Chapter 547: Changing Horses

(Previous chapter slightly revised)

"Though the court and the provinces lack hands, and the Inspectors of Bingzhou and Sizhou, even our dynasty's Right Chancellor, must all be drawn from former Xin old officials — such is the way of the world. Events converge; we can only uncover talent on one hand while pressing forward on the other. Contending for the realm is like rowing a boat against the current — you cannot afford to pause for long."

After a sigh, Diwu Lun said, "Enough of that. I summoned you back today, Wenyuan, to discuss a matter of great importance."

He said, "When the First Emperor of Qin swept clean the six kingdoms, his Chancellor Li Si proposed striking Han and Zhao first. Once Zhao fell, Han would perish; once Han perished, Jing and Wei could not stand alone; with Jing and Wei unable to stand alone, one stroke would ruin Han, gnaw at Wei, uproot Jing, and weaken Qi and Yan in the east."

"Yet the final sequence was Han and Wei first, then Zhao and Yan, and lastly the destruction of Chu and the submission of Qi."

"Today, Wenyuan, debate this with me: for our dynasty to unify all under heaven, how should we deploy our forces?"

Ma Yuan said, "First east, then west — that is the strategy Your Majesty has already settled. Could it be that there is a change?"

Diwu Lun laughed. "That is merely the grand direction. The concrete details — I am sharing them with another person for the very first time today."

As he spoke, Diwu Lun had Zhu Di spread out the broad square map of the realm. The "Six Kingdoms" of the present world were all upon it: the center was Wei; to the north, the vast Xiongnu, once more in control of the Western Regions, and their puppet Hu Han, firmly occupying the several commanderies of Shuofang. To the southwest was Gongsun Shu's Chengjia regime; Jingzhou held the petty King of Chu and Li; to the southeast was the newly proclaimed "Eastern Han"; and due east was the King of Qi, Zhang Bu, trembling in his boots.

The two men wore only their foot-wraps in the hall, and Diwu Lun now beckoned Ma Yuan to step onto the map with him.

Diwu Lun's steps moved east from Chang'an to Luoyang, the center of the world, and then he unbuckled the long Emperor's sword at his waist. Gripping the hilt, he tapped the tip of the scabbard once each upon Yuzhou, Yanzhou, and Hebei: "Since we must go first east, then west, we must mass great forces east of the passes. I intend to establish one army each in Yuzhou, You and Ji, and Yanzhou."

In the military system of the State of Wei, a division was ten thousand men; an army, typically counting in its supply train, ranged from fifty to a hundred thousand.

The scabbard tip in Diwu Lun's hand suddenly lifted from Hebei, then slammed down heavily upon Qingzhou!

"In the way of attack and seizure, begin with what is easy. At present, only Qi is easy to plan against."

"The Yellow River and the Ji River are shared with Wei; the Kangfu Pass is also in our army's hands; to its south, moreover, are the remnant Red Eyebrow bands of Mount Tai and Lu Commandery. Of the so-called twelve natural defenses of Eastern Qin, half are already gone."

"The present situation resembles when the Jin army once entered Qi and forced all its field furrows to run eastward — a vast plain with no defensible terrain. Add to that Zhang Bu's weak troops: with the You-Ji army, supplemented by cavalry auxiliaries, striking out from Bohai and Pingyuan, we can drive straight in unopposed!"

Diwu Lun abruptly drew back his left hand, his manner utterly assured: "From Jinan to Beihai — two thousand li of rivers and mountains — we shall sweep them all down in a single roll!"

Ma Yuan's eyes, however, did not look at Qingzhou, already a prize in Diwu Lun's bag, foolishly still sending him tribute of sea cucumbers and abalone. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Huaibei: "Zhang Bu will certainly be destroyed first. But when our army strikes Qingzhou, the King of Qi will surely beg Liu Xiu for aid. What then?"

"I'm afraid Liu Xiu won't come to his rescue — and that's exactly what I want!"

Laughing, Diwu Lun strode forward, step by step into Qingzhou, planting one foot on the river in Beihai Commandery named the "Wei River." His hand traced lines as he spoke: "If Liu Xiu sends a great army north into Qi, seeking decisive battle with our forces, we can recreate the situation when Han Xin fought Long Ju. If we can annihilate the Han army's main strength right here — this contest for the deer is as good as decided! This is Plan A!"

Ma Yuan shook his head slightly. "Plan A is swift, but from what I have observed, Liu Xiu will likely not go all-out to aid Zhang Bu."

There was basis for this. Earlier, Diwu Lun had received spy intelligence that Liu Xiu would hold his enthronement ceremony around the end of the fifth month at Sishui Village. Diwu Lun deliberately had Ma Yuan choose that very day to launch an eastward offensive. The result: Liu Xiu did not hesitate in the slightest, directly pulling his men back to Pengcheng, leaving only a force to annihilate one battalion of Wei troops that had pursued too closely.

After that, no matter how Ma Yuan tore down the Gaozu Temple at Sishui, Liu Xiu refused to be provoked. He patiently devoted himself to fortifying his Donghai and Huaibei defense lines. The Wei army, for its part, suffered from the Central Plains military colonies' incomplete recovery of production and insufficient grain supplies, and dared not advance deep alone. They withdrew before long, and both sides returned to their standoff along the Huai and Si rivers.

Ma Yuan began to game out Liu Xiu's likely response: "Liu Wenshu may send one contingent north to seize the strategic strongpoints of Langya Commandery, blocking our Qingzhou forces. He would then support Zhang Bu in falling back to Donglai and Jiaodong, using the hilly terrain to drag out a long campaign against us, while the Han main army remains on the defensive along the Huai and Si."

"Then we strike from here." Diwu Lun swiftly laid out his "Plan B": "The Yanzhou army drives east to strike Pengcheng, drawing Liu Xiu's main force."

But his true killing stroke lay to the south: "The Yuzhou army sorties from Runan, cuts across Huaibei eastward, seizes Linhuai, severs the Si River waterway, and then coordinates with the Yanzhou army to encircle and annihilate the Han army near Pengcheng!"

Two against one — this wouldn't be half-cooked rice, but thoroughly congealed porridge.

This was, in Diwu Lun's conception, the most likely decisive battle: fight one great battle with Liu Xiu in Xuzhou, fight him a "Huaihai" campaign! In this way, they could avoid the Wei army having to fight in the marshes and waters of Huainan. Once the Han main army ceased to exist, it could stir no great waves and would inevitably be abandoned by the regional strongmen. Victory could be decided within two or three years.

Plan B was the more probable scenario. Ma Yuan nodded, but then added, "And what if Liu Xiu still preserves his main force, abandons Huaibei, and continues to retreat, while Your Majesty's Yuzhou army is obstructed by his flanking detachment and fails to cut off his line of withdrawal?"

Ma Yuan had spent half a year at the front. Between stints of military farming, he had also received intelligence reports from the south. Liu Xiu seemed to pay considerable attention to his flanks, reinforcing cities and deploying considerable manpower to manage places like Linhuai.

"If that is the case, then this war will be rather devoid of enjoyment," Diwu Lun lamented. If Liu Xiu retreated again and again, hoping to trade space to stretch Wei supply lines and decide the outcome in Huainan, then Diwu Lun would pointedly refuse to give him a decisive battle. He would simply rely on the Yuzhou and Yanzhou armies to advance steadily, bit by bit forcing Liu Xiu back to Jiangdong, to cower in a corner.

But once that happened, the Wei army, being mostly northerners, would be unfamiliar with riverine warfare and prone to epidemics. Crossing the river lightly would likely be disadvantageous. The war of unification would then drag on for five or ten years.

Diwu Lun said, "At that point, Jiangdong could not be swiftly taken — to try would be to offer the enemy an opening. We would have no choice but to turn around, first extinguish the Chengjia regime, build up for several years, and then, with the overwhelming momentum of a cataract, send boats straight down the river from Ba and Shu, coordinating with troops from Huainan and Jiang-Han accustomed to river warfare. Only with multiple armies crossing the river could we destroy Liu Xiu in a single stroke!"

"So this strategy of mine — it appears to be 'first east, then west,' but in truth, it places equal weight on east and west."

Diwu Lun returned to the western side of the map: "In the coming years, while force is applied in the east, three things must be done in the west."

"First, train a new army in Guanzhong to be ready at all times, guarding against a joint northern incursion by Ba-Shu and Wu, and later deployable southward to crush the Chengjia regime. Second, there must be an army in Liangzhou. Recently, the Xianlian Qiang, incited by Gongsun Shu's strategists, have repeatedly risen in revolt. The various Western Qiang tribes have made peace and allied with them, and the Eastern Qiang, the Di people, and the dependent-state Hu are also stirring restlessly — Longyou must not fall into chaos. Third, the Xiongnu and Hu Han will never sit idly by and watch me unify the realm; they are bound to harass us, perhaps even coordinating with the Qiang to strike the four commanderies of Hexi. Therefore, Bingzhou must also have an army, to strike down Hu Han at the right moment and hold the Xiongnu at the river."

Only then did Diwu Lun voice his greatest difficulty: "In the east, I will be in Luoyang exercising overall command. But in the west, I need a great general to take charge and guard my back!"

This was also a choice born of Diwu Lun's helplessness. A gap had appeared in military and political talent; until it was filled, for a grand campaign requiring such fine control, he had to personally take overall command. No wonder, back when Liu Bang fought Xiang Yu, he did not stay in Chang'an but had to rush to the front lines himself...

Ma Yuan was a clever man. He cupped his hands and said, "Has Your Majesty already decided on a candidate for this great general?"

"That is precisely the matter troubling me. Geng Chun and Jing Dan are said to be accomplished in both pen and sword, yet they are more than adequate for governing a state, but somewhat lacking in the use of troops."

Diwu Lun offered his assessment: "Geng Yan is brimming with fighting spirit and can direct the military affairs of a province, but to coordinate three armies — he still falls a little short."

"Cen Peng is well-versed in military doctrine, steady in action, and occasionally produces a stroke of brilliance, but after all, he lacks a certain degree of prestige."

As for men like Wu Han, Diwu Lun did not even mention them. Everything was understood without a word.

"Wan Junyou, stationed in Guanzhong, is willing to take on the task of training troops. At the same time, he recommended to me one man capable of overseeing all military affairs west of the passes."

Hearing this, how could Ma Yuan fail to understand? He replied, "The man Junyou recommended is surely me! And the man Your Majesty wishes to use is also surely me!"

He knelt on one knee: "I possess three advantages. I am familiar with the lands west of the passes. In my early years, I traveled through Liangzhou; not only am I acquainted with the powerful families, I have even drunk with the Qiang and Hu. I know how to divide and rule them, and can pacify the Qiang revolts."

"I have also spent time in New Qinzhong and nearly slew Lu Fang. I understand how to deal with the Hu brigands."

"Furthermore, I am Gongsun Shu's fellow townsman and childhood friend. I know exactly how many moles Gongsun Ziyang has on his backside. Knowing him as I know myself, no matter how many routes he sends north, I can fight a hundred battles without peril."

Ma Yuan had said everything Diwu Lun was about to say, saving the Emperor the breath. Delighted in his heart, Diwu Lun added one more point for Old Ma. He helped Ma Yuan to his feet and said, "Wenyuan and I trust each other. When I move the imperial seat to Luoyang and sweep across the lands east of the passes, only with you guarding my back can I be at ease!"

"In that case, I cannot decline this duty of holding the west!" Ma Yuan bowed deeply and said, "I ask only two things of Your Majesty."

"Wenyuan, speak freely."

Ma Yuan pointed to the southwest on the map, to Ba and Shu: "If I am transferred west, I fear I will miss the various campaigns east of the passes. My only hope is that one day, Your Majesty will leave the Chengjia regime for me to destroy. I shall surely capture Gongsun Shu before the palace gates!"

Wan Xiu had said that Wu Han was fond of killing, fond of war, and fond of victory. Ma Yuan, in truth, merely lacked the first of those. Diwu Lun nodded: "It shall naturally be so. One day, Wenyuan may achieve the merit of Qin's Sima Cuo! And the second matter?"

Ma Yuan chuckled. "It is not that I am asking for an office, but... can this General of the Swift Cavalry of mine effectively command the 'General of Chariots and Cavalry' in Bingzhou?"

The General of Chariots and Cavalry was Geng Yan. Ma Yuan's relationship with him was complicated: mutual respect, yet mutual friction, with a constant undercurrent of veiled rivalry. Although Geng Yan was busy training troops in Bingzhou and his achievements could not match Ma Yuan's in the Central Plains, Ma Yuan recalled how he had nearly broken his lance at the great battle of He and Ji. That whelp Geng Yan was surely snickering to himself about it.

What Ma Yuan worried about was that his own military orders would not be obeyed.

"Wenyuan, do not fret."

Diwu Lun burst out laughing and revealed the truth: "Starting next year, Geng Yan will no longer be in Bingzhou!"

He pointed to the Hebei region on the map: "Though Qingzhou is a minor campaign, Zhang Bu still has tens of thousands of men under his command, and we may yet engage the Han army. Gai Yan likely cannot shoulder the burden alone. Using Geng Bozhao, this ox-slaughtering blade, to kill a chicken — that is just right."

Cavalry could shine brilliantly in Qingzhou. No one in this dynasty understood cavalry better than Geng Yan — even Ma Yuan had to admit that. But could Gai Yan, a man of the Yuyang faction serving as deputy commander, coordinate well with this young general? Ma Yuan felt a twinge of worry for that tactless, big lummox Gai Yan.

He pressed on: "Your Majesty has given the Hebei army to Geng Yan — then the commander of the Yanzhou army is…"

Diwu Lun solved another riddle: "Zhang Zong rendered no small merit on the He–Ji front and has already been appointed General Who Pacifies the East, placed at the tail of the weighty titles. He is in Yanzhou right now, gathering the surrendered Red Eyebrow troops and raising a new army."

"That being so, the Yuzhou corps must belong to General Who Guards the South, Cen Peng?"

Correct. Diwu Lun had already decided to merge the military affairs of all Yuzhou commanderies and hand them to Cen Peng, with General Who Sweeps the Wilderness, Zheng Tong, serving under his command — after all, the two had cooperated at Wu Pass and elsewhere and had ties.

In this there was also Diwu Lun's enormous personal bias: if things truly unfolded like Plan B and they fought a decisive battle with Liu Xiu at the Huai River, he hoped Cen Peng could claim this heaven-sent merit, making him the third pillar of the army after Ma Yuan and Young Geng!

Ma Yuan understood: "Then the general Your Majesty is transferring to Bingzhou to replace Geng Yan is… Wu Han!"

Wu Han would go north to Bingzhou, while Ma Yuan took over his mess and, incidentally, coordinated the military affairs of the three armies west of the passes to prepare for the future campaign against Shu — that was Diwu Lun's little scheme.

Diwu Lun smiled. "What does Wenyuan think of this candidate?"

Ma Yuan pondered, then said: "A general guarding Liangzhou must deal with the Western Qiang — the Xianlian, Lejie, Dangjian, Dangtian, Fengyang, Laojie, and all the other Qiang tribes, far more than a few score or a hundred groups. Each tribe wavers between war and peace, now foe, now friend. Add to that the Eastern Qiang, the Di people, the dependent-state Hu, and Han folk all living intermingled — a thousand tangled threads. And though Diba Jizheng is a worthy talent, he is far off in the four commanderies of Hexi and cannot easily enter Long to lend a hand."

So a fierce general like Wu Han, who can fight and knows only fighting, was often utterly baffled when facing the complex situation in Liangzhou, prone to mistaking friend for foe. Just like what he had done lately: while striking the 'bad Qiang,' he also struck the 'good Qiang' beside them, forcing them to flee to the enemy. In the end, he made his friends few and his enemies many — the gravest taboo in pacifying the Qiang.

"Bingzhou, however, is different." Ma Yuan smiled. "There is only one enemy: the Xiongnu, the Xiongnu, and again the Xiongnu!"

"Wu Ziyan has always had notoriously poor military discipline, which easily stirs public wrath in Liangzhou. But sending him north to deal with the northern barbarians — that counts as using evil to curb evil!"

Diwu Lun laughed heartily and ordered wine brought. His personnel arrangements had, after all, placed both civil and military men in suitable positions — coaxing those who needed coaxing, fooling those who needed fooling — and if all could be satisfied, that was good enough.

Moreover, rotating generals had one advantage: it could prevent troops from becoming the personal property of their commanders over the long term. According to what the Embroidered Uniform Guard had observed, Wu Han's troops, Young Geng's troops, even the troops under Ma Yuan's command all showed this tendency — sometimes even against the general's own will…

While drinking with Diwu Lun, Ma Yuan brought up one more matter: "Your servant ventures to ask one further question."

Ma Yuan inclined his head and cupped his hands. Since he was resolved to go west, there were some blunt words he wanted to speak in advance: "Wu Ziyan is now also General of the Rear, a man of high rank and heavy office. If he still behaves as he did in Hebei and refuses to obey your servant's orders, what then?"

"He dares disobey!"

Diwu Lun, however, did not answer directly. He only glared and slapped the table. "Issue the decree."

"Marshal of State Ma is to oversee all military affairs west of the passes, be granted the Yellow Battle-Axe, and appointed 'Grand General of the Agile Cavalry'!"