Volume Two: Lords of Generations Chapter 68: Gaining Yuzhou

After the Prefect of Yuzhou departed, Yang Zishi immediately dispatched three groups of scouts: one to investigate Nanzhou to the south of Yuzhou, another toward Quzhou, and the last toward Luzhou. By noon, the scouts returned one after another. Upon learning the military situation, Yang Zishi ordered his troops to leave Yuzhou.

Twenty thousand troops crossed the Great River, returned to the north bank, and ascended along the west bank of the Jialing River, entering Hezhou under the jurisdiction of the Governor of East Chuan. Passing through Hezhou, they crossed the Jialing River into Guozhou, then proceeded eastward to Quzhou, tracing an arc to avoid the forty thousand troops from southern Chuan advancing toward Yuzhou.

Yang Shouliang's twenty thousand soldiers left quietly without a fight, completely contrary to the expectations of the Prefect of Yuzhou.

Three hours after Yang Zishi’s forces departed, thirty thousand Luzhou troops arrived at the gates of Ba County, dividing their forces to block the southern and western gates.

Then, the Prefect of Yuzhou plunged once more into a nightmare. The officer guarding the southern gate was suddenly killed by a subordinate of the Ba County magistrate, who rebelled and seized the gate, allowing the Southern Chuan army to enter.

Ba County, defended by thirty thousand militia, fell with little resistance. The Prefect of Yuzhou, receiving the news at the western gate, turned pale with regret for his poor decision.

He had hesitated previously—unwilling to accept the military and political rule of the Southern Chuan Governor, yet aware that Yang Fuggong had been dismissed and Yang Shouliang might not endure.

Ultimately, he judged that the Southern Chuan army was no match for Yang Shouliang.

With the city breached and the Ba County magistrate in revolt, continued resistance would only lead to total loss.

The Prefect of Yuzhou composed himself. As an imperial official, he believed that surrender would merely result in retirement.

But he was mistaken again. When he ordered resistance to cease, the Southern Chuan troops entering the city took over the western gate’s tower. The Southern Chuan officer leading the troops executed the Prefect of Yuzhou in a single stroke.

Next, the lands of noble clans and wealthy households in Yuzhou were confiscated by decree, and the system of military farms was vigorously implemented.

All surrendered militia, prisoners, and refugees received military farmland, swelling the Southern Chuan army’s registered strength to sixty thousand, with more than two hundred thousand civilians.

...

In late February, Wei Fufeng, who had recently stationed himself secretly outside Chang’an, received news of victory and reports from Southern Chuan. He read the dispatch with delight and slammed the table in joy—not only had they repelled Yang Shouliang’s invasion, but seized Yuzhou as well.

After reading the report twice, his spirits high, Wei Fufeng turned to the accompanying documents. He frowned unconsciously, set the papers aside, and walked outside to gaze into the distance.

Wei Fufeng looked out at the snow-covered scene—Anye County was blanketed in white. He commanded a thousand Fufeng troops, hidden within the jurisdiction of Shangzhou in Anye County.

Anye County lay between Jinzhou and Chang’an. His grandfather had served for many years as the chief historian of Shangzhou and later became a powerful figure in Jinzhou. Thus, the local officials tolerated the Fufeng army’s presence in silence.

“After all, they’re all warriors and men of humble origin—their thinking is far too limited,” Wei Fufeng murmured helplessly.

The Southern Chuan Governor’s office had reported the execution of the Prefect of Yuzhou for two reasons: first, fearing he would not submit to defeat; second, having promised the Ba County magistrate the post of Prefect as part of a plot to incite defection among Yuzhou’s officials.

To stabilize the troops and quickly control Yuzhou, and to prevent unrest among the noble clans, the military farm system was also enacted, confiscating many estates and conscripting household soldiers into the Southern Chuan army.

“There are pros and cons; what’s done is done, but they shouldn’t have killed the Prefect,” Wei Fufeng pondered, his brows furrowed. He had heard his grandfather and Li Xian warn of the long-term repercussions of slaughtering officials and noble clans.

Implementing the military farm system in Yuzhou was the right move—if the snake isn’t killed, it will bite back. The threat from external enemies remained, so internal troubles had to be swiftly purged and military strength enhanced.

...

After much deliberation, Wei Fufeng decided to make amends. He sent orders to the Governor’s office to convert confiscation into forced purchase at low prices, compensating noble and wealthy households in silver and issuing loan contracts, ensuring their personal safety.

Additionally, he requested reports on the silver amounts and relevant household registrations, intending to grant official titles.

Imperial appointments were worthless anyway, so he had Li Xian procure a batch of blank documents from the Ministry of Personnel, stamped with both the ministry’s seal and the Southern Chuan Governor’s great seal, as a gesture of reassurance.

Once the messenger departed, Wei Fufeng considered further and wrote a memorial to the court: “Your servant Wei Zheng, Governor of Southern Chuan, reports that Yang Shouliang, Governor of Shannan, mobilized fifty thousand troops to invade Southern Chuan without cause.”

“The Southern Chuan army, allied with the Wutai and East Chuan armies, engaged the invading enemy at the Quzhou border, dealt them a crushing defeat, killed five thousand, and captured more than twenty thousand.”

“Additionally, the elderly Prefect of Yuzhou, afflicted by illness, died suddenly in terror upon hearing of Yang Shouliang’s invasion. Your servant mourns him, and recommends his relative, the Ba County magistrate, for the post of Prefect to stabilize the local populace.”

He set down his brush, picked up another, and wrote a letter to Li Xian, dispatching them both to Chang’an.

...

In Daming Palace, within the Yan Ying Hall, four chancellors—Du Rangneng, Liu Chongwang, Cui Zhaowei, and Xu Yanruo—stood before Emperor Zhaozong to deliberate.

Du Rangneng and Liu Chongwang were veteran chancellors. After the defeat at Hedong, the advocates for war, Zhang Jun and Kong Wei, were dismissed, and Cui Zhaowei and Xu Yanruo were appointed in their place.

Xu Yanruo had formerly served as commander of the Zhaoyi army and escaped the defeat at Hedong; rather than being punished, he was promoted by Zhaozong.

Li Qiu returned with five thousand troops, achieving neither merit nor fault.

Zhaozong, holding Wei Fufeng’s memorial, turned to the chancellors: “The Southern Chuan Governor’s coalition dealt a crushing defeat to fifty thousand troops from Shannan West. What are your thoughts?”

“I believe the Governor exaggerates his victories. Even if they defeated fifty thousand, the Southern Chuan army must have suffered greatly,” Cui Zhaowei replied before Du Rangneng could speak.

Du Rangneng spoke: “From what I’ve learned in Hanzhong, indeed fifty thousand troops invaded Southern Chuan and were routed. However, thirty thousand belonged to the Longjian Governor. Although the invading force was crushed, Yang Shouliang’s losses were limited; he still commands eighty thousand in Xingyuan Prefecture and twenty thousand in Yangzhou.”

Zhaozong nodded. Du Rangneng continued: “Since the Southern Chuan coalition repelled the invasion, the court should wait and observe, acting prudently.”

Zhaozong nodded, issued an edict rebuking Yang Shouliang for unauthorized use of force, and approved Wei Fufeng’s recommendation. The court generally ratified appointments from uncontrollable regional governors; denial would only undermine imperial authority.

After the chancellors withdrew, Zhaozong summoned the Fufeng army commander.

The messenger reported that the commander was absent and whereabouts unknown, though the thousand Fufeng troops remained stationed at Qinglong Ward. Without seeing him, Zhaozong could not fault the commander for his absence.

...

The day after receiving news of victory, Wei Fufeng sent for Amber and Xiao Xue from Shangluo County.

He also sent messengers to Li Qiu’s residence in Chang’an, using Li Xian as intermediary to arrange for Lady Fourteen and Mingyu to travel to Fuzhou, accompanied by Lady Fourteen’s birth mother.

Through Li Xian’s negotiations, his prospective mother-in-law indeed allowed Lady Fourteen and Mingyu to leave the Li residence, carrying numerous personnel documents stamped by Li Xian, and under the protection of the guards, they arrived at the Fufeng army’s encampment.

With everyone assembled, Wei Fufeng left eight hundred Fufeng troops behind and set out with two hundred guards toward Southern Chuan.

He could not afford to be absent from Southern Chuan for long. Having survived a near-catastrophe, he needed to return to personally reorganize military and civil affairs, asserting his authority as Governor.

...

The remaining eight hundred Fufeng troops were placed under the command of his fifth uncle, the Jincheng army commander—both to reinforce Jinzhou’s defenses and establish a precedent for garrison rotation.

Henceforth, Southern Chuan soldiers would take turns serving as Fufeng troops stationed externally. The commanders, military officers, and captains would rotate as Fufeng army officers, preventing any one commander from holding local military power for years.

With two hundred troops, he passed through Jinzhou, entered Wuxi County in Kuizhou, boarded the Southern Chuan army’s usual ships, and sailed upriver against the current.

Southern Chuan had reached a tacit understanding with the Governor of Jingnan, maintaining peaceful relations. The commercial route along the Great River was open; as long as taxes were paid, ships could pass freely.

Jingnan’s Governor garrisoned Kuizhou with heavy troops, both for its strategic importance and for its salt wells in Yun’an.

As long as outsiders did not covet the salt wells, Cheng Wei allowed passage, since Yun’an salt needed external markets and harmony brought prosperity.

Wei Fufeng, seated cross-legged at the prow with bow in hand, clad in chainmail, was completely disguised as one of the guards—a mere archer—admiring the magnificent scenery of the Three Gorges.

At winter’s end, the snow-capped peaks of the Three Gorges shone with alternating green and ochre, vibrant yet tinged with bleakness.

The sky was high and the clouds thin, the cold wind brushed his face, inspiring a poetic mood in Wei Fufeng. But lacking the talent, he smiled wryly and abandoned the idea, not wishing to invite laughter.

As Governor, his thoughts soon turned to prospects for his domain. He knew Cheng Wei’s cultivation in Jingnan had borne fruit, and given time, he would surely grow stronger.

It could be said that if the Southern Chuan army wished to seize the Three Gorges, now was the easiest time.

Yet, Southern Chuan faced its own crisis of foundation; expansion outward would not win hearts. Most refugees, once settled, would not risk their lives again.

Thus, when facing external invasion, the Southern Chuan army’s fighting spirit was fierce; when sent on expeditions, morale faltered.

Moreover, maintaining expanded territory was difficult. Extended lines strained troop movements and gave rise to powerful local officers.

Therefore, Southern Chuan’s priority was defense and consolidation. The only real room for development lay in Qianzhong Circuit.

Wei Fufeng’s thoughts shifted to Jinzhou’s situation. His grandfather essentially controlled Jinzhou, with an army of ten thousand.

Three thousand Jincheng troops formed the elite, well-equipped and supplied; seven thousand militia mainly defended cities and suppressed unrest.

Jinzhou’s main enemies were two: Yang Shouliang of Hanzhong and Han Jian of Huazhou.

Han Jian’s threat was as grave as Hanzhong’s. Having seized Shangzhou, Han Jian could easily move on to Jinzhou.

The secondary threats to Jinzhou were the Governor of Jingnan and the Commander of the Loyal and Righteous Army. The Loyal and Righteous Army occupied Shannan East (Xiangfan and Nanyang), held by Zhao Kuangning.

Zhao Kuangning had formerly served under the Qin rebel. After the notorious cannibal Qin Zongquan fell, Zhao Kuangning submitted to the court and was granted the title Commander of the Loyal and Righteous Army by Emperor Zhaozong.

With imperial recognition, Zhao Kuangning had focused on consolidating his territory and maintained regular tribute to the court.

Although Jinzhou and Shangzhou once belonged to Shannan East, Zhao Kuangning was unlikely to covet Jinzhou, and might even ally with Jinzhou against Han Jian and the threat from the Xuanwu army.