Chapter 201
Can strategists really not ascend to the throne? Volume 6: The Two States Hold The Tiger, The Silk Road Reopens Chapter 201: The Powerful Families Align
“……” Duan Kui’s expression froze right there.
The cool breeze from the ice block still blew against his face, reminding him that he was not dreaming at this moment.
He had no idea when Dong Zhuo would march into Liangzhou.
He was equally clueless about when Qiao Yan had defeated Dong Zhuo’s troops.
The ominous Wuqiao Ridge, which lay between the Four Commanderies of Hexi and the other counties of Liangzhou, caused him to barely feel any sense of crisis, even upon seeing Qiao Yan surrounding Guzang.
It was as if… having been in this remote place for so long had conditioned him to be in an information-silenced environment.
But today’s news was different!
So incredibly different!
He couldn’t share his confusion with his subordinate who had gone to gather intelligence.
He merely walked back and forth in the room while listening to the ongoing reports about the battle situation and how Qiao Yan dealt with the Four Families of Hanyang.
From Duan Kui’s perspective, his current position wasn’t any safer than that of the Four Families of Hanyang.
After Qiao Yan defeated Dong Zhuo’s 20,000 troops in the River Valley and captured an equal number of prisoners, her claim to advance against Dong Zhuo gained much more credibility.
And he knew that when she arrived at Chencang by traveling up the Wei River from Liangzhou and then proceeded eastward, her first opponent would be—
Duan Wei.
Duan Wei of the Wuwei Duan clan!
Even though Qiao Yan had claimed she wouldn’t let her grudge against Duan Wei spill over to the Wuwei Duan clan, and even entrusted Xu Rong, who had switched sides from Dong Zhuo to her, with an important task, it was still hard for Duan Kui to shake off the sense of impending doom.
He was well aware of why Duan Wei had allied with Dong Zhuo.
But promotions for people from Liangzhou were hard to come by. Given the stakes at hand, there was little room for fundamental changes under Dong Zhuo, especially when survival was the primary concern.
If Duan Wei created trouble for Qiao Yan on the line between Chencang and Maiwu, and she became enraged, what would happen then for the Wuwei Duan clan?
On the battlefield, knives and swords showed no mercy; accidents were abundant.
Those from the four families of Hanyang who had colluded with Dong Zhuo had been executed on her orders!
Surely the Duan clan wouldn’t be exempt from such fate.
He certainly couldn’t sit idly and wait!
But this push to act didn’t mean raising opposition against Qiao Yan within Liangzhou.
If not for her subsequent military achievements, he might have considered this choice, but now it was impossible.
The Qiang people viewed Qiao Yan with a mix of fear and respect, so they would not be his allies; instead, they would likely choose to support her.
As for relying solely on his original troops…
To be honest, he didn’t think he could measure up to Li Ying in strength.
Moreover, delving deeper, her actions in handling the sons of the Four Families in Hanyang also struck a perfect balance.
If there were any intelligent individuals among them, instead of seeking revenge, they should rather choose to surrender at this time.
This further confirmed that if he truly wanted to rebel, the number of potential allies he could find would be alarmingly few.
Since rebellion wasn’t an option, his only choice was to make contributions.
He clearly understood Duan Wei’s stubborn nature even before he followed Dong Zhuo.
Convincing Duan Wei to defect was likely something he had no capability to achieve.
This left him with very few options.
The first was to send supplies to Qiao Yan’s troops departing from the River Valley.
The second was…
“You mean to say we should assist her in guarding these prisoners?”
“Exactly.” Duan Kui looked at the leaders of the Wuwei gentry he had gathered and said, “If it weren’t for the fact that this task wasn’t suitable for me to handle alone, I would be more than eager to claim this merit for myself.”
His earlier uncertainty calmed down once he made a decision, and he adopted a very composed demeanor.
He naturally took charge of this meeting.
He asked, “Please consider, would Qiao Bingzhou actually bring these prisoners into the battle in Guanzhong?”
The attendees shook their heads.
This question wasn’t difficult to resolve.
During the battle in the River Valley, these people surrendered rather than fight to the d*ath, fundamentally because they wanted to live and had no obligation to be loyal to Dong Zhuo.
In fact, the new recruits raised from Chang’an were not loyal to Qiao Yan either.
When returning to Chang’an to fight meant going home to them, they were very likely to consider deserting amid battle.
This could very likely cause complications for Qiao Yan.
Moreover, increasing troop numbers also meant an increased burden of food supply on her side.
It would be better to leave these potential turncoats behind in Liangzhou than to drag them along as dead weight.
However, staying behind also posed risks.
Over 10,000 people could be great helpers for the autumn harvest on one hand, but on the other hand, without enough military command to supervise them, who knew if someone might rise up among them to lead a rebellion in Liangzhou?
Relying solely on the personnel Qiao Yan left behind might not suffice.
Duan Kui continued, “Then isn’t this our best chance to showcase our abilities? Or do any of you still believe that the power grab we discussed previously is feasible?”
Those he had gathered weren’t fools; they could see the obvious choice before them.
One person asked, “If we follow your suggestion and express our intentions to Qiao Bingzhou, how can we make her believe that our motives are pure and not suspicious?”
Duan Kui had already thought through the answer to this question and calmly replied, “We’ve already sent hostages once; so what’s stopping us from doing it again?”
The more he thought about Qiao Yan’s previous actions, the more he felt she truly didn’t resemble someone barely past her teenage years; instead, she appeared like a seasoned old fox in the political sphere.
She acted decisively against the Four Families of Hanyang yet left no handle for others to criticize, making collaboration seem possible.
This made it even clearer how much of her invitation to the gentry of Liangzhou after inviting Zheng Xuan to teach in Bingzhou was genuine cooperation and how much was simply manipulation.
However, such actions could definitely be seen as mutually beneficial, leaving no grounds for arguments.
The choice made under such uncontrollable circumstances was indeed a gesture of sending hostages.
The discussion wrapped up after half an hour and soon spread throughout the Four Commanderies of Hexi. The following day, they organized a supply convoy heading towards Shanggui.
The ones responsible for delivering the supplies were the younger generations of the gentry from the Four Commanderies of Hexi, including Yan Jun and He Luan.
Sending these youngsters to serve under Qiao Yan was exactly what Duan Kui referred to as acting as hostages.
But considering Yan Jun’s previous reckless behavior that led to significant trouble, Duan Kui, fearing these hostages wouldn’t adequately express their stance, decided to go himself.
He considered his tactical response after receiving the news and thought everything should go smoothly, which put his mind at ease.
However, when he reached Shanggui, he found that there were others in the world who were equally wise and discerning.
The gentry families of Liangzhou had long sought a relatively independent status.
This was a fact.
But this did not mean that when their local emperor-like treatments could no longer satisfy them, they would obstinately stick to their own ways, bringing doom upon themselves and their families.
So, when those hurrying from the Four Commanderies of Hexi arrived, those from Anding and Beidi counties were not left behind either.
What surprised them was that the person responsible for hosting their reception mentioned he was from the Hanyang Zhao clan.
Zhao Ang of the Hanyang Zhao clan.
Upon hearing that Qiao Yan had defeated Li Ying and Fan Chou, he decisively chose to recommend himself to Qiao Yan, just as he and his wife Wang Yi had previously discussed.
Zhao Ang indeed possessed real talent and skill, and he had the foresight to choose the most suitable moment to surrender.
Qiao Yan needed not only to strike hard against the Four Families of Hanyang but also to handle matters with finesse.
Employing Zhao Ang served as a signal she sent out to the public.
Meanwhile, around the same time, another person was released from the prison in Jincheng and sent to Jixian.
This was Jiang Jiao, who had been detained before Qiao Yan launched her offensive against Jixian.
After being freed from the prison in Jincheng, learning that so much had transpired in Jixian in such a short time and seeing Supervisor Zhang from Hanyang once again, Jiang Jiao found himself in a whirlwind of mixed emotions.
So much so that his expression momentarily became dazed.
Initially, it was because of this surname that he became the subordinate of the other party, but out of respect for Gai Xun, he had accompanied him…
“`html
“I took a trip to Bingzhou and met Qiao Yan, scoring a chance to work under her.”
But now, back in Hanyang, it’s precisely this esteemed Bingzhou Prefect who delivered a thunderous blow to the Jiang family of Hanyang.
One of my cousins was killed in this incident.
Yet looking back, the ones who survived this judgment were ironically the most capable and virtuous among the four families, leaving me momentarily at a loss for how to evaluate the situation.
But perhaps, much like Zhao Ang chose to serve under Qiao Yan, the best path for me right now is to get things done sincerely, giving the Jiang family of Hanyang a chance to rise again.
It’s all about timing and fate.
Governor Zhang patted my shoulder without saying much.
At this point, any counseling would come off as cruel; we can only wait for time to heal everything.
After handling the aftermath of his family in Jixian, Jiang Jiao came over to Shanggui.
Before he arrived, the local powerhouses from Liangzhou had already reported to Qiao Yan, and now was the time to show off their bargaining chips.
Duan Kui was able to come up with the idea of helping Qiao Yan handle the prisoners; so could the others.
He thought of sending hostages to Qiao Yan, and so could the others.
This made Duan Kui quite uneasy.
If he couldn’t stand out from these competitive bidders, how could he secure his family’s future?
When Jiang Jiao entered the meeting hall, he heard Duan Kui say, “Lord, we can temporarily house the prisoners at the military camp in Wuwei Commandery; the Duan family can take care of their food and lodging. To prevent this from appearing as a favor from the Duan family, we will send all expenses to the Guzhang County government first.”
This sounded okay, but then Duan Kui added, “We do this out of the noble deeds performed by the lord in Hanyang, which has opened our eyes.”
“Why does Liangzhou experience frequent turmoil? It’s because we are wealthy, yet often grasping at benefits from the people instead of working together. To atone for past mistakes, we must take actions to show remorse.”
“…” Zhao Ang, taking notes nearby, paused in shock.
Jiang Jiao also halted.
Duan Kui had really pushed the pricing to a pitiful level, which wasn’t surprising.
The Four Commanderies of Hexi have always been prosperous; due to the Wuqiao Mountain, even the Qiang people seldom disturbed that area, so they certainly could afford this price.
But the flattery that followed was really…
Perhaps it was the thick-skinned attitude brought on by the Hexi sandstorms.
Qiao Yan couldn’t help but sh**t Duan Kui a look.
Yet his expression was all too relaxed.
She had no doubt that if she hadn’t mentioned before Duan Kui opened his mouth that she wouldn’t tie together the relationship between Duan Wei and the Duan family of Wuwei, he might have even suggested bringing him to Maiwu.
However, she didn’t plan to let them continue.
The current competitive bidding still had traces of mere excitement.
The sense of crisis and the mutual climbing bids caused the stakes to continuously rise.
If they regretted later, they might just drag additional trouble into the mix.
“There’s no need for the Duan family head to be like this,” Qiao Yan tapped on the table to signal them to stop talking, “I’ve made up my mind; this time to advance towards Chang’an, with thirty thousand soldiers dispatched, we will definitely lack manpower for the autumn harvest. We can use the fifteen thousand prisoners to fill in.”
“So I’d like to ask everyone to help supervise; I’ll contribute seventy percent of the expenses, and if everyone is willing, just take care of the remaining thirty.”
“Additionally, I have another matter I’d like your assistance with,” Qiao Yan looked at the few present and said, “I’d like you all to help me renovate the four official roads: from Ni Yang to Gaoping, from Gaoping to Hanyang, from Hanyang to Jincheng, and from Gaoping to Wuwei. Do you have any objections?”
Repair roads?
The people present exchanged glances.
This was quite a unique request.
But thinking it through, they found Qiao Yan’s action was indeed not surprising.
Her reputation in Liangzhou solidified further with the shock she threw at the powerful families and the quick victory over Dong Zhuo’s generals.
Under such circumstances, it would be unwise for her to withdraw from Liangzhou.
Therefore, strengthening connections between Liangzhou and Bingzhou was a logical action.
This move could hardly be considered overstepping.
Even Huangfu Song, upon hearing her decision, merely said, “In the past, pacifying Liangzhou drained human and financial resources yet still surrendered subsequently; rarely have past governors managed to recover this territory. During the chaos of Han Sui and Bian Zhang, the Han even considered giving up on Liangzhou as a border stronghold.”
“So, if Ye Shu can stabilize Liangzhou and connect the two regions, it would indeed be a blessing for the Han.”
In special circumstances, some rules could be bent a bit.
For example, in a situation where the Son of Heaven had divided his rule and neither side could be considered truly independent, from Huangfu Song’s perspective, it would be acceptable for Qiao Yan to jointly oversee the positions of the governors of Liangzhou and Bingzhou.
After all, if Liangzhou had no one to effectively suppress it, it certainly wouldn’t count as part of Han territory.
That’s what Cui Lie thought back in the day.
Because of this, keeping Liangzhou secure was a good thing; no need to fuss over the rules.
Using Bingzhou to control Liangzhou was also a viable solution.
The core of what Qiao Yan conveyed to these powerful families in Liangzhou was strengthening the connection between Ni Yang and Gaoping.
Though Ni Yang belongs to the northern district of Liangzhou, it is covered in a farming area between the Ziwuling mountains; in other words, this is within Bingzhou’s jurisdiction.
This was about enhancing the communication lifeline between Bingzhou and Liangzhou.
Feasible.
And for those Liangzhou nobles hoping to snag something solid from Qiao Yan — repairing roads was great!
Fixing roads isn’t a one-time deal; even if Qiao Yan stressed they should hire people for the job, that’s just a matter of spending some money.
Then later, they could just claim the roads weren’t smooth enough and find another excuse to send money!
With Qiao Yan gaining benefits and they securing their safety, it was win-win.
But squeezing the Liangzhou families for profit wasn’t Qiao Yan’s top priority right now.
Once she sent these people off, Qiao Yan discussed marching towards Chencang with Huangfu Song for tomorrow.
As they walked towards the military camp outside Shanggui, she spoke up, “The Sanguan Pass near Chencang was seized by my subordinates ten days ago; news arrived yesterday that since Li Ying and Fan Chou have packed their camps for Liangzhou, most of the guarding troops at Chencang have also been reassigned. He took the banner of Taishi Path and led people to capture the city.”
“Honestly, this works out as it saves me the trouble of taking the city in advance.”
When Dong Zhuo set up defenses at the pass, he didn’t treat Chencang as a key stronghold.
Due to an obstruction from the Maiwu direction, the troop deployment here was more of a surveillance mission over Liangzhou’s movements.
This decision wasn’t strange.
Dong Zhuo’s supplies couldn’t sustain a long garrison at Chencang, leading to an extended supply line.
This long neglect over two years led Li Ying and Fan Chou to also think there was no need to keep a large force here.
They were advancing into Liangzhou via the Weishui River, so of course, they didn’t expect southern enemies to come this way, and the Wudu Commandery to the west was a “friendly” neighbor; they could just bring more troops back when they returned.
This choice granted Xu Shu an immediate opportunity to seize Chencang and wait for Qiao Yan to rendezvous.
Qiao Yan didn’t sense any problems, but when she turned around, she saw Huangfu Song wearing a very speechless expression.
Can’t really blame Huangfu Song for reacting this way.
Previously, when Qiao Yan launched her campaign from Bingzhou to seize Gaoping, he was eagerly waiting to meet her, only to receive news that she was already in Gaoping City and asked him to join her for dinner.
This time, with Dong Zhuo suddenly moving his troops, he hadn’t even gotten to lead his forces from Gaoping before hearing she had defeated the enemy.
She even took care of the four families of Hanyang on the way.
And now? She didn’t even need to attack Chencang.
Huangfu Song suddenly felt like he was just here to hitch a free ride to share in the glory.
But being a composed older man, he only replied, “It’s fine to expend less effort here. The distance from Chencang to Chang’an isn’t short. As we march from afar, stockpiling supplies at Chencang will also facilitate our resupply.”
Qiao Yan smiled, “Indeed. Also, there’s something else I need to discuss with the old general.”
Feeling like he finally had a chance to contribute, Huangfu Song quickly replied, “Please, Ye Shu, go ahead.”
“I learned this from the surrendered soldiers,” Qiao Yan’s expression turned serious, “Twenty days ago, a sudden incident occurred in Chang’an; Li Jue, unhappy with Dong Zhuo’s inaction in Liangzhou, deemed his decisions poor and imprisoned him. Therefore, what we might face could be Li Jue, not Dong Zhuo.”
She showed a hint of concern, “Say, is there a possibility that before we reach Chang’an, these two factions might end up fighting first?”
Huangfu Song: “……”
“`
