Jinting Han people

In the days that followed, although Zhang Fang abandoned the siege, he began to intensify the siege of Jinyong City.

Since there was an almost inexhaustible supply of manpower available, Zhang Fang naturally wouldn't let it sit idle. He chose to build earthen mounds again on the foundation of the western fortress, along the north, west, and east sides of Jinyong City by the Gu River. This time, however, they didn't just pile earth at the corners of the walls, but instead, they compacted one independent earthen mound after another, each about three zhang high, several hundred paces away from Jinyong City. Then, they built watchtowers on the mounds, erected fences between them, and gradually connected them into a whole.

This was a massive undertaking, no less difficult than rebuilding the city of Luoyang. When the city gates on the earthen hill had already towered above the Jinyong city walls, even the garrison inside the city was amazed. The officers and soldiers also sensed a huge threat and began to discuss new strategies to defend against the enemy.

As December arrived, on this day, all the generals and officers went up to the city wall together, braving the snowflakes, to observe the progress of the Western Army's fortifications outside the city.

"This is setting up an iron ring!" Zu Ti looked at the bustling crowd not far away, assessed the current siege situation, and analyzed to Liu Xian beside him: "It seems that Zhang Fang is going to continue using his old tricks to force us out of the city for a decisive battle."

After so many battles, it's not hard for everyone to see Zhang Fang's intentions; he's trying to repeat his old tricks. The reason Sima Yi launched a strong attack on Xilei was because Zhang Fang had cut off all escape routes on all sides. He had no choice but to fight Zhang Fang to the death outside the city. Now, Zhang Fang has once again erected mountains around Jinyong City, probably hoping to force Liu Xian to abandon the city and engage in a decisive battle.

But times have changed, and the situation is different now. After capturing Chenggao Pass, Gongsun Gong lit a triangular bonfire on Mangshan Mountain to the north, letting Liu Xian in the city know that they had succeeded. Therefore, he was not flustered and reassured people, saying, "Don't worry, I have already asked the Henan government for help, and Zhu Xugong and the others will surely come to our aid."

"The problem is, when will the reinforcements arrive?" Gou Xi, standing to the side, was not optimistic. He said, "The food in the city will last until January next year at the latest. If they don't come before then, we're afraid we'll run out of food."

After Zhang Fang burned down the granaries in Luoyang, the Imperial Guards only had enough food for two months. After the major defeat, although the army was greatly reduced, a considerable number of refugees poured in, so the food shortage was not alleviated. At most, there was enough food to feed the people in the city for forty days.

Liu Xian was well aware of this. He calculated, "It will take me about three days to send a message to Xuchang. If the governor takes ten days to muster the troops and ten days to march, we will have more than ten days left when we arrive in Yanshi. If we use this time properly, it will be enough for us to break through the city and escape."

Gou Xi wiped the snowflakes off his sleeves, pondered for a moment, and shook his head slightly, saying, "It's hard to say. What if Zhu Xugong and the others are afraid to fight Zhang Fang? You know, it's hard to go against the will of the people. Back then, when the lords of Mengjin attacked Dong Zhuo, didn't they delay for several months without a major battle? Zhu Xugong will indeed send troops, but if he hesitates, then things will be difficult."

This was an extremely pessimistic view, but it wasn't without reason, and everyone's expression changed slightly upon hearing it. However, Liu Kun said solemnly from the side, "The country is at a critical juncture, which is precisely the time for heroes to display their talents. If you are hesitant and want to protect yourself, you might as well go back to the fields and farm. What are you still doing in Luoyang?"

He then added, "If Lord Zhu Xu truly does not fight, I will personally lead the vanguard and pave a path for the court! Life and death are predestined, but I hate that the humiliation has not been avenged!"

Liu Kun was known for his refined conversation, and when he spoke so boldly, Ji Shao exclaimed, "In Luoyang, there are outstanding talents like Qing Sun and Yue Shi. With such a gem before us, we cannot fall behind!" Everyone smiled, and their morale, which had been somewhat low, rebounded amidst the laughter and conversation.

However, we still need to find a way. We can't rely entirely on reinforcements; we also need to leave ourselves a way out. Otherwise, it would be inappropriate to completely hand over the initiative to others.

After pondering for a long time, He Pan finally advised Liu Xian, "Grand Commandant, in my opinion, we should lower ourselves out of the city tonight and seize Tushan."

This suggestion was rather bold, after all, a brief period of peace had just been achieved, and attacking Tushan might lead to defeat. Given the current situation, any loss of troops would be unbearable for the Imperial Guards. Therefore, Liu Xian asked, "What are your thoughts, Lord Xicheng? Perhaps you could offer us juniors some guidance?"

"Hehe, it's hardly guidance, just some old lessons." He Pan stroked his beard and chuckled, then said, "Just now, you all only saw one aspect, not the other. Zhang Fang's chain of earthen mounds does indeed intend to force us to leave the city for a decisive battle, but that's only the first layer of effect. Once our army doesn't engage, he can completely block the way. At that point, even if reinforcements from the east arrive, our army will be too rushed to respond, and he can easily defeat the reinforcements first, then turn around and launch a fierce attack."

He Pan sighed and then said, "Back then, Lu Kang defeated Yang Hu in Xiling in the same way. At the time, we only thought that after capturing Xiling, we could take Jingzhou in one fell swoop, so we told Bu Chan to hold the city and not to rush out. As a result, Lu Kang built a high siege and defeated them one by one, and we suffered such a loss. If we had known this would happen, we would have been better off letting Bu Chan lead the troops north..."

Knowing he had gone off on a tangent, he returned to the current situation and concluded: "Zhang Fangzhi's current strategy is quite similar to that of Xiling. Once he completes the encirclement, the court will be in grave danger! We should take advantage of the fact that he has not yet fully encircled us and not hesitate to use our forces to seize one or two earthen hills as gaps. This way, we can advance or retreat as needed. If reinforcements come, we can provide support; if they do not, we still have a chance to fight back."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Liu Xian also agreed with his opinion. He then assigned the task to Liu Yi, a former subordinate of Zhang Guang, who was renowned for his bravery when guarding Beidi Commandery in his early years. Liu Xian trusted him greatly and selected five hundred warriors to lead out of the city to seize the two earthen hills in the northeast corner. He then ordered Zhang Shi to provide backup outside the city. If Liu Yi succeeded, Zhang Shi would follow; if Liu Yi failed, he would escort him back to the city.

After the discussion was completed, everyone dispersed. Liu Xian, as the commander-in-chief, did not leave. Instead, he inspected the city walls of Jinyong City to boost the morale of the soldiers. After a while, he went up to the watchtower and looked down at the refugees and Westerners not far away.

At this moment, a voice came from behind, saying to Liu Xian, "I'm really surprised that you're willing to come back to fight."

Liu Xian turned around and saw that it was Zu Ti. He smiled and said, "What, you don't want to see me?"

Zu Ti walked straight to his side, leaned on the railing, and said, "Ha, how could that be? It's just that you shouldn't have come back; it wasn't a smart choice."

"Oh?" Liu Xian looked at him and smiled casually, "You think I can't win?"

“Of course not.” Zu Ti tapped the railing with his finger and said, “If everything in the world could be decided by fighting, then many things would be simple.”

As Zu Ti spoke, he turned his gaze to Liu Xian and said, "In the army, people may respect you, but so many officials in the court do not think so. They believe you are the culprit."

Liu Xian did not reply immediately, but he certainly understood what Zu Ti meant.

Since entering politics, Liu Xian had been at odds with many people in Luoyang. First, he offended Jia Mi and the Empress Dowager's faction, then he offended Prince Liang, Sima Tong, and also Sun Xiu and the Prince of Zhao's faction. Later, when he served as the Commandant of the Capital Region, he offended the Prince of Xiyang and others. Although Liu Xian had earned the admiration and respect of many people due to his good political reputation, few were truly willing to form an alliance with him.

As for their true attitude towards Liu Xian, it was probably all whispered behind his back: they said he was feigning aloofness, seemingly independent on the surface, but actually a master of political opportunism, nothing more than a hypocrite. But Liu Xian always disregarded such opinions. He would listen to others, of course, but the final decision was always his own. Others were not him; how could they possibly understand the rights and wrongs involved? Besides, he had already gained the approval of others. Liu Xian was not an unrealistic person. Although he dreamed of unifying the world, he had not yet dared to hope that everyone would like him.

Therefore, Liu Xian said, "Let them talk. If they really had the final say, the situation wouldn't have come to this."

Upon hearing this answer, Zu Ti couldn't help but glance at him sideways: "Aren't you afraid of getting scolded? Do you know what they're saying you're trying to do?"

"What did you say about me?"

"They say you came back this time to fulfill the prophecy of that True Lord of Peace! Once Zhang Fang retires, you will follow Emperor Xuan's example, seize power in the court, and in a few years, you will plot to usurp the throne!"

"Emperor Xuan? Me?" Liu Xian pointed at himself, repeating the words incredulously, then burst into laughter. He truly hadn't imagined that one day he would be compared to Sima Yi. He then said self-deprecatingly, "If I could learn even a fraction of Emperor Xuan's abilities, I would have already blended in with the world, and wouldn't be subjected to their insults!"

“Haha, that’s true…” Zu Ti patted Liu Xian on the shoulder and commented, “Huai Chong, if you could just control your temper, you wouldn’t have gotten into so much trouble.”

What kind of personality do I have?

"Of course, you're the type who loves trouble. Remember when we went to rob the Golden Valley Garden? You went without a word and snatched back a stunning beauty, which startled us. Yue Shi and I said to each other in private, 'We never knew you were such a lecherous wretch, Huai Chong.'"

Speaking of the robbery of Golden Valley Garden in his youth, Liu Xian felt incredibly relieved; it seemed like a long time ago. But he still remembered every detail, everyone's smiles vividly, making him nostalgic. Seventeen years had passed; it felt so long ago, so long that Liu Xian felt he was no longer himself.

At this moment, snow was still falling from the sky. Liu Xian lowered his head and looked down at the land of Luoyang below. Suddenly, he said, "Shizhi, I have something I want to say to you."

"Ok?"

"I've already made up my mind. After this battle, I will leave Luoyang."

"……Where are you going?"

"I'm going to Hedong, and then to Chengdu." Liu Xian turned around, his eyes shining as he looked at his old friend, and asked, "Would you like to come with me?"

There wasn't a breath of wind in the watchtower; in the silence, one could almost hear the sound of snowflakes falling. Behind me were layers of steps, and before me stretched an infinitely vast sky. This was the highest point in all of Luoyang; it seemed that if I were to leap into the air from here, I could soar into the heavens like a wild goose.

Zu Ti nodded slightly; he had completely understood Liu Xian's meaning.

"How about it? With you, me, and Yue Shi together, there's nothing we can't accomplish!" Liu Xian eagerly awaited Zu Ti's answer.

To his disappointment, Zu Ti shook his head and said, "Huai Chong, I still want to stay in the court."

"Why is that?" Although he had expected Zu Ti to give such an answer, Liu Xian was still quite unwilling. He did not think that Zu Ti had any attachment to the court.

"Of course, it's to give myself an explanation." Zu Ti took two steps back, leaned against a pillar, and then looked up at the sky, muttering to himself, "Huai Chong, I have been cultivating my network of connections in Luoyang for more than ten years, during which I have betrayed my promises several times. I did not do this to be a subject of others."

He then said indignantly, "A real man should be an emperor! All those vile people like the Sima clan want to be emperor, so why can't I be one? Life is but a dream, and if I can't get what I want, I've wasted my life as a hero!"

Finally, he said to Liu Xian, "There are countless people in the world who want to be emperor, but they don't know that a true emperor is not only one who fights his way to the top, but also one who is all alone. Although we are friends now, no matter where we go, whether we are in the same boat or go our separate ways, we will never be friends in the end. In that case, why not just settle things once and for all?"

Hearing this, Liu Xian couldn't help but think of Sima Yi. People are often dissatisfied with how fate has arranged for them, and thus try again and again to prove themselves. In truth, everyone is the same; ultimately, right and wrong can only be judged by the outcome. Liu Xian felt a pang of regret, but also a deep sense of kinship. Perhaps the reason he and Zu Ti had become such long-time friends was because of this shared pride.

"Alright!" Liu Xian said, feigning magnanimity. "Shizhi, then I wish you all the best!"

He still felt regretful, of course. Had he not done enough? Without the support of his friends, he always felt a sense of incompleteness. But Liu Xian was not one to dwell on incompleteness for long. He had many things to do, and if he could not defeat Zhang Fang, nothing would be possible. Facing an enemy like Zhang Fang, he had to be fully focused. Liu Xian had no time to think about anything else.

That night, Liu Xian personally supervised the battle from the Hundred-Foot Tower, watching as Liu Yi lowered himself down the tower in a bamboo basket and stealthily made his way towards the watchtower on the earthen hill. Zhang Fang's defenses were tight; Liu Yi had barely reached the top when he encountered a group of sentries, and a fierce battle immediately ensued. Hearing the commotion, the Westerners to the west quickly dispatched a cavalry force heading straight for the attacked hill. Seeing this, Liu Xian immediately ordered Zhang Shi to lead troops to intercept them, and then personally selected five hundred armored soldiers to provide support from the rear.

It was indeed a bloody battle, with both sides suffering extremely similar casualties. Of the three thousand men sent out, nearly a third had perished within an hour or two. However, after Liu Yi captured two adjacent earthen hills, their defenses gradually solidified. Archers, positioned on higher ground, urinated down on the enemy, taunting them and leaving the Westerners feeling deeply humiliated and helpless. The Westerners were running out of arrows, and Zhang Fang, wanting to preserve his strength and unwilling to lose too many soldiers, ultimately withdrew his troops, albeit reluctantly.

This was the last minor battle before the year of Jiazi (304 years in the Chinese sexagenary cycle). After an ordinary, uneventful night, without the sound of bells or the dripping of water clocks, the year of Jiazi quietly descended upon the world. (End of Chapter)