“Can strategists not ascend to the throne?”
In the final days of the Zhongping era, with the winds of chaos swirling over Luoyang, Chapter 109 unfolds…
As the words of the trusted minister echoed, Zhang Rang nearly jumped out of his skin.
He quickly knelt and replied, “Your Majesty, please don’t speak such ominous words. You’re just feeling a bit cold; once winter passes, you’ll surely feel better.”
The power of the eunuchs had to rely on the emperor’s authority, and it was clear that Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong held significant power only because Liu Hong trusted them so much.
Thus, Zhang Rang was more concerned than anyone that Liu Hong might encounter any health issues or even pass away.
But as he looked up, he saw that Liu Hong looked anything but pleased at his words. Instead, Liu Hong slammed the table, pacing back and forth in the sweltering room, and suddenly exclaimed, “Am I not aware of my own health?”
Since the late Guanghe years, although he continued to enjoy himself like before, riding around in his white donkey carriage while flaunting the officials following him, he was more aware than anyone that, just like the old officials who had passed away one after another, his own health was gradually deteriorating, and he could not escape the bizarre pattern of early deaths common among the emperors of the Later Han.
He stopped in front of Zhang Rang and asked, “I just want you to answer me: Do you think Qiao Yan can bear this responsibility of caring for the emperor’s legacy?”
Zhang Rang understood that the “legacy” Liu Hong referred to absolutely couldn’t mean handing Liu Bian over to Qiao Yan. With Grand General He Jin and General of the Chariots and Cavalry He Miao around, Liu Bian would surely have protection. As the oldest surviving son of Liu Hong, he could logically take the throne. The only option left was to hand Liu Xie over to Qiao Yan.
Handing a nine-year-old emperor over to a fourteen-year-old governor of Bingzhou—no one would take that seriously.
Most ministers entrusted with the emperor’s legacy were not too young; they needed to be able to suppress other court officials by virtue of their moral standing and accomplishments, and it was better if this trust was from an older person too, who, as the emperor grew up, would conveniently be too worn out to hold onto the power by then.
With this logic, Qiao Yan’s experiences could only be termed legendary, but she was far from being able to suppress all the court officials. On the other hand, she was even less suitable for the task given her age.
A fourteen-year-old commanding the responsibility of an emperor’s legacy? If she continued to grow, who knew how far she would go? Liu Xie might be clever, but he might not be able to suppress her.
However, from Zhang Rang’s point of view, he wouldn’t oppose Liu Hong choosing Qiao Yan as the minister overseeing the emperor’s legacy.
Qiao Yan held military power, and her reputation gained during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, if Liu Hong intended to merge that into Liu Xie’s chances of ascending the throne, it would significantly increase those odds.
And Zhang Rang, more than anyone, did not want Liu Bian to ascend!
With all those scholars flocking around Grand General He Jin, most were deeply affected by the Prohibition of Factionalists. If they gained the upper hand, becoming major ministers in helping Liu Bian ascend, the task of exterminating the eunuchs would surely rise back to the forefront.
He didn’t want to die, at least not in such a disgraceful manner.
So he kept his actions steady and replied, “Whether to aid the young prince with Qiao Bingzhou, your majesty has the final say. I dare not speak recklessly.”
This was too dangerous of a decision for him to endorse openly, so he indicated implicit support without speaking it outright.
He thought for a moment and added, “Your Majesty, now you have the eight schools of the Western Garden at your disposal, with heavy troops at hand. Once the training of the various schools is done properly, you can command them under the name of Grand General, quelling rebellion from all corners, so there’s no need to rush into such a decision.”
Compared to Qiao Yan, the more trustworthy choice for Zhang Rang was definitely the fellow eunuch, Jian Shuo.
He took this opportunity to bring him up again.
Liu Hong could see right through his little maneuvering, but the concerns Zhang Rang held were also things Liu Hong had contemplated.
Qiao Yan’s current demonstrations were indeed reminiscent of a loyal minister of the Han. But if a mere nine-year-old were on the throne, it could lead to rebellious acts.
Moreover, her methods were quite extreme.
In the current proposal, the feasibility of attacking the Xianbei was laid out clearly. It looked somewhat steady, but regardless, a newly appointed governor actively preparing for an offensive operation while defending against winter was indicative of her aggressive nature.
In the chaotic state of the Han, she was well-suited to be a sword to quell rebellion but was ill-fitted to bear the heavy duty of safeguarding the emperor’s legacy.
Unless the situation could not be preserved, Liu Hong even intended to keep her in the remote Bingzhou for now.
Unless…
When things truly reach the worst.
As long as he could still see through He Jin’s sabotage against the officers of the Western Garden, he and Jian Shuo wouldn’t need to make an endlessly troublesome decision like that.
“Get up, for now, let’s wait and see.” After a prolonged silence, Liu Hong finally spoke again, “Let’s first observe her performance in battle against the Xianbei.”
Seeing the various points she had listed in the proposal, Liu Hong felt she had a decent chance of victory.
But just like Qiao Yan mentioned, the Xianbei, after the death of Tan Shihuai, had already recovered from their prior division and decline, and the three brothers in power were not the same as the proud and arrogant leaders before. If any of them possessed Tan Shihuai’s qualities, there was no telling what could happen.
Let’s see how she holds up!
Qiao Yan, far away in Bingzhou, had no way of witnessing the negotiations between Liu Hong and Zhang Rang. For her, whether or not she received the responsibility of safeguarding the emperor’s legacy wasn’t that critical; in fact, it was perhaps for the best.
What mattered was Liu Hong’s approval to send troops.
The governor indeed held authority over military affairs in Bingzhou, but the Xianbei was located beyond the Yanshan Mountains.
Earlier, the Xiongnu had invaded first, even slaughtering the people of Guyang County. She could claim she acted out of righteous anger, but the Xianbei hadn’t made any border incursions this winter, yet she was leading troops out to battle; that simply didn’t add up.
Today, she could attack the Xianbei, tomorrow she might just as easily raid Liangzhou or Jizhou.
That’s why she had to report this engagement to Liu Hong.
Fortunately, she received good news.
To deploy troops!
As the end of February rolled around, this news landed on her desk. She gazed out the window, where the grass was lush and the orioles were singing.
Qiao Yan rode along the rural paths. Beside the path, the river water flowed gently. In the distance, the streams of Fen River were being routed into a higher level waterway by a newly installed Dragon Bone Waterwheel.
Amidst the gentle whisper of the spring breeze and the sounds of the water and wheels, voices carried from afar to her ears.
It was Qin Yu explaining the use of the curved plow and harrow to the citizens called from Jinyang County.
Over the past few years, she had done plenty of business with the people of Leping County, so she wasn’t about to feel shy.
From afar, she caught Qin Yu’s glance, indicating she knew Qiao Yan, the governor, was present, so she continued her explanation.
But for those farmers who had been dealing with tools for years, understanding the use of the curved plow wasn’t too hard.
They grasped the advantages of that plow better than anyone.
The previous straight plow was not only hard to maneuver but also difficult to turn. Yet, the curved plow showcased before them could easily pivot because of the design of the plow blade, appearing much lighter compared to the original long plow.
During the demonstration of using the curved plow, they could see Qin Yu pushing the beam forward, allowing the plow tip to dig deeper into the soil, enabling far deeper cultivation for their fields.
If this seemed agile enough for a state official to demonstrate, it was all the more so once the farmers got a chance to try it out. Adjusting based on their experience with the earlier straight plow, they too could easily use this curved plow.
Well, what a practical invention!
In today’s Bingzhou, while the neighboring north was an excellent grazing area, it didn’t mean oxen were not a scarce resource. With this curved plow, the animal power could be greatly conserved.
Everyone realized that this was the perfect timing for the state to showcase this invention before the spring sowing.
And soon enough, someone asked, “Where can we purchase this curved plow?”
They all saw the design of the curved plow was commendable, but replicating each of its parts accurately would be somewhat tricky; be aware that Qin Yu mentioned it comprised eleven components!
Since the state had showcased the device, they figured it must be up for sale.
It couldn’t be just to gather them here and broadcast it through word-of-mouth!
If that were the case, spring sowing time would’ve already passed.
Qin Yu replied, “The state recognized the farmers’ busy season needs and has prepared a batch of curved plows and wooden-frame iron harrows over the winter. The first hundred to arrive with their household registrations in each district can collect them for free, while subsequent ones can buy for fifty coins.”
Fifty coins?
Currently, iron farming tools cost about ten coins per pound, so by that calculation, the curved plow’s price was slightly lower than regular iron tools—very reasonable! After all, that bent wood surely increased consumption, and the plow blade was indeed iron-made.
Using the previous long straight plow would require leasing an additional ox just to till these dozens of acres of land, which would far exceed the price of this curved plow.
No matter how you slice it, this was a good investment.
What’s more, there were free quotas for the first hundred!
Those who happened to be passing by and invited here to witness couldn’t miss their chance to secure a spot in that first hundred, right?
No sooner had Qin Yu finished speaking than everyone dashed off, clearly heading home to fetch their household registrations.
Watching this frantic scrambling, Qin Yu couldn’t help but chuckle.
Then she saw Qiao Yan riding in, and she greeted her, finally asking the question she’d wanted to know: “Why did you price the curved plow like this, Qiao Hou?”
“Did you hear anyone contest the price?” Qiao Yan shot back.
Clearly, no one had.
If the price had been out of reach for the farmers, they surely would have raised objections before dashing out, but evidently, even if they didn’t get into that first hundred, they wouldn’t mind paying the amount.
Just like when she had to set a price for the mulberry bark clothing, what she needed was for the people of Bingzhou to know she offered a valuable deal instead of making it a handout to win their favor.
Whether it meant spending fifty coins or renting an extra ox wasn’t a hard question for the farmers. But for the state, it was not only a recovery of costs but also an accumulation of military resources. With this larger scale of trading, the state would have a precedent for future production promotions to these Bingzhou citizens.
“And you’ll have to trouble yourself to promote this matter to other districts as well,” she told Qin Yu, and upon receiving an affirmative, she rode off.
As the governor of Bingzhou, she could certainly do this, but there was one more important task to address.
After Liu Hong approved the plan to march against the Xianbei, it was time for her to quickly organize the army and advance beyond the borders.
This wasn’t something to leave solely to her subordinates. If that were the case, she’d find it hard to justify herself later, especially if she were to miss any crucial intel next year.
Therefore, she had to personally oversee the first battle against the Xianbei and send out the signal that Qiao Yan was a martial and warlike individual!
As she arrived at the Yanmen military camp, she knew well that she had already informed her internal circles in December of her spring offensive plan. Under Zhang Liao’s strict command, the troops must have already been organized and ready to go.
“Looks more chaotic than I thought.”
When Qiao Yan stepped onto the command platform, she saw the three commanders Zhang Liao, Zhang Yang, and Lü Bu standing in front. Behind them, over six thousand soldiers were all lined up, creating quite an impressive spectacle.
But why was it over six thousand instead of the ten thousand she had reported to Liu Hong?
With the surprise attack, to ensure proper supply movement and focusing mainly on cavalry, this number was naturally more suitable for a rapid strike.
She might have exaggerated the Xianbei numbers, so why not round up her own side’s numbers too?
But these six thousand or so were undeniably her most elite troops!
She looked down from the platform and saw a dazzling array of armor shining under the sun, forming a formidable phalanx. The three leaders in front were truly full of spirit after a whole winter of preparation and rest.
These three were top commanders sent from the thirteen provinces, giving the troops below an exceptional sharpness.
If she saw them like this, how could they not look at her similarly?
As spring approached, the signs of new life were also evident in this young Bingzhou governor.
Approaching her fourteenth birthday, according to ancient customs, she could already be considered fifteen.
Since she focused on nourishing her body in Leping and now in Jinyang, and with the help of the Strategist System boosting her health, Dian Wei even found it hard to remember how pale and frail she looked at age ten. Now, she had nearly reached seven feet three inches, enhanced by the height of her boots, truly a young general full of vigor!
Upon stepping onto the command platform, she even brought with her a two-section three-section spear.
A special weapon with spear tips on both ends; it was not too strange for her soldiers, but there was an indescribable intimidating aura when she climbed the platform with a weapon.
This felt like a signal of unyielding ambition!
As she stood firm at the front, she was like the gleaming silver of spear tips, illuminated by the golden light of authority, wrapped in clouds of crimson from her red cloak. Still, none of the bright colors managed to overshadow the brilliance in her eyes.
“Ladies and gentlemen—”
Even without any inciting skills to relay a message, Qiao Yan knew exactly what to say at that moment.
Talking about taking heads? No, everyone in this camp already knew about the meritocratic system of head-hunting; repeating it now would be pointless.
Discussing grievances against the enemy? Certainly not. For most of the soldiers from Bingzhou, the Hu people’s invasions were something that hardly needed elaboration. Most of the last batch of recruits had been drawn from those who suffered from border raids.
What about discussing how to make use of the cattle and sheep looted from the enemy for farming and fertilization? That was already an implicit message conveyed to the troops, so restating it now would make her seem like a commander without the gravitas to intimidate the Hu.
So Qiao Yan continued, using a brief yet powerful tone: “Today, we take the oath! I have just one thing to say. The heads of Quidou, Fuluohan, and Budugen—whoever brings back any one of their heads—”
“I will endorse you as a District Commander in the name of the Bingzhou Governor!”
The District Commanders on the frontier were no ordinary titles!
It meant an immense transfer of military power from the Prefect’s hands to the Commander’s, almost making them equals.
According to the practices started under Emperor Xianwu, several districts near the border in Bingzhou ought to have Commanders.
But due to chaos in the four directions, the court was too preoccupied, and since the previous Commander was killed under Tanshi Huai’s leadership over the Xianbei, no new appointments had been made, leaving the Prefects in charge of military affairs.
Qiao Yan had received permission from the Son of Heaven for this advance; thus, using the Governor’s authority to promote someone to Commander was clearly within reach.
As soon as those words dropped, the soldier relaying the command ensured everyone heard the news, and the already sharp atmosphere in the military camp surged to another level.
The heads of the three Xianbei leaders corresponded with three Commanders’ positions in Bingzhou?
This could be seen as an offshoot of the meritocratic system or a clearer, more defined signal!
Who wouldn’t want to be a District Commander?
Lü Bu, currently a soldier with the Yanmen District, wanted to be that Commander.
That was a position surpassing two thousand stones! It provided more autonomy than his current position.
As long as he could take the head of any one of these three during the campaign against the Xianbei, he could achieve that aim.
In the midst of this electrifying ambition, he couldn’t help but admire Qiao Yan’s dazzling flair.
He knew he was fiercely ambitious about the Commander title, but for Qiao Yan, it seemed like a reward she could easily dispense to encourage her subordinates to fight bravely.
What a charisma!
As he gazed up at the platform, her youthful face seemed somewhat blurred by the sunlight, but he could still catch a glimpse of her confident smile and icy gaze exuding determination.
The speech ended with just one word.
“Kill!”
Kill what? Kill the Xianbei!
Qiao Yan had indeed considered utilizing the Xianbei as laborers in the upcoming open coal mines, but this would be her soldiers’ first official attack into enemy territory. In the absence of guaranteed captures, the goal must be to inflict maximum damage.
Why offer the title of Commander as a reward for killing Quidou, Fuluohan, or Budugen? Because the Xianbei weren’t just any small group of Hu people; they were a sizable force.
Their raiding range extended from Jiuquan to Liaodong, indicating a massive group.
While the Xianbei under Quidou might not be a hundred thousand strong, after the Northern Xiongnu migrated west, if you gathered all the Xianbei in this grassland together, the numbers would surpass that.
Only by dealing significant damage could they even hope to subdue.
So—
“Kill!”
This single word didn’t come from Qiao Yan’s lips; it was the unified cry of over six thousand soldiers below!
As if fighting for themselves and for Bingzhou, this advance was indeed imperative. They expressed their determination with that shout!
Qiao Yan pointed her spear forward, directing it toward the north.
“Follow me—let’s battle!”
Under the guidance of the seasoned soldiers, the process of equipping horses, checking weapons, and loading supplies went smoothly and orderly.
The formation of the troops disbanding and regrouping at the camp entrance didn’t take long at all.
During this time, Qiao Yan ensured she briefed Cheng Yu on all necessary matters.
This time, as she personally struck against the Xianbei, she intended to find good reasons for next year’s specific timing. After achieving her goals, she would likely delay a bit longer, meaning Cheng Yu would need to take on greater responsibilities in Bingzhou while she was away.
Overall, his tasks didn’t really increase much; after all, most of the time, Qiao Yan had been in charge of setting the direction. With the Leping Academy’s expansion, collaborating with noble families in Bingzhou, preparing spring farming tools, and fermenting new fertilizer—all of that had already been mostly completed over the winter. Now Cheng Yu just had to handle the final touches and oversee the situation.
With Cheng Yu, an elder, overseeing matters, it was much like when Qiao Yan felt confident enough to go to Luoyang and plan for the position of Bingzhou Governor, taking two months away. Now she felt just as bold to leave Bingzhou for a month on military campaign.
In return for Qiao Yan’s trust, all Cheng Yu could do was work diligently to repay it.
Fortunately, Bingzhou wasn’t as politically tangled as the Central Plains, and after an entire winter of sorting, he had grasped the framework.
Cheng Yu even learned Qiao Yan’s “true teachings” and planned that if things got too hectic, he might ask Jia Xu for a bit more help.
Anyway, as Qiao Yan had mentioned, one reason she initially approached Jia Xu was because of their similar ages.
The two exchanged a knowing glance, and Qiao Yan turned her attention to Guo Jia.
Upon seeing the crowd behind him, she couldn’t help but laugh a little.
Guo Jia was truly living up to Qiao Yan’s task of intimidating the Southern Xiongnu; he had even brought Zhao Yun along to deliver their noble families from the left side of the Southern Xiongnu.
It wasn’t against Han law to casually take action against the subjugated Xiongnu; one could say it was just a friendly viewing.
But for those forced to come along, it turned into a real torment.
They already felt pressure from both the top official of Bingzhou and the Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu due to Qiao Yan’s appointment as Governor, and Guo Jia appeared lazily indifferent while constantly poking at their sore spots.
And now, they were brought here!
The decisive atmosphere of this deployment against the Xianbei hadn’t allowed the Southern Xiongnu nobles to feel relieved at the absence of this fierce troop in Bingzhou.
Quite the opposite; they felt it was a show of intimidation!
As Qiao Yan approached them on horseback with her long spear and crossbow, the Left Guli Wang instinctively recalled the time Qiao Yan had once pointed her spear at him, causing him to shudder.
Yet, this reaction seemed well within Guo Jia’s expectations, who offered a supportive hand.
Though Guo Jia couldn’t compare physically with the martial generals within the state, he had no problem supporting the Left Guli Wang.
Standing together, the Left Guli Wang heard Qiao Yan say in a bland tone, “To confront the Xianbei bandits, it’s truly too courteous to have you escort me, Left Guli Wang.”
What a send-off! It was nothing less than a threat, the Left Guli Wang thought.
But with Qiao Yan in front and Zhao Yun behind him, he clearly couldn’t say he felt threatened.
Who knew what would happen to him if those words slipped out?
He awkwardly replied, “As the Bingzhou Governor, it’s only natural for us to escort you when you leave.”
“Good! It’s rare for the Left Guli Wang to have such awareness,” Qiao Yan turned her head with an ambiguous smile, “Since you call me your Governor, you should understand the proper etiquette. I won’t hold you accountable for the earlier lost wine cup, but this time, when I return in victory, I hope the wine cup you give to the Southern Xiongnu won’t go missing again.”
Before the Left Guli Wang could react to the resurfacing of that old issue, Qiao Yan had already spurred her horse and was galloping ahead toward the marching troops.
But it was exactly this seemingly casual yet threatening demeanor that left the Left Guli Wang increasingly frazzled.
Just then he heard Guo Jia say, “Since the Governor intends to give you a new gift as a surrendered tribe in Bingzhou, shouldn’t you consider offering some reciprocity?”
“… Right, shouldn’t I?” The Left Guli Wang thought to himself, realizing that the troops led by Qiao Yan were starkly different from those that had come to Meiji City to recruit.
If the Xianbei was still under Tanshi Huai’s leadership, perhaps they could pose a counterattack, but under the command of Quidou and his fellows, that was a different story.
Moreover, who would have thought that even in the face of natural disasters within the Han, they could spare extra forces to take targeted military action against the Xianbei?
He needed to prepare for what kind of reaction he should have when Qiao Yan returned victorious and offered him another wine cup.
Taking advantage of the moment, Guo Jia said, “I have a suggestion for you. Would you like to hear it?”
As Qiao Yan rode far away to the Great Wall boundary, she anticipated what Guo Jia was planning to do, but when she looked back, she found no sign of the send-off party.
Only the setting sun descended over the land of Bingzhou.
She pulled the reins and headed north without looking back.
Into the frontier! Kill the Hu!
