The southern bank areas of the lower Huai River had lower-lying terrain than the northern bank’s Sizhou and Haizhou, which destined that whenever the lower Huai River flooded greatly, Chuzhou suffered more severe disasters than Sizhou. Of course, areas of Sizhou near Hongze Lake had even lower terrain. Due to embankments built by the previous dynasty being completely abandoned, these areas had long become a vast sea.

Wang Wenqian, Yin Peng, Wang Yuan and others still took small boats the next day to evacuate to the Shanyang Canal embankment east of Jinhu city. At this time, the embankment was crowded with fleeing civilian households, with wretchedness and grief everywhere. Anyone at this moment felt deeply helpless. Wang Wenqian could only organize boats to evacuate these disaster victims as quickly as possible to the eastern bank of Shanyang Canal, enabling them to temporarily flee famine to counties on the east side suffering lighter disasters.

At this time, an official ship sailed from south to north. Wang Wenqian stared for a long while before suddenly realizing this should be a Weaving Bureau official ship. He did not know what schemes the Cishou Palace people had, running to Chuzhou to see Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan at this time.

Perhaps because the over one hundred large and small boats crossing here were extremely chaotic, or perhaps to dock over and observe the disaster situation on the western bank of Shanyang Canal, the official ship docked five to six hundred paces from the western bank.

Or perhaps after stopping, they discovered Wang Wenqian and others mixed among disaster victims. After a moment, they saw Yao Xishui, Zhou Yuan and others walking reluctantly toward them.

“Lord Wang, we have not met for many years.” Zhou Yuan served as Works Ministry Vice Minister. In rank he was already not beneath Wang Wenqian, but still extremely courteously came forward with Yao Xishui to bow and salute Wang Wenqian.

“Lord Zhou, Weaving Commissioner Yao, you are too polite,” Wang Wenqian returned the courtesy.

Wang Wenqian knew these people mostly had not noticed them on shore when docking, but after docking at the western bank and seeing them, it was inconvenient not to come meet. At this time, he only wanted to awkwardly deal with this briefly, then send these people to Chuzhou to see Prince Xin.

As Wang Wenqian predicted, after saying a few meaningless words, Zhou Yuan and Yao Xishui took their leave, not mentioning at all why they were going to Chuzhou this time, as if Wang Wenqian had become an insignificant figure in Chuzhou.

Wang Wenqian did not mind. He only had boats evacuating disaster victims move aside to let the official ship carrying Zhou Yuan and Yao Xishui pass through first.

“What ghosts are they scheming, going to Chuzhou at this time?” Yin Peng stared warily at the official ship sailing north along Shanyang Canal, unable to restrain himself from asking Wang Wenqian.

Zhou Yuan as Works Ministry Vice Minister was nominally ordered by imperial decree to inspect water conditions in Chuzhou. But everyone’s hearts knew clearly that Zhou Yuan and Yao Xishui appearing here was definitely not as simple as inspecting water conditions on the surface.

Wang Wenqian also shook his head.

During this period, he had mostly been convalescing sick at home, deliberately not involving himself in Huaidong’s military and political affairs. Information had also become blocked. He did not know how deep the collusion between Wanhong Tower and Guanjiang Tower was, nor was he clear how Lu Qingxia, Zhou Yuan, Li Changfeng and others viewed the Yu River seizing the Huai to enter the sea. Thus he could not accurately guess what intentions Yao Xishui and Zhou Yuan wanted to achieve by going to see Prince Xin at this time.

After a moment, Wang Wenqian said: “After Yao Xishui and Zhou Yuan saw me, they kept their mouths tightly shut without leaking any hints, with faces full of regret at docking and running into ghosts. Their intentions for this trip probably are not good things for Tang Yi, right?”

Yin Peng furrowed his brows.

Not mentioning the profound impacts of the Yu River seizing the Huai to enter the sea on the He-Huai situation, Yin Peng knew that western Huai, which had prepared for disaster prevention and relief four months in advance, suffered far lighter disaster impacts than Huaidong this time—this was just one aspect.

Guang, Shou, Huo, Hao prefectures, as Tang Yi’s newly recovered regions, generally speaking, to digest and consolidate rule over local areas required four to five years before possibly seeing initial results.

However, Han Qian this time mainly recruited over sixty thousand able-bodied laborers from these four prefectures, yet extremely effectively advanced disaster prevention and relief work. This showed that even after just two short years, Tang Yi’s degree of control over newly recovered prefectures and counties far exceeded others’ imaginations.

It also showed that when Han Daoming said before the year’s end at Chongwen Hall in front of many people that Tang Yi forces in western Huai possessed the capability to mobilize one hundred thousand troops, there was not the slightest exaggeration. This disaster prevention and relief could even be said to be a pre-mobilization for Tang Yi forces’ large-scale assembly.

At this time, western Huai, even relying only on internally produced supplies, mobilizing one hundred thousand troops for a campaign lasting about half a year should completely have no problems.

That is to say, Huaidong could no longer independently resist offensives launched by Tang Yi forces from the western flank.

Even though Mongols and Weizhou rebel forces breaching the Yu River embankment at this time were the chief culprits causing this Yu River seizing the Huai to enter the sea and creating large-scale flood disasters in the middle and lower Huai River, considering the He-Huai situation still had extremely complex subsequent changes, Yin Peng’s heart still believed that current court officials and Huaidong would be even more wary of Tang Yi, right?

Yao Xishui and Zhou Yuan choosing this moment to go to Chuzhou to see Prince Xin and Ruan Yan—even thinking with toes, one could guess they intended to disadvantage Tang Yi. But what specifically did they want to do that would disadvantage Tang Yi?

“I vaguely heard news before—I don’t know which party deliberately leaked the rumors—saying Li Zhigao secretly colluded with Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian. I don’t know if this is related to their trip?” Yin Peng said worriedly.

“Such thoughts should exist, but Tang Yi makes too many people reluctant to act rashly. Haven’t even Xu Mingzhen and Sima Tan not formally defected to Zhu Rang by this time?” Wang Wenqian said. “Let’s wait and see…”

……

……

Ye Feiying stood on the ship’s rail deck, expression numb and cold, watching disaster victims on the western embankment of Shanyang Canal in ragged clothes with grief-stricken faces not yet completely numbed. She watched floodwaters reaching to the heavens west of the embankment, turbid waters floating with miscellaneous wood, withered grass, and corpses of humans and livestock.

Who could imagine that the phrase “spring warmth, flowers blooming” from the abandoned residence before the year’s end would actually be confirmed in this moment’s circumstances?

Ye Feiying did not know much about military strategy matters, but staying by Yao Xishui’s side, hearing Zhou Yuan and Li Changfeng, Li Xiu and others who were transferred back to Jinling at the beginning of the year discuss matters, she also knew the Mongols’ scheme this time was extremely vicious.

Even if Emperor Liang Zhu Yu at this time launched a desperate all-or-nothing offensive from dangerous narrow mountain paths against the Heluo region, even if he could successfully capture Heluo, the He-Huai Liang forces’ strategic intention to reorganize the He-Huai region would still completely fail.

Li Changfeng and others predicted very early that as long as some Mongol troops cooperated with Weizhou rebel forces in employing troops on the eastern front, Qing, Mi and other prefectures, even the Sima clan occupying the Xu-Si region, would all choose to surrender to Liang Prince He Zhu Rang, subsequently causing Biangjing forces to once again become isolated troops.

Last year when Emperor Liang Zhu Yu borrowed passage through Tang Yi to return to Caizhou, reviving prestige in southern Yingzhou, under those circumstances, plus the Sima clan head Sima Xian himself still being in Biangjing, the Sima clan still continued choosing to observe neutrally in Xu-Si, not expressing a stance to serve again under Emperor Liang’s command.

Now with the He-Huai situation again sharply turning downward, even though Emperor Liang Zhu Yu had forty to fifty thousand elite troops reassembled in Xu, Ru and other areas, being isolated by rampaging floodwaters west of Sha-Ying River, the Sima clan defecting to Weizhou rebel forces was truly not difficult to imagine.

Over these two years since retreating to the Huai River’s northern bank, Xu Mingzhen, taking Ruyin County as prefectural governance and mainly managing Ying and Qiao areas, because Yingzhou was located downstream of Sha-Ying River, suffered most severe disasters. Ruyin County was nearly entirely flooded. Over forty thousand Shouzhou troops were forced to evacuate east to garrison Mengcheng and Bozhou city. After the Sima clan on the eastern side surrendered to Weizhou rebel forces, Li Changfeng and others predicted Xu Mingzhen would necessarily also submit.

Previously, Han Yuanqi, Chen Kun, Lei Jiuyuan, Jing Hao and others defending Biangjing, supporting for nearly two years, was already extremely rare. But if besieged again, could they possibly defend Biangjing city for another year or half year?

Of course, the Sima clan and Xu Mingzhen dragging until now still had not formally surrendered to Weizhou rebel forces—Ye Feiying somewhat could not understand. Li Changfeng and Li Xiu guessed these two parties might be concerned that Han Qian would lead troops to directly intervene in He-Huai warfare.

At the beginning of the year, it seemed Emperor Liang made not too many responses to the Mongols’ embankment-breaching Huai-seizing strategy, but still reinforced and raised the Chen-Bian post road connecting Biangjing city and Wanqiu city, the Chen prefecture governance, in Wanqiu County territory of Chenzhou where terrain was higher.

Although floodwaters rampaged and caused disasters in Chenzhou territory, this post road was not destroyed by floodwaters, meaning once Tang Yi decided to dispatch troops to participate in He-Huai warfare, they could use war boats to go north from the Ying River main channel, then on southern sections of this post road, pass through the flood zone with five to sixty li depth north of the Ying River, entering areas on Biangjing’s southern flank.

From this point, one could judge that when seeing Mongols excavating the Yu River embankment on the eastern side of Yingyang city at the beginning of the year, Han Qian and Emperor Liang Zhu Yu had early clear understanding of subsequent He-Huai situation deterioration.

Without this post road, even if Tang Yi forces could pass north along the Ying River via warships, flood zones five to sixty li wide on both flanks were natural moats difficult for infantry to cross. Flood zone waters varied in depth with severe silt accumulation—even the smallest boats found it very difficult to pass through.

Even anticipating Han Qian extremely likely would independently dispatch troops to intervene in He-Huai warfare, court princes, dukes, and ministers’ reactions or stances toward the He-Huai situation were completely different.

Most court officials not only believed the Mongols needed time to digest Jin territory, but regarding the Mongols’ strategy this time of breaching the Yu River embankment to seize the Huai, they also tended to believe the Mongols’ main purpose was still to fundamentally dismember Emperor Liang Zhu Yu’s faction’s power, supporting Weizhou rebel forces headed by Liang Prince He Zhu Rang.

At that time, Liang Prince He Zhu Rang, colluding with the Sima clan, and Xu Mingzhen who indeed might possibly defect to Zhu Rang—they would also establish a new Liang state, ruling the twenty-nine He-Huai prefectures east of Sha-Ying River, becoming a buffer between Jiang-Huai territories and the Mongols.

Even if the Mongols simultaneously successfully seized Guanzhong and the Heluo region, they would still be insufficient to pose fatal threats to Chu and Shu.

After all, with disasters rampaging along both banks of Sha-Ying River, the troop deployment corridor from Sha-Ying River west to Funiu Mountains became extremely narrow, making it very difficult to break through Fangcheng and the Guangzhou defense line on the upper Huai River backed by Tongbai Mountain.

If Mongols wanted to cross the Qinling Mountains southward from Guanzhong, Liangzhou would be a natural moat they could not cross.

Comparatively, Tang Yi—unwieldy and unruly—increasingly became an imminent threat in certain court people’s and various regional military forces’ eyes. Of course among these people, Cishou Palace was mainstream. Ye Feiying also believed Huaidong should have deeper understanding.

Comparatively, Marquis Liyang Yang En became more worried about He-Huai situation deterioration and the exceptional strength Mongols had demonstrated over these two to three years.

Shen Yang, Xue Ruogu, Huang Hua, Yang Zhiyuan and others’ attitudes were more moderate, with thoughts more on accelerating work to establish the Right Wuxiang Army belonging to the Guard Personal Army system after the Left Wuxiang Army was transferred back to Jinling.

“Wang Wenqian these two-plus years has spent most of his time convalescing sick at home, which counts as deeply understanding the way of concealing one’s talents and biding one’s time. However, Wang clan members inevitably have unsettled thoughts…”

At this time, hearing Zhou Yuan’s voice from the ship cabin, Ye Feiying turned around. Seeing Zhou Yuan’s face hidden deep in the ship cabin appeared very gloomy, she did not know what scheme he was plotting by suddenly diverging to this topic.

“Yang Yuanyan has a violent temperament but is not a reckless person. Ruan Yan and others are all deeply scheming. Wang Wenqian does not hesitate to humble himself showing all kinds of favor to Yang Yuanyan’s favored consort. Even if a few young Wang family descendants have unsettled thoughts at this time, wanting Yang Yuanyan to move against Wang family people at this time probably is not easy.” Chun Shisanniang, who earlier was too lazy to go ashore, now spoke lazily from inside the cabin.

Wang Jun marrying Han Qian—anyone could see the Wang family’s awkward situation. Under these circumstances, wanting to sow discord was actually not easy.

“Yang Yuanyan necessarily harbors suspicions toward Wang family people, making it very difficult to directly do anything more on this matter. But what if we make an issue out of Yang Yuanyan’s favored consort?” Zhou Yuan smiled sinisterly. “If I remember correctly, back in Xiangcheng, His Majesty first bestowed that woman surnamed Gu to the Marquis of Qianyang for bedding service, right? Yang Yuanyan’s side should have many women competing for favor. In their eyes, there is no such thing as the big picture. If we can incite these people, we may not even need to directly act ourselves…”

Yao Xishui and Chun Shisanniang both made no sound responding to Zhou Yuan’s words, seemingly not approving of making an issue out of an unrelated woman.

Zhou Yuan also seemed to realize Yao Xishui and Chun Shisanniang’s emotional changes. He gave two dry laughs and said: “At this time Emperor Liang Zhu Yu killed into Heluo in desperate struggle. Whether Liang Shixiong can defend Luoyang and Hangu Pass remains to be seen. Wang Yuankui and Tian Weiye, to avoid unfavorable strong attacks on Huazhou, once Hangu Pass falls will suddenly be in a dilemma of advance or retreat, thus concentrating forces to attack into Yongzhou. No matter what, the time left for us is truly not much…”

The He-Huai eastern front situation was roughly settled. Even if Tang Yi decided to dispatch troops to He-Huai, they could only barely protect the line from Biangjing city to northern Chenzhou. But from the western front all the way to Guanzhong, there still existed great variables.

It was possible that Emperor Liang Zhu Yu would first capture Luoyang and Hangu Pass, opening communications with Huazhou and Yongzhou, suppressing Tian Weiye and Wang Yuankui’s two forces back at Hejin and Tongzhou, temporarily unable to go south. It was also possible that Tian Weiye and Wang Yuankui would first capture Yongzhou and Huazhou, first connecting with Liang Shixiong in Heluo, causing Emperor Liang Zhu Yu to return without a city. From then on, Liang forces could only cower in the small area of Cai, Ru, southern Xuzhou, and western Qiaozhou to survive weakly.

Of course, it was also possible that when Emperor Liang Zhu Yu captured Luoyang and Hangu Pass, Wang Yuankui and Tian Weiye also captured Yongzhou.

Regardless of which situation, as long as Guanzhong’s situation settled, all were unfavorable for Xiangbei.

In the first situation, if Emperor Liang captured Luoyang and Hangu Pass, opening communications with Guanzhong Liang forces, even not considering Tang Yi factors, he obviously would not agree to Xiangbei joining with Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian to attack Shu state. Instead, he would plan to incorporate Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian’s two forces into Liang forces, driving them north of the Wei River to fight Wang Yuankui and Tian Weiye.

In the second and third situations, if Mongols fully or partially obtained control of Guanzhong, at this time Xiangbei should more consider the Mongols’ possible ambitions toward Liangzhou, rather than greedily plotting Shu. They especially could not easily act rashly.

If there was a favorable opportunity, it was currently—while Liang army remnants and Weizhou rebel forces plus Wang Yuankui and Tian Weiye’s troops were locked in stalemate in Heluo and Yongzhou with none having time to look south—there might be a two to three month window giving them opportunity to unite with Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian to attack into Shu territory.

They did not even need to capture Shu state in one stroke. Xiangbei forces in the early stage only needed to occupy northern Shu areas like Lizhou, Bazhou, Tongzhou, Langzhou, then would have the advantage of advancing or retreating at will, observing the situation. With northern Shu prefectures as early stage targets, Xiangbei did not need to employ much military force, allowing Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian to kill into Shu from Yinping Road, attracting Shu forces’ main strength.

However, even so, not only did Li Changfeng and Li Xiu not support this, Li Zhigao also worried the situation might not be under their control.

Currently they could confirm Xuzhou annually had about two million bolts of Qianyang cloth plus weapons, armor and other goods valued at three to four hundred thousand strings of money and grain flowing into Shu. Under such major interest entanglements, it was difficult to imagine that if they truly joined Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian to attack Shu territory, Tang Yi would not dispatch troops to threaten Xiangbei’s eastern flank.

Merely speculating Tang Yi might possibly directly dispatch troops to reinforce Chenzhou and Biangjing was not enough. But if at this time Huaidong and Tang Yi started military conflict, further restraining Tang Yi forces from the eastern front, making Han Qian unable to attend to other directions, only then would Li Zhigao truly make up his mind, right?

Ye Feiying before the year’s end walked with Yao Xishui into the abandoned residence. Of course she knew the person in the pavilion placed heavy expectations on this side. But besides Li Zhigao’s side never expressing a position, Yao Xishui and Madam both worried the person in the pavilion would calculate them all in. Yet Zhou Yuan’s mood was quite eager. She thought to herself—could Zhou Yuan secretly be in contact with the person in the pavilion?

……

……

Disaster conditions in Huoqiu and Shouspring were not severe.

Haozhou, sandwiched between the Huai River and Hongze Lake, combined with continuous rains in Jiang-Huai, saw stream and river water levels surging greatly from water flowing from Wujian Mountain and Fucha Mountain into the Huai River, with flooding relatively severe.

However, Haozhou’s four counties had total population just over one hundred thousand. The benefits of vast land and sparse population fully manifested at this time. Like northern Chuzhou, even though some people suffered disasters, as long as they moved to higher ground to avoid water, local areas had sufficient capacity for resettlement without needing the Commissioner’s Office to intervene.

What was truly serious was still western Huozhou and Guangzhou territory. From mid to late fourth month onward, within one month, disaster victims from west bank of the Ying River evacuating south from Cai and Ru prefectures unable to be resettled, totaling over one hundred thousand old and young, crossed the Huai River and moved into these regions for temporary resettlement.

Over thirty refugee camps daily required allocating over one thousand shi of polished rice for relief, with this number increasing daily.

Han Qian did not secretly rejoice that western Huai had another one hundred thousand new people. He was still full of worry about the current severe situation. With He-Huai collapsed and Guanzhong fallen, even if western Huai had two million people, what could they accomplish?

Misfortunes never come singly.

During this period, the northern foothills of Tongbai Mountain also experienced continuous heavy rains. Gu River, Huang River and other southern Huai River tributaries also flooded widely. Many sections of roads from western Chaozhou to Guangzhou were destroyed by floodwaters. Of the dozen or so floating bridges set up over river channels along the route, less than half remained.

Large quantities of supplies needed to first be transported to Shouzhou for loading onto ships, then going against the mighty Huai River waters upstream to western Huozhou and Guangzhou territory to be unloaded.

Han Qian rushed about non-stop among counties, busy with disaster relief matters.

On the twentieth of fifth month, Han Qian was in Qisi.

Due to large-scale flood retention forming in the middle Huai River, Qisi city, near the Huai River yet with lower terrain, also had water accumulation everywhere ankle-deep.

Guo Duanduo, Zhou Daoyuan and other Liang officials also transferred to Qisi city, making Qisi city a transfer station for Tang Yi’s liaison with Cai, Ru and other prefectures. Han Qian rushed over to discuss subsequent reinforcement matters with them.

At this time, after Emperor Liang Zhu Yu personally led elite troops killing into the western foothills of Mount Song, he had already captured without regard for casualties two key cities—Song County and Yichuan in southern Luoyang. But in Luoyang, Mianchi, Hangu Pass near the Yu River, plus Yanshi and Yingyang cities on the eastern side, thirty thousand rebel troops still stubbornly resisted.

At this time, Mongols at Hejin and other areas collected several hundred fishing boats, able to support Luoyang from Mengjin and other places, making rebel troops’ fighting will relatively strong.

Fortunately, Heluo was Emperor Liang Zhu Yu’s dragon-rising land.

Seeing Emperor Liang Zhu Yu lead Liang forces crossing Mount Song killing into Heluo, aristocratic clans and people in Lushi, Luoning, and Yiyang all raised troops to expel rebel forces, enabling Emperor Liang to temporarily stand firm in southern Heluo, also able to collect some grain and fodder locally without needing to spend time and effort using the most primitive methods of human carrying and horse transport to cross dangerous narrow valleys from Cai, Ru and other areas to transport military grain into the Heluo region.

Currently, Emperor Liang Zhu Yu decided that besides dividing some troops to defend Yiyang, watching Luoyang rebel forces below Yiyang, he would have Jing Zhen lead some elite troops, passing through hills on the north bank of Yi River, directly inserting to the Yu River’s southern bank, attacking Mianchi and Hangu Pass from east to west, first opening communications with Guanzhong.

Because Liang forces completely lost control over the upper Yu River waterway (including Wei River), Mongols assembled several hundred small vessels, able to choose flat riverbanks to cross between Luoyang and Hangu Pass at any time, equivalent to completely exposing the flanks of troops attacking Mianchi and Hangu Pass. Combined with continuous heavy rains during this period in the Heluo region unfavorable for attacks, warfare between He and Luo would take at least two months before seeing results.

Emperor Liang Zhu Yu worried Sima Tan and Xu Mingzhen might defect at any time. He hoped Tang Yi could dispatch troops north early to avoid Sima Tan and Xu Mingzhen preemptively cutting off post road communications between Chenzhou and Biangjing.

Not only were Guo Duanduo and Zhou Daoyuan in Qisi, Shen Peng also rushed over carrying Emperor Liang Zhu Yu’s personal letter, again mentioning hopes that Tang Yi would dispatch troops early.

Han Qian was very hesitant about this.

On one hand, Sima Tan and Xu Mingzhen might defect toward Weizhou rebel forces at any time. Sima Tan and Xu Mingzhen occupying southern He-Huai regions, their two forces combined exceeded one hundred thousand troops.

On the other hand, after Mongols built the river-blocking dam at Wuzhi, their cavalry vanguard forces had already entered areas east of Biangjing for activities.

At this time, even if Han Qian transferred twenty thousand elite infantry into northern Chenzhou, combined with Biangjing garrison forces led by Han Yuanqi and Chen Kun, there would only be forty-thousand-plus troops. Yet they would have to face possible encirclement, pursuit, and interception by up to two hundred thousand enemy forces in the nearly two-hundred-li open plains between Biangjing and Chenzhou.

How to fight this battle?

Under current circumstances, the Mongols were perhaps hoping to drag Tang Yi forces into a battle situation more favorable to them. Han Qian even suspected this was precisely why the Sima clan and Xu Mingzhen delayed until this time without clearly raising rebel flags, but had actually already secretly surrendered to rebel forces.

If facts were as he predicted, reinforcement troops unable to establish foothold in northern Chenzhou would very likely be forced into Biangjing by enemy forces several times their number.

After reinforcement troops joined Han Yuanqi, Chen Kun and others, perhaps they could continue defending Biangjing city from falling. But how to solve the grain and fodder problem?

Biangjing city had previously endured long-term siege, with grain once exhausted, thousands starving to death. Fortunately Emperor Liang Zhu Yu timely returned to He-Huai, once lifting Biangjing’s siege, preventing starvation deaths from expanding and causing even more tragic catastrophe.

To solve Biangjing city’s grain crisis, especially after confirming Mongols and rebel forces had vicious intentions to breach embankments and seize the Huai, Emperor Liang ordered evacuating large numbers of residents to flee famine. But the city currently only had one hundred-thousand-plus military and civilian personnel.

Like Jinling and Shouspring’s outer cities, between Biangjing’s outer city walls and inner city (imperial city), or the outer city zone, there were large empty areas. Emperor Liang Zhu Yu also ordered these areas be cultivated and planted as much as possible, but there were only seventy to eighty thousand mu.

Including grain subsequently transported into Biangjing city plus grain produced in Biangjing’s outer city, it was barely enough for one-hundred-thousand-plus military and civilian personnel to consume for four to five months. Bringing in more troops would not only have no benefit but would even exacerbate the stored grain consumption crisis.

Without recovering Yingyang and Wuzhi cities, without timely digging open the river-blocking dam, without timely sealing the Yingyang embankment breach, the Yellow River flood zone along both banks of Sha-Ying River would exist long-term. Tang Yi also lacked capacity to guarantee this post road from northern Chenzhou to Biangjing city would not be cut off by enemy forces in the He-Huai central region where enemies held absolute advantage.

Transporting grain from western Huai to Biangjing city—this choice was extremely unrealistic. Never mind that with twenty thousand fewer elite troops garrisoning western Huai territory, who knew what moves Cishou Palace and Huaidong would make behind their backs?

Han Qian more hoped Han Yuanqi, Chen Kun, Lei Jiuyuan, Jing Hao and others could decisively abandon Biangjing city. While enemy forces had not yet completed encirclement, they could evacuate the one-hundred-thousand-plus military and civilian personnel in Biangjing city still loyal to Emperor Liang Zhu Yu to northern Chenzhou, then through water routes, successively evacuate and resettle these military and civilian personnel to areas not flooded like southern Yingzhou.