New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

"Guangling?"

The name of the place made Li Gang frown slightly. "Guangling City is located north of the river and has no natural defenses whatsoever. Where do you get the confidence to fight the Jin army head-on there?"

Huainan East Road is a vast plain. After passing Haizhou City, the Jin army can advance straight in and reach Yangzhou City in less than ten days.

Yangzhou, connecting the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal, has been a world-renowned prosperous city since the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Countless literati, scholars, wealthy merchants and magnates frequented the city. The Jade Belt River, known as the "Little Qinhuai," was a place of revelry every night. There was no curfew in the city. Now, when it was used to defend against the Jin army, Li Gang was really worried about whether the city gates of Yangzhou could still be closed.

“My ancestral home is Guangling. It is my duty to protect my hometown. My Tang family is willing to live and die with Guangling City.”

"Good." At this moment, Li Gang finally felt a little admiration for the young man before him who was not yet twenty. His actions of urging the emperor to move south were indeed inappropriate, but they did have some merit. His determination to defend Guangling to the death showed that he was not a coward. Putting these two things together, Li Gang made a decision. "If you can really defend Guangling, I will put in a good word for you with the emperor."

Tang Qian cupped his hands in greeting to Li Gang, then gave a wry smile: "I'm not really sure if we can hold Guangling. If Your Excellency could lend me one of your men, I guarantee I can increase the chances of keeping the Jin army outside the city to 80%."

Although Tang Qian's figures were exaggerated, Li Gang still had some disbelief. However, being able to hold off the Jin army on the Jiangbei front, even for a short time, would be a great help to the court. Let alone one person, even ten generals, Li Gang would not hesitate for a moment: "Who?"

"Yue Fei, the Martial Wing General, is currently under the command of Liu Hao."

“Yue Fei, that name does sound familiar…” Li Gang only recalled for a moment before suddenly slapping his thigh, “Wasn’t that letter that was just sent to the Emperor written by Yue Fei?”

"Is it a letter urging the Emperor to defend Yingtian Prefecture to the death?"

Sensing that something was about to happen, Tang Qian, who was usually calm and collected, couldn't help but change his expression. If Zhao Gou was displeased and issued an imperial edict to execute him immediately, where would he find another Yue Fei to be remembered in history?

No longer caring about idle chatter with Li Gang, Tang Qian rushed out and arrived at the main hall of Zhao Gou's palace in a few steps. Just as he was about to ask the guards at the door to pass on a message, he bumped into a eunuch who came out to deliver an imperial edict.

The eunuch, who was holding a roll of yellow silk and was about to start cursing, immediately changed his expression to a fawning one when he saw that the person who came was the Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, who could discuss matters with the Emperor behind closed doors: "Is the Imperial Son-in-Law in such a hurry to see the Emperor?"

"That's right. Please convey my message, sir, that I have important business to discuss with His Majesty."

The eunuch looked troubled: "I must rush to Caozhou immediately to deliver the imperial decree, but I'm afraid..."

"Caozhou? The place where Liu Hao's troops are stationed?" Tang Qian suddenly realized, "What imperial decree has been issued? Is it related to a general named Yue Fei?"

He thought to himself that this Imperial Son-in-Law was really fearless, even bothering with matters like the Emperor issuing imperial edicts. However, this was not something a mere eunuch like himself could concern himself with, especially since it only concerned the promotion of a Wu Yi Lang (a military rank), not some important military matter. So he simply mentioned it to Tang Qian: "That's right, this Yue Fei has committed treason and disobedience. The Emperor wants to strip him of his military rank and order him to return to his hometown."

Hearing the eunuch's words, Tang Qian finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that, so far, his appearance had not had any impact on Yue Fei's life. According to historical records, Yue Fei did indeed experience being dismissed from his post once.

However, his life trajectory may change in the future.

After a brief moment of thought, Tang Qian took out a piece of silver from his pocket and stuffed it into the hand of the imperial eunuch: "After we arrive in Caozhou, please ask the eunuch to pass on a message to Yue Fei, telling him to go south to Guangling City, and to say that this is the order of the Emperor."

After watching the eunuch delivering the imperial decree leave with a smile, Tang Qian lost all interest in meeting Zhao Gou.

Although he had not yet arrived in Yangzhou, Tang Xiaoqi had already secretly made arrangements a year ago. He also learned from Zhao Gou's personal guards that Tang Xiaoqi, following his instructions, had looted all the Taoist temples and firecracker workshops near the East City. With such confidence, Tang Qian was not worried about losing Guangling.

As for Yue Fei, he was indeed a rare military talent. Tang Qian planned to transfer him to Yangzhou, but not to help him defend the city.

When Zhao Gou established his capital in Lin'an, he did actively organize an army to launch a northern expedition against the Jin Dynasty in order to appease the people. During this period, many famous generals of the Song Dynasty emerged who resisted the Jin. Among these people, Han Shizhong, Liu Guangshi and others all died of illness and were considered to have died peacefully. Only Yue Fei died a death that was too regrettable.

However, Tang Qian did not intend to interfere too much in the other party's life. If Yue Fei chose to go north to resist the Jin after being dismissed from his post, then he would pretend that he had said nothing. He would be his Yue Fei, and Tang Qian would be his carefree son-in-law.

If Yue Fei had chosen to go south, Tang Qian could have ensured that he would also be remembered in history and die a natural death.

However, these are all matters for later. What Tang Qian needs to do right now is to get Zhao Gou heading south as soon as possible so that he can safely return to Yangzhou with the Imperial Guards and complete the final arrangements.

Zhao Gou clearly stated that he would carefully consider Tang Qian's advice, but he did not immediately put it into action. The departure of tens of thousands of troops was not an easy task and required a period of preparation.

Just as Tang Qian felt that the matter should not be delayed any longer, a military report from the front lines was delivered into Zhao Gou's palace.

Princess Wanyan Xi mysteriously disappeared, enraging King Wanyan Wuqimai. Wanyan Xie also led his army south again, and has now arrived in Youzhou City.

"This is clearly aimed at you." Zhao Gou threw the military report at Tang Qian's face. "You ran away, fine, but why did you have to abduct someone else's princess? This will plunge both countries into deep trouble again. How do you explain this?"

After reading through the report, Tang Qian smiled faintly and said, "Wanyan Wuqimai is truly enraged. However, Your Majesty need not believe his nonsense. This is merely an excuse for the other side to send troops. If you really intend to bring back the Seventh Princess, you can simply have me hand her over. Why go through all this trouble?"

Therefore, regardless of whether the Seventh Princess returns to the Great Jin, this battle is inevitable.