A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 326 Snowstorm enters Xizhou

If a country in chaos longs for a good general...
So whenever a country is in turmoil, foreign tribes will always be eager to cause trouble.

Liu Shishan has Xiongnu blood in his veins. Although he speaks Han language, marries a Han woman, and even serves as a Han official, people will still always refer to him as a Xiongnu.

"From Lishi to Anding, across eight hundred miles of mountains and valleys, countless Hu tribes, why can't we build another country in this chaotic world, a country of our own, a country with the blood of the Xiongnu flowing through our veins?"

“Those dynasties in the Central Plains never trusted us. Whether it was the Wei Dynasty of the Xianbei or the Sui and Tang Dynasties established by the Han people, we guarded the borders for them and fought bloody battles for them, but we could not earn their sincere treatment!”

Liu Mansion in Xizhou.

Liu Shishan summoned his brothers, nephews, and nieces to secretly discuss important matters.

The Liu family members were all clamoring to raise an army.

Some people even clamored for a reenactment of the Five Barbarian Tribes' division of China, claiming that the Jihu tribes wanted to establish another dynasty.

During the War of the Eight Princes in the Western Jin Dynasty, numerous non-Han and ethnic groups took the opportunity to invade, establishing dozens of regimes over a period of more than a hundred years.
The five largest nomadic tribes were the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Jie, Qiang, and Di. Liu Yuan, a Xiongnu, declared himself emperor and established the state of Han under the pretext of restoring the Han dynasty. Later, Liu Yao changed the state name to Zhao. Shi Le rebelled and proclaimed himself King of Zhao. Historians refer to Liu Yuan and the earlier Tu Ge Liu clan regime as Former Zhao, while the Shi family Zhao is called Later Zhao.

Liu Yuan and Shi Le were both of Xiongnu descent.

Later, the Xianbei people rose to power and established the state of Wei. They insisted that they were also the legitimate successors of the Central Plains, while the descendants of the Xiongnu, who had once dominated the Central Plains, could only retreat to the Qin and Jin Mountains.

From the Jin to the Wei, and then to the Sui, these descendants of the Xiongnu who retreated to the mountains and were called Ji Hu or Shan Hu were never content. From time to time, some of them would jump out to rebel, and even declare themselves kings or emperors.

Liu Shishan's family all felt that now was a good opportunity.

With the Turks as our backers and Liu Wuzhou as our allegiance, the Liu family of Longquan will also raise our banner. We will first take Xizhou, then Cizhou, and if we have the opportunity, we will take Lishi and Loufan. Then we will cross the river to take Yan'an, Diaoyin and other places, unite with the various Buluoji tribes, and rebuild the Liu Han dynasty.

Where is Liu Dewei?

"Once we arrived at Shilou Mountain, he kept urging us to deliver grain to him."

Xichuan City is less than 100 li away from Liu Dewei's camp. The transportation along the Puhe River valley is relatively convenient. The Puhe River is a small river, and the water is shallow during the non-flood season, so you can cross the river by stepping on stones.

In winter, the river freezes over with thick ice, posing no further obstacles.

Making ice sleds can also facilitate the transportation of goods.

It only unleashes its power during the flood season, when mountain torrents are raging.

There are 15,000 people, about 100 miles apart.

Liu Dewei's army was undoubtedly the biggest obstacle to Liu Shishan's desire to establish himself as king.

"I invited Liu Dewei to Xichuan, why didn't he come?"

"Liu Dewei replied that Li Yi's orders to him were to lead his troops to garrison the northern part of Xizhou, both to defend against Liu Jizhen of Lishi to the north, to safeguard the Haoxi passage, and to support Haozhou from the flank and rear. His 15,000 troops were divided into three units: he himself would lead one army to garrison at the foot of Shilou Mountain, on the upper reaches of the Pu River; one army to garrison in Shilou County; and one army to garrison in Wenquan County. He would not march south to Xichuan."

“He repeatedly urged us to supply him with food and fodder, and also asked us to gather a batch of food and fodder to send to Haozhou.”

Liu Shishan frowned. "That scoundrel, if he doesn't come to Xichuan, how can I get rid of him?"

“Since Liu Dewei isn’t coming, let’s go there. Under the pretext of transporting grain, we’ll lead our troops north, catch him off guard, kill him, and then force his troops to surrender,” one of them said.

Another person said, "Didn't he say he was short of food? Then let's deliberately delay. When the food runs out, won't we collapse without a fight?"

Nothing is more deadly than being starved.

"Then let's delay for now. Send someone to tell Liu Dewei that I'm already gathering provisions and will send them to him immediately."

Liu Shishan planned to first control Xichuan City, especially Governor Yan Xun.

On that day, when Liu Shishan's messenger rushed to Shilou Mountain, Yan Xun, the governor of Xizhou, along with a group of local officials and powerful figures, were invited to Liu Shishan's residence.

He is taking a concubine today and is hosting a banquet for his colleagues and friends.

Liu Shishan was the most powerful man in Xizhou and was now the military commander of Xizhou Road. With troops in his hands, who wouldn't give him face? They all came to give him gifts and attend the banquet.

The new concubine that Steward Liu took was his thirteenth wife, a Sogdian woman who was extremely beautiful.

The banquet at the Liu residence was very lavish, featuring roasted whole lamb, braised carp, steamed buns, and more than a dozen other dishes, both hot and cold, meat and vegetables, accompanied by a band playing music.

When the wine was half-drunk,

The groom, Liu Shishan, raised his glass and stopped the music.

"Today, Mr. Liu is taking a concubine. I am very grateful to everyone for coming to support him."

"The world is in chaos now, and there is turmoil everywhere. As a prominent local family in Xizhou, the Liu family has a responsibility to protect the peace of this region."

As they talked, Liu Shishan finally revealed his purpose.

He wanted to establish himself as king and protect the borders and the people.

"Please, envoy of the Emperor of Han, read out the edict of the Emperor of Han!"

All the guests were stunned by this scene, and many people were still in shock after the Han envoy finished reading the edict.

Is this a surrender to Liu Wuzhou?
"Who agrees?"

"Who objects?"

Liu Shishan raised his cup and asked with a smile.

Governor Yan Xun was so shocked that his hands trembled, and he was completely sober.

"Lord Yan, do you agree or disagree?"

Yan Xun was called upon by Liu Shishan and sat there uneasily.

Although he and Liu Shishan had complained about Li Yi's decision to have Xizhou provide military rations, he never considered plotting a rebellion.

Even though Liu Wuzhou seems to be at the height of his military power, he has never thought of rebelling.

"Duke Yan?"

A member of the Liu family, with his hand on his sword, walked up to him and said, "The King is asking you a question."

Yan Xun looked at Liu Shishan, who was smiling but hiding a knife, and then at the Liu family member standing next to him with a knife in his hand. His lips trembled, and he couldn't speak for a long time.

Governor Zhao Bin stood up and angrily rebuked, "Liu Shishan, as a minister of the imperial court, instead of serving the country, do you want to rebel?"

Liu Shishan poured a cup of wine and placed it in front of Chief Clerk Zhao Bin, saying, "Chief Clerk Zhao, drink this cup."

Zhao Bin angrily rebuked.

Liu Shishan smashed a cup.

Suddenly,

Countless armored soldiers poured in.

Murderous.

A member of the Liu family grinned maliciously, "You, surnamed Zhao, since you refuse the toast but insist on drinking the penalty wine, then so be it." With that, he drew his sword with a clang and slashed down from behind.

A flash of light, blood splattered. Chief Clerk Zhao was beheaded.

Blood splattered on the guests, shocking everyone.

Liu Shishan poured another glass of wine and handed it to Yan Xun.

Yan Xun looked at the headless Chief Clerk Zhao, reached out his trembling hand, took the wine cup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Haha, Lord Yan knows how to seize the moment."

"I hereby appoint the Duke of Yan as the Chief Secretary of the Xizhou Grand General Administration Office, and request the Emperor to grant you the title of Duke of Yan."

Liu Shishan poured another glass of wine and raised it.

"I, the King, salute you all!"

All the guests, whether they were officials from the state or local powerful figures, regardless of their own thoughts, could only raise their cups and drink the wine.

"Hahaha," Liu Shishan laughed loudly.

At the foot of Shilou Mountain,

On the banks of the Pu River.

Liu Dewei met with Lu Chisong, the Crown Prince's Chief of Staff.

"Finally made it," Lu Chisong breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Liu Dewei was alright.

"Report! Chief Steward Liu from Xizhou has sent someone."

Just as Liu Dewei was about to meet him, Lu Chisong stopped him, saying, "Wait a moment. I have traveled day and night to come here because I have something important to tell you. Liu Shishan may have already surrendered to Liu Wuzhou. We must be careful."

He quickly explained the situation.

Liu Dewei was also startled and broke out in a cold sweat.

"No wonder Liu Shishan kept asking me to go to Xichuan. I asked him to supply military rations, but he kept delaying. That scoundrel."

"Fortunately, Duke Rong and Duke Lu discovered it in time, otherwise my 15,000 brothers and I would have been doomed."

"The situation is not entirely certain yet. It could be a divisive tactic by Liu Wuzhou. We still need to investigate," Lu Chisong cautioned.

Liu Dewei thought for a moment, "Didn't Liu Shishan send a disciple to deliver a message? Let's arrest him and interrogate him severely. I don't believe he won't confess."

"What if it's Liu Wuzhou's scheme to sow discord?"

"Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free; this concerns 15,000 soldiers."

Liu Dewei personally interrogated the person who came.
First, they pulled out each fingernail, then smashed each joint of the finger, and then cut it off. The young Liu family member could not withstand such torture and finally confessed everything he knew.

Upon learning that Liu Shishan had indeed rebelled, Liu Dewei was furious.

"Dog slave,"

While sending someone to report back to Li Yi of Haozhou, Lu Chisong also ordered a doctor to treat the Liu family member, who was a witness to Liu Shishan's plot to rebel.

"What should we do now?"

Both men were in a dilemma. Liu Dewei had 15,000 troops, which were now stationed in three places in the north of Xizhou. They were barely managing to keep up by collecting food and supplies locally, but this could not last.

If Xi Chuan cuts off the supply, his 15,000 men will run out of food in the freezing cold.

Liu Dewei clenched his fists tightly.

"Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to play along and take Xichuan directly. Liu Shishan has been inviting me to Xichuan, so I'll go."

"Is it too dangerous?"

There was no other way.

Liu Dewei selected two thousand infantry and cavalry and headed straight for Xichuan City.

Five days later,
When Li Yi met Lu Chisong in Haozhou, his beard was covered in frost.

Ke Lu Chisong was beaming with excitement.

"The traitors Liu Shishan and Yan Xun were all executed, and the rebellion in Xizhou was quelled."

Although it's a simple sentence, Liu Dewei's suppression of the rebellion was quite thrilling and dangerous; his two thousand men rushed south.

Two days later, they arrived outside Xichuan City. Liu Dewei pretended to be unaware of the rebellion, saying he had come to transport grain. Liu Shishan invited him into the city.

Liu Dewei entered the city with only a hundred or so cavalrymen.

As soon as they entered the city gate, Liu Dewei's personal guards suddenly launched an attack, cutting down the gatekeepers and seizing the north gate.
Soon, Liu Dewei's men outside the city saw the signal flag rising on the city wall and immediately rushed towards the Xichuan city gate.

After these troops arrived, they were still preparing for battle, their horses saddled and their armor intact, even though they were not far from the north gate.

Liu Shishan was still waiting in his palace for Liu Dewei to enter the city so he could kill him with a single blow. Little did he know that Liu Dewei had personally intervened and led his personal guards to seize the city gate.

"After General Liu took control of the North Gate, his two thousand infantry and cavalry arrived, stormed into the city, headed straight for Liu Shishan's residence, and swiftly captured and beheaded Liu Shishan."
Then the message was sent to all the gates of Xizhou, claiming that General Li's 20,000 troops were only twenty li away, and the rebel army quickly collapsed.

Although he spoke lightly, Li Yi could imagine that it was still very dangerous and tense at the time.

Liu Dewei is indeed highly skilled and daring; this tactic of turning the tables on the enemy and striking directly at their heart is brilliant.

Afterwards, Liu Dewei slaughtered Liu Shishan's entire family, killed the governor Yan Xun who had sided with the rebels, seized Xichuan City, disarmed the rebel army, and then opened the granaries to take grain and transport it to the north to supply the army.

He personally led two thousand men to garrison Xizhou.

The officials and powerful families of Xichuan who had previously sided with the rebels also returned to the imperial court.

Liu Dewei also captured the envoy sent by Liu Wuzhou, and beheaded him, sending his entourage back to Taiyuan with the head.

"Duke Rongguo, Xizhou is safe again, and the Haoxi Passage has been preserved," Lu Chisong said with a smile.

"Hurry inside and warm up. You've had a hard time on this trip, Master Lu."

“I’m not the one who’s suffering. It’s General Liu Dewei who is suffering. He’s currently purging the rebels in Xizhou. Key officials and important checkpoints are all being replaced by our people. Yang Min, the governor of Xidezhou, has also been temporarily dismissed by General Liu and is being sent to Haozhou.”

"He also joined the rebellion?"

"No, but we have to be careful, so we might as well replace them all."

Li Yi nodded in understanding.

I haven't been eating or sleeping well these past few days, but now I can finally relax.

We were just saying we'd brew a pot of wine and prepare some hot dishes to celebrate properly.

A light cavalryman galloped through the snow into Haozhou, bringing urgent military intelligence.

Liu Wuzhou is personally leading his troops and is marching towards Haozhou City!
(End of this chapter)