Jinting Han people

Meanwhile, on the south bank of the Yellow River, after achieving an unprecedented victory, Liu Xian did not immediately lead his army back to Chenggao Pass, but instead remained in the main camp on the riverbank, making no move for several days.

The reason is not hard to understand. Although Liu Xian won the battle, the shadow of being betrayed before the battle could not be easily erased.

It should be noted that he had deliberately kept the plan a secret before the battle; there were only three people present during the meeting: Liu Xian, Mao Bao, and Sima Yi. So how did Lu Ji come to know about this plan, and how did it manage to put him in such a desperate situation? The answer is not hard to find: someone leaked the information.

It is certain that Liu Xian himself kept the secret strictly. Mao Bao, being Liu Xian's close follower and having personally faced danger with him, had neither the opportunity nor the motive to leak the secret. Therefore, there is only one possibility: something went wrong on Sima Yi's side.

Li Sheng analyzed the matter, saying, "If there is a problem with the General of the Cavalry, there are only two possibilities: one is that someone close to the General of the Cavalry leaked the secret, and the General of the Cavalry did it unintentionally; the other is that the General of the Cavalry leaked the secret himself."

"If it's the former, catching the spy will clear up the misunderstanding; but if it's the latter, the consequences are unimaginable. This means that the General of the Cavalry has become suspicious of our lord, and if we return like this, it's very likely that..."

Li Sheng didn't say it explicitly, but he made a throat-cutting gesture with his palm, the meaning of which was self-evident.

He concluded by saying to Liu Xian, "My lord, we should not rush to join forces with the General of the Cavalry. Instead, we should stay here under the pretext of resting and recuperating, and decide whether to stay or leave once we understand the General of the Cavalry's intentions."

This wasn't just Li Sheng's thought; in fact, the other rebel officers shared the same suspicion. Even the most oblivious person, after experiencing such bizarre changes in the battle situation, could sense something fishy. For example, Suo Jing came to Liu Xian and said, "Does the General of the Cavalry harbor suspicion towards us because we are from Guanzhong?"

After Liu Xian offered some words of comfort, Suo Jing continued, "We have traveled thousands of miles to support the court, and we have no other intentions. If, in this critical situation, the court is still engaging in internal strife, then the tide has truly turned."

Therefore, the officers of the rebel army also became suspicious of the imperial court. If the court could not explain the situation clearly, they would probably rather return to Guanzhong than fight under the court's orders.

For these reasons, Liu Xian did not immediately return to Chenggao Pass. Instead, he rested on the river plateau while sending Meng Tao to contact Sima Yi. According to Li Sheng's plan, they wanted to find out Sima Yi's attitude before making any further decisions.

Meanwhile, on the Southern Route Army Commander Sima Yi's side, as planned, they also achieved a complete victory in their battle against the Eastern Expeditionary Army Commander.

As predicted, having a complete grasp of the Eastern Army's camp layout and without the threat of the Northern Expeditionary Army behind him, Sima Yi led his elite cavalry in a night raid on Sima Xiao's command tent, immediately throwing the Eastern Army into chaos. Sima Xiao, the Prince of Fanyang, unaware of the situation in the darkness, only heard shouts and the neighing of horses, and quickly fled in terror, disappearing without a trace. Without their commanders, the remaining units lost their reason to resist, and within an hour, they naturally surrendered to Sima Yi.

Throughout the entire battle, both sides suffered minimal losses, with total casualties amounting to no more than two thousand. It was less a battle and more a case of Sima Yi taking over the Eastern Expeditionary Army.

The following morning, the Imperial Guards searched the surrounding area and captured the distraught Sima Xiao at a farmhouse near the Bian River. After bringing him back to the main camp, the battle ended. This officially declared that, outside the ravaged Jingzhou, the imperial court had regained control of Yuzhou, and its authority had been further restored.

At this time, Meng Tao, acting as an envoy, reported the victory to the King of Changsha, informing him of the great triumph the Northern Route Army had achieved at Mangkou. The entire army erupted in jubilation. In everyone's eyes, these two consecutive great victories had undoubtedly reversed the court's previous unfavorable situation, and the future prospects were naturally much brighter.

But the joy didn't last long. When Meng Tao explained at the military council that the Northern Route Army had been ambushed at night and was forced to fight back in a desperate situation, the expressions of all the generals in the army changed drastically.

When Meng Tao mentioned Liu Xian's speculation that there were spies from the Prince of Chengdu in the army and requested the Prince of Changsha to investigate, the tent fell silent. Everyone knew what this meant. The reason the Luoyang Imperial Guards had reached this point and were undefeated in battle was inseparable from the close relationship between the Prince of Changsha and the Commandant of the Capital Region. If this was true, it would undoubtedly lead to a new upheaval in the court. All eyes immediately focused on Sima Yi's face.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Sima Yi remained unmoved and replied, "Is this really true? I will investigate thoroughly and give Lord Liu an explanation."

The results came out the next day, revealing that the person inside was a personal guard named Ren Qiu, who served the King of Changsha. Ren Qiu was an old soldier who had followed the King of Changsha for many years, but his three brothers were all serving in the Northern Expeditionary Army. Lu Ji, through his brothers, contacted Ren Qiu, promising him a title, and thus turned him against his cause, learning military secrets. Three of his fellow villagers were accomplices who had tipped him off. After investigation, all four confessed to their crimes and were beheaded that same day.

On the third day, Sima Yi sent the corpses of Ren Qiu and the others, along with their confessions, to the Heyuan camp and asked Liu Xian to come to Xingyang County to meet him as soon as possible.

This could barely be considered an explanation, but Liu Xian couldn't accept the result, because it couldn't withstand close scrutiny.

First, there are inconsistencies in these people's testimonies. According to their testimonies, Ren Qiu was Sima Yi's personal guard, and he overheard the secret discussion between Liu Xian and Sima Yi while standing outside the tent. However, Liu Xian clearly remembers that the people were not speaking loudly, and Sima Yi's tent was a large tent that could accommodate hundreds of people. How could Ren Qiu have heard everything so clearly from outside the tent? Liu Xian finds it hard to believe.

Furthermore, Sima Yi processed everything far too quickly. Generally speaking, the entire process of investigating a case, arresting people, interrogating them, obtaining confessions, verifying their identities, and executing them would take at least four or five days. Yet Sima Yi completed it all in a single day. Moreover, by the time the confessions were delivered to Liu Xian, all the prisoners were already dead. Liu Xian held the confessions without even having the opportunity to question or verify them; how could he possibly determine their authenticity?
Liu Xian had initially thought that perhaps Sima Yi was genuinely unaware of the situation, and had simply failed to keep it a secret from those around him, resulting in an unintentional mistake. Even if he had his reasons for not killing, Liu Xian wouldn't object if he could explain himself clearly and the relevant personnel were to be treated leniently.

Sima Yi's perfunctory approach deeply saddened Liu Xian. It seemed the King of Changsha was truly wary of him; even if he hadn't personally participated, he was at least aware of the matter and had chosen to protect him.

Given this, Liu Xian could not easily agree to Sima Yi's request to rejoin the camp. He privately summoned Li Sheng, Zhuge Yan, and others to discuss the matter, and sighed:

"If the General of the Flying Cavalry doesn't intend to kill, that's fine. But if he does, and I just lead the troops there, he's the ruler, and I'm the subject. If the ruler wants the subject to die, it's just a matter of a word. Even if I had ten mouths, I probably couldn't reason with him. What do you tell me, what should I do?"

Even Liu Xian himself found it unbelievable when he said this. He and Sima Yi had previously worked seamlessly together, weathering such a difficult period together. Yet, in just a few days, their relationship had deteriorated to this point; it was truly unbelievable.

But this is the politics of lost faith; those caught in the vortex will inevitably reach this day. Deep down, Liu Xian had a premonition, but he hadn't expected Sima Yi to realize it so quickly. Perhaps, from the day he chose to ambush Sima Jiong, it was all already destined.

But Liu Xian was not one to wait for death. He already carried too much on his shoulders, and nothing could make him give up his responsibilities and his life until he fulfilled his wish. In the past few days, Li Sheng had also been pondering his relationship with the King of Changsha and had gained some insight. He said, "My lord, there is no need to worry. Putting aside the long-standing friendship between you and the General of the Cavalry, even in these extraordinary times, the General of the Cavalry would not dare to act so recklessly."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Although Li Sheng was only of average or above-average talent in strategic planning and governance, few could match his keen understanding of people's hearts and judgment of the situation. In this respect, Liu Xian trusted him very much.

Li Sheng opened the map and pointed out: "First, Zhang Fang is spying on Luoyang in Hongnong, ready to advance eastward at any time; second, although the Northern Expeditionary Army has been defeated, its strength is still considerable and it is difficult to wipe it out quickly; third, the chaos in Jing and Yang is still rampant and has not been quelled yet; moreover, the court will need time to take over the Eastern Expeditionary Army, reorganize the army, and change personnel."

"All these are concerns in the General's mind. In addition, our lord has won one victory after another in recent years and has a great reputation in the Imperial Guard. Even if the General harbors resentment, he would not rashly eliminate our lord. Therefore, as long as we make the necessary preparations, our lord can still go to see the General."

"Preparations? What preparations?"

Li Sheng glanced at the north and slowly said, "Let's follow the example of the Feast at Hongmen. My lord, you can take a few men to Xingyang. But the men can move, but the army cannot. In this way, even if you have a disagreement with the General of the Cavalry after you go to Xingyang, the General of the Cavalry will not dare to really do anything to you, considering that we still have 10,000 elite cavalry and 20,000 prisoners."

Liu Xian nodded slightly. He understood Li Sheng's meaning. This was actually a disguised way of using the enemy to enhance his own power. If Sima Yi turned against him, he would have to bear the consequences of these 30,000 men switching sides. Whether these 30,000 men joined the Northern Expeditionary Army or the Western Expeditionary Army, it was undoubtedly something Sima Yi could not accept.

But what would they talk about after they got there? At the Feast at Hongmen, Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang was humble and subservient, simply to ease tensions with Xiang Yu and temporarily avoid direct confrontation. He was using this as a pretext to create a situation where he could hold out until Xiang Yu left Guanzhong before sweeping through the region and realizing his grand ambitions.

What he wanted was obvious: an opportunity to leave the court. Now, whether from the perspective of self-preservation or independence, he had no choice but to discuss this matter with Sima Yi.

Thinking of this, Zhuge Yan also said, "Division benefits both sides, while unity harms both. The King of Changsha is a smart man. As long as this is made clear, it will be good for both sides."

Just then, Lu Zhi from Hebei sent a messenger to the Heyuan camp, saying he wanted to negotiate peace with the imperial court. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Liu Xian continued to send messages to Xingyang, claiming he would arrive there with the Hebei envoy. However, due to the significant reinforcements sent from Hebei, his troops dared not act rashly and remained at the Heyuan camp for defensive purposes. After briefly exchanging instructions with Suo Jing and others, on the fourth day after the Battle of Mangkou, Liu Xian and the envoy embarked on the journey to Xingyang.

On the return journey, the snowstorm hadn't stopped, though it had turned from heavy snow the day before to light snow, with only a few snowflakes falling from the sky—better than nothing. The snow was already quite deep, reaching above knee-deep in the fields. Riding through the snow, broken branches lay scattered everywhere, and occasionally a fox or raccoon would dart across, flashing across the snow-covered plain, evoking a sense of loneliness in the observer.

Upon seeing this scene, the envoy couldn't help but murmur: "The north wind withers the green trees, and the white fields stretch endlessly."

He then turned to Liu Xian and said, "It's winter again! Huai Chong, neither of us are young anymore."

The envoy sent by Lu Zhi was none other than General Wang Dun of Guangwu. Last year, when Wang Yan went north, Wang Dun accompanied him to seek refuge with the Prince of Chengdu and was highly valued in Ye City. Now that Lu Zhi wanted to negotiate peace, he took advantage of Wang Dun's status as a son-in-law and appointed him to mediate between the two princes.

Liu Xian and Wang Dun were old acquaintances who had known each other since the Eastern Palace. They often attended gatherings together and had a fairly good relationship. Hearing Wang Dun's感慨 (sentiments/reflections), Liu Xian smiled and said, "So what if I'm young? So what if I'm not young?"

"When you're young, you can still have hope if you waste your time. But when you're old, you toil day and night, not knowing where the road ahead leads." Wang Dun gently stroked his temples, looking at the silver strands in his hair, and slowly said, "My ambitions are hard to fulfill! Lu Shiheng made one careless move and was used by Lu Zidao as the price for peace talks, resulting in the extermination of his entire clan. How lamentable! But at least Lu Shiheng had the opportunity to command troops. But looking at the world, how many people have ambitions but never have the chance to realize them until they die of old age!"

Liu Xian had already learned of the Lu clan's extermination. No matter how much he had previously resented it, this outcome was enough to silence him. But Wang Dun's words also resonated with him: Yes, he was no longer young. Were the connections he had built over a decade of navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom enough for him to realize his ambitions?

The answer is undoubtedly yes; he is never one to go back on his word.

Returning to Wang Dun, Liu Xian was somewhat curious and asked, "What are Chu Zhong's ambitions? I've never heard of them before."

Wang Dun waved his hand dismissively and laughed, "I'm just an idle man now, what ambitions could I possibly have? It would only invite ridicule. But if one day I make a name for myself, you'll understand."

He suddenly turned around and asked Liu Xian, "Huai Chong, do you want to come to the north?"

Liu Xian was taken aback upon hearing this, but then he realized that Wang Dun was inviting him to join the Northern Expeditionary Army. He chuckled and asked, "Why would I want to come to the north?"

Wang Dun pointed south towards Xingyang and laughed loudly, "Haha, you think you can fool me? You probably can't stay in the Central Plains anymore. Come to Hebei, the General said he can make you Grand Commander!"

The Northern Expeditionary Army Commander was well aware of the rift between Sima Yi and Liu Xian. If they could seize this opportunity to recruit Liu Xian into their ranks, it would be tantamount to crippling Sima Yi, something that Lu Zhi and Sima Ying would naturally welcome.

Liu Xian chuckled and shook his head slightly at Wang Dun, saying, "Please thank the General for his favor, but my roots are firmly established here, and I'm afraid I can't leave easily."

"Foundation?" Wang Dun frowned, pondered for a moment, and seemed to understand but not quite. Seeing that Liu Xian was unwilling to explain, he said no more. But after arriving in Xingyang, he finally understood what Liu Xian meant.

Upon learning of Liu Xian's arrival in Xingyang, without any orders, thousands of soldiers braved the wind and snow to greet him outside the county. As soon as they saw Liu Xian's figure on horseback in the distance, before he could say a word, thousands swarmed around him like ants, surrounding him. He merely waved his hand, and a wave of jubilation erupted, with shouts of "Victory!" and the sounds of whistles and arrows filling the air. (End of Chapter)