novelSusiti Chapter 44 War Clouds Gather, Victory News Fills the City
Chapter 44 War Clouds Gather, Victory News Fills the City
War clouds loomed over the Jianghuai region in the north. Countless scholars and commoners lived in constant fear. Before the enemy army had even truly entered the Jianghuai region, the Yu Kingdom's court announced the control of the river. Many wealthy families north of the river were seeking connections to obtain a chance to escape to the south of the Yangtze River to avoid disaster. King Qi, Li Da, and several treacherous officials in the court seized the opportunity and were selling the privileges of crossing the river.
Beyond the great river, the vast land south of the Yangtze River is a completely different world. The people continue their daily lives, farming, weaving, or working in the city. Acquaintances chat and laugh without any concern for the war, as if it exists only in government proclamations, happening in some infinitely distant place.
These people, who have lived for generations within just a few miles or tens of miles of their own village, could never possibly understand or empathize with the safety of the Huai River defense line hundreds or thousands of miles away. Compared to what was happening in places they had never even been to, they were busy every day, worrying about their families and their own stomachs. Only a few shrewd merchants would peek at the government bulletin board every day, hoping to make a fortune in the war.
"Old Zheng, stop reading! The imperial court has blockaded the Yangtze River, cutting off all north-south freight. We can make a fortune just by carefully making a few shipments. You've read it over and over again; what more could you want? Hurry up and drink!" In Jinling City, a merchant was reading a copied official gazette. His companion found it amusing and advised him to stop. They were both merchants, with no chance of even being selected as officials; what use was reading this?
Old Zheng's real name was Zheng Hui, a native of Danyang. Hearing his companion's call, he snapped out of his reverie and gave an embarrassed smile: "Oh dear, I was just worried. We're traveling between the north and south, what if the imperial court doesn't stop us and we run into northern soldiers on our way north? Those people are fierce and menacing, they could be deadly."
His companions burst into laughter: "Once you've made a living through smuggling, your head's on your belt! Northern soldier, so what? Does he not eat or drink? Maybe you can do business with him! Old Zheng, why focus on his menacing appearance and ignore his potential benefits?"
Merchants value profit over righteousness, even disregarding life and death. Zheng Hui looked at his companion and sighed inwardly. He was originally from a farming family, but due to heavy burdens, his family went bankrupt when he was young. Later, he joined a merchant caravan, starting as an apprentice and working his way up step by step until he finally rose to become the head manager.
Two years ago, the caravan's backing was destroyed due to political infighting. The caravan was then disbanded. Zheng Hui had no choice but to take the trustworthy brothers from the caravan and go it alone, taking advantage of the imperial court's strict control over north-south transportation and freight, navigating the turbulent waters to earn profits from smuggling.
Zheng Hui was unwilling to spend his life as an unknown merchant. Merchants' children were not allowed to take the imperial examinations or participate in the selection of civil officials. Even if he spent money to marry a daughter of a scholar-official family, no one would pay attention to him.
It can be said that apart from joining the army and making meritorious contributions, the sons of merchants have no other political future. The army is not an easy place to navigate either. Zheng Hui is not young, and he does not have any trustworthy connections in the army. If he rashly joins the army, he could easily be ruined by the dark politics of the military camp.
Zheng Hui had resigned himself to his fate, but he didn't want his descendants to suffer the same fate. So, every time he copied down the official gazette, he would read it dozens of times, hoping to find an opportunity to change his social standing. He dejectedly put away today's gazette; clearly, opportunities didn't come easily. If reading the gazette guaranteed a path to advancement, merchants like Zheng Hui would be deprived of the privilege of reading it.
Zheng Hui lowered his head and sighed softly, then looked up at his brothers with a hearty smile: "My fault, my fault, I'll drink three bowls of wine as punishment. Let's have a good time today, we must have a good time! Come on, drink!"
The merchants gathered together and drank to their hearts' content.
Just two streets away from the tavern where Zheng Hui and his group were drinking was an area of upscale establishments. The wealthy and powerful there also led their own pleasure-seeking lives; they still watched plays, listened to music, and frequented brothels. The ladies of the house were still competing to see who had the latest and most fashionable fabrics and designs.
Countless banquets were being held simultaneously, some just beginning and others already finished. Only Nanjing had developed a nightlife that lasted all night.
During his nightlife, Chen Qianxu, the consort of Princess Xingguo, slightly tipsy, bid farewell to his colleagues at their banquet and returned to Princess Xingguo's residence.
Chen Qianxu was also a young prodigy, handsome and refined. Therefore, he was chosen by Emperor Li Jing at first glance during the imperial concubine selection, and the sixth princess, Li Lizhi, was betrothed to him. To be fair, Li Jing was truly dedicated to choosing a husband for Li Lizhi, personally overseeing almost the entire process.
After their marriage, Li Jing further cultivated Chen Qianxu's talents, and his first official position was as the Emperor's tutor. Normally, a tutor should be someone who follows the Emperor, ready to receive his advice and consultation. But in Chen Qianxu's case, it was the opposite; he spent his days by his father-in-law's side, receiving life lessons and wisdom about officialdom from him.
His father-in-law was taking him along. Chen Qianxu was a twenty-year-old young man, so naturally he was sought after and invited by many people, and his temper gradually rose as well.
Chen Qianxu, his temper flaring, strolled through the Xingguo Princess's residence, and couldn't help but sigh. A so-called imperial consort—wasn't he just a son-in-law of the royal family? Even his room was provided by the princess. He asked the lady-in-waiting who came to greet him, "Has the princess rested?"
The lady-in-waiting replied, "His Highness is tired from reading today and has already rested. He instructed the Prince Consort that if he returns late, he may rest at another concubine's place."
Chen Qianxu, who had just been lamenting about becoming a live-in son-in-law, was once again moved. He didn't know what other people's husbands were like, but his wife, the Sixth Princess, was quite good. After becoming pregnant, she not only didn't monopolize him, but also took the initiative to find him two beautiful concubines. Even the songstress he had once praised in his poems, the princess didn't get jealous when she found out, but instead bought her and gave her to him. She was truly incredibly virtuous.
Chen Qianxu nodded reservedly: "Very well, tell the princess not to overwork herself. Studying is good, but health is the most important. I will not disturb the princess tonight." After saying that, he hurriedly walked towards the courtyard where the concubines lived without waiting for the ladies-in-waiting and maids to bow.
Once he was out of sight, the female official's gaze turned to disdain: "What a scoundrel! The princess is pregnant, and he doesn't show her the slightest bit of attentiveness, as if she's not even his own flesh and blood. All he does is fawn over those young ladies. A scholarly family, an official's descendant, a refined and elegant gentleman—humph, what kind of refined and elegant gentleman is that?"
This female official was the palace maid from back then, who personally witnessed the love story of Li Lizhi and Li Ji. She was quite unhappy that her princess hadn't married her ideal husband and had been betrothed by the emperor to such a seemingly respectable man. It's a pity; true lovers in this world are ultimately unable to be together. How cruel is fate!
Night had fallen, but candles still burned in the princess's bedroom. By the light of the moon and candlelight, Princess Xingguo, Li Lizhi, continued reading. Since her separation from Li Ji, she had been deeply saddened by the fact that many talented individuals preferred to remain in seclusion rather than serve in the Yu Kingdom. Li Lizhi began to study diligently, regularly hosting banquets for scholars from all over the country, evaluating their talents, and actively recommending those who were truly gifted to her father, the emperor.
Because the imperial examinations were heavily regulated by corrupt officials who took bribes at every turn, scholars were already very disappointed with the State of Yu. However, Princess Xingguo's literary gathering unexpectedly became a pathway to officialdom, reigniting the passion of intellectuals. The small literary gathering grew increasingly famous and was soon dubbed the "mini-imperial examination."
Most importantly, Princess Xingguo's literary gatherings were free; if you performed well, the princess would even give you money. For a time, scholars from all over flocked to the event, and the officials recommended by Princess Xingguo were called chief selection officials.
Princess Xingguo's actions actually impacted the interests of those officials who controlled the imperial examinations. But what could they do? She was a princess, and one the emperor particularly favored. Furthermore, the princess only recommended a dozen or so candidates each year, leaving these officials with no choice but to accept it reluctantly.
Even when someone impeached the princess, saying that her interference in the selection of court officials was wrong and posed a risk to the court, Emperor Li Jing would just laugh it off and not take it seriously, throwing all the impeachment memorials into the wastebasket.
Hearing footsteps outside, Li Lizhi wearily put down her book and subconsciously stroked her slightly protruding belly, vaguely sensing a life growing within it. This was Li Lizhi's first pregnancy, and the experience was both novel and quite arduous. Fortunately, she had changed her temperament; she was no longer the impulsive, mud-bound girl she once was, but a princess of the Great Yu Dynasty who could now sit in her study for extended periods, reading and practicing calligraphy.
The lady-in-waiting entered and said, "Your Highness, the Prince Consort has returned to his residence and gone to the concubine's courtyard. He instructed the princess to rest well."
Li Lizhi smiled gently, "Alright, thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'll rest when I'm tired. Is there any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate?"
The female official stepped forward gently and whispered in the princess's ear, "I sent a reliable person to check, and the house was empty except for an old servant guarding the gate. They said that in May of this year, Xuan-ge and Ji-ge gathered over a thousand people, and then Ji-ge and the others left. They never returned to the village, and no one knows where they went. They just guessed that they went to do something big."
Xuan's parents-in-law left Guangling City and returned to live in the countryside. Xuan's father-in-law even became a teacher at the clan school, and it's clear he won't be returning to officialdom. "Princess, where do you think Ji and the others have gone? To be able to gather over a thousand people, that's quite a spectacle, quite an achievement!"
Li Lizhi closed her eyes and said painfully, "Where did he go? He went where he was supposed to go. Alright, let this matter end here. Keep it to yourself and don't let anyone else know. Give the brothers who went to investigate more rewards and arrange good jobs for them in other prefectures and counties. Don't let them go back to Jinling."
The lady-in-waiting nodded, still bewildered. "I understand. Princess, it's late, you should rest. You're not alone now, you can't stay up all night."
Li Lizhi sighed, "I just slept a little but can't fall back asleep. The situation in Jiangbei is so perilous, and Emperor Zhou is such an ambitious and enterprising man. Since he dares to start a war, he will definitely go all out. But on our side, my uncle, Prince Qi, and my father are only superficially on good terms. My father refuses to go to the front lines, so he sent my uncle across the river."
And my uncle? He's hesitant, lingering in Guangling, only sending small detachments to support the front lines. He fears that a great victory north of the Yangtze River, bringing glory and honor, will arouse my father's suspicion. That's the Zhou Kingdom; the force coming is the main force of the Zhou imperial guards. They're not insignificant figures. Alas, my uncle actually prioritizes the possibility of victory over national defense! Why doesn't he consider whether he can even win? How can a prince overseeing the Jiangbei campaign fight with such thoughts?
The female official asked in a low voice, "Since His Highness Prince Qi is not contributing, why doesn't His Majesty personally lead the expedition?"
Li Lizhi smiled bitterly, "My father did say he would personally lead the expedition. But the ministers objected, saying that the Northern Dynasty only sent a prime minister, Li Gu. It's really not commensurate for our dynasty to personally lead the expedition. Sending a prince to oversee the war is already a great show of respect for the other side."
These are all just excuses. To personally lead an expedition is tantamount to gambling with the entire nation's fate. If one is to personally lead the expedition, victory is imperative; otherwise, it would be a devastating blow to the imperial family and the court's authority. My father is the ruler of a great nation, with boundless wealth and numerous elite troops; of course, he doesn't need to risk his life like this. It's just for show.
But since the Emperor wouldn't go, someone from the royal family had to go to Jiangbei to prevent the people there from becoming panicked and actually turning against our dynasty. So, Uncle Qi was sent across the river. Unfortunately, Uncle Qi refused to contribute, so we could only rely on a few military governors to hold the city to the death.
The female official naively said, "Hasn't the Desheng Army already sent troops to rescue the Qinghuai Army? I heard that once the Desheng Army and the Qinghuai Army join forces, they will have 60,000 armored soldiers. With so many armored soldiers, the Qinghuai Army's cities will surely be impregnable, and the Zhou army will have no chance."
Li Lizhi sneered, "I'm afraid that Commander Liu Yanzhen won't listen to good advice, won't join forces with the Qinghuai Army to hold the line, and is only thinking about making a name for himself as soon as possible and returning to Jinling to become prime minister. Sending Liu Yanzhen to take up a post in the Desheng Army and letting him lead troops to reinforce Shouzhou. The officials in the court are really something."
Whether they are capable or not, everyone knows the answer. The appointment of high-ranking officials in the imperial court is never simply based on job responsibilities; the personnel factors behind the scenes are the decisive factor.
In the palace, Li Jing was not asleep either; two memorials were laid out in front of him.
One of the reports was from Liu Yanzhen, the commander of the Desheng Army, who said that they had defeated the Zhou army and were now attacking the pontoon bridge in the process. He also impeached Liu Renzhan, the military governor of the Qinghuai Army, for being cowardly and afraid of the enemy.
One report was sent by Liu Renzhan, the military governor of Qinghuai Army, stating that the Desheng Army had arrived and most of Zhou's army had retreated to the north of the Huai River, leaving only one unit to guard the fortress on the south bank of the pontoon bridge. At the same time, Liu Renzhan also impeached Liu Yanzhen for being too eager to start the war and for failing to deliver the supplementary supplies entrusted to him by the court to the Qinghuai Army.
Liu Renzhan demanded that Li Jing order him to command Liu Yanzhen. Because the Zhou army was advancing aggressively, and large reinforcements were continuously arriving, the proper course of action was to defend steadily and delay until the depths of winter, at which point the enemy would surely retreat. Liu Yanzhen's military strategy was so risky; commanding tens of thousands of troops by land and sea, he only considered the benefits and ignored the risks, and Liu Renzhan was very afraid that he would ruin things.
Li Jing was perfectly clear about the veracity of the two reports and which one to believe.
No one knew Liu Yanzhen better than Li Jing. The reason Liu Yanzhen was kept as the military governor of Desheng Army after the outbreak of war was to keep Qi Wang, who was commanding 100,000 troops in Yangzhou and had not made a move.
Although the Prince of Qi was afraid of gaining merit and being suspected, he dared not act. Emperor Li Jing, however, remained vigilant. He selected generals with little connection to the Prince of Qi to command both his army and the various garrisons north of the Yangtze River. The Desheng Army, in particular, serving as reinforcements for the garrisons along the Huai River, was a crucial elite mobile force north of the Yangtze. It was imperative to place it under the absolute trust of trusted confidants.
So even though Liu Yanzhen was an incompetent fool, a liar who lied about military intelligence and boasted about his achievements, he was worthless without Emperor Li Jing. Li Jing would always trust him to command the Desheng Army. On the other hand, a general like Liu Renzhan, who had a good reputation and outstanding achievements in the army, was always less trustworthy than a good-for-nothing like Liu Yanzhen.
For the same reason, Li Jing did not allow Liu Renzhan to command Liu Yanzhen. However, Liu Renzhan was ultimately crucial to the overall situation and was a loyal old general. Li Jing was unwilling to disappoint him.
After much deliberation, Li Jing wrote an order: Liu Yanzhen should immediately hand over all the transported military supplies to Liu Renzhan, the military governor of Qinghuai Army. At least seven thousand troops should be drawn from Desheng Army to supplement Qinghuai Army. Liu Yanzhen should destroy the pontoon bridge if possible. If not, he should retreat to Bagong Mountain, establish a fortified camp along the river, and coordinate with Shouzhou City for mutual support. Holding out until the Zhou army's retreat in the depths of winter would be a victory. After all, it is already November.
Thinking about this, Li Jing felt both regretful and bewildered. Zhou Jun was still fighting the Liao army in Hebei in August, returned to Bianliang in September, and dared to launch a full-scale attack on Yu State in October. It should be noted that November is already quite cold, and December is the dead of winter. What was the point of fighting in such a short time?
If Li Jing hadn't judged that Zhou Jun wouldn't have a chance to launch an attack this autumn and winter, why would he have agreed to suspend the naval defense work this autumn and winter, just to save on naval expenses? After all that work, Zhou Jun actually came.
Walking outside the palace, Li Jing felt the growing chill in the night air. He sneered inwardly, "Come on, come on! So what if I made a mistake? I don't believe the Zhou army can achieve anything in just a month or two."
Shouzhou, Chuzhou, and Haizhou respectively control crucial points on the Huai River, the Grand Canal, and the sea route. Without capturing these three places, Zhou's army cannot penetrate deep into the Jianghuai region. And can these three places be taken in just one or two months? Guo Rong, you little brat, can't win by going crazy.
In contrast to Li Lizhi's deep anxiety, Li Jing was not pessimistic about the war situation. For roughly the same reason, the King of Qi, who remained inactive in Guangling, shared the same assessment.
King Qi dispatched the Desheng Army to reinforce Shouzhou. Since the Grand Canal connects Guangling to Chuzhou, reinforcements and supplies are continuously flowing towards Chuzhou. Meanwhile, from Haizhou, newly departed ships and a large naval force, along with military supplies, are also being sent as reinforcements.
With such meticulous preparations everywhere, the Huai River defense line is as solid as a rock. Therefore, the Emperor and the Prince of Qi are still engrossed in their performance, completely oblivious to the fact that the front lines will not encounter any problems before the arrival of winter.
The next day, in Jinling City
A group of messengers, announcing their victory, rode ostentatiously through the city, shouting along the way: "The royal army has won a great victory! The royal army has won a great victory! Liu Gongyanzhen, the military governor of Desheng Army, led his troops to a crushing defeat of the Zhou army, and together with Liu Gongrenzhan, the military governor of Qinghuai Army, drove the Zhou army that had crossed the river back to Hebei. The royal army has captured many prisoners! A great victory! A great victory!"
The people of Jinling cheered and celebrated, and firecrackers were set off in many places. This was a plan to boost morale, authorized by Emperor Li Jing and implemented by his trusted ministers.
With the emperor's hint, the treacherous officials who were aligned with Liu Yanzhen sprang into action, making the scene lively, interesting, and vividly patriotic. Their only concern was that the propaganda must include the veteran general Liu Renzhan, which displeased them. But this was the emperor's will, and they had to endure it despite their displeasure.
Some knowledgeable officials and nobles gathered in restaurants of all levels to exchange information.
Some people say, "How could Liu Yanzhen possibly command such a large army? It must have been General Liu of the Qinghuai Army who displayed his divine prowess and repelled the Northern Army."
Someone chimed in, "That's for sure. Besides taking money and deceiving His Majesty, Liu Yanzhen has no real skills. It's a miracle he didn't annihilate the army. This fellow must have stolen Liu Gong's credit just to return to the capital and become prime minister."
Some were similarly inspired: "No wonder the rumors always mention Lord Liu. That makes sense. Lord Liu was, after all, the nation's foremost general. No matter how arrogant Liu Yanzhen was, he wouldn't dare to truly claim all of Lord Liu's credit. That's why the news in the proclamation mentioned a joint effort by the two armies."
A scholar mocked, "Liu Yanzhen and Liu Gong joined forces to repel the Northern army. Back then, when the young Shu emperor Liu Shan was at Changban Slope, he also joined forces with Zhao Yun to repel Cao Wei's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry."
Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.
See? This is why the emperor insisted that Liu Yanzhen's associates include Liu Renzhan in their propaganda. The emperor wanted to reassure the people. Did Liu Yanzhen have that kind of persuasive power? No, everyone only believed in a distinguished old general like Liu Renzhan.