Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 394 The Great Wei's Number One Divine General is No Mere empty title
After appointing Changsun Zhi as the garrison commander of Luoyang and Hou Jing to guard Jinyong City, Li Shuang led his army away from Luoyang and returned to Guanzhong, arriving at Chang'an, the city he was most loyal to.

Compared to Luoyang, Chang'an was just an earthen city.

This is not meant to be derogatory, but rather a fact.

Located at the confluence of the Grand Canal in the Central Plains, Luoyang not only facilitated the accumulation of money and grain, but also other resources from various prefectures and counties in the Central Plains. Imperial palaces and residences of high-ranking officials widely utilized building materials such as bricks, tiles, and massive timbers.

The situation in Guanzhong was different, as the Sanmenxia Gorge made canal transport difficult.

From the very beginning of the construction of Chang'an, the most frequently used material was earth.

Rammed earth was used to build the city!
Compared to Luoyang, Chang'an was much smaller in scale.

At its peak, Luoyang had a population of 700,000 and more than 200 wards. In contrast, Chang'an today has a population of just over 100,000 and only about 20 wards.

However, being small has its advantages; a small city requires far less supplies.

After returning to Chang'an, Li Shuang spent the morning with his family at the Prince of Qin's residence before heading to the Xingtai Mansion in the afternoon.

Su Chuo and his staff were already waiting.

Compared to technical officials like Li Daoyuan and Jia Sixie, Su Chuo, the de facto ruler of the Xingtai government, had a greater grasp of the overall situation.

Su Chuo was overjoyed. His joy was not without reason.

Since Li Shuang led his army to defeat the Erzhu clan last year and occupied Luoyang, the lands of Hebei, Henan, Qi, and Ju have submitted to him.

Not only did Li Shuang's military expenses for advancing into Luoyang balance out, the three major granaries in Guanzhong also received 500,000 shi of grain transported from Luoyang in recent days.

In addition, Guanzhong has attracted a large population, with its population now reaching one million.

Therefore, after meeting Li Shuang, Su Chuo proposed many radical expansion policies to Li Shuang.

The most important task was to expand Chang'an City.

The city of Chang'an was continuously expanded northward and eastward, eventually becoming a large city capable of accommodating 400,000 people. Furthermore, the Qin Prince's residence had become too small, necessitating the selection of a site to build a magnificent palace.

It's clear that this is heading towards Li Shuang becoming emperor.

However, Li Shuang still declined.

Unlike the atmosphere in Luoyang, Guanzhong is known for its martial spirit.

This was especially true after the implementation of the Fubing system.

Basically, every household in the Guanzhong military region practiced archery. This was inseparable from the promotion of the longbow.

Unlike the horn bow, which has a complex manufacturing process and takes a long time to make, the longbow used by the soldiers was made from readily available materials and took very little time to make.

Horsemanship training requires horses, but not every soldier can afford to buy and keep one. However, archery is easy to train, and the low price of longbows ensures that almost every soldier can have one.

Therefore, not every soldier in Guanzhong was a good knight, but almost every one of them was an excellent archer.

On the battlefield, during battles, the simultaneous firing of thousands of arrows was not just a figment of imagination, but a common phenomenon when armies in Guanzhong fought against the enemy.

The implementation of the Fubing system not only gave Li Shuang a powerful main force, but more importantly, it saved him from spending a lot of money and food to support it.

The soldiers of the garrison usually farmed, and during the off-season, they would be organized and trained by the military garrisons in various places.

Those who held honors became professional soldiers.

They didn't need the Tian Ce Mansion to provide their equipment; they prepared everything themselves.

Therefore, Guanzhong not only gained a lot of war benefits, but also saved a lot of military expenditures. In addition, the implementation of the equal-field system could generate a large surplus.

The millions of shi of grain stored in the three major granaries in Guanzhong, the 300,000 bolts of cloth and silk in the Chang'an treasury, and the millions of cattle, sheep, horses, and camels raised in pastures and pens across the country—the accumulation of these resources gave Su Chuo and his subordinates confidence.

The weight of the tripod is something that can be inquired about!
Li Shuang's response to this was:
"It's not enough!"

The officials were puzzled, and Li Shuang did not offer much explanation.

A great catastrophe is about to occur!
At that time, the entire Guanzhong Plain and even the whole country will be affected.

Disasters such as drought, plague, and famine will befall humanity, lasting for several years, and their negative effects will impact the next few decades.

There will be no summer all year round, yellow dust will obscure the sun, snow will fall in June, droughts and floods will alternate, plagues will rage, and scenes of people exchanging children to eat will appear.

The same situation occurred in both the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

The death of one person is a number, the death of hundreds of thousands or millions is also a number, and no one can stop it.

Extreme weather can cause agricultural collapse and complete crop failure.

This is the biggest crisis.

Guanzhong will also be a severely affected area, and it will take at least three years to recover.

Thinking of this scene and looking at the reserves in the treasury, Li Shuang felt a sense of urgency.

Li Shuang rejected the radical expansionist policies proposed by Su Chuo and others, opting instead for a more conservative approach.

Prepare for war, prepare for famine!
Li Shuang halted a series of expansion projects planned for Chang'an City and devoted the surplus manpower to the construction of large-scale water conservancy and military projects.

At the same time, the reserves in the government treasury were increased, and the reserves of materials such as millet, rice, beans, cloth, silk, firewood, charcoal, medicinal materials, tea, timber, iron, and copper were increased.
In addition, orders were issued to manufacture military equipment such as armor, arrows, bows, crossbows, knives, spears, and shields at full capacity, and to vigorously train new artisans to increase their numbers.
Finally, the focus is on managing ranches in various regions.

The more chaotic the situation, the more important the horses become.

Li Shuang increased investment in existing ranches to ensure that the Guanzhong army would have enough horses for combat should war break out.

Before his ministers, Li Shuang issued a series of policies.

"By the order of this king, in Chang'an City, from this king down, no woman in the inner palace shall wear gold or jade ornaments; those who violate this rule shall be severely punished."

"promise!"

"By the teachings of this king, officials of all prefectures and counties in Guannei Circuit, Longyou Circuit, and Hedong Circuit shall prohibit licentious worship and focus on grain storage."

"promise!"

"By order of the King, proclaim to all the soldiers under heaven that, starting this year, each soldier must prepare enough rations for three years for his family, to be checked by the local military authorities!"

"promise!"

……

The officials in the Xingtai government saw the many policies promulgated by Li Shuang, but none of them had any objections.

They only had one idea!
Is this preparation to destroy Liang?
……

The Qin King's teachings, which Li Shuang sent from Chang'an, spread throughout the Central Plains. Not only did everyone in the Northern Wei think this way, but the entire Southern Liang also thought so.

For a time, the atmosphere in Jiankang City was very tense.

After returning to Chang'an from Luoyang, the King of Qin in the north issued an order to stockpile a large amount of supplies.

In large-scale military operations, the enemy often gains prior knowledge.

Because actions such as the requisition of provisions, scouting, and troop movements all leave clues and cannot be concealed.

Li Shuang ordered the local militias in the Central Plains to store grain, wasn't that all for the purpose of his southern expedition?

Since Xiao Yan learned that Li Shuang had defeated the Erzhu clan and entered Luoyang, he has been spending more time in the Taicheng Palace than before, dealing with government affairs.

Upon learning this news, Xiao Yan summoned his key ministers to discuss and formulate various military contingency plans.

In the end, the ministers concluded that the defense line along the Yangtze and Huai Rivers still needed to be strengthened.

Compared to the Jianghuai defense line, the other key defensive positions in Nanliang are much more secure.

The key defensive points of the Jingxiang line were the cities of Xiangyang and Fancheng. However, Xiangyang's unique terrain ensured that the Wei army, lacking a navy, would absolutely not be able to cross the Han River. Moreover, the Liang army had already recaptured Xinye and established forward outposts, so Xiangyang would immediately be aware of any movement by the Wei army. Furthermore, Nanyang had already been devastated. Even if the Wei army wanted to attack Xiangyang and Fancheng, it would lack sufficient logistical support.

As for the Sichuan and Chongqing region, with the natural barrier of Jiange Pass, there is no need to worry. Guanzhong has not sent any reinforcements to Hanzhong so far, and Li Shengui, the Prince of Chenliu stationed in Hanzhong, has less than 10,000 men under his command. Under normal circumstances, such a small force would not be able to take Jiange Pass.

Furthermore, the route from Guanzhong to Bashu is fraught with towering mountains and difficult-to-traverse plank roads, making logistical transport even more challenging. It is unlikely that the army in Guanzhong would make this their main attack direction.

The situation was different for the Jianghuai defense line.

Through the Central Plains water system, Li Shuang could mobilize a large amount of grain and troops, gathering tens of thousands of soldiers to launch a war of annihilation against the Southern Liang.

Because waterway transportation can be relied upon, the costs of logistics, transportation, and labor conscription will be greatly reduced.

Attacking from this direction has the lowest cost, allows for the mobilization of the most troops, and yields the most significant results.

Behind the Jianghuai defense line lies Jiankang, the capital of Southern Liang. Once the Jianghuai defense line is breached, Southern Liang faces the crisis of annihilation.

When Tuoba Tao rode his horse across the Yangtze River, although he ultimately failed to cross it, it greatly weakened the Liu Song dynasty and sowed the seeds of its downfall.

This left a deep impression on the officials and nobles of the Southern Dynasty.

We must absolutely not allow the northern army to reach the Yangtze River again, otherwise, Southern Liang will face a major crisis.

Xiao Yan generally agreed with the conclusions of his senior officials, but some concerns remained. He looked at his favorite minister, Zhu Yi, and asked:
"How's it going in Hanzhong?"

Jiange was a strategic point, as was Xiangyang, but Xiao Yan never worried about the gains or losses of Xiangyang.

Xiangyang was not only the place where Xiao Yan rose to power, but also a heavily fortified stronghold of the Southern Liang army, making it as impregnable as a fortress.

Sword Pavilion, however, is different.

To defend Sichuan and Chongqing, one must first defend Hanzhong.

Having lost Hanzhong, Bashu was no longer as secure as Jingzhou and Xiangyang. For two hundred years, Bashu was in chaos, and most of the people fled their homes to avoid the war, leaving the cities of Shu deserted. Moreover, the Yi, Di, and Liao peoples frequently rebelled and invaded Bashu, making it difficult for the government to implement its policies.

If the north is in chaos, then there is no need to worry too much for the time being.

However, the current situation necessitates adjustments by the Jiankang court regarding the Bashu region.

Zhu Yi cupped his hands and said:
“Li Shengui has not accomplished much in Hanzhong over the years. A few days ago, a scout reported that he still spends his days in the entertainment district, entrusting military and political affairs to Heba Yun and others.”

The Southern Liang dynasty had spies stationed in Hanzhong.

The existence of these informants ensured that Southern Liang received the latest news about the Prince of Chenliu every month.

The conclusion was that this Prince of Chenliu was completely hopeless.

With the addition of troops and supplies in Hanzhong, the Liang army had little defense against Li Shenggui's army.

Xiao Yan was still somewhat uneasy about this.

"It's time to send people to Sichuan and Chongqing to reorganize things."

After some thought, Xiao Yan came up with a candidate.

"Summon Prince Xiao Ji of Wuling to the capital!"

……

Jiange!

Li Shengui, clad in armor, led a force of less than ten thousand soldiers to occupy the most strategic pass in the Sichuan-Chongqing region.

Standing beside him was Han Ling.

Gazing at the towering peaks outside Jian Ge, Li Shengui couldn't help but sigh:
"Back then, Zhong Hui led an army of 200,000, but was blocked here by Jiang Wei and could not cross the pass. In the end, Deng Ai gained the upper hand. Now it seems that Zhong Hui is also behind me!"

At this moment, Li Shenggui was very pleased with himself, completely forgetting that without an inside traitor, he would never have been able to get here.

The garrison commander of Nanliang approached, his face pale and devoid of any joy.

Li Shengui patted him on the shoulder and said:

"Rest assured, I have already informed the King of Qin that the official position and wealth I promised you will not be lacking."

The garrison commander cupped his hands and said:
"This humble general offers up this pass not for official position or money."

Li Shengui listened, somewhat puzzled, and asked:
"Why is that?"

"The royal family of Liang is corrupt and lawless, tyrannical, and preys on the people. My family has also suffered greatly as a result. However, the law is not upheld, and these members of the royal family who have committed heinous crimes have all been pardoned. Where is justice?!"

Even now, the resentment on the garrison commander's face was still hard to erase.

Upon hearing this, Han Ling's expression turned serious, and he said:
Where is your enemy?

"Right in Chengdu!"

Han Ling nodded and said:

"In that case, the Prince of Chenliu will avenge you!"

Upon hearing this, the garrison commander's face lit up with excitement, and he cupped his hands in greeting:
"Thank you, Prince of Chenliu!"

Seeing this situation, Li Shenggui felt somewhat embarrassed.

"It's alright, there's no need for that!"

After the garrison commander left, Li Shengui looked at Han Ling and hurriedly asked:

"Why am I the one avenging him? What does this have to do with me!"

Han Ling smiled upon hearing Li Shengui's words.

"Does this mean the Prince of Chenliu's journey ends at Jiange?"

Li Shengui was taken aback and asked in return:
"But didn't Your Majesty say we should stop while we're ahead? We've already accomplished a great feat by capturing Jiange. From now on, the Liang army will have no more defensible positions for us."

Han Ling shook his head and said:

“I never imagined that the laws and regulations in the Bashu region would be so lax. This is a godsend! Now the Liao people are constantly invading Bashu, and the Shu people are fleeing their homes. The Liang army's discipline is lax, and this is the time to wage war. If we miss this opportunity, Jiankang will send people to reorganize the region and win back the hearts of the people. With our small force, it will be difficult for us to march south again.”

Li Shenggui listened thoughtfully. But in the end, he still felt some resistance.

"But we have less than ten thousand men. If we are to seize Bashu, what if we are defeated if we are not careful?"

Han Ling looked at Li Shengui and said:

"The name of the Prince of Chenliu will be fully realized in this battle. If he could take Chengdu with only a few thousand soldiers, not only would Zhong Hui be no match for him, but even ancient generals like Deng Ai and Huan Wen would be insignificant to him!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shenggui felt a surge of pride and patriotism.

"I'll listen to you, sir!"

After saying that, Li Shenggui asked another question:
"What to do?"

Han Ling pondered for a moment, then said:

"The news of the change of hands at Jian Ge should be spread to Bashu. Along the way, we need to rely on the reputation of Chenliu Wang as the number one general of the Great Wei to appease the people."

Li Shengui burst into laughter and said:

"Mere empty fame is not worth mentioning! If we win this battle, everyone will know who is the King's number one general!"

……

(End of this chapter)