Xianxia version of Water Margin

…

In the vast northern border of China, there is a world-famous giant river, the Heilongjiang River. Behind its name lies an ancient and mysterious legend.

According to legend, in ancient times, this river was not named after the black river, but the Bailong River, named after a violent white dragon living at the bottom of the river.

However, as time went by, it would be a long story to tell why the Bailong River transformed into the Heilongjiang River... If you are interested, search for "Bald Tail Lao Li" or "Origin of the name of Heilongjiang River".

Putting aside the legendary color, the reason why the Heilongjiang River got its name is actually due to its unique water quality.

The waters here are rich in humus. During the long journey, the water flow constantly washes the fertile black soil on both sides, causing these dark soils to gradually blend into the river water and settle at the bottom of the river, making the Heilongjiang River appear deep black in the clear places.

In ancient Chinese classics, Heilongjiang River also has many elegant names such as Heishui, Ruoshui, Wuhuan River, etc., but the most well-known name is "Heilongjiang". It was originally given by the Liao people. In Manchu, it is called "Sakhalian Ula", which means "black water"; in Mongolian, it is called "Kharamulan", and in Russian, it is translated as "Amur" or "Amu". These names have crossed national borders and become the universal symbol of Heilongjiang on the world stage.

The magnificent Heilongjiang River has not only witnessed the vicissitudes of time, but also is a microcosm of the nature and humanities of the Northeast. Its basin is wide, the river surface is wide, and the water depth is unfathomable. From Mohe to the Ussuri River section by Lake Xingkai, large ships can navigate. There are many islands on the river, among which Zhenbao Island, Daheihe Island, Heixiazi Island, etc. are even more famous.

The rich aquatic resources make the Heilongjiang River Basin a natural paradise for fishing and hunting peoples, and the history of the Jurchens in this land is even longer.

From the Sui and Tang Dynasties to the end of the Tang Dynasty, they were called Heishui Mohe, and the "Heishui" here is another name for the Heilongjiang River.

Going back further, the ancestors of the Jurchens may be traced back to the Sushen people on Yinggeling, located on the shore of Jingbo Lake in the southeast of Heilongjiang Province. They are a nation with a long history and profound cultural heritage.

It can be said that the Heilongjiang River Basin has been the cradle of the Jurchens since ancient times, and it is the place where they reproduced and created civilization.

For the convenience of management and description, people are accustomed to dividing the Heilongjiang River into three sections: upper, middle and lower reaches.

The upper reaches start from the confluence of the Shilka River and the Ergun River, flowing northward all the way to the mouth of the Jieya River (near today's Harbin, Russia), with a total length of about 800 miles;

The middle reaches extend from the mouth of the Jieya River to Khabarovsk, and the length is also comparable;

The lower reaches start from Khabarovsk and end at the mouth of the river, and the three are roughly the same length.

The Heilongjiang River not only nourishes this land, but also gave birth to Heilongjiang Province, the northernmost province in China, in the previous life.

At this time.

In the Datudingzi area in the lower reaches of the Heilongjiang River, an unusual meeting is taking place.

Yelu Yudu and Xiao Wuliu each led more than a hundred warriors, crossed the vast snowfield, and came to a secret camp.

After the notification, they were led to a cave built on the mountain.

Here, they met two generals who were carefully planning on the map-Li Yanxian and his partner Yao Youzhong, the latter of whom was the chief supervisor of the anti-Jin coalition under the Northeast Xuanfu Division.

Yelu Yudu and Xiao Wuliu were full of respect for Li Yanxian and his anti-Jin coalition soldiers.

Although these warriors from the Yuan Dynasty were no more adaptable to the severe cold climate of the Heilongjiang River Basin than the Khitans, they overcame many difficulties with amazing discipline and perseverance, fought side by side with the Khitans, defeated the Jin army repeatedly, and finally stood firm in the Jurchens' homeland.

What they admired even more was that these anti-Jin coalition soldiers were not only brave and good at fighting, but also had superb tactics.

Li Yanxian used a variety of tactics such as siege and attack, heavy troops encirclement, interspersed detours, three-three system, guerrilla warfare, mobile warfare, positional warfare, ambush warfare, etc. to perfection, making the Jin army always in a passive position.

Yelu Yudu and Xiao Wuliu couldn't help but sigh that the reason why the Yuan Empire sent Li Yanxian to the northeast front was not only because he had rich experience in fighting behind enemy lines, but also because he was an outstanding commander. He is proficient in all kinds of tactics of the Yuan army and can flexibly apply them according to the actual situation.

In contrast, they are inferior in commanding operations.

Veteran General Yao Youzhong is known for his calmness, sophistication and strong political work ability. He can always provide strong support to Li Yanxian at critical moments.

The two partners have a tacit understanding and are almost impeccable.

When Yelu Yudu and Xiao Wuliu learned that Li Yanxian and Yao Youzhong were originally generals of the Zhao Song Dynasty, they were full of doubts and puzzlement. With such outstanding generals, why did the Zhao Song Dynasty still go to ruin?

At the same time, they also regretted the insufficient number of the anti-Jin coalition forces, the lack of weapons, and the unfavorable conditions of time and place. Otherwise, under the leadership of Li Yanxian and Yao Youzhong, they could have completely wiped out Wanyan Chang's hundreds of thousands of Jin troops.

But then again, Wanyan Chang was no ordinary person.

He was a veteran who had been on the battlefield for a long time and knew the consequences of a head-on confrontation with the anti-Jin coalition forces.

After a series of setbacks, he changed his tactics and used his superiority in military strength and familiarity with the weather and terrain to cut off the connection between the anti-Jin coalition and the rear, making it impossible for the Yuan Empire to provide the coalition with necessary support. At the same time, he began to use large-scale corps operations to compress the coalition's strategic space in an attempt to trap it to death in this cold land.

Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu sadly admitted that Wan Yanchang's strategy had paid off.

In recent months, the Jin army has been pressing harder and harder, forcing the Northeast Anti-Jin coalition forces to retreat to the west bank of the Huli Gaijiang River, away from the support of Helan Road and Liaodong. They are now like a lonely boat, losing the solid backing of the Yuan Empire in terms of materials, soldiers and strategic assistance. Food and grass were in short supply, winter clothes and medicines were scarce, arrows were even more scarce, and the situation was precarious.

The Khitan soldiers in the army were complaining, their morale was low, and questions arose:

"Why did my Khitan descendants go through fire and water in the battle between Yuan and Jin?"

"You should be brave enough to kill the enemy, but how can you defeat the enemy when you are hungry and cold?"

There were even more angry voices calling on Dayuan to take countermeasures quickly, otherwise the chances of victory would be uncertain.

Faced with this situation, Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu had to join hands and rush to Li Yanxian and Yao Youzhong to discuss strategies to break the situation and strive to find a glimmer of hope in the desperate situation.

The meeting between Yelu Yujian and Li Yanxian was filled with urgency and candor.

As soon as he stepped into the camp, Yelu Yujian bluntly stated the plight of the Khitans: "Marshal and Superintendent, it's not that we and the Khitans are unwilling to serve the imperial court, but the fact is that the food and grass are almost exhausted. If it is not solved in time, the morale of the military will be destroyed." It might be unstable." There was deep worry in his eyes.

When Li Yanxian heard this, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, as if he was confident: "Don't worry, General Yu Jian, I have a clever plan for this matter. I will tell you in detail later."

After saying this, Li Yanxian changed the topic, with a look of determination in his eyes: "Wan Yanchang intends to trap us to death, but it is a good opportunity for us to fight back. Take this fight to cut off his arm so that he will never dare to be small again." Look down on our Northeast Anti-Jin Alliance Army.”

Li Yanxian tapped the map with his finger and landed on the vast area on the west side of Puyu Road: "Although Saili is close and has a large number of troops, it is internally chaotic and only half of the combatable troops are available. If our coalition forces go all out, they will definitely be able to defeat them in one fell swoop. Break it.”

Li Yanxian analyzed the tactical layout in detail, and his words revealed his desire and confidence in victory.

However, while he was talking endlessly, Yao Youzhong lightly touched his arm, indicating that he should pay attention to the reactions of Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu.

Only then did Li Yanxian realize that the two Khitan generals did not seem to be fully immersed in his strategic vision.

Li Yanxian frowned slightly, feeling a little unhappy.

Seeing this, Yao Youzhong promptly smoothed things over and said: "General Yu Jian and General Wu and Liu are more concerned about the immediate problem of food and grass. How about taking you two to see our reserves first?"

When Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu heard this, a trace of expectation flashed in their eyes.

Seeing this, Li Yanxian could only take Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu to the warehouse first.

Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu followed Li Yanxian and Yao Youzhong into a magnificent warehouse. What they saw in front of them was shocking - in a space of nearly a thousand square meters, military rations and winter clothes were piled up, and medicines were neatly arranged in the corners.

Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu came forward to inspect it in person. Every wooden box and leather bag was filled with urgently needed supplies, including the canned goods and compressed biscuits that they were longing for.

What surprised Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu even more was that there was a lot of spirits and cane sugar hidden in the warehouse.

Yao Youzhong explained: "It's freezing here. Strong wine can warm the body against the cold, and sucrose can quickly replenish physical strength. We specially prepared these supplies for the soldiers, and also asked the two generals to bring some back to the tribe."

The big stone in Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu's hearts finally fell to the ground. They knew the importance of these materials in maintaining military morale and improving combat effectiveness.

However, the doubts in their hearts have not completely dissipated: "Li Dutong, Yao Dujian, where did these materials come from? How did the Yuan Empire do it under such a tight blockade?"

Li Yanxian and Yao Youzhong looked at each other and smiled, as if everything was under control.

Yao Youzhong explained: "The two generals don't know. The reason why our Dayuan is invincible depends not only on force, but also on wisdom and foresight. These materials have arrived here through secret channels a few months ago, just for Deal with today’s situation.”

Seeing this, Yeluyu was so excited that he couldn't believe that the Yuan Empire could predict the situation and quietly hoard huge amounts of military supplies in the hinterland of the Jin Kingdom.

Yao Youzhong smiled calmly and revealed: "We are only the tip of the iceberg in front of us, and there are still six treasure houses to be opened. Although these reserves are not enough to last until spring, they are enough to last for several months. By then, the imperial court will definitely add supplies and there will be no danger. "

Speaking of this, Yao Youzhong continued with confidence: "Your Majesty is not comparable to Tian Zuo, and he will never let the soldiers go into battle hungry."

Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu's eyes met, and Yelu Yujian asked tacitly: "Your Majesty is wise, and the world admires him. However, there is still a doubt in our hearts. Can Li Dutong and Yao Dujian make it clear that this food and grass baggage is too heavy?" Where did the weapons and equipment come from?”

Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu had deep doubts and explorations about the source of this sudden supply of food, grass, baggage, weapons and equipment. This emotion was not groundless.

On the one hand, as Khitan generals, they remain highly alert and sensitive to any information that may affect the fate of the ethnic group;

On the other hand, it stems from complex considerations about the attitude of the Yuan Empire. After all, in these turbulent times, trust and loyalty need to be built on clear and unmistakable foundations.

They knew that the arrival of these supplies was not just a simple supply issue, but also a touchstone of the Yuan Empire's attitude towards the Khitans.

Yelu Yujian and Xiao Wuliu will take this opportunity to evaluate whether Dayuan is worthy of their continued loyalty and whether they are willing to fight side by side with them in the days to come to jointly resist foreign enemies.

"If the Yuan Empire cannot give a reasonable explanation," Yelu Yudu said in a deep voice, "we Khitans will inevitably have doubts. Is the Yuan Empire hiding something from us behind our backs, or even using us?" His voice revealed an unquestionable determination, which was a firm defense of the interests of the ethnic group and a direct questioning of the trust in the Yuan Empire.

Xiao Wuliu took over the conversation and added: "What's more, we Khitans have long suffered from the shortage of supplies. The wounded and sick are in pain because there is no medicine to treat them, and some even die because of this. If the Yuan Empire already had medicines, but watched us suffer, how could we easily let go of this indifference?" His words were full of helplessness about reality and worries about the future, and every word hit everyone present.

The two of them knew that the fate of the Khitans was closely linked to the Yuan Empire, and whether the Yuan Empire could continue to provide stable support was directly related to their survival. Therefore, they must understand the true source and reserve of these materials in order to be fully prepared for future battles.

Li Yanxian was not surprised by the doubts of Yelu Yudu and Xiao Wuliu. He knew that at such a moment, any concealment and avoidance would only increase the suspicion and estrangement between the two sides.

So, he told them frankly: "This matter is indeed confidential, but you two are important ministers of our Yuan Dynasty. His Majesty has ordered that nothing should be concealed from you. In fact, this batch of materials has just arrived recently, and we have not informed you in time, which has caused misunderstandings."

His words revealed a kind of sincerity and apology, trying to resolve the misunderstandings and estrangements between the two sides.

At the same time, he also revealed an important message: "Tonight, another batch of materials will arrive. You can go with Yao Dujian to check it out to resolve the confusion in your heart."

Yelu Yudu and Xiao Wuliu felt a little relieved when they heard this.

Li Yanxian's frankness and active invitation were undoubtedly an affirmation and response to their trust.

They realized that perhaps their previous doubts were a bit too sensitive and over-concerned.

However, as the head of a clan, they still need to remain cautious and vigilant to avoid getting into trouble again on the road ahead.

"Tongdu Li and Dujian Yao, please rest assured," Xiao Wuliu said in a much more relaxed tone, "We Khitans have always been loyal to the Yuan Dynasty and are willing to serve the Yuan Dynasty. However, in this chaotic world, we have to consider our own people more. I hope you can understand our difficulties and difficulties."

His words showed both loyalty and admiration for the Yuan Dynasty and helplessness and compromise with reality.

Li Yanxian nodded slightly to show his understanding. He knew the difficulties and worries of the Khitans, and understood their worries and fears about the future.

So, he made a solemn promise on behalf of Jiang Hongfei: "Please rest assured, the Yuan Dynasty will never let the Khitan down..."

…