Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 272 Kneeling

Liezhou.

The river flows swiftly, and the banners flutter in the wind.

The imperial army, both by land and sea, gathered here.

Liu Laozhi repeatedly issued orders strictly prohibiting any battles. It wasn't until Huan Xuan led his troops south quickly and captured Xunyang first, facing Liezhou, that the morale of the Northern Army began to waver.

"Huan Xuan's army has come from afar and is not yet firmly established. They are arrogant and overconfident. This humble general is willing to lead my troops to launch a surprise attack on Xunyang. With the commander-in-chief leading the main army behind, we will surely be able to break through the Western Prefecture!"

Liu Yu is now a highly sought-after and powerful general in the Northern Army, enjoying immense prestige.

They always managed to defeat the enemy with fewer troops, and were invincible.

The imperial army's strength far surpasses that of the Western Army, and it also has the elite troops of the Northern Army, as well as fierce generals like Liu Laozhi, giving it a very high chance of victory.

In the Battle of Luojian back then, Liu Laozhi's 5,000 men dared to cross the river and attack the 50,000-strong Di-Qin army.

Huan Xuan chose Xunyang, hanging the sword over the court's head, but also exposing himself to the Northern Army's might.

It can be said that as long as Liu Laozhi nodded, all the armies of the Northern Army would advance together, and Huan Xuan would surely be defeated.

"Why should we break through the Western Prefecture?" Liu Laozhi stared intently at Liu Yu, then waved his hand, and the surrounding officers and soldiers all withdrew from the central command tent.

Only Liu Jingxuan remained.

Liu Jingxuan said, “Huan Xuan is like Dong Zhuo. He will surely bring chaos to the court. Father is an important general of the country and has been entrusted by the court. He should do his duty to the people. If Huan Xuan is not restrained, the chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty will be repeated.”

"How could I not know this principle? The imperial court, the Western Prefecture, and the Northern Prefecture are in a tripartite balance of power. If the Western Prefecture falls, do you think those powerful families in the court will tolerate us? Sima Yuan will surely strip me of my military power!" Liu Laozhi rebuked.

Having been in this business for so many years, I certainly know how ruthless it is.

The imperial court would not tolerate him, nor would the Huan family of the Western Prefecture.
Liu Yu said, "The Commander-in-Chief commands 20,000 elite troops, and the generals of the Northern Army follow his lead without question. Why should the Western Army and the Imperial Court accommodate him?"

This is the biggest difference between the two.

Between the Northern and Western courts, the Northern army was actually the strongest, so it didn't need to rely on anyone or be accommodated by anyone.

These words startled Liu Laozhi, who stared at Liu Yu in surprise. "You—"

A glint of light flashed in Liu Yu's eyes. "If you defeat Huan Xuan, you will be able to shake the world. When you lead your troops to the capital and restore the nation, who will dare to utter a single word of dissent? Wealth and honor can be obtained by yourself. Why should you need others' charity? The survival of Jiangzuo depends on this battle, and the rise and fall of the Liu family of Pengcheng also rests on your decision!"

Having reached Liu Laozhi's point, it was no longer possible for him to live under someone else's roof; he had to step forward, even if he didn't want to.

The troops at one's disposal are the greatest guarantee.

Having won this battle, the Northern Army will be unstoppable, and Liu Laozhi's prestige will soar, making it unnecessary for him to waste words with the imperial court.

However, Liu Laozhi's expression was uncertain, and he couldn't make up his mind.

Both father and son were generals of the Xie family. From a young age, they looked up to and admired the aristocratic families. While they were brave and fearless on the battlefield, they were always hesitant and cautious in the struggle for power.

"Let me think about it for a moment." Liu Laozhi chose to wait and see.

"Father, what are you still worried about? You betrayed Wang Gong back then, which gave people ammunition to criticize you. You did not come to the aid of Jingkou when it was in trouble, and you have lost the hearts of the people. If we sit idly by and watch Huan Xuan take over Jiankang, what will the people of the world think of my father and me?"

Only Liu Jingxuan would dare to say such things to someone's face.

Liu Laozhi's face turned ashen. "How dare you!"

This outburst of anger caused the wind and clouds to change color, and the atmosphere in the tent suddenly turned cold.

Liu Laozhi was a fierce general, with over a decade of accumulated prestige.

Liu Jingxuan's expression changed immediately, and he dared not offer any further advice.

Liu Yu, however, remained unmoved. "This opportunity is fleeting, Commander—"

"General, an old friend requests an audience." At this moment, the report from the personal guard outside the tent interrupted Liu Yu's words.

Liu Laozhi's spirits lifted, as if he had been waiting for this person for a long time, and he immediately said, "Summon him!"

"Hahaha, it's been many years since we parted ways in Pengcheng. The Commander-in-Chief is still as majestic as ever, I'm so envious." His voice arrived before he did.

Liu Laozhi rose from his command seat to greet him, "So it's Brother He, how have you been?"

The curtain was lifted, revealing He Mu, who glanced at Liu Yu and smiled without saying a word.

Liu Yu bowed to Liu Laozhi and withdrew from the tent. In September, the Jiangzuo region was already chilly; the river rippled, and the warships rocked gently.

The soldiers had no will to fight and were in a daze; even the flags were swaying weakly from side to side.

The troops set out in June and camped here for more than two months, but their morale had been completely exhausted.

Even if they were to fight now, the outcome would be unpredictable.

"How is it?" Sun Wuzhong, Liu Xi, He Wuji and the others waited for a long time.

Having repeatedly defeated the rebels and secured Jingkou, Liu Yu had become the second most powerful man in the Northern Army, and his standing among the soldiers was actually no less than that of Liu Lao.

However, Liu Laozhi was the Northern Commander-in-Chief, wielding the power of life and death, and his prestige over the years could not be surpassed in a short time.

Liu Yu said, "Jingzhou has sent a persuader."

Sun Wuzhong said, "The Commander-in-Chief is always easily swayed and cannot resist the temptations of others. If Huan Xuan offers him a generous gift, the Commander-in-Chief will surely betray the court. Why don't we join forces and launch a surprise attack on Xunyang, setting up an impasse? Then the two sides will naturally be unable to negotiate..."

He Wuji shook his head, "This is not advisable. The combined forces of all of you are less than 10,000. Huan Xuan personally leads 40,000 elite troops from the Western Prefecture, with numerous fierce generals under his command and fortified cities as a defense. This expedition is bound to fail."

Sun Wuzhong's troops suffered heavy losses during the campaign against the demon bandits and have yet to recover.

Liu Yu only had four thousand soldiers under his command.

If it's open field battle, then we have nothing to fear, but attacking a city is a different story.

Moreover, Liu Laozhi stationed the Northern Army on Liezhou Island precisely because he feared that some might disobey orders and launch unauthorized attacks.

As everyone was discussing the matter, the sound of war drums suddenly came from the west.

On the surface of the Yangtze River, warships of all sizes were densely packed together, including more than twenty tower ships. The raised barbs of the crossbows resembled the bared fangs of wild beasts, and heavy crossbows were pointed eastward.

There are no fewer than four or five hundred other warships, fighting ships, and flying eagles.

The imperial navy seemed like children in their presence.

On the north bank, a cavalry force of two thousand men kicked up a huge cloud of dust, resembling a long dragon.

Following the cavalry, banners filled the sky, and armor gleamed in the sun.

A force of forty to fifty thousand infantrymen, divided into four formations—front, back, left, and right—marched eastward with great fanfare.

As if to intimidate the Northern Army, their shouts grew louder and louder.

Liu Laozhi hesitated and remained indecisive, but Huan Xuan did not. While sending He Mu to persuade him, Huan Xuan had already dispatched his general Feng Gai to attack Sima Shangzhi in Liyang.

Liu Laozhi's concentration of the Northern Army on Liezhou Island turned out to be a self-inflicted wound, as the Jingzhou navy blocked his way, and he was too late to send reinforcements to Liyang.

Without the protection of the Northern Army, Sima Shangzhi would be no match for Huan Xuan.

"I'll try to persuade my uncle again. If Huan Xuan gains power, how could he tolerate my Northern Army? Before the expedition, the Prince of Langya showed me immense kindness, which I cannot betray..."

He Wuji was a graduate of the Imperial Academy and was highly regarded by Sima Yuanxian.

Sima Yuanxian enfeoffed his son Sima Yanzhang as the King of Donghai, and appointed He Wuji as the Commandant of Donghai State, with the additional title of General Guangwu.

This favor was no less than that of the noble among the Northern Army.

After Gao Ya suffered a series of defeats, Sima Yuanxian had no choice but to look for a new candidate.

“There’s no need to persuade him anymore. Father has already… surrendered to Huan Xuan…” Hou Zhongjun’s tent flap was lifted, and Liu Jingxuan looked at everyone with a face full of shame.

"To submit" is a euphemism, meant to save face for Liu Laozhi.

This wasn't the first time Liu Laozhi had betrayed someone.

"The outcome is decided." Liu Yu's face remained calm, as if he had long anticipated this result.

"Governor!" Sun Wuzhong shouted.

It would have been one thing if Liu Laozhi had surrendered himself, but he implicated the other generals of the Northern Army.

"This is severing ties with the Northern Army and with the world!" Liu Xi turned and left.

The curtain of the central command tent twitched, but ultimately remained closed...

(End of this chapter)