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“Can strategists not ascend the throne?”
At the end of Chapter Four, during the chaotic times of Zhongping, things in Luoyang started brewing.
“I was ordered to eliminate the thieves!”
Xu Rong was momentarily at a loss for words.
He could see the situation clearly before him.
The heavily armored soldiers with shields arrayed in front of him were definitely not something his cavalry could just plow through.
The soldiers on the Mangshan Mountain had already raised their bows, ready to shoot at any moment.
And behind them, there was an uncertain ambushing force, which might come rushing in before long.
It seemed he had only two options left.
Either plunge into the raging waters of the Yellow River, or surrender to the Bingzhou governor before him.
Xu Rong had no doubt that while Qiao Yan was launching her river-crossing assault, Xuanmen Pass and Taigu Pass were probably also welcoming their own enemies.
This was a simultaneous advance on Luoyang from three directions!
And oddly enough, he felt that the route he least expected to succeed had already made headway, having successfully crossed the river; what chance did the other two have to fail?
In the mere moments of his hesitation, he saw more Bingzhou troops landing on the opposite bank.
Even with victory seemingly in sight, these Bingzhou soldiers did not exhibit the slightest sign of complacency, unlike their counterparts from Liangzhou.
Instead, they quickly reserved troops for transporting boats, while others formed up rapidly behind Qiao Yan.
This was precisely what gave her more confidence.
She was right; he was trapped here. As she assembled her troops and advanced towards Xiaopingjin, under such overwhelming numbers, they were almost finished.
Yet Xiaopingjin was still without a commander.
So, both river crossings had essentially been lost.
The subsequent attack on Luoyang, with far less harsh terrain than now, should be a piece of cake for her.
So did he still need to defend a position destined for defeat?
While he could be considered an important general under Dong Zhuo, he wasn’t his trusted aide. They had no familial ties either. With Dong Zhuo’s retreat seemingly inevitable, he had no choice but to find a way out for himself and his subordinate officers.
What cemented Xu Rong’s resolve was Niu Fu, who had been tied up and brought before Qiao Yan.
After being ambushed in this sudden night raid, Niu Fu, as the defeated side, didn’t once reflect on his drinking errors or the lack of control over his camp that had facilitated Qiao Yan’s stealthy assault. Instead, he first glared at Xu Rong, who was facing off against Qiao Yan.
Niu Fu looked a complete mess but still turned to Xu Rong, angrily declaring, “I told you Xu Rong wasn’t a good person; it’s really you who brought these Bingzhou troops here!”
Before Xu Rong could defend himself, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but sneer, “Oh Niu Zhonglang, where did you get that conclusion? Can’t you see your General Xu brought cavalry to rescue you, but now he’s trapped here? Honestly, it would be better for him to retreat to Luoyang instead; at least he could showcase his loyalty before that old thief Dong Zhuo instead of risking you lining him up for blackmail later, don’t you think?”
Those last five words weren’t directed at Niu Fu but rather at Xu Rong.
His expression shifted, somewhat hard to read in the dim light.
But after a few breaths, his actions became clear and straightforward.
He suddenly dismounted and took a few steps towards Qiao Yan, halting before her shield, removed his helmet, cradled it in his arm, and knelt with one knee on the ground, “Xu Rong of Xuanzhou Xuanlu district meets Your Grace. If you don’t abandon me, I am willing to serve you well.”
As a son of the frontier, he wasn’t the type to bring trouble upon himself.
He had tolerated Niu Fu’s blackmail only because Qiao Yan’s army was pressing in. If a dispute arose between the two crossing points, it would give the enemy an opportunity.
But now that the troops had crossed the river, Niu Fu still wanted to pin the blame for this defeat on him, which was…
Enough is enough! If he was seen as having defected, he might as well truly defect!
He was fully aware that Qiao Yan’s underhanded schemes to win this battle weren’t exactly honorable.
But such tactics couldn’t overshadow her success in crossing the river and securing Mengjin Pass.
His gaze momentarily shifted to the riverbank, landing on the discarded ram’s leather cloak.
Having followed Dong Zhuo’s campaigns in Liangzhou, he vaguely knew how she managed to transport the first group of crossing troops.
Even without her schemes of sowing discord, she could’ve still achieved today’s outcome.
Perhaps the greatest significance of this move was to make him, Xu Rong, realize if he should remain on such an unstable ship as Dong Zhuo’s.
He indeed harbored some hesitation about making a decision in the heat of the moment, but that uncertainty was quickly pushed aside.
After taking a seat with Qiao Yan in the Mengjin Pass’s discussion area, she spoke, “General Xu’s willingness to submit is quite surprising, but regrettably, I can’t offer you a military title like the Middle General, only a promise.”
She spoke earnestly, leaving no doubt of the truth in her words, “If you pledge allegiance to me, General Xu, you will be one of my generals; there will be no distinction of defectors or defeated generals. Any merits, no matter how small, in killing the enemy, will be rewarded equally as my other officers.”
“And one more thing, whether you believe me or not, I must say this now—if you do not betray me, I will not doubt you.”
Hearing this, Xu Rong rose and bowed once more to Qiao Yan, “Your Grace, there’s no need to call me General any longer. My courtesy name is Wenxian; I’m fine taking a role as a Cavalry officer under Your Grace.”
Not sure if it was his imagination, but when he mentioned “Cavalry Officer,” he caught a glance from one of the commanders opposite.
This commander had come from the Xiaopingjin direction, causing Xu Rong to easily guess he was the leader of the heavily armored soldiers who attacked his rear infantry, returning to report the battle situation to Qiao Yan ahead of the other soldiers.
The morning light shone from outside, illuminating the commander’s sharp and proud features, but it also revealed an emotion in his eyes that could be described as envy.
Xu Rong was slightly puzzled by this reaction, but clearly, it wasn’t the focus at this moment.
He continued, “Before leading my troops to support at Mengjin, I mentioned to the garrison; if I hadn’t returned by noon, it must mean I and the Mengjin crossing had suffered loss. They must breach the pass and retreat from multiple directions across Mangshan to relay the military situation.”
“Your Grace knows I’m coming, so would’ve anticipated my report towards Luoyang, but intercepting messengers in the mountains is easier said than done. With an army of ten thousand marching thirty miles of mountain road, they are destined to fall behind my messenger—”
“So I must first be allowed to return to continue holding Xiaopingjin to prevent leaked messages.”
Qiao Yan reflected and asked, “How many Liangzhou troops are stationed at Xiaopingjin, and how many from the Northern Army Five Divisions?”
Xu Rong hadn’t expected her to be inquiring not whether he was risking letting the tiger out of its den, perhaps as she mentioned, there was no need to suspect him of being someone not worth mentioning anymore.
He straightened his expression and replied, “Three hundred Liangzhou troops and three thousand from the Northern Army.”
“Three thousand…”
If the three thousand continued to maintain their defense at Xiaopingjin as Xu Rong stated, it would indeed align with Qiao Yan’s needs at that moment to prevent message leaks.
But this also meant that after achieving the aim of clearing the rebels, those troops would shift from being forced enemies to reintegrated members of the Five Divisions, which had nothing to do with Qiao Yan.
However, if these elite-trained soldiers could join her ranks during the transition, wouldn’t that be better?
Earlier during the selection trials for the General of Duluo, Qiao Yan had already eyed this unit, which combined various cavalry types.
Now, amid the chaotic order, with Luoyang also not peaceful, it presented a chance for them to relocate.
And all this hinged on whether she could get them on board for the offensive on Luoyang.
That would make them “our people.”
She asked, “If I had another imperial edict besides the one against Dong Zhuo, do you think Wenxian could persuade my soldiers to join the assault on Luoyang?”
Xu Rong looked surprised as he saw Qiao Yan extend her hand toward Guo Jia, who had also arrived on the southern bank, retrieving the imperial edict from him to present it to Xu Rong.
“Before the previous Emperor passed away, knowing the young Emperor was vulnerable, someone would definitely try something. The Grand General back then coerced the imperial authority, appearing to harbor ill intentions. As the late Emperor’s trusted advisor, I must lend my efforts to quell the unrest in the capital. Unfortunately, at that time, Luoyang was in turmoil, and I was still campaigning in the desert north, so by the time this edict came into my hands, Dong Zhuo had already invaded the capital.”
“Initially, he promoted the virtuous to be county governors; though he had no formal title for regency, he couldn’t have expected the whole realm to be stable. Hence, I didn’t present this edict. But now—”
“But now the situation is different.” Qiao Yan expressed with a hint of poignance, “Dong Zhuo’s tyranny is universally reviled. Once he moves the capital to Chang’an, Luoyang’s power will falter, and the Han dynasty’s glory will vanish. This is the moment for a swift victory! If this edict can summon the Northern Army Five Divisions to aid the assault on Luoyang’s northern city and spare the people of Beiguo from disaster, then it’s worth presenting.”
Xu Rong clearly saw the imperial edict was sealed with the imperial seal.
It bore the eight characters: “Received the mandate of heaven, enduring longevity and prosperity.”
There were some subtle differences at the edges of the seal, likely from where the Imperial Seal had been chipped and repaired after the Empress Dowager shattered it at the end of the Former Han.
Since following Dong Zhuo into Luoyang, Xu Rong had heard about how, when Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao burnt down the palace in a hurry, the two princes, along with Zhang Rang and Jian Shuo, fled so hastily that they didn’t take the imperial seal. It was hidden away by Zhang Rang and had since vanished after his demise; even now, the new Emperor Liu Xie did not know its whereabouts.
Thus, the effectiveness of the decree in Qiao Yan’s hands had greatly increased.
He replied, “If that’s the case, convincing them will not be difficult. Leave this matter to me.”
Xu Rong’s authority over these Northern Army soldiers was far beyond that of Niu Fu.
These soldiers had participated in the Western Suburb’s great camp…
“`
“The soldiers remember quite well that when the Son of Heaven granted the position of Prefect of Bingzhou to Qiao Yan, she was held in high regard.”
This appointment was not made lightly.
She carries the edict in her hands, needing little explanation.
Besides the official reasons, there was another.
Even now, with Dong Zhuo in control of the Emperor Liu Xie, the situation lacks legitimacy, making those who oppose him rather uneasy about serving him.
Would they be implicated in his schemes?
If not for their families being mostly in Luoyang, they might have already fled.
Fortunately, with Qiao Yan holding the imperial edict and leading thousands across the river, she even managed to convince Xu Rong to pledge allegiance.
If they could capture that rogue Dong, they wouldn’t have to worry about their families suffering, and they could clear their names of any suspicion!
Good news!
Before sunset, they were consolidated under her command, arriving at the crossing at Mengjin, joining forces with Qiao Yan.
It was a pity some of them had been dispatched by Xu Rong to deliver messages at night. According to Qiao Yan’s orders, they stayed behind at Mangshan, while others provided nighttime support at Mengjin and fell victim to Qu Yi’s heavy infantry. But such losses are unavoidable in war.
Standing atop the city gate at Mengjin, Qiao Yan surveyed the troops assembled by the riverbank who had successfully completed their crossing from the north to the south, feeling an immense sense of joy as their numbers even grew after the crossing.
In such rapidly changing war conditions, she had no time to inquire about the outcomes of the Acidum army’s movements at Xuanmen Pass or the Luoyang coalition’s advance towards Taigu Pass.
Even though both sides remained stuck outside the passes, she had to push her forces into Luoyang!
If delayed, and if Dong Zhuo started his relocation efforts, it would only result in suffering for the million inhabitants of Luoyang!
From the current situation, even if the attack on Luoyang went poorly, her objectives of gathering forces and achieving fame for military training had been fully accomplished. There was no regret.
Then let’s go!
Holding the imperial edict high, she proclaimed, “The late emperor did not slight me for my youth, but entrusted me with the critical responsibilities of a provincial governor to remove traitors—lifting the hopes of the Han dynasty. Beyond marching into the capital to remove treason and restore the state, I have no way to repay you! Fortunately, with your assistance, I can gather such troops in Mangshan today.”
“Though marching at night is challenging, I ask you all to accompany me on this road. At sunrise tomorrow, it will be the time to cleanse Luoyang of thieves!”
“And also—”
“The time for you all to make your mark!”
The six words ‘make your mark’ echoed loudly, met with a resounding response beneath the city gates.
Qiao Yan dismounted the city wall and hopped onto her horse.
This time, aside from the relatively weak strategists like Guo Jia and Jia Xu, everyone else would accompany her.
Under the commander’s banner, Niu Fu was still grumbling, very unhappy that after Xu Rong surrendered to Qiao Yan, he got to command three thousand soldiers as if it was a walk in the park. But before he could say much more, his words were cut short.
Because just then, Dian Wei’s axe came down, silencing him forever.
Fresh blood sprayed onto the commander’s banner pole. As Dian Wei lifted it, the setting sun cast a glorious hue over the scene.
Qiao Yan dug her heels into her horse’s sides, brandishing her whip and signaling the march.
Into Luoyang!
The last time she rode this path from north to south at Mangshan, it was in white robes entering Luoyang, vying for the position of Prefect of Bingzhou for the people.
This time, she came clad in armor as a commander, for a different purpose…
“Don’t you have questions for me?” she asked the system in her mind as she galloped along.
In this thirty-mile stretch of Mangshan, there was unlikely to be anyone else standing in her way; she found her thoughts finally calming as she gazed at the somewhat familiar yet strangely altered landscape.
Five years ago, the green hills here were solid, and now they seemed even denser, untouched by the events occurring in Luoyang.
As the designated burial site for the Eastern Han emperors, Liu Hong was predictably laid to rest here, though quite far from their current path of advance.
If time allowed, Qiao Yan would have liked to pay a visit to Liu Hong’s tomb and shed tears over the fate that Dong Zhuo had brought upon it, truly fulfilling the late emperor’s wishes.
But unable to do that, she settled for some banter with the system instead.
[…You still remember me?] The system had been silent since she decided to take on Dong Zhuo.
That commanding aura she had when rallying the troops for war, the leader vibe in her proclamation against Dong, the schemes she had devised for Yuan Shao—all of that didn’t quite fit the mold of a strategist.
When she merely handled the responsibilities of Prefect of Bingzhou, the system could be kept in check, but now it felt like it might need a rebranding!
How naïve it was!
Looking back, all that talk about “strategists needing a strong general like Dian Wei for protection,” or “strategists needing to engage with peers like Cheng Yu,” or “strategists required impressive achievements to gain public favor,” or “strategists needing to be discerning to avoid early allegiance”—all seemed like just to keep it in line!
Which strategist could be a prefect while gathering such a talented crew?
Glancing at the current developments of the three kingdoms’ factions compared to hers, the system found itself utterly overwhelmed.
It had thought that with Qiao Yan’s smarts, they could achieve greatness. Now, it was just thinking—this is a disaster.
Who would dare to have such a “strategist” onboard after all this?
Probably no one!
But then again, it started to connect the dots about why it chose Qiao Yan as its target in the first place. Among a crowd of historians, she was the youngest and had this fiery ambition. Plus, during the excavation incident, her strong desire to survive caught the system’s attention.
Someone like her would fight for their goals no matter where they were, so…
It made perfect sense that she would choose to be a ruler, free from others’ constraints.
No, wait! It’s a strategist system! How could it make excuses for this trickster!
But then it heard Qiao Yan say, “If I’m right, since launching the campaign against Dong, my strategist points have certainly risen. This shouldn’t just be due to carrying out someone else’s plans, but more about my own accomplishments, right?”
[…]
“With Dong Zhuo entering the capital, although true transition to the Three Kingdoms remains far off, this is recognized as the beginning of the era. As a system based on this history, a substantial part of the built-in achievements must begin from this timeframe, right?”
The system, not very good at lying, hesitated before confirming with a simple [Yes].
“Let’s have a chat. I reckon this ‘greatest strategist’ task is still doable. But I need your help.”
“If I were in the Southern Palace of Luoyang, can you find out the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal?”
The system took its time before finally responding, [Keep an eye on your luck value. ]
Luck value?
Qiao Yan had not anticipated such an answer.
She thought she would need to barter with some power-laden system from a bizarre world.
But now this answer turned out to be quite good news!
The northern district of Luoyang was filled with merchants.
On her initial arrival in Luoyang, she had heard of a place known as Shangshangli at the foot of Mangshan.
However, due to Dong Zhuo’s arrival in the capital, merchants who happened to have extra cash became frequent targets for pillaging. Luckily, escaping toward Mangshan wasn’t easy to obstruct, and many merchants had long since bolted.
Dong Zhuo only cared about keeping hostages under his control, mostly ignoring those who fled Luoyang.
But now that he wanted to relocate to Chang’an and fill the gap in the population with Luoyang’s residents, he was no longer kindhearted.
Recently, a merchant from the northern part of the city was just about to cross Mangshan when he got his head lopped off by the Xiliang soldiers patrolling the outskirts.
Under such intimidation, all they could do was hunker down in their houses in fear, feeling hopeless about the impending relocation!
Relocation…
If given the choice, who would want to leave their homeland?
But those words could only be shared behind closed doors or whispered in dreams.
Yet tonight, sleep was hard to come by, even to finish their dreams.
Before dawn, the sound of hooves like drums approached closer, reinforced by a rhythm of galloping steps that shook the ground.
The residents of Shangshangli awoke in a panic, thinking it was Dong Zhuo’s ruthless soldiers coming to attack again!
But this sound was distinctly different from the Xiliang cavalry.
“Mom, did you hear that…” A perceptive child tugged at his mother.
This wasn’t the sound traveling from the south to the north, but rather from the north to the south. The hoofbeats and footsteps surged steadily toward the northern city gate, accompanied by piercing whistle of flying arrows.
Amid the chaos was a recurring shout that echoed in the ears of anyone who could hear the commotion.
“Prefect of Bingzhou, Qiao Yan, has been commanded to punish the traitors—”
