Jinting Han people

After occupying Yiyang, He Pan had to withdraw from Hangu Pass, which allowed Zhang Fang to seize Xin'an and completely open the door to the eastward expansion of Guanzhong.

Zhang Fang knew the importance of speed in warfare. The day after taking over Yiyang, and after the first batch of Western Army took over the two cities, he led only 3,000 Tiger Soldiers and continued eastward, reaching the gates of Luoyang that evening.

At this time, He Pan had just led his army back to Luoyang, and he had more than three thousand cavalrymen under his command, roughly the same number as Zhang Fang's. Someone suggested that, while Zhang Fang was still consolidating his position, they should engage him in battle to dampen his spirits. However, He Pan refused, saying:
“Zhang Fang dared to come with light cavalry, so his men must be the elite of the Western Army, and he has reinforcements. If we advance and fight, we can only delay the enemy for a few moments, and if we lose, we will lose the entire city of Luoyang. The consequences will be unimaginable! The only safe course of action is to arrive first, hold our ground, wait for reinforcements, and stabilize our position.”

He Pan then rallied his troops and retreated to Jinyong City, northwest of Luoyang, while simultaneously occupying the nearby Baichi Tower to begin preparations for defense. However, Zhang Fang arrived far too quickly; He Pan had only managed to gather a small amount of supplies before the vanguard of his Tiger Army had already reached the Xiyang Gate. He Pan was forced to hastily seal off Jinyong City, leaving the rest of Luoyang to Zhang Fang.

Zhang Fang's three thousand elite troops rampaged through the streets of Luoyang, galloping from the outskirts all the way to the city gates. Pedestrians who couldn't escape were either trampled to death by the horses' hooves or hacked to death by the wolf riders' swords. Entering such a prosperous world, these Westerners shouted excitedly, oblivious to the dripping blood from their blades and the stench of flesh beneath their horses' hooves. The onlookers were filled with fear and dread.

Over the past decade or so, Luoyang has seen the rise of countless prominent figures. But whether it was the extravagant displays of wealth like Shi Chong and Wang Kai, or the tyrannical abuses of power like Sun Xiu and Jia Mi, even when it came to killing, basic rules had to be followed. Either they had to secretly use others, or they had to fabricate charges and execute the person publicly. To kill someone so brazenly and arbitrarily in the streets of Luoyang was truly unprecedented.

This aroused the indignation of the people of Luoyang. While avoiding Zhang Fang's cavalry, they cursed inwardly: "What a monster who disregards human life! So barbaric, can he still be called human? He's simply a beast! Good and evil are rewarded accordingly. Let's see how long this evil spirit who can't win people's hearts can stay in Luoyang!"
Zhang Fang was well aware of the curses his actions would bring, but he didn't care. If words could kill, what use were swords and spears? Perhaps as a mockery of the world, after entering the outskirts of Luoyang, he actually seized the White Horse Temple!
He disregarded the fact that this was a sacred Buddhist site for all of Kyushu, and directly expelled all the monks and ascetics from the temple, then used it as his base for conquering Luoyang. He then smugly told his subordinates:
"Haha, the monks in Kansai always advise me to kill less, saying that killing brings sin and I should be careful of the consequences. What a joke! All things in the world are created by nature, yet humans use them for pleasure. Are humans any different? In my opinion, there are too many people in this world. If we don't kill more, where will we get surplus food? Today I will live in this White Horse Temple and take over the whole world!"

Therefore, although Zhang Fang's military law was strict, he disregarded military discipline and even encouraged his soldiers, saying, "If you have any desires, do not hesitate to go and seize them! Go and rob them! Anyone who can obey my orders and kill the enemy on the battlefield is a good man!"

With such a commander, it's easy to imagine how the soldiers will behave.

As for how to control the entire city of Luoyang, Zhang Fang already had a complete plan. He didn't immediately attack the poorly defended Jinyong City, nor did he storm the palace. Instead, he boldly divided his Tiger Army into twelve squads, sealing off all twelve city gates of Luoyang and cutting off all traffic within and outside the city. Anyone attempting to force their way through the city gates, regardless of status, was to behead any man, enslave any woman, and have their valuables confiscated for military use.

After reinforcements arrived, Zhang Fang strengthened the blockade. Then, based on the intelligence he had gathered beforehand, he ordered his soldiers to arrest people indiscriminately within the city. At the same time, he personally led 500 light cavalry into the Luoyang Imperial Palace and headed straight for the Ministry of Personnel.

At this time, Sima Yi sent He Yu, the Minister of Revenue, to remain in Luoyang to oversee affairs. He was stationed in the Ministry of Revenue to be responsible for the logistics of the Imperial Guards.

Upon learning of Zhang Fang's arrival in Luoyang, he felt uneasy but not particularly fearful. After all, there had been several coups in Luoyang over the years, with various armies coming and going, and flags changing on the city walls, yet everyone still adhered to unspoken rules. Unless they met on the battlefield, court officials were generally treated with respect in ordinary dealings. He and Yu thought that even if Zhang Fang was strict, it shouldn't be too excessive.

And indeed it seemed to be so. After Zhang Fang arrived at the Ministry of Personnel, he imitated the manners of court officials, bowing very respectfully to He Yu and asking him, "Greetings, Minister He! The weather has been quite cold lately, is it not a bother?"

Zhang Fang was a large, burly man, and sitting in the cramped seat in the Ministry of Personnel, he looked rather comical. But when he narrowed his eyes, a wolf-like green light flashed within them, and his gaze was unusually cold and stern. When He Yu was looked at by him, the hairs on his body stood on end, and he repeatedly returned the greeting, saying, "General, you are too kind, General, you are too kind."

Zhang Fang smiled again, feigning gentleness, then rubbed his hands together and got straight to the point: "Minister He, I remember that according to the imperial system, the household registration list of the Imperial Guards should be in the Ministry of Personnel! I wonder if I could borrow it to take a look!"

Upon hearing this, He Yu was speechless; he had already guessed what Zhang Fang was up to.

Since the late Han Dynasty, maintaining absolute control over the army has been a major challenge. After all, killing on the battlefield is not only a grueling task, but also a matter of life and death. Even if one survives by chance, being maimed or crippled makes it impossible to live a normal life. Therefore, ordinary people are extremely resistant to military service, and even when conscription is enforced, desertion is common, making it difficult to maintain the size and quality of the army.

To solve this problem, Cao Cao ingeniously invented the "military family system." Once a soldier was enlisted, his family members were also included in the military family register and placed under centralized surveillance as hostages. In this way, even if the war was unfavorable or a defeat was suffered, the soldier had nowhere to escape; returning home would mean being dragged back to the army, and switching sides would implicate his entire family.

This resulted in Cao Wei having extremely strong control over its army. Even though Cao Cao suffered repeated defeats, he was able to survive thanks to the system of retaining aristocratic families. Other warlords, on the other hand, often suffered irreparable defeats. Later, during the Wei-Jin transition, from the Incident at Gaoping Tombs to the Three Rebellions in Huainan, the fierce struggle between the Sima clan and the anti-Sima clan forces focused primarily on the hostages of aristocratic families.

In particular, during the second and third rebellions in Huainan, the Sima clan relied on their prior control of the gentry family members held hostage in Huaibei. This made the Huainan rebels hesitant, leading to a hasty end to their offensives and their eventual defeat without a fight. However, after unification, the country lacked warfare, and the gentry family system gradually fell into disuse, with most military commands no longer enforcing it. But the Imperial Guards in Luoyang, located in the capital region, differed from other military commands and thus maintained a relatively stricter gentry family system.

Zhang Fang's sudden request for the household registration list of the Imperial Guards from He Yu reveals his true intentions.

He Yu was naturally unwilling to hand over the household registration list. After all, in his view, although Zhang Fang had reached Luoyang, it was merely a fluke. Comparing the overall strength of the Western Army and the Imperial Guards, the Imperial Guards were clearly superior. Helping Zhang Fang would not only invite ridicule and accusations of treachery, but also significantly reduce the chances of victory—why bother?
Considering this, He Yu pretended not to know and deliberately stammered, "This...it's not that I'm unwilling to assist the general, it's just that...the General took away the list of imperial guards, I really didn't know...I hope the general won't blame me..."

He had prepared himself for Zhang Fang's wrath, but to his surprise, Zhang Fang chuckled, scratched his hair with his rough fingers, and said, "Hey, what are you saying, Minister! How could I blame you for such a trivial matter? My army still has many things we need your help with after entering Luoyang!"

At this point, Zhang Fang patted his stomach and sighed, "I've been traveling for so long, my stomach is terribly empty. Well then, Minister, let's have a meal first! We have a lot to talk about while we eat."

Zhang Fang waved his hand and said to his subordinates, "We're short on time, so let's skip the complicated stuff. Just make some minced meat and we'll make something more substantial tonight."

Then, he turned around and rambled on to He Yu, "Alas, Minister He, you don't know, I'm not like you, I've been used to hardship since I was a child. When I was thirteen, there was a disaster in Hejian, and my parents and brothers all starved to death, I was the only one who survived. I was so hungry back then, oh! There was nothing I couldn't eat!"

"Later, I joined the army, and life got a little better. I can do without anything, but I can't go without food! Even if the Heavenly Emperor descended to earth, he couldn't stop me. It's still the same today. I hope you won't take offense, Minister."

Upon hearing this, He Yu naturally said he dared not, but in his heart he felt extremely contemptuous. Decades of aristocratic politics had long since instilled a habit of judging people by their social standing, and among civil and military officials, there was a common practice of praising the virtuous and belittling those of noble birth. Now that he knew Zhang Fang came from a poor background and had risen through the ranks of the army, he couldn't help but look down on him, probably regarding him as an unteachable barbarian like the Hu people.

After the two exchanged some nonsense, the palace maids finally brought out the minced meat, and each of them filled a bowl.

Then Zhang Fang continued chatting with He Yushu, this time about food: "What does the Master think is the most delicious delicacy in the world?"

He Yu's talent was actually average, but when it came to food, he was indeed very experienced. After all, He Yu had served as Jia Mi's advisor and was one of the Twenty-Four Friends. He spent many years in the Golden Valley Garden, and with Shi Chong's wealth, he had naturally tasted delicacies from all over the country, and could name them all like the back of his hand. He immediately counted on his fingers and said, "Pufferfish is delicious, bear paw is tender, lamb is smooth, and venison is sweet. But if we're talking about the best, with all five flavors combined, then it has to be the goose gizzard steamed with human milk at Wang Ji's house. Even Emperor Wu praised it highly after tasting it!"

"Oh?" Zhang Fang's eyes lit up, and he stroked his chin as he asked, "I wonder where the Prince is now?"

"The prince contracted tuberculosis seven years ago and has passed away."

"Alas! What a pity! What a pity! I'm so unlucky to have such a delicious meal!"

Zhang Fang shook his head, picked up the bowl again, and asked He Yu with a smile, "Then, in your opinion, Minister He, what do you think of my minced meat?"

He Yu immediately took a sip, and upon tasting it, he couldn't help but be taken aback. It must be said that the minced meat was indeed well made. The meat was tender and smooth, and the seasonings such as dogwood and pepper were just right. Not only did it not have a fishy smell, but it also brought out the sweetness of the meat itself. It could truly be called a top-quality dish.

"Can the Minister discern what ingredients were used?"

He Yu took another spoonful and felt that the meat was similar to calf meat, but with a slight difference. However, he couldn't quite put his finger on it, and could only shake his head with a smile, repeatedly saying that he didn't know.

"Oh dear, how could the Minister not know? Have a couple more sips. I put a lot of thought and effort into getting this."

As he said this, Zhang Fang finished the minced meat in his bowl, then ladled out another bowl from the pot, and said with a light smile, "Your daughter is truly lovely. A girl as lovely as her must be very nourishing!"

Upon hearing this, He Yu was struck dumb. He tried his best to maintain a smile, but his body swayed slightly. He struggled to hold the bowl and spoon in his hands and stammered, "General, General, please don't joke!"

"I'm not joking! This is a great gift I'm presenting to the Minister!" Zhang Fang's eyes widened as he waved to his subordinates, saying, "Quickly let the Minister see his beloved daughter! It wasn't easy for me to come all the way to Luoyang!"

Soon, his men brought out a lacquered tray with the head of a young girl on it; the agony she suffered before her death left her with her eyes wide open.

Zhang Fang laughed again, "Alas, luckily I arrived in time; otherwise, it would have been a waste! Minister, don't you think so?"

But how could He Yu possibly reply at this moment? After staring at his daughter's face, he couldn't believe it at all. He immediately dropped the bowl and spoon to the ground, and then a wave of nausea rose from the inside out. He started vomiting and soon vomited all over the ground. As he vomited, He Yu hugged his head and cried, no longer daring to look up.

Amidst the stench of vomit, Zhang Fang remained unmoved, seemingly quite content. He drank one bowl, then immediately asked for another. He then inquired, "Would the Minister like to try some more? I see several others in your household who would be suitable!"

In this way, Zhang Fang successfully obtained the household registration list of the Imperial Guards' families. That night, he ordered his men to distribute the list and have the soldiers take it to each household to find people. Anyone on the list was to be driven to Heyin, and anyone who disobeyed was to be killed.

Meanwhile, Zhang Fang sent messengers to Yanshi and Gongxian to spread the word that he had taken control of all the families of the Imperial Guard soldiers. Anyone who failed to reunite with their family in Heyin by mid-November would be charged with treason, and Zhang Fang would have their entire family beheaded, their bodies cut into pieces and thrown into the Yellow River to feed the fish, ensuring they died without a proper burial.

The moment this news was released, the citizens of Luoyang were stunned and terrified. Although Cao Cao's invention of the "shijia" system brought endless suffering and trouble to his soldiers, he still had to make it sound respectable on the surface, claiming it was to take care of their families, and dared not directly use the hostages as leverage.

Especially now, when the two sides are merely fighting a civil war, how can they maintain power if they go to such extremes? It should be noted that in the past decade or so of coups, no army has ever crossed this line and actively extended the war to the families of its soldiers.

This time, however, the precedent was broken. Zhang Fang's unprecedented brutality shocked the entire city of Luoyang. When the news reached the Imperial Guards, it quickly caused unprecedented panic and unrest.

However, there was a small incident. After making the necessary arrangements, Zhang Fang suddenly remembered something and asked Zhi Fu, "Brother, do you know where the Duke of Anle's mansion is?"

Zhi Fu was taken aback at first, but after a moment's thought, he vaguely understood Zhang Fang's intention and asked, "You mean..."

Zhang Fang clicked his tongue and then pointed out, "Oh dear, Liu Xian is a big problem. It's best to deal with him using other methods."

The greatest threat to the Imperial Guards, needless to say, is Liu Xian, the enemy commander. Rather than fighting and winning against this renowned general, it would be better to first control his family and then use them as leverage to make him hesitant to act.

This was indeed a solution, but the Duke of Anle's residence wasn't in the city, but rather in the eastern suburbs of Luoyang. When they sent troops to arrest the Duke of Anle, they found the mansion completely empty.

What happened? After inquiring around, it was learned that Duke Liu Xun of Anle had long been worried that his son had made too many enemies. It was fine as long as there was no bloodshed, but what if a major war broke out and the chaos, like the great turmoil in Chengdu, affected him? So, Duke Liu Xun had taken precautions and moved all the important things to the Dongwu Villa in Yanshi.

Upon hearing the news that Zhang Fang and his Western Army had entered the city, before Zhang Fang could even seal the city gates, Anle Gong realized that something was terribly wrong. He made a snap decision, grabbed two carts, and fled with his entire family, giving Zhang Fang no chance to capture him.

Upon receiving the report, Zhang Fang was speechless for a long time before finally saying, "Wow, the style of Duke Anle is quite like that of our ancestors!"

The Western Army is currently preoccupied with other matters and cannot afford to send troops specifically to attack a fortified village. This would be a waste of manpower and time, and there's no guarantee of success. Therefore, the matter was left unresolved. (End of Chapter)