After Han Qian casually explained the reason why Xia Zhen had to be publicly executed, the atmosphere in the great hall immediately became much more oppressive.
Zhang Ping, Chai Jian, and Li Chong exchanged glances. Today’s methods used on Xia Zhen to intimidate Zheng Hui—but weren’t they also a warning to themselves?
They had also just seen that at the moment Han Qian personally severed Xia Zhen’s head, the Third Prince had felt some discomfort, but afterward his eyes revealed an excitement he couldn’t conceal, like a young wild beast that had just swallowed its first mouthful of human flesh.
To resist the suppression by Evening Red Tower and the Marquis of Xinchang, was Han Qian willing to cultivate the Third Prince into a brutal giant beast that one day no one could control?
Shen Yang slowly sighed, not knowing how Han Daoxun’s family teachings could have produced someone like Han Qian. However, now was not the time to pursue these trivial details.
No matter what, executing Xia Zhen was an extremely risky action, but having succeeded in intimidating people’s hearts, it would be extremely beneficial for the subsequent warfare.
Especially after executing Xia Zhen, they had left the Guard Battalion outside the city and followed Zheng Hui into the city. If he were Zheng Hui, he would inevitably feel compelled to make accomplishments to be worthy of the Third Prince’s trust.
Setting aside these details, after pondering for a moment, Shen Yang stared at Han Qian and asked: “According to what you say, the Liang army is determined to seize Jing-Xiang and other regions this time. But what confidence do you have that with His Highness stationed here, you can definitely hold the Dan River and block the passage for Liang’s Guanzhong forces to exit westward?”
Learning that Prince Liang Yong was in Wan City, Shen Yang saw through Han Qian’s intention to deceive the Third Prince into advancing west to gamble for extraordinary merit. But he didn’t know what confidence Han Qian had that the Dragon Sparrow Army and other miscellaneous troops could hold the Dan River line.
“The Jing-Xiang region concerns Great Chu’s national fortune. His Highness personally defending Great Chu’s gateway is his inescapable duty.”
Han Qian didn’t want to give Shen Yang another chance to persuade the Third Prince to return to Xiang Prefecture City. His tone was exceptionally firm as he said with resolute determination:
“All forces on the western front should retreat to defend Jingzi Kou and Xichuan City. His Majesty will not sit idly by and watch Jing-Xiang fall. The Shu Kingdom also will not sit by and watch Jing-Xiang be swallowed by the Liang army—as long as Jingzi Kou and Xichuan City can hold to the end, even if Xiang Prefecture City falls, Jinling will still have the opportunity to recover Jing-Xiang. At that time, if the Liang army’s elite forces don’t want to be completely lost in Xiang Prefecture, they can only withdraw their troops.”
“The Canglang City you’ve painstakingly managed for months—you’ll also abandon it?” Shen Yang asked.
“Given the current situation, we can only abandon it as a last resort,” Han Qian said.
Although the Liang army had launched surprise attacks on Iron Crocodile Ridge and Canglang City from the start, before completing their deployment, they realized the garrison at these two locations was unexpectedly tough and temporarily slowed their offensive.
In reality, neither Han Qian nor Li Zhigao had yet witnessed the Liang army’s true formidable strength.
After the Liang army’s main forces, especially the Xuanjia Capital, entered the Nanyang Basin, for Han Qian to still harbor the extravagant hope of holding the Dan River line and maintaining unbroken contact with Xiang Prefecture City would be an extremely foolish notion.
The only feasible strategy was to stockpile three to four months of grain and supplies and defend Jingzi Kou and Xichuan to the death.
From Xichuan to Wuguan Pass was a section of abandoned ancient road built by the previous dynasty, including four to five li of plank road constructed between cliff faces. Although the plank road had rotted and could no longer bear the passage of people and horses, the stone holes were still intact and unfallen, making repairs easy.
If not for this, even Xichuan wouldn’t need to be defended. The Dragon Sparrow Army and other scattered troops could all retreat to Jingzi Kou and await the arrival of Jinling’s reinforcements.
As for abandoning Canglang City, there was nothing to regret about it.
Under current circumstances, if they couldn’t block the Liang army’s Guanzhong troops and grain supplies in the Qinling Mountains, all his operations would turn to bubbles. And if they could ultimately repel the Liang army, what did the small loss of abandoning Canglang City at this time amount to?
Shen Yang knew Han Qian had already planned everything thoroughly. Seeing the Third Prince’s resolute attitude, which he couldn’t change, he also felt somewhat frustrated at being led by the nose in everything. His body leaned slightly forward as he said: “I can only hope everything turns out as you predict.”
Zheng Hui ultimately decided to supervise Xia Zhen’s direct confidants separately from the ordinary Ying Prefecture provincial troops. At this time, the Ying Prefecture personnel who had transported the grain were also detained first.
After handling all this, Xichuan City gradually brightened in the morning light.
“…”
After dealing with everything and returning to the back residence of the Garrison Commander’sMansion, Zheng Hui was equally shocked when he learned everything, not knowing what to say for a long time.
“To defend Great Chu’s mountains and rivers, His Highness does not hesitate to risk his precious person to sit at Xichuan. If Commissioner Zheng is afraid to fight, we can arrange for Huang Prefecture troops to withdraw south and replace you with another brave general,” Han Qian said, standing behind the Third Prince and looking at Zheng Hui.
Zheng Hui instinctively smiled bitterly, but then felt Han Qian’s gaze upon him as sharp as a blade.
Knowing that Prince Liang Yong Zhu Yu was in Wan City, although Zheng Hui felt panicked inside, at this moment he could still think clearly about what the consequences would be if he led Huang Prefecture’s provincial troops to withdraw while the Third Prince personally stationed himself at Xichuan.
If by chance this battle was won and they ultimately repelled the Liang army, his best outcome would be to resign from office and retire to seclusion.
If the Third Prince was unfortunately captured or killed in battle, having only his own head severed without implicating his family would be the best outcome.
Moreover, the Third Prince had publicly executed Xia Zhen—how could he possibly let him leave?
Thinking of this, Zheng Hui rallied his spirits, knelt before the Third Prince, and said: “Imperial grace is boundless. Zheng Hui only wishes to die wrapped in horse hide, serving Your Highness to repay this favor.”
Although Zheng Hui’s submissive statement at this time was somewhat forced, Yang Yuanpu was still extremely excited.
The entire affair was fraught with danger and could potentially result in total loss, but for his young and hot-blooded self, this risk filled him with a spirit and vigor that soared within his chest.
Yang Yuanpu hadn’t slept all night, yet his spirits were radiant. He couldn’t wait to pull Han Qian along to inspect the military camps and city walls together.
“After the Guard Battalion warriors enter the city, have Commissioner Zheng first accompany Your Highness to inspect the military camps and city walls. I still need to understand Xichuan’s material reserves with Advisor Shen and see how to allocate the defense of Xichuan and Jingzi Kou,” Han Qian said, rubbing his slightly numb cheeks. The time left to them was too limited.
After the Guard Battalion and Left Section scouts entered the city, Yang Yuanpu first had Zheng Hui, Chai Jian and others accompany him to inspect the military camps and city walls, while Han Qian and Shen Yang remained in the public hall of the Garrison Commander’sMansion, flipping through the large pile of documents that Zheng Hui’s scribes had brought over, calculating Xichuan’s resources and formulating an overall plan for the upcoming defense.
“The people you left in Xiang Prefecture City should be reporting this matter to the Defense Commissioner by now, shouldn’t they?” Shen Yang put down a stack of documents and looked at Han Qian.
“When the Xiang Prefecture City gates open today, the scouts I arranged outside the city will ride swift horses carrying the letter I wrote into the city to see Guo Rong,” Han Qian said. “We can’t very well admit we knew about this long ago, can we?”
“Regardless of what ambitions you have, these two days and nights shouldn’t have been delayed. Do you know how many fewer people would die if the Defense Commissioner’sMansion had two more days to prepare?” Shen Yang asked.
“Commissioner Du may be a notable figure, but if this matter had been reported to the Defense Commissioner’sMansion in advance, can Advisor Shen guarantee that among the Defense Commissioner’s so many generals and officials, each and every one could be as impartial and selfless as Advisor Shen, not losing their composure?”
Han Qian put down the documents in his hands and said calmly:
“Once the Liang army’s scouts lurking in Xiang Prefecture City learn that Zhu Yu’s whereabouts have been exposed, will the Liang army’s main forces follow the original plan to first strike the Zaoyang-Ying Prefecture line to the east, or will they reverse their military edge and first concentrate heavy forces to attack the Iron Crocodile Ridge-Xichuan-Canglang City line? Regardless of how Advisor Shen views me, I cannot take this risk!”
After careful thought for a moment, Shen Yang couldn’t find words to refute Han Qian, especially knowing that Han Qian predicted the Liang army’s established plan would most likely first attack Zaoyang City defended by Ma Xun, heir of the Tan Prefecture Military Commissioner. He knew Han Qian even less likely to disclose this matter in advance.
However, considering from Great Chu’s standpoint, whether to lose the elite direct Dragon Sparrow Army or sacrifice the always ambitious Tan Prefecture forces—even Shen Yang didn’t feel he could resist such temptation.
Who in the world could truly be impartial and selfless, pleading for the people’s livelihood?
Shen Yang sighed softly and said to Han Qian: “If Xichuan cannot be held, I hope you can find a way to preserve His Highness’s life. At the very least, don’t let His Highness fall into Liang hands, rather than thinking of selling His Highness for a good price.”
“…” Han Qian didn’t respond to Shen Yang’s words, instead changing the subject: “After Du Chongtao learns of this, he will certainly send someone to request His Highness return to Xiang Prefecture City. At that time, Advisor Shen will need to write an impassioned letter on His Highness’s behalf to proclaim to the Jing-Xiang officers and soldiers. Advisor Shen should also know that what ultimately determines victory or defeat may be the morale of officers and soldiers that ordinary people cannot fathom…”
……
……
Guo Rong frantically knocked on the gate of Campaign Supervisor Xu Zhaoling’s residence. In his hands he held a letter just opened.
This letter had been written by Han Qian the evening before last. He had specifically arranged for someone to wait until this moment before entering the city to deliver it to Guo Rong.
“Crack!”
After reading the letter, Xu Zhaoling in his flustered confusion swept his favorite white porcelain teacup off the table with his wide robe sleeves, smashing it to pieces.
“That boy Zhu Yu is in Wan City to the north?! How is this possible?” Xu Zhaoling stared at Guo Rong in shock, hardly able to believe this was all true.
“I’m afraid this matter is indeed true.”
Jin Rui, Section Chief of the Deng-Xiang Chamber of the Bureau of Operations, had also received Guo Rong’s notification and rushed over breathlessly. Sitting in the seat below Xu Zhaoling, he pondered for a moment before speaking:
“Days ago, Bureau of Operations secret agents sent back intelligence saying that over ten thousand Liang infantry advancing from Wan City toward Tanghe direction were advancing extremely rapidly. Although this infantry came from Fangcheng and the roads were muddy, after several days of continuous marching they showed no signs of fatigue. Wherever they went, order was maintained—there was no sign of disorder. They didn’t seem like ordinary troops the Liang army had assembled in Ru Prefecture and Xu Prefecture—I didn’t pay special attention at first, thinking that even if the Liang army wanted to restrain this side, they would still need to send some disciplined elite forces. But thinking about it now, it’s quite possible they are elite Xuanjia Capital forces in disguise.”
“That boy Yang Yuanpu left Xiang Prefecture City for the western front knowing about this, didn’t he?” Xu Zhaoling asked hesitantly.
Although this letter had just been delivered into the city by Left Section scouts, Guo Rong also tended to agree with Xu Zhaoling’s judgment. However, in his heart he somewhat admired the boy Yang Yuanpu’s courage.
“Such important information, and that boy Yang Yuanpu dared to conceal it for two days before revealing it?” Xu Zhaoling slapped the table and exclaimed. “What does he want to do?”
“The Third Prince should want to gamble for the merit of defending our mountains and rivers,” Jin Rui said calmly. “But the Third Prince can still claim he only confirmed this matter after reaching Canglang City or Iron Crocodile Ridge, and sent someone with a letter at the first opportunity.”
“We should go see Du Chongtao and see how they arrange things,” Xu Zhaoling stood up, asking Guo Rong and Jin Rui to accompany him to see Du Chongtao.
However, stepping out of the courtyard and about to board his carriage, Xu Zhaoling remembered something. He called over a household troop commander behind him, gave several instructions, and handed him a waist token, saying: “Load all the singing girls and valuables from the mansion onto carriages. Bearing my order token, no one will stop you when you leave the city. Ying Prefecture isn’t safe either—go directly to Jing Prefecture, then find boats there to send the people and things back to Jinling first.”
Seeing Xu Zhaoling arranging these matters, Jin Rui glanced at Guo Rong. Neither of them spoke.