Chapter 78: On the Situation of the North and South (Part II)

"Therefore, since ancient times, the North and South have opposed each other, and the struggle has always been for the several garrisons between the Yangtze and Huai rivers.

Eastern Wu sent troops to attack Hefei repeatedly, as it connects the Yangtze and Huai rivers and is a vital hub between them.

Yet, throughout the era of Eastern Wu, they could not secure the Huai River, and thus were eventually swallowed by Jin.

The great army of Fu Jian, with their whips thrown into the river, had a momentum like Mount Tai pressing down on one's head, yet they could not water their horses in the Yangtze, because Jin was able to protect the Huai River.

If we cannot even guard the Huai now, how can we talk about destroying the enemy?"

As Wang Yang said this, he noticed the strange gazes of the few people seated there; they were all looking at him with an extremely peculiar expression.

Xie Xinghan said weakly, "Young Master Wang... um... we haven't lost the Huai River..."

Wang Yang:???

They can still hold the Huai River during the Southern Qi?!

That's not bad at all!

The general trend of China was in the East-West direction before the Eastern Han, and in the North-South direction after the Eastern Han.

Since the Three Kingdoms, the pattern of North-South confrontation has appeared repeatedly. Treatises summarizing the strategies of North-South offense and defense are not rare in history. What Wang Yang had just argued was a synthesis of the historical experience of North-South opposition and the insights of several military geography experts such as Li Tao and Gu Zuyu; it is naturally a timeless argument. Even during the Huaihai Campaign, when the Nationalist army concentrated heavy troops at Xuzhou and Bengbu, they were also following the strategic principle that "to guard the Yangtze, one must guard the Huai."

But the problem was that among the Six Dynasties, Wang Yang was least familiar with the history of the Southern Qi. This led him to mistakenly believe that the Huai River had already been lost at that time.

Liu Cheng laughed, "Brother Wang doesn't even know the most basic common sense, yet he can talk so eloquently; I truly admire you, Brother Wang!"

Yan Youcheng was also amused; the increasingly tall image of Wang Yang in his heart began to collapse rapidly.

Even Yu Qianlou could not help but shake his head, thinking that while this person's insights seemed extraordinary, he didn't even know where the dynasty's borders were, so how could he talk about the way of offense and defense?

Only Yu Yi's face was as heavy as water, waiting for Wang Yang to continue.

In Yu Yi's view, compared to Wang Yang's high-level judgment, this small mistake could be called a minor flaw in a white jade.

However, he was somewhat curious: how could someone who didn't even know such common sense have such insight?

Wang Yang felt somewhat embarrassed.

The Southern Dynasties were getting worse with each generation; Liu Song lost the north and west of the Huai, and Southern Qi was not as good as Liu Song, so they certainly couldn't recover the lost territory. If they could still guard the Huai, that meant...

Thinking of this, he said unhurriedly:

"What kind of guarding the Huai is it to only guard the south of the Huai?

If one cannot guard the Yellow River, one must guard the north of the Huai; if one cannot guard the north of the Huai, one must guard the west of the Huai; if the west of the Huai cannot be guarded either, one has no choice but to guard the south of the Huai!

Today, our dynasty can only guard the south of the Huai; how can we talk about guarding the Huai?

Among the garrisons north of the Huai, none is more important than Peng Cheng; among the garrisons west of the Huai, none is more important than Xuanhu.

Controlling Peng Cheng allows one to enter the Huai from the Si River; controlling Xuanhu allows one to enter the Huai from the Ru River.

When Song lost Xuanhu, the nine commanderies west of the Huai all fell! When they lost Peng Cheng, the four provinces north of the Huai were all lost!

If we want to guard the Huai, we must first take these two cities as the foundation for securing the Huai!"

Liu Cheng, Yan Youcheng, Xie Xinghan, and Yu Qianlou were all stunned!

Chen Qingshan looked at Wang Yang's back, her phoenix eyes wide open.

Yu Yi rested his hands on the table, subconsciously wanting to stand up, but regained his composure in time and steadied himself.

Yu Qianlou bowed and said solemnly, "Young Master Wang is a vessel of both civil and military arts, with outstanding insight. May I ask what your family's profession is? And who is your teacher?"

Wang Yang laughed, "Talking about war on paper, just talking about war on paper! Please don't take it seriously!"

"Brother Wang, keep talking! What are the second and third points?" Yan Youcheng asked anxiously.

"There are no second or third points; I was just talking casually, it's very shallow. Today's banquet has been very joyful, and we've talked enough; it's time to disperse!"

Wang Yang didn't want to continue. He had already stood out enough today, and he was tired. It would be better to go back early and finish reading the last two volumes of the *Qi Code*.

Yan Youcheng immediately refused: "Don't, Brother Wang, we're just getting to the exciting part, how can we disperse?!"

Yu Qianlou said, "It's still early, why is Young Master Wang in such a hurry? The mansion has received some fresh melons and fruits, which are perfect for sobering up. I'll have someone bring them over immediately!"

Xie Xinghan also urged repeatedly, "Don't keep people in suspense, tell us the next two points quickly!"

Yu Yi waited quietly. Although he had no intention of drinking, his fingers were rubbing the wine cup back and forth.

Wang Yang kept declining. Xie Xinghan used her old trick, threatening him with business matters.

Wang Yang interrupted directly: "Things shouldn't happen three times. Once or twice is fine, but not a third time."

Seeing Wang Yang's serious expression, Xie Xinghan keenly sensed that if she threatened him with this again, he might really stop doing business with her, so she didn't continue.

Both joking and being presumptuous have their timing. Smart people can always stop in time when the timing is wrong.

Xie Xinghan was such a person.

Although Liu Cheng disliked Wang Yang, he also wanted to know what the other two key points of resisting the North with the South were. But he was unwilling to ask, and seeing Wang Yang refuse to speak, he became even more disgusted.

Yu Yi suddenly said:

"Huan Wen once said: 'It has caused the Divine Land to sink, leaving a hundred years of ruins; Wang Yifu and the others cannot escape the responsibility!' Since Wang Yan advocated floating emptiness, the mountains and rivers have been lost, the Five Hu have ravaged China, and the argument that 'pure conversation ruins the country' has been endless.

However, pushing back to the beginning of pure conversation, it was not originally just about discussing profound principles, but also about discussing state affairs!

During the Wei Jin periods, discussing the 'distinction between talent and nature' was intended to discuss the selection of talent, and speaking of 'the sage has no body' actually had intentions regarding the ruler and subjects.

Therefore, to consider only the learning of the Three Profound Classics as pure conversation is truly too narrow.

So I believe that the discussion of the North-South situation just now is also pure conversation!

Today began with pure conversation and ends with pure conversation; it is very pleasant!

If Young Master Wang can finish the discussion, I will reward you with this jade!"

Yu Yi untied the green jade pendant from his waist and showed it to Wang Yang.

"This jade is named 'Cangming'; it is an item I carry with me. If Young Master Wang doesn't mind, I will gift it to you!"

The Cangming jade was shaped like a Vermilion Bird, warm and moist without patterns, its color pale and plain, appearing translucent yet not quite.

As soon as this jade appeared, Yan Youcheng cried out, "A fine piece of jade! Truly a fine piece of jade!"

Seeing that even Yu Yi, who had remained indifferent throughout, was showing interest in Wang Yang's judgment, Liu Cheng's expression grew even more solemn.

Yu Qianlou felt a jolt in his heart; he knew Wang Yang's arguments were brilliant, but he never expected his father to value them so highly!

Xie Xinghan whispered to Wang Yang, "This is ancient jade, its color known as 'Clear Pool Water Azure.' It is priceless and rare; accept it quickly."

Looking at the green jade and Yu Yi's uncharacteristic behavior, Wang Yang felt a stir in his heart and said:

"Then this junior will be bold and speak his mind. Secondly, to guard the Yangtze, one must secure Jingzhou and Xiangyang.

Jingzhou and Xiangyang are the spine of the Yangtze River. To the east, they support the Three Wus; to the west, they control Bashu. Gaining them allows one to command the momentum of the entire east and west..."

Late at night, the lamps were burning bright. In the crowded hall, all was silent, save for the voice of Wang Yang alone.

"Jingzhou controls the upper reaches of Jiankang, and Xiangyang controls the upper reaches of Jingzhou. Thus, in the Marquis of Wu's Longzhong Plan, Jingzhou and Xiangyang were of utmost importance! To the north, they connect to the Han and Yu rivers to contend for strategic advantage. When Guan Yu attacked Fancheng from Xiangyang, Cao Cao was thrown into a panic. With the territory of Xiangyang, one can connect to Wan and Luo in the north, and from there, collapse the heart of the Central Plains. Even with the military genius of Wei Wudi, there were those he could not resist..."

"Shandong and Jingzhou-Xiangyang are like the two wings of the South! Holding Shandong secures the upper reaches of the Huai and Si rivers; holding Jingzhou-Xiangyang secures the upper reaches of the Yangtze. When both wings are spread, the momentum of the South is expanded! For example, Xu Da's Northern Expedition—"

"Whose Northern Expedition???"

Wang Yang had a slip of the tongue and actually brought up an example from the transition between the Yuan and Ming dynasties, so he immediately corrected himself:

"Uh... Xu... Perhaps one day in the future, if one wishes to achieve the full merit of a Northern Expedition, one could set out from the Huai River, first take Shandong, and then sweep through the He-Luo region..."

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Note: ① In the opening of "The East-West Theory of Yi and Xia," Fu Sinian states that after the Eastern Han, the division was often North-South, but during the Three Dynasties and before, it was East-West. Regardless of whether the conclusion is correct, such insight shows great spirit. Some things may seem simple when looked at, but this layer of window paper might not have been pierced for thousands of years. The saying "everyone has it in their heart, but no one has it on their lips" refers to this situation.

When we talk about regional origins now, we often say "you are a Southerner, I am a Northerner," using North-South as the main point of distinction, but it has not always been this way. During the Western and Eastern Han, it was said, "Shandong produces ministers, Shanxi produces generals." The Hangu Pass and Mount Xiao were of utmost importance, so when introducing regional origins, people often spoke of Guandong and Guanxi, Shandong and Shanxi. From the end of the Eastern Han, it gradually evolved into North-South. In the post-Three Kingdoms era of Eastern and Western Wei, extending into the Sui and Tang, the lingering influence of this East-West division still remained.

② For the relationship between pure conversation and political factionalism, one may refer to Mr. Chen Yinke's "Postscript to the Four-Book Theory by Zhong Hui in the Literature Section of A New Account of Tales of the World" and Mr. Tang Zhangru's "The Political Significance of the Theory of Talent and Nature in the Wei Jin."