongolian army slaughtered the city at every turn, but as long as they resisted stubbornly, they could probably save a life.
"But it may not be easy to surrender."
Wang Shixian said softly, frowning again.
"General, are you worried about Wanyan Zhongde?"
Wang Zhong, another strong general in the army and Wang Shixian’s think tank, said.
Wanyan Zhongde is the coach of Qin Gong and Wang Shixian's direct superior. He is upright and capable, loyal to the Jin Dynasty, and has high prestige among the military and civilians. He is currently stationed in Gongchang Mansion. Wang Shixian and others want to rebel against the Jin Dynasty, but Wanyan Zhongde cannot be circumvented.
"Yes, not only Wanyan Zhongde, but also Niange Wanzhan and Guo Xiabao. These people are not easy to deal with."
Wang Shide blurted out and answered for Wang Shixian.
"Wanyan Zhongde has great trust in me and confides in me. I can't bear to kill him!"
When Wanyan Zhongde was mentioned, Wang Shixian's brows furrowed even more.
Niange Wanzhan was the commander-in-chief of Qinzhou's military force and governor of the state. He was a civil servant and a scholar-bureaucrat. He never dealt with Wang Shixian, who was a military general. Qinzhou and Gongzhou are closely connected and the terrain is dangerous. If they can win the title of pawnbroker, they will kill two birds with one stone.
As for Guo Xiabao of Huizhou, like Wanyan Zhongde, he was a loyal minister and good general of the Kingdom of Jin and would never surrender without paying money.
"Brother, a man is decisive in killing and must not be benevolent as a woman! If you don't kill Wanyan Zhongde, are you going to have the whole city's soldiers and civilians bury him with him?"
Seeing Wang Shixian's hesitation, Wang Shide became anxious again.
"General, only by killing Wanyan Zhongde will the officers and men in the city feel at ease. Everything the general does is for the sake of the peace of the soldiers and people in the city. The general does not need to blame himself. Instead, he must make a quick decision to avoid losing the lives of the entire city!"
Wang Zhong looked serious and persuaded Wang Shixian with his righteous words.
"Guo Xiabao is in the north, so there is nothing to worry about. Huizhou is an isolated city now, so it would be good if he can defend himself. Niange Wanzhan is a nerd, and this problem must be solved. Also, Wanyan Zhongde is very loved by the soldiers and civilians of Lintao Prefecture. just in case……"
Wang Shide hesitated to speak and turned his gaze to Wang Zhong.
"Wang Zhong, do you have any good ideas?"
The military think tank, let’s see if he has any good ideas.
"Wang Zhong, you are Zhuge Liang in the army. Can you tell me if you have any good strategies?"
Li Dajie's eyes also became warm.
"General, although Wanyan Zhongde has a high prestige in the army, he is a scholar-bureaucrat who cannot let down his arrogance and cannot be compared with the general. As long as Wanyan Zhongde is removed and several of his confidants in the army are removed, the entire Gongchang Mansion , it belongs to the general."
Wang Zhong whispered, word by word, Wang Shixian's eyes slowly lit up. He thought for a moment and then continued:
"The terrain of Qinzhou is dangerous. It is the throat of Sichuan and Shaanxi and an important military town. If we can capture Qinzhou and surrender to Gong Qin as a pledge of surrender, it will show some sincerity. Life will be easier for you and my brothers."
Wang Shixian's ambitions are even greater.
"General, what's so difficult about this?"
Wang Zhong's eyes were cold and stern, and he completely entered the role.
"Tonight, we will kill Wanyan Zhongde and his cronies, get his seal, and then use Wanyan Zhongde's name to invite Niange Wanzhan to come over to discuss matters, and then kill Niange Wanzhan. Qinzhou will have it at their fingertips."
Wang Zhong's words made everyone smile and their minds came alive.
"Brother, what Wang Zhong said is true! Niange Wanzhan is a nerd, so it's easy to deal with him. Besides, even if Niange Wanzhan doesn't come, just the soldiers and generals under him, if I take people there, I can kill him!"
Wang Shide was very excited and echoed Wang Zhonglai.
"General, things will change sooner or later. Don't hesitate any longer!"
Wang Zhong seemed to be impatient.
"General, I don't need you to take action. I will take my brothers to kill Wanyan Zhongde, and you can just sit in the military camp!"
Li Dajie also persuaded in a low voice, with a ferocious look in his eyes.
"The country is ruined and the family is destroyed. There is no choice. Just follow the brothers' wishes and rebel against Niang's for the sake of the big guys' wealth and life!"
Everyone agreed to rebel. Wang Shixian's face turned red, he patted the table lightly and made a decision immediately.
"Wanyan Zhongde trusts me and will not be defensive. On his side, I have to do it myself. Li Dajie guards the city gate and cannot let the news of the incident in Gongchang Mansion spread. Wang Shide and Wang Zhong go to the military camp to deal with Wanyan Zhongde's henchmen."
Wang Shixian's eyes were bright and he spoke slowly, and several of his confidants nodded.
It seems that Wang Shixian has already made a comprehensive plan.
"Then what do you think, should I surrender to the Southerners or to the Tatars?"
Wang Shixian suddenly asked softly.
"Brother, hasn't Torre's envoy already arrived? Don't you want to surrender to the Tatars and surrender to the Song army?"
Wang Shide looked at his brother with suspicion in his eyes.
The Mongolian army is conquering the world, and they are all Mongols. If they don't surrender to the Mongols, how can they surrender to the weak southerners?
"You said that the Tatar army has strong soldiers and horses, and it has three routes southward from Shaanxi, Henan, and Shandong. Then why not use troops in Hexi and Zhongxing Prefecture?"
Wang Shixian asked leisurely.
"In the year of Dinghai, Subutai attacked Mianzhou City and lost more than 10,000 troops. The Song army and the Tatar army fought several battles, causing losses to each other. In Hexi, the Song army also recaptured it from the Tatar army. The Song army There are hundreds of thousands of troops in Hexi and Xingling, so there is a reason why the Tatar army did not march from Hexi and Zhongxing."
Wang Shide said it in a confused manner, and seemed to understand a little bit in his heart.
"The Song army has sharp weapons, is well-trained, and has hundreds of thousands of border troops. It is very difficult to deal with. If the general wants to surrender to the Song people, it is a choice."
Wang Zhong, a Confucian scholar, probably understood what Wang Shixian meant.
The strength of the Song army was not weak. Compared with surrendering to the Mongolian army, it seemed easier for the soldiers to accept joining the Song Dynasty, which had the same culture and race and similar living customs.
"Wang Zhong, you are right, I just want to join the Song army. In addition to the firearms and training you mentioned, there is also the Song Emperor himself."
Wang Shixian nodded, looked at everyone, and said in a deep voice:
"Since Emperor Zhao Hong of the Song Dynasty came to the throne, he forged firearms, established martial arts lecture halls, implemented new policies, and reorganized military equipment. In just six or seven years, the Song Dynasty was reborn from all its ashes, and the Song Army was completely transformed. Four years ago, the Song Army was engaged in a massacre in Mianzhou. The defeat is imminent. Four years have passed and the Song army has become stronger. Do you think we should surrender to the Song people?"
Wang Shixian's words suddenly heated up the atmosphere in the room.
The Jin army and the Song army were adjacent to each other on Lintaofu Road, and they lived together day and night. The Song army was elite and powerful in numbers, and Wang Zhong and other Jin generals knew this.
"The general is right! The Song Army won the Hexi Racecourse. In the northwest alone, there are tens of thousands of cavalry. There are hundreds of thousands of troops and countless firearms. From the general's point of view, if the Tatar army does not go south, the Song Army will sooner or later We will also go north to restore the Central Plains. Sooner or later there will be a battle between the Song army and the Tatar army. It is very likely that we will see it this autumn and winter!"
Li Dajie opened his mouth with an excited expression, as if he was just watching the fun and not taking it too seriously.
The powerful Mongolian cavalry and the fledgling Song army are worth looking forward to.
"The general has a far-sighted vision, and I admire him greatly! Wanyan Zhongde and Niange Wanzhan repeatedly proposed that troops should march into Xingyuan Mansion and occupy the Bashu land of the southerners to avoid the attack of the Tatar army. The southerner officials expressed their opinions Wanyan Zhongde is filled with hatred. This certificate of submission is even more weighty!"
Li Dajie laughed excitedly and quickly silenced himself.
"Wang Zhong, according to what you said, the Mongolian army is no match for the Song army?"
Wang Shide was doubtful and a little hesitant.
No matter how elite the Song army is, it can't compare to the Mongolian cavalry that roams the world and meets gods and kills gods.
"Second brother, the Song army not only has sharp firearms, but also has strong soldiers and horses. There are sixty-seven million southerners, and the Tatars are only one or two million. Once the Tatars and the Song army are defeated in a battle, regardless of the large territory occupied by the Tatars, it will be very It may fall apart immediately. Don't even think about it. The Song army can kill two to three hundred thousand people, but can the Tatars do it?"
Wang Zhong analyzed it carefully, and Wang Shixian continued the conversation with appreciation.
"Second brother, Wang Zhong is right. The most important thing is that the Southerners have a good emperor. In the northwest border alone, the Song Army has assembled one or two hundred thousand elites. The Southerners are training troops everywhere, as long as those few If the martial arts hall is not closed, there will be as many Song soldiers as you want."
"Brother, we listen to you. If you vote for the Tatars, you will most likely have to fight the Song Army, and you will have to risk your life as a backup. If you follow the Song Army, the Song Army will have sharp weapons and strong soldiers and horses, and they will definitely look down on us. When the time comes, On the contrary, the brothers can have a way to survive."
Wang Shide seemed to understand all of a sudden and spoke eloquently.
"General, the Tatar envoys are still in the inn in the city. Do you want to kill them and get another certificate of surrender?"
Li Dajie's eyes were shining, ready to make a move.
"Don't do stupid things. Leave a way out in everything! Offer gold, silver and jewels as gifts to the Tatar envoys to leave the country. Don't kill them all unless you have to."
Wang Shixian shook his head and rejected his subordinate's suggestion.
"What the general said is absolutely true!"
Li Dajie secretly admired him. Wang Shixian is mature and prudent, and his work is impeccable, which convinces his subordinates.
Wang Shixian frowned again in deep thought, and the voice of the guard outside sounded.
"General, the marshal invites you to go to the government office to discuss matters!"
"knew."
Wang Shixian responded, stood up, and smiled slightly.
"Wanyan Zhongde asked me to discuss matters, and it just happened. Brothers, work separately, be careful!"
The storm is about to come and the wind is filling the building. It seems that there are others who can't sleep at night.
Everyone stood up straight and took the order together.
The autumn wind is starting to pick up, and the sky in the northwest is about to change.
