Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 274 Regret

Liu Laozhi, who stationed his troops in Bandu, is now truly regretting his actions.

Everyone treats him like a tool, to be used and then discarded.

When Sima Yuanxian used him, he was willing to appoint him as the Commander of the Northern Army. Now Huan Xuan is not giving him anything and even wants to strip him of his military power.

Liu Jingxuan advised Liu Laozhi to take advantage of Huan Xuan's unstable foothold and launch a surprise attack on Jiankang, but Liu Laozhi remained hesitant and unable to make a decision.

The only option was to summon the generals of the Northern Army to discuss the matter.

"Gentlemen, what do you all think we should do about this?" Liu Laozhi became more polite than ever before.

No matter how polite he was, he couldn't change the situation.

Today's military council was attended by only a handful of people: General Jianwu Liu Yu, General Guangwu He Wuji, Military Advisor Liu Xi, Military Advisor Liu Huaisu, and Liu Jingxuan.

They were all newly emerging generals of the Northern Army.

These people were either from the same clan or relatives, and Liu Laozhi had fallen into a predicament of being abandoned by everyone.

Even Sun Wuzhong and Liu Gui, who were usually on good terms with him, did not come.

Seeing that no one spoke, Liu Jingxuan said, "Father has always treated you all well. At this time, you must not lose your composure. The Northern Army has a total of 70,000 men, with many fierce generals. They are enough to resist Huan Xuan."

He Wuji sighed, “If only you had known this would happen, you wouldn’t have done it in the first place. Huan Xuan has already taken control of Jiankang and united with the powerful clans. His foundation is now solid. Uncle, you might as well temporarily submit and head south to Kuaiji, and wait for the day you can make a comeback.”

If Liu Laozhi were only facing the Western Prefecture, he could still put up a fight.

However, Huan Xuan had already gained the support of powerful families such as the Wang and Xie clans, leaving Liu Laozhi in an unprecedentedly isolated position regarding righteousness and legitimacy.

The Northern Prefecture was the Northern Prefecture of the Imperial Court, and it had coexisted with the Imperial Court for many years.

Moreover, Huan Xuan only eliminated Sima Daozi and his son Sima Yuanxian, which pleased everyone in Jiangzuo and won them great popularity.

Huan Xuan didn't need to send troops at all; he only needed the emperor to issue an edict, and the Northern Army would scatter.

"Hmph, sending me to Kuaiji would be like sitting and waiting to die! It would be better to raise an army and attack him! Huan Xuan is still wet behind the ears; I have ten thousand elite troops, and I can easily take Jiankang!"

Liu Laozhi has always been very proud of himself. Having served as the Northern Commander for so many years, asking him to humbly serve as the Prefect of Kuaiji is worse than killing him.

“Ji Nu, as long as you two brothers nod, we have a 90% chance of winning!” Liu Laozhi looked at Liu Yu with great anticipation.

This betrayal of Sima Yuanxian completely ruined Liu Laozhi's prestige in the northern army.

At the same time, Liu Yu and Liu Daogui's prestige rose accordingly.

The others in the hall also looked at Liu Yu.

"The Commander-in-Chief has been fickle and unreliable, and has lost the support of the people. The imperial edict has already been issued, so how can we raise an army? Your subordinate is ordered by the imperial edict to go south to Linhai County to suppress the rebels. Please excuse me for not accompanying you!"

Liu Yu bowed respectfully, then turned and left.

Liu Huaisu also bowed and followed behind Liu Yu.

They had tried to persuade him to raise an army before, but he wouldn't listen. Now that he's at his wit's end, he's trying to drag others down with him.

Liu Yu, of course, would not fall for it.

The current predicament is entirely Liu Laozhi's own fault, and has nothing to do with anyone else.

"Ji Nu!" Liu Jingxuan's voice was filled with sorrow.

Liu Yu paused briefly, but then strode away without looking back.

Raising an army now offers no chance of victory and will only drag the Liu family of Pengcheng into a desperate situation.

The elite troops of the Western Army were stationed around Jingkou, just in case someone was cornered and resorted to desperate measures.

Given Liu Laozhi's current reputation, how many people follow him is another matter entirely.

The military advisor Liu Xi angrily said, "Nothing is more unacceptable than rebellion. The commander-in-chief rebelled against Wang Gong in the past, rebelled against Sima Yuanxian recently, and now wants to rebel against Huan Xuan. One person rebels three times. How can he be allowed to stand?"

Liu Laozhi had long lost his credibility, and following him in rebellion would only lead to certain death.

Liu Xi also bowed and left.

Liu Laozhi's face turned ugly.

"Uncle..." He Wuji sighed and could only leave.

If Liu Laozhi had gone to Kuaiji with his tail between his legs and kept a low profile, he might have had a chance of survival. But if he had started a rebellion, he would have been doomed.

It's no wonder these people left him. When Liu Laozhi held great power, he didn't listen to their opinions and was easily persuaded by He Mu with just a few words.

Only he and his son remained in the hall.

Liu Laozhi's face was full of anger. "They are all scoundrels who forget righteousness for profit! I have 20,000 elite troops. What can Huan Xuan do to me? Ashou, quickly return to Jingkou, take your family and go to Gao Yazhi. After I combine my troops, we will first occupy Guangling, and then return to Pengcheng!"

Gao Yazhi was his son-in-law. When Sima Yuanxian fell, the Gao family also lost power. The two were now in the same boat and would face Huan Xuan's purge sooner or later.

Guangling City is high and its moat is deep, making it far superior to the small city of Jingkou.

The fact that the generals of the Northern Army stationed around Jingkou did not attend this military meeting already indicated their stance: Liu Laozhi could not defend Jingkou.

"Father..." Liu Jingxuan also sighed.

"Go quickly." Liu Laozhi took down the precious sword from the shelf, drew it three inches out, and its edge was as sharp as ever. "I want to see how capable Huan Xuan is, daring to face me on the battlefield!"

If Huan Xuan wins on the battlefield, he will have no choice but to compromise.

This is also why Huan Xuan dared not take direct action. His illustrious military achievements over the past twenty years still held considerable intimidation power.

Liu Laozhi drew his sword and stepped out of the tent. In the camp, the 20,000 elite troops had long since vanished, leaving only more than 5,000 men, many of whom were old and weak with gray hair.

The autumn wind was bleak, the banners were fluttering, and the scene was one of utter desolation.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; Liu Laozhi was dismissed from his post as the Northern Commander, and his power was waning.

This scene sent a chill down Liu Laozhi's spine, but his boastful tone remained unchanged: "Five thousand men are enough! Back then, when we defeated fifty thousand Qin troops at Luojian and beheaded a Di-Qin general, we only had five thousand men. Get on the ship!"

Liu Laozhi was the first to board the warship.

The distance from Bandu to Guangling is not far; it takes about half a day to travel downstream.

But fewer than two thousand people followed him aboard the ship; the rest knelt on the shore, wailing, "General..."

These soldiers also had families living in Jingkou, and they really did not want to cross the river with Liu Laozhi.

Liu Laozhi acted on impulse and was fickle. One day he sided with the court, the next he surrendered to Huan Xuan, and today he wants to rebel, leaving the soldiers bewildered.

The cries were mournful, mingling with the autumn wind. Liu Laozhi's body trembled slightly, and the white hair at his temples increased, making him appear to age instantly.

"You... never mind, I can accomplish things without you!" Liu Laozhi never imagined that he would lose power so quickly, and even his troops would leave him.

"Commander, it's time to set off." Several boatmen appeared behind Liu Laozhi without him noticing.

Liu Laozhi closed his eyes, waved his hand, and the sails were hoisted. The warships bobbed and sank on the river, and the setting sun sank below the surface, casting a crimson glow...

Gushu.

Huan Xuan climbed to a high place and looked into the distance. The afterglow of the setting sun spread across the mountains and rivers, creating an incomparably magnificent scene.

After capturing Jiankang, with the assistance of Bian Fanzhi and Huan Qian, he dismissed the treacherous officials appointed by Sima Yuanxian and promoted talented and virtuous men, which brought order to the Jiangzuo region, and the court and the public had high expectations for him.

In any case, Huan Xuan's rule was much better than that of Sima Daozi and Sima Yuanxian.

Huan Wei, who was standing next to him, said, "What is Liu Laozhi? How dare he stand on equal footing with my Huan family?"

The military advisor Yin Zhongwen said, "Liu Laozhi is confident in his abilities. Now that he has been demoted, he will certainly not sit idly by and wait for his death. We should raise a large army to punish him, lest things get complicated."

This man was Yin Zhongkan's younger brother, but also Huan Xuan's brother-in-law, and the military advisor to Sima Daozi, the Prince of Kuaiji.

When Huan Xuan entered Jiankang, he put aside his hatred for killing his brother and came to join him. He was highly regarded because of his handsome appearance.

"Yes, if Liu Laozhi goes to Kuaiji and lies low in the shadows, he will surely become too powerful to control in the future. This man is determined to never be subservient to anyone."

"Do you think Liu Laozhi can still live? He betrayed the aristocratic families, then the Sima clan, and then the generals of the Northern Army. A man like that won't live long. We don't even need to take action!"

Huan Xuan flicked his sleeve, and his plump body cast a long shadow.

Huan Wei and Yin Zhongwen exchanged a glance. "The Grand Commander is absolutely right."

"Liu Laozhi is nothing to fear; I only care about another person."

Yin Zhongwen hurriedly asked, "Who could possibly be of such concern to the Grand Commander?"

"Liu Jinu!"

"Hmph, he's just a soldier from a poor family, so what?" Huan Wei looked down on anyone from a poor family, completely forgetting that his father, Huan Wen, was just a minor aristocratic family back then.

It took decades of hard work and struggle to elevate the Huan family to the ranks of the elite.

Yin Zhongwen said, “This man is brave and skilled in battle, with the bearing of a dragon and tiger. He is also from the Liu family of Pengcheng. His younger brother, Liu Daogui, has swept through Yanzhou in a few years and his power has grown. With Liu Laozhi down, these two will inevitably rise in status. In my opinion, it would be better to get rid of them together.”

"Kill him to eliminate a future threat; spare him to use him in the future to quell the rebellion and launch a northern expedition to the Central Plains. Whether he lives or dies, let's see what he chooses!"

When a person gains power, their temperament will also change.

Huan Xuan's face was full of majesty, making Huan Wei and Yin Zhongwen dare not look him in the eye.

Huan Wei asked, puzzled, "What choice?"

Huan Xuan looked away, gazing at the Yangtze River rolling eastward, without saying a word. He had long harbored a fondness for Liu Yu's talent.

If such a fierce general could be recruited, the Northern Expedition would be a sure thing.

If the Northern Expedition succeeds, Huan Xuan's position will be secure, and he will be able to accomplish what his father could not.

At this moment, dust billowed from the east, and a dozen riders galloped in, reporting to the Grand Commander: Liu Laozhi has gone north to Guangling to join Gao Yazhi, and Liu Yu has gone south to Linhai County to attack the treacherous bandit Sun En!

"Excellent!" Huan Xuan's fat face bulged up as he laughed heartily.

Liu Yu's decision not to follow Liu Laozhi south demonstrates that he made a choice.

Huan Xuan had just taken power and had many things to do. He still needed to clean up the mess left by the Sima family, so Liu Yu and Liu Daogui naturally had to take the lead.

With Liu Yu willing to serve him, Liu Daogui in the north was temporarily stabilized.

Yin Zhongwen said, "Although this person is useful, he should not be given too much responsibility. The Grand Commander should be cautious."

"The most urgent task at hand is dealing with the generals of the Northern Army!" Huan Xuan's eyes flashed with a cold light.

The noble families and high-ranking officials flocked to his banner, but those veteran generals of the Northern Army were a potential threat.

Many people were won over by Sima Daozi and Sima Yuanxian and sided with the court, making them natural enemies of the Western Prefecture. Furthermore, they occupied Jingkou and Guangling, posing a great threat to Jiankang.

After weakening the Northern Army, Huan Xuan had no worries about the rear and could advance further.

(End of this chapter)