Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 32 Liyang and the Great Event
"The Yellow River's waters come from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return..."

In November, the north wind is biting and sweeps across the vast fields. From the ferry crossing at Liyangjin, looking out at the mighty river that stretches for miles, one can feel a profound and majestic spirit that runs through history.

Winter snow falls gently, scattering ice flowers across the riverbanks and sandbars. Floating ice ripples on the river, colliding with a metallic sound. Yet the mighty river flows on, the ice unable to hold, its heart surging like a galloping horse. For miles, sand swirls, its breath choked and its roar swallowed, while mist rises like a hazy sunset.

"Gathering the power of mountains and rivers, connecting the vital passage to the Central Plains... this is the great 'river'! The ospreys cry 'guan guan' on the islet of the 'river'. This 'river' is also the Yellow River..."

Zhang Chengfu squatted at the ferry crossing of Liyangjin, holding a simple bamboo fishing rod with a thick hemp fishing line, fishing for carp in the Yellow River. As he fished, he watched the tributaries of the Zhang River converge with the Qing River, and then together they connected with the Yellow River. At this point, the river network that runs through the land of Hebei was also connected with the mighty Yellow River.

The Yellow River, the mother river that shaped China, had a special name in the ancient texts of the pre-Qin and Han dynasties: simply "He" (河). At that time, the river's abundant power was far more magnificent and surging than it was in its later years when it was water-scarce. Its frequent floods and course changes, its "overflowing and raging" like a "swimming dragon," profoundly determined the rise and fall of the downstream prefectures and counties.

"In ancient times, the Wei River and the Qi River merged to form the Li River. The area south of the mountain and north of the river is called Yang. The so-called 'Liyang' is the north of the Li River. However, with the current changes in the river course, Liyang, which connects to the main river, has become a vital passage for communication between the north and south of the Central Plains, a true 'throat'!"

A fish took the bait, creating a ripple on the ice floes. Then, with a sudden jerk of the rod, the fish soared into the air and landed in the boy's hand. The boy examined the carp's quality, nodded in satisfaction, and tossed it into the nearby straw basket.

Then, he stood up, stretched, and gazed intently at the vital and bustling Liyangjin.

At Liyangjin, the Yellow River is relatively narrow and the current is swift, making it a natural fishing spot... and moreover, a natural ferry crossing. Historically, this has been a strategically vital crossing point for military strategists. Its significance extends far beyond a mere ferry crossing; due to the interconnected waterways of the Hebei system, it became an indispensable "river pass" for transporting grain northwards to Jizhou or southwards from Jizhou.

The middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River stretch for thousands of miles, and there are many places where small groups of merchants and travelers can cross. But when tens of thousands of troops cross the river, there are only a few passages that allow them to go north, with Liyang being the best!
While it's possible to cross the river northwards from Henan in the west, traversing the foothills of the Taihang Mountains and supplying tens of thousands of troops would be extremely difficult. Similarly, it's also possible to cross the river northwards from Dongwuyang in the east, but the same problem remains: a lack of waterways to continue northwards and penetrate deeper into Ji Province.

When Cao Cao later attacked Ji Province in the north, Liyang was an unavoidable river pass that had to be captured at all costs to secure the river transport route for his subsequent northward advance. And when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, this was also the inevitable route for tens of thousands of Han Dynasty troops marching north!

"If we can hold Liyang and stop the government troops from crossing the river? ...It will be very difficult!"

Zhang Chengfu tied a worm to the fishing hook and cast it into the river. Then, he frowned, staring blankly at the river, pondering the difficulty of defending the river.

Holding the Yellow River pass presents two major challenges. One is that government troops could land upstream and downstream, then attack Liyang by land. The other is that government troops could detour, capture Neihuang County, and cut off Liyang's rear, much like Cao Cao's strategy when he marched north. Furthermore, the interior of Ji Province is rich with powerful clans and wealthy families who could support government troops and provide supplies…

"If we could build a fortress and granaries in Liyang... it would be like the Liyang Granary of the Sui and Tang dynasties, a strategic point that determined the fate of the world! But right now, it's just a market town, without any city walls or fortresses..."

Zhang Chengfu pondered for a moment, then shook his head. He stuck his fishing rod into the ground and looked towards the other side of the river. There lay Baima Ferry, opposite Liyang Ferry, but it was far less important.

To advance south into Henan and open up its waterways, there were roughly two routes. One route was Yuan Shao's strategy: cross the river at Liyang, advance upstream, control both banks of the Yanjin River, control Yuanwu, attack Guandu, and then control the Ji River and the Honggou Canal.

The other route was to advance downstream, control Puyang, and then seize control of the Pu River all the way to Dayeze. Puyang shares the same name as Liyang. North of the Pu River lies Puyang.

"The conquests north and south of the Yellow River can never bypass these waterways and passes. Because, at present, the waterways are the 'highways' for troop movement and the fastest supply lines for logistics... The key to Henan and Hebei lies in these 'rivers'!"

Zhang Chengfu pondered silently, "fishing alone on a snowy river." Those seemingly distant battles were like the ice and snow right before his eyes, their chill palpable. After all, the momentous occasion of launching a great undertaking was not far off…

"Smack~ Crash~"

The clumsy fish took the bait again, wriggling on the surface of the water. But Zhang Chengfu didn't look at the fish; he was only thinking about it.

"Liyang is a strategically vital location. If we could build an earthen fort near the town and lay a trap to hold it... could we hold off the Han army for a few months, buying more time for the uprising? But who can get here and distract the government troops? It can't be Master or my two uncles, can it?..."

Zhang Chengfu was lost in thought, pondering these "disrespectful" ideas. Gao Daonu rushed over, saw the swaying fishing rod, and quickly ran to it, pulling with tremendous force!
"Wow~"

A Yellow River carp weighing six or seven pounds leaped up again, landing and thrashing on the snow. Gao Daonu slapped it hard, stunning the wriggling fish. Then, he looked at the fish basket and frowned.

"Chengfu, you've been fishing for so long and you've only caught three fish? Didn't you say you were going to prepare fish soup for your master to nourish him? Fishing requires concentration, why are you still spacing out?"

"Ahem! I was so focused on the bait that I forgot about the fish..."

"Fish are just greedy; they'll take any bait. As long as they smell it, they'll bite the hook and won't let go..."

Gao Daonu casually said a few words, then his expression turned serious, and he spoke urgently.

"Master has arrived! We'll be at Liyangjin soon!"

"Ah! Let's go pick him up together!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfu quickly stood up and brushed the snow off his clothes. Then, carrying his straw-woven fish basket, he was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. He reached into his robes and pulled out a jade pendant with the character "审" (shen, meaning "to examine"). Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed this fine Hetian jade, worth thousands of coins, into the surging river.

What did you lose?

"Nothing much. Just erasing the last trace... We've had horse meat for every meal these past few days, haven't you been eating well?"

"Hmm, actually, it's not all that great after eating a lot! Of course, it's still much tastier than barley porridge..."

"Haha! I'll make some fish soup when we get back. Yellow River carp soup is the best..."

"River fish tastes very fishy, ​​do you know how to cook it?"

"Yes, it's just frying it on both sides in oil, then adding seasonings and stewing it... Uh! Oil? Seasonings?..."

Zhang Chengfu stroked his chin, suddenly realizing that making this fish soup might be difficult...

Amidst the howling wind and snow, a yellow turban covered his forehead, and his bamboo hat was covered in snowflakes as he entered the quiet courtyard. When he removed the hat, the weary face of the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao was revealed, with his two disciples standing obediently on either side. "Master, this is fish soup I made for you; it's incredibly nourishing!"

"Hmm... That's thoughtful of you."

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao nodded, took the earthenware bowl, and blew on the white broth, which contained not a single scallion. Then, he took a sip, and his eyebrows immediately rose. Under the eager gazes of his two disciples, he reluctantly took a second sip and put the fish soup down.

"Hey! Who made this fish soup?"

"It's a burden!"

"Chengfu, your fish stewing skills are far inferior to your fish killing skills!"

After saying this, Zhang Jiao patted Zhang Chengfu's head and shook his head. He went into the house, sat cross-legged on the mat, leaving only his two disciples in the room. Then, his expression turned solemn, and he asked...

"Is everything taken care of?"

"They were never seen alive, nor were their bodies found. They left no trace, and the government horses were disposed of as well."

"Ah."

Zhang Jiao nodded, remaining silent. After a long while, he looked at his disciple, who was only fourteen years old, and sighed.

“Chengfu, you are decisive! Your speed and courage in making decisions far exceeded my expectations... You were worried about the overall situation and were unaware of the situation in Luoyang, so your reaction this time cannot be considered wrong. But as I said before, your killing intent was too strong!”

“I thought about it on the way here. You were probably affected by what you saw and heard about the refugees outside Ye City. Those who cultivate the Tao must be pure and inactive, eliminate anger and greed... Once you act impulsively, you are prone to making mistakes or even committing errors.”

“Teacher! At that time, the situation was urgent. I was worried that if this person really went to Luoyang, he would report you, or even harm you in Yuzhou… Moreover, there was only a year and a half left before the uprising. Given this person’s attitude towards our Taiping Dao, his capable abilities, and his understanding of Zhao and Wei, once he started the uprising, he would inevitably become a huge obstacle for our Taiping Dao in capturing Handan and Ye! We must not leave such a hidden danger in these two important places!”

As he spoke, Zhang Chengfu's expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice.

"Therefore, I am determined to eliminate him! After he is gone, Wang He, the Legal Affairs Officer, can take over the Legal Affairs Office. He is one of our men and can become one of our inside agents in Ye City! And the Legal Affairs Officer is in charge of the postal routes; if necessary, he can help us open the gates of Ye City..."

Upon hearing this long-term plan, Zhang Jiao remained silent for a moment before sighing and recounting it bit by bit.

"I have been accused several times and have been wanted by the court... He can't bring me down by going to Luoyang. Hmm, among the Ten Attendants of Luoyang, there have always been some who are on friendly terms with us."

"He is, after all, from a prominent family. Even without leaving any traces or evidence, many prominent families in Ji Province will suspect our Taiping Dao. The Ji Province gentry have always had a tacit understanding with our Taiping Dao. This killing will likely cause the Ji Province gentry to become alienated and wary of us..."

"So be it! What's done is done. Since the deed is done, the Way of Peace can only show its teeth. But once the uprising begins, I'm afraid there will be two fewer aristocratic families willing to stand with us..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfu lowered his head, bowed deeply, and then continued.

“Master, in Chengfu’s view, aristocratic families are untrustworthy, and powerful clans are not reliable either. We cannot count on them! We must establish our own armed forces within the Taiping Dao, and everything must revolve around armed struggle! The armories of Handan and Yecheng are our top priorities for seizing!”

"However, after doing this, I also have some lingering fears and worries... I'm worried that Governor Li's reaction might affect our plans?"

"Prefect Li..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiao stroked his short beard, lowered his brows, and calmly said.

"Lord Li is unaware of this yet, but this matter cannot be kept secret, and he will eventually suspect something. However, since you handled it cleanly and there is no way to prove it, Lord Li may be somewhat dissatisfied, but he will not show any severe reaction."

"During my discussions with Lord Li on metaphysics and divination, I have come to understand his intentions. Ji Province has suffered from plagues and disasters for years, with refugees everywhere, mountains upon mountains of firewood piled high. If another drought strikes next year or the year after, igniting this vast expanse of firewood, even a provincial governor will not escape the raging inferno!..."

"Although Lord Li is inactive, he is insightful and has long been aware of the situation! What he seeks now is nothing more than to live peacefully for another year or two before retiring into seclusion. Right now, he is relying on my Taiping Dao to appease the refugees in the prefectures and counties and slow down the spread of this fire. Although he has some reservations, he is thinking more about himself."

"On the last day of our discussion, Lord Li told me that he would not be here at this time next year. He wanted to return to his hometown of Yewang in Henan, to 'lead a yellow dog, chase a cunning rabbit, live in a bamboo forest, drink from a sweet spring, live a carefree life, cultivate the fields, and keep company with the Dao'... These were his true feelings, and he asked me to maintain the Taiping Dao in Jizhou for another year. As long as he steps down, whatever happens afterward, even if the heavens and earth collapse or the Yellow River changes its course, it will be none of his concern!"

Hearing the sentiments of this Han Dynasty governor, Zhang Chengfu lowered his head and remained silent, unsure how to comment. But soon, his spirits lifted, and he laughed.

"Teacher! The court is corrupt and decadent. When an old governor leaves office, a new one often takes months to arrive... These months of vacancy are the best opportunity for us to launch our uprising! We must put more effort into securing the governors and chief clerks in Wei Commandery and Zhao State. If that fails, when the time is right, I am willing to risk assassinating them!"

"...Assassinate him? Kill the prefect? ​​Chengfu, it's too early to talk about that now. You also need to curb your murderous aura and stop thinking about such things. A wise man keeps his weapons hidden..."

Zhang Jiao frowned, somewhat helplessly looking at his seemingly gentle and refined young disciple who was actually filled with murderous intent. He remained silent for a long time, when a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

"Yuan Yi's grand scheme may also require the assistance of those who bear responsibility! The palace is heavily guarded, but children are the least guarded and have the easiest time coming and going... If this matter succeeds, it could change the fate of the Han dynasty!..."

"But the risks involved are far too great for Chengfu! And would he even be willing to take this action?...

The wind and snow howled outside, drowning out all sounds and obscuring all plans. When the heavy snow had arrived but the winter solstice had not yet come, the Taiping Dao group finally crossed the Yellow River and arrived at Baimajin in Yanzhou.

However, instead of following "Yuan Shao's road" westward from the Pu River to Yingchuan, they took another road eastward towards Jiyin.

An extra chapter will be added later.

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(End of this chapter)