Chapter 868 - 74: Breaking Kaifeng, The End of Song (Part 1)

If it were in the past, Yue Fei might not have had this thought.

But under the influence of Gu Hui.

After the experiences of this period, Yue Fei is now able to see the true nature of the court’s struggles.

The Emperor is wise, but is deceived by treacherous ministers?

Such words are far too naive.

The struggles within the Song Dynasty are indeed fierce, but given the foundations laid by the Gu Clan in past years, how could the Emperor be deceived if he had the heart to govern? How could he drag the entire realm to its present state?

This is all too naive.

This feeling even makes Yue Fei feel somewhat saddened.

This is Kyushu.

The most powerful place in today’s world, yet the people here are still so naive.

But who can they blame?

Not only the people have such thoughts.

How many are there who wish to die to awaken the Emperor, how many still harbor unrealistic fantasies about the Emperor?

This era is indeed sick, and this illness is deeply rooted.

This illness is not in the skin, not in the flesh, nor even in the seemingly riddled court and military governance, but in the depths of the minds of the countless common people, and even many of the scholars—

This illness is a chronic ideological disease meticulously cultivated by thousands of years of imperial rule and Confucian ethics.

It is like an invisible shackle, tightly binding the soul of the entire nation, making people instinctively bow their heads when faced with injustice and suffering, attributing all the roots to themselves, or those "treacherous ministers" who "deceive the wise ear".

Yet they dare not, and cannot question the existence at the top of the power pyramid, which has been deified as the "Emperor".

And now, they are to aim at all of this.

Countless thoughts flash by.

The look in Yue Fei’s eyes gradually transforms from complex to determined.

He certainly knows how difficult this road is.

But as a man, with a heart to restore the realm, how can he retreat?

What does it matter if the road is perilous?

What does it matter if he must face the entire world?

When there is the opportunity to forge eternal prosperity, how can a man retreat?

....

The situation keeps changing.

As Wanyan Digünai completely shifts his mindset, the entire realm’s situation suddenly becomes much more tense.

In the past, the Jurchen Alliance Army might have only wanted to pressure the Central Hub of the Song Dynasty.

But now, the Jurchen Alliance Army seeks to establish a foundation.

Although these various aspects appear unchanged, in reality, they are completely different.

Take this moment for example.

Donglai Port has transformed from their stepping stone into a lair.

After Wanyan Digünai’s army lands, they do not immediately raid inland as before, but instead consolidate Donglai Port and its surrounding areas with astonishing efficiency.

They commandeer captured craftsmen and laborers to reinforce city defenses, clear the port, and swiftly transport the materials and personnel brought from Liaodong ashore.

Donglai Port, once a bustling trade hub, is rapidly transformed into a fortress capable of both attacking and defending, becoming the bridgehead and material depot for the Jurchen Alliance Army’s advance into the Central Plains.

And besides this, Wanyan Digünai also perfectly utilizes this time gap.

Keep in mind—

Their past conduct has gradually accustomed the entire Great Song Court to instinctively believe that they do not have the ability to occupy the Central Plains.

At most, they would engage in pillaging as in the past.

Hit and run, if you will.

And Wanyan Digünai uses this very belief to rapidly capture the cities in a short span.

They avoid heavily guarded routes, using captured Song Army uniforms and banners as cover, deploying elite troops who march day and night, appearing like heavenly soldiers outside the walls of Mizhou City.

While Mizhou’s defenders are still perplexed as to why "friendly troops" arrived unexpectedly, a spy inside has already opened the city gates.

The cavalry rush in, resistance is swiftly crushed.

And after taking Mizhou, Wanyan Digünai does not head south but immediately marches west, targeting the gateway to the Central Plains’ hinterlands.

——His goal is not the wealthiest Jiangnan of the Great Song.

But another critical location.

Eastern Capital Kaifeng!

This is the cleverness of Wanyan Digünai.

Jiangnan is indeed wealthy, but its resistance would be the most tenacious.

But Kaifeng is different.

Besides, the resistance capabilities of both parties are not on the same level, and the most crucial point is Kaifeng’s significance to the Great Song.

Although Kaifeng has long been reduced to an accompanying capital.

But this is the Great Song’s Longxing land.

Its significance to the entire Great Song is self-evident, capturing this place would undoubtedly hasten the collapse of the Great Song!

Before the news of Mizhou’s fall could fully spread, another Jurchen cavalry force had already swooped down like a whirlwind towards Yizhou State to the southwest.

They exploit the fatal weaknesses of Song Army’s interdepartmental disconnection and slow intelligence transmission, and while the defenders of Yizhou State are still debating whether the "news from Mizhou is true", they are already at the gates.

Again, inside-outside collaboration, again rapid assault.

Holding Yizhou State signifies completely opening up the flat passage westward from the East Sea to the Central Plains, Kaifeng already within sight!

And it is only at this moment.

Yingtian Prefecture receives the news and realizes the changes in the situation.

In Chuigong Hall, after a momentary deathly silence, there is an uproar.

Zhao Gou clutches the blood-stained report, his hands trembling violently, the color drained from his face, as if all his strength is suddenly sapped.

His lips quiver, trying to say something, but only a few meaningless hissing sounds emerge.