Chapter 559: Uncle and Nephew

East of the Three Gorges, after the Yangtze flows past Jiangling through the twisting, tortuous Jing River, it begins to flood, and river and lake blur into one — thus was born the great Yunmeng Marsh, stretching some nine hundred li east to west and no less than five hundred li north to south!

In ancient times, this vast lake bore witness to the rise and fall of countless states. Long ago, when the Wu army entered Ying, the King of Chu saved his life by fleeing into the marsh. And in the Han dynasty, Liu Bang, feigning a pleasure trip to Yunmeng, seized Han Xin, bound him behind a chariot, and carried him off into house arrest.

Now, a naval battle that would decide the fate of two kingdoms was unfolding on the shores of Yunmeng Marsh. On the lake surface near Huarong County in Nan Commandery, two fleets clashed fiercely.

The northern force was the native fleet of the King of Chu Li, mostly conscripted local boats and sailors, mustering a full "fifty ke" — that is, one hundred and fifty warships.

Though the Han fleet had slightly fewer vessels, most were collision-specialist mengchong with deep drafts, along with great-wing ships built in two tiers: on the lower deck, bare-chested oarsmen worked the sweeps and sculls; on the upper deck, several stout officers led over a hundred armored soldiers, either loosing concentrated volleys from powerful crossbows and stiff bows at the enemy ships, or using grappling hooks and other naval implements to try to latch onto the foe and fight at close quarters.

The southeastern Wu region had always been a land of boats and oars, and the Jiangdong men's skill in water and seamanship was in no way inferior to that of the Jing-Chu lads. Moreover, half the Chu army's ships were still at Yiling and Jiangling, holding off the Cheng family's towered warships, so for a time they were outmatched. Many vessels caught fire, and even the largest great-wing ship was rammed hard amidships by a Han mengchong — its bronze-sheathed sharp ram smashed through the hull planks, wrecked the oar ports, and lake water poured ceaselessly in…

In just over a shichen, the naval battle ended in a resounding Han victory. Seeing their few remaining dozen battered ships break away from the chaotic battlefield, not daring to enter Huarong but fleeing toward Jiangling, the Han fleet did not pursue far. After the main force of the fleet landed, they moved to secure Huarong's county seat and hurriedly repair the burned docks; some vessels also turned back south to notify the large ships on Yunmeng Marsh's southern shore that they could begin ferrying troops across.

In a mere three days, Feng Yi had landed an army over ten thousand strong in full at Huarong County, setting foot on the soil of northern Jing.

The colonel who had won first merit was brimming with excitement and prostrated himself before Feng Yi: "General, fifty li west lies Jiangling! Your subordinate has scouted it thoroughly — besides the water route, there is a Huarong byway that can reach the city's outskirts! We can surely seize the city before the Shu army!"

The soldiers, who had been stuck south of the river for nearly a year, had long heard that Jiangling was Jingzhou's richest city — where carriage hubs struck together, commoners' shoulders rubbed in the streets, market roads jammed and jostled, and morning finery was shabby by dusk.

Feng Yi's army was already considered to have fairly good discipline, but sacking a great city and letting the soldiers plunder for several days was still an unwritten rule. After all, Liu Xiu, unlike Diwu Lun, had not received a gift of several hundred thousand jin of gold from old Wang Mang. The impoverished Han Son of Heaven relied on the support of powerful clans and dared not pull off something like directly granting land. What's more, many commanderies and counties in Jiangdong were sparsely populated and hardly lacked farmland — even if he offered to divide it, the soldiers might not necessarily want it!

Facing the officers' ardent gazes, Feng Yi finally revealed the truth.

"We are not going to Jiangling."

His finger pointed north: "We strike north toward Jingling, then follow the Han River northward and take Xiangyang directly!"

"Xiangyang?"

The men looked at each other in bewilderment. Lacking Deng Yu's strategic vision, a good half of them had never even heard of this paltry place; the other half leaned over to tell their comrades just how poor and remote this county was, while Wan…

"Even if Jiangling could later submit to Han without a fight, if the Cheng army takes it first, they'll surely loot it down to an empty shell — grain, gold, silks, women, the Shu people won't leave a shred for us!" The colonels grew frantic. Charging into Jiangling to plunder their fill was, to begin with, their greatest motivation for fighting this war. Now, hearing that General Feng meant to spurn fat meat and gnaw on bones, they were all burning with frustration.

The morale that had been so vigorous and lively on Yunmeng Marsh just moments ago instantly wavered. Some colonels even began wrangling over who would get the assignment to hold Huarong. Over these three years, the problem of soldiers belonging to their commanders rather than the state was, under Liu Xiu, only more severe than under Diwu Lun — everyone scrambled for the profitable jobs, while the tough fights could be left to others.

Feng Yi had no choice but to keep coaxing his colonels: "Jiangling may indeed have been the richest place in Jingzhou in the past, but no longer. That King of Chu Li, Qin Feng, is a native of Liqiu in Xiangyang County. The man is attached to his hometown, and after declaring himself king, he kept Liqiu as his capital. All of Jingzhou's wealth is concentrated in the tiny area of Xiangyang and Liqiu. The walls are not as thick as Jiangling's — once we take it, aside from the portion due to His Majesty the Emperor, the Chu state treasury can be shared among you all!"

After much cajoling and finally steadying the army's morale, Feng Yi felt even more keenly how immensely difficult this task was. Xiangyang still lay four hundred li away. The reason Feng Yi had chosen such a route was that they could advance along the Han River, with the fleet carrying grain and fodder to supply the three armies.

But this also meant they would encounter a string of stoutly defended cities along the way. Whether they could successfully smash through the Chu army and reach their destination, Xiangyang, was still unknown — to say nothing of facing their true enemy: the Wei army under Cen Peng's command!

"In this hunt, Cen Peng's bows are strong and his horses fat, and his route is shorter. Our only advantage is strategy."

Feng Yi could only hope that Liu Xiu's other two columns would produce a miraculous effect.

Especially Deng Chen.

Feng Yi thought to himself, "I wonder how the meeting between Deng Wei Qing and his nephew went?"

…

Now, as for Liu Xiu's brother-in-law Deng Chen, ever since receiving his orders to travel west, he had pressed on day and night. He first slipped into Greenwood Mountain from Sui County and the surrounding area, then, disguised as a wandering gallant, entered the territory of the King of Chu Li. After many twists and turns, with great difficulty, he finally reached Deng County at the end of the first month.

Before coming to Xiangyang and Deng County, Deng Chen had always harbored doubts about Deng Yu's strategy — after all, not everyone could imprint the realm's terrain and mountains into their mind the way the Grand Chancellor Deng could.

Yet after making the journey in person, Deng Chen was utterly convinced by the Grand Chancellor!

He saw the Han River flowing slowly down from the upper reaches to the northwest; blocked by mountains, it suddenly bent southward near Xiangyang, its current growing swift. The Xiangyang fortress guarded the crucial waterway by which the Han River descended into Jingzhou.

And all the rivers of Deng Chen's homeland, the Nanyang Basin — no matter which one — miraculously converged at Xiangyang to join the Han River. In this age, water transport was always the most convenient way to move grain. If the great army of the State of Wei wished to march south, it had to pass through Xiangyang.

Even if they wanted to abandon the water and march overland, it was impossible, for the surrounding Wudang Mountains, Greenwood Mountains, Tongbai Mountains, Jing Mountains, and a series of other ranges made it seem as though the mountains closed their jaws at Xiangyang, leaving only a very narrow passage southward.

Deng Chen thought to himself, "Sui County is pinched between Greenwood and Tongbai — hard going. For a Wei army of over ten thousand to advance south, apart from Xiangyang, there is practically no other road to take!"

No wonder that as far back as the Spring and Autumn period, Chu had established a fortress here called "Northern Ford Garrison," meaning "Chu's northern ford" — this was the predecessor of Xiangyang. And during the Warring States period, after Chu began to weaken, they built Deng County north of the Han River to serve as mutual lips and teeth with Xiangyang.

In the Battle of Yan-Ying where the Qin general Bai Qi smashed Chu, he first breached Deng County, then took Yan and Ying.

Deng Chen grew excited: "If my nephew Deng Feng can defend Deng City to the death and hold Cen Peng for three months… no, just two months! Feng Yi and Wang Chang and the others can take Xiangyang first."

Once this strategic intent was realized, the lock and key between north and south would fall into Han hands — not only could they block the Wei army from coming south, but a future counterattack to retake their Nanyang homeland would also be well within reach!

But the prerequisite for all this was that he could persuade the local defending commander, Deng Feng.

Deng Chen had always harbored complicated feelings toward his own nephew. They were indeed close kin: after his elder brother died young, Deng Chen had raised Deng Feng, teaching him both civil and martial arts — their bond was like that of father and son.

But four years ago, at the Battle of Tongyuan, the Deng clan's assault failed and was checked by the Wei general Jing Dan. Deng Chen had intended to withdraw his troops and return to Liu Bosheng's side to share his fate, but Deng Feng knocked him unconscious and seized command. After returning to Nanyang, with the support of the Gengshi Emperor Liu Xuan, he simply sidelined Deng Chen and became the true head of the Xinye Deng clan.

Deng Chen was both grateful that his nephew had saved the Deng clan and resentful that he had made him break his oath. When the Red Eyebrows entered Wan and the Nanyang powerful-clan order collapsed, uncle and nephew immediately parted ways: Deng Chen went to follow Liu Xiu, while Deng Feng chose to stay behind, leading the various Nanyang clans in a head-on struggle against the Red Eyebrows!

Today, when Deng Chen entered Deng County, he saw the whole city on high alert, thick with the atmosphere of an impending great battle. Everywhere he looked, he saw old acquaintances, clan retainers, former friends — but the way they looked at him was like…

"Looking at a deserter!"

A deserter indeed — at the most critical moment, he had abandoned them. Deng Chen might explain it away with "greater duty and lesser duty cannot both be satisfied," but those burning stares still made him utterly ill at ease.

In the end, Deng Chen could only console himself with these words: "I have come not only for the sake of the great Han, but also to save you all from the sword's edge."

The situation was clear: the King of Chu Li was being attacked from three sides, and his fall was only a matter of time. For the several thousand troops under Deng Feng's command, aside from submitting to the "Han" founded by fellow Nanyang men, was there any better choice?

"Uncle."

A low voice interrupted Deng Chen's thoughts in the reception hall. He looked toward the doorway and saw his own nephew enter, clad in armor. He looked the same as ever — resolute features — but years of campaigning had left scars on his face. The worst was a long saber scar on his left cheek, crawling across his face like an earthworm; the jade-like countenance of old was gone.

Seeing Deng Chen, Deng Feng did not offer a formal greeting, only nodding slightly: "By clan relations, your nephew ought to perform the full rites before his uncle. But today, you and I belong to two different states, each serving his own lord — forgive Deng Feng this discourtesy."

Deng Chen sighed with emotion: "Fengxian, do you still resent me for abandoning Nanyang back then and taking half the clan away from you?"

Deng Feng answered in a stiff tone: "How would I dare? As the saying goes, a great clan with a prominent surname should never put all its eggs in one basket. Uncle, you and Deng Yu joining Han gave the Deng clan another path out."

"It is not too late — Fengxian can still walk this great road!" Deng Chen earnestly urged, arguing that a weakened Chu, struck from three sides, was doomed to fall. The implication was that if Deng Feng and his followers wished to survive, they would have to change masters.

"Uncle has come too late." Deng Feng laughed coldly. "The Cheng Emperor Gongsun Shu and the Wei general Cen Peng have both already sent men to persuade me. Gongsun Shu offered me a feudal lordship; Cen Peng offered to restore the Deng clan's Nanyang lands and estates. I refused them both. Does Uncle know why?"

Deng Feng laid out his position plainly: "First, the year before last, when the Red Eyebrows entered Wan, Uncle, Liu Xuan, and the rest fled in panic. Only those unwilling to abandon their native soil remained and gathered around me to resist the Red Eyebrow bandits together. At the worst, we were besieged by a hundred thousand men, fighting as we retreated. After we lost Xinye, only Deng City was left. It was only because the King of Chu Li took us in that we were not wiped out by the Red Eyebrows. I consider myself a man of stature — I have yet to repay this debt of gratitude sufficiently. How could I, in a moment of crisis, betray the King of Chu Li just to sell myself for a good price?"

"The envoys of Cheng and Wei I drove away — and the envoy of the Han Emperor as well!"

Deng Chen shook his head: "Then how does Fengxian plan to break this deadlock? With Cen Peng's great army pressing south on Deng City and the Han army attacking Xiangyang from the north, you can hold out for a while, but can you hold out forever? In the end, you will still have to rely on outside power."

Deng Feng remained silent. Indeed, no matter how you looked at it, the power he was attached to was a deer awaiting slaughter, unable even to save itself, while Deng Feng himself, facing Cen Peng's great army, was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

But he did have one last resort — if it could even be called that.

Deng Feng pointed outside the hall and suddenly asked, "Does Uncle know the origin of this Deng City?"

Bearing the surname Deng, Deng Chen certainly knew: "It was where the remnants of the Deng state, destroyed by Chu, dwelled — hence the name."

Deng Feng pressed on: "And the State of Deng — why did it fall?"

Deng Chen froze. Deng Feng went on as if to himself: "King Wen of Chu was the Deng marquis's nephew. He marched north to attack the State of Shen and passed through Deng. A Deng grandee urged the marquis to seize the chance and kill the King of Chu, lest Chu destroy Shen and then turn on Deng. Marquis Qi of Deng refused the counsel, saying, 'He is my nephew; he would never harm me in the end.' As a result, when King Wen of Chu returned from his campaign, he conveniently wiped out Deng on the way."

"This shows that kinship ties — whether uncle and nephew or uncle and nephew by marriage — are unreliable. Does Uncle still not understand?"

With that, Deng Feng suddenly clapped his hands. At the signal, the men waiting outside the hall surged in, forced Deng Chen to the ground, and bound him tightly with ropes. The scene at Tongyuan, where the nephew betrayed the uncle, was playing out once more!

The turn of events was far too sudden. Deng Chen had assumed that even if his persuasion failed, he could still leave safely by virtue of their kinship. He never imagined it would come to this. For a moment he was stunned, then burst out cursing: "Deng Fengxian, what do you mean by this?"

Deng Feng laughed aloud: "Han and Wei are fighting over Jing-Xiang, but southern troops have a hard time coming north. Uncle has come here surely hoping that I will hold off the Wei army — the longer, the better."

"But what Uncle probably never imagined is that Wei agents have long since spread throughout Deng City, inside and out. Seizing the gates and breaching the passes might still be beyond them, but spreading rumors is all too easy. Uncle's arrival here cannot possibly escape their notice. Once the King of Chuli believes their slander and thinks I intend to sell Deng City to Han, he will turn against me. Then chaos will surely erupt between Deng City and Xiangyang, and when Cen Peng's great army arrives, we will be destroyed one by one!"

"To win the trust of the King of Chuli — to make him believe that, win or lose, Deng Feng stands with him, so that Deng and Xiang are like lips and teeth and can hold out for a time — I have no choice but this desperate measure: to send Uncle to Xiangyang and leave him to the King of Chuli's disposal!"

Well, well — what a fine display of uncle-loving kindness and nephew-devoted filial piety!

"You little wretch." Deng Chen was choking with fury: "Are you truly so dead set on following Chu to destruction?"

"Of course I'm not willing."

Deng Feng crouched down before him and said in a low voice: "All my life, I, Deng Feng, have sought only to stand upright — to be worthy of my benefactors above and answerable to the elders of Nanyang below. I am unwilling to betray the King of Chuli, yet I do not wish to lead everyone to their deaths with me. After much thought, there is only one way."

"If Uncle can promise enough benefits to persuade the King of Chuli to submit to Han, then your Feng'er will work through the night to embroider the crimson banners of Yan Han and raise them over Deng City!"