Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 176 Southern Alliance

The military spirit flag symbolizing the heroic spirits on the "Chengtian Altar" in the Star Kingdom's capital city not only seemed to flutter in the northerly winds, but its invisible pressure, along with the edict of the newly enthroned Star King "Wuxing" changing the era name, was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake in the south, stirring up ripples far more intense and turbulent than expected.

The news spread at an astonishing speed along official roads, post stations, and trade routes, and through countless spies, both overt and covert, throughout the banks of the Yangtze River, the fertile plains of Jingxiang, the perilous passes of Bashu, and even the malarial lands of Lingnan. Initially, there was disbelief and astonishment—could the lord of Beidi Fortress, who was virtually unknown just a few years prior, really have conquered Xiliang? Then came the shock of receiving detailed intelligence—the fall of Guzang City, the execution of Han Sui, the pacification of Liangzhou by a single proclamation, the declaration of kingship, the establishment of administrative divisions and the enfeoffment of vassals… each and every event demonstrated the rise of a powerful, unified, and ambitious northern regime, far surpassing the fragmented and mutually restraining border warlords of the past.

Jiankang, the former capital of the Southern Dynasty, which had just suffered the sudden death of its governor and internal strife, had not yet fully recovered from its own chaos when it was once again thrown into turmoil by this thunderbolt from the north. Zhou Tong, the Tiger-like General who had once coerced Su Xiaoxiao, had already been demoted for "dereliction of duty and letting the enemy go free" and for offending powerful families in Jiangnan that he should not have offended. However, the suspicion among the newly established forces was even greater. The establishment of Xing Kingdom and the declaration of Chen Xing as king were nothing short of a shocking declaration for the Southern Dynasty's scholar-officials, who considered themselves the legitimate successors of China and viewed the north as barbarian lands. In the court, the voices advocating war and peace clashed fiercely once again, but this time, fear clearly outweighed the usual empty talk and arrogance.

Jingzhou, Xiangyang City.

This place controls the middle reaches of the Han River, connecting the Central Plains to the north, Sichuan and Chongqing to the west, and the Yangtze and Han Rivers to the east. Historically, it has been a strategically vital location. Now, the one who commands this place is Liu Kun, who has proclaimed himself "King of Chu." He is nearly fifty years old, with a lean face but eyes as sharp as an eagle. He commands 100,000 armored soldiers, skilled in both land and naval warfare, making him the most powerful regional warlord in the south besides Jiangdong. At this moment, he is in a secret chamber of his palace with his chief strategist and chief secretary, Wang Jun, looking solemnly at a huge, unfolded map.

"King Chen Xing..." Liu Kun tapped his finger heavily on the location marked "Xinghuo Fort" on the map, his voice low and deep, "His momentum is complete. With the fall of Xiliang, there will be no more worries about the rear. His army is fierce and brave, his administration is new and efficient, and he has capable ministers like Jia Wen and Su Xiaoxiao, making him even more formidable. Judging from his reign title 'Wuxing,' his ambitions extend far beyond the north. Given time to recuperate, rebuild his forces, and see if the mighty Yangtze River can stop his iron cavalry?"

Wang Jun, though his beard and hair were both white, was still vigorous. Upon hearing this, he stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty's concerns are quite valid. Chen Xing's rapid rise to power, his remarkable talent in employing people, and the clarity of his laws are all unmatched by ordinary warlords. What is even more worrying is that he seems to have won the hearts of the Hu people. With the northern border temporarily secured, he can focus all his efforts on the south. But our south..." He gave a bitter smile, "Since the decline of the court, the various warlords have risen up, each with their own agendas. There are many who attack and hinder each other, and few who work together. Jiankang is preoccupied with its own problems, Liu Zhang of Yizhou is good at maintaining the status quo but lacks the ability to make progress, and Shi Xie of Jiaozhou is content with his corner of the country... If we wait until Chen Xing has completed his consolidation and chooses a breakthrough point to march south, I fear no one will be able to withstand his onslaught."

A cold glint flashed in Liu Kun's eyes: "If we cannot stand alone, we must unite our forces! We must not allow these northern wolves to grow too powerful! Don't you gentlemen understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'?" He paused, "Chief Secretary Wang, you must immediately write letters in my name, and send secret envoys to Jiankang, Jiangling, Yizhou, and even Jiaozhou! Explain the advantages and disadvantages, invite the leaders of all sides, or send all the high-ranking officials, to Xiangyang as soon as possible to discuss the grand plan of forming the 'Star-Slaying' Alliance! Be sure to be earnest and sincere, stating that this is not for my personal gain, but to protect the Chinese people and safeguard the people of the South!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Wang Jun bowed and accepted the order. "However, the grudges between the various factions run deep, and trust is difficult to establish. I fear we must offer substantial rewards and find a person of high moral character and prestige, or one with the strength to command respect, to lead the alliance..."

Liu Kun snorted coldly: "The matter of the alliance leader can be discussed later. The most urgent task is to get them all seated at the same table! Tell them that if they hesitate and observe any longer, it will be too late once Chen Xing's warships appear on the Yangtze River!"

Almost at the same time Liu Kun made up his mind, in Jiangdong, Wu County.

Inside a lakeside manor pavilion, several elegantly dressed, distinguished middle-aged men were engaged in a secret conversation. They were representatives of the four powerful clans of Jiangdong: Zhu, Zhang, Gu, and Lu. Although they did not publicly hold royal titles, they effectively controlled vast tracts of land, population, and even a portion of the navy in Jiangdong. After the sudden death of Governor Wang, their influence on the Jiankang court grew even stronger.

"Chen Xing has become king." Gu Yong, the head of the Gu family, said with a gloomy expression, playing with a jade cup. "That lowly servant Su Xiaoxiao has become some kind of 'Inner Palace Commander' and 'Lord Yichun,' wielding great power over finances... If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have hesitated to follow that brute Zhou Tong and directly..." A trace of regret and ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

Lu Jun, representing the Lu family, shook his head and sighed, "It's too late for regrets. This woman has now become an important official in the North and is deeply trusted by Chen Xing. I've heard that she has superb financial management skills, and the North's treasury is becoming increasingly full. This is the most frightening thing. With money and grain, they can raise elite troops and forge powerful weapons. Chen Xing has also obtained the 'Wumu Legacy' to train his troops. The future combat power of his army should not be underestimated."

"Therefore, we absolutely cannot sit idly by!" Zhu Huan, the head of the Zhu family, slammed his fist on the table. "The northerners are inherently fierce and brave. If they are given money, provisions, and proper training, they will surely become a major threat to us in time! We must take advantage of their newly established rule and their still weak foundation, unite with all parties, and strike them down! At the very least, we must confine them to Jiangbei and prevent them from advancing any further south!"

Zhang Wen, representing the Zhang family, was more cautious and pondered, saying, "An alliance is inevitable. But with whom should we ally? Liu Kun of Xiangyang is ambitious and may want to use this battle to establish his authority and seize the position of leader of the alliance; the Jiankang court is in turmoil and it is difficult to form a united force; Yizhou is isolated... Moreover, even if we unite, who will be the vanguard? Who will supply the provisions? How will the spoils be distributed? If these problems are not resolved, the alliance will be a disorganized mess and will only make us a laughing stock."

"What Zhang Gong says is quite right." Gu Yong put down his jade cup. "However, in urgent situations, we must act expediently. Since Liu Kun has proposed an alliance, we should agree first and send people to participate in his meeting. We can discuss the specific terms later. The key is to form a united force to put pressure on the north and ensure that Chen Xing's development is not allowed to proceed smoothly. If necessary... we may contact those further south, or even overseas..."

The group exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with calculation.

Similar secret talks and messenger exchanges took place frequently among the major powers in the south. Fear and greed intertwined, and the desire for self-preservation coexisted with the ambition for expansion. The rise of the Star Kingdom served as a mirror, reflecting the weaknesses and internal strife among the southern lords, and forcing them to temporarily set aside their differences and consider uniting to deal with this unprecedentedly powerful northern enemy.

A month later, after much maneuvering and emergency consultations, representatives of twelve major southern powers, including Liu Kun, the King of Chu of Jingzhou, the alliance of the four powerful clans of Jiangdong, the Jiankang court, Liu Zhang, the governor of Yizhou, and Shi Xie of Lingnan, finally gathered in Xiangyang.

Despite their own hidden agendas and constant arguments, under the immense pressure of the consensus that the "Northern Star Kingdom is a threat," a loose "anti-Star Kingdom alliance" still managed to reach a basic framework: they agreed to jointly send troops, with a total force of 200,000, with Liu Kun as the leader and Gu Yong as the deputy. The Jiankang delegation was responsible for coordination. The plan was to gather at a strategic location north of the Yangtze River before the spring flowers bloomed and the Yangtze River rose, and launch a northern expedition, aiming directly at the important southern border town of the Star Kingdom, intending to blunt its advance in one fell swoop, and even force it to abandon its claim to the throne and retreat north of the Yellow River.

The news of the alliance's formation was not deliberately kept secret; instead, it was publicized loudly, both to boost morale and to intimidate the north. Proclamations were sent out, denouncing Chen Xing as a "usurper and false king" and a "jackal of the north," calling on the world to join forces against him.

When the news reached the Star Kingdom's capital, Chen Xing was in the Armory with Chen Wei and Jia Wen, reviewing reports on the new army's training progress. Upon hearing the news, he wasn't angry; instead, he revealed a knowing smile and said to Jia Wen, "Wenhe, look, the 'Southern Alliance' has indeed arrived. They're quite formidable."

Jia Wen stroked his beard, a cold glint flashing in his narrow eyes: "Your Majesty, scabies and other skin diseases, when clustered together, form sores. Though the number of people involved may be large, their hearts are bound to be different. Liu Kun, Gu Yong, and their ilk each harbor their own selfish interests, making it difficult to unify their commands. This so-called 'alliance' is not difficult to defeat. We only need to find a weakness, provoke them slightly, and they will surely fall into chaos. At that time, we may be able to subdue them without a fight, or we may wait for them to collapse on their own before attacking them."

Chen Xing nodded, walked to the map of the south, and looked down at the Yangtze River: "But since they have already drawn their swords, we must also be prepared. Order all the armies in the south to strengthen their defenses, reinforce city defenses, clear the fields and stockpile grain. Chen Wei, the training of the new army needs to be accelerated, especially the 'Jinghai Camp' of the navy. It must be formed into a combat force as soon as possible, at least enough to control a section of the river. Wenhe, you can start preparing your 'divide and conquer' strategy. Let them light the first fire of this 'Southern Alliance' themselves, and we'll add fuel to the fire and see how it burns."