Volume Two: The Ancestral Marquis Chapter 98: The Prince of Badong Commandery

The next morning, a force of seventy thousand troops advanced downstream along the great river toward Fengjie County. The Jingnan army adopted a strategy of holding the city firmly. Li Shunjie ordered his forces to blockade the west and north gates of the city before initiating negotiations.

Fengjie County’s city was tall and imposing, guarded by twenty thousand soldiers, making a direct assault difficult. Li Shunjie, acting under imperial orders to take control of the region, preferred to resolve matters through diplomacy before resorting to battle, avoiding reckless losses of troops and resources.

The defender of Kuizhou sent urgent reports to Jiangling Prefecture. Upon receiving the news, Cheng Rui’s face darkened in silence. He knew the emperor had divided Kuizhou and Guizhou to establish the Zhenjiang Jiedushi, but in times of chaos, power was spoken through martial strength.

With the army at the border and the salt wells of Yun’an lost, Cheng Rui doubted his chances of victory if he fully engaged the invading forces. Even a victory would be costly, and Jiangling Prefecture might not be defensible afterward.

Cheng Rui resolved to negotiate. Since taking control of Jingnan, he had focused on recovery and restoration; agriculture in Jingzhou had greatly improved. Kuizhou’s economy relied mainly on salt production, and even if the salt wells were lost, he could trade grain for salt and bide his time until his military strength regained dominance to reclaim what was lost.

Having made this decision, Cheng Rui sighed with regret. Recently, Feng Xingxi, the prefect of Junzhou, fled to him seeking allegiance. He intended to capitalize on the instability of the Wei family in Jinzhou and dispatch troops to seize Fangzhou and Junzhou.

Unaware of the close kinship between the Chuannan army and the Wei family of Jinzhou, Cheng Rui only knew that the Chuannan military governor was from the Wei clan of Chang’an and assumed their passage through Kuizhou was routine travel to Chang’an.

It was understandable that Cheng Rui misjudged the situation. The Wei clan of Chang’an had many branches, and though related by ancestry, the descendants often held distinct allegiances. Kinship could be claimed, but when interests conflicted, alliances could swiftly turn to enmity.

Additionally, the Chuannan army operated under the guise of Jincheng troops in Jinzhou. Scouts sent by Cheng Rui could not infiltrate Jinzhou’s ruling class and only gathered intelligence on city defenses, civilian conditions, troop numbers, armaments, and military insignia.

Furthermore, the military and political systems of Chuannan and Jinzhou differed considerably. The Chuannan army was composed of clan-based militia farming soldiers, while Jinzhou upheld the interests of landed gentry clans.

Cheng Rui dispatched envoys to negotiate with Li Shunjie, proposing two conditions: an equitable exchange of grain for salt and permission for Jingnan soldiers to take their families with them.

Li Shunjie agreed to these terms. A peaceful takeover of Kuizhou and Guizhou was worth the cost of relocating the population; otherwise, a siege would have resulted in over ten thousand casualties.

The twenty thousand Jingnan troops withdrew from Kuizhou, taking with them several thousand so-called family members from the city.

Li Shunjie’s main force took control of Kuizhou, then dispatched three thousand soldiers to govern Guizhou, completing the takeover in ten days.

Commander Zhao Yidou requested to withdraw his troops, and Li Shunjie consented, but as the twenty thousand Chuannan soldiers departed, thirty thousand of Li Shunjie’s own forces marched alongside them.

Zhao Yidou sent inquiries and was shocked by the response. He hastened on horseback to report back to Chuannan.

It turned out that Li Shunjie was not content with his current holdings and intended to seize the territory under the Wutai Jiedushi.

Wei Fufeng was surprised but had underestimated Li Shunjie’s greed and impatience. He promptly informed the Wutai Jiedushi.

King Jianzhao of Wutai, upon learning the military situation, deliberated with his subordinates and ultimately chose to submit to Li Shunjie, sending emissaries to negotiate retention of his office as Prefect of Zhongzhou and command over five thousand troops.

Li Shunjie agreed but demanded that King Jianzhao petition together with him for imperial recognition of Li Shunjie as the Jiedushi of Badong, governing Kuizhou, Guizhou, Shizhou, Kaizhou, Wanzhou, and Zhongzhou.

King Jianzhao consented, preserving his command of five thousand elite soldiers while transferring over ten thousand troops.

Their joint memorial to the court praised Li Shunjie’s valor and wisdom, stating that King Jianzhao wished to resign his Jiedushi post and recommended Li Shunjie be appointed as Jiedushi of Badong.

Wei Fufeng, stationed in Yuzhou, felt somewhat disappointed. He had hoped King Jianzhao would choose to ally with the Chuannan army, but ultimately, King Jianzhao was unwilling to relinquish his direct military control and resisted the Chuannan military system.

...

At the Daming Palace, within the Yan Ying Hall, Emperor Zhaozong received Sun Kui’s memorial. After the initial alarm, he felt considerable relief.

It transpired that Yang Shouliang led thirty thousand civilians and soldiers along the Ziwu Road, passing through Chang’an city.

The news caused panic in Chang’an, as many feared a sudden assault, but Yang Shouliang was merely passing northward.

Yang Shouliang certainly wished to attack Chang’an to plunder and vent grievances, but his force of thirty thousand was largely reluctant to advance into Hedong. Attacking Chang’an risked losing control of his troops, who might scatter and not return.

Moreover, Tongguan’s army was nearby, and Yang Shouliang feared Han Jian might dispatch troops to intercept him.

In fact, Han Jian could not spare forces to block Yang Shouliang’s advance northward.

Han Jian’s army was split into three parts: twenty thousand troops moved to Xingyuan Prefecture, and ten thousand remained to defend his stronghold.

Han Jian personally led twenty thousand soldiers, stationed at Wuguan in Shangluo County, awaiting reinforcements from Junzhou to participate in the Hanzhong campaign, aiming to seize Junzhou.

Scouts from Tongguan reported that Junzhou’s forces showed no signs of redeployment, and city gate inspections were rigorous.

Han Jian hesitated, realizing that if the two opposing forces exhausted each other, a third party might benefit. Tongguan was a battleground of four wars; losing too many troops would jeopardize his own position.

He concealed his forces in Wuguan, intending a swift surprise attack. A prolonged siege of Junzhou was unaffordable, as his army could not remain distant from its base for long.

In the end, Han Jian reluctantly withdrew.

...

Sun Kui’s memorial brought comfort to Emperor Zhaozong. Although Yang Shouliang and Yang Fugong had not been captured or executed, gaining control of Xingyuan Prefecture was a promising start for territorial governance.

More pleasing was that Sun Kui’s army had grown from thirty thousand to fifty thousand.

Sun Kui reported on Li Shunjie’s affairs. Emperor Zhaozong took a moderate view, believing Li Shunjie’s capture of Kuizhou did not affect the court.

Soon after, Sun Kui ordered twenty thousand imperial troops to return to Chang’an, leaving ten thousand to garrison Xingyuan Prefecture.

The twenty thousand troops arrived in Chang’an, and on the same day, memorials from Li Shunjie and Wang Jianzhao reached Emperor Zhaozong.

Reading the petitions, the emperor felt as if he had swallowed a fly—his days of goodwill were shattered.

Li Shunjie had not only taken Kuizhou and Guizhou but also annexed Wutai’s territory, coercing Wang Jianzhao to petition for Li Shunjie’s appointment as Jiedushi of Badong. This was blatant insubordination, a rebel in all but name, a second Li Maozhen.

Suppressing his vexation, Emperor Zhaozong summoned Du Rangneng for consultation.

Du Rangneng said, “Li Shunjie has great merits and should be generously rewarded. I believe the Wutai Jiedushi is a rebel by nature. Even if Li Shunjie did not absorb his territory, rebellion would be inevitable.”

The emperor nodded. “I understand, but how shall I reply to their petition?”

“Li Shunjie is currently the Jiedushi of Zhenjiang and should refuse changing to Badong. Since he has merit in quelling rebels, Your Majesty might bestow upon him a noble title—perhaps Prince of Badong,” Du Rangneng replied.

Emperor Zhaozong agreed but added, “I worry that when Li Shunjie returns, he may become another Li Maozhen.”

Du Rangneng advised, “Your Majesty may issue an edict asking Li Shunjie’s intentions: whether to remain in Kuizhou or return to court. Inform him that if he refuses to return, the court will appoint another as Tianwei army commander.”

The emperor considered this but worried about Li Shunjie’s potential resentment. “If he refuses to return, should we not revoke his post as Tianwei army commander? The Jincheng army commander is not even in Chang’an.”

Du Rangneng explained, “There is a difference. The Jincheng army commander’s title is granted by Your Majesty but does not belong to the Shen Ce army. The Tianwei army is one of the court’s Shen Ce armies, with ranks and provisions controlled by the court. I believe Li Shunjie’s loyalty lies with the Tianwei army as the court’s true force.”

Emperor Zhaozong was silent. Du Rangneng continued, “If Li Shunjie returns and remains loyal, that is good. But if he, like Yang Fugong, deceives and usurps authority, Your Majesty can take action.”

The emperor hesitated. “Is it appropriate to suppress a meritorious official within the court?”

Du Rangneng replied, “If Li Shunjie’s disloyalty is evident, no one will blame the court. Many military governors never come to court and are hostile. This is the reality.” Emperor Zhaozong nodded.

...

The imperial edict conferring the noble title and seal was delivered to Li Shunjie by palace eunuchs.

Li Shunjie was satisfied with the emperor’s response. Upon receiving the verbal instructions, he promptly declared his intent to return to Chang’an, believing the capital was the pinnacle of wealth and prestige, and had no desire to govern Badong.

In truth, Li Shunjie had prepared for this return. He rotated trusted aides through the posts of deputy military governor and chief of staff on a yearly basis, allowing those not in office to accompany him back to Chang’an to command the Tianwei army.

Li Ziqi voluntarily requested to join him in Chang’an to serve in the Tianwei army, and Li Shunjie consented.

He could not fully trust Li Ziqi remaining in Badong. Li Ziqi’s request was likely a message secretly conveyed by Wei Fufeng.

If Li Ziqi stayed in Badong, he would face personal danger and constant surveillance. Leaving was safer and allowed his subordinates to act in his stead.

Five days after receiving the edict, Li Shunjie led five thousand troops northward.

From Kuizhou to Chang’an there were two routes: one passing through Jinzhou via the Kugu Road, and another northeastward, taking a longer path over the Wuguan Road.

Li Shunjie chose the shorter Kugu Road, wishing to return to Chang’an swiftly. He traveled light, without heavy supplies, suitable for mountain terrain.

Now titled Prince of Badong and military governor, Li Shunjie displayed grandeur with six banners, fifty soldiers wielding axes and halberds, clad in shining armor, wearing a bejeweled crown and a flowing cloak.

Li Ziqi rode behind the honor guard, his eyes glinting with derision as he looked ahead. He believed Li Shunjie’s chances of returning to Kuizhou were slim and feared he would perish in Chang’an.

Had Li Ziqi truly pledged allegiance to Li Shunjie, he would have used Yang Fugong’s example to advise against returning to Chang’an.

Though Chang’an was superior in culture and comfort, Li Shunjie’s ambition to have both status and power would result in losing everything, for the emperor was stingy and unforgiving.

Most of Li Shunjie’s five thousand troops were surrendered soldiers; only five hundred were original Tianwei army veterans.

Li Shunjie’s ostentation revealed his pride in returning with honors, but to Li Ziqi, it was merely foolishness born of naïveté and lack of strategic depth.

Several days later, they reached the southern bank of the Han River, where a magnificent city lay in view: massive rammed-earth walls stretching ten miles, with huge gates built of green bricks.

A Jinzhou chief clerk greeted them outside, respectfully bowing to Li Shunjie and declaring that he came under the orders of the prefect to receive the Prince of Badong and escort him into the city for rest.

Li Shunjie’s heart swelled with joy as he followed the clerk into the city. After passing through the gates, he inquired, “Jinzhou, you have built such a grand city?”

“Without hiding anything from Your Highness,” Jinzhou’s chief clerk Wei Kang explained, “this place was once besieged by Yang Shouliang’s forces. It rained heavily then, water accumulated inside the city with no drainage, and food was scarce, causing great suffering. After Yang Shouliang’s retreat, my father studied ancient fortification methods and constructed a large outer city mainly used for growing vegetables and grain.” Wei Kang, having served many years as a minor official, handled his duties with ease.