Chapter 306: Poured from a High Roof

The reason Wei Ao put on such an exaggerated show was, in truth, because he was genuinely very anxious.

From what Lai Xi had said, Wei Ao was by nature "benevolent and hesitant," the sort who would rather hole up in his den than ever come out — yet after being pushed by his clan and retainers onto the position of "Grand Marshal and Grand General" of the Western Han, countless hands forced Wei Ao to step forward whether he wanted to or not.

First was the pressure from within his own clan: his uncle Wei Cui, though nominally ranked below his nephew, was the actual controller of the regime. Some said that Liu Ying was the Wei clan's puppet, and Wei Ao was likewise Wei Cui's puppet. Unable to match Wei Cui in battle, Wei Ao could only maintain his position through reputation and by humbling himself before worthy men — and he was unwilling to accept this, seeking a chance to prove himself.

The previous month, seizing the moment while Diwu Lun was taking Hedong, and at Fang Wang's suggestion, Wei Ao personally marched east. The Right Fufeng, Lü Wei, who had already accepted the seal and cord of the Yuanshu Emperor, surrendered at the mere rumor of his approach — this success greatly boosted Wei Ao's prestige, and he had acquired a taste for it.

The Chencang area was the ancient capital of the Zhou dynasty and the Qin state, bordering Mount Qi to the north, with the fertile Zhou Plain beside it. It had long been called "Little Guanzhong." Although over a thousand years of development had brought serious soil erosion and a severe decline in soil fertility, making it unable to support too many people, sustaining an army of over ten thousand was still more than manageable.

But having reached this point — two months since founding their state, having swept through Longyou and Hexi — the Western Han regime had hit a bottleneck: any further advance could no longer be achieved by simply sending out proclamations!

Wei Ao had pondered this himself: "Fang Wang's strategy was originally to take advantage of the moment when Diwu Lun was locked in a death-struggle with the Xin Dynasty remnants to the east and the Greenwood to the south over Chang'an, and in the name of the Child Emperor, dispatch generals separately to march on Wudu, Jincheng, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang."

"Once Liang Province was unified, with strong soldiers and sturdy horses, we could plot to take Yizhou to the south and seize Bing Province to the north. In a year or half a year's time, holding the masses of three provinces, we could strike at the exhausted and broken Guanzhong, return to the old capital, and the great enterprise would be accomplished."

But with the Hu and Han in the north having been set up with a Chanyu, expansion toward Shuofang and Wuyuan in Bing Province via the New Qin region was basically hopeless. Instead, they had to worry about Lu Fang sweeping south with the Xiongnu's momentum — though fortunately, the Xiongnu's interest was currently mainly in Yunzhong and Dingxiang.

The south had also suffered a setback. Wudu Commandery, south of Longyou, belonged to Yizhou. It had initially accepted the Western Han's proclamation, but after the Greenwood Han entered Hanzhong and "killed" Wang Mang, Wudu also accepted the Greenwood Han's seal, wavering between the two.

Further south, in Ba and Shu, Gongsun Shu had declared himself Governor of Yizhou, repelling the general Liu Xuan had sent to pacify him. He claimed that the Han soldiers plundered, burned houses, and abducted women — that these were bandits and raiders, not a righteous army. Gongsun Shu thus declared he would "defend the commandery and guard himself, awaiting the true lord." This man had great ambitions of his own, and after obtaining the imperial jade seal, his ambitions swelled; he also ignored the Western Han's proclamations.

With Liu Bosheng entering Guanzhong, it was very likely he would attack Chencang to seize grain for the winter and then cast his eyes on Longyou. This made the Wei clan extremely nervous, and they could no longer spare any thought for expansion.

But today, Lai Xi's visit had delivered a great gift to Wei Ao!

After Lai Xi had reminisced with Wei Ao, he explained in detail that Liu Bosheng was unwilling to make an enemy of Longyou, and instead proposed an alliance to strike Diwu Lun together and divide his territory.

"Ji Meng shall take Right Fufeng and Jingzhao for himself, while Bosheng only wishes to obtain Left Pingyi, to match the title of King of Pingyi!"

Liu Bosheng had finally realized that Weinan was a complete mess, and that the current state of Chang'an was something they absolutely could not clean up. At Deng Chen's suggestion, he now planned, after defeating Diwu Lun, to move north of the Wei River and occupy the grain-producing lands. There were also many detached palaces north of the Wei — where couldn't his colonels and their men stay? He could also then cast his eyes on Hedong; only thus could a dead end be turned into a living path. As for Jingzhao, whoever wanted it — the Wei clan or Liu Xuan — could take it! Even the Shanglin Park had already been carved up by the powerful families of Weinan and held no great value anymore.

Wei Ao feigned hesitation. After seeing Lai Xi off to rest, the strategist Fang Wang, who had been behind the curtain, immediately stepped out, unable to contain himself, and bowed to Wei Ao: "Congratulations, Grand General!"

"What cause is there for joy?"

Wei Ao shook his head and said: "Though Lai Xi is a man trusted by all under heaven, whose words are never false, and he says that Liu Bosheng, unlike Liu Xuan, will not attack Longyou — I believe him!"

"But not fighting now does not mean not fighting later. Liu Bosheng is proud and arrogant, unwilling to be beneath Liu Xuan — how could he possibly submit to our foolish, idiot emperor? Between Longyou and Liu Bosheng, a battle is inevitable."

With Liu Bosheng having waded in to test the waters, Wei Ao now also felt that the old Liu Xin's cherished dream of "returning to the old capital" was unreliable. Chang'an was a hot potato; they absolutely must not touch it in the short term!

It was already the autumn chill of September, but Fang Wang still waved his palm-leaf fan and smiled: "Then does the General wish to answer Wang Yuan's request and help Diwu Lun?"

Wei Ao said: "Wang Yuan has already sided with Diwu Lun. He came on Diwu Lun's orders, speaking of how when the lips are gone the teeth grow cold — he cannot be trusted! Diwu Lun detained Liu Gong, claiming it was to let him recover from illness as a guest. Toward the chancellor's seal we sent him, he neither accepts nor refuses, yet he seized the chance to take Hedong, linking it with Henei and the Wei lands into one contiguous territory, occupying the fertile soil of the Sili region. If he wished, he could raise a hundred thousand armored soldiers! This man's ambition is already apparent, and his strength is sufficient — he cannot possibly submit to serve under another."

"Exactly!" Fang Wang clapped his hands. No matter who won, it would be disadvantageous to Longyou; their best course was to tilt the scales from the middle.

"Liu Bosheng is fierce and valiant as a tiger; Diwu Lun is cunning and crafty as a wolf. When tiger and wolf fight, I see the odds of this battle as roughly even."

"If Diwu Lun is about to win, then we shall help Liu Bosheng, to help him maintain his position; if Liu Bosheng is about to win, we shall give Diwu Lun a hand, to let him hold Weibei."

Best to keep them locked in this tug-of-war, using Liu Bosheng to wear down Diwu Lun, and Diwu Lun to block the Greenwood Han's westward advance, until their strength is utterly exhausted!

"The tiger and the wolf are just now devouring an ox; when the sweet meat is eaten, they will surely fight. In the struggle, the larger one will be wounded and the smaller one killed; then, stabbing them as they nurse their wounds, one blow can surely slay both beasts!"

"I am of the same mind." Wei Ao nodded.

Fang Wang further advised: "When the two sides clash, no clear victor will emerge in less than ten days or a month. While the Grand General stations troops at Chencang to watch for the outcome, Longyou cannot simply wait idly and let a fine opportunity slip away. We should take advantage of Diwu Lun being too preoccupied to look elsewhere and immediately dispatch troops from Anding, crossing the great plateau to seize Beidi Commandery!"

"Though Yuan She and the Fu and Gan clans have already honored the Yuanshu Emperor as Son of Heaven, Yuan She has old ties with Diwu Lun's subordinate Wan Xiu, and they exchange glances. It would be better to send troops to directly take control."

"Beidi's terrain is high, ringed by mountains and threaded with waterways, with routes connecting land and water. If we can take it, descending south into Guanzhong will be like pouring water off a high roof!"

Fang Wang waved his palm-leaf fan and began his "Chencang Strategy" with Wei Ao.

"After Diwu Lun and Liu Bosheng have exhausted each other for half a year, then dispatch a senior general to lead the cavalry of the six commanderies toward the Five Tombs and Yueyang. Occupying the heights and looking down, it will be like water in a bottle tipping and pouring down from a high story — unstoppable."

"The Grand General himself shall lead the masses of Longyou east out of Chencang. The common people, having suffered bitterly from the tiger and wolf, who would dare not welcome the General with baskets of food and pots of drink? If this is truly so, we shall surely take all of Guanzhong, and the Wei clan's hegemony can be achieved!"

Just as the ten-day deadline was about to arrive, Liu Bosheng finally received Lai Xi's reply.

After reading it, Deng Chen said joyfully: "Lord Lai has persuaded Wei Ao. In this battle, those fellows will at least remain neutral to both sides."

"What 'neutral to both sides' — I see they plan to wait until we're fighting fiercely and then reap the fisherman's profit."

Liu Bosheng did not place much hope in this fragile peace. Guanzhong was a three-legged tripod; the Wei clan and Diwu Lun could both afford to drag things out — he alone could not.

War was now inevitable. After falling into the trap at Chang'an, he had resolved never again to move according to Diwu Lun's designs. Chencang was also a trap; once they clashed with Longyou, they would inevitably be attacked from both front and rear. Only by charging straight toward Weibei could he foil Diwu Lun's plans and break out of the cage!

This was the final council of war before battle. They were all seasoned hands who had fought for a year, having experienced defeat and also won great victories. They were quite adept at pointing out strategies and arranging tactics.

"The powerful families of Weinan have either submitted, content to swallow the bait of the Shanglin lands, or, if unwilling, have been detained as hostages. Over ten thousand men have been gathered as militia. Though these men cannot be used for great tasks, they can still transport supplies and bolster our show of force."

"The various battalions and companies of the three armies have all been allotted palace quarters and grain. Having eaten their fill for several days, the soldiers' hearts are settled for now. They have all been concentrated at several points to prevent the enemy from launching a surprise attack."

"No." Liu Bosheng stroked his beard. "The main army shall assemble in the rear, but the vanguard by the banks of the Wei River shall be dispersed."

"Is this to lure the enemy into attacking?"

"Lay the bait down first; whether the fish takes the hook is another matter. If we can trick one or two detachments into crossing the river to attack, we can seize the initiative and boost morale before the main army crosses the Wei."

In this, Liu Bosheng truly resembled Xiang Yu: strategically proud and arrogant, yet tactically quite meticulous — all honed through Wang Mang's repeated dispatches of over a hundred thousand Xin troops, wave after wave, with Liu Bosheng often fighting against superior numbers.

"The vanguard, the Garrison Cavalry Battalion of three thousand horse, has already reached the point where Zhouzhi borders the Wei River."

"They are Lord Lai's men." Liu Bosheng smiled. Only Lai Xi could keep these surrendered soldiers thoroughly in line.

After several days of feeding the horses and sharpening the weapons, all preparations were complete. So where would the first battle be struck?

Liu Bosheng looked to the eastern side of the map: "Send a man to tell General Wang Chang: on the tenth day of the ninth month, I ask him to attack the Capital Granary at Huayin!"

"Before the tenth month, I wish to meet General Yanqing at Yueyang, and together sing the 'Autumn Wind Song'!"

"Though the enemy may use the tactic of making a feint to the east while striking in the west, the east cannot be ignored. Dou Rong can only guarantee that Hedong is not lost; as for Hexi and Huayin, I entrust them to you, Sunqing!"

This was Diwu Lun's instruction to Jing Dan. His capable and battle-tested generals, Geng Yan and Wan Xiu, had to be placed in the west and at the front. For the east, which was very likely a diversion, there was for the moment no one who could take sole charge. Diwu Lun thus boldly appointed Jing Dan.

It was true that the Imperial Counselor Jing Dan was accomplished in both civil and military arts, well-read in the books of war, and had practiced many times while serving as an official in Shanggu Commandery, repeatedly defeating invading Xiongnu and Wuhuan raiders alongside the army. But this was also his first time commanding an army of over five thousand men, and he was somewhat uneasy. After receiving Diwu Lun's appointment, he immediately rushed east with his deputy commander, Diqi Biao.

Diqi Biao despised Feng Yan and was not even particularly deferential to the "young whelp" Geng Yan, but he was still fairly respectful toward Jing Dan. He knew of Jing Dan's friendship with Diwu Lun. In Diqi Biao's humble days, whenever Jing Dan visited Linqu Village as a guest, Diqi Biao had attended to him, calling him "Lord Jing" at every turn — which had now changed to "Sunqing." Although Jing Dan was honored as one of the Three Excellencies, who cared when their marquis ranks were equal?

So though they had a personal bond and could still discuss matters when issues arose, that did not stop Diqi Biao from speaking wildly.

"Apart from the Battle of Linjin, Sunqing hasn't fought any other major battles, has he?"

Jing Dan shook his head. Diqi Biao grew even more self-satisfied: "That Sun Qing missed far too much after leaving Guanzhong back then. Since I followed the Great King to New Qinzhong, I've fought over ten great battles and scores of small skirmishes…"

"Great battles" meant engagements of a hundred men or more; "small skirmishes" counted even the dirty work and underhanded strikes he carried out for Diwu Lun.

Diqi Biao swept his hand grandly: "In that case, when the time comes, Sun Qing can simply hold the central command and watch me engage the enemy!"

Jing Dan nodded, smiling without speaking, but his mind was already calculating.

Diwu Lun was still short of officers and commanders — every mule and horse had to be driven into the line. He had specifically assigned Jing Dan to work with Diqi Biao because he valued Jing Dan's status as an "old friend of the King of Wei." Diqi Biao bullied the weak and feared the tough; he could still listen to a word or two from Jing Dan. Had it been anyone else, Brother Biao would have floated clear up to heaven.

But the Palace Gentleman Zhang Yu, who stood behind Jing Dan, was already cradling the "Imperial Secretariat Horse-Slaying Sword" bestowed by Diwu Lun.

"If Diqi Biao refuses to obey orders, Sun Qing, bind him if you must, kill him if you must!"

The words rang with finality, and Diqi Biao had been given strict personal warnings as well — yet Jing Dan felt it would not come to such extremes.

Jing Dan was no longer the minor Literary Clerk of years past. He had his own ways to bring Diqi Biao meekly to heel. He merely smiled and said, "My thanks to the General. But since this is my first time as a commanding officer, I must learn a thing or two — otherwise, wouldn't I have come all this way for nothing? How about this: on this expedition to Hexi and Huayin, let me handle the minor matters, so I can get more practice."

"And the major matters shall be yours to command, General. What do you say?"

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PS: Chapter 2 at 18:00.