Chapter Seven: The Emergence of a Great Enemy, The Two Grand Ancestors of Jin Qing

“Ding, balance initiated.
First figure: Jin Taizu Wanyan Aguda, Command 99, Strength 98, Intelligence 94, Politics 97. Implanted identity: chieftain of a Southern Xiongnu tribe. In recent years, his tribe’s power has steadily increased, causing great apprehension among Southern Xiongnu leaders like Yu Fuluo. Accompanied by three subordinates.”

Wanyan Aguda, whose Han name is Wanyan Min, hailed from Hushu (present-day Acheng District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province). He was the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty, succeeding Emperor Shizu Wanyan Helibo. His mother was Empress Yijian Nalan.

In the fourth year of Tianqing (1114), he raised arms to rebel against the Liao Dynasty. In the first month of the founding year of the Jin (1115), he declared the establishment of the Jin state with the era name “Founding Year,” setting the capital at Huining Prefecture. In December of the same year, he adopted the title of Great Sage Emperor, and the following year changed the era name to Tianfu. During his reign, he reformed the Meng’an Mouke system into a military-administrative organization.

In the third year of Tianfu (1119), he promulgated the Jurchen script. By the seventh year of Tianfu (1123), in August, he led troops back to the capital. Passing through the West Palace of Buduluo, he fell ill and died en route. He was posthumously titled Emperor Wuyuan and temple named Taizu. He was buried at Ruiling. In the fifth year of the Huangtong era (1145), in October, his posthumous titles were expanded to Emperor Wuyuan, the Revered, Benevolent, Sagely, Martial, and Profound.

As the supreme leader of the Jurchen tribes’ slave-owning aristocracy, Wanyan Aguda accomplished two monumental feats: founding a nation and overthrowing the Liao dynasty, ushering the Jurchen people into a new historical era.

Upon hearing the name Wanyan Aguda, Li Xiang’s mood immediately soured. Undoubtedly, he was a hero to the Jurchen, but to the Han people of the Central Plains, he was a calamity. In the original Three Kingdoms history, after centuries of warfare, the Central Plains were left devastated, leading to the chaos of the Five Barbarians. Although history was now destined to change, if Wanyan Aguda was not checked or even eliminated, the calamities he would bring to the Central Plains amid the looming chaos would be no less severe.

“System, you balance the first figure with someone this formidable? Isn’t this a bit unfair?”

“Host, please note, as previously explained, the quantity and quality of balanced figures depend on the characters summoned by the host. Due to the existence of hidden benefits for newcomers, it is inevitable that the first balance will yield such a result.”

“Please note, beginning now, balancing the second figure.
Second figure: Tian Hu, one of the Four Great Bandits of the Northern Song, Command 83, Strength 82, Intelligence 78, Politics 70. Implanted identity: mountain bandit of the Taihang Mountains, accompanied by five subordinates.”

“Third figure: Song Jiang, the timely rain of Liangshan, Command 72, Strength 49, Intelligence 82, Politics 88. Implanted identity: a minor official in Qingzhou Beihai County, accompanied by two subordinates.”

Upon hearing the names Tian Hu and Song Jiang, Li Xiang felt no particular stir. In the original history, neither had caused significant upheaval. Furthermore, in this era of multiple competing heroes, their current abilities destined them for historical obscurity.

“Fourth figure: Qing Taizu Nurhaci, Command 98, Strength 97, Intelligence 94, Politics 91. Implanted identity…”

Nurhaci, the founding father of the Qing Dynasty, was fluent in both Manchu and Chinese and enjoyed reading the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. At twenty-five, he began unifying the Jurchen tribes, pacifying the Chinese northeastern borderlands. In the 44th year of the Wanli reign of Ming Shenzong, he established the Later Jin, carving out territory in Liaodong and setting the era name Tianming. After the Battle of Sarhu, he moved the capital to Shenyang. Subsequently, he swept through Liaodong, capturing more than seventy cities from the Ming.

In the 11th year of Tianming (1626), he was defeated at the Siege of Ningyuan. In April of the same year, Nurhaci personally led an army to campaign against the Mongol Khalkha. By mid-July, he died and was buried at Qingfuling in Shenyang. After the Qing was established, he was honored as Qing Taizu, with the posthumous title “Emperor of Vast Virtue, Sagely Merit, Humane Filial Piety, Wise and Martial, Stern and Resolute, Revered and Cultured, Architect of Great Achievements.”

Nurhaci was a man as illustrious as Wanyan Aguda. Both had founded dynasties with minimal forces. His emergence made Li Xiang increasingly uneasy. After all, both were Jurchens, though from different eras, and there was a strong possibility they would be balanced to the same location. With the situation at Yanmen Pass critical and Li Xiang aiding the army there, an encounter with either could be inevitable. Facing both Jin Taizu and Qing Taizu simultaneously would be beyond his current capacity. However, upon hearing the system’s next words, Li Xiang breathed a sigh of relief.

“Implanted identity: a minor tribal chieftain expelled by Wuheng, now hiding and recuperating between the White Mountains and Black Water, preparing for a resurgence. Accompanied by five subordinates.”

“Ding, system balance complete. Host still possesses one random summoning card and one historical beauty summoning card. Would the host like to continue summoning?”

“Enough for now, system. You may stand down.”

Li Xiang exhaled deeply and began contemplating future matters. Jin Taizu and Qing Taizu might seem insignificant now, but their rise was inevitable. Nurhaci was still far away; Li Xiang could not afford to concern himself with him yet. However, if he could encounter Wanyan Aguda this time, even if he could not defeat him, he must try to weaken him as much as possible.

Yet, as a mere captain supporting Yanmen Pass, Li Xiang likely held no command authority. Even if he wished to act, he would be constrained. Moreover, he was probably no match for Wanyan Aguda and needed to find a strategist to advise him.

Thinking of a strategist, Li Xiang immediately thought of Wang Meng. A talent of Wang Meng’s caliber, capable of unifying the world, was far beyond what Li Xiang’s current rank could attract. He had planned to seek him out later, but plans rarely unfold as expected; he would have to act boldly now.

There was also Tian Hu. Though not particularly strong, he was balanced as a bandit in the Taihang Mountains. With his outlaw nature, he would pose a threat to Bingzhou’s security. Historically, Tian Hu rose to power in Bingzhou during the Northern Song. Li Xiang could not allow anyone to threaten his future stronghold. Besides, he had just contemplated sending Gao Shun to suppress bandits to train the troops. Tian Hu’s bad luck had him caught at just the wrong moment.

After careful thought, Li Xiang believed he had covered everything recently. He briskly left the main tent, summoned Xingtian, and the two spurred their horses toward the city.

This time, by any means necessary, he must find a way to recruit Wang Meng to his side. Wang Meng’s abilities were comprehensive; aside from physical strength, his other three attributes ranked among the era’s best. Few in all history matched his versatility. His talents warranted the praise of “the foremost achiever surpassing Zhuge Liang.” In fact, Wang Meng’s historical achievements surpassed those of Zhuge Liang, perhaps even more so. Li Xiang was also curious whether, in this Three Kingdoms era, Wang Meng could truly outmatch Zhuge Liang in a direct contest.

End of page three.