Chapter 680
Qi and Han Send Troops
Having successfully assembled under the walls of Shouchun, the Han army swiftly deployed and completed the encirclement of the city.
At this time, the Han army had a force of 70,000, which was considerable, but it was impossible to completely surround Shouchun, especially considering the possibility of Qi troops arriving from the northeast. Therefore, He Pan did not choose to launch a direct attack on the city.
After careful consideration, He Pan ordered the Hedong army to occupy the south of the city, the Xiangdong army to occupy the north, the Yongzhou army to occupy the west, and the Sili army to occupy the east, first repairing fortifications on all four sides to establish a firm foothold outside the city. He himself was stationed at the foot of Mount Bagong in the east of the city, and ordered the Yizhou and Jingzhou armies to lead their fleets to the Huai River, while the cavalry were stationed at Beishan Garrison north of Mount Bagong. This coordinated approach from both inside and outside created a comprehensive and inescapable network, making it difficult for the Jin army to break out and for the Qi army to invade.
After making the arrangements, he sent his eldest son, He Zhang, to the city to reveal his name and identity to the civil and military officials of the Jin court, and to report the conditions that he had agreed upon with Liu Xian in advance, hoping that the city would surrender as soon as possible.
However, it was clear that Wang Yan could not accept what he considered to be generous terms. He had worked hard for decades so that the Langya Wang clan could advance further. Wouldn't Liu Xian's terms make all his previous efforts go to waste? He would not have given up if he hadn't been certain that he had no other choice.
The remaining civil and military officials within the city were also uneasy. After all, most of them were, to some extent, remnants of the Donghai King's faction, and everyone understood the feud between the Donghai King and the Han King. Even if the Han King was magnanimous today, what about the future? No one could say for sure. Especially since He Sui had disappeared without a trace after leaving the city, it was inevitable that the powerful clans would harbor suspicions.
In contrast, it was the members of the Sima clan, such as Sima Chi, the Prince of Yuzhang, and Sima Yan, the Prince of Wu, who had some connections with Liu Xian, who were somewhat tempted. However, considering that they would have no face to face their ancestors and the state after surrendering, they did not feel comfortable offering to surrender.
Therefore, the city ignored He Zhang's offer to surrender, but dared not take any action against him. In truth, the city's defenders knew that given the city's situation, a prolonged defense was impossible. They clung to a sliver of hope that the Qi army might actually defeat the Han army after their southward advance. Ideally, both sides would be severely weakened and withdraw, allowing them to demand a higher price.
He Pan understood the mentality of these people. These people who lived by clinging to a sliver of hope were definitely not capable of fighting a tough battle. As long as the Han army could fill in the fortifications of the outer city and break through the outer city slightly, forcing them into a corner, these people would definitely surrender.
However, Shouchun was a formidable city, with walls five zhang high and bordering the Fei River, while its moat was over thirty zhang wide. Common methods of breaching a city were basically ineffective. For example, it was impossible to build earthen mounds over the moat, and tunnel attacks were unsuitable due to the lack of ventilation holes, not to mention rudimentary siege tactics like ant-like swarms.
Fortunately, He Pan had already thought this through on the way here, and he planned to use water attack to break through the city.
After ordering his generals to set up camp, He Pan first surveyed the terrain around Shouchun, then drew a long line and ordered each unit to build high walls around this line with earth. Then, he ordered a dam to be built downstream of the Fei River. With the earthen dam blocking the water, the water level would rise, and then the city of Shouchun would be submerged along the high walls built by the Han army, forming a truly impenetrable siege.
However, building a dam is a time-consuming project, and it cannot be completed in just a few days. It will take at least a month. After completion, it will also take time for the water level to rise, which means that a quick attack is not an option. In other words, it seems that Liu Xian's prior agreement to avoid a battle with the Qi people is impossible to keep.
Fortunately, using water as a weapon had another advantage. If successful, the surging river would become an army, preventing the city's defenders from opening the gates and leaving. In other words, the Han army only needed a small number of naval troops to form an encirclement, freeing up a large number of soldiers to respond to the Qi reinforcements.
Even with preparations made, He Pan felt a rare sense of unease at the thought of their impending adversary: this was an army that had only risen to prominence after the War of the Eight Princes, and they knew very little about them. What kind of opponent was the Qi army? How did it differ from the Han army's past enemies?
In fact, at that very moment in Daxing, the Qi army had just completed its assembly. Before setting out, Emperor Liu Baigen of Daxing had the same question. He assumed that this campaign would be personally led by Liu Xian, and since Situ Liu Tun and Liu Xian were both members of the Changsha King's faction and had had close ties, he summoned Liu Tun and asked, "Simply put, what kind of person is Liu Xian? What is his style of military command?"
"This..." Upon hearing the new emperor's question, Liu Tun considered for a moment before slowly saying, "Your Highness, it's hard to say."
Liu Bogen laughed and said, "What's so hard to say? Is he not human?"
"Of course not." Liu Tun nodded slightly and answered cautiously, "It's just that Liu Xian is a very strange person, and it's hard to describe him in just a few words."
"Then please, Situ, give your long speech. I don't need your time."
"In ordinary interactions, Liu Huaichong is actually a very profound person. The so-called unfathomable is not that he is not taciturn, but that his thoughts are extremely meticulous. It seems that there is nothing he has not thought about. He seems to be suspicious of everything and extremely pessimistic. He always makes the worst plans and then fights back from the worst situation. I have never seen anyone do better than him."
Although he knew that Liu Tun and Liu Xian were on good terms, Liu Bogen still showed a hint of displeasure when he heard Liu Tun praising Liu Xian. Unlike Liu Xian, he easily revealed his inner emotions, and at the same time, his reactions were very sharp.
He caught Liu Tun's unspoken message and asked, "So, Liu Xian won't fall for the trap?"
"Of course not. Anyone can fall into a trap, but even if he does, he has considered the consequences, so he always manages to escape from countless dangers, and no one can kill him. Simply put, he is someone who prepares an escape route as soon as the war begins."
At this point, Liu Tun was also very emotional, and then took a breath.
Wang Mi, who was standing nearby, asked, "So, his fighting style is very cautious?"
"That's not the case. Although he will think of a way to get out unscathed early on, when it comes to the time when he can simply leave, he often won't go. Instead, he will choose a more difficult path and fight back even if it puts him in danger."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bogen and Wang Mi were greatly astonished, not quite understanding Liu Tun's meaning. This was understandable; the statement sounded quite contradictory. How could someone prepare a plan but then choose not to use it? What logic could there be?
But soon, Wang Mi understood. He said, "Military tactics are not constant, just as water has no constant shape. What the Minister of War means is that although Liu Xian always plans his moves carefully, he can often find the enemy's weaknesses when he is on the battlefield. Then he can come up with a better plan based on the original plan and finally win by surprise."
"That's what I mean," Liu Tun nodded.
Upon hearing this, Wang Mi silently tapped his fingers on the table, feeling extremely troubled. Generally speaking, generals fall into two categories: those who prioritize strategic planning and those who rely on adaptability, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The former is exemplified by Zhuge Liang, who was cautious and conservative, spending considerable effort before each battle to develop detailed plans. Once the troops were deployed, they executed the plans flawlessly; if everything went smoothly, the battle was like a master butcher dissecting an ox, effortless and overwhelming. However, if unexpected variables arose, because his plans were intricately linked, one mistake could lead to a series of errors, leaving him no choice but to cut his losses and retreat on the spot.
A prime example of the latter is Cao Cao. His pre-battle planning was often inadequate; aside from a general strategic objective, he frequently left himself ample room for maneuver. However, speed is of the essence in warfare. Once Cao Cao spotted an opportunity, his actions were truly swift and decisive. He himself was unaware of his next move, and the enemy was even less able to anticipate it, leading to a series of setbacks and utter defeat. But if this tactic failed, he himself would be the one to suffer, which explains why Cao Cao repeatedly found himself in dire straits on the battlefield.
Of course, these two approaches are not mutually exclusive; they simply have different inclinations. Judging from Liu Tun's words, Liu Xian's military strategy seems to combine the strengths of both approaches without their weaknesses, possessing both comprehensive strategic planning and on-the-spot adaptability. More importantly, his insight appears remarkably sharp, consistently able to discern the vulnerabilities of his opponents.
"What are his weaknesses in combat?" Judging from Liu Bogen's tone, this was probably his last question.
"If facing the enemy head-on, Liu Xian had almost no weaknesses. His fighting will was very strong, or rather, he had amazing perseverance. In addition, he loved his soldiers like his own children and was benevolent and capable of caring for the people. Under his command, his soldiers often fought with heavy casualties and rarely retreated. Even if his right hand was cut off, he could still continue to fight with his left hand."
Emperor Daxing carefully considered Liu Tun's words, feeling a chill run down his spine. He seemed to already see Liu Xian's Shu Han army; facing such an opponent, conventional tactics alone would hardly guarantee victory. But everyone has their strengths and weaknesses; is there truly anyone perfect?
Wang Mi quickly figured it out and suddenly said, "But in other words, Liu Xian is very strict with his subordinates. Even though he often appeases them, it's not an easy task to follow him into battle. Am I right, Minister Situ?"
Faced with this question, Liu Tun pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Indeed, Liu Xian is very self-disciplined in the officialdom of Luoyang. He does not indulge in pleasure, does not bribe, is not lustful, is charitable, and spends all his gains readily, making him incompatible with the masses. In addition, his position is sensitive, so even though he has repeatedly tried to win over others and recruit talent, few people have responded, and he is not the first choice of a ruler."
"But precisely because of this, he still managed to gather a group of like-minded people and, through hardship and struggle, has reached where he is today." Liu Bogen understood Wang Mi's meaning, and thus quickly revealed a meaningful smile, saying with a mixture of admiration and sarcasm, "However, times have changed, and the situation is completely different now. To become emperor, one must endure filth and disgrace. Can he bear it?"
Both men were vaguely considering confronting the enemy, but this was not the right approach at the moment. Relieving the siege of Shouchun was the most urgent matter. Although they had heard of Liu Xian and his formidable fighting style, seeing is believing, and only by personally witnessing the strength and weakness of the Shu people could they make a targeted move.
Liu Bogen then summoned the marshal who had led the army south, namely Grand Commandant Cao Yi.
Although the Qi and Han dynasties had been established for some time, their systems were not perfect, and the hierarchy was not clearly defined, with each general still possessing considerable autonomy. The reason for this was simple: to overthrow the Jin dynasty as quickly as possible, the various Qi and Han tribes often needed to fight independently, roaming the Central Plains and recruiting soldiers. Furthermore, the Central Plains were now dotted with fortified villages, and the fighting had not completely subsided. This resulted in each tribe occupying its own territory as a kingdom, independent of one another, and only bound together by the emperor's prestige. From this perspective, Liu Baigen was not an absolute emperor, but rather the common leader of the various displaced tribes in the Central Plains.
Therefore, there was a saying circulating within Qi and Han that went something like "one tiger, three factions, and six hegemons," which was used to describe the political structure within Qi and Han.
"One Tiger" refers to General Wang Mi, who, as the Observer of the Eastern Sea, had known Liu Baigen for a long time and was originally his deputy during the uprising. After the Qi army suffered setbacks, it was he who devised the grand strategy to overthrow the Jin court, which achieved remarkable results, making him the undisputed spiritual leader of the entire Qi army.
The three parties refer to Wang Zhang, General of Chariots and Cavalry of Qi and Han, Cao Yi, Grand Commandant, and Liu Zhongdao, General of the Guards, all of whom had led an army in battle. Among them, Liu Zhongdao was the younger brother of Liu Baigen, Wang Zhang was the younger brother of Wang Mi, and only Cao Yi secured his position based on his genuine military achievements.
The "Six Governors" refers to Liu Ling, the Commandant of the Capital Region during the Qi and Han dynasties; Xu Miao, the Governor of Ji Province; Gao Liang, the Governor of Yan Province; Zhang Song, the Governor of Qing Province; Xu Kan, the Governor of Yu Province; and Li Yun, the Governor of Xu Province. Among these six, some were veterans who had followed Liu Baigen and Wang Mi in their uprising, while others were leaders of displaced people who had surrendered after the Central Plains period. All six were skilled in warfare and adept at governing the people. Therefore, they rose to the position of governor of their respective provinces and wielded considerable influence in their regions.
Qi Han dispatched troops this time by ordering Grand Commandant Cao Yi to lead three armies, including Commandant of the Capital Region Liu Ling, Governor of Yu Province Xu Kan, and Governor of Xu Province Li Yun, totaling more than 50,000 men, to the south to relieve the siege of Shouchun.
Cao Yi was a typical burly man from Shandong, with a large, robust build, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, giving him an extremely straightforward and forthright appearance. However, his demeanor was very measured; he moved like the wind and stood as still as a pine tree, which made his rugged appearance seem approachable.
After greeting the emperor, he quickly reported on the current state of the army: "Your Majesty, the army and supplies have been inventoried, and we will set off in two hours. What are your orders?"
Liu Baigen and Wang Mi exchanged a glance. After the emperor nodded, Wang Mi slowly said, "We have fought together for many years, sharing life and death. I have always trusted the Grand Commandant, so I don't have much to say about how to fight. I only have one sentence to say."
"Please give your orders, General."
"The cities of Yuxi are insignificant. Now that we have dispatched a large army, we should first demonstrate our military might and make the southerners tremble with fear."
Upon hearing this, Cao Yi pondered for a moment, then quickly showed an expression of understanding, and generously replied, "I will certainly not dishonor Your Majesty's wisdom!"
This brief conversation ended quickly. In the end, Wang Mi cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Supreme True Lord, discard falsehood and preserve truth."
This was a custom of the Eastern Sea Celestial Masters sect, and Cao Yi returned the courtesy, saying, "Burning and killing evil spirits will bring longevity to the people of Heaven."
Cao Yi led his army from Daxing that day, passing through Qiao County and Ruyin before marching south. Because the Central Plains were flat and open, and the land was firm in autumn and winter, the Qi army arrived at Xia Cai City, north of the Huai River, in just seven days.
The first battle between the Qi and Han armies was now imminent. (End of Chapter)