Chapter 165: Only the New Favorite Smiles

In the third month of the third year of Dihuang (AD 22), the Boar-Rush Braves, who had nearly put down roots in New Qinzhong north of the frontier, suddenly received a troop-transfer tiger tally from the imperial court.

As the Colonel Diwu Lun had recommended before his departure, Wan Xiu was the nominal leader. He immediately summoned the main officers to discuss: "The one now commanding us is the Marquis of Zhande, a relative of the Pacify-the-Hu Consort. He has received an edict from the court ordering every commandery garrison along the Bingzhou border to dispatch half its troops south."

"South for what?" The Seventh Biao, who had grown a full size thicker over the past year and a half, was greatly alarmed.

Wan Xiu looked at everyone. "To Guandong, to strike the Red Eyebrow bandits."

Xuan Biao was astonished. "I've only heard of Greenwood, Lü Mu, and Mount Tai. Who are these newly risen Red Eyebrow bandits?"

"I hear they're just the Mount Tai bandits under a new name."

Although the Seventh Biao often sang "Wormwood," he had no idea where Mount Tai actually was, only that it sounded extremely far. He immediately cursed, "A thousand li of obstacles, and we're told to come and go at their whim? How many men will die on the road? Why should we!"

He was famous for his chivalrous but foul temper. The other "Brother Biao," however, was refined and cultured. Xuan Biao was also a Major, equal in rank to the Seventh Biao, and he admonished him: "Major Diqi, do not be ruled by emotion. The Marquis of Zhande has over ten thousand troops left by the General of Renewal stationed in Shuofang. If we openly defy the edict, they'll likely wipe us out on their return march."

The Seventh Biao, who had once served as Diwu Lun's personal enforcer for murder and dirty work, was extremely bold. He said, "Nominally ten thousand, but in reality at least five thousand are phantom posts — not necessarily our match. Besides, those soldiers may not be eager to go south either; they might prefer a standoff with us. The court is focused on the Red Eyebrow bandits in the east, isn't it? They can't spare a hand for the north. We can hold New Qinzhong. At worst, we take to the mountains and become bandits."

He turned to goad Wan Xiu instead: "Colonel Junyou, you dared raise a banner to do Heaven's work back then — after two years of comfort, have you grown timid?"

"In the past, I had no choice." Wan Xiu cut off the Seventh Biao. "If the Boar-Rush Braves rebel, it will only implicate Boyu, who recommended us as officers."

"And it will implicate Diwu Hamlet, and the various Di clans of Linqu Township." Diyi Jiming, the only Company Commander permitted to attend, also reminded the Seventh Biao not to forget: besides the Boar-Rush Braves, the army still had many clansmen of the Di families, and their families were all back in Guanzhong!

With the matter put that way, the Seventh Biao saw he was in the minority. He shrank back, then had another idea and shouted, "Anyway, I refuse to go, and the soldiers under me won't be happy leaving New Qinzhong either. Only half the garrison is ordered south — if you gentlemen want to go, then go!"

"Major Diqi." Xuan Biao rebuked him. "Who goes and who stays is for the Colonel to decide."

"I only listen to the clan head. The clan head personally instructed me to guard New Qinzhong."

The Seventh Biao quit the meeting then and there, cupped his hands in salute, and strode out with his head high, infuriating Wan Xiu. For the past year and a half, the Seventh Biao had constantly invoked Diwu Lun to suppress him.

Yet in truth, everyone knew the Seventh Biao had simply grown too comfortable in New Qinzhong. He had taken several concubines, had his hand in the profits from the Bitter River salt, and frequently accepted bribes from the local strongman Zhang Chun and others. The Di clan sons of Linqu Township under his command also constantly styled themselves Diwu Lun's direct line, the superior men of the army, and didn't take Wan Xiu — whose "seniority was short" and who had been rapidly promoted by Diwu Lun — seriously at all.

But to be fair, whenever the Xiongnu raided, it was also the Seventh Biao who charged the lines and led the men to strike the barbarians hard. So when the morally scrupulous Xuan Biao criticized him, the Seventh Biao could righteously bellow: "I carry my head to defend New Qinzhong — what's wrong with taking a little extra on the side? You little desk clerk sit safely in the rear, never even touching blood — what right have you to lecture me?"

Nor was it only Diwu Lun's clansmen. The once simple Boar-Rush Braves, and the newly recruited local soldiers, were no better. Corruption bred within the ranks. Although Wan Xiu and Xuan Biao executed a few of the worst offenders, they still struggled to curb the trend.

Knights-errant, sons of hermits, clansmen, refugees, slaves, border folk… the army's composition was complex. They had been gathered by Diwu Lun's personal prestige, the attempted ideological education had quickly failed, and a large number of reliable junior officers had been taken away.

With Diwu Lun far away, the remaining Colonel Wan Xiu could not command universal obedience. There were many factions below, each man with his own ideas and desires, so of course hearts scattered quickly — in just two years they had faded into mediocrity.

But even so, their fighting strength far outstripped ordinary imperial troops and government forces. The Xiongnu would rather raid Shuofang and Wuyuan, which had larger garrisons, than come to New Qinzhong to gnaw on hard bones.

And so the Seventh Biao left the others in the lurch and returned to his camp, determined to dig in and refuse to leave, letting the helpless Wan Xiu take Xuan Biao south.

"Once Wan Xiu is gone, from now on, New Qinzhong will answer to me!"

Controlling four counties and a hundred thousand people — when the Seventh Biao was a knight-errant Precinct Chief back in the township, he had never dreamed he would see such a day. He felt he had reached the pinnacle of life.

But before the Seventh Biao's sweet dream could last long, just one day later, Wan Xiu sent someone to summon him again.

"Didn't I say I absolutely won't go south?"

The Seventh Biao was lazily lounging with his feet up, eating a cucumber while a concubine massaged his legs, until Diyi Jiming said with a smile, "A letter has come from the clan head!"

The Seventh Biao jolted upright at once, tossed the cucumber aside, and ran out. "You wretch, why didn't you say so sooner!"

Diwu Lun's prestige within the clan was too high; no one could replace him. The Seventh Biao had neither the heart nor the guts to try.

And although Diwu Lun had made him the clan's man in charge in New Qinzhong, the letter was written directly to Wan Xiu — which, besides Wan Xiu's martial skill, was the main reason he could keep the others in check. It was as if to tell Wan Xiu that his authority came from this, and it was also why, after more than a year, the Fifth Battalion was still the Fifth Battalion and had not become the Wan Battalion.

The Seventh Biao also knew the clan head was not to be crossed. No matter how unwilling, he had to go and hear the letter read, his manner solemn as if receiving an imperial edict.

Although Diwu Lun rarely gave direct remote commands — his letters were more like ordinary family greetings — this time was somewhat different.

Wan Xiu showed the newly arrived letter to everyone. "Boyu learned ahead of time that the Red Eyebrows had routed the government troops and anticipated the court would certainly transfer troops for an eastern campaign, with the Boar-Rush Braves possibly among them. So he sent a letter to inform us of the details."

Diwu Lun reassured them not to worry and to follow the court's instructions. He had an acquaintance in the General of Renewal's staff and could do some maneuvering and greasing to ensure the Boar-Rush Braves' provisions and clothing along the way would not be skimped too harshly, preventing most of them from dropping dead on the road.

"At the same time, Lord Diwu will also arrange the marching route so that we pass through his Weicheng Commandery." Once they got there, whether to leave or stay — would the court still have the final say?

This letter gave Wan Xiu and the others a settling reassurance. As for personnel, Diwu Lun proposed that if half were to be drawn, Wan Xiu should be the chief and the Seventh Biao his deputy, while Xuan Biao and Diyi Jiming remained to hold New Qinzhong.

Diwu Lun had hesitated a long time over this roster, mainly worried about over a thousand men traveling more than three thousand li across mountains and rivers. Besides Wan Xiu, no one else had the ability to bring them all intact to Wei.

But Diwu Lun also worried that once Wan Xiu left, Xuan Biao alone would be even less able to keep the Seventh Biao in check. Diwu Lun had also received whispered reports of Brother Biao's excessive behavior; this fellow was the type who, if not kept close and suppressed, would court death with abandon.

The Seventh Biao had always used Diwu Lun's name to tell the clan sons, "Clan law outweighs military law." Having built his persona on that, now that the clan head had named him, he had no choice but to agree. He went back to tally his troops, and they drew lots fairly — whoever drew the lot would go. As for whether it was truly fair, only he himself knew.

Wan Xiu also went back to tally the men heading south. When he came to the local youth who claimed descent from Meng Tian and was named Meng Ze, Wan Xiu promoted him from Company Commander to Major and had him stay to guard New Qinzhong with the newly recruited local soldiers.

Meng Ze, however, was not the least bit happy. Instead, he pressed Wan Xiu: "When you left before, you transferred away officers. Now even Colonel Junyou is leaving. Has Lord Diwu… abandoned New Qinzhong?"

Wan Xiu did not know what to say. This matter was not Diwu Lun's decision to make; he could only help the Boar-Rush Braves minimize their losses.

But he had once heard Diwu Lun and Ma Yuan discuss their "great ambition" and guessed that Boyu had a strategy of a cunning rabbit's three burrows. Yet among the three burrows, there was a priority. If you couldn't bear to part with any, you would end up holding none. If one had to rank them, compared to the old home and Wei, New Qinzhong was certainly the lowest priority.

Truly, one only sees the new favorite smile, never the old one weep. But that "yes" could absolutely never be spoken aloud. After a long silence, Wan Xiu merely gave Meng Ze the very blade with which he had slain many Xiongnu.

"No."

"It's just that Boyu believes, at this point, the people of New Qinzhong have the ability to defend New Qinzhong well!"

…

Over the past year and a half, they had expanded the army to three thousand men, mostly recruiting locals as soldiers and training them to guard the beacon towers. Now, drawing half away in one stroke, in the late spring, Wan Xiu and the Seventh Biao were about to lead the men on a long journey.

"Boyu and Wenyuan are in the east. They will surely find a way to keep us from falling into dire straits."

After having done so many things together, Wan Xiu had near-absolute trust in Diwu Lun and Ma Yuan. Diwu Lun said he would arrange things, so Wan Xiu no longer worried about the road ahead, but instead worried more about those staying behind.

Xuan Biao was refined and could deal with the local government and strongmen; Meng Ze had courage and was a local; Diyi Jiming had some cunning and was the new clan spokesman for Diwu Lun's lineage. They formed the minimum complement for the New Qinzhong garrison.

In these chaotic times, a parting could well be forever. He only hoped that when they met again, all would still be as they were!

Whether going or staying, everyone's hearts were heavy. It was, instead, the local Old Master Zhang's household that added a touch of comedy to this small parting.

Zhang Chun replayed the same act he had put on when sending off Diwu Lun, with a new twist. By the Yellow River, he poured Wan Xiu several large bowls of wine as a send-off, then called on the local magnates to donate over a hundred thousand in coin and grain.

Wan Xiu, however, did not decline as Diwu Lun had, but gladly accepted it all. Their journey would be over three thousand li; although Diwu Lun had promised to arrange and grease things, in this chaotic world, who could say for sure? Bringing extra silk, cloth, and valuables could do no harm.

And after tearfully seeing Wan Xiu off, Zhang Chun revealed a smile and instructed his son: "Now that this 'Colonel Ren' is gone, we need have no more misgivings. From today on, we can gradually place our clansmen and retainers into the army."

"And your two female cousins — arrange occasions, whether banquets or hunting outings, for them to mingle and show their faces before Xuan Biao and Meng Ze. The Xuan clan are also renowned scholars from Guanzhong, fallen to their present state because they refused to serve Wang Mang; and Meng Ze is a fellow local, trustworthy. It would be fitting to form marriage ties with them."

And they must also further win over the sergeants and officers of the Fifth Battalion. He had previously focused his bribes on the Seventh Biao; it was a pity he had been transferred away.

But no matter. Zhang Chun saw clearly: they were an indispensable force for preserving New Qinzhong and the Zhang family's wealth and rank. And in Zhang Chun's eyes, since Diwu Lun had effectively "abandoned" this place, in these chaotic times he was unlikely ever to return. Controlling this force, infiltrating it with their own people, had become the top priority.

"Within a year or two, I'll turn the Diwu camp into the Zhang family camp."

"Eat my family's rice, heed my family's words!"

……

Gathering an army of over a hundred thousand takes several months, even half a year, involving complex conscription and deployment, so the court set the army's assembly point at Dingtao, the center of the realm — Geng Chun's father serves there as a two-thousand-bushel official, and now he's truly in for disaster.

In early April, while Wan Xiu and Diba Biao were still trudging through the loess plateau of northern Shaanxi with the Boar-Rush Braves, the tens of thousands of the eastern expeditionary force from Guanzhong were also about to march.

The Emperor Wang Mang personally saw off the two generals, to whom he had bestowed axe and battle-axe, beyond the eastern gate. The common folk of Chang'an and the Six Suburbs also came to bid farewell to their sons and brothers. The scene needs no lengthy description; a few spare lines from a later poem suffice to capture all its bitterness: "Chariots rumble, horses whinny, marching men bear bows and arrows at their waists. Fathers, mothers, wives, and children rush to see them off — the dust blots out the Xianyang Bridge."

The common folk clutched at their clothes and stamped their feet, yet could not hold back husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons — they could only watch the dust kicked up beneath their feet vanish into the east.

It is said that two months earlier, Ba Bridge had met with a fire and burned down. Some said this answered the rise of the Red Eyebrows; others said it was the Han's Fire Virtue rekindling.

The Emperor had Ai Zhang, the State General in charge of prognostications, proclaim: "This is the August Heaven, the Grand Unity Supreme God, using the third year's end of winter to utterly destroy the bridge of tyranny and ruin, desiring thereby to bring about the Way of the Xin's unification and eternal endurance!"

Everyone understood Wang Mang's meaning at once: he wanted to rename Ba Bridge!

So that the great army would not have to detour on its march and appear inauspicious, the Emperor urgently ordered the Northern Army to oversee several thousand convict laborers in rushing repairs, and then renamed it "Everlasting Bridge."

Yet just as the great army was crossing Everlasting Bridge, dark clouds massed in the sky, thunder rumbled in bursts, and rain began to fall.

But the thunder was loud and the raindrops sparse — the drizzle barely dampened their clothes before stopping. The soldiers were pleased enough, but General of Renewal Lian Dan alone was gloomy and troubled. He summoned his aide Feng Yan to consult him — this was the very "friend" in Diwu Lun's letter who could help arrange the Boar-Rush Braves' route.

"Jingtong, you are learned and have read the military yin-yang school's books. This celestial sign — is it auspicious or inauspicious?" Lian Dan harbored misgivings about this campaign.

Feng Yan said, "Does the General wish to hear fair words, or the truth?"

"The truth, of course!"

Feng Yan gazed at the great army marching east with flagging morale, while the scene beyond Chang'an's eastern wall — the common folk clutching at clothes, stamping feet, and blocking the road to wail, their cries rising straight to pierce the clouds — still rang in his ears.

He only sighed and said, "This rain is a weeping for the army!"

……

In April, Chang'an was veiled in unbroken rain, an ill omen of the weeping army. At the same moment, by the Zhang River at Yecheng in Weicheng Commandery, the sun blazed high overhead. The commandery's Grand Governor, Diwu Lun, dressed today in plain robes, waited outside the city, unable to hide the smile on his face or the restless stirring in his heart.

【Claim cash bonus】Read books and claim cash! Follow the WeChat public account 【Book Lovers' Base Camp】, cash/coins await you!

Especially when he saw, in the distance, a curtained carriage bearing the women of the household slowly approaching, escorted personally by Ma Yuan — who had returned once to Guanzhong after a major incident befell his clan and had now come back again — Diwu Lun's smile grew even brighter.

The reason was just one: his wife had arrived.

Those who know, know.

……

PS: Chapter 2 at 18:00.