Jinting Han people

Since the matter concerned the major plan of relocating the capital, Wang Yan did not delay again this time, which was unusual. The next day, he issued an edict, ordering General Wang Zan, General Cao Wu, and Governor Wang Kan of Yanzhou to lead three armies, totaling more than 40,000 men, to march north across the river and relieve the siege of Ye City.

As he and Wang Xuan had said, Wang Yan didn't have high hopes for relieving the siege; it was mainly a show for the court to dispel the controversy surrounding the relocation of the capital. However, it cannot be said that Wang Yan's military expedition was entirely feigned. That would be unrealistic; everyone craves victory, especially Wang Yan, who was under immense pressure.

Before setting out, he privately instructed Wang Zan and others that this northward expedition was extremely important. Even if they couldn't relieve the siege of Ye City, they should at least win one or two battles, or rescue Sima Teng, which would be an explanation to the court and the public. Therefore, it was best to act swiftly, catch Liu Cong off guard, and then quickly return to Puyang and Baima to set up defenses and prepare for Zhao Qi's army to move south.

However, what Wang Yan did not expect was that the Xiongnu had already received the news when the Jin army had just gathered in Xuchang and had not yet left Yingchuan.

The Xiongnu knew this because they secretly had merchant caravans operating in Xuchang. These caravans purchased various necessities in the Central Plains while cultivating relationships in the markets, procuring intelligence from the servants and laborers of various households. Among these servants were many Hu people, as well as Jin people dissatisfied with their masters. Sometimes, it didn't take much money; simply gathering together to complain and incite discontent among the slaves was enough to obtain much previously unknown information.

In the eyes of these court nobles, what were their household servants? They knew how to stage a coup, but not how to deal with popular uprisings, and they were unaware that a window had been opened right under their noses, allowing their so-called secrets to be laid bare.

No sooner had Wang Zan's army arrived in Xuchang than the Xiongnu caravan dispatched a fast horse, and in just six days, the military report was delivered to Liu Cong, the commander-in-chief of the Zhao Han army.

Liu Cong was now nearly forty, dressed in military uniform, a far cry from the aristocratic young master he once was in Luoyang. But time hadn't dulled his air; the armor and sword only accentuated the sharpness in his eyes. Every glance, every smile, was resolute yet elegant, composed yet subtly charismatic. He resembled a renowned scholar from Luoyang, famous for his refined conversation, now possessing an air of untouched worldly concerns.

He glanced at the military report, casually instructed the messenger to prepare an extra meal, and then issued a military order: apart from Liu Can continuing to lead troops to surround the Ye Palace, all the other generals, such as Grand Minister of Works Huyan Yi, General Liu Li of Xing Han, General Huyan Lang of Champion, General Liu Jing of Destroy Jin, Prefect Pang Chun of Wei Commandery, Prefect Zhao Gu of Shangdang, and General Zhou Zhen of the Vanguard, all came to the tent for a military meeting.

Upon receiving the order, the troops arrived on horseback in less than half an hour, not daring to delay. Once inside the tent, regardless of age or stature, they all sat respectfully at their desks, showing utmost respect, even awe, towards Liu Cong.

All of these qualities stemmed from the reputation Liu Cong had built himself.

Years ago, Liu Yuan raised an army and established the Han dynasty. However, due to the Xiongnu's long period of peace, although they were numerous and powerful, their fighting strength was mediocre, resulting in unsatisfactory results. It was Liu Cong who repeatedly offered strategies and changed the major policies of the Zhao Han dynasty. With other tribes suffering setbacks, he first defeated Gou Xi, then captured Huguan, and successively conquered Henan, Ji County, and other places. Moreover, under his command and training, the quality of the Zhao Han soldiers improved rapidly, and now they have become a considerable force.

It can be said that the main force currently under Zhao Han's direct command was built by Liu Cong. Moreover, he was strict in his military discipline and clear in his rewards and punishments. Compared to Liu Yuan of Pingyang, he was the true spiritual leader of this army. The generals dared not fail to show him great respect and privately addressed him as "Commander Xuan," a somewhat inappropriate title, but one that was enough to demonstrate his prestige.

Liu Cong circulated the intelligence report among his generals and then asked, "The Jin army has sent reinforcements again this time. What are your thoughts on this?"

After reading it, the generals all looked serious, because according to the intelligence, this time the reinforcements were different from the past. They were no longer those homeless refugees begging for survival, but regular Jin troops.

Hu Yanyi pondered for a moment and said, "Marshal, the pseudo-Jin is now serious. They have sent 40,000 troops, which will be difficult to deal with. Although our army has 130,000 troops, we must guard against Sima Teng in the city on one hand, and Ding Shao in Dunqiu on the other. Fighting on three fronts at the same time is not a wise choice."

Hu Yanlang, stroking his beard, nodded slightly in agreement with Hu Yanyi, and then said, "The Grand Marshal is right. We should be cautious in this battle. I've heard of this Wang Zan. He's said to be a very skilled general. In the past two years, he has been fighting in the east and west of Yanzhou. Wang Mi suffered several defeats and had to take a detour south to defend Yiyang. Even Gou Xi couldn't do anything about him. He is known as the best general under Wang Yan. He should not be underestimated."

Liu Li agreed, saying, "Sima Teng is indeed incompetent, but Ding Shao and Shao Xu are really troublesome. Now, with Wang Zan added to the mix, I think this battle will be very difficult to win. Marshal, should we withdraw the troops first?"

Ding Shao and Shao Xu, whom he mentioned, were both former generals of Sima Ying. They were also among the very few in the original Northern Expeditionary Army who were capable of pacifying the region and leading the army to victory. After Ji Sang's death, they switched allegiance to Sima Teng, and were stationed in Yangping and Dunqiu counties respectively. During Liu Cong's siege of Ye City, they not only gathered refugees and prepared for war, but also resisted the successive attacks of Wang Mi and Liu Yuan. They not only fought continuously for two years, but also repeatedly came to the aid of Ye City, causing great trouble for Liu Cong. In Zhao Han's army, they were regarded as a formidable enemy.

Three generals in succession voiced conservative opinions, and the remaining generals were somewhat disheartened. In any case, this was the fourth time the Zhao Han army had besieged Ye City, and the prolonged failure to capture it had severely slowed down Zhao Han's territorial expansion. In contrast, Wang Mi, leading the Qi Han army, had conquered more cities and territories in other directions, gaining more people and land than Zhao Han, a fact that made Zhao Han's generals envious.

Therefore, Liu Can was greatly dissatisfied. He stood up and objected, saying, "My uncles are being too cautious! If Wang Zan is really that capable, what were they doing all this time? I think he's just all talk and no action. This time, we finally managed to enter Ye City, and only the Ye Palace remains to be conquered. We're withdrawing before Wang Zan's army even arrives? Is this the behavior of a true man!"

At this point, he couldn't help but walk to the door, push it open, and reveal the scenery outside. Liu Cong's command tent was set up at the Jianchun Gate tower in Ye City, which is located in the eastern part of Ye City. From here, one can look out over the Ye Palace and gaze at the Three Terraces in the distance.

Liu Can pointed to the three platforms in the distance and said, "Right now, our soldiers are fighting desperately in front of the Ye Palace, their eyes practically bleeding as they try to take down the three platforms! So many have died on the battlefield, all for the sake of capturing Ye City! Now, we are only one step away from success, how can we back down now?! How can we face the heroes who died in the afterlife?!"

In the midst of his impassioned speech, Liu Can turned to face Liu Cong, knelt on one knee, and pleaded with him, "Father, I am willing to personally lead the vanguard to attack the city. Before Wang Zan arrives with his army, we will surely capture Santai!"

Liu Can, barely twenty years old, dared to utter such bold words, leaving all the generals present visibly shaken. Liu Cong, upon hearing this, laughed heartily and proudly boasted to the crowd, "See? Shi Guang truly lives up to his reputation as a man of the Han Dynasty! What courage! Compared to Sima Teng, how weak he is! With such a disparity in the imperial clan, how could the pseudo-Jin Dynasty not perish? How could our Han Dynasty not rise?" Seeing this, the crowd thought to themselves, "Could we really be inferior to a mere youth?" Their morale lifted, and they all echoed, expressing their willingness to lead the attack on the city. Unexpectedly, at this point, Liu Cong refused to launch the attack. He said to the crowd, "Your courage is commendable, but is what I desire merely that small city of Ye?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly surprised. Could it be that the marshal had other ideas?

Liu Cong leaned back casually against the table, took a sip of tea, and then slowly said, "Ye City is important, but it is just a city. To settle down here, it is not enough to just take over the city. There is Wang Jun in the north, Ding Shao in the east, and now Wang Zan in the south. Not to mention, there are many beggars in the local area, and the attitude of the people further east is also hard to describe."

People understood that Liu Cong was referring to Qi and Han in the east. Although Liu Yuan was nominally the leader of the anti-Jin alliance in the north, once he captured Ye City, it would mean that the war had entered a completely new phase, and the Jin dynasty's authority in Hebei was nearing its lowest point. If further progress was made in the Central Plains, the alliance would no longer be valid, and many forces that had nominally submitted to Liu Yuan might become independent again, initiating a new round of annexation.

Therefore, Liu Cong said casually, "Since we're going to fight, let's fight a great victory. Wang Zan has brought 40,000 troops to reinforce us, so we'll wipe them all out! We'll make Hebei tremble with fear, and we'll teach those scoundrels who are just using the tiger's power to know who the real masters are!"

The crowd tensed at the sound of his command, knowing that their leader already had a plan, and bowed their heads in obedience. At the same time, however, they also discerned a hint of discontent. They secretly guessed that it might be related to Prince Pingjin, Shi Le, secretly negotiating peace with the Tuoba Xianbei.

Previously, Zhao Han led his army north and briefly conquered the entire Bingzhou region. However, unexpectedly, the Tuoba Xianbei suddenly appeared and drove the Xiongnu back to Xihe Commandery, ruining half a year's hard work. From then on, Zhao Han fought in various directions, but dared not march north to Jinyang. Unexpectedly, Shi Le, under the guise of Liu Yuan, secretly negotiated a peace and alliance with the Tuoba Xianbei and occupied three commanderies in Bingzhou north of Jinyang, which angered many Xiongnu people.

However, Liu Yuan, having finally found an opportunity to make peace with the Tuoba Xianbei, did not want to dwell on the matter too much and thus acknowledged Shi Le's occupation of northern Jinyang, appointing him as the Governor of Bingzhou and General Who Guards the North. From this moment on, Shi Le existed as a semi-independent force.

This undoubtedly made Liu Cong extremely dissatisfied. Although he admired Shi Le's talent, he also looked down on Shi Le's humble origins. Now, Shi Le was almost on par with him, which was unacceptable. Therefore, he made up his mind to fight a brilliant battle in Ye City to send a warning to Shi Le.

However, there was another layer of meaning that Liu Cong couldn't say out loud: he was preparing to compete for the throne.

According to Jin Zhun's report from Pingyang, Liu Yuan's health has recently begun to deteriorate. Liu Yuan is sixty-six years old, nearing the end of his life, and has recently started coughing frequently and losing his appetite. No one can pinpoint the illness, and it doesn't seem serious. However, if his condition worsens, given that the Zhao Han government has yet to determine a crown prince, a new crown prince will have to be chosen if something unexpected happens.

Although Liu Cong currently holds most of the military power, he has been away from Pingyang for far too long. If he remains away fighting for too long, he might miss the power transition following Liu Yuan's death. He must return to Pingyang as soon as possible to consolidate his influence and persuade his father to pass the throne to him. If that fails, he must prepare to seize power.

Therefore, the Battle of Ye City was likely Liu Cong's last battle as marshal in the field. Liu Cong hoped for a good ending, which would also serve as a deterrent to his remaining brothers in Pingyang. As for the upcoming battles, he had already made plans and intended to put Liu Yao in charge of them.

In early April, Wang Zan led his army to successively defeat the Qihuo army in Chenliu and Puyang prefectures, and advanced to the Yanjin area. The Qihuo army in these two prefectures was completely vulnerable. As soon as they engaged Wang Zan's army, they scattered and fled, abandoning their cities and taking refuge in local fortified villages. If Wang Zan wanted to completely recover the two prefectures, he had to first eliminate them.

But since Wang Zan had received orders for a swift victory, he had no intention of lingering there. However, he dared not cross the river rashly, so he sent dozens of scouts across to investigate. He soon received a report that the enemy seemed to have drawn all their forces and was intensifying their siege of Ye City, leaving the defenses south of the city completely undefended!
Wang Zan was overjoyed upon hearing this. He ordered Cao Wu to leave 3,000 troops to guard Puyang, and then led his men across the river to advance into Dunqiu County. He then summoned Ding Shao and Shao Xu's troops, bringing together nearly 60,000 men, claiming to be 100,000, and marched in a grand procession towards Ye City.

Unexpectedly, during their march, they suddenly encountered a group of men. The leader was richly dressed, pot-bellied, and had a look of smug satisfaction on his face. Upon seeing the Jin army banners that Wang Zan was displaying, the man was overjoyed and quickly produced his seal, announcing that he was the General Who Conquers the North and the Prince of Xincai, Sima Teng.

Why did the King of Xincai leave Ye City? Wang Zan was shocked to hear this and quickly welcomed Sima Teng in, asking him for the details.

It turned out that some time ago, Zhao Han's army launched a fierce attack on Ye City, putting immense pressure on Sima Teng's defenses. However, after ten days of intense fighting, Zhao Han's army suddenly reduced its offensive and opened a breach in the south of the city. Sima Teng had already thought he couldn't hold out any longer, so when he saw a way out, he didn't hesitate. In order to survive, he immediately chose to break out with the remaining troops, and surprisingly, they escaped with ease.

Upon encountering Wang Zan, Sima Teng had no other thoughts. Fearing being caught by the Xiongnu again, he hurriedly asked Wang Zan to lead troops to escort him south. Now, he only hoped to escape and live a life of wealth and leisure, which was better than going back to the battlefield.

Wang Zan, a seasoned veteran, immediately sensed something was amiss. How could Liu Cong have made such a mistake? His defenses were lax, and yet he so easily let Sima Teng leave the city? And just when Wang Zan was about to arrive to reinforce him?
Thus, Sima Teng escaped, but Ye City fell to Liu Cong. Wang Zan's original attack plan now seemed impossible. He had no choice but to lead his army back the way they came, only to receive more bad news from the south: Cao Wu's troops had been defeated by the enemy, and the Yan Jin ferry crossing, along with all the boats used for crossing the river, had been lost to the Xiongnu!

Having witnessed the situation unfold, Wang Zan finally realized he had fallen into a trap. He had crossed the river in haste, carrying little food and provisions. Even if he returned to Dunqiu to defend the city, he couldn't hold out for more than a few months. Now, he had only one option: to defeat Zhao Han's main force in Ye City before his supplies ran out. Could this possibly succeed? Even with his reputation as a renowned general of the Central Plains, Wang Zan hesitated greatly.

In reality, before he could even decide to return to battle, Zhao Han's army in Ye City had already surrounded them. Liu Cong, with Liu Jing as his vanguard, led over ten thousand light cavalry to constantly harass the Jin army. Arrows rained down upon them, and they constantly moved, retreating when the enemy advanced and advancing when the enemy retreated, never engaging the Jin army in a direct confrontation. They used this method to wear down Wang Zan's army's will.

The two armies remained locked in a stalemate for half a month, until the Jin army collapsed without a fight. Liu Cong seized the opportunity to lead his troops in a search and slaughter, capturing or killing nearly half of his troops. Zu Ti, who was in Luoyang, upon learning the news, was the first to report to Xuchang, claiming that the high-ranking officials of the Northern Expeditionary Army, led by Sima Teng, Sima Yu, Zhou Liang, and Shi Xian, appeared to have all been captured by the Xiongnu. (End of Chapter)