While they managed to repel the besieging Xiongnu forces, the crisis in Bing County was far from over. The enemy had retreated to Qi County, which was only half a day’s journey from Jinyang. Therefore, both Yiyan and Linghu Kuang remained vigilant, and the next step was to lay siege to the isolated city, cut off their supplies, repel any reinforcements, and wait for the Xiongnu to abandon Qi County and withdraw their troops.
This task was no easy feat. However, with the relief of Jinyang and control of Yangyi, a lifeline was finally established. Goods started to flow towards Jinyang.
After a season of recovery, Shangdang had another bountiful harvest. Besides reserves for accommodating refugees and clearing new fields, they sent a considerable amount of resources to Yangyi and Jinyang. Ge Hong also managed to quickly plant a batch of soybeans, but whether they would yield a harvest depended on nature. Nonetheless, the winter’s land reclamation had finally taken root, making things much better than during the initial siege.
With the ongoing conflict, the entire Shangdang region became busy. However, no one anticipated that an imperial edict would abruptly land on their desks.
Receiving the imperial decree with the utmost respect and arranging the envoys, Liang Feng and several advisors found themselves momentarily speechless. Why had they summoned him to the capital? What did the officials in Luoyang expect from a mere commandery administrator?
After a moment of silence, Cui Ji murmured softly, “Lord Prefect, this is a decree from the Emperor… ”
It wasn’t from Grand Commandant Sima Yue, but rather a direct command from the reigning Emperor. There was no way to refuse a decree from the Emperor himself. As subjects of Jin, they couldn’t disregard the imperial order.
“Does the Emperor’s word hold absolute sway in Luoyang?” Duan Qin’s expression turned somber. “It’s quite strange for the Emperor to issue such a decree. The matter is simply a relief of Jinyang’s siege. Why does it warrant raising troops and involving the central government? Is there a different arrangement for Bing County in the works?”
Though Duan Qin’s words might sound harsh, they held the truth. If it was just to commend their merits, rewards could be sent without the need for the Emperor’s decree. Why go through the trouble of summoning them? Sima Yue wouldn’t easily tolerate the young Emperor taking control of the government. Even if he had toned down his actions since the rebellion of Prince Chengdu, he would never relinquish his authority to the current Emperor. So what did this decree mean for Liang Feng and Shangdang?
With his eyelids slightly lowered, Liang Feng asked in response, “Even if it’s strange, can I refuse to heed the summons?”
Duan Qin immediately fell silent. Of course, he couldn’t. After all, at the end of the day, their lord was just a commandery administrator. If he didn’t want to raise an army or contemplate defecting to Prince Chengdu, Luoyang was the ultimate source of authority. When the Emperor issued a decree, how could he refuse?
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Cui Ji, however, didn’t seem as anxious. “This trip might be a turning point. Given the current strained relationship between our Lord and the Taiyuan Wang clan, Shangdang’s situation has become awkward. We can’t stay isolated forever. Since we can’t rely on the Wang clan, we should try to get closer to Luoyang as much as possible.”
Can the court be trusted? Of course not. However, in Luoyang, there isn’t just the emperor but also Sima Yue, who holds significant influence over the court. The underlying message is clear: they want him to pledge loyalty to Sima Yue.
Liang Feng had met Sima Teng before and was well aware of the man’s arrogance and foolishness. As the brother of Sima Teng, who initiated two major battles that led to the death of the former emperor and turmoil throughout the land, was he really someone worth pledging allegiance to?
This question didn’t even need to be asked aloud.
However, it was one of his very few options now.
Duan Qin furrowed his brows, saying, “But my lord has just recovered from a serious illness. If you go to Luoyang and your health is compromised again, what then?”
After contemplating for a moment, Liang Feng eventually shook his head, “If I stay alone in Shangdang, can I truly make the situation any better? What Gong Qiao suggested might not be a bad idea.”
Having an adversary like Wang Jun changed the entire situation significantly. If he continued to act arrogantly at this point, not to mention Sima Yue’s opinion, there would be trouble brewing behind his back. He wasn’t like Liu Yuan, with plans to raise a rebellion. Whether it was managing the people or deploying troops, he would still have to do so in the name of the court. With Shangdang’s meager force of less than twenty thousand, what could he really achieve?
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As long as this remained unchanged, he would follow orders. Just like how, no matter how much he detested Sima Teng back then, he had to maintain a facade that was acceptable. Furthermore, he needed to understand the true meaning behind the imperial edict. If it was indeed the Emperor’s intention, things might not be so straightforward.
“By the way, Assistant Professor Li predicted there would be another solar eclipse in July. Going to the capital at this time might be a way to break the deadlock,” Liang Feng added.
Now, it was already mid-June, and considering the travel time, they would soon encounter the solar eclipse after arriving in Luoyang. Every time a solar eclipse happened, the Three Excellencies would be the first to take the blame. Therefore, even if Sima Yue had any grievances against him, he wouldn’t dare take action during the eclipse. So, going to the capital at this time would be relatively safe. As for the solar eclipse on New Year’s Day, he could easily attribute it to the Xiongnu. After all, the “replacement of the master” incident had indeed occurred, and if he successfully captured a city with divine assistance, it wouldn’t be for the benefit of the Jin Dynasty’s Emperor.
Now, not even Duan Qin could come up with a counterargument. Letting out a long sigh, he said, “This time, you must take your advisors with you. The situation is complex, and my lord can’t act alone anymore.”
“Naturally,” Liang Feng replied. “Let Gong Qiao accompany me on this journey.”
Cui Ji, as the grandson of the prominent Cui family, had a better understanding of aristocratic families and court politics. As for Duan Qin, he had to stay in Shangdang to manage public affairs and couldn’t leave easily.
Duan Qin didn’t object to this. He added, “Should we summon General Yi back?”
“No need!” Liang Feng said, perhaps a bit too quickly. He quickly amended, “The situation in Taiyuan is unstable, and the war is urgent. I’ll only take a few attendants. We control the mountain passes, and Luoyang is currently free of internal turmoil. Bringing too many soldiers may attract undue suspicion.”
Moreover, bringing too many people wouldn’t be of any help. This wasn’t just an ordinary outing but a journey deep into the heart of an empire. Could you escape with hundreds or even thousands of soldiers in such a scenario? Keeping a low profile would be more advantageous.
Cui Ji agreed, saying, “The lord has a point. General Yi’s appearance isn’t like that of a typical Jin person. Bringing him along might not be appropriate.”
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Sima Yue was quite the self-proclaimed scholar, and if he saw the personal guards, including a Jie barbarian, he might get suspicious. Therefore, the selection of the guards had to be considered carefully.
Listening to Liang Feng’s words, Duan Qin added no more, saying, “My lord, you must be cautious on this trip. Your health is paramount.”
Liang Feng suppressed his trembling arm, which had started quivering again, and smiled, “I understand, and you can rest assured.”
Because of the imperial edict, Liang Feng didn’t linger in Shangdang. On their way from here to Luoyang, the nearest road was the Taihang Pass. The group naturally followed the official road, heading to Gaodu.
“It’s been only two years, and the road has improved significantly,” Liang Feng remarked as he couldn’t ride a horse anymore and had to travel by carriage. Cui Ji accompanied him in the carriage, occasionally looking outside.
“Every time we capture prisoners, they repair the roads first. It’s definitely better than the old days.” This road was what Liang Feng paid the most attention to; how could he neglect it? The road surface was much firmer now and had been covered with a layer of gravel, preventing it from getting too muddy even in the rain. Coupled with the shock-absorbing carriage, the journey was much more comfortable.
“I heard the two mountain passes have also been strengthened?” Cui Ji inquired.
“Additional checkpoints have been set up between the mountain passes, and several forts have been built. As long as troops are stationed there, it should be impenetrable,” Liang Feng explained. This was still an ongoing project, and now that Wuling had moved to guard Huguan, both mountain passes were under the control of the Liang family. A great deal of effort had gone into this.
“All of this is the foundation for your lordship. It must be firmly in hand,” Cui Ji said.
This was the first time he had uttered such words. Liang Feng cast a glance at him. The meaning behind his words was quite clear. Regardless of who took over as the governor of Bing County, it was inevitable that Shangdang had to be preserved. He had already taken root here and gradually changed the situation in Shangdang. This was his foundation, his reliance. In case the summons from Luoyang turned out to be ill-intentioned, he had to distinguish priorities. He mustn’t act impulsively. If handled correctly, even if trouble arose, he had control of a whole commandery, and Shangdang was more critical than other counties.
Liang Feng nodded slightly and closed his eyes. The carriage creaked as it continued toward Taihang Pass in the distance.
※
A swift horse galloped into the Yangyi Prefectural Government Office. Before the horse even came to a stop, the rider leaped off, seething with anger, and strode toward the main hall.
“Is the lord on his way to Luoyang?” Yiyan didn’t even wait for an announcement and barged in.
Ge Hong, who was working in his office, was momentarily taken aback. He motioned to the officials around him to step aside and then replied, “Yes, he left two days ago…”
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“Why didn’t you notify me? Why didn’t you stop the lord?!” Yiyan was even angrier. He was going to Luoyang! The lord had just gotten out of bed, how could he endure such a journey? And even if he was going, why not let him accompany him for protection? What if there was another mishap? How would that be acceptable?
Unexpectedly, Yiyan’s anger caught Ge Hong off guard. He hesitated for a moment before saying, “That was an imperial audience; how can anyone stop it? Captain Yi, you shouldn’t be too anxious. Lord Cui also accompanies His Lordship on this trip, and there are over fifty guards. Everything should be well taken care of…”
Well taken care of? At the cost of his well-being? The pain in Yiyan’s heart felt as if it might bleed out. His face hardened, and he said, “I want to follow, to accompany His Lordship to Luoyang!”
Now Ge Hong couldn’t stay seated any longer. “Nonsense! That’s an imperial audience; you can’t just act recklessly! Moreover, the situation in Taiyuan has just turned around, and there are battles to be fought. If you, the commanding general of an army, leave, what will others do?”
Did Yiyan not understand this? His fists clenched, and he stood frozen in place, torn between two entirely different emotions. Was his lord unwilling to have him accompany as a protector? Was his lord determined to keep him far away?
Seeing his struggle, Ge Hong hurriedly said, “Priorities matter. Right now, the key is Si County. What use would an additional person going to the capital be? But Taiyuan is different. In July, there will be a solar eclipse, and after that, the morale in Si County will certainly waver. That will be the perfect moment for an assault! Do you want to jeopardize the bigger picture over this small matter?”
With Ge Hong saying all those words, there was no room left for Yiyan to argue. After a long silence, he finally released his tightly clenched fists, said nothing, and turned away.
Watching him walk away with heavy steps, Ge Hong felt a sense of relief. But then, he furrowed his brow. This visit to the capital for an audience with the emperor seemed to hold some danger, or why else would Yiyan be so concerned?
Oh well, the situation in Bing County has just started to improve. Let’s hope there won’t be any further trouble in the imperial court.
While they managed to repel the besieging Xiongnu forces, the crisis in Bing County was far from over. The enemy had retreated to Qi County, which was only half a day’s journey from Jinyang. Therefore, both Yiyan and Linghu Kuang remained vigilant, and the next step was to lay siege to the isolated city, cut off their supplies, repel any reinforcements, and wait for the Xiongnu to abandon Qi County and withdraw their troops.
This task was no easy feat. However, with the relief of Jinyang and control of Yangyi, a lifeline was finally established. Goods started to flow towards Jinyang.
After a season of recovery, Shangdang had another bountiful harvest. Besides reserves for accommodating refugees and clearing new fields, they sent a considerable amount of resources to Yangyi and Jinyang. Ge Hong also managed to quickly plant a batch of soybeans, but whether they would yield a harvest depended on nature. Nonetheless, the winter’s land reclamation had finally taken root, making things much better than during the initial siege.
With the ongoing conflict, the entire Shangdang region became busy. However, no one anticipated that an imperial edict would abruptly land on their desks.
Receiving the imperial decree with the utmost respect and arranging the envoys, Liang Feng and several advisors found themselves momentarily speechless. Why had they summoned him to the capital? What did the officials in Luoyang expect from a mere commandery administrator?
After a moment of silence, Cui Ji murmured softly, “Lord Prefect, this is a decree from the Emperor… ”
It wasn’t from Grand Commandant Sima Yue, but rather a direct command from the reigning Emperor. There was no way to refuse a decree from the Emperor himself. As subjects of Jin, they couldn’t disregard the imperial order.
“Does the Emperor’s word hold absolute sway in Luoyang?” Duan Qin’s expression turned somber. “It’s quite strange for the Emperor to issue such a decree. The matter is simply a relief of Jinyang’s siege. Why does it warrant raising troops and involving the central government? Is there a different arrangement for Bing County in the works?”
Though Duan Qin’s words might sound harsh, they held the truth. If it was just to commend their merits, rewards could be sent without the need for the Emperor’s decree. Why go through the trouble of summoning them? Sima Yue wouldn’t easily tolerate the young Emperor taking control of the government. Even if he had toned down his actions since the rebellion of Prince Chengdu, he would never relinquish his authority to the current Emperor. So what did this decree mean for Liang Feng and Shangdang?
With his eyelids slightly lowered, Liang Feng asked in response, “Even if it’s strange, can I refuse to heed the summons?”
Duan Qin immediately fell silent. Of course, he couldn’t. After all, at the end of the day, their lord was just a commandery administrator. If he didn’t want to raise an army or contemplate defecting to Prince Chengdu, Luoyang was the ultimate source of authority. When the Emperor issued a decree, how could he refuse?
Advertisement
Cui Ji, however, didn’t seem as anxious. “This trip might be a turning point. Given the current strained relationship between our Lord and the Taiyuan Wang clan, Shangdang’s situation has become awkward. We can’t stay isolated forever. Since we can’t rely on the Wang clan, we should try to get closer to Luoyang as much as possible.”
Can the court be trusted? Of course not. However, in Luoyang, there isn’t just the emperor but also Sima Yue, who holds significant influence over the court. The underlying message is clear: they want him to pledge loyalty to Sima Yue.
Liang Feng had met Sima Teng before and was well aware of the man’s arrogance and foolishness. As the brother of Sima Teng, who initiated two major battles that led to the death of the former emperor and turmoil throughout the land, was he really someone worth pledging allegiance to?
This question didn’t even need to be asked aloud.
However, it was one of his very few options now.
Duan Qin furrowed his brows, saying, “But my lord has just recovered from a serious illness. If you go to Luoyang and your health is compromised again, what then?”
After contemplating for a moment, Liang Feng eventually shook his head, “If I stay alone in Shangdang, can I truly make the situation any better? What Gong Qiao suggested might not be a bad idea.”
Having an adversary like Wang Jun changed the entire situation significantly. If he continued to act arrogantly at this point, not to mention Sima Yue’s opinion, there would be trouble brewing behind his back. He wasn’t like Liu Yuan, with plans to raise a rebellion. Whether it was managing the people or deploying troops, he would still have to do so in the name of the court. With Shangdang’s meager force of less than twenty thousand, what could he really achieve?
Advertisement
As long as this remained unchanged, he would follow orders. Just like how, no matter how much he detested Sima Teng back then, he had to maintain a facade that was acceptable. Furthermore, he needed to understand the true meaning behind the imperial edict. If it was indeed the Emperor’s intention, things might not be so straightforward.
“By the way, Assistant Professor Li predicted there would be another solar eclipse in July. Going to the capital at this time might be a way to break the deadlock,” Liang Feng added.
Now, it was already mid-June, and considering the travel time, they would soon encounter the solar eclipse after arriving in Luoyang. Every time a solar eclipse happened, the Three Excellencies would be the first to take the blame. Therefore, even if Sima Yue had any grievances against him, he wouldn’t dare take action during the eclipse. So, going to the capital at this time would be relatively safe. As for the solar eclipse on New Year’s Day, he could easily attribute it to the Xiongnu. After all, the “replacement of the master” incident had indeed occurred, and if he successfully captured a city with divine assistance, it wouldn’t be for the benefit of the Jin Dynasty’s Emperor.
Now, not even Duan Qin could come up with a counterargument. Letting out a long sigh, he said, “This time, you must take your advisors with you. The situation is complex, and my lord can’t act alone anymore.”
“Naturally,” Liang Feng replied. “Let Gong Qiao accompany me on this journey.”
Cui Ji, as the grandson of the prominent Cui family, had a better understanding of aristocratic families and court politics. As for Duan Qin, he had to stay in Shangdang to manage public affairs and couldn’t leave easily.
Duan Qin didn’t object to this. He added, “Should we summon General Yi back?”
“No need!” Liang Feng said, perhaps a bit too quickly. He quickly amended, “The situation in Taiyuan is unstable, and the war is urgent. I’ll only take a few attendants. We control the mountain passes, and Luoyang is currently free of internal turmoil. Bringing too many soldiers may attract undue suspicion.”
Moreover, bringing too many people wouldn’t be of any help. This wasn’t just an ordinary outing but a journey deep into the heart of an empire. Could you escape with hundreds or even thousands of soldiers in such a scenario? Keeping a low profile would be more advantageous.
Cui Ji agreed, saying, “The lord has a point. General Yi’s appearance isn’t like that of a typical Jin person. Bringing him along might not be appropriate.”
Advertisement
Sima Yue was quite the self-proclaimed scholar, and if he saw the personal guards, including a Jie barbarian, he might get suspicious. Therefore, the selection of the guards had to be considered carefully.
Listening to Liang Feng’s words, Duan Qin added no more, saying, “My lord, you must be cautious on this trip. Your health is paramount.”
Liang Feng suppressed his trembling arm, which had started quivering again, and smiled, “I understand, and you can rest assured.”
Because of the imperial edict, Liang Feng didn’t linger in Shangdang. On their way from here to Luoyang, the nearest road was the Taihang Pass. The group naturally followed the official road, heading to Gaodu.
“It’s been only two years, and the road has improved significantly,” Liang Feng remarked as he couldn’t ride a horse anymore and had to travel by carriage. Cui Ji accompanied him in the carriage, occasionally looking outside.
“Every time we capture prisoners, they repair the roads first. It’s definitely better than the old days.” This road was what Liang Feng paid the most attention to; how could he neglect it? The road surface was much firmer now and had been covered with a layer of gravel, preventing it from getting too muddy even in the rain. Coupled with the shock-absorbing carriage, the journey was much more comfortable.
“I heard the two mountain passes have also been strengthened?” Cui Ji inquired.
“Additional checkpoints have been set up between the mountain passes, and several forts have been built. As long as troops are stationed there, it should be impenetrable,” Liang Feng explained. This was still an ongoing project, and now that Wuling had moved to guard Huguan, both mountain passes were under the control of the Liang family. A great deal of effort had gone into this.
“All of this is the foundation for your lordship. It must be firmly in hand,” Cui Ji said.
This was the first time he had uttered such words. Liang Feng cast a glance at him. The meaning behind his words was quite clear. Regardless of who took over as the governor of Bing County, it was inevitable that Shangdang had to be preserved. He had already taken root here and gradually changed the situation in Shangdang. This was his foundation, his reliance. In case the summons from Luoyang turned out to be ill-intentioned, he had to distinguish priorities. He mustn’t act impulsively. If handled correctly, even if trouble arose, he had control of a whole commandery, and Shangdang was more critical than other counties.
Liang Feng nodded slightly and closed his eyes. The carriage creaked as it continued toward Taihang Pass in the distance.
※
A swift horse galloped into the Yangyi Prefectural Government Office. Before the horse even came to a stop, the rider leaped off, seething with anger, and strode toward the main hall.
“Is the lord on his way to Luoyang?” Yiyan didn’t even wait for an announcement and barged in.
Ge Hong, who was working in his office, was momentarily taken aback. He motioned to the officials around him to step aside and then replied, “Yes, he left two days ago…”
Advertisement
“Why didn’t you notify me? Why didn’t you stop the lord?!” Yiyan was even angrier. He was going to Luoyang! The lord had just gotten out of bed, how could he endure such a journey? And even if he was going, why not let him accompany him for protection? What if there was another mishap? How would that be acceptable?
Unexpectedly, Yiyan’s anger caught Ge Hong off guard. He hesitated for a moment before saying, “That was an imperial audience; how can anyone stop it? Captain Yi, you shouldn’t be too anxious. Lord Cui also accompanies His Lordship on this trip, and there are over fifty guards. Everything should be well taken care of…”
Well taken care of? At the cost of his well-being? The pain in Yiyan’s heart felt as if it might bleed out. His face hardened, and he said, “I want to follow, to accompany His Lordship to Luoyang!”
Now Ge Hong couldn’t stay seated any longer. “Nonsense! That’s an imperial audience; you can’t just act recklessly! Moreover, the situation in Taiyuan has just turned around, and there are battles to be fought. If you, the commanding general of an army, leave, what will others do?”
Did Yiyan not understand this? His fists clenched, and he stood frozen in place, torn between two entirely different emotions. Was his lord unwilling to have him accompany as a protector? Was his lord determined to keep him far away?
Seeing his struggle, Ge Hong hurriedly said, “Priorities matter. Right now, the key is Si County. What use would an additional person going to the capital be? But Taiyuan is different. In July, there will be a solar eclipse, and after that, the morale in Si County will certainly waver. That will be the perfect moment for an assault! Do you want to jeopardize the bigger picture over this small matter?”
With Ge Hong saying all those words, there was no room left for Yiyan to argue. After a long silence, he finally released his tightly clenched fists, said nothing, and turned away.
Watching him walk away with heavy steps, Ge Hong felt a sense of relief. But then, he furrowed his brow. This visit to the capital for an audience with the emperor seemed to hold some danger, or why else would Yiyan be so concerned?
Oh well, the situation in Bing County has just started to improve. Let’s hope there won’t be any further trouble in the imperial court.
