Jinting Han people

The Battle of Niyang not only exhausted the rebels physically and mentally, but also the victorious Jin army in the city.

This was understandable. No matter how fortified Niyang City was, the disparity between the enemy and our forces was self-evident. The Jin army, with only 9,000 men in the city, faced a day and night siege by an enemy force nearly ten times their number. They held out for nearly three months, killing and wounding 20,000 enemy soldiers while also suffering over 4,000 of their own casualties—nearly half of them.

But even more terrifying than the casualties was the lack of information from both inside and outside. The defenders had no idea what was happening outside the city: Were there any reinforcements? How long could the enemy hold out? Did the court have any instructions? Should they continue to hold out or break out? The Jin people knew no answers. They only knew that, looking down from the city walls, they saw an endless sea of heads. No matter how many they repelled, it seemed to have no effect on the enemy's strength.

For the Jin army, defending under this silent pressure was torture every day, just like watching the god of death cutting you into pieces.

So when Qi Wannian led his troops to withdraw and the garrison's scouts confirmed the news, the soldiers and civilians defending the city finally breathed a sigh of relief. With the exception of a very few, most of them returned to their homes. In such scorching weather, they didn't even bother to take off their clothes and armor, and fell asleep immediately. Some even lay down on the city walls and in the trenches, not caring even if there were corpses around them.

Likewise, Liu Xian, the leader of the three armies, could no longer hold on. He bore the greatest pressure in this battle. The people could count on the soldiers, the soldiers on the officers, the officers on Liu Xian, and who else could Liu Xian count on? Suo Jing had fallen ill and had yet to recover, while Liu Xian felt he could faint at any moment. Under such pressure, he dared not betray a single whim.

Therefore, after seeing the enemy leave with his own eyes, the tension in Liu Xian's mind finally relaxed, as if he had escaped from a tiger's mouth after exerting all his strength. His spirit seemed to be squeezed out, and he immediately fell asleep in the bedroom on the city wall. This time, no matter how others called him or how much noise there was around him, as long as there was no sound of drums and swords, he would not wake up again.

Liu Xian first dreamed for eight hours. When he awoke, he quickly washed up, ate some wheat rice, and then slept again for another four hours. When he awoke again, it was already noon on the third day after the battle. This rest break was arguably the longest he had slept since his injury. Li Sheng couldn't help but joke with him that if Qi Wannian suddenly launched a surprise attack at this time, he might be able to capture Niyang.

But this was just a joke, because soon Liu Xian received the news that Li Han had arrived with the Xianbei cavalry.

The arrival of the reinforcements was met with resounding joy in Niyang City. The nearby rebel cavalry had vanished, and the city residents simply tore down their fences, opened their long-sealed gates, and welcomed the reinforcements.

Although the vanguard troops arrived at this time, only a thousand people, but Li Han, Yuwenxun Niyan, Lu Quyang and others were there. When Liu Xian learned about it, he was very happy and immediately rode Fanyu and led Zhang Guang, Li Sheng, Suo Lin, Zhang Gu and others to greet them.

This was Liu Xian's first encounter with Yuwenxun Niyan. He was riding a Ferghana horse, armed with a bow and arrows, a dagger dangling from his belt. He wore a half-starched military uniform, stained with sweat and mud. Combined with his full beard, this middle-aged man looked decidedly rugged. Even so, his aura of toughness and energy couldn't be masked. It was clear he was focusing his energy on more noteworthy pursuits.

Liu Xian immediately held a banquet in the city to entertain the Xianbei guests who came from afar, and also as a celebration.

As mentioned before, the city was already short on supplies. After three months of frugality, the remaining fodder wasn't plentiful. They simply brought out a few salted fish and mixed them with radish to make a soup, which was considered a good dish. Fortunately, during Liu Xian's two days of rest, someone had gone to the north of the city and hunted a few rabbits. Otherwise, there wouldn't even be any decent meat or vegetables on the chopping board.

Yuwenxun Niyan had no complaints, however. When he conquered Linjin, he had initially held a certain contempt for the Jin people. After all, the rebels who had wreaked such havoc in Guanzhong were no match for the Xianbei. But upon arriving at Niyang City, seeing the shattered, scarred city, and the scattered remains of skeletal corpses, it was easy to understand the bloody battle that had taken place there.

For the Xianbei people living on the grasslands, luxury and wealth were secondary; a person's bravery was the most important factor in determining their status. Therefore, he admired Liu Xian very much and was not too rigid at the banquet. However, he did not speak Chinese, so he needed Lü Quyang to translate.

At the banquet, Yuwenxun Niyan frequently asked about the details of the Battle of Niyang. After all, no Xianbei people had ever experienced such a brutal siege.

Liu Xian did not hold back. He answered every question and recounted his experiences over the past three months. He then asked Xun Niyan about the Linjin battle and asked:

"Brother Yuwen, why didn't you attack Weiqiao instead of assuming Linjin's defenses were insufficient and launching a surprise attack?"

Yuwenxun stroked his beard and said, "For us Xianbei, victory in battle depends on a single move: surprise attack. And surprise attack requires courage and boldness. A general must be bold and daring, taking dangerous routes others dare not, taking advantage of inclement weather, and calculating the enemy's psychology. Warfare is inherently about taking risks, and between two armies, only those who dare to take risks stand a chance of survival."

After saying this, he immediately turned around and asked Liu Xian a question: "What do you think your victory depends on?"

"Of course it's everyone's trust."

Liu Xian was deeply moved by this and said with emotion, "War is truly a life-or-death struggle. If it weren't for so many soldiers who believed in me and were willing to live and die with me, and if it weren't for the support from Lord Li and your troops, I would definitely not have made it this far."

"But you still won," Yuwenxun Niyan said with a smile, patting his knee. He looked out at the city scenery from the doorway and said with emotion, "By winning this battle, you have completely reversed the situation in Guanzhong. It seems that before long, nine out of ten soldiers in the world will have heard of your name."

"Perhaps." Liu Xian changed the subject to the larger battle situation and shook his head, saying, "We have only temporarily repelled Qi Wannian, but this does not mean victory."

"Why?"

"Summer is almost over, and most of the people in Guanzhong have become refugees. They don't farm, and they don't have a harvest. In spring and summer, they can still dig up some wild vegetables and hunt some game. But what about autumn and winter? When the geese fly south and the trees wither, many people won't even have wild vegetables or grass roots to eat, not to mention the severe cold in winter. If it snows, how many people will freeze to death! With the disaster in Guanzhong like this, even if Qi retreats for ten thousand years, we won't be able to fight them again in a short time."

This statement immediately drew sighs from the generals present. At the beginning of the year, the Western Expeditionary Army had planned a quick victory, but in the end, they were forced into this protracted war. Not only did it not save the court any grain, but it also caused suffering to the people of the two states. Had they known this would happen, they would have adopted Zhou Chu's strategy of besieging Chencang from the outset.

However, Liu Xian was not specific enough about the suffering of the people in Guanzhong. Li Han had contacted Chang'an several times and added:
"There's no need to wait until winter. Ever since Chang'an was besieged by the Qi bandits, tens of thousands of people have starved to death. The area within a radius of twenty miles is completely deserted. Jackals and tigers roam freely, and that's just in Chang'an! The situation in other counties is even more devastating."

Yuwenxun Niyan listened and nodded in agreement. Even for a Xianbei person, this journey was inevitably shocking. However, this was their internal affairs after all, and he had no intention of blaming them. Instead, he wanted to take this opportunity to assess the situation in Guanzhong, so he continued to ask:
"Then according to your opinion, how many years will it take for your country to quell the rebellion?"

Suo Chen said, "I think it will take about four or five years."

Liu Xian was quite interested when he heard this and asked, "Oh? How did you calculate this?"

"With the war going on like this, the imperial court should wake up. The Hou Party's reckless meddling in military affairs is not only undermining the foundation of the country, but also digging their own graves! There are some reasonable people among them, but they were originally suppressed by Duke Lu, and now they can no longer be suppressed. With them around, they can still do some good things."

"You mean, they'll send someone who can actually suppress the rebellion?"

"Yes!" Suo Chen nodded slightly and analyzed, "It's just that the country is currently facing financial difficulties, and the crisis has temporarily passed. I'm afraid they won't be able to send reinforcements for the time being. Next year! Next autumn, when the court has resolved the miscellaneous affairs of the other states, they should be able to send reinforcements again! This time, they will definitely send a heavyweight to take charge, without other people hindering them."

"Who is the one?"

"It's either the Duke of Shanggu or General Ningshuo!"

Suo Chen said decisively, "As long as the imperial court is determined, logistical supplies are in place, and the soldiers on the front are allowed to do their best without any worries, I dare to assert that even though Qi Wannian has become a powerful force now, in just two to three years, we will definitely be able to eliminate the giant bandits and restore peace to Guanzhong!"

At this point, he thought of his brother who died in battle, and he couldn't help but choked with tears and said:
"Only in this way can we comfort the spirits of the heroes who died in battle..."

His voice was so heartfelt that everyone present sensed a deep desire to serve their country and began to look upon him with new eyes. Yuwenxun Niyan, however, was puzzled. He knew Liu Hong, but had never heard of Meng Guan. He then asked, "You have been able to defeat an enemy many times your size here. Aren't you considered heroes of your country? Why would you send another general? If you were to lead the various tribes in Guanzhong, it would surely be easy to crush the rebels."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone on the field was stunned. Speaking of which, the heroes of this battle, Suo Jing, Li Han, and Liu Xian, had all previously offended Liang Wang Sima Rong and lacked any support at court. Even if they had made contributions, they would never have been promoted. But how could this be revealed to outsiders?

Liu Xian continued, "Qi Wannian is truly a hero of his generation. He started his army with only a handful of men, but now he dominates the Guanyou area and spans four states. This is just a minor setback. It will be no easy task to wipe him out. Brother Yuwen, you are praising us so much, we really don't deserve it."

This wasn't self-deprecation. As mentioned earlier, after a year of battle, Liu Xian had come to realize more and more how catastrophic war was for ordinary people. Even if victory was achieved, the dead would not be resurrected. Not to mention that victory was still a long way off, and it was unknown how many lives would be sacrificed. Thinking of this, Liu Xian could better understand the Lu family's cautious approach to war. When he was younger, he and Shi Chao had casually joked about war, a true display of youthful ignorance and fearlessness.

He stopped discussing these matters and instead changed the subject to talk about Yuwen Xunniyan's future plans. He said, "Today's victory is also inseparable from the support of Brother Yuwen. Please stay for a few days, Brother Yuwen. I will write a letter and report it to the Western Expedition Army Headquarters. Then you can go to see His Royal Highness the Prince of Liang. His Royal Highness the Prince of Liang will definitely reward you handsomely."

"No," Xun Niyan quickly refused. "In two days, I will lead the army back to Shuofang to report to the Chanyu. I will not go to Chang'an."

"Oh? Brother Yuwen is leaving in such a hurry?" Liu Xian was a little surprised. In his opinion, the Xianbei people were willing to go south to provide assistance, which was already the most they could do. Logically speaking, the next step would be to ask for compensation. Could it be that Xun Niyan didn't intend to ask for it?
Xun Niyan replied, "I went south only to relieve the siege. Now that the mission has been accomplished, there is naturally no need to hesitate any longer."

"And what about the reward?"

"When I conquered Linjin, I captured over 6,000 captives as slaves, and some of the city's gold and silver as spoils of war. These are more than enough. Although I am the son-in-law of the Tuoba tribe, I am also the leader of the Yuwen tribe. If I were to meet with His Royal Highness the Prince of Liang privately, I would inevitably arouse the Great Chanyu's suspicion. Therefore, it is better not to meet him."

Liu Xian suddenly understood. It seemed that this trip south was Tuoba Luguan's attempt to test Yuwenxun Niyan, to see if he could strike a balance between dedication and understanding, and proactively avoid suspicion. Only in this way could Yuwenxun Niyan gain a firm foothold among the Tuoba Xianbei.

But when he thought of the more than 6,000 prisoners he had captured, Liu Xian felt a little reluctant. It was obvious that the majority of them were Hu people, but there must be some local Han people among them.

Unexpectedly, Xun Niyan quickly noticed Liu Xian's emotional fluctuations, and he said naturally:

"But with so many people, they would be a burden on the road. Lord Liu might as well go and pick some out. If you find anyone you like, you can keep them. Each person will receive a piece of silk, which can then be handed over to Baba Che in Xiayang."

"Ah, won't this embarrass Brother Yuwen?"

"Just a few slaves. If it can bring peace between the two countries, then it's not a big deal."

This was, of course, a cliché. Thinking of the other party's awkward position among the Tuoba Xianbei, which was actually similar to his own, Liu Xian knew that this was a big favor and expressed his gratitude:
"If Brother Yuwen asks for anything in the future, Liu Xian won't dare to refuse."

Xun Niyan was quite open about it. He smiled and said, "It's just a small favor. Why make such a big deal of it?"

That night, Liu Xian and Lü Quyang went to the Xianbei camp to look for captives and singled out the Han people among them. However, Yuwenxun Niyan was not with them and sat alone on a hilltop playing the Hujia.

The sound of the Hujia was clear, long, and profound, like an ice-covered river extending to the northern horizon. The sky and the earth were gray and gloomy, and the grass and trees were withered and dead. It soon attracted Liu Xian's attention.

He waited until Xun Niyan finished playing, then couldn't help but walk over and comment, "Brother Yuwen, you play really well. The rhythm is slow yet fast, and the tune is full of resentment yet forgiveness. What kind of song is this?"

Xun Niyan was surprised when he heard this, "Lord Liu also understands music?"

Lü Quyang laughed and said, "Our teacher is Little Ruan Gong, the foremost musician among the people of Jin!"

Xun Niyan suddenly understood what he said. He laughed and said, "I was really embarrassed just now. What I played was just a very simple horse-herding song from my hometown."

Liu Xian shook his head and said, "Music speaks for people. As long as the emotions are sincere and heartfelt, simplicity is not important."

At this point, he sighed, took out a bamboo flute from his bosom, stared at it for a long time, and said slowly: "Hearing Brother Yuwen's music, I can't help but miss my hometown!"

Unconsciously, six years had passed since he left Luoyang. Although he had made many new friends in Guanzhong, he now increasingly understood the saying "it's hard to leave your hometown," because it represented the starting point of life and the most unfettered days. Liu Xian thought of his childhood, his mother, his wife, his second uncle, his teacher, Zhu Fu, Lai Fu, Ah Chun, Wang Qi... Even his father's face no longer seemed so hateful.

Then he also played a tune, the one that Little Ruan Gong had taught him when he first started playing:
"When the phoenix ascends to the ninth heaven, it will not rest except on the wutong tree; when the phoenix descends to the ninth heaven, it will not feed except on bamboo."

The original piece was lively and vibrant. When Liu Xian first started playing it, he always complained that it lacked a lingering rhythm. But now, as he played it, he could deeply sense the pure emotion within the melody, a quality he could no longer possess. Only then did he suddenly realize that the life he had once felt dissatisfied with was actually something many people could only dream of but could never achieve.

So playing it now was like trying to catch the moon in water. That time was so close, yet when he tried to recall it, it was always unclear. Suddenly, countless ripples of emotion filled his heart, and even his own existence seemed lost. When would he be able to return to his hometown?
Perhaps the only place you can never go back to is your real hometown.

After the song, Liu Xian put down his bamboo flute. Yuwenxun Niyan, standing beside him, was wiping away tears. He sighed, "Lord Liu is truly a man of character, incomparable to us Hu people. Just one song has me overwhelmed with emotion, and I'm reminded of Amodun and Mohe."

Amodun and Mohe mean mother and father respectively in Xianbei language. Yuwenxun Niyan had to take on the responsibility of the Yuwen tribe because his parents died. Unexpectedly, he failed in the end and was defeated by the joint attack of Tuoba and Murong tribes.

Thinking back, he pulled out a foot-long golden knife from his waist and presented it to Liu Xian, saying, "I really like Lord Liu. It's a pity that after this separation, I don't know if we'll ever see each other again. This golden knife is my farewell gift!"

Although they couldn't speak the same language, Liu Xian still felt the other party's sincerity. Liu Xian accepted the golden knife. According to the rules, he should give a gift in return, but which of the things he had on him was suitable?

Liu Xian pondered for a moment, then pulled out a jade Buddha tied with a red string from his bosom. He handed it to Yuwen Xun and said, "This is a jade Buddha that my mother asked for me at the White Horse Temple in Luoyang years ago. It's said to bring good luck and ward off misfortune. Although it's not a top-tier treasure, I've always treasured it. I'm giving it to you today, Brother Yuwen. I hope you won't mind."

After the two exchanged gifts, they talked for a long time and time flew by.

Xun Ni Yan really kept his promise. Two days later, this group of Xianbei people disappeared. They came and went in a hurry, like an unexpected gust of wind.

However, Liu Xian did not feel sad about it. He knew that the next period would be the most torturous. It was born out of war, but had nothing to do with war, and would sweep across the entire Guanzhong equally and peacefully.

A great famine is coming. (End of this chapter)