Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 297 Righteousness

The city gates remained closed for a long time, and Huan Xuan frowned deeply.

Southern soldiers naturally had a fear of cavalry.

Although Huan Wen suffered a setback in the early stages of the Battle of Fangtou due to insufficient supplies, he did not suffer any losses. However, when he retreated, Murong Chui's 8,000 elite cavalry followed closely behind, pursuing him for a thousand miles and launching a sudden attack in Xiangyi.

Huan Wen suffered 30,000 casualties among his elite Western Army troops, and then the Di-Qin army caught up, causing another 10,000 casualties.

Among these fallen soldiers, there might be the fathers and grandfathers of the defending troops.

The city gates remained closed for a long time, but the sun grew stronger and stronger.

Liu Daogui dared not be presumptuous. He spurred his horse forward two steps, bringing himself within a shooting range, and bowed to Huan Xuan, saying, "Your Majesty is wise beyond compare, and the soldiers of the Western Army are brave and skilled in battle. If they can join me in the Northern Expedition, we can surely recreate the great victory at the Battle of Fei River and sweep away the northern barbarians without a doubt. This unparalleled achievement will surely make Your Majesty famous throughout history and admired by all. If this can be achieved, then the world can be at peace!"

The only way to resolve the mess left by the Sima family is through a northern expedition and the recapture of the Central Plains.

After all this was accomplished, everything fell into place. Even if Huan Xuan didn't want to be emperor, the powerful clans and the Northern and Western courts would still escort him into the palace.

After the north is recovered, all the potential conflicts and hidden dangers regarding land, population, and aristocratic families in Jiangzuo will disappear without a trace...

Huan Wen saw this point back then, which is why he launched three northern expeditions, tirelessly pursuing his goals.

Unfortunately, the opponents he encountered were either Fu Jian, Fu Xiong, or Murong Chui, and he was also hampered by the Wang, Xie, Yin, and Yu families behind him.

Today, Liu Daogui has been pushed to the forefront by the tide of the times, but even further ahead is Huan Xuan.

If he could launch a northern expedition and seize power from the Sima clan, it would be a piece of cake.

He who bears the nation's shame is the master of the state; he who bears the nation's misfortune is the king of the world! Whoever succeeds in the northern expedition will be the master of the south—no, the master of the world!
However, after waiting for a long time, there was no response from the city walls.

Liu Daogui had long anticipated this outcome. Huan Wen still possessed five parts heroism, three parts ruthlessness, and two parts refinement, but by the time of Huan Xuan, he had become just another ordinary person.

"I request the King of Chu to launch a northern expedition!" Liu Daogui cupped his hands toward the city wall, while giving Liu Zun a wink.

"Northern Expedition!" Liu Zun roared, igniting the passion in the hearts of his soldiers.

"The Northern Expedition—"

The soldiers' shouts grew louder and louder, resounding between heaven and earth, stirring the soul. The soldiers and civilians under Liu Daogui's rule all harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Hu people. Therefore, their shouts were extremely penetrating.

Even the soldiers guarding the city walls were moved.

Most of the soldiers in the Western Army were refugees from Yong, Qin, Bing, and Yu provinces, who also had an irreconcilable hatred for the Hu people.

The Northern Expedition was the greatest act of justice and morality in this era. Huan Xuan kept talking about the Northern Expedition, but he stopped at Hefei and lost the hearts of the people, thus losing this battle for popular support.

Soldiers are not cattle or horses; they are living, breathing human beings.

It is clear at a glance who is genuinely committed to the Northern Expedition and who is using the name of the Northern Expedition to usurp the throne.

Amidst the shouts, a summer breeze swept in, and colorful flags fluttered in the wind, carrying an inexplicable emotion to every corner.

"Northern Expedition..."

Suddenly, a series of uneven, unusually sharp shouts came from the city wall.

Judging from the voice, it seemed to be Zhao Liangzhi. Liu Daogui looked up and saw that the man was shouting with his head down and his back to Huan Xuan.

His shout caused the others to lose control of their emotions.

The soldiers of the Northern Army around him also shouted, "Northern Expedition!"

In an instant, Liu Daogui seemed to hear the sound of the city wall collapsing.

How much passion still remains in these people's hearts?

"The King of Chu is launching a northern expedition!"

Countless swords and spears were raised to the sky from the city wall, their sounds rising and falling, but they soon caught up with the rhythm outside the city.

The roar grew louder and louder, and the soldiers became more and more excited.

Huan Xuan was covered in sweat, but his eyes were filled with shock. He had been raised in luxury since childhood and his family had never been close to the people. He could not see or imagine that the soldiers would have their own thoughts.

Today, the thoughts of countless people are intertwined.

Like a torrent, it came crashing in.

A strong wind blew in his face, and Liu Daogui felt as if he were being lifted up by the waves.

The shouting only gradually subsided after half an hour.

There was little remaining hostility between those on and below the city walls.

With this battle, Liu Daogui was now tied to the Northern Expedition, placing him in an invincible position. Although Huan Xuan had a million troops, he dared not make a move openly.

"People say that the general is a sleeping dragon, and seeing him today, it is indeed true. He is truly a Zhuge Liang of our time. Will the Northern Expedition be in your hands? I will wait and see!"

Huan Xuan's words were very difficult to understand.

But there's another hidden agenda behind it.

Zhuge Liang's six expeditions to Qishan, where he devoted himself to the cause until his death, is an allegory for Liu Daogui's overestimation of his abilities, and also a way of putting Liu Daogui in a difficult position in front of everyone.

Zhuge Liang was utterly loyal to Shu Han. If Liu Daogui were to rebel, he would be defying the world, and the glory of the Northern Expedition would crumble.

Huan Xuan dared not launch a northern expedition, so he cursed others to also fail in their northern expeditions, which was truly petty and narrow-minded.

But now and then.

Back then, Shu Han was small and weak, while Cao Wei had unified the north and had a strong and well-equipped army, making the Northern Expedition too difficult to resist.

In today's world, the strength of the Jin dynasty is no less than that of the Wei and Qin dynasties. The aristocratic families are unwilling to launch a northern expedition themselves, and they also allow others to launch one, dragging everyone down with them, which is why we are in the current situation.

"This humble general will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty!" Liu Daogui replied without hesitation.

"Hahaha, good! Men, bestow my Bright Armor upon General Jianwei to encourage his ambition!" Huan Xuan, a large and impatient man, had been standing for so long. He yawned, looking weary, and disappeared behind the battlements.

Liu Yu glanced at Liu Daogui with a complicated expression, and under the urging of the armored soldiers, he followed Huan Xuan. That look was somewhat unfamiliar; Liu Daogui had never seen it before. Busy with military campaigns, the two brothers hadn't been together for many years, and now that they each had their own families, one in the south and one in the north, estrangement was inevitable.

Now was not the time to think about these things, so Liu Daogui didn't take it to heart.

Not long after, the armor was lowered down from the city wall.

The city gates were never opened from beginning to end.

Liu Zun looked puzzled. "That's... all?"

"What, you still want to stay here overnight?" Liu Daogui laughed. "Send the order to withdraw the troops and return to Pengcheng."

"Leader!"

The soldiers were covered in sweat, but their spirits were exceptionally high.

Liu Zun looked dejected. "Brother, what should we do? If we treat Huan Xuan like this, you're going to suffer."

Liu Daogui said, "You're worrying unnecessarily. After today, do you think Huan Xuan would dare to touch your brother again?"

Good fortune favors the virtuous. Liu Yu entered the tiger's den alone and emerged unharmed, not to mention what happened afterward.

"So what if it moved?" Liu Zun's enlarged eyes were filled with clear stupidity.

"If he makes a move, it means he's breaking ties with us and with the Northern Army. Can he still sit on the throne unscathed?"

Looking at the distant green mountains, Liu Daogui pondered a way to rescue his brother and bring his family to Pengcheng.

He was also constrained by Huan Xuan's control.

"Understood. Huan Xuan is also in a lot of trouble. We can only take action after we have usurped the throne!"

"Your brain has finally come to its own for once."

On the way back, no Western Army pursued them.

Wu Fuzhi's troops also retreated to Shouchun.

Tong Houzhi took the initiative to contact Meng Ganzhi, saying he was willing to be an inside agent.

However, Liu Daogui is now less interested in Shouchun. Turning to attack Shouchun at this time would break the persona he had established and would arouse the resentment of the Western Army and the Northern Army.

Not worth the candle.

Huan Xuan was recklessly courting death. There were many people secretly opposing his loyalty to the Jin Dynasty. Since ancient times, usurping the throne has not been easy. The Sima family usurped the throne from Cao Wei, and there was Xiahou Ba's defection to Shu, as well as the three rebellions in Huainan.

Just as they arrived at the camp at Bagong Mountain, Meng Ganzhi came to report: "Commander, someone has raised an army!"

"Who?" Liu Daogui immediately became interested.

I didn't expect someone to take action so quickly.

"Yu Ze rallied seven thousand of his old troops and seized Xiangyang!"

Huan Xuan transferred the elite troops of the Western Army to Huainan, and the troops of Feng Gai, the governor of Yongzhou, were also transferred to Huainan, leaving Jingzhou and Xiangyang vulnerable.

Yu Ze came from the Yu clan of Yingchuan and was a former subordinate of Yin Zhongkan. He once served as the governor of Nanyang. The Yu clan and the Huan clan were old enemies. Long before Huan Wen, the Yu clan had already established a strong presence in Jingzhou.

Yu Liang, Yu Yi, and Yu Bing once controlled the government.

Huan Wen was promoted by Yu Yi, but after Yu Yi's death, Huan Wen exterminated his entire family.

After Huan Xuan raised his army, he killed Yin Zhongkan and Yu Kai, Yu Ze's cousin.

Liu Daogui laughed and said, "Then we're in for a good show."

Liu Zun scoffed, "Only seven thousand people."

“Yu Ze conquered Xiangyang with only seven thousand men, so he must have some tricks up his sleeve. The Yu family has deep roots in Jingzhou and Xiangyang, so Huan Xuan is in for a surprise this time,” Liu Daogui explained.

Xiangyang is an important town. Even if all the troops are transferred away, there are still able-bodied men left, so it is not so easy to break through.

Huan Xuan couldn't possibly transfer all his troops away.

A single move can have far-reaching consequences; if Huan Xuan cannot quickly quell the rebellion of Yu Ze, the consequences will be unimaginable.

The Huan family has many enemies, both overt and covert, who are all watching and waiting.

The Northern Army and others are just waiting for an opportunity.

Liu Daogui's army remained at the Bagongshan camp to rest and recuperate.

As expected, a few days later, Yu Ze set up an altar south of Xiangyang City to pay homage to the ancestors of the Sima family and raised the banner of "purging the court of corrupt officials and eliminating Huan Xuan".

Yu Bin, the military advisor of the Southern Barbarians, Yang Daohu, the military advisor of the General of Anxi, and Deng Xiangzi, the magistrate of Jiang'an County, raised troops in response.

The people of Jiangling, Huan Xuan's stronghold, were filled with unease.

In Changsha to the south, Huan Ji's son Huan Liang, under the pretext of attacking Yu Ze, raised an army in Luo County (within Xiangyin County, Hunan Province), proclaiming himself General Who Pacifies the South and Governor of Xiangzhou, attempting to take advantage of the chaos.

Huan Ji was Huan Xuan's second elder brother.

After Huan Wen's death, the throne passed to Huan Xuan, which aroused Huan Ji's dissatisfaction. At this time, Huan Xuan was protected by Huan Chong, so Huan Ji conspired with his elder brother Huan Xi to kill their uncle Huan Chong and seize power in the Western Palace. However, how could the two be a match for Huan Chong? Instead, Huan Chong discovered their plot and they were subsequently dismissed and their whole family exiled to Changsha.

As Huan Liang grew up, he naturally couldn't swallow this insult.

Huan Xuan's power base was in Jiangling. With such a major incident, the Northern Expedition could not proceed.

But he was also clever; instead of rushing back to Jiangling, he led a large army to Guangling to block the Northern Prefecture.

On one hand, he divided his troops to guard Liyang and Gushu, and on the other hand, he ordered Feng Gai to return to Xiangyang. He then ordered Huan Shikang, the governor of Jingzhou and the general of the Western Central Army, to lead troops to quell the rebellion and attack Feng Gai from the north and south.

"Governor, something has happened in the north."

Just as Liu Daogui was gloating, Meng Ganzhi came to report with a solemn expression.

(End of this chapter)