Ch.288Fury of the Plains (3)

Xingqing’s conqueror, Wanyan Shengyu, was in a state of extreme excitement.

This was understandable, as he had finally gotten his revenge after suffering at the hands of the Mongols for so long.

“At last, I have my revenge against the Mongols!”

Having experienced a crushing defeat by Gurkhan in the past, this victory was more precious to him than anything else.

“I may not have gotten revenge on Gurkhan himself, but I’ve led his son to his death. History will remember me.”

Wanyan Shengyu rejoiced as if he had accomplished a great achievement.

Seeing this, Yi Jeongji looked at him with a worried expression.

“Will the Mongols really sit idle?”

“I’m hoping they won’t—that’s why I took this action.”

As Wanyan Shengyu said this, he pointed with his finger to the mountain path used by the Jin army.

“The fastest route to Western Xia is through this path. And with the Jin army already waiting there, what is there to fear from the Mongols?”

Yi Jeongji couldn’t say anything in response to his boasting.

As Wanyan Shengyu said, if the Mongols wanted to enter Western Xia, they would have to pass through this place.

Of course, this wasn’t the only way to reach Western Xia.

There was another route through the northern steppe, passing through Khara-Khoto.

In fact, the Mongols had previously used this route to conquer Khara-Khoto before directly attacking Xingqing to subjugate Western Xia.

However, that route had the disadvantage of being much longer.

“An enraged Gurkhan would have no reason to choose such a long path.”

It would be difficult for an enraged Gurkhan to make proper judgments.

This was precisely why Wanyan Shengyu had deliberately attacked Western Xia and inflicted a fatal wound on Bekhter.

“But Gurkhan is not someone who should be judged by ordinary human standards.”

“You speak of him as if he were truly a god.”

Wanyan Shengyu clicked his tongue as he looked at Yi Jeongji.

Again, having been defeated by Gurkhan in the past, he couldn’t help but be hostile toward him.

That’s why Yi Jeongji’s words sounded so irritating to him.

“No, General. I’m simply saying that if Gurkhan doesn’t give in to anger and makes rational decisions, both our countries will face a great crisis.”

“A great crisis…”

As Wanyan Shengyu’s words trailed off, a messenger urgently approached from behind him.

“What is it?”

“Terrible news, General. Dali is under attack from Dai Viet.”

“Dai Viet suddenly attacking Dali…? What’s going on?”

The messenger immediately answered Wanyan Shengyu’s question.

“They’re demanding a passage to invade the Song Dynasty.”

“Dai Viet has gone mad.”

“They must have lost their minds.”

Yi Jeongji and Wanyan Shengyu spoke these words as they looked at Dai Viet’s actions with disbelief.

This was because even though the Song Dynasty was struggling with attacks from the Mongol Pirates, it was still too powerful for Dai Viet to challenge.

In short, from Jin Dynasty’s perspective, it was inconceivable that a country like Dai Viet could conquer a Central Plains nation.

So it was absurd that they would suddenly attack Dali and demand a passage to invade the Song Dynasty.

“Wait…”

“Could it be…?”

The two men stopped speaking as if on cue.

Then they turned their heads to look at each other.

“Are you saying the Mongols are behind Dai Viet?”

Wanyan Shengyu was greatly shocked as he said this.

If the Mongols were behind Dai Viet, it would be a serious problem.

In fact, the reason Jin Dynasty had confidently attacked Western Xia was because the Song Dynasty and Dali were providing support.

It meant that thanks to the three countries being united, they could attack without worrying about their rear.

But if Dali, which was responsible for the rear, had been instigated by the Mongols, the situation would be different.

“This is bad. We’re returning to Sichuan.”

Wanyan Shengyu came to his senses.

If they continued like this, the Mongols or the Song Dynasty might invade.

“It would be fortunate if the Mongols invaded instead…”

If the Mongols invaded, they could use Sichuan’s natural defenses to defend themselves.

On the contrary, an invasion by the Song Dynasty would put great political and diplomatic pressure on the Jin Dynasty.

This was because if the Song Dynasty attacked Sichuan, the Jin Dynasty would have to respond.

This would inevitably break the implicit alliance between the two countries—more precisely, between Wanyan Shengyu and Meng Gong.

Anyway, with these thoughts in mind, Wanyan Shengyu prepared to retreat immediately.

At that moment, another messenger suddenly approached from the distance.

“General! General!”

“What is it? Has Mongolia invaded Sichuan?”

The messenger, out of breath, shook his head without being able to answer verbally.

After catching his breath, he replied with an urgent expression.

“The Mongols have invaded the Song Dynasty.”

“The Song Dynasty!”

Wanyan Shengyu exclaimed and sighed deeply.

“Yes, General. Gurkhan himself led the army and completely burned down Lin’an, the capital of the Song Dynasty.”

“Burned down…? Speak more precisely.”

The messenger bowed and replied with a terrified expression.

“The city walls have completely collapsed, and blood flows like a river on the ground. The men—nobles, commoners, and slaves alike—were all tied to cart wheels, their waists cut, and all dead. The fields and paddies are all devastated, with crows and rats gathering. Corpses float in the wells, and the tall pavilions have collapsed. The Mongol army rides on horseback, trampling the living under their hooves, and kidnapping women and children to take back to Mongolia.”

“Is…that true?”

“Yes. I saw it with my own two eyes.”

The messenger caught his breath for a moment before continuing.

“The Lin’an I remembered is gone, replaced by hell itself. It seems no one will ever live there again.”

The destruction of Lin’an.

And the massacre.

Wanyan Shengyu was speechless at the horrific scene that made Gurkhan’s rage palpable.

* * *

“Spread salt so that no grain will ever grow again, turning it into barren land.”

At my words, the hundred-man commanders nodded their heads.

Then they took their subordinates and scoured every corner of Lin’an.

“Bring that man here.”

At my command, the Kheshig brought someone.

The Minister of War Zhao Chongfan, whose face was so badly beaten that it was difficult to recognize him, stood before me.

As soon as he saw me, he began wringing his hands.

“Please spare me. Please spare me. Please spare my life.”

I stared at him intently.

Then I pointed my finger at his knees.

“You don’t kneel before me? Cut the front of his knees.”

“Yes, Khan.”

At my words, the Kheshig approached him.

Belatedly coming to his senses, he immediately knelt down and repeatedly banged his head on the stone floor.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Your Majesty! I have committed a mortal sin!”

The pride of the Central Plains people, who had always looked down on nomads, had disappeared.

His voice contained only the desperation to survive.

“If you’ve committed a mortal sin, then you should die.”

“P-please spare me. Wh-what do you need? I’ll give you everything. I’ll have my wife and daughter wash the Khan’s feet. O-or I’ll offer my son as your servant. He’s still young, so when you ride a horse, you can step on his back to mount comfortably.”

“You’re selling your family to save yourself. Is that how people from the Central Plains are?”

“P-please spare me. If you just spare my life…”

It was so despicable it was disgusting.

I wanted to kill him immediately, but he still had his uses.

“Do you know where the Song Emperor fled to?”

“Th-that…”

“Cut off his finger.”

At my command, the Kheshig immediately cut off Zhao Chongfan’s index finger.

He screamed in pain and rolled on the floor.

“AAAAARGH! AAAGH!”

“Answer my questions immediately. If not, I’ll cut out your tongue.”

“Krrk…krrk…huk…ugh…I-I’ll tell you right away. H-he’s probably h-heading to Sichuan now.”

Zhao Chongfan clutched his finger and trembled.

Watching this, I continued my questioning.

“Sichuan… So the Song army is in Sichuan?”

“Y-yes.”

“Who is the commander?”

“M-Meng Gong. He originally comes from the Yue family, and both his father and grandfather…”

The Minister of War was revealing everything, even information I hadn’t asked for, just to save his life.

Such information was somewhat useful to me, so I listened to everything with patience.

“Meng Gong…”

Based on the information Zhao Chongfan provided, he was indeed Meng Gong, known as the Song Dynasty’s last great general.

Although the Song Dynasty had weak military power, they had a history of holding off powerful northern forces.

One reason this was possible was the presence of excellent generals like Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, and Wu Lin.

Meng Gong was one of those generals.

He was a master of defensive warfare and understood the importance of terrain better than anyone.

There were even assessments that thanks to the defensive line established by Meng Gong, the Song Dynasty was able to hold out against the mighty Mongols for as long as 44 years.

Additionally, he was excellent at mobile defense and field battles, and in the original history, he was also a general who recovered much territory from the Jin Dynasty.

“With such a person, all my strategies were blocked.”

I nodded as I said this.

Of course, this didn’t reduce my anger toward the Song and Jin Dynasties.

Anyway, having gotten the answer I wanted, I stood up.

The Minister of War looked at me with a worried expression.

“A-are you sparing me…?”

To this, I smiled and shook my head.

“I’m not merciful enough to spare someone who cursed me.”

Immediately, all sorts of curses spewed from his mouth.

Feeling my ears rot from his hate-filled curses, I gestured to the Kheshig.

“First, cut out his tongue. Then, as he cursed me, give him the most painful death.”

Honestly, there was no need to kill him so painfully.

Just for cursing, that is.

But I had to be harsh with the Minister of War.

An example needed to be set.