Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 303 Retreat
Liu Daogui was self-aware enough to know that he was no match for Tuoba Gui at the moment.

Now that the goal has been achieved, there is no need to stay in Hebei.

Tuoba Gui's cavalry advanced with great speed. The vanguard, Tuoba Heluo, led 30,000 infantry and cavalry out of Zhiguan Pass and into Yewang. Wang Zhongde, who had previously captured Jixian, Gongxian, Linlu, and Xiuwu counties, immediately defected and surrendered to Tuoba Heluo.

Fangtou was directly exposed to the iron hooves of the Wei cavalry.

Wei general Lai Chuzhen led 8,000 cavalry out of the Fu River, followed the Zhang River, and headed south to attack Liyang.

Tuoba Gui's attack was precise and ruthless, aiming directly at Liu Daogui's back.

The army immediately retreated south, and it was impossible to return to Fangtou. The reason why Tuoba Heluo held back was that he was waiting for him to retreat back to Fangtou.

Liu Daogui abandoned Fangtou and retreated to Liyang, where he joined Liu Zhong's navy and returned to Puyang.

Li Yang took everything he could, and burned everything he couldn't take.

As soon as we retreated to Liyang, dark clouds gathered and heavy snow began to fall.

Winter came earlier than usual this year, and the weather is colder.

After a heavy snowfall, the Yellow River froze over in just two or three days.

The Yellow River is not an insurmountable barrier because it is prone to freezing in autumn and winter and drought in other seasons, unlike the Yangtze River, which is turbulent all year round.

Changsun Fei retreated his troops towards Huatai, and Gongsun Biao also moved closer to Huatai.

The great battle did not stop, but was paused.

Although Liu Daogui lost Huatai, he had captured nearly 30,000 able-bodied men and more than 20,000 head of livestock, and killed more than 20,000 barbarian invaders, so overall he had gained some advantage.

As for Huatai, we can only launch a counterattack after the Yellow River is unblocked and its connection with Hebei is severed.

The Wei army simply couldn't hold onto a single sliding platform.

Tuoba Gui strolled around the Yellow River and retreated to Ye City. The heavy snow was too much for even the Xianbei people to withstand, and many warhorses and livestock froze to death.

The lives of the barbarians were actually more difficult than those of the people of Jiangzuo.

Grazing alone cannot support a population of several million. Farming skills are relatively low, and every year a large number of people freeze or starve to death.

Although life in Jiangzuo is more difficult, the climate is mild and humid, so people can still get food.

For people of this era, far more people freeze to death each year than starve to death.

When people are extremely hungry, they will eat anything, but when heavy snow comes, everything withers and dies.

"Governor, Tuoba Gui has sent a letter urging us to surrender."

Liu Daogui was warming himself by the fire with Gao Xun and Shen Qingzhi when Meng Ganzhi pushed open the door and entered, his face red from the cold.

"Persuade them to surrender?" Liu Daogui didn't even look at it and set it on fire.

Holding the Huai and Si rivers in his hands and occupying the entire Yanzhou, he was practically a regional warlord. Even if he were to die on the battlefield, Liu Daogui would not surrender, become a dog of the Hu people, or bring shame upon his ancestors.

"Report—Tuoba Heluo launched a surprise attack on Mengjin while the snowstorm had paused!" The scout lifted the tent flap and entered, bringing in a wisp of snow.

Gao Xun said, "The Suo barbarians are going to attack Luoyang!"

Luoyang is indeed a place of many disasters. After the Yongjia Rebellion, it changed hands many times, and the ethnic groups living there changed several times.

Unable to conquer Yanzhou, Tuoba Gui turned his attention to attacking Luoyang.

But now Puyang and Luoyang are separated by Huatai, so if we make a move, Changsun Fei and Yu Lidi will also move.

Shen Qingzhi said, "Luoyang is a well-fortified city, and it forms a strategic defensive position with Jin Yong. If Tuoba Gui attacks the city in the heavy snow, the casualties will surely be heavy. The commander-in-chief can wait and see."

Suo Lu is also a human being, and humans are afraid of the cold.

Logistics are also a major challenge in this kind of weather.

The more troops Tuoba Gui had, the more he was hampered.

As long as Xin Gongjing and Xiahou Zongzhi do not surrender, Luoyang will be invincible.

Liu Daogui remained inactive, Tuoba Gui made no move, and Murong De and Yu Yue in the east also withdrew their troops early.

Peace was restored to both banks of the Yellow River overnight.

The heavy snow stopped, but the weather was still very cold. Water froze instantly, and icicles hung from the eaves. The soldiers huddled in straw to get through the winter.

Apart from scouts and soldiers guarding the city walls, almost everyone else stayed indoors.

The Wei army in Luoyang was also unable to advance.

"Governor, Huan Xuan has sent an envoy," the gatekeeper reported from outside.

"He sent an envoy on such a cold day?" Liu Daogui found it unbelievable.

The man brought in was none other than He Wuji, followed by three burly attendants. Despite the cold weather, he stood tall and imposing, exuding extraordinary charisma. Upon entering, he uttered no superfluous words, "The virtue of Jin has declined, while the virtue of Chu is about to rise. The King of Chu has sent me here to inquire about the Commander's intentions."

Liu Daogui was secretly pleased. Huan Xuan wanted to usurp the throne, and he even sent someone to ask him questions. It was He Wuji who sent him. He really didn't know what Huan Xuan was thinking.

Before entering Jiankang, his skills were still up to par. He defeated Yin Zhongkan and Yang Quanqi, decisively sent troops down the river, took the initiative, turned Liu Laozhi against him, and captured Jiankang without bloodshed.

After becoming king, he was like a completely different person.

Gao Xun's face was somewhat somber. "Emperor Yuan fled south, and although he did not restore the dynasty, he has taken in refugees from the north and protected the country for so many years. Although he has not made any significant achievements, his ambition remains. May I ask what virtues the Prince of Chu possesses?"

Liu Daogui glanced at him.

He Wuji laughed and said, "How can it be said that there was no merit in pacifying Sima Yuanxian and Liu Laozhi? How can it be said that there was no virtue in pacifying the Yu Ze Rebellion, stabilizing Jiangzuo, and enabling the people of Jiangzuo to live and work in peace and contentment?"

Yu Ze in the south caused a great disturbance in Xiangyang, but it did not cause a stir in Jiangzuo, nor did it gain the support of the gentry. It was quickly quelled by Feng Gai and Huan Shikang.

Huan Xuan publicized the incident extensively, using it to cover up the embarrassment of his unsuccessful northern expedition.

His cronies also fabricated various auspicious omens, such as the emergence of the Black Tortoise in the Han River or the birth of a phoenix outside Jiangling City. The stories were so vivid and detailed that the people of Jiangzuo were discussing them.

These days, metaphysics is all the rage, and many people believe in it; otherwise, the Celestial Masters sect wouldn't have been revived.

Gao Xun was about to argue when Liu Daogui waved his hand to stop him, asking, "What do you think?"

Huan Xuan's timing for usurping the throne is perfect. Liu Daogui is tied down in the north, and Murong De has no time to look south. Yao Xing in the west has just suffered a crushing defeat at Chai Bi, with 40,000 elite troops wiped out. It will be difficult for him to recover in four or five years.

If we miss this opportunity, the situation will become even more complicated in the future.

He Wuji glanced left and right, and said meaningfully, "General Jianwu once said: 'Why not abdicate when the time is right?'"

"Oh, brother, do you really say that?" Liu Daogui was surprised not because Liu Yu would agree to Huan Xuan becoming emperor, but because He Wuji brought up Liu Yu.

His relationship with his elder brother Liu Yu was unusual, and the He family of Donghai also belonged to a branch of the Huai-Si martial people.

"General Jianwu also said that destiny is unpredictable, so we should go with the flow."

If he was being secretive before, then this statement is clearly meant for his own ears.

In other words, He Wuji was relaying a message to his elder brother Liu Yu.

Liu Daogui quickly understood, "You are very perceptive. In my opinion, the ascension of the King of Chu is an inevitable trend!"

Whether Liu Daogui acknowledges it or not, Huan Xuan's usurpation of the throne is inevitable.

There's no turning back once the arrow is released; he became the King of Chu, not the Emperor, and couldn't explain himself to his followers.

They said they came to ask for opinions, but in reality they came to give a heads-up and warn Liu Daogui not to act rashly.

Liu Daogui is indeed untouchable now, as Tuoba Gui's hundreds of thousands of troops are still in the Yecheng, Liyang, and Huatai area, under immense pressure and unable to extricate himself.

"The Commander-in-Chief is indeed wise!" He Wuji bowed respectfully.

Liu Daogui said, "Someone, prepare a banquet to entertain the envoy."

A man next to He Wuji cupped his hands and said, "We appreciate the Governor's kindness, but the King of Chu is waiting for good news in Jiankang and cannot delay any longer."

He Wuji also said, "We'll meet again sometime. After this is done, we'll have a good drink together, Commander!"

"Then it's settled!" Liu Daogui nodded.

He Wuji turned and left with a flourish.

Gao Xun said, "The commander-in-chief is now on a northern expedition to Ye City and enjoys the support of the people. Why should he become an ally of the Huan family? After this person ascends the throne, he will definitely target Peng City again."

Liu Daogui countered, "Brother Gao... do you perhaps believe that the Sima family can continue the dynasty's reign?"

Gao Xun lowered his gaze and reached out to warm his hands by the fire. "The Sima clan may have declined, but the Huan clan was no better."

Liu Daogui said, "The decline of the Jin dynasty is also the general trend of the world. After Huan Xuan became emperor, he could not control the situation and would be hated by the people. If he did not become emperor, he could live a few more years. Once he became emperor, he would be angered by the heavens and resented by the people. Being an emperor is not so easy."

When others became kings, they would exempt them from taxes and grant amnesty to the world. However, since Huan Xuan became king, he has not only failed to implement any virtuous policies, but has also engaged in large-scale construction projects, extravagant displays, and complicated and frequently changed his decrees. Officials were at a loss, the people were exhausted, and the court and the country were overworked.

The aristocratic clans were more greedy than ever before, openly seizing land.

Diao Kui, who joined Huan Xuan's forces, became the General of the Western Central Army and the Governor of Yuzhou.

Even Huan Xuan's strategist, Bian Fanzhi, built a grand mansion, became arrogant and complacent, and his sons and grandchildren were arrogant, rude, and unruly.

Compared to Huan Wen's Gengxu land reform and suppression of powerful clans, Huan Xuan's actions were worlds apart; he simply couldn't control the situation.

"This is a scheme to embolden an arrogant army. Throughout history, usurping the throne has always been an extremely dangerous affair. Huan Xuan is arrogant, extravagant, and licentious; he is not a man who can accomplish anything, and his defeat is inevitable!"

To be honest, Liu Daogui had been waiting for Huan Xuan to take this step.

With the Sima family ousted, the imperial court's legitimacy vanished, and the shackles on the poor and commoner families were broken...

(End of this chapter)