Chapter 404: The Tiger Leaves Its Cage

In late August, after offering sacrifices to Tian Heng at Yanshi and announcing the change of his surname, Diwu Lun continued eastward, arriving at Chenggao's Hulao Pass to inspect the defenses.

Yangquan Marquis Zhang Zong was stationed there with four thousand men. After Diwu Lun met him, he brought up a certain matter.

"I have heard it said that this place, Hulao, earned its name during the Zhou dynasty, when a tiger roamed the wilds, pouncing on and injuring men and livestock, clawing at war chariots. At that time, King Mu of Zhou was about to arrive, and a fierce warrior asked to grapple with the tiger, vowing to subdue it completely and return. He then seized the tiger alive and presented it to the Son of Heaven. The Zhou Son of Heaven ordered a pen and cage built here to keep the beast — thus it was called Hulao, the Tiger Cage."

Diwu Lun said to Zhang Zong, "You are the Tiger Might General. Some have advised me that your title clashes with the local name, and that you therefore cannot be the one to guard Hulao. What do you think?"

It did sound somewhat plausible — the mystique of clashing names had always existed. Diwu Lun's history was poor, and he could not cite many examples, but he did know of Fallen Phoenix Slope and the Fledgling Phoenix, or the Rotten Axe-Handle Cup and Ke Jie...

But Zhang Zong did not believe in such superstition. Cupping his hands in salute, he said, "Can a true tiger be confined by a mere pen and cage?"

Pointing eastward, he said, "The Greenwood's Liu Ci has surrendered to Liang Han and has now been enfeoffed as King of Zheng. With over ten thousand soldiers, he is entrenched in Xingyang City."

"Xingyang is a strategic stronghold, and the Jing-Suo region between it and Chenggao is like a cage. I request orders to march east and break that city — to let the tiger out of its cage!"

Zhang Zong's words were bold and stirring, and Diwu Lun praised him greatly: "Excellent! Worthy indeed of the Hedong Tiger!"

Yet regarding Zhang Zong's proposal to attack Xingyang, he remained noncommittal.

Henan Commandery is geographically divided into eastern and western halves. The west is "Zhou" — that is, Luoyang. The east is "Zheng" — precisely the area of Xingyang and Xinzheng. It would be the same two thousand years later: Luoyang and Zhengzhou, the twin cities of Henan.

However, the core of the Zheng region was no longer the old Han capital of Xinzheng, but rather the newly risen fortress city of Xingyang.

This was simply because Xingyang was far too critical. To the east, the Honggou Canal connected it to the Huai and Si Rivers. To the north, it leaned against Mount Mang, adjoining the Yellow River. To the south, it bordered the Suo River, linking to Mount Song. To the west, it passed through Hulao Pass to reach Luoyang. With its perilous terrain and convenient transport routes, it had been a place contested by military strategists through the ages.

Setting aside the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the most famous example was the Chu-Han Battle of Xingyang. After Liu Bang suffered a catastrophic defeat at Pengcheng, losing six hundred thousand men, he relied entirely on Xingyang to hold back the Chu army's offensive. Although he ultimately fled west using a group of women as cover, the two sides fought seventy major engagements and forty minor ones between Xingyang and Chenggao, ultimately reaching a stalemate. Only then did the Covenant of the Honggou Canal come about.

Zhang Zong thus proposed: "Those who aspire to contest the Central Plains have never failed to cast covetous eyes on this place to decide victory or defeat. Great King, your entry into Luoyang was to shield Henei, but if you do not take Xingyang, even if the fleet seizes Ao Granary, it will be difficult to hold."

"Conversely, if we can occupy Xingyang, there will be nothing east of Xingyang worth worrying about."

It was not only advantageous for defense, but would also lay the foundation for a future eastern advance. Since the Qin dynasty, Xingyang had been a water transport hub. The Honggou Canal drew water from the Yellow River at Xingyang and flowed southeast, converging with the Huai, Si, Ji, and Ru Rivers, linking Xingyang with Huaiyang, Dingtao, and even the Huai-Si region. Marching east from Xingyang, land and naval forces would advance unhindered, reaching the Liang capital of Suiyang in a matter of days!

But the other side was no fool. King of Liang Liu Yong was right beside the Honggou Canal and naturally understood Xingyang's importance.

"Liang Han also understands Xingyang's critical nature," Dou Rong said. "That is why Liu Ci abandoned Luoyang and Hulao, yet still holds Xingyang City. He has at least ten thousand Greenwood soldiers under his command, and Liang Han has also dispatched troops along the Honggou Canal to reinforce him. At present, Xingyang has gathered at least twenty thousand men."

In contrast, Diwu Lun's main forces were in Hebei and Taiyuan. On this battlefield, he could not even muster ten thousand men. Xingyang's terrain dictated that any fight there would be a grinding siege, a massive pitched battle. This was precisely why he had ordered his generals not to rashly venture east of Hulao.

"Once hostilities formally break out, I fear it will be just like the Chu-Han struggle — an endless, interminable fight between Xingyang and Chenggao."

Reason told Diwu Lun that the battle line could not be pushed forward any further.

The key lay in the opponent's mindset. If Liu Yong was as stubborn as a turtle biting down on a scale weight — utterly determined to march on Luoyang and contest the Central Plains — then this battle would have to be fought. But according to intelligence gathered by the Embroidered Uniform Commandant and the Sizhi, Liu Yong had only just proclaimed himself emperor, and his newly submitted territories were not yet stable. Judging by how this man had lain low within the Gengshi regime, quietly amassing power for over a year, he was probably not an impetuous person.

Diwu Lun immediately had an idea.

"We must make Liu Yong worry about his rear, throw his mind into turmoil, so that we can maintain equilibrium here. In this campaign, attacking the mind takes precedence; attacking cities comes second!"

Diwu Lun was not the only one in a dilemma. The King of Zheng, Liu Ci, who was defending Xingyang, and the Liang Han King of Chenliu, Su Mao, who had come to reinforce him, were also hesitating, unable to decide whether to advance or retreat.

These two had originally been nobles and generals under Gengshi, and had only switched allegiances the previous month. The various Greenwood chieftains had already become warlords. Surrendering to Liu Yong meant they could continue as petty local kings; surrendering to the Wei army might mean becoming mere wealthy householders. Although they knew Diwu Lun's power was great, they still clung to wishful thinking.

After changing their banners, morale was naturally not high — otherwise they would not have needed to abandon territory and retreat eastward all the way. Even though Liu Yong sent troops and grain from the Honggou Canal to support them, ordering the two to hold Xingyang at all costs, they had little confidence.

Thus, since the beginning of August, a strange "state of no warfare" had existed between Xingyang and Chenggao. The scouts on both sides had tacitly delineated their patrol ranges, doing their utmost to avoid provoking hostilities.

However, in recent days, with Diwu Lun personally arriving at Hulao, the situation had undergone some changes. The Wei army's scouts began to grow proactive, more aggressive. Liu Ci and Su Mao also discovered that, right before their eyes, Henei's grain ships were transporting load after load of provisions to Henan, and large numbers of civilians in Luoyang were being conscripted and rushed to Hulao!

This looked like preparations for a major battle! Their pressure redoubled. While requesting reinforcements from Liu Yong, they also pondered their escape routes...

But in the end, the battle did not materialize. Instead, they picked up some astonishing news.

"The King of Wu in Jiangdong, Liu Xiu, seeing that Gengshi has already collapsed and unwilling to submit to Liang Han, has dispatched an envoy to pay respects to the King of Wei, recounting their old friendship, and offering up an imperial title, expressing his willingness to serve as the Great Wei's King of Wu!"

Diwu Lun had indeed guessed correctly. Ever since Liu Yong had ascended the imperial throne on the northern bank of the Si River at Dingtao, he had been busy consolidating his internal affairs.

The commanderies truly under his control numbered no more than six; the rest were semi-independent warlords. There were even more places that had "submitted upon receiving a proclamation" — for instance, he had recently recruited the bandits entrenched in Taishan Commandery, merely issuing them the title of Governor.

The most powerful noble under his command was the King of Dong, Dong Xian, who was currently stationed in northern Xu Province and had no leisure to look west and contest Luoyang.

What was even more fatal was that the three men in whom Liu Yong had placed high hopes had responded to the royal titles he sent with marked coldness.

For example, Zhang Bu, who occupied the six commanderies of the Qi region, had gladly accepted the title of King of Qi, but Liu Yong's officials could forget about setting foot in Qing Province.

In the north, controlling Pingyuan, Jinan, and Qiansheng, were the remnants of the Red Eyebrows' Chi Zhaoping. Their leader was called Cheng Tou Zi Lu. Liu Yong enfeoffed him as "King of Jibei," but contrary to expectations, Cheng Tou Zi Lu paid no heed. Compared to Liu Yong, Cheng Tou Zi Lu seemed more interested in the "Copper Horse Emperor" in Hebei and his slogans.

As for Liu Xiu in the south, that went without saying. He had reportedly received Gengshi's posthumous edict and declared himself Prince Regent of the Greenwood Han, most likely hoping to attract more of Gengshi's remnant nobles to his side. This man had once deceived Liu Yong in the Liang Garden, and now, in all probability, he was setting up his own separate stove.

The only one who responded positively to Liu Yong's overtures was the King of Huainan, Li Xian. He was currently at war with the King of Wu, Liu Xiu, in Huainan, utterly beleaguered. Unwilling to also be hostile toward Liu Yong, he even hoped Liu Yong would send troops south to assist him.

North, south, west — Liu Yong had fallen into strategic hesitation, unsure which direction to attack, or whether to pause expansion and first digest the commanderies and counties that had submitted to him.

From Xingyang to Suiyang, thanks to the Honggou Canal waterway, transport was quite convenient, and the false news from the front quickly reached Liu Yong.

"This is impossible!"

Liu Yong grew angry, the tassels on his imperial crown swaying.

"Even if Liu Wenshu does not obey Us, he would absolutely never submit to Diwu Lun! He and Diwu Lun share the blood-debt of a slain brother!"

But the court officials of Liang who favored striking south first seized the opportunity. They painted Liu Xiu as a fickle turncoat: "Liu Xiu and Diwu Lun have a personal friendship; it is said they once exchanged jade pendants. His betrothed is imprisoned in Chang'an, but who knows if that is not a case of entrusting wife and child to the enemy?"

"Liu Xiu is skilled at deception. In Nanyang, he duped Liu Xuan to escape. In the Liang Garden, he deceived Your Majesty to hide himself in the southeast."

"Furthermore, how does Your Majesty's casual acquaintance with Liu Xiu compare to the relationship between Xiang Yu and Ying Bu?"

"Xiang Yu and Ying Bu were friends bound by life and death, who fought together at Julu. Yet when Chu and Han contended, Ying Bu hesitated and watched from Huainan, drawing Xiang Yu's reproach. And after meeting Emperor Gao's envoy, he actually raised his troops against Chu, striking at Chu's rear for the Han."

"Now Liu Xiu neither submits to Your Majesty, nor heeds Your Majesty's well-meant counsel, single-mindedly seeking victory in Huainan. If he is allowed to win, his power will surpass that of the King of Wu, Liu Bi. Even if he has not pledged allegiance to Wei and is merely willing to bow to Diwu Lun, the harm Liu Xiu poses to Your Majesty is worse than that of Ying Bu!"

"If Your Majesty contends with Wei in the Zheng region, it will drag on for months and years with no guarantee of success in seizing Luoyang, while your forces will be tied down, allowing Liu Xiu to grow powerful in the south! As we understand it, the main Wei army is currently campaigning in Hebei and has no leisure to look east. Why not seize this excellent opportunity to first pacify Yang Province? At the very least, we must drive Liu Xiu back to Jiangdong before we can be at ease."

Liu Yong still hesitated. His new court was sandwiched between Wei, the Red Eyebrows, and Wu. Defensively, he had strength to spare, but to take the offensive — attacking anyone seemed inadvisable.

But very soon, a piece of news from the south at least dispelled Liu Yong's plan to join the King of Wei in a hunt across the Central Plains!

"Order the King of Zheng and the King of Chenliu to defend Xingyang well. Under no circumstances are they to engage the Wei army!"

"Since the start of September, Liang Han has stopped sending troops and grain from the Honggou Canal to Xingyang?"

This news set Diwu Lun's mind at ease. Could it be that the rumor he had ordered spread was taking effect? He paid considerable attention to Liu Xiu. Although the distance was too great for him to interfere in the southern war, he would still occasionally trip him up or splash a bucket of dirty water to restrain Xiuer a bit.

If he could also trick Liu Yong along the way, making him focus his attention southward and clash with Xiur, that would be ideal — then Dou Rong could maintain the balance of power in the Central Plains for him, freeing his hand to sweep south after pacifying Hebei.

With matters in Luoyang concluded, it was time for Diwu Lun to return to the long-absent Wei territory, to Yecheng, and orchestrate a truly grand-scale campaign!

Yet just as Diwu Lun boarded the ship, about to cross the river northward, Huang Chang came hurrying over and, leaning close to his ear, reported a piece of news that had just arrived.

Big news from the south!

"Early last month, the King of Wu, Liu Xiu, raided Hefei via Ruxukou — this Your Majesty already knows."

"However, in late August, the King of Huainan, Li Xian, personally campaigned against Hefei, claiming a hundred thousand troops but in truth no more than thirty thousand. They clashed at Xiaoyao Ford in Hefei, and the Huainan army was actually defeated by the King of Wu with a force of only eight thousand!"

"The King of Huainan barely escaped with his life, fleeing back to Lujiang!"

"Liu Xiu has already seized control of Jiujiang Commandery, and before the year is out he may well take all of Yang Province!"

Listening to this detail-starved report, Diwu Lun could not help recalling a remark Zhang Zong had made days ago, when he had first arrived at Hulao.

A true fierce tiger — how could it stay forever caged in its pen? The Jianghuai region cannot hold him!

"Understood."

Diwu Lun's face remained impassive; he nodded, turned away — but still could not suppress a muttered curse.

"Xiur."

"You're hacking!"