Jinting Han people

On their way to Hedong, Liu Xian and his group encountered some unexpected events.

According to the original plan, he would spend one day crossing the river, three days traveling through Hanoi County, then westward through Zhiguan Pass, and then another eight or nine days traveling out of Wangwu Mountain. The entire journey was expected to take about fifteen days. That is, around the Jiawu day of the second month, he would be able to reach Anyi, the county seat of Hedong County.

But that's life; there are always unexpected situations. It's impossible for everything to go smoothly. Liu Xian had long been used to this since he was a child.

Firstly, this year's ice jam season arrived later than usual, causing Liu Xian and his group to encounter the thawing of the river just as they were preparing to cross, making all boats impassable. Standing on the bank, people saw the raging torrent in the valley, the turbid water carrying broken trees and ice fragments along the way, making thunderous noises as it rolled eastward down the slope.

"The river flows swiftly and turbulently, but the northward crossing is difficult due to its rapid current."

Liu Xian recited Emperor Wu of Han's "Song of the Gourd" once, and then had to wait on the south bank of Mengjin for five or six days. During this wait, he was quite worried, because Zhang Fang was still stationed in Henan County. If his scouts discovered him here and prematurely revealed his whereabouts, the subsequent journey into Guanzhong might not be smooth. Fortunately, until the river returned to calm and nothing unusual was found behind them, they still managed to cross the river safely.

After crossing the river, Hanoi County was still under the control of the Northern Expeditionary Army. However, the Northern Expeditionary Army was severely weakened after the Battle of Mangkou. Although Lu Zhi attempted to regroup in Shanyang, only three months had passed and little progress had been made. Therefore, the defenses of the counties in Hanoi remained relatively weak. The county magistrates, fearing Liu Xian's reputation, had no intention of offending him. As long as Liu Xian did not approach the county seat, they ignored him and allowed him to pass freely.

However, after entering Zhiguan Pass, Liu Xian encountered a new unexpected problem: the mountain road was blocked.

Over the past two years, thanks to the efforts of Sun Xi and Xue Xing, the roads at Zhiguan Pass had been repaired to some extent and were passable. However, after six months of war, the trade route at Zhiguan Pass was cut off again, and the roads fell into disrepair. Logically, at most, the roads would just be overgrown with thorns and become more difficult to traverse. Unexpectedly, the winter snowfall was so heavy that by the time Liu Xian entered the mountains, the melting snow had caused landslides in many areas of the mountain paths, completely blocking the way.

This unexpected turn of events forced Liu Xian to take a longer detour, and the continuous drizzle made the land damp. As a result, it took Liu Xian a full fourteen days to reach the territory of Dongyuan. When the people of Dongyuan saw Liu Xian and his party, they were covered in dust, their faces were tired, even their horses were thin from hunger, and their boots were covered with snow and mud that had not yet dried.

However, their arrival was quite timely. Sun Xi had just received a letter from Li Ju and was also working on road repairs when he happened to run into Liu Xian. Overjoyed to see him again after two years, Sun Xi immediately escorted Liu Xian and his party to the county town and arranged for their food and lodging.

Located deep in the mountains, Dongyuan naturally lacked abundant produce, and the diet consisted mainly of simple foods like wheat porridge and sunflower greens. Sun Xi originally wanted to bring some more cured meat, but Liu Xian refused, saying with a smile, "There's plenty of time in the future. Now is the time to share joys and sorrows, so let's not be too special."

So Sun Xi found a pot of turbid wine, poured a cup for the more than one hundred staff officers and generals who accompanied him, and they all drank together while looking at the endless rain and the distant, undulating green mountains.

Liu Xian then asked Sun Xi about the situation in Hedong. Sun Xi replied that he was located deep in the mountains and only corresponded with Li Ju about once a month, so he was not very familiar with the latest developments. He only knew that last month, things were peaceful in Hedong, and people were busy with spring plowing, but news about the war in Luoyang had caused a lot of public opinion, and many people were pessimistic about the future.

Speaking of this, Liu Xian recalled that when the righteous army was defeated at Xilei, many of its troops broke through the encirclement and fled, their whereabouts unknown. Liu Xian asked Sun Xi if any of them had returned through Zhiguan. Sun Xi nodded, saying that some people had indeed passed through, but their numbers were small, probably around a thousand. The leaders seemed to be Suo Lin and Huangfu Dan, among others. After leaving Hedong, they all went to join Liu Shen, the governor of Yongzhou. Much of the news about Luoyang in Guandong came from them.

Upon learning that Suo Lin and the others were still alive, Guo Song felt a sense of disdain. He sneered, "Running away so fast that you didn't even see your father one last time, what a filial son!"

In an era where filial piety is paramount, this was a very serious accusation. Liu Xian coughed and corrected himself, saying, "At that time, there was chaos and war. We were barely able to protect ourselves. Who could know the details about the others? Don't be too harsh."

After all, Liu Xian's return to Hedong was aimed at restoring his kingdom, and he needed to unite every available force. While the desertion of these righteous soldiers caused Liu Xian a heavy loss, they had no prior relationship with him as ruler and subject; their journey of thousands of miles to serve the court was already extremely commendable. To expect them to fight to the very end and die for their country was perhaps too much to ask.

For Liu Xian, there are many issues to consider now, the main one being to formulate a practical long-term strategy to ensure the future development of his power.

It must be understood that the current situation is different from that of two years ago when Liu Xian plotted to seize Hedong. When Liu Xian persuaded Li Ju to become the governor of Hedong, the regent of the court was still Sima Jiong, the Prince of Qi, who was at loggerheads with the Prince of Hejian, and a major war between the east and west was imminent. Therefore, Liu Xian planned to use Sima Jiong's prestige as a base to gradually take over Guanzhong.

Now, however, the power in Guandong is fragmented. Zu Ti, far away in Xuchang, is powerless to help, Sima Ying in Yecheng is unlikely to assist him, and Sima Teng, the governor of Bingzhou, is the younger brother of Sima Yue, the Prince of Donghai. Furthermore, the Prince of Hejian, whom he must contend with, has further consolidated his rule over Guanzhong following his victory in the Battle of Luoyang. Surrounded on all sides, Hedong has become virtually an isolated island, its strategic situation extremely dire.

Therefore, Liu Xian must improve his situation. If he continues to act according to the original strategy, he will probably only bring trouble upon himself.

In fact, Liu Xian wasn't the only one who realized this. After leaving Luoyang with Liu Xian, most of his advisors knew that their fates were now intertwined with his, sharing both joy and sorrow. Therefore, along the way, they were also contemplating their next steps.

On the very night Liu Xian arrived in Dongyuan, three people came to offer him advice.

The first to arrive was Fu Chang. As Liu Xian's cousin-in-law, he wasn't at all awkward. After taking his seat, he discussed things with Liu Xian:
"My lord, the Prince of Hejian and the Prince of Chengdu previously allied to enter Luoyang. Now that the Prince of Hejian has gained all the benefits, the Prince of Chengdu is bound to be dissatisfied. Why don't we send someone to contact the Prince of Chengdu, sow discord between the two, and pretend to submit to him as our master? As long as we can get the Prince of Chengdu's support, we can be free from worries about our rear in Hedong. At that time, I will contact the gentry in Guanzhong for you. Defeating the Prince of Hejian will be a piece of cake, won't it?"

The second to arrive was Xi Jian. He first opened up his heart to Liu Xian, and then analyzed things with him:
"Since the court has appointed you, my lord, as General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Governor of Liang and Qin provinces, you should proceed openly and honorably in accordance with the court's decree. After all, the current Prefect Zhang of Liang province and Prefect Huangfu of Qin province are both considered loyal ministers. With this as your base, you can establish a foothold in Longyou and Hexi, first by improving internal governance, and then by forging alliances with the Western Rong tribes. On the other hand, a wicked man like the King of Hejian is unpopular and will inevitably cause internal strife in the long run. At that time, you, in your high position, can subdue the rebellious with the righteous; who can stop you?"

The last person to arrive was He Pan. This old man spoke very concisely, without going into much detail about the cause and effect, simply saying:

"I've heard that Li Xiong has become quite powerful in Shu. In a few years, he will control all of Shu and march on Hanzhong. Our homeland will no longer belong to you, my lord! You really need to figure out where you truly belong!"

Three people offered three completely different suggestions, representing three entirely different strategic directions. Not only did Liu Xian find it absurd, but even Cao Shangrou, who was packing clothes behind the scenes, found it both funny and absurd.

After Liu Xian saw He Pan off and returned to the house, A Luo asked him, "Why did three people come, but you didn't give a definite answer? What are your plans for the future?"

It was already late when Liu Xian took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. He lay down and said, “Shidao is from a prominent family in the north and cares about his hometown, so he wants me to pacify Guanzhong as soon as possible; Daohui is an upright man who likes the grand way, so he hopes I will go to Guanzhong and uphold the righteousness of the court in everything; He Gong’s thoughts are even simpler. He is old and frail and probably won’t live to see the unification of the world, so he hopes I will restore the country as soon as possible.”

A'Luo then got into bed and, after a long time, leaned against her husband's chest. She asked curiously, "So, who do you think is right?" "They are both right, and neither is right." Liu Xian stroked his wife's smooth back and sighed, "You can't jump to conclusions about everything. It's like people changing clothes; everyone has their own needs and can't be generalized."

"The current situation is unclear, and I need to understand the attitudes of all parties before I can make a final decision."

Based on the information currently available, Liu Shen, the governor of Yongzhou, Huangfu Zhong, the governor of Qinzhou, and Zhang Gui, the governor of Liangzhou, should all be dissatisfied with Sima Yong's rule. However, nothing is absolute; dissatisfaction does not equate to willingness to contribute to overthrowing Sima Yong. Liu Xian does not know the extent to which they are willing to oppose the Prince of Hejian; he does not know their strength; he does not even know his own strength in Hedong; not to mention the attitudes of the Tuoba Xianbei, Yang Maosou, Li Xiong, and other forces.

Therefore, even though Liu Xian already had some ideas in mind, he didn't reveal them. He planned to announce them to everyone after meeting Li Ju and gaining a basic understanding of the situation in Guanzhong.

The next morning, Liu Xian and his companions bid farewell to Sun Xi and embarked on the final leg of their journey into the pass.

By this time, the rain had finally stopped, the road gradually became smoother, and the snow along the way had melted away. The sky was high and the clouds were light, a stream murmured in the valley, and the surrounding green mountains embraced everything. All things were reviving, and the breeze carried the fragrance of various mountain flowers, intoxicating the senses, as if one were wandering in a fairyland. Reaching higher in the mountain, one could also hear the faint sound of flutes and drums, lingering in the air, as if celestial beings from heaven were whispering to one.

Finally, one morning three days later, they crossed a mountain ridge, and suddenly a vast expanse opened up before them: bathed in a golden, joyful light, a clearly visible green field appeared at their feet. Paths stretched across the field, the river flowed like a mirror, and black cart tracks connected the scattered villages. People rode horses along the roads, and farmers weeded and watered the fields. Tranquil and peaceful, untouched by worldly strife, it truly resembled the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss described in the Infinite Life Sutra.

After six months of fierce fighting, Liu Xian hadn't seen such familiar open fields in a long time. He knew he had arrived in the Hedong Basin, and felt as happy as a swallow returning to its nest in spring. He thought to himself: No matter what difficulties I encounter in the future, from this moment on, I am in control of my own destiny.

It was the morning of February 15th (戊申). Nearly a month after setting off from Luoyang, Liu Xian finally emerged from Wangwu Mountain. After walking for another half an hour, they arrived at Wenxi County, the closest county to the mountain pass. They prepared to replenish their supplies before continuing their journey to Anyi.

Upon seeing a large army suddenly appear outside the city, Gao Min, the magistrate of Wenxi, was startled, thinking it was Zhang Fu's army from Fengyi attacking. He quickly prepared to close the city gates and hold out. It wasn't until Liu Xian's messenger arrived at the city walls with a message that he realized it was the newly appointed Duke of Anle. Overjoyed, he immediately reopened the city gates and informed Liu Xian:
"My lord, Zhang Fu of the Western Army is mobilizing troops to besiege Anyi. You must think of a solution quickly!"

"The Western Army has already invaded? What about Shi Hui?" Liu Xian was surprised once again. He had just seen the peaceful scene in the countryside and thought that Hedong was still at peace. He did not expect that war had broken out here as well.

"That's a long story..." Gao Min didn't dare to delay, and took Liu Xian's reins with one hand, and began to explain the latest situation in Hedong to Liu Xian.

By the time Liu Xian arrived at the county government, he had roughly figured out what had happened:
"You mean, Shi Hui left a large force to defend the prefecture, while he led nine thousand men to attack Fengyi. Zhang Fu, on the other hand, abandoned Fengyi and crossed the river to attack Hedong. Because his attacks on the other counties were unsuccessful, he is now concentrating his forces to attack Anyi?"

"Yes, there are three thousand garrison troops in Anyi City, which is not a small number. But it is said that the Western Army has a large number of troops, so we dare not send troops."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian's expression turned serious. Anyi County was the seat of the Hedong prefecture, and its importance was paramount. If it fell into the hands of the Western Army, the consequences would be unimaginable. He immediately said to Zhuge Yan, "Nan Qiao, take several dozen cavalrymen and go to find out the details of Anyi. Remember to take my flag and also inform the surrounding fortified villages that I have returned."

Then he said to the rest of the soldiers, "You should rest immediately! Be prepared, as we may have a tough battle within three to five days."

Engaging in battle with the Western Army so soon was certainly not what Liu Xian wanted. He knew that although he had nearly six thousand soldiers under his command, most were exhausted from long campaigns. Even with their extensive combat experience, men weren't made of iron and needed time to recover their strength. But time was of the essence, and under these circumstances, Liu Xian had no choice but to begin devising a viable strategy to defeat the enemy.

Unexpectedly, the next morning, while Liu Xian was still studying the map and terrain, Zhuge Yan returned with a puzzled expression. He said to Liu Xian, "Your Highness, it seems we don't need to fight anymore."

"what happened?"

"The rebel army has lifted the siege and retreated."

"Huh?!" Liu Xian was also puzzled. He had studied Zhang Fu's formation and, seeing the other side's serious and determined look, thought things wouldn't end well. But the war was over before a single battle even began? How did this happen?

The answer was soon revealed. Half a day later, the Western Army sent a messenger saying that Prefect Zhang had a letter to deliver to Liu Xian.

Liu Xian took the letter and read it. He first couldn't help but chuckle, and then burst out laughing.

It turned out that Zhang Fu was greatly alarmed when he learned that Liu Xian had arrived in Hedong. After thinking it over, he thought that Li Ju's departure from Hexi was a conspiracy by Liu Xian to lure him into attacking Hedong, and then to gather and annihilate him.

Zhang Fu wrote this letter to tell Liu Xian that he had seen through Liu Xian's plan and would not fall into his ambush. He also emphasized in the letter that his advance withdrawal was so that the two armies could face off in battle next time, soldier against soldier and general against general, to see who was more skilled.

This was clearly a misunderstanding. People say "to see a snake in a cup's shadow," and Zhang Fu wanted to use Zhang Fang's power to trick the gentry of Hedong into surrendering, but he didn't expect that he would fall into Liu Xian's trap of "seeing a snake in a cup's shadow."

This wasn't something Liu Xian deliberately did; it was the result of years of accumulated power. When enemies saw Liu Xian, they easily associated it with defeat, then with why they had failed, and began to consider how to avoid such a defeat. Ultimately, this led to situations like Zhang Fu, who, despite holding the advantage, feared non-existent risks and voluntarily retreated.

What a surprise! In the past ten years or so, Liu Xian had mostly encountered unfortunate accidents. He almost never hoped for good fortune in the middle of his life, always preparing for the worst. Unexpectedly, this time, heaven's favor came so quickly! So much so that Liu Xian had never experienced anything like it before. Perhaps, this is the benefit of years of honing his skills.

"Let's go!" Liu Xian put down the letter and then gave the order to his soldiers: "Since we don't need to fight anymore, let's go to Anyi to rest."

This journey of over a thousand miles came to an end because of this unexpected event. (End of Chapter)