Chapter 481: Chapter 465: Granary
Fengyu naturally knew that Nuanyang was no match for Fang Chuning. If Fang Chuning truly wanted to attack the Twelve States, he could easily take them during the Beiman uprising. Ningzhou couldn’t send reinforcements back, and the troops stationed to defend the cities couldn’t withstand the 100,000 troops of Zhongzhou. Fengyu was deeply worried. Fang Chuning might not really resort to a forced siege, but if he appealed to reason and emotion, how many people from the state mansions across the Twelve States would waver? The major states and counties of the Twelve States cared only about protecting their people from the chaos of war.
This was a prelude to nationwide turmoil!
Three days later, the proclamation from Ningzhou spread throughout the land: Yuwen Jing had colluded with the Beiman and dispatched troops to attack Ningzhou and the Twelve States. The news spread like wildfire. Scholars in the Capital City gathered outside the Inner Palace in silent protest, demanding that Yuwen Jing withdraw his forces from the Twelve States and lead his armies to Ningzhou to resist the enemy together. Yuwen Jing sent the Jinyi Guard to disperse them, but the scholars sat silently in the snow, unmoved by the Jinyi Guard’s blades.
Two days later, torrential rain poured down.
The snow had yet to melt, and the scholars who had been sitting in protest for two days were drenched overnight. Fearing that the scholars might freeze to death in the storm, Yuwen Jing ordered Chen Mo to forcibly remove them with the Jinyi Guard. A clash broke out between the scholars and the guards. Exhausted from hunger and cold, eight scholars were accidentally killed by the Jinyi Guard, triggering even larger unrest in the Capital City.
When the news reached Jiangnan, the scholars and merchants of Jiangnan united to protest Yuwen Jing’s tyranny. As a form of protest, the six cities of Jiangnan, including Yangzhou, refused to pay taxes to the court.
Fang Chuning, stationed with 100,000 troops in Jiaozhou, received orders from Marshal Fang to move to the Ningzhou Battlefield to jointly resist the Beiman.
When the military orders reached Fang Chuning’s hands, Marshal Fang’s memorial was already on Yuwen Jing’s imperial desk. In his memorial, Marshal Fang meticulously outlined the pros and cons, urging Yuwen Jing to announce to the world that he had never formed an alliance with the Beiman. The Beiman had attacked Ningzhou because they had grown greedy, coveting Yanyang’s cities after learning that the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry had defected from Yanyang. To prove his innocence, Zhongzhou’s army should march to Ningzhou to resist foreign invasion together.
Yuwen Jing, furious, smashed his study desk, leaving the Imperial Study in disarray.
"Fang Chuning—how dare he feign compliance while opposing me outright? He deserves to die!" Yuwen Jing seethed with anger. The Zhongzhou army could have taken the Twelve States in a matter of days, yet Fang Chuning had deliberately stalled in Jiaozhou for nearly ten days—long enough for Xie Jue’s proclamation to spread across the land and for the riots in Jiangnan and the Capital City to erupt, forcing him to redirect his troops to Ningzhou to repel the enemy together.
Yuwen Jing realized that sending troops to Ningzhou now would undoubtedly make him a target of public scorn. So instead, he mobilized his forces to attack the Twelve States and reclaim them. This maneuver would corner Xie Jue and Xie Xun, leaving them trapped. If the two intended to defend the Twelve States, they’d have to recall troops for defense. Once they did, Ningzhou’s defenses would be weakened, providing Dugu Jing an opportunity to strike.
Ningzhou had only a small number of troops to fend off the Beiman. If they focused on defending Ningzhou, they’d have to forsake the Twelve States; if they concentrated on the Twelve States, they’d be unable to resist the Beiman. Fang Chuning only needed to take Jiaozhou to force the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry to retreat for reinforcements.
Once their forces were divided, Dugu Jing’s chances of conquering the city improved greatly. If Xie Xun and Xie Jue didn’t withdraw their forces, the Twelve States would fall into the hands of Zhongzhou’s army. With Ningzhou trapped between the north and south, it was only a matter of time before it fell.
After Dugu Jing flattened Ningzhou and killed both Xie Jue and Xie Xun, Yuwen Jing intended to emerge as a mediator. This strategy—using the Beiman as his blade while he reaped the rewards—was one he had already employed twice before. Doing it once more would be second nature to him.
Who could have predicted that Fang Chuning would dare defy him?
Initially, when Lin Helin had recommended Fang Chuning for Zhongzhou, Yuwen Jing had strongly objected. But at the time, his foundation was not yet secure, and he could not refuse Lin Helin’s petition or the Marshal’s memorial.
After agreeing to Fang Chuning’s assignment to Zhongzhou, Yuwen Jing secretly ordered the Chen Family to sideline Fang Chuning, forbidding him from becoming the sole authority in Zhongzhou. But Fang Chuning had ascended too quickly, catching him off guard.
Still, there was one thing Yuwen Jing remained confident in: the Zhongzhou army had been under the Yuwen Family’s command for decades and was loyal to the Yuwen Royal Family. Even with Fang Chuning in control, the Yuwen Family’s influence in Zhongzhou could not be dismantled.
In recent years, Fang Chuning had focused on training his troops. Yuwen Jing’s spies reported that Fang Chuning’s military formations were all geared toward countering the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry. Zhongzhou was preparing for war at full strength. Though Yuwen Jing remained uneasy, he monitored the situation and was grudgingly satisfied.
The Eldest Princess resided in the Capital City, and the Marshal’s entire family was also based there. Neither the Marshal nor Fang Chuning dared to rebel.
While Fang Chuning did not rebel, he presented Yuwen Jing with a soft dagger.
At this point, sending the Zhongzhou army to Ningzhou for joint warfare seemed to be the only option left.
Yuwen Jing sneered. "A force of 100,000—all of them originally loyal to the Yuwen Royal Family. Even if Fang Chuning leads them to Ningzhou to resist the Beiman, what authority does he, the commander, truly hold over 100,000 soldiers?"
"Chen Mo, these people... Why are they always so insensible?" Yuwen Jing toyed with the jade ring on his thumb. "On slippery rainy days, it wouldn’t be unusual for the Eldest Princess to break a leg, would it?"
"Certainly!"
Since Fang Chuning refused to obey, Yuwen Jing decided to send a clear warning to the Fang Family duo!
After receiving Marshal Fang’s orders, Fang Chuning prepared to set out for Ningzhou. At the same time, he sent a message to Xie Jue, disclosing that Chen Gui was unwilling to provide support in Ningzhou. Considering that most of Chen Gui’s forces were aligned with the Yuwen Family, Fang Chuning chose not to press the issue, directing him to return to Zhongzhou with his troops instead.
Chen Gui said, "The Marshal had no choice but to order you to Ningzhou. Have you thought this through? When this is over, the Emperor will not spare you."
It was clear to all astute observers that Fang Chuning had intentionally delayed in Jiaozhou.
"Chen Gui, if we truly follow imperial orders and forcefully attack Jiaozhou, the Twelve States’ defenses will become paper-thin. Do you understand how many lives will be lost during such an assault?"
"Rebels and traitors deserve to die. Why show them mercy?"
"Though we serve the same court, our paths diverge."
"Then let us part ways here. I will return to Zhongzhou, and you head to Ningzhou. Don’t assume that Ningzhou will necessarily welcome your grand army into their city!" Chen Gui, suppressing his temper, led half of the troops back to Zhongzhou.
Fang Chuning led 50,000 troops to Ningzhou. After receiving his letter, Xie Jue permitted Fang Chuning’s forces to enter the city. The Beiman’s offensive this time was unusual; they employed new firepower, rendering the walls beyond repair. Fang Chuning had mentioned this new firepower when he had been in Beiman years ago; Xie Jue had even seen the blueprints. Unfortunately, just as Xie Jue was beginning to investigate the matter, his identity was exposed, forcing him to retreat prematurely.
Xie Jue needed Fang Chuning’s help.
With the crisis in Jiaozhou resolved, Fengyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The city regained its calm, no longer gripped by anxiety. Snow in the Twelve States began to gradually melt, and Fengyu started taking stock of medicinal supplies across the states and counties.
Fengyu, along with Xie Xun and Xie Jue, had intentionally prepared for war by stockpiling food, winter clothing, and armor. However, medicinal supplies were scarce and difficult to accumulate. A previous epidemic had nearly depleted the Twelve States’ reserves, leaving them critically underprepared for the current war. The situation on the Ningzhou battlefield looked grim. Amidst the chaos, letters were few and far between. A single message from a flying courier reported that the Beiman had improved their battlefield weaponry, significantly increasing range and destructive power. The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry sustained heavy casualties due to these innovations, relying on sheer willpower to dismantle the enemy’s war chariots. This battle was proving exceedingly difficult.
Listening to the reports, Fengyu grew increasingly anxious. She was neither a soldier on the front lines nor a commanding general issuing orders. All she could do was stabilize the rear and provide Ningzhou with the supplies it desperately needed.
She hoped Fang Chuning’s arrival in Ningzhou would turn the tide of battle.
The war dragged on for a month, with no clear resolution in sight. Nuanyang, agitated, grew restless as well. The 5,000 mounted soldiers stationed in the city also yearned to return to Ningzhou and join the fight; they were unwilling to remain idle at the rear.
Xie Jue, sensing Ningzhou’s instability, recalled 30,000 troops from Salt City and Jiaozhou.
The more worried Fengyu became, the calmer she acted.
Nuanyang wanted to lead the 5,000 cavalry back to Ningzhou, but Fengyu flatly refused. "If you take the 5,000 Iron Cavalry, and the city is attacked, the West State soldiers won’t be able to hold the line."
"My lady, the West State is in the rear. With all the major forces engaged at Ningzhou, who would attack the West State now?"
"Nuanyang, the West State is the granary and armory of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry. I may not understand military affairs, but Xie Xun specifically instructed me before his departure: under no circumstances are these 5,000 men to leave Xizhou!" Fengyu said firmly. "Go and reassure the troops, and make the stakes clear to them."