Chapter 223 It’s a bit scary

As we all know, Yue Fei's battle time was from June to July, and his main force advanced to Zhuxian Town in Henan.

Then according to the History of Jin, the Chronicle of the Jin Dynasty states: In May, Henan was pacified, and in June, Shaanxi was pacified. In other words, the war was over before Yue Fei even fought against the Jin Kingdom.

But the statement here is quoted from "The History of Song Dynasty" Volume 26 "The Annals of Emperor Gaozong" in the tenth year of Shaoxing "On the first day of June, Jiachen month, Han Shizhong was appointed as the Grand Tutor, Zhang Jun as the Junior Tutor, Yue Fei as the Junior Tutor, and they were also the Recruiting Envoys of Henan and Northern Routes." At the same time, Zongbi said that Yue Fei retreated because of the hot weather.

It was summer, and Zongbi returned to Bian. Yue Fei and other troops all retreated. Henan was pacified. It was the third year of Tianjuan.

(The Biography of Wanyan Zongbi in the History of the Jin Dynasty) Indeed, most of the Jin army's offensives against the Song Dynasty occurred after October, so their fear of the heat seems understandable. However, didn't the Jin army have "four majors... the four majors were cavalry, endurance, heavy armor, and bows and arrows"? Could it be that the enduring Jin soldiers couldn't even tolerate summer?

How did the Jin army capture Chengzhou and Chuzhou around August of the fourth year of Jianyan? Chuzhou was captured in September, after having been under siege for a hundred days. This means that the Jin army attacked Chuzhou in June, the hottest month of the year. This is suspicious.

The following battle records are also confusing. Volume 81 of the "History of the Jin Dynasty," "Biography of Wang Bolong," records a campaign during his southern expedition with Wanyan Zongbi to govern the south of the Yangtze River: "The army crossed Cai Shi and defeated the forces of Yue Fei, Liu Li, Lu Shang, and others, seizing millions of fodder and grain."

This is the historical record of the defeat of Yue Fei that appears in the "History of Jin Dynasty". According to the "Biography of Zongbi" in the same book, "When they were about to reach 20 miles west of Jiangning, Song Du Chong led 60,000 infantry and cavalry to resist. Gu Lubu, Danghai, Dihu and Dapin joined forces to defeat them."

Then what about comparing it with the history of the Song Dynasty? According to the "Biography of Yue Fei", "At that time, Chong was ordered to guard Jiankang. The Jin people and Chenghe attacked Wujiang. Chong stayed at home and did not come out. Fei wept and pleaded with him to go to the army, but Chong did not go out.

The Jin army then crossed the river at Majiadu, and Du Chong sent Yue Fei and others to fight. Wang Jin fled first, and all the other generals were defeated, but Yue Fei alone fought hard. "The History of the Song Dynasty only says that Yue Fei "fought hard" but does not mention the outcome.

This is also the period of the Jianjian era. According to Zongbi and Xizong's Chronicles, Yue Fei did not even fight a single battle.

Then the "History of Jin Dynasty: Biography of Wanyan Zongxiu" records: "Zongbi recaptured Henan, and Zongxiu and Hailing both went to the front of the army to serve as envoys. The Song general Yue Fei's army was between Bo and Su. Zongxiu led 3,000 infantry and cavalry to block the enemy's vital points, and then joined other troops to defeat them."

When Jin Wushu attacked Henan for the second time, Wanyan Zongxiu led 3,000 cavalrymen to defend the key points. Wanyan Zongbing attacked Henan, and Song general Li Xing held Henan Prefecture. Li Cheng led his troops into Mengjin.

Li Xing led his troops to attack the city, clamoring for battle, but Li Cheng refused. In the evening, Li Xing's soldiers were tired and hungry, so Li Cheng opened the gates and attacked, defeating Li Xing (Yue Fei's troops).

Li Xing fled south of Han, and Li Cheng then seized Luoyang, Song, Ru, etc. After Henan was pacified, Wanyan Zongbi petitioned the court to appoint Li Cheng as the governor of Henan, in charge of the troops in the area.

There's an inexplicable story of a Jin general fighting Yue Fei here. However, there are different accounts in Haosu. The Biography of Zhang Jun states, "In the tenth year, Li Qiong was in Bozhou. Jun led a large army to Chengfu. The commander-in-chief, Wang De, went down to Fuli and, taking advantage of the victory, marched to Bozhou to join Jun.

Jun led his troops into the city, and the Jin troops abandoned it and fled. The elders welcomed Jun with incense and flowers. He then recaptured Bozhou, leaving the commander Song Chao to defend it. Jun led his troops back to Shouchun, where he was promoted to Junior Instructor and granted the title of Duke of Ji. Similar records can also be found in other records in the History of the Song Dynasty. This, too, raises doubts.

The following record reflects the claim that Yue Fei did not have Zhuxian Town. "History of the Jin Dynasty: Biography of Pushan Huntan" states: "In the second year of Tianjuan, he engaged Yue Fei of the Song Dynasty. Huntan led sixty cavalrymen, penetrated deep into the enemy's territory, and when he reached Yanling, he defeated over seven hundred Song troops guarding the grain and military supplies, capturing many of them."

Yanling County belongs to Xuchang City and is located in the central part of Henan Province, east of the Funiu Mountains and south of the Yellow River, the mother river of thousands of miles. It is adjacent to Kaifeng City in the north and Zhoukou City in the east.

It is located northeast of Yingchang, south of Kaifeng and Zhuxian Town. It borders Luohe City to the south and is east of Xuchang, the former capital of the Han and Wei dynasties, a nationally renowned historical and cultural city. Here, a grain transport convoy from Yue Fei's army was suddenly intercepted near Zhuxian Town.

So where was Yue Fei's main force? This entry dates to the second year of Tianjuan. However, the corresponding date is the ninth year of Shaoxing, when both countries were in the peace talks period. Furthermore, Yue Fei wanted to visit the tombs of the Northern Song Dynasty, but Zhao Gou completely disagreed.

According to what he and Xizong had said, the campaign should have ended in May or June. However, Zongbi recovered Henan, and Alubu first crossed the river, pacified the various counties, and was later appointed Yin of Guide and Commander-in-Chief of Henan Road.

When Song troops came to seize Henan, Zongbi summoned Alubu, Han Chang of Xuzhou, Da Gao of Yingzhou, and Chizhanhui of Chenzhou to meet at Bian. However, Alubu, fearing the enemy was close by, chose not to go. However, Song generals Yue Fei and Liu Guangshi took advantage of the situation and attacked and seized Xuzhou, Yingzhou, and Chenzhou, with neighboring counties also responding.

When his troops invaded Guide, Alubu defeated them in quick succession, and recaptured Bo, Su, and other prefectures. Henan was pacified, and Alubu was the most meritorious. (The biography of Alubu in the History of Jin.) At this time, Yue's army was still within Henan.

This also aligns with some accounts of Zhao Gou assigning Yue Fei to defend Henan. However, the following is problematic. In the third year of Tianjuan, Zongbi again conquered Henan and recommended Zhongyi as Meng'an. He attacked Jizhou, taking the lead. He attacked Daming Prefecture, defeating an army of over 100,000 with his own troops, and was rewarded with slaves, horses, cattle, gold, silver, and valuables.

(Jin Shi Pu San Zhong Yi Zhuan) According to traditional view, these places should have belonged to the Jin Dynasty. Why did it become an attack? Then someone else said.

"History of the Jin Dynasty: Biography of Wanyan Ang" records: "Song general Yue Fei led an army of 100,000, claiming to have a million, and attacked Dongping. Dongping had 5,000 soldiers, who hurriedly set out to resist him. At the time, mulberry trees were lush and dense. Ang had many flags raised in the woods to confuse the enemy, while he himself led his elite troops in front. Fei did not dare to move, and after several days of stalemate, he retreated."

"History of the Jin Dynasty: Biography of Wanyan Ang" records: "Yue Fei led an army of 100,000 and laid siege to Pizhou fiercely. There were only a thousand soldiers in the city. The defending general was afraid and sent people to ask for help. Ang said: 'Tell the defending general for me. I once went to Xia Pi and found that there is a trench over ten feet deep in the southwest corner of the city. You should fill it quickly.' The defending general did as he was told and filled it.

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