Jinting Han people

After Liu Kun went north to Ye City, Liu Xian and Sima Yi left a hundred men to guard the river bridge and led the main force of the imperial guards back to Henan. They did not stop in Luoyang, but instead traveled twenty miles east along the river and set up camp on Beiman Mountain. With the north peak as their back, they set up camp from east to west. The easternmost part of their camp was only fourteen miles away from Chenggao Pass.

As planned, Liu Xian and his men did not rush to attack Hulao Pass. Instead, they waited for Liu Kun's reply while sending scouts to gather intelligence on the front lines. Meanwhile, to prevent the Northern Army from further restricting the Imperial Guards' operational space, Liu Xian divided his main force into four teams of a thousand men each, led by Fu Chang, Shangguan Si, Xi Jian, and Wang Dao, and stationed them in the four cities of Yanshi, Gongxian, Huanyuan Pass, and Eban Pass.

Before Liu Kun could return, the court received bad news: Sima Xiao, the Prince of Fanyang in Xuchang, was intimidated by the strength of the Northern Army and frequently communicated with Lu Ji at Hulao Pass, seemingly preparing to lead the Eastern Expeditionary Army north to join them.

This matter greatly worried the court officials. If the Prince of Fanyang also joined the Northern Army, the gap between the court and the Northern Army would widen further, and the situation of national division would worsen, which was undoubtedly something Sima Yi did not want to see. Therefore, Sima Yi sent an envoy to Xuchang to bestow upon Sima Xiao the title of General Who Conquers the East, hoping to win him over and persuade him not to go north.

In truth, the imperial court wasn't without reinforcements. After Sima Yi overthrew Sima Jiong, he ordered Sima Chi, the Prince of Yuzhang, to take over Qingzhou, and Sima Teng, the Prince of Pingchang, to take over Bingzhou. Adding to this, there was Jingzhou, currently under Liu Hong's command, and Qinzhou, where Huangfu Zhong was located. At least four provinces were willing to obey the imperial court's orders. The four governors—Wang Jun, the governor of Youzhou; Zhang Gui, the governor of Liangzhou; Gu Mi, the governor of Jiaozhou; and Wang Yi, the governor of Guangzhou—while their attitudes were ambiguous, ultimately did not side with the Prince of Chengdu and remained loyal to the imperial court.

The crucial problem was that, apart from Jingzhou, which was currently suppressing a rebellion, these places were all located in remote areas and were completely unable to participate in the war in Henan. Even so, Sima Yi followed Zu Ti's advice and sent letters to all these places, hoping that they would provide some support to the court according to their own circumstances.

Under these circumstances, Liu Kun's return to Henan after completing his mission undoubtedly brought a sigh of relief to everyone: the sooner the decisive battle took place, the more advantageous it would be for the imperial court. At least for now, it seemed that the strength of both sides would not change for the time being.

Sima Ying's challenge to the court was to hold a major battle at the end of September, and the specific time and place of the battle would be negotiated by the generals at the front.

Therefore, the imperial court sent another envoy to Hulao Pass to communicate with the Northern Army. The representative sent by the imperial court was Sima Shi, the Prince of Pengcheng, and the representative sent by the Northern Army was Shi Chao. After a brief discussion, the two sides decided to ask the imperial guards to retreat ten miles. On the day of Xinmao in September, the two sides would fight a decisive battle on Mangshan Mountain, north of Yanshi.

Although Mangshan is called a mountain range, its terrain is not particularly steep, especially the section north of Yanshi, where the ridge is a relatively gentle slope, four or five li wide, making it especially suitable for horseback riding and fighting. Both sides were quite satisfied with choosing this location for the decisive battle, and thus a successful agreement was reached, and the final preparations for battle began.

Despite the ostensible preparations for war, the atmosphere within the army was quite tense as the decisive battle approached, which was not conducive to combat. Liu Xian therefore suggested to Sima Yi that in these final days, apart from the usual patrols, surveillance, and maintaining order, the soldiers should be allowed to rest and recuperate.

Sima Yi agreed to the request and ordered Sima Yue, the Minister of Works, and Yue Guang, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, to improve the army's food for the next few days and provide them with some meat and wine.

The army suddenly became quiet. Under the shadow of the decisive battle, the soldiers mostly stayed in the camp, chatting and reminiscing with friends. They drank and talked about their past lives, sometimes laughing and sometimes singing. No one mentioned the great battle that was about to happen. But without a doubt, they all hoped to survive and win.

Even Sima Yi felt the same unease at this moment, so he led his advisors and confidants to Junyang Mausoleum to pay homage to his father, Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan.

Junyang Mausoleum lies at the foot of North Peak. The group left the camp. Below them stretched a valley leading south, accessible via a valley path down to the riverbank. Several gentle slopes along the valley path were densely covered with pines and cypresses, still verdant even in late autumn. Cliffs rose on both sides of the valley, like towering giants. At the end of the valley was the Luo River, a hundred zhang wide, rushing forth with immense force. A chilly, damp air rushed in, and the roar of the waves was incessant. The riverbanks were flat, the water meandering and swirling, white waves washing over the reeds on both banks—a truly magnificent sight.

After walking another two or three miles, we arrived at Junyang Mausoleum. The mausoleum is nestled between Mangshan Mountain to the south and Aozi Mountain to the north, forming a magnificent four-peaked enclosure. Within the mausoleum stand various ornate statues, the most striking of which are the twelve stone horses flanking the main path in front of the tomb. Each horse is depicted in a different posture—flying, leaping, standing, or galloping—all exuding divine power. These horses symbolize the twelve founding ministers of Emperor Wu's reign: two kings, eight dukes, and two marquises.

But looking at these statues, one can't help but think of reality: after several rounds of brutal coups, many of the descendants of these famous ministers whose names are enshrined in the imperial tombs—Sima You, Jia Chong, Shi Bao, Pei Xiu, Zheng Chong, and others—have lost power or their lives. And how many more will die in the upcoming great battle? This thought casts a shadow over many who come to pay their respects, making it difficult for them to look these founding fathers in the eye.

Finally arriving at the main shrine before the spirit tablet of Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan, the group first performed a grand ceremony, and then began to burn incense and offer prayers. To prevent grave robbing, Sima Yan did not seal his tomb with earth; all his descendants could only offer prayers before the spirit tablet in the shrine.

Sima Yi looked at the memorial tablet in the ancestral hall, trying hard to recall his father's voice and smile, but too much time had passed and he could no longer remember clearly. But he still prayed silently in his heart: "May the late emperor bless his descendants and make our family's fortune last long."

After Sima Yi finished his prayer, he thought again that he was facing his own brother, and the late emperor should bless which side? A wave of bitterness washed over him again. So he changed his prayer in his heart and said, "Please bless the side with more descendants." But thinking of this only made his distress worse.

Liu Xian, standing to the side, was of course unaware of what the King of Changsha was thinking. He was looking at the various arrangements in the mausoleum, but what he was thinking about was the merits and demerits of Sima Yan's life.

As the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty, Sima Yan first defeated Tufa Shujineng and then pacified Eastern Wu, ending a century of chaos and division since the late Han Dynasty. Logically, he should have achieved great merit. However, it is undeniable that the various chaotic phenomena that followed—the rampant power of aristocratic families, the interference of imperial relatives in politics, and the usurpation of power by princes—were all sown by Sima Yan himself. Liu Yi, the Commandant of the Capital Region, once commented that he was a figure on par with Emperor Ling of Han. At the time, everyone thought Liu Yi was talking nonsense, but now it seems that although he managed to mend the various conflicts during his lifetime, the country disintegrated after his death, and the state was on the verge of collapse. Therefore, this assessment is quite apt.

What lessons can I learn from this?

Just as they were pondering this, a thunderclap exploded in the sky, followed by a deafening roar that echoed overhead. Everyone present was startled, then looked up to see a clear blue sky, pristine except for a few wisps of cloud as thin as cicada wings. Yet the sound they heard was undeniably real, like a thousand horses galloping past.

Thunder without clouds? As people were bewildered, another thunderclap boomed, the sound overwhelming and seemingly filling the entire world. People trembled as if trapped in an eggshell. Then a gale arose, scattering dust and fallen leaves from the mountains into the air, howling and forming small whirlpools that enveloped them, their clothes billowing and making it difficult to open their eyes.

After the thunder and wind subsided, people put down their hands to shield themselves from the sand, coughed, and continued to look up at the sky. Then, they witnessed an incredible scene: in just a moment, the clouds in the sky changed, and layers of thick clouds gathered. What was even more eye-catching was that a crack ran through the clouds from north to south, dividing the sky into two parts, east and west!

What a rare spectacle! Everyone present was seeing it for the first time.

Upon seeing this, Sima Yi immediately asked Liu You, "When I paid homage to the late emperor, there was a thunderclap and the sky cracked. Could it be that the late emperor's spirit in heaven is giving me a warning?" Liu You, who was well-versed in astronomy and yin and yang, nodded and replied, "That is indeed the case."

Sima Yi asked, "What did the late emperor show you?"

Liu You said, "Thunder should be entrusted to the clouds, just as a ruler is entrusted to his subjects. Thunder without clouds is a sign that there are rebellious traitors who disregard the ruler and intend to rebel. This is exactly the same as the current situation where the King of Chengdu and the King of Hejian have raised troops in rebellion."

Sima Yi nodded and then asked, "Then what is the explanation for the gathering clouds and the splitting of the sky?"

Liu You said, "The thunder and clouds after the storm mean that the True Lord should rise up after the chaos and return to his rightful place. The sky splitting open east and west, with the sun shining overhead, means that the two traitors in the east and west cannot cover the sun, and the chaos will ultimately not succeed. I hope Your Highness will rise up."

Sima Yi was greatly relieved upon hearing this. He ordered someone to bring the bow and arrows from his horse, held them up with both hands, and said to Sima Yan's memorial tablet, "Father, please bear witness in heaven that I will do my utmost to revitalize the country. I hope that Father will help me unify the world and quell the rebel army."

After saying this, he respectfully placed the bow and arrows in front of the memorial tablet, bit his finger, and wrote in blood: "Pacify the ten thousand miles, unite the eight wastelands."

He stood for a long time before Junyang Mausoleum, recalling his father's great achievements, the peaceful years of the past, and the happy family life of his childhood. These things now seemed like a luxury; everything had become ugly and hypocritical, as if the whole world had been caught in a nightmare from which they could not wake. Sima Yi tried hard to find his past self, but the more he recalled, the more pain and emptiness welled up in his heart. Yet even so, he was unwilling to leave.

As evening approached, the wounds in the sky gradually healed, the thin clouds became layered clouds, there was no twilight, and the moon and stars could not be seen.

After dinner, Lu Ji summoned the generals of the Northern Army to his tent for a meeting. His purpose was simple: having witnessed such a strange sight, they too were puzzled and attempted to explore the deeper meaning behind this unusual phenomenon through equally heated debate.

Qian Xiu, who also deeply studied the Five Elements, reached the same conclusion as Liu You. He said to everyone, "Thunder without clouds is a sign of the reversal of Yin and Yang. It is a sign that the ruler does not care for his subjects, and the subjects will rebel. We need to be on guard!"

But then something else changed: "As for the sky splitting in two, it means that the yang energy of heaven and earth is insufficient, which means that there are ministers in the world who are too powerful. If it is not dealt with in time, the world will fall apart."

As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on Lu Ji, clearly recalling Meng Chao's clamor from a few days prior. Meng Chao claimed that Lu Ji was attempting a rebellion, which was of course baseless, but Qian Xiu was weighing whether she could use the celestial phenomena as an opportunity to bring Lu Ji down.

Lu Ji reacted with lightning speed. As soon as Qian Xiu finished speaking, he immediately interrupted, saying, "Uncle Cheng is absolutely right. What a rebellious and treacherous man the King of Changsha is! He has committed treason and rebellion. Our campaign this time is precisely to follow the will of Heaven and uphold the moral order!"

Such words naturally drew no objection from the troops. However, when it came to discussing serious military affairs, they fell silent. A growing rift was forming among the generals of Hebei. Having reached this point, Lu Ji had fully grasped the reality: to win the upcoming battle, he had to employ unconventional methods.

The following day, an autumn rain fell on the Heluo Plain. Looking towards the Yellow River and the Luo River, everything was shrouded in gloom, with a thin veil of cold mist and fog. The gulls, egrets, and crows that had been calling earlier had all vanished without a trace, leaving only endless reeds rustling in the drizzle.

The Northern army's camp was damp and stifling. Although everyone had brought winter clothes, the soldiers still found it difficult to sleep. The rain continued for two days, and many soldiers fell ill. That night, Lu Ji summoned his generals for a meeting. Listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the tent flaps, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and suggested:
"In this kind of weather, not only are we troubled, but the enemy is as well. Therefore, our army can break the plan and take advantage of the rainy night to launch a light cavalry raid on Mangshan Mountain. The enemy will not be prepared, and our army can take it down in one fell swoop!"

Sun Hui and others agreed upon hearing this. However, the generals, especially those from Hebei, hesitated. The chief strategist, Wang Yan, objected, saying, "A battle fought in the dead of night is unpredictable; let's wait and see."

The rain continued for two more days, and the decisive battle was just one more day away. The sky was still overcast and gloomy, but the rain had finally stopped and the dampness was gradually decreasing. The Northern soldiers were quite nervous, as many of them were going to the battlefield for the first time.

Thus, September, the day of Xinmao, finally arrived. At Xinshi (11 PM - 1 AM) that day, an order was given to the entire army to rise and have their meal. Within a quarter of an hour, the vanguard cavalry, selected the day before, had begun to assemble. Lu Ji, clad in plain white double-layered armor, emerged from the camp. Accompanied by his son Lu Wei and a dozen or so riders, he also brought dozens of strong packhorses, led by servants. These horses were bound with heavy bundles containing gold belts, silk, and other items, bestowed upon him by Sima Ying, specifically for rewarding his soldiers and boosting morale before battle.

The night sky was dark and moonless under thick clouds, the surrounding area was pitch black, and the air was cold and crisp. The knights ate on horseback, all to conceal their presence. For this reason, they dared not even light torches, eating only cold, dry rations.

While the soldiers were eating, the men busied themselves cutting the straw, quickly feeding the horses, and binding their hooves with cowhide to prevent them from getting injured on the mountain road. The armor was then wrapped up and placed on the horses.

Autumn is the time when horses are at their fattest and strongest, but to ensure they are powerful enough for battle, Lu Ji specifically ordered his soldiers to lead the horses. They finally set off in a grand procession, opening the Hulao Pass and slowly advancing towards the summit of Mangshan Mountain. Along the way, the warhorses were stripped of their saddles and bridles, leaving only the reins, moving through the tall grass, their figures overlapping like ghostly figures. With the great battle imminent, no soldier spoke, only clinging tightly to their comrades, as if swept along by an endless tide of people.

When the 200,000-strong Northern army reached the summit of the eastern side of Mount Mang, they stopped and began to don their armor and armor their warhorses. The summit of Mount Mang was wide and flat, stretching westward without end. The Hebei soldiers, who were visiting for the first time, had never seen such a mountaintop before, and exclaimed, "What a magnificent battlefield for galloping horses and clashing swords!"

It was the transition between Yin and Mao in September, the Xinmao day. Upon learning of the situation, the Imperial Guards also led their troops to form ranks, and the great battle finally entered its on-the-spot phase. (End of Chapter)