Chapter 3: Petition for Battle

"Fellow villagers and sons of our land, ever since the Jianning years, for all these many years, we in these border commanderies have been raided and harassed by the Xianbei nearly every year. When they come few, it's a hundred or so riders; when they come many, it's by the thousands and tens of thousands. Today they slaughter our neighbors, tomorrow they plunder our goods. In spring, when the new crops are not yet ripe, they come to raid the harvest; in autumn, when the horses are fat and strong, they also come to seize our grain; even in winter, when the grasslands are unbearably cold and barren, they still come to raid the border for clothes to ward off the cold. Now the year's end is approaching, yet the Xianbei still have their camps arrayed before the pass — do they mean to make us spend the new year trapped inside the pass? This is truly outrageous..."

The speaker was a powerfully built young man, with a sparse beard and hawk-like eyes, wearing a saber and clad in armor, looking around with an imposing air — a true hero of the Yan region. Only his pair of bow legs seemed somewhat incongruous, though they also told those around him that this was a warrior accustomed to fighting on horseback.

Now, although the core area of Lulong Pass consisted only of this single fortress city before them, the entire Lulong Pass defensive system actually spanned the two commanderies of Liaoxi and Youbeiping, stretching over a hundred li in length. And according to what Gongsun Yue had just explained, this man called Han Dang was at this moment a Cavalry Squad Leader belonging to the Liaoxi section within Lulong Pass.

However, while this rather imposing-looking Squad Leader was indeed impassioned and fervent, most of the several hundred people in the courtyard merely listened. Only a dozen or so soldiers standing behind him stirred in response, causing a slight commotion.

"What's the meaning of this? What is Han Dang trying to do?" Gongsun Yue was only seventeen this year, barely two years past the capping of his hair, and had neither entered study nor taken office, so there were some things he might not understand. "He wasn't like this just a moment ago."

"What meaning could there be?" Gongsun Xun, who had spent two years working in the Commandery Office's Accounting Bureau, couldn't help but yawn as he leaned against the staircase. "He just wants to earn military merit."

Gongsun Yue suddenly understood: "He wants to stir up a crowd and coerce his superiors into letting him lead a sortie?"

"Exactly."

"But isn't our clan uncle inspecting the camp here at Lulong Pass today? With so many important figures up on Lulong Tower, isn't he afraid of causing a disturbance and being punished?"

"If you ask me, I'm afraid he deliberately stirred things up precisely because he heard that our clan uncle was inspecting the camp today." Gongsun Xun yawned again, shaking his head repeatedly. "Well then, since he's a fellow townsman, we can't just watch him suffer. A-Yue, go upstairs and find our clan uncle..."

Just as the two brothers were whispering on the staircase, the commotion in the central courtyard indeed drew the attention of the mid-ranking officers in the watchtowers. On the southern wall, a Platoon Leader wearing a black cap and crimson military tunic, not even bothering to wipe the soup from his beard, stuck his head out in exasperation:

"Yigong, everyone's eating — can't you spare me some peace of mind? Is there grit in the rice, or is the soup not hot enough? Tell me, and I'll naturally give you an answer."

"Platoon Leader Tian." Han Dang smiled faintly upon hearing this, neither anxious nor angry. "The rice is plentiful and the soup is hot. It's just that the lads are furious at the Xianbei dogs' arrogance and are eager for battle, that's all..."

"Eager my arse!" Platoon Leader Tian flew into a rage upon hearing this. "Never mind that military matters are naturally decided by our superiors — the sun is already sinking west, and our garrison is all cavalry. Do you intend to fight a night battle on horseback?"

"Platoon Leader, hear me out." The Squad Leader was clearly still unwilling to give up. "A night battle, I, Han..."

"I'm not listening!" The Platoon Leader was truly angered and spat out another curse. "But you, Han Dang, are my subordinate, so you have to listen to me!"

"Yes!" Han Dang had no choice.

"Han Yigong, I know your skills well enough, and I know that as a son of a humble family, you dream of rising above your station. But is today the day to play the rogue and throw a tantrum? The nobles of two commanderies are right above our heads on Lulong Tower, scouting the enemy's situation. If you disturb them and they charge you with disrupting the army, they'll cut you down and that'll be that — don't drag me down with you!"

At these words, the young Squad Leader's momentum faltered once again, and the dozen or so cavalrymen behind him also deflated one after another.

"Alright," Platoon Leader Tian, seeing his unruly soldiers somewhat discouraged, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "If you've all eaten and drunk your fill and have nowhere to vent your energy, then all of you go to the corridor and tend to the horses. That'll save you from stirring up trouble here for no reason."

Yet although the dozen or so cavalrymen were drained of spirit, they looked at one another, and not a single one left. In the end, they all turned their eyes to the Squad Leader beside them. Seeing this scene, Gongsun Xun couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder, because according to Gongsun Yue's account, this Han Dang had only joined the army less than half a year ago, yet he could already rally a dozen cavalrymen as a mere Squad Leader. It seemed this Han Dang, Han Yigong, might truly be the very Han Dang his own mother had spoken of.

On the other side, Han Dang, bolstered by his comrades' support, indeed steeled himself and pressed on: "Platoon Leader, I truly am not stirring up trouble for no reason. I do have a clever plan to repel the enemy."

Platoon Leader Tian was furious at these words and looked about to descend the tower himself to argue with the fellow in person, when unexpectedly, a head suddenly popped out from the staircase of the tall building opposite him:

"That Han Dang, Han Yigong, with the clever plan — the Chief Clerk summons you up."

As expected, the nobles had been disturbed after all!

The Platoon Leader was utterly shocked, while Han Dang beamed with joy, winked and made faces at his Platoon Leader a couple of times, then immediately grasped his saber hilt and swiftly ascended the five-zhang-high tower. At the staircase, he saw a young man eight chi tall, dressed in brocade robes and a white gown, waiting for him with a smiling expression — this was naturally Gongsun Xun.

Han Dang did not recognize the man, but just from his attire and bearing, he could tell he was a son of an aristocratic family, either noble or wealthy, so he hurriedly saluted.

"Brother Yigong, there's no need for that." Gongsun Xun, intent on befriending this man, also hurriedly supported him. "Come upstairs with me. Let's go find Chief Clerk Gongsun."

Han Dang was even more overjoyed upon hearing this.

Now, the Chief Clerk Gongsun whom Gongsun Xun referred to had the double surname Gongsun and the single given name Zhao. He was the clan uncle of Gongsun Xun, Gongsun Yue, and that Gongsun Zan... It couldn't be helped — who told the Gongsun clan to be a renowned family throughout the various commanderies around the Bohai region? Moreover, the clan flourished with many descendants and enjoyed smooth official careers.

In any case, this Lord Gongsun Zhao, born of the Gongsun clan, the foremost powerful family of Liaoxi, had been recommended as Filial and Incorrupt, and had entered the court as one of the Three Departments' Gentlemen... which was precisely the path Gongsun Xun was diligently pursuing... and was now the Chief Clerk of Youbeiping, a high-ranking official with real power at the six-hundred-dan rank.

Furthermore, Lulong Pass spanned the two commanderies of Liaoxi and Youbeiping. Add to that the fact that Liaoxi Commandery was extremely vast in territory — if converted to a later-era map, it stretched directly from what would later be Fuxin in Liaoning all the way to Qian'an in Hebei. Moreover, of the commandery's five major cities, four lay on the Hebei plain and were protected by Lulong Pass, while only the commandery capital, Yangyue City, lay far beyond the pass. So whenever the Xianbei came, Liaoxi was naturally split into two halves.

And since that was the case, with the Liaoxi Grand Administrator unable to govern this place, as the Chief Clerk of Youbeiping and a son of the Liaoxi Gongsun clan, Gongsun Zhao was naturally a man whose word carried immense weight here in Lulong Pass.

To be able to meet such a man — how could Han Dang not be delighted?

However, as soon as he went upstairs, the young Squad Leader who had been beaming moments before immediately became somewhat timid — for no other reason than that the moment they stepped onto Lulong Tower, they were met head-on by a group of grim-faced mid-ranking fortress officers. At the very front were the eight Garrison Commanders of the fortress, four Company Commanders, and even a Major!

One must understand that according to the Han military system, two Squads made a Platoon, five Platoons a Company, two Companies a Garrison, and two Garrisons a Regiment. Setting aside everything else, these four Company Commanders were already a full three ranks above a mere Squad Leader like him, and moreover were court-appointed officials at the six-hundred-dan rank. Add to that the fact that they were currently in wartime, if they truly grew angry, any one of these four could casually cut down a Squad Leader who had gathered a crowd, stirred up commotion, and disrupted army morale — and outsiders would even praise them for strict military discipline.

But these men merely glared at him with dark faces for a moment, then suddenly turned smiling faces toward the aristocratic youth leading the way, and with a sidestep to the left and right, actually took the initiative to clear a path... A true noble, surrounded by clerks, officers, and powerful clan members, now appeared before him.

This man was over thirty years of age, with a slightly ruddy complexion, slender brows and large eyes, wearing a tall crown and a great cloak, and at his waist, the bronze seal and black silk cord that marked his status — this was naturally Gongsun Zhao.

"I have come before you, my lord." The gap in status was too great; Han Dang hurriedly prostrated himself.

"So you are Han Dang?" Gongsun Zhao furrowed his brows slightly. He first glanced at Gongsun Yue, who had come to deliver the message, then somewhat helplessly looked at Gongsun Xun, who had led the way, before finally suppressing his temper and addressing the newcomer. "I hear you have a clever plan to repel the enemy? Let's hear it, then."

"I dare not claim such courteous treatment from my lord." With opportunity right before his eyes, Han Dang naturally strove to summon his courage. "Nor dare I call it a clever plan. It is merely that upon hearing the Xianbei mongrel barbarians are provoking us beyond the pass, my heart is filled with indignation. Han Dang, though unworthy, is willing to launch a night raid on the enemy camp and reclaim the sons and daughters of our homeland!"

"Your loyalty and valor I now know." Gongsun Zhao nodded slightly, speaking with a hint of perfunctoriness, yet his eyes continued to glance toward his nephew standing to the side with eyes closed and silent. "But as for a night raid..."

"A night raid is absolutely inadvisable!" At that moment, a middle-aged man in a straight-hemmed robe and tall crown beside them suddenly interjected.

Gongsun Zhao looked as if a burden had been lifted: "Lord Tian, please explain!"

"My lord." The scholar surnamed Tian bowed forward. "Please look at the great Xianbei camp outside the pass..."

"May I ask who you are, sir, and what office you currently hold?" Gongsun Xun, who had remained silent all along, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Uh... I dare not be called 'sir.' This humble one... this humble one is of the Tian clan of Xuwu County in Youbeiping..."

"What office do you currently hold?" Gongsun Xun had spent several years working in the Grand Administrator's office and held an official rank of one hundred dan — how could he not know how to deal with such a person?

"I am still... a commoner." The Youbeiping powerful clan member surnamed Tian turned bright red.

"If you are a commoner, then it is best not to interfere in matters of state and military affairs." Gongsun Xun spoke with a serious expression. "Think about it, everyone. If a commoner offers advice on military matters where life and death are at stake, should the Chief Clerk heed it or not? If he does not, some will inevitably say the Chief Clerk refuses to listen to others and blocks the path of counsel. But if he does heed it, and the matter succeeds, that is naturally good; yet if it fails, the one who offered the advice can simply dust off his robes and leave, while the Chief Clerk and all the officials and soldiers here in Lulong Pass must bear the responsibility — perhaps even pay with their lives... Is this not making things difficult for everyone?"

This Lord Tian was immediately overcome with shame and indignation, and dared not speak further.

"Then A-Xun... uh, what does Accountant Gongsun think — can we go out to battle or not?" Gongsun Zhao, helpless, hurriedly cut in, as if afraid the other might bring up more unpleasant words and make things difficult for everyone. "You are the Deputy Head of the Accounting Bureau of Liaoxi at the hundred-dan rank, so you can be considered to have official responsibilities."

"I don't know." Whether A-Xun or Accountant Gongsun, who had inexplicably been promoted half a rank, it was Gongsun Xun either way. He spread his hands, nearly choking his own uncle to death, but then immediately pointed to Han Dang, who was still kneeling there. "However, isn't there someone here who is thoroughly familiar with the enemy's situation? Whether to fight or defend, why doesn't Uncle first hear what he has to say?"

Gongsun Zhao seemed to have some wariness toward this clan nephew of his, who was still a year short of his capping ceremony, so he finally nodded somewhat helplessly: "Han Dang, is it? Rise and explain in detail..."

Upon hearing this, Han Dang finally scrambled up from the ground. Slightly heartened, he naturally couldn't help but cast another somewhat grateful glance at the young man who had repeatedly shown him goodwill.

Gongsun Xun said nothing more, but merely smiled at the other, stepped back half a pace, and cleared the view.

Han Dang took a deep breath, hurried forward half a pace, pointed at the clearly visible Xianbei military camp outside Lulong Tower, and seized the opportunity to speak his piece.

As it turned out, Han Dang's idea, though indeed guessed by the Platoon Leader as wanting a night raid, was not truly a case of being so desperate for merit that he ignored reality. His reasoning was quite sound.

One must understand that the Xianbei had detached a force to encamp at the crossroads several li beyond the pass, not because they expected to breach the precipitous Lulong Pass... In truth, even if the Xianbei Great Khan Tanshihuai personally led tens of thousands of elite Xianbei troops here, they still might not be able to break through this strategically vital and majestic Lulong Pass. Clearly, these several thousand Xianbei had set up camp here merely to block the exit of the pass's defending troops, preventing them from launching a sudden attack while the Xianbei were scattered across the commanderies beyond the pass — Liaoxi, Liaodong, Xuantu, and others — looting and pillaging, thus avoiding being caught between internal and external forces and ending up with no return.

And now, with the year's end approaching and the north wind pressing down with a cold wave, the Xianbei's raiding operations had actually already reached their latter half. The easy pickings had basically all been taken in the past few days; what remained were either hard bones requiring time to crack or simply had no profit to be had. In fact, these days, one could often see from the tower Xianbei who had completed their raiding tasks arriving beneath Lulong Pass with their "spoils of war" to regroup with the main force, while other units that hadn't been assigned any worthwhile plunder hurriedly departed from this place.

And Han Dang’s reasoning lay precisely in this:

First, with all the coming and going, the Xianbei camp’s military strength today should actually be at its weakest stage. By a rough estimate, there might only be two or three thousand men left now, perhaps even fewer;

Second, many of the troops left to hold the main camp belong to clans that have already finished plundering. With spoils in hand and hearts longing for home, their desire to fight is probably not very high either;

Third, among the various clans, and between those holding the main camp and the raiding parties, there are bound to be disputes over the uneven division of loot. If it comes to a fight, they may not support each other effectively;

Moreover, with so many clans rotating in and out recently, the Xianbei nobles managing the main camp are likely somewhat overwhelmed in their administration. They may not be able to arrange the camp properly or exercise effective command;

Finally, this is the last chance to rescue the Han people’s children and property that were plundered. If we do not strike now, in another two days these seized people and goods will probably never return.

That being the case, even setting aside the last point of moral duty and looking purely from a military perspective, the probability of a successful night raid is still very high. Because once the enemy camp loses control, the various clans will very likely abandon the camp directly and return to their own territories.

Having stated these reasons, Han Dang, with a hint of expectation, bowed once more toward Gongsun Zhao: “The window of battle is fleeting. I, though unworthy, wish to slay the rebels for the nation. Please, my lord, grant me one hundred horse soldiers to raid the camp tonight. As long as we can shake the enemy camp, my lord can then send forth the infantry to follow up… a great victory will be assured!”

Gongsun Xun nodded repeatedly from behind. These words sounded truly imposing — indeed, there was something of the tiger-general’s manner about him!

However, Gongsun Zhao, who held the reins of power, gazed at the enemy camp just a few li away. After hesitating again and again, he finally spoke: “Yigong, return and rest for now. This matter… we shall discuss further!”

At these words, atop the Lulong Tower, the crowd looked relieved, Han Dang appeared dejected, while Gongsun Xun narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Gongsun Zhao was a man of Lingzhi in Liaoxi, a clan uncle of the Grand Ancestor. Recommended as Filial and Incorrupt, during the Xiping era, he served as Chief Clerk of Right Beiping, and was later transferred as Prefect of Xiangping.” — Old Book of Yan, Volume 67, Biography 17

Thank you to all my brothers and sisters for your support… as you said, in the end I still couldn’t resist opening a new book. Discussion is welcome, criticism is welcome, collections are welcome, recommendations are welcome.

(End of Chapter)