Although with the unification of Jin Dynasty by Huyan, most of the high-level officials and the population have moved to the southern capital, while the northern capital only retains its political status and has long lost the prosperity it had in the past when the two Jin Dynasties were in confrontation.
However, Huo Feiguang's victory still shook the foundation of the Jin Kingdom and had a great impact on the three kingdoms of Jin, Liang, and Xia.
No matter which country's capital was breached, it was a devastating political blow, especially the northern capital of the Jin Kingdom, which was expanded and reinforced by Hu Yanhe.
When Nanjin took over the general situation and overwhelmed Beijin, it was this strong city that kept the hope of counterattack.
Liangzhou and Beiqu County were abuzz with excitement. Groups of Jin people packed up restaurants and teahouses to celebrate with a drink.
Even the golden soldier on duty was full of joy, wishing that his companions would come to replace him immediately.
It turned out that the front line had won another victory. Liang Jun's last stronghold in Beiqu County was eliminated. The battle was fruitful and many prisoners were killed.
Beiqu County is the northernmost county in Liangzhou. It is not densely populated, but it has a large area and heavy responsibilities. It controls many gates and military forts.
Now that the entire Beiqu County has been lost, it means that the entire Liangzhou is exposed to the iron heel of the Jin Kingdom. The next step can even take Xiyuan County directly and destroy the Liang Kingdom.
This is the first time in three hundred years that the Kingdom of Jin has completely occupied a county in the Central Plains, and it has actually controlled it.
For the northern border, the Central Region is the Central Plains, but for the Jin Kingdom and other vassal states, the entire 48 states of the Central Dynasty are the Central Plains.
There is no foreign country that does not want to take over the Central Plains. Even if it cannot control the entire territory, it will be a great improvement to the national power if it can capture one or two states.
The Central Dynasty did not always maintain the forty-eight states. Some of the weakened dynasties did not even extend beyond the Central Region. However, even in this way, they could claim the title of Emperor Cheng Long and call themselves orthodox.
This is the human size of Tianyuan Continent. There can only be one true dragon, but this time span is very long.
The period when many emperors stood side by side and there was only one emperor occurred many times, but in the end, only one true human dragon survived.
In history, there was a generation of Jin Kingdom that reached its peak in the hands of the Wanyan clan, named Wanyan Jin Kingdom. They once controlled the northern border and even invaded Zhongzhou and called it Zhengtong for nearly a hundred years.
Although Dajin does not exist in the list of central dynasties recognized by the Heavenly Court, it does not prevent many foreign vassals from regarding it as a role model.
The Jin Kingdom in the past dynasties could only set up the Yin Court, presided over by the king, but the Wanyan Jin Kingdom left the only Dragon Court of the Jin Kingdom.
Beiqu County, the county government, King Jin is temporarily here.
Under the bright lights, the people were intoxicated and the dancing and music were intoxicating.
The beautiful maid's silver bell-like laughter and the rude military commander's rough clinking of glasses merged into a unique and melancholy sound.
The King of Jin held a banquet here to entertain the heads of nobles and generals. They celebrated the victory of the war and ate at the cauldron.
"Now that Beiqu has surrendered, the remaining three counties of the Liang Kingdom are like a little lady who has taken off her clothes. She is soft and weak and can only be humiliated by us."
"Hahaha, that's exactly what you said. I think we will attack Xiyuan County directly next and force Marquis Liang to surrender!"
"If one of the Central Plains princes surrenders to the king, it will be much easier to attack Liangzhou and even the northern border."
"By winning the Northern Territory, your Majesty will be able to proclaim himself emperor and accomplish the greatest feat since Wanyan Dajin. When that happens, all of us will be heroes and we will definitely ask your Majesty for a piece of the Central Plains fiefdom."
The dignitaries drank and talked loudly, and some of what they said made sense.
Hu Yanhe sat condescendingly on the main seat, surrounded by a group of important ministers on both sides. They were much more stable than the tribal leaders, and were no different from the officials and gentry of the Central Plains.
If there are Daxu officials who have participated in the imperial examinations in the previous years here, someone will definitely recognize them. Almost all of them have the experience of studying in the Central Plains and have the same title of Jinshi.
"The king has shown great power in the Central Plains and drank from the Maliang River. It is a joy and congratulation."
After Hu Yanhe accepted a round of toasts from his courtiers, he had a satisfied smile on his face. In terms of achievements, he had surpassed the dead old Jin King.
Just by clearing his throat, the hall suddenly became quiet. Everyone put down their wine and turned their gazes humbly.
In just two or three years, from a wandering prince who took refuge in another country to the power he has now, it is truly an extremely legendary experience.
Hu Yanhe calmly raised his wine glass and toasted to the "guests" present: "Dear chiefs and nobles, I would like to thank you all for your contributions to this southern expedition."
"I have decided to reward bravery, and all tribes that contribute to the army will be rewarded. No matter how many young men and women participate in the attack on Beiqu County, I will give you double the number of Xia people, and you will be slaves and people." "
"In addition, you will send people to the county warehouse to find the quartermaster to receive rewards such as iron tools, grain, and wine tomorrow. The more meritorious service you perform, the more you will receive."
After saying this, Hu Yanhe toasted with the nobles present and drank all the wine.
"The king is very clear about rewards and punishments. I really admire him. If I had known about it, I would have brought all the young men in the clan."
"Your Majesty, I will give you another toast. You will be as generous as the ancestral god on the top of Yin Mountain!"
After Hu Yanhe announced the reward, the nobles present became more and more happy and rushed to flatter him.
Hu Yanhe's expression remained unchanged and he was chatting and laughing. He knew that many people were just trying to save face and were not sincere.
But he can also really see that many of the chiefs of these small tribes have gradually returned to their hearts through victory after victory.
Although some of these small tribes only have a few thousand people, the bloodline of the entire Jin Kingdom is indeed composed of them.
If he can successfully win the Liang Kingdom next, he will definitely be able to rely on his victory in the Southern Expedition to completely integrate the large and small tribes on the vast grassland.
In the future, whether it is to attack Rouran and Xianbei, become a grassland khan, or conquer the northern border, you will have more confidence and certainty.
Just when Hu Yanhe was immersed in the beautiful idea of the future, a hurried messenger rushed into the county mansion without any guards to stop him.
Because this messenger's status was not low, he was an attendant of Hu Yanhe who stayed in Nandu. He was often a confidant who came in and out of the imperial palace.
Seeing that the messenger was about to break into the banquet, the ministers sitting below Hu Yanhe couldn't help but frown, wondering whether they should be stopped.
Only Hu Yanhe looked calm as usual, waving his broad sleeves gently to indicate that there was no need to stop him.
The messenger was panting. Fortunately, he had good eyesight. When he saw the scene of a feast, he immediately lowered his profile and took a detour through the side curtains.
"Your Majesty, there is an urgent message at home and I need you to read it immediately."
Seeing that the confidant who had stayed behind in Nandu was kneeling at his feet, Hu Yanhe's heart jumped suddenly, as if he sensed that something disaster had happened.
Is there trouble at home? !
Sure enough, before he could open the lacquer-sealed letter, a Shaman from the Three Realms wearing a gold-rimmed black robe hurriedly broke into the banquet right after the messenger.
This one didn't have so many scruples. He came straight to the King of Jin and whispered into the secret passage: "Your Majesty, I just watched the Qi. The luck of the Kingdom of Jin suddenly dropped by 20%, and the dragon's veins shook..."
"It should be the rear area. Something happened to the grassland in the north of the mountain? What could happen there?" After hearing the shaman's message, Hu Yanhe hurriedly removed the paint seal and murmured in a low voice.
When the letter was opened, it was a letter written by the old prime minister who stayed in Nandu. However, from the first sentence, his calm expression became unsteady and suddenly changed.
"Xia Guo prostituted Yao's captain Huo Feiguang, led 3,500 cavalry, and sneaked into the Jin Kingdom. They hid day and night all the way, killing people and wiping them out...without disturbing the Yinshan Holy Land, they marched thousands of miles straight to the Beidu. Now the Beidu is left to guard Wanyan Zonggu, and More than seventy officials and nobles at all levels have been captured, and I hope the king will make a decision."
After reading the secret letter, Hu Yanhe felt a little flustered. He immediately ignored his manners and picked up the silver flask and took a few sips of wine.
"For more than three months, Xia's cavalry traveled thousands of miles without being discovered by anyone along the way. Why did they go straight to their own northern capital?"
His face turned red from the strong wine he drank, and his heart was full of disbelief and anger. He wished he could kill all the military officers and ministers who stayed in the country.
Waste, too much waste!
How could he lose the place where he started? Even if the old prime minister didn't mention it, Hu Yanhe could foresee how much turmoil there was in the country.
Some clowns might cause trouble, and many of his brother's accomplices are well hidden but have not yet been killed.
Forget it, as long as you send people to recover the northern capital in time and spend some time, the turmoil will always subside.
The key is that Wanyan Zonggu was left behind in Beidu. This man was his grandfather. He was able to go to Yinshan and gain the support of many famous people because of Wanyan Zonggu's reputation.
The Kingdom of Jin was deeply influenced by the culture of the Central Plains, but it also retained the aristocratic discussion system. To secure the throne, it needed the support of some noble surnames.
The Wanyan family, the surname of the emperor of the Jin Kingdom, is still the spiritual totem in the hearts of many Jin people. The legacy of their ancestors is too deep.
If Wanyan Zonggu is allowed to be kidnapped by the Xia Kingdom, he will not be able to think of any plans for a southern expedition in the short term. He doesn't know how long it will take just to gather people's hearts.
With Hu Yanhe's own weird behavior, this lively celebration banquet suddenly fell into an embarrassing situation.
No minister or chief looked so indifferent. Something big must have happened, why should he drink?
"I have something to tell you. The Xia Kingdom disregarded friendship and took the lead in starting the war. Its young general Huo Feiguang... But please rest assured, the Prime Minister has dispatched soldiers and horses from Nandu and Yinshan to intercept it, and I will also send troops to support it."
"The benefits of the southern expedition will be great. After you return, find a way to stabilize your subordinates. If there is any disorder, you will be killed without mercy!"
After thinking for a moment, Hu Yanhe decided to reveal the truth because he knew that if he didn't tell it, Liang Guo would definitely tell it as well.
There is no way such a big thing can be hidden.
The banquet was canceled midway, and the city was immediately under full martial law, with extremely frequent movements of troops in various military camps.
Not long after, the first leading cavalry group had already embarked on its journey back north, and the troops gathered later became increasingly larger.
Traveling thousands of miles into the Kingdom of Jin, breaking through the capital, and still want to run away?
Hu Yanhe understood that he would definitely be able to make it back in time, but he wanted to be absolutely sure. What if the grassland couldn't be blocked, so he would block it in Cangbei County.
The shame needs to be washed away with the blood of the enemy, and the nobles, ministers, and grandfather Wanyan Zonggu must also be snatched back.
Otherwise, when Zhou Bai comes to offer prisoners to the Ancestral Temple, no matter where Dai Jin's face is, the higher-ups may doubt his ability.
While Hu Yanhe stayed up all night, discussing the mobilization of troops returning to the north and staying behind, Xiyuan City, which was surrounded by the Liang River on the opposite side, also received the news.
In the Liang Palace, which was also brightly lit, the ministers on duty and the generals who were urgently called into the palace were discussing excitedly in front of a map.
"The king is still wise and made friends with Xiahou early. Now it really solves our urgent need."
"As long as I am given another month in Daliang, all available military forces can be mobilized to the front line of Xiyuan to launch a counterattack."
"In the past few months, all major forces in southern Liangzhou have been provoked by us and have fallen into mutual attacks. The southern defense line is impregnable and most of the troops can be mobilized."
"Your Majesty, Marquis Xia wants us to send troops to contain the Jin people from returning north..."
You said something to me, and the excitement of the good news subsided, and finally got back to the topic.
"In your opinion, should we send troops?" Zhao Qi asked hesitantly.
The King of Xiyuan County, who has been indisputable for half his life, and his early start was too smooth, suddenly suffered a fatal blow from Hu Yanhe, Zhao Qi's psychological gap should not be too big.
This also led him to seek stability now and just want to keep the Guozuo family business.
As the first prince to rebel against the Xu Dynasty, what about his ambition to become king and dragon?
If someone questioned Zhao Qi like this, he would only sigh a few times. Hu Yanhe, a young dragon, was full of energy, which really made him feel a little depressed.
"Back to the king, I think it's time to send troops. If Xia's elite cavalry is wiped out, we may no longer be able to look north in the future, and there will be no one to help us contain it." A straightforward military general reported back.
"The last general agrees. Jin is a kingdom with a strong military. We should unite with Xia Kingdom to fight together."
"The general seconded the proposal..."
One after another, people seconded the proposal, but they were all military commanders.
Only a few ministers saw Zhao Qi's concerns and spoke out one by one: "Wei ministers believe that Xiahou's troops can only send 3,500 cavalry, so we can reciprocate and there is no need to go to war and destroy the unstable Xiyuan defense line."
"The minister seconded the suggestion. We have been defeated one after another and our morale is low. We are in urgent need of repairs. After one month, we will have the opportunity to counterattack in Daliang."
"Befriending the Xia Kingdom does not necessarily have to be proved by mobilizing troops. Wei Chen believes that the marriage should be restarted."
"According to information from the Ministry of Rites, the fates of the county lord and Xiahou have been calculated, and they are very consistent..."
On October 5, Jin King Hu Yanhe led 50,000 tribal troops and 30,000 cavalry directly under his headquarters, totaling 80,000 people, to return north with the intention of facing the Xia army in Cangbei County.
As an old rival, he knew that Zhou Bai would definitely send someone to support the lone cavalry.
For more than ten days in a row, the sound of galloping horses on the Jin Kingdom grassland never stopped. They were all groups of Jin men following the king's order to intercept Huo Feiguang.
However, until October 23, the main force of the Jin army returning north appeared in the Shanbei grassland, and no trace of Huo Feiguang was found.
Several adjectives came to Hu Yanhe's mind: good at long-distance raids, quick raids and large detours, large-scale intersecting operations...
These words are the evaluations of Wanyan Taizu by later historians, including great scholars of the Central Plains Dynasty.
Now Hu Yanhe, it seems very suitable to apply Huo Feiguang's tactics to him.
So before November, the Jin Army's 80,000 cavalry blocked all the passes in Cangbei County and no longer spent energy searching.
On November 9th, Xiahou Zhou Bai personally led 50,000 cavalrymen out of Kukou Pass and entered the land of Cangbei again.
He is going to the battle in Huyanhe, and the winner will dominate the grassland.
(End of chapter)
