Jinting Han people

After Zhang Shi left, Chencang began preparations again in earnest. As instructed by Liu Xian, apart from Xi Jian leading 3,000 troops to remain in Chencang and Sanguan, the remaining immigrants were to leave Chencang within ten days. The troops were divided into three groups, and according to the agreement with Yang Maosou, they escorted the immigrants to the three newly repaired cities for temporary lodging.

The next leg of the journey is over 800 li (approximately 400 kilometers), and Liu Xian estimates it will take about a month to settle the immigrants. Afterward, he will use Wuxing City as his base of operations, first conquering Ju County, and then attacking Hanzhong.

However, before that, Liu Xian had to deal with the last worry, which was Qiu Chi.

Among the many forces in Guanzhong, the Qiuchi Baima Di might not be the weakest, but it was certainly the most overlooked. Yang Maosou, who styled himself Great Chanyu and was a General Who Assisted the State, held considerable renown, yet the two prefectures he controlled, Wudu and Yinping, were notoriously barren and desolate. The mountain roads were rugged, the forests dense, and venomous snakes and tigers were frequent roaming the area; apart from a few river valleys, it was practically uninhabitable. This resulted in a population of only fifty to sixty thousand within the two prefectures.

The sparse population alone is already lamentable. Geographically, the two prefectures are even less significant. To the west lie the Kunlun Mountains and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a desolate and uninhabited area except for a very small number of Qiang people—truly unclaimed land. To the north lies the Longshang Plateau, to the south the Yinping Trail, and to the east the treacherous Yangping Pass. These trails are all difficult to traverse, far less arduous than the Longdao Road of Lueyang or the plank roads of Hanzhong.

Given this, with its small population, inconvenient transportation, and insignificant geographical location, it's no surprise that the Qiu Chi faction, which dominates the area, would be overlooked.

But Liu Xian knew that everything varied from person to person. To others, Qiu Chi might be insignificant, but to him, it was a matter of fundamental importance.

Firstly, from the current perspective, I have led my people on a long migration and have not yet conquered Hanzhong, so I have no land of my own. It was only because the Bai Ma Di lent me land that I had a temporary place to settle down. Therefore, without the cooperation of Qiu Chi, this long migration would not have been possible.

Once Hanzhong is captured, Qiuchi and Hanzhong will be adjacent to each other, forming a pincer movement. In other words, without the support of the Yang family of Qiuchi, Liu Xian would likely find it difficult to establish himself in Hanzhong Commandery, and even if he were to gain control, he would likely lose it quickly.

Therefore, Qiu Chi is Liu Xian's most important ally at present, without exception.

Just as there is no love without a reason, there are no allies without a reason. If one takes the other's efforts for granted, any alliance will be difficult to maintain. So far, the Yang family has agreed to all the requests made by Liu Xian and Qiu Chi in their communications. And these efforts clearly require a return. Although they haven't made any requests yet, this precisely demonstrates how great their desires are.

What exactly did they want? Liu Xian had a general idea. However, this matter was of great importance; if not handled properly, it would not only affect the present but also the development of Liu Xian's power over the next few decades. Liu Xian had to be extremely cautious. Therefore, before setting off, Liu Xian planned to talk to Yang Nandi first.

So that afternoon, Liu Xian invited Yang Nandi to his home for dinner.

Yang Nandi was an idle man in the army, with nothing to do on a daily basis. When he heard that Liu Xian had invited him, he readily agreed and came over. Then he was surprised to find that Liu Xian had not invited him to dine in the main hall, but in an inner room, where it was just the two of them.

It was late autumn, and the room was poorly lit. Several candles were lit on the table, and five or six steaming dishes were laid out. The two men exchanged a glance, and Yang Nandi knew that the other had something important to discuss. So he laughed and sat down.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he said, half-jokingly and half-complainingly, "Huai Chong, in all your busy schedule, why did you think of me? With so many things to do, I thought you had forgotten about me."

Liu Xian apologized, saying, "Brother Yang, what are you saying? I am truly moved that you came from afar without holding a grudge. The fact that hundreds of thousands of people were able to arrive here safely is inseparable from your repeated assistance. I just didn't know how to thank you, so I hesitated for a moment."

"Hey, hey, Huai Chong, that's just being polite." Yang Nandi waved his hand and said with great magnanimity, "What relationship do our two families have? This is only natural, why be so polite?"

Seeing the wine cups and wine on the table, he immediately poured himself a cup, took a sip, and continued, "Back when Marshal Ma Chao was alive, my great-grandfather (Yang Qianwan) followed Marshal Ma Chao all the way to Xingguo in Tianshui County. How impressive! Unfortunately, he was later defeated by Xiahou Yuan, and my great-grandfather could only follow Marshal Ma Chao to the south to join the First Emperor. At one point, even Qiuchi was lost. At that time, he was truly filled with fear and anxiety."

“Back then, the North and South were vastly different. Who could have imagined that when Prime Minister Zhuge was in power, during the third Northern Expedition, he would lead us back to Qiuchi? Even when my grandfather (Yang Feilong) was still alive, he would often talk about that kindness! Look, my family still has the gold seal bestowed by your grandfather!”

At this point, Yang Nandi immediately took out a gold seal with a tortoise-shaped knob from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Xian. Sure enough, it was engraved with the four characters "Baiqing Di King" and the four characters "Yan Han Jianxing" on the side. Just by looking at the style, you could tell that it was very old and should not be a fake.

Yang Nandi put the golden seal back into his sleeve, then patted Liu Xian on the shoulder and said in a serious tone, "It's quite a coincidence that my family has only recently returned to our hometown, and you've regained your freedom. What does this mean, Huai Chong? It means it's the will of Heaven! Our two families have been friends for centuries, and if we can't even be loving and affectionate towards each other, what else can we trust? Come, Huai Chong, have a drink!"

"Yes, that's true." Faced with Yang Nandi's enthusiasm, Liu Xian was a little overwhelmed, but what Yang Nandi said was also true, and he couldn't refute it. The two families had indeed had a long history of interaction. It was just that by their generation, they had only met a few times, and the two had only become truly acquainted recently.

Yang Nandi toasted Liu Xian a few more times, then drank nearly a dou (a unit of volume) of wine himself, and then said, "Huai Chong, weren't you worried about the lack of provisions during the military meeting a few days ago? Over the years, our Qiuchi has accumulated 500,000 hu (a unit of volume). If you need it, we can give it to you."

"Hey, how can this be?" Liu Xian said, "As the saying goes, one should not accept rewards without merit. These days, I have always been taken care of by Lord Yang, but I haven't been able to help him much. I feel guilty and can't accept this."

"Huai Chong, you're too kind! Given the relationship between our two families, this is hardly a favor. You'll have to drink the penalty cup!"

Yang Nandi watched as Liu Xian drank another cup and became somewhat tipsy. Then, emboldened by the alcohol, Yang Nandi said, "Our Qiuchi is a poor and remote place. We don't need so much grain and fodder. To be honest, before we came here, my father told me that he only had one wish in his life that he had not fulfilled."

"What is your wish?" Liu Xian asked knowingly.

"It's to strengthen the ties between our two families through marriage! My father told me that he only has one daughter, and he cherishes her dearly. My younger sister is extremely fond of you, saying that she has no other choice but to marry you. So, we're thinking of marrying my sister to you..."

He paused deliberately, glanced at Liu Xian, and then said firmly:
"To be the legal wife."

Before hearing those three words, Liu Xian had some things he wanted to say, but at this moment, he was speechless. Yang Nandi took another sip of wine. In fact, he was not drunk at all, but he still took the opportunity to say, "Huai Chong, I'm telling you the truth. Don't find it hard to hear."

"Brother Yang, please speak freely."

"Huai Chong, you are destined to inherit the Han dynasty and rebuild the state. It would be inappropriate to make Cao a successor. How will you face your ancestors during future sacrifices? What will the people of the world think? Moreover, I have heard that Cao has no sons. If you become emperor, the empress will have no legitimate son. Isn't that a joke? After establishing a foundation, are you going to let a son of a concubine rule the world? This will bring disaster to future generations! You must think this through carefully."

Yang Nandi then added, “Since ancient times, the importance of establishing an empress has been self-evident. When the First Emperor first established the country, he specially married Empress Wu. Why? Because Empress Wu was the widow of Liu Mao and the widowed sister-in-law of Liu Zhang. By establishing Empress Wu, the First Emperor could show that he was being lenient towards Liu Zhang’s regime and thus appease the people of Ba and Shu.”

Yang Nandi paused again, allowing Liu Xian time to consider. Although he didn't explicitly state it, Liu Xian understood his meaning: if Liu Xian married Yang Hui'ai as his principal wife, thus solidifying the relationship between the two families, then the entire kingdom of Qiuchi would be completely integrated into Liu Xian's power, obeying only his commands, and not merely remaining an ally. However, if Liu Xian was unwilling, then the relationship between the two families would need to be reassessed.

This presented Liu Xian with a major dilemma, as this condition was something he found difficult to accept.

He could certainly marry Yang Hui'ai; given their past, there wouldn't be much of a grudge between them. However, to appease Lady Yang of Qiuchi by stripping A'Luo of her position as the principal wife was something Liu Xian would absolutely refuse to agree to.

He and A'Luo were husband and wife since childhood, marrying at fifteen and remaining together for nineteen years, weathering many hardships together. Although they only had one daughter, their love for each other was unquestionable. As the saying goes, "The love left behind in the Southern Garden, the deep affection for the old sword." Over the years, A'Luo had endured countless hardships with him, and he hadn't even properly repaid her. How could he so easily abandon her just because Yang Nandi said he had no legitimate son?

Moreover, Liu Xian knew that everything he had now was ultimately due to marrying A'Luo. He hadn't been qualified to serve in the government in his early years; it was only through marrying A'Luo and getting on the coattails of the Duke of Juancheng that he was able to enter officialdom like an ordinary scholar. Even after the old Duke of Juancheng passed away, and his brother-in-law Cao Guang disliked him and severed ties, he should still remember this kindness. Otherwise, how could someone who couldn't even treat his own wife well treat others well?
Thinking of this, Liu Xian, fueled by the wine, said, "Alas, Brother Yang, how could I not like Adie? But my marriage to my wife was arranged by my mother before she passed away, and it was also arranged by my teacher, Master Ruan."

"How can I disobey the orders of my parents, the words of the matchmaker, and the arrangements of my elders? Besides, my wife and I have supported each other for many years. When I was fighting in Luoyang, she managed the household affairs and protected our family. She was in danger of losing her life several times. I owe her so much. How can I betray her again?"

"The friendships formed during times of poverty and hardship should not be forgotten, and the wife who shared your hardships should not be abandoned. I dare not betray my wife, nor do I dare betray Brother Yang. I hope I cannot agree to Brother Yang's proposal."

Yang Nandi had originally resolved to persuade Liu Xian to allow him to marry his younger sister as his principal wife. However, after hearing Liu Xian's words, he was speechless. From a moral standpoint, Liu Xian's words were impeccable, compassionate, and deeply moving Yang Nandi.

But politics is not something that can be swayed by sentiment. If he couldn't get his sister to marry him as his principal wife and truly make Yang's bloodline a part of the Liu imperial family, then Yang Nandi's mission would undoubtedly have failed.

Therefore, Yang Nandi did not intend to budge. He simply said meaningfully, "Huai Chong, you need to think this through. Although our family is not a powerful clan, we still have some influence. Not long ago, even the Li family sent someone to sound them out, asking if they could marry my little sister!"

Although Yang Nandi didn't say it explicitly, Liu Xian could roughly guess that the Li family he was referring to was probably the Li family of Li Xiong. This was essentially a veiled threat to Liu Xian: regardless of whether the matter was true or false, could he bear the consequences of Qiu Chi switching sides to Li Xiong?
Liu Xian truly could not bear it. He had not even captured Hanzhong yet. If the Yang family of Qiuchi abandoned him, would he have to give up Hanzhong and attack Qiuchi Mountain first? He still remembered the terrain of Qiuchi Mountain. Its treacherous terrain was not a normal place for military operations.

However, it was clear that Liu Xian could also see that the Yang family held him in high regard. He couldn't bring himself to break ties anytime soon; otherwise, he would gain another enemy and have all his previous investments wasted. This threat was mostly just verbal.

This makes Qiu Chi's trip even more necessary.

Liu Xian sighed and said, "How about this, I'll go to Qiuchi and talk to Master Yang in person about this matter! Master Yang has done me a great favor, and I dare not forget it. Just as Brother Yang said, our two families have a friendship of nearly a hundred years. What can't we talk about? There must be a way that satisfies both of us."

When Yang Nandi heard that Liu Xian was willing to go to Qiuchi, he assumed that Liu Xian had already agreed. He immediately patted Liu Xian's shoulder and laughed loudly, "I've already said we're family, why be so polite? When do you plan to set off?"

"Let's wait until all the immigrants have set off!"

"Okay, okay, okay!" Yang Nandi said "okay" three times in a row. Without saying any more nonsense, he immediately packed his clothes, stood up and said, "Then I won't bother you anymore. Let me know when you leave, and we'll set off together!"

After Yang Nandi left, Liu Xian drank alone for a while, feeling depressed, when he saw his wife push open the door and come in to tidy the table. Seeing his furrowed brow, A'Luo put down what she was doing and asked, "Biji, is something on your mind?"

Liu Xian glanced at his wife and smiled, "It's nothing."

A'Luo didn't believe it: "Then why is he drinking alone?"

Liu Xian said, "I didn't understand when I was young, but now that I'm over thirty, I can gradually taste the alcohol."

"It tastes so good?" A'Luo sat down opposite Liu Xian, poured herself a cup, and after a few sips, said leisurely, "Don't be late for getting up early tomorrow."

Liu Xian stared at his wife for a while longer, until A Luo blushed slightly on her fair cheeks, then he raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, laughing as he replied, "Even stars have their off days, let's drink and fly like wild geese."

This is from the poem "The Woman Says the Rooster Crows" in the Book of Songs. The poem encourages people to drink wine, and then adds three more lines: "To grow old together with you, with zither and lute at our side, all is peaceful and good."

Perhaps the most beautiful life is one where tranquility is found amidst endless turmoil. But Liu Xian knew perfectly well that having embarked on this path, he was destined to be forever separated from tranquility. (End of Chapter)