“Can strategists not ascend to the throne?”
Chapter 198: Asking for Punishment in Hanyang…
But little did they know, their opponents had already made their move as soon as the first report of their arrival reached Yuzhong.
Qiao Yan held the letter tightly, her fingers gently curling in.
To ensure swift delivery, she bypassed Wuqiao Ridge to avoid any delays. After seizing the assets of the Wei family from Wuwei Commandery, she shifted from Wuwei to patrol the military camps in Jincheng Commandery, temporarily residing in Yuzhong, just west of Kuiyuan Gorge.
News coming from the direction of Wudu via the official road between Hanyang and Longxi could reach here directly.
It wouldn’t take more than two days, at most.
This was a sufficient distance for her to react.
Yuzhong is an extension of the river valley basin where Jincheng is located.
It was August, and the wheat fields in this military camp swayed in the wind. Although the narrow terrain flanked by two mountains couldn’t compare to the vastness of Jincheng, it still conveyed a scene of harvest from outside the window.
The air was rich with the scent of wheat.
In the year of disasters, this aroma inevitably stirred feelings of hope.
However, before any official harvest, the anticipated war would break out first.
And just as Qiao Yan had previously planned, this was her best opportunity to hold Hanyang’s four clans accountable!
With a sudden motion, she crumpled the letter into a ball and slammed it down on the table.
Jiang Jiao, who had just been called here, had been aiding Cheng Yu in handling affairs in Jincheng since the end of last year. He was completely taken off guard and didn’t realize what was happening, only to be apprehended by Qiao Yan’s order.
“My lord…”
“Take him to the prison in Jincheng and keep a good watch!”
Qiao Yan waved her hand, signaling that she had no intention of conversing further.
Indeed, Jiang Jiao was talented, but he was from one of the four Hanyang clans.
As Qiao Yan needed to utilize the unique circumstances in Liangzhou and this perfect opportunity of the Xiliang army’s invasion to reform the local power, Jiang Jiao could only remain a prisoner for now.
Jiang Jiao was utterly bewildered, and as he was led away, he couldn’t shake a growing suspicion.
Qiao Yan wouldn’t detain him without reason.
Given that he hadn’t done anything wrong, the only possibility for this action was—
Something the Jiang family did had displeased her!
Comparing to how she dealt with the Wei family from Wuwei, today’s situation seemed even graver.
However, he couldn’t extract an accurate answer from Qiao Yan, nor did he know that three other families were also on her target list.
“Send orders to surround the city and the various divisions of Yuzhong and Jincheng,” Qiao Yan glanced out the window to check the weather and issued the directive, “By dusk, the cavalry should be stationed in Dingxi.”
As she donned her armor, the commotion of troops assembling in Yuzhong had already created a wave of sound.
Under the order that she had established over the past year, no one questioned her command.
This was her order.
They merely needed to execute it!
Even though the current assembled troops weren’t just her Bingzhou army, but also included the forces of Ma Teng and Han Sui, as well as the Qiang troops she had recruited, they maintained this level of efficiency.
With those Qiang soldiers who had learned Mandarin acting as bridges for communication between the Han and Qiang, two batches of troops quickly found their designated positions.
It was during this process of lineup that Jiang Tang saw Yao Chang again.
The last time she saw her, Yao Chang was preparing to enter the Huangzhong Valley as a wandering Qiang refugee, while she was in charge of transporting salt from the West Palace’s salt pools to Huangzhong.
Today’s situation was vastly different.
Yao Chang was here assisting the gathering of Qiang soldiers, speaking in Mandarin.
Though she didn’t need to fight, it seemed she had fully integrated into Qiao Yan’s entourage.
Yao Chang stood at the forefront of the Qiang ranks, exuding the air of a commanding leader.
Perhaps having noticed Jiang Tang’s gaze, she looked in that direction, her eyes filled with encouragement.
But this attention wasn’t directed at just one person.
Over the years, the Qiang tribes had frequently banded together in resistance against oppression and collaborated due to ties and geographical closeness.
This tenuous alliance was often fraught with self-serving warfare among them.
They could easily initiate conquests for their own interests, retaining their most savage traits.
Yet now, through a year of cooperative farming and building homes, along with the closeness cultivated through language and culture, this expedition bore an impression of unity.
Even if this unity was just an indication, it didn’t deter Jiang Tang from making that judgment.
What she saw wasn’t just the Qiang people of her own clan.
In this assembly in Yuzhong, cavalry and infantry quickly and orderly lined up, moving with the rhythm of drums signaling their command, making anyone who laid eyes upon this spectacle feel their heart and blood surge.
Not just in numbers.
But also in elite quality!
At the head of the formation, a line of three hundred fine steeds formed an unmistakable sight.
Chosen by Lü Bu, these three hundred elite cavalrymen were bursting with excitement, fully aware that their job wasn’t just to protect the valuable horses but to let these magnificent steeds fulfill their purpose on the battlefield.
As the steeds advanced, the cavalrymen’s spirit and determination soared, further showcasing their prowess as elite soldiers.
The vanguard led by Xu Huang, the heavily armored troops commanded by Qu Yi, and the guards under Dian Wei, all had squads composed of elite personnel equipped with the finest armor and weapons representing the highest standards in Bingzhou.
Their remaining forces followed behind, forming a powerful spearhead of unity.
Moreover, Xu Rong and Ma Teng, who had previously traversed the Silk Road twice, along with Ma Chao and others, were also part of this expedition.
Clearly, Qiao Yan didn’t impose any restrictions on them due to Xu Rong’s past as Dong Zhuo’s subordinate or Ma Teng’s involvement in past rebellion in Liangzhou.
In this preparation for battle, they remained active combatants rather than mere reserves.
Jiang Tang instinctively reached for her waist.
In her pouch, she still had something.
It was the wrapper from a piece of ginger candy Qiao Yan had given her earlier; she kept it after finishing the candy.
After cleaning off the sugary remnants, it still faintly held a lingering scent of ginger.
Back then, Qiao Yan struck Jiang Tang as a gentle leader, one who showed them a degree of tolerance.
But today…
As the impressive formations finished lining up, everyone could see Qiao Yan standing high on Kuiyuan Gorge, gazing down towards the ranks.
Though her face was not clearly visible, it was evident that she held a commanding presence.
When clad in armor and wielding a long spear, all traces of gentleness or softness vanished from her demeanor.
What was left were only her actions, hurriedly mobilizing troops, behind which lay a resolute intent for war!
Her battle spirit and the sharpness she exuded with every move made it abundantly clear why this assembled force chose to follow her lead.
She was the backbone of this unit.
Strangely, Jiang Tang found it utterly unsurprising to see such contrasting traits coexist in one person.
This perhaps exemplified the “able to stabilize the nation with culture and secure the nation with arms” concept she recently picked up from her studies.
No matter if this could truly stabilize the nation, at least within the borders of Liangzhou—
No force could rival such power!
Anyone witnessing this scene wouldn’t doubt that for a second.
Unfortunately, those left behind at Jincheng Commandery, managing the upcoming autumn harvest, were like Jiang Tang watching this troop depart through the Kuixuan Gorge, oblivious to what was to come.
This wasn’t even the entirety of the gathered army.
Soldiers from Wuwei Commandery had already set up camp at Aowei City, ready to link up with Zhao Yun in Dingxi.
Even with this arrangement in place, Qiao Yan still kept some troops stationed to guard against any internal unrest in Liangzhou and Bingzhou.
There was even another group assisting Liu Yu in Liaodong to wrest Youzhou back from Gongsun Zan.
Such a situation meant even the common folks under Qiao Yan might not grasp the whole picture, let alone her adversaries.
Li Ying, Fan Chou, and Hu Feng, after some downtime at Chencang, were advancing toward Shanggui, completely unaware of this.
The powerful clans from Hanyang County were similarly in the dark.
Meanwhile, Qiao Yan stood before her newly assembled troops, gazing at the gathering of soldiers, her eyes burning like they were set aflame by the setting sun.
As the sun slipped beneath an unknown mountain, only the torches raised outside Dingxi City illuminated the area as bright as day, shining on her army.
She promptly issued her orders.
Cavalry advance first, straight towards Jixian!
Dong Zhuo’s generals wouldn’t dare to advance on Shanggui like this.
They simply lacked enough cavalry to ensure they could handle any pushback from Liangzhou’s forces once they penetrated deeper.
They couldn’t even guarantee their supplies would dodge Liangzhou’s military interceptions.
Thus, they’d miss the benefits of a rapid advance while having to deal with the drawbacks themselves.
But Qiao Yan could.
On this road, where the Qiang forces had already stabilized, there was absolutely nothing that could obstruct her, making it feel just like a smooth highway.
The summer campaign in Liangzhou wasn’t as harsh as in the Central Plains.
Plus, Qiao Yan herself was right there in the ranks!
Among the leading cavalry towards Jixian were those who had previously joined her to assault the Xianbei royal court at Baidaokou.
That had been over three years ago, yet it was still a vivid memory.
As for the war horse she rode, Zhu Tan, it finally reached the prime age for service, displaying an outstanding energy even superior to before.
With the thunder of hooves shaking the ground, her dark cloak billowed in the wind.
When someone turned to look at their leader, they couldn’t help but be struck by the realization that she had been even younger when she performed those astonishing feats before.
Today, she was finally an eighteen-year-old youth, full of vigor!
Guo Jia watched her lead the charge, a hint of a smile forming on his face as he rode on leisurely.
It had only been four years since the framework for meritorious service was established, yet the momentum of order was truly impressive.
At this point, she no longer needed to inform her troops that every enemy head they brought down could bring benefits to them and their families, just like she did back in the day during her raids against the nomads.
Because promises were kept, the awareness that military merit could lead to promotion had already solidified, and with the army’s expansion, this ethos was passed on to new recruits who didn’t originally belong to this unit, becoming part of the army’s solidarity.
So when she gave the order for this offensive, her troops fought for her and themselves with an uncontrollable wave of belief.
Of course, that’s not to say it was all smooth sailing—
“Seeing so many elite troops really gives a sense that half the heroes of the world are gathered here, doesn’t it, Guo Da?”
Guo Jia looked over at Xun You, who often kept his emotions tightly wrapped, and was pleasantly surprised to find a hint of dazedness on his face; that was quite a fresh experience.
Xun You returned his gaze from the front and asked, “Was the decision to strike Jixian first something you all discussed?”
The local powers in Liangzhou were considered noble families locally, but to the Central Plains, they didn’t quite measure up.
Just like in Jing Province, there were distinct differences between noble families and bandits, and the people of Yingchuan viewed the four families of Hanyang similarly.
Whether the Hanyang clans carried a hint of banditry certainly factored into their approach to Qiao Yan’s ambitions against the Hanyang families.
At most, Xun You thought this move might be slightly dangerous.
It was rather bold.
But Guo Jia didn’t see it that way; he replied, “The money the Han Dynasty has spent in the chaos of Liangzhou over the past century, if utilized for disaster relief, would certainly yield significant results! Yet here we are, dumping cash in this crucial frontier without a peep—why not adjust our strategy?”
“Duan Taiwei’s approach to eliminate the Qiang and the soft-handed tactics of the other two from Liangzhou haven’t led to any fundamental improvement. Now that Jun Hou is connecting Qiang and Han relations through agriculture and currency, hope is emerging. What needs to be done now is to cut off other disturbances.”
“The Liangzhou elites entrusted with official positions don’t seem to have achieved any of the objectives of governing Liangzhou with Liangzhou; it’s about time they woke up.”
Xun You found it hard to counter Guo Jia’s argument.
Guo Jia continued with a grin, “Besides, didn’t Jun Hou say when surrounding Gugang City—”
“If anyone were to act on a deal with Dong Zhuo, she would definitely execute them publicly to set an example. Guo Da wouldn’t want Jun Hou to be seen as someone who speaks without sincerity now, would you?”
Xun You was tempted to retort that ‘speaking without sincerity’ had a different context here.
But in reality, this was indeed a decision that benefitted most.
It no longer mattered whether the Hanyang nobles were guilty of colluding with Dong Zhuo or dereliction of duty—Dong Zhuo’s forces would soon storm through Liangzhou, reaching Shanggui in no time.
What truly mattered was…
Rather than exhausting manpower and resources, compared to Liangzhou’s future plans, the pests within ought to signal a serious warning!
Before twilight on the second day, as the city gates of Jixian hadn’t yet closed, the Hanyang elites within felt the ground shake with the thunderous hoofbeats charging towards them.
Simultaneously, an arrow soared through the air, nailing itself on the city wall of Jixian!
