Jinting Han people

"The tiger comes from the north, its nose sweating; the dragon comes from the south, climbing the city wall to look out; the water comes from the west, the river overflowing."

This phrase comes from a folk song sung by the three kings during their campaign against Zhao. It uses the tiger to represent Sima Ying, the King of Chengdu; the dragon to represent Sima Jiong, the King of Qi; and the water to represent Sima Yong, the King of Hejian. Four years earlier, when the King of Zhao and Sun Xiu were defeated, everyone believed that the future ruler of the land would emerge from these three most powerful vassal states.

Who could have predicted what would happen next? Times change, and four years passed in the blink of an eye. Of the three powerful warlords of yesteryear, the dragon was dead, the water had dried up, and only Sima Ying, the tiger, remained. Even so, the Prince of Chengdu's experience as regent was not smooth. He had been defeated by the Prince of Changsha several times, and his luxurious life in Ye City had greatly damaged his reputation, making people wonder if he still had a chance to succeed.

Fortunately, this year, the situation seems to be becoming clearer.

With Sima Yi's death, Liu Xian submitted to Sima Ying, and Lu Zhi led his army to take over Luoyang and Hedong, further expanding the power of the Prince of Chengdu. Especially after Zhang Fang submitted a memorial to the court informing them of the Prince of Hejian's sudden illness, almost everyone believed that the resurgence of the Northern Expeditionary Army was unstoppable. In a short time, officials from various prefectures and counties in Guandong flocked to Ye City to pledge their loyalty.

However, this does not include Liu Hong, the governor of Jingzhou.

Nearly three years have passed since Liu Hong took office as the governor of Jingzhou, and he is now 68 years old. Compared to when he was in Luoyang, Liu Hong no longer has a single black hair, the wrinkles on his face are more pronounced, and his skin is sallow and dull. Most importantly, in previous years, although Liu Hong was old, he was still quite vigorous, but now, there is a sense of helpless death in his eyes, making it clear that he has truly grown old.

Old age is a hurdle everyone must overcome, but it is especially cruel for generals. Liu Hong can still ride a horse with difficulty, but he stops every now and then, panting for no apparent reason. His body feels inexplicably cold, his limbs gradually become unresponsive, and he can no longer exert any strength, making his pace slower and slower. Even though he is nine feet tall, standing almost as if he is looking down on everyone, he is no different from others in terms of old age.

But as people get older, they see through many things.

When faced with the envoy sent by Sima Mao, the Prince of Dongping, to recruit him, he treated him with great courtesy, but remained silent about the envoy's demands, and then escorted him out of Xiangyang. Upon returning to Xiangyang, his eldest son, Liu Fan, looked rather worried and asked:

"Sir, isn't what we're doing a bit inappropriate?"

Liu Hong returned to the chairman's seat, draped a sheepskin blanket over himself, and warmed his hands by the fire. Upon hearing this, he merely smiled and said, "Is there something wrong with that?"

“Recently, the Prince of Dongping and Zu Shizhi have been vying for power, and the two are deadlocked. But now the Prince of Dongping has sent someone to contact the Prince of Chengdu, and the two have formed an alliance. Zu Shizhi has no external support, so the situation is becoming clearer. Zu Shizhi is about to collapse, so why don't we switch our allegiance to the Prince of Chengdu?”

Where there are people, there is struggle, especially at the very top of power. Just as Liu Xian had predicted, no matter the circumstances, the imperial court was constantly embroiled in internal strife. After Zu Ti led the court to move the capital to Xuchang, it was immediately drawn into a new round of infighting.

When the court was in Luoyang, it was extremely vulnerable to interference from Chang'an and Yecheng. However, when it arrived in Xuchang, although there was no disturbance from the northwest, it was still subject to interference from Xuzhou.

Sima Mao, the Prince of Dongping, was promoted by Sima Jiong, the Prince of Qi, after the Three Kings' campaign against Zhao, and appointed General Who Pacifies the East, overseeing all military affairs in Xuzhou. Upon learning of the court's eastward relocation and the joint rule of Sima Fan, the Prince of Xiangyang, and Zu Ti, the Minister of Works, he greatly looked down on Zu Ti, believing him unqualified to govern. Therefore, he first contacted Zu Ti, arguing that the Prince of Xiangyang was too young and that an elder, himself, should enter the court to assist in governance.

Zu Ti was naturally unwilling to relinquish power, so he promoted Sima Mao to General of the Guards, temporarily easing tensions between the two, and things calmed down for a while. However, two months later, Sima Mao brought up the old issue again, launching another attack on Zu Ti. The reasons were nothing more than the old ones: accusing Zu Ti of being disrespectful to the emperor, monopolizing power in the court, losing popular support, and causing the situation in the country to deteriorate further. Therefore, he demanded that Zu Ti voluntarily abdicate and relinquish power.

This time, however, Sima Mao found many allies in Xuchang, the most important of whom was Liu Qiao, the governor of Yuzhou. Since Liu Qiao was stationed in Yuzhou, he had repeatedly defeated the Han restoration forces, gaining fame and believing he could become a regional warlord. However, after the court moved east, his dreams were shattered. Zu Ti consolidated military power in Xuchang and reappointed personnel in Yuzhou, causing Liu Qiao's status to decline further.

It should be noted that Liu Qiao's previous status was always above Zu Ti's, but now he was far inferior to Zu Ti. How could he tolerate this? Sima Mao's request for him to join forces was a perfect match. At the same time, they submitted a joint memorial and joined forces with Sima Mao to attack Suiyang. It seemed that if Zu Ti did not abdicate, they would send troops to Xuchang.

Not long after, this attack quickly fizzled out. The reason was simple: Zu Ti had found a powerful ally, namely Liu Zhun, the governor of Huainan, and Chen Min, the chancellor of Guangling.

After a year of fierce fighting, the last of the Restoration Army, led by Shi Bing, finally suffered a devastating blow. Chen Min, with his outnumbered forces, decisively defeated Shi Bing in Huainan, forcing him to retreat to Yangzhou. He then contacted the Jiangnan gentry, including Zhou Pi, Gu Rong, and Gan Zhuo, gaining their support from both inside and outside the region. He then crossed the Yangtze River in one fell swoop and finally annihilated Shi Bing completely. Even Emperor Shenfeng, Liu Ni, was beheaded and his head displayed in Xuchang.

Rumor has it that Chen Min gained the approval of the Jiangnan scholars because of his bravery and skill in battle, which closely resembled that of Sun Ce. His military prowess was also proven through his battle achievements. Zu Ti, having no control over Yangzhou at the time, simply appointed Chen Min as the governor of Yangzhou, threatening Sima Mao's rear. Sima Mao, also fearing Chen Min, pretended nothing was amiss and led his troops back to Xiapi.

This stalemate lasted for several more months, but peace was broken once again when Zhang Fang returned to Guanzhong and Lu Zhi took up residence in Luoyang. Lu Zhi submitted a memorial to the court, stating his willingness to repair the old capital, return Luoyang to the court, and assist the court in resisting the Western Expeditionary Army, hoping that the court would move back to Luoyang. This memorial caused a great stir, and Sima Mao seized the opportunity to ally with the Prince of Chengdu, demanding that they jointly force Zu Ti to step down.

Initially, Sima Ying's attitude was ambiguous, and he did not immediately express his opinion. People speculated that he was probably concerned about the attitudes of the Prince of Hejian and the General of the Western Expedition. However, with the news of the Prince of Hejian's death, Sima Ying finally could not hold back and openly dispatched troops from Lu Zhi in Luoyang to Hulao Pass, and ordered Wang Yan to lead troops to garrison Yanzhou, once again revealing his ambition to control the court.

The moment the Northern Expeditionary Army Commander left the scene, the situation changed dramatically: Chen Min was able to lead his troops back to Jianye, no longer daring to interfere in the politics of the Central Plains; Liu Zhun also sent an envoy to Ye City to surrender; and Sima Chi, the Prince of Yuzhang in Qingzhou, remained neutral. Judging from the current situation, Zu Ti was only half a step away from being overthrown; that remaining half step was merely a matter of time.

But at this crucial moment, Liu Hong refused the offer of the Prince of Dongping, which was undoubtedly incomprehensible. It should be noted that Jingzhou borders Si and Yu provinces, and Xiangyang is only four hundred li from both Luoyang and Xuchang. If the Prince of Chengdu and the Prince of Dongping gained power, Jingzhou would immediately be caught in a pincer movement, so it's no wonder Liu Fan harbored resentment.

But Liu Hong's attitude was extremely calm, as if he had no such worries at all. He warmed himself by the fire and waited until he was a little warm before saying to his eldest son leisurely, "You, you, after all these years, can't you see it?"

"Young man, you don't understand. What have you seen, sir?"

“Ever since the Crown Prince was deposed, no one can hold the position of regent.” Liu Hong straightened his back slightly and sighed, “The world is now in a state of disintegration, and everyone has rebellious intentions. Anyone who wants to become regent and forcefully unify the country will only be inviting enemies and becoming the target of everyone’s criticism.”

Liu Fan seemed to understand but not quite, and asked, "Does Your Excellency mean that the King of Chengdu is incapable of achieving great things?"

Liu Hong nodded and said, "Yes, the Prince of Chengdu is a fool. If he had continued to follow Lu Zhi's arrangements and worked diligently to govern Hebei, that would have been the best course of action. His current interference in court affairs only brings him empty fame; his decrees don't extend beyond the realm, and in the end, he'll cause trouble. Whether Hebei can even be preserved is another matter entirely." "Then, in your opinion, who is the truly wise one?"

"Duke Anle is truly a wise man. He knows how to give up something in order to gain something! Liu Huaichong actually gave up his position as regent and then the land of Hedong. If it were me, I definitely couldn't do it. He's remarkable!"

Liu Hong recalled Meng Tao's visit half a month ago and sighed, "Now that he has arrived in Hanzhong, although the land is small, he has a single leader, and everyone is of one mind. No one can sway him. When rites are lost, seek them in the countryside. In the future, we will need people like him to pacify the world."

Liu Fan had always felt a pang of jealousy when Liu Xian was mentioned. Firstly, he was older than Liu Xian but had no notable achievements; secondly, this was the first time Liu Hong had ever praised someone so highly, which inevitably made him feel unbalanced. But now, the gap between them was so vast that Liu Fan was almost numb to it. He simply asked curiously, "So, Liu Huaichong is going south to Shu. How does Your Excellency plan to deal with him?"

"There's no need to deal with it; it has nothing to do with you or me."

"What are you saying, sir? Hanzhong is located upstream of the Han River, while Xiangyang is downstream. How can they be unrelated?"

Liu Hong glanced at his eldest son, shook his head slightly, then raised his hands, which were warming by the fire, to his face, breathed out a puff of hot air, and slowly said, "If Liu Huaichong wants to take over the world, he must first take over his homeland. The situation in Bashu today is complicated and complex. Even if he has the support of the people, it will take him at least two or three years to take it all over. Do you think I will still be alive by then?"

This was an extremely cruel topic. Liu Fan was speechless for a moment before finally saying, "But even so, my lord, you may not want to think about it, but I cannot."

"Don't even think about it!" Liu Hong said decisively. "Liu Biao has been in charge of Jingzhou for eighteen years, and Liu Qi couldn't even hold onto Jingzhou. I've only been in Xiangyang for a few years. Can you be Liu Qi? With your abilities, you can't inherit my position. At most, you can only be the governor of a prefecture. So don't worry about it."

For Liu Fan, these words were like a bolt from the blue. Given the chance, who wouldn't want to be a regional warlord? Liu Hong already held absolute power in Jingzhou, and Liu Fan had long dreamed of inheriting it. Unexpectedly, his own father had shattered his dream at this very moment. Frustrated, he was completely at a loss for words. Deep down, he knew he wasn't suited to be a ruler.

Seeing his eldest son's expression, Liu Hong felt a little guilty, but he also knew that his decision was correct. He then said earnestly, "Eldest son, in this chaotic world, it is already difficult to get through it peacefully. Don't be greedy, do your job well, don't fight or grab anything, everyone gives face, and you should leave some bottom line. In the end, you will always have a place."

"Yes."

"Go and call General Tao over. I have something to tell him."

As Liu Fan left the room, it quieted down temporarily. After the charcoal fire had been burning for a while, Liu Hong felt a tightness in his chest and coughed a few times, clutching his chest. Just then, a tall figure appeared at the doorway. Hearing this, the figure quickly stepped forward and greeted Liu Hong, "My lord, are you alright? Should I call for the army's medical staff?"

Liu Hong sighed and looked up, only to see a middle-aged man over forty years old standing in front of him. The man was nine feet tall, dressed in coarse linen clothes, with white hair at the temples and a thin face, but his eyes were bright and piercing, just like his own twenty years ago. He couldn't help but feel relieved and said, "Shiheng, I'm fine, I'm just getting old."

The visitor was none other than Tao Kan, also known as Tao Shiheng, the military advisor for the Southern Expedition. Two years prior, during Li Chen's rebellion, he had tenaciously defended Xiangyang for a month, decisively thwarting Li Chen's offensive. It was after the Battle of Xiangyang that the Restoration Army's fortunes declined, Li Chen suffered repeated defeats, and finally, his head was sent to the capital. For Liu Hong, this was precisely the man he considered the ideal successor to Jingzhou.

He asked Tao Kan, "Shiheng, how are things going with Wuchang Prefecture?"

After Chen Min crossed the river, he proclaimed himself the reincarnation of Sun Ce, which led Liu Hong to suspect that he harbored ambitions to restore the territory of Eastern Wu. Therefore, he made early plans to rebuild the city walls and fortified villages in Wuchang as a precaution.

Tao Kan patted the short sword at his waist, cupped his hands, and said, "Please rest assured, my lord, the first batch of provisions has already been sent on its way. The laborers from Jiangling just arrived the day before yesterday. According to the plan, the headcount will be completed tomorrow, and we can set off the day after. Also, you mentioned last time that you wanted to build another navy, and I am making arrangements for that as well. Miao Guang replied that Wuling can provide one hundred warships, which we will see by the end of this year."

Hearing Tao Kan's well-organized arrangements, Liu Hong was very satisfied. He stroked his beard and said, "Very good, Shiheng indeed has the talent to govern the country. However, I have called you here today for another matter."

Upon hearing this, Tao Kan remained calm and bowed again, saying, "Please give your instructions, Your Excellency."

Liu Hong rubbed his eyes and said calmly, "This year, the government army suffered a major defeat in Sichuan, which resulted in a large number of refugees flowing into our territory, probably more than 100,000. This is no small number. Most of them are in Jingnan, where they have no land to cultivate and no home to live on, so many of them have become river pirates."

"These people are all subjects of my Imperial Jin Dynasty. It is our fault that they have fallen into this state. If we do not provide them with a way out, who knows what kind of disaster they might cause in the future? We cannot ignore them. Shiheng, I want you to go and pacify them. First, distribute land to them and resettle them. Then, promote talented people to ensure that they can live and work in peace and contentment. Do you understand?"

"Please rest assured, my lord, I will take care of it immediately." After hearing the order, Tao Kan did not hesitate. He bowed to Liu Hong and strode out the door.

Liu Hong truly trusted Tao Kan completely. After he left, the old man blew out the candle, lay wearily on the bed, and prepared to rest early. However, the thoughts in his mind were not as calm as he appeared on the surface.

More than 100,000 refugees from Guanzhong and Longxi caused years of chaos in Sichuan and Chongqing, and the region remains unsettled to this day. Now, the Jianghan Plain is facing the same predicament, with more than 100,000 refugees from Sichuan and Chongqing. What will be the outcome this will be? Liu Hong has no choice but to think carefully and make proper arrangements for their resettlement.

But could such a large number of refugees truly be successfully resettled and live peacefully with the local population? This was undoubtedly a risky gamble, and perhaps only a renowned general with prestige and patience like Liu Hong could quell the local disputes. But what would happen after Liu Hong's death? That remains an open question.

But Liu Hong couldn't care less about that now. Lying on his cold bed, he vaguely thought: If he were ten years younger, perhaps he too could have vied for the throne, like Liu Xian. But his current age meant he had lost the chance to compete and could only focus on protecting the people and the land. Was this a blessing or a curse?

For some reason, before his thoughts settled, a rare smile suddenly appeared on Liu Hong's aged face. (End of Chapter)