Chapter 1261 – Facing Huang Song, Unifying Dongqing (Part 3)
It was usually Jiang Pengji who drove people to madness; when could anyone dare to irritate her?
The situation in Cangzhou seemed to be in constant retreat, but everything was within Feng Jin’s expectation. Yuan Xin still had no clue and was blissfully unaware that he had already fallen into a trap set by the enemy. He had sent three reports of victory to Huang Song, each one exaggerating his own contributions while downplaying Nie Xun’s efforts.
He admitted that Nie Xun was indeed clever, but all the bloody fighting, the siege, and the difficult advances were done by him personally, cutting through the enemy with blade and spear!
Nie Xun had merely talked a lot; did he really think he could snatch away most of the credit?
Yuan Xin, naturally unwilling to concede, had learned his lesson. He knew Huang Song disliked him acting like a spy, so aside from diminishing Nie Xun’s achievements, he didn’t speak ill of him either. Nie Xun was acutely aware of his little schemes and harbored dissatisfaction but refrained from confronting him.
Frequent reports of victories dispersed the gloom hanging over everyone. Huang Song felt the massive weight lifted off his shoulders.
“It seems that Liu Xi is indeed seriously ill—”
Considering Feng Jue’s influence over Jiang Pengji, this person never allowed herself to be at a disadvantage. If nothing truly happened, how could she allow Cangzhou to suffer consecutive defeats? Not only was there no movement from Cangzhou, but the main forces also seemed increasingly conservative, curling up like a turtle into a ball, becoming passive and sluggish in battle.
To outsiders, it seemed as if Jiang Pengji’s illness had caused the loss of their mainstay, leading to this delay.
Cheng Jing still had his suspicions, but seeing the string of victory reports from Yuan Xin, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was overthinking things.
Could it be that the shadow Liu Xi cast over him was so deep that he found that person fearsome?
The members beneath him were already blinded by the fog Jiang Pengji had thrown out. Though they weren’t eager for quick success, they didn’t want to see such a great opportunity squandered. They stepped forward to persuade Huang Song, saying, “Opportunity doesn’t wait; the time lost won’t come back. If you miss this village, there won’t be another shop!”
If they didn’t take advantage of Jiang Pengji’s serious illness to invade Hujun and Wanzhou, would they really wait until she recovered and face her “fair and square”?
Huang Song believed in this, and seeing that most of his subordinates agreed on launching an attack, he didn’t hesitate.
Jiang Pengji governed vast lands with a long front; it wasn’t convenient to send reinforcements. Huang Song held the key point of Hejian County, making it easier to split his forces for the attack.
Before long, the army received a secret report.
Liu Xi dispatched fifty thousand troops to support Cangzhou!!!
Cheng Jing and the others shook their heads; although Yuan Xin had taken a county of Cangzhou, the front lines hadn’t completely collapsed yet. At this moment, sending fifty thousand troops showed that their enemies were already panicking. While these fifty thousand soldiers could stabilize Cangzhou, they put Wanzhou and Hujun in jeopardy.
They all understood that Jiang Pengji pursued an elite route; her forces numbered only around two to three hundred thousand.
If she suddenly sent fifty thousand squadron to support Cangzhou, it was like a third of her troops went there.
Huang Song made a quick decision to split his forces to strike Hujun and Wanzhou from two directions.
Feng Jue led the troops responsible for the Wanzhou front, while he himself launched an attack on Hujun.
On Jiang Pengji’s side, they could only hold their ground; though the defense hadn’t been breached, they were already in a passively beaten situation.
Hujun was held down by Cheng Yuan and Meng Heng, with Luo Yue leading the troops. He also promoted several newly appointed military generals, leading to a stalemate.
Luo Yue had originally been the commander of the Imperial Guards of Dongqing; later Jiang Pengji forcibly dragged him into her service. He had returned to his old profession in Wanzhou, responsible for the surrounding security all these years. Wanzhou had enjoyed peace for many years; Luo Yue’s contributions behind the scenes were not insignificant.
Having grown too comfortable, some generals advanced while others thrived, but he was still stuck in place.
If it weren’t for the lack of personnel in Hujun, he wouldn’t want to face the front lines. Leading troops into battle was dangerous; all he wanted was some comfort.
Luo Yue didn’t lack ability; if he were truly incompetent, he wouldn’t even have ascended to the rank of imperial guard commander during Dongqing’s reign.
Unfortunately, he was more inclined toward defense; offense was not his strong suit.
Jiang Pengji was also aware of Luo Yue’s shortcomings, so she simply let him listen to Cheng Yuan and Meng Heng’s advice while keeping Han Yu stationed in Zhejiang and Jiangsu to closely monitor the situation in Hujun. If anything odd arose, he would directly lead troops to restrain Huang Song’s forces, aiming to delay until this year’s autumn harvest. Hujun was a significant grain-producing area, and this harvest might just become a focal point in this decisive battle.
With Hujun being comfortable for so long, suddenly facing a mighty army on the doorstep sent ripples of anxiety among the people.
Luo Yue initially wanted to exit the city for a counterattack, but remaining holed up wasn’t a solution; the morale of people within Hujun was easily shaken.
“Military adviser, the bandit Huang has been ceaselessly challenging us with strong attacks for several days, yet we’re avoiding battle… that can’t go on…”
If he could, Luo Yue genuinely wanted to take his troops outside the city for a strike, to crush the enemy’s spirit and momentum.
Meng Heng and Cheng Yuan felt helpless since Jiang Pengji had issued orders for them to only “defend” and not easily dispatch troops.
Upon hearing this, Meng Heng frowned and angrily remarked, “It’s only been a few days since the war started! The two armies haven’t truly clashed, and no winner has been determined! The enemy hasn’t even set foot in Hujun! The enemy isn’t anxious, yet we are already starting to back down? Who’s stirring up trouble behind our backs?”
The granaries in Hujun were bountiful; they weren’t afraid of a war of attrition.
They were only a few days into the fight; how could anyone be causing discord already?
Luo Yue also found it baffling; war wasn’t just a matter of days. A drawn-out battle lasting several months was common.
It was the first time he had seen such impatience.
“I’ll dispatch people to investigate. I won’t spare those who incite trouble.”
Meng Heng said, “This matter will trouble General Luo; your efforts are much appreciated.”
Luo Yue sent someone to secretly investigate, capturing a few alarming individuals for public execution to set the right morale.
After a few troublemakers were executed, the military’s spirit steadied once more.
Following this incident, however, Meng Heng sensed something was off.
He ordered Luo Yue to execute a few, but kept a close watch on the others who were more deeply hidden.
Luo Yue was puzzled, “Why not execute those too? Leaving them is ultimately a hidden danger—”
Meng Heng frowned deeply, lost in thought. Cheng Yuan nearby helped to explain.
“Of course, it’s to fish out bigger troubles. Hujun is a place that the lord has given strict orders to defend; not a single loss can be tolerated. With both sides in a standoff at the Hujun border for days without showing signs of defeat, yet there are people spreading rumors about us inevitably losing, is it not strange? Caution is never a burden.”
Both Meng Heng and Cheng Yuan had cautious personalities; not seeking credit but avoiding mistakes.
Meng Heng was older and more composed than Cheng Yuan, and he heeded his advice, keeping an extra eye open.
Luo Yue remarked, “Is the military spirit wavering not because the lord has publicly declared to be gravely ill?”
She’s sick enough to die, and she hasn’t even produced an heir; anyone unaware of this would be alarmed.
Cheng Yuan shook his head and counter-questioned Luo Yue.
“Do you believe the troops under the lord’s command are how?”
Luo Yue replied, “The elite of the realm, indeed shamefully so.”
