However, this does not mean that the escape team is all right.
In fact, even though there were no large-scale open conflicts during the entire escape process, the hardships and losses involved are beyond words... People left the team every day, and property was lost every day. But the more important point is that they were on high alert every day, so that everyone was becoming more and more nervous, and suspicion and vigilance were becoming increasingly obvious.
There is nothing we can do about it.
People with insight realized this when they first started fleeing.
At first glance, this scene seems to be no different from the escape of Emperor Zhao Song ten years ago... In fact, the journey from Hebei to Huaishang and then to Nanyang is longer than that from Yanjing to Huining Prefecture... But in fact, it is very different.
Because when the Zhao Song court was in exile, it was surrounded by Han people and Song territory. Even if bandits swarmed in, they knew to raise the banner of the loyal army.
And now?
Now, these Jin Dynasty dignitaries only felt like they were clowns on the Song Dynasty stage, but their clothes were being stripped off layer by layer... or in other words, their skin was being peeled off.
Leaving Yanyun and parting ways with the Han people inside the Great Wall, they lost their most fertile land and largest human resources; going outside the Great Wall, they received news that Liaodong and Liaoxi were under attack from large armies, which triggered internal strife. They lost their long-standing ally Bohai and diplomatic relations with Goryeo, as well as the economic center and military technological highland outside the Great Wall; now, they had to separate at Huangshui from their old rivals, the Khitan-Xi people, who were repeatedly emphasized as the 'subjects of the state' after the destruction of Liao. This meant that soon they would only have the Jurchens left.
And what happens next?
When they reach Huanglongfu, if the Song army continues to press forward, will they also try to separate the Wanyan clan from other Jurchen tribes?
To put it bluntly, the Han people have a population of 100 million. It has been 1,400 years since Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the world. Even since Emperor Wu of Han further promoted the unification in terms of system and culture, it has been 1,300 years.
At the same time, the Jurchens had a population of only one million and had been established for only twenty years. Even the unification of the six major Jurchen tribes was achieved during the anti-Liao process.
This strong contrast not only highlights the unparalleled military power of the Jurchens when they rose to power, but it also means that at this moment, this nation really has no room for turning back.
To be or not to be, to continue or to cease, that is the question.
It is a problem that everyone has to face.
Perhaps they were eager to reach Huanglongfu (around Changchun today) in the lower reaches of the Huangshui River, and also wanted to get away from the unstable Khitan-Xi settlement area as soon as possible. In the following period of time, in the middle and lower reaches of the Huangshui River where there were no cities, they marched more and more along the river, moving forward recklessly. Every night they were so tired that they fell asleep as soon as they lay down, and they had to leave at dawn. If they stopped for a while, they would quickly light a fire and cook. Even though they were on the road along the Huangshui River, they did not even have time to take a bath, and the entire marching column was filled with a foul odor.
This extremely harsh environment also meant that although April was the best season outside the Great Wall, people and animals kept falling ill and dying. The eldest prince's eye disease became more serious, and the king and the queen could only ride the same horse. Even Qin Huizhi was left with only a cart of property, and he had to learn to drive himself.
But no one dared to stop.
Finally, on April 28th, the fleeing team, with less than 4,000 soldiers and a total of more than 30,000 people, arrived at a place with abundant water and grass.
This place is an important transportation hub in the middle and lower reaches of the Huangshui River. Crossing the river from north to south and heading east to west, to the northeast is Huanglong Prefecture (around Changchun today), and following the south-turning Huangshui River downstream is Xianping Prefecture (around Siping to the south in later generations). Going upstream is naturally Linhuang Prefecture, and to the southwest is naturally Dading Prefecture (around Chengde in later generations).
In fact, although there is no city here, it is recognized as a place of transportation outside the Great Wall. There are also many post stations and markets built during the Liao Dynasty... In later generations, this place was even called Tongliao.
That's right, on this afternoon, the emperor of the Great Jin Kingdom, the ruling prince, the ministers, the chancellors, and the generals arrived at their loyal Tongliao. And everyone knew that as long as they passed this place, they would reach the traditional and core sphere of influence of the Jurchens, and would also get rid of the hidden dangers brought by the Khitan and Xi settlements.
This made almost the entire fleeing team fall into joy and excitement.
Perhaps sensing the corresponding emotions, the emperor also conveyed the "king's will" and, instead of constantly urging the troops to march as usual, he set up camp here in advance to take a short rest.
When the news spread, the fleeing team was overjoyed. After building the camp and having a small meal, they could no longer hold back and began to take a bath.
The nobles who were qualified to occupy private houses remained reserved. They could wait for the servants to fetch water for washing. A few Jurchen noblewomen could even wait until the maids poured hot water into the bucket.
But the soldiers were too lazy to care and after taking off their armor, they went into the water one after another.
For a moment, the entire Huangshui River was filled with black heads and white bodies.
"teacher."
Wanyan Xiyin stood in front of the floating bridge, his eyes swept across the downstream, then looked calmly at the blue sky and green land on the opposite bank, as if thinking about something. Unexpectedly, a special shout suddenly came from behind him, and Xiyin knew who was coming without even turning his head.
"Teacher."
Hesheli Liangbi called out again, bowed respectfully to the other party from behind, and then walked forward. "What are you thinking about, Master?"
"I wasn't thinking about anything, I was just daydreaming."
Wanyan Xiyin's words were straightforward, just as he had behaved in recent days: rational, frank and decisive.
Or to put it more directly, Xi Yin played a vital role in ensuring that this fleeing team could get here safely... His status and position, his familiarity with the army and the court, his fairness and firm attitude made him the actual organizer and judge of this escape.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!
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