Chapter 806: Two Pieces of News

Ning Emei's remarkable leap from a low-ranking sixth-grade martial officer in the Phoenix Camp to a powerful third-grade deputy general of the Iron Buddha Cavalry was clearly due to his close relationship with Xu Fengnian. His opportunity to be the first to meet the young King in the small courtyard, though unexpected, was entirely understandable, as Ning Emei represented all the young and strong officers in the Northern Liang army who had been exceptionally promoted by Xu Fengnian in recent years. Xu Fengnian showed particular favor to Ning Emei, which, to others, was clearly intentional. Chen Yunshui and Zhou Kang, the two highest-ranking border army deputy commanders in Chongzhong Military Town, then followed into the courtyard, a sequence that seemed perfectly standard. Xu Fengnian subsequently met with Qi Dangguo, Yuan Nanting, and others, concluding his series of tight-knit meetings by receiving several generals and captains who had long been stationed in Chongzhong Military Town. Throughout these discussions, Xu Fengnian remained composed. The Chongzhong garrison generals, unfamiliar with the young King's temperament, had some individuals attempt to express their loyalty and resolve with grand declarations. Xu Fengnian, however, merely smiled and subtly changed the topic, leaving those martial artists, who had been away from Northern Liang's traditional officialdom for years, feeling uneasy as they rose from their seats, fearing their flattery had backfired. Fortunately, Xu Fengnian personally walked them to the courtyard gate, which significantly eased their worries.

Their overthinking was not without reason. Ever since Xu Fengnian took power, a saying had secretly circulated among the border army's upper echelons: the new King of Liang "dispenses both severe and lenient treatment." The targets of the "severe treatment" were precisely these border army generals. For example, Zhong Hongwu, the Huaihua Grand General who treated Lingzhou as his personal domain, did not even achieve a natural death. As for Grand General Yan Wenluan, who was entrenched in Youzhou, he was reportedly greatly suppressed; his Tiger Pounce Camp's designation was even revoked by Xu Fengnian, who vigorously supported Yu Luandao, clearly intending for him to replace Tian Heng as the main general of Youzhou cavalry. Prior to this, Tian Peifang, the prefect who was always obedient to Yan Wenluan, was transferred and replaced by Hu Kui, who had less distinct factional ties and ambiguous allegiances. This, coupled with Huangfu Ping, a trusted confidant planted in Youzhou earlier, was undeniably an attempt to dilute the military and political power in Youzhou. And the tense relationship between Gu Dazhu and deeply entrenched military leaders like Zhou Kang and Chen Yunshui—was there truly no instruction from the young King behind it? Otherwise, how could an outsider who had only been in the border army for a few years speak so boldly in the Chongzhong deliberation hall? It was also rumored that the return of veterans like Wei Tieshan, Liu Yuanji, and Lin Doufang to the border army would undoubtedly, to some extent, divide and weaken the vested military power of Zhou Kang, Chen Yunshui, and others.

Regardless, the presence or absence of Xu Fengnian in Chongzhong made a world of difference. Whether this shrewd King of Liang would seize the opportunity to purge the two cavalry armies of Liangzhou, as long as he remained in that small courtyard, even without issuing specific commands, the upcoming major battle could proceed.

Among the many guests in the courtyard, only one significant figure was missing: Gu Dazhu.

Xu Fengnian ultimately did not wait for this infantry deputy commander to pay a visit. After weighing the pros and cons, he abandoned the idea of summoning Gu Dazhu. Xu Fengnian felt some regret; regardless of the outcome, Gu Dazhu's relationship with local generals like Zhou Kang was destined to be irreparable. This divergence was not akin to the partisan struggles among court officials for personal gain, but rather a superficial harmony caused by conflicting political views. The more profound the disagreement, the harder it was to reconcile, much like the final divergence between Liyang's Huan Wen and Zhang Julu, where it was impossible to simply judge who was right or wrong.

Xu Fengnian slowly paced alone in the now silent courtyard. Wang Sui's sudden westward advance with Northern Mang's elite eastern cavalry had placed Northern Liang in a rather awkward position. This was perhaps what was meant by "heaven's will isn't always fulfilled." Yan Wenluan had to divide his troops to guard Youzhou's eastern gate, where forces were currently concentrated northward, to prevent trouble in the rear, fearing it would embroil all of Lingzhou in war. This would inevitably allow some "big fish" to escape from Hulukou—perhaps Zhong Tan's private army, or Hong Jingyan's Rouran cavalry, or even Commander Yang Yuanzan himself. However, as it currently stood, even if Dong Zhuo had realized the dire situation at Hulukou and hastily dispatched a large army to reinforce Yang Yuanzan's forces from outside, it would not change the outcome of the Northern Mang's main eastern force being annihilated. Yang Yuanzan would inevitably face the consequences of his radical actions—dismantling Wogong and Luanhe cities and burning all fortresses and signal fires. Without these defensive strongholds that could have served as temporary Northern Mang bases, the pincer attack from Northern Liang cavalry and Youzhou infantry would be fatal. The overall situation at Hulukou was settled; the key was how many Northern Mang "big fish" Yuan Zuozong and Yu Luandao could ultimately capture.

It was foreseeable that Gu Jiantang would take the initiative to attack, and the border armies of Cainan and Heji prefectures would also intercept Wang Sui's eastward retreat. This military achievement was clearly an opportunity created by Northern Liang for the entire Northern Line of Liyang. However, while Taian City would sing praises for the Emperor and Grand Pillar Gu, it would definitely pretend to be oblivious, focusing only on the fall of Huxing City in Liangzhou to make a big deal out of it. The new Liang-Huai Commissioner Han Lin had previously subtly reminded Xu Fengnian that the imperial court's policy of establishing Military Commissioners across the dynasty's territory was now an irresistible trend. Although, for now, only a Deputy Military Commissioner would be added within the territories of major vassal kings to constrain the historically autonomous vassal kings who also served as Military Commissioners, the person likely to become Northern Liang's new Deputy Military Commissioner was very possibly Yang Shenxing, who had suffered greatly in Guangling Dao.

Xu Fengnian muttered the name Yang Shenxing a few times.

Yang Shenxing, as one of the eight Grand Generals of Liyang and the former "local emperor" of Jizhou, had to act cautiously throughout the second year of Xiangfu. His risky appointment as Deputy Military Commissioner of Northern Liang Dao was a desperate gamble. He sought both to atone for his mistakes to the young Emperor and the Liyang court, and to give a final push to his eldest son, Yang Huchen, the new Deputy General of Jizhou. Northern Liang, Liyang, and Yang Shenxing himself were all well aware that serving as a Military Commissioner (with or without the "Deputy" suffix) in Northern Liang Dao meant less real power than a position of seemingly minor importance. Yang Shenxing's voluntary request for demotion to the Northwest likely stemmed from a willingness to face death.

The thought of Yang Shenxing led to the complex web of Jizhou, and then to the equally complicated situations in Liangliao and Northern Liang itself. Xu Fengnian couldn't help but sigh that the unseen struggles outside the imperial court were the true killers in the shadows. A small place like Jizhou involved Cai Nan, the nominal military head of Liang-Huai Dao; Yuan Tingshan, who, despite his decline, still commanded nearly ten thousand elite cavalry from the Li family of Yanbao; Han Fang, personally courted by the Liyang Emperor; Yang Huchen, whose family's influence was returning to its former place; the newly ennobled Prince of Han, who remained silent; and the intertwined interests of the civil official faction behind Han Lin, all balancing each other. As for the even larger territory of Liangliao, besides Gu Jiantang, who overtly commanded military and political affairs, there was Xu Gong, the Vice Minister of War, who toured the borders on behalf of the Emperor; Zhao Sui, an older generation vassal king deeply rooted there; and the traditional influence of the northern scholars led by the Peng family, forming a quartet of powerful figures. Taken individually, everyone seemed glorious and prominent, but in reality, everyone was constrained.

Unconsciously, Xu Fengnian stood by the courtyard wall, placed his palm against it, and looked up at the top of the wall.

A towering edifice is on the verge of collapse.

Earlier intelligence from the Fushui House and secret imperial gazettes circulated only to prefect-level officials indicated that the battle in Guangling Dao had entirely turned in favor of Western Chu. Following Cao Changqing's naval victory over Zhao Yi's fleet, in the second battlefield west of Western Chu's capital, three young Western Chu figures shone again. Pei Sui, a talented scion of the Pei clan who had previously managed affairs in Kuixiao, assisted Xie Xichui, who had returned from the western front to command the defenses. Together, they successfully repelled the cross-river army led by Wu Chongxuan, the top general of Southern Jiang Dao. Furthermore, Xu Yunxia, the cavalry general who had led 20,000 light cavalry in a desperate battle against Yan Zhenchun's army at Sancang, had crossed the river to attack the rear of the Southern Jiang army, cutting off two main supply routes. This not only eased the pressure on Western Chu's western front but also broke Liyang's strategy of advancing on four fronts to jointly encircle Western Chu's capital. It created a vast and extremely valuable strategic depth for Western Chu in the extensive area south of the Guangling River. Zhao Yi's army, which had chosen to advance rapidly westward to cooperate with the Southern Jiang army on the western front, suddenly found itself isolated deep within enemy territory. Cao Changqing, with 10,000 infantry and two light cavalry units of only 3,000 each, shattered Zhao Yi's core army of over 30,000 elite troops skilled in mountain warfare, almost completely eroding it within half a month. Had it not been for the southern campaign commander Lu Shengxiang's unconventional move, thrusting 5,000 cavalry into the southeastern battlefield, followed by 8,000 infantry conquering Yinma and Yangying, with his vanguard cavalry only fifty li from Cao's main force, forcing Western Chu to abandon its eastward advance, Zhao Yi might have become the second great vassal king of Liyang to die in battle after King Zhao Ying of Huainan.

It seemed that Western Chu was achieving continuous victories on all battlefields, sweeping through with irresistible force, reaching its most prosperous state since raising the banner of restoration.

But Xu Fengnian knew very well that this was merely a deceptive prosperity. Lu Shengxiang, who recaptured Yinma and Yangying, was only testing the waters. Once this Grand General, who had resigned from his position as Vice Minister of War, fully took command of the southern expeditionary forces, no one could stop Lu Shengxiang's southward advance unless Cao Changqing personally garrisoned north of the Guangling River. His previous inaction was not simply due to various parties holding him back, but also to cooperate with the imperial court in weakening the military power of various vassal kings, including Zhao Yi and Zhao Ying. In return, the Liyang court tacitly approved Lu Shengxiang's strategy of waiting for the best offer. As for Wu Chongxuan getting bogged down in the northern Guangling River battlefield, wasn't that also a situation that King Yan Chi Zhao Bing, who was watching from afar, was pleased to see? The real enemy Xu Yunxia of Western Chu would face next would be Wang Tongshan, the top general under King Yan Chi, with his elite Southern Jiang forces. Otherwise, the Crown Prince of Yan Chi, who as a youth had made the various barbarian tribes of Southern Jiang Dao cry out in terror, no matter how incompetent or ill-suited to the environment of Guangling Dao, would not have been so utterly helpless against Xu Yunxia's sneak attack.

Xu Fengnian suddenly chuckled with a hint of schadenfreude: "Little Beggar, oh Little Beggar, you're not having an easy time now either. That General Wu must have completely turned to the imperial court. There's nothing you can do; your Southern Jiang Dao has no more rewards to offer him. But it's different with the imperial court. Grand General of Zhennan, Minister of War, Grand Pillar, even Supreme Grand Pillar – they can all be given. Perhaps even after death, he could be honored with a beautiful posthumous title as a martial general. So, it's really no wonder you had to completely break ties with Wu Chongxuan, watching with your own eyes as Western Chu stabbed that old man Wu so severely in the backside."

Xu Fengnian withdrew his hand, curled his fingers, and casually tapped the wall. The sound was dull.

As of today, Northern Liang was locked in a bitter struggle with Northern Mang's million-strong army. Zhao Yi, proclaimed to be the wealthiest in the land, had completely exhausted his family's resources facing Western Chu. Old King Jing'an, Zhao Heng, sacrificed his own life to secure a hereditary title for his son. King Zhao Ying of Huainan was the first vassal king to die on the battlefield since the Spring and Autumn Period. Zhao Sui of Liaodong had been cautious for half a lifetime after becoming a vassal king. King Yan Chi Zhao Bing, who originally commanded strong forces second only to Northern Liang, suffered a severe blow when Wu Chongxuan, with all the troops from northern Southern Jiang Dao, defected to the Liyang imperial court.

All of this was naturally orchestrated by the late Emperor Zhao Dun, Yuan Benxi, and former Grand Councillor Zhang Julu.

It had nothing to do with the current Emperor.

Xu Fengnian sneered at the wall: "Zhao Zhuan, you are truly far behind your father. Once you've exhausted the Yonghui legacy left by the older generation, do you think you can still easily control the world's affairs? Gu Jiantang, Chen Zhibao, Lu Shengxiang, Zhao Youling, Yin Maochun—is there any one of them you can casually manipulate?"

Then Xu Fengnian fell silent for a long time, asking himself, "What about me?"

There was no answer.

Just then, Gu Dazhu strode into the small courtyard. Even this renowned Spring and Autumn general could not suppress the excitement in his voice, which trembled as he said, "Your Highness! I have two pieces of news..."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Two pieces of news? Let's hear the bad news first, and save the good news for reassurance."

Gu Dazhu burst into laughter: "You'll be disappointed, Your Highness! Both are excellent news!"

From Liangzhou: Xu Longxiang, Kou Jianghuai, and Shi Fu personally led 5,000 cavalry to Qingyuan!

In Youzhou: Apart from vanguard general Zhong Tan, whose whereabouts were unknown, and a portion of Hong Jingyan's Rouran cavalry escaping Hulukou...

Including Grand General Yang Yuanzan, a total of forty-six Northern Mang generals were killed in action!

Sixteen massive pyramids of enemy skulls were erected inside Hulukou!

In the second year of Xiangfu, Northern Liang, despite being at a significant numerical disadvantage, especially in the precarious situation following the fall of Huxing City in Liangzhou, utterly defeated 350,000 Northern Mang troops, with over 100,000 casualties from its own three border prefectures.

Northern Liang's cavalry is unmatched under heaven.