Jinting Han people

Chapter 213: Qi Wannian leaves Chang'an (4k, additional content by the leader)
Before he knew it, Qi Wannian had been in Chang'an for three years. During these two years, his life could be described as being like a fish in water.

Although Liu Xian was extremely wary of Qi Wannian after their first meeting in the third year of Yuankang, Liu Xian had no power in Chang'an, even though he wrote a letter to Zhang Gui, hoping that Zhang Gui would keep a close eye on Qi Wannian and even eliminate him at a critical moment.

Qi Wannian, however, was cautious and never revealed any flaws. Zhang Gui, while sharing Liu Xian's sentiments, also did not want to cause trouble in Chang'an. Some time later, Zhang Gui was put in charge of suppressing the rebellion in Hedong, but was soon dismissed from his post, leaving him without anyone to monitor Qi Wannian.

Except for a very small number of people like Zhang Gui and Liu Xian who were wary of Qi Wannian, most people in the Western Expedition Army were friendly to Qi Wannian.

This is understandable. Qi Wannian was handsome, easygoing and talkative, and was good at reading people's minds and knowing when to advance and retreat. He also often spent all his money and made friends with people in the Zhengxi Army.

For a time, outstanding figures in Guanzhong, such as Li Xiong of Lueyang, Yang Nandi, Yao Yizhong, Pu Huaigui, Peng Dangzhong and others, all became friends with him. They often went together to places like Lumei Lake and Kunming Lake to hunt, ride horses and release hawks, and enjoy themselves.

Of course, Qi Wannian also made great efforts to curry favor with the King of Zhao and Sun Xiu, who were in charge of the Western Expedition Army. He gifted Sima Lu, the crown prince of Zhao, several thousand-mile horses and presented Sun Xiu with more than ten beautiful Di women, thus gaining the appreciation of the King of Zhao and Sun Xiu.

He then used his connections on the Hu border and, under the banner of Sun Xiu, engaged in a large-scale smuggling trade, transporting gold, silver, and slaves from the Shuofang region to Chang'an. With Sun Xiu's tacit approval, he exchanged them for large quantities of salt and iron, which he then sold at a high price at Huangyaji. Most of the profits he made were handed over to Sun Xiu, which further endeared him to Sun Xiu.

Therefore, when talking about recruiting the Hu people to counter the Xianbei, Sun Xiu immediately thought of Qi Wannian, not to mention that he himself was a hostage of Hao Duyuan's troops.

On the day after receiving Liu Xian's memorial, Sun Xiu invited Qi Wannian to his house for dinner.

Sun Xiu took the initiative to mention the recent occupation of Shuofang by the Xianbei people and asked Qi Wannian if he knew the details.

Qi Wannian had spies in Huanglong Mountain, so he knew everything clearly. However, he was unsure of Sun Xiu's intentions and attitude, so he pretended to be sad while drinking and said:

"Chief Secretary, I'd like to know the news, but the Xianbei have the upper hand now. Huanglong Mountain is in chaos, and trade routes are cut off. I haven't heard from you in over twenty days!"

Seeing this, Sun Xiu sighed and told the truth, "Alas, I received news yesterday that Fushi has been captured by Tuoba Yilu. He is so proud of himself that he has led his troops to Meiji and set up an altar to announce his victory to heaven and earth!"

"There are now tens of thousands of barbarians wandering around Ziwuling and Huanglong Mountain, begging the Holy Dynasty for protection. This is a huge problem. Wannian, what do you think I should do?"

When Sun Xiu said this, his original intention was to test Qi Wannian and see what he really thought.

If Qi Wannian showed a bellicosity and was not subject to the control of the court, Sun Xiu would choose another candidate.

Qi Wannian only pondered for a moment, then replied very quickly:
"Chief Secretary, these barbarians are naturally undisciplined and belligerent, and cannot be trusted! We must immediately strengthen our defenses in the Beidi and Anding areas and push these barbarians back to the north! Otherwise, if the court moves them south to Guanzhong, it will inevitably lead to disaster in the future!"

This sentence was so perfect as an answer that even Sun Xiu was a little surprised.

He raised his wine glass, pretending to be drunk, and looked at the Dihu hostage, wondering: Is he really completely loyal to the court and has no ambition at all? Is this possible?

So Sun Xiu asked again:
"While the method you mentioned makes sense, it's time-consuming and laborious. Is there a simpler way?"

Qi Wannian pondered for a long time, and then said:
"If the imperial court is unwilling to send troops, we might as well select a trusted person to serve as a leader, unite with Hao Duyuan, and restrain him at the border. If any trouble arises, punish the leader. In this way, as long as the leader submits, the rest of the matter will be much easier to handle."

This was similar to Sun Xiu's idea, so Sun Xiu praised it and said:

"Very good, very good, but who can be the leader?"

Qi Wannian said:

"That's simple. I remember that after the rebellion in Hedong was quelled, Hao San had a son. He and Hao Duyuan are uncle and nephew. How about letting him go?"

Xin Ran on the side shook his head and said:
"That guy is no match for him. He can't even tame his own people, let alone the unruly Tiefu people."

"But there is no better candidate than him." Qi Wannian looked embarrassed.

"How could there be none?" Sun Xiu tapped the table with his fingers, then pointed at Qi Wannian and said with a smile,
"Aren't you the most suitable candidate?"

Qi Wannian was horrified and quickly knelt on the ground, begging Sun Xiu for mercy, "Why do you say that, Chief Secretary? I was born in Shuofang, and only then do I know how barren it is. I have to sleep in the open air, pick chestnuts from the fire, and even drink blood and eat raw meat when salt is scarce. Now I have finally come to Chang'an, and thanks to the Chief Secretary's kindness, I have enjoyed several years of wealth and glory. If I were asked to return to Shuofang, it would be unbearable!"

Qi Wannian spoke so sincerely that Sun Xiu thought to himself: It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but it is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. This is indeed the truth.

He then lowered his guard against Qi Wannian and said with a smile, "So that's what you're worried about. It's not a problem. The imperial court wants to rest its hands and care for the people. We don't want to mobilize much manpower, but we can still mobilize some financial resources. Go contact Hao Duyuan. As long as we can stabilize these barbarians, I'm willing to provide some food and supplies to help you fight back to Shuofang."

Qi Wannian still looked hesitant and refused to agree. Sun Xiu simply said, "You work for two or three years first. If the overall situation stabilizes after two or three years, I will choose another candidate."

After hearing this, Qi Wannian stood up and bowed to Sun Xiu, saying, "Since it is the order of the Chief Secretary, I dare not disobey. However, I have three conditions, otherwise I will not go."

"Any other conditions? Tell me."

"I will go there without anyone to convince the others. I will take with me all the tribesmen who accompanied me back then."

"That's no problem." Nearly a thousand Tiele people, mostly young and strong men, had accompanied Qi Wannian into Chang'an as a gesture of sincerity. Now that the Tiele people were in decline, Sun Xiu had no need to take so many hostages.

"To maintain order, weapons and armor are indispensable. I dare not be greedy. I would like to ask Sun Changshi to allocate 500 sets of armor and 20,000 hu of grain to me."

"That's not a problem. What's the last condition?" The Western Expeditionary Army is currently short of men, but they do have a sufficient supply of armor and weapons, enough to arm fifty to sixty thousand men. Five hundred sets are just a drop in the bucket. As for grain and fodder, Guanzhong had a bumper harvest last year, so even two hundred thousand hu would be no problem.

"The last condition is to ask the Chief Secretary to give me some time. This is a serious matter, and I will need time to plan."

Sun Xiu agreed. When the banquet was over, he watched Qi Wannian disappear into the hallway. He then turned to Xin Ran and asked, "Deyu, do you think this Qi Wannian is trustworthy?"

Xin Ran thought about it, unable to find any fault, and said, "What he just said shows his loyalty to the court. It should be believable." Sun Xiu rubbed his shoulders and smiled half suspiciously and half confidently. "Hey, I thought so too, but now I'm a little hesitant. Deyu, tell me, is there really anyone who can be so loyal to the court?"

"This... is it wrong to be loyal to the court?"

"Let me put it another way. Is there anyone in the Western Expedition Army more loyal than him?"

This question really stumped Xin Ran. He compared Zhang Gui and Qi Wannian in his mind and found that they were about the same.

Sun Xiu clearly thought the same. He said slowly, "Everyone has selfish motives, even someone like Liu Xian. However, he knows the general trend, so he doesn't force it. And this Qi Wannian is so impeccable, I find it hard to believe."

At this point, he made a conclusion: "If he is not pretending, then he is just a fool with a handsome appearance but a clumsy heart. He is indeed a handy tool."

"What if he's faking it?"

"If he's pretending..." Sun Xiu's face darkened. "Then he's a disaster! He can't be allowed to stay!"

With such doubts, Sun Xiu immediately called two believers in and asked them to keep a close eye on Qi Wannian and report Qi Wannian's movements to Sun Xiu every day.

Qi Wannian's actions remained the same as usual. After making his promise to Sun Xiu, he either went out hunting with Peng Dangzhong and others, or reveled with prostitutes in the streets of Chang'an, enjoying himself freely and without any intention of leaving Chang'an.

After observing for seven or eight days, Sun Xiu finally dispelled his doubts and concluded: This is a person who likes to brag, has some talents, but actually likes to avoid responsibility.

He no longer hesitated and sent someone to urge Qi Wannian, saying that the prepared food, fodder and armor were ready and asked Qi Wannian to set off as soon as possible.

Qi Wannian reluctantly agreed and reported to Sun Xiu, "Give me two more days to pack up my furniture at the Chang'an Office and say goodbye to my friends before leaving."

Over the next two days, Qi Wannian stuffed thirteen carriages with luggage. Silks, brocades, screens, desks, fine wines and meat sauces, potted plants, hanging paintings, blankets, jade belts, and so on—all were crammed into the carriages, leaving the eyes dazzled.

He then hosted a grand banquet for his friends and guests at Liuyunfang, the largest tavern in Chang'an. Regardless of whether they knew each other well or not, as long as they had drunk, hunted, worked together, or even just met once in the past two years, he pulled everyone over.

The tables were filled with delicious food, and beautiful women played music and danced in the streets. About a hundred people drank in the restaurant until the hour of Xu, when a night watchman came to say that it was time to close the restaurant and go into curfew. Only then did the banquet end.

The moonlight was hazy at this time, and Qi Wannian said goodbye to the guests with drunken eyes. He dawdled for several quarters of an hour, and when most of the guests had left, his caravan finally set off north.

The guards at the Chang'an city gate had been warned long ago, and they didn't bother searching Qi Wannian's convoy. They just wanted to get this over with. After a pretentious check of seals and identities, they simply opened the city gates and let Qi Wannian and his party out. Outside the city, Sun Xiu had already sent men to bring the Tiele people and the food, fodder, and armor he had requested. These Tiele people held torches high, their shadows dim in the summer breeze.

Qi Wannian watched the scene unfold, silent for a moment before saying, "Let's go!" He rode his horse in front, and the caravan and the Tiele people quickly caught up with him. After about half an hour, they crossed the willow-lined Wei Bridge and set foot on the land north of the Wei River.

After walking another five miles east along the official road, there were no houses around. Apart from the sounds of fireflies and frogs in the summer night, the world was silent.

Qi Wannian stopped, rode his horse to the center of his convoy of furniture, and said, "Come out, we have already left Chang'an."

After hearing the sound, there was a commotion inside the carriages, and soon, about ten people emerged from three vehicles. Even though they were covered in dust and dirt, it couldn't hide their strong and sturdy figures, and the pupils of their pupils had the shrewd light of a wolf.

Yang Nandi looked around and said to Qi Wannian, "You are a resourceful person. You actually managed to deceive Sun Xiu and obtain this appointment."

Qi Wannian smiled, but there was no trace of flattery or fawning on his face. Instead, he wore a kind of joy that made him feel like a fish in the pond leaping into the abyss. He answered frankly, "I've waited thirty years for this day, but for Sun Xiu, this is just an ordinary day. He's destined to be no match for me."

It was a boastful statement, but all the hostages he had brought out of Chang'an City agreed with it. Three years of living together had made them realize that the man standing before them was a remarkable man capable of performing miracles.

Pu Huaigui smiled and said, "But you have to defeat not only Sun Xiu, but the entire Jin Dynasty. Are you sure you can win?"

Qi Wannian waved his whip and said, "Of course I can't do it alone, but with your support, I will definitely win!"

Without waiting for anyone to respond or refuse, he said decisively, "There's no need to rush to answer. You can return to your own country and discuss matters with your elders. I'll march south and defeat the Jin army, and then we can make a decision!"

"I just want you to think about this." Qi Wannian drew the long sword from his waist, pointed it at the waning moon above his head, and said loudly: "Whose Guanzhong is it now? Is it the Hu people's? Or the Jin people's?"

"Lord Hao San is here before us, which shows that the Han Dynasty is in decline and the Jin Dynasty is without a leader. This is the perfect time for heroes to draw their swords! Therefore, I will use this sword to sweep away the barbarians!"

In the protons' different looks, the heroic spirit faded, and Qi Wannian immediately slowed down his speech, casting a mature and tolerant smile at these young people, and finally said:

"This is not a trivial matter. I hope you can give me an answer when we meet next time. Now, let's go our separate ways here."

After saying this, he asked his subordinates to remove the reins of the carriage and hand the horses to the hostages. The nephews had been detained for a long time, and now that they were free, they were like birds out of a cage, and immediately galloped along the road to their respective tribes.

After they left, the subordinate asked Qi Wannian, "Sir, you gave them the horses. What will happen to these carts and the things in them? We don't have any extra horses."

Qi Wannian had already turned his horse around, looking towards Shuofang, and said, "Throw it away, sink it all into the water!"

"what?!"

"From today on, I am no longer the person I used to be. We are going to accomplish something unprecedented. How can we let such mundane things slow us down?"

"Notify everyone: no rest is allowed tonight. We will head to Huanglong Mountain immediately. Unless I allow us to, we are not allowed to stop for a moment! Those who violate this will be beheaded!"

In this way, the rising tide of the Wei River easily swallowed the carriage, silently washing over both banks in the dark night, watching Qi Wannian and his party embark on their journey.

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(End of this chapter)