Chapter 300: It Is Impolite Not to Reciprocate

Liu Bosheng had the palace buildings sealed off, and left the administration of Chang'an to the collaborators who had guided them in — men like Kong Ren of the Master of Fates of the Five Majesties office and Xiao Yan, remnants of the former Han — while he himself lived in camp, sharing the soldiers' hardships.

Today the tent flap lifted and two men walked out, one behind the other. Deng Chen, his face full of anger, caught up to the man ahead, seized his arm, and lowered his voice to rebuke him:

"Laijun Shu, ah, Laijun Shu — I called you here because I wanted us to persuade Bosheng together, to stop him from staking everything on a single throw and attacking north of the Wei. Why did you instead approve of Bosheng's plan just now?"

Deng Chen was truly so furious his lungs felt ready to burst. It was one thing that Liu Bosheng had always been headstrong and refused to listen to advice, but Lai Xi was a man of considerable insight — how could he join him in this madness?

"Wei Qing." Lai Xi and Deng Chen were both from great clans of Xinye, and were linked by marriage as well. He smiled. "This time Bosheng has made the right decision. If we had followed your advice and advanced slowly, dragging things out until winter or even next year, that would have ruined everything!"

Deng Chen grew even more displeased, but Lai Xi led him into the shade of the Heng Gate on the north side of Chang'an to shelter from the late eighth-month sun, and said with a smile, "Wei Qing has rarely left Nanyang, and I imagine you have never been to Hangu or Hanzhong?"

Deng Chen had indeed rarely left Nanyang. Lai Xi was the opposite — by nature he loved to travel, journeying not only between Chang'an and Wancheng, but even as far as Hanzhong and Luoyang.

Lai Xi said, "It is true that Liu Jia is in Hanzhong and Wang Chang is in Hongnong, and both are on good terms with the Bosheng brothers. But neither place is a rich region — they are mountainous with little farmland. And with the chaos of the last two years, both commanderies have become battlefields. It is quite possible they themselves are short of grain. How could they have surplus to aid us?"

"Even if they did, there are many valley roads coming north from Hanzhong, but the Baoxie Road lies in Right Fufeng, watched by the Wei clan's Longyou cavalry. The only routes we can control are the Ziwu Valley and the Tangluo Road — narrow paths, climbing over mountains and ridges. Even men find them hard going, let alone grain."

Hongnong is the same. Although the old Hangu Pass has been dismantled, the natural barriers of Mount Hua and the Xiao Gorge still stand; the road allows only a single cart's width. Even if Wang Chang had the skill to get grain from the Greenwood commanders in Henan and Chenliu and send it here, Diwu Lun would only need to send a thousand-odd men to block the way and the route would be cut off.

Lai Xi punctured Deng Chen's hopes: do not count on any more outside help. On this march into the passes, they could only rely on themselves!

"Gengshi will absolutely never send reinforcements. The longer we drag this out, the worse it is for us."

Lai Xi saw it very clearly. This time Gengshi had sent Bosheng into the Guanzhong region with ill intent — he gave him too few troops, only letting him bring his own six thousand men. The rest were all surrendered soldiers or bandits picked up along the way. He had led such troops before; once they scattered, you could never gather them back.

"And if we follow Gengshi's intention and strike at the Western Han, attacking up the Long Slope, we will inevitably force Diwu Lun and the Western Han to join hands and strike our army from both sides."

Deng Chen suddenly understood. "No wonder Wenshu wrote earlier, urging Bosheng not to request entry into the passes, but instead to campaign south into the Jianghuai region — that was the path to survival! But as you say, Junshu, entering Guanzhong is clearly a dead end!"

This was the trap Diwu Lun had set for those who came after.

"If we were to withdraw…"

The thought had barely flickered through Deng Chen's mind before he rejected it himself. "Bosheng will not withdraw — and he cannot withdraw!"

Once they withdrew, Liu Bosheng and all of them with him would be utterly finished. You were the one who insisted on entering the passes; if you cannot hold your ground and retreat, will the whole world not laugh at you? Liu Xuan and the Greenwood commanders could use it as a pretext to strip Liu Bosheng of his military authority. Then we would truly be the fish on the chopping block while others wield the knife!

"People say that both Qin and Han rose to power from Guanzhong. Now it has become a place that traps the dragon."

Lai Xi had made a circuit south of the Wei these past days and felt the same. Though Guanzhong was called a land of abundance, without the grain from north of the Wei, the south was nothing but a mess. The powerful local clans were inscrutable in their attitudes; the vast population could not be used, and instead became a burden.

"But now we must turn this dead end into a living road!"

Liu Bosheng had been right after all — staking everything on a single throw and striking north of the Wei was their best option!

Lai Xi analyzed: "Diwu Lun's original intent was to drive us into a clash with Longyou so he could sit back and reap the spoils. But the situation has strayed from his design. The Wei clan of Longyou is cautious and will not come to contest Chang'an. We may not necessarily fight as he hoped. And what Diwu Lun certainly does not expect…"

Lai Xi laughed heartily. "Two Han emperors — Liu Ying and Liu Xuan — indeed cannot stand together."

"But the Wei clan and Liu Bosheng can coexist!"

…

After reaching an understanding with Deng Chen, Lai Xi re-entered Liu Bosheng's tent with him to lay out the stakes. The broad strategy of striking north of the Wei remained unchanged, but the details had to be adjusted. A headlong crossing of the Wei to attack directly was far too reckless; they needed to maneuver a little first.

For example, neutralizing the threat of the Longyou cavalry of good-family sons already scouting the situation in the Right Fufeng area.

"Before the Xin Mang regime fell, I once met Wei Ao in Chang'an. I captured a prisoner in the Wugong area who says Wei Ao is now at Chencang! I am willing to go see him on the General's behalf!"

Lai Xi volunteered, speaking of his friendship with Wei Ao. Wei Jijimeng was fond of knight-errantry and had shared several drinks with him. "This man is generous but indecisive. He will certainly be unwilling to fight us with full force, and would instead be happy to see the General attack north of the Wei and inflict mutual damage with Diwu Lun."

He needed to break the fragile alliance between Diwu Lun and the Wei clan, to buy their own side time to attack.

Lai Xi said, "I wish to receive the General's awe-inspiring mandate, extend to him the good faith of a painted covenant, and persuade him with the stakes. Wei Ao will surely fold his hands and watch the two sides fight it out."

Liu Bosheng nodded. Liu Xuan could not tolerate the Western Han's Prime-Origin Emperor — it was truly a case of not being able to share the same sky. But they were different. The men here had originally wanted Liu Bosheng to be emperor; what was Liu Xuan? The urgent problem now was to gain a foothold in Guanzhong. Talk when talking was needed — they were not counting on reinforcements from behind anyway.

With their strength, dealing with Diwu Lun alone was already a strain. If Longyou were added, they would be even more passive. So he approved Lai Xi's proposal.

Inspired by Lai Xi, Deng Chen now actively looked to fill in the gaps. "Bosheng, we should not start off shouting for war with Diwu Lun either. Did the General not once acquire the military texts and personal effects of his teacher Yan Erudite? Why not send an envoy to deliver them to Diwu Lun, and at the same time propose that we wish to purchase grain from him?"

Lai Xi immediately cut him off. "Wei Qing, I know this is meant to lull Diwu Lun, but that pretext is far too crude. Gold, grain, cloth, craftsmen — all are in his hands. What do we have to purchase with?"

"Better to change it to borrowing grain."

The grain would certainly never be lent — the point was to show that their side had no desire to start a war north of the Wei.

"In any case, we must first send someone to talk, to make Diwu Lun think that our army, just as he predicted, intends to advance west and attack Chencang, seize the local grain, and aim for Longyou!"

"Who shall we send?"

Liu Bosheng looked at the assembled men. "What about Cen Peng?"

Cen Peng had surrendered at Wancheng and been kept close by Liu Bosheng. He greatly valued Cen Peng's ability; ordinarily he often let Cen Peng come and go from his tent to consult on military strategy, even permitting him to enter wearing his sword, without taking any precautions. Deng Chen had remonstrated several times, but Liu Bosheng always brushed it off with a smile. He had always been like this.

Cen Peng, for his part, was rather moved by this. Though he held no real authority and commanded no troops, he still gave his full assistance.

Deng Chen was still quite wary of Cen Peng, and proposed that whoever was sent must be one of their own.

"Better to send Yin Shi." He put forward a name. A sudden silence fell inside the tent. Liu Bosheng and Lai Xi exchanged glances; both understood Deng Chen's deeper concern.

Because Liu Xiu's betrothed, Yin Lihua, was still in Diwu Lun's hands.

Deng Chen's beloved wife had died at the battle of Little Chang'an, and his three daughters had only survived thanks to Liu Xiu risking his life to save them. He constantly remembered his brother-in-law's goodness. Lamenting his own misfortune, he also hoped Liu Xiu would have no regrets. Although Liu Xiu had now taken a wife from the Ma clan, he understood Wenshu — he surely still thought of Yin Lihua. If they could conveniently get her back, that would also be a good deed.

The plan was set, and everyone went off to carry out their tasks.

"Ten days, Junshu. I will only wait ten days for you."

Liu Bosheng saw Lai Xi and Yin Shi off. As he parted with Lai Xi, he set a time limit. They were the side that could not afford to drag things out. Although Liu Bosheng and Deng Chen had played off each other, using threats and persuasion to get the powerful clans south of the Wei who had welcomed them to contribute a little grain, it was not enough for even a month. If they pressed for more… those clans might turn around and secretly deal with Diwu Lun.

"Since we cannot rely on ruling Chang'an and the lands south of the Wei to win the war."

"Then we can only do the reverse — win the war first!"

…

Yin Shi was Yin Lihua's half-brother by a different mother. Earlier, after attending Liu Xiu's wedding to the Ma clan woman in Kunyang, he had received guidance from Feng Yi. Taking several hundred of the Yin clan's retainers, he had hurried to catch up with Liu Bosheng, barely managing to do so at Wu Pass, and was appointed Colonel.

Unlike the Greenwood roughnecks, the associates around the Liu Bosheng brothers, every last one of them, had considerable backgrounds. Their ancestors were all high officials from great clans. The Yin clan had never produced a two-thousand-bushel official, but they had more than enough money. Yin Shi had become a student at the Imperial Academy through his family's financial contributions, and had lived in Chang'an for several years, so he was no stranger to Guanzhong.

The Wei River, once a bridge, was now like a boundary line. The three Wei bridges had been burned by the Northern Army when Diwu Lun overthrew Xin Mang. Crossing the river now required small boats, but all boats and oars had been confiscated, and fishermen's transport vessels had vanished. Yin Shi spent half a day just finding a boat. When he crossed, the patrol riders on the far side spotted him early and aimed their crossbows at him from a distance.

Yin Shi had no choice but to raise a flag bearing the character "Wu" and at the same time throw his weapons into the water to prove his status as an envoy.

After that, his journey was spent blindfolded in a jolting cart. He was then brought to a village settlement and placed in a room. The windows were sealed; he could not see what was outside, only knew that it was already dark. Calculating the distance, it should not be Yueyang, but rather the Five Tombs area.

"Either Yangling or Changling."

Yin Shi had already explained his purpose to the official in charge, yet he was left cooling his heels in this room for two whole days. Only when Yin Shi had grown thoroughly impatient did Diwu Lun unhurriedly summon him.

"Yin Cibo?"

Diwu Lun looked at the dignified envoy before him. Yin Shi was a handsome man, his features bearing some resemblance to Yin Lihua's — strange to say, Diwu Lun had also met Yin Lihua's full younger brother Yin Xing, yet he looked nothing like her at all.

"I, a foreign minister, have come by order of the Grand Chancellor to return the personal effects of the late General Yan, former Nayan Grand General, to Your Majesty."

Diwu Lun had someone accept and bring forward the sword of Yan You that Yin Shi presented.

Diwu Lun's bond with his first teacher, Yang Xiong, ran deep — it was not only the teacher's protective care for his disciple and the expectation that Diwu Lun was a "scholar of the realm" that moved him deeply, but also the affection born from over a year of daily life together in Xuanming Ward.

With Yan You, it was somewhat less. Though they bore the names of teacher and disciple, there had been little transmission of the Way or instruction; it was more a matter of Yan You lending books for Diwu Lun to read.

Yet when Diwu Lun drew the sword, he could still sense the lingering scent of blood upon it, and he could not help but feel a pang in his nose.

Yan You was a scholar-general; his ceremonial sword had never killed a man. To think that his teacher had used it to end his own life, dying as a martyr for a dynasty unworthy of such a sacrifice — Diwu felt an unbearable grief.

"Lord Erudite, the defeat at Wancheng was no fault of yours."

In his heart, Diwu Lun bore a grudge against Liu Bosheng, but aloud he sighed and said, "The Grand Chancellor is most considerate. I have always been on good terms with Wenshu, yet I never had the chance to know his elder brother before. What a pity."

"Propriety demands reciprocity." He put on an air of great magnanimity, and just as Yin Shi thought Diwu Lun was about to offer something in return, he laughed and said:

"Chang'an — that is my gift!"

"I have already withdrawn from Weinan, leaving the palaces and halls intact for the Grand Chancellor as a token of my sincerity. I trust he has seen it."

Diwu Lun no longer cared about giving offense. Since he meant to disgust the other side, he might as well go all the way.

Yin Shi grumbled inwardly. This man was indeed as crafty as they said. The ancients had a tale of buying the casket and returning the pearl; if taking the pearl and leaving the wooden casket counted as "intact," then Diwu Lun was welcome to his own version of happiness.

"Who would have thought that powerful clans and petty criminals in Weinan would falsely claim my orders, plundering the palaces until the treasuries were reduced to ruins? Truly lamentable."

The hatred of a slain teacher, the conflict of geography, how can one allow another to snore beside one's own bed... for all these reasons, friendship was impossible. Diwu Lun was actively preparing for war, and his men could strike Liu Bosheng mid-crossing at any moment — yet when Yin Shi raised the matter of "borrowing grain," he actually agreed at once!

"I shall begin preparations immediately. I only hope the Grand Chancellor can dispatch a general to lead men across the Wei to collect it."

Yin Shi knew this was a pretense; both sides were speaking in empty words. On this journey north, the one thing he truly wished to accomplish was simply this: to bring his younger sister back!

Suppressing the agitation in his heart — though the Yin clan had been destroyed by Dou Rong and others, it was he who had first beguiled their father into joining the rebellion, leading to the ruin of their family and his sister's abduction as a result. To ensure her reunion with Liu Xiu was a responsibility he had to bear.

"I beg Your Majesty to release my younger sister."

"Cibo, your misunderstanding of me runs deep!"

Diwu Lun shook his head and said, "The virtuous daughter of the Yin family is north of the Wei, safe and sound. She is a guest here, not a hostage... But I only hope that, as one good turn deserves another, the Grand Chancellor might also send back an old friend who has long been a guest among the Greenwood."

Yin Shi was taken aback. "Your Majesty means..."

"Cen Peng."

Diwu Lun had not forgotten this old friend. "The next time Cibo can bring Cen Junran with him, then your sister may cross the river south with you!"

PS: Tomorrow's update will be at 13:00.