Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 273

On the banks of the Si River, the winds and clouds are churning.

The southeast wind from Jiangzuo blows to Huai and Si.

"Liu Laozhi surrendered, Sima Shangzhi suffered a great defeat, and Sima Yuanxian led his army to retreat to Jiankang. Who would have thought that the emperor would issue an edict to surrender!" Gao Xun read the news from Jiangdong.

Liu Zun asked in bewilderment, "How can the emperor, who cannot speak or wear clothes, issue an edict?"

"Don't forget, there is also General Wei and Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Sima Dewen, who has long disliked Sima Yuanxian's arrogance."

Emperor Sima Dezong was unable to take care of himself and relied entirely on his younger brother for care.

If Sima Yuanxian hadn't intervened, the title of Prince of Langya should have belonged to Sima Dewen, and perhaps even the future emperor's throne.

If Sima Yuanxian defeats Huan Xuan, his next step will definitely be to depose the emperor and establish himself as emperor.

Even Sima Dewen would be kicked away.

Even when they were at their wits' end, the Sima family did not forget about internal strife.

The emperor issued an edict to surrender, and the gates of Jiankang were opened wide. Sima Yuanxian's troops collapsed on their own, and Huan Xuan's army entered the city without bloodshed, enumerating the crimes of Sima Daozi, the Prince of Kuaiji, and his son Sima Yuanxian.

He was handed over to the Court of Justice and imprisoned for questioning.

Also impeached were Yu Kai, Sima Shangzhi, and over three hundred former subordinates of Sima Yuanxian and his son.

Subsequently, Huan Xuan appointed himself Grand Commandant, General Who Pacifies the West, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of the Central and Foreign Regions, Governor of Yangzhou, and Governor of Yuzhou. He was given the imperial robes and green ribbons, and his guards were increased to sixty. He was allowed to wear swords and shoes in the palace, and was not required to hasten his steps when entering the court. He was also allowed to present memorials without naming his name.

He was much more decisive than his father, Huan Wen, and seized everything the powerful ministers had in one go.

Then Huan Wei was appointed as the governor of Jingzhou, Huan Xiu as the governor of Xu and Yanzhou, Huan Hong as the governor of Qingzhou, Huan Shisheng as the governor of Jiangzhou, Bian Fanzhi as the prefect of Danyang, and Huan Qian as the left vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel. All the important positions, both inside and outside the capital, were promoted by members of the Huan family.

"He's not even going to offer anyone a drop of soup." Liu Daogui looked at the intelligence report and couldn't help but sneer.

Yanzhou was practically his own territory, yet Huan Xuan didn't even bother to greet him, completely disregarding him.

“If Huan Xuan were to rectify the internal and external affairs, he would surely target the general.” Dai Qizhi stroked his long beard.

Back then, when Huan Wen held great power, he at least put on a show, making three gifts and three concessions, establishing military merit through the Northern Expedition, and then slowly plotting his next move.

Huan Xuan, on the other hand, immediately equipped himself with the "three essentials of a powerful minister": "sword and shoes in the palace, no need to hasten entering the court, and no need to name his subject when presenting memorials."

"In your opinion, can our army stop Huan Xuan?" Liu Daogui was hoping to recuperate for a few years, but he didn't expect the storm to come so quickly.

Dai Qizhi's eyes flashed. "Now that Liu Laozhi has surrendered, Huan Xuan controls both the Northern and Western armies, with no less than 60,000 elite troops and tens of thousands of elite naval forces. General, you have only held Yanzhou for less than three years, your foundation is too shallow, and your elite forces number no more than 10,000..."

If there were only Huan Xuan, Liu Daogui could still hold him off if he tried his best.

However, Liu Laozhi surrendered too quickly, and Huan Xuan suffered virtually no losses.

Liu Daogui now faces three forces: the imperial court, the Northern Army, and the Western Army...

Given Huan Xuan's personality, he certainly wouldn't tolerate him.

"Let the water come, let the earth block it; let the soldiers come, let the generals block it; what's there to be afraid of!" Liu Zun glared, his face displaying the temperament of a brute.

Gao Xun said, "Things haven't reached that point yet. With Liu Laozhi and the generals of the Northern Army holding the line, we can wait and see how things develop."

Two tigers cannot share one mountain; the generals of the Northern Army were the real thorn in Huan Xuan's side.

Dai Qi said, "If the general wants to protect himself, there is a way. He can submit a memorial to the court and persuade the Sima family to abdicate in favor of Huan Xuan. Huan Xuan will surely be lenient towards him for his service in supporting the emperor."

Huan Xuan's ambition to usurp the throne was common knowledge.

Liu Daogui said sternly, "This is a terrible idea. If I accept this petition, how will I ever face anyone again? A true man knows what he should and shouldn't do!"

Even if he submitted a memorial, Huan Xuan would not let him off easily.

Unless he gives up everything he has gained, relinquishes his military power, and enters Jiankang alone.

“That’s right. You kneel down before even fighting. Wouldn’t that make you a laughingstock? So what if it’s the Western Prefecture or the Northern Prefecture? We are the Liu family of Pengcheng. The Northern Prefecture is ours. You’re a spineless brat. We’re not easily intimidated.”

Liu Zun reached out and patted Dai Qizhi on the shoulder.

Dai Qizhi smiled bitterly, "Even Liu Laozhi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army, knelt down. How can we possibly be stronger than him..."

These words silenced everyone.

Liu Laozhi's surrender without a fight not only harmed the Sima family but also all the generals of the Northern Army, and greatly affected their morale.

With his strength and prestige, and holding the power of the Northern Army, he could easily form his own faction and rival Huan Xuan and Sima Yuanxian.

No one expected that he would kneel down like that...

"What did you just say?" Liu Daogui looked at Liu Zun, a thought suddenly flashing through his mind.

Liu Zun was taken aback, scratching the back of his head. "Kneeling before even fighting, wouldn't that make us a laughingstock..."

"That's not it."

"We are the Liu family of Pengcheng, and the Northern Prefecture belongs to us..."

"Excellent!" Liu Daogui clapped his hands in praise.

He was still wearing the title of Prefect of Pengcheng on his person.

Kneeling before a man like Huan Xuan is useless; it will only earn you his sword. Instead, you should teach him a lesson and show him his place.

"What do you want to do?" Liu Zun was completely bewildered.

"Strike first to gain the upper hand! Issue the order: assemble the army and march south to Pengcheng with me!"

Liu Daogui slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

Pengcheng was the capital of Huaibei, equivalent to Xiangyang in the western part of the prefecture. It was rich in money and grain, and had a population of no less than 200,000.

As the Prefect of Pengcheng and a member of the Liu clan of Pengcheng, it was only natural for Liu Daogui to return to his hometown.

Secondly, Pengcheng is the fortified city north of the Huai River, known as the key to the north and the gateway to the south, and has been a strategic location fought over by military strategists since ancient times.

Once we capture this city, we will have nothing to fear, even if Huan Xuan brings the entire nation.

"Hahaha, it should have been done long ago!" Liu Zun laughed.

Within two days, troops arrived from various prefectures.

This southward march is not for attacking cities, but mainly to boost morale, so we don't need so many troops.

There were only cavalry and two schools of armored soldiers.

In the past two years, they have had plenty of food, and they are all broad-shouldered and burly, extremely strong, and their weapons and armor are all of excellent quality.

Even the warhorse he rode was exceptionally strong.

The people of Jin were significantly taller and stronger than the Hu people. During the Han Dynasty, one Han man could fight against five Hu people. Liu Daogui felt that his troops could also fight against three Hu people.

Just as he was about to give the order, Shen Qingzhi came running up, saying, "General, Liu, the registrar of Langya, requests an audience."

"Brother Liu has arrived! Please come in quickly." Liu Daogui was overjoyed; Liu Muzhi was much more reliable than Dai Qizhi.

Every inch has its shortcomings, and every foot has its strengths. Dai Qizhi was skilled in intrigue and scheming, but lacked foresight and was not adept at open strategies.

Several fast horses galloped in from the east, and the leader was none other than Liu Muzhi.

When he reached Liu Daogui, he whispered, "General, you must not occupy Pengcheng at this time."

They immediately poured cold water on our enthusiasm. "Why?"

“With Commander Liu still alive, if Huan Xuan orders Commander Liu to lead the Northern Army to attack, how will you, General, handle the situation?” Liu Muzhi’s words revealed the crux of the matter.

Liu Laozhi was a competent dog; give him a bone, and he'd bite anyone he could get his hands on.

If he were to lead his 20,000 elite troops to attack, even if I could hold them off, I would certainly suffer heavy casualties.

Huan Xuan gained the upper hand at every step in this battle, which must have been due to the presence of a capable strategist.

Any scheme to use one wolf to devour another can be unbearable for one.

Pengcheng is Liu Laozhi's territory, and he has many disciples, former officials, fellow villagers, and relatives. It is possible that they could cooperate from within and without.

Gao Xun said, "Without Pengcheng, the Huai and Si rivers would have no natural defenses."

Liu Muzhi said, "Can we hold the Huai and Si Rivers just by taking Pengcheng? Huan Xuan is now holding the emperor hostage and using him to command the four directions. As soon as the imperial edict is issued, the morale of the army will immediately be shaken."

Liu Daogui was the Jianwei General of the Jin Dynasty, who could control a region and disobey military orders. However, with the imperial army attacking, some people would certainly have doubts.

The core of Jianwei Central Army is actually the former Zheng Lu Central Army and military households.

During the two Jin dynasties, spanning two hundred years, the concept of righteousness and morality was deeply ingrained in people's hearts and irreplaceable.

This was Huan Xuan's biggest bargaining chip.

Liu Zun shouted anxiously, "Are we just going to sit here and wait to die? Huan Xuan will definitely come after us!"

Liu Muzhi, however, said calmly, "If Huan Xuan wants to deal with you, he must at least get rid of Liu Laozhi first. If Liu Laozhi is dead, you can enter Pengcheng legitimately and take his troops under your command."

"If it weren't for Brother Liu's guidance, I would have made a mistake!" Liu Daogui bowed sincerely.

The idea was right, but the timing was wrong.

Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; the same applies to establishing a separatist regime—it requires careful attention to timing and intensity.

Liu Muzhi quickly returned the salute, saying, "If Liu Laozhi dies, the generals of the Northern Prefecture of Jingkou will surely be implicated. General, you only need to observe the situation and you can win over the hearts of the people."

"My elder brother is currently the Jianwu General and is still in Jingkou. Will he be implicated?" Liu Daogui worried about Liu Yu.

These days, if you want to rise to prominence, you can't do it alone; you need the help of your family or clan.

The two brothers, one in the south and one in the north, are essentially of the same blood and lineage.

"If the general remains inactive, General Jianwu can rest easy in the south. The rebels have not been eliminated and are still useful to Huan Xuan. The Jin dynasty is terminally ill. Huan Xuan may seize the opportunity to enter Jiankang, but he may not be able to hold onto the throne. The general should wait and see."

Huan Xuan replaced Sima Yuanxian, and the mess that was once the Jin dynasty fell to him.

It is still unclear who will win.

Liu Muzhi's words enlightened Liu Daogui, who realized that in the current situation, it was better to remain still than to take any action.

The one who should be worried is not myself.

They immediately disbanded their forces and sent spies to Jiankang to continue observing how the situation developed.

Soon, Huan Xuan revealed his true colors, killing over five hundred people, including Sima Daozi, Sima Yuanxian, Yu Kai, and Sima Shangzhi.

After eliminating Sima Daozi and his son, Huan Qian and Bian Fanzhi were left to garrison Jiankang. Huan Xuan made a show of resigning from his post as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and, following his father's example, was appointed to govern Gushu.

Huan Wen forced the court to grant him the Nine Bestowments, and he was stationed in Gushu, but he died of old age without ever receiving them.

A few days later, Liu Huaisu delivered a letter from Liu Yu, who surprisingly shared the same thoughts as Liu Muzhi, advising Liu Daogui not to act rashly.

"The Northern Prefecture is still intact, and Huan Xuan has not dared to make any rash moves. Just ten days ago, he summoned me to the prefecture, showing great favor. Moreover, with Wang Zhongshu secretly protecting me, the evil thief has been dormant for over a year and is about to make a comeback. There is no need to worry too much about the situation in Jiangzuo. You can strengthen your troops and prepare for the changing times..."

My elder brother Liu Yu didn't like reading, and his handwriting was really quite terrible, but his words were full of genuine feelings.

With this letter from him, Liu Daogui felt much more at ease.

Huan Xuan was no fool. The Northern Army's military power was dispersed, making it difficult to capture them all at once. Taking action rashly would only provoke a mutiny.

When the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up.

Liu Laozhi is the tallest and has the greatest prestige; we should look for him.

Sure enough, just three days after the letter arrived, Sun En gathered 100,000 troops and launched a counterattack, taking advantage of the chaos.

Perhaps they were intimidated by Liu Yu, because this time they did not attack Jingkou or Guangling, but instead attacked Linhai County south of Kuaiji.

He had already wreaked havoc on this place once, so there was nothing of value in it.

However, their momentum remained as strong as ever, and they captured the four counties of Zhang'an, Linhai, Shiping, and Yongning as soon as they landed.

Huan Xuan dispatched Diao Kui, the governor of Guangzhou, to lead an army to suppress them.

As early as when Huan Xuan was in charge of Zhenxi Prefecture, the Diao family joined Huan's faction and became his henchmen, and were highly valued.

But Diao Kui was slaughtered by the demon bandits in a single encounter.

The rebels gathered their forces, preparing to take advantage of the situation and attack Guangzhou.

Huan Xuan had no choice but to reinstate Liu Yu.

At the same time, under the pretext of resisting the demon bandits, Liu Laozhi was appointed as the governor of Kuaiji and ordered to lead his troops south, away from Jingkou, so that Huan Xiu could replace him as the commander of the Northern Army.

The drama in the south has begun anew, but it remains to be seen whether Liu Laozhi can still maneuver around the fold this time...

"General Jianwei Liu Daogui has repeatedly defeated the Hu barbarians, rushed to the aid of Luoyang, and recovered Huatai, making great contributions to the country. Now he is promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the military affairs of Huai and Si, granted the authority to establish his own government, and appointed Governor of Youzhou!"

The eunuch read the imperial edict in a melodious and rhythmic tone.

"This humble general thanks Your Majesty!" Liu Daogui accepted the imperial edict with both hands.

He felt a mix of emotions. Huan Xuan had immediately appointed him as the military commander of Huai and Si provinces and the governor of Youzhou.

Although Youzhou was nominally a fictitious territory, the title of "Governor-General of the Huai and Si Rivers" was real.

Compared to Sima Yuanxian and Liu Laozhi, this is far too generous.

His replacement of the Sima family wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

At least they won't be like Sima Yuanxian, unable to distinguish between what's important and what's not.

"Duke Huan placed high hopes on the Liu brothers, often saying that when he launched a northern expedition to drive out the barbarians and pacify the world, he would definitely appoint the two of you as commanders of the vanguard."

The eunuch's smile was obsequious, and the powder on his face kept falling off.

This disgusted Liu Daogui, but he still had to save face, saying, "This is my lifelong wish!"

If Huan Xuan were to launch a northern expedition, supporting him wouldn't be out of the question.

"Hahaha, these things are a special gift from Duke Huan to the general." The eunuch pointed behind him, and his entourage pushed over a dozen large wooden carts onto the carts.

When the boxes on the cart were opened, they were full of gold and silk, as well as three large boxes of Wushi powder.

A dozen or so beautiful women followed behind the car, making Liu Zun's mouth water.

"Given how much Duke Huan has treated me, how could I not go through fire and water for him!" Liu Daogui was almost moved to tears.

After all these years in the workforce, this is the first time a boss has treated me this well.

However, he also knew in his heart that Huan Xuan was deliberately trying to appease him. He believed that internal stability was the prerequisite for external resistance, and his current targets were Liu Laozhi and the Northern Army.

(End of this chapter)