Chapter 150

Chapter 150: Westward Out of the River Valley

In the early spring of the second year of Guangxi, the Southern Xiongnu, who had settled west of the Ziwu Ridge and used the surrounding rivers of Ning County for farming, even had the audacity to raid the nearby Xianling Qiang.

They plundered a herd of cattle and sheep from the opposing tribe before leisurely returning to their cultivated fields to sow seeds.

When the news reached Ma Teng and Han Sui, although they were not gathered together to celebrate in advance, they shared the same view—

In the short term, that Qiao Bingzhou would have even less opportunity to advance westward into Liangzhou!

As for the plundering of the Xianling Qiang, it had little to do with them.

During the Zhongping era, the Xianling Qiang in Beidi Commandery, along with other Qiang tribes, launched a rebellion, intending to invade the capital. They were later defeated by Zhang Wen, Dong Zhuo, and others.

Subsequently, the scattered tribes within Beidi Commandery preferred to continue their mutual raiding lifestyle, aiming to rise again and recreate the “strength as heroism” scenario, rather than submitting to the two major warlords of Liangzhou, Ma Teng and Han Sui. This naturally made Ma Teng and Han Sui feel that the Qiang were ungrateful.

Now that the Southern Xiongnu, with their bandit-like behavior, had once again taken advantage of the situation to crush them, it was a breath of fresh air for Ma Teng and Han Sui.

Moreover, the stronger the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu’s second son, who had split off independently, developed his forces, the more likely he was to unite with the Southern Xiongnu of Xihe Commandery to cause trouble for Qiao Yan.

Based on Ma Teng and Han Sui’s estimation of the Southern Xiongnu, this tribe, whose political discussions were still constrained by the Han Dynasty, would not miss this opportunity for independence.

If it weren’t for the vast distance from the western to the eastern side of Liangzhou, they would have even wished to personally assist the Southern Xiongnu.

But little did they know that in the same month of February, Qiao Yan had completed the installation of horseshoes on the warhorses and was daily sending out teams to adapt to the effects of the horseshoes, checking for any deficiencies. Before the spring plowing, she had also ordered the production of the shortest-shelf-life military rations, such as锅盔 (a type of flatbread).

These military rations, along with previously made dried meat, pickled vegetables, and dried cheese, were loaded onto carts for transporting military supplies.

The cart craftsmen sent by Mi Zhu, along with Ma Jun, who was skilled in such matters, had completed the improvement of the carts during the winter.

The seemingly absurd sail-assisted system, under Ma Jun’s ingenuity, was modified into a foldable state, only to be deployed when wind assistance was necessary.

Before Qiao Yan lay a list of names, detailing her current subordinates.

She needed to make a final decision on whom to lead into battle.

As she had previously told Qu Yi, those from Liangzhou could not be absent.

Qu Yi, Jia Xu, Fu Gan, and Gai Xun were her guides for the march.

Perhaps Jiang Jiao, who accompanied Gai Xun, should also be added.

Thinking that Jiang Jiao was the father of Jiang Wei (Jiang Boyue) from Tianshui, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Now, Jiang Jiao himself was still a young man, and Jiang Wei was still a non-existent matter. No one could even estimate whether, in the face of the increasingly snowballing butterfly effect, Jiang Jiao’s son would still be named Jiang Wei.

But these were all matters of the future and not worth pondering now.

What Qiao Yan should consider more is whom else to bring besides those from Liangzhou.

Among the generals, Dian Wei, Lü Bu, and Chu Yan were definitely to be brought.

The Qiang were fierce fighters, and Qiao Yan could not guarantee that her current martial prowess was entirely sufficient, so Dian Wei, her bodyguard, could not be left out.

Bringing Lü Bu was also understandable.

According to her mission, once Liangzhou was pacified, the next move would undoubtedly be to attack Chang’an.

Lü Bu, who was obsessed with killing Dong Zhuo and obtaining the Red Hare horse, would surely cause a fuss if left behind.

Besides his personal wishes, Qiao Yan also wanted to see if she could achieve another feat: “Assisting Lü Bu in killing Dong Zhuo.”

As for Chu Yan—

The mountainous terrain of Liangzhou required a mountain army for support, and Chu Yan was the perfect fit for this role.

According to her marching plan, she was only one general short.

After some deliberation, she added Zhao Yun’s name.

Pacifying Liangzhou was not a one-day task; it involved both marching and clearing governance along the way, so a relatively steady general was necessary.

Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Zhao Yun all met this requirement, but Zhao Yun was the closest to Qiao Yan’s needs.

Xu Huang would take over Chu Yan’s duties as the gatekeeper, and Zhang Liao would continue to guard the northern border of Bingzhou.

The Xianbei Chanyu Budugen had led his tribes back in February, but he probably never expected that his subordinates, after staying in Bingzhou for a few months, would almost not want to leave.

Even though Qiao Yan compensated Budugen with coal according to the labor of these people, it didn’t change his resentful gaze before leaving.

It was better to have Zhang Liao keep an eye on him.

As for the strategists… Xun You was definitely to be brought.

Xun You was best at battle strategies and could help her check for deficiencies. If it weren’t for this, Xun Shuang, who was in Chang’an, wouldn’t have recommended Xun You to her earlier.

If another person were to be added, Qiao Yan finally decided to bring Cheng Yu.

Receiving this invitation from Qiao Yan, Cheng Yu himself was a bit surprised.

Given that Qiao Yan had always entrusted him with the internal affairs of Bingzhou whenever she left, Cheng Yu thought this time would be no different.

Unexpectedly, Qiao Yan didn’t bring Guo Jia or Xi Zhicai but chose to bring him.

Seeing Qiao Yan, who had summoned him to announce this decision, now gazing at the map of Liangzhou, her eyes not on Anding Commandery and Beidi Commandery, the initial targets of the march, but first on the Hexi Corridor, where the Silk Road was interrupted, and then turning to the higher plateau west of Jincheng.

This gave him a vague guess.

Sure enough, he soon heard Qiao Yan say, “Compared to Fengxiao and Zhicai, I am more inclined towards Zhongde’s ability to adapt to the climate of Liangzhou. Besides—”

“Haven’t you and I fought side by side for a long time?”

The last time they cooperated was when she had few hands to use, planning to wipe out the Black Mountain Bandits who were plundering grain. After that, Cheng Yu had almost been engaged in internal affairs.

But if one were to consider it, Cheng Yu, with his physique, should be counted as a general when necessary. In the original history, Cao Cao’s promotion path for him was also within the general system, even with the evaluation that “Cheng Yu’s courage surpasses that of Ben and Yu.”

If Qiao Yan didn’t have a truly capable civil official and Cheng Yu wasn’t the most suitable as a confidant, she should have changed his position earlier.

But it wasn’t too late now.

Considering the “aesthetic” of the Liangzhou people towards the governor of the commandery, he was actually more suitable to accompany her than Jia Xu and Xun You.

Cheng Yu bowed to Qiao Yan.

He had heard the reliance and expectation in Qiao Yan’s words and naturally wouldn’t refuse.

He just asked another question, “After we set out, how will the internal affairs of Bingzhou be arranged?”

Qiao Yan replied without hesitation, “Let the功曹, 簿曹, and 治中 each take charge of a part. The rest of the subordinate officials will be arranged accordingly.”

Thus, the next day, when she gathered her subordinates for a meeting, she announced these arrangements—

Civil officials accompanying her: Cheng Yu, Jia Xu, Xun You.

Generals accompanying her: Dian Wei, Zhao Yun, Chu Yan, Lü Bu, Qu Yi, Fu Gan.

Two external allies not yet considered her own: Gai Xun, Jiang Jiao.

Temporarily handling the affairs of the province: Lu Yuan, Qin Yu, Xi Zhicai.

Guo Jia and Zhang Liao would continue to be responsible for border affairs.

“The key to the Liangzhou campaign is that the rear must not be in chaos. I have you and Zhongrao take charge of internal affairs to ensure that the noble families within Bingzhou do not cause trouble, regardless of whether news from Liangzhou is timely,” Qiao Yan said to Lu Yuan after keeping her behind.

Zhongrao was one of the courtesy name options Qiao Yan had provided for Qin Yu earlier.

Yu has the meaning of stability and beauty, and abundant farmland is naturally included. When Qiao Yan added this character to the options, she thought of a person named “Yu” in later generations who had the courtesy name Wenrao and, as a county magistrate, opened canals, built embankments, and planted trees, achieving much.








Good governance.

Qin Yu, of course, knew nothing about this matter. She just felt that it fit perfectly with the position Qiao Yan had assigned her.

Seeing that Lu Yuan accepted the heavy responsibility without hesitation, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but show a satisfied smile and continued, “In addition, there’s the issue of logistical supply for military rations. During the spring plowing season, I won’t let the Liangzhou war become a burden on Bingzhou. However, the subsequent military rations supply within Bingzhou must not have any mistakes!”

Lu Yuan replied, “Your Highness, rest assured.”

After these instructions were given, Qiao Yan thought for a moment and asked, “What do you think about your father’s situation?”

Around the beginning of spring, news also came from the south.

Yuan Shu, having taken the position of General of the Chariots and Cavalry under Liu Bian’s court, was stationed between Yu and Yang. This man, always arrogant, even claimed to be half the governor of Yang Province and recruited heavy troops in Jiujiang.

If that were all, it would be one thing, but he also openly ordered Lu Kang, the Prefect of Lujiang, to pay him ten thousand dan of grain as military supplies. When Lu Kang opposed this, Yuan Shu unhesitatingly labeled him a rebel, citing his failure to recognize Liu Bian as the Son of Heaven and not paying taxes, and launched a military campaign against him.

Previously, Yuan Shu’s demand for grain was a private matter between the two parties.

But once he started this war, the news spread throughout the provinces.

Qiao Yan was no exception in learning of this.

This was indeed something that the notorious Yuan Changshui would do, but for Lu Kang, who was in Lujiang and advanced in years, and the Lu family of over a hundred people, this was not good news.

Lu Yuan sighed upon hearing this and said, “All I can do now is send a letter to Lujiang, first to inform my father that I am still alive, and second to tell him that if the seat of Lujiang County, Shuxian, cannot be held, it might be best for the clan to come to Bingzhou to avoid disaster.”

As for whether Lu Kang would listen…

Lu Yuan knew his stubborn nature well and couldn’t help but worry.

But the distance between the two places was vast, with Lujiang County bordering the Yangtze River. As the saying goes, distant water cannot quench a nearby fire.

“Should we…” Should we send someone to escort the Lu family members, just as we sent Bao Hong to protect the Mi family?

Before Qiao Yan could finish, Lu Yuan preemptively replied, “No need. Your Highness has entrusted me with the affairs of Bingzhou, and no matter what, I must prioritize Bingzhou. In these turbulent times, some things are beyond human reach. If my father insists on sharing the fate of Lujiang’s people to uphold loyalty and righteousness, I can only respect his choice.”

Her voice momentarily dropped, then she suddenly spoke with determination, “If things don’t go as hoped, and Your Highness ever opposes Yuan Shu in the future, given the chance, I will surely take his life!”

Qiao Yan looked at her and saw a cold, knife-like glint in her eyes.

The divide between north and south, the choices of individuals, made the fate of relatives an unknown variable. But just as when she first met Lu Yuan, who understood the principles of seizing opportunities and making decisive cuts, it was the same now.

She also became more clearly aware of why Lu Yuan had chosen the courtesy name Ruqing.

In Lu Yuan’s explanation, Lu (six) Ru was the meaning of this name.

This six Ru was not the six Ru of Buddhism, but rather a few lines from the “Book of Songs·Xiaoya”: “Like a mountain, like a mound, like a ridge, like a hill, like a river’s flow… like the moon’s constancy, like the sun’s rise, like the longevity of South Mountain, like the lushness of pine and cypress.”

Originally, it was “nine Ru.”

But the lines “like the moon’s constancy, like the sun’s rise, like the longevity of South Mountain” were too presumptuous and were removed by Lu Yuan, leaving six Ru.

In Qiao Yan’s view, she indeed had the bearing of mountains, rivers, and pine trees.

She could also confidently entrust the personnel transfer authority of Bingzhou to her!

She was her right-hand man!

With all arrangements in place, it was also the second year of Guangxi, April, as she had told Gai Xun—

Twenty-five thousand soldiers under the Governor of Bingzhou gathered in Shangjun.

Half a year ago, she had pointed to the Ziwu Ridge by the North Luo River in Shangjun and questioned Xun You.

Now, the ridge was still lush and green, but beneath it was a silent array of weapons, forming a formation that seemed capable of filling the river.

Qiao Yan turned around and saw the increasingly sharp and robust troops after a winter’s rest.

The newly forged long blades in their hands gleamed coldly.

The front rows of heavy cavalry and armored warhorses were like steel machines.

The most striking were the few generals at the front, clad in the latest chain mail.

These were the wolf cavalry of Bingzhou!

Her Bingzhou army had long shed its origins as a bandit coalition.

At the moment of deployment, it was a force that could strike fear into the world.

This battle intent, nurtured over the winter, no longer needed Qiao Yan to boost morale in any way!

She pointed her spear westward and shouted, “Cross the river, pass the mountains, enter Liangzhou!”

With her command, the cavalry galloped across the bridge over the North Luo River.

The entire procession was devoid of chatter or hesitation, only the thunderous sound of hooves and the marching of infantry.

With no snow to cushion the sound and the echo from the mountain walls ahead, these sounds, amplified by the crossing of the river, became increasingly awe-inspiring.

This scene made Huchuquan, standing on the hilltop, look on in shock.

He was now extremely grateful that he had not acted deceitfully upon receiving Qiao Yan’s order to farm here.

Nor had he developed any inappropriate ambitions after defeating the remnants of the Xianling Qiang this spring.

When the Bingzhou army, no longer scattered in defense across Bingzhou, gathered tens of thousands of elite troops in one place and charged towards the Ziwu Ridge, Huchuquan almost thought he was seeing the tiger and wolf army of the Qin king sweeping through, ready to march straight to Chang’an via the Qin Straight Road.

But no.

They were like a tide of black and white, rushing down the ridge in the sparse spring sunlight.

They were about to pass on the shock they had given him to the land of Liangzhou beyond the Ziwu Ridge.

How did they manage to have horses in heavy armor gallop like this?

How did they forge such precise armor and weapons?

How did that Lord Qiao make the Bingzhou soldiers so loyal, charging into that fierce land with an unyielding determination to win?

In the tide of this march, Huchuquan couldn’t voice these questions, and no one would answer him at this moment.

The Bingzhou army seemed only to offer one result, a result that would crush all enemies before them, proving they were a sharpened blade!

Because he had previously farmed in Ning County, the Qiang people in this area had already retreated.

This allowed Qiao Yan’s Bingzhou army to rush past the edge of these fields and charge unimpeded into the Jing River Valley ahead.

Following the river valley, to the south led to Gaoling, heavily guarded by Dong Zhuo, and to the north was the location specially marked on the map Qu Yi had seen.

Gaoping!

What was Gaoping City?

It was the first major military stronghold on the Silk Road west of Chang’an since the Western Han Dynasty.

Not that it was the first city, but the first absolute military stronghold!

The so-called “key to the six passes, throat of the eight counties, mouth of the western frontier” referred to this place!

Once taken, Qiao Yan would have a springboard into Liangzhou.

Currently stationed here were the Zhong Qiang, allied with Ma Teng and Han Sui.

Because of their presence, Huangfu Song had to station in Chaona City, relying on the local support as his hometown to gain the strongest local backing.

But Qiao Yan had no intention of joining forces with Huangfu Song first.

The Zhong Qiang, a Qiang tribe, was the most powerful among the various Qiang groups in Liangzhou at the time. They would never be lax in their defense against Huangfu Song, but they might overlook the Jing River Valley due to the feints Qiao Yan had previously set up.

This was her opportunity!

However, even so, Qiao Yan dared not be complacent.

The river valley was the source of life.

Even without the Zhong Qiang, other Qiang people would come here to fetch water.

Who knew if they were allies or enemies of the Zhong Qiang?

Therefore, before entering the river valley, Qiao Yan issued an order—

Any Qiang people seen in the river valley, kill!