Chapter 471: Jiangxia Raises Troops

Great Jin

The chain reaction caused by the Xianbei raid was even livelier than the Great King imagined.

News that the Northern Border was simultaneously at odds with the Xiongnu and the Xianbei spread throughout Great Jin; Baili Jin's guess was correct, and all factions were indeed very interested.

He hadn't expected that quite a few people would also be interested in Chang'an.

It's true that the Great King's growing power and pacifying the surroundings have become a major headache for all forces, but there is still a matter of priority among them.

The sons of the late emperor who held fiefdoms have all rebelled, claiming that Baili Jin usurped the throne and his rule is illegitimate; they at least have a pretext, and in the south there are two who are legitimate heirs, which also gives them some justification, while the Marquis of Hanshou, who has been stripped twice and bears a grudge, is the most far‑fetched—namely, the King of Jiangxia.

As a brother of the late emperor, and given that the late emperor had several strong sons from his maternal clans, the throne should never have come to him by rights, so he simply rebelled outright; upon hearing this news, the King of Jiangxia was truly tempted.

When Emperor Ningde died, he immediately wanted to act, thinking that a quick, decisive strike to take Chang'an while the younger ones were still growing was the best strategy. Before he could move, however, he heard that the King of the Northern Border had slaughtered the Xiongnu cavalry, and that person immediately became obedient.

He didn't think he could defeat the Xiongnu cavalry, so he was wary of Baili Jing; he feared that if he exhausted everything to attack Chang'an and seize the throne, his nephew would turn south and overthrow him.

With all preparations for rebellion complete, the King of Jiangxia lay low, after which there seemed to be no further chance. Meanwhile, the Northern Border later sent word of some new mischief from Jiang North.

For example, like the grand review reported earlier, or the cavalry that marched south and destroyed Pengcheng—whatever that King of Lu was—and another example, four hundred cavalry destroyed and burned Dang.

Jiangxia likely has more spies in the Northern Border than anyone else, so this time he is truly eager and doesn't want to wait any longer.

"This time the Northern Border's forces are tied up by the Xiongnu and the Xianbei—perhaps the best opportunity in recent years. Heck, the common folk are starving and resentful; just procure a bit more grain and fodder and the vanguard battalion will be ready." The King of Jiangxia sat at the head, his face grim.

There were both supporters and opponents below.

"Your Highness, think again! This time we're only sending the border troops of the northern regions; we don't even know how many troops the Youzhou garrison still has, and moreover the Northern Border still has the Luo River Pass and Tang Qian's 100,000 men unmoved."

"Who said I intend to act against the Northern Border?"

"Your Highness, are you referring to Chang'an?"

"Exactly. The late emperor had many sons, yet he finally chose the one most like himself—this can't be blamed on me; who let him pick such a good‑for‑nothing? Now Great Jin is in this chaos, Baili Jin bears the primary responsibility, and I too am acting for the good of the realm."

"Speaking of my fine nephews, the third is the most skilled in battle; now he's tied down by the Xiongnu and the Xianbei—this is our chance. What does the Chancellor think?"

"Isn't this overly rash? Guangling and Jingzhou haven't moved, clearly they have their reservations. No one knows whether the Northern Border still has the strength to reinforce Chang'an, after all they are brothers. I think it's not the time; we should conserve our strength and wait."

The King of Jiangxia didn't like to hear that: "Still wait? We've waited long enough! Are we waiting for Baili Jing to grow up?"

"This…"

That day the King of Jiangxia decided to march north and take Chang'an.

He had been waiting for this day a long time.

When Emperor Ningde ascended the throne, many of his brothers had already died; the King of Jiangxia escaped because he was young, but from that year on he began preparing for this day.

Having seen the fate of his brothers, he dared not idle.

By now he could not let go, his mindset had completely changed, and he wanted the whole realm.

When Chang'an learned of Jiangxia's movements, the great army had already approached the Xiao River and was about to reach Nanyang.

That day the Jianzhang Palace broke another set of teaware, "Hahaha~ why not wait until Nanyang falls before reporting back?!"

The officials below fell silent—what's the point of asking? From beyond Jiangxia's territory all the way to Nanyang, almost everything is under the King of Jing's control; intercepting messages isn't easy? Jiangxia must have detoured around the edge of Jingzhou—who would think anyone would deliberately warn Chang'an?

"These rebels are actually quite good at watching out for each other!"

Getting angry was useless; in the end they could only send a Chariot and Cavalry General to lead eighty thousand men forward to assist in defending Nanyang.

Even in the court they were still frightened; earlier someone had suggested moving the capital to Nanyang, but fortunately nothing came of it.

The two sides fought a fierce battle at Nanyang City; by the time court reinforcements arrived, Nanyang City had already fallen, and the Chariot and Cavalry General who rushed there with eighty thousand men engaged Jiangxia in a clash, dyeing the Xiao River red.

The Great King learned of this faster than anyone imagined; Zhu Ti received the news via pigeon post and immediately went home to inform the Great King, who at that moment had just turned back from the steppes, preparing to return to see the Duke of the Eastern Capital.

"What? The court lost forty thousand and retreated to defend Suyang?"

"The Great King really looks ill," Zhu Ti reflected and added, "About forty thousand, possibly less."

The Great King grew angry: "Does it make a difference?"

Having had enough, he asked: "And what about the King of Jiangxia's side?"

"The losses are minor; they're pressing forward triumphantly."

"While others are sharpening their weapons and feeding their horses, Baili Jin even treats the Chang'an garrison like a beloved elder—that's rare." The Great King, reduced to this state, almost laughed in anger: "From childhood on, Baili Jin's little heart has always been misplaced."

The Great King was unhappy; he didn't know when Zhu Ti had left, and when he came to his senses he found Bai Ze the adult crouching before him.

"You fear that the merit of unifying the realm cannot outweigh the sin of nine out of ten homes being empty; evidently others aren't afraid."

Great King: ……

【Great King's Diary:

October 15, overcast, the steppes have already turned cold.

Colder than the night wind on the steppes is the red water of the Xiao River.

The common people used to suffer only from hunger; now they may also suffer the ravages of war.

I'm not grieving for the worthless eldest; it's just that after the Battle of Nanyang, some things can never return, and the devil's box has been opened.

Bai Yang is right—enfeoffing princes is hardly a good idea.