Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 229 Avoid

The commotion in Yandu had become quite significant, prompting the imperial court to send an additional two thousand troops.

"The pretense of guarding Guangling is a pretext; the real intention is to take advantage of the situation. With Liu Laozhi heading south, the court intends to strengthen its control over the Northern Army. Wang Kai has also added 5,000 troops to Jingkou!"

Yuan He is well-informed.

Liu Daogui asked in bewilderment, "Where did the imperial court get so many soldiers?"

The situation in Jiankang was also very serious. Huan Xuan was not a law-abiding person. He transferred his navy to Xinzhou to intimidate the area around Jiankang, and ordered General Huangfu Fu to lead 8,000 elite troops to guard Gushu.

"Two months ago, Wen Xiang, Zhao Yan, and other leaders of the northern refugees led 17,000 households south to seek refuge with the imperial court and were appointed as the prefect of Yingchuan."

"Wen Xiang?" Liu Daogui had heard of this person.

Wen Xiang was a member of the Wen clan, who was originally the governor of Jiangzhou. In the eleventh year of the Taiyuan era (386), Wen Xiang raised an army in Dong'e to resist Yan and stationed his troops in Jibei. He was then appointed as the governor of Jibei by the imperial court.

In the twelfth year of the Taiyuan era (387), the Northern Expedition failed, Xie Xuan was dismissed by the court, the Northern Army retreated to Pengcheng, Murong Chui took the opportunity to march south, and the prefectures of Yan, Xu and Qing surrendered without a fight. Wen Xiang was defeated by Murong Long in Jibei and fled to Pengcheng, and all 30,000 households under his command returned to the Yan state.

Unexpectedly, after lying low for several years, this man raised a band of refugees in Huaibei.

However, after Murong Chui destroyed Western Yan, he ordered Murong Long and Murong Shao's armies to be stationed on the border. Wen Xiang, intimidated by their military strength, led his troops south.

The arrival of this army of refugees gave the Sima family a much-needed boost.

Liu Daogui sneered, "At a time like this, they still have the mind to manage the Northern Prefecture. I wonder what the imperial court is thinking."

Yuan He retorted, "The Dao only knows one side of the story. Although Huan Xuan is pressing forward, he can't raise an army for the time being. At worst, the court can back down and restore the prestige his father once enjoyed. But the Northern Army is different. Thanks to defeating the demon bandits, the Liu family's power is growing stronger. Putting aside you two brothers, there are other Liu family generals like Liu Xi, Liu Xuanzhi, Liu Fan, and Liu Cui. How can the court not be wary? Don't forget how Wang Gong died..."

Indeed, a large number of Liu family generals emerged during the campaign against the demon bandits.

Following Liu Yu, Liu Daogui, and Liu Xuanzhi of the Pengcheng Liu clan, there were also Liu Fan and Liu Cui of the Peixian Liu clan, and Liu Xi of the Dongping Liu clan, who was also the younger brother of Liu Gui, a veteran general of the Northern Army.

Liu Fan was Liu Yi's third brother. He was brave and skilled in battle and was highly favored by Liu Laozhi.

Jingkou is just a stone's throw from Jiankang, and has virtually no natural defenses.

The Sima family and the Huan family were related by marriage, so there was still a possibility of compromise. At worst, they could do what they did before: let Huan Xuan, like his father Huan Wen, hold sole power in the court, thus creating a tug-of-war between them.

This is an internal matter of the aristocratic families, but who is Liu Laozhi?
A martial artist from a humble background, who had betrayed Wang Gong, naturally became a thorn in the side of the imperial court.

For defeating the demon bandits, Liu Daogui and Liu Yu at least earned the title of Attendant Gentleman of the Palace, while Liu Laozhi didn't even receive a verbal commendation...

Now that Liu Laozhi's elite troops are in Shanyin, if the court doesn't send someone to poach them now, when will it?
Sima Yuanxian was never good at governing a country; internal strife was his true talent.

If we can control the Northern Prefecture, we will have more leverage in negotiations with Huan Xuan…

For eighty years, this has been how the aristocratic families have operated. But now Liu Laozhi is an anomaly. He commands a large army, is brave and skilled in battle, and his power continues to grow. He is not even fifty years old yet. How can those aristocratic families in the court sleep at night?
Yuan He continued, "In addition to dispatching troops, the court appointed Wang Yu as the governor of Xuzhou, stationed in Guangling, and transferred Liu Gui, He Qian, Zhuge Kan, Gao Su and other troops to Jiankang to garrison Shitou, Liyang and other places."

The imperial court's intention to divide the Northern Army is now on the table.

Wang Yu was the younger brother of Wang Guobao and Wang Xu, and came from the Wang clan of Taiyuan.

The situation in Jiangzuo was turbulent, but the same few families still sat in the central government.

However, this was clearly the Sima family's last struggle and could not change the overall situation.

"So this Wang Yu is here to seize control of the enemy's military power?" Liu Daogui naturally understood the meaning behind this arrangement.

"Wang Yu and Wen Xiang are coming with great force, and there is also Gao Yazhi in Guangling City. We must not be careless."

Wen Xiang raised an army in Jibei to resist the Yan army. Although he suffered repeated defeats, he always managed to get back up. He was quite capable. Moreover, his defeat at the hands of Murong Chui does not mean that he was a good-for-nothing.

To use refugees to fight against the battle-hardened Yan army requires extraordinary courage.

These captured refugee leaders were all quite capable people.

"Then let them play, I'll just leave, okay?" Liu Daogui chuckled.

I never intended to linger in Guangling City. They were just a general in the Central Army of the Expeditionary Army. The one who should really be fighting them was Huan Hong. But when he saw that things were going badly, he ran off to Jiangling to pay respects to his ancestors...

"So, the plan is to head north to Lanling and temporarily avoid their attack?"

"Two fists can't fight four hands. I have to deal with so many of them by myself, and there's no one above to help me. Wouldn't it be a loss to stay here?"

If it were on the battlefield, even if they brought twice the number of men, Liu Daogui wouldn't be afraid.

The problem is that these people hold much higher official positions than he does.

Besides Wang Yu, Wen Xiang, and Gao Yazhi, there was also Liu Yi and Meng Chang's group lurking in Guangling. With Liu Daogui left behind, this group had a common goal: to join forces against him.

But if they leave, given their nature, they'll definitely fight like dogs...

“Hiss… You’ve been running this business in Guangling for so many years, are you really willing to let it go?” Yuan He gasped.

"Who said I'm letting go? I'm just temporarily avoiding their attacks. What's mine can't be taken away by them." Liu Daogui was already tired of dealing with these people's deceit and treachery.

It would be better to go north and have a good, bloody battle with the Hu people.

The military households in Sheyangpo and Yandu had long since formed an alliance with the salt smugglers, making them virtually impenetrable. The two places supported each other from all sides.

Yuan He nodded: "It is wise to head north at this time. Murong Long and Murong Shao are eyeing us covetously, and we do need to defend against them. Staying in Guangling would only put us at their mercy." "With Huan Hong not here, I request that you, Sima, issue a military order so that we can lead all the troops of the Expeditionary Army north together."

"Dao Ze...you want to take me with you?" Yuan He's face was full of emotion.

“If they can’t find any trouble with me, they’ll definitely make things difficult for you. Why don’t we head north together?” Liu Daogui said sincerely.

I will never forget those who have helped me.

“I appreciate your kind intentions. I have been operating in Guangling for over twenty years and have people all over the place. Why would I be afraid of them? Don’t forget, I am also a member of the gentry, the Yuan family of Runan.”

When Yuan He mentioned his family background, his face was full of pride.

During the Han, Wei, and Zhongchao periods, the so-called aristocratic families of Jiangdong, apart from the Wang family of Taiyuan, were not even considered prominent.

The Yuan family of Runan stirred up the turmoil at the end of the Han Dynasty, and their foundation was far stronger than that of the prominent families of Jiangzuo.

Moreover, he excels at navigating social situations skillfully. He has weathered so many storms and remained steadfast, which speaks volumes about his abilities.

People like Wang Yu disliked those from humble backgrounds, but they wouldn't make things difficult for Yuan He, who came from a noble family.

Liu Daogui thought for a moment and said, "It's good that you stay; you'll have an inside man."

"I, Yuan, have spent my whole life playing with eagles, and I've never had an eagle peck out my eye," Yuan He joked.

They changed their previous secretive approach.

This also shows that the relationship between the two has become closer.

"I ask that Commander Yuan look after my elder brother Liu Huaizhen and my uncle Zhao Lunzhi." Liu Daogui can leave, but the military households and the saltworkers cannot.
With the eight buildings of the initial city and the saltworks beginning to take shape, someone needed to protect them, so Liu Huaizhen and Zhao Lunzhi could not leave.

Entrusting them to Yuan He is the best option.

“It’s no big deal. Once you leave, these people will definitely cause trouble for Liu Yi.” Yuan He nodded in agreement.

With Huan Hong absent, the procedures for sending troops were as simple as could be.

Liu Daogui submitted a document, Yuan He stamped it, and that was it.

The imperial court was slow in everything it did; the news was received in early September, but by mid-October, the two thousand troops had only just arrived in Zhuli.

It would have been fine once they arrived in Zhuli, but then the spies reported that Wang Yu had actually invited a group of famous scholars to visit a Buddhist temple and pray to Heaven to exterminate the demon bandits...

Liu Daogui understood Wang Yu's behavior.

The imperial court remained the same, and the powerful clans did not change in the slightest despite the numerous crises. If the governor of Xuzhou were Wen Xiang, Liu Daogui might have been more wary, but since he was a leader of displaced people, the imperial court would certainly not trust him.

Whether these people can defeat Liu Yi in Guangling is a question.

Yuan He was one step ahead, taking more than a dozen cartloads of goods to Zhuli to curry favor with Wang Yu and actively try to build a closer relationship.

Liu Daogui couldn't help but smile wryly. He was quite gifted in this area; not everyone could bend down like that.

Yuan He's greatest strength lies in his ability to be flexible and adaptable.

Unlike other aristocratic families who were arrogant and did not mind submitting to Liu Daogui, a man from a humble background.

Gao Xun, however, looked down on him and came to warn him: "Yuan He knows our strengths and weaknesses. If he joins Wang Yu, it will be extremely dangerous. We must be careful."

“He is a smart man. He knows who is strong and who is weak, and he can see the situation clearly. The world is in chaos. The Sima, Wang, Xie and Yu families are all getting worse with each generation. They can't even take care of themselves. How can they treat him sincerely?”

Liu Daogui confidently led his men north by boat, and several female relatives, including Shen Yuehan, Shen Yuewei, and Yu Nu, also went north with them.

Shen Yuehan and Yu Nu are pregnant, and they are worried about leaving them in Guangling.

Those people fight each other without any bottom line, using every possible means, including the most underhanded and despicable methods.

It wasn't easy for the Liu family to conceive a child.

After everything was settled, Liu Yi specially sent someone to deliver a secret letter. It was the same old nonsense, about the Liu family needing to unite as one, stand together against external enemies, and work together for the king's cause. At the end of the letter, however, it was actually a request to borrow money from Liu Daogui...

"Damn it, they're even trying to borrow money from me." Liu Daogui immediately burned the letter.

He is no match for him now, but he is very good at scheming. His brother Liu Mai was originally Yin Zhongkan's clerk, but later he joined Huan Xuan and was highly valued and promoted to governor of Jingling.

His younger brother Liu Fan and cousin Liu Cui followed Liu Laozhi in fighting against the rebels, risking their lives and being highly valued.

Although he did not reach the same level of status as Liu Yu and Liu Daogui in the Northern Army, he was still a rising star.

If it weren't for these two relationships, Liu Daogui would have already taken action to get rid of Liu Yi.

However, it didn't matter if he stayed. Over the years, I gradually figured out his temperament. He was a person who was ambitious but lacked talent. He tried to change jobs several times, but without much success.

Keeping him around can keep people in the dark.

Moreover, there was no competition between the two sides. He took the route of the literati, associating with the aristocratic families, while Liu Daogui took the route of the common people, winning the hearts of the soldiers...

(End of this chapter)