"We don't need to worry about the Red Tunic Army. When the time comes, I'll find a way to use the Liao Country to hold them back and keep them from joining this Southern Song northern expedition," Song Qingshu replied. "The most troublesome side is Western Shu."
The Jin Dynasty's military strength surpassed that of the Southern Song, but the Southern Song possessed far greater economic resources. If the Southern Song attacked along all three routes at once, the Jin Dynasty would likely be overwhelmed. Western Shu in particular directly threatened Guanzhong. Once the western front suffered defeat, all of Guanzhong would be in danger. That would truly shake the foundations of the state.
"Didn't Western Shu only just get handed back to the Southern Song by the Mongol Empire? They managed to consolidate everything and prepare for a northern expedition in just a few months?" This was what Song Qingshu found most unbelievable.
Wanyan Ping explained, "Though Western Shu had suffered through years of war, it was still the Land of Abundance, and its foundations remained intact. Moreover, the Southern Song court had poured tremendous resources into the west this time. They provided whatever was needed, whether money, grain, or supplies. On top of that, Wu Xi, the military leader of Western Shu, was a rare talent. In just a few months, he had trained Western Shu's troops into a powerful army. He was originally only the Commander of Xingzhou Garrison, but the court later directly appointed him Deputy Commissioner of Sichuan, while allowing him to continue commanding all the armies of Western Shu."
Song Qingshu was deeply shaken. Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners were provincial officials of the highest rank, positions traditionally reserved for members of the grand council. How old was Wu Xi, yet he had already become