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“Can strategists really not ascend the throne?”
Chapter 141: Fighting Side by Side…
Farming between the Muddy River and the Luo River?
Right now, the Loess Plateau hasn’t seen any large-scale farming efforts from the Ming or Qing dynasties yet. It’s still in the early days of settlers from the Qin and Han dynasties moving in; this “mud” is nowhere near the sandstorms that would come later, which were rather catastrophic.
But hey, we have to face the facts—while the banks of Muddy River and Luo River can indeed be used as farming lands, the area between them is… well, not really ideal.
Qiao Yan held a plate of cold appetizers in her hand, facing Xun You, and asked, “Are you sure?”
Xun You replied, “I never say things without deep consideration.”
She stood up right away, “Then fine, come with me.”
She had already taken care of major affairs within Bingzhou. She figured a few days away wouldn’t be a big deal.
Considering the upcoming battle from Liangzhou to Chang’an, she decisively handed over political matters to Cheng Yu and Xi Zhicai, taking along Guo Jia and Xun You, traveling from Jinyang to the West River, and then into Shangjun.
A little after passing Gao Nu, they arrived at the Luo River.
This Luo River isn’t the same as the one near Luoyang; it might be better to refer to it as the Northern Luo River to avoid confusion.
The Northern Luo River flows into the Wei River. In other words, following the Northern Luo downstream will take you straight to the Guanzhong Plain, which is why Dong Zhuo stationed Duan Wei’s troops in Huayin.
By controlling this river valley, they effectively cut off Bingzhou’s route to Chang’an.
So, if she wanted to deploy her army, that route was off-limits.
Qiao Yan stopped her horse before the Northern Luo River, raising her whip and pointing towards Liangzhou in the west, where the mountain range was clearly visible ahead.
“You want to farm on Ziwuling?” Qiao Yan turned her head towards Xun You, questioning with distinct emphasis.
Before them lay the vast Linyuan, which was Ziwuling, the natural boundary between Bingzhou and Liangzhou.
Green mountains stretching north and south.
Of course, this place was different from the Taihang Mountains, which only had narrow mountain passes; Ziwuling had a height difference of merely four hundred meters from Gao Nu, and the mountains didn’t really pierce the clouds. There were plenty of paths to travel here.
Interesting enough, later on, the Shu Han general Wei Yan proposed a clever strategy to enter Chang’an via the Ziwuling Valley. The two Ziwulings share a name, but one’s south while the other’s north.
After Xun You gestured for Qiao Yan to ascend the mountain first, they all climbed up to the Qin Zhi Road on Ziwuling.
Back in the day, King Qin built this Qin Zhi Road connecting Jiu Yuan in the north and Xianyang in the south, aimed at facilitating troop movements north and intimidating the Xiongnu.
And the Qin Zhi Road remains intact today, unovergrown by the weeds that sprang up on the mountains, wide enough—sometimes twenty zhang—to allow multiple horse-drawn carts to travel concurrently. You could even call it an ancient highway.
However, at this road’s southern end, it functions similarly to how Huayin station guards against invading forces from Bingzhou and Luoyang, also being a key fortification for Dong Zhuo in Chang’an.
From here to the Ganchuan Palace on the Qin Zhi Road is over five hundred miles, with no supply points along the way. If Bingzhou doesn’t foolishly waste military strength, and if all local garrison forces remain intact, the available army might only muster up to twenty or thirty thousand troops.
On such a long military march, the ratio of supply and combat-ready soldiers ought to remain at a one-to-one basis.
Qiao Yan paced her horse and said, “After Dong Zai enters Chang’an, his second checkpoint is at Gaoling. From the west, he can block enemies descending via the Jing River, and from the east, he can intercept any reinforcements coming from the Zhi Road. The guard there is Zhang Ji, and as Dong Zhuo received a decree from the Son of Heaven, he appointed Ma Teng as the front general and Han Sui as the left general. If any other troops invade from Bingzhou and Liangzhou, he can call on Liangzhou forces from the Right Fufeng.”
“General Huangfu Song’s army hasn’t started moving yet, yet the Western Liang troops are pouring into Chang’an from Liangzhou, attacking with just ten thousand men, deep inside the heart of the Guanzhong Plain. If they encounter the guards at Gaoling, it would be a surefire route to their doom.”
Even with the fierce Zhao Yun and Lü Bu on her side, it wouldn’t matter.
Dong Zhuo was clearly as she had suspected, having toned down his earlier bravado following the defeat in Luoyang, and now maintaining a stable defense strategy.
Qiao Yan had no doubt that had she chosen to attack directly through Luochuan Road or Qin Zhi Road toward Chang’an, in a desperate situation, Dong Zhuo would most definitely revolt, mobilizing thirty thousand residents of Chang’an to fiercely defend, leading to a bloodbath.
What she wanted was a righteous claim against Dong, not throwing the people of Chang’an back into chaos.
Therefore, that route was off the table.
Xun You replied, “Your Excellency understands clearly.”
Working under such a young yet remarkably calm leader was undeniably pleasant.
She had accomplished an impressive feat of rushing into the Xianbei camp but clearly never underestimated her opponents, well aware that some tactics are one-time wonders. Faced with new victories, she didn’t let herself become overly ecstatic.
“What I meant is not just this route being impractical,” she pointed south, “but there are guards stationed at the southern end of the road. If we deploy scouts on a regular patrol, our troop movements and farming traces here would not escape Dong Zai’s notice; the elevated Zhi Road overlooks both sides, making our attack on Chang’an quite difficult. Yet, a cavalry flanking could easily attack us here—do you still think it’s wise to camp at this site?”
Originally, Qiao Yan thought the best location from Shangjun to Liangzhou would still be a bit further north.
Following the boundary of the Han Great Wall, going through Jingbian and Dingbian, straight up to Lingwu, which is also Fu Xie’s hometown.
Then establishing a logistics route along the Great Wall, securing base in Lingwu, coordinating with General Huangfu Song’s troops from the north and south, first eliminating Ma Teng and Han Sui, completely cutting off Dong Zhuo’s retreat, then planning to head south and east.
However, the Xun family member equipped with the charm of a noble family smiled at her, saying, “What you’re saying is correct, but do the troops have to be Han?”
He only paused for a moment, noticing a flicker of deep thought on Qiao Yan’s face, before continuing, “I noticed that you have already established the agricultural practices for the people of Bingzhou. Why can’t this be taught to the incorporated Southern Xiongnu?”
Xun You continued in a gentle tone, “The Southern Xiongnu are the people of Bingzhou and should be harnessed for your cause. If we don’t take action, with such unpredictable outsiders lurking, now that you needn’t worry about the Emperor’s stance on the Southern Xiongnu, it would be alright to eliminate them to fill our coffers, don’t you think?”
Qiao Yan met his calm gaze, suddenly understanding how Xun You could propose a strategy of flooding Xia Pi.
She said, “Continue. Since we’ve decided to station the Southern Xiongnu here, the follow-up arrangements must have crossed your mind—let’s hear them.”
Just as Xun You pointed out, if she truly didn’t intend to utilize the Southern Xiongnu, with the power of the Han dynasty divided, facing each other north and south, when she returns victorious from Luoyang, she wouldn’t need to consider the Han’s peace offer to the Southern Xiongnu; she could just eliminate them.
Qiao Yan genuinely had plans to leverage them.
After recent suppression, the Southern Xiongnu could sign up as soldiers.
After all, she had demonstrated enough military force to suppress, and retreating at a proper moment wouldn’t make the Southern Xiongnu forget the intimidation she brought.
Among them, the previously disloyal Northern aristocrats could still be kept in check for another two years, serving as sources of livestock exploitation.
As for Qiang Qu, who showed a cooperative attitude towards the Han or rather towards Qiao Yan, could be incorporated into the Bingzhou populace, provided with some benefits.
She initially planned to have Yufuluo, who had previously gone to Youzhou to assist in quelling the Yuyang uprising, come to enlist.
The Bingzhou army’s winning rate and reward system had already shown Qiang Qu’s eldest son some ideas.
However, looking at the situation now, she might need to change her approach.
Xun You suggested, “Use Huchuquan.”
Huchuquan, Luan Ti’s second son, was the Southern Xiongnu’s shanyu.
According to the Xiongnu’s internal rules of succession, his claim to the throne rightfully stood after Yufuluo. During Qiao Yan’s multiple “visits” to Meiji City, she hardly ever saw him.
“Your Excellency can allow Huchuquan to scout for opportunities under the pretext of going outside, to camp with the Southern Xiongnu troops in Ziwuling, farming by the banks of the Northern Luo River and Muddy River. This could buy us six months to a year’s time of confusion.”
Xun You’s suggestion certainly had feasibility.
During her attack on Luoyang, Qiao Yan displayed a weak posture twice to entice Dong Zhuo, both times giving him near-fatal strikes.
As the saying goes, the third time’s a charm—how could he expect Qiao Yan to not deploy old tricks on some occasions, yet employ effective strategies more than once?
She heard Xun You continue, “In the meantime, since Your Excellency acknowledges the Western Emperor as the rightful authority and portrays our current state of returning after military action, this creates difficulty in controlling all of Bingzhou, forcing us to allow the Southern Xiongnu remnants to roam around the border of Bing and Liang. With Dong Zai having breathing room now, he will undoubtedly slack off a bit. Your Excellency must strive for a name that surpasses Ma Teng and Han Sui, so that—”
“At the opportune moment, we can launch a legitimate all-out attack on Liangzhou.”
The last sentence carried a nuance of revealing a hidden dagger.
Xun You pointed westward, toward the area belonging to Liangzhou of Ziwuling, asking, “Would Your Excellency like to go down the mountain with me to take a look?”
Go! Why not?
We’re talking about the banks of the Muddy River, which allegedly was a favored route used by the Xiongnu and Qiang tribes to invade back in the day.
However, what lay before Qiao Yan now was a vicinity quite sparsely populated.
The Muddy River is marked by the borders of Qingyang, north side holding the Eastern and Western Rivers—a western Huan River, Eastern Baima River—and south of Qingyang, dubbed the Malian River.
Situated between Huan River and Baima River and facing Qingyang stood Shegushan, which Xun You had mentioned.
Qiao Yan gazed at the slightly yellowed river water before retracting her eyes from the west, uttering, “Speaking of Shegushan, I can’t help but think of a person. In the spring of the sixth year of Yonghe, General Ma Xian of the Han led an expedition against the Qiang people at Shegushan, where both he and his two sons perished.”
“From the seventh year of Yongchu to the sixth year of Yonghe, General Ma killed over twenty-one thousand Qiang, but in the battle of Shegushan, he did not grasp the opportunity when the Qiang gathered, neglected military affairs, and was too fond of wealth. That defeat is hardly regrettable. Since his fall, Huangfu Wei subsequently bloomed late into an impressive general, leading to the later emergence of the Three Ming of Liangzhou.”
“Shegushan can indeed be called a mountain of caution.”
Xun You thought her words were merely a recount of history, yet she unexpectedly added, “Gongda, it’s lucky to have your reminder. Once we return, I’ll do as you suggested. I’ll first meet with Huchuquan, and subsequent orders will be handled by you and Feng Xiao.”
He looked at Qiao Yan, who with the wind of the Loess Plateau ruffled her long hair and cloak, revealing an inspired and resolute gaze that dazzled.
This governor of Bingzhou, who was not even half his age, showcased a noble prowess difficult to forget at this moment.
He deeply comprehended then why the likes of Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, often arrogant, held her in such high regard.
He dismounted and bowed deeply to her, “Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will prevent future troubles.”
And what are future troubles?
It’s whether the Southern Xiongnu will, after their relocation, turn wild like untamed horses, mingling with surrounding Qiang tribes, constructing a false narrative for Dong Zhuo and Ma Teng, Han Sui, until it eventually transforms from mere deceit into true rebellion.
With how the Southern Xiongnu operate, even if their family lives were in Qiao Yan’s grasp, it would give them no restraint.
The only things binding them would be interests.
Luckily, compared to Han Sui and Ma Teng, Qiao Yan had more of an edge in this regard.
And he had already devised plans on how to motivate these Southern Xiongnu.
He just snapped out of his thoughts when he saw Qiao Yan didn’t leave after achieving the scouting purpose, but rather ordered the accompanying guards to set up camp there.
Seeing Xun You throw him a puzzled look, Qiao Yan waved her hand, signaling him not to ask too much for now.
Once the camp was set up, a simple filtration device was erected under Qiao Yan’s instructions, and soldiers fetched water from the Muddy River.
After undergoing filtration and boiling, the river water was handed over to him by Qiao Yan.
Xun You sipped it but couldn’t help but frown, “Isn’t this water a bit bitter?”
“Here…”
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“The salt content is too high! It’s not gonna do the crops any good.”
Qiao Yan snatched the cup from his hands and poured out the salty water.
Explaining to Xun You about the river’s upstream being in a freeze-thaw area with high mineral concentration in the soil was going to be a bit of a challenge.
As long as the problem could be clarified, though.
This was the downside of the muddy water here.
Xun You’s face changed. “I previously assumed there was no arable land here because of the Qianghu tribes causing chaos. I thought it better to herd than farm. But now it seems there was more to it than that. I didn’t think this through well.”
Qiao Yan chuckled. “Gongda has lived in Yingchuan and Luoyang for so long, it’s understandable that he doesn’t know much about the local situation. Besides, I never said the water from Baima couldn’t be used; I just didn’t mention the unsuitable areas south of Qingyang.”
“It’s getting late today. Let’s head south tomorrow.”
This was also a lesson for Xun You, who had seen less action in the north.
The next day, Qiao Yan led the group further south. Once they crossed Qingyang, they noticed several tributaries converging around the Yining and Niyang area. The water in some of those streams was a stark contrast to the muddy, yellowish water they’d seen before.
Qiao Yan pointed out the area. “This place meets what Gongda called for a military encampment. The river comes from Ziwuling, not from the upstream area in Huan County. If we consider the mountain streams from Ziwuling, it should be enough to sustain the stationed Southern Xiongnu troops.”
However, expecting those Southern Xiongnu to quickly learn how to identify the directions for clearing fields in this unique terrain was, quite frankly, unrealistic. A dedicated team would need to be dispatched for the planning.
But what Qiao Yan didn’t expect was that among those who volunteered for this task, one stood out.
“I’m just here to observe and learn. I won’t be a hindrance,” Fu Shou insisted, trying to stand up straight to look like an adult, but she was still just a kid.
She pulled the emotional card, “Do you remember what I told you once, sister?”
Qiao Yan smiled. “How could I forget?”
When she went to the capital vying for the position of Bingzhou Governor, Fu Shou had asked her why there wasn’t a single book that could record all the mountains and rivers, so that people could appreciate the geography without leaving their homes; illustrations would make it even better.
At that time, she was stuck at home in Luoyang, but now she was free with Princess Yang’an in Leping. She truly felt like a bird out of its cage.
“That’s good. I haven’t forgotten your encouragement, sister,” Fu Shou beamed, immediately spreading out her findings from her recent explorations around Jinyang.
She had been inspired by Cai Zhaoji’s flashy publicity tactics while in Leping, knowing the Duke of Leping had plenty of paper to work with, so she started building a framework for this documentary of rivers and mountains based on her ideas.
Qiao Yan took the notebook she handed over and saw the front page illustrated with a map of Bingzhou and a few small rivers.
The second page showed one of the rivers with place names and shapes marked, complete with ancient and modern river names, shifts in riverbeds, water quality, and crop information.
The last page documented the local inscriptions and customs near the rivers.
Fu Wan, being a scholar, had nurtured Fu Shou’s skills in writing and painting since she was young, and now it was paying off.
To Qiao Yan, while the content was still a bit rough, if she followed up with some old farmers and explored more areas in Bingzhou, she’d surely refine it.
She pondered that the significance of this project might go beyond mere documentation; it could also be developed sooner rather than later.
When Qiao Yan finished reviewing her work, a moment of silence followed. Fu Shou felt nervous and clasped her hands together. Suddenly, Qiao Yan took a piece of stiff paper and wrote “Records of Mountains and Rivers” on it. She punched two holes in it and did the same for a stack of Leping Duke’s paper.
Fu Shou was puzzled by Qiao Yan’s intentions, but then she saw her take some string to bind it together and suddenly understood.
Qiao Yan stated, “Documenting rivers and mountains will inevitably require additions and revisions. If we’re doing this, we should do it well. If there’s anything to add, we remove and insert it!”
The unspoken message was her approval of Fu Shou’s initiative!
Fu Shou hugged her newly acquired notebook and thanked Qiao Yan, solemnly promising she wouldn’t be a burden.
Anyway, the planning of farmlands could be left to those specialized in such things; she just needed to hitch a ride to ensure she documented the new territory first.
She was eager to report to the leaders of this action, but suddenly heard Qiao Yan ask, “Have you secured permission from the princess? Don’t go putting pressure on her with my approval!”
“Absolutely not!” Fu Shou replied proudly. “Mother told me to learn from Sister Zhaoji; it wouldn’t be right to come to Bingzhou without doing so.”
Qiao Yan casually asked, “What is the princess doing now?”
“Just a little secret between us, don’t let anyone else know,” Fu Shou whispered conspiratorially, leaning closer. “Mother and several of the princesses along with their palace maids just arrived in Bingzhou. At first, they had no idea what to do. If they just stayed here for protection, they’d be just sitting around eating the mountains dry.”
The princesses of the Han still had a little bit of spirit.
Maybe it was because of the unreliability of the emperor, making the daughters hold things together as best they could.
After the incident at the Southern Palace in Luoyang and Dong Zhuo’s chaotic administration, they understood that their status as princesses, frankly, wasn’t much of an advantage, especially in this situation where the Han dynasty was split.
Her comment made Qiao Yan laugh.
“Oh sister, don’t laugh, it’s true! But mother does have some ideas about clothing and palace skincare secrets, and while having enough to eat is priority number one, during our wanderings in Jinyang, we noticed that the jewelry shops had decent sales.” Fu Shou continued, “So they plan to open a shop as an experiment. Sister, could you lower the taxes a bit?”
Starting a business is tough.
Qiao Yan patted her shoulder, encouraging her: “Then you can use your labor as a tax deduction.”
“…?” Fu Shou felt like she might have signed some weird indentured servant contract. But before she could protest, Qiao Yan had already ushered her out the door.
Thinking about it, she figured she probably wasn’t labor; “learning” would be a more fitting title. Fu Shou brushed off the doubts, clutching her makeshift notebook and headed to report to the terrain reconnaissance team, unaware of the satisfied smile on Qiao Yan’s face once the door closed.
She was naturally glad to see these Han princesses finding gainful activities instead of just enjoying the stability Leping offered while also becoming a limiting factor for her.
Ever since the consolidation against the Black Mountain Bandits in Bingzhou, the notion that women can do anything had been spreading; it was evident in the welcoming party of the princesses arriving from Luoyang.
It now seemed that this top-down message was beginning to have delightful effects.
Qiao Yan no longer had to worry about the Han princesses, let alone Ma Lun.
As Liu Yuanzhu, who proposed the new calendar system, arrived in Bingzhou even earlier than Ma Lun, she had dedicated personnel assigned for astronomy observations and calendar calculations under Qiao Yan’s orders.
Liu Yuanzhu was quite satisfied with the cemented storage facility for confidential data. As soon as Ma Lun and her calculating assistants arrived, work commenced immediately.
The only regret for them was that Luoyang’s Lingtai had a natural advantage for instruments like seismographs. Now that they had moved, they would need to make adjustments to ensure this new testing platform would perform well.
Qiao Yan had dubbed this site the Astronomical Calendar Platform. Aside from providing models of celestial globes made from metal, there was also a large version of a telescope.
This was, after all, the best size they could grind from the crystal mining resources found by the Donghai Mi Clan.
As for how the observation results would turn out or if the lenses needed adjustment, that was up to professionals like Liu Yuanzhu and Ma Lun. All Qiao Yan could do was provide support; the craftsman was nearby for consultation.
This wasn’t worthless work.
The mathematics and mechanics derived from astronomical studies would inevitably boost productivity within Bingzhou sooner or later.
Qiao Yan placed significant hopes on Ma Jun, who had yet to formally showcase his military siege equipment inventions, which were truly remarkable.
Furthermore, refining the astronomical calendar aimed to enhance agricultural precision, which needed to evolve under this social system.
She mused that once Ma Jun’s inventions increased in output, she’d rename the Astronomical Calendar Platform to the Science Academy. It would sound more like it belonged as part of the scholarly environment of Leping Academy.
Ma Lun had no objections to her proposed name change. For her, moving from Luoyang to Bingzhou was merely a change of research venue; the people around were still familiar faces.
Of course, for Bi Lan and Ren Hong, this was a life they had never imagined before.
In Bi Lan’s case, he didn’t need to think about how to interact with his peers or what peculiar skills would please His Majesty and secure his position.
Qiao Yan’s instructions were simple: If he wanted to make a name for himself in history, then he should just go ahead and do it.
As for Ren Hong, under Ma Lun’s guidance, she transitioned from basic literacy and reading to diving into new research fields, initially feeling a bit lost.
Thankfully, she was always bold and meticulous. After a month of hands-on experience, she gradually found her footing.
She thought to herself that she had to live up to the name “Hong” bestowed upon her by the lord, motivating her to work diligently.
Ironically, they were calculating the paths of stars and seasons; after all, swans fly through the skies, making it quite fitting.
Too bad this future Science Academy would be built in Leping, so she couldn’t ask Qiao Yan if the lord had any of this in mind when he named her.
Qiao Yan didn’t plan to rush this side’s progress either.
Successfully relocating almost the entire Grand Historian institution was already quite a stroke of luck, leaving the eastern and western emperors with nothing; she couldn’t expect them to produce any remarkable outcomes within a year or two.
More importantly, news from Liangzhou had finally reached her.
After a month of delivering the message, Fu Gan returned to Bingzhou and stood before Qiao Yan.
This month of running around in Liangzhou had left him looking particularly tired, his face marked by the dust of travel. Yet, behind the cold demeanor he had developed since Fu Xie’s death, there was a hint of sharpness breaking through.
“What did General Huangfu say?” Qiao Yan signaled him to take a seat before continuing.
Fu Gan took a breath and replied, “When I arrived at General Huangfu’s camp with my message, the edict promoting Ma Teng and Han Sui to generals had also reached Liangzhou, along with an order to summon General Huangfu to the capital. Fortunately, your lord’s letter arrived first, so General Huangfu didn’t immediately comply but instead mentioned wanting to oversee the movements of Ma Teng and Han Sui, asking Huangfu Jianshou to enter the capital for a response. Currently, Dong Zhuo dares not act hastily, and Huangfu Jianshou has connections with him, so he hasn’t caused any issues for the general yet.”
“But Ma Teng and Han Sui are more troublesome. When Dong Zhuo’s decree arrived in Liangzhou, the two got into an argument over whether the former general or the left general was more senior. There were already some past grievances between them, and Han Sui has a history of trying to annex the forces of Bian Zhang and Beigong Boyu, so turning on each other wouldn’t be surprising.”
“However, they evidently know that united, they could fight back against the Han forces, but divided, they’d be picked apart. General Huangfu tried to move his troops toward Hanyang and showed slight signs of this, prompting the two sides to reconcile and disseminate the news widely.”
“So General Huangfu sent me to convey that for now, he can only watch the situation with you. Until then, he won’t act rashly and certainly won’t give those two the chance to breach his defenses first.”
Fu Gan took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Qiao Yan.
This was a response from Huangfu Song to Qiao Yan.
He had fought for decades, known for his decisive actions, and his letter contained but a few words.
“Five years in a flash, I hope to fight side by side with you.”
