Jiangnan's hidden stakes are beginning to weave a network
The northern border campaign against the Liao ended with a resounding victory for the Liangshan army. News spread like wildfire, spreading throughout the land. The name of Song Jiang, the "Pogelang" (Pogelang), the vanguard envoy, along with his renowned leaders, became a hot topic of discussion throughout the court and the country. A triumphant return and imperial rewards seemed imminent.
However, beneath this surface splendor, the undercurrents were growing increasingly turbulent. On Erxian Mountain, through the information channels secretly constructed by Lu Renjia, we received some discordant notes.
"The imperial court's rewards may seem generous, but in reality, they're promotions in name only, demotions in reality, and there are many constraints." Yiqing frowned as he looked at the latest secret letter from Lu Renjia. "The official position conferred on Song Jiang doesn't hold much real power, and many of his subordinates have been dispersed, either given nominal positions or assigned to other generals. This is clearly a strategy of divide and conquer, gradually reducing their power."
I took the letter and read it carefully, and it became clear to me. "When the bird is dead, the bow is put away; when the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked"—this is a common tactic used by emperors throughout history to treat surrendered generals. Song Jiang and his companions might still be immersed in the beautiful dream of "being both loyal and righteous" and "ennobling their wives and children," but the court's suspicion and vigilance were already laid bare.
"Not only that," Yiqing pointed to the second half of the letter, "Junior Brother Lu mentioned in the letter that the Jiangnan region has been experiencing unrest lately. Fang La's forces are expanding rapidly, occupying areas like Muzhou and Shezhou, and are threatening to seize control of the southeast. The imperial court has repeatedly launched campaigns to suppress them, but to no avail, suffering heavy losses."
Fang La! This name instantly made my nerves tense. Is the true Shura field finally about to begin?
"The imperial court has just been defeated, and is worried that Liangshan will become too powerful to be eliminated. What will happen next?" I asked anxiously.
Yiqing pondered for a moment, a cold glint in his eyes. "If my prediction is correct, the imperial court will soon re-activate Liangshan, this 'sharp blade', and order them south to attack Fang La. Firstly, they can kill with borrowed weapons and deplete Liangshan's strength. Secondly, if Liangshan wins, they can quell the rebellion; if they lose, they can eliminate a major threat. This strategy kills two birds with one stone."
His analysis was completely consistent with the course of history. The expedition against Fang La was imminent.
"We must speed up our Jiangnan deployment!" I felt an unprecedented sense of urgency. The time left for us might be even shorter than we expected.
"Yes." Yiqing nodded solemnly. "Junior Brother Lu has already asked for instructions in a letter regarding the next course of action. Relying solely on our three current strongholds, our forces are too weak to effectively respond in the chaos that lies ahead."
He spread out a map of Jiangnan, scanning it carefully. "We need more 'eyes' and 'hands and feet.' Besides securing the existing Taihu teahouses, Suzhou silk shops, and Hangzhou warehouses, we also need to establish more safe havens and supply storage points around future major battlefields and along possible retreat routes."
He traced his fingertips over several areas on the map. "The area around Muzhou and Shezhou will be the main battlefield, so we need to focus on deployment. Furthermore, we need to prepare for the mountain roads leading to Fujian and Guangdong, as well as the coastal ports with access to the sea."
This is a huge network that requires a lot of manpower and material resources.
"As for funding, overseas trade in glass mirrors is still ongoing. Junior Brother Lu stated that another batch of payments will arrive soon, so there shouldn't be any problem supporting the initial expansion." Yiqing calculated, "The key is reliable manpower. Relying solely on Junior Brother Lu and Shi Jian is far from enough."
This is indeed the biggest bottleneck we face. Finding someone who is both loyal and reliable, and capable of establishing themselves in the chaotic Jiangnan region and carrying out secret missions is by no means an easy task.
"Perhaps... we could try to contact some of the jianghu figures who have become disillusioned with both the imperial court and Liangshan?" I reiterated my previous idea. "For example, some former Liangshan members who were injured in the Liao campaign or are considering withdrawing? Or perhaps some local tyrants who were coerced by Fang La but aren't diehard fans?"
Yiqing didn't object immediately, but fell into deep thought. After a long pause, he slowly said, "Although this plan is risky, it might be worth a try during these critical times. However, the person we choose must be extremely careful, and we must conduct thorough investigations to ensure that there are no mistakes."
He looked at me and said, "Luanyin, you are very thoughtful and have a good understanding of the personalities of the Liangshan people. You can work with Junior Brother Lu on this matter. He can use his connections in Jiangnan to secretly investigate and screen suitable candidates, and you can use the information we have to judge their character and reliability. The final decision will be made by me."
I felt a chill in my heart, knowing this meant I would be even more deeply involved in this dangerous plot. But without hesitation, I nodded solemnly, "Okay."
With the plan finalized, we immediately conveyed new instructions to Lu Renjia through encrypted letters: First, use the existing funds to set up three to five secret contact points and material storage points in the villages and towns around Muzhou and Shezhou that are conveniently located but relatively hidden, under the guise of purchasing mountain products and opening inns; Second, start looking for reliable personnel, focusing on the following categories: veterans who have retired due to injuries, down-and-out literati who are dissatisfied with the current situation, reliable gentry who are familiar with the local situation, and... people who may have left the Liangshan or Fang La camps, are disheartened but have good abilities, and attached preliminary assessment criteria and contact codes.
The letter was secretly sent to Jiangnan again by Shi Jian.
While we waited for a response, we weren't idle. Yiqing began drawing more and more complex talismans, including those for concealment and protection, as well as some for small-scale communication and early warning, to be distributed to key personnel in Jiangnan strongholds. I continued to compile and analyze information from various sources, attempting to uncover more clues about the future of the war.
At the same time, we closely followed the Liangshan army's movements after their return to the capital. As expected, while Song Jiang and his men were rewarded, they were effectively placed under house arrest near Tokyo Bianliang, their movements restricted and their estrangement from their former subordinates. Beneath the surface prosperity lay an undercurrent of repression and unease.
This stalemate didn't last long. News of Fang La's growing power in Jiangnan, and his successive capture of prefectures, continued to arrive, shaking the imperial court. Finally, an imperial decree was issued: Song Jiang, the vanguard envoy and leader of the Pogelang army, was ordered to immediately lead the former Liangshan troops south to defeat Fang La!
The dust has settled. The curtain on the bloody Jiangnan is about to rise.
When the news came, Yiqing and I were in the alchemy room. The fire in the furnace reflected our equally solemn faces.
"They... still chose this path." I whispered, as if I could already see the tragic scene of corpses scattered all over the ground and rivers of blood.
Yiqing remained silent as he handed me a newly drawn "Pure Heart and Soul Protection Talisman." "Keep it close to you. Jiangnan is a land of malaria, and the evil spirit is deep. This talisman may protect your mind and mind from being disturbed." He paused, looking deeply towards the south. "It's time for us to set off."
I was slightly startled: "Going to Jiangnan?"
"No, it's not time yet." Yiqing shook his head. "If we go south now, we'll be too conspicuous. We need to go somewhere else first."
"where?"
"Daming Prefecture." Yiqing uttered three words.
Damingfu? I was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening. After the Northern Frontier expedition to Liao was concluded, not all of the Liangshan army was brought back to Tokyo. Some troops, including many wounded and disbanded officers, were temporarily stationed in Damingfu to rest and await deployment! Perhaps there's the "manpower" we've been searching for there! Furthermore, Damingfu's strategic location at the crossroads of north and south means it's well-informed, making it easy for us to observe the initial developments of Liangshan's southern expedition.
"Shall we go to Damingfu... and look for people who may have left Liangshan?" I asked tentatively.
"Yes." Yiqing nodded. "The war against Liao, though victorious, was brutal. There will undoubtedly be wounded who long to return home, or those who are disheartened. Daming Prefecture is a mixed bag, offering a perfect opportunity for secret observation and contact. If we can find one or two suitable candidates here to add to our Jiangnan network, they will surely play a significant role."
Risks and opportunities coexist. Daming Prefecture is, after all, an important imperial city with many eyes and ears, so we must be extremely careful.
"Okay." I had no objections. Since I had chosen this path, I had no choice but to move forward courageously.
We quickly packed our belongings, still traveling light. Yiqing once again used his magic to transform our appearances and demeanor. He disguised himself as a traveling doctor, and I as his medicine boy. Carrying my medicine chest and my cloth-wrapped pipa (which had become an inseparable part of my life), we quietly left Erxian Mountain, where snow had already begun to fall, and headed for Damingfu, a major city in the south, both prosperous and in peril.
The hidden plots in Jiangnan are being woven, and we must delve into the Tiger Caves to find the first piece of the puzzle that could change the fate of some individuals. From both north and south, the web of destiny-changing forces is quietly spreading across the land that will soon be drenched in blood and fire.
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