Volume Two: Grandfather and Grandson, Lords of the Domain Chapter 66: The Thousand Cranes Battalion

After Kong Wei departed, Sun Kui stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the defeat in Hedong cannot be blamed on Chamberlain Kong. In truth, it was the work of treacherous villains that caused the court’s army to collapse at the first blow.”

Emperor Zhaozong replied gently, “I understand your words, Minister. Today, we are here to discuss how to handle the aftermath in Hedong.”

“Your Majesty, though we have lost in Hedong, Li Keyong does not yet dare to cross the Yellow River to threaten the capital. The Xuanwu Army to the south and the Youzhou Army to the north still menace Hedong, and the capital itself retains thirty thousand troops. Lord Li Xi is leading five thousand soldiers back as we speak. As long as the traitors within the court are eradicated, the army’s loyalty will naturally return to Your Majesty,” Sun Kui pressed passionately.

The Vice Minister of Works stepped forward. “Your Majesty, Minister Sun speaks the truth. Without purging internal threats, the court will have no peace. We must act decisively to cleanse the ranks and prevent civil strife.”

Emperor Zhaozong fell silent. Sun Kui added, “If Your Majesty cannot decide, then I beg you to order Lord Li Xi not to return right now. Many of the officers among those five thousand troops are partisans of the traitors; it would be better to purge them while they are stationed in the provinces.”

The emperor’s expression grew thoughtful. The Vice Minister of Revenue then said, “Your Majesty, since Yang Fugong was dismissed, all territories under his faction’s control have ceased their tribute to the court. If this is allowed to continue, they will grow too powerful and surely rebel.”

Chancellor Du Rangneng spoke at last, “Your Majesty wishes to eliminate these traitors, but after such a defeat in Hedong, acting too hastily may provoke them into open rebellion, and the court may not be able to cope with the consequences.”

Sun Kui insisted, “But these traitors already exert great influence over the Divine Strategy Army and could rebel at any moment. I have received repeated reports that Yang Shouxin, commander of the Yushan Army, frequently visits Yang Fugong at Zhaohua Ward.”

Du Rangneng looked to the emperor. Zhaozong said gently, “Let us first pacify Hedong.”

The emperor’s inclination was to proceed cautiously. With the decision made, the ministers could say no more.

...

Li Xi led his troops back to Chang’an, handing over five thousand soldiers. The emperor neither blamed nor praised him, and he continued to serve as Vice Minister of Personnel.

On the day Li Xian returned, he brought fifty Fufeng soldiers to Qinglong Ward to see Wei Fufeng.

The Fufeng Army had already relocated to Qinglong Ward, where they hired laborers to clear the channels feeding Qu Pond, removed the ruins and weeds from around the water, and restored the scenery with simple touches.

The ranks of the Fufeng Army had shifted again. Gan Fengchi, former commander, had been promoted and returned with his forces to southern Sichuan, taking up the post of commander at Fengli Camp.

Zhao Yidou, the former commander of Fengli Camp, was transferred to serve as commander of the garrison in Fuzhou.

Wei Fufeng did not have the newly arrived troops work on construction, but instead imposed strict military training. The new detachment included two hundred soldiers armed with Mingguang armor, swords, and shields; four hundred archers and crossbowmen; and four hundred spearmen.

When they met and Wei Fufeng heard Li Xian’s news, he was deeply disappointed. He had expected the emperor to further eradicate Yang Fugong’s faction, but instead, after the setback, the emperor had chosen to act slowly and with patience.

After Li Xian departed, Wei Fufeng faced a dilemma: should he return to southern Sichuan to take command? Even if he chose not to go back, he felt he could not linger long in Chang’an. If the emperor discovered his true identity as the military governor of southern Sichuan, he might well be detained.

After much deliberation, Wei Fufeng decided not to return to Sichuan for the time being, but also not to remain in Chang’an. Concerned first and foremost for his own safety, he resolved to transfer a thousand regular troops to garrison Chang’an, while he and the Fufeng Army would move to occupy the region around Jinzhou.

Having made his decision, Wei Fufeng met with the fifty Fufeng officers, promoting five of his adjutants to the rank of field commander and sending them back to Sichuan to serve under the Fuzhou military headquarters.

He also sent two orders: one to transfer a thousand troops to Chang’an, and another to have five thousand soldiers from Luzhou reassigned to Fuzhou’s military headquarters to strengthen the local defenses.

The garrison troops differed from the agricultural battalions—they existed solely for military campaigns and did not participate in local farming.

...

The fifty officers left Chang’an, heading south through Jinzhou before entering the territory of Kuizhou.

According to Wei Fufeng’s instructions, they carried official documents from the Ministry of Personnel, posing as state-appointed officials, and easily traveled upstream along the Yangtze to Fuzhou.

Although Kuizhou nominally belonged to the military governor of Zhenjiang, it remained under the control of Cheng Rui, the military governor of Jingnan. After occupying Jingnan, Cheng Rui focused on recovery and avoided troubling the court officials, and he had reached a mutual non-aggression understanding with Wei Fufeng’s forces.

Thus, the third batch of tribute rice, escorted by soldiers, traveled down the Yangtze to Kuizhou, then overland through Jinzhou to Chang’an. Only when passing through Zhongzhou did they pay two hundred bushels of rice to the military governor of Wutai as a toll.

Cheng Rui, who controlled Kuizhou, allowed both the tribute rice and the accompanying salt to pass. The salt was essential for supplying the garrison at Jincheng, for without salt, soldiers would become enfeebled.

When the fifty officers reached Fuzhou, they were highly valued by Commander Zhao Yidou.

Upon receiving the order, Luzhou dispatched five thousand garrison soldiers to Fuzhou. Zhao Yidou assigned them among five field commanders, who took turns leading them to construct military forts in northern Fuzhou, arranging them in a fan-shaped defensive formation.

The regular returns of Fufeng troops had a profound impact on the military in southern Sichuan. The officers who returned in glory boasted of their experiences, becoming staunch supporters of Wei Fufeng and influencing many others’ loyalties.

Additionally, the establishment of the Fourth Direct Regiment, the Crane Camp, by the Governor’s Office, brought warmth to the hearts of the southern Sichuan soldiers.

The Crane Camp was divided into left and right battalions and recruited young men.

The left battalion accepted the heirs of fallen soldiers, where they studied and trained in martial arts, enjoying excellent provisions free of charge.

The right battalion accepted the designated heirs of officers and squad leaders, who also studied and trained in martial arts, but paid a fee equal to thirty percent of their stipends.

However, the heirs of squad leaders could only earn an officer’s rank through their own merit, or if their predecessor fell in battle, they would be transferred to the left battalion.

...

On the southern banks of the Yangtze in Luzhou, at the Jingnan military headquarters, a distant kinsman arrived seeking an audience with Commander Li Chenggang, acting as an envoy from the Prefect of Xingyuan.

“Chenggang, though you serve as a commander in southern Sichuan, you only wield military authority. If you pledge allegiance to Lord Yang, he can grant you the rank of prefect. Looking at the situation in southern Sichuan, how could you possibly withstand an assault from Lord Yang’s forces?” the kinsman said.

Li Chenggang replied, “I know Lord Yang has treated me well, but the military system here divides command among several leaders. As a commander, I cannot act with impunity. Without orders from the Governor’s Office, I cannot redeploy troops, and the field commanders and officers would not follow me.”

“Then why not ally with the other four commanders? Wang Dahu is a commander directly appointed by the Governor’s Office—he always listens to you,” the kinsman pressed.

“Wang Dahu?” Li Chenggang gave a wry smile, and continued, “You should not expect him to betray the military governor of southern Sichuan. You know his character—once he makes up his mind, he never wavers. I heard the military governor, after his victory in Hedong, sent Wang Dahu a set of heavy armor and iron spears from the Mo-Dao troops. With his new master valuing him so highly, do you think he would rebel?”

The kinsman frowned. “So, you are determined to follow the military governor of southern Sichuan?”

Li Chenggang looked at his kinsman. “If you had come earlier, I might have considered Lord Yang’s kindness. But now, there’s no need to abandon my roots. The southern Sichuan forces have stabilized; perhaps we lack aggressiveness, but our defense is sure to succeed.”

“You may be too optimistic. The forces that could invade southern Sichuan are not limited to those of Shannan West Circuit,” the kinsman warned.

Li Chenggang smiled faintly and asked, “Is it not true that Yang Fugong has been dismissed from his post as Chief of Staff?”

The kinsman hesitated. “That is true, but the emperor does not dare strip Lord Yang of his status.”

...

“If Yang Fugong has been dismissed, how long can Yang Shouliang last? Once he is declared a rebel, his power will surely falter. Furthermore, Lord Wei’s family has already taken control of Jinzhou, forming an alliance with southern Sichuan. Would Yang Shouliang dare to risk everything and march south with his entire force?” Li Chenggang countered.

“Jinzhou? They are allied with southern Sichuan?” the kinsman asked in astonishment.

Li Chenggang nodded, and the kinsman said at once, “I have heard that the forces in Jinzhou are weak. Lord Yang could easily destroy them with a preemptive strike.”

“The problem is that Jinzhou is very close to Chang’an, and the Wei family is a great clan in the capital. The emperor would never stand idly by,” said Li Chenggang, who still held a sense of awe for the emperor of the Tang.

The kinsman fell silent. Then Li Chenggang added softly, “Go back and tell your master that I am willing to offer mutual support. If southern Sichuan is overwhelmed, I ask him to speak for me, and I will lead my men to join him. If Yang Shouliang is defeated, I will speak for him and help him secure an official post.”

The kinsman thought for a moment and said, “So be it.”

...

In Chang’an, the thousand troops from southern Sichuan arrived at the end of the first month, second year of Dashun (891).

After defeating the court’s army, the Hedong troops also ceased their advance and entered a period of rest.

As the saying goes, ‘to kill a thousand enemies is to suffer eight hundred losses oneself.’ Though victorious, the Hedong forces had lost many of their own elite and loyal soldiers, even as they captured many foes.

In order to appease Li Keyong, Emperor Zhaozong formally dismissed Zhang Jun and Kong Wei, both chief ministers who advocated war, in the first month of the second year of Dashun.

Sun Kui was also removed from his post as Vice Minister of War, though he continued to command five thousand soldiers guarding the former palace; Li Xi’s position remained unchanged.

Wei Fufeng spent the New Year in Chang’an together with his soldiers.

Li Xian came in person to warn him that, in such uncertain times, it was unwise for the emperor to learn that Wei Fufeng was the grandson-in-law of Li Xi; therefore, Wei Fufeng was not to visit the Li household.

Wei Fufeng understood the implications well enough. Not only was he barred from visiting the Li residence during the festivities, but his grandfather in Jinzhou also sent word forbidding him from returning to Jinzhou to pay his respects. The relatives at the Prefecture of Shangzhou had all gathered in Jinzhou to celebrate together, so when Wei Fufeng returned to Shangluo County, he found it empty.

After the Lantern Festival, most of the Wei clan from Jinzhou came to Chang’an, taking up residence in the southernmost Anyi Ward.

Anyi Ward lay near the Mingde Gate, three wards east of Qu Pond. Once past Mingde Gate, the road led directly to Jinzhou.

Wei Fufeng’s grandfather had already prepared for any eventuality. If a large enemy force invaded, he would withdraw from Jinzhou to preserve their strength and continue the fight.

Although his family was not far away, Wei Fufeng could not visit, sending only discreet greetings to his aunt and mother.

Amber and Xiaoxue remained in Shangluo County, celebrating the New Year with Amber’s family. Amber’s father returned home for the holiday reunion.

Unable to bear her longing for her son, his mother secretly visited him at Qinglong Ward, where mother and son met and wept with joy.

Wei Fufeng told her that the troops he commanded in Jinzhou were a secret weapon and must not be widely known. His mother understood and replied that his grandfather had already explained this to Wei Xuan.