Chapter 528: The Ambition of Grand Marshal Huangfu

Luoyang!

I have arrived, Luoyang!

The Luo River flows quietly behind me, and Huangfu Weiming watches the Luoyang Imperial City before him, his heart surging in waves.

Compared with places such as Youzhou and Yecheng, Luoyang holds a different significance for the Hebei rebels.

Seizing Luoyang means that the Hebei rebels have obtained a politically significant "capital".

It further proves that Huangfu Weiming, who raised the Hebei uprising, and the troops under his command are no longer a local petty warlord regime.

They have gained the capital to vie for domination of the world, and even have a chance to sweep Guanzhong while the momentum lasts, ushering a dynastic change.

How magnificent and grand!

Things that were once unthinkable have now become objects within sight.

One can reach them by standing on tiptoe.

Especially this time, Huangfu Weiming's grand perspective and extraordinary strategic resolve have earned the support of his subordinates.

Compared with those lively Qiu Ba, Huangfu Weiming's ability to "show the way" is incomparable.

At first, a group of Qiu Ba clamored to march south to Bianzhou, eager to capture cities and territories. Though they seemed fierce, they were actually wasting manpower and resources.

It was precisely Huangfu Weiming who overruled all objections, insisting on waiting until the forces in Guanzhong and Hedong settled their outcome before launching a surprise attack on Luoyang.

One must admit, he is foresighted and patient, knowing that a small intolerance can ruin a grand scheme!

Because of Huangfu Weiming's persistence, the Hebei rebels now occupy Luoyang, eyeing Chang'an like a tiger.

"Grand Marshal, please enter the Imperial City."

Li Guiren stepped forward, respectfully made a "please" gesture to Huangfu Weiming, his expression reverent.

This takeover of Luoyang has won Huangfu Weiming considerable support.

The layout of Luoyang differs greatly from Chang'an; it is divided into four relatively orderly districts, and the east‑west‑running Luo River splits the city into northern and southern halves.

The northwest district contains the palace city and the grand palace where Han Jia Cang is located;

The northeast, southeast, and southwest districts are subdivided into markets of varying sizes, housing many officials and civilians. The northeast district has the North Market, the southeast has the South Market, and the southwest has the West Market.

Each district is relatively independent, and the city's structure is more rational than that of Chang'an.

More livable.

Moreover, since Huangfu Weiming's Hebei uprising, Luoyang has not suffered major damage.

The city walls are well defended, and the population inside is large.

Having such a great city, how could Huangfu Weiming not be pleased? He was so excited he wanted to burst into song.

"Your troops were the first to scale and enter Luoyang, so General Li entered the city first; how could I steal your thunder?"

Huangfu Weiming smiled, waved his hand lightly, suppressing his inner excitement so it would not show on his face, and bestowed this honor upon Li Guiren.

This small favor makes a fine token of goodwill.

If one is to be the first to enter a city, it must be Chang'an! Only then does it have meaning.

Luoyang, after all, still falls a bit short.

"Then I would be disrespectful if I declined!"

Li Guiren clasped his fists in salute and said, refusing no longer.

Watching his figure leading the way ahead, Huangfu Weiming thought silently:

Li Longji led the main border army to advance on Chang'an; the Guanzhong garrison fought a hopeless battle, and in a single clash they lost all their capital, as if heaven were on my side.

Huangfu Weiming felt like a hidden dragon in the abyss, protected by the heavens.

As long as the opportunity is seized, capturing cities and territories is like picking up money, almost effortless.

Entering the Yingtian Gate, the party arrived before the Ming Hall (also known as the Wanxiang Divine Palace), where Empress Wu Zetian once conducted state affairs.

Huangfu Weiming stared at the round, three‑storey "Buddhist pagoda" before him, his brows slightly furrowed.

He dislikes the layout of Luoyang's palaces, which looks like a temple, and also dislikes the current desolation and ruin here.

But... now it can only be this way; what else could be done?

Seizing Chang'an is considered the "final battle", yet judging from the state of his troops after capturing Luoyang, it seems unrealistic to hold overly high expectations.

The so‑called capture of Chang'an may not be achievable in the short term.

Huangfu Weiming saw those desperate Qiu Ba. Upon entering Luoyang they couldn't resist looting, even repeated orders couldn't stop them; for now they are only temporarily restrained.

His heart sank repeatedly.

As the saying goes, it's easy to change a country but hard to change nature; these armor‑clad Qiu Ba are like blood‑thirsty beasts.

If they aren't fed, they will bite their master.

"Tell the soldiers that after we capture Chang'an, I, the Grand Marshal, will bestow great rewards."

Huangfu Weiming instructed Li Guiren, saying:

"Understood! I will handle it at once!"

Li Guiren clasped his fists in salute and said, adding nothing further.

Sensing his low spirits, Huangfu Weiming quickly called him back, speaking softly:

"Also send someone to the local big households in Luoyang, just say the world is not at peace, bandits are many."

"Hope they donate some wealth and grain to support the troops; after the troops are supplied, the boys under my command will certainly look after them."

"If they refuse to pay, that's fine; should bandits break into their homes later, I won't be able to control that many, so don't blame us for the ugly talk said earlier."

"After obtaining the wealth, distribute a portion to the soldiers."

"This Grand Marshal, having entered Luoyang, has not forgotten the rewards for his brothers."

Upon hearing this, Li Guiren immediately became excited.

"Understood! I will definitely see to it!"

Go.

Huangfu Weiming placed his hands behind his back, turned his back to Li Guiren, and a flash of brilliance flickered in his eyes as he looked at the bright hall.

He had not expected to capture Luoyang so easily.

It was Heaven's clear sign to him: destiny belongs to me.

Huangfu Weiming, while sighing at the fickleness of the world, entered the bright hall and discovered eight massive pillars at its center encircling the dragon throne.

Like a host of stars surrounding the moon, they looked quite majestic.

There is imperial aura here!

This is the treatment an emperor deserves!

Only the vermilion paint that once covered the pillars had, after years of wind and frost, peeled away in patches, revealing the raw wood beneath.

They appeared somewhat dilapidated, like a sick person whose face shows sorrow.

Huangfu Weiming paced within the bright hall, circled the eight pillars arranged in a ring, thought over and over, and finally restrained his impulse, not sitting on the dragon throne.

A small lack of patience can ruin great plans; some deeds bring little benefit yet cause great harm.

It must not be done; if done, it easily gives others ammunition.

Huangfu Weiming inhaled deeply, his heart warring between heaven and man.

After a blood‑soaked struggle to pacify the world, he would become a minister above ten thousand yet below the emperor, and then hand the throne to the honored Prince Li Wan?

Willing to do so?

A voice in his mind asked that very question.

Could that be possible?

How could it possibly be!

Not only would Huangfu Weiming not agree, none of his subordinates could either.

What virtue or ability does Li Wan have, and is he even worthy?

Now the Li‑Tang royal clan's prestige has plummeted; in the future, whether the realm bears the Li name will be up for debate.

Heroes and great men should seize the moment and usher in a new dynasty.

If we cannot feast on the five cauldrons, then we shall cook them.

Who in the world dares to be the Son of Heaven?

Only those with strong troops and mighty horses!

Huangfu Weiming harbored a thought, but he could not state it openly; at least not yet.

He wished to be the emperor—a proper, legitimate Son of Heaven!

Not some despicable minister.

For some reason, Huangfu Weiming suddenly felt something and looked up at the dome formed by the eight central pillars in the bright hall.

Carved upon it were stars of day and night, constellations fashioned from gems, reflecting a faint glow. In that instant, he seemed to see Mercury guarding the heart and Chang Geng accompanying the moon appear together.

Yet when he examined it closely, he realized it had been only an illusion.

…

A day later, the "Son of Heaven" Li Wan arrived in Luoyang from Yecheng, accompanied by the makeshift small court.

Huangfu Weiming wasted no words, immediately summoned the generals and, before Li Wan, discussed military affairs in the bright hall. Li Wan, a "crowned yet unascended" emperor, remained a silent spectator, unable to utter a single sentence.

He could not even read the campaign maps.

It's hard to say whether Huangfu Weiming staged this deliberately before the generals, but no one was that foolish to spell it out.

Everyone saw through it but said nothing.

Within the Hebei rebels, factions were numerous and undercurrents roiled.

Huangfu Weiming invited Li Wan to the military council as a sign of respect to the "Son of Heaven." Yet Li Wan missed the chance, could not comprehend the discussions, and could offer no advice—his own failing.

The commanders were blunt: if you're useless, step aside and stop talking.

Over time, many things will fall into place.

Li Wan could find no fault in Huangfu Weiming's "courtesy."

"Gentlemen, I have summoned you today to discuss the plan to attack Chang'an and advance into Guanzhong.

All generals present may speak freely, without restriction."

Huangfu Weiming said in a deep voice.

He looked around at the five burly Hebei border generals, all wearing thoughtful expressions.

No one spoke rashly.

This time, the Hebei rebels' march to capture Luoyang would start from Liyang, splitting into two routes.

One route would go through He'nai, capture Beizhong City, then bypass the three Heyang cities to the west of Luoyang.

The other would cross the Yellow River via Hulaoguan, inserting directly from the east of Luoyang.

The two forces would converge at Luoyang.

Of course, the supply line for the second column, largely on the south bank of the Yellow River, could not be guaranteed safe.

Thus after the armies meet at Luoyang, the Hebei rebels' supplies would be transferred from Liyang to Heyin County, then from Heyin County to Luoyang.

They would travel by water, avoiding the Henan region.

Before winter ice forms, the Hebei rebels must store ample grain in Luoyang's Hanji Cang.

Thereafter, all logistics would center on Luoyang, moving supplies and troops.

In short, if the Hebei rebels' territory were a country, its center of gravity would now shift entirely to Luoyang.

Naturally, many difficulties still confront Huangfu Weiming, so he must "lower his face" to do things he previously refused.

For example, plundering local magnates to fund the war effort.

"Commander, your humble general believes that taking the Zhiguan Pass, crossing Mount Wangwu, and driving straight into Hedong's Puzhou is the best strategy.

This route is the main thrust.

Then use another route to feint an attack on Tongguan Pass head-on, pinning down the enemy's main force.

This route is the auxiliary.

Attack on both fronts, advance separately and converge — the two armies rendezvous at Huazhou in Guanzhong.

Then drive straight for Chang'an, and the great matter can be accomplished."

Li Guiren suggested to Huangfu Weiming.

It must be said, this suggestion was somewhat beyond what an ordinary person would expect.

Li Guiren's meaning was actually stated quite clearly — Li Wan might not understand it, but Huangfu Weiming, who led troops in battle, certainly would.

Although Tongguan Pass was relatively close to Luoyang, that road was not easy to travel, and a frontal assault on the pass would be extremely difficult.

Instead, taking the Zhiguan Pass — the first of the eight passes of the Taihang — going directly from Henei to Hedong and launching a surprise attack on Puzhou offered a greater chance of success.

Once Puzhou was taken, the Tongguan garrison would have no reason to keep holding out — the pass could be said to fall without being attacked.

The problem with a surprise attack on Puzhou was that the supply route would be hard to secure.

Of course, if Li Baoyu in Hedong led his troops south to help the Guanzhong forces defend Puzhou, that would be an entirely different matter.

Li Guiren's tactics carried a certain sense of "avoiding the solid and striking the weak, making noise in the east while attacking in the west."

Huangfu Weiming pondered in silence.

In truth, he had a trump card for breaking Tongguan Pass — a single move that could defeat the enemy.

Once Tongguan was broken, the rest would be easy to discuss; there was no need at all for anything flashy.

But it was not convenient for him to say it himself.

If he spoke up and was questioned, it would be hard to save face.

Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, Huangfu Weiming caught sight of An Shouzhong, who had rendered great merit in this campaign against Luoyang!

It was An Shouzhong who had overruled all dissent, forced a crossing of the Yellow River, and broken through from Hulao Pass — that was what had thrown Lu Gui's deployments into chaos.

The latter had been forced to flee with his remnant troops from Yiyang.

If not for that battle, An Shouzhong would have had no qualification whatsoever to appear in the Mingtang of the Luoyang Palace.

A thought stirred in Huangfu Weiming's mind, and he looked at An Shouzhong and asked:

"General An, what do you think of this campaign?"

His sudden calling on him took everyone present by surprise.

What?

An Shouzhong was just thinking about whether he should steal a moment of leisure in Luoyang and find a few beautiful women from official families to give his "little brother" down below a taste of the carnal.

Being suddenly called on by Huangfu Weiming, he was momentarily taken aback.

Was this great matter of attacking Chang'an and advancing into Guanzhong something that a military officer of his low standing, still currently in a "guilty" state, should even speak about?

But since Huangfu Weiming had asked, it was an opportunity, and he could not just brush it off casually.

"Commander, your humble general believes that General Li's strategy is too complicated.

Your humble general has a plan that can break Tongguan Pass — the army can simply drive straight through Tongguan into Guanzhong.

There's no need to spend so much effort.

Of course, your humble general is not saying General Li's strategy has problems."

An Shouzhong laid out his previous plan in full — though naturally, he concealed the specific method for breaking Tongguan Pass.

"How about this — this commander feels that both generals make some sense."

Seeing that An Shouzhong was playing along, Huangfu Weiming stepped forward to "smooth things over."

"General Li, take twenty thousand troops through the Zhiguan Pass, carrying seven days' dry rations, and attack Puzhou. General An, lead five thousand troops as vanguard to feint at Tongguan head-on; this commander will personally lead the main force as the central army in support. As for the plan to break Tongguan, it will not be discussed here."

Huangfu Weiming looked around at the assembled generals and said.

Li Guiren's heart skipped a beat, and he silently cried that things were bad. He had gotten carried away just now and committed a great taboo of officialdom!

Sure enough, he was being sent off by Huangfu Weiming to fight a diversionary attack.

The one to lead the advance into Guanzhong could only be Huangfu Weiming, and no one else.

If he could not personally lead the troops to conquer Guanzhong, then Huangfu Weiming would be nothing more than a "Li Wan" who did not bear the surname Li — reduced to the likes of Xiao He.

How would he command respect in the future? How would he secure his own position?

When something went wrong, would they listen to Huangfu Weiming or to Li Guiren?

After entering Chang'an, who would be the biggest "big brother" in the army?

Li Guiren was bold by nature; feeling that he had previously led the major campaigns, he assumed by habit that the conquest of Guanzhong this time would also be his to lead.

He had not expected to be put in his place by Huangfu Weiming.

"Your humble general accepts the order!"

Li Guiren cupped his fists in salute to Huangfu Weiming, looking somewhat anxious and fearful.

Li Guiren was also curious in his heart — Huangfu Weiming and An Shouzhong both spoke with such certainty that they could take Tongguan Pass; what devilish method were they going to use?

Were they simply of like minds, or had they discussed it beforehand?

Had An Shouzhong already been taken into Huangfu Weiming's service?

Carrying a string of doubts, Li Guiren barely heard the rest of the military council. It was only after the council ended that he returned to the camp outside the city in a daze, preparing to muster his troops for the march.