Volume Two: The Lord and His Grandson Chapter 75: The Jinzhou Strategy

Wei Fufeng stood atop the hill, gazing out at the Han River flowing east in the distance, waiting for an hour until his grandfather arrived at the Western Garden.

With reverence, Wei Fufeng descended the hill to greet him. When grandfather and grandson met, they exchanged knowing smiles and nods, then ascended the hill together.

“Fufeng, the eunuch you sent was extremely useful,” his grandfather affirmed.

“The military supervisor is locked away in the prison. If word gets out, it wouldn’t be good, so I could only use him for a while,” Wei Fufeng replied with a hint of mockery.

Grandfather nodded, saying, “I’ve heard that Sichuan’s southern forces have dealt a crushing defeat to fifty thousand enemies. I was so excited I couldn’t sleep all night, knowing that great things are within reach.”

Wei Fufeng nodded and softly said, “I worry that Yang Shouliang might strike at Jinzhou.”

“Don’t be afraid. If he comes with forty thousand, I will defend the city; if it’s fifty thousand or more, I’ll withdraw,” his grandfather replied confidently.

“Yang Shouliang commands a hundred thousand troops in Xingyuan Prefecture and Yangzhou. If he attacks Jinzhou, he’ll likely send more than sixty thousand, since Hanzhong isn’t far from Jinzhou,” Wei Fufeng explained.

“Oh, so if more than sixty thousand are deployed, then I must withdraw,” his grandfather remarked in surprise.

“When I arrived, I saw that the city had been repaired. If we can hold out for two months, then I can stay. At that time, I’ll personally lead three thousand Fufeng troops to defend the city, letting Fifth Uncle act outside the walls,” said Wei Fufeng.

“Hold for two months? If Hanzhong sends sixty thousand to assault us, I fear it will be hard to withstand for that long. Besides, how do you know Yang Shouliang will retreat after two months?” his grandfather asked.

“If Yang Shouliang attacks with more than sixty thousand, his strategic aim is to intimidate and seize Jinzhou. In truth, he’s reluctant to waste too much military strength on a siege,” Wei Fufeng analyzed.

“When survival is at stake, speculation is dangerous,” his grandfather warned sensibly.

“I am not speculating idly. When Yang Shouliang sent twenty thousand to take Yuzhou, the commander, upon learning that Sichuan’s southern army was approaching, chose not to fight and retreated. Perhaps this was by Yang Shouliang’s order, making that commander unwilling to risk his forces,” Wei Fufeng said.

Grandfather shook his head. “Whether to intimidate or to fight at any cost—it all depends on a single thought.”

Wei Fufeng nodded. “If Yang Shouliang does not withdraw in two months, Sichuan’s southern army will send fifty thousand north to Hanzhong.”

Grandfather nodded, but asked, “Why wait two months? Wouldn’t it be better to move earlier?”

Wei Fufeng replied, “Deception is the essence of war. If Yang Shouliang attacks Jinzhou, his objective can shift. If Sichuan’s army moves too soon, Yang Shouliang can quickly return to confront them. If Sichuan’s army moves later, Yang Shouliang becomes trapped between advancing and retreating.”

Grandfather nodded. “You mean Yang Shouliang’s attack on Jinzhou is meant to lure Sichuan’s army out.”

“Yes. If Sichuan’s army marches far north to Xingyuan Prefecture, they’ll be at a disadvantage in supply and movement. If Yang Shouliang counterattacks south, he can block Sichuan’s army from returning via the river. Likewise, Yang Shouliang won’t dare to send sixty thousand against Sichuan, since he wouldn’t have time to defend Xingyuan,” Wei Fufeng said.

Grandfather nodded, and Wei Fufeng continued, “Also, if Jinzhou holds for two months, Yang Shouliang's Xingyuan Prefecture will surely attract the covetous eyes of many powers: Li Maozhen, the Military Commissioner of Fengxiang; the Military Commissioner of Eastern Sichuan; and Han Jian, the Military Commissioner of Huashang, not to mention the imperial court. If none react, Sichuan’s army can only march north.”

Grandfather nodded. “Jinzhou was hard-won; holding it is good. I honor the court, and the court should respond.”

“I believe relying on outside help is unwise. Grandfather should prepare according to our own strength. The tribute rice I brought will remain in West County, and I’ll send another shipment,” Wei Fufeng said.

Grandfather nodded and asked, “Can you send some crossbows?”

“The ones made by Sichuan’s army aren’t durable. I can bring in three hundred archers, but they must be under Fifth Uncle’s command; their use in defending the city is limited,” Wei Fufeng answered.

“Are you suggesting Fifth Uncle should harass the enemy outside?” his grandfather asked.

“The greatest fear for a marching army is unreliable supply lines. Fifth Uncle can target the enemy’s provisions; with archers striking from afar, casualties will be reduced and movement will be flexible,” Wei Fufeng replied.

Grandfather nodded, and Wei Fufeng added, “We also need to gather strong men into the city. I observed the city layout is chaotic and houses are ruined. We can conscript laborers to repair the irrigation system, and when the enemy attacks, they can work inside the city, keeping the population busy and stable.”

Grandfather nodded approvingly. “This is a brilliant strategy—quietly winning the hearts of the people and strengthening our defenses.”

Wei Fufeng smiled. “Grandfather is the founder of the Wei clan in Jinzhou. Jinzhou is the prosperous land for our family. Even if the city cannot rival the grandeur of Chang’an, it should be a magnificent and livable place.”

“Well said. I too wish to expand the city and accommodate more people. Once refugees from outside have homes here, their desire to return fades. Otherwise, Jinzhou may face the loss of its population,” his grandfather agreed.

Wei Fufeng smiled, sensing their thoughts were aligned.

Grandfather then asked, “Is there enough grain in Sichuan? Don’t let supporting Jinzhou cause a shortage. Frankly, I fear the loss of Sichuan more than anything.”

“For now, grain is sufficient, especially since Yuzhou has stockpiles. I intend to use Yuzhou’s stores to support Jinzhou. The fields in Luzhou and Changzhou are growing well, and the war in Western Sichuan isn’t over yet, so we needn’t worry about harvests being seized by Wang Jian of Western Sichuan,” Wei Fufeng replied.

“Grain is the foundation of success or failure. Don’t be careless,” his grandfather admonished.

“I won’t be careless. I’ve expanded the city at Dazhu County and stationed fifty thousand troops; thirty thousand in Luxian. Outlying fortresses form a strategic defensive depth,” Wei Fufeng answered, reassuring his grandfather.

Grandfather and grandson walked up the hill, continuing their conversation outside the White Cloud Pavilion as they looked out at the Han River.

Wei Fufeng then asked, “I heard Great-Uncle has returned safely to Chang’an. That puts my mind at ease.”

“He has returned, but the emperor punished him, demoting him to the position of governor at the Eastern Capital. Eastern Capital, Luoyang, is a domain of the military governors. Your Great-Uncle cannot assume office—he’s essentially sidelined. But your eldest uncle sent your cousins to pay respects,” grandfather replied gently.

Wei Fufeng nodded. “When I have time, I will go pay respects to Great-Uncle.”

“When you go to Chang’an again, don’t make your movements conspicuous,” his grandfather cautioned.

Wei Fufeng nodded in response. After some family talk, they left the Western Garden to attend to their own affairs.

As soon as Wei Fufeng and his troops left West County, the city gate posted a notice from the county office: “Summer floods ravage the mountains. To protect the harvests along the banks of the Han River, the governor has decided to conscript strong men from each county to build dams along the river. Participants will be well fed and exempt from next year’s labor duty.”

Wei Fufeng arrived at the Fufeng army camp, sending returning troops with the governor’s orders.

He ordered Sichuan’s southern army to wait and observe for a hundred days if news came that Xingyuan Prefecture had sent troops to Jinzhou, then deploy fifty thousand north to Hanzhong.

He instructed the transport bureau to continue delivering Yuzhou’s grain to Jinzhou.

He ordered the White Tiger Hall to dispatch three hundred elite Feathered Guard troops to escort the grain shipments to Jinzhou.

With arrangements in place, Wei Fufeng, accompanied by ten guards and little Xue, quietly set out for Junzhou.

...

Junzhou lies southeast of Jinzhou and Shangzhou.

The Han River flows from Jinzhou into Junzhou, traversing its entire territory before entering Xiangzhou. The famed city of Xiangyang has always been a strategic battleground—Guan Yu once flooded seven armies in the Xiangfan region.

Xiangzhou is the seat of the Loyal and Righteous Army’s governor. The army governs seven prefectures, formerly known as Eastern Shannan Circuit.

Years ago, Jinzhou and Shangzhou were part of Eastern Shannan Circuit. Junzhou is under the Loyal and Righteous Army’s governor, Zhaode’e, who holds the title of Prince of Huai’an and chief minister.

Wei Fufeng and his entourage boarded a merchant ship within Jinzhou, sailing downstream into Junzhou’s Fengli County, then journeyed through Yunxiang County, arriving at Wudang County, and finally disembarked at the Han River dock outside Yancan City, the seat of Junzhou.

Wei Fufeng stood at the dock, gazing up at the river embankment and Yancan City.

Yancan’s city wall rose eight meters high, its river-facing side clad entirely in blue bricks, giving the city an imposing and orderly appearance.

On the ship, Wei Fufeng heard that Yancan City had long existed, originally built by a general named Yancan. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, it became the seat of the prefecture, while Wudang County had its own town.

Junzhou’s governor was named Feng Xingxi, originally a military officer from Junzhou, and stationed four thousand troops in Yancan City.

As he observed the city, Wei Fufeng noticed construction far off on the left, where blue bricks were being added to the walls. Immediately intrigued, he wondered if there were master brickmakers here.

Brick firing is a skilled craft; a good hand produces vastly better efficiency and quality.

Though interested, he did not approach rashly; such matters could be investigated by his subordinates.

Being on another’s territory, Wei Fufeng dared not enter Yancan City. Instead, he hired a local to buy a bushel of rice and serve as his guide to Mount Wudang.

Mount Wudang, spanning eight hundred miles, is one of Daoism’s sacred places. Its peaks rise majestically; cliffs, deep ravines, caves, and clear springs are scattered everywhere, with countless tales of immortals, and Daoist temples large and small nestle throughout.

Since the founding of the Great Tang, because the Daoist patriarch Laozi’s surname was Li, the imperial family revered Daoism.

But in times of prosperity, Buddhism’s teachings resonated more deeply with the populace, especially since Empress Wu claimed to be the reincarnation of the Maitreya Buddha.

Though Mount Wudang is a Daoist holy land, its influence in Junzhou cannot necessarily surpass Buddhism.

The reason is that within Yancan City stands the Temple of Repayment, a royal temple bestowed by the son of Wu Zetian.

The temple’s predecessor was a refuge for Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, who later became emperor. In the Daoist sacred mountain, he constructed a Buddhist temple.

A temple built by imperial decree naturally holds tremendous sway, preventing Daoism in Junzhou from dominating—at best, it stands on equal footing with Buddhism, as Wei Fufeng learned from the boatmen’s anecdotes.

The local guide to Mount Wudang was deeply devoted to Daoism, recounting numerous legends of immortals along the way.

Among them, Master Lü Dongbin attained enlightenment at South Rock, becoming an immortal who walks the earth, untouched by age.