Jinting Han people

Just as the Han army was planning its next expansion, the Jin army north of the Yangtze River was also carrying out a new round of troop deployments.

As early as when Liu Xian captured Yiling, Wang Dun immediately relayed the news to Shouchun. Upon learning this, Wang Yan sensed that things were going terribly wrong. He knew that the situation in the Central Plains was beyond saving, and the southeastern half of the country was his last resort. If even Jingzhou was taken by the Han army, where would he be able to survive in the future?
Driven by this sense of crisis, Wang Yan dared not be careless. He immediately issued an edict to all prefectures and counties, appointing Wang Kuang, the governor of Jiangzhou, as the commander-in-chief and ordering him to oversee the military affairs of the seven prefectures of Yu, Jing, Jiang, Yang, Xiang, Guang, and Jiao. He ordered the mobilization of all troops in the southeast, numbering 500,000, to drive the Han army in Jingzhou back to Sichuan.

The figure of 500,000 was certainly a bluff, but judging from the current movements of the southeastern prefectures and counties, Wang Yan had indeed committed all his forces. Besides Wang Dun's existing 70,000 troops in Jingzhou, Wang Kuang of Jiangzhou had mobilized 50,000, and Sima Rui of Yangzhou had raised 40,000. Adding to this the refugee armies he had reorganized from Huainan and Yuzhou, the total number of troops had approached 200,000. Moreover, the Guangzhou and Jiaozhou armies had joined the war from the south; this was practically a scene of the entire nation fighting.

The order was issued in early August, but the various Jin armies didn't arrive until mid-September. This was highly unusual, considering that Du Tao had been causing trouble for over two months, and the neighboring provinces of Jing, Jiao, and Guang should have reacted quickly. However, Wang Kuang, the governor of Jiangzhou, didn't believe that Du Tao could incite a major rebellion, and that the Jin army in Jingzhou was sufficient to handle it. He also believed that even if chaos broke out, it would be difficult to affect Jiangzhou. Therefore, he only dispatched 20,000 troops, including Tao Kan, as auxiliary troops, without making any further mobilization plans.

It wasn't until they learned that Liu Xian had joined the battle and decisively recaptured key locations like Yiling and Yi'an that the officials of the various prefectures realized the impending disaster. The Han army's overwhelming force clearly indicated their intention to overthrow the Jin dynasty. A decisive battle was inevitable, and since this matter concerned everyone's vital interests, they dared not hesitate any longer. Therefore, they responded to the court's call and finally assembled a massive river army, its size rivaling that of the Jin army's conquest of Wu nearly thirty years prior.

But times have changed. Thirty years ago, when the Jin navy appeared on the Yangtze River, people felt joy and confidence that a peaceful year was approaching. Thirty years later, however, a sense of sorrow and doubt inevitably arises. After all, thirty years ago, the Jin army held a clear advantage; victory was expected, and defeat was insignificant. But now, the Jin dynasty has been cornered, and this seems like a desperate gamble. If they lose this time, their fate of annihilation will be sealed.

It was with this feeling that Wang Dun moved from Xiangyang to Xiakou.

The reason for leaving Xiangyang was that Xiangyang was a crucial point between the Yangtze River and the Central Plains. If the enemy came from the north, Xiangyang could serve as the military center of the entire Jingzhou. However, if the enemy came from the west, Xiangyang was far from the Yangtze River, making it unsuitable for fighting the Han army.

The Han army now occupies Yi'an, facing the Jin army in Jiangling across the river. If they were to use this as their base, the two armies would be too close together, leaving no room for maneuver. Apart from a direct confrontation, they would have few strategic options. Therefore, he chose to re-establish his camp at Xiakou, where the Yangtze, Xia, and Han rivers converge. To the west lies the vast Yunmengze Lakes, and to the south is the mouth of Dongting Lake. Downstream lies Wuchang, a major city on the Yangtze River and the former capital of the Wu Kingdom.

From here, the Jin army could sail upstream and reach Jiangling in about three days, or send reinforcements by land in no more than six days. Simultaneously, they could oversee the battles on the Xiang River to the south, coordinating with the Jiangzhou army in Wuchang Commandery. Even if they suffered setbacks in the initial battles, they could secure their retreat downstream. During the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Biao and Sun Quan fought several times for control of this area, with Sun Quan ultimately emerging victorious. This marked the beginning of Eastern Wu's dominance on the river.

Xiakou boasts exceptionally beautiful scenery. This city, built under the supervision of Sun Quan, stands atop Huanghu Mountain in Jiangnan, with Guishan Mountain across the river. To the west, one can see the later-famous Parrot Island and Hanyang Tree, and it is surrounded and protected by dozens of lakes, truly a place of strategic importance.

However, Wang Dun had no time to appreciate the beautiful scenery; what he longed for most now was the arrival of reinforcements from downstream. To his relief, reinforcements finally arrived from various places.

The first to arrive was Wang Kuang, the governor of Jiangzhou. Like Wang Dun and Wang Dao, he was from the Langya Wang clan, though older and more renowned. This higher status stemmed not from his moral character, but from his exceptional calligraphy. From a young age, Wang Kuang admired Cai Yong's style, excelling in running script, cursive script, and clerical script, especially the "flying white" style. This style features delicate, white-lined strokes, resembling dry brushwork, with alternating dry and moist ink tones, captivating the viewer like a dancing beauty. In the contemporary literary world, only Wang Kuang possessed such skill. Therefore, Wang Kuang held a very high position in the literary world, and he himself was as arrogant as his calligraphy.

Therefore, upon meeting Wang Dun, he showed no mercy, first rebuking him: "It's one thing that Yiling was lost, but why didn't you strengthen the defense of Jiang'an? You only left Gou Xi with a few thousand men, what good will that do! The current dire situation is inextricably linked to you!"

His words created an extremely awkward atmosphere. Wang Kuang might have been telling the truth, but he showed a complete lack of understanding of Wang Dun's difficulties. After all, Wang Dun had been the first to devise a plan to suppress the bandits, while Wang Kuang had been slow and ineffective, moving at a snail's pace. What right did he have to criticize Wang Dun? If he had led his troops to support Jiang'an earlier, would Jiang'an have fallen so easily?

Who was Wang Dun? At a young age, he was appreciated by Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan, and married a princess. He had never suffered such humiliation before. Even with his deep-seated shrewdness, he couldn't help but feel his veins bulge upon hearing these words. However, he ultimately held back, after all, Wang Kuang was his cousin and the commander-in-chief appointed by Wang Yan. He couldn't afford to have a major conflict with the commander-in-chief; otherwise, there would be no point in fighting the rest of the war.

He took the blame, saying, "It's always Liu Xian who is cunning, and I am dull-witted. Although I have tried my best, I cannot see through the villain's plot. I need to rely on my elder brother's guidance."

Seeing that he was sensible, Wang Kuang naturally laughed and put on the airs of an elder brother, pointing to the followers behind him and saying, "Liu Xian only has the strength of one province, while all the famous generals of Jiangzhou are here. What is there to fear?"

Wang Dun then looked over and saw three middle-aged men standing behind Wang Kuang. Although they were of different heights, they all had outstanding temperaments and bright eyes. They all possessed an extraordinary and distinguished air, and were clearly outstanding talents from the southeast.

He recognized the first person in the group; it was Tao Kan, whom Liu Hong had personally promoted. Wang Dun had intended to recruit him into his household after the mourning period ended, but Wang Kuang had snatched him up at the grave and gotten there first. Later, during the suppression of Zhang Fang's rebellion, Tao Kan devised a comprehensive strategy and indeed made great contributions. Now, the entire southeast knew of Tao Kan's reputation as a strategist and general.

Wang Dun admired Tao Kan, but was also jealous of his talent. However, he did not show the latter at this moment. Instead, he smiled warmly and said, "So it's Shiheng who has arrived. It is said that there are two Shihengs in Jiangnan: Lu Ji, who is a scholar, and Tao Kan, who is a warrior. With you here, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

Despite such flattery, Tao Kan remained humble and respectful when he saw Wang Dun. He bowed and said, "Lord Wang, you flatter me. How can I compare to Lord Lu? It is you who have been working hard lately for the country and the people. Tao Kan dares not fall behind!"

However, another person beside Tao Kan presented a stark contrast to him. Wang Dun recognized all the high-ranking generals in the Jin army, but not this man, indicating that he had only recently been promoted and was not yet well-known. Yet this man showed no humility whatsoever; instead, he sized up Wang Dun with neither obsequiousness nor servility. Even when he met Wang Dun's gaze, he did not avoid it, nor did he offer a salute, demonstrating considerable pride. Tao Kan had a good relationship with this man, and he took the initiative to introduce him to Wang Dun: "My lord, this is my good friend Zhou Fang, Zhou Shida. His family has produced four generations of generals in Wu, with a profound family tradition of learning. His military strategy is no less than mine."

After hearing Tao Kan's introduction, Zhou Fang reluctantly nodded to Wang Dun, cupped his hands and said, "I am willing to work with you, my lord, to overcome the difficulties and quell the Liu traitor."

"What arrogant words!" Wang Dun thought. Tao Kan's words made no mention of Zhou Fang's achievements, indicating that he currently had no real accomplishments. Yet this man showed no shame, nor any intention of proving himself, accepting Tao Kan's praise as if it were his due. Wang Dun despised such people, for they were mostly arrogant, self-deceiving fools, like his own cousin Wang Yan. But since this man was recommended by Tao Kan, Wang Dun still held Zhou Fang in high regard and decided to test his abilities further at the military council.

The last person was a scholar. He was relatively young and had a refined demeanor. He was probably only in his early twenties. He then took the initiative to introduce himself to Wang Dun, saying, "I am Huan Xuan from Qiao State. I am new here and hope that Your Excellency will take good care of me."

It turned out that Huan Xuan was a descendant of the Huan clan of Qiao State. Upon hearing this, Wang Dun felt an immediate affinity for him. Although the Huan clan of Qiao State was not a particularly prestigious family, their family traditions were renowned. While other aristocratic families indulged in philosophical discussions, the Huan clan emphasized military science, law, agriculture, and mathematics, leaning more towards practical matters, which set them apart from others. Therefore, although the Huan clan did not produce many prominent figures, it was famous for producing capable officials, and Wang Dun currently needed such a person.

Of course, Wang Kuang had more than just these three under his command. Accompanying him were General Huang Jun of Lingjiang, Prefect Li Huan of Yuzhang, Prefect Bian Kun of Linchuan, and other prefectural generals. Apart from Zhu Si and Zheng Pan, who were still defending the cities in Baling and Yiyang, the Jiangzhou army could be said to have mobilized its entire force, with all its elite talents gathered here.

Shortly after the Jiangzhou army arrived, the Yangzhou army followed. Leading them was none other than Wang Dun's cousin, Wang Dao, the Chief Clerk of the General Who Guards the East.

Among the Wang clan of Langya, Wang Dun and Wang Dao were close friends since childhood. They were overjoyed to see each other after several years apart. Wang Dun asked Wang Dao, "Liu Xian is rampant, like Xiang Yu! I rushed here like a blazing fire, why are you so late, brother?" Wang Dao replied with a smile, "Han Xin is late, the Hegemon-King has only just beheaded him!" After saying this, the two brothers both laughed heartily, demonstrating their close friendship.

As promised, Wang Dao brought 40,000 troops from Yangzhou, almost all of whom were elite naval forces. The generals who came with him were also well-known generals from Yangzhou, namely General Jianwu Qian Hui, Military Advisor to the East Zhou Qi, Military Commander of the East Gu Rong, Military Advisor Ji Zhan, and General Yangwei Gan Zhuo.

These men were all generals who had previously participated in suppressing the rebellions of Shi Bing and Chen Min, and they were all prominent members of the Wu region. Wang Dun had long admired them, but since Yangzhou had not sent many troops during Zhang Fang's rebellion, he had mostly missed the opportunity to meet them. So, taking advantage of this opportunity, he met with each of them through Wang Dao's introduction.

Based on his first impression, Wang Dun had a good impression of these Jiangzuo gentry. Apart from the slightly unfamiliar accent, these scholars did not have the aloof and detached air of the Central Plains scholars; they were mostly traditional scholars who valued practical matters and studied military strategy. However, what made him uncomfortable was a very obvious sense of distance from them, as if they were deliberately keeping their distance from him.

This kind of distance can be divided into three categories. One category is like Gu Rong and Ji Zhan, who, although they smile, are very polite in their conversations and are unwilling to discuss more intimate topics. Another category is like Qian Hui and Gan Zhuo, who are taciturn and only say yes or no, and try not to speak if they can avoid it.

What impressed Wang Dun the most was Zhou Qi. Facing this son of Zhou Chu, Wang Dun experienced for the first time what others thought of him. Zhou Qi's face was aloof and unsmiling. Wang Dun could not see through Zhou Qi's thoughts at all. When discussing military topics with him, his answers were always ingenious, but he deliberately spoke in a convoluted and difficult way, making it hard for people to understand. It seemed that he found a kind of pleasure in seeing other people's puzzled expressions.

But this kind of pleasure is contemptuous, condescending, and hard to accept. It seems that there is no one he respects. Only when the opponent in this battle is mentioned will Zhou Qi's eyes light up. He said to Wang Dun, "Everyone says that Liu Xian is the best in the world, but I don't think he's anything special. I came here this time to expose his false reputation!"

Wang Dun could tell that Lu Ji's fate and end in the Central Plains had deeply broken the hearts of these scholars from the Wu region, making their loyalty to the court highly questionable. He couldn't help but privately ask Wang Dao about this topic: "In recent years, the people of Wu have been secretly causing trouble. Is it credible that the court is using them to resist the people of Shu?"

Wang Dao understood his concerns, and then explained in a low voice, "I know, but we have no other choice right now. No matter what, they won't side with Liu Huaichong!"

This is indeed the truth. The conflict between Wu and Shu was actually greater than that between Han and Wei, or Han and Jin. Back then, Shu Han could be considered a fair opponent to Cao Wei and Sima Jin, but the biggest losses they suffered came from Wu's sneak attacks. How could they tolerate that? Now, Wang Dao's use of these Wu people to resist the Shu army is actually more reliable than the general Jin army.

Wang Dun felt that Wang Dao's words made sense, and thinking about it this way, he became more optimistic. At least from the current situation, these people were all outstanding in talent, and together with their own generals, they could indeed be described as a gathering of heroes, and it was not a matter of having no one to use against the Han army.

The last to arrive was the Huainan army, led by Zhou Fu, the governor of Huainan, and Wang Cheng, the governor of Xuzhou, who commanded a total of 20,000 troops. Under their command were General Zhao You, the governor of Yuzhou, Tian Hui, the prefect of Qichun, Zhu Gui, the prefect of Lujiang, and Song Dian, the prefect of Lujiang.

Upon arriving in Xiakou, Zhou Fu didn't say much. He went directly to meet with Wang Kuang and said, "With 200,000 troops gathered here, it's not wise to delay any longer. We should hold a military meeting as soon as possible to recover the lost territory to the west and drive the Shu bandits back to Badong!" (End of Chapter)