Chapter 137
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“Nie Xuan lost?!” Sima Teng was practically hopping mad upon hearing the news!
To think, his first battle against the Xiongnu had ended so ingloriously in defeat, a massive defeat, at that! Of course he was frightened and furious! Let it be known that Lu City had reported a victory only a short while ago. Hadn’t they driven out five thousand cavalries? Why then, when it came to Nie Xuan, did it come to utter failure?
The messenger hurriedly continued, “The only reason General Nie lost was that the cunning Xiongnu had surrounded his camp from three sides. The general’s already gathered up the remaining forces and plans to entrench himself at Yangyi…”
What was the use in holding Yangyi?! His goal was to attack the Xiongnu capital for the protection of Jinyang. What good was a measly Yangyi?! Ah, but that was it — the forces they’d previously sent to Shangdang must have been a diversion! Surely it was because Liu Yuan did not truly intend to help the Prince of Chengdu and put on a perfunctory performance that Liang Feng had managed to reap such undeserved rewards, while he, left with the false impression that the Xiongnu armies were weak, trusted too easily in Nie Xuan’s self-aggrandizing boasts, receiving naught but defeat!
Oh, those hateful barbarian mongrels!
Sima Teng turned to his aides and roared, “What strategies do you lot suggest?!”
The military officers of his general staff were badly shaken by the report of Nie Xuan’s defeat. Finally, after giving it some thought, Registrar Gao said, “General, you might consider borrowing troops from the Xianbei. The Suotou branch of Dai Commandery has always obeyed the orders of the imperial court. If only we could borrow a few thousand, we would surely overcome the Xiongnu!”
At present, relations between the Tuoba Xianbei and the Jin were amicable; the Suotou branch that Registrar Gao spoke of, otherwise known as the Tuoba branch, was a central Xianbei clan residing north of the Canhe Slope in Dai Commandery. Their leader, Tuoba Yitou, was a man of great talent and wisdom, as evidenced by his years-long jaunt throughout the lands north of the desert, conquering over thirty territories, thereby strengthening the Suotou branch and his appointing a Han man, Wei Cao, as Vice Chancellor to manage the affairs of his tribe. It shouldn’t be difficult to borrow troops from an ethnic race so close to the Jin.
Sima Teng nodded in approval at his suggestion, “Send an envoy with a request to borrow troops to the Suotou branch! We’ll show those barbarian mongrels what’s what!”
Wang Jun had previously suppressed the Prince of Chengdu’s tens-of-thousands-strong army with borrowed forces from the Duan Xianbei. Supposing he acquired Tuoba troops, he too could surely annihilate that old coot Liu Yuan’s armies and destroy his country. His distaste for barbarians paled in importance to his personal safety.
After a moment of thought, Sima Teng continued, “Since Shangdang is currently stable, let Linghu Kuang and his division be transferred to Jinyang and let Wu Ling take his place guarding Huguan and the nearby mountain passes.”
Moving him away at this time was not without risk, but General Nie’s recent defeat had left him shorthanded. Well at least with Linghu Kuang, born to one of Bing Provinces’ great families and nephew of Linghu Sheng, an experienced general, he could take the opportunity to elevate the Linghu clan. The security of Shangdang was assured, so long as Lu City and Huguan stood fast. Although Sima Teng wasn’t particularly fond of Liang Zixi, he had to admit that he was the sort of respectable scholar whose word was good as gold. No harm would befall Shangdang whilst he was there.
Swiftly deciding on a course of action, two messengers were dispatched from Jinyang, each to their own destination.
※
“Xfcfgji Olcute, sbe jgf ab tfjv cbgat ab Alcsjcu jcv yf gfqijmfv ys Xfcfgji Qe?” Oljcu Mfcu jrxfv regqglrfvis.
“Ds atf bgvfg bo atf Gexf bo Gbcuslcu, P jw ab vfqjga abwbggbk. Xfcfgji Qe tjr gfmflnfv tlr bgvfgr jr kfii, jcv klii rtbgais jgglnf ja Leuejc.” Olcute Bejcu tjv lwwfvljafis tegglfv ab Oe Jlas joafg gfmflnlcu kbgv ogbw Alcsjcu ab lcobgw Oljcu Mfcu yfmjerf olgrais, atfs kfgf lcvffv bc ubbv afgwr, jcv rfmbcvis, atfs tjv ab oluegf bea ktja ab vb jybea Tl Tjc, ktb kjr afmtclmjiis ecvfg tlr mtjlc bo mbwwjcv.
They had to address the fact that Yi Yan was his subordinate, in name if not truth, and had split away one thousand of his soldiers.
Liang Feng inferred the purpose of his visit, of course, but how could he simply give up a thousand competent battle-tested soldiers he’d spent so much to train? Not to mention Yi Yan!
With a slight smile, Liang Feng said, “It seems that due to General Nie’s recent failure, the Duke of Dongying will be depending on you now, General Linghu. Going to Jinyang will be a good opportunity for you. Sadly, several days ago, troops were sent to put down Nie County’s bandit infestation and took some casualties….”
Linghu Kuang knew right away from his answer that he had no desire to return his troops and was offering him merit in its stead. If he recalled, a thousand and some bandits had been killed in the operation in Nie County, right? He pondered for a moment before nodding, “Shangdang is indeed turbulent still. I shall report this to the Duke of Dongying of course. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave a thousand men here to ensure Huguan’s defense. But would General Wu find it sufficient?”
After doing a bit of adding and subtracting here and there, a thousand people would remain at Huguan, belonging to His Excellency in all but name, though he couldn’t guess what his replacement, Wu Ling, might think of this.
“Rest assured, General Linghu; General Wu and I get along quite well. There shan’t be any issues guarding Huguan. And we can recruit from the refugees to fill any insufficiencies we come across,” Liang Feng promptly agreed.
Liang Feng was more than confident of that. He and Wu Ling were old acquaintances who’d always been able to share the spoils agreeably; something minor as this was nothing. What’s more, there would be no one left to contend his authority. Wu Ling was much more biddable than Linghu Kuang.
Linghu Kuang breathed in relief at hearing his words, “That is most excellent.”
Personnel arrangements sorted out, Liang Feng finally unwound, “Take care, General; a difficult struggle against the Xiongnu awaits you once you reach Jinyang.”
Linghu Kuang had already gathered from his intel network that they would be borrowing troops, and so chuckled, “There’s no cause for concern, Your Excellency. The Duke of Dongying will surely convince the Tuoba branch to lend their forces. Xianbei cavalry are unmatched in all the world; even the Xiongnu will have to tread carefully!”
※
After seeing Linghu Kuang off, Liang Feng softly sighed. Unfamiliar as he might be with this period of history, he still recognized the imperial surname of Northern Wei, Tuoba. Although he didn’t remember when exactly Northern Wei was founded, he knew that these barbarians would be running amok in the north for the next three centuries. Would Sima Teng’s use of the Tuoba Xianbei today be a stepping stone for the rise of the Tuoba Xianbei tomorrow?
Still, present problems outweighed future concerns. Currently, the Xiongnu were the nearest and greatest threat to Sima Teng, provincial governor of Bing Province, and him, grand administrator of Shangdang. Hopefully, the troops they borrowed would bring some peace to Bing Province.
Liang Feng pondered for a moment, then said, “Summon Commander Yi.”
Shortly, Yi Yan strode into the study, “My lord, you were looking for me?”
“General Linghu is leaving Shangdang,” Liang Feng said without preamble.
Yi Yan’s hands clenched into fists. He was a colonel under Linghu Kuang’s command, and what about those thousand soldiers?!
Liang Feng laughingly waved it off, “Don’t worry Boyuan, I’ve already discussed it with General Linghu. He’ll leave behind a thousand men to garrison Huguan and assist General Wu in defending Shangdang. Moreover, we will begin recruiting come next year; it’s time the army was expanded.”
Yi Yan instantly realized that his lord had made this deal specially for him. To think, that Linghu Kuang’s replacement would be Wu Ling. He and his people would be much easier to control. His tenseness faded and was then supplanted by gratitude. His lord would always choose the best path for him and keep him by his side.
Lowering his head, Yi Yan said lowly, “I am at your disposal, my lord.”
Unaware of his sentiments, Liang Feng continued, “This winter, I believe the Xiongnu will focus their attentions on the Duke of Dongying. With the Xianbei’s assistance, Jinyang might not necessarily lose. That will buy some time for Shangdang. We must have the refugees recruits trained to standard as soon as possible, to enlarge the militia. When General Wu arrives, you will go with him to make a circuit through Huguan and the other passes to solidify your hold.”
Besides military affairs, there were civil affairs. He wasn’t nearly so naive as he used to be now. He would grasp, steal every second of time he could, and use every method he knew to protect his small little commandery. He couldn’t spare the effort for anything else until they had the strength to defend themselves.
Alas, time waited for no one.
※
Something rustled in the bamboo forest. A shivering figure crouched down to further hide himself. His attire, however, was ill-suited for such amusements, being a complete ensemble of imperial regalia. With that getup, not even his familiarity with the imperial garden could aid him in avoiding prying eyes.
Soon, distant footsteps drew near. A few soldiers, noticing the Emperor hiding in the bamboo grove, began to yell. Ignoring how the Emperor piteously tried to clutch at the bamboo, they dragged His Imperial Majesty out of the grove and deposited him before their commanding officer.
Not even bothering to get off his horse, Zhang Fang flicked his riding crop impatiently, “Your Imperial Majesty, these are times of unrest; bandits and barbarians are rebelling all around, and the palace is understaffed. I implore Your Imperial Majesty to let me escort you back to the encampment, where your guards can ensure your safety.”
The malice in his tone was so thick that even the half-wit middle-aged man noticed and started bawling uncontrollably.
There weren’t really any bodyguards in the palace. It had been three months already since Zhang Fang had entered Luoyang. In those three months, not only had the riches in Luoyang been ransacked, even the tomb of Empress Jia’s prematurely dead daughter had suffered the same fate. Who would dare stand against those murdering robbers to preserve the Emperor’s dignity?
Standing by the side, the Secretariat Supervisor, Lu Zhi, couldn’t bear to watch anymore, “Your Imperial Majesty, I implore you to heed the general. I may be incapable, but I will do my utmost to protect Your Imperial Majesty and remain with you always.”
As the only sensible person present, Lu Zhi knew, of course, what Zhang Fang was thinking. Some time ago, the regional commanders of Yu Province (the Prince of Fanyang) and Xu Province (the Prince of Dongping) had submitted a joint memorial to remove Zhang Fang from Luoyang and surrender the Emperor. The Prince of Hejian, who’d gone to such lengths to seize this prize, wasn’t going to give it away so easily, so he staunchly refused to let Zhang Fang withdraw his troops from Luoyang. Thus, their various disagreements locked them in a stalemate; the Prince of Donghai and his two younger brothers, the Duke of Pingchang and the Prince of Gaomi, were more than happy to fan the flames.
But Zhang Fang’s soldiers couldn’t stand it anymore. So what if they could plunder Luoyang? They’d already stolen everything worth stealing. As winter approached, their patience for sitting around in the desolate city wore thin. Everyone was clamoring to return to Chang’an, making military morale Zhang Fang’s primary concern. Since the only thing that mattered to his lord, the Prince of Hejian, in Luoyang was the Emperor, then why not let the Emperor move the capital to Chang’an and stay there instead?
And so, the brutish soldiers stormed into the imperial palace and kidnapped the Emperor. What could anyone do against those violent, unreasonable ruffians? Lu Zhi didn’t know. All he could do was follow orders for now and head to Chang’an.
After Lu Zhi spent much time consoling him, the Emperor’s wailing gradually ceased. He sobbed, “Can Zhen bring the palace maids and treasures too?”
Zhang Fang guffawed in disbelief, “If Your Imperial Majesty issues an imperial edict, I shall of course obey.”
When he saw the Emperor’s breath of relief and the avaricious leers of the mounted riders, Lu Zhi had to close his eyes. It was too late to stop anything now, though, wasn’t it?
That day, the Emperor moved into the military camp with Zhang Fang. Accompanying him were merely twenty valets, and one Lu Zhi. And Zhang Fang, imperial edict in hand, barged into the imperial palace, ransacking it and its treasuries; even the curtains and draperies were taken and used as saddle cushions.
If not for Lu Zhi pleading desperately with Zhang Fang not to follow Dong Zhuo’s example, he might really have put the imperial palace and ancestral temple to the torch. But what did it matter that they weren’t burned down? The accumulated wealth of the Wei and Jin dynasties, silks, four million; jewels, gold, silver, more than two thousand stones, was all emptied out!
Three days later, Zhang Fang ostentatiously set out from Luoyang with bulging travel bags, weeping palace maids, the Emperor, the Prince of Chengdu, the Prince of Yuzhang, etc., to return to Chang’an.
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“Nie Xuan lost?!” Sima Teng was practically hopping mad upon hearing the news!
To think, his first battle against the Xiongnu had ended so ingloriously in defeat, a massive defeat, at that! Of course he was frightened and furious! Let it be known that Lu City had reported a victory only a short while ago. Hadn’t they driven out five thousand cavalries? Why then, when it came to Nie Xuan, did it come to utter failure?
The messenger hurriedly continued, “The only reason General Nie lost was that the cunning Xiongnu had surrounded his camp from three sides. The general’s already gathered up the remaining forces and plans to entrench himself at Yangyi…”
What was the use in holding Yangyi?! His goal was to attack the Xiongnu capital for the protection of Jinyang. What good was a measly Yangyi?! Ah, but that was it — the forces they’d previously sent to Shangdang must have been a diversion! Surely it was because Liu Yuan did not truly intend to help the Prince of Chengdu and put on a perfunctory performance that Liang Feng had managed to reap such undeserved rewards, while he, left with the false impression that the Xiongnu armies were weak, trusted too easily in Nie Xuan’s self-aggrandizing boasts, receiving naught but defeat!
Oh, those hateful barbarian mongrels!
Sima Teng turned to his aides and roared, “What strategies do you lot suggest?!”
The military officers of his general staff were badly shaken by the report of Nie Xuan’s defeat. Finally, after giving it some thought, Registrar Gao said, “General, you might consider borrowing troops from the Xianbei. The Suotou branch of Dai Commandery has always obeyed the orders of the imperial court. If only we could borrow a few thousand, we would surely overcome the Xiongnu!”
At present, relations between the Tuoba Xianbei and the Jin were amicable; the Suotou branch that Registrar Gao spoke of, otherwise known as the Tuoba branch, was a central Xianbei clan residing north of the Canhe Slope in Dai Commandery. Their leader, Tuoba Yitou, was a man of great talent and wisdom, as evidenced by his years-long jaunt throughout the lands north of the desert, conquering over thirty territories, thereby strengthening the Suotou branch and his appointing a Han man, Wei Cao, as Vice Chancellor to manage the affairs of his tribe. It shouldn’t be difficult to borrow troops from an ethnic race so close to the Jin.
Sima Teng nodded in approval at his suggestion, “Send an envoy with a request to borrow troops to the Suotou branch! We’ll show those barbarian mongrels what’s what!”
Wang Jun had previously suppressed the Prince of Chengdu’s tens-of-thousands-strong army with borrowed forces from the Duan Xianbei. Supposing he acquired Tuoba troops, he too could surely annihilate that old coot Liu Yuan’s armies and destroy his country. His distaste for barbarians paled in importance to his personal safety.
After a moment of thought, Sima Teng continued, “Since Shangdang is currently stable, let Linghu Kuang and his division be transferred to Jinyang and let Wu Ling take his place guarding Huguan and the nearby mountain passes.”
Moving him away at this time was not without risk, but General Nie’s recent defeat had left him shorthanded. Well at least with Linghu Kuang, born to one of Bing Provinces’ great families and nephew of Linghu Sheng, an experienced general, he could take the opportunity to elevate the Linghu clan. The security of Shangdang was assured, so long as Lu City and Huguan stood fast. Although Sima Teng wasn’t particularly fond of Liang Zixi, he had to admit that he was the sort of respectable scholar whose word was good as gold. No harm would befall Shangdang whilst he was there.
Swiftly deciding on a course of action, two messengers were dispatched from Jinyang, each to their own destination.
※
“Xfcfgji Olcute, sbe jgf ab tfjv cbgat ab Alcsjcu jcv yf gfqijmfv ys Xfcfgji Qe?” Oljcu Mfcu jrxfv regqglrfvis.
“Ds atf bgvfg bo atf Gexf bo Gbcuslcu, P jw ab vfqjga abwbggbk. Xfcfgji Qe tjr gfmflnfv tlr bgvfgr jr kfii, jcv klii rtbgais jgglnf ja Leuejc.” Olcute Bejcu tjv lwwfvljafis tegglfv ab Oe Jlas joafg gfmflnlcu kbgv ogbw Alcsjcu ab lcobgw Oljcu Mfcu yfmjerf olgrais, atfs kfgf lcvffv bc ubbv afgwr, jcv rfmbcvis, atfs tjv ab oluegf bea ktja ab vb jybea Tl Tjc, ktb kjr afmtclmjiis ecvfg tlr mtjlc bo mbwwjcv.
They had to address the fact that Yi Yan was his subordinate, in name if not truth, and had split away one thousand of his soldiers.
Liang Feng inferred the purpose of his visit, of course, but how could he simply give up a thousand competent battle-tested soldiers he’d spent so much to train? Not to mention Yi Yan!
With a slight smile, Liang Feng said, “It seems that due to General Nie’s recent failure, the Duke of Dongying will be depending on you now, General Linghu. Going to Jinyang will be a good opportunity for you. Sadly, several days ago, troops were sent to put down Nie County’s bandit infestation and took some casualties….”
Linghu Kuang knew right away from his answer that he had no desire to return his troops and was offering him merit in its stead. If he recalled, a thousand and some bandits had been killed in the operation in Nie County, right? He pondered for a moment before nodding, “Shangdang is indeed turbulent still. I shall report this to the Duke of Dongying of course. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave a thousand men here to ensure Huguan’s defense. But would General Wu find it sufficient?”
After doing a bit of adding and subtracting here and there, a thousand people would remain at Huguan, belonging to His Excellency in all but name, though he couldn’t guess what his replacement, Wu Ling, might think of this.
“Rest assured, General Linghu; General Wu and I get along quite well. There shan’t be any issues guarding Huguan. And we can recruit from the refugees to fill any insufficiencies we come across,” Liang Feng promptly agreed.
Liang Feng was more than confident of that. He and Wu Ling were old acquaintances who’d always been able to share the spoils agreeably; something minor as this was nothing. What’s more, there would be no one left to contend his authority. Wu Ling was much more biddable than Linghu Kuang.
Linghu Kuang breathed in relief at hearing his words, “That is most excellent.”
Personnel arrangements sorted out, Liang Feng finally unwound, “Take care, General; a difficult struggle against the Xiongnu awaits you once you reach Jinyang.”
Linghu Kuang had already gathered from his intel network that they would be borrowing troops, and so chuckled, “There’s no cause for concern, Your Excellency. The Duke of Dongying will surely convince the Tuoba branch to lend their forces. Xianbei cavalry are unmatched in all the world; even the Xiongnu will have to tread carefully!”
※
After seeing Linghu Kuang off, Liang Feng softly sighed. Unfamiliar as he might be with this period of history, he still recognized the imperial surname of Northern Wei, Tuoba. Although he didn’t remember when exactly Northern Wei was founded, he knew that these barbarians would be running amok in the north for the next three centuries. Would Sima Teng’s use of the Tuoba Xianbei today be a stepping stone for the rise of the Tuoba Xianbei tomorrow?
Still, present problems outweighed future concerns. Currently, the Xiongnu were the nearest and greatest threat to Sima Teng, provincial governor of Bing Province, and him, grand administrator of Shangdang. Hopefully, the troops they borrowed would bring some peace to Bing Province.
Liang Feng pondered for a moment, then said, “Summon Commander Yi.”
Shortly, Yi Yan strode into the study, “My lord, you were looking for me?”
“General Linghu is leaving Shangdang,” Liang Feng said without preamble.
Yi Yan’s hands clenched into fists. He was a colonel under Linghu Kuang’s command, and what about those thousand soldiers?!
Liang Feng laughingly waved it off, “Don’t worry Boyuan, I’ve already discussed it with General Linghu. He’ll leave behind a thousand men to garrison Huguan and assist General Wu in defending Shangdang. Moreover, we will begin recruiting come next year; it’s time the army was expanded.”
Yi Yan instantly realized that his lord had made this deal specially for him. To think, that Linghu Kuang’s replacement would be Wu Ling. He and his people would be much easier to control. His tenseness faded and was then supplanted by gratitude. His lord would always choose the best path for him and keep him by his side.
Lowering his head, Yi Yan said lowly, “I am at your disposal, my lord.”
Unaware of his sentiments, Liang Feng continued, “This winter, I believe the Xiongnu will focus their attentions on the Duke of Dongying. With the Xianbei’s assistance, Jinyang might not necessarily lose. That will buy some time for Shangdang. We must have the refugees recruits trained to standard as soon as possible, to enlarge the militia. When General Wu arrives, you will go with him to make a circuit through Huguan and the other passes to solidify your hold.”
Besides military affairs, there were civil affairs. He wasn’t nearly so naive as he used to be now. He would grasp, steal every second of time he could, and use every method he knew to protect his small little commandery. He couldn’t spare the effort for anything else until they had the strength to defend themselves.
Alas, time waited for no one.
※
Something rustled in the bamboo forest. A shivering figure crouched down to further hide himself. His attire, however, was ill-suited for such amusements, being a complete ensemble of imperial regalia. With that getup, not even his familiarity with the imperial garden could aid him in avoiding prying eyes.
Soon, distant footsteps drew near. A few soldiers, noticing the Emperor hiding in the bamboo grove, began to yell. Ignoring how the Emperor piteously tried to clutch at the bamboo, they dragged His Imperial Majesty out of the grove and deposited him before their commanding officer.
Not even bothering to get off his horse, Zhang Fang flicked his riding crop impatiently, “Your Imperial Majesty, these are times of unrest; bandits and barbarians are rebelling all around, and the palace is understaffed. I implore Your Imperial Majesty to let me escort you back to the encampment, where your guards can ensure your safety.”
The malice in his tone was so thick that even the half-wit middle-aged man noticed and started bawling uncontrollably.
There weren’t really any bodyguards in the palace. It had been three months already since Zhang Fang had entered Luoyang. In those three months, not only had the riches in Luoyang been ransacked, even the tomb of Empress Jia’s prematurely dead daughter had suffered the same fate. Who would dare stand against those murdering robbers to preserve the Emperor’s dignity?
Standing by the side, the Secretariat Supervisor, Lu Zhi, couldn’t bear to watch anymore, “Your Imperial Majesty, I implore you to heed the general. I may be incapable, but I will do my utmost to protect Your Imperial Majesty and remain with you always.”
As the only sensible person present, Lu Zhi knew, of course, what Zhang Fang was thinking. Some time ago, the regional commanders of Yu Province (the Prince of Fanyang) and Xu Province (the Prince of Dongping) had submitted a joint memorial to remove Zhang Fang from Luoyang and surrender the Emperor. The Prince of Hejian, who’d gone to such lengths to seize this prize, wasn’t going to give it away so easily, so he staunchly refused to let Zhang Fang withdraw his troops from Luoyang. Thus, their various disagreements locked them in a stalemate; the Prince of Donghai and his two younger brothers, the Duke of Pingchang and the Prince of Gaomi, were more than happy to fan the flames.
But Zhang Fang’s soldiers couldn’t stand it anymore. So what if they could plunder Luoyang? They’d already stolen everything worth stealing. As winter approached, their patience for sitting around in the desolate city wore thin. Everyone was clamoring to return to Chang’an, making military morale Zhang Fang’s primary concern. Since the only thing that mattered to his lord, the Prince of Hejian, in Luoyang was the Emperor, then why not let the Emperor move the capital to Chang’an and stay there instead?
And so, the brutish soldiers stormed into the imperial palace and kidnapped the Emperor. What could anyone do against those violent, unreasonable ruffians? Lu Zhi didn’t know. All he could do was follow orders for now and head to Chang’an.
After Lu Zhi spent much time consoling him, the Emperor’s wailing gradually ceased. He sobbed, “Can Zhen bring the palace maids and treasures too?”
Zhang Fang guffawed in disbelief, “If Your Imperial Majesty issues an imperial edict, I shall of course obey.”
When he saw the Emperor’s breath of relief and the avaricious leers of the mounted riders, Lu Zhi had to close his eyes. It was too late to stop anything now, though, wasn’t it?
That day, the Emperor moved into the military camp with Zhang Fang. Accompanying him were merely twenty valets, and one Lu Zhi. And Zhang Fang, imperial edict in hand, barged into the imperial palace, ransacking it and its treasuries; even the curtains and draperies were taken and used as saddle cushions.
If not for Lu Zhi pleading desperately with Zhang Fang not to follow Dong Zhuo’s example, he might really have put the imperial palace and ancestral temple to the torch. But what did it matter that they weren’t burned down? The accumulated wealth of the Wei and Jin dynasties, silks, four million; jewels, gold, silver, more than two thousand stones, was all emptied out!
Three days later, Zhang Fang ostentatiously set out from Luoyang with bulging travel bags, weeping palace maids, the Emperor, the Prince of Chengdu, the Prince of Yuzhang, etc., to return to Chang’an.
Nie Xuan lost?! Sima Teng was practically hopping mad upon hearing the news!To think, his first battle against the Xiongnu had ended so ingloriously in defeat, a massive defeat, at that! Of course he was frightened and furious! Let it be known that Lu City had reported a victory only a short while ago. Hadn't they driven out five thousand cavalries? Why then, when it came to Nie Xuan, did it come to utter failure?The messenger hurriedly continued, The only reason General Nie lost was that the cunning Xiongnu had surrounded his camp from three sides. The general's already gathered up the remaining forces and plans to entrench himself at YangyiWhat was the use in holding Yangyi?! His goal was to attack the Xiongnu capital for the protection of Jinyang. What good was a measly Yangyi?! Ah, but that was it the forces they'd previously sent to Shangdang must have been a diversion! Surely it was because Liu Yuan did not truly intend to help the Prince of Chengdu and put on a perfunctory performance that Liang Feng had managed to reap such undeserved rewards, while he, left with the false impression that the Xiongnu armies were weak, trusted too easily in Nie Xuan's self-aggrandizing boasts, receiving naught but defeat!Oh, those hateful barbarian mongrels!Sima Teng turned to his aides and roared, What strategies do you lot suggest?!The military officers of his general staff were badly shaken by the report of Nie Xuan's defeat. Finally, after giving it some thought, Registrar Gao said, General, you might consider borrowing troops from the Xianbei. The Suotou branch of Dai Commandery has always obeyed the orders of the imperial court. If only we could borrow a few thousand, we would surely overcome the Xiongnu!At present, relations between the Tuoba Xianbei and the Jin were amicable; the Suotou branch that Registrar Gao spoke of, otherwise known as the Tuoba branch, was a central Xianbei clan residing north of the Canhe Slope in Dai Commandery. Their leader, Tuoba Yitou, was a man of great talent and wisdom, as evidenced by his years-long jaunt throughout the lands north of the desert, conquering over thirty territories, thereby strengthening the Suotou branch and his appointing a Han man, Wei Cao, as Vice Chancellor to manage the affairs of his tribe. It shouldn't be difficult to borrow troops from an ethnic race so close to the Jin.Sima Teng nodded in approval at his suggestion, Send an envoy with a request to borrow troops to the Suotou branch! We'll show those barbarian mongrels what's what!Wang Jun had previously suppressed the Prince of Chengdu's tens-of-thousands-strong army with borrowed forces from the Duan Xianbei. Supposing he acquired Tuoba troops, he too could surely annihilate that old coot Liu Yuan's armies and destroy his country. His distaste for barbarians paled in importance to his personal safety.After a moment of thought, Sima Teng continued, Since Shangdang is currently stable, let Linghu Kuang and his division be transferred to Jinyang and let Wu Ling take his place guarding Huguan and the nearby mountain passes.Moving him away at this time was not without risk, but General Nie's recent defeat had left him shorthanded. Well at least with Linghu Kuang, born to one of Bing Provinces' great families and nephew of Linghu Sheng, an experienced general, he could take the opportunity to elevate the Linghu clan. The security of Shangdang was assured, so long as Lu City and Huguan stood fast. Although Sima Teng wasn't particularly fond of Liang Zixi, he had to admit that he was the sort of respectable scholar whose word was good as gold. No harm would befall Shangdang whilst he was there.Swiftly deciding on a course of action, two messengers were dispatched from Jinyang, each to their own destination.Xfcfgji Olcute, sbe jgf ab tfjv cbgat ab Alcsjcu jcv yf gfqijmfv ys Xfcfgji Qe? Oljcu Mfcu jrxfv regqglrfvis.Ds atf bgvfg bo atf Gexf bo Gbcuslcu, P jw ab vfqjga abwbggbk. Xfcfgji Qe tjr gfmflnfv tlr bgvfgr jr kfii, jcv klii rtbgais jgglnf ja Leuejc. Olcute Bejcu tjv lwwfvljafis tegglfv ab Oe Jlas joafg gfmflnlcu kbgv ogbw Alcsjcu ab lcobgw Oljcu Mfcu yfmjerf olgrais, atfs kfgf lcvffv bc ubbv afgwr, jcv rfmbcvis, atfs tjv ab oluegf bea ktja ab vb jybea Tl Tjc, ktb kjr afmtclmjiis ecvfg tlr mtjlc bo mbwwjcv.They had to address the fact that Yi Yan was his subordinate, in name if not truth, and had split away one thousand of his soldiers.Liang Feng inferred the purpose of his visit, of course, but how could he simply give up a thousand competent battle-tested soldiers he'd spent so much to train? Not to mention Yi Yan!With a slight smile, Liang Feng said, It seems that due to General Nie's recent failure, the Duke of Dongying will be depending on you now, General Linghu. Going to Jinyang will be a good opportunity for you. Sadly, several days ago, troops were sent to put down Nie County's bandit infestation and took some casualties.Linghu Kuang knew right away from his answer that he had no desire to return his troops and was offering him merit in its stead. If he recalled, a thousand and some bandits had been killed in the operation in Nie County, right? He pondered for a moment before nodding, Shangdang is indeed turbulent still. I shall report this to the Duke of Dongying of course. I'm afraid I'll have to leave a thousand men here to ensure Huguan's defense. But would General Wu find it sufficient?After doing a bit of adding and subtracting here and there, a thousand people would remain at Huguan, belonging to His Excellency in all but name, though he couldn't guess what his replacement, Wu Ling, might think of this.Rest assured, General Linghu; General Wu and I get along quite well. There shan't be any issues guarding Huguan. And we can recruit from the refugees to fill any insufficiencies we come across, Liang Feng promptly agreed.Liang Feng was more than confident of that. He and Wu Ling were old acquaintances who'd always been able to share the spoils agreeably; something minor as this was nothing. What's more, there would be no one left to contend his authority. Wu Ling was much more biddable than Linghu Kuang.Linghu Kuang breathed in relief at hearing his words, That is most excellent.Personnel arrangements sorted out, Liang Feng finally unwound, Take care, General; a difficult struggle against the Xiongnu awaits you once you reach Jinyang.Linghu Kuang had already gathered from his intel network that they would be borrowing troops, and so chuckled, There's no cause for concern, Your Excellency. The Duke of Dongying will surely convince the Tuoba branch to lend their forces. Xianbei cavalry are unmatched in all the world; even the Xiongnu will have to tread carefully!After seeing Linghu Kuang off, Liang Feng softly sighed. Unfamiliar as he might be with this period of history, he still recognized the imperial surname of Northern Wei, Tuoba. Although he didn't remember when exactly Northern Wei was founded, he knew that these barbarians would be running amok in the north for the next three centuries. Would Sima Teng's use of the Tuoba Xianbei today be a stepping stone for the rise of the Tuoba Xianbei tomorrow?Still, present problems outweighed future concerns. Currently, the Xiongnu were the nearest and greatest threat to Sima Teng, provincial governor of Bing Province, and him, grand administrator of Shangdang. Hopefully, the troops they borrowed would bring some peace to Bing Province.Liang Feng pondered for a moment, then said, Summon Commander Yi.Shortly, Yi Yan strode into the study, My lord, you were looking for me?General Linghu is leaving Shangdang, Liang Feng said without preamble.Yi Yan's hands clenched into fists. He was a colonel under Linghu Kuang's command, and what about those thousand soldiers?!Liang Feng laughingly waved it off, Don't worry Boyuan, I've already discussed it with General Linghu. He'll leave behind a thousand men to garrison Huguan and assist General Wu in defending Shangdang. Moreover, we will begin recruiting come next year; it's time the army was expanded.Yi Yan instantly realized that his lord had made this deal specially for him. To think, that Linghu Kuang's replacement would be Wu Ling. He and his people would be much easier to control. His tenseness faded and was then supplanted by gratitude. His lord would always choose the best path for him and keep him by his side.Lowering his head, Yi Yan said lowly, I am at your disposal, my lord.Unaware of his sentiments, Liang Feng continued, This winter, I believe the Xiongnu will focus their attentions on the Duke of Dongying. With the Xianbei's assistance, Jinyang might not necessarily lose. That will buy some time for Shangdang. We must have the refugees recruits trained to standard as soon as possible, to enlarge the militia. When General Wu arrives, you will go with him to make a circuit through Huguan and the other passes to solidify your hold.Besides military affairs, there were civil affairs. He wasn't nearly so naive as he used to be now. He would grasp, steal every second of time he could, and use every method he knew to protect his small little commandery. He couldn't spare the effort for anything else until they had the strength to defend themselves.Alas, time waited for no one.Something rustled in the bamboo forest. A shivering figure crouched down to further hide himself. His attire, however, was ill-suited for such amusements, being a complete ensemble of imperial regalia. With that getup, not even his familiarity with the imperial garden could aid him in avoiding prying eyes.Soon, distant footsteps drew near. A few soldiers, noticing the Emperor hiding in the bamboo grove, began to yell. Ignoring how the Emperor piteously tried to clutch at the bamboo, they dragged His Imperial Majesty out of the grove and deposited him before their commanding officer.Not even bothering to get off his horse, Zhang Fang flicked his riding crop impatiently, Your Imperial Majesty, these are times of unrest; bandits and barbarians are rebelling all around, and the palace is understaffed. I implore Your Imperial Majesty to let me escort you back to the encampment, where your guards can ensure your safety.The malice in his tone was so thick that even the half-wit middle-aged man noticed and started bawling uncontrollably.There weren't really any bodyguards in the palace. It had been three months already since Zhang Fang had entered Luoyang. In those three months, not only had the riches in Luoyang been ransacked, even the tomb of Empress Jia's prematurely dead daughter had suffered the same fate. Who would dare stand against those murdering robbers to preserve the Emperor's dignity?Standing by the side, the Secretariat Supervisor, Lu Zhi, couldn't bear to watch anymore, Your Imperial Majesty, I implore you to heed the general. I may be incapable, but I will do my utmost to protect Your Imperial Majesty and remain with you always.As the only sensible person present, Lu Zhi knew, of course, what Zhang Fang was thinking. Some time ago, the regional commanders of Yu Province the Prince of Fanyang and Xu Province the Prince of Dongping had submitted a joint memorial to remove Zhang Fang from Luoyang and surrender the Emperor. The Prince of Hejian, who'd gone to such lengths to seize this prize, wasn't going to give it away so easily, so he staunchly refused to let Zhang Fang withdraw his troops from Luoyang. Thus, their various disagreements locked them in a stalemate; the Prince of Donghai and his two younger brothers, the Duke of Pingchang and the Prince of Gaomi, were more than happy to fan the flames.But Zhang Fang's soldiers couldn't stand it anymore. So what if they could plunder Luoyang? They'd already stolen everything worth stealing. As winter approached, their patience for sitting around in the desolate city wore thin. Everyone was clamoring to return to Chang'an, making military morale Zhang Fang's primary concern. Since the only thing that mattered to his lord, the Prince of Hejian, in Luoyang was the Emperor, then why not let the Emperor move the capital to Chang'an and stay there instead?And so, the brutish soldiers stormed into the imperial palace and kidnapped the Emperor. What could anyone do against those violent, unreasonable ruffians? Lu Zhi didn't know. All he could do was follow orders for now and head to Chang'an.After Lu Zhi spent much time consoling him, the Emperor's wailing gradually ceased. He sobbed, CanZhenbring the palace maids and treasures too?Zhang Fang guffawed in disbelief, If Your Imperial Majesty issues an imperial edict, I shall of course obey.When he saw the Emperor's breath of relief and the avaricious leers of the mounted riders, Lu Zhi had to close his eyes. It was too late to stop anything now, though, wasn't it?That day, the Emperor moved into the military camp with Zhang Fang. Accompanying him were merely twenty valets, and one Lu Zhi. And Zhang Fang, imperial edict in hand, barged into the imperial palace, ransacking it and its treasuries; even the curtains and draperies were taken and used as saddle cushions.If not for Lu Zhi pleading desperately with Zhang Fang not to follow Dong Zhuo's example, he might really have put the imperial palace and ancestral temple to the torch. But what did it matter that they weren't burned down? The accumulated wealth of the Wei and Jin dynasties, silks, four million; jewels, gold, silver, more than two thousand stones, was all emptied out!Three days later, Zhang Fang ostentatiously set out from Luoyang with bulging travel bags, weeping palace maids, the Emperor, the Prince of Chengdu, the Prince of Yuzhang, etc., to return to Chang'an.
