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“Can’t strategists just take the throne?”
Chapter 150: Westward through the River Valley
In February of the second year of Guangxi, the Southern Xiongnu, who had set up camp west of the Ziwuling and were using the rivers around Ning County for farming, were flexing their muscles by raiding the earlier Zero Qiang tribes nearby.
They snatched a bunch of cattle and sheep from the neighboring tribe and then strolled back to their cultivated land to plant some seeds.
When the news reached Ma Teng and Han Sui, although they weren’t gathered together to celebrate early, they shared the same thought—
That poor Qiao in Bingzhou probably wouldn’t have the chance to march west to Liangzhou anytime soon!
As for the raiding of the earlier Zero Qiang, it didn’t really concern them much.
During the time of Zhongping, the Zero Qiang in Beidi County had rebelled along with other Qiang tribes in the area with plans to invade, but they were defeated by people like Zhang Wen and Dong Zhuo.
After that, the roving bands in Beidi County opted to continue their mutual looting lifestyle, hoping to rise again and flaunt their “might is right” way of life, rather than throwing themselves at the mercy of the two big warlords in Liangzhou. This definitely left Ma Teng and Han Sui feeling like they were being unappreciated.
Now, with the same bandit antics from the Southern Xiongnu crashing down on them again, it gave them a nice sense of satisfaction.
Besides, the Southern Xiongnu’s Chanyu, this independent younger son, had only made his forces stronger, which meant he could team up with the Southern Xiongnu of Xihe Commandery to stir up some trouble for Qiao Yan.
Given Ma Teng and Han Sui’s take on the Southern Xiongnu, these tribes, which even had to bow to the Han Dynasty, probably wouldn’t miss out on this opportunity to establish themselves.
If it weren’t for the long distance from the west side of Liangzhou to the east, they’d be itching to lend a hand personally.
But little did they know, in the same February, Qiao Yan was busy getting the horseshoes installed for the troops heading out, running drills so they could quickly adapt to the horseshoes, and checking for any needed adjustments—all while ensuring the shortest shelf-life military bread was ready before spring plowing.
These military rations, along with previously made jerky, pickled vegetables, and cheese, were all loaded onto the carts meant for transporting military supplies.
Mi Zhu had sent over a wagon craftsman, who, during the winter, worked with Ma Jun to modify the carts.
That somewhat ridiculous sail assisted system in Mi Zhu’s eyes was reworked by Ma Jun into a foldable design that would only unfurl when wind was needed.
And now, a list of names, specifically those of her current subordinate generals, lay before Qiao Yan.
She still needed to make some final decisions on who would lead the charge.
Just as she had previously mentioned to Qu Yi, those Liangzhou folks were definitely coming along.
Qu Yi, Jia Xu, Fu Gan, and Gai Xun were her guides for this campaign.
Perhaps she’d also take Jiang Jiao, who came along with Gai Xun.
Thinking about it, since Jiang Jiao was the father of the future Jiang Wei from Tianshui, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but chuckle.
Jiang Jiao was still just a young lad himself, and who knows if Jiang Wei would even exist under this rolling snowball of a butterfly effect.
But that was all just speculation and could be pushed aside for now.
What Qiao Yan needed to consider was which additional folks to take along with the Liangzhou team.
Among the warriors, Dian Wei, Lü Bu, and Chu Yan were definite picks.
Given how fierce the Qiang tribes were, Qiao Yan couldn’t risk her strength alone, so her bodyguard Dian Wei was a must.
Taking Lü Bu along made perfect sense too.
With the aim to stabilize Liangzhou, her next move was undeniably to head for Chang’an.
This guy Lü Bu had his mind solely set on taking out Dong Zhuo for that Red Hare horse, so if she left him behind, who knows what ruckus he might cause.
Plus, aside from his own ambitions, Qiao Yan was curious if she could still earn a “help Lü Bu kill Dong Zhuo” achievement.
As for Chu Yan—
The mountainous terrain of Liangzhou had her needing a mountain army to assist, and nobody could fill that spot better than Chu Yan.
Now, according to her battle plan, she still needed one more commander.
After pondering for a moment, she added Zhao Yun’s name to the list.
Taking down Liangzhou wouldn’t happen overnight; there’d be some military cleaning to do along the way, so a stable-minded warrior was a necessity.
Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Zhao Yun could all fit the bill, but Zhao Yun came closest to what Qiao Yan needed.
Just right for Xu Huang to take over Chu Yan’s previous post assuming the role of advisor while Zhang Liao continued to guard the northern borders of Bingzhou.
The Xianbei Chanyu Budugen had brought his troops back in February, but little did he know that his guys would end up lingering in Bingzhou for a few months before almost refusing to leave.
Even though Qiao Yan compensated Budugen for his men’s labor with coal harvest calculations, it didn’t budge the resentful look in his eyes as he hesitated to leave.
It’d be best for Zhang Liao to keep an eye on him a bit longer.
As for the strategists… Xun You was definitely on the list.
Xun Gongda was still best at devising battle plans, perfect for plugging any gaps for her. If it weren’t for that, Xun Shuang in Chang’an wouldn’t have needed to recommend Xun You to her earlier.
For one more addition, Qiao Yan ultimately decided to take Cheng Yu along.
Cheng Yu was quite surprised by this invitation.
Given that Qiao Yan had entrusted the affairs of Bingzhou to him whenever she left, Cheng Yu had thought it’d be the same this time.
But unexpectedly, Qiao Yan didn’t bring Guo Jia or Xi Zhicai, but rather him.
Cheng Yu saw Qiao Yan, who had summoned him to declare this decision, looking at the map of Liangzhou, her eyes not landing on Anding Commandery and Beidi County—the initial attack points—but on the disrupted Silk Road corridor, the Hexi Corridor, then up toward the elevated terrains west of Jincheng.
This left him with a faint inkling of what was brewing.
Sure enough, he soon heard Qiao Yan say, “Compared to Fengxiao and Zhicai, I prefer Mr. Zhongde’s ability to adapt to Liangzhou’s climate. Plus—”
“Haven’t we also not fought side by side for quite some time?”
The last time they teamed up was when she had barely any manpower and was plotting to wipe out the Black Mountain Bandits and then Cheng Yu mostly handled the internal affairs.
But if one had to be specific, given Cheng Yu’s physique, in necessary situations, he could definitely be considered as a warrior of sorts. Historically, Cao Cao had also given him promotions within the military ranks and even dubbed him “Cheng Yu’s audacity surpasses Ben and Yu.”
Had it not been that Qiao Yan lacked actual civil officials good at daily affairs, and Cheng Yu fit the role of a trusted confidant, she would have swapped him for a different position already.
But it wasn’t too late now.
Considering the “aesthetic” preferences of the Liangzhou folks toward local governors, he was actually more suitable to tag along than Jia Xu and Xun You.
Cheng Yu clasped his hands toward Qiao Yan.
He could tell from her words how much she relied on and looked forward to him, so there was no way he’d refuse.
He just asked, “What about the internal affairs of Bingzhou once we march out?”
Qiao Yan replied without a second thought, “Let the Gong Cao, Bu Cao, and Zhi Zhong each handle a portion, and I’ll coordinate the remaining subordinate positions accordingly.”
Thus, when the next day came and she gathered her men for a meeting, she laid out these plans—
Accompanying her was a group of bureaucrats: Cheng Yu, Jia Xu, and Xun You.
Among the military officers: Dian Wei, Zhao Yun, Chu Yan, Lü Bu, Qu Yi, and Fu Gan.
Two not yet considered allies: Gai Xun and Jiang Jiao.
Temporarily handling internal affairs: Lu Yuan, Qin Yu, and Xi Zhicai.
Guo Jia and Zhang Liao would still oversee border affairs.
“The key to the Liangzhou war is to keep things in the rear steady. I’m putting you and Zhongrao in charge of internal affairs so you can keep an eye on the noble families in Bingzhou, no matter how timely the news from Liangzhou comes, we can’t allow any messes to happen,” Qiao Yan stated after retaining Lu Yuan.
Zhongrao was a selection she made earlier from the options provided to Qin Yu.
The character ‘Yu’ conveys stability and beauty, and fertile lands naturally fall under that concept. Qiao Yan thought of this character when she added it to her options, knowing there was a future figure named “Yu” who was renowned for constructing canals and planting trees during his service as an official.
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“Good governance.”
Qin Yu obviously didn’t know about this, but she thought it suited Qiao Yan’s job description just fine.
Seeing Lu Yuan respond with confidence instead of any anxiousness about her responsibilities, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction and continued, “Also, about the logistics and military supplies, during the spring plowing season, I won’t let the troubles in Liangzhou burden Bingzhou, but the subsequent supply of military grain must be flawless!”
Lu Yuan replied, “You can rest assured, my lord.”
Having wrapped up those instructions, Qiao Yan pondered for a moment and asked, “What’s your take on your father’s situation?”
It was around the spring season, and a piece of news had arrived from the south.
Yuan Shu had been appointed as the General of the Chariots and Cavalry for the side of Liu Bian and was stationed between Yuyang. This guy had always been arrogant, even considering himself half the governor of Yang Province, recruiting heavy troops in Jiujiang County.
If that was all, it would be fine, but he also brazenly ordered Lu Jiang’s prefect, Lu Kang, to pay him ten thousand stones of grain as military supplies. After Lu Kang opposed him, Yuan Shu didn’t hesitate at all to label Lu Kang as a rebel, claiming he hadn’t acknowledged Liu Bian as the Son of Heaven nor paid taxes, and sent troops against him.
Previously, Yuan Shu had just requested grain through a private correspondence between the two parties.
But once he initiated war, that news spread throughout the states.
Qiao Yan learned of this too.
This was indeed the sort of move that the fierce Yuan Changshui would make, and it was bad news for the elderly Lu Kang in Lu Jiang, and over a hundred members of the Lu family.
Lu Yuan sighed, “All I can do now is send a letter to Lu Jiang, one to inform my father that I’m still alive, and the other to suggest that if the jurisdiction in Lu Jiang can’t be held, he should let the clan members come to Bingzhou to avoid disaster.”
As for whether Lu Kang would be receptive to that…
Lu Yuan knew well that he could be stubborn, and she couldn’t help but worry.
But the two places were quite far apart; Lu Jiang was adjacent to the banks of the Yangtze River, and the saying “distant waters can’t quench nearby fires” was fitting here.
“Should I…” she began, similar to sending Bao Hong to safeguard the Mi family, to send someone to escort the Lu clan youths?
Before Qiao Yan could finish her sentence, Lu Yuan interrupted, “No need. You entrusted me with the affairs of Bingzhou; I must prioritize that above all else. Given the current turmoil, some matters are beyond human control. If my father insists on sharing the fate of Lu Jiang’s people for the sake of loyalty, I must respect his choice.”
As she spoke, her tone turned heavy for a moment, but then she declared resolutely, “If things don’t go as planned, and you confront Yuan Shu in the future, if the chance arises, I will personally take his life!”
Qiao Yan looked at her and saw a cold, sharp glimmer in her eyes.
The divide between north and south, plus each individual’s choices, turned their family’s fate into an uncertainty. Yet just like when she had met Lu Yuan years ago, who well understood the principle of seizing the moment and making decisive moves, it was still the same today.
She also became more aware of why Lu Yuan chose her name to mean “like/Qing.”
In Lu Yuan’s interpretation, Lu (six) meant this character.
This six didn’t refer to the Buddhist “six ways,” but rather was from a few lines in the “Book of Songs,” “Like mountains and hills, like ridges and mounds, like rivers flowing…”
This originally referred to the “Nine Like.”
But the lines “like the constancy of the moon, like the rising of the sun, like the longevity of the southern mountain” were too lofty and were omitted by Lu Yuan, leaving only six like.
From Qiao Yan’s perspective, she indeed had the presence of mountains and pines.
She could confidently entrust her authority over administrative matters in Bingzhou to her!
She was her right hand!
As all arrangements were made, it was now April of the second year of Guangxi—
Twenty-five thousand soldiers of Bingzhou were gathering at Shangjun.
Half a year ago, she had inquired of Xun You at the border of the North Luo River regarding Ziwuling.
Now the mountains remained lush, yet below these ridges was a silent display of weapons, powerful enough to fill rivers with their formation.
Qiao Yan turned around to see the troops, honed through winter’s rest, now sharper and stronger than ever.
They wielded newly forged long blades that glimmered menacingly.
The front line of heavy cavalry and armored steeds resembled iron machines.
But the most eye-catching were the few generals in the latest chain mail at the front of the formation.
This was the Wolf Cavalry of Bingzhou!
Her Bingzhou army had long left behind the disarray of various bandit groups.
This march was a force that could send shivers down anyone’s spine!
And this killing intent, brewed over winter, needed no further motivation from Qiao Yan!
She pointed her spear westward and declared loudly, “Cross the river, over the mountains, and invade Liangzhou!”
With her order, the cavalry swiftly charged across the bridge they had previously built over the North Luo River.
There was no chattering or hesitation within the ranks, just the thunderous sound of hooves beating against the ground, and the steady march of the infantry.
In the absence of snow for cushioning and with the echoing mountains amplifying the sounds, these noises became grippingly resonant as they quickened after crossing the river.
This scene left the watchful Huchuquan on the hill with a look of astonishment.
At that moment, he felt incredibly fortunate that upon receiving Qiao Yan’s orders to cultivate here, he didn’t enact any deceitful behavior.
Nor had he let the victory over the remaining Qing soldiers this spring foster any inappropriate ambitions.
When the Bingzhou army no longer stationed in scattered positions throughout Bingzhou but instead amassed a refined force counting in the thousands charging toward Ziwuling, Huchuquan momentarily felt as though he was witnessing the tiger and wolf troops of the former Qin King, racing straight along the Qin Zhi Road to Chang’an.
But it wasn’t.
They appeared like a tide of black and white, rushing down the mountainside under the sparse spring sunlight.
On the verge of transmitting the intimidation he felt to the lands of Liangzhou beyond Ziwuling.
How were they able to charge with armored horses like this?
How had they crafted such precision armor and weapons?
And how had Lord Qiao inspired the Bingzhou soldiers to fight to the death with this momentum that they wouldn’t return without victory?
Amidst this marching tide, Huchuquan couldn’t articulate these questions, and no one would provide any answers at this moment.
The Bingzhou army seemed only capable of producing one outcome: utterly crushing the enemy before them, proving they were the tempered blades out of their sheaths!
Due to his previous farming in Ning County, the Qiang people had already given way.
This allowed Qiao Yan’s Bingzhou army to surge through the edges of this farmland without obstruction and rush into the valley of the Jing River.
Following the river south led to the heavily guarded Gaoling under Dong Zhuo, while heading north pointed to the spot marked on Qu Yi’s map.
Gaoping!
What about Gaoping City?
That was the first city along the Silk Road opened by the Western Han as it exited Chang’an.
Not to say it was the first city, but it certainly was the first absolute military stronghold!
What they meant by “the town anchors the backbone, it’s the throat of Liupan, it backs eight counties and guards the mouth of the West” perfectly described this place!
Once this place was captured, it would be as if Qiao Yan had a launchpad into Liangzhou.
Currently stationed there were the Zhong Qiang, an alliance with Ma Teng and Han Sui.
Because of their presence, Huangfu Song had to garrison near the city, leveraging the fact that it was his hometown to gain the strongest local support.
However, Qiao Yan had no intention of meeting Huangfu Song first.
The Zhong Qiang tribe was the most powerful among the various Qiang tribes in Liangzhou at that moment; they would never let their guard down against Huangfu Song. Still, they might become lax in scouting the Jing River valley due to the confusion Qiao Yan had previously created.
This was her chance!
But even so, Qiao Yan didn’t dare to slacken her efforts.
The river valley was the lifeblood.
Even without the Zhong Qiang, other Qiang people would come here for water.
Who could tell whether they were allies or enemies with the Zhong Qiang?
So, before entering the valley, Qiao Yan issued an order—
“Anyone seen in the valley who is a Qiang person, kill!”
