In the western suburbs of Luoyang stood the Wuyan Palace, a cold and desolate former imperial villa. Once grand, it now lay in ruins, overgrown with weeds and cobwebs.
The pitiful Han Emperor Liu Tong, placed on the puppet throne at age seven, had not known a day of peace since. Previously, he lived in constant fear under Xing Xun’s tyrannical rule. Now forced to abdicate and confined to this cold palace, he knew Xing Xun kept him alive merely for show, intending to eliminate him eventually. Liu Tong and his few remaining attendants lived in constant dread. Shortly after arriving, he fell ill, with no means to seek medical attention. His fate was left to chance.
By the following year’s first month, in the bitter cold of winter, Liu Tong had been imprisoned for several months. Emaciated from illness, he remained ignorant of outside news. One day, as he wept with his attendant Song Qing, they heard a commotion outside, punctuated by the clash of weapons. Fearing Xing Xun had sent men to kill him, Liu Tong trembled in terror. Song Qing carried him towards the back garden, but they stumbled and fell after a short distance. As they braced for death, a voice called out, “Fear not, Your Majesty! We’re here to rescue you!”
Liu Tong opened his eyes to see Left Marquis Wang Ba and Vice Minister Dong Cheng.
When Xing Xun usurped the throne last year, his brutal purge left Wang Ba silently furious but outwardly compliant. Learning of the deposed emperor’s precarious imprisonment in Wuyan Palace only deepened his anguish. Wang Ba and Dong Cheng had long been close. Days ago, Dong Cheng secretly informed Wang Ba that Xing Xun planned to kill the deposed emperor soon. Weeping, he begged Wang Ba to save Liu Tong and preserve the last flicker of the Han dynasty. Wang Ba resolved to act, quietly sending his family away. Today, he led dozens of loyal guards to storm the cold palace, kill the guards, and rescue the emperor.
Wang Ba and Dong Cheng knelt before Liu Tong, saying, “The old traitor Xing Xun defies heaven and enrages both gods and men! Learning of his plan to harm Your Majesty, we seized this chance to free you from captivity. We can first seek refuge with the imperial clan in Yong, then issue a call to arms for loyal officials to protect our Han dynasty!”
Liu Tong, a mere ten-year-old boy, was too weak to walk and had no ideas of his own. Wang Ba carried him out of the cold palace. Seeing over a dozen palace guard corpses strewn about, their blood-soaked bodies a grim testament to Wang Ba and Dong Cheng’s loyalty, Liu Tong’s heart steadied somewhat.
Unexpectedly, they had barely traveled an arrow’s flight when pursuers from Luoyang arrived. News of their escape had leaked, and Xu Jian, Commander of the Northern Palace Guards, personally led 200 men in pursuit.
Wang Ba and Dong Cheng fled west with Liu Tong along rural paths. After only a few dozen li, the pursuers caught up. Though Wang Ba’s guards fought bravely, they were vastly outnumbered. Cornered in the wilderness with no escape, they watched as Xu Jian approached menacingly. Wang Ba showed no fear, shielding the wailing Liu Tong behind him. He berated Xu Jian for being a willing dog, then wept, “Our four-hundred-year Han dynasty, destroyed by that old traitor’s hand! Though I die here today, I’ve fulfilled my duty as a loyal subject!”
As Wang Ba lamented, Dong Cheng anxiously glanced around, as if waiting for someone.
Xu Jian paid no heed to Wang Ba’s words. He raised his sword to strike, but suddenly an arrow pierced his heart from behind. Xu Jian fell dead on the spot.
Wang Ba, who had resigned himself to death, was stunned by this sudden turn of events. From the side, an unmarked cavalry unit charged forth. Their leader, a man in his mid-twenties, wore a red-tasseled helmet and an ornate dragon-patterned armor. Astride a powerful steed, his jade-like face radiated heroic spirit as he galloped towards them. Wang Ba stood transfixed.
The Northern Palace Guards, seeing Xu Jian killed and this new force emerging, briefly resisted before fleeing.
The young general dismounted and strode towards Wang Ba and Dong Cheng.
Wang Ba, still in disbelief at his narrow escape, did not recognize this man and remained wary. The young general approached Liu Tong, who still sat on the ground, and knelt in obeisance, saying, “Your subject Liu Yan of Langya has come late to your rescue! I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness for causing you such distress!”
Wang Ba was astounded that Liu Yan of Langya had appeared as a divine intervention to save them from peril.
He hurried forward to pay his respects.
Liu Yan said, “Left Marquis, you are a pillar of the Han dynasty. Though I dwell in distant Langya, your reputation precedes you. Please, don’t humble yourself before me. I had hoped to live in peaceful obscurity, but Xing Xun’s tyranny has incensed the people. Learning of His Majesty’s imprisonment in the cold palace filled me with grief and anger. As a scion of the Han, how could I stand idly by? I came to rescue His Majesty, and by heaven’s grace, we’ve met here!”
Wang Ba was overjoyed. Dong Cheng also came forward to greet Liu Yan. The group quickly conferred.
Liu Yan pondered, then said, “The old traitor still has troops guarding Luoyang. Once he learns of His Majesty’s escape, he’ll surely send more pursuers. We cannot linger here. Let us make haste to Langya for refuge, then plan our next move.”
Wang Ba and Dong Cheng readily agreed. Carrying Liu Tong, they hurriedly set off eastward. Traveling in disguise, they avoided pursuit, enduring harsh conditions as they took circuitous routes to evade detection.
Liu Tong, already ill for some time, worsened after the shock of their flight.
Days later, they finally reached Yangdu, just days from Langya. Early one morning, as Liu Yan, Wang Ba, and Dong Cheng waited outside for Liu Tong to rise and continue their journey, they grew concerned at his delay. Entering his room, they found the young emperor had passed away in the night, his breathing stilled.
The group was shocked, exchanging horrified glances before breaking into loud wails.
Liang Ji, the Prefect of Yangdu whose family had served the Han loyally for generations, rushed to pay his respects upon hearing the news.
After the period of mourning, the group deliberated and unanimously chose Liu Yan to ascend the throne.
Liu Yan initially declined, claiming he lacked the virtue for such an exalted position. Wang Ba, Dong Cheng, Liang Ji, and others knelt, earnestly imploring him until Liu Yan reluctantly acquiesced.
They established Langya as the temporary capital, performed sacrifices to Heaven, set up government offices, and issued edicts proclaiming the news to the realm.
As word spread, the nearby prefects of Mouping, Donglai, and Xiami came to pledge allegiance. In the Luoyang court, while Xing Xun was away campaigning, over twenty officials including Grand Historian Dou Wu and Minister Deng Xun fled to Langya to support Liu Yan’s claim to the throne.
The small court established in Langya was soon viewed by many as the legitimate continuation of the Han dynasty, with Luoyang relegated to the status of a usurper’s capital.
One day, the officials met with Liu Yan to discuss plans for attacking Xing Xun.
Wang Ba, Dou Wu, and others strongly advocated striking quickly to retake Luoyang while Xing Xun was engaged in battle with Wei Shao.
Their impassioned pleas moved many to tears.
Liu Yan outwardly agreed and placated the group.
After the others departed, he kept Dong Cheng behind and asked, “What are your thoughts on this matter?”
Dong Cheng had secretly become Liu Yan’s devoted follower two years prior.
He replied, “Wang Ba and Dou Wu are merely engaging in empty rhetoric. Though Your Majesty has gained the support of various prefects, they command only small forces of little use. Your Majesty’s available troops are quite limited. Even if we recapture Luoyang, how could we defend against Xing Xun’s return? Your Majesty must not heed their advice!”
Liu Yan pondered silently for a moment, then asked, “How do you view the odds in the battle between Xing Xun and Wei Shao?”
Late last year, after two defeats, Xing Xun received reinforcements from Yue Zheng Gong. Early this year, taking advantage of the frozen Yellow River, their allied forces crossed in great numbers.
At that time, the two sides clashed at Gaotang. Wei Shao, assessing the situation, withdrew his defensive line to Muye before launching a counterattack. Using his previously constructed interlocking defenses, he contained the allies’ fierce assault.
Subsequently, severe weather brought the worst blizzard in decades. Countless soldiers and horses on both sides froze to death, temporarily halting major engagements.
Now, the armies faced each other across the old course of the Yellow River at Muye, each fortifying their positions as they waited to resume battle.
Dong Cheng considered carefully before responding, “The old traitor already held the advantage with 500,000 troops against 300,000. Now with Yue Zheng Gong’s alliance bolstering his forces and crossing the Yellow River, I see little chance of victory for Wei Shao. My greatest concern is that if this villain achieves victory and returns, he will surely lead his great army to attack Your Majesty. Given Your Majesty’s current strength, I fear we could not withstand such an assault.”
Liu Yan fell silent in contemplation. Suddenly he asked, “Any news from Yuan Zhe?”
Shortly after claiming the throne, Liu Yan sent envoys to meet with Yuan Zhe in Qingzhou.
Yuan Zhe had not yet replied.
Dong Cheng was about to shake his head when Liu Shan hurriedly entered, bearing a letter tube. He knelt and announced that Yuan Zhe’s messenger had arrived and awaited an audience outside.
Liu Yan took the letter and quickly scanned its contents.
In his message, Yuan Zhe stated that the Yuan family had long benefited from imperial favor and always longed to repay such kindness. Now that a new emperor had arisen to revive the Han dynasty, he was moved to tears of joy and wished to offer his loyalty along with his 200,000 troops, ready to serve and restore the realm.
Liu Yan’s eyes flickered subtly as he finished reading. He passed the letter to Dong Cheng.
Dong Cheng read it, his initial elation quickly giving way to concern. He said, “Your Majesty, I fear Yuan Zhe’s offer of allegiance may have ulterior motives. We must be cautious.”
Liu Yan walked to the window, gazing into the distance. His outward appearance seemed calm and motionless.
But his hands, gripping the windowsill, gradually tightened until his knuckles turned white and veins bulged.
His mind, like his grip, churned with turbulent thoughts.
After Yuan Zhe’s defeat by Xing Xun two years ago, his reputation was in tatters, forcing him to bide his time quietly.
Even so, the saying goes that a lean camel is still larger than a horse. Yuan Zhe’s current strength far surpassed anything Liu Yan could hope to match, no matter how carefully he had cultivated his power.
Now that Yuan Zhe had accepted his overtures and agreed to offer support, he surely had his agenda. Liu Yan understood this clearly.
But what did it matter?
Among those now surrounding him and supporting his claim to the throne, did any of them not harbor their motives?
Some sought to earn a place in history as paragons of loyalty, others craved wealth and power, and there was no shortage of opportunists ready to shift allegiance with the changing winds.
He desperately needed Yuan Zhe, just as Yuan Zhe now needed to use Liu Yan’s imperial status to regain his lost prestige.
Given this mutual need, why shouldn’t he take advantage of it?
As for who would ultimately prevail, that would depend on each man’s abilities.
He had patiently waited and endured for this day for so long.
He absolutely could not let slip this opportunity, one that might never come again in his lifetime if missed.
The bitterness of lost country and stolen wife, along with the face of his beloved who had told him to let go of the past – an image that haunted his sleepless nights – all seemed to coalesce into a raging fire in his heart at this moment, setting his blood aflame and threatening to reduce his very soul to ashes.
“Draft an edict,” he said in a calm voice as he slowly turned around. “Appoint Yuan Zhe as Grand Marshal and Generalissimo, with a golden seal and purple ribbon. Bid him come swiftly to support the throne.”
……
On the desolate plains of Muye, howling north winds drove swirling snow. The banners atop the military tents flapped violently, threatening to tear free at any moment.
It was here, just seventy li from Chaoge, that legends spoke of white yak-tail banners, yellow battle axes, and red birds nesting in the eaves of buildings.
Now the land lay frozen and barren.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but an endless expanse of snow.
This was the coldest winter in decades.
Though the calendar had turned to spring and entered the second month, there were no signs of warming.
The severe weather had seriously hindered the progress of military operations.
Reports of soldiers and horses freezing to death arrived daily.
The number of those suffering frostbite was beyond count.
These conditions made it impossible for Wei Shao to effectively organize a frontal assault against the allied forces of Xing Xun and Yue Zheng Gong.
The same problems that plagued Wei Shao also troubled Xing Xun and Yue Zheng Gong.
Thus, since the last major battle at Gaotang, neither side had engaged in large-scale direct combat.
They had only fought a few minor skirmishes of little consequence.
Neither side dared to launch a major offensive, yet neither was willing to withdraw.
Now they camped on opposite sides of the old Yellow River channel, watching each other from afar, waiting for the weather to improve and for an opportunity to deliver a decisive blow to their opponent.
This stalemate had persisted for over half a month.
……
By the hour of you, darkness had already fallen.
Wei Shao’s boots crunched through knee-deep snow, leaving a trail of deep footprints behind him.
Returning from scouting the terrain along the old Yellow River course, he approached the camp gate. In the last fading light, he spotted a soldier standing rigidly in a corner of the palisade, clutching a halberd, completely motionless.
A layer of fresh snow had settled on the soldier’s helmet and shoulders.
Wei Shao halted his steps.
Lei Yan quickly ran over to check.
Upon returning, his expression was grave as he reported in a low voice, “He’s already dead.”
Wei Shao gazed at the soldier who had died standing at his post. After a moment of silence, he turned and entered the gate.
He had just removed his snow-covered helmet and cloak inside the main tent when he heard footsteps outside. Gong Sun Yang and Wei Quan entered.
Gong Sun Yang’s cough had worsened recently.
Fearing he couldn’t withstand the severe cold, Wei Shao had specifically ordered twice the usual amount of heating fuel for Gong Sun Yang’s tent.
Seeing him enter, Gong Sun Yang coughed a few times before speaking, “In this bitter cold, sir, if you have any matters to discuss, you need only send someone with a message. I can come to your tent instead.”
Gong Sun Yang waved his hand dismissively and continued, “News arrived during the day. The deposed emperor has passed away. Liu Yan has been enthroned by Wang Ba, Dong Cheng, and others. Yuan Zhe has pledged his allegiance and been appointed Grand Marshal.”
Seated behind his desk, Wei Shao’s figure remained still, only his eyes narrowing slightly.
Wei Quan said, “Logically, with Liu Yan ascending the throne and receiving the support of 200,000 troops from Yuan Zhe, he should take this opportunity to advance on Luoyang. However, the scouts report he has made no move, seemingly disinterested in seizing Luoyang.”
Wei Shao replied calmly, “What is there to ponder? If Liu Yan were to attack Luoyang now, Xing Xun would certainly turn back to save himself. Wouldn’t that give us an opportunity? Liu Yan likely hopes for a situation where both I and Xing Xun, along with Le Zheng Gong, weaken each other, allowing him to reap the benefits.”
Wei Quan acknowledged, “What the Lord says makes sense. Although the weather is frigid, once the blizzard subsides, we can engage in battle, likely by the end of the month at the latest. Liu Yan and Yuan Zhe pose no threat; our priority should be to fully confront the joint forces of Xing Xun and Le Zheng Gong.”
Wei Shao rose from his seat, pacing the central tent for a moment before stopping to ask, “What insights do you and the Chief Historian have regarding the current situation?”
Gongsun Yang exchanged a glance with Wei Quan and said, “With Xing Xun’s alliance with Le Zheng Gong, their forces far exceed ours, and their morale is high. Given these circumstances, a direct assault on their stronghold is not advisable.”
Wei Shao contemplated this. “Your thoughts align perfectly with mine. Today, I will go to the Yellow River’s old course to survey the enemy camp from a high vantage point. Although the tents of Xing Xun and Le Zheng Gong are densely scattered across the battlefield, they are divided by barriers. Additionally, reports indicate that a few days ago, soldiers from both sides engaged in a brawl…”
He paused, striding swiftly to the table, dipping his chopsticks into a wine vessel, and drawing a line on the table before snapping it in two.
“If Xing Xun can ally with Le Zheng Gong, then I must create discord between them!”
Wei Quan clapped his hands and laughed, “The Lord is brilliant! The Military Strategist and I came to see you for just this reason. I’ve heard that Le Zheng Gong has a strategist named Zhu Zeng, who is greatly valued by him. This man used to be an advisor to Xing Xun. Zhu Zeng could prove quite useful!”