Han officials

Chapter 234 Everyone Wants to Improve!

"If we cannot defend Bingzhou, we will all be sinners against the Han Dynasty!"

Looking at the waning moon on the horizon, Zhang Liao, with a resolute expression, stood atop the city walls of Xianyang and said:

"This land of China, the ancient homeland of China, cannot be allowed to be defiled by filth and blood!"

Don't misunderstand, this Xianyang is not that Xianyang.

Qin Xianyang was renamed Xincheng County in the first year of Emperor Gaozu of the Former Han Dynasty (206 BC), and then renamed Weicheng County in the third year of Yuanding (114 BC). After Emperor Guangwu established the country, it was directly abolished and merged into Chang'an County.

At this moment, Zhang Liao was standing in a small town in Yunzhong County.

Located on the Hetao Plain, the city boasts lush pastures and abundant water, teeming with cattle, sheep, and horses. With ample sunshine, it embodies the concept of "raising livestock under the sun," hence the name "Xianyang County." It is said that Liu Bang himself changed the name.

Since Xianyang City is located at the westernmost edge of Yunzhong County, Zhang Liao settled most of the soldiers and civilians of Wuyuan County there.

Upon hearing Zhang Liao's words, General Guo Yun, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Alas, Yuan Shao's crimes are beyond redemption!"

Although Zhang Liao came from a humble background in Bingzhou, while Zhang Liao came from a gentry family in Bingzhou, they shared the same attitude on this matter.

Previously, he had no different opinion of Yuan Shao and Wei Zhe; he only sided with Wei because of their different strengths.

However, Guo Yun truly abhorred Yuan Shao's move to collude with the Hu people to move south.

Perhaps due to its unique geographical environment, the customs and traditions of Bingzhou are different from those of the counties in Guandong.

In Bingzhou, the conflict between the gentry and commoners was not the main issue, and land annexation was not even the main issue.

It should be noted that Bingzhou is much closer to Luoyang than Jizhou, but there were no Yellow Turbans from Bingzhou during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

It's not that there were no refugees in Bingzhou, but rather that the main problem lay in the conflicts between the Han and non-Han peoples in the various prefectures of Bingzhou.

With the Qiang and Hu tribes to the west and the Xiongnu to the north, the gentry of Bingzhou had a deeper understanding of the dangers posed by the Hu people than the gentry of Guandong.

Living under this threat for a long time led to the Bingzhou gentry focusing on different things than the Guandong gentry.

Yuan Shao may have thought that luring the Hu people south was a temporary measure, just as the Han court often used Hu cavalry and servants to fight.

However, in Guo Yun's view, Yuan Shao's actions were nothing short of betraying his ancestors and forgetting his roots!
After a brief discussion on the city wall, Guo Yun, who was genuinely worried about the Southern Xiongnu, immediately volunteered, saying, "My lord, let me go to Loufan Pass. It is a natural barrier to the north of Yunzhong, a strategic point to the south of Taiyuan, a stronghold to the west of Dingxiang, and a bulwark to the east of Yanmen. If Loufan Pass falls, the entire territory of Bingzhou will be in grave danger!"

The Loufan Pass mentioned by Guo Yun is actually the Ningwu Pass of later generations.

During the Ming Dynasty, three passes—Zijing, Daoma, and Juyong—were established along the northern border, known as the Inner Three Passes. In Bingzhou, three passes—Piantou, Ningwu, and Yanmen—were established, known as the Outer Three Passes.

Of the three outer passes, Pianguan Pass had the Yellow River as a natural barrier, which the Xiongnu cavalry could only cross on ice in winter. Yanmen Pass, on the other hand, relied on its mountainous terrain, making it difficult for cavalry to break through. Only Ningwu Pass was backed by the Hui River, which was a seasonal river. During the season when the Hui River dried up, the Xiongnu cavalry would advance south along the river valley.

Therefore, Ningwu Pass was the most frequently contested pass among the three passes throughout history.

Whenever northern nomadic tribes marched south, they would inevitably pass through Ningwu Pass, which is now known as Loufan Pass. Because during periods of drought, the Huihe River valley could accommodate "ten riders advancing side by side," Ningwu Pass was the main battlefield for battles between nomadic and agricultural peoples most of the time.

In later historical records, when the Xianbei, Turks, Khitans, Mongols and other ethnic groups raided southwards, they often chose Ningwu Pass as their point of attack. Over the centuries, countless bloodshed and remains have been left behind at this place.

Unfortunately, the Huihe River is currently experiencing a period of dryness.

Guo Yun, a native of Bingzhou, was very clear about this:

"It will be at least April before the river is fully restored. During this period, Loufan Pass will likely be one of the Xiongnu's main targets, so we cannot afford to be careless!"

Guo Yun understood this, and Zhang Liao, who was from Bingzhou, naturally knew it as well.

However, Xu Rong is currently stationed in Wuquan to defend against the Xianbei, and he is guarding Xianyang to fight against the Xiongnu. He cannot attend to Loufan Pass at the same time.

Upon hearing Guo Yun's words, Zhang Liao also became somewhat worried about Lu Gu, the garrison commander of Loufan Pass.

In contrast, although Guo Yun did not possess the qualities of a great general, he had at least served as a prefect with a salary of two thousand piculs.

His presence in the building's security area would indeed be of great help.

Upon considering this, Zhang Liao immediately nodded in agreement, but at the same time, he also issued a military order:
Hold Loufan Pass at all costs. Even if the Southern Xiongnu suffer a crushing defeat, do not pursue them!

Upon hearing this, Guo Yun blushed and repeatedly declared that he would rather die than leave the pass.

Not to mention how Guo Yun's three thousand Qingzhou soldiers, after entering Loufan Pass, learned their lesson and became courageous.

Upon hearing this news, the happiest person was none other than Cui Yan, the governor of Yanmen. After all, he knew how important Loufan Pass was, and now that Guo Yun was there to share the burden, he naturally breathed a sigh of relief.

It should be noted that his responsibilities extended beyond the Southern Xiongnu; he also needed to oversee the Wei army in the four counties of Taiyuan.

If it weren't for the constant support from Yanmen County, the four counties of Taiyuan might not have been able to hold out until now.

However, Cui Yan has some flaws; he actually went looking for trouble after finally getting some relief.

Since Zhang Liao and Xu Rong were currently unable to focus on conquering Taiyuan County, he, who had been authorized to temporarily manage affairs in Taiyuan, not only did not retreat to the four counties, but instead made frequent moves.

……

On this day, on the outskirts of Jinyang, by the Fen River, in Beishanwu.

Bamboo shadows swayed on the frosty stone path, and two scholars sat around a rock by the stream. The cold mountain wind swept over their faded robes, mixing the scents of ink and medicine.

Wang Wei's hand, gripping the whisk, had bulging veins on the back, and his thin, bony fingers protruded like bamboo twigs from the pine-patterned staff. He wasn't wearing a turban, and a few strands of gray hair fell from his temples, revealing a hint of youthful recklessness.

Perhaps stimulated by the chill of early spring, he coughed a few times before even speaking. After a moment, he smiled and said in a hoarse voice, "Ziyu, you have quite the nerve to come to Jinyang. Aren't you afraid I'll take you to the authorities?"

Although Wang Wei was not well-known outside the region, he was a very important figure in Bingzhou.

Because in addition to being the head of the Wang family in Qi County, he was also the elder brother of Wang Yun, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

Despite the fact that Dong Zhuo was universally hated, Wang Yun, as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, still held some influence in Bingzhou.

Sitting opposite Wang Wei was a robust middle-aged man named Linghu Mou.

Of the sixteen counties in Taiyuan Commandery, four were occupied by the Wei army: Yangqu, Langmeng, Mengxian, and Lüsi.

Linghu Mou was born into the Langmeng Linghu clan, a family with a perennial salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), and was a descendant of Wei Chou, a high-ranking official of the Jin state during the Spring and Autumn period. He shared the same ancestor as the Linghu clan of Dunhuang. During the Zhongping era, Linghu Mou served as the Protector of the Wuhuan, but later resigned and returned to his hometown due to dissatisfaction with the court.

Linghu Mou was also one of the earliest members of the Taiyuan gentry to pledge allegiance to Wei Zhe, not for any other reason than that he liked Wei Zhe.

Interestingly, the Wolf Meng Linghu clan and the Qixian Wang clan were related by marriage.

Therefore, upon hearing this, Linghu Mou immediately burst into laughter, his burly body even causing the couch to creak.

He seemed genuinely unconcerned. After taking a sip of sake from a bamboo root-carved wine cup, he stroked his bushy beard and quipped, "Meeting an official? Which official? The Yuan family's official?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wei coughed violently, startling several crows into flight.

After a moment, he tightened his crane cloak and said slowly, "What's the difference? Hasn't the Wei family also done things like privately appointing officials to positions in prefectures and counties?"

"Of course there's a difference?" Linghu Mou said solemnly in an instant: "Judging from their actions, the Wei family still maintains the integrity of Han officials, while the Yuan family is truly a traitor to the Han!"

At this point, Linghu Mou stopped beating around the bush and immediately suppressed his anger, pointing to the northwest and saying, "The smoke of war is rising all over Bingzhou, all thanks to the Yuan family. Can't Brother Baiyu see this? Aren't you just turning a blind eye?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wei fell silent for a long time.

However, Linghu Mou did not speak much about righteousness, but instead talked about the rise and fall of his family.

He said meaningfully, "The Wang family of Jinyang has willingly degraded themselves and even joined forces with the barbarians. They will surely be punished by heaven in the future. Brother Baiyu, as the head of the Wang family of Qixian, do you not want to revitalize your family? Qixian may be good, but how can it compare to Jinyang?"

Finally, Linghu Mou slowly said, "Taiyuan is too small to accommodate two Wang families!"

Linghu Mou's words were not exactly slander against the Wang family of Jinyang.

After all, since Wang Ze and Wang Rou, the Wang family of Jinyang had maintained good relations with the Xiongnu and Xianbei for four generations, intermarrying with them and using them as foreign aid, ultimately causing chaos in China. They can be considered the initiators of the Shanxi merchants' treason.

The Wang families of Qixian County and Jinyang County are not of the same lineage and have no blood relation.

It wasn't until several hundred years later that the genealogies of the two families were merged into one, sharing a common ancestor. They also joined forces with the Langya Wang clan, recognizing Wang Li, the son of Qin Dynasty general Wang Jian, as their ancestor.

Therefore, after hearing Linghu Mou's words, Wang Wei's expression finally changed.

As he said, Qi County was ultimately no match for Jinyang, the capital of the prefecture.

If we can annex the Wang family of Jinyang, the Wang family of Qixian might one day become the Wang family of Taiyuan.

Can two tigers share one mountain? Can two kings share one prefecture?

When the issues of national duty and personal righteousness are intertwined, even the most cautious Wang Wei cannot help but be moved...

(End of this chapter)