Chapter 1674: Opportunities for the Lower and Middle Ranks

Inside the town head's residence in Huangyangping, Town Head Zhang Yan personally hosted a reception banquet. With strong soldiers and sturdy horses as the greatest source of confidence, the presence of a thousand elite border troops meant no demon or monster was to be feared.

In the current northwest, a thousand organized officers and soldiers already represented formidable strength—able to march out and fight independently, or fall back and defend themselves. Even in the most extreme adverse circumstances, the distance from Huangyangping to Xiazhou was enough to hold out until reinforcements arrived.

It was precisely because he understood this that Zhang Yan was all smiles, the coarse flesh of his face appearing much softer. He warmly received the several junior officers who had led the troops, fawning over them with an unending stream of flattery.

The Han army junior officer leading the contingent was named Wang Meng, a battalion-level cavalry Commander in the Xiazhou border army sequence. In his thirties, he had been a member of the Han cavalry during the Mobei expedition, with no fewer than twenty Khitan and frontier Hu barbarians killed by his hand. Though he lacked spectacular military exploits, he was nonetheless an elite refined and selected through the brutal warfare of Mobei.

In fact, those expeditionary soldiers who had managed to return alive to the Great Han following Wang Yansheng and Yang Ye all received decent outcomes. The court made proper arrangements for them; during the military system reform, unless age or physical condition disqualified them, most remained in the army, assigned to the various internal and external forces as backbone elements.

Wang Meng's fortune was quite good. After the triumphant return from the expedition, he was promoted two grades in succession, rising from a lowly squad leader to a centurion, entering the ranks of junior officers.

In the subsequent military system reform, thanks to his solid combat experience and outstanding martial skill, coupled with being in the prime of his years, his military post was retained and he was transferred to Xiazhou. Later, he performed excellently during the Xiazhou military exercises, rising from battalion deputy to battalion commander, leading a battalion of cavalry.

For a common soldier of ordinary origins, becoming the principal officer of a battalion within a dozen or so years was already a rare achievement. After all, this was not the founding era—the Great Han had been established for over thirty years now, and promotion for civil officials was increasingly difficult, as it was for military officers as well.

Even this Wang Meng, behind his rise, had the appreciation of Duke of Yan State Wang Shen to thank. Otherwise, his future prospects would have been uncertain—perhaps the more likely outcome would have been retirement and return to his hometown once he exceeded the age limit.

Unlike now—he had prospects, he had wealth, he owned fields and property in Xiazhou, and he lacked neither a beautiful wife nor concubines. Therefore, vested interests like Wang Meng were utterly loyal in maintaining the Great Han's rule and resolutely suppressed those rebellious elements.

"Commander Wang, gentlemen, Huangyangping is in a desolate location with nothing good to offer. The only things worth presenting are these few jars of Qin liquor and some beef and mutton. Please forgive any inadequacies in our hospitality!" During the banquet, Zhang Yan said with a smile to Wang Meng and the several officers at the head of the table.

"Wine and meat are more than enough!" Wang Meng laughed, raising his cup in response: "Brother Zhang's generous hospitality leaves us deeply grateful!"

Hearing this, Zhang Yan's delight showed on his face, and his attitude grew even more attentive. Of course, both men had been promoted by Wang Shen, and with that connection between them, they were naturally quite familiar with each other.

As the wine took effect and their faces flushed red, their conversation opened up completely. Wang Meng used a dagger to spear a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. Looking at Zhang Yan, he said meaningfully: "Brother Zhang, when I entered the town today, I saw that the people of Huangyangping wore angry expressions and fierce looks in their eyes, with a faint air of hostility. It seems the Tangut here are indeed restless!"

Hearing Wang Meng say this, Zhang Yan wore an expression of deep agreement, also adopting the tone of sworn brothers, and sighed: "To be honest with you, Brother Wang, these past few months I have been worrying about exactly this. Had the Duke not sent troops to garrison here, I truly feared I would be unable to suppress these Khitan."

Li Jiqian's rebellion has had a terribly damaging influence. Quite a few Tangut have already been swayed by him, and my Huangyangping has naturally become a place of trouble.

But with Brother Wang leading troops here, the weight on my heart can finally be set down!"

Within Zhang Yan's words, he still imperceptibly flattered Wang Meng, who naturally listened with satisfaction and immediately said: "Brother Zhang, rest assured. I have come on orders precisely for this matter. The Duke's intention is to guarantee the stability of Huangyangping!"

"Excellent!"

"That villain Li Jiqian, reckless and audacious, daring to openly raise a rebellion and turn against the court—his crimes deserve nothing less than death!" Wang Meng cursed. "Because he escaped pursuit and suppression twice, even the Duke received a reprimand from the court, saying we were ineffective in suppressing bandits. The Duke is in a very bad mood.

How would the court know that although Li Jiqian has few men, he is cunning and adaptable? The moment he sees trouble, he decisively abandons and flees. In this vast expanse of shifting sands, completely wiping him out depends on luck. It's not that we haven't been diligent in suppressing bandits—it's that the bandit leader is simply too cunning!

This time the Duke has made up his mind to send out a large force to encircle and destroy him, determined to eliminate this scourge!" Wang Meng said with emotion.

"Li Jiqian acts against the tide, vainly attempting to stop a chariot with a mantis's arm by rebelling against the court—he will surely die without a burial place!" Zhang Yan echoed.

After drinking a cup of wine, Wang Meng continued: "Brother Zhang is one of us, so I won't hide anything from you. This time, in addition to suppressing the locality, our garrison at Huangyangping carries another order. Li Jiqian's bandit forces are currently active in the shifting sands to the north. Huangyangping is the Tangut settlement he can most directly reach. The Duke intends to turn this place into a forward outpost for bandit suppression. Troops, weapons, and grain will continue to be transported here afterward. Brother Zhang should make preparations to coordinate with the main army's operations!"

"It is my bounden duty!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan immediately responded, even showing delight on his face: "The prefectural government once ordered a purge and inventory of the Tangut tribes under its jurisdiction, to eliminate those harboring treacherous intentions. But constrained by insufficient manpower and strength, even knowing full well that some Tangut lean toward the rebels or even collude with them, I was unable to carry out effective rectification. Now that Brother Wang has come, please lend your assistance!"

To this, Wang Meng naturally had no objections. He nodded and said: "That is only proper. The Duke will personally visit Huangyangping, and the situation here needs to change—it cannot remain this chaotic. I think we should first conduct a purge of the Tangut within and around this town fortress!"

"I shall follow Brother Wang's words!" Zhang Yan expressed strong approval.

"Additionally, I see this town is small with limited capacity. Our thousand infantry and cavalry are manageable, but to accommodate the main army, Brother Zhang will need to think of something!" Wang Meng reminded.

"Rest assured, Brother Wang!" Zhang Yan laughed: "Tomorrow I will arrange for men to build camps and fortifications outside the town. Those Tangut can be put to controlled use—that way we prevent them from having the chance to defect to Li Jiqian!"

"Excellent!"

Wang Meng was even more satisfied with Zhang Yan's performance, and the smiles on his face multiplied. Cups went back and forth in cheerful drinking, and by the height of their intoxication, the two men had progressed from calling each other brothers to slinging arms around each other's shoulders.

Clinking cups with Wang Meng once more, Zhang Yan said with a beaming smile: "Brother Wang, forgive me for speaking a frank truth!"

Wang Meng's capacity for liquor was decent, but compared to a seasoned drinker like Zhang Yan, he was still far behind, and so he was already somewhat drunk. Hearing this, he grew interested and said casually: "Speak!"

Zhang Yan: "Li Jiqian's rebellion, though hateful and bad for the court, is not necessarily so for a talented military man like Brother Wang.

You must know that promotion and advancement are becoming increasingly difficult these days. In ordinary times, such an opportunity would not present itself—wouldn't that be wasting one's time?

Now that Li Jiqian has rebelled, Brother Wang can seize this chance to reap merit from suppressing the rebellion and exterminating the bandits. You are valued by the Duke, and so long as you achieve something in the suppression, your future will naturally be bright. If you could take Li Jiqian's head, even a triple promotion would not be out of the question.

Such an opportunity cannot be compared to grinding out seniority or suppressing horse bandits! Therefore, Brother Wang should not be resentful—you should be delighted!"

After Zhang Yan finished speaking, Wang Meng's eyes lit up with a feeling of sudden clarity. He sobered considerably, looked at Zhang Yan with curiosity, and said: "I never expected Brother Zhang to have such insight. Well said! By that reasoning, should I be thanking Li Jiqian for giving us the opportunity to build achievements and establish our careers?"

"I hope that Li Jiqian doesn't fall into someone else's hands—I'll be contending for that head of his!" Wang Meng laughed heartily, then slapped Zhang Yan's shoulder forcefully: "The main army's campaign choosing Huangyangping as its forward outpost is likewise an opportunity for you, Brother Zhang! Promotion is within reach!"

"I'll take Brother Wang's auspicious words!" Zhang Yan responded with a matching smile: "To be able to serve the court and the Duke, doing my humble duty, is already enough for me. How could I dare harbor extravagant hopes?"

"Brother Zhang is a true loyal minister!"

"Brother Wang has the talent of a General!"

In the twenty-first year of Kaibao (983), in the fourth month of summer, under pressure from the court, Wang Shen, Duke of Yan State and Chief Commander of the Yulin Circuit, changed his previous posture of passive response and took the initiative to advance. He deployed his troops at Huangyangping and divided his forces into three routes, marching north into the shifting sands, intending to wipe out the rebel Li Jiqian in one sweeping, nest-destroying strike.