Dushan Ford was located in the middle reaches of the Gushui River. In earlier years, it had been an extremely important ferry crossing in the eastern part of Guangzhou. The post road extending eastward from Luoshan City, after crossing the Gushui River at Dushan Ford, split into two branch roads—one heading northeast toward Huangchuan City, and one heading southeast toward Le’an County.

Subsequently, to strengthen control over the central and western regions of Guangzhou, Xu Mingzhen established a post station garrison at Dushan Ford and constructed a floating bridge, making Dushan Ford’s importance even more prominent.

Even though the Xiangbei Regional Defense Command could not possibly know the exact timing of when the Mongol forces would deploy troops or when Zhu Rang and Liang Shixiong would launch their rebellion, since they had determined that annihilating Wen Bo and the Luoshan garrison would be the core objective of this offensive campaign, Li Xiu advocated for prioritizing the seizure of Dushan Ford.

Although before news arrived of the dramatic changes in Heshuo and the great chaos in Liang, dividing forces to seize Dushan Ford would most likely invite active and fierce pincer attacks from the Shouzhou Army on both flanks of the Gushui River, this risk had to be undertaken if they wanted to cut off the Luoshan garrison’s eastern escape route in time.

On the first day of the third month, approximately when Li Zhigao and Zhou Shu were personally leading the main forces of the Left Vermillion Bird Army and Left Martial Guard Army to press toward Luoshan City, Li Xiu and Li Qi led three thousand cavalry and infantry troops to thrust directly to the east side of Luoshan City, launching a night assault to take Dushan Post Station, which was defended by fewer than two hundred garrison soldiers.

Li Xiu and Li Qi also prepared for the Shouzhou Army to concentrate forces and launch pincer attacks from both flanks. To ensure subsequent military operations on the east bank of the Gushui River, they did not even set fire to destroy the Dushan floating bridge.

Over the next two days, Li Xiu and Li Qi did not see the Shouzhou Army on the east bank of the Gushui River concentrating forces—on the west bank of the Gushui River, with Luoshan and other cities under garrison duty and having to respond to the main forces of the Left Vermillion Bird Army and Left Martial Guard Army pressing forward, they could not act rashly before reinforcements from the east bank concentrated and arrived. It was not until after nightfall on the third day of the third month that scouts who had infiltrated into Haozhou territory brought back news that the Hejin Army had suddenly withdrawn from Haozhou and crossed north of the Huai River.

At this point, even if Li Zhigao, Li Xiu, and the others did not know through what channels Haozhou Prefect Chen Kun had learned of it, they were certain he had advance knowledge of the news that Liang’s Prince of He, Zhu Rang, and Liang Shixiong were about to collude with the Mongols in rebellion.

At this moment, Wen Bo and the Luoshan garrison were still kept in the dark. Li Zhigao had no time to speculate about what actions Han Qian would take. He personally commanded the Left Vermillion Bird Army and Left Martial Guard Army to boldly thrust toward the north and northeast sides of Luoshan City, completely cutting off the routes for the Luoshan garrison to cross the Gushui River eastward or retreat north to the banks of the Huai River.

It was not until the sixth day of the third month that Li Xiu learned with certainty that even before the Hejin Army’s northern withdrawal, Han Qian had urgently deployed the Tangyi Army from the eastern front to concentrate at Daishan Garrison at the northwestern foot of Wujian Mountain. Then, taking advantage of the Hejin Army’s withdrawal, they had already bloodlessly seized all of Haozhou territory before the third day of the third month.

Xiangshan received this news several days later than Huaidong, not because the Weaving Bureau and the Ministry of War’s Cartography Office under Xu Jing’s supervision had no spies planted in Tangyi.

The key issue was that the main area of Huaiyang Mountain west of Tangyi was under the Tangyi Army’s control. After their planted spies in Tangyi received the news, they did not dare pass directly through the enemy-occupied territory in the northern part of Huaiyang Mountain. Instead, they first retreated to the north bank of the Yangtze River, then found ferries to travel upstream along the river until they landed within Huangzhou territory. They then took fast horses along the post road at the western foot of Huaiyang Mountain, heading north to Lishan County and passing through Jiuli Pass before delivering the message to them.

……

……

As a vital water and land junction, Dushan Ford, though not as prosperous as Anfeng Garrison, still had a market town extending for about two li along both banks of the Gushui River.

Under the continuous spring rain, houses stood in dense rows. The stone-paved streets with their hundred years of history had unknowingly grown moss creeping up the corners of walls.

With several thousand troops stationed there, horses neighing and stamping restlessly through the night made people’s hearts become agitated and uneasy on such a rainy night.

The Song Family Ancestral Hall was located on the west side of the market town. Its three courtyards were built against the backdrop of Dushan Ridge, which stretched for three to four li, giving it quite an imposing appearance. At this time, it had been requisitioned by Li Xiu to serve as command headquarters.

Over ten fast horses came through the rain, reining in only when they reached the front of the ancestral hall. By the weak lamplight from wind-proof lanterns penetrating the curtain of rain, Li Zhigao’s face showed resolute severity as he dismounted.

Seeing Li Xiu, Li Qi, Xu Jing, Chun Shisanniang, and others all come out to greet him, he removed his rain cape and handed it to the guard behind him. Without regard for his robe hem being soaked by rainwater, he said, “Let’s go inside first before speaking.”

“Currently, we know with certainty that the Tangyi Left Army was already mobilized one step ahead before the Hejin Army made any unusual movements. Before that, several dozen fast horses—most likely carrying orders from Han Qian—galloped out from Wujin Ridge main camp, racing without rest for over four hundred li along the northern foot of Zipeng Mountain and through the northern regions of Chaozhou to enter Huailing City. It’s highly possible that Han Qian learned of Zhu Rang and Liang Shixiong’s betrayal one step earlier and sent people to inform the Haozhou Prefect. But we don’t know how he convinced Chen Kun to believe him, causing Chen Kun to decide that very night to withdraw troops from Haozhou, allowing the Tangyi Army to bloodlessly seize all of Haozhou territory!” Li Xiu said while ushering Li Zhigao into the courtyard, simultaneously reporting more detailed information.

“When the main force of the Five-Fang Navy was annihilated at Hongze Lake, some people said Han Qian was secretly communicating with Liang. Previously, no one believed it, blindly pushing all the blame for the defeat onto the Duke. Now, I’m afraid many people will be left speechless, won’t they?” Xu Jing said in a sinister tone.

In his early years, Xu Jing had been in charge of secretly gathering intelligence at Wanhong Tower. He surfaced during the capture of Lishui City and served as an official under Li Pu. After Emperor Yanyou ascended the throne, the Xinchang Marquis Manor and Wanhong Tower split into two branches, and Xu Jing followed Li Pu and was able to enter the Ministry of War’s Cartography Office to serve.

When the main force of the Right Divine Martial Army was annihilated at Zhongli, he was serving as chief officer of the Cartography Office and was also in Zhongli City at that time, barely managing to escape and return to Jinling.

As chief officer of the Ministry of War’s Cartography Office, though he had the responsibility of gathering military intelligence, when the navy and main force of the Right Divine Martial Army were annihilated, as subordinate personnel he did not need to bear responsibility. Afterward, he gained another opportunity to pledge loyalty to Wanhong Tower and continued to serve as chief officer of the Cartography Office in the Ministry of War.

However, the Ministry of War had Prince Shou Yang Zhitang and Zhou Bingwu serving as Minister and Vice-Minister. The Cartography Office was no longer under Xu Jing’s complete control.

Nevertheless, when it came to resentment toward Han Qian, Xu Jing would definitely not harbor any less than others.

“Leave that talk aside for now,” Li Zhigao interrupted Xu Jing’s baseless speculation and asked, “Have you sent people to find Xishui…”

“When we landed at Huangzhou, we already dispatched fast riders rushing toward Chenzhou, but whether they can make it in time is hard to say,” Chun Shisanniang said.

Half a month ago, Yao Xishui had personally taken a boat to Chenzhou, intending to instigate powerful clan forces hostile to Xuzhou in the southern foothills of Wuling Mountain to stir up trouble along the banks of the Ruan River to attract the Tangyi Army’s attention, so that when news of the great chaos in Liang reached the southern front, Han Qian would not have sufficient preparation in his haste to take over Huozhou, Shouzhou, and the southern regions of Haozhou.

However, who could have imagined that Han Qian would not only learn of the dramatic changes in the Heshuo situation far earlier than they had anticipated, but would even directly persuade the Hejin Army to voluntarily give up Haozhou?

Currently, the Tangyi Left Army had not only bloodlessly seized all of Haozhou territory, but Kong Xirong had even led eight thousand troops to kill their way out of the northwestern slopes of Huaiyang Mountain.

They had also received confirmed news that after Kong Xirong’s eight thousand troops emerged from the northern slopes of Huaiyang Mountain, at dusk today they completed their concentration in the river valley on the east bank of Pengwan River, a tributary upstream of the Huang River, sixty li east of Dushan Ford. Their military might pointed directly at Le’an City on the west bank of the Huang River and Huangchuan City, the prefectural seat of Guangzhou on the lower reaches of the Huang River. Clearly, they wanted to take over Le’an and Huangchuan Cities before them, thereby ensuring they remained isolated beyond Huozhou and Shouzhou, and ensuring that the central and southern regions of Huozhou and Shouzhou would be completely taken over by the Tangyi Army after the Shouzhou Army withdrew.

Chun Shisanniang also had no time to guess why Han Qian could confirm the dramatic changes in Heshuo and the news of Zhu Rang and Liang Shixiong’s betrayal earlier than they did. She was more worried about whether Yao Xishui could receive the news in time to stop operations in the southern foothills of Wuling Mountain.

If Yao Xishui truly incited powerful clan forces hostile to Xuzhou to cause trouble in the southwest, not only would it fail to further constrain the Tangyi Army’s attention, it would most likely provide grounds for Han Qian to subsequently have an excuse to further strike against the powerful clan forces in the southern foothills of Wuling Mountain.

Seeing that Chun Shisanniang and the others had already done what needed to be done, Li Zhigao no longer worried pointlessly about what consequences might follow. He walked into the great hall of the ancestral hall and, by lamplight, fixed his gaze on the topographical map of Huaixi that had already been spread out on the long table.

Seeing Li Zhigao remaining silent for a long time, Li Xiu first stated his speculation:

“Chen Kun led the Hejin Army to withdraw from Haozhou. From the Shouzhou Army’s reactions over these past few days, it’s evident that Xu Mingzhen was also caught completely off guard, which shows Chen Kun did not inform Xu Mingzhen—he was guarding against the possibility that Xu Mingzhen might turn toward the rebel army. However, the Hejin Army and Caizhou Army have already headed north for reinforcement, and their vanguard forces may arrive beneath the walls of Kaifeng City. Chen Kun and Han Yuanqi then have no need to continue concealing things from Xu Mingzhen. No matter what, they still need to win over the Shouzhou Army as much as possible. Xu Mingzhen’s reaction can only be one of two possibilities. First, Xu Mingzhen may be hesitant and uncertain, possibly choosing to hold his forces and observe the situation for a period before deciding whether to stay or go. This would be most advantageous for us. Kong Xirong’s forces do not possess the combat strength to attack and capture cities. We would have time to divide our forces and go to Le’an and Huangchuan after completing the encirclement of Luoshan City. Even if we eventually join forces with Kong Xirong’s troops to take Le’an, Huangchuan, and other counties, we can split the spoils evenly afterward. Of course, Xu Mingzhen may decisively abandon cities far from the south bank of the Huai River and immediately contract his forces to Huoqiu, Shouchun, and other cities close to the Huai River. In that case, Kong Xirong will bloodlessly take over Le’an, Huangchuan, and other places before us, blocking our route eastward to receive the spoils of war…”

“In your view, which choice is Xu Mingzhen more likely to make?” Li Zhigao looked up and asked Li Xiu.

“In my view, if Xu Mingzhen confirms that Zhu Rang and Liang Shixiong colluded with the Mongols in rebellion, he should be able to realize that even optimistically, the great chaos in Liang cannot be quelled within three to five months. If he doesn’t decisively contract his forces, he’ll only lose troops and squander what little resources he has left,” Li Xiu said. “Perhaps we should focus our consideration on how to keep both Wen Bo and the Luoshan garrison here.”

“Why not directly divide forces now to go to Le’an and Huangchuan?” Xu Jing questioned. “Kong Xirong’s forces are all infantry. We have three to four thousand cavalry and infantry troops—we can definitely arrive beneath Le’an and Huangchuan Cities before them.”

Li Zhigao shook his head and said, “Wen Bo is not a weak general. Our forces on the east side of Luoshan are limited. If we divide our forces at this time to contest Le’an and Huangchuan, should Wen Bo spot an opportunity to break through the encirclement, I fear we’ll lose everything—let’s not consider other matters. First ensure we take down Luoshan City…”