Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 144 Returning to the Old Capital
Early morning of May 14th.

The Wei army was routed and retreated to Xiagui.

The Han army pursued relentlessly.

Arrived in Zheng County in the early morning of the 15th.

The city's grain, provisions, and weapons were burned to ashes by the Wei light cavalry who arrived first, while the city's powerful families and commoners salvaged the grain, provisions, and weapons from the granaries after the Wei army withdrew.

When Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, two great generals of the Han army, arrived here with the emperor's dragon banner and the masses, the people of Zheng County came out to welcome them with food and drink, and offered up all the more than 20,000 shi of grain that had been salvaged from the treasury.

Zhao Yun then selected 500 armored soldiers to enter the city, while the rest passed through without entering, continuing the pursuit and not giving the fleeing Wei soldiers a moment's respite.

Early morning of May 16th.

The Han army pursued them to Huayin.

The people of the city once again lined the streets to welcome him.

Sima Yi left more than ten daredevils to lurk among the mixed crowd of people coming out to greet them, intending to assassinate generals Zhao Yun and Wei Yan.

Zhao Yun saw through their scheme and killed them all.

The Han army continued their relentless pursuit.

The night of May 16th.

After fleeing for three days, Sima Yi finally led more than 6,000 remnants of the Jing and Yu armies, along with more than 4,000 Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and Bingzhou Cavalry, back to Tongguan.

Outside Tongguan, Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, who had pursued the Wei army for three days without removing their armor or unsaddled their horses, no longer hesitated and led the troops westward.

In three days, more than twenty battles, large and small, were fought, resulting in the killing and capture of over nine thousand people, and the seizure of over forty thousand pieces of armor, weapons, and powerful bows and crossbows. It was a great victory.

Returning to Huayin, thirty miles from Tongguan, he left Right General Zong Yu and Commandant Feng Hu to jointly command six thousand elite armored soldiers to garrison the area.

Yang Su, son of Yang Tiao, unified a thousand Qiang cavalry to patrol and monitor the area between Tongguan and Huayin.

Zhao Yun dispatched envoys, each leading a hundred light cavalrymen, to Zuo Fengyi, north of the Wei River.

They took over the five counties of Linjin, Chongquan, Pinyang, Wannian, and Xiagui, which had never been ravaged by war and had never been heavily garrisoned by Cao Wei.

May 17th.

Zhao Yun and Wei Yan led the masses to Huayin.

News of the surrender of various counties came one after another.

The emperor's decree of appointment also arrived at the same time.

The candidates for magistrate, chief, assistant magistrate, and lieutenant of each county have all been selected.

Apart from the county magistrates and county heads, who were mostly civil officials who accompanied the emperor and prime minister on the northern expedition, the county assistants, county lieutenants, and county clerks were mostly appointed by powerful families who had sent their clansmen to the camp to surrender long before the decisive battle.

Only Linjin, a key town in Zuofengyi, was the front line of Guanzhong's resistance against the Hedong bandits, due to its location backed by the Beiluo River and bordered by the Pubanjin River to the east. The emperor issued a special appointment for it.

First, Wei Chang, the son of Wei Yanchang, was appointed as the Commandant of Zuo Fengyi, temporarily commanding 2,000 troops to guard the area. Then, Chen Zhi, the Attendant Gentleman, was appointed as the Magistrate of Linjin, and Guo Youzhi, the Attendant Gentleman, was appointed as the Prefect of Zuo Fengyi.

Wei Chang immediately led his troops to defend the city, while Chen Zhi and Guo Youzhi would take up their posts after the emperor returned to the old capital and the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors was completed.

It is understandable that Wei Chang stayed behind to guard Linjin.

First, the Wei army has suffered a major defeat and is struggling to even defend itself in the short term, making it impossible for them to organize troops to launch an attack from Hedong.

Otherwise, Sima Yi would not have directly abandoned the two important border towns of Linjin and Huayin, which directly faced the Wei Kingdom's Puban and Tongguan.

Wei Chang was promoted from a minor military officer to a high-ranking military officer with a silver seal and blue ribbon, holding a command position at Linjin, a key town directly facing the Wei army.
This was both an opportunity to give Wei Chang a chance to train on the front lines, which were not actually that dangerous, and a way to give General Zhenbei a good-faith explanation.

After all, Zhao Yun, the second most important figure in the army, had an eldest son who was a Protector of the Qiang and a second son who was a Dragon-Soaring General who protected the emperor. Wei Yan, as the third most important figure, had a son who was only a Separate Division Commander. It was a bit of an overreaction to favor one son over the other.

Wei Chang's appointment is understandable, but the appointments of Chen Zhi, the Vice Minister, as Magistrate of Linjin, and Guo Youzhi, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, as Prefect of Zuo Fengyi are quite intriguing.

Generally speaking, a Vice Minister, being a close advisor to the emperor, would be appointed as the governor of a prefecture with a salary of 2,000 shi (a unit of grain measure). If he performed well and achieved great success in his three-year term, he would be transferred to a more central location, such as Chengdu or Hanzhong, and serve another term with a salary of 2,000 shi. If he performed well and achieved great success in his term, he would then be appointed as a Chamberlain.

As the "Deputy Minister," the Attendant-in-Ordinary was tasked with assisting the emperor in making plans and governing the country. Once he was appointed to an official post outside the capital, he would, according to custom, go out with an imperial insignia to tour the four directions on behalf of the emperor.

Now, the two officials, the Vice Minister and the Attendant-in-Ordinary, have been appointed as magistrates of counties with a salary of 1,000 shi (approximately 6,000 piculs of grain) and prefects with a salary of 2,000 shi (approximately 1,000 piculs of grain), respectively. When people first see the Emperor's decree, they might think that these two close ministers of the Emperor have done something offensive to His Majesty, otherwise why would they be demoted?

But then I thought about it and realized that it didn't make sense. How could it be considered a real demotion when the emperor entrusted these two close ministers with a key border town facing the Wei army?

Really weird.

However strange it may be, since the emperor's decree had been issued, Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, who were commanding troops in the field, did not need to think too much. They simply followed the decree and immediately dispatched three or four thousand men to guard various counties.

Linjin is located thirty li directly north of Huayin. Wei Chang led two thousand troops, carrying a month's worth of provisions, from the Wei River into the Beiluo River, on their way to take up their post in Linjin.

It is unknown where he was injured, as his walking and riding postures were quite strange, as if he had been hit in the buttocks or legs by a stray arrow.

His father neither said anything kind nor saw him off.

The generals under the General of the North were all suspicious. After all, the General of the North usually doted on his eldest son, and now that he had been promoted to a new post, they should not have failed to send him off.

Once Wei Chang had disappeared from sight, the generals and officers whom Wei Chang addressed as uncles and elders urged Wei Hao, the commander of the personal guard, to inquire about the situation in Zhenbei.

It was only when the Imperial Guard returned that they learned of this.

It turned out that Wei Chang did not want to miss the historic moment of returning to the old capital with the emperor, which was destined to be recorded in history. So he went to the General of the North and begged the general to plead with the emperor to let him return to the old capital with him before he took up his post.

The General of Zhenbei refused.

First, he scolded his son severely, saying that if all those who went to war were like him, clamoring to return to the old capital with the emperor, would they still want the Guanzhong region that they had just conquered? Would they still want the world?
His son wouldn't listen and even talked back.

The gist is that you, General Zhenbei, are fortunate to return to the old capital with the Emperor. Of course, if the Emperor were to issue an edict ordering you to replace Generals Zongyu and Feng Hu to guard Huayin, or to guard Linjin for me, I would like to see what you would think.

What are the thoughts of the General Who Guards the North?

He immediately treated Wei Chang to a meal of stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork.

That's why his posture was so strange just now.

On the same day, May 17th.

The royal army returned in triumph, and the imperial banners flew westward.

The news of Wei Chang's occupation of Linjin arrived the following day.

May 18th.

Zhao Yun and Wei Yan's army spent the night at Hongmen.

The fire on the Lishan Plateau has been burning for five days and five nights and has already spread to the entire Lishan Mountain.

Hongmen is almost 20 miles from Xinfeng, the point where the fire started, which shows how powerful the fire was.

Looking into the distance, the northern foothills of Mount Li, closest to the plateau, are now a scorched black. The once lush forests have been reduced to thousands of charred trees, with withered branches pointing straight to the sky like halberds.

The raging fire, stretching for dozens of miles with no end in sight, has not yet reached the highest peak of Mount Li, but it will likely reach it soon.

The veteran, who had fought alongside the late emperor in the Battle of Xinye, the Battle of Red Cliffs, and the Battle of Yiling, recounted old stories to the young veterans with a sense of nostalgia.

May 19th.

Generals Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, Wu Ban, Chen Shi, Deng Zhi, Zhang Yi, Meng Yan, and Cuan Xi led 40,000 troops and marched west from Hongmen.

The Han emperor, who had remained in Xinfeng to handle the aftermath of the battle and comfort the wounded, knew that the army would arrive in Xinfeng today. He originally intended to order people to build an altar ten miles away to welcome the victorious army, but was dissuaded by his ministers Fei Yi, Guo Youzhi and others.

The gist of the text is that His Majesty personally led the six armies to fight the enemy in battle. Therefore, the victory in the decisive battle, the pacification of Guanzhong, the recovery of Xijing, and the restoration of the old capital were all due to the power of the Emperor and the reach of his holy strategy.

Zhao Zhendong, Wei Zhenbei, and the rest of the generals, have been fortunate to receive the Emperor's favor and establish meritorious service. How dare we accept His Majesty's welcoming ceremony in the suburbs?
I hope Your Majesty will maintain the weight of the Emperor and simply set up an altar outside the city to receive the victory.

After much deliberation, Liu Shan still ordered Fei Yi, Guo Youzhi, and others to prepare cattle and wine to reward the army and build an altar ten miles outside the city to welcome them.

morning.

Ten miles east of Xinfeng City.

The sun had just risen; it wasn't too scorching yet.

Fully armed and carrying a bow and sword, the Han emperor stood facing east on a rammed earth platform, awaiting the return of his army.

Before long, the two imperial banners led by Generals Zhao Yun and Wei Yan drew closer and closer, stopping about a hundred paces away.

Banners fluttered in the wind, and armor gleamed in the sunlight.

Liu Shan stepped down from the high platform, with the Dragon Guards surrounding the platform leading the way, followed closely by the Golden Banner of the Han Emperor, and proceeded in front of the two old banners of the late emperor.

A group of Han subjects followed.

It was about twenty paces away from the two dragon banners of the late emperor.

When the emperor's dragon banner fell silent, all the officials also stopped.

A moment later, the Han emperor, clad in full armor and a crimson robe, suddenly quickened his pace, abandoning his dragon banner and marching forward with his ministers, his steps resounding.

Seeing this situation, how could Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, Wu Ban, Chen Shi and other generals really allow the emperor to come to them in person?
Led by generals Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, dozens of officers and soldiers hurried forward and paid their respects to the emperor.

Zhao Yun spoke first: "We are fortunate to have achieved this merit through Your Majesty's divine might, and we dare not accept Your Majesty's welcoming ceremony outside the city!" Wei Yan immediately echoed.

The generals and officers echoed this sentiment.

With a bow of their heads, the image of the emperor personally leading the battle and the army surrounding him reappeared before their eyes. Everyone understood that even someone as arrogant as Wei Yan had to show some respect to this emperor who had achieved unparalleled military exploits.

Once even an unruly general like Wei Yan has won over the emperor, how could someone inferior to Wei Yan in every other aspect dare to be anything but cautious and trembling before this emperor?
This emperor has accomplished what the previous emperor could not, and it is only right that he has done so.

After a moment of silence, the emperor spoke:
"If the late emperor had not laid the foundation for my dynasty, if the generals had not commanded my army, and if the soldiers had not sacrificed their lives in the midst of the army, how could I, with my own strength, have achieved this victory?"

"Now that Guanzhong is pacified, our great Han Dynasty has recovered all the land west of Guanzhong, and is once again displaying the glorious momentum of Emperor Taizu Gaozu's conquest of the Three Qin and his ambition to conquer the east of Guanzhong. I am willing to work together with you all to jointly build up the Han Dynasty!"

"I dare to die for Your Majesty!" Zhao Yun replied.

"I dare to die for His Majesty!" Wei Yan followed.

The generals followed behind.

The emperor bestowed cattle and wine upon his generals.

After drinking, Wei Yan was the first to shout loudly:

"The great man is victorious!"

"Your Majesty is victorious!"

The generals followed closely behind.

Before long, the shouts of "Ten thousand victories!" from tens of thousands of soldiers resounded throughout Mount Li and stirred the Wei River.

May 20th.

The emperor personally led the army from Xinfeng.

On the 21st of May, we arrived in Chang'an.

North of Chang'an City.

On the banks of the Wei River.

A tall circular mound stands on the south side.

Yang Xi had already prepared offerings for the sacrifices to Heaven and his ancestors.

The emperor wore a crown with twelve tassels, a robe with twelve embroidered patterns, a leather belt with a jade hook at his waist, and red shoes and sandals on his feet, displaying the solemn demeanor of an emperor.

This is the ceremonial robe worn by the emperor when offering sacrifices at the ancestral temple. It is said to carry the sun and moon on one's shoulders and bear the stars on one's back, and it is not worn unless it is the most solemn occasion.

The emperor stepped forward, burned incense, and announced:
"On the day of Xinmao in the fifth month of the sixth year of Jianxing, the emperor of the Great Han Dynasty abdicated, and dared to solemnly announce to the Supreme God of Heaven and the Gods of Earth with a black ox."

"And we also offer sacrifices to the spirits of Emperor Taizu Gao, Emperor Shizu Guangwu, and Emperor Zhaolie."

"The Han dynasty ruled the world for countless generations. In the past, Wang Mang usurped the throne, and the imperial regalia was tarnished. Emperor Shizu, with the might of thunder, executed the treacherous villains, restored order to the world, and the state was restored."

"Now the Cao family is following suit, wantonly committing treason, destroying the Han dynasty, seizing the imperial regalia, usurping the imperial title, and poisoning the lives of the people."

"The late Emperor Zhaolie succeeded the second ancestor of Emperor Wu. He carried out the punishment of Heaven, vowed to cleanse the world and restore the glory of the Han Dynasty. Unfortunately, Heaven did not grant him a long life, and he passed away before completing his great work."

"With my meager talents and young age, I succeeded to the throne at a young age and inherited the great foundation. I was constantly worried and anxious, fearing that I would ruin the legacy of my predecessors. So I endured for five years, biding my time and preparing for war, and finally seized the opportune moment."

"Therefore, the elite troops were mobilized, the banners of the Golden Guard were raised, the drums of war shook Qishan, and the three prefectures responded; the battle raged on the Wei River, and the Wei rebels were routed."

"Thanks to the loyalty and diligence of the prime minister, his strategic planning, the bravery of the soldiers, and the utmost loyalty of the army, Guanzhong was pacified, Chang'an was finally captured, our old capital was restored, and the Han dynasty was restored to its former glory."

"The achievement of this great undertaking is not only due to the wisdom and courage of the people, but also to the divine blessing of Emperor Taizu, the virtuous protection of Emperor Shizu, the valiant will of Emperor Huangdi, and the divine favor bestowed upon the Han Dynasty by Heaven."

"Your subject stands to the north by the Wei River, and looks east towards Luoyang, swearing an oath:"

"We wish to begin in Chang'an, to continue the great foundation laid by Emperor Taizu, to carry forward the virtuous rule of Emperor Shizu, to inherit the legacy of our late father, to govern the country internally, to pacify the barbarians externally, to eliminate the traitors to the country, and to bring the common people back to civilization!"

"Now that we have announced our victory at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, we will reward the six armies. We further pray to Heaven for divine intervention and our ancestors for blessings, so that on the day we recover the Central Plains, we may build an altar again to offer sacrifices to Heaven!"
"May you accept this offering!"

The sacrificial ceremony is now complete.

The emperor boarded the carriage.

Hundreds of civil and military officials escorted the carriage as it slowly proceeded to the foot of the magnificent city of Chang'an.

When the shadow of Chang'an's city walls finally fell upon the dragon banner of the late emperor, the emperor's carriage stopped, and all the officials also came to a halt.

The Han emperor, dressed in imperial robes, stepped down from his carriage and looked up at Chang'an.

This is not my hometown.

I am even more timid when I am close to my hometown.

The prime minister also stepped down from the secondary carriage.

The jade pendant bestowed by the late emperor jingled.

Exactly twenty years ago, the late emperor visited him three times in his thatched cottage in Nanyang, consulting him on the affairs of the world.

His final answer was:
When the world changes, I will send a general to lead the Jingzhou army toward Wan and Luo, while I myself will lead the Yizhou troops out of Qin Chuan. What people would dare not welcome the general with food and drink? If this is done, then hegemony can be achieved and the Han dynasty can be restored.

The king's army has now marched out from Hanchuan.

The people welcomed them with food and drink.

A great empire can be established, and the Han dynasty can be restored.

The only regret is that the general who clapped and cheered in his thatched cottage in Longzhong still didn't get to see Chang'an, which he had fought for for half his life.

Before I knew it, my temples were frosted with gray.

The sun is still shining brightly.

The old general stood behind the emperor.

Twenty years ago, the baby in swaddling clothes in Changban, Dangyang, has grown into such a tall and imposing figure.

The late Emperor's banner, the Prince of Hanzhong, was welcomed onto the city wall.

The dragon banner of the late emperor also stood on the city tower.

A moment.

The Emperor Jinwu moved his scroll forward.

The emperor also moved forward.

The old general's eyes were filled with sand and dust.

A sense of mission accomplishment suddenly arose.

Roadside.

The people brought food and drink, lining the streets to welcome him.

The elderly man with white hair, standing at the head of the group, wept as he spoke:

"Since Cao Cao proclaimed himself Duke of Wei and Cao Pi usurped the Han throne, we thought there would be no more light for the Han dynasty!"

"I never expected to have the honor of welcoming the Emperor of Han and all his civil and military officials back to the old capital today. I know that the Han Dynasty is destined to prosper and its reign will be long!"

"The Han Dynasty shall rise!"

"May the nation enjoy a long and prosperous reign!"

The emperor paused for a moment before the gate, gently stroking the vermilion gate with his hand. Dust settled, leaving a clear handprint.

For over four hundred years since the Han Dynasty, countless emperors and generals have entered Chang'an through this gate. Perhaps Emperors Gaozu, Emperors Wen and Jing, Emperors Xiaowu and Xiaoxuan, and Emperors Guangwu and Xian all touched this gate.

Step forward.

Enter it.

An ancient and rustic atmosphere greets you.

--"when!"

A clear and melodious bell rang out, echoing across Chang'an.

Liu Shan looked up in the direction of the sound, and when his gaze fell upon the giant bronze bell cast by Emperor Xiaowu that hung on the hundred-foot-high bell tower, he was suddenly stunned.

If he remembers correctly, the day he woke up on his bed in the Chengdu palace was February 21st, and today is May 21st, which is exactly March.
-
To the tune of "Linjiangxian" - Remembering Zhao Zilong Returning to the Old Capital

The beacon fires at Dangyang startled the warhorses; silver spears pierced the enemy lines like the wind. A lone rider protected his lord, achieving a miraculous feat. The sword still stained with blood; his tiger-like courage revealed his heroism.

For twenty years, wild geese have flown past, and the infant has grown into a majestic figure. The banners of Emperor Liu Yan have spread throughout Guanzhong. Though my temples are now frosted, I have no regrets, for I still see the sun rise in the east.

(End of this chapter)