Chapter 502: Men Have No Such Thing as Loyalty

During this year's plum rain season, Taiyuan had an especially large amount of rain, drizzling endlessly. Many seedlings in the fields were drowned. Whether great landowners or independent farmers, all worked day and night without rest to guard against flooding, but it was still barely better than nothing, and losses were severe.

Then when summer arrived, it did not rain for dozens of days straight. Vast tracts of land were baked until they cracked, and many small irrigation channels dried up completely.

Some good fields were relatively close to the small rivers used for irrigation, so water could still be carried from the river by shoulder pole and hand to irrigate them. Those areas farther from the river were in dire straits—many fields could no longer be saved.

Villages upstream and downstream along the same river fighting each other over water was an all too common sight.

Great floods followed by great drought—it was foreseeable that this year Hedong was bound to be a major disaster year, and a poor harvest was already on its way.

Such "capricious" weather also seemed to affect the morale of the Hedong garrison troops.

Bad weather meant no good harvest in autumn;

A poor harvest meant problems raising military rations;

If even the raising of military rations had problems and the soldiers went hungry, how could morale possibly run high?

Now the Crown Prince had ascended the throne without authorization, his name unjustified and his words unorthodox. The Sage was not in Chang'an but remained in Jinzhou, lingering there without leaving, and on top of that, provisions were insufficient.

These troubles piled up, causing widespread discussion in the army and restless hearts.

Wang Zhongsi, who was stationed in Taiyuan, tried many methods to stabilize the army's morale, but with little effect.

The source of the problem was not on his end, so forcibly suppressing it could not possibly work well.

Just as the Hedong garrison was troubled internally, problems arose externally as well.

The military situation in Hedong seemed to be gradually deteriorating due to disunity within the government forces.

Shi Siming had not been idle these past few months either. He led the Hebei rebel army in repeatedly setting out south from Yanmen to harass Guo County, the closest to Yanmen, striking at supply routes, cutting off merchants, and annihilating isolated government troops.

The Hebei rebel army accumulated small victories into large ones, seemingly strangling the logistics of the Guo County garrison, making the government troops unable to eat well, sleep well, or dare to leave the city.

This slow-slicing was extremely agonizing for the government forces.

The Guo County garrison commander Cheng Qianli had been specifically sent with troops to guard this place to deal with Shi Siming.

Seeing that the Hebei rebel army was no longer holed up in Yanmen and was frequently sallying forth to attack supply routes, he reported the recent military situation to Wang Zhongsi and proposed a battle plan to lure the enemy deep and draw Shi Siming out.

Cheng Qianli's plan was: the government forces would retreat step by step, suffering minor defeats each time, gradually withdrawing from the strongholds north of Xiurong—Tanglin, Dingxiang, Guo County, and others—allowing Shi Siming and the rebel army under his command to become increasingly arrogant, luring him into leading troops to attack Xiurong.

The government forces would then strike like thunder, cut off his retreat, and converge to annihilate him.

The letter reached Taiyuan City, and Wang Zhongsi felt that although this plan was risky, it was worth a try.

But he still had some misgivings about it.

Because Wang Zhongsi's trusted personal troops had already been transferred away by Jige, going along to Jinzhou to prepare to march into Guanzhong and seize power.

Including Li Guangbi, Guo Ziyi, Gao Xianzhi, and others—none of them were in Taiyuan.

The remaining garrison was mostly Hexi troops with the Red Water Army as its backbone.

Wang Zhongsi's foundations here were not deep at present.

Of his old connections, some had followed Fang Chongyong and some had been reassigned elsewhere—things had long since changed beyond recognition.

The Red Water Army was now essentially controlled by the Hexi native faction, not something Wang Zhongsi could command at will.

He had to lower his posture and discuss major matters with An Chongzhang.

However, An Chongzhang directly rejected Cheng Qianli's proposal.

An Chongzhang's reasoning was fully sufficient: Shi Siming was extremely cunning. Once the government forces left Taiyuan to fight a decisive battle in Xinzhou, there was a very good chance he would exploit an opening.

If they were defeated, Taiyuan would be in extreme danger, and the entire defensive system of Hedong could even collapse.

Since Jige had already led tens of thousands of elite troops west to Chang'an, this was not a good time for a decisive battle with Shi Siming.

It was enough just to hold on. In an extreme situation, even ceding Xiurong City to Shi Siming would not matter—preserving military strength was the top priority!

Wang Zhongsi could not persuade An Chongzhang, and the other's opinion was indeed not without reason, so he rejected Cheng Qianli's proposal.

Seeing that nothing could be done, Cheng Qianli had no choice but to lead his troops back to Xinzhou, handing over vast defensive areas in the north to Shi Siming, and resolved to defend Xiurong City to the death. Using the advantage of a shorter supply route, he would wear down the Hebei rebel army.

On the surface, it seemed the government forces had not suffered any major losses, but clearly their declining momentum was fully on display. Not only had the various commanders within the government forces seen this situation, but Shi Siming saw it as clearly as watching a fire. The balance of the war was quietly reversing.

……

That day, just after nightfall, Red Water Army Commissioner An Chongzhang patrolled once around the perimeter of the Jinci grand camp and returned to his military tent, exhausted in body and mind.

After dismissing his personal guards, he quietly pulled a letter from his robe and examined it repeatedly under the oil lamp.

In truth, he had received this letter several days ago, but An Chongzhang had been unable to make up his mind.

His younger brother An Baozhen said in the letter: Jige is already dry bones in a tomb. The An family had operated in Liangzhou for a century and in the court for decades. If they failed to follow the dragon, all the efforts of their predecessors would go up in smoke.

Now was a matter of life and death. First, they must protect the Red Water Army from suffering serious damage as much as possible. Second, they must closely watch the court's movements and not become rebels in confusion.

Jige was elderly and seriously ill. Even if he passed away tomorrow, it would not be surprising. His elder brother must think thrice before acting.

An Chongzhang knew his brother's ability and character well, and knew full well that he had always been full of stratagems and would not speak recklessly.

This letter did not spell things out too plainly, but between the lines, it was advising An Chongzhang to use the Red Water Army as a foundation to stage a mutiny in Hedong! Then pledge loyalty to the current Emperor Li Chang, who had ascended the throne in Chang'an!

At present, Emperor Li Chang did not have many reliable powerful armies at his disposal. If he could gain the full support of the Red Water Army, then the An clan could be assured of decades of wealth and honor, with imperial favor undiminished.

It had to be said, An Baozhen had foresight.

It was just that An Chongzhang still had concerns. Once he took this step, there would be no turning back, and he would inevitably offend many people.

If this gamble failed, the consequences would be unthinkable, and the family's century-old foundation would be destroyed in an instant!

Moreover, this contradicted the political line that the Liangzhou An clan had consistently followed.

How could one simply stage a mutiny on a whim?

An Chongzhang felt this move was far too radical.

In terms of cunning strategy alone, An Chongzhang was far inferior to his brother An Baozhen, but his greatest strength was steadiness and reliability—not devising strategies, and certainly not gambling on risks.

An Chongzhang read the letter again and again, feeling as though the paper in his hands weighed a thousand catties. In the end, he placed it on the lamp stand and let it burn.

"The ways of the world are difficult."

He could not help but sigh deeply, still unable to make up his mind.

After all, it was Jige who had promoted him publicly and kept him in Taiyuan to keep watch over Wang Zhongsi.

If you plan a mutiny, isn't it just like a guard stealing from his own post?

How would outsiders view him, a man who constantly hangs "loyalty" on his lips?

While An Chongzhang was sighing alone, weighing pros and cons, a personal guard entered the camp tent and whispered in his ear, "General An, an old acquaintance of yours is here to see you, waiting outside the tent."

"An old acquaintance? Which one?"

An Chongzhang was startled and retorted on the spot.

The guard was also taken aback and hurried to explain, "That person claims to be an old acquaintance of General An, but I do not know him."

Those who claim to be old acquaintances are usually not acquaintances at all, but uninvited guests!

An Chongzhang's expression immediately grew solemn; he gave the guard a few instructions and then ordered him to bring the person inside.

When the self‑styled "old acquaintance" entered, An Chongzhang examined him repeatedly, realized he truly did not recognize the man, and a myriad of conjectures sprang up in his mind.

"Who are you?"

An Chongzhang asked in a low voice.

The man before him wore a gray hemp robe with patches, looking of humble origin. His hair was disheveled, clearly dust‑covered from a long journey, having just arrived at Taiyuan.

He appeared no older than twenty‑to‑thirty, yet his demeanor was steady, resolute, and unsmiling, suggesting he was no frivolous type.

"I am Li E, a staff member of Lord Yan, with no official rank or position."

Li E crossed his hands and saluted An Chongzhang, saying.

"Hmm, what does Lord Yan wish to teach me?"

An Chongzhang replied casually, already calculating how to deal with the man.

"Lord Yan's handwritten letter, the imperial edict, and various seals are here; please, General An, have a look."

Li E handed An Chongzhang a silk‑wrapped bundle; when An opened it, he found several letters, seals, fish‑signs, and other items.

He opened the letters one by one, reading them word by word at a leisurely pace. Inside the tent, the silence was such that even a heartbeat could be heard.

Li E did not urge him, simply watching An Chongzhang in silence, saying nothing.

After a long while, An Chongzhang repackaged everything exactly as it was, fixed his stern face, and asked, "What does Lord Yan mean by this?"

"It is exactly what General An thinks it means."

Li E said evenly, believing that the letters, presumably from Yan Zhenqing and others, had already explained everything clearly.

The An clan of Hexi was granted the surname Li.

The Red Water army entered Guanzhong as the Imperial Guard.

They lavishly bestowed titles upon the An clan, sparing no high offices or generous rewards.

It must be said that Li Chang, or rather the price offered by the Guanzhong court, was sufficiently high.

But the tasks to be done are not simple.

A mutiny, seizing Hedong, attacking Ji Ge's forces from behind as a token of allegiance.

The price to pay is also not low.

Thinking of An Baozhen—no, it should be Li Baozhen's letter now—perhaps the court had already set a price for the An clan of Liangzhou, and the family likely leans toward Li Chang's side.

Otherwise An Baozhen could not have hinted so blatantly in the letter.

The water has already arrived; whether the canal succeeds or fails now depends on whether this move works.

An Chongzhang's expression shifted several times, ending in a long sigh.

People in the jianghu are often powerless; a person's stance depends not only on his own thoughts but also on his family's position.

"General An, if Lord Yan is only after fame and profit, then I, Li, would despise undertaking this journey.

It is precisely for the sake of the world's people that I, Li, came to Hedong.

Even if General An were to kill me now, I would have no regrets."

Seeing that An Chongzhang seemed indecisive, Li E, standing nearby, folded his fists with a solemn expression and said,

"What do you mean by that?"

An Chongzhang suddenly became interested.

"The saint of old acted perversely, which caused today's chaos; he is long unfit to be emperor.

Now that same saint intends to lead troops to slaughter back into Guanzhong; General An, do you know what that means?"

Li E, with a solemn expression, retorted.

An Chongzhang was speechless; after all, how could he not know these things?

Seeing that his counterpart seemed to have taken the words to heart, Li E continued:

"If the northwestern army storms Chang'an, it will surely shake the state, perhaps even worse than Dong Zhuo of the Eastern Han! The saint may feel comfortable in his heart, but the world's people still have to live their lives!"

Regardless of who wins or loses, the official army will suffer heavy casualties and be unable to fight further; the Hebei bandits will benefit, and then… the situation will become unmanageable!

"If the Hebei bandits enter Chang'an and Luoyang, wouldn't that mean the nation ceases to be a nation?"

Li E's expression remained relatively calm, yet his tone was filled with deep regret.

"Mr. Li, why are you saying all this?"

An Chongzhang sighed mournfully.

"As long as General An initiates a mutiny in Hedong and seizes Taiyuan City,

then, without Taiyuan's grain supply, the Jinzhou garrison will fall into chaos without a fight.

Even if that saint still wishes to cause trouble, no one will accompany his reckless rampage.

When Hedong is settled, the world will have only the emperor in Chang'an, and internal strife will cease.

By concentrating the loyalist forces, gradually restoring order, within ten years we might well be able to pacify the realm.

General An, given the current state of the world, it can be said that the fate of the realm rests in your single hands!

"If you do not step forward, who else can?"

Li E said with some excitement, no longer wearing the solemn expression from before.

Mutiny!

The keyword echoed repeatedly in An Chongzhang's mind; for a moment, he did not know what to say.

The Chishui Army was a veteran meritorious unit that had existed since the founding of the Great Tang. You say mutiny, and so it's mutiny?

"Wanting to stage a mutiny in Taiyuan is easier said than done."

An Chongzhang let out a long sigh, not knowing what to say.

Seeing that he wanted to eat the fish yet feared the smell, Li E narrowed his eyes and said, "A mutiny in Hedong seems difficult, but is in fact effortless. The one suppressing the three armies of Hedong is Wang Zhongsi. Remove Wang Zhongsi, and General An will have a hundred respondents to a single call. Or are there not all kinds of rumors and gossip in Taiyuan City right now? Wang Zhongsi listens to that Sage, but the various armies of Hedong may not necessarily listen."

Hearing these words, An Chongzhang was momentarily stunned, then left speechless. Li E had already said everything that needed saying; he had nothing to say.

An Chongzhang knew that the enormous benefits of high office and generous salary, of being enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as chancellor, surely required doing some "great deeds"—and the kind from which there could never be any turning back.

Now it seemed that was indeed the case.

"Your glib tongue is truly impressive. I, An, am genuinely in awe."

An Chongzhang could not help shaking his head and sighing.

He neither agreed nor refused. But in many cases, on matters of such great right and wrong, not refusing is itself a kind of stance.

Seeing that his objective had been achieved, Li E bowed to An Chongzhang, then walked out of the tent, soon left the main camp, and vanished into the night.

After Li E left, An Chongzhang fished out from his sleeve a gold coin that had circulated from West Asia, from a country whose name he had long forgotten, and toyed with it in his palm.

This kind of gold coin was somewhat thick, with a horse depicted on the obverse and unfamiliar characters written on the reverse.

An Chongzhang rubbed the coin repeatedly, silently praying in his heart: if he tossed it three times and it landed on "characters" twice, then he would act.

He then tossed it three times; twice it landed on the "image," once on "characters."

Unwilling to accept this, he continued to pray silently in his heart: if he tossed it five times and it landed on "characters" three times, then he would act.

He then tossed it two more times, with "characters" and "image" each appearing once.

Combined with the previous results, it was still three "images" and two "characters."

It was not the result he had prayed for.

Furious, his eyes bulging, he tossed it repeatedly like a gambler who had lost until his eyes were red, flipping it five or six times in a row before finally getting the result he wanted.

By this point, An Chongzhang was trembling all over and gasping for breath, infuriated by himself—or rather, by those illusory "fortunes of fate"—and even his square-jawed face had twisted into something ferocious.

He glanced at the bundle wrapped in silk cloth under the oil lamp, a sudden cold flash in his eyes; in his heart, he had already silently made his decision.