Jinting Han people

Zhang Fang's visit came suddenly and his departure was equally unexpected. Judging from Liu Xian's schedule, it seemed to be just a trivial interlude. But in fact, his brief conversation with Liu Xian served as an unprecedented wake-up call, prompting him to prematurely end his inspection tour of Hongnong.

The reason is simple: when a man-eating beast has its eye on you, and you have no means of countermeasures and are in its territory, the wisest choice is to quickly escape the dangerous environment before it makes a move.

Who would have thought? Back then, when Liu Xian was in charge of the Western Expeditionary Army, he thought Zhang Fang was nothing more than a brute with superb martial skills, tyrannical but not trusted. Although he had some talent, he had no true friends and was ostracized by his colleagues, and would probably never be given an important position in his lifetime.

But in just two or three years, he rose rapidly through the ranks of the Western Expeditionary Army, becoming the third most powerful figure after Li Han. With the support of power, the true nature of this bloodthirsty beast was finally revealed.

What Liu Xian feared even more was Sima Yong, the Prince of Hejian, who heavily relied on this ferocious beast.

What kind of person would dare to control such a ferocious beast? And what methods would he use to seize power and profit?
Thinking of all this, Liu Xian had no choice but to abandon his investigation of more fortification sites. He already had a premonition that if he stayed in Hongnong any longer, the assassins were probably on their way.

Under these circumstances, Liu Xian had no other choice but to rebuild the city on the ruins of Hangu Pass. No matter how unscrupulous and difficult to defend against Zhang Fang's tactics were, having a fortified pass to withstand the Guanzhong cavalry was better than nothing.

Regarding the upcoming battle between the East and West, Liu Xian had previously hesitated about who might win, as he couldn't fathom the fate of Sima Yong, the Prince of Hejian. But now, he had a mature assessment:
The chances of the King of Hejian winning are extremely high.

This is not to say that Sima Jiong was less capable than Sima Yong. Based on Liu Xian's current understanding of Sima Jiong, although he was ambitious and driven by short-term gains, he was generally considerate of the bigger picture and at least knew how to maintain the decorum of officialdom. His only flaw was that his methods were half-baked and he was prone to hesitation and second-guessing. Compared to the ruthless Prince of Hejian, the Prince of Qi was clearly a more qualified regent.

The problem is that what's coming isn't political infighting, but war. War is a race against time; what's needed most is speed and decisiveness, and what's most taboo is hesitation and procrastination. An army needs a clear order to be executed flawlessly. Even the most ingenious tactics are no better than a simple tactic if they can't achieve this.

Now it seems that the King of Hejian has demonstrated such decisiveness and ruthlessness, which, even if cruel, is extremely intimidating. The King of Qi is far from being his match in this regard, and even if he regains his military power and hastily takes command of an army, he may not be able to stop him.

What should be the fate of his own faction, the King of Changsha, in this war? Liu Xian pondered this question repeatedly.

Ideally, he would help the King of Qi win the war, and in return, secure the opportunity for the King of Changsha to relocate his garrison to Guanzhong. Returning to Guanzhong would then provide him with a better chance to travel south to Sichuan and Chongqing.

But what if the King of Qi is defeated? Should he switch allegiance to the King of Hejian? That's absolutely impossible. Putting aside his incompatibility with Liu Xian, politically speaking, the King of Hejian, as a member of a collateral branch of the imperial clan, would certainly not tolerate the King of Changsha, who is the son of Emperor Wu.

Therefore, after careful consideration, if the King of Qi lost power, Sima Yi would only have one option left: to retreat to Hebei and re-ally with the King of Chengdu. Furthermore, the support of the King of Chengdu would be indispensable in order to defeat the King of Hejian.

Therefore, it became essential to proceed to Ye City to reaffirm the alliance with the King of Chengdu.

After leaving Xin'an, Liu Xian made a brief stop in Heyin and wrote to Sima Yi about the matter. Sima Yi also found it reasonable and immediately sent someone to deliver some gifts to Liu Xian in a carriage, entrusting Liu Xian to deliver them to Sima Ying, along with a letter of greeting, which focused on recalling the battles in the first half of the year, expressing the brotherly affection between the two, and sending greetings to Consort Cheng.

When Liu Xian received the gifts and crossed the river northward, it was around late October.

He passed through Heyang and Wenxian, heading northeast along the same route he had taken earlier in the year. The experiences of the campaign to defend the emperor were still vivid in his mind. When he passed through Jixian and Huangqiao, he could see that the willow branches planted to commemorate the fallen soldiers of both sides had now mostly grown into a nascent willow grove.

Because it is early winter, most of the willow leaves have withered, but seeing that this willow grove is already six or seven feet tall, and the willow branches are swaying, it can still stir up feelings of remembrance, making people recall the battles of half a year ago.

To be honest, the past six months of fighting had been quite pleasant in Liu Xian's military career. Victory was achieved almost without any major setbacks. However, when he looked back at the vast expanse of tombstones stretching to the horizon, he couldn't recall the joy of victory; instead, he felt a deeper sadness at the fragility of life.

He thought: If we can make this world free from war, then who is the emperor is really not important.

But that's the paradox of human life: if he wants to achieve this goal, he has to become the emperor.

Leaving Huangqiao and Liulin, Liu Xian continued north, heading straight for Weijun and arriving at Yecheng. However, what he saw in Weijun next surprised him greatly.

In his mind, the war had ended half a year ago. Since Lu Zhi had chosen to let the King of Chengdu build up his influence in Hebei, there were only two things to do: first, disband the army, and second, restore the people's livelihood.

Yet, Ye City remains exactly as Liu Xian saw it at the beginning of the year. Banners stretch to the sky south of the city, camps dot the landscape, and herds of horses still frolic and drink along the Zhang River. Soldiers train feverishly in the drill ground, drenched in sweat, their bodies steaming in the cold winter wind, shouting battle cries that rise and fall like waves. The scale of the battle has not diminished in the slightest since the war ended.

Moreover, before Liu Xian's entourage even reached the city gate, soldiers came to block the road. Presumably seeing that Liu Xian had a large entourage, they questioned him in front of the carriage: "Who are you? What brings you to Ye City?"

At this moment, Liu Xian was sitting inside the carriage, while Meng Tao was sitting outside. Meng Tao asked, "What's wrong? Is there something amiss between us?"

The soldier said, "This is a new order from our military command, which has been in effect for a month. Anyone coming to Ye in a group of more than ten people must not only be searched, but must also report to the military command. If there is any false reporting, our king will punish them severely!"

"Why is this?" Meng Tao was very puzzled, after all, such a military order was equivalent to semi-martial law, which would bring a lot of inconvenience to people.

But the soldiers who stopped the carriage were losing patience. They urged him repeatedly, "What do you mean 'why'? Confess now! Otherwise, you won't be allowed into the city!"

Only then did Liu Xian lift the carriage curtain, step out, and smile at the soldiers, saying, "Good, it seems the military discipline in Ye City has become stricter."

As he was saying this, he was about to take out the purple ribbon and gold seal from his waist when the soldier's expression changed drastically. He quickly bowed and said, "So it's the Marshal! I didn't know, please forgive me, Marshal!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian chuckled and asked, "You know me?"

This soldier, probably seeing Liu Xian so close for the first time, said with considerable pride, "Every soldier who participated in the campaign to defend the emperor knows the marshal. If I had known it was the marshal coming from afar, I wouldn't have bothered."

Having said that, he reached out and took the reins of the carriage, personally leading Liu Xian's horse, and boasted to the guards at the city gate. When Liu Xian questioned him further, he answered all his questions without reservation. Liu Xian then learned that the military order had indeed been in effect for a month, supposedly proposed by the newly appointed Grand General's Military Advisor, Lu Ji. Lu Ji claimed that the rebellion of the King of Donglai indicated ongoing turmoil in the court and that Ye City should be treated with greater caution. Using these soldiers to monitor the surrounding area would, firstly, cultivate the previously lax discipline of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and secondly, strengthen control over Ye City, preventing any malicious plots.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian was shocked. How could Lu Ji have risen so quickly in the Northern Expeditionary Army after his release from prison? His position as a military advisor was only slightly lower than that of the chief clerk, and it seemed that he was not the kind of untrustworthy military advisor who served Sun Xiu. He had only been here for two or three months, yet he had already begun signing military orders.

He then inquired about Lu Zhi's whereabouts, and the soldier replied, "Chief Clerk Lu is not in the city. His Highness ordered him to go to Zhao County and Changshan County to take charge."

Upon hearing this news, Liu Xian felt even more uneasy. Such matters as county inspections were usually handled by the clerks and inspectors of the prefectures and counties. He had only used this as an excuse to avoid trouble and accumulate strength. But Lu Zhi was the Left Chief Secretary of the King of Chengdu, and should have been in charge of overall management in Ye City. How could he have been reduced to doing such menial tasks?

Moreover, he originally wanted to use Lu Zhi as a go-between to meet the King of Chengdu in private, but now, what should he do?

After entering the city, Liu Xian and his entourage stayed at a special official residence within the city. As the Commandant of the Capital Region, Liu Xian nominally had the power to supervise Wei Commandery and the Northern Expeditionary Army, but this was merely nominal. Liu Xian followed the proper procedures, submitting his visiting card to the Northern Expeditionary Army and requesting an audience with the Prince of Chengdu.

After waiting for five or six days, Liu Xian, one of the three chief officials of the court, still hadn't been summoned by Sima Ying—a truly bizarre situation. Even if Liu Xian were slow-witted, he could sense that a major change had occurred in Ye City. At the very least, the people in power had changed.

Having followed Fu Zhi for many years, Fu Chang was quite experienced in this kind of situation. He said to Liu Xian, "Why don't you first try to find some acquaintances and inquire about possible connections?"

This was indeed a solution, but who should he approach? Liu Xian knew many people in Ye City, but he didn't have a good impression of people like Zhao Xiang and Qian Xiu, nor did he want to owe Shi Chao a favor. After much thought, he finally decided to visit Liu Yuan.

Among the Northern Expeditionary Army, besides Lu Zhi, the only one Liu Xian could truly admire was this Xiongnu Left Wise King.

After the war, Liu Yuan returned to his previous situation, holding a sinecure in Ye City, with nothing to do. When Liu Xian came to visit, he was in his residence playing with a three-foot-tall falcon, with Ping Xian standing guard beside him. After Liu Xian entered, he whistled, and the falcon flew from his shoulder to a mulberry tree in the courtyard. Under the mulberry tree were several stone blocks, showing that Liu Yuan usually kept fit by lifting stones.

Liu Yuan was in good spirits. He joked with Liu Xian, "The Commandant of the Capital Region has graced my humble abode with his presence. May I ask what brings you here?"

Liu Xian quickly bowed and said, "Lord Yuanhai, you flatter me. I came here specifically to seek your guidance."

He considered Liu Yuan to be an upright man and did not hide his purpose, directly stating his question: "Lord Yuanhai, I came to Yecheng to see the General, but I have been here for five days and have not been granted an audience. What is the reason for this? Do you know?"

Liu Yuan glanced at Liu Xian and chuckled, "It seems Huai Chong doesn't know yet! The Northern Expeditionary Army Command is now Meng Jiu's domain!" He then proceeded to explain the whole story to Liu Xian in detail.

It turned out that after the King of Chengdu returned to Ye City, Zheng Yan, the Right Chief Secretary, bribed Meng Jiu to speak to the King of Chengdu in his ear and to hold a celebratory literary gathering. Sima Ying loved such self-aggrandizing events and immediately agreed.

During the celebration of the victory, someone recalled the various twists and turns of the war and suddenly launched an attack on Lu Zhi. They argued that although the Northern Expeditionary Army had won the battle, the casualties were too heavy, and the main responsibility lay with Lu Zhi.

They claimed that while Lu Zhi had contributed valuable strategies and plans, he also made numerous mistakes. Firstly, he lacked the ability to train and hone his troops; secondly, his fondness for monopolizing power left his men unprepared, leading to the disastrous defeat at the First Battle of Huangqiao. Furthermore, in subsequent battles, Lu Zhi relied excessively on the Changshan Army, resulting in few officers of the Zhengbei Army Command achieving significant victories. All of this demonstrated that Lu Zhi was unsuitable for overall military command.

Although this statement distorts the truth, it seems to reflect the sentiments of most officers in the Northern Expeditionary Army. They unanimously agreed that Chief Clerk Lu should be relieved of his military duties and focus solely on civil administration. The underlying reason was their strong desire for promotion, and Lu Zhi's strategy of persuading Sima Ying to return to Ye City infringed upon their interests. They couldn't perform well in Luoyang, and back in Ye City, who would tolerate such behavior?

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi flew into a rage and immediately asked the crowd, "If I am not capable enough to be in charge of military affairs, then who among you is qualified? Come forward and argue with me!"

Lu Zhiping was usually humble, but deep down he was extremely arrogant. He believed that no one in the Northern Expeditionary Army could surpass him. Little did he know that this was exactly what Zheng Yan had planned. He had requested the rescue of Lu Ji for this very moment.

Lu Ji then took the stage and, at the literary gathering, discussed military strategies, pointing out five major shortcomings within the Northern Expeditionary Army: lax discipline, inadequate training, disorganized command, ineffective drills, and a lack of military training. He then offered Sima Ying a solution for each of these shortcomings. Although he didn't directly name Lu Zhi, every word implied that Lu Zhi lacked the talent to lead an army.

Lu Zhi was so angry at this situation that he laughed instead of being angry. He was well aware of the problems in the military command, but time was of the essence, and he had no time to solve them. He was just waiting for the war to end before he could properly reorganize the situation, but he never expected that it would be used as an excuse to attack him.

Thinking of all this, he greatly despised Lu Ji's character and couldn't help but ridicule him in public, saying, "I wonder what Lu Xun and Lu Kang are to you?" His implication was that Lu Ji was damaging the prestige of the Lu family of Wu County, and at the same time, he looked down on Lu Ji's Wu origins.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he immediately realized that he had lost his composure.

As expected, Lu Ji seized the opportunity to make a big fuss. He first said calmly, "Like you and Lu Yu and Lu Ting." After saying that, he turned and left the meeting.

Zheng Yan pretended to stop them, and said in front of everyone, "Both of you are famous scholars throughout the land, why is it like this? Can't you even get along?"

Lu Ji immediately changed his expression and said, "I have long admired Lu Zidao's great name and always respected him, thinking he was a wise man comparable to Zichan. But I never expected that he would also be so prejudiced. My family is renowned throughout the world and has made great contributions to the country. Who does not know us? This little devil dares to insult me ​​like this in order to seize power for himself! How can I associate with such a despicable person!"

In just a few words, Lu Zhi was portrayed as someone who was jealous of talent and ability.

The attendees had long harbored resentment towards Lu Zhi. His conduct and actions were completely out of step with his colleagues, and he also monopolized power. If they didn't bring him down now, when would they ever have a chance to rise again? Therefore, they all praised Lu Ji and denigrated Lu Zhi.

Sima Ying was indecisive by nature. He had always admired Lu Ji's literary talent, and he had also harbored some resentment towards Lu Zhi for taking on too much responsibility recently. After feigning some hesitation, he finally ordered Lu Zhi to relinquish his military duties and hand them over to Lu Ji, citing the unavoidable dissent of the people.

No matter how unwilling Lu Zhi was, without anyone's support, he could only grit his teeth and endure. Thus, Lu Zhi lost power, while Meng Jiu and Zheng Yan regained power, with Meng Jiu in charge of internal affairs and Zheng Yan in charge of external affairs.

At this point, Liu Yuan finally told Liu Xian how to meet Sima Ying. He said, "If you want to see His Highness the Prince of Chengdu, you will probably have to go through Meng Jiu's connections and bribe his brother before you can go. I'm not joking. Now, no matter who it is, if they want to see the General, they must have his permission."

Upon hearing this news, Liu Xian put his hand to his forehead, speechless for a long time. (End of Chapter)