Thank you to Beverly for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
“His Majesty has issued an edict, ordering us to march and relieve Pingyang. Spread the command, and set out immediately!” Shi Le sat upright in his command tent, issuing the order loudly.
In the army, he had always been the sole authority. However, even so, this order sparked a buzzing discussion below. A trusted confidant cautiously remarked, “The ones attacking Pingyang are the troops from Bing County. Shouldn’t we consider this carefully?”
The generals from the Xiongnu lineage had suffered heavy losses in the previous battle at Ye City. For the other miscellaneous nomadic tribes, this former capital of the Han dynasty held little worth saving. Having just suffered a defeat, engaging with the formidable forces of Bing County might jeopardize more than victory – the morale could be at risk as well.
Looking at the hesitant and avoiding-the-battle appearance of the people below, Shi Le furrowed his brows, saying, “Pingyang, after all, is the ancient capital of the Han dynasty. We are all receiving the salaries from the Han dynasty; how can we ignore it?”
While his words carried a sense of righteousness, the faces of the generals didn’t look too pleasing. What is the Han dynasty now? When you were annexing territories, did you think about the Emperor of the Han dynasty? Now, eagerly, you’re guarding his territory!
Seeing that his words had little effect, Shi Le shifted his focus, saying, “Moreover, the severe drought persists, and it’s likely that there will be no harvest in Yan County even in autumn. Where will the army get its provisions? If we can defeat the Jin rebels and hold onto Hedong, not to mention military pay, just the profits from salt will be enough to help our army through the disaster year.”
He spoke very straightforwardly, so much so that even the grassroots soldiers could understand. The Grand General aimed for the salt mines in Hedong! Coming from a background of rebellion, these people knew the value of salt. If they could seize the salt mines, it would be an extremely lucrative deal! Previously, it wasn’t convenient to touch the salt mines as they nominally belonged to the Han dynasty. But now, with the Emperor in Chang’an ordering them to participate in the battle for Pingyang, isn’t this a golden opportunity to take control of Hedong?
Even if they were fearful, the enormous profits were enough to make people yearn for it. The clever generals below immediately responded, “What the Grand General said is indeed true! We are all subjects of the Han dynasty and naturally must contribute to the court!”
“The Jin soldiers are arrogant, we must defend our old capital!”
“If we recruit some troops from Wu Fortress, it might not be impossible…”
Various voices echoed in the tent, and the massive stone in Shi Le’s mind finally fell to the ground.
For him, getting involved in the crisis in Hedong was not just about a mere salt mine; it was about stabilizing the military morale. The talk of Buddhist teachings had become a chronic illness in the army. If he continued to avoid battles, his soldiers might not dare to raise their swords against Bing County again. If Bing County recovered from the drought and had the strength to raise an army, the first one to suffer would be this “rebel” who had taken over Yanzhou and Yuzhou.
Therefore, he had to win a battle. The Battle of Pingyang was the best opportunity. No matter how short of soldiers Liu Yao had, he couldn’t abandon Pingyang and Hedong. With the assistance of the Xiongnu elite troops, repelling the forces from Bing County was not an impossible task. After all, they excelled at defending cities; if they were to switch to attacking cities, there would likely be many flaws in their formation. At that time, leading his cavalry to harass the enemy, wouldn’t it be easy to find opportunities?
This battle must be won!
※
“For the sake of a victory, Shi Le will definitely send troops to Pingyang!” Zhang Bin calmly remarked.
This was also a scheme arranged early on by Xinling. Shi Le’s mother, Lady Wang, was actually found last year. However, Zhang Bin did not confine her; instead, he arranged numerous refugees and followers disguised as Xinling’s troops near the village where she resided. The sole purpose of these people was to make the old lady firmly believe that Xinling’s followers were the only saviors she could rely on.
For the Jie people who had been living in Bing County in recent years, this was not particularly difficult. After all, they originally believed in Buddhism, and the continuous tales of wonders and a stable life had deeply ingrained the teachings of Xinling in their hearts. How could an elderly woman, who had suffered hardships and knew nothing, resist such an arrangement? To isolate her, Shi Le’s cousin, Shi Hu, was also eliminated through a cunning plan. In the end, it took more than half a year, and Lady Wang became a devout believer who only knew how to burn incense and worship Buddha, impervious to any persuasion.
Later, when Shi Le raised his troops and began attacking Ye City, Xinling’s followers released the trap, allowing Shi Le’s confidant to “discover” this woman and bring her back to Yan County. Just imagine the situation after a major defeat, where the leader’s biological mother solemnly swears that opposing Bing County will incur divine punishment. How dire would that be?
Moreover, even if the old woman was under Shi Le’s control, Xinling had also arranged numerous followers in Yan County to spread rumors, making it incredibly easy.
Once the rumors took shape, it would pose a significant threat to that army. Most of Shi Le’s confidants were from various nomadic tribes, which formed the foundation he could rely on, but it was also a vulnerability. To prevent further erosion of the military morale, Shi Le would undoubtedly think of a way to engage in another battle, achieve a great victory, and dispel the rumors of divine retribution from the gods and Buddhas.
And Pingyang, or more precisely, the Hedong region near Pingyang, is the best bait.
Looking at the map, Liang Feng said, “Forcing Shi Le to detour through Yu County is a good strategy. But what if he doesn’t change his route?”
Shi Le has limited provisions in his hands, and the majority of his army consists of cavalry, making it highly likely that he might cut through Xingyang for a more direct route. Therefore, the staff department planned to station Yiyan’s troops in Jiju County, forcing Shi Le to avoid its sharp edge, change his route to Yu County, pass through the Henan command governed by Zu Ti, and head to Hedong.
It’s a longer route, but for Shi Le, it’s safer. Having recently captured several cities in Yu County, he could replenish supplies along the way, faring better than facing Yiyan’s elite troops head-on.
And this is precisely the result the staff department needs. Several successive strategies will be unfolded subsequently. However, no matter how high the likelihood of success, precautions must be taken. If he doesn’t detour, is there any other preparation?
“If he doesn’t detour, let General Yi take his rear route,” Zhang Bin answered decisively. “Shi Le has been defeated several times at the hands of General Yi. Just tailing him closely can sow chaos in his army. At that time, Zu Taishou can ambush from the side.”
The difficulty is greater, but the possibility of success remains high.
“What if he escapes from Henan command?” Liang Feng did not stop and continued to inquire.
“Xinling still has hidden agents in the army,” Zhang Bin smiled slightly.
Upon hearing this, Liang Feng nodded, “This battle kills two birds with one stone; we must plan thoroughly.”
During the severe drought, famine was rampant everywhere, seemingly not the time for war. However, in his position, Liang Feng understood why conflicts escalated during a disaster year. Those without money and provisions would do whatever it takes to compete and seize resources. Even those who could handle the famine with money and provisions also had to divert conflicts and reduce losses.
With vast lands unusable for cultivation, it meant that garrisoned troops had nothing to do. Tens of thousands of people, if left idle, would still consume food for nothing. Why not take advantage of the situation and engage in a few battles?
The logic is simple yet brutal. After careful consideration, Liang Feng chose the most advantageous strategic target—Pingyang. It is closest to Bing County, making mobilization convenient, and the supply line would not be too long. Capturing Pingyang would eliminate the threat to Bing County’s flank. Furthermore, advancing to Hedong could reclaim the salt mines, reduce the enemy’s strategic resources, and provide cheaper salt for Bing County and Si County.
This battle, if successful, would make it much easier to attack Yu County and Yan County while still being one part of the overall plan. The other part is to lure out Shi Le and completely eliminate this internal threat.
Shaking the military morale with Lady Wang and Xinling’s teachings was just the first step. Luring Shi Le into action is the true masterstroke. Once he steps out of Yu County, he can forget about returning alive.
Will Shi Le go to battle? It was already decided during the Battle of Ye City.
So intricate, so meticulous, all for the sake of scheming against one person. It seems almost comparable to the previous poisoning of Liu Yuan and forcing the Xiongnu to relocate their capital.
“Fear not, Lord. This battle will undoubtedly be a resounding success,” confidently responded Zhang Bin. This is the key to pacifying the northern region; as long as Shi Le perishes, Yu County and Yan County will return to the Lord’s banner. It was only a matter of time.
※
Despite being agitated and nearly disrupting the military morale, before setting out, Shi Le still visited the temporary residence of his mother.
As soon as he stepped into the room, a strong scent of sandalwood greeted him. Shi Le had seized many aristocratic mansions and killed countless nobles. His camp never lacked aromatic spices. But the person using such incense for Buddhist rituals in his camp was only one.
Seeing Lady Wang kneeling on the cushion, bowing and worshiping in front of the Buddha statue, the fragrant smoke lingered, giving the jade Buddha an ethereal and mysterious aura.
This scene annoyed Shi Le even more. He spoke, “Mother, I will be heading out in the next few days. Stay at home and take care of yourself. Do not go out.”
Although the words were somewhat impolite, Lady Wang cared only about one thing. She raised her head and asked, “The one you’re going to fight is not under Bing County’s rule, right?”
Shi Le’s throat rolled, and finally, he squeezed out a sentence, “No.”
Hearing this, Lady Wang seemed to exhale in relief, clasping her hands together, “May the Buddha bless. It’s good if it’s not. You must not offend Bing County again. Your actions of killing and fighting do not accumulate merits. It’s better to surrender to Bing County as soon as possible…”
This maternal concern, heard by Shi Le, was especially difficult to endure. However, clenching his fists, he persevered, “Mother, don’t worry anymore. Let the maidservants take good care of you and treat your old ailments.”
Lady Wang gently shook her head, “Mother wants to repent for you before the Buddha, asking the Buddha to forgive your foolish deeds over these years.”
Every word she spoke, every phrase, came from the heart, genuine and sincere. Whether it was the overwhelming scent of sandalwood or something else, Shi Le felt even breathing becomes difficult. No longer speaking, he bowed respectfully and turned to leave.
Outside, the sun shone brightly, seemingly dispelling the cold and desolation in the courtyard. Shi Le raised his head, gazing at the sky for a moment. Lifting the hem of his robe, he walked away with firm steps.
Two days later, with ten thousand light cavalry, the army set out. However, not long after leaving the old camp, scouts brought news of unusual movements from the garrison at Ye City.
“They’ve moved to Jiju County?” Shi Le, riding on his horse, pondered for a moment, then sneered, “They probably want to ambush my army in Xingyang, right? Detour to Yu County, enter Si County from Henan Command!”
Although taking a detour would consume more time, Yu County had several cities under his control, providing ample supplies. Meanwhile, Henan Command had been besieged by the Xiongnu army and would not recover in a short time. Avoiding the formidable forces in Xingyang and Ye City was the best choice.
As for the ambushing enemy, let the troops left in the old camp harass them a bit. If they could distract the enemy, this battle would become much easier.
With a command, the army changed direction and swiftly headed toward Yu County.
