Jinting Han people

Chapter 335 The Poor Scholar Who Came to the Door with a Sword

When the Changshan Army officially arrived in Ye City, the rebel army had not yet started fighting on the front lines.

Liu Xian asked Lu Zhi for the reason, and was left speechless with amusement. It turned out that the reason the war hadn't started yet was because the generals were vying for credit, all wanting to be the first to defeat the Imperial Guards.

After all, this battle was the first of their uprising, and it was no small matter. If they won, they might be unstoppable from then on, with few battles left to fight. At that time, the first general to achieve merit would surely be listed first in the merit list, be granted a dukedom and a high position, and have his name recorded in history. Would it all just be empty talk? Therefore, the generals were unwilling to give way to each other, and almost caused a serious incident.

In the end, Sima Ying made a decisive move, declaring that the first battle would be the decisive one. He would send forty-eight capable generals with 80,000 troops as the vanguard, crossing the Qingshui River to launch a fierce attack on the Imperial Guards. He himself would lead 80,000 troops as the rearguard, following closely behind. At that time, whoever was capable and whoever was not, whoever would achieve merit and whoever would die, would all depend on their own abilities.

As a result, the supplies needed for the battle far exceeded expectations, and Lu Zhi was busy sending bows, arrows, and provisions from the Ye City armory up there. The decisive battle was expected to take place in about six days.

Upon hearing this arrangement, Liu Xian couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. He said to Lu Zhidao, "Zidao, I have never heard of such a battle before. How can you command 80,000 troops crossing the river at once? Can he manage to take care of them all? Without order on the battlefield, there will be weaknesses everywhere. Has His Highness the Prince of Chengdu lost his mind and thinks that war is a game?"

Lu Zhi didn't actually agree with this approach, but since he wasn't on the front lines, he still held onto a sliver of hope, and said with a wry smile, "That's true, but that's the problem with the allied forces, something His Highness the Prince of Chengdu can't decide. Fortunately, the other side has also sent a terrible opponent, so we've met our match!"

A worthy opponent? Liu Xian only found out after making inquiries that the enemy general's information had already been obtained. The commander of the Imperial Guards sent by Sun Xiu to Ji County this time was his son, Sun Hui, with Shi Yi and Xu Chao as his deputies, jointly commanding 30,000 Imperial Guards.

Before Sun Xiu came to power, Sun Hui was a rogue who swindled wealthy young men in the western market of the city, relying on his father's connections. He was as ugly as Sun Xiu and had never been known to possess any talent. However, after Sun Xiu seized power, everyone in his family and friends rose to prominence. This twenty-year-old first married Princess Hedong of the court, becoming a驸马都尉 (Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant). Now, he had become a third-rank military commander with imperial credentials, responsible for resisting the Northern Expeditionary Army.

What an unbelievable personnel choice! Has Sun Xiu gone mad? How can such a lad be a marshal? Liu Xian laughed and cried at the same time, and sighed in his heart: Lu Zhi's evaluation is really appropriate. At least in terms of seniority and ability, Sun Xiu and Sima Ying are indeed a perfect pair of opponents.

Let them fight it out; it's just a pity for the soldiers on both sides at the front.

Compared to the struggle in Hebei, Liu Xian was more concerned about the situation in Henan. What exactly was the King of Qi planning? He had an army of 300,000, yet he had to face Meng Guan, the empire's top general, and many strategic locations in Luoyang were also targets to be conquered. Could he win?

According to intelligence gathered by Sima Yi and Lu Zhi in Henan, Qi King Sima Jiong's army had already advanced to Yingyin in Yingchuan Commandery, and Sun Xiu had dispatched four armies to deal with Sima Jiong:
General Sun Fu and General Li Yan led 7,000 imperial guards to occupy Yanshou Pass;
General Zhang Hong, General Cai Huang, and General Lü He led 7,000 imperial guards to occupy Eban Pass;
General Sima Ya, the General of the Army, and General Mo Yuan, the General of the Mighty Army, led 8,000 imperial guards to occupy Chenggao Pass;
Sima Fu, the Prince of Jingzhao, and Sima Qian, the Prince of Guangping, led 8,000 imperial guards to Gongxian as reinforcements, ready to provide assistance as needed.

In addition, Meng Guan, who was already stationed in Wancheng, Nanyang, commanded 30,000 newly recruited troops and 3,000 soldiers from the Shanggu Camp. These five armies, totaling about 70,000 men, occupied the mountainous fortresses in a crescent shape, blocking Sima Jiong's path. Meanwhile, there were approximately 30,000 imperial guards in Luoyang, ready to reinforce the front lines at any time.

Although it's unclear whose suggestion it was, Sun Xiu's defensive formation in Henan was quite reasonable. Liu Xian and others analyzed the situation and concluded that Sima Jiong would likely find it difficult to break through head-on in the short term, and a stalemate was probably inevitable.

That day, Liu Xian and Li Sheng were in the military camp deducing the changes in the battle situation when suddenly a messenger outside the camp shouted a report.

The commander's tent is the center of the military camp; no one may enter within a hundred paces without an order, nor may they be disturbed except in urgent military situations. Upon hearing the report, Liu Xian was startled. He first put down the map in his hand and called the guards outside to come in.

"Reporting to the Marshal, a scholar in white robes has arrived outside the camp gate. He drew his sword and shouted that he was an old friend of the Marshal and had a top-secret matter to report to the Marshal regarding saving lives."

Liu Xian was momentarily bewildered and said sternly, "Don't you know military law? How dare you bother the commander-in-chief with such a trivial matter without orders from your superiors? Have you accepted a bribe?!"

The visitor was certainly not an old acquaintance of Liu Xian. Liu Xian's old friends in Guanzhong and Hedong would certainly have had tokens of trust and wouldn't have resorted to such a presumptuous method. If it were an old acquaintance from Luoyang, it would undoubtedly be a noble or famous person, so why wouldn't they announce their name?

Having traveled all the way from Guangping County, Liu Xian was already somewhat familiar with this tactic. He figured it was probably some impoverished scholar trying to promote himself, making a show of surprise. Therefore, he specifically issued a military order: anyone coming from outside the camp, unless they were an official from Ye City, would not be seen by him.

Liu Xian was usually gentle and refined, and aside from serious incidents and military discipline training, he was very amiable. The soldiers, having never encountered anything like this before, and believing Liu Xian to be kind to them like his own children, harbored a certain degree of wishful thinking. But seeing Liu Xian suddenly erupt in anger and displeasure, they were instantly terrified, their faces turning ashen, and they prostrated themselves on the ground, saying to Liu Xian:

"Marshal, please forgive me! I dared not pass on the order, but the man drew his sword and said that either I would pass on the order, or he would kill me, or I would kill him! These were the only three options. Otherwise, he would never leave. Seeing that he was willing to risk his life like this, he was not an ordinary person. How could I dare to disobey?"

Liu Xian stared at the man for a moment, and seeing that his expression did not seem feigned, he thought: Could he really be an old friend of mine? Otherwise, why would he be so reckless with his life? But that shouldn't be the case. Why didn't he announce his number?

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Xian said, "If that's the case, then it's not your fault. Let him in!"

As he said this, Liu Xian ordered the guards outside the gate to draw their swords and line up in front of the camp. They were fully armed, revealing their gleaming blades, and their military bearing was very solemn and dignified. When ordinary people saw them, they often felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on their chests, and they had no choice but to dodge and walk away.

But at this moment, a scholar in white robes strolled along the official road. Facing the fierce-looking armored soldiers, he remained unfazed, his right hand casually resting on the hilt of his sword, appearing fearless and displaying a remarkable and extraordinary demeanor.

But after carefully examining him, Liu Xian quickly realized one thing: he did not know him.

This man was a few years older than Liu Xian, with a lean face, well-defined features, and an elegant beard. His white robe was slightly worn, but he was not destitute. Before the soldiers, he remained calm and composed, glancing around to examine them one by one before bowing deeply and speaking in a measured tone:

"I am Zhang Bin, Zhang Mengsun from Zhongqiu. I have come to pay my respects to Lord Liu."

It turned out he was from Zhongqiu. Liu Xian was sitting upright on the platform. He glanced silently at Li Sheng beside him. Li Sheng understood immediately and stood up and scolded, "How dare a man in white not kneel before my lord!"

Zhang Bin laughed heartily, straightened up, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, “I have heard that a general should possess five virtues: wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness. To refuse to welcome talented people who come from afar while remaining aloof is unwise; to seek out righteous men from all over the world under the banner of loyalty to the king, and then not to see them when they arrive, is untrustworthy; to fail to do one’s best to prevent the army from being defeated is unbenevolent; and to use the sharpness of weapons to intimidate a poor scholar is even less courageous. Doesn’t Lord Liu think he has gone too far?”

Upon seeing this, Zhuge Yan immediately leaped up and drew his decapitation sword from his waist with a clang: "How dare you!" Zhang Bin, without showing any anger, added: "In front of the military tent, the commander-in-chief has not given any orders, yet the subordinates have overstepped their bounds and shown no respect."

This man has quite the nerve! Liu Xian couldn't help but admire him a little more. He smiled faintly, stood up, and said, "Sir, it's not very prudent of you to use intimidation of soldiers to request an audience with me! Please sit down! My place is simple; I only have some tea to offer you. Would you mind having some?"

Having said that, he picked up the half-finished tea he had drunk the night before and handed it to Zhang Bin. Zhang Bin reached out and took it, sighing as he said:
"It's a pity, it's a pity."

"Your Excellency is a renowned general who conquered the west and a descendant of the Han imperial family. You have fought many arduous battles to quell the rebellion and have earned a great reputation. How many merits have you made for the country? Yet now you are suspected by others and forced to stay away from the war, here to reorganize the new soldiers. I really don't know when your day will come!"

These words actually touched on Liu Xian's sore spot, but he remained outwardly calm and replied, "I don't care about fame or fortune. I just want to do something for the country and its people. I don't care about what you're saying."

Zhang Bin picked up the bowl, not minding that it was leftover water from the previous day, and drank it all in one gulp. He then sighed and said, "What I pity is the plight of the common people! The world is on the verge of chaos; how much suffering must be added before peace is restored?"

After hearing this, Liu Xian's opinion of him changed drastically.

Zhang Bin's clothes were worn, but he was clean and tidy overall. His hands and face were spotless, showing he was a clean person. Yet, while talking animatedly, he drank leftover water from the previous day without batting an eye, showing no sign of being insulted. This revealed that he harbored great ambitions and aspirations that transcended personal preferences.

Of all the people Liu Xian knew, only Zu Ti could do something similar. Moreover, he quickly realized that this man's decision to come to him was probably not for the sake of so-called saving the country.

But since he is a rare talent, it wouldn't hurt to listen to his opinion.

Thinking this, Liu Xian smiled slightly, pulled Zhang Bin to a seat, and slowly said, "Since you have such good intentions, sir, you must have some guidance. I am willing to listen attentively."

Zhang Bin glanced at the armored soldiers around him and said, "I have something important to tell the Prefect, and I'm afraid ordinary people cannot listen in."

Liu Xian immediately waved his hand, leaving only Zhuge Yan and Li Sheng in the tent, and said, "These two are my confidants. If there is anything important, there is no need to hide it from them."

Zhang Bin glanced at the two men, gently stroking the hilt of his sword with his right hand. After a moment of contemplation, he finally said, "My lord, the Sima clan is gradually losing the support of the people, and the world is in chaos, comparable to the Han dynasty's campaign against Dong Zhuo. This is precisely the time for a hegemon to establish himself. I wonder if you have any intentions?"

As expected, Zhang Bin had come to persuade him to rebel. Liu Xian glanced at Zhang Bin but didn't reply. He thought to himself, "In the current situation, where is there any room for me to rebel? Let's see how he analyzes the situation. If it's absurd, I probably won't let him leave alive."

Seeing Liu Xian remain silent, Zhang Bin remained calm and continued his statement:

"Now that the King of Qi is advocating righteousness and punishing the traitors, the whole world is gathering in response, all with the intention of serving the king. But in reality, the Sima clan has lost the trust of the world for a long time, and what they can do to mobilize the masses is nothing more than the word 'profit'. The traitor Zhao used profit to control the masses and killed the evil queen. He is no different from the kings who are now attacking the traitors."

"Therefore, whoever governs the capital region will likely not be able to win the hearts of the scholars. After all, the demands of the scholars are as high as mountains, impossible to climb, and as deep as the sea, impossible to fill. Once these demands are not met, the military garrisons will surely be in chaos, and political upheavals will occur one after another. In my opinion, the Jin dynasty will be in danger of collapse within five to six years."

"But calamities must come to an end, and great order follows great chaos! When the Jin dynasty is destroyed and falls, and suffers the consequences of its breach of trust, this disaster will cease. In other words, it will be time for heroes from all over the world to rise up and vie for control of the Central Plains!"

These insights coincided with Liu Xian's own, and were even elaborated upon in greater detail than Liu Xian had considered. Therefore, upon hearing this, Liu Xian was certain that Zhang Bin before him was indeed a rare and exceptional strategist.

Zhang Bin continued, "When I was in Zhongqiu, I saw that the Prefect's troops were strict and disciplined, and refused to disturb the people. They were truly a rare army of a king. You are a descendant of Emperor Zhaolie, have the people's respect, and possess both literary and military talents. You are indeed a first-rate candidate to end this chaotic world. Although now is not the right time to start an uprising, for the sake of the people, we have reached a point where we must consider it!"

Seeing this, Liu Xian couldn't help but ask, "What strategy do you have for me, sir?"

Seeing that Liu Xian had finally taken the bait, Zhang Bin stroked his beard and smiled, then held up three fingers to Liu Xian and said slowly, "I only have ten words to give to you, Lord Liu."

"Ten words, which ten words?"

Zhang Bin said leisurely, "Accumulate private troops, distance yourself from court affairs, and plan for a later appointment to a post outside the capital."

"The world is only in its initial stages of chaos, and it is not yet time to vie for supremacy. However, such chaos is enough to take lives. Therefore, one should try to protect oneself in this turmoil, and the best way to do so is to amass a private army. With your current status and prestige, Your Excellency, although you may not be able to achieve great things quickly, it is more than enough to have a private army to protect yourself."

"As I have said, in the coming years, whoever governs the central government will not be able to gain the support of the scholars of the land, and may even be caught in the crossfire, with their cronies being purged. Therefore, Your Excellency must not become a retainer of any prince, but must stay away from politics, even if you are inextricably linked to some people, you should not care. Because you have a private army, but you remain neutral, in this way, no one will take the initiative to provoke you, but will instead try to win you over."

"And finally, and most importantly, is the appointment to a post outside the capital. Only by being appointed to a post outside the capital can one establish a great enterprise; this is a truth that all intelligent people know. But Your Excellency must not be impatient. If you do not have a sufficient foundation, you will not be able to fight against the local bullies when you are appointed to a post outside the capital. Therefore, you must establish your reputation in the central government, and you must carry out the imperial edicts without fail."

"Only in this way can you demonstrate your impartiality and selflessness. You can also better cultivate your private army and maintain neutrality in the court. When the court collapses beyond repair, that will be the time for you to seek a post outside the capital. At that time, your fame will spread throughout the country, and you will have a private army powerful enough to suppress local tyrants. With a dignified army sent to govern a region, your rise to power will be unstoppable and unstoppable!"

"If you want to achieve great things, these are the ten words I want to give to you, Lord Prefect."

After Zhang Bin finished speaking, Liu Xian pondered for a long time, feeling that every word he spoke was precious and that he had a sense of enlightenment, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the clear sky. He suddenly stood up, bowed to Zhang Bin, and said, "Sir, you are truly a man of great talent. I was rude just now, and I hope you will not take offense."

(End of this chapter)