xymnovel Chapter 1: New Emperor Ascends the Throne and Starts a War
Chapter 1: New Emperor Ascends the Throne and Starts a War
In the first year of Ying Shun, just after the first month, the chill of winter had not yet dissipated.
In the back hall of the Yanzhou government office, a tall man over fifty years old stood with his hands behind his back.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his features distinct. Though he was already in his early twilight years, traces of his youthful vigor could still be seen. Especially striking were his sharp, hawk-like eyes, which sent chills down one's spine wherever they fell.
Inside the hall, a censer of styrax incense, a precious tribute from the Western Regions, burned, its smoke billowing and its fragrance permeating the air.
However, the fragrant aroma filling the room failed to soothe the man's furrowed brow. He seemed preoccupied with something he couldn't decide, his gaze frequently sweeping over the books offered on the incense table.
It was a bright yellow imperial edict with a gilded handle, woven with brocade, and decorated with auspicious clouds, cranes, and soaring dragons, displaying the majesty of the imperial family.
The imperial envoy had already read out the contents of the imperial edict—ordering Yanzhou to send troops to punish Li Yichao, the military governor of Dingnan Army, who had disobeyed the imperial command.
As a subject, it is only natural to obey imperial edicts, but the man was conflicted and uneasy, unable to make a decision.
"Peaceful times last no more than seven years, and the world is about to descend into chaos again."
The man was dressed in a purple robe, the official robe of a high-ranking official of the third rank or above in this dynasty, but a piece of black linen was sewn on his shoulders and back, signifying mourning.
He was Gao Xingzhou, the former military governor of Zhenwu Army and protector-general of Anbei, who had just been transferred from Shuozhou to Yanzhou and appointed military governor of Zhangwu Army a few days earlier. (Note 1)
"The situation has deteriorated to this extent in less than three months since the late emperor's death."
Gao Xingzhou had been guarding the northern frontier for many years, and was suddenly transferred to Yanzhou. He was well aware of the background of this relocation.
The position of Zhangwu Military Governor was originally created by Li Yichao, the Military Governor of Xia Prefecture, as a target of attack.
The Li family of Xia Prefecture originally belonged to the Tuoba clan and were the leaders of the eight tribes of the Dangxiang. The Dangxiang originated from the Western Qiang and also had Xianbei bloodlines.
More than fifty years ago, the leader Tuoba Sigong occupied Xia Prefecture, prepared armor and trained soldiers, and petitioned for assistance in suppressing the Huang Chao Rebellion. Emperor Xizong of Tang praised his loyalty and bravery, bestowed upon him the surname Li, granted him the military title of Dingnan, and put him in charge of the four prefectures of Xia, Sui, Yin, and You.
From then on, the Tangut forces grew stronger day by day. They nominally submitted to the court and accepted titles, making continuous contributions, but in reality, they maintained their independence. Succession was passed down from father to son, and outsiders could hardly interfere.
Li Sigong passed the throne to his younger brother Li Sijian. After Li Sijian's death, it passed to Li Sigong's grandson Li Yichang. Internal strife broke out among the Dangxiang people, and Li Yichang was killed by his subordinates. His people then elected his cousin Li Renfu as the new military governor.
Through generations of ups and downs, the power in Xia Prefecture has always remained in the hands of the Li family.
Just last year, Li Renfu passed away, and the three armies recommended his son, Li Yichao, the Left Commander-in-Chief and the Military Governor of the Four Prefectures, as the acting governor. Li Yichao pretended that Li Renfu was still alive and submitted a memorial in his father's name, requesting to be granted the imperial insignia, saying, "My illness is getting worse, and I have already entrusted my son Yichao with the temporary command of military affairs. I beg for the true mandate."
The practice of fathers succeeding sons was common among regional military governors in the late Tang Dynasty, and was not unique to the Li family of Xia Prefecture. Under normal circumstances, the imperial court would simply go along with it, completing the formality and that was it.
However, the late emperor was shrewd and did not let this opportunity pass. He intended to break the hereditary tradition of the Dingnan Army in Li Yichao's generation. Therefore, he appointed An Congjin, the prefect of Yanzhou and military governor of Zhangwu Army, as the acting governor of the Dingnan Army and exchanged his jurisdiction with Li Yichao.
Yanzhou, known as the key to the Three Qin regions and the throat of five routes, is a vital location in the northwest, bordering Xiazhou. Exchanging this place for Yanzhou is not unfair to the Li family. Although the intention to weaken the power of the princes is obvious, there is nothing wrong with it in name.
Given the difficulty in governing the regional military governors, the imperial court was prepared to use force and dispatched Yao Yanchou, the military governor of Binzhou Jingnan Army, with 50,000 infantry and cavalry, and An Chongyi, the palace garden commissioner, as the supervising officer, to escort An Congjin to Xiazhou to take up his post.
Unfortunately, this attempt ended in failure.
Li Yichao refused to obey the imperial edict, claiming that the army and the people supported him and refused to take up his post. Instead, he sent his brother, A Wang, to guard the Qingling Gate pass and gather the various Dangxiang tribes within his territory to resist the imperial army.
Under the scorched-earth policy, the government troops could not obtain supplies locally and had to transport grain and fodder from Guanzhong. The mountain roads were treacherous and narrow, and transporting a bushel of millet and straw worth several hundred coins to the front line would cost several strings of cash, with losses along the way amounting to ten times that amount.
More than 10,000 Dangxiang cavalrymen roamed around looting and pillaging, making it difficult for the government army to maintain its supply lines, and the people were in dire straits.
The siege was not progressing smoothly. Xiazhou City was originally Tongwan City, built five hundred years ago by Helian Bobo, the ruler of the Great Xia Kingdom. Its walls were as hard as iron and stone, and could not be penetrated by axes or chisels. It was one of the strongest cities in the world.
An Congjin and Yao Yanchou besieged the city, employing various tactics including siege ladders, battering rams, earthen rampages, and tunnels. From May to July of last year, they launched a fierce attack for several weeks, but Xiazhou City remained unmoved.
Even with numerous difficulties, given time, it is not impossible to conquer the city. However, misfortune never comes singly. While the emperor was seeking refuge from the summer heat at the Nine-Bend Pool, he suddenly contracted a rheumatic illness, which recurred repeatedly and could not be cured despite numerous treatments.
The army fought for a long time without success, wasting money and supplies. The emperor fell ill, and various rumors spread among the troops. His Majesty had no choice but to issue an edict to withdraw the army. (Note 2)
On the day the imperial army withdrew, Li Yichao climbed the city wall and verbally softened his stance: "Xia Prefecture is barren and has no treasures to offer as tribute to the court; however, my ancestors have guarded this land for generations, and I do not wish to lose it. This small, isolated city would be an unjust victory, and it is not worth the trouble and expense of the state! I hope you will write this report. If you allow me to reform, you may be sent to fight, and I am willing to be the first among them."
In October, the imperial court appointed Li Yichao as the Grand Tutor and Military Governor of Dingnan Army, which was considered an acknowledgment of his unauthorized succession.
Upon thinking of this, Gao Xingzhou couldn't help but shake his head and sigh: "If this campaign ends in failure, Xia Prefecture will surely look down on the imperial court, and the Northwest will never have a peaceful day again." (Note 3)
In November, the emperor passed away in the Yonghe Hall of the Imperial Palace at the age of sixty-seven.
As the emperor passed away, chaos and disorder arose, but Gao Xingzhou did not wish to dwell on it. In the end, it was the late emperor's third son, Prince Song, Li Conghou, who succeeded to the throne.
The new emperor had not been on the throne for long, and he was determined to cultivate virtuous governance. The system of changing the monthly system had just been abolished, and he immediately invited scholars to read "Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era" and "Veritable Records of Emperor Taizong," intending to emulate the actions of a great ruler.
However, the same task can be done with ease by some people, but extremely difficult for others.
Li Conghou seemed to have failed to grasp the profound wisdom of handling interests, and his first move involved the mobilization of the Imperial Guards and local military governors.
Kang Yicheng, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards (both cavalry and infantry) and Military Governor of Heyang, was granted the additional titles of Grand Commandant and Attendant-in-Ordinary, and was put in charge of the affairs of the Six Armies and Guards.
An Yanwei and Zhang Congbin were appointed as commanders of the Imperial Guards Cavalry and Infantry, respectively, and later as military governors of Hezhong and Jingzhou.
Zhu Hongshi, the commander of the left and right wings of the Imperial Guard, and Huangfu Yu, the commander of the left and right wings of the Imperial Guard, were appointed as commanders of the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Infantry, respectively.
If sidelining Kang Yicheng and promoting the two commanders of the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Infantry to check and balance each other was a good move, then the subsequent decree was bound to cause a major upheaval.
The four major military governorships of Hedong, Hezhong, Heshuo, and Fengxiang were all ordered to be reassigned and exchanged.
Li Congke, the military governor of Fengxiang and Prince of Lu, was appointed as the acting garrison commander of Beijing.
Shi Jingtang, who remained in Beijing, was appointed acting prefect of Zhenzhou and Chengde Military Prefecture.
Fan Yanguang, the military governor of Chengde, was appointed acting governor of Yedu.
Li Congzhang, the former military governor of Hezhong and the Prince of Yang, was the acting prefect of Fengxiang Military Prefecture.
Having returned empty-handed from Xia Prefecture and lost face for the court, An Congjin was ordered to return to the capital and was appointed as the military governor of Shunhua Army in name only.
Hue Army was located in Yang Wu Chu Prefecture, but had no actual jurisdiction. An Congjin was essentially dismissed from his post, which was only slightly better than being directly removed from office.
Gao Xingzhou's appointment as the military governor of Zhangwu was also a relatively inconspicuous part of this personnel reshuffle.
Moreover, the transfer of high-ranking officials in the regional military commands was equivalent to the appointment of the Three Dukes or the heads of the Three Departments. According to custom, an imperial edict should be issued, sealed with the emperor's seal, and stamped with the seal of the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. When the edict was sent to the prefectures and counties, it should be publicly announced with a proclamation to show that the matter was of great importance.
Unexpectedly, the new emperor did not issue an imperial edict, but instead took the strong-arm approach of sending envoys with a proclamation to supervise the emperor's arrival at his post.
"To impose the policy of weakening the power of regional military governors before the throne is even secure—how can a two-hundred-year-old problem be solved so easily? Besides, it's not in accordance with the established system; it's like playing a game. I, Gao Xingzhou, am only following orders. Do you think Li Congke and Shi Jingtang will obediently comply?"
Moreover, besides internal troubles, there are also external threats. Not to mention Yang Wu of Huainan, who is disloyal to the Central Plains, Meng Zhixiang, the military governor of Jiannan and Liangchuan, is also a separatist ruler in Sichuan. Even during the late emperor's reign, he was unable to subdue him and was deeply wary of him. How could a mere honorary title of Grand Tutor possibly satisfy his appetite?
Gao Xingzhou thought to himself that the new emperor was oversimplifying matters of state.
Take this imperial edict for example. He has barely settled into his post, yet he immediately demands that troops be sent to deal with Li Yichao. This is surely asking the impossible.
"Even though I am mindful of the late emperor's kindness and willing to raise an army as ordered, I have only been in office for less than a month. The people of the prefectures and counties are not yet loyal to me, and we lack funds, provisions, and weapons. How can I possibly win against the strong and fierce troops of the enemy, with only newly recruited and defeated soldiers?"
Gao Xingzhou felt helpless. His Majesty was only twenty years old, in the prime of his life, and it was inevitable that he would act rashly.
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Place Name Comparison
Yanzhou: present-day Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province
Xia Prefecture: present-day Jingbian County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province
Suizhou: present-day Suide County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province
Yinzhou: present-day Mizhi County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province
Youzhou: the ancient city of Dong'aolezhaoqi in present-day Etuoke Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region