Taiheiki

Chapter 322 Millet
Fan Yang and Wang Kuang exchanged a glance. Wang Kuang stepped forward and opened the door. Two men stood in the outer room. The man in front was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a fierce expression and a short sword about two feet long hanging at his waist. The other man was about thirty years old, dressed in black, with a smile on his face. He cupped his hands to Wang Kuang and Fan Yang and said, "I am Pan Yang from Guiyang. This is my attendant. He came without my notice. Please forgive him!"

"I wouldn't dare!" Wang Kuang coldly returned the greeting with a cupped-hand salute: "Brother, you've come in such a way, could it be that you've come to take our lives to curry favor with Liu Fan?"

"Hehehe!" Pan Yang shook his head and laughed: "You two overestimate Liu Fan and underestimate me. How could I possibly kill for a mere Liu Boyu!"

"Then why did you follow the two of us?" Wang Kuang took a step back and pointed behind him: "You can see clearly that this house is bare. If you want any money, you're just wasting your time!"

"Brother Wang, you jest!" Pan Yang laughed. "Although I am useless, the Pan family of Guiyang does have some wealth. I would never stoop to such a thing as breaking and robbing!"

"Then why are you following us?" Fan Yang asked. "It's getting late. If you still won't tell the truth, then please take your leave!"

"I didn't realize you had such a quick temper, Young Master Fan!" Pan Yang's expression turned serious. "Very well, I won't beat around the bush. I am nominally a student of the Imperial Academy who came to the capital to study, but in reality, I serve under the Sili Commandant's office. I came to see you today because I think you are a promising talent and I would like to recruit you!"

"You want to recruit him?" Wang Kuang was taken aback, and subconsciously glanced back at his friend. "He didn't seem to say much at the tavern, did he? Why choose him?"

“Working in the Sili Commandant’s Office, talking too much is not a good thing!” Pan Yang laughed. “Moreover, just now in the tavern, Young Master Fan faced so many people’s insults and attacks, yet he remained completely calm. He’s no ordinary person!”

"Then why wasn't it me?" Wang Kuang roared. "I wasn't flustered either! If it weren't for me, he would have been killed by that Liu Fan!"

“If Brother Wang is willing to join, I would naturally welcome him!” Pan Yang said with a smile. Although his expression was gentle, it was clear that he valued Fan Yang much more.

"You must be General Wei's spy, right?" Fan Yang suddenly spoke up: "A spy specifically keeping an eye on Liu Fan and his group, am I right?"

"A spy!" Wang Kuang exclaimed in surprise, his right hand returning to the hilt of his sword. "What are you trying to do?"

Pan Yang's expression changed slightly, and he suddenly laughed, "Why do you say that?"

"It's very simple. The Commandant of the Capital Region has officials and servants under his command who are responsible for the security of the capital. The students of the Imperial Academy like to critique people, and their words often contain disrespect for the important figures in the court. The three who came tonight just publicly insulted General Wei in the street. And the current Commandant of the Capital Region is General Wei's man. Putting all this together, isn't the answer obvious?"

"Good, good!" Pan Yang laughed. "It seems I wasn't wrong about you after all. Indeed, I am a temporary assistant in the Sili Commandant's Office, tasked with keeping an eye on Bian Rang and the other two. How about it, are you interested in coming to the Sili Commandant's Office as well? Your salary will start at two hundred shi (a unit of grain). Don't think it's too little. Our reports can often be delivered directly to the General's desk. In other words, if you do well, the General will know your name. You're a smart man; you should know what that means, right?"

Hearing Pan Yang's words, Wang Kuang became anxious before Fan Yang could even respond. Of the two, he was naturally more eager for officialdom; otherwise, he wouldn't have spent his days socializing and trying to build his reputation to secure a government position. Unexpectedly, after his falling out with Liu Fan tonight, the opportunity for officialdom had fallen into his lap. Ultimately, even with the best relationship with Liu Fan, he could only get a recommendation for officialdom through his father's connections, while this person could directly submit his name to Wei Cong's desk! Despite the fierce criticism in the tavern earlier, it was only because they hadn't had the chance to curry favor. If they did, at least half of them would probably change their stance immediately.

"Fan Yang, Fan Yang!" Wang Kuang instinctively grabbed his friend's sleeve, wanting to say something, but heard Fan Yang's voice: "Thank you for your kindness, but please forgive me, I have no interest!"

"Oh?" Pan Yang frowned. "Why is that? Is it because of the rumors circulating about the General? But judging from what you said in the tavern just now, you shouldn't have any ill feelings towards the General."

“You’re right. I am indeed different from most scholars. I don’t have any ill will towards the General. After all, most of the rumors about him in the market are just fabrications. Moreover, the things he did after coming to Luoyang, whether it was building the pontoon bridge or the warehouses, were all things that benefited the country and the people. Even the extermination of the Yuan clan was a matter of life and death in the court, and it cannot be blamed on him alone!”

"Then why did you refuse?"

"I came to Luoyang to save my life and increase my knowledge, not to pursue fame and fortune and become a tool for others to fight for power!"

Pan Yang's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly laughed: "Since that's the case, then I won't force you! Brother Wang, what about you?"

"Me?" Wang Kuang glanced at Fan Yang, gritted his teeth, and said, "Since Brother Pan is so hospitable, then I will accept it without hesitation!"

“Alright!” Pan Yang said with a smile, “It’s a deal. I will send someone to deliver the waist token tomorrow morning. Please wait at home, Brother Wang.”

"Definitely, definitely!" Wang Kuang hurriedly replied. He carefully escorted Pan Yang to the alley entrance, and only returned to his residence after the other's figure disappeared from his sight. Upon entering the house, he saw Fan Yang sitting on the bed, flipping through the book *Baihu Tong Zheng Yi*. Feeling a little guilty, he said, "Brother Fan, it wasn't that I abandoned you just now, but I felt the opportunity was too rare, so—"

“You’re right! This is indeed a great opportunity!” Fan Yang put down his book. “I didn’t mean to blame you, you don’t need to worry about it!”

"Then why did you refuse?" Wang Kuang asked. "I don't believe your reasons. You said you didn't want to become a tool for others to fight for power and profit. But look at how we're living now, two meals a day, wearing only thin clothes and eating plain food. Is this what you want? In the end, aren't we studying the scriptures to enter officialdom and seek wealth and status?"

Upon hearing Wang Kuang's words, Fan Yang didn't immediately reply. He stood up and paced back and forth in the room a few times before finally stopping and saying, "Perhaps I just feel it's too dangerous. Do you believe me? I have a premonition that something big will happen in Luoyang soon!"

Zhiguanxing.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were generally two routes from Luoyang to Bingzhou. One route involved crossing the Yellow River at Mengjin, then heading north along the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains, turning west near Handan, and passing through Jingxing to enter the Shangdang Basin. The other route involved crossing the river at Mengjin, then turning northwest, passing through Zhiguan Pass, entering the Grand Canal Basin in Shanxi, and then heading north along the Fen River Valley directly to Jinyang. The latter route was the fastest. According to historical records, during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Eastern and Western Wei dynasties fought several major battles at Mangshan, north of Luoyang. Gao Huan's Xianbei cavalry could reach the north bank of the Yellow River at Mengjin in as little as three days, starting from Jinyang.

Therefore, after leaving Luoyang, Zhang Huan chose this route. He first crossed the river via a pontoon bridge at Mengjin, and then traveled northwest along Wangwu Mountain from Zhixian County in Henan Prefecture. Along the way, the mountains became increasingly steep, eventually forming a narrow canyon. On both sides of the canyon, sheer cliffs rose thousands of feet, as if cleaved by a knife and axe, piercing the clouds. The rocks were iron-black, and the sparse vegetation only added to the ruggedness. The mountain wind howled, whistling through the valley, producing a mournful sound, like the wailing of ghosts.

At the bottom of the canyon, a narrow, winding path barely allowed for carriages and horses to pass. The army marched slowly forward in a long, serpentine formation. Banners fluttered in the wind, and spears and halberds stretched for miles through the narrow valley. Clashing armor produced a resounding clang, and sparks flew as horses' hooves pounded the stones.

Eagles circled above the canyon, hunting, and their cries pierced the sky as the army passed by. In the distance, clouds swirled around the mountain peaks, sometimes gathering, sometimes dispersing, as if divine beings were watching. As dusk approached, the setting sun cast a blood-red glow on the rocks, making it seem as if the blood of soldiers who had died here over the centuries had resurfaced.

As Zhang Huan rode on horseback, gazing at the mountains on either side, he thought to himself that although he led a large army, traversing the valleys, he was as insignificant as an ant carrying a mustard seed. The treacherousness of the mountains and the power of nature were truly terrifying.

"How much longer until we reach Jiangyi?" Zhang Huan asked.

"Reporting to the general, at this pace, we won't arrive until noon tomorrow!" the guide replied.

"So long?" Zhang Huan frowned. "Wasn't this supposed to be the shortest route?"

"General, we could arrive tonight if we travel through the night, but the terrain is treacherous, the roads are narrow, and you have supply wagons with you, so—"

“I understand!” Zhang Huan nodded, then asked after a moment’s thought, “Was Jiangyi the capital of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period?”

"What the general says is quite true!" the guide laughed. "However, it depends on which Jiangyi you are asking about!"

"Oh, are there a few more?" Zhang Huan asked with a smile, his interest piqued.

"Of course!" the guide laughed. "During the reign of Duke Xian of Jin, the capital was built beside the Jiang River, so the people of Jin called it Jiangyi. Later, during the reign of Duke Jing of Jin, the people of Jin moved the capital to Xintian, and this new capital was also called Jiangyi by the people of Jin. The old capital was called Jiujiang by the people of Jin, corresponding to the new capital."

"I see!" Zhang Huan nodded. "Are those two cities still standing?"

"They're long gone!" the guide said with a wry smile. "First, the various states fought amongst themselves. During the Warring States period, this place belonged to the State of Wei. Then, the Qin and Wei people fought back and forth. After Qin conquered the six states, they built a new city. Now, those two cities of Jiangyi are just ruins. There are still villagers farming on them, and you can often find something in the ground!"

"Alas!" Zhang Huan sighed deeply upon hearing this. "The Jin people once established their capital here, becoming the leader of the feudal lords, how majestic they were! Yet, in just over a hundred years, the city walls and palaces have turned into ruins. The millet grows luxuriantly, the sorghum seedlings sprout. I walk slowly, my heart trembles. Those who know me say I am worried, those who do not know me ask what I seek. Oh, vast heaven! Who is this man? Who is this man?"

The poem Zhang Huan wrote is from the *Book of Songs*, specifically the section on "Shu Li" in the *Airs of Wang*. The poem tells the story of a Zhou dynasty official who, passing through the former territory of Zongzhou, saw the ruins of the ancient palaces and city walls, now overgrown with weeds. Reflecting on the past glory of Zongzhou and its present desolation, the official composed this poem. The Western Han dynasty established its capital in Guanzhong, and the Eastern Han dynasty in Luoyang. Originally, Zongzhou was located in Guanzhong, but due to the chaos at the end of King You's reign, Zongzhou was damaged by civil war and barbarian invasions. King Ping was forced to move the capital east to Luoyang, abandoning the royal domain of Zongzhou in Guanzhong. The Zhou dynasty subsequently declined, never to return to its former glory.

For scholar-officials like Zhang Huan, the Western Han and Eastern Han dynasties were considered one, and the founders of the Eastern Han dynasty believed their historical mission was to rebuild the Han dynasty and restore it to its former glory. However, everyone knew that the Eastern Han dynasty was actually quite different from the Western Han in its peak. These scholar-officials naturally felt a longing for their lost homeland, especially since the Eastern Han dynasty was also declining; their ominous premonitions about the future amplified their sense of desolation.

The guide dared not utter a word, lest he invite trouble. However, Zhang Huan seemed to have forgotten about him. He gazed at the distant mountains for a long time, sighing, before finally giving the order to set up camp.

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Despite using the finest whale-fat candles, Zhang Huan still had to hold the map close to the firelight to barely make it out. The lines, squares, and characters on the map seemed to have grown legs, jumping around. He had to close his eyes to ease the strain. He was old, perhaps truly old! This war should be his last. Win or lose, after the war, he should petition the Empress Dowager to retire and return to his hometown. To be honest, he had already received more than enough: the title of Grand Duke, the rank of County Marquis, and a stipend. He had a clear conscience towards his family, and even in the afterlife, he could face his ancestors with peace of mind.

The question is, can I still win this time?

A thought flashed through Zhang Huan's mind, and he was horrified to find that he dared not face this problem—this was not a good omen. Although Wei Cong had repeatedly emphasized to him during their deductions in Luoyang the need to avoid direct conflict with the Xianbei as much as possible—everyone knew that Youzhou and Bingzhou were currently incapable of launching a deep expedition into the grasslands, and once the barrier of the Southern Xiongnu was lost, Tan Shihuai could deploy his cavalry at any point along the long defensive line stretching thousands of miles, leaving the border garrison no time to assemble. Once a battle broke out, defeat was inevitable.

The only way is to use force as a backing for diplomatic negotiations to get that Southern Xiongnu prince back.

(End of this chapter)