dmims Chapter 61 Sweeping Through the Central Plains, Seizing the Mandate of Heaven
Chapter 61 Sweeping Through the Central Plains, Seizing the Mandate of Heaven
The news of Ögedei Khan's execution by Yang Kang was like a boulder thrown into an already murky lake, creating a huge uproar and sweeping across the world like a terrifying explosion.
The gradually clearing trend of the world situation was instantly stirred up into a murky mess once again.
A storm centered on Guanshan swept across the entire world. Some people died without ever knowing what had happened, while others accomplished in this storm what others could never do in several lifetimes.
The first to know the news were Yang Miaozhen and others who had been waiting in Shandong.
Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun rode their fastest military horses, traveling through the night to deliver news of their success back to Shandong as soon as possible.
Finally, the two, who had traveled a great distance by express courier, arrived at the Tianxia Society in Shandong three days later and knelt before Yang Miaozhen.
"Master's wife, a great victory at Guanshan!"
"Master has already killed the Mongol Khan Ögedei and is leading his army back towards Yanjing!"
The two knelt on one knee, covered in dust, and spoke excitedly.
Yang Miaozhen waved her hand, signaling the two to stand up.
She was already dressed in a full set of crimson armor, clearly having waited a long time for this news.
Immediately, Yang Miaozhen held her spear, pointed it to the sky, and gave the order.
"The entire army set off, heading straight for Yanjing."
She wanted to capture Yanjing for her husband and make it the capital of the new dynasty before Yang Kang returned with his troops.
News of Yang Kang's attack on Guanshan and his killing of Ögedei Khan spread throughout Yizhou Prefecture on the same day.
The deafening cheers echoed through the sky, and countless people spontaneously took to the streets to celebrate with firecrackers. Everyone in the streets and alleys was in high spirits.
Upon hearing this, Wang Chuyi and Qiu Chuji, who resided in Yizhou Prefecture, stroked their beards and exchanged smiles.
"Nearly thirty years of hard work are now bearing fruit again."
"Senior brother, you have succeeded in helping the Dragon Court this time. You will surely become a patriarch of Taoism in the future."
Wang Chuyi said with a sigh.
"Eternal fame and glory are nothing more than this, but I think the days of peace and tranquility should not be too far off."
"For hundreds of years, foreign tribes have ravaged the Central Plains in turn. Yan and Yun have fallen, and the Central Plains are filled with mourning. It is time for an emperor who belongs to the Han people to appear."
Qiu Chuji couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Next to the Taoist temple of Qiu Chuji and his companion, there was a small courtyard.
After the Mount Hua Sword Tournament, Guo Jing, who had already moved his entire family to Yizhou Prefecture, was currently helping his two-year-old daughter, Guo Fu, to read and write.
When he heard the news, he fell into an unusual silence.
Guo Jing had long suspected Yang Kang's ambition and anticipated that he would inevitably clash with the Mongols one day.
I just didn't expect this day to come so soon.
"Another figure like Genghis Khan has emerged."
What path will the world take in the future?
Guo Jing stared blankly out the door.
Outside his small courtyard, the cheers of countless people echoed.
He couldn't distinguish between Yang Kang and Genghis Khan. When Genghis Khan unified Mongolia and defeated the Jin Dynasty, the herdsmen on the grasslands celebrated in the same lively manner.
"Brother Jing".
Huang Rong spoke softly.
"I think that although Yang Kang was a similar person to Genghis Khan, he would not have indiscriminately killed innocent people like Genghis Khan."
"If he were to become the emperor of the Central Plains, he would surely be better off than the Mongols."
Huang Rong was a smart woman who always saw things clearly, except for her husband and children.
The mutual dislike between her and Yang Kang was a thing of the past.
When the two were no longer in each other's sight, she was able to see things more clearly.
"I just don't know how Huazheng will manage in the future."
"If I had known this day would come so soon, I wouldn't have sent her to see Yang Kang."
Guo Jing sighed sadly.
In the backyard of the World Society, Hua Zheng, who was newly pregnant, heard the news from a group of servants and collapsed to the ground in a daze.
She didn't know whether to cry or be angry.
She had already vaguely foreseen this day when Ögedei poisoned Tolui and Sorghaghtani Beki led Möngke and others to join the World Society.
I just didn't expect this day to come so soon.
What will become of her homeland? What will become of her people? And what will become of her?
A sense of bewilderment overwhelmed Hua Zheng, and she fainted.
Mu Nianci, who was holding Yang Guo's hand as he learned to walk, rushed forward to support him, repeatedly calling out, "Someone! Someone come quick!"
The servants and maids were immediately thrown into a flurry of activity.
Upon hearing the news, Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo rushed over and were extremely busy.
The Tianxiahui cavalry immediately set off to spread the news throughout Shandong.
Countless Shandong residents erupted in cheers, spontaneously flooding the streets, setting off firecrackers, and singing and dancing.
Countless writers and poets were moved to tears, believing that their destiny lay with them.
Yang Miaozhen personally led an army of 200,000 men straight to Yanjing.
Wanyan Chenheshang led another 50,000 elite troops to sweep through Henan. Zhang Rou led an army of 50,000 to conquer Hedong.
Yang Kang chose the timing too cleverly; the Mongol Khan was killed, and the central government instantly lost control.
The main force of the Jin Dynasty was completely wiped out, and the remaining forces were just a motley crew. The main force of the Mongols in the Central Plains was scattered and divided, and was almost useless in the face of the army of the World Society.
The Southern Song Dynasty, the only one capable of participating in the game, was constantly depleting its last strength in the ongoing struggle between advocating war and peace.
The three armies of the World Society seized vast territories from the Mongols with almost no effort.
Wherever the iron cavalry went, the World Society spread the news that Ögedei Khan had been killed.
The Mongol army that remained in the Central Plains consisted of only a small portion of core Mongols; the rest were servants of other ethnic groups, and most of them were even Han Chinese.
When these Han people learned that Yang Kang had launched an attack on the Mongols, and that even Ögedei Khan had been killed, they were filled with fear and panic.
Wanyan Chenheshang encountered almost no resistance along the way. The Mongol servants and soldiers left behind in various places, as well as the Mongol army, were powerless against Wanyan Chenheshang's 100,000-strong army and were instantly crushed.
The Jurchens who participated were even less likely to resist.
Wanyan Chenheshang was one of the few Jurchen royals among the high-ranking members of the World Society. Among the remaining Jurchens, his name was almost universally known.
Almost every living Jurchen knew of Yang Kang's relationship with their Jurchen royal family, and Yelü Chucai had already prepared conditions for them to surrender.
Even Gao Qi, the chieftain who escorted Wanyan Xun to safety, surrendered without hesitation, bringing Wanyan Xun's entire family with him.
After all, under Wanyan Honglie's rule, Yang Kang was never stripped of his Jurchen royal status.
Wanyan Honglie even invited Yang Kang to stay in Bianjing and ascend the throne on several occasions, which was a significant move for the remaining Jurchens.
Surrendering to Yang Kang was not forced at all; it was simply a matter of handing over the throne that had already been prepared to him.
No one doubted that Yang Kang would treat the Jurchen royal family well; the only question was how well they would be treated in the end.
Zhang Rou's forces along the Hedong line did not encounter much resistance.
Most of the people in Hedong were local Han Chinese powerful families, and their relationship with Shandong had been ambiguous since the early days of the World Society.
Zhang Rou's massive army pressing in was merely a signal that their already ambiguous relationship had to be explicitly declared as one of submission.
In mid-August, Yang Kang and Yang Miaozhen joined forces at the gates of Yanjing.
The garrison commander of Yanjing, Zhierhuo Adai, was also someone who had personally witnessed the terrifying scene of Yang Kang's battle at Yehuling.
Although he was afraid, he did not have the courage to give up resisting, but unfortunately the difference in strength was too great.
The Mongols' ability to defend cities was not as profound as they believed.
Zhierhuo'a Dai only peeked out from the city wall before Yang Kang killed him with an arrow, and the defending army quickly collapsed.
The city's garrison commander betrayed them and opened the city gates, prompting the people to spontaneously take to the streets.
On the day they met, the two entered the city through the north gate of Yanjing.