Jinting Han people

As autumn deepened in August, the summer heat of Sichuan seemed to dissipate completely after the autumn rains ended. When Liu Xian climbed to the top of Baidi City, the sky was still bright, the sun shone on him, a cool breeze rustled the falling leaves, and the gentle river flowed past the banks. Coupled with the good news of the initial victory, he felt extremely comfortable.

The Han army suffered minimal losses in this battle. Due to the sudden night attack and the presence of an inside agent within the city, the Han army captured Xiaguan City with great ease. Huo Biao did not engage in any high-intensity fighting; he simply blocked the various exits of the main city and awaited reinforcements. His losses totaled only about a hundred men, with fewer than thirty killed in action. It was a completely natural outcome.

As a result, the morale of the army soared. When the generals accompanied Liu Xian to inspect the surrendered troops, they all said that the Jin army was no match for them and that advancing eastward would be as easy as taking candy from a baby. It is no wonder that they underestimated them so much. Pi Chu was known as a veteran general and had such a strong city under his command, yet he could not even hold it for a day. Doesn't this show that the two armies were worlds apart?
At this point, Liu Xian appeared conservative. He said to everyone, "Pi Chu was not bad at fighting. His victory over Li Chen and Chen Min demonstrate his bravery. His ability to repair such city defenses also shows his strategic acumen. But in the end, he died a gruesome death. Why? It was not because he was bad at fighting, but because he relied on his own strength and did not care about the common people. My great-grandfather Zhang Fei also died for the same reason. You should all take this as a warning."

This was indeed Liu Xian's heartfelt sentiment. Standing at the place where his great-grandfather had met his demise, it was hard not to recall the regrets of that time. No matter how brave a person is, or how renowned they may be, they are still just flesh and blood. If they cannot unite those around them, life and death are but a matter of a single blow.

Considering this, and also because of Liu Hong's past relationship, Liu Xian still held a funeral for Pi Chu and his brother, even though Pi Chu had a bad reputation in the area. Liu Xian did not mistreat their children and family members in the city, but instead sent them to Chengdu for resettlement and even allowed them to enter the Imperial Academy.

He then pacified the surrendered troops in the city and took over the city's defenses. The original Jin army could not remain in the city, so he appointed Zhang Luo, the former deputy general of the Jin army, as the Colonel of Agricultural Settlements and Acting Governor of Nanpu, ordering him to surrender his weapons and armor and lead his troops to the abandoned Nanpu County to repair the city walls and cultivate the land. As for the selection of those to take over Baidi City, Liu Xian pondered briefly and ultimately appointed Wen Yan as the Prefect of Badong and Zhao Bi as the Commandant of Badong, placing them in charge of the overall military and political affairs of Badong.

Wen Yan was a renowned scholar from Zitong who had previously analyzed the local conditions of the Celestial Masters sect in Bashu for Liu Xian. He was observant, decisive, and had achieved considerable success as the magistrate of Zizhong County for the past two years. Liu Xian was planning to promote him. Zhao Bi, on the other hand, was the Han army's inside man in Baidi City. He was familiar with the local defenses, had previously served as a prefect in the Jin Dynasty, and had a certain reputation. The cooperation between the two should be worry-free.

After the appointment was made, Liu Xian asked Wen Yan, "Does Wen Qing know the original name of this place?"

Wen Yan understood Liu Xian's intention. Emperor Zhaolie Liu Bei had renamed this place Yong'an, hoping that the city would protect Bashu from war. Now that the Han army had recaptured Yong'an, this place would become the key hub for the eastern expedition and could not be lost. He clasped his hands and swore, "Your Highness, please rest assured, unless my entire family is wiped out, there will be no more chaos in Badong!"

Liu Xian believed it, and he then led his generals to Yong'an Palace east of Xiaguan City to offer sacrifices. Eighty years had passed, and although the high walls were mottled and the cypress trees were deep, the city walls remained intact. After all, after the fall of the kingdom, Luo Xian was highly valued by Sima Zhao and his son, and continued to reside here for more than a decade. Luo Xian preserved the palace, and even placed statues of deities within it. After Luo Xian's death, his successors had no intention of changing it, allowing it to remain to this day.

Decades later, Liu Xian's return to this place as the King of Han carries profound symbolic significance. Only now has Liu Xian truly gained control of the entire Yi Province, restoring the complete territory of the former Shu Han. If he can continue his advance, he will have formally surpassed his predecessors.

Therefore, Liu Xian had no intention of lingering there. According to the prisoners, Pi Chu had already sent a messenger to Wang Dun when Huo Biao attacked Baidi City. Although Baidi City was a thousand miles from Jiangling, the river was swift there, and at the speed of a boat, the journey could be completed in a day. Judging by the time, Wang Dun and his men had probably already received the message.

Opportunities in war are as ever-changing as the clouds in the sky; if you don't seize them, they vanish in an instant. Liu Xian must take the initiative and capture as many cities as possible before the Jin army can make its corresponding deployments.

Especially now, Yiling City is likely not well-defended, making it the best time to take it directly.

After a brief ceremony, Liu Xian ordered the entire army to rest for the night, and they set off again early the next morning. This time, Liu Xian instructed the entire army that the navy would abandon its previous sluggish approach and quickly leave Yizhou territory. They would bypass all the cities they might encounter along the way, sailing downstream for five hundred li, heading straight for the mouth of the Xiling Gorge.

This was undoubtedly a tremendous challenge. After all, this was the Han army's first campaign outside Sichuan, and they were unfamiliar with the water conditions. They were about to traverse the Three Gorges, a region renowned for its turbulent currents. Numerous ships had run aground or collided there, and in dangerous areas, there were countless instances of ships being destroyed and lives lost. Even Emperor Zhaolie (Liu Bei), who had traversed the Three Gorges several times, dared not undertake such a risky undertaking. During the Battle of Yiling, he proceeded cautiously, fearing any unforeseen events.

But Liu Xian was determined. Given his current situation, which was even better than the conditions offered by Wang Jundong back then, and with He Pan leading the way, there was no reason not to take the risk.

The next day, at dawn, before daybreak, bugle calls echoed across the valley. The soldiers rose hastily in response, donning their armor at the lower pass. Meanwhile, the fire brigade, who had risen two hours earlier, quickly brought out the rice porridge and vegetable soup they had prepared that day. After a ravenous meal, the army was distributed with enough dry rations for two days. Until they had secured a foothold in Jingzhou, they would temporarily lose the opportunity to eat hot food.

After all the soldiers had boarded the ship, another melodious bugle call sounded, and someone on the lead ship shouted in a loud voice, "Weigh anchor—"

This shout seemed to awaken the night; all the soldiers on the ships shouted in unison, the chickens and dogs in Baidi City barked, and even the monkeys on both banks began to howl. This loud sound dispelled everyone's sleepiness. From the watchtower, Liu Xian could clearly see that although the stars were still shining overhead, the eastern horizon was already faintly tinged with blue, a sign of dawn.

Before the bluish-white color of the horizon, the Han soldiers could clearly see the shadows of two stone mountains. They stood tall, above the mountains, with sheer cliffs, like two doors opening at an angle. This was the most famous Kuimen in the Qutang Gorge. To its north was the Red Armor Mountain, where the soil and rocks were all red, and to its south was the White Salt Mountain, which was so white that it could be seen through a mirror. In the center in front of the Kuimen was a huge reef several feet high, like a tiger blocking the way in the river. [1]

He Pan stood next to Liu Xian and pointed to the giant reef, explaining to him, "Your Highness, this giant reef is called Yanyu Dui. During the summer high tide, the water washes over this rock, and the current is so strong that ships are very likely to collide with it. According to the locals, there may be a Kui dragon here, and the larger the ship, the more likely it is to be in danger."

"A Kui dragon?" Liu Xian examined the giant reef. He was unaware of its dangers at the moment. He patted the railing and said casually, "I believe it will be on our side."

As they spoke, the boats began to leave the ferry dock one after another, carefully splitting into two large groups as they passed by the Yanyu Dam. The Fanyu was at the forefront and was among the first boats to cross the Yanyu Dam.

The sky was very dark at the time. At first, Liu Xian only felt that the ships in front of him were swaying a bit. But when the flagship passed through them, Liu Xian could clearly feel that the ship's rocking suddenly increased to a new level. Waves crashed against the ship, making creaking noises and swaying from side to side. Liu Xian was not prepared and almost lost his footing.

He quickly grabbed the railing, trying to discern the direction of the rapids. Upon closer inspection, he realized the current seemed to be pushing the boat towards the rocks. With each jolt, the ship's side drew closer and closer to the rocks, at one point only a few feet away. Liu Xian feared the ship would collide, but before he could react, a wave crashed back from the rocks, causing the ship to lurch backward and, amidst cries of alarm, head straight for a large warship. Fortunately, thanks to He Pan's training, the sailors knew how to control speed and rudder. The oarsman on the port side quickly pulled back, while the oarsman on the starboard side gripped the waves, managing to maintain distance and adjust direction, preventing a catastrophic collision. Still shaken, they looked back, and the formidable rock was now far behind them.

Having overcome the perilous situation, Liu Xian regained his senses and breathed a sigh of relief. He said to He Pan with emotion, "It really felt like a Kui dragon was causing trouble! Lord He, is everything safe now?"

He Pan, however, remained as steady as a mountain. He shook his head and smiled proudly, saying, "Your Highness, it's still early! There are still dangerous passes ahead."

That's what they said, but by then the sky was gradually brightening, and the stars had disappeared without a trace. People could see that clouds and mist were swirling overhead, as if they had entered a fairyland. The Red Armor Mountain to the north was ablaze with red forests, more vibrant than fireworks. On White Rock Mountain to the south, water willow trees grew in abundance, resembling layers of slender phoenix feathers, a dazzling sight.

In an instant, the sky disappeared, the distant foothills disappeared, and even the fleets of ships ahead and behind disappeared. Above and below, it seemed as if there was only this one river, and this lonely river seemed to give people eternal tranquility.

But this was clearly an illusion. As the sun gradually rose, an hour later, the clouds on the horizon dispersed again, though some clouds still lingered on the mountaintops. The colors of heaven and earth were now distinct, and a rainbow pierced overhead, stretching from east to west, connecting to the unknown horizon. Green waters rippled, and migratory birds could be seen soaring high in the sky; they were clearly still in the human world, in this world of boundless beauty.

Before long, a gap appeared in the valley north of the river, revealing a large flat riverbed and a tributary. At the confluence of the rivers sat a city, and beside the city was a sizable market where thousands of people were trading. When the Han army's navy passed by, they all looked astonished, standing there dumbfounded, gazing up at the Han army flags on the passing ships, speechless for a moment.

This is Wu County, the capital of Jianping Commandery. Liu Xian could tell that the city's defenses were weak and that no one had yet informed him of the fall of Yong'an. However, he did not change his plan to capture the city. After all, the entire Jianping Commandery was currently poorly defended. As long as Yiling was captured and the Jin army's westward advance was cut off, these cities would only have the option of surrendering.

Therefore, the Han navy continued eastward and entered the Wuxia Gorge section.

The Cangxia Gorge connects with the colorful clouds, one exits the gorge and re-enters it. Unlike the Qutang Gorge, the Wuxia Gorge's waterway is not fragmented; it is the most continuous and orderly of the Three Gorges, divided only into east and west sections. The western section consists of the Golden Helmet and Silver Armor Gorge and the Arrow Piercing Gorge, while the eastern section consists of the Iron Coffin Gorge and the Door Fan Gorge. The entire gorge area is characterized by towering peaks, craggy rocks, and sheer cliffs, stretching endlessly like a winding gallery.

Its peaks sometimes resemble piled bricks and stones, with countless brick marks; sometimes they resemble a giant hand covering the sky, with uneven knuckles; sometimes they resemble a crouching tiger or a coiled dragon, with their summits piercing the heavens. Among them is the Goddess Peak, on which stands a graceful stone pillar, shaped like a poised and elegant maiden. It is said to greet the morning glow and bid farewell to the evening glow every day, and is also known as the Glowing Peak.

Such beautiful scenery is truly breathtaking. Liu Xian and his generals strolled through it, all expressing their admiration and emotion. Passing by Iron Coffin Gorge, they saw a black wooden coffin shaped like a boat hanging high on the mountain peak. He Pan explained that it was a funeral custom of the Di people. Li Ju then said from the side, "If one can see this water flowing under one's body after death, it would not be a bad thing."

Time flew by unnoticed, and noon arrived in the blink of an eye. After eating their dry rations, they passed two riverbanks and three river mouths before entering the final gorge, the Xiling Gorge.

This is the longest and most turbulent section of the Three Gorges, with extremely fast currents downstream and requiring boatmen to pull vessels upstream. The Han navy, naval forces navigating this section, dared not row any faster, but instead carefully adjusted their course, fearing being swept ashore and run aground by the turbulent currents. However, such incidents were difficult to avoid. While the main force had remained intact through the first two gorges, here, some boats ran aground and were forced to dock. The soldiers could only row to shore as fast as they could before sinking, setting up camp and awaiting further instructions.

As the river section they traversed grew longer, this situation became increasingly common. According to flag signal exchanges between the various units, Liu Xian learned that over the course of three hours, more than fifty ships had been forced to dock, resulting in approximately two thousand soldiers falling behind.

At the same time, Liu Xian also knew that as the current became more and more turbulent and the boat speed increased, he was getting closer and closer to his target, Yiling. After passing Zigui County, the surging waves were like a tidal wave, and the boat speed was practically flying, which reminded Liu Xian of the memory of galloping on horseback on Fan Yu's back.

Especially when passing Kongling Beach [2], the boats almost crashed straight into the giant rocks in the river, but were narrowly avoided by the counter-forces of several raging waves. It was as if the people had just walked through the gates of hell. Two large ships dared not sail in this way and instead accidentally hit the rocks, and were forced to stop there. As a result, hundreds more people were left behind.

But every rapid has its end, and every canyon has its end. Just as everyone was feeling dizzy and disoriented, the rocks on both sides gradually lowered, the water flow slowed, and the sunlight overhead changed from bright to dim and yellowish. More and more riverbanks appeared along the way, scattered like stars, and the cracks in the canyon also increased, like rusty blades.

Finally, after a long and narrow canyon, the river violently surged through a sharp bend, then its speed suddenly slowed, flowing gently eastward, revealing an unprecedentedly wide riverbank before everyone's eyes. People could clearly see that, in the afterglow of the setting sun, a tributary shimmered with golden light amidst the vast hills to the north, dividing the riverbank in two. The shimmering light and the afterglow intertwined, turning the city on the east bank into a golden city.

In just six hours, the Han navy successfully traveled 500 li and arrived at the city of Yiling.

It was not yet completely dark, and there were only six hundred soldiers guarding Yiling City, making it a completely empty city.

[1] In the winter of 1959, when the People's Republic of China was dredging the Yangtze River waterway, the Yanyu Depression was destroyed, and the Qutang Gorge was transformed from "the most dangerous place in the world" into "a high gorge and a calm lake", and there were no more accidents of ships running aground and being destroyed.

[2] Kongling Shoal was known as the "Gate of Hell" in ancient times. The water here is swift and rapid, composed of jagged reefs such as "Big Pearl," "Head Pearl," and "Three Pearls," creating a turbulent and chaotic flow. However, since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Yangtze River navigable channel has undergone numerous improvements, including the removal of exposed and hidden reefs and the construction of dams, eliminating the dangerous shoals. (End of Chapter)