Volume 6, Chapter 34: The Missing Piece

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Lu Can hailed from Jiangxia, legitimate heir of the Marquis Who Suppresses Distant Lands. His paternal grandfather, named Ping, served as Grand General in the time of Emperor Wu and was famous for his loyalty and bravery. His father, named Xin, was military governor of Jiangxia for twenty years, supremely loyal and respected by all levels of society. The Duke lost his mother at a young age and followed his father into the military. When he was slightly over the age of ten, he could draw a three-picul

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bow. He had divine strength. In a hundred battles, warriors couldnt defeat him. Xin more or less said every time, My sons exploits are better than mine.

The Duke was skilled in martial arts and detested literature since childhood, because the State esteemed literature and looked down on the military. Xin fretted about this and invited a teacher to instruct him. The Duke was stubborn and disobedient by nature and drove away tutors. In the eleventh year of Xiande, Xin hired Jiang Zhe of Jiaxing as the family tutor. At the time, Zhe was barely fifteen. Xin was concerned the Duke would feel uneasy, but the Duke changed his attitude and acted with utmost courtesy and respect.

In the twenty-second year of Xiande, Zhe was carried off to Yong and surrendered. Many years later, the Yong Emperor enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Chu of the fourth rank and married him to Great Yongs Princess Changle of Ning. When the people of Chu heard this, they were incensed. All former colleagues and friends vilified him. Only the Duke was silent, so some criticized the Duke. The Duke said, A teacher for a day is a father for life. How could I sever ties because of a forced choice? Listen, denouncers, and retreat in shame.

Southern Chu Dynastic Records

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Biography of the Duke of Loyal Courage

Early in the eighth month of the tenth year of Longsheng, an endless stream of travelers took the post road running from Hai Prefecture

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to Xuzhou on foot. A storm had just passed, expelling the scorching heat. Wind blowing in from the sea brought along a slightly fishy smell as well as magnificently fresh air.

In the distance, dust billowed. The rumbling of cart wheels reverberated through the air, and an unbroken line of baggage wagons trundled toward Hai Prefecture under the protection of Yong troops. The merchants and travelers on the road all made way to the side of the road. This kind of scenario would happen nearly every ten to fifteen days, so they didnt need the troops to order them aside and voluntarily moved out of the way.

Great Yong and Southern Chu had been warring for many years, expending countless food, fodder, and supplies. Although the Yong military had also reclaimed farmland and trained troops in the area, they still required money, food, and supplies to be sent from the various regions Great Yong controlled. And the food and grain shipped from Youzhou and Yizhou mainly passed through the Yuntai Port in Hai Prefecture en route to Xuzhou.

In this vast and mighty convoy, a dark-robed young man not wearing armor nudged his horse slowly forward. He was Huo Cong. Two days ago, he landed at Yuntai and was supposed to ride hard to Xuzhou, but after he got ashore, dread rose inside him, and he deliberately delayed his journey. He set out with the caravan delivering provisions, nominally to have a safe trip. Although the Stalwart Tiger Guard protecting him saw into his mind, they couldnt bear to expose him. After all, they had been together for years, the camaraderie deep.

As noon approached, the general escorting the provisions and supplies ordered the whole column to rest beside the road. The general walked over and said, Young master Huo, theres an inn up ahead. This general often makes a stopover there for a meal on these journeys. If young master isnt opposed, can this general invite the young master to a round of drinks?

Huo Cong may have been concerned, but he wouldnt show any of it on his face. The officer was trying to be friendly. Huo Cong wouldnt decline this, so said with a smile, The generals kindness embarrasses this one. Then he vaulted off his horse and walked to the inn with the general while bantering.

The four Stalwart Tiger Guards automatically split off a pair who went off to investigate the inn. With Huo Cong leaving Dinghai, the Stalwart Tiger Guards whod followed Huo Cong to Dinghai should have had no reason to stay in Dinghai anymore, but a vast majority of them had served in the Eastern Sea Navy, and many of them now held positions as mid-level generals or other important posts. If they pulled out all at once, it would unavoidably impact the combat effectiveness of the Eastern Sea Navy. As a result, before Jiang Zhe summoned Huo Cong back, hed sent a memorial to the Yong emperor, petitioning that he might as well transfer those imperial bodyguards into the Eastern Sea Navy to hold posts. Outside of the four Stalwart Tiger Guards whod been by Huo Congs side over the years, the bodyguards all stayed in Dinghai.

Although the general escorting the baggage wasnt sure about Huo Congs identity, when he saw the young man had a retinue of Stalwart Tiger Guards protecting him, he knew Huo Cong had an important status. As such, he was reverent and respectful the whole journey and extremely courteous. Meanwhile, Huo Cong took the opportunity to ask a great deal about the state of affairs in Xuzhou.

Ever since the Jiangnan Command Post was constructed in Xuzhou in the eighth year of Longsheng, the hundreds of thousands of reinforcements that came in turned Huaibei into an impregnable fortress. After numerous large battles in three years, rivers of blood ran through Jianghuai. Generals on both sides had exhausted their ingenuity. Beyond the battlefields, secret agents traveled north and south without end on the roads. Even in Xuzhou, it was difficult to prevent Southern Chu secret agents and

jianghu

patriots from infiltrating. And the Prince of Qi, Li Xian, and Crown Prince Li Jun were overseeing Xuzhou, so assassins sprang up one after another. As a result, Xuzhou had long ago been placed under military rule, heavily guarded.

But what made Huo Cong worry was that his respected teacher, Jiang Zhe, was not in Xuzhou at the moment. Although Jiang Zhe was the Jiangnan Command Post Adviser, he didnt seem to care much about important military matters. In the past three years, not only had he returned multiple times to the Yong capital, he also spent most of his days traveling across the mountains and rivers between Jingxiang and Huaibei. Or he was rowing a boat on Weishan Lake, or climbing Mount Song to visit the Buddhist temple there, or lingering on Mount Xian by the Han River. He rarely showed an interest in major military events.

However, the way the Yong emperor indulged Jiang Zhe was unprecedented. Not only did he not condemn Jiang Zhe, he even promoted his title. Jiang Zhe was now honored as the Marquis of Chu of the imperial rank. This made a ton of people see red at the unfairness. Even though Huo Cong knew Jiang Zhe was rising through the nobility due to his extraordinary feats in the eighth year of Longsheng, Jiang Zhes self-indulgence rather puzzled him. Awarding others leverage was not something his respected teacher would do.

Huo Congs mind was spinning, but his face was expressionless. He chatted merrily and carefreely with the general as they walked into the spacious and clean roadside inn. Lifting the curtain and entering through the inns entrance, the general was about to yell to greet the innkeeper when he caught sight of something. He shuddered, then froze. Huo Cong was following him and saw something off with the generals behavior. But his line of sight was blocked by the generals body, so he couldnt see what was wrong inside the inn. Yet he took an unconscious step back. The two Stalwart Tiger Guards behind him caught up and took a protective stance around him.

If something unexpected happened inside the inn, the two Stalwart Tiger Guards whod gone in first wouldve found out and sounded the alarm. Huo Cong was suspicious and gazed inside with shining eyes. At this moment, the general took a couple hasty steps forward, prostrated, and said, This general, Xue Quanzhong, kowtows to Your Lordship, the Marquis. I didnt know Your Lordship would be here. Please forgive this general for trespassing.

Huo Cong heard an explosion go off inside his head when he heard the words. He went stiff as his gaze traveled past the prostrate general. He looked in and saw two people he was beyond familiar with sitting at the table in the center of the inn. One was a young man who still looked as young as ever, though his face pure as snow had changed slightly in three years. Wasnt he the servant who never left his masters side for a moment, Demonic Shadow Li Shun? And then there was the man wearing black robes that reached the ground, with gray hair, hoary temples, his face a bit more wrinkled by time, though his eyes were even gentler and deeper. Wasnt he his respected master hed been separated from for many years?

The older man reached out in a polite gesture to indicate the general rise, then turned his gaze outside the inn. He said with a smile, Conger, after an absence of three years, you cant have forgotten your teacher, right? What a waste of your teachers kindness to personally come to welcome you.

Staring into the deep eyes full of admiration and relief, Huo Cong felt the fear that had been pestering him for many days melt and disappear without a trace like ice and snow encountering the scorching sun. Unable to prevent the rush of emotions, he threw himself before the man, prostrating, and choked out, This disciple kowtows to respected teacher. How has respected teacher been? Before he finished, tears began falling to the dirt.

Seeing Huo Congs shoulders trembling softly as he forced himself to hold his passion in check, I was quite moved too. Regret welled up inside me at this moment. Thinking of how Id purposely wronged my beloved disciple over the past few years and of how he had to endure such stress at such a young age, Id truly made things difficult for him. I stepped forward, taking him by the arm, and pulled him into a seated position. I said with a smile, Its all right. Although I made you suffer for the past few years, it would be difficult for a normal person to get a chance like this, governing a county at such a young age like you have. Haitao sent letters saying youd helped him wage war with great effectiveness. You also racked your brains to govern Putuo, and he recommended you be appointed officially. However, I declined in your stead. These past few years were just for you to gain experience and familiarize yourself with general affairs. Theres no need to become an official. Stay with me and learn for several years. By then, youll be able to directly assist His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince in governing. If you got a post now, itd be troublesome.

Listening to his respected teachers earnest guidance, Huo Congs hidden uneasiness faded away. Wiping away his tears, he just realized only Jiang Zhe, Li Shun, and him remained in the inn. The uninvolved people had silently withdrawn, leaving an independent space for the teacher and disciple to talk. As for Li Shun, Huo Cong knew the man was attached at the hip to his respected teacher. Him remaining here was of no concern. After calming down, Huo Cong asked a long harbored question. Sir, this disciple often had doubts when reading war dispatches in Dinghai. Sun Tzu said, The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is the grounds of life and death, a road to either safety or to ruin. It cannot be left unexamined. Sir deeply understands the

Art of War

, so should know that a stalemate in warfare harms the people and society. If one can win, one should win quickly. If one cannot win, one should cease all military activities, make preparations for war, and wait for an opportune moment. The Emperor thinks highly of Sir, so why not do your utmost, or advise the Emperor to end the war, or pacify Southern Chu in one fell swoop?

I smiled at the question and replied, Conger, experienced and knowledgeable people in the world say Southern Chu is ignorant and weak, so why cant Great Yong trample all over it? Do you know the reason why?

Southerners mostly seek only ease and comfort. They adore grandeur and have no desire to capture the Central Plains, Huo Cong said with a stern face. If considering the strength of the two countries, outside of Grand General Lu Cans subordinates, most of the rest are not strong. Our militarys elite soldiers are each worth ten men, so Southern Chu is powerless to produce a threat against Great Yong. The current Southern Chu is ignorant and weak. Although this is the case, Jiangnan is rich and populous and has a vast expanse of fertile land. And it has Jianghuai as a barrier to northern heavy cavalry, as well as Sichuan guarding the Yangtze River upstream. Jiangnan has been conducive to being defendable since ancient times. The feudal lords guarding Jianghuai and dividing Jiangnan from the fallen half of the country are too numerous to count. As long as the Southern Chu King has popular support, steadily defends the natural barriers of Jianghuai, and gets another couple famed generals to guard strategic locations, and with a united military spirit, itll make Great Yong gaze across the Yangtze and sigh. Southern Chu has occupied Jiangnan for decades, and though powerful ministers now hold power, the political situation can still be said to be stable. The taxes levied arent heavy, and the commoners can still manage to live in peace. The populace is still supportive, and with a famous general like Grand General Lu blocking our military from marching south, the war has been stuck in a rut for years. Conquest is not possible.

I nodded silently. Huo Cong had indeed grown greatly over the last few years. I asked, Since this is the case, what is your opinion of the current state of affairs? Which of the two sides has the upper hand?

Huo Cong had thought this question through a long time ago. He replied without hesitation, Xiangyang is in our armys hands, and the Southern Chu military doesnt have the ability to march north into Jingxiang to invade Nanyang and threaten Guanzhong. Xuzhou is impregnable, and Southern Chus Jiangnan army doesnt have the opportunity to march north into Qing Province and Xuzhou. The majority of Sichuan has fallen in our hands. The Southern Chu military must rely on Ba Prefecture and Kuizhou to defend themselves. The Southern Chu military can only defend passively now. The side with the upper hand is self-evident. Its just that the Southern Chu military can still protect itself, and their forces have been honing themselves for the past few years. The Southern Chu militarys strength has gradually increased. If delays continue, one side waxing and the other side waning, it might be possible for the upper hand to flip to the Southern Chu military.

Your grasp of this point shows you truly havent wasted your time. Not bad, I said, pleased. Right now, Southern Chu seems in danger but is actually safe. And although our military has the upper hand, it appears strong but is weak in reality. Lu Can is not one to rest on his laurels. Three years ago, he seized an opening when our armies didnt get timely reinforcements to assault Chuzhou and Sizhou. If not for our military launching attacks in Dinghai, I fear he wouldve seized the chance to capture the empty Xuzhou. Although I made the best of the situation, using the rancor within the defending general of Xiangyang, Rong Yuan, to capture Xiangyang and reverse the fortunes a little, Lu Cans great ambitions were fully revealed. Although Southern Chu is currently on the back foot, Lu Can has taken advantage of successive years of hard fighting to seize all military authority in Jianghuai, training an elite force no worse than our militarys. Once our military appears slightly fatigued, hell suddenly ambush our armies when theyre unprepared, making all of Great Yongs hard work in conquering Southern Chu go up in smoke.

The words struck terror in the heart of Huo Cong. He lowered his head and thought hard for a long time before finally saying, Although Lu Can often focuses on defense in battle, whenever his enemy slacks off, he suddenly leads an ambush and seizes a vital city. One example is him capturing Jiameng Pass during the chaos in the eastern Sichuan region. Another example is when he dispatched Shi Guan to capture Suzhou and Yang Xiu to raid Sizhou while our army was reorganizing after defeat. The two militaries have been stuck in a stalemate for over a year. Im afraid Lu Can already has a plan for attacking our armys strategic locations. But where will he set his objective?

I nodded lightly and sighed. Conger knows that if we wanted to conquer Southern Chu, the best opportunity was in the twenty-third year of Wuwei. At the time, Northern Han had recently been defeated, and Sichuan hadnt been fully pacified yet. Meanwhile, Southern Chus wise king passed away; the successor was dull, the subjects in chaos, and the court disintegrated. As a result, His Imperial Majesty could lead a large host to storm Jianye, take the King captive, and retreat the whole army. If Great Yong had pressed on without letup, they would certainly have had the chance to conquer Southern Chu in one operation. Unfortunately, the succession struggle was an imminent concern.

His Imperial Majesty may have controlled a large army, but he was afraid to attack Southern Chu with full force. The soldiers werent united, and as a result, he missed this great opportunity. By the time the court settled down, Northern Han had recovered its strength, and the Northern War began again. And hidden troubles in the eastern Sichuan region began bubbling up to the surface. In addition, Southern Chu, with its heavily populated territory, stabilized their situation. If he fought in the south, it would be a protracted war, so he had no choice but to make his strategy to first conquer Northern Han before conquering Southern Chu. After Northern Han was conquered, in order to absorb Northern Hans national strength and because Jiameng Pass was lost, His Imperial Majesty was forced to recuperate and build up strength. During this time, Lu Can became the leading figure of Southern Chus military. Although Shang Weijun had monopolized all the power in the Southern Chu court, nobody could rival Lu Can in the military. It was a unified front in the Southern Chu military rarely seen over the decades. We had lost the great chance to conquer Southern Chu.

What I mean is that in the seventh year of Longsheng, troops shouldnt have been raised to conquer the South. After all, Shang Weijun and Lu Can were the civil and military administrators at the time, dominating the military and government. If Great Yong had marched south, even if Shang Weijun harbored evil thoughts, he wouldve had to rely on Lu Can. When Great Yongs heavy cavalry approached Jiangnan, it would allow the two men to cast aside their animosity and work together against a foreign enemy. Unfortunately, His Imperial Majesty itched to undertake the great cause of unification and finally decided to conquer Southern Chu, which helped Lu Can gain the hearts of the entire Jiangnan army.

Right before the war began, I received the imperial decree to head south. At the beginning, I intended to use Dinghai to contain Wuyue, then stalemate the Southern Chu armies in Jianghuai and Jingxiang. I hadnt planned to immediately provoke war, but I never expected Lu Can to go on the offensive and use the war to continuously reinforce his own position in the Southern Chu military.

Seeing the ravages of war stretching throughout Jianghuai and Jingxiang, I finally determined Lu Cans plan. He wasnt willing to seek a momentary reprieve in Jiangnan and actually had ambitions for the Central Plains. Although Great Yong has a wise ruler on the throne, as well as famous generals and a powerful army, and cannot be hastily attacked, as long as Lu Can seizes a chance to go north through the gate to the Central Plains and stays entrenched, waiting for a wise ruler to as