“Do not let the dust settle again. My lord, it’s not advisable to engage in another battle with Dai Jun. Otherwise, the people will scatter, and famine will likely break out come spring.” Just after celebrating the New Year, Wang Bin’s expression didn’t look good.
The expedition to conquer Dai Jun didn’t go as planned. They gained no advantage because, despite Dai Jun being in You County, it was situated on the west side of the Taihang Mountains. To deploy troops, they had to either go through Feihu Pass or take the Military Capital Pass. Both routes were difficult to traverse, especially in the harsh winter. The Duan tribe, mostly cavalry, made it extremely challenging to conquer the Tuoba tribe.
What made matters worse was that once the war started, the people would flee. In the previous years, even in the harsh cold of You County, many people came to settle. However, after Liang Zixi took control of Bing County, this once-dreaded battleground unexpectedly became a paradise. Many refugees heading to You County changed direction. The local people near Dai Jun wouldn’t risk crossing mountains in the severe cold; most of them would escape into Bing County through Yanmen.
As a result, not only did the battle fail to reclaim their territory, but it also cost many lives and provisions. Even with You County being wealthy and having gained profits in the last two years, it couldn’t withstand such losses.
Above the main seat, Wang Jun’s face was cold, and he remained silent. He had not anticipated that the outcome of this battle would be so unfavorable. The gain or loss of Dai Jun was secondary; it was the sudden change in Ye City that was truly regrettable!
Who could have expected that Sima Teng, that fool, would be so vulnerable? Originally, Wang Jun only wanted Sima Teng to exert pressure on the court, retracting the rewards given to the Tuoba tribe. But in the blink of an eye, he abandoned the city and fled, allowing Bing County’s forces to seize Ye City. Upon hearing this news, Wang Jun was furious and almost led the troops personally to reclaim Ye City. However, before the army could set out, the court had already employed divisive tactics, making Liang Zixi’s subordinate guard Ye County and oversee military affairs in North Hebei.
Now, Wang Jun found it difficult to dispatch troops. With Ye County having just changed its defender, that boy with the surname Yi had just taken control of the military. As a You County commander, how could he easily attack? Moreover, if they went forward with the attack, Yi Boyuan would likely rejoin Liang Zixi’s camp, making it better to ease the situation and hand over the mess near Ye County to the other side.
However, such a decision still left a bitter taste in everyone’s hearts.
After a long silence, Wang Jun said, “Order the Duan tribe to withdraw and hold Feihu Pass. Take time to recover during spring plowing and then reconsider.”
This was also the most sensible approach. Wang Bin breathed a sigh of relief, but before he could speak, Wang Jun added, “Strictly instruct all the counties in You County not to use the Rui coal from Bing County!”
Wang Bin was stunned, “My lord…”
The winter days in You County are long, and it hasn’t even reached the coldest days yet. It’s the perfect time for cold. How could we not use Rui coal?
Wang Jun coldly snorted, “We haven’t been using the Liao furnace for so many years, why bother buying goods from Bing County! Do you think I don’t know? It’s just like Rui coal; it costs so much money and grain! Now that war between You County and Bing County is imminent, we can’t let Liang Zixi gain any advantage! Those Liao furnaces, have people imitate them, and do not purchase them from Bing County anymore!”
Wang Bin suddenly felt awkward and couldn’t find words to say. Not to mention the aristocrats in You County, even in his own house, they had switched to Rui coal. It was just that this thing was smokeless, odorless, and produced high heat that was hard to extinguish. Just one pot was enough to make the room warm as spring. Although it was more expensive than ordinary coal, which household couldn’t afford such an expense? This trend had even reached the tents of the Xianbei nobles; who could easily prohibit it?
If they switched back to the original coal, not to mention whether people could adapt, just the businessmen below would suffer significant losses. The charcoal stoves were even more troublesome. The items produced in Bing County all had the label of Buddhist artifacts, claiming to detoxify and prevent the smoke-related illnesses that occurred every winter. Moreover, their stoves were cheap. Some people had considered alternatives, but the cost was just too high. It was even more challenging to ban them.
But when his father gave the order, what could Wang Bin do? He could only obediently lower his head and say, “The child will start handling it immediately.”
Watching his son’s unwilling expression, Wang Jun felt annoyed inwardly. He shouldn’t have tried to win over Liang Zixi in the first place, leading to the current deep-seated grievances and making it difficult to back down. But in the end, there was still the Ji County between the two states. It all depended on how they would contend for the land in this province.
※
“General, the army is on the verge of running out of supplies. Where should we go?” A trusted aide, wearing a worried expression, sighed and asked.
In the beginning, they pulled out all the stops to attack Wei County. Both military equipment and provisions were prepared in abundance, hoping to capture Ye City and have a prosperous winter.
Little did they know that, despite the considerable effort to capture Ye City, they were defeated by the forces of Bing County. Not only did they fail to secure supplies, wealth, and treasures, but even their main camp was breached. The leader, Jisang, also met an unfortunate end, and his severed head was displayed outside the city as a warning. The rebellious army, previously filled with pride, instantly became a defeated force with their tails between their legs.
Thanks to Shi Le gathering the scattered troops and rallying a force of five to six thousand men. However, while the people were available, food was nowhere to be found. Without a decision on their next move, everyone would starve to death in the wilderness.
How could Shi Le not be aware of the current situation? Frowning, he contemplated for a long time before saying, “Let’s attack Zhao County.”
Zhao County belonged to Ji County, but it was very close to Ye City. It wouldn’t take much effort to march there. Upon hearing this order, the bandit soldiers below rejoiced. The general they followed, Shi Le, was indeed formidable. If they could capture Ye City, what was Zhao County to them?
However, the joy of those people did not elicit the slightest change in Shi Le. This was because he knew he was facing a dilemma with no good options.
His military forces were just too few. A mere five to six thousand people would appear too meager if they wanted to join the Xiongnu. They might not be valued by the Xiongnu’s ruler. However, he couldn’t find any other way to gather more troops.
Being a Jie person meant that those who would heed his command were likely to be various nomadic tribes. People like Li Feng, the defected Jin soldiers, might pledge allegiance to Gongshi Fan or a Han leader like Jisang, but they might not obey the commands of a Jie leader.
The best option would be to try to find a solution among the Jie people, the Xiongnu, or even the Wuhuan or Qiang and Di tribes. However, a year ago, this plan might have had some feasibility. Now, it was simply wishful thinking!
Bing County had already been pacified, and the provincial governors were associated with the Buddhist faction! In his hometown of Shangdang, who knew how many Jie people had joined the ranks of the Buddhists. The rebel forces of the Xiongnu had been completely wiped out, and the Wuhuan bandits had also been almost eliminated. Throughout Bing County, there were simply no usable individuals!
The previous Bing County forces had left a deep impression on Shi Le. He had never imagined that Jin would possess such formidable military strength. It was no wonder Bing County managed to defeat the Xiongnu and crush the Bai tribe within a year. Compared to that cavalry, his bandit forces were like a tiny stream against a flood. Because of this, he abandoned the idea of causing chaos in Wei County again. However, even if they captured Zhao County, what then? How could they reinforce their troops?
Swallowing the irritations in his heart, Shi Le refocused his attention. After all, refugees could be found anywhere. Once they captured Zhao County, he could figure out a solution with the refugees. For now, the most critical thing was to stir up more provinces and strengthen his power. When he gathered enough troops again, he would join the Han dynasty. By then, he wouldn’t lose to that Bing County army again, right?
The disgraceful memory of the chaotic escape that day surged into his mind once again. Shi Le clenched his teeth and silently made up his mind. He would capture Ye City again. One day, he would become someone that nobody could ignore!
※
“I heard that those chaotic troops have already fled to Zhao County?” Wang Ping, these days, had been keeping an eye on those previous chaotic troops. Occasionally, he would summon Yiyan and have a few words with him.
Now that he heard the chaotic troops had left Wei County and were attacking Zhao County, Wang Ping couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Zhao County was not far from Ye City, but it was ultimately within the borders of Ji County. Let them fight; it had nothing to do with him.
Yiyan nodded, “Yes, they are heading to Zhao County. But Zhao and Wei are closely linked, and we still need to keep an eye on it.”
Never expected that a Jie Hu could utter such a phrase as “closely linked,” Wang Ping couldn’t help but say, “General, as the commander of the Northern Army, your responsibility is to oversee the various counties in the north. Ji County still has Governor Ding in charge, and there’s also General Wang assisting with the military forces. There should be no significant issues…”
Halfway through his words, he found it hard to continue. Yiyan’s expression was too stern, his aura chilling, making people shiver just looking at him. Nervously chuckling twice, Wang Ping added, “Even if there’s a need to fight, it’s better to reinforce the troops first. The current forces in the general’s hands are already having a tough time defending Wei County. How can they manage the affairs of other provinces?”
The statement, while not entirely wrong, wasn’t exactly what Yiyan wanted. He coldly spoke, “Governor, rest assured. By the time spring arrives, I will have 5,000 troops at my disposal. At that time, I can also draw some from the census to handle any military crisis.”
Upon hearing Yiyan’s words, Wang Ping’s eyes brightened, “That’s excellent! I’ve already requested provisions from the court. Maintaining around 10,000 troops won’t be a problem.”
Because Wang Yan had sent him as a trusted aide, Wang Ping was quite generous when it came to provisions and pay. In troubled times, having more troops was always an advantage. As General Yi mentioned, if the chaotic troops attacked Zhao County and then turned back, wouldn’t that be a disaster?
Feeling reassured, and now finding the overly stern and somewhat unsightly Hu face more agreeable, Wang Ping smiled, “By the way, there was something I forgot to ask General Yi. I heard that you still haven’t married to this day. If you’re interested, I would be willing to help arrange a marriage for you…”
“Do not let the dust settle again. My lord, it’s not advisable to engage in another battle with Dai Jun. Otherwise, the people will scatter, and famine will likely break out come spring.” Just after celebrating the New Year, Wang Bin’s expression didn’t look good.
The expedition to conquer Dai Jun didn’t go as planned. They gained no advantage because, despite Dai Jun being in You County, it was situated on the west side of the Taihang Mountains. To deploy troops, they had to either go through Feihu Pass or take the Military Capital Pass. Both routes were difficult to traverse, especially in the harsh winter. The Duan tribe, mostly cavalry, made it extremely challenging to conquer the Tuoba tribe.
What made matters worse was that once the war started, the people would flee. In the previous years, even in the harsh cold of You County, many people came to settle. However, after Liang Zixi took control of Bing County, this once-dreaded battleground unexpectedly became a paradise. Many refugees heading to You County changed direction. The local people near Dai Jun wouldn’t risk crossing mountains in the severe cold; most of them would escape into Bing County through Yanmen.
As a result, not only did the battle fail to reclaim their territory, but it also cost many lives and provisions. Even with You County being wealthy and having gained profits in the last two years, it couldn’t withstand such losses.
Above the main seat, Wang Jun’s face was cold, and he remained silent. He had not anticipated that the outcome of this battle would be so unfavorable. The gain or loss of Dai Jun was secondary; it was the sudden change in Ye City that was truly regrettable!
Who could have expected that Sima Teng, that fool, would be so vulnerable? Originally, Wang Jun only wanted Sima Teng to exert pressure on the court, retracting the rewards given to the Tuoba tribe. But in the blink of an eye, he abandoned the city and fled, allowing Bing County’s forces to seize Ye City. Upon hearing this news, Wang Jun was furious and almost led the troops personally to reclaim Ye City. However, before the army could set out, the court had already employed divisive tactics, making Liang Zixi’s subordinate guard Ye County and oversee military affairs in North Hebei.
Now, Wang Jun found it difficult to dispatch troops. With Ye County having just changed its defender, that boy with the surname Yi had just taken control of the military. As a You County commander, how could he easily attack? Moreover, if they went forward with the attack, Yi Boyuan would likely rejoin Liang Zixi’s camp, making it better to ease the situation and hand over the mess near Ye County to the other side.
However, such a decision still left a bitter taste in everyone’s hearts.
After a long silence, Wang Jun said, “Order the Duan tribe to withdraw and hold Feihu Pass. Take time to recover during spring plowing and then reconsider.”
This was also the most sensible approach. Wang Bin breathed a sigh of relief, but before he could speak, Wang Jun added, “Strictly instruct all the counties in You County not to use the Rui coal from Bing County!”
Wang Bin was stunned, “My lord…”
The winter days in You County are long, and it hasn’t even reached the coldest days yet. It’s the perfect time for cold. How could we not use Rui coal?
Wang Jun coldly snorted, “We haven’t been using the Liao furnace for so many years, why bother buying goods from Bing County! Do you think I don’t know? It’s just like Rui coal; it costs so much money and grain! Now that war between You County and Bing County is imminent, we can’t let Liang Zixi gain any advantage! Those Liao furnaces, have people imitate them, and do not purchase them from Bing County anymore!”
Wang Bin suddenly felt awkward and couldn’t find words to say. Not to mention the aristocrats in You County, even in his own house, they had switched to Rui coal. It was just that this thing was smokeless, odorless, and produced high heat that was hard to extinguish. Just one pot was enough to make the room warm as spring. Although it was more expensive than ordinary coal, which household couldn’t afford such an expense? This trend had even reached the tents of the Xianbei nobles; who could easily prohibit it?
If they switched back to the original coal, not to mention whether people could adapt, just the businessmen below would suffer significant losses. The charcoal stoves were even more troublesome. The items produced in Bing County all had the label of Buddhist artifacts, claiming to detoxify and prevent the smoke-related illnesses that occurred every winter. Moreover, their stoves were cheap. Some people had considered alternatives, but the cost was just too high. It was even more challenging to ban them.
But when his father gave the order, what could Wang Bin do? He could only obediently lower his head and say, “The child will start handling it immediately.”
Watching his son’s unwilling expression, Wang Jun felt annoyed inwardly. He shouldn’t have tried to win over Liang Zixi in the first place, leading to the current deep-seated grievances and making it difficult to back down. But in the end, there was still the Ji County between the two states. It all depended on how they would contend for the land in this province.
※
“General, the army is on the verge of running out of supplies. Where should we go?” A trusted aide, wearing a worried expression, sighed and asked.
In the beginning, they pulled out all the stops to attack Wei County. Both military equipment and provisions were prepared in abundance, hoping to capture Ye City and have a prosperous winter.
Little did they know that, despite the considerable effort to capture Ye City, they were defeated by the forces of Bing County. Not only did they fail to secure supplies, wealth, and treasures, but even their main camp was breached. The leader, Jisang, also met an unfortunate end, and his severed head was displayed outside the city as a warning. The rebellious army, previously filled with pride, instantly became a defeated force with their tails between their legs.
Thanks to Shi Le gathering the scattered troops and rallying a force of five to six thousand men. However, while the people were available, food was nowhere to be found. Without a decision on their next move, everyone would starve to death in the wilderness.
How could Shi Le not be aware of the current situation? Frowning, he contemplated for a long time before saying, “Let’s attack Zhao County.”
Zhao County belonged to Ji County, but it was very close to Ye City. It wouldn’t take much effort to march there. Upon hearing this order, the bandit soldiers below rejoiced. The general they followed, Shi Le, was indeed formidable. If they could capture Ye City, what was Zhao County to them?
However, the joy of those people did not elicit the slightest change in Shi Le. This was because he knew he was facing a dilemma with no good options.
His military forces were just too few. A mere five to six thousand people would appear too meager if they wanted to join the Xiongnu. They might not be valued by the Xiongnu’s ruler. However, he couldn’t find any other way to gather more troops.
Being a Jie person meant that those who would heed his command were likely to be various nomadic tribes. People like Li Feng, the defected Jin soldiers, might pledge allegiance to Gongshi Fan or a Han leader like Jisang, but they might not obey the commands of a Jie leader.
The best option would be to try to find a solution among the Jie people, the Xiongnu, or even the Wuhuan or Qiang and Di tribes. However, a year ago, this plan might have had some feasibility. Now, it was simply wishful thinking!
Bing County had already been pacified, and the provincial governors were associated with the Buddhist faction! In his hometown of Shangdang, who knew how many Jie people had joined the ranks of the Buddhists. The rebel forces of the Xiongnu had been completely wiped out, and the Wuhuan bandits had also been almost eliminated. Throughout Bing County, there were simply no usable individuals!
The previous Bing County forces had left a deep impression on Shi Le. He had never imagined that Jin would possess such formidable military strength. It was no wonder Bing County managed to defeat the Xiongnu and crush the Bai tribe within a year. Compared to that cavalry, his bandit forces were like a tiny stream against a flood. Because of this, he abandoned the idea of causing chaos in Wei County again. However, even if they captured Zhao County, what then? How could they reinforce their troops?
Swallowing the irritations in his heart, Shi Le refocused his attention. After all, refugees could be found anywhere. Once they captured Zhao County, he could figure out a solution with the refugees. For now, the most critical thing was to stir up more provinces and strengthen his power. When he gathered enough troops again, he would join the Han dynasty. By then, he wouldn’t lose to that Bing County army again, right?
The disgraceful memory of the chaotic escape that day surged into his mind once again. Shi Le clenched his teeth and silently made up his mind. He would capture Ye City again. One day, he would become someone that nobody could ignore!
※
“I heard that those chaotic troops have already fled to Zhao County?” Wang Ping, these days, had been keeping an eye on those previous chaotic troops. Occasionally, he would summon Yiyan and have a few words with him.
Now that he heard the chaotic troops had left Wei County and were attacking Zhao County, Wang Ping couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Zhao County was not far from Ye City, but it was ultimately within the borders of Ji County. Let them fight; it had nothing to do with him.
Yiyan nodded, “Yes, they are heading to Zhao County. But Zhao and Wei are closely linked, and we still need to keep an eye on it.”
Never expected that a Jie Hu could utter such a phrase as “closely linked,” Wang Ping couldn’t help but say, “General, as the commander of the Northern Army, your responsibility is to oversee the various counties in the north. Ji County still has Governor Ding in charge, and there’s also General Wang assisting with the military forces. There should be no significant issues…”
Halfway through his words, he found it hard to continue. Yiyan’s expression was too stern, his aura chilling, making people shiver just looking at him. Nervously chuckling twice, Wang Ping added, “Even if there’s a need to fight, it’s better to reinforce the troops first. The current forces in the general’s hands are already having a tough time defending Wei County. How can they manage the affairs of other provinces?”
The statement, while not entirely wrong, wasn’t exactly what Yiyan wanted. He coldly spoke, “Governor, rest assured. By the time spring arrives, I will have 5,000 troops at my disposal. At that time, I can also draw some from the census to handle any military crisis.”
Upon hearing Yiyan’s words, Wang Ping’s eyes brightened, “That’s excellent! I’ve already requested provisions from the court. Maintaining around 10,000 troops won’t be a problem.”
Because Wang Yan had sent him as a trusted aide, Wang Ping was quite generous when it came to provisions and pay. In troubled times, having more troops was always an advantage. As General Yi mentioned, if the chaotic troops attacked Zhao County and then turned back, wouldn’t that be a disaster?
Feeling reassured, and now finding the overly stern and somewhat unsightly Hu face more agreeable, Wang Ping smiled, “By the way, there was something I forgot to ask General Yi. I heard that you still haven’t married to this day. If you’re interested, I would be willing to help arrange a marriage for you…”
