Jinting Han people

Before receiving news of the fall of Xuchang, Liu Xian first received a report of victory from Xi Jian.

Xi Jian's assessment of the situation in Guangzhou was correct. At this time, Zhang Fang's foundation was unstable, and the loyalty of his army to him was insufficient. As Xi Jian led his army deep into the barren lands, pursuing Zhang Fang to Bushan, Zhang Fang did not even bother to defend the city and directly abandoned it with his army. Xi Jian relentlessly pursued him, from Bushan to Pingshan, from Pingshan to Yujiang, and then from Yujiang to Liangshan.

The two armies raced each other along the road, weaving through the humid jungle. There was no real battle, but rather a test of endurance, a contest of patience to see who would give out first. After three months, the two armies had covered over four thousand li (approximately 2,000 kilometers). Soldiers on both sides were falling ill, and men were constantly dropping out. Rear supplies were running low. Both sides had to rely on gathering wild fruits and hunting game to stave off hunger. When thirsty, they filtered muddy water through cloths and drank it deeply. Many soldiers wore out their shoes and still had to persevere barefoot through the dense forests of Guangzhou.

During this process, Xi Jian suffered severe losses, with his 20,000 men gradually dwindling to less than 8,000, and almost all of his horses dying of disease. Xi Jian was also unable to care for the soldiers who had fallen behind due to illness, and could only tell them to hold on until they reached the banks of the Yu River, where they would return together after Xi Jian captured Zhang Fang.

However, Xi Jian's insistence was not without reason, because the enemy had also suffered heavy losses during this process, and he kept encountering stragglers in Zhang Fang's army. At this point, he understood that both sides were fighting to the last breath, and whoever gave up first would have all their previous efforts wasted.

Meanwhile, Du Tao had already arrived in Jiaozhi. Wu Yan, the governor of Jiaozhou, was alarmed to see a Han army crossing the sea by boat and Tang troops appearing within his territory. As a veteran governor who had been stationed in Jiaozhou since the time of Sun Hao, he was unwilling to let Du Tao pass through. He engaged Du Tao's forces in a fierce battle at Quyi City, but was defeated. Wang Zhen, as the vanguard, led his fast ships directly to Wu Yan's main force. Wu Yan's troops were unable to stop him and were captured by his light cavalry.

Du Tao then pardoned Wu Yan and his son, and informed them of the situation in the north. Only then did Wu Yan learn of the great defeat of the Jingxiang Jin army, and he surrendered to Du Tao. Du Tao then took control of Longbian City, obtained some supplies, and led his troops north to intercept Zhang Fang along the Lang Son line.

In late March of that year, Zhang Fang's vanguard ran headlong into Du Tao's forces in Lang Son and was immediately routed. Fang Xijian then caught up with Zhang Fang's pursuit. At this point, even with Zhang Fang's great abilities, there was nothing he could do. He could only resort to his old trick, abandoning his remaining thousand-odd followers and attempting to escape alone.

But this place was sparsely populated, teeming with poisonous insects and miasma. With Xi Jian, Du Tao, and others blocking the main roads, where could a northerner like him escape to after leaving the main force? After Xi Jian and Du Tao made contact, they searched together for four days and quickly found Zhang Fang. By then, he had died from a snake bite to the leg, his body was covered in sores, and ants crawled all over his corpse. If it weren't for the tokens he still had on him, it would be almost impossible to recognize him as Zhang Fang.

With this, the war in the south came to a complete end, and the two provinces of Jiao and Guang submitted to Shu Han as a result. Xi Jian and Du Tao also officially embarked on their return journey, and were expected to return to Yi'an around mid-May.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Xian was overjoyed. He had been worried that Xi Jian's forces would suffer setbacks and had prepared for a long-term campaign to quell the rebellion in the south. Unexpectedly, Xi Jian not only successfully quelled Zhang Fang's rebellion but also accomplished the remarkable feat of establishing diplomatic relations with Guang Province. With this, Shu Han's borders were greatly expanded, its national strength increased, and only one final step remained before it could truly unify the south!

Coming to his senses, Liu Xian, holding the victory report, smiled at Li Ju and the others and said, "I am not happy to have gained these two prefectures, but I am happy to have gained these two generals!"

Although Liu Xian has won many battles since the beginning of his campaigns, most of them were won by his personal command. Those capable of independently leading an army and serving as a marshal are actually quite few. Li Ju possesses the qualities of a commander and is the perfect candidate to lead a separate army. Yang Nandi and He Pan, while not as capable as Li Ju, can still serve as commanders, but after that, there are very few others like him.

Wang Dun, though highly respected, lacked the ability to command respect; Zhang Guang excelled in military administration but was weak in personnel management; Wei Jun prioritized the overall situation but ultimately lacked adaptability; Huangfu Chong, a veteran general, still harbored some disdain for others. Therefore, these four could command troops, but were better suited for defense than offense. The remaining men, such as Guo Mo, Wen Shuo, and Huo Biao, were even less capable; without extensive experience, they would likely find it difficult to shoulder heavy responsibilities.

The current performance of Xi Jian and Du Tao in Qiaonan is sufficient proof that they are qualified military commanders, thus adding two more people to Liu Xian's list of candidates for important responsibilities. After all, with his ascension to the throne imminent, he needs to maintain stable control over the southern provinces, so he can no longer frequently lead military campaigns. Ultimately, he will need to remain in the central government and handle the affairs of various regions.

The officials of Yi'an were overjoyed to hear that Qiaonan had been pacified. Based on the battle report, they immediately began discussing the rewarding of those who had contributed to the victory. Because Xi Jian and his men had been unable to withdraw, the matter had been delayed for nearly four months, and the entire court was impatient. Now, everyone could finally receive their rewards, and Yi'an was filled with jubilation. Many officials instructed their servants to prepare celebratory lanterns, colorful brocades, and a feast, as if it were New Year's Day.

That night, Liu Xian hosted a banquet for Jiang Tong and others. During their conversation, he played chess with them. Liu Xian hadn't played chess in a long time, and his skills had become rusty. However, Jiang Tong was clearly letting him win. The two played three games in a row. Jiang Tong deliberately missed many of Liu Xian's weaknesses, and the two fought fiercely and evenly. After two hours, Liu Xian narrowly lost the first two games. In the last game, Jiang Tong deliberately gave him a piece, and Liu Xian finally won by a narrow margin.

Liu Xian was fully aware of this, but having enjoyed the game, he naturally didn't point it out. It was at this moment that a guard brought a military report, saying that it was a message from Governor Zhang of Xiangyang, related to Xuchang.

Liu Xian immediately knew that Xuchang had probably fallen. He took Zhang Guang's letter, unfolded it, and read it carefully. In the letter, Zhang Guang stated:

"The Qi rebels divided their forces into twenty routes to besiege Xuchang, launching repeated attacks on the city. However, Xuchang was situated in an open area with no external support, and the army eventually collapsed. The Qi people took advantage of their victory to enter the city and plundered for ten days, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. Empress Yang committed suicide by self-immolation. It was also reported that Wang Mi's brother, Zhang, killed dozens of princes, including Sima Xiao, the Prince of Fanyang, and burned thousands of princes, officials, and commoners, leading the masses to eat them. Some, like Liu Tun and Chen Zhen, who were from Qing and Xu provinces, were spared because of their hometown ties, while others, like Ji Shao and Yang Man, who had served in Qing and Xu provinces, were spared because of their reputation for good governance."

"It is said that the bandit leader Liu Gen rebuilt Yuxiu Terrace in the southern suburbs and summoned sorcerers, seemingly to set up an altar to worship heaven, which may be a sign of his usurpation."

Liu Xian was greatly shocked after reading it. In fact, most of the other events were within his expectations, but he stared at the six words "Empress Yang burned herself to death for her country" for a long time, unable to believe it. Even after putting the letter down, he was still in a daze.

Upon hearing the news, Jiang Tong guessed that Xuchang had fallen. Seeing Liu Xian's face turn ashen, he couldn't help but think: "I never knew Huai Chong cared so much for Xuchang. It seems he still has feelings for the Jin court." Zhou Song and the other former Jin officials, reading the military report, couldn't help but discuss among themselves. Although they were somewhat saddened, they had stayed in Yi'an for a long time and felt it wasn't so bad. Hearing that a large number of their high-ranking colleagues had been massacred by the Qi people, they felt even more hopeful that they could escape as soon as possible.

But Liu Xian had lost interest in continuing the game of chess. He bid farewell to everyone and returned to his palace alone. He then dismissed the others and remained silent for a long time. Even now, he still couldn't believe that Yang Xianrong was dead, and that she had chosen such a tragic way to end her life—by self-immolation.

He still remembered their first meeting. He had led his men to Jinyong City to escort the Empress out of the city. She looked like a delicate flower, standing behind the grinning Sima Zhong, so fragile she seemed easily blown away by a strong wind. Yet, her bright eyes shone like a rainbow, filled with a burning innocence and desire. Liu Xian was deeply impressed then, but he never expected her to later secretly meet with him and try to seduce him, saying she wanted to emulate Empress Lü and share power with him. When he refused, her eyes reddened, and she was so angry she almost cried. She was truly a woman who dared to love and hate. Therefore, Liu Xian didn't dislike her; on the contrary, he admired Yang Xianrong for her inner and outer vitality, as if she could live alone no matter the circumstances. Liu Xian always carried heavy burdens, making it hard for him to breathe, so being with a young girl brought him a sense of ease. This was a feeling he hadn't experienced with A Die, Lü Zhu, or even Xiu Hua, except for a slight resemblance to A Luo.

So that night, when Yang Xianrong tried to take what she wanted from Liu Xian, Liu Xian verbally refused, but his body and emotions made it difficult for him to resist.

Liu Xian always believed that, given Yang Xianrong's personality, no matter what kind of humiliation or hardship she suffered, she would find a way to survive. Even if she had six or seven husbands, she could still live stubbornly and freely. When she saw him again, she might even hold her head high as if she had won something, widen her eyes, point at him triumphantly, and say, "Liu Xian, you're blind. I'll live just as well without you."

Therefore, Liu Xian never felt that he had any responsibility or obligation towards her. But now, suddenly learning that this girl from his past had left him forever, Liu Xian was first filled with astonishment, and then filled with guilt.

How could she have died for the Jin court? She should have lived, unless, of course, he was just putting on a show for himself! This thought jolted Liu Xian awake, a bitter smile playing on his lips. He realized he might be being presumptuous, but this thought kept him awake at night. He hadn't cared so much while she was alive, but after her death, Liu Xian's respect and remembrance for Yang Xianrong reached its peak, feeling he had lost something very precious. After tossing and turning for a while, Liu Xian finally put on his robes, got up, and asked a palace maid for a wooden plaque, intending to erect a memorial tablet for Yang Xianrong.

But as he was about to carve, he hesitated. What should he inscribe? Yang Xianrong wasn't his lawfully wedded wife; it was merely a one-night stand. According to social norms, she was his former lord. What right did he have to erect a memorial tablet for her? After a moment's hesitation, Liu Xian finally made up his mind and inscribed the six characters "The Tablet of My Wife, Lady Yang." After finishing, Liu Xian laughed at himself. How ridiculous! But so be it; no one saw. He secretly hid the memorial tablet in a small room in the back hall, offered incense, and then took out his long-unused bamboo flute and gently played a tune, "The Reeds."

The reeds are green and lush, the white dew has turned to frost. The one I long for is on the other side of the water.

Liu Xian had imagined Yang Xianrong would flourish like reeds, but instead, she became as fleeting as the white dew. Fate is cruel; in this chaotic world, everything that begins and ends is like a dream, a bubble. To the strains of the gentle melody, Liu Xian felt a deep sadness, as if his thoughts, too, were traveling with the music across the river of time, flowing upstream back to the distant past.

After the music ended, Liu Xian returned to his palace, and this time he was finally able to fall asleep. However, after falling asleep, he had a dream. He dreamed that he had returned to the time before he came of age, and he built a hut in front of his mother's grave to observe mourning. He was cooking porridge in the hut, while outside the hut, it was pouring rain. The sound of the rain was continuous, but there were clearly other noises in the rain.

Was it his father? Liu Xian recalled the past and subconsciously pushed open the door to look, only to find that in front of the thatched hut, in the heavy rain, there was no one in sight, only a white deer. Even though its fur was soaked by the rain, its pure white coat and well-proportioned body made it look extremely elegant and beautiful.

It stared blankly at Liu Xian, who also looked at it, noticing a slight limp in its right hind leg, as if it were injured. Liu Xian tried to approach and touch it, but it repeatedly dodged backward. Liu Xian could only stand there, locked in a pointless stare with the white deer. During this stare, for some unknown reason, the white deer suddenly leaped up and vanished like smoke in an instant.

Just then, a woman's murmur came from beside him, and she smiled gently at Liu Xian: "I still won."

The voice was so familiar that Liu Xian suddenly realized he was dreaming. He instantly sat up in bed, shaking his head repeatedly, but the scene from his dream was still vivid in his mind, and the sweat on his body had soaked his clothes. He recalled the dream, lost in thought again. Was it something he had been thinking about during the day, or was her soul sending him a message in his dream? Liu Xian couldn't find the answer.

Upon waking, he renewed the incense for the memorial tablet and, unusually, did not go to the Ministry of Personnel to handle official business. Instead, he took a stroll alone by the lotus pond. After walking only a few steps, he happened to bump into Liu Lang practicing swordsmanship by the lake. Liu Lang was quite talented in this area; his swordsmanship was already comparable to Liu Xian's in his prime. When he moved, the sword light was like mercury spilling onto the ground, and golden snakes danced wildly, dazzling the eyes and dazzling the onlookers.

According to reports from Yang Nandi and others, Liu Lang was a brave warrior on the battlefield, but lacked experience. With a little training and more time to grow, he could become a fierce general comparable to or even surpassing Wen Shuo. This may be an exaggeration, but it is a fact that he was able to fight Du Zeng, the number one warrior in Jingxiang, and escape unscathed. That's good enough, as it at least shows that Liu Lang has indeed gained experience.

After Liu Lang finished practicing his routine, he wiped his sweat with a wet wipe and then noticed that his father was watching him. He quickly came over to greet him.

Liu Xian suddenly asked him, "Fengyao, how old are you this year?"

Liu Lang was taken aback, unsure of Liu Xian's meaning, but he still honestly replied, "Sir, I am already fifteen."

Liu Xian nodded slightly and sighed, "Yes, you are now old enough to undergo the coming-of-age ceremony. In a few days, I will send an envoy to Liangzhou to urge Governor Zhang to arrange your marriage as well."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lang blushed. Even though he had killed people on the battlefield, he was still at a loss for words when faced with this question. After a long while, he lowered his head and replied, "Your subject understands."

He had been engaged to Zhang Gui's youngest daughter, Zhang Shouxin, for three years, and all the other formalities had been completed; only the wedding was awaited. This opportunity also provided Liu Xian with a chance to reaffirm his authority in Hexi and strengthen his alliance with Zhang Gui.

However, Liu Xian wasn't thinking about any of that at the moment. He was still recalling his dream from the previous night, then patted his eldest son on the shoulder and instructed him, "Fengyao, cherish the people around you." (End of Chapter)