Jinting Han people

In February of the third year of the Tai'an era, the battle in Luoyang had come to an end, but the aftershocks of the battle did not cease.

To outsiders, the battles that took place in the last two months of the second year of the Tai'an era broke many precedents and could even be said to have completely altered the fate of the Jin Dynasty. Zhang Fang's battle forced the death of a regent, triggered a coup in the court, implicated two high-ranking officials and several princes, and ultimately forced the emperor to relocate the capital to Xuchang. Such results were unprecedented, and almost the entire world was discussing the future of the Jin Dynasty.

People couldn't help but think about this. Before this, the Jin dynasty still held a glimmer of hope, believing that if they could weather this storm, things would perhaps get better. But after six rounds of regency—the Three Yangs, the King of Chu, Empress Jia, the King of Zhao, the King of Qi, and the King of Changsha—almost everyone clearly realized that the Jin dynasty's fate was probably nearing its end. Although it wasn't about to perish immediately, the complete disintegration of the empire was imminent.

But how will the situation in the world change? This is a question that truly tests one's wisdom.

After all, the current situation is far too complex and chaotic, and the attitudes of the regional princes towards the imperial court are mostly ambiguous. Furthermore, due to the death of Sima Yi, the Prince of Changsha, many of the governors and prefects he appointed have lost their patrons. Looking across the entire country, it is truly an unknown how many people are still loyal to the imperial court.

Yet, people cannot avoid discussing this issue. Experience shows that chaos always ends eventually, and only one victor ultimately emerges. If one fails to prepare in advance and either follow or become the final victor, the losers will become the heavy price to pay for the unification of the world. Therefore, to avoid becoming stepping stones for others in this chaotic world, wise men throughout the land have begun to do their utmost to contemplate the future.

That afternoon, as dusk fell, Yan Ding, a man from Tianshui, arrived in Shanxian County and went to the county government to announce his name. Then, led by Sima Yun, the heir apparent of the Prince of Hejian, he was able to pay his respects to the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong.

When Yan Ding entered, Sima Yong was having his evening meal. His dinner consisted of a bowl of mushroom and goose soup, a plate of roasted beef heart, and a plate of blanched cabbage. While this was a rare delicacy for commoners, it was quite simple for a regional prince. So when Yan Ding saw Sima Yong's furrowed brow, his first thought was: Had the cook forgot to use salt?

It's no wonder Yan Ding thought that way, because the General Who Conquers the West had an extremely gloomy expression. He kept eating while looking at the papers on the table, chewing as if it were a machine. He didn't really taste the food; he just chewed it up and swallowed it, as if whatever the food in his mouth was just sawdust.

But he quickly ruled out that option. After taking a sip of soup, the King of Hejian seemed to remember something; suddenly, veins bulged on his forehead, and he couldn't help but slam his hand on the table, muttering, "That ungrateful beast!"

Clearly, the King of Hejian was angry because of someone who had betrayed him. He was in a terrible mood, not only unable to taste meat, but also finding it difficult to eat.

Looking up, Sima Yong saw Yan Ding at the door and immediately realized he had lost his composure. His expression changed instantly. He first gave an apologetic smile, then called over a servant who patiently set up a table with food and drink, before inviting Yan Ding to sit down.

Sima Yong was forty-six years old this year. He had a thin face, high-arched eyebrows, a slender figure, and flowing sideburns; he was clearly a quintessential refined scholar. Such scholars possessed a detached air, seemingly unburdened by anything, carefree and unconcerned, which naturally inspired goodwill. Strangely, Yan Ding had just clearly seen that this General Who Conquers the West was now on the verge of exasperation.

Yan Ding, a member of the Yan clan of Tianshui, courtesy name Taichen, currently serves as the chief clerk in the office of Feng Shang, the prefect of Tianshui. He has been ordered to escort grain supplies to Sima Yong. Having been recommended as a scholar and achieving a high ranking of second-rank in his provincial examinations, he is quite renowned in Qin Prefecture. Therefore, upon learning of his arrival, Sima Yong specially summoned him to his residence for an audience. Firstly, he had long admired Yan Ding and wished to cultivate a closer relationship; secondly, the war situation in Qin Prefecture had remained stagnant for some time, and he wanted to inquire about some details.

After exchanging pleasantries, Sima Yong asked, "Minister Tai, is there still no progress on the Shanggui side?"

Since Huangfu Chong, the governor of Qin Prefecture, raised an army last year, the Prince of Hejian, following the advice of his chief clerk Li Han, called upon the governors of all the prefectures in Qin Prefecture to besiege Huangfu Chong, with the victor becoming the governor of Qin Prefecture. Four prefects responded to the order: You Kai, prefect of Jincheng; Han Zhi, prefect of Longxi; Feng Shang, prefect of Tianshui; and Yan Xiu, prefect of Lueyang. They commanded 40,000 infantry and cavalry and began their siege of Huangfu Chong at Shanggui last July.

In comparison, Huangfu Zhong's forces numbered only about eight thousand, a stark disparity in strength. However, just as Huangfu Zhong had boasted to the court, he was prepared for a long-term defense, having long ago repaired the city walls of Shanggui, stockpiled provisions, and implemented a scorched-earth policy. Despite this offensive, six months had passed, and Shanggui had not yet fallen; moreover, it was clear that Huangfu Zhong could hold out for a considerable time.

This was not the outcome Sima Yong wanted to see. Considering the recent changes in the political landscape, Sima Yong's patience was running out.

Yan Ding could sense the King of Hejian's anxiety, but he still explained truthfully: "Your Highness, Huangfu Zhong has been in the army for more than ten years and has pacified Qi Wannian. He can be considered a veteran general. When our army built earthen mounds, he set up repeating crossbows. When our army wanted to attack with earth, he dug underground tunnels. He used all sorts of tricks, and our army could not get close to the city at all. In addition, he has no shortage of food and is quite popular. I'm afraid we really cannot break through the city in a short period of time."

As expected, Sima Yong asked unwillingly, "What if we launch a full-scale attack regardless of casualties? What are the chances of success?"

Yan Ding patiently replied, "Given the treacherous terrain of Shanggui, it's only about 10% possible. Your Highness, you must know that Zhuge Liang's five Northern Expeditions and Jiang Wei's nine expeditions to Longyou failed to capture Shanggui. This is not something that can be forced by human power!"

Sima Yong was well aware of this principle, but upon hearing this answer, he couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment, lamenting, "In chaotic times, we yearn for virtuous men! If Li Shirong were still alive, things wouldn't have come to this!"

From this remark, Yan Ding keenly sensed something amiss. News of the great victory at Luoyang was spreading throughout Guanzhong, hailed as a display of the might of the Western Expeditionary Army. But why did Sima Yong, the victor, appear so grim? Was it merely due to setbacks on the western front? That shouldn't be the case.
Yan Ding was a shrewd man. At this moment, he immediately realized that something unexpected might have happened on the eastern front, causing trouble for the Prince of Hejian. And a problem that troubled the Prince of Hejian naturally concerned the fate of the scholars in Guanzhong, including himself. Since it concerned him, he couldn't remain uninvolved and had to find out the truth. If he could use this opportunity to demonstrate his abilities, he might even be able to use it as a foundation for advancement.

Based on this idea, Yan Ding thought about it for a moment and quickly came up with a plan: instead of asking directly, it would be better to try to get information indirectly.

Therefore, he adopted a serious expression and advised the Prince of Hejian: "Your Highness, why do you say such things? Among all the princes in the world today, you stand out from the crowd. All the scholars in the world look up to you and are eager to serve you. If you become despondent at this time, to whom will the Jin dynasty be entrusted?"

On the surface, this was an admonition to the Prince of Hejian to boost his morale, but in reality, it was a veiled compliment to dispel the Prince's wariness. Sure enough, upon hearing this, Sima Yong's gaze towards Yan Ding softened, and he said with a smile, "Your Excellency is exaggerating a bit."

"Of course, it's not an exaggeration." Seeing that his plan had worked and noticing the map of the Nine Provinces hanging on the wall, Yan Ding decided to add fuel to the fire. He stood up and said, "I wish to discuss the current state of the world. I hope Your Highness will allow me to do so!"

This was also what Sima Yong had been thinking about these days. He nodded and said, "Alright, tell me."

Yan Ding immediately walked to the map and analyzed for the King of Hejian: "Your Highness, the current situation in the world can be summarized in eight words: dragons and tigers are fighting, and wolves are lurking around."

What does this mean?

"'Dragon' refers to the Prince of Chengdu, who is of noble birth and a blood relative of the emperor. Your Highness is the 'Tiger' because among the imperial clan, you are the most outstanding. Looking at the world, the Prince of Chengdu occupies Hebei, and you occupy Guanzhong, both of which are the foundations for a great imperial career. At present, the emperor and the court are practically powerless. As long as one side eliminates the other, no one in the world will be able to resist. This is called the struggle between the dragon and the tiger."

"Then what does it mean to be surrounded by wolves?"

"That naturally refers to the Duke of Dongying in Bingzhou, the Prince of Yuzhang in Qingzhou, the Prince of Dongping in Xuzhou, Wang Jun in Youzhou, Liu Hong in Jingzhou, Zhang Gui in Liangzhou, and Liu Zhun in Huainan. They currently lack the ambition and ability to contend for the throne, but their strength is sufficient to protect their own territories. If they wish to continue growing stronger, they do not want to see you and the Prince of Chengdu settle their differences; rather, they prefer the prolonged struggle." "Therefore, whichever side weakens, they will help that side, taking advantage of the chaos to carve out pieces from the stronger one, gradually growing stronger until they themselves are capable of contending for the throne."

The analogy was indeed very apt. Sima Yong nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Then, according to what you have said, what should I do?"

Yan Ding laughed and said, "Hasn't Your Highness already taken the decisive step? The outcome is already decided!"

Sima Yong asked curiously, "What is the explanation for this?"

Yan Ding nodded and said, “Your Highness won the Battle of Luoyang and defeated the world-renowned Liu Xian. The Prince of Chengdu, on the other hand, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Liu Xian. Isn’t it obvious who is stronger? That’s why I said before that Your Highness is already in a dominant position in the world. Next, Your Highness only needs to first win over and eliminate these wolves, expand your power step by step, and at the same time, clean up the government and unite the people. What difficulty is there in completely eliminating the Prince of Chengdu and establishing an imperial dynasty?”

Yan Ding wasn't exaggerating when he said these things; it was the prevailing opinion among most people in Guanzhong. Before the Battle of Luoyang, the combination of Liu Xian and Sima Yi was virtually invincible, displaying an overwhelming and unstoppable force against any opponent. Even though the court's authority had somewhat diminished, their prestige only increased. Therefore, for a long time, the people of Guanzhong did not believe that the Prince of Hejian could win.

After the year-end, the victory of the Prince of Hejian was a fait accompli. Just like with the attitude towards Emperor Xuan, the victor is never blamed. Thus, the previous pessimistic attitude in Guanzhong turned into a chorus of praise for the Prince of Hejian. Many powerful clans and gentry who had previously remained neutral began to change their attitudes, moving closer to the Prince of Hejian, either providing him with soldiers and provisions or offering him gold and silver as tribute. For a time, it was as if the hearts of the people were with him.

This included Yan Ding himself, who had come to watch. He had not served in office before, but came under the name of Feng Shang, wanting to see for himself whether this famous Prince of Hejian had the magnanimity and courage of a wise ruler.

Judging from the current situation, the King of Hejian is quite shrewd. Even in the face of Yan Ding's flattery, he remains unmoved, instead narrowing his eyes and scrutinizing himself. However, just as Yan Ding had expected, these remarks undoubtedly made the King of Hejian take Yan Ding seriously, prompting him to decide to test him further.

"Alas, unity of purpose between superiors and subordinates..." Sima Yong murmured for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What does the Censor think of Zhang Fang?"

"Your Highness is asking me?"

"Speak freely, what kind of person is he in your eyes?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Ding's heart skipped a beat, and he roughly guessed the crux of the Prince of Hejian's heart ailment. However, he remained outwardly calm, feigning caution as he said, "Your Highness, this... is difficult to comment on..."

"Why is it difficult to evaluate him? Is it because his military achievements are too great? Or because he has too many mistakes?"

“Neither,” Yan Ding gave an impeccable answer: “He is, after all, the marshal chosen by His Highness. No matter what military achievements he has made, or what crimes he has committed, it should be His Highness who makes the judgment. As his subjects, we cannot make any unwarranted comments.”

This statement greatly pleased the King of Hejian. He smiled, nodded slightly, and became even more friendly. Then he sighed and remarked, "What you say is the right path. If Zhang Fang had even a tenth of your understanding, I would be completely satisfied."

He finally revealed to Yan Ding indignantly: "That scoundrel Zhang Fang! He dared to negotiate peace with the court behind my back! Negotiations are one thing! But when I asked him to come and give me an explanation, he made excuses and said it was his duty, and then he didn't move an inch in Luoyang!"

At this point, Sima Yong couldn't help but curse, "That treacherous beast, what is he without me! This old scoundrel who can't even get a fourth-rank official position has actually harbored disloyal intentions! Minister, tell me, how should I deal with him!"

Has the conflict between the two sides escalated to this point? Upon hearing this news, Yan Ding was first shocked, then overjoyed: Zhang Fang had lost Sima Yong's trust, and the power of the Western Expeditionary Army would inevitably be reshuffled. Wasn't this a golden opportunity for them, the newcomers, to take advantage of the situation and rise to prominence?
Therefore, he quickly suppressed his emotions and first analyzed for the King of Hejian: "Your Highness, the time is not right! Liu Bang killed Han Xin only after he had eliminated Xiang Yu. Now you have not completely defeated the King of Chengdu. If you force Zhang Fang to his death, who will serve you in the future?"

Although many people despise Zhang Fang's actions, everyone must acknowledge that he is a rare and exceptional general, perhaps even the greatest general of his time. Forcing such a person to the opposite side would certainly not be a good thing.

This was actually the same issue that Sima Yong had been hesitating about recently. Upon hearing Yan Ding's words, he agreed and asked, "In your opinion, what should I do first?"

Yan Ding's talent was no less than Li Han's, and he quickly replied, "The most urgent matters are nothing more than two strategies."

Which two strategies?

"First, establish authority; second, appoint virtuous and capable individuals."

He then explained, “Your Highness, now the whole world is watching you. You should take care of both civil and military affairs, show the world your ambition to pacify the world, and demonstrate your eagerness to seek out talented people.”

"Currently, Li Ju is the warlord of Hedong, disobeying Your Highness's orders. He has prestige but weak military strength. If Your Highness can quell this without Zhang Fang, the world will naturally attribute the previous military achievements to Your Highness. However, Your Highness has previously relied too heavily on people from Hejian, which has caused much resentment. If Your Highness can correct your past mistakes and promote several people from the poor families and gentry of Guanzhong and Longxi, entrusting them with important responsibilities, you will win the hearts of the people of Guanzhong. Then, what is there to worry about in achieving great things?"

"How can we prevent Zhang Fang from becoming too powerful?" Sima Yong was still worried about this.

Yan Ding simply smiled at this, for he already had a plan: "Zhang Fang's behavior is bound to be unpopular. You can simply bribe the people around him to keep an eye on him. If anything unexpected happens, you can use assassination to get rid of him. Zhang Fang has no one he can trust, so no matter how careful he is, he can't guard against him."

After this exchange, Sima Yong was extremely impressed by both Yan Ding's attitude and his talent. He smiled and said to Sima Yun beside him, "Hey, heaven is still looking out for me. I never expected that after losing Li Han last year, I would gain Yan Ding this year!" His joy was palpable.

The King of Hejian was indeed a ruler who valued talent and was extremely generous. Having said this, he immediately issued an edict promoting Yan Ding to the position of Military Advisor to the Grand Commandant, ordering him to join the staff and participate in various important military affairs. (End of Chapter)