Chapter 629: Beacon Fires

Two years ago, when he took over Hexi from Liu Long, Diba Jiao was for a time anxious, for a time full of hesitation.

No matter how the Governors of Dunhuang, Jiuquan, and the other commanderies sang his praises, in those early days, relying on the Embroidered Uniform Guard's eyes and ears among the common folk, Diba Jiao still heard a great many all-too-real discordant voices.

"The one throwing Hexi into chaos — it is Diba Jiao."

In the early days of the realm's great turmoil, Hexi, by virtue of its geography, had at least managed to preserve a "rough peace." In the memory of Hexi's people, even during the days when they nominally submitted to the "Western Han," the worst they saw were minor raids by Qiang and Hu entering the border forts. Large-scale warfare was brought by Diba Jiao, who marched west under the King of Wei's command.

Strange to say, in Guanzhong, right at the foot of the capital, when Wang Mang usurped the Han, loyalists were remarkably few. Yet in far-off Hexi and the Western Regions, where Han troops remained stationed, living hard, bitter lives, quite a few men still cherished the House of Han in their hearts. Though the fall of the "Western Han" made them understand the Han could not be restored, they felt even less sense of belonging toward the new rulers, "Wei."

Diba Jiao and the many officials parachuted in alongside him felt the local mood deeply. The powerful clans' cold indifference and the common people's non-cooperation made many grow irritable, grumbling things like "Hexi is too remote, we might as well abandon it," wanting only to return to the capital.

But Diba Jiao rebuked them all.

"The common people are not born destined to follow us. If you wish to shift their hearts, you must first prove our good faith."

And so Diba Jiao began pouring all his energy into governing Hexi. This long, narrow strip of land was nominally four commanderies, yet its population was only two to three hundred thousand — vast territory, sparse people, Qiang and Hu intermingled. Han settlements clustered around the border beacon forts and walls, and within the commandery cities and county towns. After a century of barbarization, the local customs were quite "simple and unadorned," and martial virtue was abundantly vigorous. When people went out, every man carried a bow on his back, every one wore a blade at his side.

Diba Jiao first persuaded the Hexi power-holders to follow the example of the two local magnate clans, the Dou and the Liang, by sending their sons and younger brothers to Chang'an. He also earnestly petitioned Diwu Lun to grant them offices and titles, as a show of grace and favor. Only after winning the tacit consent of the various local strongmen was Diba Jiao able to reunite the formerly scattered sands of Hexi, forge covenants and oaths with them, and organize an army sufficient for self-defense.

After that, Diba Jiao repaired the Han-era beacon towers that had been abandoned under Wang Mang's Xin dynasty, stationed troops at every strategic point, suppressed Qiang and Hu incursions, and brought Hexi its most basic stability.

Once the situation had somewhat stabilized, he dispatched official trade caravans — not to the Western Regions, for that investment was too great, but back and forth to Chang'an, transporting goods once more to Guzang City. Hexi had long hung isolated in the northwest; now it seemed as if an umbilical cord had been reconnected to the mother body. Those scant goods, weapons, and books carried on camelback were a mere drop in the bucket, but they were enough to set people's hearts at ease. Even those who had earlier fled beyond the frontier or to the Western Regions to escape calamity and famine began returning one after another.

At this point, the suspicion and slander against Diba Jiao gradually faded away. The people of Hexi did not rapidly develop a sense of belonging to the State of Wei — they merely felt that…

"This 'Governor Diwu' is not so bad after all."

Diba Jiao spent two years bringing rough peace to Hexi, but standing atop the walls of Guzang, he still harbored deep, hidden worries.

Wuwei was the core of Hexi, and Guzang was the largest city of the four commanderies, but Diba Jiao knew it was not secure.

Almost every day, this Inspector of Liang Province would ask people coming from the Qilian Mountain passes:

"What is the situation in Jincheng Commandery?"

Jincheng was Wuwei's southern neighbor. When the Wei clan was destroyed, in order to launch a counterattack on Longyou, they had actually handed Jincheng over to the Xianlian Qiang. Later, Wu Han recaptured part of it, but could only maintain control over the commandery seat; the remaining counties were all occupied by the Qiang.

Diba Jiao had once been exiled there in years past and knew that land intimately. He understood just how much chaos could brew in the He-Huang Valley, and that once Jincheng fell into great turmoil, it would inevitably spill over the Qilian mountain valleys and grasslands to strike Wuwei.

If Jincheng was merely a "thorn in one's side," then when Diba Jiao turned and faced north, he seemed to see a keen blade hanging against the edge of the sky!

The Black River (Shiyang River), fed by the Qilian snows, nourished the Guzang oasis. It continued flowing north toward the low-lying lands, cutting across the desert, and finally pooled into the Xiutu Marshes. Just two hundred li away, the local water and grass were lush. The Han dynasty's Great Wall extended out there, making Xiutu and Juyan two swords thrust deep into the body of the Xiongnu.

But now, those swords had been seized by the Xiongnu!

The Xiongnu had occupied the Xiutu Marshes for two years now. In the past, using Xiutu as a base, Han troops could at any time penetrate deep into Xiongnu territory and beat them, forcing them to dare not drive their herds south to graze. But now, the roles of attacker and defender were reversed.

Although Diba Jiao had reorganized all of Hexi's armed forces, they were sufficient for defense but inadequate for attack. The imperial court was busy unifying the Central Plains and could not dispatch a large army to Hexi. The only thing he could do was rebuild the army horse ranch in Shandan County, hoping that one day, Hexi cavalrymen could ride full-grown Liang Province great horses to reclaim their lost lands.

And for now? The two wolves, Qiang and Hu, were prowling just outside the door. All he could do was bolt the windows tight and, with fearful, trembling heart, hope that Hexi could hold out until the day the Emperor swept away Wu and Shu.

But in the end, things went against his wishes.

At the end of the fifth month of the fourth year of Wude (AD 28), in the very month when Hexi's wheat was about to ripen, an urgent report arrived from Zhangye Commandery to the north.

"Inspector!"

Dou You, younger brother of the Governor of Wuwei and Right Chancellor of the State of Wei, Dou Rong, came rushing in with the report.

"Word from Jianshui Jin Pass: over ten thousand Xiongnu cavalry have emerged from Juyan Marsh and are following the Ruo River to invade!"

Generally speaking, the Xiongnu chose to invade in autumn, when the skies were high and the horses fat, and avoided moving troops in spring and summer as much as possible, lest it affect the breeding of their livestock. This year, they had broken with convention. Was it because disaster had struck beyond the frontier, forcing the Xiongnu to rely on plunder, or was there another purpose?

Diba Jiao asked Dou You: "The barbarian invaders have passed Jianshui Jin Pass — are they raiding Zhangye or Jiuquan?"

"Both Jiuquan and Zhangye have sent men to report an emergency. The Xiongnu have actually split into two forces and are plundering both commanderies on a large scale."

Have they truly gone mad with hunger? After pondering, Diba Jiao said: "Do not panic." He continued: "Follow the agreed-upon plan. Each commandery is to defend its own cities and counties, all in accordance with the tallies and directives. Also, notify the cavalry in Shandan County to advance to Zhangye. If the Xiongnu dare penetrate deep, strike their small detachments hard!"

Hexi had few people and few soldiers. That cavalry force was Diba Jiao's only mobile troop strength. He had nurtured it for two years precisely so it could be used at the critical edge!

However, just days after Diba Jiao dispatched Wuwei troops to relieve Zhangye and Jiuquan, north of Guzang, along the line of the Black River (Shiyang River), columns of black beacon smoke rose into the sky like the fingers of ghosts and demons, shattering the tranquility of the blazing summer!

"Inspector! The Xiongnu have sent tens of thousands of cavalry south from the Xiutu Marshes, following the Black River straight for Guzang!"

Diba Jiao sighed inwardly. What was destined to come had come at last. This was what it meant when the blade was in another's hand — they could strike wherever they wished!

He feigned calm: "Have you made out who commands this Xiongnu barbarian band?"

"It is the Right Worthy King's banner!"

At these words, Diba Jiao's heart lurched. This meant the entire Xiongnu Right Division was pouring out in full force. This was no ordinary incursion — it was already beyond what Hexi could handle alone.

"Quickly, send for General Ma!"

…

Hexi and Longyou, which in later times would both belong to Gansu, currently both belonged to Liang Province. Yet travel between the two regions was exceedingly difficult. From Wuwei to Longxi, the straight-line distance seemed short, but they were separated by the impassable Wushao Ridge, and by the great river with its steep stone banks and wildly churning rapids.

The other route went through Jincheng Commandery and across the Qilian grasslands. Though it was an open road, it was cut off by the Qiang.

Thus, Diba Jiao's plea for help would take another month or so to reach Ma Yuan's hands.

At this moment, Ma Yuan remained the highest military commander of the State of Wei. He had shifted his headquarters to Didao in Longxi over a year ago, taking over the mess left behind by Wu Han.

When it came to dealing with the Qiang and Hu, Ma Yuan's experience far exceeded Wu Han's seasoned touch. After arriving, he applied both grace and might. "Grace" meant vigorously winning over the Eastern Qiang, who were still on the fence, and the Di people, who were at a disadvantage in their competition with the Qiang. He also petitioned Diwu Lun to restore their marquis, king, and chieftain titles, granting them seals and ribbons from the State of Wei.

"Might" meant resolutely striking at the Western Qiang Xianlian and other tribes who occupied Jincheng and still harbored designs on entering Longyou! He repelled several probing attacks, but then Ma Yuan reined in his troops, who were clamoring for battle, forbidding them from penetrating deep into the He-Huang Valley. Instead, he focused on reorganizing Longyou's military readiness and opening military farms on the border to meet their needs.

Over the course of a year, although Jincheng had not yet been fully recovered, the clash of arms in Longyou gradually diminished, and the region slowly settled into stability.

But one day in the early sixth month of the fourth year of Wude, a sudden eruption of tumult and slaughter brought back to Didao County the terror of being ruled by Qiang chaos. For a time, everyone panicked and fled wildly. Some said: "The Eastern Qiang and Di have allied in revolt."

Others said: "The Xianlian Qiang are attacking!"

In an instant, everyone in the vicinity of Didao County rushed toward the city walls, hoping to enter the city for refuge and avoid being carried off by the Qiang.

The County Chief of Didao, hearing of the upheaval, also turned pale with shock. He galloped his horse at a brisk trot all the way to the gate of the "Grand General of Agile Cavalry's" mansion, scrambled and stumbled inside, and saw that the place seemed as if nothing was happening. Cooks were carrying fish and meat in and out, the guards sat around chatting idly, and from the main hall, the sound of laughter and cheerful talk could even be heard. The Didao County Chief grew even more frantic. Stamping his foot, he barged straight into the hall, shouting: "Grand General Ma! Qiang revolt! It's a Qiang revolt! I implore the General to issue orders at once — close the city gates and marshal the troops for defense!"

What was Ma Yuan doing at that moment? He was hosting a banquet for guests — a few knights-errant and fellow countrymen who had come from Guanzhong to join him. After all, he had a wide circle of friends; whether scholars and men of letters, or warriors and gallant swordsmen, he got along well with them all.

Seeing the Didao County Chief in such a panic, the guests immediately fell silent. Even the Hu maiden plucking a Western Regions pipa stopped her strumming. They looked at one another, doubt in their eyes.

"A Qiang revolt? How is it I know nothing of it?"

Only Ma Yuan remained completely unruffled. With a glance, he sent a trusted aide standing at the far end of the hall to go out and see what was happening. As for himself, he had someone usher the Didao County Chief to a seat. "The Eastern Qiang and Di have already submitted. How would they dare come and invade me again?"

The Didao Chief guessed wildly: "Perhaps it is the Western Qiang invading."

Ma Yuan, however, scoffed at it: "West of Didao there are still many barrier forts and beacon towers. If the Western Qiang could slip past them and touch my main camp without anyone knowing, then the several thousand soldiers on the western front, and every officer there, would all deserve beheading! This must be a false rumor!"

After suffering a major setback at Heji, Ma Yuan's defenses were outwardly relaxed but inwardly taut; he had full confidence in his own arrangements.

"If you aren't afraid, then stay and keep drinking with me. If you're timid and frightened, you can hide under the couch."

Several guest retainers who had come to join him puffed out their chests: "Even if the Qiang really were coming, we would still drink and sing, meet their blades head-on, and use blood to season our wine."

Ma Yuan nodded slightly. After sending the Didao County Magistrate away, his phoenix eyes swept across the hall. He looked at the frozen foreign dancer and smiled lightly: "What are you standing there for? Continue the music, continue the dance!"

The gaze of this aging handsome man made the foreign dancer blush and lower her head, and so the sound of strings and pipes once again lingered through the hall — though after that earlier fright, the melody had grown somewhat disordered.

Ma Yuan, however, acted as though he had not noticed, shutting his eyes to savor it, his fingers lightly tapping out the rhythm, as if he were also counting the time.

Until footsteps sounded again outside. It turned out the Didao County Magistrate had gone and returned. He came back together with the trusted aide Ma Yuan had sent out, and, his face flushed, entered and knelt long: "Grand General, this humble man panicked. It turns out some youths in the village were drinking and brawling — it was not a Qiang uprising."

So it was a false alarm after all! From the foreign dancer to the guest retainers, and on to the officials in the residence, everyone let out a breath of relief, and then, without exception, cast admiring looks toward Ma Yuan.

"As expected of the Grand General of Agile Cavalry!"

The common folk of Longyou were just as brimming with martial vigor. When a dispute broke out between two fortified estates, it was perfectly ordinary for several hundred or even a thousand people to brawl…

Ma Yuan, however, set his face stern: "With the Qiang and Hu pressing in on us, Hexi and Longyou hang by a thread. These men usually boast of being gallant heroes, yet at a critical moment they turn on their own brothers, unsettling the people's hearts and nearly brewing disaster. They deserve death!"

"Didao County Magistrate, go at once and bring me the young ringleaders of this private brawl! I, Ma, will personally teach these fellows how the character 'gallant' ought to be written!"