Xia Province was located beyond the Wushan Long Gorge, bordering Jing Province. In traditional terms it belonged to the Jinghu region. In earlier times it had been separated from Jing Province and established as an independent province. Geographically it was intimately connected with Jing Province as mutual support, inseparable.
After Great Chu’s founding, Shu forces seized Xia Province before Chu forces could advance westward. Subsequently, because Chu and Shu had to unite against Liang forces, Chu forces had no opportunity over these years to reclaim Xia Province.
If Xia Province could be recovered, it would not only mean gaining over two hundred li of territory and three to four hundred thousand people, but also that if Shu forces wanted to threaten Great Chu from the upper Yangtze, they could only mass troops at Kui Province or Yu Province west of the Wushan Long Gorge.
This would eliminate the element of surprise in launching war, and make it easier for Chu forces to use the advantageous terrain at the eastern mouth of Wushan Long Gorge within Xia Province territory to intercept them.
Xia Province’s strategic significance was already substantial enough, not to mention Liang Province—positioned between Yong and Shu, a vital point in Guanzhong.
Pledging vassalage to Chu, ceding Xia and Liang provinces, and presenting annual tribute of three hundred thousand strings of cash and grain—to ensure successful usurpation, Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong could be said to have spent blood capital this time. This also secretly alarmed Li Changfeng.
Of course, Li Changfeng was not naive enough to believe Han Qian secretly assisted the Marquis of Changxiang’s usurpation mainly to secure these benefits for Great Chu. Sitting behind the long table, he stared coldly at Guo Rong, aggressively demanding:
“The Marquis of Qianyang has a fine strategy of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao. It seems the Marquis of Qianyang is truly determined to help Liang forces escape their disaster of annihilation!”
However stupid Li Changfeng might be, this time he completely understood that Han Qian’s opposition to the Chu-Shu allied campaign against Guanzhong had never changed from beginning to end.
Whether Tangyi’s assistance to the Marquis of Changxiang’s usurpation succeeded or not, for Zhao Mengji’s main army—which according to earlier reports was massively entering Qi Province in western Yong Province—this would be a devastating blow, and would force northern campaign Shu forces to have no opportunity or possibility of attacking eastward into Yong Province in the short term.
For Great Chu, this meant missing the opportunity to thoroughly annihilate Guanzhong Liang forces. Consequently, trying to cross the Huai River and conduct military operations in the Yellow River-Huai region would require much greater caution.
Since Great Chu’s founding, such a fine opportunity to recover the Central Plains might thus be lost. In comparison, even if Xia and Liang provinces could be obtained from Shu, the disadvantages would absolutely outweigh the advantages, the losses exceed the gains.
Guo Rong, Zhou Dan, Wen Bo and others at this moment seemed to treat him with courtesy, yet Li Changfeng could guess their intentions.
Plainly put, they still wanted to respond to subsequent interrogation by court ministers. Han Qian wanted to drag him into the water too, making it appear as if Li Changfeng had also participated in the conspiracy to assist the Marquis of Changxiang’s usurpation.
Li Changfeng smiled inwardly, secretly feeling he was not that stupid. He thought that though Guo Rong and others might detain him now, they would not dare casually harm him. Why should he wade into these muddy waters?
Yao Xishui and Fei Wenbo clearly understood Li Changfeng’s meaning, immediately saying: “The Marquis of Qianyang is determined to collude with Liang forces—we have nothing to say.”
Like Li Changfeng, the two of them sat there with hands on the table, binding themselves to await capture.
“How can Marquis Li take such slanderous words seriously?” Guo Rong laughed. “But there is one matter Marquis Li may not yet know—the Mongols captured Taiyuan Prefecture two months ago. Currently the Mongols are blocking communication routes in Shangdang, Heshuo and other regions. News has not yet reached Great Chu. Tangyi’s scouts risked death to transmit this information back. Currently it can be predicted that Tian Weiye, Wang Yuankui, and Shi Jizu have quite possibly led surrendered forces into the Hejin region. Does Marquis Li truly feel that Marquis of Jiangyin Huang Lu, Li Xiu and other commanders are still suitable to continue leading the Left Militant Cavalry Army to attack Lantian?”
Taiyuan Prefecture was located north of the towering Taihang Mountains, Zhongtiao Mountains and other mountain ranges. Not to mention the current chaos in the Central Plains—even in peaceful prosperous times during the severe winter when heavy snow blocked roads, getting news to Jinling could not be accomplished in ten days or half a month.
Li Changfeng was uncertain whether Tangyi’s intelligence was accurate, but judging from earlier reports, Taiyuan Prefecture falling at this time would not be too surprising. After all, the court had made such predictions before, hence had no excessive covetous intentions toward Guanzhong.
But predictions were predictions. Truly hearing news of Taiyuan Prefecture’s fall, Li Changfeng was deeply shocked in his heart. He knew that Tian Weiye, Wang Yuankui and others leading surrendered forces south along the Fen River valley meant the Mongols and Wei Province rebels could mass up to two hundred thousand troops in northeastern and eastern Yong Province.
At this time, with the Left Militant Cavalry Army having only fifteen thousand-plus troops, there was truly no need to storm Lantian Pass, let alone easily enter the Yong Province heartland.
Otherwise, not only would they be making wedding clothes for the Mongols, they would risk total annihilation.
Seeing Li Changfeng’s face showing both shock and suspicion, Guo Rong and Zhou Dan exchanged glances, secretly sensing that though Li Changfeng aligned with Lu Qingxia’s faction in court, he clearly did not yet know of Taiyuan Prefecture’s fall.
Of course, Lu Qingxia, Li Zhigao and their earlier cooperation with Guanjiang Tower might merely be a relationship of mutual benefit. But after entering the camp, Yao Xishui and Fei Wenbo—far less composed than Li Changfeng—showed more suspicion than shock on their faces, indicating they knew more details than Li Changfeng.
Guo Rong temporarily set aside Yao Xishui and Fei Wenbo, continuing to work on Li Changfeng, pressing: “If Taiyuan Prefecture had not fallen, Tangyi assisting the Marquis of Changxiang’s usurpation might make court officials feel Tangyi had suspicions of aiding the enemy. But when news of Taiyuan Prefecture’s fall and Tian Weiye, Wang Yuankui, Shi Jizu leading surrendered forces to attack Guanzhong reaches Jinling, will Marquis Li’s heart truly feel Tangyi is assisting the enemy? Could it be that the illustrious Prince of Zhedong’sMansion, after Duke Li, contains only short-sighted people?”
Seeing Li Changfeng silenced by Guo Rong’s words, Fei Wenbo glanced at Yao Xishui and sternly questioned Guo Rong: “Tangyi deceives the sovereign and deceives the world—nothing is beyond you. You have plotted so meticulously, determined to assist the Marquis of Changxiang’s usurpation and secretly aid Liang forces. We cannot obstruct you even if we wanted to. Why does Minister Guo continue this clamor here? Could it be that with all your clamoring, we will believe that Taiyuan Prefecture—counted among the world’s mightiest fortified cities—has truly fallen now?”
“Why doesn’t Minister Fei believe it?” Guo Rong turned his head, staring at Fei Wenbo as he asked. “Does Minister Fei not understand the principle that a city’s strength lies in people’s hearts?”
“The Military Geography Bureau has so many elite scouts abroad, yet not a single word has been transmitted back to Jinling. Are Tangyi’s scouts truly superior to all others?” Fei Wenbo said disdainfully.
“After all these years Wanhong Tower has stolen and learned so much from Tangyi—you truly don’t know that carrier pigeons can also transmit messages?” Guo Rong asked. “The Weaving Bureau has been going to great lengths recently in Jiangdong to purchase breeding pigeons—are they planning to nourish the body of some palace consort?”
Many matters were like this—once Tangyi wanted to expand scale, secrets became difficult to keep.
Raising carrier pigeons at various unit stations and key nodes, periodically taking them outdoors for flight training to possibly establish a relatively complete emergency communication network—the secret of bird-transmitted messages could not be completely concealed from the outside world.
Currently all regions needed to expand basic scale, promoting cement for water conservancy, building construction and various engineering projects. Not only did county-level locations arrange engineers to establish cement kilns, some important township offices with resource advantages also established cement kilns. The secrets of cement production could not be kept airtight.
Without being able to produce cement locally for water conservancy, housing, roads, city walls and other construction projects, not only was it disadvantageous for fully utilizing surplus labor freed up in each county, but transportation and storage costs were frighteningly high—better to use traditional triple-mixed earth as building adhesive.
Detecting that Guo Rong was deliberately drawing out his words, Fei Wenbo secretly felt terrible and immediately fell silent.
Guo Rong looked toward the hesitant Li Changfeng, continuing: “I heard Your Lordship say that on Duke Li’s deathbed, his heart still thought of Great Chu’s subjects and people. Does Marquis of Linjin truly wish to see barbarian cavalry trampling the Central Plains, to see Great Chu fall into fragmentation?” Speaking to this point, Guo Rong turned to look at Yao Xishui and Fei Wenbo. “Or do Palace Envoy Yao and Minister Fei very much hope to see Great Chu fragmented?”
With Guo Rong speaking to this point, Yao Xishui naturally understood his intention—fundamentally he wanted them to endorse the matter of assisting the Marquis of Changxiang together with Marquis of Linjin Li Changfeng.
Thus afterward, court officials would lose their standing to interrogate Han Qian for acting independently.
Ultimately, Han Qian at this time still lacked the strength and confidence to be universally opposed and isolated.
Furthermore, Yao Xishui could also understand that Guo Rong adopted this patiently persuasive attitude because fundamentally Han Qian still wanted to legitimately have the Right Divine Martial Army garrison and control Liang Province long-term afterward.
Otherwise, even if Han Qian successfully assisted the Marquis of Changxiang’s usurpation, they could seal the Han River passage, completely severing Tangyi’s connection with the Right Divine Martial Army, making the Right Divine Martial Army an isolated force in Liang Province.
Without Tangyi forces’ material support, how could the Right Divine Martial Army long defend Liang Province—unfamiliar territory where they would be strongly rejected by local forces—and resist the counterattack of Zhao Mengji’s elite main army?
And after Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong stabilized his position as Shu Lord, would he truly be willing to hand over such a strategic location as Liang Province without any second thoughts?
By then, perhaps Liang Province would instead become an important bargaining chip for them to win over Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong.
Thinking to this point, Yao Xishui and Fei Wenbo became even more firm in their attitude, ignoring Guo Rong’s laughably shallow enticements.
Zhou Dan spoke at this time:
“With Palace Envoy Yao and Minister Fei taking such an attitude, and Marquis Li remaining silent, perhaps we can gamble on General Zhang Xiang’s attitude…”
Hearing Zhou Dan say this, Yao Xishui and Fei Wenbo were startled again.
Zhang Xiang’s performance over these years had always been very steady, always making choices only after the situation became clear.
For instance during the feudatory reduction campaign, only after seeing Li Zhigao lead forces into Yuan River to join Wuling forces did he send his son Zhang Feng to lead forces into Lang Province to participate in the war. Or for example, the Jinling Incident—only after Chishan forces compelled Gu Zhilong’s surrender did he memorialize supporting the enthronement of the Third Prince. This time with the newly formed Left Militant Cavalry Army, only at the very end did he agree to separate a portion from the Right Militant Guard Army for his son Zhang Feng to command and incorporate into the Left Militant Cavalry Army, serving as Vice Regional Commander.
Yet Zhang Xiang himself remained steady as Mount Tai in Jing Province. Even though Cishou Palace earnestly wooed him, he remained lukewarm, maintaining an ambiguous distance, not immediately rushing into Cishou Palace people’s embrace to frolic.
If Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong promised to cede Xia Province upon success, and if Zhang Xiang wanted to additionally govern Xia Province, expanding Zhang clan’s actual controlled territory westward to the Wushan Long Gorge side, he would naturally choose to participate in the conspiracy and usurpation.
At this time, Li Changfeng, Yao Xishui, and Fei Wenbo represented the Cishou Palace faction. If they still firmly opposed, they would undoubtedly force Zhang Xiang to their opposing side.
Of course, if Zhang Xiang did not want to take a position now but wanted to opportunistically obtain Xia Province afterward, that was also impossible. After all, the initiative in negotiating with the Marquis of Changxiang was in Tangyi’s hands—Tangyi could strike the Xia Province clause from the secret agreement at any time.
In that case, if Zhang Xiang wanted to annex Xia Province afterward, he could only bear the enormous risk of unauthorized military action against Shu.
Yao Xishui only now understood that the conditions Han Qian and Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong negotiated beforehand had been carefully weighed and considered.
Of course, Zhang Xiang might also lack great ambition, just wanting to maintain Jing Province’s status quo—perhaps not risking support for any secret agreement.
Because Zhang Xiang’s attitude was uncertain, Yao Xishui could confirm Han Qian beforehand probably could not risk secretly conspiring with Zhang Xiang. But could they now gamble that Zhang Xiang would definitely refuse?
For Zhang Xiang, who only held Jing Province territory, the temptation of Xia Province was truly extraordinary.
Once Zhang Xiang chose to cooperate with Han Qian, what would they do?
Han Qian was too hateful—he had actually calculated everyone into his chess game. And they only now penetrated his conspiracy, with little room left to maneuver.
Li Changfeng at this moment sighed lightly, saying to Yao Xishui and Fei Wenbo: “Have one of you return to Fancheng to consult with General Chai?” He then said to Guo Rong and Zhou Dan, “The trip to Fancheng and back requires only half a day. Minister Zhou, Minister Guo—surely you won’t be unable to wait even half a day?”
With Li Changfeng saying this, Yao Xishui and Fei Wenbo naturally could not object, deciding to leave the final decision to Chai Jian.
They also knew that notifying Li Zhigao six to seven hundred li away was definitely too late. To prevent information leaking and destroying plans conspired for so long, Guo Rong, Zhou Dan, and Wen Bo absolutely would not agree to give them too much time.
…
…
Fei Wenbo left the camp, galloping madly surrounded by over ten guards. Before nightfall, Fei Wenbo and Xu Jing came galloping madly back. The two brought conditions Chai Jian proposed—exchanging Guang Province for Liang Province.
That is, after success, Xiangbei forces would dispatch troops to garrison and control Liang Province. But as compensation to Tangyi forces, consideration could be given to incorporating Guang Province into Tangyi Campaign Command Bureau. After success, besides the Right Divine Martial Army needing to withdraw from Liang Province, local forces in Jingyun and Canglang counties closely connected to Zhou Dan and Chen Jingzhou would also need to relocate out.
To guarantee this, besides Guo Rong, Zhou Dan, and Wen Bo signing documents on Han Qian’s behalf now, after the Right Divine Martial Army captured Liang Province City, they would need to directly hand over Hanyin City—the remnant seat of old Jin Province east of Liang Province City—to Right Militant Guard forces for garrison.
If Tangyi could not accept such conditions, Xiangbei forces would rather launch civil war. Not only would they cut off the Han River passage, they would unhesitatingly unite with Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian, having elite forces attack the Right Divine Martial Army from the eastern flank. After tearing off the facade, they would also not hesitate to massacre mountain stronghold faction remnant forces in Jingyun and Canglang.
And since Tangyi was unwilling to tear off the facade, and Xiangbei had no intention of tearing it off, then they must strive for the most advantageous conditions for themselves.
Abandoning Guang Province, they could still maintain the passage for northward expansion from Nanyang (Deng Province). Simultaneously, the Fangcheng gap in northern Nanyang, situated between Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain, was easily defended and difficult to attack—more conducive to conserving limited forces. But after controlling Liang Province, they would truly open the passage for expansion into the Guanzhong region. In the future, they might even unite with Zhang Xiang to seize Shu territory.
Only such an exchange would benefit Xiangbei forces more than harm them, making cooperation with Tangyi forces while holding one’s nose not impossible.
As for Guang Province being incorporated into Huaixi, and the Right Divine Martial Army withdrawing from Liang Province afterward increasing Tangyi’s strength in Huaixi again—that would only make Huaidong, Prince Shou’sMansion, and other court ministers more wary of Huaixi, thus more reliant on Xiangbei forces.
“General Chai truly calculates a fine wishful scheme.”
Guo Rong briefly consulted with Zhou Dan and Wen Bo, deciding to accept the conditions Chai Jian proposed, returning to the hall to finalize terms with Li Changfeng, Yao Xishui, Fei Wenbo, and Xu Jing.
“Since Vice Minister Li is here, let Vice Minister Li take command of all matters. And since we’ve decided to temporarily halt the attack on Lantian, we can directly recall Li Xiu’s forces now, having them follow close behind us into Liang Province to resist the counterattack when Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian lead forces back. With such arrangements, Minister Fei and Palace Envoy Yao need not waste more time requesting instructions from General Chai, correct?”
Guo Rong, Zhou Dan, and Wen Bo now showed greater trust in Prince of Zhedong’sMansion, wanting to fight alongside Li Xiu, even agreeing to let Li Xiu’s forces directly garrison cities yielded earlier. This way, when Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian counterattacked Liang Province, Li Xiu could help bear part of the military pressure.
Fei Wenbo, Yao Xishui, and Xu Jing had nothing to say about this.
Otherwise, could they doubt before Li Changfeng’s face that Prince of ZhedongMansion’s currently intimate relationship with Xiangbei forces would not withstand testing?
And Li Changfeng, as Participant in Determining Governmental Matters (Vice Premier) and Ministry of War Vice Minister, acting from expediency when unable to request instructions from Jinling in time, was qualified to directly represent the court in accepting Cao Yong and Wang Ang’s plea for aid, making new troop deployments for the Left Militant Cavalry Army, Right Divine Martial Army, and even Xiangbei forces, comprehensively adjusting northwestern strategy.
Now nominally establishing Li Changfeng as commander to deploy troops and assist the Marquis of Changxiang’s usurpation.
Next, with Li Changfeng as lead, Guo Rong, Chai Jian, Wen Bo, Yao Xishui, and Xu Jing would jointly memorialize the court. Everything appeared coincidental, truly seeming to have no connection whatsoever with Han Qian.
Yao Xishui thought how the moment before both sides were sharpening blades, nearly coming to military conflict, yet this moment they reached an extremely fragile, precarious cooperative relationship—she found it all absurd beyond measure.
…
…
Everything settled, both sides signed secret agreement documents for preservation. Next Li Changfeng and Fei Wenbo signed orders directing Canglang County Magistrate and Sheriff to open the city gates, allowing the Right Divine Martial Army to garrison Canglang City.
Li Changfeng was a senior minister, Fei Wenbo was Right Militant Guard Army Military Adjutant and Jun Province Military Adjutant—both could directly order Canglang local garrison troops to open gates.
With their written orders, everything became compliant with court regulations. Zhou Dan’s secret return to Canglang thus quite naturally truly became “excessive worry for his mother, unauthorized return home” coincidentally encountering this situation. The court might at most remove him from his Jiangzhou Governor position, right?
Under night’s darkness, Xu Jing carried Li Changfeng’s confidential letter and order, escorted by several cavalry, rushing north from Canglang City. They needed to quickly reach Jingzi Pass to deliver the jointly signed order from Li Changfeng and others to Marquis of Jiangyin Huang Lu stationed at Jingzi Pass.
Regardless of whether Huang Lu would comply, Li Changfeng still had a confidential letter that Xu Jing would send to Wuguan, delivering it to Li Xiu resting at Wuguan. At this time they still needed to recall Li Xiu’s forces along the Dan River’s western bank, enabling them to follow the Right Divine Martial Army’s steps along the Han River into Liang Province at maximum speed.
Besides this, Li Changfeng still jointly memorialized with the others, confidentially reporting many matters to the court.
Cao Yong and Marquis of Changxiang’s heir Wang Ang temporarily remained in Canglang City. When the court sent clear directive orders, they would carry the “state letter” on the journey to Jinling—of course, even if the court ultimately tacitly permitted their unauthorized actions, before Marquis of Changxiang Wang Yong stabilized his position in Shu, they would quite unlikely summon Cao Yong and Wang Ang to Jinling, in order to leave buffer opportunities for all possibilities.
Remnant snow covered mountain peaks, mountain roads were slippery. Under sparse stars, hundreds of small sailboats sailed from the Han and Dan Rivers, drawing close to the wharf southwest of Canglang City.
Witnessing this scene, Yao Xishui standing on the city wall could naturally guess that Chishan Association had long ago dispersed these small sailboats into Jun Province territory for this moment, likely with mountain stronghold forces’ assistance. Xiangbei forces along the banks had detected no abnormalities beforehand.
After all, they had mainly watched Chishan Association’s large and medium sailboats. Previously there was no reason to sever Chishan Association’s commercial route connection with Jun Province. Who would constantly watch hundreds or thousands of small sailboats crossing borders?
And this commercial route had earliest been opened during the Jing-Xiang campaign by Han Qian through Xu Province boat gangs’ hands, mainly maintaining commercial trade with mountain stronghold forces, continuing ever since.
At this moment, Yao Xishui deeply felt the shortage of usable personnel. She had not imagined that under Xiangbei forces’ very noses, Han Qian could play out so many tricks while they remained completely oblivious.
The Right Divine Martial Army’s main force under Wen Bo, Guo Rong and others’ command garrisoned Canglang City. Xue Chuan and Guo Que led several thousand soldiers waiting outside the city to board ships.
Hundreds of small sailboats could not carry many people, but the first batch transporting three to four thousand elite troops upstream along the Han River to attack Xunyang, Hanyin and other city strongholds at Liang Province’s eastern gateway would be sufficient to alarm Liang Province garrison forces.
In fact, after Wen Bo led the Right Divine Martial Army to join Xu Province forces that infiltrated northern Shu early, even if they could not capture the most critical Liang Province City, as long as they occupied one or two city strongholds, they could achieve the purpose of forcing Zhao Mengji and Wang Xiaoxian to withdraw from Guanzhong, and from the rear flank constrain them from attacking Shu with full force, right?
Therefore, with Zhou Dan’s assistance, controlling Canglang and Jingyun cities to ensure secure retreat routes and grain supplies was the most critical move in Han Qian’s entire scheme, correct?