Chapter 383: Seize the He-Luo Region to Contend for the Realm

Li Zicheng was very pleased: “…With you, sir, taking charge, success is certain. If there are righteous soldiers willing to surrender the city, then when we break Luoyang, we can greatly reduce our righteous army’s casualties. You, sir, shall also claim the highest merit…”

Niu Jinxing bowed deeply to Li Zicheng: “To serve the Chuang King with my life, this student can do no less…”

He said: “So long as the Chuang King is willing to honor the teachings of the sages, reduce executions, relieve the starving, and win the people’s hearts, the great enterprise is sure to succeed…”

Li Zicheng rose to his feet, composed his expression, and returned the courtesy: “Li Mou has received your instruction…”

Ever since submitting to Li Zicheng, impressed by Niu Jinxing’s learning, Li Zicheng always addressed him as “sir” and treated him with the courtesy due a guest-teacher. Niu Jinxing also often expounded classics and histories to Li Zicheng. His intent was nothing less than hoping Li Zicheng’s great cause would succeed, so that he too could become a counselor and worthy minister like those of past dynasties, leaving his name in the annals of history.

Now the literati submitting to Li Zicheng were gradually increasing, so Niu Jinxing greatly valued this position of primacy. Among the crowd, the one he was most wary of was Li Yan. Therefore, although Li Yan was also a Provincial Graduate by origin and quite learned, Niu Jinxing never suggested to Li Zicheng that he also be invited to lecture on books and histories.

After the two had exchanged courtesies and sat down happily, Li Zicheng pondered for a moment and said: “Righteous soldiers and righteous people can save our great army much effort, but we cannot place all our hopes on that. We must still prepare well for storming the city…”

He asked Yuan Zongdi: “Brother Yuan, how are the preparations for attacking Luoyang city coming along…”

Yuan Zongdi said: “Chuang King, the brothers from each battalion have gradually been assembled, and the terrain of Luoyang city is slowly being scouted out clearly. East of Luoyang city, the Long River and the moat are very wide, making it hard to attack. The moat west of the city is also very wide, hard to bridge. South of the city the ground is very low, the walls very high, also unfavorable for assault.” “Only the city wall on the north side is lower, more convenient for surrounding and attacking. The brothers of each battalion and I think we should mainly attack the north of the city, mass a great many cannons to bombard the northern wall fiercely, then erect several dozen wooden bridges over the northern moat. We should be able to break through…”

Li Zicheng said: “Storming the city is the worst-case plan, but we must prepare well for it. Luoyang must be taken. That place is the Emperor’s own princely fief. If we truly take it, not only can we seize vast amounts of gold, silver, and goods, strengthening our righteous army, but more importantly, it will shake the court, raise our confidence in certain victory, and attract more heroes of the realm to submit to us.” All the generals in the hall rose to their feet and said in unison: “The Chuang King is brilliant…”

They all knew that taking Luoyang would certainly bring many benefits, but none had articulated it as clearly as Li Zicheng, speaking directly to their hearts.

Indeed, the most important thing about taking Luoyang was the profound political impact it would create. Historically, when Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong took Luoyang and Xiangyang in succession, it signified that the balance of power and the initiative in battle had shifted to the peasant army. It also revealed to more people in the realm the extreme weakness within the Great Ming. Thereafter, those who surrendered and defected came in an unending stream.

The unanimous praise from the crowd, with even the several literati casting admiring glances his way, greatly satisfied Li Zicheng inwardly. His fingers tapped lightly on the table as he said: “Even with Wang Dou present, Luoyang city will certainly be taken. But after taking Luoyang city, what should the next step be?” Li Yan rose and said: “Chuang King, Luoyang is the center of Henan. If Luoyang is not held, there is no Henan; if Henan is not secured, there is no Central Plains; if the Central Plains are not secured, the throat of Hebei is severed. Therefore, this student once again proposes: seize the He-Luo region to contend for the realm. In ancient times, Han Gaozu held Guanzhong to control the realm; Ming Taizu had the strategy of ‘build high walls, store ample grain.’ Our righteous army must also find a base territory. Being able to advance to attack and retreat to defend — that is the path to a great enterprise, far better than drifting everywhere like this. The He-Luo region is precisely the place for such a great enterprise…”

Li Zicheng said: “What you say, sir, I understand. The officers and men cannot keep wandering without stop. But now Henan Prefecture is ruined, not one in ten households remains, and every kind of disaster continues without end — droughts, locust plagues — who knows when it will end. To stabilize the people’s livelihood and restore agriculture will likely take many years. One Henan Prefecture cannot feed our hundred thousand-plus troops.” He added: “Most importantly, our righteous army is still somewhat weak, while the government troops are still powerful. If they surround us, this He-Luo region will become a death trap. So for now we must fight on the move. Later we can go to wealthier places like Kaifeng Prefecture, Runing Prefecture, or even into Huguang, avoiding the strong and striking the weak.”

“After we fight a few more major battles like Luoyang and the situation improves, we can find a wealthier place to settle down, encourage farming, reorganize the territory, and pursue the path of a great enterprise…”

Liu Zongmin laughed heartily: “This old Liu admires the sir’s learning, but when it comes to fighting wars, you’re not our equal. A war must be fought alive, not dead. When the enemy is strong, we leave; when the enemy is weak, we strike; when the enemy retreats, we pursue. We must fight on the move, not stand and fight, and avoid slugging it out with government troops as much as possible. You must understand, our capital is small. If an accident happens, it’s all gone. And because we fight on the move, we rise again time after time. No matter what, the government troops can’t wipe us out…”

The various generals of the Chuang army all roared with laughter, repeatedly exclaiming that Chief Sentinel Liu had spoken brilliantly and amusingly, that this was exactly how their righteous army should be.

Li Zicheng also nodded with a smile.

Seeing everyone thus, Li Yan had no choice but to cease his persuasion. He sighed inwardly. In truth, the various problems the Chuang King mentioned were not without possible solutions. It was just that for now, he had no intention of finding a foothold, and the remaining generals still could not shed their roving-bandit mentality. How difficult it was to persuade them to settle down.

Beside him, Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance seemed about to speak but held back, ultimately saying nothing.

Seeing that Li Yan was no longer pressing his case, Li Zicheng breathed a sigh of relief. In truth, when it came to administering a territory, he preferred Shaanxi. That place was not as ruined as Henan, and it was their home. Most of the commanders in his army were from Shaanxi. When the time came to return home in glory, it would naturally be infinitely splendid, far better than building up in Henan.

He turned to Song Xiance, who sat beside him with eyes half-closed as if not, striving to maintain the air of an immortal sage, and said: “Regarding the attack on Luoyang and how to deal with Wang Dou, might the military advisor share your lofty insights…”

Song Xiance opened his eyes upon hearing this. Since his legs were inconvenient, he did not rise. He cupped his hands from his seat and said: “Just now, many here have offered genuine insights. This student also has a stratagem that can certainly exhaust the Luoyang government troops, allowing our righteous army to break them down one by one at our leisure…”

His voice was rather hoarse, as if squeezed out of a bellows. Looking at the expectant eyes of the crowd, he raised his hand proudly: “It is the stratagem of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao…”

His pair of narrow, squinting eyes flashed with a cold gleam: “General Yuan mentioned earlier that most of the government troops from Kaifeng Prefecture have already gone to relieve Luoyang. By this reckoning, the forces within Kaifeng Prefecture are now empty, precisely giving our righteous army an opportunity to exploit. If our great army feigns an attack on Kaifeng, the Kaifeng Prefecture troops in Luoyang will have no choice but to dispatch a portion back to relieve it…”

He said: “Kaifeng is four hundred li from Luoyang, and our righteous army likewise has an opportunity to exploit! Along this four-hundred-li route, the terrain rises and falls with hills on both sides, offering ample places for ambush. Wang Dou is certainly only in Luoyang; the relief force will undoubtedly be a different unit. If our righteous army cannot ambush Wang Dou’s troops, can we not ambush the returning relief troops…”

He chuckled darkly: “Perhaps, by doing so, we might even take Kaifeng. Kaifeng Prefecture city is not like Luoyang. As the provincial seat, it has more households, more wealth and goods, several times richer than Luoyang. If we take Kaifeng…”

Everyone in the hall’s eyes lit up, and Li Zicheng also showed an expression of keen interest.

Seeing everyone’s expressions, Song Xiance was inwardly satisfied. He continued: “Even in the worst-case scenario, if the ambush fails and Kaifeng does not fall, Luoyang city will still have its defensive strength reduced because of this, making it easier for our righteous army to storm the city…”

He said: “Not only that, our righteous army can also feign an attack on Ruzhou. As General Liu said, he attacked Ruzhou for many days; the prefectural city was already at the end of its strength, only relieved because of reinforcements from Wang Dou and Chen Yongfu. Now that both men are in Luoyang, our righteous army can freely dispatch a large force to continue the siege. If Luoyang sends relief, it further reduces their strength; if they do not, we can take Ruzhou city in due course.” “Ruzhou is wealthy, its city walls nine li in circumference, no different in size from Luoyang city. If we can take it, it will certainly greatly increase our righteous army’s strength…”

Everyone in the hall excitedly whispered and murmured to one another. Li Zicheng also clapped his hands and laughed: “Excellent, excellent. The military advisor is truly brilliant, worthy of being the brain of our righteous army…”

He said somewhat eagerly: “Military advisor, cast a divination and see whether this attack on Luoyang is ultimately inauspicious or auspicious…”

Song Xiance cupped his hands and said: “This student obeys the order.”

Generally, there are four methods of divination: the yarrow-stalk method, the simplified yarrow-stalk method, the coin method, and the Taiji pill method. The one Song Xiance used was precisely the yarrow-stalk method, the most difficult of the four. Several yarrow stalks moved deftly in his hands, occasionally producing pleasant clicking sounds as they struck one another.

Everyone in the hall craned their necks to look this way. When many of the Chuang generals looked at Song Xiance, their eyes were filled with awe.

Only Li Yan sat smiling, his expression one of disapproval. He was an orthodox Confucian scholar. The Master did not speak of strange forces and chaotic spirits. Although the art of divination could be considered broad and profound, supported by the profound learning of the Book of Changes, to rest matters of state and military affairs on a mere hexagram image was rash.

After several rounds of the yarrow stalks’ sounds, Song Xiance ceased his movements and stroked his sparse, wispy beard in contemplation.

Li Zicheng could not wait: “How is it, military advisor? Inauspicious or auspicious?”

Song Xiance began to speak, his voice now loud, now soft, drifting and uncertain: “Bi, auspicious. The original divination: yuan yong zhen, wu jiu…”

The generals in the hall listened with incomprehension, their eyes wide: “What does it mean?”

Song Xiance remained silent. Only after Li Zicheng also asked for an explanation did he say with a smile: “As the hexagram statement says, this is a superior hexagram. Congratulations, Chuang King…”

A smile immediately broke out on Li Zicheng’s face, and the generals in the hall beamed with joy, all demanding the military advisor explain.

Only when everyone had grown impatient did Song Xiance sway his head and intone: “Bi means people standing side by side, signifying closeness, drawing together. Yuan means the beginning of things, signifying growth, creation. Yuan yong zhen wu jiu means great absence of error…”

“Although this hexagram foretells slight danger, it resides upon the earth; people all see it and know to avoid it, able to turn peril into safety and pass through danger. From the image, this is a superior hexagram.” Li Zicheng laughed heartily, his mind even more settled. But Li Shuangxi, below him, still had a child’s nature and said: “Military advisor, cast one more divination, to be safer.”

The generals beside him hurriedly said: “No, no. Having a superior hexagram is good; too many and it won’t be efficacious anymore…”

Li Zicheng also shot Li Shuangxi a displeased glance.

Li Shuangxi and Li Guo were both close nephews of Li Zicheng. Song Xiance explained specifically for him: “Meng, smooth. It is not I who seek the ignorant youth; the ignorant youth seeks me. The first divination informs; repeated inquiries profane; if profaned, it does not inform. Beneficial is constancy. Divination must not be repeated without end; only without intention can one obtain truth. If one repeatedly divines, the mind becomes disordered and the hexagrams become disordered. This is a great taboo…”

Li Shuangxi was startled and hurriedly pressed his palms together: “All taboos averted, all taboos averted.” Li Zicheng stood up and said: “Alright, everyone is tired from discussing matters, and it’s already afternoon. Let the mess hall serve the meal…”

Soon the food was brought up, but it was mostly coarse fare like cornbread buns. Li Zicheng ate with great relish. He was usually quite austere and frugal, not fond of wine or women. In every drink and every meal, he was no different from an ordinary soldier. Among the peasant army leaders of the late Ming, he formed a stark contrast with men like Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai.