Jinting Han people

The uprising led by Du Tao in Xiangzhou was actually unexpected by the Chengdu court.

Since the strategic plan to advance eastward was finalized last year, the Chengdu court had specifically instructed Zhang Guang to inquire about news in Xiangzhou, and he had made considerable contact with some local leaders of displaced people, such as Ru Ban, Jian Shuo, and Du Chou. They had not overlooked Du Tao, after all, he was talented and quite renowned in Yizhou. However, based on his previous actions, Du Tao seemed loyal to the Jin dynasty, and Zhang Guang thought he would be difficult to recruit, so they had not exchanged any correspondence.

According to Liu Xian and Lu Zhi's plan, they hoped to launch their campaign in September of this year, after the autumn floods subsided. At that time, a revolt of ten thousand refugees would be enough to alleviate significant pressure on their eastward advance and open the gates of Jingzhou. Unexpectedly, Xun Tiao, the governor of Xiangzhou, went mad and issued the bizarre decree to exterminate the refugees, even driving someone like Du Tao to revolt. The scale of the uprising naturally far exceeded Liu Xian's expectations.

When Wang Zhen relayed the news to Chengdu, the court was initially shocked, then overjoyed. With such momentum in Xiangzhou, wasn't this the perfect opportunity to advance eastward? Over the past year, the court had been training its navy and building warships in Jiangzhou, with all units preparing for war and high morale, eager to challenge the Jin army in Jingzhou. Therefore, many generals submitted memorials requesting permission to engage in battle.

Liu Xian was naturally pleased with this situation, but as a monarch, he needed to consider the overall picture and maximize the chances of victory. Therefore, he was not in a hurry to discuss the matter in court, but instead held a secret meeting with officials in the Ministry of Personnel and the inner court to discuss in detail what measures the Jin dynasty would take to deal with the uprising in Xiangzhou and what impact it would have on the overall situation of the country.

At the beginning of the discussion, Liu Xian first invited Wang Zhen to take a seat, and then hung a map high in the hall, asking him to introduce the current situation in Xiangzhou.

Upon his arrival, seated among a group of high-ranking officials from Chengdu, Wang Zhen remained calm and composed. With a relaxed smile, he spoke eloquently while looking at the map: "Gentlemen, the situation in Xiangzhou is extremely favorable. Originally, the puppet Jin dynasty only had about 50,000 to 60,000 troops in Xiangzhou, scattered across Linxiang, Xiangnan, Baling, Quanling, and Pingxiang counties, with only a few thousand men in each location. However, by the time I left, our army had already conquered Xiangnan and amassed 30,000 men."

"The former governor of Xiangzhou, Xun Tiao, though from the prestigious Xun family, was nothing more than a scholar-official, unskilled in military affairs, and utterly incapable of fighting. After his defeat in Xiangnan, he fled south to Guangzhou, certainly unable to muster any troops. The rest of the officials, such as Guo Cha, the prefect of Ancheng; Zheng Rong, the prefect of Shaoling; Teng Yu, the prefect of Hengyang; Cui Fu, the prefect of Changsha; and Du Jian, the prefect of Yidu, were all mediocre and their forces were not yet fully assembled. Compared to Governor Du, they were worlds apart. Gentlemen, believe me, right now, Governor Du has already seized half of Xiangzhou."

At this point, about twenty days had passed since Wang Zhen left Xiangnan. According to Wang Zhen, Du Tao was able to sweep through half the prefecture in less than a month, which was simply overwhelming and invincible.

The officials present were all veterans of Liu Xian's campaigns, and naturally possessed a certain arrogance. Hearing Wang Zhen's criticism of people like this, they were somewhat displeased. Li Feng, in particular, had been neglected by the Prince of Han over the past year and harbored resentment. Seeing this rogue suddenly appear, seemingly trying to steal his thunder, he couldn't help but add a touch of sarcasm: "Lord Wang is exaggerating. If Prefect Du is so capable in battle, what use is there for my reinforcements?"

Wang Zhen's words were certainly a slight exaggeration, but in his opinion, how could he convince the King of Han to send troops if he didn't portray the situation as extremely favorable? He glanced at Li Feng, but his expression remained unchanged, and he said nonchalantly, "Of course, it is because our King's grace extends to all corners of the world and his virtue covers all of China. The common people yearn for him as birds yearn for the forest and return to him as the sea."

This flattery left Li Feng speechless, and Liu Xian couldn't help but smile. He waved his hand and said, "Today it's just the twenty or so of us having a small meeting. There's no need for official jargon. Let's get down to business."

Then Liu Xian turned to Wang Zhen and asked, "Gong Cheng, tell me what Jingbei and Jiangzhou will do?"

This question hit the nail on the head, and Wang Zhen dared not lie, so he had to answer honestly: "When I came, Wang Dun had already led the Jingzhou army across the river, but in my opinion, it was best for him to supervise the battle to prevent our army from advancing north and to prevent the situation from escalating. After Wang Kuang reorganized his army in Wuchang, he would use the Jiangzhou army as the main force to go south and fight a decisive battle with Governor Du."

Liu Xian nodded, then asked, "How many troops do you estimate you can muster from these two provinces?"

Wang Zhen replied, "Excluding the troops stationed in various places, the number of troops that can be used for combat is estimated to be around 70,000."

Liu Xian and Lu Zhi exchanged a glance. Lu Zhi, knowing what Liu Xian was thinking, immediately cupped his hands and replied, "Your Highness, our army has already mobilized some troops to Luoyang, and the defense of Ningzhou should not be changed at the last minute. Considering the loss of food and supplies along the way, I believe that the country should be able to mobilize 60,000 troops at the moment."

Upon hearing this, the others couldn't help but show their delight. If calculated this way, the Han army, with 60,000 men, plus the Xiangzhou army which could continue to expand, would still outnumber the Jin army. Although the Han army was consistently capable of fighting tough and arduous battles, this was out of necessity; if given the chance, no one would rather fight a battle with an easy advantage.

But Lu Zhi immediately poured cold water on the idea, saying, "Your Highness, however, in my opinion, we still cannot be careless. Given the current situation, the Jin dynasty may not only send troops from Jingzhou and Jiangzhou."

Liu Xian hummed in agreement, then asked, "What do you mean?"

Lu Zhi analyzed, "According to our original plan, Your Highness should have launched an attack in September after the autumn floods. Your Highness would have advanced by both land and water, first drawing the enemy's main force in Jingzhou and Jiangzhou. The enemy would then follow Lu Xun's example and amassed a large force around Yiling, attempting to lock our army west of Nanjun. At that time, Your Highness would then send envoys to instigate the rebellion of refugees in Xiangzhou, using them as a surprise force to harass the rear. The Jin army would be thrown into chaos, and Your Highness could then lead the army in a decisive battle to defeat them in one fell swoop. Jingzhou would then be within our grasp."

"But the current situation has changed in two ways compared to our previous plans, and the situation may be very different now. The original arrangements may no longer be usable."

"What changes?"

Lu Zhi stretched out his finger, first pointing north, then south, and slowly said: "First, Wang Yan suffered a great defeat in Ye City and had to move the capital to Shouchun; second, the scale of this uprising in Xiangzhou far exceeded our expectations."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Kun, who was standing to the side, was greatly puzzled. He pressed on and asked, "Aren't these two changes both good things? Wang Yan has suffered a defeat, and Xiangzhou is in our favor. Wouldn't it be even more natural to follow the original plan?"

Lu Zhi shook his head and explained, "Yue Shi is mistaken. If Wang Yan were still in Xuchang, it would mean that he was focused on developing the Central Plains and fighting against the northern barbarians. But since Wang Yan has moved the capital to Shouchun, it means that he no longer has any intention of recovering the Central Plains and regards the southeast as his base. In that case, Jingzhou is his heartland and must not be lost!"

“Now that Prefect Du has started an uprising in Xiangzhou, sweeping across southern Hunan, it shows that the situation is serious and has already endangered the foundation of the southeast. If Jingzhou is lost, how can the three Wu and Huainan regions survive alone? The foundation will be destroyed in an instant. How can Wang Yan sit idly by?” Therefore, Lu Zhi concluded: “Your Highness, if I am not mistaken, once our army advances this time, it will no longer be the previously planned struggle for Jingzhou, but a war for the fate of our nation against the pseudo-Jin. The other side will definitely go all out! The armies of Yangzhou, Huainan, and Jiaoguang will probably all come out to fight our army to the death!”

These words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present. They were all intelligent men, and perhaps there were things they hadn't fully grasped before, but now, after Lu Zhi's explanation, they knew his words were true. Liu Xian also shared this concern, and seeing that Lu Zhi's analysis was clear, he nodded slightly and said, "Yes, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Zhang Fang previously stationed his troops in Hanzhong with only forty or fifty thousand men, but it attracted over a hundred thousand. If our army advances eastward, the number will probably be no less than that."

He then asked Wang Zhen, "I heard that at the end of last year, the Jin army mobilized more than two hundred warships. Is this true?"

Wang Zhen initially wanted to gloss over the matter, but seeing the King of Han's piercing gaze, which seemed to see right through people, he still spoke truthfully: "That is indeed the case."

Liu Xian smiled and then asked Li Feng, "How is the navy building progressing this past year?"

Li Fengdao said, "Your Highness, as of last month, under the supervision of Grand Commandant He, our army currently has 97 warships and 732 barges, which can accommodate more than 40,000 soldiers. Moreover, the soldiers have recently become quite good swimmers, and most of them can swim. However, since they have not yet experienced battle, we do not yet know their swimming skills."

A year ago, the entire Yizhou province had only about three hundred warships, plus two tower ships captured from Luo Shang. Now, the number of warships has doubled, and nearly a hundred tower ships have been built. It must be said that this is a remarkable achievement, and the court is very proud of it. However, compared to the more than a thousand warships and over two hundred tower ships that the Jin army used to besiege Zhang Fang, it is still a small fry.

Upon hearing this comparison of strength, the atmosphere within the Ministry of Personnel became somewhat tense. Land warfare was different from naval warfare. While Liu Xian's expertise in infantry and cavalry was unquestionable, naval warfare was a completely new field, and past experience was not applicable. Even Cao Cao, who once dominated the Central Plains and Hebei, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Zhou Yu precisely because he was unfamiliar with naval warfare. Although Liu Xian had He Pan, a renowned naval expert, under his command, and had trained him for nearly a year, doubts were still inevitable.

Zhuge Yan, who was listening in, couldn't hold back any longer. In his view, this silence was undoubtedly a questioning of Liu Xian's authority, so he bluntly expressed his dissatisfaction: "What's there to be afraid of? As the saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained! These Jin dogs have been fighting Zhang Fang for so long, which shows they're not very capable. Could it be that our navy is inferior to Zhang Fang's?"

Upon hearing this, the negative atmosphere in the hall greatly diminished. Liu Xian said to Zhuge Yan in a gentle manner, "Nan Qiao, this is a strategic plan, and it's better to be lenient with the enemy than to say discouraging things now than on the battlefield."

Then he asked the crowd, "Given the current situation, in your opinion, what is the best course of action for our army to advance?"

Lu Zhiben was about to speak, but Li Feng preemptively said, "Your Highness, this matter is not difficult to handle. As Lu Jianjun said, if our army advances eastward, the puppet Jin will surely send a large army to defend against us and fight to the death. Your Highness may as well do the opposite: if the enemy wants to move, we will remain still; if the enemy wants to be quick, we will be slow; if the enemy is in a hurry, Your Highness will proceed step by step."

"Now the initiative is in Your Highness's hands. As long as Your Highness takes advantage of the fact that the Jin army has not yet assembled, you should rush to Jingnan first, seize Yiling, and secure this vital passage between Yizhou and Jingzhou. Then, you can join forces with Prefect Du in Xiangzhou, wipe out the enemy in Jiangnan, and resolutely avoid battle with the enemy in Jiangbei. Even if the Jin navy has many troops, what can they do?"

“We transport grain from upstream to downstream, while they transport grain from downstream to upstream. Moreover, they have more troops than us. Over time, their grain consumption will inevitably be far greater than ours. They will only have two choices: either lead their troops to launch a strong attack on Yiling and cut off our supply lines, or retreat and fight again next year.”

"Therefore, the key to the eastern expedition is not the size of the enemy's navy, but Yiling! As long as our army can capture Yiling and successfully defend it, I dare say that the pseudo-Jin will be defeated without a doubt!"

After Li Feng finished speaking, everyone turned their attention to the map, focusing on the area between Yizhou and Jingzhou. There was a long line running through the two provinces, and this long line was the Yangtze River. At the junction of the Yangtze River and the two provinces, a little deeper into Jingzhou, there was a tiny circle, which marked Yiling City.

Liu Xian stared at the city, many names flashing through his mind, a sense of inexplicable vicissitude rising in his heart. After a long while, he calmed down and turned to Lu Zhidao, asking, "Zidao, what do you think?"

Lu Zhi pondered for a moment and then agreed, saying, "Minister Li is right. Wang Yan has only been governing Jiangnan for less than two years. Although he has quelled Zhang Fang's rebellion, he has not yet established any merit or reputation, and the people's hearts are not yet with him. As long as we capture Yiling, given enough time, Your Highness can remain unchanged in the face of all changes, while the puppet Jin will hesitate and become confused. In particular, the Jiangzuo gentry have been shifting their allegiance between the two sides for the past few years, unwilling to serve anyone to the death. As long as we drag this out until they change their minds, the tide will completely turn in Your Highness's favor."

Liu Xian then asked Li Ju, who replied, "In that case, our army needs to dispatch troops as soon as possible; we cannot delay for too long. Our army is building ships upstream, and the downstream area should already be prepared, especially the Jiangguan Pass. Therefore, we must dispatch troops swiftly."

The implication was that Li Ju agreed with Li Feng's plan. With his approval, the others naturally had no objections, and thus the overall policy was set. Liu Xian ordered the Grand Secretary Li Sheng to draft an edict, instructing Langzhong, Jiangzhou, and Chengdu to conduct a troop inventory, and after the inventory, to immediately proceed to Jiangzhou for assembly. He also ordered the Ministry of Works to quickly compile a list and transfer urgently needed provisions and supplies to Ba County.

Wang Zhen witnessed the entire decision-making process of the Chengdu court.

Judging solely from his observations, most of those present were extraordinary individuals, especially Li Ju, Liu Kun, and Lu Zhi. He saw in Li Ju a resolute, humble, and profound demeanor; in Liu Kun a free-spirited and unrestrained air; and in Lu Zhi a wise, magnanimous, and gentle nature. Li Feng, Zhuge Yan, and Lu Yun also left a deep impression on him; they were all truly outstanding individuals. Yet, they were all gathered around the King of Han, following his every command.

Recalling the Han King's reception of him, Wang Zhen felt an unprecedented sense of peace and reassurance from the benevolent, calm, and unwavering demeanor on his face. He also recalled other figures from Jing and Xiang that he had met, such as Du Tao, Ying Zhan, and Tao Kan, who, while seemingly similar, were actually quite different.

By this point, he was full of confidence in the Eastern Expedition. After the meeting, even he, who had never believed in Taoism or God, couldn't help but go to the Zhaolie Temple to burn incense and secretly pray to the statue of Liu Bei: "Emperor Zhaolie above, bless me so that this battle will go smoothly and that next year I can become as good as Huang Zhong or Zhao Yun."

(Map of the situation in July of the third year of the reign of Emperor Qiming of Han) (End of this chapter)