Jinting Han people

When Liu Xian arrived in Jiangzhou City, it was around the Xin Chou day of the eighth month. At that moment, under his command, 60,000 troops and nearly a thousand warships had already gathered in the east of the city, ready for battle. In addition, tens of thousands of laborers and hundreds of transport ships were gathering in Dianjiang and Jiangyang, continuously collecting supplies from various counties to transport provisions and provisions for the army. The atmosphere of a major battle was extremely tense.

The generals from all sides have gradually taken their positions. In addition to the generals Li Ju, He Pan, Yang Nandi, and Zhang Guang, who have already been mentioned in detail, those who accompanied Liu Xian on his southern expedition included General Zhuge Yan, General Yang Jiantou, General Guo Fang, General Mao Bao, General Huan Yi, General Zhang Qi, General Suo Lin, General Guo Mo, General Huangfu Dan, General Meng Tao, General Wen Shuo, General Huo Biao, General Fei Hei, and Vice Minister Wei Bo, among hundreds of other high-ranking generals. It can be described as a forest of veteran generals.

Although the Han army's numbers were still fewer than those of the forces that fought in the Battle of Chengdu, their quality was vastly different. Two years prior, the Han army's personnel were of mixed quality, exhausted from prolonged fighting, and their overall discipline was uneven. This led to a period of near-collapse for both the northern and southern armies during the fierce fighting, with the risk of being overrun by Li Xiong and Luo Shang. Now, however, the Han army had rested extensively, was in high spirits, and possessed significantly improved equipment and discipline.

The generals were well aware of this, which greatly boosted their confidence in the war effort. Some, like Suo Lin, even boasted that their current 60,000 troops were equivalent to their previous 100,000. While this was undoubtedly an exaggeration, it also served as clear evidence of the improved quality of the army.

That afternoon, amidst a light autumn rain, Liu Xian's pleasure boat navigated the numerous vessels on the river and docked at the ferry crossing south of Jiangzhou City. Dozens of generals, led by Grand Commandant He Pan, came to greet him. After securing the mooring lines, Liu Xian instructed Li Xiu to wait in the boat for the rain to stop. He then used this time to don raincoats with Liu Lang, intending to inspect the military situation at the camp.

After disembarking and stepping onto solid ground again, Liu Xian greeted He Pan with a smile, "Master He, are you still in good health? It's raining today, so why did you have to come in person?"

Since the eastward expansion strategy was decided, He Pan went to Dianjiang to oversee the construction of warships, and the two had not seen each other for eight months.

He Pan, also wearing a straw raincoat, shook his head at Liu Xian and said self-deprecatingly, "I'm almost seventy, so it doesn't matter if my health is good or bad. It's better to see Your Highness more often than to be stuck on my bed getting moldy."

That being said, He Pan seemed to be in good spirits. This was likely because the eastward advance would heavily rely on the navy, and He Pan, as a renowned veteran general who had pacified Wu, would undoubtedly be a key commander in this campaign. After so many years, being able to fight eastward again undoubtedly stirred many fond memories for him, filling him with pride and renewed vigor.

But he was an old man after all. After inquiring about Lai Zhong's health, He Pan said to Liu Xian with a mix of regret and emotion, "Life is like morning dew, and old friends are passing away. Now that Lord Lai is gone, my days are probably numbered as well. Your Highness, after this battle is over, even if the world is not yet at peace, I should retire with you and return to my hometown to enjoy my old age."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian encouraged He Pan by citing the example of Wang Jun, who destroyed Wu at the age of seventy-four, saying, "What are you saying, Master He? You are not old yet. At your age, you are not as old as Wang Xiangyang was before he destroyed Wu. Wang Xiangyang also said that his death was imminent and that he had not yet accomplished anything, but in the end, he still died a peaceful death."

He Pan laughed and said, "We still have to make way for the young people. Out with the old, in with the new!"

Liu Xian replied, "Young people also need guidance from elders. Without Master He to lead the way, how many people can learn on their own?"

The two chatted and laughed as they changed horses and braved the autumn rain to inspect the military camp. As previously mentioned, Liu Xian was quite satisfied with the camp's current state. All the generals were in place, and the camp was very well-organized. Even without fighting, facilities such as stables, granaries, kitchens, latrines, infirmaries, sentry posts, and drill grounds were all readily available. Military discipline was also quite strict; when Liu Xian arrived, he could see several squads of soldiers patrolling the camp, and there were no signs of merchants smuggling or prostitutes soliciting customers.

Liu Xian was more concerned about the horses. The horse farms in Sichuan and Chongqing had only been in operation for a year and hadn't yet produced any output; most of the horses he had brought to Sichuan had died of disease. Therefore, he had been trading horses with the Qiang people in the mountains and also obtaining Qin and Long horses from Yan Ding and Zhang Gui, barely maintaining a force of 20,000 warhorses and 10,000 cavalrymen within the country. All of them had been brought out and were now here.

Warhorses are very delicate. While their advantages are undeniable, they also suffer from all the same human ailments, and even more so. Liu Xian was very worried that these horses would suffer from acclimatization problems, and if a large number of them died before the war even began, it would be a great loss. Therefore, he specifically ordered the summoning of horse masters from across the country to discuss and summarize the secrets of raising warhorses in the south, to pass on to the cavalry soldiers, to cultivate new habits in the warhorses, and to prepare a large quantity of high-quality pasture.

So far, these measures have been quite effective; even with a few deaths, the number has not increased. When Liu Xian came to inspect, most of the horses were still relatively healthy.

Amidst a herd of warhorses, the group inevitably discussed the war in the north. Judging by the time, Gongsun Gong, who had gone to aid Zu Ti, should have been at war with the Zhao-Han army for two months. The current situation was essentially a race between the north and south to unify the country; whoever conquered territory faster would gain the upper hand in the final battle. Liu Xian, as the legitimate heir of the Han dynasty, naturally held the greatest advantage, and his greatest threat was undoubtedly the Xiongnu and Zhao-Han forces.

"Your Highness, what do you think are the chances of the Xiongnu winning this attack on Luoyang?" He Pan had been in Dianjiang for a long time and was unaware of the situation in the north, so he asked directly.

"It won't be more than 30%." Liu Xian had already considered this, and he quickly said, "Attacking Luoyang first was actually a foolish move. Liu Yuan didn't foresee the alliance in Guanzhong, and by attacking Luoyang first, he couldn't mobilize enough forces. As for Luoyang's terrain, as you know, it's the so-called residence of an emperor, with eight passes and numerous river valleys. The Xiongnu built many fortified villages to slow down the attack and sent surprise troops to cut off their supply lines. The Xiongnu were simply unable to defend against it. This time, their attack on Luoyang will mostly be fruitless."

"So, Your Highness can rest easy now?"

"That's not the case. Something unexpected happened in Hexi." Liu Xian sighed and said softly, "This news came three months ago. In the spring, Shi Yan Gong contracted a headache, and his body became stiff and unable to bend or stretch. This caused quite a stir within Liangzhou."

Up to now, Zhang Gui's illness remains a top secret; others only know he has contracted a disease, but the nature of it is unknown. However, this secret cannot be kept forever. Although Zhang Gui is currently lucid, he cannot function normally, so how can he appease the entire Liangzhou region? It is said that the various gentry families of Hexi are stirring with ambition, attempting to seize power. Therefore, Zhang Gui has changed his secret alliance to an open one, using Bashu and Guanzhong as external allies to suppress internal opposition.

But this is ultimately not a long-term solution. Nominally, a tripartite alliance has been formed in Guanzhong, but with Liu Xian's eastern campaign against Jingzhou, he cannot afford to leave much national strength to support Guanzhong. Zhang Gui's rule is also merely nominal. If Zhao Han abandons its attack on Luoyang and instead attacks Guanzhong, its chances of victory are actually greater. Liu Xian can only pray that Liu Yuan will discover this later, and hope that the powerful clans of Guanzhong can buy him enough time.

When this news reached He Pan's ears, it saddened him for a long time. He sighed, "Life is but a dream! Has Zhang Shiyan reached the age to serve?" Liu Xian laughed and changed the subject, asking, "Seeing these horses reminds me of Qiao Shenming charging into battle. Lord He, is he still unwilling to serve in office?"

The Qiao Shenming mentioned by Liu Xian refers to Qiao Deng. Since the surrender of Jiangyang, Qiao Deng had been living in seclusion and farming in Xichong County, Bazhou Commandery. He Pan, who was training the navy in Dianjiang, had been corresponding with him, hoping to recruit him into the army, but Qiao Deng had never agreed. Now that the eastern expedition was imminent, there was never a shortage of fierce generals in the army.

He Pan shook his head and said, "He is still young and cares about his reputation. Your Highness, please give him some more time." Liu Xian nodded and said no more.

After visiting the military camp, the group went to inspect the warships on the river.

As mentioned earlier, the fleet consisted of over 800 ships. Among them were nearly 100 large warships and over 700 medium and small warships. Although most of the warships were large warships, there were also many vessels with different functions. Liu Xian had only heard He Pan mention them before, but hearing about them and seeing them in person were two different things. This was the first time he had personally experienced the different uses of these ships.

Needless to say, Liu Xian had seen the Mengchong warship many times. It was a mainstay warship in naval warfare, tested on the battlefield for decades. Its shape resembled a beetle floating on the water, covered entirely in cowhide, with only arrow and spear holes on the hull. It also had a hard, sharp bow for charging and ramming. Capable of advancing and retreating, at both close and long ranges, it was the most versatile vessel in the navy.

However, versatility does not equate to omnipotence. When both sides have large warships, a stalemate will occur, requiring the application of different types of ships.

First, it must be considered that ordinary arrows are unlikely to penetrate the defenses of a warship. Therefore, there are only two ways to defeat the enemy: one is to set up specially designed crossbows and arrows on the ship, which could penetrate the hull and sink it; the other is to board the ship and seize it. Once inside the enemy's hull, no matter how strong its external defenses are, they will be easily breached.

Thus, the tower ship and the small boat were born. Utilizing their massive size, the tower ship could serve as a mobile river fortress, equipped with multiple heavy crossbows. Its sheer size was enough to crush ordinary warships, making it an invincible river behemoth. The small boat, on the other hand, was a specialized boarding boat. When two naval forces were locked in a stalemate on the river, the small boat could weave through the enemy lines, transporting soldiers to board enemy ships and kill them.

These are the three main types of warships used in combat, but other types were also used to execute different tactics. For example, there were ramming ships, deliberately made long and slender to increase speed and quickly approach the enemy navy. Then there were leather boats, light dinghys made of cowhide or sheepskin, carrying only one or three people, specifically used for reconnaissance and communication. And then there were fighting ships, not as tall as warships, but with deliberately thickened hulls and cabins, moving somewhat slowly but reliably transporting large numbers of troops.

The Han army now possesses all these types of ships.

Of course, when it comes to naval warfare, besides the normal battles between warships, there is also the method of fire attack. Ever since Zhou Yu used the east wind to burn Cao Cao's army at the Battle of Red Cliffs, successfully thwarting Cao Cao's ambition to unify Jing and Yang provinces, in any naval battle, everyone considers fire attack first, and no one is unafraid of being attacked by fire by the opponent. After all, no matter what kind of ship it is, it is ultimately made of wood, and it is very difficult to extinguish once it catches fire. However, this is unrelated to warships, so it was not included in Liu Xian's inspection this time.

After inspecting the entire fleet, He Pan finally focused his inspection on a large warship at a ferry crossing east of Jiangzhou City, specifically to review its contents. This warship was unlike any other; it was the largest vessel in the Han navy and served as the flagship commanding the entire army, as well as Liu Xian's residence during this eastern expedition.

Its battle tower was four stories high and over thirty zhang long. Above the tower was a dedicated watchtower, upon which stood a large black banner with red dragon and tiger patterns, indicating the direction of command flags. The lower deck was manned by nearly three hundred oarsmen, and over a hundred crossbow barrels were guarded by crossbowmen. The second deck was spacious enough for horses to ride, and the hold contained provisions and supplies. The third deck was enclosed, guarded by dozens of armored soldiers, and served as Liu Xian's resting quarters. The fourth deck was the command and control area, and from the watchtower, one could overlook the entire battlefield. All four decks were covered with cowhide, and the watchtower was encased in parapets to protect against arrows. In battle, a five-colored command flag was raised to convey the commander's orders.

The group boarded the ship. After examining it from top to bottom, Liu Xian was quite satisfied with the flagship. He asked He Pan, "Does this ship have a name?"

He Pan shook his head and said, "This is His Highness's carriage; how dare we overstep our bounds?"

Liu Xian nodded and smiled, "Then let's call it Fanyu."

As a friend who had been with him for twenty years, Liu Xian had a deep affection for Fan Yu. Now, Fan Yu was too old to gallop on the battlefield and could only retire in Wu Dan Palace. However, Liu Xian was deeply moved when he recalled the glorious past. Now, for the first naval battle, he simply named the flagship after his beloved horse.

The inspection officially concluded. It was already late, so everyone sat down to rest in the military council chamber on the fourth deck, listening to the rain outside, chatting and drinking tea while waiting for dinner. At this time, the accompanying military band played instruments nearby, their melodies soothing and harmonious, creating a truly pleasant atmosphere.

But everyone knew that this was the final calm before the eastern expedition. According to the original plan, the expedition would begin in three days. The fact that the King of Han inspected the troops upon his arrival and did not discuss the battle plan clearly indicated that he did not intend to change the date.

Sure enough, after the meal, Liu Xian gave a final message to everyone: "The original plan remains unchanged. Everyone should rest well. When the time comes, we will officially set off."

Most of the generals bowed and agreed, but He Pan still had some doubts. He reminded the Prince of Han, "Your Highness, it's not just our army that's gathering information from the east; the east is also gathering information from our army. Now that our army has gathered here, it's impossible to hide it from the garrison in Badong. They must have already made corresponding preparations. How do you plan to break through the city?"

He Pan's concerns were understandable. Currently, the passes through which the Han army could exit Sichuan were still in the hands of the Jin army. Baidi City and Jiangguan Pass, located on opposite sides of the Yangtze River, were connected by a hundred-foot iron chain, sufficient to block the entire river. Without capturing these two passes, the Han army would find it difficult to achieve anything significant. However, the Han navy was now heavily concentrated in Jiangzhou; the Jin army could not have been unaware of this. If they held the city, how could they possibly capture it?
Hearing He Pan's question, the other generals also quietly pricked up their ears, awaiting the King of Han's reply. Liu Xian merely smiled and said casually, "Please rest assured, gentlemen, I already have a plan in mind; someone will naturally go first." (End of Chapter)