Inside the hall, Pei Dun’s expression didn’t look good either. He had traveled all the way from Luoyang to Bing County, not to negotiate with a newly appointed governor.
Suppressing his displeasure, he commanded, “Summon General Fenwei.”
Even if Liang Zixi disagreed with the use of military force, Pei Dun would not give up. Since Liu Yuan set foot in Jingyang, he had initiated attacks on the surrounding areas. After capturing Chang’an previously and before the court could dispatch forces to suppress him, he counterattacked Fengyi. With Jingyang and Fengyi falling successively, Hedong was in imminent danger! The court was busy attacking the pseudo-emperor Sima Ying; where would they find troops to rescue Hedong?
While others might turn a blind eye, Pei Dun absolutely could not stand idly by. This was the foundation of the Pei family! Currently, in Hedong, only the Pei family holds significant influence. The Anyi Wei family almost fell into ruin due to the chaos caused by Empress Jia’s rebellion. Although the brothers Wei Zhai and Wei Jie were highly esteemed, the military power of the Wei family had long been marginalized. Moreover, the Mu family only had a superficial influence and was essentially an empty shell. If Liu Yuan were to invade, who could resist?
Therefore, Pei Dun volunteered to be the peace general and stationed himself in Bing County. Only by leading troops to attack Lishi was there a chance to save the state of Wei and relieve the crisis in Hedong. This use of military force was inevitable for him. Moreover, capturing Lishi would free Bing County from the threat of the Xiongnu. Perhaps even cities like Jingling could be recaptured. This Liang Zixi was truly too timid and indecisive!
“Lieutenant General Linghu Sheng requests an audience with the Governor!” A white-haired old general walked into the hall.
“Lieutenant General Linghu Sheng, there is no need for much ceremony.” Pei Dun slightly eased his expression and spoke, “As the leader of the various armies in Jinyang, your summoning today is to discuss military matters.”
Discussing military matters from the very beginning? Linghu Sheng couldn’t help but be surprised. He also knew that Liang Zixi would come to pay his respects today, but he didn’t expect that he would leave after just a brief meeting. Did something happen between them, or was there a military matter that needed immediate attention the day after he entered the city?
Pei Dun didn’t give Linghu Sheng time to ponder, “Now that Qixian has been recaptured, the remnants of the Xiongnu have retreated west of Jingling, and their military morale is shattered. Coupled with the desolation of Lishi and the inadequate food supply, now is an excellent time to launch a campaign! I want to gather a large army within ten days and attack Lishi!”
Linghu Sheng’s face changed abruptly, “General, this is not advisable! Currently, there are only about 15,000 defending soldiers in Jinyang. In the past, even with an army of 30,000, we failed to capture Lishi. Now, considering the current situation…”
Pei Dun interrupted him, “The past is the past, and the situation is different now. If we don’t pursue victory and wait until the Xiongnu recover, won’t that be troublesome? If the troops are insufficient, we can conscript some able-bodied men. After winning, we can reward them for their merit.”
Conscript able-bodied men?! Linghu Sheng’s face became even more unsightly. Nowadays, soldiers were mostly from military households, known as “general families,” and they were the main source of soldiers. While forcibly conscripting civilians was not unheard of, the more critical issue was that soldiers recruited in this manner often had weak combat morale and would easily collapse at the first sign of battle. How could they be used in warfare?
“Commander, forcibly conscripting able-bodied men is already unreasonable, and deploying them directly to the battlefield is even more inappropriate. Now that Jinyang is stabilized, and the Xiongnu is silent, it would be better to take this opportunity to recuperate and wait until next year…”
Before Linghu Sheng could finish his words, Pei Dun slammed his hand on the table, “Are you going to defy military orders?!”
Linghu Sheng’s voice abruptly stopped. Of course, he couldn’t disobey. Pei Dun was appointed as the peace general by the imperial court, and all military forces in Jinyang had to follow his commands. When Sima Teng served as the inspector in the past, didn’t he issue orders to send troops without any resistance? Could they have stopped it?
Seeing Linghu Sheng silent, Pei Dun snorted coldly, “This time, I will personally lead the army. I heard that your nephew was the hero who captured Qixian. He can join the central army this time.”
This was a form of kindness and reward. At any time, the central army was the most trusted force of the commander. Linghu Sheng’s position was not high, so having this honor was indeed rare. If he truly succeeded in capturing Lishi, the merits of the central army officer would be considerable. However, Linghu Sheng had no joy in his heart. After a long pause, he said in a low voice, “Regarding the conscription, please think twice, Commander…”
Unexpectedly, Ling Sheng was so stubborn. Pei Dun’s face turned colder than frost, “Isn’t Liang Zixi also conscripting civilians into the army? Do you think I am unaware of that?”
Linghu Sheng struggled to say, “General Liang is using garrisoned troops, only capable of defending the territory…”
“The garrisoned troops during the reign of Wei Wu were the predecessors of the military households! The current situation is critical. Attacking Lishi is equivalent to defending Taiyuan. I see many refugees outside the city. If General Linghu Sheng finds it difficult, I can order others to go!”
There was a chilling tone in Pei Dun’s voice. Linghu Sheng remained silent for a moment, then finally bowed, “I obey your orders.”
If he left, he might be able to discuss countermeasures with Governor Liang. If it were someone else, who would care about the life and death of the common people?
Seeing Linghu Sheng yielding, Pei Dun waved his hand coldly, “You may leave. Gather the troops quickly and prepare to march on Lishi!”
As Linghu Sheng silently retreated, Lu Zai, who had been standing by, softly remarked, “I didn’t expect there would be such a troublesome character in Jinyang. This battle, General, may take some effort.”
Lu Zai, also from Hedong, although his family background was far less noble than the Pei family, was adept at flattery and skilled in strategy, which made Pei Dun value him highly, promoting him to the position of Chief of Staff. As a confidant, he naturally understood the current thoughts of his general.
Sure enough, Pei Dun’s expression became even more displeased, “Currently, the armory in Jingyang is well-stocked, and there is no shortage of military provisions. Yet, these people are dragging their feet, truly not placing the court in their eyes!”
Who could endure being labeled with the hat of “all can be killed”? Lu Zai cleared his throat lightly, “Perhaps these soldiers in Jinyang still have thoughts of self-preservation, unwilling to serve the general? But speaking of it, there are also stationed troops in Shangdang now. Although Governor Liang has a stubborn temper, he is not completely unreasonable. Instead of forcing them, it might be more effective to explain the situation to him. If he lends his support, we would have a better chance of taking Lishi…”
“Explain the situation?” Pei Dun frowned.
Lu Zai said just two words, “Salt pool.”
Hearing these two words, Pei Dun’s expression eased slightly, “Chief of Staff Lu has a point. Let Xue Ren go there.”
※
Seeing Yiyan assisting Liang Feng back to the mansion, Duan Qin felt uneasy, “My Lord, why did you return to the mansion so quickly? Did something happen?”
How much time had passed? Moreover, although Liang Feng was weak, he rarely allowed anyone to support him. What happened today?
“General Pei wants to attack Lishi to break the siege of Hedong!” Liang Feng continued walking toward the inner hall without stopping.
“What?!” In just a moment, Duan Qin guessed the cause of the matter. Wasn’t Pei from Hedong supposed to contribute to the family? But now, with the situation in Jinyang, how could it withstand any setbacks? The resettlement of refugees was not yet settled, and with the military action starting again, what would happen to winter farming? What about the Xianbei stationed in Xinxing County?
“We must find a way to make the aristocrats of Jingyang stand by our lord’s side!” Duan Qin blurted out.
Liang Feng did not refute this. With Yiyan’s support, he entered the inner hall and leaned on the low table, saying, “Summon Sun Biejia to see me.”
Sun Li was a decent successor of the Sun family, but still, he belonged to the Taiyuan Sun clan. It might be better to let him leak some information from his mouth, letting the aristocrats of Jinyang know which side the newly arrived peace general truly favored. These people had experienced the ravages of war. If the court raised troops for the greater good, they might reluctantly tolerate it. However, if a person of a certain surname acted for personal gain, it would offend their interests. Even if Pei Dun was the brother-in-law of Prince Donghai, they would still carefully weigh whether to obey him unquestionably.
Hesitation could be exploited, and Liang Feng could find a way to win their hearts.
Soon, Sun Li hurried over from the official residence. Suddenly promoted to a personal attendant, this young man, who had always been self-disciplined, became even more serious, presenting an appearance that did not tolerate any deviation. Seeing Liang Feng, he respectfully bowed and said, “I don’t know what business Lord summons me for.”
“Today, I visited the Peace General’s Mansion and discussed some matters with General Pei,” Liang Feng said in a deep voice. “General Pei intends to attack Lishi and drive out the remaining Xiongnu forces.”
Sun Li’s figure shook, “This is not appropriate.”
Not appropriate at all! Raising troops now was completely untimely. The recently stabilized Jinyang City would immediately fall into chaos again. How could General Pei be so reckless?!
“I have also advised against it. However, General Pei is a person from Hedong. Given the current situation, how could he be willing to back down?” Liang Feng did not conceal anything, directly pointing out the reason.
Sun Li’s brows immediately furrowed. This battle was to break the siege of Hedong? Ridiculous! Was Hedong supposed to be General Pei’s vanguard?
Seeing Sun Li’s expression, Liang Feng knew that he had understood his meaning. “This matter is of great importance and cannot be done hastily. However, since I am new to Jinyang and my foundation is not stable, I still need the help of others…”
Understanding the unspoken words, Sun Li nodded, “Lord is wholeheartedly pacifying the chaos and comforting the people, and everyone knows that. Matters of Jinyang should be handled by capable ministers like Lord. I will now go down and discuss this with others.”
He didn’t mention the distinction between military and political affairs; he only said that the affairs of the province should be handled by Liang Feng. Hearing Sun Li’s words, Liang Feng breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Sun. Si Ruo, stay with Mr. Sun these days and assist him carefully.”
Duan Qin is Liang Feng’s confidant and can represent his will. With Duan Qin by his side, Sun Li’s persuasive power will naturally be greater. The two of them immediately took their orders and left.
It was only at this moment that Liang Feng’s tense nerves relaxed slightly, and he felt that his hands were shaking a bit. Was it because he had gripped too hard just now? Trying to conceal it, he hid his hands in his sleeves and looked towards Yiyan, who had been standing aside. There was still lingering anger on his face, and his gray-blue eyes were tightly locked onto Liang Feng. In his expression, there was something that captivated others.
“Boyuan, as a military leader, you should not act recklessly at this time,” Liang Feng couldn’t help but say.
Yiyan knelt in front of him, “This subordinate will follow the arrangements of the Lord.”
Even in the midst of anger and anxiety, Yiyan had not forgotten the teachings that his Lord had given him initially. In political matters, a military man should never intervene; obeying orders was his duty.
Seeing the determined expression of the man, Liang Feng sighed in relief internally, “It’s good that you understand. Go back to the camp first, settle the soldiers, and pay attention to the reactions of Li Jun and the others.”
Connecting with the aristocratic families and testing the military’s stance are both essential. It seems that contacting Linghu Sheng as soon as possible is necessary.
Unexpectedly, before others could be persuaded, there were already emissaries arriving at the Governor’s Mansion.
Inside the hall, Pei Dun’s expression didn’t look good either. He had traveled all the way from Luoyang to Bing County, not to negotiate with a newly appointed governor.
Suppressing his displeasure, he commanded, “Summon General Fenwei.”
Even if Liang Zixi disagreed with the use of military force, Pei Dun would not give up. Since Liu Yuan set foot in Jingyang, he had initiated attacks on the surrounding areas. After capturing Chang’an previously and before the court could dispatch forces to suppress him, he counterattacked Fengyi. With Jingyang and Fengyi falling successively, Hedong was in imminent danger! The court was busy attacking the pseudo-emperor Sima Ying; where would they find troops to rescue Hedong?
While others might turn a blind eye, Pei Dun absolutely could not stand idly by. This was the foundation of the Pei family! Currently, in Hedong, only the Pei family holds significant influence. The Anyi Wei family almost fell into ruin due to the chaos caused by Empress Jia’s rebellion. Although the brothers Wei Zhai and Wei Jie were highly esteemed, the military power of the Wei family had long been marginalized. Moreover, the Mu family only had a superficial influence and was essentially an empty shell. If Liu Yuan were to invade, who could resist?
Therefore, Pei Dun volunteered to be the peace general and stationed himself in Bing County. Only by leading troops to attack Lishi was there a chance to save the state of Wei and relieve the crisis in Hedong. This use of military force was inevitable for him. Moreover, capturing Lishi would free Bing County from the threat of the Xiongnu. Perhaps even cities like Jingling could be recaptured. This Liang Zixi was truly too timid and indecisive!
“Lieutenant General Linghu Sheng requests an audience with the Governor!” A white-haired old general walked into the hall.
“Lieutenant General Linghu Sheng, there is no need for much ceremony.” Pei Dun slightly eased his expression and spoke, “As the leader of the various armies in Jinyang, your summoning today is to discuss military matters.”
Discussing military matters from the very beginning? Linghu Sheng couldn’t help but be surprised. He also knew that Liang Zixi would come to pay his respects today, but he didn’t expect that he would leave after just a brief meeting. Did something happen between them, or was there a military matter that needed immediate attention the day after he entered the city?
Pei Dun didn’t give Linghu Sheng time to ponder, “Now that Qixian has been recaptured, the remnants of the Xiongnu have retreated west of Jingling, and their military morale is shattered. Coupled with the desolation of Lishi and the inadequate food supply, now is an excellent time to launch a campaign! I want to gather a large army within ten days and attack Lishi!”
Linghu Sheng’s face changed abruptly, “General, this is not advisable! Currently, there are only about 15,000 defending soldiers in Jinyang. In the past, even with an army of 30,000, we failed to capture Lishi. Now, considering the current situation…”
Pei Dun interrupted him, “The past is the past, and the situation is different now. If we don’t pursue victory and wait until the Xiongnu recover, won’t that be troublesome? If the troops are insufficient, we can conscript some able-bodied men. After winning, we can reward them for their merit.”
Conscript able-bodied men?! Linghu Sheng’s face became even more unsightly. Nowadays, soldiers were mostly from military households, known as “general families,” and they were the main source of soldiers. While forcibly conscripting civilians was not unheard of, the more critical issue was that soldiers recruited in this manner often had weak combat morale and would easily collapse at the first sign of battle. How could they be used in warfare?
“Commander, forcibly conscripting able-bodied men is already unreasonable, and deploying them directly to the battlefield is even more inappropriate. Now that Jinyang is stabilized, and the Xiongnu is silent, it would be better to take this opportunity to recuperate and wait until next year…”
Before Linghu Sheng could finish his words, Pei Dun slammed his hand on the table, “Are you going to defy military orders?!”
Linghu Sheng’s voice abruptly stopped. Of course, he couldn’t disobey. Pei Dun was appointed as the peace general by the imperial court, and all military forces in Jinyang had to follow his commands. When Sima Teng served as the inspector in the past, didn’t he issue orders to send troops without any resistance? Could they have stopped it?
Seeing Linghu Sheng silent, Pei Dun snorted coldly, “This time, I will personally lead the army. I heard that your nephew was the hero who captured Qixian. He can join the central army this time.”
This was a form of kindness and reward. At any time, the central army was the most trusted force of the commander. Linghu Sheng’s position was not high, so having this honor was indeed rare. If he truly succeeded in capturing Lishi, the merits of the central army officer would be considerable. However, Linghu Sheng had no joy in his heart. After a long pause, he said in a low voice, “Regarding the conscription, please think twice, Commander…”
Unexpectedly, Ling Sheng was so stubborn. Pei Dun’s face turned colder than frost, “Isn’t Liang Zixi also conscripting civilians into the army? Do you think I am unaware of that?”
Linghu Sheng struggled to say, “General Liang is using garrisoned troops, only capable of defending the territory…”
“The garrisoned troops during the reign of Wei Wu were the predecessors of the military households! The current situation is critical. Attacking Lishi is equivalent to defending Taiyuan. I see many refugees outside the city. If General Linghu Sheng finds it difficult, I can order others to go!”
There was a chilling tone in Pei Dun’s voice. Linghu Sheng remained silent for a moment, then finally bowed, “I obey your orders.”
If he left, he might be able to discuss countermeasures with Governor Liang. If it were someone else, who would care about the life and death of the common people?
Seeing Linghu Sheng yielding, Pei Dun waved his hand coldly, “You may leave. Gather the troops quickly and prepare to march on Lishi!”
As Linghu Sheng silently retreated, Lu Zai, who had been standing by, softly remarked, “I didn’t expect there would be such a troublesome character in Jinyang. This battle, General, may take some effort.”
Lu Zai, also from Hedong, although his family background was far less noble than the Pei family, was adept at flattery and skilled in strategy, which made Pei Dun value him highly, promoting him to the position of Chief of Staff. As a confidant, he naturally understood the current thoughts of his general.
Sure enough, Pei Dun’s expression became even more displeased, “Currently, the armory in Jingyang is well-stocked, and there is no shortage of military provisions. Yet, these people are dragging their feet, truly not placing the court in their eyes!”
Who could endure being labeled with the hat of “all can be killed”? Lu Zai cleared his throat lightly, “Perhaps these soldiers in Jinyang still have thoughts of self-preservation, unwilling to serve the general? But speaking of it, there are also stationed troops in Shangdang now. Although Governor Liang has a stubborn temper, he is not completely unreasonable. Instead of forcing them, it might be more effective to explain the situation to him. If he lends his support, we would have a better chance of taking Lishi…”
“Explain the situation?” Pei Dun frowned.
Lu Zai said just two words, “Salt pool.”
Hearing these two words, Pei Dun’s expression eased slightly, “Chief of Staff Lu has a point. Let Xue Ren go there.”
※
Seeing Yiyan assisting Liang Feng back to the mansion, Duan Qin felt uneasy, “My Lord, why did you return to the mansion so quickly? Did something happen?”
How much time had passed? Moreover, although Liang Feng was weak, he rarely allowed anyone to support him. What happened today?
“General Pei wants to attack Lishi to break the siege of Hedong!” Liang Feng continued walking toward the inner hall without stopping.
“What?!” In just a moment, Duan Qin guessed the cause of the matter. Wasn’t Pei from Hedong supposed to contribute to the family? But now, with the situation in Jinyang, how could it withstand any setbacks? The resettlement of refugees was not yet settled, and with the military action starting again, what would happen to winter farming? What about the Xianbei stationed in Xinxing County?
“We must find a way to make the aristocrats of Jingyang stand by our lord’s side!” Duan Qin blurted out.
Liang Feng did not refute this. With Yiyan’s support, he entered the inner hall and leaned on the low table, saying, “Summon Sun Biejia to see me.”
Sun Li was a decent successor of the Sun family, but still, he belonged to the Taiyuan Sun clan. It might be better to let him leak some information from his mouth, letting the aristocrats of Jinyang know which side the newly arrived peace general truly favored. These people had experienced the ravages of war. If the court raised troops for the greater good, they might reluctantly tolerate it. However, if a person of a certain surname acted for personal gain, it would offend their interests. Even if Pei Dun was the brother-in-law of Prince Donghai, they would still carefully weigh whether to obey him unquestionably.
Hesitation could be exploited, and Liang Feng could find a way to win their hearts.
Soon, Sun Li hurried over from the official residence. Suddenly promoted to a personal attendant, this young man, who had always been self-disciplined, became even more serious, presenting an appearance that did not tolerate any deviation. Seeing Liang Feng, he respectfully bowed and said, “I don’t know what business Lord summons me for.”
“Today, I visited the Peace General’s Mansion and discussed some matters with General Pei,” Liang Feng said in a deep voice. “General Pei intends to attack Lishi and drive out the remaining Xiongnu forces.”
Sun Li’s figure shook, “This is not appropriate.”
Not appropriate at all! Raising troops now was completely untimely. The recently stabilized Jinyang City would immediately fall into chaos again. How could General Pei be so reckless?!
“I have also advised against it. However, General Pei is a person from Hedong. Given the current situation, how could he be willing to back down?” Liang Feng did not conceal anything, directly pointing out the reason.
Sun Li’s brows immediately furrowed. This battle was to break the siege of Hedong? Ridiculous! Was Hedong supposed to be General Pei’s vanguard?
Seeing Sun Li’s expression, Liang Feng knew that he had understood his meaning. “This matter is of great importance and cannot be done hastily. However, since I am new to Jinyang and my foundation is not stable, I still need the help of others…”
Understanding the unspoken words, Sun Li nodded, “Lord is wholeheartedly pacifying the chaos and comforting the people, and everyone knows that. Matters of Jinyang should be handled by capable ministers like Lord. I will now go down and discuss this with others.”
He didn’t mention the distinction between military and political affairs; he only said that the affairs of the province should be handled by Liang Feng. Hearing Sun Li’s words, Liang Feng breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Sun. Si Ruo, stay with Mr. Sun these days and assist him carefully.”
Duan Qin is Liang Feng’s confidant and can represent his will. With Duan Qin by his side, Sun Li’s persuasive power will naturally be greater. The two of them immediately took their orders and left.
It was only at this moment that Liang Feng’s tense nerves relaxed slightly, and he felt that his hands were shaking a bit. Was it because he had gripped too hard just now? Trying to conceal it, he hid his hands in his sleeves and looked towards Yiyan, who had been standing aside. There was still lingering anger on his face, and his gray-blue eyes were tightly locked onto Liang Feng. In his expression, there was something that captivated others.
“Boyuan, as a military leader, you should not act recklessly at this time,” Liang Feng couldn’t help but say.
Yiyan knelt in front of him, “This subordinate will follow the arrangements of the Lord.”
Even in the midst of anger and anxiety, Yiyan had not forgotten the teachings that his Lord had given him initially. In political matters, a military man should never intervene; obeying orders was his duty.
Seeing the determined expression of the man, Liang Feng sighed in relief internally, “It’s good that you understand. Go back to the camp first, settle the soldiers, and pay attention to the reactions of Li Jun and the others.”
Connecting with the aristocratic families and testing the military’s stance are both essential. It seems that contacting Linghu Sheng as soon as possible is necessary.
Unexpectedly, before others could be persuaded, there were already emissaries arriving at the Governor’s Mansion.
