Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

It is too far to go to Beijing. It is in Acheng District, Harbin City.

Fortunately, the Ming army obtained a lot of food and grass in Liaoyang, otherwise it would be too difficult to transport it across the sea from Shandong.

Even so, Liaoyang is thousands of miles away from Shangjing.

This is just a straight line distance.

The troops heading towards Jin Kingdom's capital were claimed to be fifty thousand, but in fact they were only ten thousand in total.

The husband of the people has also been changed.

Folks from Shandong have already returned to their hometowns one after another. Most of the civilians who transported food to the capital with the army were from the Han, Bohai, and Khitan tribes.

Yang Yun was called back by Ju Ming and led the cavalry with Yang Zaixing. There were also Gao Jingshan, Wang Zheng, Liu E and other surrendered generals, each with their own cavalry. There were four thousand riders in total.

Shi Biao and Gu San led the emperor's bodyguard, totaling two thousand heavy infantry. Armor was carried on mules, and soldiers rode on inferior horses.

Hua Rong led three thousand musketeers, and Xu Ning led one thousand spearmen, also riding forward.

The peasants led horses and mules, carrying grain and grass to follow.

When the troops arrived in Longzhou, light snow had already fallen from the sky.

Longzhou is Nong'an County, Changchun City. It was called Huanglong Prefecture during the Liao Dynasty.

Hua Rong suggested collecting ships to transport grain and grass by water.

Wang Zheng reminded: "By the time we collect the boats, the river will almost freeze."

Everyone had no choice but to continue walking by land. Just after crossing the Songwa River (Songhua River), it suddenly snowed heavily.

Due to sufficient clothing preparations, Liaodong's surrender of troops and generals was fine, but the soldiers of Ming Dynasty were choked by the cold.

They have never encountered temperatures like minus 20 or 30 degrees Celsius!

Especially Yang Zaixing, a Hunan native. When the temperature dropped in the Songhua River area, he caught a cold and had a fever that night...

Shi Biao and Gu San were not much better, they were both from Hanzhong.

Everyone continued on their way through the snow, and stopped advancing when they reached Daru City. The entire army hid in the city to resist the wind and snow.

The city was deserted, and the peasants were helping to tidy up the houses, while the soldiers were busy tearing down the collapsed houses and making fires.

"The soldiers whose hometowns are in Sichuan, Hubei, and Huainan are most likely to be sick or frostbitten." Yang Yun convened a meeting of the generals. "This place is about two hundred miles away from Shangjing in the Kingdom of Jin. Either we can attack in one go in the snow and take Shangjing regardless of casualties." Next. Or wait until spring gets warmer before attacking Shangjing."

Yang Zaixing was wrapped in a quilt: "I can't ride a horse anymore and it's difficult to speak. My throat hurts."

Shi Biao said: "I can still fight, but the soldiers under my command are injured a lot. Most of my soldiers and Gu Sange's soldiers are from Sichuan and Hubei, and some are from Hanzhong. It's too cold here and the soldiers can't stand it."

"Of my thousand soldiers, nearly two hundred were sick." Gu San said.

Hua Rong said: "The fire gun soldiers can still fight. But the weather is too cold, the reloading speed is extremely slow, and the hands are so cold that they can't control their movements."

What a slap in the face!

If there is another heavy snowfall halfway, I am afraid that it will be difficult to attack quickly because the snow is too deep and it will be difficult to march.

If they were ambushed by Jin soldiers again, they would be defeated if they were not careful.

"Let's rest for the winter first and let the soldiers recover in peace." Yang Yun agreed.

Not only did the army have enough food, grass, and clothing, but they also brought enough doctors and medicinal materials. In addition to accidental frostbite, the soldiers of the Ming army mainly suffered from colds and colds. Maybe they will get used to it after a while.

You can also fight in winter when the weather clears up.

Two days later, Ma Kuo, who had rushed back from Mobei some time ago, arrived here with more than ten Qingqi.

Ma Kuo said: "Your Majesty has sent 150,000 troops from the Monan Grassland to Liaodong, and they have returned to their original stations. Your Majesty has also returned to Liaoyang at this time. The temperature in Liaodong has cooled down early this year, and we will definitely not be able to fight anymore, so we sent I'll take care of the beginning and end."

Yang Zaixing's cold and fever are almost gone, but he still coughs frequently. He asked in shock: "Are we going to have peace talks with the Kingdom of Jin?"

Ma Kuo said: "The situation here is very complicated. We can't kill all the Jurchen tribes. If they get into the deep mountains and old forests, how can I, the Ming soldiers, conquer them? But the Jin Kingdom must be destroyed, and we cannot leave any future troubles."

"Choose some places close to rivers with convenient transportation and arable land as strongholds. Every year, criminals are exiled here to work in the fields. They must be criminals from the north, otherwise they will not be able to bear the cold. His Majesty said that all death row prisoners in the northern provinces can be pardoned for the crime of exile. , all sent here."

"Generals and soldiers of all armies can also sign up to garrison here. Those who volunteer to guard the border will be promoted directly to two levels as generals and one level as soldiers, and their parents and brothers will be granted land in their hometowns. Those who have not yet married a wife will be granted the Kingdom of Jin If there are not enough female relatives of officials, unmarried women of all ethnic groups will be forced to marry Ming soldiers."

"If the Jurchen tribes are willing to surrender to the Ming Dynasty, we will demarcate their territory and grant them official positions in the Ming Dynasty. All tribes are not allowed to cross the border and attack their neighbors. If there are any offenders, their tribes will be destroyed!"

"The imperial court plans to establish the Anton Protectorate, and the administrative seat will be in Shangjing of the Kingdom of Jin."

"The chief of the Anton Protectorate is called the Anton Protectorate. He is a third-grade military officer. He is elected for a term of five years and can be re-elected up to two times. After ten years, he can be promoted to the Privy Council and has the opportunity to join the cabinet and become the prime minister."

"General Li Cheng has asked to stay, and His Majesty has agreed to let him serve as the guardian of Anton. He will come to take up his post after spring."

"At Linhuang Mansion (Bahrain Left Banner), the imperial court will also establish a Linhuang Protector's Mansion. The first Linhuang Protector-General has been selected as General Yue Fei."

Ma Kuo said a lot in succession, which made all the generals stunned.

The so-called Anton Protectorate's jurisdiction included Jilin and Heilongjiang in later generations, as well as all areas outside Heilongjiang.

The jurisdiction of Linhuang Protectorate covers Chengde and Jianchang in the south, Xing'an League in the north, Keshiketeng Banner in the west, and Horqin Grassland in the east.

Whether it is a grassland tribe or a Jurchen tribe, they all have their territories defined.

Fighting for life and death can only be done within their own territory.

Once the troops cross the border, they will be warned by the court. If you don't listen to the repeated warnings, the Protectorate will definitely send troops and bring other tribes with them to destroy the disobedient tribes.

The various tribes under the jurisdiction of the Duhufu do not set heavy taxes. If you receive a call-up order, you must send troops to help the Protectorate fight the war.

Moreover, the leaders of each department must visit the governor regularly every year, and they must send their sons if there are injuries or other reasons.

Every five years, he had to go to Beijing to see the emperor, and he had to bring local products as tribute.

Ju Ming also planned to establish the Monan Protectorate, which would be located along the southwest road of the Liao Kingdom (east of Hohhot City). This organization is very important. It can deter Mobei and attack Xixia.

…

"Greetings to the Horse Angel and all the generals!"

The peace envoy from the Kingdom of Jin came walking through the snow.

The chief envoy was Wanyan Zonggu, the second son of Wu Qimai, and the deputy envoy was Li Shi, a civil servant of the Bohai tribe.

Wanyan Zonggu has never been on the battlefield. Ever since Wu Qimai was sidelined, the powerful officials have not allowed his brothers to lead troops.

When he was a boy, he was accustomed to hearing that the golden soldiers were invincible in battle.

As an adult, I was reminded of how brutal the Ming army was.

In fact, this was his first time leaving Beijing. He is neither very familiar with political affairs, nor does he understand military affairs at all. His vision and ability are very mediocre.

Wanyan Zonggu was quite scared when he saw the generals of the Ming Dynasty at this moment. He let Li Shi say everything first, fearing that he would offend any of them if he did not do anything right.

Ma Kuo took the host position and said with a smile: "Mr. Li, just say whatever you want. I have obtained His Majesty's will and have full authority to negotiate with the Kingdom of Jin."

Li Shi said: "My lord is willing to submit to the Emperor of Heaven and follow the example of the Xixia story. To the west of Zhaosan City, to the south of Hanzhou, to the west of Duck River (Nen River), and to the south of Tongmen River (Tumen River), all these lands are willing to do so. Dedicated to the great emperor of tomorrow.”

Ma Kuo sneered: "Zhaosan City and Hanzhou have already been captured by our Ming soldiers. Do we still want to return them all to the Jin Kingdom?"

"Then...then these two places are also dedicated to the Emperor of Heaven." Li Shi said quickly.

Ma Kuo said: "The Huanglong Mansion of the Liao Kingdom, which you now call Longzhou, is also in the hands of the Ming Dynasty soldiers. Does it have to be returned to the Jin Kingdom?"

Li Shi really didn't dare to give in anymore because he couldn't explain to Wu Qimai.

Once the Ming army is allowed to occupy Huanglong Mansion, they can kill the Jin Kingdom and go to Beijing anytime and anywhere.

Li Shi said: "I don't dare to decide whether Longzhou should be ceded or not."

Ma Kuo looked at Wanyan Zonggu: "What about you? You are the second prince of the Jin Kingdom, can't you also make the decision?"

Wanyan Zonggu did not answer directly, but said: "I have a young sister who I would like to dedicate to the Emperor of Heaven. I am a slave and a maidservant, and I will listen to the wishes of the Emperor of Heaven. The younger sister has been brought here, so the angels can take a look first. "

For this kind of thing, Ma Kuo was not qualified to refuse on behalf of the emperor.

Wu Qimai's youngest daughter was soon brought to her. She was thirteen or fourteen years old and was born to a concubine of the Bohai tribe. Maybe it’s because my mother’s genes are good and she’s pretty handsome. But she is just pretty, not really a beauty.

Ma Kuo said angrily: "How can someone with such beauty enter the harem of the Emperor of Heaven? Who is Wu Qimai trying to entertain!"

Wanyan Zonggu hurriedly explained: "Among all the sisters below, my younger sister is already the most beautiful. And... I also brought the most beautiful woman in Beijing this time. In addition, I also brought many pearls (Dongzhu) and mink."

Various gifts were brought one after another, including an East Pearl, which was as big as a pigeon egg.

Ma Kuo and other generals, however, could not take their eyes away from the "most beautiful woman in Beijing".

Suddenly, Ma Kuo came back to his senses and said quickly: "Don't stare at it wantonly. Only the emperor of tomorrow can see such a beauty. Please put a veil on her quickly."

Wanyan Zonggu was overjoyed when he heard this and immediately introduced: "This girl's original name is Yeluci Ouno, she is the youngest daughter of Emperor Tianzuo of the Liao Kingdom. Nine years ago, she was captured together with the Liao royal family. She was only four years old at the time, and she My sister lived in Orulubu’s house. After Orulubu’s death, her sister was adopted by Zhenlu Guan, and she followed her there.”

"This girl is becoming more and more beautiful as she grows older. She is no longer inferior to her elder sister Yu Liyan. Many nobles in Beijing have come to seek marriage, but she has never married at such a young age."

"Such a beauty can only be obtained by the Emperor of Heaven. Her father has adopted her as a righteous daughter, named Princess Yiguo, and changed her name to Wanyan Maitreya. If the two countries can get married, it would be a good idea for the princess of Jin to serve the Emperor of Heaven. "

After the beauty was covered with a veil, Ma Kuo stopped talking about the matter and asked: "Those generals of the Jin Kingdom have their hands stained with the blood of the Han people. As the emperor of the Han family, how can we not seek justice for our subjects?" ? This man Wu Shu followed the army to Bianliang City. How many people were killed by his troops from Hebei to Henan? If Wu Shu is not dead, the peace talks will be suspended."

Wanyan Zonggu and Li Shi looked at each other, and the latter nodded slightly.

Jin Wushu was also one of Wu Qimai's political opponents, and he had a share in slandering the emperor, and he still had a small prestige in the army.

Even if the Ming Dynasty did not propose the technique of killing Jin Wu, Wu Qimai would sooner or later find an opportunity to do it.

Wanyan Zonggu said: "Wushu's head will be presented to him soon."

Ma Kuo smiled and said, "Then let's wait until Wu Shu is killed before we talk."