“Sima’s little brat has finally fled. Good riddance!” In the grand hall, Liu Yuan tossed aside the report in his hand and burst into laughter.
This had gone much smoother than he had imagined. Ever since the death of Tuoba Yi, he had ordered his generals to launch an all-out attack on Jinyang. He had initially hoped to besiege the city and cut off any reinforcements, but who would have thought that this cowardly and fearful Sima Teng would flee just like that, taking with him prominent figures from the prominent Wang, Guo, Sun, and Wen families of Bing County. With this mass retreat alone, he had left Bing County mostly empty. Without the provincial governor and the actual rulers of Bing County, what remained was a land without an owner. With the collapse of military and civilian morale, any further conflict would be different from what it had been before!
That was why he hadn’t sent troops to attack that group but had instead pursued them from behind, driving them out of Bing County along the way. Strategic positioning was more crucial than the tempting wealth of money and grain.
“Your Majesty, should we send troops to attack Jinyang?” one of his officials asked.
“No rush, let’s continue the siege. We’ll start with Yangyi!” Liu Yuan replied.
After all, Jinyang was a major city, and now that the commanding general had fled, those who chose to stay were likely disheartened soldiers, not necessarily easy to conquer. It was better to take Yangyi first, disrupting the pincer situation between the two cities. This would isolate Jinyang, making it more vulnerable to either siege or attack.
After some contemplation, Liu Yuan added, “After capturing the city and securing the territory, we’ll initially bypass the Wubao and Tianzhuang areas, focusing on occupying the cities. Those high-ranking nobles and powerful figures who chose to stay behind may have uncertain loyalties, but they might become useful to us.”
Just like the previous commandant of the emerging county, Sun Zhi, who had early on pledged allegiance to the Han nation. Those high-ranking families who left their relatives to guard their estates might not be without some cunning intentions. In times of great chaos, they wouldn’t necessarily be loyal to the dynasty; rather, they’d act for their own interests. As for the wealthy and powerful commoner families who had troops and money but lacked status, they were even more inclined to seek opportunities. If offered official positions and status, they might not be beyond persuasion. If they were attacked now, it would not only consume military resources but could also drive these people into the arms of the Jin Dynasty, causing more harm than good.
However, how to handle the relationship between the Han and Xiongnu people required careful consideration.
And there was still Shangdang…
Liu Yuan rose to his feet. “After capturing Yangyi, we will send troops to Shangdang. Before this winter, we must capture several cities!”
To stabilize the morale of the troops, he had refrained from sending troops to Shangdang for a long time. A year had passed, and the rumors about the Buddha’s child had faded, even the soldiers who had been confined by him had been depleted in several large battles. Now that Sima Teng had fled and passed through Shangdang, it was estimated that it would also have a considerable impact. But wasn’t this the perfect time to conquer cities and seize territory?
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Shangdang was the throat of Bing County and was absolutely indispensable!
“We obey your orders!” The hall echoed with the sounds of respectful acknowledgments.
Looking at the strong and imposing descendants of the Liu family and the Xiongnu generals, Liu Yuan felt a surge of excitement. This is how it should be when destiny is on your side! These mere matters of gods and spirits are nothing to fear!
※
In the county government, it was chaotic with everyone busy dealing with paperwork. Although Dongying Gong’s army passing through didn’t consume much food and supplies, they left behind a substantial force of two thousand households, and there were more people coming with their families towards Shangdang. This was a force not to be underestimated, and just the task of settling them required considerable effort. Sheltering the refugees in Shangdang was different from elsewhere; it involved registration and the cultivation of official land. Even just verifying the household registers was enough to make one’s head spin.
“Assistant Wen, these are the newly submitted reports.”
A junior official below handed over another stack of documents, but Wen Qiao didn’t even raise his head. “Just leave them there. Has Master Cui returned?”
“Not yet, he’s still in the back hall discussing matters.”
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“If there’s anything urgent, report it to me immediately,” Wen Qiao instructed concisely.
Faced with this newly appointed seventeen-year-old recording official, the junior official didn’t dare to show any negligence and promptly agreed. After all, this was a scion of a prominent family, not someone he could afford to offend.
Wen Qiao continued to write diligently, paying no further attention to others. Several days ago, when Dongying Gong left Bing County, he followed the army to Shangdang. However, unlike his relatives, he chose not to pass through Jingxing but stayed here to serve as a local official.
This choice surprised many people. Hailing from Taiyuan Commandery, Wen Qiao’s six uncles were collectively known as the “Six Dragons,” and he himself was highly intelligent and well-educated with a refined demeanor. With such family background and talents, if he were to participate in the imperial examinations, he would undoubtedly achieve top ranks. Even if he entered the capital, he could rise through the ranks as a prominent official, rather than remaining in Shangdang as a mere recording official.
But Wen Qiao chose to stay behind. As a native of Qixian, when the Xiongnu invaded, he witnessed the brutality of these fierce nomadic invaders. When Jingling was sacked, the horrifying screams echoed for miles, terrifying countless people and planting a seed of unease in his heart. A true man should work to benefit the people, restore peace, and stabilize the country. How could he stand by and watch his subjects suffer such brutality? However, those in charge of Bing County seemed blind and deaf to these atrocities, lacking the courage to stand up. In just a few months, they fled to the east.
Among the fleeing army, there were panicking aristocrats everywhere. Not a single one was willing to do anything for Bing County. Instead, everyone was focused on how to secure their family’s wealth and where to settle. It seemed he was the only one who didn’t prioritize these concerns. It was only when he arrived in Shangdang that he discovered someone completely different from the people around him.
Sheltering refugees, building Wubao, reclaiming official fields, and even establishing libraries and educational institutions – Shangdang was unlike any other place in Bing County. Here, there was no despair or panic, no negligence or avoidance of conflict. Every corner was bursting with vitality. So when Wang Wen brought up the idea of staying, and when the distinguished lord of the county personally came forward and bowed deeply, Wen Qiao’s heart was moved.
This man was perhaps no less than his own father’s generation, and even the renowned uncle-in-law Liu Kun might not compare. Therefore, Wen Qiao did not follow his family’s arrangements but insisted on staying in Shangdang, taking on the role of a county clerk. The position was not high, but the workload was immense. However, Wen Qiao was meticulous in his work because he believed that these efforts could help more people and prevent Shangdang from suffering the fate of Qixian, falling into the hands of the enemy.
And this, in his view, was far more in line with his wishes than fleeing to avoid disaster.
As his pen continued to move, he swiftly processed one document after another, never faltering.
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※
In the rear hall, Liang Feng stared at the map in front of him, his brow furrowing. “The Xiongnu haven’t caught up with us but have reached Yangyi. It seems they intend to take this city first.”
Sima Teng’s hasty escape had plunged the heartland of Bing County into dire straits. Jinyang City was strong and hard to breach, while Yangyi was just a small town. To disrupt the strategic balance between the two cities, the best course of action was to attack Yangyi first. If Yangyi fell, Jinyang would be isolated, and the route from Shangdang to Jinyang would be cut off. Anyone with strategic thinking would not let this opportunity slip away.
So, should we save Yangyi?
This question revolved in the minds of everyone, but whether to rescue or not was a difficult decision to make.
“Yangyi is less than a hundred li from Wuxiang, and even if it’s all infantry, we can reach it in a day. If Yangyi falls, Shangdang won’t be safe,” Cui Ji pondered.
“Qixian has been taken, and from there to Niexian, it’s also a day’s journey. If we send troops from Xihexian, they can reach Tongdi in a day as well, and to Tunliu and Zhangzi in just two days,” Duan Qin sighed. “Now, the entire Shangdang region is under the threat of war. It seems there’s no safe place.”
Duan Qin spoke the truth. Shangdang was now fully bordered by both the Xiongnu and the Han territory, with threats coming from Xihexian, Taiyuan, and even Si County. Without Sima Teng leading the way, it was an utterly precarious situation, with no safe haven in sight.
“How many troops does General Wu have now?” Liang Feng asked.
Wu Ling replied, “Three thousand six hundred, but the majority of them are new recruits who haven’t seen the battlefield yet.”
“What about Lu City?” Liang Feng turned to ask Yiyan.
“In the army, we have a total of two thousand five hundred combat-ready soldiers, along with one thousand two hundred cavalry, and four thousand garrisoned troops. In the county seat, there are also nearly four thousand soldiers, but most of them are auxiliary forces,” Yiyan quickly reported the numbers.
Altogether, it was over ten thousand troops. This number was unimaginable just last year, but this year, it seemed insufficient. The Xiongnu claimed to have an army of one hundred thousand, and even after losing tens of thousands to Sima Teng over the past year, they were still a formidable force. However, a significant portion of Liang Feng’s troops consisted of inexperienced recruits. Could they hold their ground if Liu Yuan sent tens of thousands to attack Shangdang?
“Station troops for comprehensive defense. In Wuxiang, Nie County, and Tongdi, postpone winter farming and gather the people into Wubao, stockpile food, military equipment, and weapons. In Lu City, Huguan, and Yuanshi, focus on farming, and all newly arrived refugees should be engaged in production. Additionally, Gao Du, Xiangyuan, Tunliu, and Changzi counties will serve as buffer zones. Boyuan, you must ensure that the enemy is repelled outside the gates!”
Three strategic circles were marked on the map. The outermost was the combat zone, the middle was the buffer zone, and the core area consisted of Lu City and Huguan, along with several mountain passes. In the ten counties of Shangdang, there was no room for relaxation. Only by dealing with the enemy in the buffer zone could they maintain stability in the entire region. If the enemy were allowed to reach the outskirts of Lu City, the refugees who had just settled there would scatter immediately.
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This strategic plan was quite clear, and Yiyan immediately responded, “I understand!”
“General Wu, allocate half of your troops to be dispersed in various county towns. If there’s a siege, defend the cities firmly. If there’s an opportunity, launch ambushes outside the city,” Liang Feng continued.
“I understand,” Wu Ling, who was well-acquainted with his troops’ capabilities, acknowledged. Defending the cities was well within their capacity, but field battles might prove challenging. It was better to focus on defense, keeping an eye on the county officials to prevent them from abandoning their cities.
“As for Yangyi…” Liang Feng gazed at the map for a long time, finally sighing deeply. “I’m afraid we won’t have the resources this winter. Let’s wait a bit longer. I hope the commander of Yangyi can hold on until spring…”
Once spring arrives, another batch of recruits can be trained. Doubling their military strength is essential before they can venture beyond Shangdang to provide support to Yangyi and Jinyang. Until then, he truly feels both willing and powerless.
He can only hope that the commander holding Yangyi can endure for a while longer.
“Sima’s little brat has finally fled. Good riddance!” In the grand hall, Liu Yuan tossed aside the report in his hand and burst into laughter.
This had gone much smoother than he had imagined. Ever since the death of Tuoba Yi, he had ordered his generals to launch an all-out attack on Jinyang. He had initially hoped to besiege the city and cut off any reinforcements, but who would have thought that this cowardly and fearful Sima Teng would flee just like that, taking with him prominent figures from the prominent Wang, Guo, Sun, and Wen families of Bing County. With this mass retreat alone, he had left Bing County mostly empty. Without the provincial governor and the actual rulers of Bing County, what remained was a land without an owner. With the collapse of military and civilian morale, any further conflict would be different from what it had been before!
That was why he hadn’t sent troops to attack that group but had instead pursued them from behind, driving them out of Bing County along the way. Strategic positioning was more crucial than the tempting wealth of money and grain.
“Your Majesty, should we send troops to attack Jinyang?” one of his officials asked.
“No rush, let’s continue the siege. We’ll start with Yangyi!” Liu Yuan replied.
After all, Jinyang was a major city, and now that the commanding general had fled, those who chose to stay were likely disheartened soldiers, not necessarily easy to conquer. It was better to take Yangyi first, disrupting the pincer situation between the two cities. This would isolate Jinyang, making it more vulnerable to either siege or attack.
After some contemplation, Liu Yuan added, “After capturing the city and securing the territory, we’ll initially bypass the Wubao and Tianzhuang areas, focusing on occupying the cities. Those high-ranking nobles and powerful figures who chose to stay behind may have uncertain loyalties, but they might become useful to us.”
Just like the previous commandant of the emerging county, Sun Zhi, who had early on pledged allegiance to the Han nation. Those high-ranking families who left their relatives to guard their estates might not be without some cunning intentions. In times of great chaos, they wouldn’t necessarily be loyal to the dynasty; rather, they’d act for their own interests. As for the wealthy and powerful commoner families who had troops and money but lacked status, they were even more inclined to seek opportunities. If offered official positions and status, they might not be beyond persuasion. If they were attacked now, it would not only consume military resources but could also drive these people into the arms of the Jin Dynasty, causing more harm than good.
However, how to handle the relationship between the Han and Xiongnu people required careful consideration.
And there was still Shangdang…
Liu Yuan rose to his feet. “After capturing Yangyi, we will send troops to Shangdang. Before this winter, we must capture several cities!”
To stabilize the morale of the troops, he had refrained from sending troops to Shangdang for a long time. A year had passed, and the rumors about the Buddha’s child had faded, even the soldiers who had been confined by him had been depleted in several large battles. Now that Sima Teng had fled and passed through Shangdang, it was estimated that it would also have a considerable impact. But wasn’t this the perfect time to conquer cities and seize territory?
Advertisement
AD
Shangdang was the throat of Bing County and was absolutely indispensable!
“We obey your orders!” The hall echoed with the sounds of respectful acknowledgments.
Looking at the strong and imposing descendants of the Liu family and the Xiongnu generals, Liu Yuan felt a surge of excitement. This is how it should be when destiny is on your side! These mere matters of gods and spirits are nothing to fear!
※
In the county government, it was chaotic with everyone busy dealing with paperwork. Although Dongying Gong’s army passing through didn’t consume much food and supplies, they left behind a substantial force of two thousand households, and there were more people coming with their families towards Shangdang. This was a force not to be underestimated, and just the task of settling them required considerable effort. Sheltering the refugees in Shangdang was different from elsewhere; it involved registration and the cultivation of official land. Even just verifying the household registers was enough to make one’s head spin.
“Assistant Wen, these are the newly submitted reports.”
A junior official below handed over another stack of documents, but Wen Qiao didn’t even raise his head. “Just leave them there. Has Master Cui returned?”
“Not yet, he’s still in the back hall discussing matters.”
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AD
“If there’s anything urgent, report it to me immediately,” Wen Qiao instructed concisely.
Faced with this newly appointed seventeen-year-old recording official, the junior official didn’t dare to show any negligence and promptly agreed. After all, this was a scion of a prominent family, not someone he could afford to offend.
Wen Qiao continued to write diligently, paying no further attention to others. Several days ago, when Dongying Gong left Bing County, he followed the army to Shangdang. However, unlike his relatives, he chose not to pass through Jingxing but stayed here to serve as a local official.
This choice surprised many people. Hailing from Taiyuan Commandery, Wen Qiao’s six uncles were collectively known as the “Six Dragons,” and he himself was highly intelligent and well-educated with a refined demeanor. With such family background and talents, if he were to participate in the imperial examinations, he would undoubtedly achieve top ranks. Even if he entered the capital, he could rise through the ranks as a prominent official, rather than remaining in Shangdang as a mere recording official.
But Wen Qiao chose to stay behind. As a native of Qixian, when the Xiongnu invaded, he witnessed the brutality of these fierce nomadic invaders. When Jingling was sacked, the horrifying screams echoed for miles, terrifying countless people and planting a seed of unease in his heart. A true man should work to benefit the people, restore peace, and stabilize the country. How could he stand by and watch his subjects suffer such brutality? However, those in charge of Bing County seemed blind and deaf to these atrocities, lacking the courage to stand up. In just a few months, they fled to the east.
Among the fleeing army, there were panicking aristocrats everywhere. Not a single one was willing to do anything for Bing County. Instead, everyone was focused on how to secure their family’s wealth and where to settle. It seemed he was the only one who didn’t prioritize these concerns. It was only when he arrived in Shangdang that he discovered someone completely different from the people around him.
Sheltering refugees, building Wubao, reclaiming official fields, and even establishing libraries and educational institutions – Shangdang was unlike any other place in Bing County. Here, there was no despair or panic, no negligence or avoidance of conflict. Every corner was bursting with vitality. So when Wang Wen brought up the idea of staying, and when the distinguished lord of the county personally came forward and bowed deeply, Wen Qiao’s heart was moved.
This man was perhaps no less than his own father’s generation, and even the renowned uncle-in-law Liu Kun might not compare. Therefore, Wen Qiao did not follow his family’s arrangements but insisted on staying in Shangdang, taking on the role of a county clerk. The position was not high, but the workload was immense. However, Wen Qiao was meticulous in his work because he believed that these efforts could help more people and prevent Shangdang from suffering the fate of Qixian, falling into the hands of the enemy.
And this, in his view, was far more in line with his wishes than fleeing to avoid disaster.
As his pen continued to move, he swiftly processed one document after another, never faltering.
Advertisement
AD
※
In the rear hall, Liang Feng stared at the map in front of him, his brow furrowing. “The Xiongnu haven’t caught up with us but have reached Yangyi. It seems they intend to take this city first.”
Sima Teng’s hasty escape had plunged the heartland of Bing County into dire straits. Jinyang City was strong and hard to breach, while Yangyi was just a small town. To disrupt the strategic balance between the two cities, the best course of action was to attack Yangyi first. If Yangyi fell, Jinyang would be isolated, and the route from Shangdang to Jinyang would be cut off. Anyone with strategic thinking would not let this opportunity slip away.
So, should we save Yangyi?
This question revolved in the minds of everyone, but whether to rescue or not was a difficult decision to make.
“Yangyi is less than a hundred li from Wuxiang, and even if it’s all infantry, we can reach it in a day. If Yangyi falls, Shangdang won’t be safe,” Cui Ji pondered.
“Qixian has been taken, and from there to Niexian, it’s also a day’s journey. If we send troops from Xihexian, they can reach Tongdi in a day as well, and to Tunliu and Zhangzi in just two days,” Duan Qin sighed. “Now, the entire Shangdang region is under the threat of war. It seems there’s no safe place.”
Duan Qin spoke the truth. Shangdang was now fully bordered by both the Xiongnu and the Han territory, with threats coming from Xihexian, Taiyuan, and even Si County. Without Sima Teng leading the way, it was an utterly precarious situation, with no safe haven in sight.
“How many troops does General Wu have now?” Liang Feng asked.
Wu Ling replied, “Three thousand six hundred, but the majority of them are new recruits who haven’t seen the battlefield yet.”
“What about Lu City?” Liang Feng turned to ask Yiyan.
“In the army, we have a total of two thousand five hundred combat-ready soldiers, along with one thousand two hundred cavalry, and four thousand garrisoned troops. In the county seat, there are also nearly four thousand soldiers, but most of them are auxiliary forces,” Yiyan quickly reported the numbers.
Altogether, it was over ten thousand troops. This number was unimaginable just last year, but this year, it seemed insufficient. The Xiongnu claimed to have an army of one hundred thousand, and even after losing tens of thousands to Sima Teng over the past year, they were still a formidable force. However, a significant portion of Liang Feng’s troops consisted of inexperienced recruits. Could they hold their ground if Liu Yuan sent tens of thousands to attack Shangdang?
“Station troops for comprehensive defense. In Wuxiang, Nie County, and Tongdi, postpone winter farming and gather the people into Wubao, stockpile food, military equipment, and weapons. In Lu City, Huguan, and Yuanshi, focus on farming, and all newly arrived refugees should be engaged in production. Additionally, Gao Du, Xiangyuan, Tunliu, and Changzi counties will serve as buffer zones. Boyuan, you must ensure that the enemy is repelled outside the gates!”
Three strategic circles were marked on the map. The outermost was the combat zone, the middle was the buffer zone, and the core area consisted of Lu City and Huguan, along with several mountain passes. In the ten counties of Shangdang, there was no room for relaxation. Only by dealing with the enemy in the buffer zone could they maintain stability in the entire region. If the enemy were allowed to reach the outskirts of Lu City, the refugees who had just settled there would scatter immediately.
Advertisement
AD
This strategic plan was quite clear, and Yiyan immediately responded, “I understand!”
“General Wu, allocate half of your troops to be dispersed in various county towns. If there’s a siege, defend the cities firmly. If there’s an opportunity, launch ambushes outside the city,” Liang Feng continued.
“I understand,” Wu Ling, who was well-acquainted with his troops’ capabilities, acknowledged. Defending the cities was well within their capacity, but field battles might prove challenging. It was better to focus on defense, keeping an eye on the county officials to prevent them from abandoning their cities.
“As for Yangyi…” Liang Feng gazed at the map for a long time, finally sighing deeply. “I’m afraid we won’t have the resources this winter. Let’s wait a bit longer. I hope the commander of Yangyi can hold on until spring…”
Once spring arrives, another batch of recruits can be trained. Doubling their military strength is essential before they can venture beyond Shangdang to provide support to Yangyi and Jinyang. Until then, he truly feels both willing and powerless.
He can only hope that the commander holding Yangyi can endure for a while longer.
