jdhmnovel Chapter 1286 The Western Qiang Rebellion and the Gaoyuan Offenders
Chapter 1286 The Western Qiang Rebellion and the Gaoyuan Offenders
In 203 AD, as the spring breeze had just begun to green the Guanzhong Plain, a tense yet exhilarating atmosphere permeated Chang'an. Ma Chao was deploying his troops, preparing to advance on Bingzhou according to his established strategy, when a report of victory from Liangzhou suddenly arrived at his desk—Ma Dai's messenger, riding swiftly, brought the dust of the grasslands to Chang'an.
"Reporting to my lord! The Grand Commander of Liangzhou has returned to the grasslands as agreed with the King and has achieved a great victory!" The messenger knelt on one knee and held the report of victory high above his head.
Ma Chao unfolded the document, and Ma Dai's handwriting was strong and clear: "Last autumn, I led 20,000 iron cavalry north out of Liangzhou, advancing along the route our lord took to pacify the grasslands. For the past two years, the grasslands have been without a master; the nomadic tribes that were once driven away dare not return, leaving only cattle and sheep everywhere—a truly opportune moment. The army marched westward, reaching the ruins of the old city of Ordos, finding no tribes along the way. Finally, we set up an altar at the foot of Mount Langjuxu to offer sacrifices, proclaiming the might of the Han dynasty, before returning in triumph. This time, we brought 20,000 well-equipped Xiliang iron cavalry to Chang'an, along with 200,000 head of cattle and sheep, and countless provisions and supplies."
"Excellent!" Ma Chao slammed his hand on the table, his eyes gleaming. Ma Dai had not only secured the rear of Liangzhou, but also brought back enough supplies to support the army's eastward advance. This generous gift dispelled any lingering hesitation he might have had.
Upon hearing the news, the generals rushed to the tent, and were all invigorated. Li Ru stepped forward and said, "My lord, the Grand Commander of Liangzhou has cleared away our worries about the rear. Now is the perfect time to advance eastward!"
Jia Xu also said, "Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan in Hebei are constantly fighting amongst themselves, Cao Cao is trapped in Yanzhou, and Gongsun Zan used to be famous in Youzhou, and has a grudge against the Yuan family. We can send Gongsun Zan to send troops from Bingzhou and directly attack Youzhou. If you personally lead the main force to Xudu, we can bring the Central Plains into our sights, and the world order will surely be affected by our army."
Ma Chao walked to the map, his fingertip tracing from Chang'an to Bingzhou, then pointing to Youzhou: "Send a letter to Gongsun Zan, ordering him to immediately send troops from Bingzhou to contain Yuan Xi's old forces; Xu Huang and Zhang Yan will lead 50,000 troops as the vanguard to first conquer Heishan and open up the passage to the east; the 20,000 iron cavalry sent by Ma Dai will rest for ten days and then follow my main force."
He paused, his gaze falling on Xuchang, and said with a resolute tone, "Once Bingzhou is secured, I will move into Xuchang. It is the heart of the Central Plains, and from there we can overlook Yan and Yu provinces, observe the struggle between Cao Cao and the Yuan family, and act when the opportunity arises."
"Our lord is wise!" The generals accepted the order, and the sound of their voices filled the tent.
Within Bingzhou, the sound of horses' hooves shattered the tranquility of early spring. Gongsun Zan personally led 30,000 troops out of Dingxiang County, heading north towards Dai County, incorporating many of Yuan Xi's former subordinates along the way. Wherever his banners pointed, dust billowed. On the other side, Xu Rong led 20,000 elite troops from Hedong County, aiming for Shangdang County. His offensive was fierce, and he quickly captured several border towns.
Two armies advanced side by side, and urgent dispatches from the Youzhou border flew to Ye City like snowflakes. Yuan Shang had just stabilized the situation in Ji Province when he heard of the disturbances in Bing Province, and his heart tightened immediately—Gongsun Zan already had an old grudge against the Yuan family, and now with Ma Chao backing him, he clearly wanted to take advantage of the situation. What made him even more uneasy was that Ma Chao had personally led a large army to Xuchang, and that city in the heart of the Central Plains was like a fierce tiger, staring intently at Hebei, making him dare not easily divide his forces to meet the enemy.
The March winds had just begun to bring some warmth when an urgent report from the Western Qiang caused Ma Chao in Xuchang to frown. The messenger was a confidant of Cheliji, the leader of the Western Qiang, who reported that unidentified troops had suddenly appeared on the border, and after engaging in battle, it was discovered that they were actually a tribe from the highlands.
"The Xiangxiong Kingdom west of the Yarlung Tsangpo River has disintegrated. Now, the Faqiang and Tangmao tribes have risen to power and are joining forces with surrounding tribes to launch a major eastward offensive, harassing our western Qiang border." The messenger knelt on the ground, his voice filled with fear. "They are fierce warriors and familiar with the terrain of the plateau. Our tribe cannot withstand them. Please, my lord, send reinforcements immediately!"
Ma Chao clutched the urgent report, almost laughing in exasperation. Just a few years ago, the grasslands had been pacified, bringing some stability to the north, and now war had broken out on the southern plateau—truly a case of one problem solved only to create another. He gazed at the city walls of Xuchang outside his tent, pondering for a moment—Xuchang was guarded by Zhang Liao, enough to deter Cao Cao and Yuan Shang; the Western Qiang were the shield of Xiliang, and absolutely could not be lost.
"Send the order to return to Chang'an," Ma Chao decided immediately.
Upon returning to Chang'an, he immediately summoned his generals for a meeting. Li Ru analyzed, "The Fa Qiang and Tang Mao are entrenched on the plateau. If we do not pacify them before they become too powerful, they will surely become a major threat in the future. Moreover, the Western Qiang and our Western Liang are closely interdependent. If they are annexed, our flank will be completely exposed."
Jia Xu also said, "We can send a great general to lead the elite troops there, and also mobilize Zhang Yan's Black Mountain Army to cooperate. Zhang Yan has many experts in mountain warfare who are familiar with complex terrain. In addition, we can transfer troops from Longxi and Dunhuang to ensure the supply of food and grass, so as to ensure that our rear is secure."
Ma Chao nodded, his gaze falling on Pang De: "Lingming, you have fought alongside me for many years, brave and steady. This time, you will be in charge, leading 30,000 Xiliang cavalry to join Zhang Yan's forces and go to Xiqiang to quell the rebellion."
Pang De clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail in my mission and will wipe out the rebellious tribes on the plateau!"
“Remember,” Ma Chao instructed, “the terrain of the plateau is complex and the climate is harsh, so we must not underestimate the enemy. If we can win them over, we should do so; if they remain stubborn, we should then annihilate them. We must secure the border with the Western Qiang and bring the area east of the Yarlung Tsangpo River under our control.”
"Here!"
A few days later, Pang De mustered his troops and assembled them in Longxi with Zhang Yan's forces who had come to join him. Zhang Yan, who came from Black Wind Mountain, brought 10,000 infantrymen skilled in climbing mountains and crossing valleys. Together with the Xiliang cavalry, they marched towards the border of the plateau.
On the city wall of Chang'an, Ma Chao gazed in the direction the army had departed, his brow still furrowed. In the north, Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong were still grappling with Yuan Shang, Zhang Liao in Xuchang needed to be wary of Cao Cao's movements, and now the Western Qiang were at war again, making the political landscape increasingly complex. But he knew that in this chaotic world, only by ending war with war could he secure a place for Xiliang.
The wind swept across the city walls, carrying the scent of dust from afar, as if foreshadowing another tough battle in this high-altitude campaign.
Because Ma Chao was delayed by the war in the Western Qiang region, Yuan Shang's pressure was greatly reduced. Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong's troops had been locked in a stalemate in Youzhou for nearly half a year. Most of their food supplies had been consumed, and the number of soldiers suffering from frostbite was increasing day by day, but they still had not been able to break through the defenses set up in Youzhou.
On the city wall, Shen Pei, wrapped tightly in a heavy cloak, surveyed the frozen, purple earth outside the city. Yan Liang stood to one side, his armor covered in a thin layer of ice, yet he remained as upright as a pine tree.
“Gongsun Zan’s supplies are running low,” Shen Pei said in a deep voice, the command flag in his hand trembling in the cold wind. “Although Xu Rong is fierce, he is tied up in Yangqu by us, and it is difficult for him to send troops to support him.”
Yan Liang replied in a deep voice, "It's just a matter of time. Is there any news from Yangqu?"
Shen Pei unfolded the secret letter, his breath blurring the words: "Mr. Yan Xiang and Wen Chou have kept Xu Rong's army bogged down in Yangqu."
The battle in Youzhou reached a stalemate. What was originally an opportunity for Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong to take advantage of the situation was instead dragged into a war of attrition by Shen Pei and others. They acted like wedges, firmly anchored in Youzhou, preventing the Bingzhou troops from advancing an inch, and allowing Yuan Shang to free up his hands to focus on dealing with Yuan Tan in Qingzhou.
In the late autumn of 203 AD, the cold wind on the border of Youzhou swirled with snowflakes, lashing against Gongsun Zan's command tent with a howling sound. Inside the tent, the candlelight flickered, reflecting his bloodshot eyes. The grain ledger on the table was worn and tattered, and only 30% of the available grain remained. Frostbite-stricken soldiers filled the makeshift tents, their coughs and groans rising and falling.
"Report! Urgent report from Yangqu!" A scout entered, covered in snow. "General Xu Rong's attack on Yangqu has failed, and his supplies have run out. He has retreated to Xihe County!"
Gongsun Zan slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, causing the bronze lamp on the table to shake violently: "What! General Xu Rong can't even take Yangqu City!"
Tian Yu cautiously began, "My lord, our army's food supplies are almost exhausted. That old fox Shen Pei has set up three lines of defense in Youzhou. A direct attack would be suicide..."
Gongsun Zan clenched his fists. He remembered Ma Chao's promise before they set off: "I will lead the main force and arrive shortly after. You just charge forward." But now, there was no sign of the Xiliang army. All that came was news that Ma Chao was held up by the war against the Western Qiang. This delay stretched into late autumn, and the harsh winter of Youzhou became an even more terrifying enemy than Yuan Shang's troops.
"Withdraw the troops!" Gongsun Zan gritted his teeth, his voice filled with resentment. "Retreat to Bingzhou and make further plans!"
When the news reached Ye City, Yuan Shang was standing in front of a map of Qingzhou, watching the flags representing Yuan Tan's forces being pulled down one by one. Feng Ji walked in and handed him a cup of hot tea: "My lord, Gongsun Zan has retreated."
Yuan Shang took the tea, his fingertips finally feeling warm: "Hahaha, after a whole six months, it's finally gone!"
Feng Ji laughed and said, "My lord's previous move of having Yan Xiang delay Xu Rong in Yangqu was indeed a brilliant one. Now that Youzhou has been relieved, Qingzhou is just around the corner."
Yuan Shang gazed at the snowflakes falling outside the window, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.
"Send word to Wen Chou," Yuan Shang turned around, his eyes gleaming with ambition, "that he lead 30,000 troops south to cooperate with my main force and take Qingzhou before winter. General Yan Liang can remain in Youzhou."
The granaries of Chenliu County were piled high with newly harvested millet. Cao Cao stood on the city wall, watching the dust rising from the direction of Jiyin County, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He had already learned from his spies that Yuan Shang, in order to annex Qingzhou, had not hesitated to abandon half of Jiyin County and transfer Zhang He and Gao Lan's elite troops to the eastern front. This move was too hasty.
"My lord, Zhang He's troops have passed Juye and are advancing into the heart of Qingzhou." Cheng Yu lightly waved his feather fan, his voice carrying a hint of mockery. "Yuan Tan is suffering repeated defeats in Pingyuan County, and I'm afraid he won't be able to hold out for much longer."
Cao Cao stroked the cracks in the city wall, his fingertips dusting off. "Yuan Shang thinks that without Youzhou's hold, he can focus on taking Qingzhou? He's forgotten that the Yuan family isn't the only one vying for control of the Central Plains." He turned to Cheng Yu. "Send the order down to Yu Jin and Yue Jin to immediately send troops to take advantage of Jiyin's vulnerability and completely seize that half-prefecture. As for Qingzhou..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping eastward, where Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were locked in battle: "Let them fight it out first. When they are both exhausted, we can then march north and reap the benefits. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Meanwhile, within Qingzhou, Yuan Tan's composure had long since been eroded by anxiety. From the moment Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang led their troops into Qingzhou to assist in defense, their seemingly coordinated actions were in fact a gradual, calculated advance, like vines silently entwining and eroding his power and territory. Yuan Tan was not unaware of this; the replacement of the garrison commanders and the gradual stripping away of his control over grain supplies were silent reminders of the impending crisis. However, his forces were already inferior to Yuan Shang's; a direct confrontation would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock. He could only suppress his unease and barely maintain a facade of calm.
When Yuan Shang finally dropped his pretense, his orders rained down like snowflakes, replacing all of Yuan Tan's trusted generals and even directly ordering the confiscation of the Qingzhou garrison's weapons, Yuan Tan finally couldn't hold on any longer. He abruptly overturned his desk, scattering documents all over the floor. His usually composed tone became sharp and desperate: "He ultimately can't tolerate me!" The restraint in his eyes crumbled, leaving only naked fear and resentment. Panic engulfed him like a tidal wave, even the hand gripping his sword trembled uncontrollably. He knew that this time, there was truly no way to retreat.