Jinting Han people

It was probably between late afternoon and late evening, and the dust and smoke from the battle between the two armies were gradually dissipating. From some unknown time, the sky had become overcast and dark, as if darkness were imminent. The Han army, having fought fiercely all day, were drenched in sweat, and a chilling wind made them shiver. Someone reached out and felt cold raindrops dampen their palms. Just as they were marveling at this, rain mixed with snowflakes suddenly fell from the sky, as if they had been waiting for it for a long time.

At first, rain and snow fell together, but soon the snowflakes began to fall densely, filling the sky and earth in the blink of an eye. The battlefield, which had been fiercely fighting, quickly fell silent, hidden in a vast expanse of white.

As the snow fell in abundance, it seemed as if the heavens were expending all the winter's reserves at once, transforming the vast Jingnan Plain into a paradise. The snow quickly erased the bloodstains on the ground, gradually covering the corpses and armor of both sides' soldiers. On the boundless battlefield, apart from the swords, spear shafts, arrows, and flags stuck in the ground, it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe in the silvery white.

In fact, the Battle of Yi'an was not yet over at this time. Although some Jin troops, led by Ying Zhan, were still putting up a stubborn resistance on the battlefield, the collapse of the main Jin army had completely eliminated any suspense in the battle. The remaining troops were destined not to receive reinforcements and were already exhausted; their defeat was only a matter of time. As most of the Jin soldiers around them fled, He Pan's troops moved north to threaten Ying Zhan's rear, and the Han troops inside the palisade also came out to clean up the battlefield. This encirclement from all sides meant that the remaining Jin troops could not even make a ripple.

After learning of He Pan's victory, Liu Xian disembarked from the ship to personally inspect the battlefield.

His first target was naturally Ying Zhan's troops. Now, most of Ying Zhan's army had been defeated by Guo Mo. He Pan attacked from the rear and from both sides at the same time, and tens of thousands of soldiers abandoned their troops and surrendered. Even so, Ying Zhan still had a considerable number of loyal followers around him, probably more than a thousand.

Ying Zhan continued to lead his troops in a defensive formation, his perseverance truly astonishing, to the point that Guo Mo's forces were exhausted from the fighting. Just as Guo Mo had encouraged his soldiers earlier, many knights fought fiercely, even breaking their swords, and were completely drained. Yet, even so, Ying Zhan's main force fought to the death. In the end, both sides were panting heavily, using their last strength to restore their formation. The two sides faced each other in a clear-cut standoff, stubbornly holding on without collapsing. Even when the wind and snow came, nothing changed.

Ying Zhan had formed a circular formation, and the Han army had surrounded him in layers, also forming a circular formation. Liu Xian weaved through the Han army's circular formation, and along the way, he found that the battlefield was littered with fallen corpses, one after another, one covering another. The stench of blood, entrails, and sweat mingled together, so strong that even the west wind could not disperse it. He couldn't even find a way to step on the corpses. This was probably what it meant to be "piled up with the dead."

All the accompanying officials were shocked by the ferocity of the battle. Elsewhere, they had mostly seen surrendered Jin soldiers kneeling and begging for mercy, with a single Han soldier easily managing to control a dozen or so Jin soldiers bound with ropes. But here, the situation was completely different. After being overwhelmed by the fleeing troops, they fought a desperate battle against the odds, yet the number of casualties exceeded that of the previous battles around the palisades. Moreover, after such a crushing defeat and with no hope of victory, it was unbelievable that so many Jin soldiers remained and refused to leave.

Li Sheng said softly to Liu Xian with admiration, "I never imagined that among the people of Jin, there could be someone who could win the hearts of the people so much."

Liu Xian smiled and said, "It may be difficult to understand who is right and who is wrong in a short time, but it is easy to see who is good and who is bad."

Having said that, Liu Xian walked between the two armies' lines. Looking around, he saw that the remaining Jin soldiers, surrounded by enemy forces, seemed insignificant. Their armor and clothing were mostly tattered, unable to conceal their wounds, and their swords were stained with blood and had many nicks. They shivered in the wind and snow, but even so, these men still looked at the Han army with stubborn eyes, as if they would fight to the death if given the order.

"They're all fine young men!" Liu Xian thought to himself, then sent Xi An forward to ask, "Who is Supervisor Ying? My king wishes to meet with him; may he come out and meet me?"

Upon hearing of the arrival of the King of Han, a commotion arose within the Jin army. Clearly, they were unsure whether this was a blessing or a curse, and whether their commander should come out to greet him. However, the commotion did not last long; after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, three middle-aged men in armor and carrying swords emerged from the ranks. The leader, a thin man, had removed his armor, revealing only a military uniform, a sword at his waist, and a helmet in his hand, his face showing weariness and the weariness of travel.

Although the Han soldiers did not recognize him, they quickly guessed that he was Ying Zhan, the most troublesome military supervisor in the Jin army, because of his regular features, deep-set eyes, and elegant demeanor that revealed his handsome and dashing air.

Ying Zhan walked up to Xi An. The armored soldiers beside him were about to remove Ying Zhan's sword, but a strong man behind Ying Zhan stopped him and said in a deep voice, "The sword is the honor and disgrace of a warrior. Our army has not surrendered yet. We are only meeting as envoys. Why remove the sword?"

Seeing this, Guo Mo's subordinate Song Hou, thinking of the many dead and wounded among his men, was enraged and cursed, "Ignorant scoundrel! Even in this situation, you still refuse to admit it? Where do you get the nerve!" He made a move to forcibly seize Ying Zhan's sword.

Ying Zhan's entourage refused to back down, and the two were locked in a standoff, seemingly about to fight. At this moment, the King of Han calmly spoke up: "It's alright, let him come in directly! Our warriors are all here, what do we have to fear from a few swords?"

Only then did Marquis Song angrily release his grip, allowing Ying Zhan and the other two to continue forward. Ying Zhan saw a man surrounded by a group of people, with a calm face and imposing presence, and a conspicuous scar on his right cheek; it was clearly the King of Han. He cupped his hands and said, "I am Ying Zhan, the military supervisor of Badong, and I greet the Duke of Anle."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed, for Ying Zhan was clearly provoking them, implying that Liu Xian, who received a salary from the Jin court, would ultimately betray it and establish his own power, thus failing the emperor's grace. Guo Mo, who held Liu Xian in the highest esteem, immediately drew his sword to kill him. However, Liu Xian held his hand down. He had already understood Ying Zhan's intentions; he was actually seeking death to uphold his reputation for loyalty and filial piety.

Liu Xian certainly didn't want to kill him, even though he had clashed with Ying Zhan several times and Ying Zhan had caused him considerable trouble each time. But every leader, regardless of their status, desires subordinates like Ying Zhan, who are loyal and devoted to the country, and appreciates such talent. Liu Xian was no exception; it was precisely because he intended to recruit Ying Zhan that he planned to meet him.

Therefore, when faced with Ying Zhan's provocation, Liu Xian remained calm and simply asked, "The Jin dynasty is so immoral, why are you still unwilling to surrender? Are you going to die for your country?"

Upon hearing this, Ying Zhan remained calm and replied unhurriedly, "Today's emperor is simple and honest, like an innocent child. How can he be said to lack virtue? It is the ministers in the court who have rebelled and the treacherous officials who have caused the country to suffer such a fate. I have merely been fulfilling my duty; there is nothing to boast about."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian chuckled and said, "So, does that mean a monarch can rule the world as ignorant as an infant, without needing to be talented?"

Ying Zhan paused, but then continued, "It's better than having talent but no virtue, having a family but no country." This remark caused everyone's expressions to change. Even Liu Xian, known for his composure, was speechless for a long time. At this point, Liu Xian also became angry. He pointed to himself and asked, "Are you saying I'm an immoral ruler? Then, in your opinion, what do you think of Tang of Shang and Wen of Zhou? What do you think of Wu of Wei and Xuan of Jin? Were they all talented but immoral?"

Ying Zhan replied, “Confucius said, ‘When you see someone virtuous, think of emulating them; when you see someone not virtuous, examine yourself.’ Since you know this is a shortcoming of the sage king, why do you still defend yourself? Don’t you feel ashamed?”

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian found it extremely offensive. In all his years, this was the first time he had encountered such an unyielding obstacle. Wasn't this just looking for trouble? Who could truly live a life without being tainted? Even saints couldn't withstand such questioning! This reminded him of his great-grandfather's words, "When orchids and magnolias are in the way, they must be removed," and he even considered killing them.

But this was only a fleeting thought. He closed his eyes slightly, recalling his humiliating experience in Luoyang. Many faces flashed through his mind. How many innocent lives had he shed to survive? Countless. He had no reason to deny it; simply being alive was the greatest fortune. This brought him peace, and his expression returned to calm as he slowly said:

“You’re right. When you see someone who is not virtuous, you should reflect on yourself. Although I have done some work for the court, I dare not say that I am without fault. Based on what you’ve said, I cannot make any more mistakes.”

Having said that, Liu Xian waved his hand and said, "In that case, you may leave!"

Upon hearing this, everyone, including Ying Zhan, was stunned. They were unsure of what Liu Xian meant. Liu Xian had no choice but to say again, "Although I cannot be a perfect sage, I will at least not be a tyrant like Jie of Xia or Zhou of Shang who killed the virtuous. Go back and see Wang Kuang and Wang Dun, and give them my regards."

Li Sheng was shocked upon hearing this. He quickly stopped Liu Xian, saying, "Your Highness, how many lives have been lost by our soldiers in order to capture this man? Since he is willing to die for his country, why not grant his wish? How can we let a tiger return to the mountain?"

This was also what many people thought, but Liu Xian had already made up his mind. He said, "They are just serving their own masters, there is nothing to criticize. Besides, the Duke of Xuancheng is his maternal uncle. The Duke of Xuancheng (Liu Hong) and I fought side by side in the past and have a very close relationship. Ying Zhan governs Nanping and is famous in Wuling. The people also support him very much. Nanping is the place where my family rose to prominence. According to human feelings and the voice of the people, I should not kill him."

Liu Xian never believed that killing could solve problems, especially since the Jin army was already doomed. Ying Zhan was able to cause him trouble repeatedly mainly because his base was there; what could he accomplish without his stronghold in Jingnan? Liu Xian also didn't believe that Wang Yan's court could still properly employ people.

In that case, we might as well take this opportunity to do him a favor, or rather, take this chance to express to the ministers in the Jin court who still harbored illusions that we are willing to accept them into the Han army. This would also dispel the Jin army's resistance and prepare public opinion for the next offensive.

This is essentially the key to success, a principle many politicians understand but fail to implement because such measures are too slow to yield results. Politics is a game of survival, and those lacking confidence find it difficult to execute such ideas. Yet Liu Xian has navigated this path, not because of any special treatment given to Ying Zhan.

Ying Zhan was also impressed by Liu Xian's confidence. Upon hearing this, he gave Liu Xian a deep look, cupped his hands, and said, "Then I thank Your Highness. But what about my subordinates..."

Liu Xian waved his hand and said, "As long as they are willing to go with you, I won't stop them."

"Your Highness is merciful."

"No, we'll meet again."

Ying Zhan didn't say much, but his attitude had clearly softened considerably. He didn't take all the remaining soldiers with him, only selecting a few trusted men. As for the soldiers whose families were in Jingnan, he advised them to stay put, not cause trouble, and obey the orders of the King of Han. Although the remaining soldiers were reluctant to leave, they breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that the King of Han had spared the life of the supervising officer. Once Ying Zhan left, they gradually laid down their weapons and surrendered to the King of Han.

As a result, all the remaining Jin soldiers on the battlefield surrendered. Only then was the Han army able to completely clear the battlefield, shackle the Jin soldiers who had surrendered, and tie them inside the palisade. Li Ju and Li Sheng were responsible for guarding and counting them; there were more than 20,000 of them.

Adding to the Jin soldiers who died in battle, were trampled to death, or drowned, there were more than ten thousand dead. Liu Xian then ordered laborers and prisoners to collect the remains, and dug hundreds of large pits south of the city, burying fifty people at a time and planting willows in their memory. At the same time, he also ordered Fan Ben to lead Taoist priests of the Celestial Masters sect to fast and set up an altar to perform sutra chanting and sacrificial rites to pray for the souls of the dead.

Of course, the results were not limited to these. In addition to these ordinary soldiers, the Han army dealt a devastating blow to the Jin army's generals. Although Liu Xian released Ying Zhan, he captured generals such as Zhou Fu, the governor of Huainan; Zhou Yi, the general who pacifies the south; Tian Hui, the governor of Yuzhou; Zhu Si, the general who wields great power; Su Wen, the commander who quells rebellion; and Zhao Gong, the cavalry commander. He also killed Zhu Gui, the governor of Qichun; Wang Chong, the governor of Jiangxia; Pang Shi, the commander of Yiyang; and Li Ru, the general of the vanguard.

In addition to personnel, the Han army also seized several thousand pack horses and oxen from the Jin army, about 50,000 taels of gold and silver prepared as rewards, 12,000 sets of armor, 5,000 crossbows, and 800,000 arrows abandoned on the ground.

Although the Jin army had suffered numerous defeats in recent years, such massive losses were perhaps only comparable to the Battle of Ye. With years of accumulated resources wiped out, it was clearly impossible for the Jin army to launch another attack on the Han army. While they still retained a significant numerical advantage, given their current morale and fighting spirit, they could likely only defend themselves by fortifying their camps.

Liu Xian then instructed Li Ci, the Imperial Censor who was accompanying him, to draft a proclamation. As Li Mi's eldest son, Li Ci was renowned for his literary talent, and this proclamation was to be distributed to all prefectures and counties to widely announce the great victory. Li Ci readily took up his pen and described the victory thus:
"The sage king, understanding the signs of survival and destruction, discerning the changes of success and failure, examining the course of events, contemplating the merits of Heaven and humanity, and with his military might overseeing the southern borders, led his army to leap across the plains of his homeland. Thus, the six armies marched out, clearing the Jianghan Plain, achieving a great victory, capturing and killing tens of thousands. From then on, banners fluttered along the Han road, drums resounded in Jingnan, the Sichuan and the Yangtze River valleys were free from the alarm of war, and the Xiang River region rejoiced in peace and prosperity. With the flourishing of the Way of Shao Kang and the revival of the virtue of Guangwu, the restoration of peace throughout the four seas could be expected!" (End of Chapter)