Chapter 872 - 76: The Crisis in Jiangnan—Summoning the Gu Clan Back to Court?

The invisible gears have already begun to turn.

Gu Hui was well aware of his true purpose this time, remaining calm and composed throughout.

He was like a spring rain.

Leading Yue Fei and the generals under his command, he would soothe the already fractured land wherever he went.

The reestablishment of order;

The prestige of the army;

He used the banner of the "Gu Clan" with a method of balancing benevolence and power to comfort the people on every inch of ground and sow invisible seeds.

This also provided good supplementation to the soldiers under his command.

It is a virtuous cycle.

This is the cleverness of Gu Hui; he perfectly utilized his greatest advantage at present.

After all, the greatest enemy of the Great Song is the rebellious forces all around.

And the greatest enemy of those rebellious forces is the Great Song.

But Gu Hui, a person with the name of the Gu Clan, instead becomes an exception, having a perfect development opportunity!

...

Time swiftly passed.

The entire world’s situation is constantly changing.

Autumn of the tenth year of the Shaoxing era.

After stabilizing internal affairs, Digunai formally embarked on his campaign, leading his troops in a frenzied attack on the Great Song.

——This is something he must do.

Though from the current situation, Digunai can indeed be considered the most powerful among the anti-Song forces, it is actually not quite so.

His rule is fundamentally fragile.

Actually, Gu Hui has left them a road for returning to the Northern Border.

Not because he wants to be a Saint, but because his current strength does not support him in both soothing the Central Plains and guarding the Northern Border simultaneously.

But Digunai did not make this choice.

It’s a very simple logic.

Once he truly stepped onto the land of the Central Plains, how could he even think of returning to the Northern Border?

He could only move forward.

This has destined his current foundation to be unstable, requiring him to continually expand outward!

His gaze first turned toward the strategic town northwest of Yingtian Prefecture——Guide Prefecture!

Guide Prefecture is located by the Bian River, a strategic location shielding the northwest gateway of Yingtian Prefecture; if conquered, it could directly threaten the flanks of Yingtian Prefecture and open another route south to the Two Huai regions, the significance is self-evident.

The Jin Army’s attack is swift and precise.

Digunai personally leads the main army, with his fierce general Wanyan Wushu as the vanguard, cavalry surging like tide, heading directly for Guide.

At the same time, a detachment is split off, led by the surrendered general Li Cheng, stationed at Xuzhou east of Yingtian Prefecture, intending to restrain the Song Army’s forces, preventing them from fully assisting Guide.

This Wanyan Wushu is an old general of the Jurchens.

His influence in the Jurchen tribes is quite extraordinary, and moreover, he is now a core figure of the Jin, whether in terms of influence or ability he is extremely outstanding.

As for the Great Song’s response, it appears frantic and bewildered.

The court at Yingtian Prefecture, amidst consecutive defeats and panic, finally realized the importance of Guide Prefecture.

In Chuigong Hall, Zhao Gou is as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, issuing stringent orders for the Vice Director of the Secretariat stationed at Yingtian Prefecture, the Director of the Palace Affairs Department Liu Qi, to quickly assemble troops and head north to assist Guide.

Though this move appears as strict defense, in reality, it is not quite so.

The current system of the Great Song is utterly decayed!

That decay is deeply rooted in the marrow, causing impacts like the present situation.

Not only is it the command system, but the combat effectiveness of the soldiers is also greatly affected.

One restrains another, and each side has different interests, how could such an army fight a good battle?

Liu Qi knew well the dangers of this mission, court orders were urgent, but the supplies and reinforcements were without guarantee, and the various troops were each harboring their own thoughts, making coordination difficult.

What he could rely on are the equally exhausted soldiers under his command and a chest full of unwavering loyalty and righteousness.

The army sets out, heading north to assist.

However, the development of the battle was beyond the worst expectations.

The Jin cavalry moved like the wind, while Liu Qi’s forces were mostly foot soldiers, slow in movement, and before they reached Guide, news had already arrived of consecutive losses at the outlying strongholds of the city.

Wanyan Wushu’s tactics were ruthless, giving no chance for him to solidify his position and build defenses.

Meanwhile, although Li Cheng’s movements at Xuzhou were feigned, they were executed with distinction, tying up many Song soldiers who could have supported Guide.

Local commanders were either retreating in fear or hesitant and watching, reports flew like snowflakes to Yingtian, all were words of "enemy’s great force" and "request for reinforcements," full of shirking responsibility.

In the court, Zhao Gou and Qin Hui, besides severely reprimanding Liu Qi for "delaying the advance" and "disappointing the emperor’s heart," had nothing substantial in place to stop the forces from all sides!

Yet, facing the court’s incessant urgings.

Liu Qi was influenced, uncontrollably becoming anxious, falling into Wanyan Wushu’s trap, and went too deep alone, completely falling into the Jin Army’s encirclement.

After a blood battle, Liu Qi, heavily injured, seeing the situation was hopeless, could only escape southward under the fierce protection of his soldiers.

Guide Prefecture, this crucial town shielding the northwest of Yingtian——

After a solitary and desperate fight, eventually fell beneath the iron hooves of the Jin Army.

The news traveled back, shaking Yingtian, and terrifying Jiangnan.

Everyone smelled the scent of death.

Not just Zhao Gou.

Including the dignitaries in the court!

...

Yingtian Prefecture, inside Chuigong Hall.

The air was stagnated as if made of iron, suffocating everyone.