novelSusiti Chapter 43 Immense Historical Inertia
Chapter 43 Immense Historical Inertia
Upon hearing Zhang Fei's report, Liu Bei's heart sank.
Throughout history, eunuchs who supervised the army and inspected the front lines never had a good outcome.
He mounted his horse, preparing to return to Quzhou, and then asked Zhang Fei, "Is the one who comes the young eunuch?"
Zhang Fei shook his head emphatically and said, "It wasn't some lowly eunuch, but that scoundrel Duan Gui, the Grand Eunuch, who came in person!"
Liu Bei was slightly startled, and his movement to turn his horse around froze for a moment.
A high-ranking eunuch? Shouldn't it be Zuo Feng, the junior eunuch?
Historically, Zuo Feng was ordered to inspect the front lines in Hebei. Because Lu Zhi refused to pay a bribe, Zuo Feng falsely accused him upon returning to the capital of "fortifying the camp and resting the army to await divine punishment." The emperor was furious and summoned Lu Zhi back to Luoyang in a prison cart to be questioned.
The one who arrived was not some minor eunuch, but Duan Gui, the Grand Attendant—one of the most powerful among the Twelve Attendants, a close confidant of Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, with a rank equivalent to two thousand piculs of grain, a marquis title and great favor, whose status was far above that of an ordinary minor eunuch.
He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was experiencing a great deal of turmoil.
Although Duan Gui is not mentioned much in historical records, his escape with Zhang Rang by kidnapping the young emperor, his eventual pursuit by Lu Zhi and Min Gong, and his suicide by drowning demonstrate his power and audacity.
This person's personal visit to Hebei to oversee the war effort is probably not just a simple "inspection."
After bidding farewell to Tian Feng, he led Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others on horseback at full speed, heading straight for the city of Xiaquyang.
Yellow Turban flags still fluttered atop the city walls of Xiaquyang, while outside the city, Han army camps stretched for ten miles, their banners like clouds, their watchtowers imposing.
Outside the central command tent, however, a procession of ceremonial guards appeared—a dozen or so eunuchs dressed in brocade robes stood outside the tent, each wearing the distinctive black straight-hemmed robes of eunuchs and tall mountain-shaped hats, looking arrogant and haughty.
Several tall, fine horses were tethered to the horse posts in front of the tent, their saddles and bridles adorned with gold and silver, a stark contrast to the simple and unpretentious marching style of the Han army.
Zong Yuan, the Protector of the Wuhuan, was all smiles as he fawned over a middle-aged eunuch in a purple brocade robe, with a fair complexion and no beard. His obsequious manner was a stark contrast to his arrogant demeanor when he had overturned tables in the Yingtao County government office.
Beneath the tent curtain, Lu Zhi, his face ashen, could be seen confronting the purple-robed eunuch inside the tent.
Liu Bei was anxious and wanted to enter the tent to see his mentor, but he was stopped by the guards outside. A junior eunuch sneered, his face full of disdain, and said in a sarcastic tone, "The eunuchs are currently holding a meeting. Only those with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain) are allowed to enter, lest they behave rudely and offend the eunuchs!"
Zhang Fei was furious and was about to draw his sword.
Liu Bei also looked angry. Now even the guards around the commander's tent have been replaced, and the generals are not allowed to see the commander. Isn't this a case of his mentor's military power being usurped?
At this moment, someone gently tugged at Liu Bei and Zhang Fei's arms.
Liu Bei turned his head and saw that it was Guo Dian, the governor of Julu. He came out of the tent when he saw that Liu Bei was blocked outside.
This famous minister, known for his handsome appearance, was by no means a weak man. On the contrary, he was upright and powerful. After arranging the administration of official land, he personally led the county troops north to assist in the war and remained on the front line.
After restraining Zhang Fei, he pulled Liu Bei aside to a quiet place and said, "Xuande, please don't be angry. Now is the time when General Lu is in a dilemma, as if he is standing on the edge of an abyss. If he is not careful, he will be crushed to pieces. Don't cause any more trouble and disturb General Lu."
Liu Bei's heart tightened, and he quickly cupped his hands and asked, "What do you mean by this, Lord? What has happened?"
Guo Dian sighed and replied, "This matter, upon closer examination, is related to Xuande?"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei both looked surprised, especially Zhang Fei, whose eyes widened in anger. He shouted, "What does this have to do with my elder brother?"
Guo Dian replied, "It's because of the great victory at Zhangshui! It's due to the victory report submitted by General Lu."
"At that time, the Yellow Turban army of 100,000 was defeated and Zhang Liang was captured. When the news reached Luoyang, the emperor was overjoyed and the whole court celebrated."
"However, the Ten Attendants and their cronies, upon reading the report, saw that Liu Bei, the Assistant Military Advisor, with a mere two thousand righteous soldiers, had swiftly killed and captured sixty thousand Yellow Turbans and seized General Zhang Liang. They then all spoke before the Emperor, saying, 'The Yellow Turban rebels are easily defeated.'"
"Duan Gui, the eunuch, was known for his martial prowess, so he volunteered to come to Hebei to oversee the war effort. Ostensibly, he was inspecting the military situation, but in reality, he was urging Lu Zhi to quickly capture Quyang, hoping to gain the greatest credit for suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion."
Zhang Fei was furious upon hearing this, saying, "None of the Ten Attendants are any good! This fellow is a cunning schemer. If we fail to capture the city, he will shift all the blame onto Lu Zhonglang, impeaching him for 'wasting the army and supporting bandits for his own gain.' Then he will take the opportunity to replace the commander and promote his own cronies."
"If we fight a bloody battle and defeat the enemy, it will be because he personally went to the front line, supervised the battle, and made meritorious contributions, thus capturing the fortified city and taking the chief culprit prisoner."
"We soldiers fought and bled, only to gain nothing in return, becoming mere stepping stones for his promotion and ennoblement!"
"Brother, let me go and kill this bastard. Let's see if he dares to be so vicious again."
Liu Bei also looked gloomy, pondering how to get rid of this scoundrel.
Eliminating such a scoundrel would only bring blessings to the world and benefit all living beings.
On the battlefield, stray arrows have no eyes, and there is no way to verify their deaths!
Guo Dian had no choice but to restrain the two fiercely independent brothers, saying, "The Ten Attendants have wreaked havoc on the court, and all the gentry in the land wish to get rid of them as soon as possible. But this matter is not urgent. If the situation changes in the future, it will not be too late. If Xuande kills them now, it will only bring more trouble to Lu Zhonglang and make things worse for him."
"The most urgent task is to stabilize him and help Lu Zhonglang quickly defeat the Yellow Turbans."
Meanwhile, inside the tent, the eunuch Duan Gui was unaware that he had just narrowly escaped death and was almost assassinated by several fierce men.
He sat upright in the seat that had originally belonged to Lu Zhi, slowly picking at his nails, and said in a sarcastic tone, "Lu Zigan, I've said so much, how come you still don't understand?"
"Those Yellow Turban rebels are nothing but a rabble. One of the Zhang brothers has already been killed, and the rest are nothing but souls adrift at the bottom of a cauldron."
"Who could command 20,000 elite Northern troops and not be able to break through them? Giving you command of the army is an opportunity given to you by the Emperor and me, and a reward for your military achievements."
"Can you take the city in three days? If not, our Han Dynasty has countless fierce generals; there are plenty of people willing to take this military merit!"
Lu Zhi, with his fierce spirit, snorted coldly and declared loudly, "I, Lu Zhi, have been jointly recommended by the four ministries, received the Emperor's decree, and been appointed to command the army to suppress the rebels and pacify the people. I only know the Emperor's orders, not the orders of the Attendants!"
"As for breaching the city in three days—war is a matter of vital importance to the state, a matter of life and death, a road to survival or ruin, and it is imperative to consider it carefully. The city of Xiaquyang is high and the moat is deep, and Zhang Bao, even when cornered, will fight on. If we hastily attack the city, the casualties among our soldiers will be heavy. If we are forced to retreat beneath the fortified city, the enemy will seize the opportunity to counterattack, and the entire army will be in danger."
"I would rather defy the wishes of the eunuchs than betray the trust placed in me by the state."
Duan Gui's face turned pale and then red from his harsh words, and he slammed the jade nail clipper in his hand onto the table.
He never expected that Lu Zhi would dare to embarrass him in public, even saying things like "I was unaware of the orders of the Attendant."
Just as he was about to lash out, the eunuch behind him quickly patted his back and whispered a few words in his ear.
Duan Gui then restrained himself, for his purpose in coming here was not merely for the sake of one person's achievement.
He was able to seize this lucrative inspection post from the twelve eunuchs by promising them a large amount of gold and silver in exchange for their consent. He gained the credit, while the other eunuchs gained the wealth.
His repeated pressure on Lu Zhi was also a prelude to forcing him to accept bribes.
Lu Zhi's blunt and outspoken remarks almost made him lose his temper.
He took a deep breath, forced a sinister smile, and softened his tone: "General Lu is indeed a man who loves his soldiers like his own children; I admire him. In that case, I won't make things difficult for you—taking the city in three days is indeed hasty. I can put in a good word for you before the Emperor and extend the deadline to ten days. However…"
He leaned forward slightly, staring at Lu Zhi, and said, "I've heard that you amassed quite a fortune in Guangzong. Zhang Jiao has managed Guangzong for many years; his accumulation of gold, silver, jewels, and precious objects must be considerable, right?"
"Although I don't lack these things, I still need some resources to get Zhang Changshi and Zhao Changshi to make arrangements in the palace and speak well of you."
"If General Lu can understand my difficulties, I can naturally understand his as well. You are leading the troops at the front, and I will plead for you before His Majesty to grant you some more time. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi slammed his hand on the table and stood up. He was a generous man from Yan and Zhao, with a majestic physique, and now he looked down at Duan Gui with an imposing air.
"Having received the nation's great favor and holding a high position, I only know to repay the country with my life, not to use wealth to serve others. Every penny of what Emperor Guangzong has gained has gone into the public treasury, and the account books have already been submitted to the Ministry of Personnel. I have not given away a single thing to anyone privately!"
"Lu Zigan!" Duan Gui finally dropped his pretense, slamming his fist on the table and rising to his feet. His fair face flushed crimson, veins bulging on his forehead. "Don't be so ungrateful! I gave you ten days, as a sign of respect. Since you refuse to listen to reason, then three days it is!"
"If you fail to capture Xiaquyang within three days, I will impeach you for delaying the battle and being a coward! When that happens, you will be brought back in a prison cart. Don't blame me for not warning you!"
Lu Zhi snorted and walked away in a huff.
Enraged, Duan Gui overturned the lacquered table behind him and threatened, "Lu Zigan! Don't be so self-righteous! A bunch of thieves and bandits, now they're like turtles in a jar. Who can lead the army and not capture them? Do you really think that you're the only one who can command the army?"
Lu Zhi was resolute and principled; how could he bow his head to a group of eunuchs? He strode out of the military tent and saw Liu Bei waiting in front of it with a concerned look on his face.
He waved his hand and said, "Don't panic. I am a general jointly recommended by four prefectures, and I also defeated Zhang Jiao at the Zhang River, capturing over 60,000 prisoners and the ringleader Zhang Liang. How could he, a mere eunuch, threaten me?"
If it were the eunuch Zuo Feng, Liu Bei would still have confidence.
But now that the Grand Eunuch Duan Gui has come in person, Liu Bei is unsure how the court will play its games.
After all, Lu Zhi was now held in high esteem by four high-ranking positions: Grand Commandant, Minister of Works, Minister of Agriculture, and General-in-Chief. His outstanding military achievements benefited all four positions.
Even the emperor cannot be easily ignored, can he?
But it's really hard to say, after all, the current emperor is Emperor Ling.
What absurd things did he do after the Yellow Turban Rebellion was quelled in history? — Because the rewards were too many and the court's finances were insufficient, he ordered that all those who were appointed as officials based on their military merits be eliminated.
Therefore, it is not surprising that he makes any decision.
Liu Bei could only ask, "What should my mentor do next?"
Lu Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "I am not doing this for power or influence, but for the sake of the grand plan to quell the rebellion. If the court changes generals at the last minute, I fear that the hard work of tens of thousands of soldiers over several months will be lost in a single day, and the rebel forces will once again be in disarray."
"Therefore, we should still focus all our efforts on attacking the city and must quickly defeat the Yellow Turbans to prevent any unforeseen changes!"
The Han army launched a fierce attack that very day.
Lu Zhi personally supervised the battle, and the five schools of the Northern Army took turns attacking the city. The siege ladders were as numerous as a forest, and the crossbow bolts filled the sky.
Liu Bei also led his own righteous troops as the vanguard, and from dawn to dusk, the shouts of battle shook the heavens and the earth.
Liu Bei personally braved arrows and stones, donned armor, and wielded a blade, climbing the cloud ladder alongside his soldiers.
Zhang Fei charged up the city wall several times, his eighteen-foot-long spear flying between the crenellations. Arrows and stones from the Yellow Turbans rained down on him, and he was riddled with arrows, his armor riddled with holes. Yet he continued to fight fiercely, refusing to retreat even a step, until his personal guards risked their lives to rush up and finally drag him down from the mountain of corpses and sea of blood.
However, all the generals in the army knew that Lu Zhi and Duan Gui were now irreconcilable enemies, and that Duan Gui intended to replace Lu Zhi.
As a result, all the troops hesitated and watched, ostensibly attacking the city, but in reality, they went through the motions without putting in any real effort.
Only Liu Bei's thousand-plus righteous soldiers truly fought with their lives on the line.
However, it was almost impossible for a mere thousand men to breach Zhang Bao's fortified city, which was defended by more than 100,000 troops, in three days.
After three days of bloody fighting, the city remained unconquered, and Liu Bei, looking around, felt his heart sink to the bottom.
Over the past few days, his army has suffered heavy losses. Two valiant platoon leaders were lost in one instance.
Li Zheng led his daredevils to the front, but was doused with boiling oil and fell to his death from the city wall.
Wang Kai led his troops to attack the city, but was struck on the head by a boulder and died on the spot.
In addition, Shi Ren lost an arm and developed a high fever at night, his life hanging in the balance; Xiahou Lan, Yan Rou, Zhang Nan, Wang Tong and other generals were all seriously wounded, but they still gritted their teeth and urged the battle on without retreating.
Liu Bei himself was also wounded several times, with an arrow piercing his left arm. After a hasty bandage, he climbed the city wall again. Zhang Fei was also riddled with arrows several times, his whole body covered in wounds, yet he still roared and wanted to charge the city wall again.
On the evening of the third day, Tian Feng rode his horse at full speed into the camp. When he arrived at Liu Bei's camp, he saw Liu Bei sitting silently on a blue stone in front of his tent.
Guan Yu stood behind him, leaning on his sword, his phoenix eyes bloodshot, his green robe stained with blood.
Zhang Fei had one arm bare, and the army doctor was pulling a broken arrow out of his shoulder blade. He gritted his teeth and remained silent, but his leopard eyes were fixed on the direction of the central command tent.
The place was brightly lit, and Duan Gui's smug laughter could be heard, accompanied by the fawning voices of other generals. They had already begun drafting impeachment memorials.
Tian Feng was deeply moved. He solemnly walked up to Liu Bei and said, "Has Lord Liu forgotten our previous words that we should lie low and wait for the right moment? Why have you fought so desperately! If our elite forces are wiped out in one day, how will we rise again in the future?"
With tears in his eyes, Liu Bei looked at Tian Feng, filled with resentment, and said, "I will never forget your golden words, sir."
"My revered teacher has treated me with boundless kindness. Since I raised an army to assist in the war, he has mentored and guided me. Now that he is in distress, you stand idly by, only concerned with your own safety. Is this not the behavior of a beast?"
"The Records of the Grand Historian says: 'He who rides in another's carriage bears another's troubles; he who wears another's clothes bears another's worries; he who eats another's food dies for another.' Although I am not talented, I dare not forget the two words 'loyalty and righteousness.' Therefore, even though I know it is impossible, I have no choice but to do it."
Upon hearing this, Tian Feng remained silent for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh, understanding the meaning of the matter, and ultimately refusing to betray his principles.
Just then, footsteps came from behind Liu Bei.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Lu Zhi, who had come to inspect the camp. He was standing at the tent entrance, clearly having heard everything Liu Bei had just said.
He slowly stepped forward, helped up Liu Bei who was bowing, patted his arm, and remained silent for a long time before saying, "Xuande, in my life, my official career may have been fraught with setbacks, and my achievements may have been unfulfilled, but my greatest fortune was taking you as my disciple in Zhuojun back then."
"You have lofty ambitions without losing your benevolence, and you possess sound strategies without abandoning loyalty and righteousness."
"If I, Lu Zhi, am remembered in history and become known to the world, it will not be because of my titles as General of the Northern Army and Commander-in-Chief, nor because of my reputation as a great Confucian scholar or my transmission of classical learning. Rather, it will be because I have taught you as my disciple."
Liu Bei was at a loss for how to comfort his mentor.
Lu Zhi then turned to Tian Feng, solemnly cupped his hands in greeting to the younger man, and said, "Mr. Yuanhao, Xuande is sentimental, but sometimes he is too impulsive. I hope you will help him in the future, so that he will not lose his edge due to momentary impulses."
Tian Feng returned the salute respectfully: "General, rest assured. Liu Jun's integrity is precisely what I admire, and I will certainly assist him in achieving great things."
Lu Zhi nodded, then turned his gaze to the brightly lit central army camp. Listening to the faint sounds of fawning laughter coming from inside, his face showed neither joy nor sorrow. He simply said, "When the sky is about to fall, it cannot be supported by a single tree. However, even if the tree is broken, its joints remain intact. When spring comes and it grows again, it can still reach the sky."
"Xuande, I hereby appoint you as a separate commander in recognition of your merits, to lead the righteous troops of your own tribe. In this way, even if I am not here, you will not be hindered by that eunuch."
"These thousand-plus elite troops under your command were personally watched by your master fight their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood—do not let them perish here in vain. You can retreat to Quzhou, join Yuanhao and Zilong, and focus on managing the official lands and training the Gengshi Camp, awaiting the changing times."
Liu Bei was about to speak again when Lu Zhi, his expression resolute and stern, rebuked him: "Stop talking! Your troops have suffered heavy losses, their morale is exhausted, and they are no longer fit for battle. Even according to normal military regulations, you should withdraw to rest and regroup!"
"Go to Quzhou, where Lord Guo will take care of you and replenish your troops. If you can ultimately defeat the Yellow Turbans and restore the Han Dynasty, that will be my greatest comfort!"
Liu Bei had no choice but to obey and let Guan Yu lead his troops south to rest and regroup.
He himself stayed in the camp to serve his mentor.
Julu and Sili are separated only by Weijun. Beyond Weijun lies Henan and Henan, the land of the Three Rivers Knights.
Duan Gui traveled eight hundred li to submit a memorial impeaching the emperor, which arrived at the emperor's desk within a few days.
His memorial reads: "I have been ordered to oversee the army in Hebei. I have observed that General Lu Zhi of the Northern Army is leading troops to suppress the rebels, but he has been holding back his troops and has hesitated to advance. The rebels are already weakened, and the small city of Xiaquyang has been besieged for a long time without success. Lu Zhi has 20,000 elite troops, yet he is wasting his provisions and pay, which seems to indicate that he intends to nurture the enemy to enhance his own power. I am deeply concerned for Your Majesty and request that the relevant authorities investigate this matter to uphold military discipline."
This charge is even more vicious and serious than Zuo Feng's slanderous words in history!
The four words "nurturing bandits to enhance one's own importance" are utterly venomous. If this crime is proven, according to the Han law, it would be considered a heinous crime, punishable not only by dismissal from office and stripping of titles, but also by being cut in half at the waist and executed in the marketplace. Even a general amnesty would not exempt him from this punishment; the crime is unforgivable.
Upon reading the memorial, the Emperor was indeed enraged and issued an edict: "Lu Zhi, the General of the Northern Army, was jointly recommended by the four ministries and appointed to command the army. He should have displayed the might of Heaven and swiftly quelled the rebels. Now, the army has squandered supplies and failed to capture the city after a prolonged siege, deeply disappointing my expectations. He is hereby ordered to be brought to the capital in a cage and handed over to the Court of Justice for investigation and to be punished according to the law."
The Court of Justice (廷尉) was the highest judicial body in the Han Dynasty. All officials with a salary of 2,000 shi or above who committed crimes were subject to the Court of Justice's deliberation and punishment.
Once handed over to the Court of Justice, it would be almost impossible to escape punishment without consequence; the situation was even worse than Lu Zhi's reduction of his death sentence by one degree in history.
The court then appointed Dong Zhuo as General of the Eastern Central Army, replacing Lu Zhi in leading the army to quell the rebellion.
Upon receiving the imperial edict, Liu Bei felt utterly bewildered; history, with its immense inertia, had once again brought everything back to its original state.
Historically, Dong Zhuo led his army north to attack Xiaquyang because he felt he could not conquer Guangzong. He was defeated and summoned to the Court of Justice, where his death sentence was reduced by one degree.
As a result, he no longer needs to abandon the siege of Guangzong and can directly lead his troops to the city of Xiaquyang.
At this point, Liu Bei had come to a complete realization: he was a small and insignificant person, utterly powerless to change the court. With the Ten Attendants remaining in power and no fundamental change underway, his attempts to restore the Han dynasty from the provinces and incite change in the course of history were virtually impossible!
He must, as Tian Feng said, fold his wings and lie low, accumulate strength in the local area, and wait for the right time to make his move!
The Han Dynasty had reached a point where it could not be rebuilt without destruction.