Jinting Han people

Chapter 14 Making New Friends
After that mountain trip, Liu Xian began to study history.

As a renowned historian, Chen Shou, though still unfinished with the compilation of his "Records of the Three Kingdoms," had already assembled a substantial collection of materials on the Shu Han and Cao Wei dynasties, in addition to those related to the Eastern Wu. This included widely circulated historical texts such as the "Records of the Grand Historian," the "Book of Han," and the "Dongguan Hanji." Add to this the collections of prose, poetry, and calligraphy he had collected and borrowed from various sources, and the total volume reached nearly a thousand, filling ten boxes. In an era when paper was scarce, Chen Shou's library was truly astonishing.

Now, Chen Shou had all these books in his collection open, and he had compiled a list for Liu Xian, asking him to read them in order. He could ask Chen Shou for help when he encountered words or sentences he didn't understand. Liu Xian could also read the rest of the books on his own, based on his own interests.

The books Chen Shou first recommended to Liu Xian were the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Zuo Zhuan, and the Han Ji. Traditional biographical histories like the Shiji and Hanshu require readers to sort out events and chronological order, making it easy to lose track of the order and difficult to get started. These three chronological histories, on the other hand, record events according to time and context. While their descriptions are relatively brief, they are highly suitable for beginners, and subsequent reading of the biographies often yields twice the result with half the effort.

This was exactly what Liu Xian had longed for. After receiving the book, he immediately burst into an astonishing passion. Not only did he concentrate on reading in his thatched cottage, but he also read by lamplight at night after returning home. Even on the bumpy road, he held the scroll in his hands, his mind constantly filled with daydreams.

The strife among the Eastern Zhou princes, the clashes between warlords and heroes, the founding of the Han Empire, the fusion of confusion and courage, all captivated him. History is filled with so many fascinating lives, so many examples of strategy, courage, loyalty, ideals, and a fearless devotion to death. Liu Xian felt as if he had made many close friends, experiencing the joys and sorrows of historical figures firsthand: Duke Zhuang of Zheng's jealousy of his mother's favoritism, King Zhuang of Chu's sudden and astonishing ambition, Han Xin's conceit that more is better, Xiang Yu's stubbornness leading him to commit suicide at the Wujiang River. As each story concluded, Liu Xian sighed at their departure.

Of course, for the first time, he also truly understood the glorious history of his ancestors. Reading about Emperor Gaozu of Han's uprising by slaying the white snake, he marveled at the old man's passion; reading about Emperor Wu of Han's expansionist expansion, his dreams began to see images of war and battle; reading about Emperor Xuan of Han's deep attachment to his old sword, he began to wonder who would accompany him in his own life.
But what impressed Liu Xian most was not any individual, but the vastness of the country.

It's hard to imagine a single country boasting the deserts of Mobei, the mountains of Longyou, the mists of Lingnan, and the snowy plains of Liaodong. And the mere words recorded in writing are far from enough to capture the world's beauty. From then on, Liu Xian's first ambition in life was to travel and explore, measuring the mountains and rivers with his own feet, just like his ancestors had done.

While reading, Liu Xian forgot the passage of time for a while, and it was not until the end of May that he came out of it.

According to the agreement between Zhang Ximiao and Chen Shou, Liu Xian would spend nine days in the thatched cottage and then rest at home for one day. On this day, Liu Xian rested in the mansion and was still concentrating on reading. He had already skimmed through the "Han Ji" and was now studying it in conjunction with the "Shi Ji" and "Han Shu".

But something was strange that day. While Liu Xian was reading "The Biography of Chen Tang," there was a sudden commotion outside the palace. The sound of gongs and drums echoed through the streets, mixed with the clatter of footsteps. It was unclear how many people were there, but it was clear something very lively was happening.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Liu Xian opened it and saw Zhang Gu and Xi An. As soon as they saw each other, they hurriedly called out, "Bi Ji, why are you still sitting here? If you don't get out the west gate and grab a seat, someone else will take it!"

Before Liu Xian could understand what was going on, he was being carried out by two men, one on each side. Madam Fei Xiu saw this and did not try to stop him. She simply called Zhu Fu over and asked him to help look after the three children. She then said to Liu Xian, "Go early and come back early!"

Walking out the door and continuing on, Liu Xian's eyes were filled with the undulating crowds of people. His ears were filled with the sound of footsteps like raindrops, the waves of gongs and drums, and the laughter that couldn't be drowned out by either. The taverns and inns lining the road were now draped with colorful cloths, layer upon layer, seemingly covered in a vibrant array of flowers. And indeed, there were flowers on the road itself. Early spring apricot blossoms fluttered amid the bustle of the crowds, like a pink snowfall. Everywhere was filled with a joyful, positive atmosphere.

What on earth had happened? Liu Xian was infected by this atmosphere and smiled unconsciously, but he was still a little confused and didn't know what had happened.

He turned to ask Zhang Gu, who was startled for a moment. Then he turned to Xi An and said, "Is Bi Ji so stupid from studying that he doesn't even know the royal army is going to war?"

At this moment, the crowd in front paused. Zhang Gu hurriedly squeezed forward, and Xi An followed closely behind. While squeezing, he turned back to Liu Xian and said:
"Biji, the imperial court is sending troops to retake Liangzhou!"

It turned out that since Tufa Shuji killed Yang Xin last year, the imperial court had suffered a series of defeats in Liangzhou. By August last year, Tufa Shuji had completely occupied the two counties of Wuwei and Jincheng. The entire Hexi region was cut off from the imperial court, and Liangzhou was in fact no longer owned by the state.

When the news reached Luoyang, the emperor wailed publicly in the court and asked his ministers, "Who can help me defeat these invaders and restore access to Liang Province?"

The officials at court all nodded in agreement, fearing they would be chosen by the emperor to follow in Yang Xin's footsteps. Some even emulated Han Lingdi's Minister of the Interior Cui Lie and proposed abandoning Liang. They argued that Liang Province had been under constant war for over a decade, expending millions of tons of supplies, yet still faced constant rebellion. It would be better to cede it to the Xianbei, deploying only a small defense around Tianshui and Jincheng, thereby providing peace and stability for the people and conserving national strength.

When this talk became widespread, the Imperial Guards' Commander-in-Chief, Ma Long, submitted a memorial saying, "I am willing to help Your Majesty quell the rebellion."

The emperor was greatly surprised and asked Ma Long for his strategy. Ma Long replied, "Your Majesty, I would like to have you recruit soldiers and make decisions on your own. I can then equip myself with all the necessary weapons, armor, and supplies. I only need 3,000 men and horses. The Xianbei are nothing to worry about."

This statement was immediately opposed by Duke Lu Jia Chong and others. Although Ma Long recruited a small number of people, his two demands of recruiting soldiers and making decisions on his own violated the Western Jin system.

By recruiting soldiers on his own, he could place his confidants in positions of power at will and make his own decisions, without being subject to the control of the imperial court. This meant that Ma Long could train a private army. If he went to Liangzhou and colluded with the rebellious Hu people, there would be no peace on the border ever since then.

However, the emperor was determined to recover Liang Province, so he immediately agreed to Ma Long's request and promoted him to the position of General of the Suppression of the Enemy and the Governor of Wuwei.

That month, Ma Long recruited 238 strong men from Luoyang, each capable of pulling a 26-jin (approximately kg) crossbow and a -jin (approximately kg) bow. He then negotiated with the arsenal commander and secured the finest armor and staffs in the kingdom, along with three years' worth of military supplies. The army had been training until today, and was finally about to depart for Liang Province.

Luoyang has never lacked troops. There are tens of thousands of imperial guards stationed in the city alone. However, Ma Long's army has a unique aura that attracts the people to watch:

Unlike the imperial guards who rode on horses and wore brocade, this army was very plain:
The officers did not wear any decorations, nor did they have arrogance in their eyes. They all dismounted and walked with the soldiers. The soldiers had kind faces, and although they were armed, they had no murderous aura, nor did they have the sad brows of those who were about to leave their homes. The colorful pack horses followed behind, not as gorgeous as those of the Yulin Army, but they were carrying full loads of bows and crossbows, armor, food and fodder, and some specially made side carts, just like leisurely old farmers.

In fact, this was indeed the case. All the soldiers in this Western Expedition Army were civilians from Luoyang, so there were people along the way blessing and calling out to the soldiers in the army. Some of these people were their friends, some were their brothers, some were their parents, and there were even some young women chasing after the army's flags, scattering flowers for their fiancés who had joined the army, and loudly saying some vows about life, death and love.

Such a sight was so rare that even Liu Xian, who had originally shown no interest, was drawn to the crowd and wanted to see the commander of this army. So, taking advantage of the young master's convenience, he sat on Zhu Fu's neck and searched back and forth among the army.

After about two minutes, Liu Xian finally spotted Ma Long beneath a two-foot-tall Flying Tiger banner. Ma Long, now unarmored, wore a white and purple uniform and rode a chestnut horse with a flared tail. He advanced slowly in the center of the ranks, barking orders to his left and right, seemingly restraining his men and preventing them from colliding with the civilians. Though distant, Liu Xian could see the smile on his face and the gentle, humble demeanor beneath his burly frame.

As the crowds gathered, the army on the western expedition struggled to advance. He didn't drive the people away, but instead ordered the central guards to play military music. As a solemn and distant blast of trumpets sounded, the soldiers' expressions grew solemn. Following an officer's command, they sang a passionate military song in unison: "Reinvigorate the imperial way, even the barbarians may not submit. The Xu Yi rose to rule over the Zhou Dynasty, and the Gui Fang also rebelled against the Yin Dynasty."

Now, in the prosperous Ming Dynasty, bandits are raging across the western frontier. Jackals and wolves have fangs and claws, and the inhabitants cry out in despair.

The Marshal commanded Fangxia, and sent out his chariot to pacify Liangqin. All the people must follow the law, and their praise and criticism are truly determined by the people.

Prestige and authority are bestowed upon those of a different kind; the distant become the closest. Wine alone is of little value; a bowl of silk cloth conveys the profoundest kindness.

Martial arts are used to stop wars, and the seven virtues are used to bring peace to the people. From this, a long-lasting legacy is created, and there will be no dust in the world forever."

This was a military song composed specifically for this expedition by Zhang Hua, the Minister of Finance. It was also the first time the Jin army had sung it publicly. Most civilians couldn't understand the royal principles and imperial virtues expressed in the poem, but that didn't stop them from embracing the soldiers' determination to defend their country. They were lost in thought, unknowingly stepping out of the way.

After the Western Expedition Army completely left, Liu Xian and his party also prepared to go back. On the way, Zhang Gu and Xi An were still discussing what they had seen and heard before, only Liu Xian lowered his head and remained silent.

Seeing this, Zhang Gu patted Liu Xian on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Hey, why are you silent again? What are you thinking about?"

Liu Xian replied, "I was wondering whether the enemy guards could succeed."

At this moment, a sudden voice sounded from behind Liu Xian: "Needless to say? The army sent by the imperial court to conquer Liang Province previously numbered at least 70,000 to 80,000 men, and Ma Long only brought 3,000 men. And a renowned general like Wen Yang could only slightly dampen Tufa Shuji's prestige. Could Ma Long really be stronger than Wen Yang?"

Liu Xian looked back and saw a child in brocade clothes standing behind him. He was about the same age as himself, but he was accompanied by three guards. Liu Xian felt that he looked very familiar. Patting his head, he finally realized what was happening and said in a daze, "It's you!"

The person who came was Shi Chao, one of the sons of nobles whom Liu Xian met at Sunset Pavilion last year.

As a descendant of one of the Eight Founding Dukes, Shi Chao exuded an air of nobility, imbued with a sense of oppression even at a young age. He smiled at Liu Xian and continued the previous conversation, "My father told me that Ma Long had never fought a single battle before. He'd only read some of Zhuge Liang's military books and considered himself the next Kong Ming. But how many Zhuge Liangs are there in the world? He's probably just a Ma Su."

Although he'd recently been majoring in the "Han Ji" (Han Ji), Liu Xian had also dabbled in history from decades earlier. He knew about Ma Su's cleverness that led to the loss of Jieting, and naturally understood that Shi Chao was implicitly mocking Ma Long's stupidity. However, he found the metaphor rather absurd, so much so that after a moment, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Hey, what are you laughing at?" Shi Chao glanced at Liu Xian.

"I think you're wrong." Liu Xian looked at his expression, restrained his smile and said, "I think the Tuoluo Guard can win."

"Ma Su's defense of Jieting was merely a temporary measure by Zhuge Liang, and Ma Su had no experience in leading an independent army."

"The Suppressing Enemy Army has recruited and trained its own troops for months. You and I have seen the demeanor of his troops. They are united in purpose and share a common hatred for the enemy. This alone is far superior to Ma Su's. How could they be the same?"

Shi Chao thought about it and felt that there was some truth to it, but he was still not convinced. He continued to ask, "Even if he is stronger than Ma Su, he only has 3,500 men. Can he really defeat ten of them alone?"

This question hit the nail on the head, and Liu Xian didn't hesitate and spoke eloquently:
"During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Li Ling led 5,000 elite troops deep into Junji Mountain, where they engaged a Xiongnu army of 30,000 for over ten days, beheading over ten thousand. Only when their supplies were exhausted did they surrender. Why? Simply because the Han army was well-trained and well-armored."

"Chen Tang once said that with the right weapons and armor, the Han could defeat the Five Barbarians. The Suppressing Guards are filled with brave warriors, and the current Emperor has equipped them with the finest armor and staffs, along with three years' worth of military supplies. Their conditions are far superior to those of Li Ling back then. And no matter how strong the Xianbei are, can they ever compare to the Xiongnu?"

"The art of war also says that an arrogant army will be defeated. Tufa Shuji has been able to achieve success repeatedly. I'm afraid he doesn't take the Suppression and Protection Army seriously. If he attacks with such disdain, I predict he will be defeated!"

After Liu Xian finished speaking, Zhang Gu and Xi An on the side were stunned. They were still playing around and had no intention of studying on weekdays, but they never expected that more than a year later, the young master had undergone a drastic change. He could not be nervous in front of strangers at all and could speak fluently.

After hearing this, Shi Chao also looked at Liu Xian with new eyes. He didn't have the contempt he had shown last time. He stepped forward and naturally took Liu Xian's arm, saying with a smile, "Good fellow, I didn't realize you were quite capable."

"Come to my house someday. I plan to be a general in the future, just like my grandfather, but I'm still short of a few staff members."

Unexpectedly, after going out, he not only saw the army marching, but also made new friends. Liu Xian smiled and asked in a familiar manner, "Being a staff member, sure! But what do I need advice on?"

Shi Chao glanced around, then said mysteriously to Liu Xian, "My father said that by the end of this year, the emperor will attack Wu, and nothing can stop him. Let's discuss this. What are the chances of victory for our country?"

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(End of this chapter)