Chapter 632: Returning Like a Flash of Lightning

Since the second year of Wude, Diwu Lun had shifted his focus eastward. Not only did he bring most of his court officials to Luoyang to work nearby, but even the Empress and Crown Prince went to live long-term in Luoyang's Southern Palace. In the western capital Chang'an, he left only a skeleton staff to watch over the Guanzhong region for the Emperor. The two most important figures among them were, of course, Imperial Counselor Jing Dan and Front General Wan Xiu — a pair of trusted partners.

For one thing, Diwu Lun trusted these two old hands immensely — not just for their loyalty over many years of following him, but for their ability to handle major affairs. Beyond that, it was also a kind of consideration for these two ailing men: Jing Dan suffered from a chronic, untreatable cough, and Wan Xiu had injured his back during the campaign against Longyou. Neither could endure the hardship of constant frontier duty.

On the surface it looked like light work. After all, with Ma Yuan to the west and Wu Han to the north — those two fearsome god-of-war generals blocking the Qiang and the Hu — Wan Xiu only needed to keep an eye on Gongsun Shu's Shu troops in Hanzhong from his base at the Lantian Camp. Yet Wan Xiu still carried out his duties as cautiously as walking on thin ice, terrified of making the slightest mistake.

The moment he received Jing Dan's summons, Wan Xiu realized something major had happened. At daybreak, after handing the defense of the Lantian Camp to his deputy, he secretly rushed to Weiyang Palace. Diwu Lun had altered the regulations: the imperial household had moved to Jianzhang Palace west of Chang'an, leaving Weiyang entirely as the seat of government, free of the complications of the inner palace's prohibitions.

Wan Xiu arrived at dusk and stayed in Weiyang Palace until midnight before leaving. To prevent the neighbors from finding out and sparking wild speculation and panic among the people of Chang'an, he did not even go home. Dressed in plain clothes, he stayed at the post station specifically for lodging out-of-town officials, taking a small courtyard for himself.

The lamp and candle were lit. Wan Xiu studied the map, writing and sketching on paper — whether drafting plans or a memorial, he was not sure. Dissatisfied with everything, he often crumpled the sheets and tossed them at his feet. Then his mind would return to his conversation with Jing Dan, and he felt deeply troubled. In the dead of night, the old injury in his back began to ache again; he had to drink some wine before he could fall asleep.

The next day, Wan Xiu was still groggy when a Palace Gentleman shook him awake: "General Wan, His Majesty has reached Hongmen and will soon return to Chang'an. The General is to prepare for an audience!"

"So fast?" Wan Xiu was shocked. By the most generous count, Jing Dan's memorial had been sent out only three days ago. How could Diwu Lun, who should have been in Yecheng to the north, be as swift as lightning? They had already prepared for the worst: if the Emperor did not return for ten days, military intelligence would also be delayed by ten days.

Then it dawned on Wan Xiu: it seemed Diba Jiao or Ma Yuan had used their authority to send secret reports, dispatching trusted men with flying dispatches on the express relay that bypassed Chang'an and went straight east!

"Excellent," Wan Xiu said. His vexation and inner turmoil from the night before were swept away. He immediately straightened his attire and went to wait at the Vermilion Bird Gate.

The Vermilion Bird Gate lay on the south side of Weiyang Palace and was a side gate. Diwu Lun did not want to enter the city with great fanfare through the Black Tortoise or Azure Dragon gates, as that would waste time and might alarm the common people, stirring panic.

Jing Dan was also waiting there. When the two met, they bowed to each other. Wan Xiu drew close and said in a low voice, "Sunqing, about that matter — won't you reconsider…"

Jing Dan let out a long sigh and said, "We said all there was to say last night. Our mouths went dry and our tongues parched, yet we could not persuade each other — let alone now. Junyou, you need not try further."

Wan Xiu still clung to one last shred of hope: "Sunqing, you and His Majesty are old acquaintances. You know his temperament. His Majesty will never agree to your proposal."

Jing Dan smiled bitterly. Did he not know that all too well?

"But as Imperial Counselor, trusted so deeply by His Majesty, there are some words that — even if they provoke the sovereign's fury — I must speak!"

There was no more time to talk. The imperial carriage had arrived before the Vermilion Bird Gate. The six mixed-color horses pulling it had galloped for a long time and were drenched in sweat. This was Diwu Lun's habit: he never insisted on pure-colored horses and jokingly called it his "five-flower horse cart."

The carriage curtain lifted. Diwu Lun did not descend; he merely looked at the bowing Jing Dan and Wan Xiu and said, "No need for formalities, my two ministers. Get in the carriage at once. Once we pass the Vermilion Bird Gate, we will not stop — come with me directly to the Greenhouse Hall!"

Weiyang Palace was the seat of the court's authority. Ministers' horses and carriages had to halt at the Golden Horse Gate; even the Crown Prince and princes were not permitted to ride through. Only the Emperor was exempt. Jing Dan and Wan Xiu exchanged glances, then climbed in.

The carriage was cleverly designed and let in good light. As soon as he entered, Wan Xiu saw the map spread on the table. Diwu Lun had scribbled all over Hexi and Jincheng. Jing Dan, meanwhile, caught sight of a half-eaten flatbread in the carriage — was this the Emperor's food for the entire hurried journey?

Diwu Lun had indeed returned in extreme haste. He had been on an inspection tour in Henei when he learned that a fire had broken out on the empire's northwestern frontier. Without a moment's hesitation, he had abandoned his ministers and the massive accompanying army to rush straight back.

With no time for pleasantries, Diwu Lun said only this to the two men: "News of the barbarian incursions in Hexi and Jincheng reached the capital three days ago. You two must have met and discussed it by now. Sunqing is stationed permanently in Chang'an, overseeing all Guanzhong administration, and Junyou has campaigned in Longyou. I can only rely on you. What is your plan? How do we provide relief? Have you drawn up a strategy?"

Wan Xiu was about to speak, but Jing Dan cut in: "Your Majesty, before we discuss how to rescue Hexi, I believe we must first clarify one matter."

Diwu Lun frowned. "What matter?"

Wan Xiu shook his head slightly at Jing Dan, but Jing Dan gritted his teeth and blurted it out anyway!

"The Inspector of Liang Province, Dou You, Liang Tong, and the others are all loyal ministers of our Great Wei. Trapped amid the barbarian dust, they must of course be rescued. But after repelling the Xiongnu invasion and saving the people, whether we must still spend vast sums and keep our soldiers locked in bitter struggle with the Qiang and Hu in Hexi — that is truly worth debating!"

…

The moment Jing Dan raised that point, Diwu Lun fell into a long silence. The carriage instantly grew quiet. Several times Wan Xiu tried to speak, but Diwu Lun stopped him, saying only, "Do not speak yet. I fear I might berate Sunqing right here in the carriage. It would not look good if word got out."

He then shot Jing Dan a glare. "The Imperial Counselor has been in the Guanzhong region too long and does not see the full picture. You are confused. Think it over again, and give your answer once we reach the Greenhouse Hall!"

Then Diwu Lun placed a hand on his chest to soothe himself. As Emperor, though his power towered to the heavens, the vexing matters he had to face each day only multiplied. Diwu Lun knew that every outburst of fury would trigger enormous repercussions, so he preferred to swallow his anger. But this time, he was truly quite disappointed in Jing Dan.

The warning just now had been severe enough to make most men crumble. Yet who would have thought that once they were in the Greenhouse Hall, when Diwu Lun told Jing Dan to "reorganize your words," this Imperial Counselor — who knew Diwu Lun's temperament inside and out — would actually stick to his guns.

"I know what Your Majesty wishes to hear. Your Majesty once said that unifying the realm and subduing the Qiang and Hu are two wars that must be fought at the same time."

Jing Dan voiced his dilemma: "But the current situation is this: since our dynasty's founding, not a year has passed without war. Military service drains resources; affairs cannot sustain each other. Soldiers and commoners are exhausted by distant garrison duty. Farm work is undone by transport levies. Wealth is depleted by conscription. The people's strength is at its limit; they can bear no more. In many places, all able-bodied men have been conscripted. Fields lie unplowed, and crops cannot be harvested."

"After returning to Guanzhong, I focused on dispatching military grain to supply the eastern front, hoping to achieve unification as soon as possible. But we have just finished the campaigns in Jingxiang and the Huai River region, and now the treasuries are empty. We truly cannot endure another major war."

"Now the Xiongnu have grown strong again, and the Western Qiang are defiant. Neither, I fear, can be subdued in a year or half a year. Hexi lies far on the frontier, caught between the Qiang and the Hu. We may hold it this time, but what about next time? If the Qiang and Hu strike again just when our dynasty is at war with Wu and Shu, will we then have to abandon the golden chance for unification and rush back north in panic?"

Jing Dan explained with earnest urgency: "The border alert in Hexi and Jincheng is still secret, but it cannot be hidden for long. Once word spreads, many court officials will surely advise abandoning the frontier. They will argue that Hexi and Jincheng are barren lands — gaining their territory brings no profit, and gaining their people, you cannot conscript them for defense. I am not like those men. I am absolutely not advising Your Majesty to emulate Emperor Yuan of Han, who abandoned Zhuya forever."

This was indeed a view that had always existed at court — and it was the mainstream opinion. They believed that opening up frontier lands was merely the Emperor's vainglorious ambition, useless to both state and people. The classic example was Emperor Wu of Han, who had to overcome enormous opposition to expand the frontiers. After he unified Nanyue and incorporated Hainan Island into the empire, establishing Zhuya Commandery, by the time of Emperor Yuan of Han, because the region kept rebelling and pacifying it cost the court a huge sum every year, they simply abandoned it.

It looked like a prodigal son selling off his father's land, yet Diwu Lun's teacher Yang Xiong and other men of insight at court had clapped and cheered, saying: "The severance of Zhuya was the merit of Juan Zhi — otherwise, the scaled and shelled creatures would have changed our robes and garments!"

But Jing Dan was not that kind of man. He had served as an official on the Shanggu frontier and garrisoned You Province for many years. He understood that the existence of border buffer zones was precisely what guaranteed the prosperity of the inner commanderies.

Jing Dan said, "Indeed, Hexi and Jincheng are useful for defending against the barbarians. But circumstances now compel us. Since we cannot have it both ways at home and abroad, it would be better to follow Emperor Wu's example in abandoning the garrison at Luntai and focus solely on unification…"

Diwu Lun had already exercised immense patience. Only now did he cut Jing Dan off: "And then, in my sons' and grandsons' time, when the realm is reunified and national strength is robust, take it back again?"

Jing Dan lowered his head. "This is a measure of expediency…"

Diwu Lun nodded and turned to Wan Xiu, who had long been unable to contain himself. "And what does Junyou think?"

Since Jing Dan was sticking to his view, Wan Xiu adopted the same stance he had held during their argument the day before: "I believe the Imperial Counselor is gravely mistaken!"

"First: although the Qiang and Hu seized much land in Hexi and Jincheng during Wang Mang's time, the commandery seats and key fortresses remain in the hands of registered households. The passes are intact and solid, suitable for a firm defense. The local people have always esteemed martial valor — men and women, young and old, can all wield blades in battle. With a population of three hundred thousand, that is equivalent to one hundred fifty thousand soldiers. Unless the Xiongnu come in full force, they absolutely cannot take Hexi lightly. Never mind whether they succeed this time — the next time they invade, unless the court voluntarily abandons it, the soldiers and civilians of Hexi will fight to the very last!"

Wan Xiu looked at Jing Dan. "Second: the Imperial Counselor believes that by abandoning Hexi and shrinking the battle line to Longyou and Bing Province, we can save on military conscription and civilian labor, and focus solely on unifying Wu and Shu. How foolish!"

"Back then, Emperor Wu ordered General Huo Qubing to seize Hexi, which was tantamount to severing one of the Xiongnu's arms and cutting off contact between the Qiang and the Hu. If we abandon Hexi and let the Qiang and Hu join forces, the two bandits will ally to raid and harass the frontier. The calamity will be endless. I fear the days of the early Han, when beacon fires could be seen from Ganquan Palace, will return! Then we will have to station heavy troops even at Xiliu Camp, making it even harder to focus on unification."

Wan Xiu made an analogy: "This is like having an ulcer on my belly, yet digging flesh from my back to fill it. In the end, the belly is not healed, and the back rots first. By then, regret will come too late."

Hearing this, Diwu Lun's pent-up frustration swept away. He clapped his hands and said, "Well said! Hexi is still fighting bitterly — how can the court surrender first? I will not do such a thing as digging out flesh to patch a wound."

Jing Dan sighed inwardly, knowing he had lost. But even so, he had to pour out everything that needed to be said!

So Jing Dan prostrated himself and said, "But Your Majesty, our funds and grain are exhausted. They can only sustain us until we repel the Qiang and Hu. After that, Hexi will be like an open wound, requiring the court's endless support. The more we send to the northwest, the less we have for unification. As Imperial Counselor, like the two Chancellors, I am Your Majesty's steward. I can only set one table, yet I must entertain two sets of guests. I am but a clumsy wife — even harder to cook a meal without rice."

He removed his tall official cap and, at the risk of being dismissed, invoked a man Diwu Lun deeply respected: "Your Majesty's late teacher, Yan Erudite, once advised Wang Mang on the matter of attacking the Xiongnu, enumerating the policies of the Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties toward the barbarians."

"Master Erudite said: In the time of King Xuan of Zhou, the Xianyun invaded deep into the interior, even reaching Jingyang. King Xuan ordered generals to campaign against them, and they returned as soon as they had driven the enemy beyond the border. He regarded barbarian incursions like mosquito or gadfly bites — merely swat them away. That was the middle strategy."

"In the time of Emperor Wu of Han, facing the Xiongnu, he selected generals and trained troops, sending light infantry with provisions to penetrate deep and garrison far away. Though they achieved victories, the Xiongnu could not be swiftly annihilated and frequently retaliated. As a result, war dragged on for over thirty years. The Xiongnu were severely wounded, but the realm was also exhausted and broken. Had Emperor Wu not awakened in time, abandoned the Western Regions, and ceased the garrison at Luntai, the Han house might have perished a hundred years early! That was the low strategy."

"And the First Emperor of Qin could not endure a small humiliation and treated the people's strength lightly. He built the solid Great Wall, stretching ten thousand li. Transport and supply lines began at the sea's edge. Just as the borders were completed, the heartland was drained. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up in Daze Village; Liu Bang and Xiang Yu emerged in Liang and Chu. Only then did Qin troops hurriedly withdraw from the north. The dynasty fell in the second generation. That was no strategy at all."

"Master Erudite's words are quite to the point. No matter how much Your Majesty wishes to have it both ways, you must choose among the middle, low, and no-strategy options!"

With that, Jing Dan placed his tall cap on the floor and bowed deeply to Diwu Lun.

Diwu Lun knew, of course, that if Jing Dan were not utterly loyal to him, he would never speak so bluntly. He could have simply joined the chorus of "resist the Qiang and Hu, never compromise." But Jing Dan had risked everything.

"Who said anything about dismissing you from office?" Diwu Lun put on a stern face and scolded Jing Dan roundly. "Junyou is a general — of course he must consider military strategy and border threats. And you, minister, are simply reporting the facts truthfully from your position as Imperial Counselor. What crime is there in that?"

With that, Diwu Lun, brooking no argument, placed the tall cap back on Jing Dan's head and even straightened it for him.

"Your Majesty…" Jing Dan was deeply moved, murmuring, not knowing what to say.

Diwu Lun, however, declared: "But those middle, lower, and null strategies — I will choose none of them!"

He laughed. "I will choose what Duke Yan never considered… the upper strategy!"