Chapter 336

It was the tenth month of the year; the autumn harvest had already passed.

Just as Dong Zhuo began deploying the elite troops of Guanzhong out of Tongguan in force to set up formations around Luoyang, and just as the dozen or so contingents of the Guandong Coalition began their full mobilization, Gongsun Xun, far away in Youzhou, also formally raised his army, advancing west from Dai Commandery into Yanmen and marching his forces into the former territory of the Three Jin.

Why so fast? Why was Gongsun Xun able to dispatch troops while everyone else was still mobilizing?

The reason was very simple: on this western expedition, General of the Guard Gongsun Xun had actually brought only twenty thousand soldiers!

This number, to be honest, if it reached Dong Zhuo’s ears, given Chancellor Dong’s many years of military experience, he probably would not say much about it; but if it reached the ears of those in the Guandong Coalition now, it would likely make them laugh their teeth out.

One must know that the Guandong Coalition now had linked armies numbering over a hundred thousand!

Just the Administrator of Guangling, Zhang Chao, alone brought twenty thousand troops traveling a thousand li from the banks of the Yangtze all the way to the banks of the Yellow River — enough to shame Gongsun Xun, who held ten commanderies!

This is truly no nonsense; Zhang Chao really did just that. That fellow conscripted troops on a massive scale, emptied the entire coffers of Guangling, abandoned everything else, and marched all the way north, determined solely to punish Dong! He was even more resolute than Sun Jian, Sun Wentai!

And Sun Wentai at this time no longer had just a few thousand troops either. He marched north all the way from Changsha, killed the Inspector of Jingzhou, Wang Rui, on Yuan Shu’s behalf along the way, and after killing the Administrator of Nanyang, Zhang Zi, his force swelled to over ten thousand. And Yuan Shu, seizing the opportunity to swallow up Nanyang, the largest commandery under heaven, raised a force of thirty to forty thousand, raised his own banner at Luyang, and wrote to his elder brother Yuan Benchu, saying he would face the southern front alone.

As for Yuan Benchu, he was not far behind. After scraping together the treasuries in Henei and raising a force of over ten thousand, he also received the full support of Han Fu — the troops, equipment, provisions, and fodder of four commanderies in Jizhou were all transported directly to his command.

In truth, at this moment in the entire Guandong Coalition, only Cao Cao had the weakest military force. But even Cao Mengde, a man with no territory and no official rank, after sweet-talking a few wealthy patrons and sending invitations to his own clan brothers of the Cao, Xiahou, and Ding families, still managed to raise five thousand men!

At a time like this, Gongsun Xun, who had previously made such a great clamor, sending out only twenty thousand troops truly gave off a sense of feeble military might.

But why did he bring only twenty thousand troops?

The reason was also very simple. On this western expedition, first, he wanted Dong Zhuo to relax his vigilance, carrying the intent of a surprise attack; second, it was somewhat embarrassing to say... although Tian Feng had previously debated the scholars brilliantly, painting the western advance into Bingzhou in the most splendid terms, in truth even he had to admit that this route through Bingzhou involved long distances, complex terrain, and difficult logistics... In other words, Gongsun Xun did not have that much grain, or rather, he dared not throw so much precious grain into the mountain hollows of Bingzhou.

Especially since there had been particularly heavy rain this summer, and the harvests everywhere were actually not very good.

Of course, if he could swallow up Yanmen and Taiyuan, then reinforcing with more troops later would be possible, and conscripting locally would also be no problem... From this perspective, too many troops really were unnecessary.

And besides, here in Youzhou, with Lu Fan and Cheng Pu guarding the home base, did they not need to keep some mobile forces? Gongsun Fan was stationed at Fanyang, Dong Zhao had advanced into Julu, and Shen Pei was firmly defending Handan. These three, bearing regional responsibilities — especially the latter two — were already somewhat insufficiently supported; how could troops be further drawn from their respective territories?

In a word, who was to blame that from Luoyang to Guangyang, if one went via Bingzhou, it was a full two thousand li and more?

The phrase "exhausting an army on a distant expedition" carries far too many implications behind it. Rather than dragging a large force and wasting the people's resources, it was better to concentrate an elite force for the campaign, and instead let the common folk continue to rest and recuperate.

And now that we have spoken of this, it must also be said in turn: Gongsun Xun’s territories, poor as they were and remote as they were, when it truly came to crack troops and fierce generals, were not inferior to any place under heaven.

For instance, in this deployment, Gongsun Xun, following his mother’s suggestion, adopted the ancient military organization of the Zhou dynasty, uniformly reorganizing the troops across his territory. In the end, without even touching the forces of Zhao and Julu, he had early on planned out a purely military force of one army and two divisions.

The two divisions, each three thousand strong, were respectively stationed in Guangyang’s Changping prefecture itself and in Zhongshan. The former was under the control of Lu Fan, Chief Clerk of the General of the Guard’s headquarters, who remained behind, and was used to "protect the Lady of the General of the Guard and the General of the Guard’s eldest son, Gongsun Ding, who had just returned to his mother’s side in Changping"; the latter was led by Cheng Pu, who had been appointed General Who Establishes Might, and was stationed at Xiaquyang, at the junction of Changshan, Zhongshan, and Julu, clearly intended to support Shen Pei and Dong Zhao in Jizhou.

These two divisions, each of three thousand full-time soldiers, the former relying on the three commanderies of Guangyang, the latter relying on the two commanderies of Changshan and Zhongshan. If a major battle truly came, by the standards of this era, they could rapidly summon able-bodied men from the local area to form a large organizational unit of ten thousand men... And the ease with which this organization was completed was due to the tithing system that Gongsun Xun had already implemented and tested as early as his time in Zhongshan.

The commandery troops of Zhongshan during the campaign against the Yellow Turbans, and the mobilization system of the three Guangyang commanderies during the attack on the Wuhuan — both were of the same lineage.

As for the expeditionary "army" personally commanded by Gongsun Xun himself, it was even more a gathering of the elite troops and fierce generals of nearly half of Youzhou.

Among them, there is no need to elaborate, but it is unavoidable to mention the White Horse Volunteers.

At present, this White Horse Volunteer force had Han Hao as its commander, with Zhao Yun and Tian Yu as deputies, and Han Hao concurrently served as Gongsun Xun’s Army Protector of the Center.

A further word here: with Tian Chou and some Volunteers unable to rejoin the ranks due to impassable roads, the current White Horse Volunteers, after a new round of reorganization, still reached twelve hundred men. This was mainly due to the addition of sons of Zhongshan and Changshan, as well as selected cavalry from Dai Commandery, Shanggu, Liaoxi, and other regions... In short, whether due to political selection or because of individual outstanding martial skill, archery, and horsemanship, the establishment of twelve hundred men was in fact a figure Gongsun Xun had deliberately kept suppressed. After all, by now, he hoped even more that this unit could become his reserve corps of officers, rather than merely an elite trump card.

Of course, one can imagine that in the future this unit would continue to expand.

There was also Taishi Ci, who had participated in the covenant as a reinforcement. As a retainer commander under Zhao Bao, he naturally held a special political status in the army, but the eight hundred Liaodong cavalry he led were also an elite force that could not be ignored.

In addition, there were four thousand Wuhuan shock cavalry from Liaoxi and Shanggu, selected after the households were registered and organized, and seven thousand Han shock cavalry selected from the border commanderies of Shanggu, Dai, Yuyang, Youbeiping, Liaoxi, Zhuo, Guangyang, and others... The shock cavalry of the Youzhou border commanderies were originally troops renowned across the land, and at this time they naturally formed the main cavalry force of the expeditionary army. Every thousand cavalry formed a division, each with its own commander, and ultimately they were under the command of Han Dang, Han Yigong, whom Gongsun Xun trusted most, with Wei Yue as deputy.

Of course, the Yuwen tribe of Chengde, the Duan tribe of Liucheng, and the Murong tribe at what Lady Gongsun now called Zhangjiakou — these three guard tribes of Liaoxi — each also dispatched troops... Only, considering the need for them to guard against the steppe, the three together sent no more than a thousand cavalry, led by Yuwen Heita.

Beyond the cavalry, there were still six thousand infantry, commanded by Gao Shun.

And outside the twenty thousand troops, there were over ten thousand civilian laborers maintaining the logistics in the rear.

The Regional Commander of the entire army was naturally Gongsun Xun himself, serving in person — the so-called General of the Guard, bearing the banner and tally, commanding the entire army’s western advance.

At the same time, Lou Gui was appointed General of the Household as Left Army Advisor, Tian Feng was appointed General of the Household as Right Army Advisor, and Xi Zhong served as Army Major in charge of military law. These three led staff subordinates such as Ju Zong, Jing Ze, and Wang Xiang, handling confidential documents, liaison and coordination, or assisting with military law... aiding in the overall command of military affairs.

Wang Xiu was also appointed General of the Household as Army Stabilizer, managing the civilian laborers and overseeing logistics.

As for the subordinate commanders, they were headed by Han Dang, newly appointed as General of the Household Who Punishes the Rebellious, followed by Gao Shun, Zhao Yun, Taishi Ci, Wei Yue, Han Hao, Tian Yu, Wen Ze, Jiao Chu, Yuwen Heita... and many other figures. Beyond these, the army also contained various deputy commanders, retainers, and military clerks — too numerous to count.

It is worth mentioning that two officials of the two-thousand-dan rank — Wang Ze, Administrator of Dai Commandery, and Li Shao, Administrator of Julu Commandery — also accompanied the army as "deputy commanders."

Of course, Liu Yu, Grand Marshal and Governor of Youzhou, was also to "sit in command" from the rear, but he only needed to remain behind the main army at all times, together with Wang Xiu’s rear guard.

Thus, in the first ten days of the tenth month, the great army stretched unbroken, advancing upstream along the river... This waterway was precisely an important reason for Gongsun Xun’s chosen invasion route this time, because this river, which later generations would call the Sanggan River or Yongding River, happened to flow all the way from south of Pingcheng (Datong), the key northern city of Yanmen, into Guangyang Commandery... And the broad river channel simultaneously meant easy supply and an open marching route.

Consequently, this expeditionary army entered Bingzhou almost at its leisure, and came all the way to the front of Pingcheng.

"My lord!" A forward scout cavalryman reined in his horse before Gongsun Xun’s canopy and brought the latest intelligence. "The vanguard commander Wei Yue reports that the gates of Pingcheng are wide open, with no intention of obstructing our army. He intends to enter the city first to inspect and take over the defenses, and requests that my lord feel at ease and enter the city afterward."

Gongsun Xun, changed into a pheasant-crested martial dress, paid it no mind, merely raising a hand to dismiss the man. And everyone in the central army around him, from Lou Gui on down, had not a single doubt.

Truly, not one person suspected that any hostilities could occur here at Pingcheng. In fact, after marching arduously for most of the day, everyone was thinking of finding an excuse like Wei Yue to enter the city early and rest.

In truth, as the place where Gongsun Xun had been stationed ten years ago, as the place where the Wuyuan migrants had been resettled, as the place where many officers and Volunteers in the army had come from, as the closest and most accessible major city of Bingzhou to Dai Commandery, as the first node of the Anli Trading Company’s route into Bingzhou, and even as the place where Gongsun Xun had held his wedding... if anyone here still dared to bare blades against twenty thousand elite troops of Youzhou, then Gongsun Xun might as well give up on swallowing Bingzhou or conquering the realm, and go back to Changping to hold his children!

However, the absence of blades did not mean the absence of surprises.

"Your humble subordinate, Zhao Ping, Administrator of Yunzhong Commandery, pays respects to the General of the Guard!" At the eastern gate of Pingcheng, from behind the vanguard commander Wei Yue, who wore a strange expression, a high official of the two-thousand-dan rank, bearing a green cord and silver seal, stepped out from the crowd, hurrying ahead of the Pingcheng elders, officials, and old acquaintances. He actually knelt on the ground in public, performing a grand ceremonial obeisance to Gongsun Xun and begging forgiveness. "Upon hearing that my lord issued a proclamation at Changshan to form a covenant and punish Dong, I originally wished to come in person, but unexpectedly the roads were difficult, and instead I meet you here. I hope my lord will forgive my offense!"

This... for a dignified two-thousand-dan official to kneel and beg forgiveness merely because he came late? Before the city gate, quite a few people in the army and the city were rather shocked for a moment.

And amid these shocked and dumbfounded gazes, Gongsun Xun, equally somewhat dazed, dismounted from his horse, but for a moment did not know what to say.

Only after a long while did Gongsun Xun somewhat come to his senses: "Zhao Ping... when did you become Administrator of Yunzhong?"

"Not yet a full year!" Zhao Ping knelt on the ground and answered respectfully.

"Not yet a full year, meaning it is nearly a year." Gongsun Xun sighed in sudden realization. "You requested an external posting on your own when I was dispatching troops to campaign in Guanzhong, is that correct?"

"Exactly!" Zhao Ping still spoke with his head lowered, respectfully. "I will not deceive my lord. In those days, the court was in chaos, and I once sought advice from my Qinghe clan uncle. It was precisely according to my Qinghe clan uncle’s instructions that I requested on my own to be posted to guard the frontier... This was both to avoid disaster and to serve the country. Who could have known that after I left, Luoyang would be turned upside down, and the surroundings of Yunzhong would also fall into great chaos? Later, when I heard that my lord and my Qinghe clan uncle had formed a covenant at Changshan, I immediately set out, preparing to go and follow you. Unexpectedly, the Xiongnu rebellion grew ever more severe, actually cutting off the traffic east of the great river. Thus, your humble subordinate expended great effort just to reach this place. However, by Heaven’s fortune, my lord’s troops advanced with divine speed, and we unexpectedly meet here."

There were far too many things in his words worth mocking, and for a moment Gongsun Xun again did not know where to begin.

"May I ask Magistrate Zhao one matter?" Just then, Lou Gui stepped forward curiously, breaking the awkward silence.

"Please ask, Master Zibo." Zhao Ping still did not rise, and actually turned directly toward Lou Zibo while still on the ground.

"You say the Xiongnu rebellion cut off the traffic east of the great river. Then how did you come from Yunzhong to Pingcheng?" Lou Gui inquired with a serious expression.

Gongsun Xun’s face also darkened upon hearing this.

"I will not deceive Master Zibo." Zhao Ping glanced at Gongsun Xun and hurriedly explained. "After receiving the proclamation, I went west to Wuyuan, then south, crossing the Yellow River twice, traveling via Wuzhou, and then north again to arrive here... In other words, I came from the west, right under the nose of the Xiongnu royal court, bypassing Dingxiang to reach Yanmen." Having said this, seeing that Lou Zibo still looked suspicious, Zhao Ping could not help but add with a solemn expression, "Master Zibo, do not doubt me. On this journey, I carried with me the official seal of the Administrator of Yunzhong, and brought my family, wife, and children. Many people know of my route along the way; one need only ask to verify it. It cannot be faked."

"It is not that I doubt you, only that I truly do not understand — why would Prefect Zhao go to such lengths, braving such hardship, to attend the covenant at Changshan?" Lou Gui was also speechless. "And bringing his family? Do you not know that you are bound to be too late this time? And with the Xiongnu in revolt, you actually dared to take a detour past the Xiongnu royal court on the West River... such danger — why, why go to such trouble?"

"Master Zibo!" Perhaps recalling the hardships of this journey, Zhao Ping was suddenly overcome with tears and wept on the spot. "How could I be willing to endure such toil, such peril? You do not know — I was once trapped south of the Yellow River, surviving on wild okra. But with the realm in such chaos now, if I cannot find my lord, how can I truly find a place of safety?"

At these words, quite a few people before the city walls were visibly moved.

Having spoken thus far, Zhao Ping simply knelt on the ground, clasped his hands toward the people before him, and continued: "Today before the city, there are many old acquaintances from the State of Zhao. You all know that over these eight or nine years, starting as Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace for the Prince of Zhao, I have moved in and out of the court, serving repeatedly among the Nine Ministers and as commandery governor. But thinking carefully, the most peaceful days I ever had were that time spent with all of you in the State of Zhao... In Luoyang, everyone regarded us with enmity; and when I went to the provinces, there were bandits, foreign tribes, disasters, and portents, one after another. Worse still, after the recent troubles in Luoyang, even the local powerful families and the commandery clerks have become unreliable... It is as they say: every man is a tiger or wolf, every heart harbors treachery... Back in the State of Zhao, I had eight or nine wives and concubines, and more than ten children, yet in a few short years, from plague and disease, or from bandits and the chaos of war, fewer than half remain. How could I dare risk leaving them in a den of tigers and wolves now? It is not that I, Zhao Ping, shamelessly flatter the Marquis of Ji, but rather, as I see it, in this realm today, it is precisely a man like our lord who must come forth to set things right! And so I cast aside all caution and brought my family to seek refuge with our lord! I only hope that our lord, for the sake of the modest service this humble clerk rendered in the State of Zhao in former days, will grant us some small shelter! This time I seek no merit or achievement, only peace for my family."

At the final sentence, Zhao Ping was already kowtowing repeatedly toward Gongsun Xun, sobbing in supplication.

"Rise," Gongsun Xun sighed. Seeing the man in such a state, the countless mocking words in his heart dissolved into nothing, and in the end he did not ask why the man had not gone directly to Changping to find his own wife, Zhao Yun, but instead waited for him before the city gate. "Give Zibo a thorough account of the Xiongnu causing chaos in the Jin territories, and then remain with the army as a guide... Your wife, concubines, and children may be sent to Changping for settlement."

Zhao Ping was overjoyed, his tears turning to laughter.

————— I am the dividing line where more than half the wives died —————

"Zhao Ping was a kinsman of Empress Zhao. In his youth he lacked virtue and often acted with reckless impropriety. Through service to Zhao Zhong he rose to high office, but he was estranged from the Empress and the Grand Ancestor, and was despised by his contemporaries. At the end of the Zhongping era, when Dong Zhuo deposed and enthroned emperors, the Han court fell into great chaos, and Bingzhou was cut off. As Grand Administrator of Yunzhong, he encountered the turmoil, his wives and concubines scattered. Only then did he repent and realize that the one who would settle and pacify the realm was the Grand Ancestor. When he heard that the Grand Ancestor was campaigning in Bingzhou, he rode alone across the great river and the southern desert to offer up Yunzhong." — The Old Book of Yan, Annals of the Empresses

PS: Thanks to the two new Alliance Masters... I know, classmate Xiongxingtianxia sold his Ghost Tiger to sponsor me, and classmate Yiningweizhi took out his official-buying money to sponsor me... Much appreciated! However, yesterday's chapter took too much out of me, I didn't rest well, and my condition today is poor — truly unable to write more. Please forgive me.

The new group is 931557287, those interested may join.

(End of Chapter)