Chapter 684: Taking Jiangling with Ease (1)

Jiangling, a famed city of a thousand years, backed against the Yangtze, had enjoyed several decades of peace since the Gao clan established the Nanping regime here. Situated at the very heart of the realm, it could be said to sit in the "VIP seats," watching from above as the Central Plains dynasties rose and fell through three generations, the situation shifting and changing.

Indeed, compared to the other separatist regimes—whether extinguished or torn by internal strife and endless warfare—the Gao clan, passed down three generations since Gao Jixing, had never suffered any great upheaval, even as military and civil governance grew increasingly lax and the state's power daily declined.

But since late spring of this year, the sun-drenched city of Jiangling, from top to bottom, had been in a state of turmoil. Even the lowliest commoner in Jiangling could feel the tension permeating the air—especially after the Northern Han army completed its assembly at Xiangyang.

And in these early summer days, the rulers of Jingnan grew even more uneasy. Gao Baorong, who had long secluded himself in his princely residence, had recently found that his wine no longer smelled sweet, his songs and dances no longer beautiful. He had taken up affairs anew, inquiring into military governance and the situation at home and abroad.

With the Great Han's blades arrayed at the border, Nanping's greatest military preparation was the martial law imposed on Jiangling—all gates, water and land alike, tightly shut, with entry and exit strictly forbidden. This only made the hearts of Jiangling's populace more fearful. Though rumors circulated that the court intended to campaign against Huxiang and merely sought passage through Nanping without harmful intent, such talk could only deceive the ignorant common folk.

As for Jingnan's high echelons, they did not believe it at all. Even the timid and weak Nanping King Gao Baorong harbored only the faintest sliver of hope, and after his ministers explained matters, though he understood, his fear only deepened.

As a troop of riders approached from the south, the long-sealed gates of Jiangling opened once more. Across the moat, watching the drawbridge slowly descend, Cao Bin sat tall on his horse and could not help but remark: "The royal army is still far off, yet Jiangling is already alarmed. Shutting gates and blocking passes like this—can it stop the court's great army? It only exposes their panic and invites ridicule!"

Soon, a clerk of the princely residence hurried forward and, with utmost deference, led the way, escorting Cao Bin into the city.

In the great hall of the princely residence, a solemn scene was arranged. To observe proper etiquette and to show respect for the envoy of the court's great army, Nanping King Gao Baorong stood at the head, with civil and military officials arrayed below, all awaiting Cao Bin's arrival.

Perhaps due to years of indulgent living and lack of exercise, Gao Baorong's body had grown somewhat stout, his face pale, his hair tinged yellow, his complexion wan—clearly a body in decline.

"Your subordinate general Cao Bin pays respects to Your Highness!" Stepping in with proper bearing, chest out and head high, Cao Bin clasped his fists and announced in a clear voice, a rare flash of exuberance showing on his handsome young face.

"General, no need for ceremony!" Gao Baorong gestured with his sleeve, appearing very magnanimous. Seeing Cao Bin's spirited and vigorous bearing, he sighed inwardly—even a random officer sent by the Great Han possessed such bearing. The thought made him despondent.

"Marshal Murong has sent the general to Jiangling to see me—for what purpose?" He asked as if he did not know, but Gao Baorong's presence simply could not rise to the occasion, his face full of weak and timid character.

Cao Bin, with a composed and humble expression, clasped his hands and replied: "Zhou Xingfeng of Hunan is a savage and rampant villain who has taken up arms without authorization, attacking prefectures and towns, and murdering a Military Governor—a rebel and traitor. His Majesty has issued an edict dispatching a great army to punish him, to suppress the violence and exterminate the bandit, so as to bring peace to the scholars and people of Hunan.

"Marshal Murong has now led the great army south, intending to pass through Jiangling, and has specially sent me ahead to arrange the matter of passage. I request that Your Highness issue orders for all passes and checkpoints in Jingnan to open their routes and let the army through!"

His tone was very calm, but his words carried force, and Cao Bin's expression brooked no refusal. Yet upon hearing this, including Gao Baorong, none showed any agitation or indignation—most remained silent, though a trace of dejection was unavoidable in their bearing.

Having stated his purpose, Cao Bin fell silent, standing there straight and unmoving, awaiting Gao Baorong's response.

Gao Baorong's face was full of hesitation. After a moment's delay, he asked: "May I ask how many troops the court has sent south to punish Zhou Xingfeng?"

Meeting his gaze, Cao Bin said: "Forty thousand infantry and cavalry!"

There was no bluster, but this plain and simple number filled Jingnan's civil and military officials with dread. According to the Han court's intelligence, all the troops under Jingnan's various prefectures, land and naval forces combined, totaled approximately twenty-seven thousand men—this was their entire military strength, and a force that had long been at peace.

Their most recent external campaign had been when the Northern Han attacked Huainan, and General Wei Lin led troops east to assist. By the time they set out, the fighting was already in its final stages, and Tang general Liu Renshan had routed the army of Wang Kui, who was also assisting. In the end, they never formally engaged the Tang army, and after the Han-Tang peace talks, they slunk back to Jiangling, having accomplished nothing—the fifty bolts of silk Liu Chengyou had awarded them at the time did not even cover their military expenses.

The campaign before that went back to the founding of the Great Han, when Gao Conghui was still in power. He had sought to exploit the Great Han's internal and external instability, to fish in troubled waters and reclaim the two prefectures of Fu and Ying. After being refused, he simply sent troops to seize them. The result was a crushing defeat at the hands of An Shenqi, then Military Governor of Shannan East Circuit, and he returned in disgrace.

At that time, An Shenqi had only mobilized local troops. But now coming south was the main force of the Great Han's imperial army, commanded by none other than the imperial army's commander, Murong Yanzhao. And this was merely one detached force of the Great Han—yet its strength already exceeded all of Jingnan's. The disparity in strength was so vast that it was truly disheartening.

"May I ask when Marshal Murong intends to move, and by which route?" Gao Baorong asked again.

Cao Bin said: "This concerns military secrets, which a mere general cannot know, and Your Highness should not inquire either. You need only issue the order to let us pass!"

Cao Bin's tone had grown somewhat discourteous. Gao Baorong could not help but feel embarrassed. At this moment, his younger brother Gao Baoxu fixed his gaze on Cao Bin and asked flatly: "If Jingnan refuses to let you pass, what will the court do?"

Gao Baoxu's attitude was neither soft nor hard. Cao Bin tilted his head to look at him, still composed, and said: "The army has elite vanguard troops who will cut roads through mountains and bridge rivers. If Jingnan will not yield the way, we shall simply carve our own path!"

After this exchange, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense. It was Sun Guangxian, the foremost civil official of Jingnan, who spoke up, a smile on his face, saying to Cao Bin: "The court wishes to borrow passage to pacify Hunan, and Nanping, as a vassal, naturally should not obstruct. But this matter is of great importance, and our lord and ministers need to deliberate a while. The general has ridden here in haste and must be weary—please rest at the guest house for a day or two, and an answer will surely be given!"

"What Lord Sun says is right. I still need to discuss with my civil and military officials. General, please rest for now!" Gao Baorong hastily echoed.

Hearing this, Cao Bin's cold gaze swept around the hall, finally settling on Gao Baorong. A slight smile slowly crept onto his lips: "In that case, I ask Your Highness and all the worthies to make haste—military matters are urgent and brook no delay!"

"Your subordinate takes his leave!" With that, Cao Bin departed on his own, leaving room for Gao Baorong and his officials to deliberate.

Once Cao Bin was gone, the atmosphere in the hall grew even more solemn. The matter of passage had already been communicated by a special envoy from the court previously, without a clear answer. But this time, Cao Bin had come as the envoy of the southern expeditionary army, and the time had come for them to state their position. This time, there was not much room left for them.

Dismissing most of his attendants, leaving only Gao Baoxu, Sun Guangxian, Liang Tingsi, Li Jingwei, and Wei Lin—a few civil and military officials—each wore a grave expression, their countenances severe.

"Your Highness, an envoy from Hunan requests an audience!" Before they could even begin speaking, a report came in.

Presumably, the news of the Han army's envoy had made the Chu envoy, who had been lingering in Jiangling for some time, unable to sit still, and he had hurried over to seek an audience. Everyone present knew his purpose. Upon hearing this, Gao Baorong, with a somewhat impatient air, instructed: "Tell him I am occupied and have no time to receive him. Let the Chu envoy return to his guest house—if there is business, it can wait until tomorrow!"

"Yes!"

Closing the door to refuse the Chu envoy, and shutting the hall doors, Gao Baorong looked around at the few rulers of Jingnan seated in the hall. After pondering for a while, he finally spoke: "The Han army's great force is about to descend south, and our state lies in its path. The crisis is upon us, imminent and pressing. How should we respond? I ask all of you to devise a plan for me!"

After Gao Baorong finished speaking, all those seated remained silent. Even Gao Baoxu, who had shown a hint of sharpness in the hall earlier, offered no opinion. In recent years, though Gao Baorong had entrusted his brother with affairs, and Gao Baoxu had occasionally spoken of the Northern Han threat, now that the threat had truly arrived, he dared not rashly advocate confrontation.