novelAbuy Chapter 208 The Shadow of the Allied Forces
Chapter 208 The Shadow of the Allied Forces
The ambitions of Chang'an and the resounding clang of steel at Jiaozhou Bay ultimately could not completely isolate the city from the south of the Yangtze River. When the Xingqi Empire's national policy of "pacifying the Central Plains and unifying the world" was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, the ripples spread southward at an astonishing speed, eventually stirring up a raging storm on the banks of the Qinhuai River and within the Stone City.
Jinling, the capital of the Southern Dynasties. Although spring had arrived, a chill more biting than the dead of winter clung to the palaces and halls. The once gentle and charming scenes of painted boats, singing, and misty rain had been replaced by a pervasive tension and grim atmosphere. In the streets and alleys, rumors spread faster than willow catkins, and everyone knew that the behemoth to the north had sharpened its claws and turned its gaze towards this last vestige of peace.
The Imperial Palace, Zichen Hall.
Unlike the grand and imposing Xuanzheng Hall in Chang'an, brimming with the vigor of a newly emerging empire, the Zichen Hall was more exquisite and intricate, its carved beams and painted rafters exuding the decadent air of centuries past. At this moment, the atmosphere inside was oppressively tense. On the dragon throne, the Southern Dynasty emperor, though only forty, already displayed a hollowed-out state, hollowed out by wine, women, and anxieties. His face was sallow, his eyes were dark-rimmed, and his knuckles, gripping the armrests, were white from the force.
Below the imperial steps, civil and military officials stood in rows, but the atmosphere was far less solemn and imposing than that of the Northern Dynasty's court assemblies. Many faces wore expressions of fear, bewilderment, or apathy that suggested it was none of their business. Whispers swirled among the pillars like mosquitoes.
"My lords... the Northern... the Northern Dynasty is a rebel, usurping the title of emperor, and now it has openly issued an edict to invade the south, with the force of thunder... what can we do? what can we do!" The emperor's voice trembled uncontrollably as he repeatedly asked the question, but he could not get a reassuring answer.
The prime minister stepped forward shakily. He was already in his seventies, his beard and hair were all white, and his voice was indistinct: "Your Majesty, do not worry, do not worry... We have the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. For a hundred years, the northern barbarians have tried to invade from the south, and none have escaped with their swords and sunk to the sand... Although the opposing forces are strong, how can they fly across? We only need to hold the river defenses firmly, wear down their morale, and wait for their army to grow old and exhausted..."
"Hold the river defenses tight? Wear down their morale?" A loud, impatient voice interrupted him. The speaker stood at the head of the military ranks, a burly man with a resolute face, his armor gleaming. He was none other than Xiao Jingyan, the Grand Marshal of the Southern Dynasty's army, a renowned general of the royal family, and the Prince of Chu. He was young and vigorous, with outstanding military achievements, and enjoyed immense prestige within the army. He was one of the few remaining capable commanders of the Southern Dynasty. "Does the Prime Minister know that Emperor Chen Xing of the Northern Dynasty has spent three years building up his forces, constructing countless warships? His naval strength and power are likely no less than ours! Furthermore, his infantry are elite, heavily armored, and armed with powerful crossbows. Can they really rest easy with just a river? Wasn't the lesson of the 'Jiangpu Agreement' three years ago painful enough?!"
Xiao Jingyan's words were like cold water poured into a hot oil pan, immediately causing a stir. Three years ago, the Xing Kingdom feigned peace talks and signed the "Jiangpu Treaty." The Southern Dynasty's rulers and ministers naively believed they had gained a respite, but the Northern Dynasty used this opportunity to fully assimilate the North, build up its navy, and its strength skyrocketed. This was considered a great humiliation and one of the roots of their current fear.
"Then... then what should we do in the King of Chu's opinion?" The emperor looked at Xiao Jingyan anxiously, as if grasping at a straw.
Xiao Jingyan took a deep breath, clasped his hands, and said loudly, "Your Majesty! Our dynasty alone cannot withstand the Northern Dynasty's all-out attack. The only way now is to follow the ancients' example and form alliances! Quickly send envoys to contact the powerful lords and regional governors in Jingzhou, Sichuan, Lingnan, and Minyue, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and form an 'Anti-Star Alliance'! The Northern Dynasty wants to unify the world, not only by attacking our Southern Dynasty, but also by suppressing the other vassal states. The principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold' is something the vassal states surely understand. If we join forces and rely on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River for combined land and water defense, we may well be able to compete with Chen Xing!"
A united front against the Northern Dynasty! This proposal rekindled a glimmer of hope in the eyes of many ministers. Indeed, although the Southern Dynasty was weak, there were still many powerful warlords in Jiangnan and even further south who held military power and harbored fear or even hostility towards the Northern Dynasty. If they could be united, they would indeed be a force to be reckoned with.
"But... the various vassal states each have their own ambitions, and in recent years they have had many disagreements with our dynasty. They may not be willing to sincerely send troops to help us," a minister raised a concern.
"It's all up to human effort!" Xiao Jingyan declared resolutely. "We can offer substantial rewards to jointly elect a leader, agreeing to divide the northern territories after the war, and at least ensuring that the southern half is no longer invaded. This is a matter of life and death; if we continue to fight individually, we will surely be defeated piecemeal by the Northern Dynasty! I am willing to personally act as an envoy to persuade the various vassal states!"
After a heated and even somewhat contentious court debate, with the emperor at a loss and most officials unable to offer a better solution, Xiao Jingyan's strategy of "forming alliances against the rebellion" was ultimately adopted. The emperor issued an edict, bestowing upon Xiao Jingyan the title of "Grand Marshal for the Expedition, Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of All Circuits in Jiangnan," and granting him full authority to represent the court in negotiations and alliances with various warlords.
Over the next month, Xiao Jingyan displayed astonishing efficiency and political acumen. He dispatched numerous eloquent envoys, well-versed in the inner workings of the regional military governors, carrying lavish gifts and imperial edicts, to various regions. Simultaneously, he himself left Jinling to personally travel to the most powerful regions, such as Jingzhou and Lingnan, to meet with the feudal lords in person.
The news of the Xingqi Empire's massive war machine being activated acted as the best catalyst. Fear is contagious, especially the fear of Chen Xing's unconventional, devastating rise and sweeping conquest of the north. When they realized that the Northern Dynasty's ultimate goal was indeed to wipe out all separatist forces, even the warlords who had long-standing conflicts with the Southern Dynasty had to seriously consider the necessity of joining forces.
Through Xiao Jingyan's tireless mediation, coercion, and enticement, combined with pressure from the Northern Dynasty, a nascent "Anti-Star Alliance" began to take shape, centered on the Southern Dynasty and encompassing major southern forces such as the military governors of Jingxiang, Lingnan, Bashu, and Minyue. Although trust among them was limited and infighting was constant, a preliminary alliance was finally reached under the banner of "resisting the Northern Dynasty's invasion of the south."
The alliance elected Xiao Jingyan, the King of Chu, who possessed the greatest strength and prestige, as its leader. They agreed that each nation would contribute troops and provisions, and that they would establish unified command and deploy defenses along the Yangtze River. Preliminary estimates suggested a total force of 150,000 men and thousands of warships. Their plan was to use the Yangtze as a natural barrier, employing a combined land and water defense, with a focus on strengthening the defenses of key crossings such as Caishiji, Guazhoudu, and Xiakou, attempting to block Xing Qi's army north of the river.
Within Nanjing, massive construction began, fortifying the city walls and stockpiling provisions. Along the Yangtze River, beacon towers stood watch, camps dotted the landscape, and warships cruised the waters. A chilling atmosphere of impending war enveloped the entire Jiangnan region. The once picturesque Qinhuai River, shrouded in mist and moonlight, was now tinged with a sense of bloodshed and tragedy.
The news quickly reached Chang'an through various channels.
In a side hall of the Xuanzheng Hall, Chen Xing looked at the latest intelligence summary presented by the Censorate, a cold smile curving his lips. He casually handed the intelligence to Jia Wen, who was standing to the side.
"The shadow of the allied forces?" Chen Xing scoffed. "As expected. A bunch of rabble, each with their own ulterior motives, pushed out Xiao Jingyan, who's supposedly somewhat capable, and think they can rely on a great river to stop my royal army?"
Jia Wen quickly scanned the intelligence, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his narrow eyes: "Your Majesty, Xiao Jingyan is indeed a talented general, highly respected in the south. His ability to quickly unite the various vassal states and form a coalition army is a testament to his skill. 150,000 troops, defending the river, should not be underestimated. Especially his navy, although not as elite as ours, is familiar with the river's defenses and numerous. If we launch a direct assault, the cost will be considerable."
"A direct assault?" Chen Xing shook his head, walked to the huge map of Jiangnan, and traced the winding blue line with his finger. "I never intended to simply force a crossing of the Yangtze River and engage him in a war of attrition on the river. The Yangtze River, a natural barrier for him, is a shield; for me..." He paused, his gaze sharp as a sword, "it could also become his burial ground!"
He turned to Jia Wen: "Minister Jia, it's time to move the pawns of the Censorate in the south. I need more detailed intelligence: the deployment maps of the allied forces, the relationships between their generals, the locations of their grain depots, the patterns of their naval deployments... especially that Xiao Jingyan, where he likes to station his troops, his military habits, and which strategists and generals are around him."
"Your old minister understands." Jia Wen bowed. "Arrangements are being made at an accelerated pace. In addition, we must also expedite the preparations for General Shen Qing's new warships and incendiary devices."
Chen Xing nodded, his gaze once again falling on the beautiful Jiangnan region on the map. His voice was low and resolute: "Let them unite, let them gather their strength along the Yangtze River. Only then can I achieve my goal in one fell swoop and completely break the backbone of the South! The shadow of the allied forces? Soon, they will know what true imperial thunder is!"