Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 382

After everyone left, Liu Yixing stayed behind alone.

“Since the southward migration, the establishment of prefectures and counties for refugees from the north has brought temporary stability, but over the years, these prefectures and counties have become chaotic, with redundant officials and unclear governance. I suggest abolishing the prefectures and counties for refugees and streamlining the government.”

After being promoted to the position of Left Chief Secretary of the General of the Cavalry, he became increasingly competent in his duties.

"You have gained a lot of insight, but the interests of too many people are involved in the relocated prefectures and counties, and it cannot be eliminated in a short time. Moreover, your father is only a General of the Cavalry, and such important matters can only be left for later."

Excessive interference in the imperial court is not a good thing.

The relationship between the General of the Cavalry and the imperial court is becoming increasingly sensitive.

Liu Yixing said, "Isn't my uncle in the imperial court?"

"Your uncle can't manage everything. You'll understand why later. You shouldn't meddle in things that aren't in your position. Governing a country is like fighting a war; you need to be mindful of timing and the right moment."

With the defeat of the demon bandits, the relationship between the two sides has become not only sensitive but also complex.

“My uncle has old injuries, and my father destroyed the Southern Yan, pacified Jingzhou and Xiangyang, and recovered Luoyang. He has rendered meritorious service in rebuilding the country. He should do what is right.” Liu Yixing’s words were loaded with meaning.

"Who sent you?" Liu Daogui asked in surprise. He was using the prefectures and counties of the foreign residents to persuade Liu Daogui to take the throne.

Liu Yixing remained calm. "My son has been reading history recently, and when he came across the stories of Huo Guang and Huan Wen, he had some insights. There was no one else who instructed him to do this."

These two men had a lot in common: both were powerful ministers who assisted the emperor in stabilizing the country. They enjoyed immense prestige while alive, but after their deaths, their descendants were exterminated.

Of course, this analogy is somewhat far-fetched.

But the principle is the same.

Given Liu Daogui's current status, no one can shake his position, but if he doesn't take the final step, the fate of his descendants is uncertain.

That's how brutal the struggle for power can be.

There can only be one winner, and it's a winner-takes-all game where the loser not only goes bankrupt but also drags down their descendants.

"These things must not be publicized to outsiders. Your father knows what's going on."

Looking at his precocious son, Liu Daogui didn't know whether to be happy or worried. He sighed that the Liu family members were all exceptionally talented, and at only thirteen years old, his ambition was already beginning to show.

However, in this world, this is not necessarily a bad thing.

It's better to raise a wolf than a sheep; an ambitious wolf cub is far better than a lamb without ambition.

Whether Liu Daogui can reach the pinnacle of power depends most on him.

"I take my leave." Liu Yixing said no more, cupped his hands in farewell.

Liu Daogui sat alone in the council hall. If even Liu Yixing was like this, one can imagine what the other followers were like.

I used to look down on aristocratic families for only caring about their own family's status, but now that I'm in their shoes, I'm falling into the same trap.

Human nature cannot be changed, especially when it comes to one's own descendants.

"General?" Yin Zhongwen peeked out from outside the hall.

"What's the matter?"

"The memorial requesting grain has been written; please review it, General," Yin Zhongwen said as he entered, carrying the memorial.

Liu Daogui glanced at it; the writing was still as ornate as ever. "Add a clause: request the court to establish a Luoyang Regional Administration."

"Xingtai?" Yin Zhongwen was taken aback. "Isn't this a bit too hasty?"

The term "Tai" refers to the Shangshu Tai, which was equivalent to setting up a temporary court in Luoyang.

Since the imperial court was unwilling to move back to Luoyang, Liu Daogui went a step further and obtained equal governing power with the imperial court, so that he would not have to travel thousands of miles to report to the imperial court in the future when encountering major issues.

On the other hand, it also enhanced the status of the General of the Cavalry.

Last time, the court tested Liu Daogui by bestowing the title of Grand Commandant; now, Liu Daogui is testing the court's intentions by setting up a temporary headquarters.

"The timing is perfect, just write it down."

Struggle is everywhere. For the sake of the Northern Expedition, we must fight for what we should fight for, otherwise our subordinates will inevitably harbor resentment.

The same goes for his elder brother Liu Yu; in gambling, there are no fathers and sons, and in political intrigue, there are no brothers.

"Understood, sir." Yin Zhongwen's small eyes quickly swept across Liu Daogui's face.

Yidu County. Nearly eight thousand men marched westward through the mountains and forests, clinging to the cliffs, instead of traveling by water.

Fortunately, it was late autumn, when the grass and trees were withered and yellow; otherwise, snakes, insects, and rodents could have caused heavy casualties to this group.

For the past six months, Wang Zhen'e has done nothing but focus on exploring the Bazhou route.

Persistence pays off, and he actually found an ancient path from the local barbarians, which was said to be the route taken by Sima Cuo, a general of the Qin state, when he attacked Chu.

In the 35th year of King Nan of Zhou (280 BC), Sima Cuo led the Qin army in Longxi and 100,000 troops replenished in Shu, loaded them with 10,000 large ships, and sailed down the Yangtze River to attack Chu. He attacked and captured Wu County and Qianzhong of Chu from the Fu River of Ba, bypassing Chu's Yangtze River defense line and bypassing Chu's rear by going around from Qianzhong.

This group of men, carefully selected by Wang Zhen'e from the Jingxiang region, used the local Wuxi tribesmen as guides. They sailed from the Yangtze River into the Yuan River, then into the You River, and finally entered central Guizhou.
"Brother, Qiao Daofu and Huan Qian have retreated back to Baidi City!" Wang Hong, the younger brother of Wang Zhen'e, came to report.

The Wang family migrated from Hedong to Jingxiang. The nine brothers were all skilled in both literature and martial arts and served under Wang Zhen'e.

"They are indeed cautious." Wang Zhen'e looked ahead, where the continuous green mountains formed a natural barrier.

My cousin Wang Hongdao said, "Since the enemy has retreated to Baidi, Yong'an will be difficult to capture. It would be better to retreat to Yidu and make further plans."

Wang Zhen'e said, "Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. We've already penetrated deep into Qianzhong. If we turn back halfway, it will alert Qiao Huan, making it difficult to carry out this plan again. Yong'an cannot be taken; we should take Fuling instead!"

The officers and soldiers around them all turned pale. This road was not easy to travel, with cliffs and precipices everywhere.

In the third year of Yonghe (347), Huan Wen pacified Shu. Because the old Fuling prefecture was destroyed in the war, Fuling prefecture was established in Zhi County of Ba Prefecture.

This place is separated from central Guizhou by a mountain and is located to the side and rear of Yong'an.

Capturing this place would also be tantamount to tearing open Qiao Shu's Yangtze River defense line and severing the connection between Shu and Yong'an.

Wang Hong had a bitter face. "The land ahead is all desert, and the roads are difficult to travel. I'm afraid the soldiers won't be able to hold out."

"Yes, General, we have been marching for a long time and are already exhausted."

The officers and soldiers began to complain.

It's not that they are weak, but rather that only they themselves know the hardships and dangers they have encountered along the way.

They ate dry rations, raw meat from wild animals, and slept in the wilderness; many of them developed festering sores all over their bodies.

Even Wang Zhen'e developed a boil on his neck.

However, none of this could deter his determination.

Wang Zhen'e glanced at the crowd and said sternly, "You have to hold on even if you can't. Who in this world isn't just barely holding on? As men, this is our fate. If we don't persevere, how can we face our six-foot-tall bodies?"

No one dared to meet his eyes.

To suppress evil, one must be even more wicked than evil itself.

Wang Zhen'e drew his sword and said, "No need for further words. In the past, Deng Ai traversed six hundred miles of remote lands to launch a surprise attack on Chengdu, achieving unparalleled merit. The General of the Flying Cavalry treated me as a national hero, and I should repay him as a national hero. I am the governor of a prefecture and a general of the state, yet I am willing to risk my life. How much more so should you? The Shu army is weak. Once the army reaches the gates of Fuling, they will be at a loss. You can all achieve unparalleled merit. Issue the order: anyone who dares to retreat even a step will be executed on the spot!"

After saying that, he led the way and started climbing up the cliff ahead.

The soldiers looked at each other, then suddenly cheered and began climbing the cliff face ahead, one after another.

Military merit meant status, wealth, women, official positions, and even everything.

After the merger of the Western and Northern Prefectures, the long-standing problems in the military were eliminated. Even a soldier in the prefecture could rise through the ranks after accumulating military merits.

Those killed or wounded will receive compensation from the military government, and their families will no longer be abandoned like before.

The soldiers traversed treacherous mountains and cliffs, taking a full five days to finally cross the Motianling Ridge.

The hardships and dangers were not over yet. Beyond Motianling was the Fu River, and for three hundred miles around, it was still mountains and rivers, with treacherous roads.

Of the 8,000 elite troops who reached this point, 600 or 700 had become separated from their units and fallen off cliffs. Halfway there, they encountered a torrential rain, and more than 200 were wounded or sick. On such a long march, once wounded or sick, it was basically a death sentence.

However, the capital of Fuling Prefecture, Zhicheng, was located in a distant place where mountains and rivers meet.

Upon seeing the city, a look of madness appeared in the soldiers' eyes.

Wang Zhen'e shouted, "After the city falls, you can take whatever money, silk, women, and children you want!"

The soldier's eyes instantly turned red, and he roared, "Kill!"

The birds in the mountains were startled and flew into the sky in dense flocks.

(End of this chapter)