“General Zhigao truly dispatched troops with divine speed! The provincial armies from Shao and Heng haven’t even departed for Ezhou yet, have they? This works out well—all our forces can rendezvous directly outside Chizhou City!”
Before Han Qian returned, Li Pu, Gu Zhilong, Chen Mingsheng, Li Xiu, Wen Ruilin and others were first accompanied by Feng Liao and Feng Xuan into the main hall of the Commissioner Prefecture’s public office, drinking tea and chatting cheerfully while waiting for Han Qian’s return.
The original plan was to wait until late October for Hunan’s various provincial forces to reach Ezhou to complete assembly, then advance simultaneously by water and land to bear down on Jiangzhou.
However, Liang’s Caizhou Army shifted eastward in mid-September, menacing Chuzhou. Yueyang worried that after Chuzhou Army retreated north, the Southern Court Forbidden Army’s main forces could reinforce the two provinces of Jiang and Chi westward at any time, greatly increasing the difficulty of their eastward advance. After the Five-Tusk Army naval forces, Xuzhou naval camp, and provincial troops from Tan and Lang reached Ezhou, Li Zhigao led the forty thousand elite troops assembled in the earlier period to advance first, proceeding simultaneously by water and land into Jiangzhou territory for combat.
Jiangzhou administered Pengze, Xunyang, Chiwu, Duchang and other counties. Before the war, defending forces gathered local troops totaling nearly twenty thousand men, most concentrated in the two cities of Xunyang and Chiwu on Poyang Lake’s western flank.
The two cities of Xunyang and Chiwu, sandwiched between Jiugong Mountain, Lu Mountain and the Yangtze River, occupied strategically advantageous terrain—easy to defend, difficult to attack. The defending forces had considerable combat strength, and the cities were extremely well-fortified—Xunyang had been a famous thousand-year-old city continuously built and reinforced since Qin times.
Jiangzhou Governor Zhou Ang had been a subordinate general of Guangling Military Governor’s Office in his early years. His younger sister was Xu Mingzhen’s second wife. He was utterly loyal to Anning Palace and the Xu clan, with many commanders under him including Zhong Yanhu and Zhou Zhao who could be called Great Chu’s rising stars.
Everyone had thought that even without Anning Palace sending reinforcements westward, being able to take Jiangzhou within two months with relatively few losses would already be quite smooth.
In fact, after Li Zhigao went out to garrison Ezhou, he had long formulated detailed plans for attacking Jiangzhou. His forces advanced eastward by water and land, first bearing down on Chiwu City on Jiangzhou’s western flank, while simultaneously dispatching an elite surprise force that abandoned the extremely convenient Yangtze waterway to instead traverse the treacherous mountain ridges in the southern regions of Jiang and E provinces, lurking in the forests between Xunyang and Chiwu.
When Jiangzhou Governor dispatched Zhong Yanhu to lead three thousand elite troops to reinforce Chiwu City, they used the Five-Tusk Army naval forces to lure Jiangzhou’s naval warships to the Hengzin River mouth position, using ambush forces from the side and rear to seize the Hengzin River crossing between Chiwu and Xunyang City, burning the pontoon bridge and cutting off Zhong Yanhu’s retreat route.
At this point, Li Zhigao personally led main forces to abandon the plan to attack Chiwu City, turning instead to annihilate Zhong Yanhu’s forces on the western bank of Hengzin River, capturing alive Jiangzhou’s fierce general Zhong Yanhu and severely damaging defender morale, then bypassing Chiwu City to directly storm Xunyang City where Jiangzhou’s administrative seat was located…
Everyone sat in the public hall listening to the messenger from Jiangzhou describe in detail how Li Zhigao led forces to capture Jiangzhou. Gu Zhilong and other commanders knowledgeable in military affairs all felt Li Zhigao’s battle for Jiangzhou had many praiseworthy aspects.
Outsiders didn’t know about the rift between Li Zhigao and Prince Xinchang’s mansion, only knowing that Li Zhigao was Prince Xinchang Li Pu’s adopted son—the most core and most brilliant military commander of Prince Xinchang’s faction. With Wei Zhen, Zhou Yuanhe and others present before Li Pu, how could they not desperately praise Li Zhigao?
After all, within Yueyang’s faction, those who might possibly match Han Qian in commanding troops and military governance numbered only Li Zhigao, Zheng Hui and a mere two or three others. Rising stars like Li Xiu, Li Qi, and Zheng Xingxuan hadn’t yet had opportunities to independently command great armies in campaign.
Even Li Xiu and Li Qi, though they could sense Li Zhigao’s estrangement from Prince Xinchang’s mansion and its people, at least still regarded Li Zhigao as an elder brother. At this moment they were sincerely happy for Li Zhigao’s successful capture of Jiangzhou.
Feng Liao, who knew the inside story most clearly, sat impassively to one side observing Li Pu’s old face, gloomy as water…
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…
When Han Qian returned to Langxi City, he happened to encounter a sudden rainstorm. He first returned to the rear residence to change out of his rain-soaked robe and armor. Hearing Feng Yi, who had been waiting in the inner residence for his return, describe the situation of Li Pu and others waiting in the front office public hall, he asked with a smile: “This time they actually have the guts to all run to Langxi City?”
Though Guangde Military Commissioner Prefecture had been formally established for nearly two months, Li Pu, Gu Zhilong, Chen Mingsheng, Li Xiu, Wei Zhen, Zhou Yuanhe and others, though all enrolled in Guangde Army’s order of battle, rarely came to Langxi City.
At least it was impossible for all these people to enter Langxi City simultaneously.
They were more or less wary that the unruly and intractable Han Qian might unreasonably make a move against them.
If Han Qian were audacious and reckless, not playing by the rules, detaining them all—wouldn’t they all be blind?
Yet this time, they had walked into Langxi City without any scruples, waiting for Han Qian to return from inspecting troops in the north.
“The Jiangxi Pacification Army and Riverine Pacification Army’s combined forces of one hundred twenty to thirty thousand troops so smoothly captured Xunyang, Pengze, Chiwu and other cities under Jiangzhou’s jurisdiction, opening the passage to bear down on Chizhou City—and at this time Anning Palace’s garrison in Chizhou numbers fewer than ten thousand. Even if Chuzhou Army’s remaining forces of over forty thousand on the southern bank all withdraw to the northern bank within these two or three days, so that Anning Palace can dispatch more reinforcements to the Chizhou front at maximum speed, wanting to block Yueyang’s two routes totaling one hundred twenty thousand main forces west of Chizhou from advancing eastward is currently quite impossible, isn’t it? Previously optimistic estimates had Yueyang’s three-route forces rendezvous at Jinling City before year’s end at earliest. Currently it seems the timeline might be pushed forward another month. With Anning Palace’s current situation, they may not dare fight on three fronts,” Feng Yi said. “Now Li Pu, Gu Zhilong and others are all single-mindedly thinking about recovering Jinling, assisting His Highness to succeed to the throne and be enthroned, then dividing up such a big prize—naturally they’re not afraid we’ll play petty tricks in secret at this time. No matter what, if there’s really going to be further struggle for power and position, that will be after His Highness succeeds to the throne…”
“You can see through things quite clearly now!” Han Qian smiled slightly and said.
“People are always growing,” Feng Yi responded shamelessly, then thought of something and said, “After Li Pu came, he specifically asked Zhang Ping to send someone to invite your old master over. By now he should have arrived at the front office public hall too, right?”
Hearing Feng Yi say this, Han Qian was slightly startled.
After persuading Gu Zhilong to pledge allegiance, Han Jun had returned to Yueyang with Yuan Guowei. After Yuan Guowei returned to Xuanzhou, Han Jun remained in Yueyang without following back. After Han Daochang later went to serve as Raozhou Governor, the old master’s body could no longer endure the jolting of travel, so he remained in Langxi City to recuperate.
Though outwardly it was proclaimed that luring Gu Zhilong out had been discussed beforehand, Han Qian himself couldn’t possibly take it seriously.
And back then when Li Pu and Zheng Chang at Qiuhu Mountain were tempted by Wang Wenqian and decided to abandon his father, the old master had been at Qiuhu Mountain without stepping forward to stop them—Han Qian’s heart couldn’t possibly be completely without resentment.
So over these two-plus months, Han Qian hadn’t even gone to the residence where the old master was recuperating, at most occasionally dispatching Xi Ren or Feng Yi to convey his regards.
Han Qian was stunned for a moment. After Xi Ren attended him in donning his crimson official robes, fastening his ox-leather belt and buckling on his sword, he walked with Feng Yi, Guo Que, Kong Xirong and others toward the front office public hall…
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…
“May I ask Lord Han, when will Left Guangde Army’s main forces be mobilized and assembled to march north from Nantang Fort?”
Seeing Han Qian accompanied by Guo Que, Kong Xirong and others walking into the courtyard from outside, Li Pu and others standing before the hall corridor in welcome could not wait to ask.
Although under Liang forces’ pressure, in mid to late September Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan was forced to lead some elite Chuzhou Army troops back to the northern bank together with Palace Attendant Ruan Yan and others to strengthen defense of their home base Chuzhou, in order to have more sufficient time to plunder more resources and slaves from the three prefectures of Su, Run, and Chang, Yang Yuanyan ordered Chief Secretary and Chuzhou Defense Vice Commissioner Wang Wenqian to lead Rao Geng, Zhao Zhen and other commanders with nearly fifty thousand elite troops to remain garrisoned on the southern bank.
Under these circumstances, not only could the Southern Court Forbidden Army’s main forces not shift westward in large numbers to strengthen defenses of Jiang, Chi and other prefectures, but after Guangde Army integrated local forces and expanded to over forty thousand troops, they also had no way to immediately advance north to recover Lishui, Liyang and other cities—over the past month-plus, the three sides remained entangled and deadlocked in and around Jinling.
Of course, on the southern front it was mainly Han Qian’s side being too passive.
No matter how Li Pu urged, Left Guangde Army just maintained only a small amount of elite combat power, shrinking back into Langxi City and Nantang Fort without moving.
Besides having no way to deal with Han Qian, at that time the situation hadn’t completely clarified. Li Pu and Gu Zhilong themselves lacked confidence, so naturally they didn’t dare let Right Guangde Army’s main forces protrude too far on the western flank, much less directly seize strategic positions along the Maoshan-Lishui City line.
Currently Chuzhou Army’s remnants on the southern bank had already plundered for over a month, having already transported large quantities of slaves and materials to Yangzhou, Taizhou and other places for stockpiling. With Yueyang main forces rapidly capturing Xunyang and Pengze, surely Wang Wenqian would soon lead Chuzhou Army’s remaining forces to cross the river and retreat north. Li Pu had no intention of taking a bite out of Chuzhou Army, but also didn’t want the merit and glory of recovering Jinling to be entirely seized by the other two route armies.
At this time Li Pu was counting on Han Qian to conduct further mobilization of Left Guangde Army as quickly as possible, preparing to advance north at any time.
“With Zhigao and Marquis of Yuzhang so smoothly capturing Xunyang, Pengze and such, no matter how slow Wang Wenqian is, he should completely withdraw to the northern bank within three days, right?”
Han Qian led everyone into the public hall. Seeing the old master seated inside, he nodded slightly as a greeting, then stood before the terrain map and spoke to everyone.
“After three days, as long as Chuzhou Army withdraws as scheduled, Left Guangde Army will dispatch some elite forces north to take over the three cities of Liyang, Jintan, and Yangxian—I believe Huzhou Governor Huang Hua shouldn’t continue observing from the sidelines at this point. Perhaps we should ask Director Zhang to make another hard trip, proceeding immediately to Changxing County to meet with Huang Hua. If Huang Hua is willing at this time to send his two sons to Langxi City to serve at our side, Lord Li and I will memorialize recommending him to serve as Guangde Military Deputy Commissioner, ordering him to immediately dispatch forces to recover the two prefectures of Su and Chang, stabilizing the situation in these two prefectures so it doesn’t deteriorate further—Lord Li, do you think such an arrangement for the eastern flank would be good?”
“Left Guangde Army will merely take over the three cities of Liyang, Jintan, and Yangxian? Does this mean Left Guangde Army will maintain its current elite combat strength of ten thousand men without conducting further mobilization?” Li Pu stared intently at Han Qian and asked.
After Left Guangde Army captured Langxi and Gu Zhilong pledged allegiance, Huzhou Governor Huang Hua’s attitude had already softened.
After Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan led some elite Chuzhou Army troops to cross the river and retreat north, Huzhou renowned scholar Zhou Qinian had taken the opportunity of touring Langxi and Xuancheng to pay visits to Li Pu, Gu Zhilong and others.
Though Zhou Qinian had never held formal high official positions, during Yue Prince Dong Chang’s rule over Liangzhe, he had served as counselor to the Huang clan head—Huang Hua’s uncle, former Xiuzhou Governor Huang Wenyi. After Yue Prince Dong Chang’s military defeat and Liangzhe’s incorporation into Great Chu, Zhou Qinian had not accepted Emperor Tianyou’s summons to serve at court. These years he lived idly in the countryside teaching for a living, but had considerable literary reputation in Hu-Hang, with close personal relationships with both Huang Hua and Wu Zun, who currently served as Hangzhou Governor.
Zhou Qinian touring Lang-Xuan and other areas during September and October, contacting aristocratic families and powerful clans in these places—to put it bluntly, he was observing Guangde Commissioner Prefecture and the situation in Jinling to the north at close range for Huang Hua and Wu Zun, so they could make their final choice.
Currently with Yueyang forces’ main strength smoothly capturing Jiangzhou, Hunan and Jiangxi completely connected as one piece—if Huang Hua and other Hu-Hang regional faction members still couldn’t see clearly who held the general trend in their grasp, wouldn’t they be blind dogs?
Zhang Ping going to Huzhou to persuade Huang Hua to send his descendants to Langxi as hostages, then assemble Huzhou forces to march north recovering Su-Chang and other areas—Li Pu didn’t feel there would be any problems.
Yielding the credit for persuading Huang Hua to Zhang Ping, Li Pu also felt presented no problem. After recovering Jinling, who would bother competing with Zhang Ping for positions in the inner court?
However, after Chuzhou Army completely withdrew, Left Guangde Army only wanted to dispatch troops to take over the three counties of Jintan, Liyang, and Yangxian?
After capturing Langxi City, Left Guangde Army at that time still had twenty-four thousand troops. Afterward it drastically contracted and rested. In Prince Xinchang Li Pu’s view, even if Han Qian didn’t conduct further mobilization, before Left Guangde Army advanced north, it should at least restore its previous strength of twenty-four thousand!
His purpose in bringing all these people here today was to persuade Han Qian to immediately conduct total mobilization of Left Guangde Army.
The Riverine Pacification Army planned to expand to eighty thousand. Currently assembled or en route forces already totaled over eighty-five thousand. The Jiangxi Pacification Army was also actually organized to over forty-five thousand. After they absorbed the forces of She and Rao prefectures, Right Guangde Army had also expanded to over twenty-five thousand. On the eve of final decisive battle against Anning forces, was Han Qian still unwilling to conduct total mobilization of Left Guangde Army?
Li Pu looked toward Zhang Ping, thinking—was this Supervising Commissioner of his still going to continue being ornamental at this time, with no intention whatsoever of representing Yueyang in restraining and urging Han Qian?