Thank you to Beverly for the ko-fi~ ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-
This sudden change, too, swiftly reached Pingyang through fast horses. Chiseling that Wang Mi was plotting rebellion, Shi Le reported and exterminated him.
How many in the court could believe such an explanation? Arbitrarily killing a major general, claiming “treasonous intent,” was an understatement. However, Liu Yao did not rebuke him for his audacity. Instead, he petitioned the emperor to appoint Shi Le as the Grand General for Eastern Expeditions, overseeing military affairs in the Yu County and Yan County regions. Regardless of Liu Yao’s longstanding discord with Wang Mi, the current situation left him with no other choice.
The imperial carriage for the capital relocation was already prepared, awaiting its departure. Escorting the imperial carriage and the court officials required a considerable number of troops. Though Pingyang was not far from Chang’an in absolute terms, in the current circumstances, Liu Yao, having once assassinated Emperor Hui on his return from Hengnong, could not help but become even more cautious in protecting the emperor on this journey.
However, as the troops followed the imperial carriage westward, who would defend Pingyang? What about Hedong? He knew well the strength of the troops in Bing County. Even during the summer harvest, it wouldn’t delay their mobilization. So there must be troops, elite troops, stationed in the old capital to guard against a sudden attack from Bing County.
Currently, not counting the private soldiers under the command of the noble families of the Xiongnu, there were only around sixty to seventy thousand soldiers in the court. The troops left in Chang’an could not be moved arbitrarily. If vigilance was relaxed, and Chang’an was lost, it would be an irreparable disaster. Given this situation, Liu Yao had no energy to deal with the affairs of Yu County. If Shi Le could keep the Jin army occupied, it would be the best scenario.
“Order Shi Le to focus on attacking Shou City. Cao Yi should head south and enter Xu County,” Liu Yao finally ordered.
He dared not move troops to Bing County, but attacking Shou City should be feasible. If the young emperor of Jin showed signs of timidity, commanding Liang Feng to send troops to suppress the bandits could buy them some time. In any case, the more chaotic the situation in Yu County, the more advantageous it would be for them.
With such thoughts, the Han Empire began its journey of relocating the capital like a dog with its tail between its legs. Even the imperial carriage and its escorts were not arranged. A cavalry of thirty thousand protected the emperor’s convoy, departing from Pingyang.
Liu Yao was anxious, but Shi Le in Yu County had no intention of sharing his sentiments. After breaking Wang Mi’s main camp, he did not linger in battle and directly withdrew from the battlefield.
Even with early preparations, Wang Mi’s military strength was comparable to his own. If he had been involved in the chaos of the fleeing soldiers, even he might not have escaped unscathed. Moreover, the Jin army arrived too quickly, and with his own formation unstable, encountering a formidable enemy would be troublesome.
Therefore, when the envoy brought rewards and orders for an offensive, Shi Le merely pretended to accept the decree and said, “If Your Majesty values me, I will faithfully serve the Han Empire and exterminate the Jin country!”
He won’t go to attack Shou City, but these Jin troops crossing the river may not be untouchable. After all, these cities in Yu County will eventually be occupied by him. However, now is not the time to deploy troops. He can only take advantage when the Jin army and the remnants of Wang Mi fight each other to the death. In that case, why not observe quietly?
With this in mind, the battlefield in Yu County indeed showed a one-sided trend. The Jin army was unstoppable, reclaiming lost territories city by city, while the Han forces retreated steadily, either avoiding battles or suffering defeats. Soon, Ruyin County returned to the map, and the army continued to advance northward.
At the same time, the situation in Bing County, which Liu Yao had been vigilant about, remained calm.
“Boyuan, since the Battle of Shangdang, your contributions have been significant,” Liang Feng said with a smile, welcoming the beloved general who had just returned from Shangdang.
Even though it was predicted that the Xiongnu would not risk attacking Bing County or Si County, the troops sent to Shangdang did not immediately withdraw. The more the two armies confronted each other, the more pressure the Han felt, hastening their capital relocation. Now that the convoy for the capital relocation had set out, Yiyan no longer needed to stay in Shangdang.
“With the lord’s strategic plan, defending or launching an offensive is not difficult,” Yiyan’s eyes gleamed brightly. He stared at the figure on the throne without blinking, a mixture of pride and longing in his expression that made it impossible for people to look away.
Beside him, Zhang Bin cleared his throat and said, “Even with the strategic layout of Xinling, you still need to face the enemy on the front lines. The minimal casualties in this battle are a testament to General Yi’s exceptional military skills.”
The losses in the Shangdang campaign were minimal. The most significant loss was farmland and water wheels. The cost of stopping the over ten thousand enemy cavalry was merely a hundred casualties, a truly astonishing number. Yiyan’s proficiency in attack and raiding had always been his hallmark, but who would have expected him to excel in defensive battles as well? Zhang Bin couldn’t help but admire him.
Liang Feng couldn’t help but smile, “Meng Sun is right. Without a strong general, no matter how clever the strategy, it’s just like a mirage. Come, have a seat here.”
He gestured to the spot next to him, and the distance was so close they were practically sharing a couch. Yiyan didn’t refuse and strode over, taking a seat by Liang Feng’s side. Whether intentional or not, his arm brushed against the hanging robe of Liang Feng.
Zhang Bin’s eyebrows twitched slightly, immediately speaking, “Before, when Shou City was attacked, the Emperor sent a feather decree, ordering the Lord to send troops. However, amid the battle, Shi Le turned his forces, killing Wang Mi and causing chaos among the Han forces. Now the situation in Yu County is favorable, with the enemy retreating steadily. Should the Lord deploy troops?”
This was seizing the opportunity when he was vulnerable. Even though Wang Mi’s remaining forces were formidable, they couldn’t possibly defend Yu County. If they took advantage of this opportunity to capture the counties near Si County, it would provide an additional barrier for Bing County.
Upon hearing this, Yiyan suddenly remarked, “Shi Le’s forces are retreating steadily? It’s likely a ruse.”
“How do you know?” Liang Feng asked curiously. Yiyan had just returned from Shangdang and probably didn’t know the situation in Yu County. How could he assert such a thing?
“I have clashed with him several times. Whether setting ambushes or facing off directly, I have never been able to capture this bandit. Even facing a declining situation, he wouldn’t just take the beating without retaliating, allowing others to besiege him without any precautions. He can’t kill Wang Mi without any defenses. Such actions indicate avoiding battles to preserve strength,” Yi Yan replied straightforwardly.
Liang Feng and Zhang Bin exchanged glances. If that were the case, it seemed that there might be changes in Yu County. Should they save Shou City or not?
“I heard that Cao Yi has sent troops to Xu County. How about ordering General Zhang to lead troops and intercept them? Bing County still needs to deal with the Han forces. I believe His Majesty will understand,” Zhang Bin suggested, changing the topic.
To strike Cao Yi, preventing him from persistently attacking Xu County, and to consider breaking the siege of Shou City from the side. However, for Liang Feng, it was more about achieving his initial strategic goal of seizing the coastal areas of Qing County. With maritime transportation now open, the provisions from Ji County were sufficient. Having Zhang He lead troops to engage in a battle was also acceptable.
Liang Feng nodded slowly, “That’s excellent. However, if what Boyuan says about Shi Le is true, we need to plan ahead.”
Shi Le has already taken Yan County and is likely to occupy Yu County as well. In that case, his influence would border Liang Feng’s territory at every turn. If he is truly powerful enough to make even Yiyan cautious, precautions should be taken early.
Zhang Bin glanced at Yiyan and suggested, “Why not investigate Shi Le’s background? He hails from Shangdang, and there might be relatives left in Wuxiang. If we find them, it could be useful.”
Zhang Bin’s tone was calm, but there might be a hint of probing in his words. What would they do if they found Shi Le’s relatives? Try to surrender them or use them as bait? Shi Le, like Yiyan, belonged to the Jie people. Would the methods used against him give Yiyan any ideas?
“We cannot surrender!” Yiyan paid no attention to Zhang Bin’s probing and decisively stated, “His skill in warfare is secondary; this person is quite cunning. Every time he arrives somewhere, he can quickly recruit refugees and expand his army. If placed in Bing County, there will inevitably be future troubles. The various Jie tribes in Bing County can only pledge loyalty to one person!”
This person, naturally, was not Yiyan himself. Zhang Bin felt relieved, realizing that Yiyan also considered the potential threat posed by an outstanding Jie general. At this moment, Yiyan’s standpoint was not that of a kinsman but prioritizing the lord. This attitude indicated that Yiyan did not hold back during their previous encounters. Although Yiyan had fewer troops back then, his ability to escape repeatedly demonstrated Shi Le’s dangerous nature.
Seeing Yiyan’s response, Liang Feng’s thoughts also stirred. He had always felt that the name Shi Le was familiar as if it appeared in this historical period. If that were the case, this person might be more troublesome than imagined.
Nodding slightly, Liang Feng said, “Let’s focus on attacking Qing County while monitoring the situation in Yu County. This year’s task is to stabilize Si County. Only when Si County and Ji County are stable can we fully exert our influence.”
Capturing cities and territories was not Liang Feng’s main objective. The fundamental goal was to ensure the people’s safety. With a stable population and sufficient provisions, who would fear losing a battle?
※
In the summer of Huainan, there was abundant rainfall, especially after the plum rain season, leading to continuous overcast and rainy days. Liu Zhun’s pace of besieging the city gradually slowed down, and the army would occasionally stop for rest. Fighting for over a month, this was good news for the soldiers, but not for the laborers.
Maintaining an expedition with tens of thousands of troops consumed a staggering amount of food every day. The constant flow of provisions from Huainan and even Jiangdong had to be transported by laborers, and due to the continuous rain, the pressure on the supply teams increased sharply. Delaying too long might result in the food spoiling, and nobody could afford to take that risk.
On the muddy official road, a group of people was moving slowly. The heavy rain had just stopped, but the air remained damp and stifling, making it hard to breathe. Countless laborers were pushing and pulling large carts beside them. No one had the strength to speak; only the creaking and rolling sounds of the carts echoed ceaselessly.
As they continued, perhaps due to the slippery ground or sheer exhaustion, a child of less than six feet tall slipped and fell.
“Little brother!” a young man beside him exclaimed, letting go of the cart, intending to help.
Before he could reach, an angry voice came from behind, “Don’t be lazy! Quickly push the cart for me!”
Along with the scolding, the sound of a whip cutting through the air followed. The young man dodged in embarrassment, bent down, and caught his unconscious brother. It was then that he noticed the person behind him was feverish, and even their breath was weak. Anxious and with red eyes, the young man pleaded, “Sir, he’s sick! I beg you to show mercy and let him go back…”
“Nonsense! If the grain is not delivered to the river today, none of you will escape punishment!” The officer in charge of escorting the provisions shouted loudly, “Pretending to be sick here! Can’t walk? Drag him out for me!”
Inside the grain convoy, if someone fell seriously ill, they would be dragged out of the procession and left by the roadside. With no one to care for them, especially in this weather, it was almost equivalent to abandoning them in the wilderness. The young man gritted his teeth. Why? Why should their fields be taken over, and they, brothers, be forced into labor? This was clearly their hometown, so why were these nobles occupying it?
Several hands reached out, attempting to pull his arms and take away his seriously ill brother. Summoning unknown strength, the young man let out a wild shout and pounced like a madman. Startled by his frenzied state, several soldiers were immediately thrown into disarray, and some were knocked to the ground, receiving harsh blows. The chaos disrupted the convoy, bringing it to a complete halt. Seeing that things were escalating out of control, the officer angrily unsheathed his waist knife and swung it towards the commotion.
How could flesh and blood withstand the edge of a weapon? The young man, completely unprepared, took a direct hit, and his warm blood sprayed everywhere. Swaying for a moment, he collapsed to the ground. Unresolved resentment lingered, and the officer ruthlessly delivered two more blows: “You rebellious slave! Dare to cause trouble again? Men, drag him down for me!”
His roar echoed loudly, seeming to reverberate through the surroundings. However, no one stepped forward. What’s going on? The officer raised his head in confusion, only to find dozens, perhaps hundreds, of eyes fixed firmly on him. In those gazes, the usual numbness was replaced by intense hatred.
“How… how could you… you want to rebel?” Cold sweat broke out, and the officer tremulously raised the long knife in his hand, “Anyone who doesn’t want to die, go back…”
No one responded to him. On the contrary, several robust men had already started to advance.
“Stop! This is rebellion… stop…”
His screams were drowned out by furious shouts.
“Kill him!”
“Kill this corrupt official! Reclaim our land!”
