Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 238 Allied Counterattack

Chen Xing's decisive decision to ascend the throne on the day of the "conquest of Jinling" was like a powerful stimulant injected into the hearts of his subjects, soldiers, and civilians, instantly pushing their already high morale to a fever pitch. In Chang'an, the northern capital, Jia Wen and Zhao Tiezhu exchanged knowing smiles after receiving the secret edict. They then efficiently distributed the weighty expectations and preparations to every relevant corner of the empire, working diligently yet systematically. In the southern expeditionary force, from the commanders to the ordinary soldiers, everyone was burning with determination—conquering Jinling was not only about removing the last major obstacle to the empire, but also about personally placing their lord on the supreme throne—what glory and achievement that would be!

However, while some rejoiced, others were terrified, and some were determined to die.

Although Chen Xing's secret edict was not made public, the meaning of "ascension to the throne requires the unification of the world" had been intentionally or unintentionally leaked through various channels, becoming the most powerful motivational slogan for the soldiers on the front lines. This slogan, like a sharp arrow with eyes, also pierced the hearts of Chu King Xiao Jingyan and his remaining allies, who were holed up in Jinling.

In Jinling, at the Chu Prince's Mansion, the atmosphere had completely shifted from solemn to a state of desperate madness.

"The day Jinling was captured... what a fine 'day Jinling was captured'!" Xiao Jingyan, his hair disheveled and eyes bloodshot, slammed a intercepted "rumor" circulating privately within the Xingqi army onto the ground. His voice was hoarse and raspy. "That Chen Xing brat! How dare he use my Jinling ancestral temples, the state, and millions of lives as sacrifices for his ascension to the throne! His arrogance is outrageous, it's too much!"

Below the hall, the remaining civil and military officials remained silent, trembling with fear. Luo Heng's bushy beard trembled with rage. He drew half of his sword with a clang and roared, "Your Highness! This humble general is willing to be the vanguard, to go out of the city and fight the Star Bandits to the death! I would rather die on the battlefield than suffer this humiliation!"

Several more experienced generals and civil officials hesitated, wanting to advise against a direct confrontation and to hold their ground while waiting for a change in circumstances, or to negotiate peace for survival. However, seeing Xiao Jingyan's predatory gaze and the gleaming blade in Luo Heng's hand, they swallowed their words. In the current situation, anyone who mentioned "defense" or "peace" would be admitting cowardice and undermining morale, immediately becoming the target of the King of Chu's venting of fear and anger.

"Defend? What's there to defend!" Xiao Jingyan whirled around, pointing to the gloomy sky outside the hall. "Jiangbei has fallen, Danyang and Wujun have fallen one after another, and the Xing bandits' forces are already close to Zhenjiang! Chen Xing is making these statements to force me, to force all of us! He's now using the momentum of his great victory to manipulate the people's hearts. If we don't strike him hard and crush his arrogance, within three days, someone in Jinling will open the city gates and surrender!"

He was panting heavily, his chest heaving, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a desperate ruthlessness: "Chen Xing wants to achieve everything in one battle, completing his coronation ceremony beneath the walls of Jinling? Dream on! Issue my decree: Assemble all capable troops from Jinling and the surrounding areas, both land and naval forces, and march them all to Poyang Lake!"

"Poyang Lake?" someone asked in a low voice, puzzled.

"Excellent! Poyang Lake!" Xiao Jingyan's eyes gleamed with a gambler's light. "The waters there are vast, with numerous inlets and harbors. My navy still has hundreds of warships of various sizes; we might be able to compete with that traitor Shen Qing's new ships! On land, the terrain around Hukou, Xingzi, and Duchang is complex and can be defended strategically. If Chen Xing wants to take Jinling quickly, he must first clear his flanks and open up the waterways. I will set up the battlefield on Poyang Lake, using my navy to block his advance and my land forces to wear him down by taking advantage of the terrain! As long as we can blunt his momentum on Poyang Lake, even if it's just a stalemate, Jinling will gain a chance to breathe, and those watching from all over Jiangnan might have their hopes rekindled! At that time, whether we fight or defend, the initiative may return to my hands!"

This was an extremely risky plan, even a desperate one tinged with a sliver of hope. It nearly emptied Jinling's already limited defenses, pinning its hopes on a decisive battle in the wilderness far from the capital. Moreover, the chosen battlefield was complex, with both land and water terrain, demanding exceptional command and coordination. But Xiao Jingyan was now pushed to the brink. Any seemingly secure defense, in his eyes, was tantamount to surrender. He needed a battle, even a fierce and potentially unsuccessful one, to prove he was still resisting, to bolster the crumbling morale, and, for himself and for the Southern Dynasty, to seek a "turning point" that might never even exist.

At the King of Chu's command, the entire Jinling region and its surrounding areas were plunged into a final, frantic mobilization. Men were forcibly conscripted, provisions were plundered, and all vessels still afloat—warships, merchant ships, and fishing boats—were incorporated into the navy. Zhou Jun was appointed Grand Admiral of the Navy, Luo Heng Grand Admiral of the Vanguard Army, and Xiao Jingyan appointed himself Commander-in-Chief. A massive force, boasting 150,000 men and over 500 warships, departed Jinling with an air of tragic grandeur and chaos, sailing westward along the Poyang Lake.

News of the allied forces' all-out attack was quickly relayed back to the Flying Tiger Pass camp by the scouts and sentries of the Xingqi Army scattered throughout the region, as well as by some families in Jiangnan who had secretly pledged allegiance to them.

"Poyang Lake?" Chen Xing stood in front of the sand table, watching the large red markers representing the Allied Forces move towards the scattered waters. A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth. "Xiao Jingyan has chosen a good location. He wants to use the complex hydrology and waterways to offset some of the advantages of our navy, while relying on the cities of Hukou and Nankang to his back, attempting to coordinate land and water operations and put up a stubborn resistance."

Chen Wei pointed to the confluence of Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River on the sand table: "Your Majesty, the enemy's move, though seemingly risky, is actually a desperate gamble by a cornered beast. If our army is bogged down at Poyang Lake, the war will be prolonged, strengthening the defenses of Nanjing and potentially emboldening the remaining enemy forces in Jiangnan. Conversely, if our army can annihilate their main land and naval forces here with overwhelming force, Nanjing will become an isolated and empty city, and Jiangnan can be easily conquered."

Shen Qing carefully examined the hydrological map of Poyang Lake and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, Poyang Lake is currently in the dry season, and some of the lake beaches and inlets are shallow. Our large warships have a deep draft, which restricts their movement. The enemy has many small boats, and if we use harassment and fire attacks, relying on the reeds to maneuver, it will be troublesome. Moreover, although Zhou Jun is not very talented, he has served in the Jiangnan navy for a long time and is quite familiar with the hydrology of the Poyang Lake area. We must be wary of him."

Lin Wan'er said softly, "The King of Chu has already staked his last gamble. His army is in a state of panic and low morale, relying entirely on a spirit of despair. If we can cut off his navy or severely damage a part of his army, his entire army may collapse instantly. However, a cornered dog might make a desperate counterattack, which we must be wary of."

Blue Phoenix approached the sand table, looking at the blue areas representing lakes and inlets, and wrinkled her nose: "Where there's a lot of water, the humidity is high, making it easy to get sick and develop sores. I need to stock up on more of my medicine powder. Also, if they're hiding in the water plants and reeds, my little guys can come in handy to scout ahead."

Chen Xing listened to everyone's analysis, his gaze repeatedly sweeping over the Poyang Lake area on the sand table. Xiao Jingyan wanted a decisive battle? Very well. He needed a battlefield of sufficient scale to lay the most glorious foundation for his promise of "conquering Jinling." The expansive waters of Poyang Lake were perfect for implementing the tactic he had long been developing. And while the complex hydrology and the enemy's potential harassment tactics were challenges, weren't they also conditions that could be utilized?

"Xiao Jingyan wants to achieve his goal in one battle, and I will grant his wish." Chen Xing's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination. "The objective of this battle is not to repel or rout, but—to annihilate them!"

His gaze swept over the generals in the tent: "Shen Qing!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"The main force of the Jinghai Navy will advance to the mouth of Poyang Lake and control key waterways. There is no need to rush into battle with the enemy's main naval force. The primary task is to familiarize themselves with the hydrology, seize advantageous positions upwind and upstream, and conduct detailed surveys of the lake's water depth, current direction, and wind direction changes, especially the common wind directions and forces in winter! Deploy more sentry boats to monitor the movements of the enemy navy, especially the areas where their ships are assembled and the harbors where they may be hiding."

"Your subordinate obeys!" A glint flashed in Shen Qing's eyes, as if he had caught Chen Xing's intention.

"Chen Wei!"

"Your subject is here!"

"The main force of the army is divided into three routes: one route will be personally led by you, advancing westward along the Yangtze River, approaching Hukou, and putting pressure on the northern shore where the enemy may land, thus protecting the flank of the navy; another route, with Dian Xiong as the vanguard, will advance from the south bank by land towards Xingzi and Duchang, clearing out enemy strongholds along the coast, finding their main army force, and waiting for an opportunity to fight them; the third route is a detachment, led by Zhang Liao, which will detour from the southwest, cutting off the land connection between Poyang Lake and Jinling, and guarding against other possible enemy reinforcements."

"Yes, sir!"

"Wan'er."

"I am here."

"Intensify the political offensive. Widely publicize the King of Chu's actions of disregarding the emptiness of Jinling, forcing the people to become soldiers, and sending them to their deaths at Poyang Lake. Focus on the families of his soldiers and the people around Poyang Lake, informing them that as long as they do not aid the wicked, the Xingqi royal army will only punish the ringleaders and will not disturb the innocent. If they can provide information on the enemy's movements or even defect on the battlefield, they will be richly rewarded."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Phoenix".

"Brother Xing!"

"The army's medical corps and medicines need to be well-prepared. This battle involves both land and water operations, and the environment is complex, so there will likely be many wounded and sick. You need to allocate medical officers and medicines skilled in treating knife and arrow wounds, drowning, frostbite, and possible epidemics. In addition, your 'little guys' can be used as appropriate to scout out enemy ambushes in the reed marshes and shallows of the lake, but be careful not to let the enemy discover them instead."

"Understood! I guarantee our soldiers will suffer as little as possible!" Lan Fenghuang nodded vigorously.

With the deployment complete, Chen Xing once again turned his gaze to the vast blue area on the sand table. Poyang Lake, an ancient battlefield, had witnessed countless changes of fortune. Now, it would once again become a turning point of an era. Xiao Jingyan sought survival here, while Chen Xing would toll the final death knell for the Southern Dynasty here, and lay the most solid, bloodiest, and most glorious first foundation stone for his new dynasty.

"Give the order to the entire army!" Chen Xing's voice echoed through the command tent. "Target: Poyang Lake! Victory is assured! Nanjing is in sight!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!" The generals in the tent, and even the guards outside who heard the news, all raised their arms and shouted, their fighting spirit soaring to the heavens.