Chapter 535: A Tripod's Three Feet

Qiang Circuit (present-day Zhouqu County, Gansu) is true to its name — a place where Qiang people gather. After the Qin dynasty brought it under court control, it was established as a circuit. Han and Qiang have long lived together here, but relations between the two sides have never been particularly friendly. This forced Qiang Circuit's county seat to be built on precipitous terrain: backed by cliffs to the east, overlooking steep ravines to the west and south, and leaning against hills to the north. Here, at this frontier mountain pass, the throat of the White Dragon River, walls and stockades were raised — a fortress stranded on the empire's outer fringe.

Beyond the walls stretched endless forests, grasslands, and stony flats. Qiang herders tended their sheep, singing ballads in the Qiang tongue.

"What are they singing about?"

Wei Ao heard it and asked someone nearby. The translation he got was: "The high mountains are green, the flowing waters long, the clouds billow and surge, the mist spreads boundless."

This Qiang song stirred Wei Ao's homesickness, yet in the distance loomed bare alpine crags and peaks capped with year-round snow. Blocked by them, Wei Ao's gaze could not reach Longyou at all.

Ever since Diwu Lun defeated him, Wei Ao and his remnant force of three or four thousand had been living in Qiang Circuit for over half a year. Because the White Dragon River runs through it, this place is a corridor linking the Western Qiang, Longyou, and Ba-Shu. Only its extreme remoteness makes it less important than the Qishan Road to the east, but it still cannot be left unguarded. So Emperor Gongsun enfeoffed Wei Ao as "King of Shuoning" and told him to bring his old troops and settle here. After all, this county theoretically still belongs to Longxi Commandery — it has become the final refuge of the Liangzhou faction.

Small Wei detachments tried several times to attack but were driven back each time by mountain torrents and blizzards. Yet the Longyou soldiers who had followed Wei Ao here felt no joy at all. Qiang Circuit was too harsh: the frost-free period lasted only a few months each year, the earth yielded little grain, and the disheveled Qiang women stirred no interest in them. Life was filled with tedium and bitterness. Many soldiers who had followed Wei Ao through seas of blood and blades of steel broke down under homesickness and hardship, and became deserters.

"When Liu Bang was enfeoffed in Hanzhong, on the road from Chang'an to Nanzheng, didn't dozens of generals and officers desert along the way? Even Han Xin nearly ran off, didn't he?"

Wei Ao consoled himself with this, but as a failure who could not even hold his own ground, how could he ever welcome the loyalty of a "Han Xin"?

As the fifth month arrived, the one piece of good news was that Fang Wang, the advisor who had gone into Qiang territory on Gongsun Shu's behalf to contact the Xianlian Qiang, had returned!

Fang Wang came back riding a Qiang horse. Unlike the horses of You and Bing provinces or the great Hequ steeds, this breed is slightly shorter but has a thicker coat, and it walks with surefooted steadiness even on rugged mountain paths.

Wei Ao went out personally to greet him. Before the dismounting Fang Wang could steady himself, Wei Ao strode over to speak with him. Fang Wang had offered much sound counsel in the past, but Wei Ao, out of hesitation, had failed to heed it. Now, he regarded Fang Wang as the key to whether they could fight their way back to their homeland.

"Sir, you have been gone nearly half a year. What is the situation in Qiang territory?"

Fang Wang said nothing. Only after they reached a private hall did he stroke his beard and smile. "The matter is all but accomplished!"

"I hear that the Wei general Wan Xiu's old wounds have flared up again. He fell gravely ill, nearly died, and can no longer manage affairs. He has already left Tianshui to return east to Chang'an for treatment. Diba Jiao is far away in Hexi. Military authority in Longyou has fallen entirely into the hands of the Rear General, Wu Han. As a battlefield commander, this man is a fierce general, but his governance of the commandery is quite mediocre. What's more, long accustomed to ferocity, whether dealing with Longyou's surrendered men or the chieftains of the subordinate Eastern Qiang and Hu peoples, he knows only how to win them over with personal bravado, never thinking to offer them real benefits."

"Toward the Western Qiang Xianlian, Wu Han is even more single-mindedly forceful. He is obsessed with martial exploits, gathering refugees in Hehuang, reviving military agricultural colonies, and pressing step by step toward Jincheng."

Fang Wang smiled. "When the Xianlian Qiang sent envoys demanding that Hehuang be returned to the Qiang for grazing, Wu Han flatly refused!"

"The Xianlian are the strongest tribe among the Western Qiang, with over ten thousand bowstring warriors and numerous marriage alliances. All three Qiang uprisings under the Former Han were connected to them. Seeing that Wu Han scorns the Qiang tribes and cannot be dealt with, the Xianlian King, in order to return to Hehuang, is willing to join hands with us! Under my persuasion, he has accepted Emperor Gongsun's enfeoffment as King of the Western Sea, ruling over the Qiang tribes."

This was what had happened over the past few months. Had either Wan Xiu or Diba Jiao been present to restrain Wu Han, things would never have come to this. But Diwu Lun was also occupied on the eastern front in the He-Ji theater. With Qiang affairs urgent, Wu Han simply made the decision on his own. Domineering as it was, the consequences it would bring were hard to foresee…

This news made Wei Ao exhale a long breath. When he had controlled Longyou, his policy toward the Qiang had been one of appeasement and conciliation, hoping to trade it for Qiang cavalry to join him against the Wei army. But back then, the Xianlian Qiang had chosen neutrality. Had the tide of fortune finally turned in their favor?

"Just as you foresaw, sir: Wu Han underestimated the Qiang, thinking them easy to deal with. The Western Qiang Xianlian will surely become a festering sore on Wei's western flank that never heals!"

That being the case, the Wei forces in Longyou would have no leisure to push south against Wudu and Qiang Circuit. Meanwhile, Wei Ao could coordinate with the Qiang to keep harassing Longxi. The dream of fighting back to his homeland seemed to hold a sliver of hope…

But there was one matter he had to warn Fang Wang about immediately.

"While you were away, sir, several major events occurred."

Wei Ao said, "Word has lately come that Diwu Lun has already defeated the Red Eyebrows and swept through Yu and Yan provinces. What is even more dire…"

"Diwu Lun has sent an envoy into Shu via Hanzhong. According to what my spies planted in Hanzhong have discovered, that envoy is none other than your old adversary, sir."

"Feng Yan!"

…

Feng Yan held a very high rank in Wei — he was the "Court Visitor" among the Nine Ministers.

Starting this year, however, Diwu Lun abolished the office of Court Visitor and split this institution overseeing foreign relations into two. The "Office of Dependent States" handles relations with the various barbarian, Yi, Rong, and Di polities, with specialists chosen for the task, the emphasis being on bridle-and-halter manipulation. Feng Yan, meanwhile, was made "Prefect Grand Herald," with sole charge of the various lords within China, the emphasis being on vertical-and-horizontal diplomacy.

This mission to the Chengjia state was Feng Yan's first assignment after receiving his new post — one he had actively sought out. Nominally, his salary and rank remained unchanged, but his authority had been halved for no good reason. Though dividing responsibilities made handling internal and external relations more convenient, Feng Yan was anxious in his own heart: if he did not prove himself soon, how much longer he could remain among the Nine Ministers was anyone's guess. As everyone knew, Diwu Lun never overstepped his bounds in local governance or military affairs, but when it came to foreign relations, he was most fond of tricks like "air-dropped handwritten orders" and "specially dispatched commissioners." Feng Yan only handled the execution; on grand strategy, Diwu Lun had his own plans in mind.

Thus the Prefect Grand Herald became a high-level errand runner. When Diwu Lun refocused on diplomacy in early summer and dispatched envoys in great numbers, the mission to Liu Xiu's side had to be Yin Xing — Feng Yan could not substitute. Petty powers like King Zhang Bu of Qi and King Qin Feng of Chu-Li Feng Yan disdained to visit. And so he came here, to Gongsun Shu's "rival state."

"Rival state" does not mean an enemy state, but a state of equal standing or power. Emperor Diwu and Emperor Gongsun, after all, had put on a pretense of mutual recognition and agreed to jointly resist the various Han claimants…

Now that unbreakable alliance had shattered. Feng Yan's mission on this trip was to come and stitch the rift back together — pretend to stitch it.

But unlike his last visit to Shu, when he had been warmly received and allowed to move about freely, on this entry into Shu, Feng Yan found it hard to stray more than a hundred paces from his carriage train. Gongsun Shu had assigned special agents to shadow him, terrified that Feng Yan might spy out the true conditions in Shu.

Thus cut off from all news by Gongsun Shu's men, Feng Yan was escorted all the way to a detached palace lodge outside Chengdu to reside. He was not immediately summoned for an audience. Only after two days did he meet the Chengjia Grand Chancellor, Li Xiong.

"Chancellor Li."

The Chengjia state had wholesale inherited the Xin Dynasty's system of offices, with the Grand Chancellor equivalent to the Chancellor. When Feng Yan had been on a mission in Shu before, he had gotten on well with Li Xiong privately, the two holding mutual admiration. Now, meeting again, Feng Yan flicked his sleeve and immediately began rebuking Li Xiong.

"In former days, when I, Yan, came as envoy to Chengdu, I honored your lord by elevating Gongsun to kingship on behalf of my sovereign, forging the Wei-Shu alliance. Afterward, the Chengjia state even sent black-and-white bears as gifts, pledging eternal amity. Yet before the blood of the covenant was dry, the Shu army launched a sneak attack on the Meridian Road and aided the Long traitor Wei Ao. The oath still rings in my ears — may I ask, Chancellor Li, is this the way a great state conducts itself?"

Li Xiong had no words to reply. Though in an age of great contention, mutual deceit is commonplace, if one must argue the point, their side had indeed been in the wrong first. He could only say with shame, "That Xiong was unable to prevent this matter is the pain of a lifetime! Whenever the night grows deep and all is still, I am often so ashamed I cannot sleep. The alliance you and I, Jingtong, built with our own hands has been torn apart by the slander of petty men!"

Feng Yan's read was that Li Xiong was simply going with the flow here.

According to intelligence reports, Feng Yan knew that within the Chengjia state there was a rift between the "northward advance" and "southward expansion" factions. The northward faction strongly advocated allying with Wei Ao to contend with Diwu Lun for the realm in Longyou and ultimately seize the Guanzhong region. That had now largely failed, but they still regarded Wei as the great enemy, believing Diwu Lun would sooner or later march south. They hoped to use Wei Ao and the Qiang tribes to tie down the Wei army and preserve Shu.

This faction had undoubtedly guessed Diwu Wei's strategy correctly — which was precisely why Diwu Lun had split the Court Visitor's office and specially established the Office of Dependent States to handle Qiang and Hu relations. With Wan Xiu returning east to recuperate, only Wu Han remained in Longyou. Word had it this rash general was handling the Eastern and Western Qiang rather roughly. That would not do; a specialist had to be sent to Longyou to guide him and implement the Emperor's policies.

The southward faction, on the other hand, was led by Li Xiong. From the very start, he had been convinced that Wei was too powerful and that there was absolutely no possibility of expanding north. Concentrating strength to build ships and straddling Jing and Yi provinces was the only way out. Toward Diwu Lun, they should feign compliance to buy time for the Chengjia state to grow strong.

Li Xiong's insight was not wrong. The trouble was that Gongsun Shu was too greedy — he wanted both north and south.

As a result, last year the Shu army suddenly turned against Wei and suffered a crushing defeat at the Meridian Road and Qishan Fort, losing the chance to contend for Liangzhou and advance into Guanzhong. Because the main forces and provisions had been shifted north, Li Xiong's campaign against Chu also ended in failure on the verge of success: they were actually defeated by King Qin Feng of Chu-Li at Yiling, and not a single sail of the hundred-plus ships returned.

Now the Chengjia state's eastern border had only expanded as far as Zigui County in Nan Commandery. They held two of the Three Gorges, but Qutang Gorge they could not break through no matter what. However, Wuling Commandery in southern Jing had been "subdued by proclamation" and nominally submitted to Gongsun Shu, giving Li Xiong's southward strategy a modicum of progress.

Li Xiong knew that Wei and Shu could never renew their former amity, but even if it was just for show, the peace between the two sides had to be maintained. Now that Feng Yan had entered Shu, it was better to make mutual use of this man, to make Gongsun Shu abandon his foolish fantasies of a northward advance, keep troops to hold the strategic passes — that was enough — and devote his energies to the south, where expansion was still possible!

So Li Xiong, disregarding all dignity, actually bowed again to Feng Yan. "Though the Chengjia state was discourteous first, Jingtong, as one of Wei's Nine Ministers, was willing to enter Shu again — surely you must harbor good intentions. I hope you and I can once more join hands, so that Wei and Shu may cast aside misunderstandings and return to their former friendship!"

Misunderstandings? Who has misunderstandings with you?

Feng Yan stroked his beard and said, "My journey south this time is not entirely to demand an accounting. The Wei Emperor was at one point furious and wished to fight a death-struggle with the Chengjia state. It was only thanks to my strenuous remonstrations that his anger has slightly subsided. But if Wei and Shu are to renew their alliance, His Majesty the Wei Emperor still has one condition!"

Li Xiong asked, "What condition?"

Feng Yan smiled, but his eyes carried killing intent. "The rupture between our two states arose entirely because of Wei Ao and Fang Wang. Since Wei Ao is now a vassal of Emperor Gongsun, the Wei Emperor does not wish to pursue the matter too far. But Fang Wang — a petty sophist and lobbyist who stirs up wicked counsel — has lately been detected in Longyou venturing deep into Xianlian territory to collude with the Qiang slaves. I hope Emperor Gongsun can have this man executed!"

"Kill one man, and the two states can return to amity — is that not a fine thing?"

…

"Sir, do you truly mean to go south?"

At the same time, outside Qiang Circuit's walls, Fang Wang had just returned from his long journey into Qiang territory. He had not even eaten a mouthful of food, yet was already in a hurry to head south to Chengdu. This made Wei Ao deeply worried.

"I must go!"

Though his face was full of exhaustion, Fang Wang forced himself to mount his horse.

"Feng Yan is a man of intellect, with a tongue as glib as reed instruments. Gongsun Shu is irresolute and indecisive — he may well be swayed by his words. What's more, the Shu Chancellor Li Xiong strongly advocates the southward push. He opposed Gongsun Shu taking in you, Great King, from the very start…"

Wei Ao was worried too: "Sir, how do you intend to persuade him?"

Fang Wang gritted his teeth and said: "I must enter Chengdu at once, convince Gongsun Shu to execute Feng Yan, sever ties with Wei completely, and establish friendly relations with Liu Xiu — ally with Wu against Wei. Only then will the three great powers of the realm have a hope of standing like a tripod!"