Chapter 118: Hedong Strategy
On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, outside Chan Prefecture City, the wind and snow reached their peak.
Twelve riders galloped to a halt, and on the back of one of their horses lay Liu Yun, looking exhausted.
Xiao Yi reined in Wuzhui at the city gate, raising his gaze to look into the distance where a continuous line of camps stretched out. The trenches and ramparts were clearly layered, and cooking smoke rose from the tent clusters, resembling thirty thousand troops shaking off dust.
“Tianxiong Army’s twenty commanders, Judicial Officer Xiao Yi, has been ordered to bring a dangerous criminal.”
“The General awaits your audience in the Commander’s Mansion.”
This was Xiao Yi’s second time in Chan Prefecture. As he entered the city this time, he observed that despite the pre-war atmosphere, many households had hung festive lanterns as the festival approached.
The Commander’s Mansion, formerly belonging to Li Hongyi, had been requisitioned by Guo Wei, and armored guards stood solemnly before its entrance.
After being announced, he met Wei Renpu in the side room.
“Mister Wei.”
Wei Renpu was fiddling with an abacus, a worried frown etched between his brows. Upon hearing footsteps, he looked up, his pupils contracting slightly as he pointed at Liu Yun’s severed arm.
“How did this happen?”
Xiao Yi replied, “The guards were fierce; if I hadn’t severed his arm, they wouldn’t have been deterred, and it would have been my men who died.”
Wei Renpu gave him a long, scrutinizing look. In the end, without praise or blame, he seemed to remember something, rose, and bowed to Liu Yun.
“Liu, the acting governor, you must have had a hard journey. Escort him away and see that he is well cared for.”
“Yes.”
Wei Renpu then turned to Xiao Yi and asked, “Have any of the fierce soldiers from Hedong escaped to report this?”
“Only Zhang Lingchao, who fled with a few riders. Liu Tingrang has already led troops to intercept them.”
Xiao Yi recounted the events of capturing Liu Yun.
That night, he pursued Zhang Lingchao and Liu Luan to Xianghe Bridge. With an arrow, he shot Liu Luan off her horse and ordered his men to cross the bridge in pursuit. Not long after, Liu Tingrang personally arrived and told him to first escort Liu Yun back to Chan Prefecture to report, while Liu Tingrang would handle the pursuit of Zhang Lingchao and the subsequent matters in Xu Prefecture City.
He, on the other hand, rushed back without stopping, leaving only Lu Chou to look after Wang Jiu and manage miscellaneous affairs.
Although Zhang Mei was a scholar, he endured the journey alongside Xiao Yi.
Finally, Xiao Yi said, “Rest assured, sir. All roads north of Song Prefecture have been sealed, ensuring no news reaches Hedong.”
Wei Renpu smiled and said, “You’ve guessed the Lord’s intentions, haven’t you?”
Xiao Yi asked, “Is a major battle imminent?”
Wei Renpu turned his head to look at the sky, sighed slightly, and exhaled a white mist, murmuring, “It’s the depths of winter, it’s too cold.”
Xiao Yi sensed the hesitation in his words.
Since descending from Ye Du, this was the first time Xiao Yi had seen him so bewildered.
Wei Renpu patted Xiao Yi on the back, gathered his sleeves, and turned to leave, leaving behind a meaningful silhouette.
After resting in the side room and having something to eat, Xiao Yi was brought to the Main Hall to meet Guo Wei.
In the Main Hall was another person, also travel-worn, presumably having rushed from Ye Du. Xiao Yi found him familiar; it was Wang Yanchao, whom he had met once when he first accompanied Shi Deyu to the Guo Residence.
“Desheng, take a look, do you still recognize this boy?”
“It’s that Shi family servant boy… Xiao Yi?” Wang Yanchao exclaimed in admiration, “We haven’t seen each other in two months, and he’s already become a General. A fine steed meeting a Bole, truly a timeless tale.”
Xiao Yi returned the salute and thanked him, then asked, “General Wang, did you come from Ye Du? How is San Lang?”
“How else could he be, getting into trouble all day long.”
“Let’s not talk about that boy,” Guo Wei said, pointing at Xiao Yi. “This boy is quick. I was planning to send you to Xu Prefecture to cover for him, but he’s already brought Liu Yun here.”
Wang Yanchao quickly said, “Congratulations, Marshal, you’ve gained a Huo Qubing!”
Hearing this, Xiao Yi knew Wang Yanchao was no mere brute soldier; he was quite capable. Comparing him to Huo Qubing meant who was Guo Wei then?
Unfortunately, Guo Wei’s face remained impassive. “Xiao Yi, tell Desheng about the situation in Xu Prefecture.”
“Yes. In Xu Prefecture, General Liu Yun is stationed with General Gong Tingmei, with twenty thousand regional troops and about three thousand elite soldiers, plus five hundred guards from Yan Prefecture.”
Xiao Yi knew that Liu Tingrang’s experience and troop strength were insufficient to pacify Xu Prefecture; he could at best serve as a vanguard, requiring an experienced general like Wang Yanchao to step in.
As expected, Guo Wei rose and gave an order, “Wang Yanchao, heed my command.”
“I am here!”
“You are promoted to Wuning Army Acting Governor and will immediately lead your troops to take up your post in Xu Prefecture.”
“Yes!”
Wang Yanchao withdrew.
Guo Wei looked at the map for a long time before coming back to himself. He said conversationally, “Don’t be so formal, there are no outsiders.”
“Yes.”
“I heard that Liu Chong’s daughter admires you and wishes to take you as her son-in-law. You were heartless enough to shoot her dead with an arrow?”
Xiao Yi secretly thought about how quickly Guo Wei got his information, assuming Wei Renpu had interrogated Liu Yun and reported back.
“To the Lord, your subordinate is dedicated to public affairs and has no personal favors.”
“So you’re saying you don’t like her?”
“I don’t like her.” Xiao Yi was direct. “Liu Shi is cruel by nature; I could never like her.”
“Liu Chong’s daughter has a bad temper,” Guo Wei murmured as if casually. “What about my daughter? How is her temper?”
“How can Liu Shi be compared to Wu Niang?”
Xiao Yi spoke the truth. He had never compared Liu Luan to Guo Xin. It was only then he realized that one was not even dust in his mind, while the other… at least held a place in his heart.
Guo Wei seemed to sense his attitude, nodded with satisfaction, and idly arranged the military flags on the map, asking a casual question.
“Do you like her?”
“What?”
Xiao Yi was taken aback.
“Don’t play dumb,” Guo Wei said. “You caused trouble, boy. Why did you displease Wu Niang before leaving the capital?”
“Your subordinate…”
“Stop dawdling! I’m asking you, do you want to marry my daughter?”
Xiao Yi’s body stiffened involuntarily, the first sensation being an immense pressure.
This was why, despite getting along well with Guo Xin, he avoided seeing her when marriage was mentioned; the matter had suddenly become complicated.
He could feel that Guo Wei was not far from declaring himself Emperor. Proposing marriage before or after his enthronement could lead to vastly different outcomes.
Proposing at this juncture indicated that Guo Wei valued personal relationships, preferring to entrust his daughter to him rather than a marriage alliance.
For the first time in his two lives, Xiao Yi felt a waver in his resolve not to discuss marriage, but it was fleeting.
His original intention was still to avoid being bound by the identity of “Guo Wei’s son-in-law.”
What to do?
Xiao Yi had a sudden inspiration and replied, “The times are chaotic and unsettled, how can we speak of family?”
“Hmph, do you really think you’re Huo Qubing?!”
Guo Wei possessed an imposing aura that commanded respect even without anger. However, he didn’t truly blame Xiao Yi. Instead, he said proudly, “There are countless men who wish to marry my daughter. If you have no such intention, then so be it.”
Xiao Yi didn’t seek his approval. In his heart, he thought, there are also many women who wish to marry him.
The charcoal fire in the hall crackled softly; the weather remained intensely cold.
After a long pause, Guo Wei’s eyes widened, and he cleared his throat twice. “This young man knows nothing of matters between men and women. Cough, this map… can you see anything from it?”
Xiao Yi’s pressure immediately dissipated. He thought that Guo Wei still didn’t understand him.
He looked at the map, detailed with mountains, rivers, prefectures, and passes. The small characters meticulously noted troop strengths, densely packed. From Fukou Pass to Qinzhou and Jinyang, key points were marked with vermilion ink.
“The Lord intends to take advantage of Liu Chong’s unpreparedness to attack Hedong, sweep through and eradicate them, to eliminate future trouble?”
“Yes.”
“Luzhou is the first key point.”
“Your appetite is too small.”
When discussing strategy, Guo Wei was decisive and authoritative.
He pointed heavily at Luzhou and said, “This is the base of operations for Chang Si, the Military Governor of Zhaoyi Army. Chang Si served under me in his early years and I have some influence. I have already dispatched Wang Pu as an envoy to persuade him to surrender.”
Xiao Yi had truly not considered this. “If we take Luzhou, we’ll have entered the southern gate of Hedong. Taking Taiyuan in one go may not be impossible.”
A sharp glint flickered in Guo Wei’s eyes. He murmured, “Therefore, I overruled the objections and took a gamble. Do you know what this battle fears the most?”
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment and replied, “It fears a prolonged battle. Hedong has many mountains and treacherous terrain, and Liu Chong has been consolidating his power for years. Only by attacking unexpectedly can we achieve a swift victory. Does the Lord worry… that Liu Chong is prepared?”
Guo Wei’s finger moved westward, landing on Qinzhou, west of Luzhou. His expression turned solemn.
“Scouts risked their lives to gather intelligence. Liu Chong has already dispatched his trusted General Li Cungui with five thousand elite Shatuo cavalry southward. They will likely reach Qinzhou within three days.”
Xiao Yi picked up the dossier labeled “Li Cungui” lying beside the map and unrolled it to read.
“Li Cungui, a Shatuo person, descendant of Li Kerang. In his youth, as a member of the imperial clan, he was appointed Junior Officer in the Hengchong battalion. He distinguished himself in battle against the Tuyuhun, slaying enemies and earning renown for his bravery. During the Tianfu era, he was promoted to the Left Deputy Governor of the Hedong Military Governor’s Office as an ‘old meritorious official of Daibei’, assisting Liu Chong in military affairs…”
Liu Chong had sent a Great General.
He knew what this meant. The region of Shanxi was mountainous and its paths treacherous. If they couldn’t even take Qinzhou, the campaign would be strategically lost.
However, it was not necessarily so.
Xiao Yi pondered, “My Lord, Li Cungui’s arrival may not necessarily mean he has discovered our intentions.”
“Is that so?”
“Liu Chong sent a message to Liu Yun, wishing to send troops to escort Liu Yun’s enthronement. It’s very likely Li Cungui.”
Xiao Yi relayed the information Xiao Tao had gathered and concluded, “Liu Yun has personally written a letter asking Liu Chong to withdraw his troops. This letter may have just arrived in Hedong. In other words, Li Cungui might turn back.”
Guo Wei walked to the doorway, beckoned someone over, and ordered him to interrogate Liu Yun again.
He paced by the map, thought for a moment, and shook his head. “No, we won’t let Li Cungui turn back.”
“Does the Lord mean to eliminate him?”
“While he is hesitating, annihilating a portion of the Shatuo elite cavalry would be more beneficial than the loss or gain of a city or territory.”
“My Lord is heroic. Li Cungui is in a hurry to travel. Our army can take him by surprise and intercept him midway, striking his elite troops, cutting off one of Liu Chong’s arms, and then taking Qinzhou. Taiyuan will surely be shaken.”
“The army cannot mobilize in time.”
“Your subordinate volunteers!”
Xiao Yi immediately clasped his hands and requested, “Your subordinate is willing to lead a contingent of elite troops westward, to ambush him on his necessary path before Li Cungui arrives.”
“You have never disappointed me in your actions, but it is still too early for you to handle matters alone.”
Guo Wei was decisive. He patted Xiao Yi on the shoulder and then turned to order, “Summon Li Rong!”
“Yes!”
After giving the order, Guo Wei suddenly frowned, slowly paced back to his seat, and sat down, resting his fist on his knee, lost in thought.
“My Lord?”
“It’s nothing, old leg pain… it’s too cold.”
This was the second time Xiao Yi had heard this sentiment today, from Wei Renpu to Guo Wei. They were, of course, not afraid of the cold themselves.
Their concern was that this was not good weather for attacking Hedong.
“Does the Lord have other worries?”
“It’s nothing.”
Guo Wei waved his hand, not elaborating.
But Xiao Yi already felt that the atmosphere in the military was different from when they were conquering cities and lands with high morale after descending south. There seemed to be an invisible undercurrent permeating these strategies.
He even detected a hint of helplessness in Guo Wei’s voice.
“If only I could eliminate Liu Chong first, then I could act with a free hand…”
“Marshal! Li Rong has arrived!”
The sudden announcement interrupted Guo Wei’s reverie. He immediately composed himself, stood up, and stated decisively.
“Li Rong, Xiao Yi.”
“Your subordinate is here!”
“Li Rong is appointed as the vanguard for the central route, with Xiao Yi as his deputy. You will lead two thousand elite cavalry, with spare horses, five days of provisions, and march westward today!”
“Yes!”
That night, Xiao Yi and his ten soldiers were incorporated into Li Rong’s vanguard unit in the central army.
The team was prepared, and their convoy included Liu Yun, the banner of the Wuning Army, and over twenty sets of armor and clothing from the Xu Prefecture guards.
