Jinting Han people

Luo Shang's actions naturally did not escape Liu Xian's notice. He Pan had been monitoring Luo Shang's movements in Brazil. On the day the Jiangzhou army set off, a scout reported back to Langzhong, and then sent a fast message to the city of Chengdu, informing the Hanzhong army of the news.

In his letter, He Pan wrote: "The entire Jiangzhou army has come, their ranks formidable, seemingly determined to fight with all their might." Soon after, scouts in Jiangyang reported that Luo Shang's army had left Jiangyang and was heading towards Jianwei, showing no signs of halting their siege. Among them were not only over two hundred warships, but also five towering multi-story ships, five or six stories high and over one hundred and twenty paces wide, each capable of carrying over two thousand men—truly a city on the river. Judging by their speed, they would arrive at the walls of Chengdu in about ten days.

That night, Liu Xian discussed countermeasures with his subordinates regarding this matter.

This military council was truly a gathering of heroes and outstanding talents. Among them were governors and prefects from various regions, such as Huangfu Zhong, governor of Qin Province; Liu Shen, governor of Yi Province; Yang Nandi, governor of Liang Province; Yang Jiantou, prefect of Yinping; Li Ju, prefect of Xindu and concurrently chief advisor to the Duke; Wei Jun, prefect of Hanzhong; Zhang Guang, prefect of Zitong; Huan Yi, prefect of Guanghan; and Fu Chang, prefect of Jianwei. Also present were staff members of the Duke of Anle's office, such as Lai Zhong, chief clerk; Li Sheng, military advisor; Lü Quyang, chief clerk; Xi An, chief clerk; Guo Mo, commander; Suo Lin, military advisor; Zhuge Yan, protector of the army; Huangfu Dan, commander; Gongsun Gong, cavalry officer; Meng Tao, secretary; and Zhang Qi, cavalry commander.

It can be said that, apart from He Pan, the prefect of Bazhou in Langzhong, Liu Kun, the governor of Liangzhou in Hanzhong, and civil officials such as Lu Yun and Ruan Fang, most of the officials in the Anle Duke's government were in this place.

Since Li Ju and Luo Shang had fought each other before, Liu Xian first asked Li Ju for his opinion.

After pondering for a moment, Li Ju said, "Luo Shang is not good at planning, but good at adapting to changing circumstances. He is not lacking in courage, but he is even more cunning. Although I defeated him before, it was mainly because Luo Shang underestimated me. Now he comes with hatred and has suffered a loss at my hands. He should be much more cautious in his military operations. It will probably not be easy to defeat him."

"So what's your strategy?"

“We should divide our forces, first defeat Luo Shang, then defeat Li Xiong,” Li Ju analyzed. “Although our army has already taken control of the outskirts of Chengdu, judging from the offensive over the past few days, Taicheng and Shaocheng are not easy to attack. The chances of taking Chengdu before Luo Shang arrives are slim. Rather than losing troops in the siege, we should conserve our strength and send our elite troops south to deal with Luo Shang who is coming from afar.”

"Although Luo Shang has a considerable number of troops, he is weaker than our army. As long as we send our elite troops south first and defeat him, Li Xiong will lose his external support, and the morale in Chengdu will naturally be low. It will not be difficult for our army to recapture Chengdu."

This strategy quickly drew criticism from others. Fu Chang asked, "Isn't this too risky? Although our army has a numerical advantage, it's only a matter of strength. The combined forces of Li Xiong and Luo Shang probably outnumber ours. If we split our forces and head south, what will happen to the battle situation in Chengdu? Li Xiong's breakout won't be easy to deal with. Moreover, Luo Shang has a navy. What if he avoids battle?"

Li Ju said, "Now that our army has cleared the outskirts of Chengdu, Li Xiong's desire to counterattack is not something that can be accomplished overnight, so there is no need to worry too much. As for Luo Shang..."

Li Ju initially wanted to say that Luo Shang's fighting style was rather aggressive, and he probably wouldn't avoid battle with him. But before he could speak, he realized it was inappropriate. After all, he had just said that Luo Shang had suffered a defeat and might be more cautious, which probably wouldn't convince everyone. Therefore, he immediately changed his words, saying, "If he doesn't fight, then devise a plan to undermine the morale of his army. Now that he's come empty-handed, we can have He Gong lead the army to attack Jiangzhou. He either fights or retreats; what right does he have to hesitate here?"

This was indeed a good idea, and many people nodded in agreement. However, Liu Xian suddenly said from the side, "There's no need to go through all that trouble. Just let him come over."

Everyone was shocked upon hearing this, and many said it was unacceptable. If they didn't stop Luo Shang and allowed him to lead his army north directly, Luo Shang would naturally not avoid battle. But wouldn't that mean they would be attacked from both sides by Luo Shang and Li Xiong?
Throughout history, battles in this situation have rarely ended well. After all, it's equivalent to a general simultaneously managing two fronts, a classic case of neglecting one for the other, a cardinal sin in warfare. Even the most brilliant commanders can miscalculate. If the enemy has less to consider and one's own side has more, it's obvious who is more likely to make a mistake.

In classic battles such as the Battle of Handan between Qin and Zhao, and the Battle of Kunyang between Liu Xiu and the Hanzhong army, why did the attacking side, despite having an absolute numerical advantage, still manage to win despite being outnumbered? The reason is quite simple. At that time, the Hanzhong army's numerical advantage was not significant, and a defeat would inevitably be a crushing one. In everyone's opinion, there was no need to risk going that far.

But Liu Xian's thinking was clear. He wasn't simply considering the issue from a military perspective; as a monarch, he had to make decisions based on the overall political situation. He stated decisively to everyone, "It's already early summer. If we defeat Luo Shang first and then gradually retake Chengdu, it will probably be June by then. There's no need to waste time like that. If Luo Shang comes, Li Xiong in the city will surely come out as well. We can finish them off in one battle."

"If we only manage to defeat or force Luo Shang to retreat, we'll have to attack Jiangzhou again later. Jiangzhou is a well-known fortified city. What's the point of besieging it for another year or two? Since we have a chance to achieve a permanent solution, we should seize this opportunity!"

At this point, Liu Xian looked around and slowly said, "I have fought so many battles over the years, and I only know one principle on the battlefield: in warfare, life and death are at stake, and a swift victory is essential, rather than dragging things out and risking unforeseen changes. Victory has never been about numbers; in a battle between two armies, the brave prevail! Gentlemen, when facing battle, you must cast aside all concerns about survival, entrust your fate to Heaven, and fight with the determination to die! Isn't that right?"

Upon hearing this, all the generals present, from Li Ju down to the commanders of various armies, held their breath and listened attentively to Liu Xian's eloquent speech.

Liu Xian then turned to his envisioned battle: "This Li Xiong is indeed cunning; he feigned surrender to Luo Shang in an attempt to force me to retreat. But then again, the two armies were sworn enemies, how could they not have their own agendas? Could they really coordinate well in such a hasty situation? Absolutely not! Our army may appear to lack numerical superiority. But in reality, we have already won in terms of popular support!"

Hearing this, many people nodded in agreement. Liu Xian concluded, "We currently hold a partial advantage in terrain, but the enemy has a navy, and it's the rainy season, so the weather may not be on our side. However, as the saying goes, 'favorable weather is not as important as favorable terrain, and favorable terrain is not as important as popular support.' Our army is clearly superior to the enemy's, so what is there to worry about? You are all outstanding individuals of our time, while the enemy is a desperate and hopeless force. As long as we all have the courage and determination to win, victory will be as easy as turning our hands!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Nandi stood up, stroking his sword, and echoed, "The Marshal speaks well! In battle, arrows and spears meet, and killing or being killed is a matter of a moment. Why drag it out like this? If there is hesitation or fear of battle, we are destined to lose no matter what battle we fight! Our army should prove itself in this battle!"

Li Ju also said, "Brother is right. After this battle, everyone can rest for two years and enjoy a peaceful life. For the sake of the people of Bashu, we should fight this battle!" All the generals stood up to agree, saying that the defeated generals of the two armies could not possibly defeat our army. Liu Xian was relieved to see that everyone was in high spirits.

He immediately ordered the allocation of troops, planning to use 40,000 men under Li Ju, Fu Chang, Huan Yi, Liu Shen, and Wei Jun to besiege Chengdu, strengthen the fortifications, and prepare for a possible counterattack from within the city. He himself would lead the remaining troops to prepare to meet the approaching Luo Shang.

To ensure Luo Shang's safe arrival, he ordered all counties in Jianwei Prefecture to prioritize defending their own territories and refrain from harassing the enemy. Simultaneously, to minimize Luo Shang's naval advantage, he ordered his troops to drive stakes into the Pi River, the stakes extending half a foot above the water depth, ensuring that even at high tide, they would still impede the ships' advance, thus forcing Luo Shang to abandon ship and engage him in land battle.

As predicted, rain began to fall in Sichuan the day after the military council. The rain, falling between spring and summer, enveloped the Chengdu land like a veil, instantly dispelling the rising summer heat. The cries of geese and the flapping of gulls and egrets also vanished. Only the boundless reeds rustled in the drizzle.

The army rested here for seven days. Every day, someone would come to report the distance of Luo Shang's army from Chengdu: nine hundred li, seven hundred li, five hundred li, four hundred li... After the order was passed down, everyone felt calm and at ease. They could all sense that the series of battles that began with the migration from Hedong were about to achieve a phased result.

Of course, the same applies to the Jiangzhou army that has come from afar.

After Luo Shang led his army to Wuyang, they rested outside the city for a day. Facing the torrential rain and the sights and sounds they had seen and heard along the way, the Jiangzhou army was somewhat moved. The enemy must have already received the news and was happy to see this decisive battle, otherwise it wouldn't have gone so smoothly. This caused the morale of the Jiangzhou army to waver slightly.

In particular, when the army attempted to send the warships into the Pijiang River, they discovered that stakes had been driven into the river at some unknown time. The warships, intended as weapons for the decisive battle, could not be sent in, otherwise they would risk running aground. This made the generals even more hesitant about the decisive battle.

This did indeed make Luo Shang hesitate. He had indeed made up his mind to fight the decisive battle, but without warships, how could he ensure victory in battle? How could he maintain the morale of his troops? But to suggest retreating at this point would be too ridiculous. After much thought, he decided to leave the fate of this battle to Heaven. So he sent for Qiao Deng's uncle, Qiao Tong, and said to him, "I have heard that Lord Qiao is well-versed in divination and close to the divine. I ask you to cast a divination to predict the outcome of this battle."

Qiao Tong was an official who, after encountering the chaos, went into seclusion in his hometown, detached from worldly affairs. In this era that revered hermits, he was quite renowned. Luo Shang specifically invited him to join the army this time in order to stabilize morale.

Qiao Tong obeyed the order. He instructed his servant to bring him counting rods and the Book of Changes. He bowed to the heavens, then used the rods to draw lots and perform divination. The results were: Yin, Yin, Yin, Yang, Yang, Yang, corresponding to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth lines of the hexagram. Qiao Tong's face lit up with joy, and he murmured, "This is Kun above Qian, the interaction of heaven and earth, the Tai hexagram, a famous auspicious hexagram!"

He consulted the Book of Changes to find the hexagram text. After reading it, his smile widened. He cleared his throat and said to everyone, "This is indeed an auspicious hexagram. Tai means that the small goes and the great comes, which is auspicious. The so-called small going and the great coming means that the inner is yang and the outer is yin, the inner is strong and the outer is compliant, the inner is virtuous and the outer is petty. The way of the virtuous grows and the way of the petty disappears."

Seeing that some people were puzzled, he patiently explained: "Kun represents the earth, and Qian represents the sky. As the saying goes, too much is as bad as too little. Qian above is isolated yang, and Kun below is isolated yin. This is the hexagram of 'Pi', which means that a virtuous person will not receive the support of the people and will encounter great difficulties, that is, many setbacks."

"However, yin and yang are mutually generative, and things will inevitably reverse when they reach their extremes. After the Pi hexagram comes the Tai hexagram, which means that the virtuous and the common people communicate and respond to each other, and yin and yang complement each other. All the setbacks encountered before have passed. The originally perilous national fortune will also turn from danger to safety. This battle has been won, which means that everything will be good, and what will finally come is a peaceful and prosperous world!"

At this point, Luo Shang waved his hand to interrupt him, seemingly understanding but not quite, and said, "So, this battle is being aided by Heaven, so we shouldn't miss this opportunity?"

Seeing Qiao Tong nod repeatedly, Luo Shang was overjoyed. He turned to the crowd and said, "It seems this is the will of Heaven! I have eliminated the traitor Liu, and the fate of the Jin dynasty will be restored! What are we waiting for?" With this, the morale of the army was greatly boosted. He then ordered the abandonment of the warships and the warships, with each person carrying ten days' worth of rations, and headed north to Chengdu.

When they were only thirty miles from Chengdu, Li Feng once again sailed out of the city to meet with Luo Shang and his men. This time, he brought Ma Tuo's head and offered Luo Shang and his men a plan: "After several days of rain, the roads are muddy and not suitable for riding horses. What use are Liu Xian's many cavalry? Why not take this opportunity to launch a night attack? As long as you light bonfires far away, the people in the city will surely follow suit."

Luo Shang thought it made a lot of sense, so he promised, "Okay, let's do it that way!"

So, after the Jiangzhou army cooked their meal at midnight, they set off. Luo Shang had his servants lead out over twenty packhorses, each laden with bundles, which jingled and clanged as they moved. Luo Shang addressed the troops, saying, "This is all my life savings, practically everything. If you are willing to kill the enemy and earn merit, I am willing to give it all away!"

The rain had stopped, and the stars and moon shone brightly in the sky, their clear light making the air feel fresh and dry, with a sweet scent. The Jiangzhou soldiers, carrying their rations for the next day, along with their swords and bows, officially began their northward march. After about two hours of walking, before dawn, they could already see the distant city of Chengdu, and the camps stretching for miles to the south of Chengdu.

The view here is flat and open, with the plains stretching east and west from Chengdu as the center, seemingly without end. Endless puddles shimmer with silvery light in the moonlight, and the rapeseed in the fields forms a thick green veil. Many of the Jiangzhou soldiers were originally Shu people who had been forced to retreat from Chengdu. Seeing this scene, they couldn't help but shed tears. Qiao Deng said to them, "If we win this battle, everything will be back on track."

They lit bonfires, using the bright red smoke to inform the city that reinforcements had arrived. At the same time, the Jiangzhou army sounded their horns, the sound echoing across the vast sky, and the infantry launched their first attack on the enemy. (End of Chapter)