Volume One: The Southern River Command Chapter 14: Luzhou

Wei Fufeng nodded. Li Song continued, “The Lord of the Eastern Sichuan Military Governor’s Office forced the Zhao clan to relinquish the position of Prefect. I suspect he’s worried something might happen in Luzhou.”

Wei Fufeng nodded again. “Master Li, you are well acquainted with the affairs of Luzhou. Please advise me on the best course of action.”

“I dare not presume to instruct you.” Li Song stood to show respect, then added, “When you arrive in Luzhou, your first priority is to recruit and organize the Yajun, and at the same time, establish good relations with the local gentry.”

“To win over the gentry of Luzhou? I fear they will only feign courtesy on the surface and be difficult to truly befriend,” Wei Fufeng retorted.

“If interests can be aligned, the gentry will naturally wish to ally with you,” Li Song replied.

“Please speak plainly, Master Li.” Wei Fufeng stood to show deference.

“You hail from the Wei family of Chang’an, one of the great and recognized noble families of the realm. As such, you possess both the prestige of the southern Sichuan military governorship and the standing to lead the local gentry,” Li Song explained.

Wei Fufeng spoke softly, “Are you implying I should carve out my own rule in southern Sichuan?”

“You misunderstand. The Southern and Eastern Sichuan military governorships are both imperial appointments, equal in rank and independent of one another. There is no talk of usurpation,” Li Song replied.

“The old man is trying to entice me, but his intentions are far from pure,” Wei Fufeng thought, feigning contemplation.

After walking several steps, Wei Fufeng shook his head. “These are not the times of old. The court’s authority no longer sways the local powers. If I try to stand as an equal to the Eastern Sichuan Governor, Lord Gu will not tolerate me.”

Li Song said, “If you go to Luzhou and cannot secure the support of the local gentry, you will gain nothing but a hollow title. You are a scion of the Wei family of Chang’an, now appointed as the Southern Sichuan Governor. Surely your family has placed high hopes in you.”

Wei Fufeng deliberately remained silent, knowing silence would give him the upper hand.

Indeed, after a few more steps, Li Song spoke again. “If the gentry support your standing in southern Sichuan, you need only safeguard their interests. In this way, you will be as lips and teeth—interdependent. As I said, the former Prefect of Luzhou, of the Zhao family, was forced to yield his post. How could the Zhao family not worry about their future?”

Wei Fufeng responded, “Does the Zhao family fear that the Eastern Sichuan Governor will further encroach on their interests?”

Li Song replied, “Luzhou is prosperous and controls the lucrative salt trade along the great river. The Zhao clan’s rise is due to their hold on the prefectural office. Without it, they lose their greatest protection. Moreover, they have taken in many able-bodied men, which will draw the suspicion of the Eastern Sichuan Governor.”

Wei Fufeng nodded and then whispered, “Would you be willing to approach the Luzhou gentry on my behalf? I cannot take the initiative myself.”

“I am at your service,” Li Song said respectfully, rising to his feet.

“Good. Should this succeed, you will be well rewarded in the future,” Wei Fufeng promised quietly.

...

Wei Fufeng and his retinue embarked at Changyuan County, sailing downstream along the Laixi River into Luxian.

Within the borders of Luxian, the Laixi River flowed into the Tuo River, which they followed downstream to the administrative seat of Luzhou in Luxian.

Luxian city stood at the confluence of the Tuo and Yangtze Rivers, blessed with abundant water resources. As a result, Luzhou boasted both rich agricultural harvests and a thriving riverine trade.

By late morning, Wei Fufeng’s party arrived at the dock in Luxian. He was greeted by a scene much like that at the dock in Changyuan, but on a grander scale; the dock itself was far larger as well.

This time, with the gangplank in place, Wei Fufeng was the first to disembark.

Onshore, the officials lined up in welcome. At their head stood a man in a purple robe and jade belt, with a black gauze cap—clearly an equal in rank to Wei Fufeng.

The office of Prefect was divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers. Changzhou was a lower-tier prefecture, whose Prefect wore only the fourth-rank scarlet robe.

Wei Fufeng composed himself, then walked over with a calm and gracious smile.

The officials stepped forward in orderly fashion. Within a dozen paces, they approached each other, stopping five steps apart.

“Lord An, I am Wei Zheng,” Wei Fufeng greeted with a bow and a smile.

“Lord Wei, you have come a long way and must be weary,” the official in purple replied courteously.

He was a man of about forty, with a jade-like countenance and a long beard reaching his chest—a refined gentleman, who at first glance left an impression of distinction.

From what Wei Fufeng had learned, the Prefect of Luzhou, An Ran, was a nobleman with a taste for elegance, particularly mindful of aristocratic ways.

Wei Fufeng dared to come to Luzhou to play his game in part because of the Prefect’s noble nature.

Nobles recognized their own. There was always a tendency to accept those of similar background, for the aristocracy looked down on officials of humble birth, placing great importance on lineage.

“Wei Zheng is young and in need of your guidance, Lord An,” Wei Fufeng replied with due respect.

“As it should be. Lord Wei, please enter the city,” An Ran responded, his smile revealing a favorable impression.

The two men in purple robes walked side by side, officials and guards following behind.

After a dozen meters, Wei Fufeng whispered, “Lord An, I am here on a grave mission and must inform you at once.”

“Oh? Then let us ride together,” An Ran replied.

At the dock, they boarded a finely crafted double-horse carriage.

Inside, Wei Fufeng caught a whiff of delicate fragrance. The interior was draped in silk, luxuriously appointed—just as he had heard.

Seated across from An Ran, the carriage set off. An Ran smiled, “You seem in great haste, Lord Wei. What is this grave mission?”

Wei Fufeng bowed, replying solemnly, “My mission is so sensitive I cannot put it in writing. It comes by word of mouth from the Military Governor himself.”

An Ran nodded gravely. “Please speak, Lord Wei.”

“The Governor has ordered me to eliminate the Zhao, Luo, and Gao clans of Luzhou, to eradicate the seeds of rebellion,” Wei Fufeng whispered with gravity.

An Ran’s face changed dramatically as he stared at Wei Fufeng. “What did you say? Eliminate the gentry of Luzhou?”

Wei Fufeng nodded solemnly. “The order comes directly from the Governor, but it must be carried out in my name. If you are willing to cooperate, you must levy troops and place them under my command.”

An Ran was visibly shaken, hesitant and uneasy for a moment, before questioning, “How could the Governor order the destruction of the Luzhou gentry?”

Wei Fufeng, inwardly scoffing, continued softly, “It is said the gentry of Luzhou command tens of thousands of strong men. The Governor fears their power will become unmanageable. Moreover, troops from Luzhou are needed for the war in Western Sichuan.”

An Ran gave a faint “Oh,” then shook his head. “It cannot be done. The gentry are deeply rooted here. Five thousand militia are close to the Zhao clan. Even though I command them, I cannot use them to destroy the Zhao. The Zhao also have thousands of their own soldiers and many followers. It cannot be done unless the Governor sends a massive force.”

“The Governor will never send a massive army to Luzhou, nor will he acknowledge having given such an order. This matter must fall to you and me. Otherwise, our very lives will be at risk,” Wei Fufeng countered, issuing a veiled threat.

An Ran’s expression shifted. “How could we possibly destroy the gentry? If we give such an order, the Luzhou troops will turn against us. It is impossible. I will petition the Governor to rescind this command.”

Wei Fufeng shook his head. “You may send your petition, but I have no way out. If I do not carry out this order, the Governor will refuse to support the campaign in Western Sichuan.”

An Ran looked at Wei Fufeng, shaking his head. “If I conscript men and form an army, it will only rouse the gentry’s suspicion and resistance. They may well rise in rebellion first. Luzhou’s affairs cannot be handled with force—they must be approached gently and with patience.”

“The Governor’s orders are not to be disobeyed. Wang Jian in Western Sichuan already commands tens of thousands of troops. The Governor fears that once Wang Jian is established there, he will turn on Eastern Sichuan. Wang Jian is known for his martial prowess and ingratitude—you must have heard of his reputation,” Wei Fufeng pressed.

An Ran was silent. Wei Fufeng continued, “This concerns the campaign in Western Sichuan. I must execute the order. You may issue a conscription order under the pretext of taking Yu Prefecture.”

“Under the pretext of taking Yu Prefecture?” An Ran was startled.

“Yes. I am the Defender of Yu, Lu, Chang, and Rong Prefectures, and will lead the Luzhou troops to take over Yu Prefecture. This will mislead the local gentry. Once the army sets out for Yu Prefecture, you will serve as deputy commander. After taking control, you may remain in Yu Prefecture, while I return to Luzhou to act against the gentry. If I fail, I will flee to Chang’an. What follows will be up to the Governor to handle with greater force,” Wei Fufeng explained, emphasizing An Ran’s safety.

An Ran stroked his beard in contemplation. After a while, he nodded. “Very well. I am willing to support you, Lord Wei.”

Wei Fufeng nodded. “Should this succeed, you will have great merit. I will lead ten thousand Luzhou troops to Chengdu to serve my family, as agreed with my brother-in-law, the Deputy Marshal of the Western Sichuan Expeditionary Force, and my family elder.”

An Ran nodded. “The rebellion in Western Sichuan must end soon. The ongoing war has left the people destitute.”

Wei Fufeng nodded. “Your concern for the people does you credit, Lord An. Both Lord Gu and my family elder wish to see this resolved swiftly—hence the need for massed troops.”

An Ran nodded, his expression regaining its previous dignity and refinement.

Wei Fufeng turned to look out the window, taking in the orderly streets and shops. Outside, people bustled by—most of them in ragged clothing.

“Lord An, there seem to be many refugees in Luzhou,” Wei Fufeng remarked quietly.

“Many indeed. Most are from Jingnan and Western Sichuan. Recently, even people from Huainan have arrived in droves. Luzhou is now overrun and, though prosperous, cannot bear the burden. Unrest is constant,” An Ran replied, shaking his head with helpless compassion.

“This conscription could make use of the refugees,” Wei Fufeng suggested softly.

“Refugees are rootless, akin to bandits. Give them weapons and they will easily form rebel bands. They cannot be used,” An Ran objected.

“At present, we need as many soldiers as we can muster. Once the Governor’s orders are fulfilled, I will take the refugee army to Chengdu,” Wei Fufeng whispered.

After a moment’s thought, An Ran nodded silently.

Wei Fufeng breathed a quiet sigh of relief, though inwardly he felt a chill. In Changyuan, Li Song had come to him seeking profit, proposing an alliance with the Luzhou gentry.

On the surface, Li Song’s strategy seemed the best way to build power and conformed to the official ways of the two Sichuans.

The alliance of officials and gentry was an established path to mutual benefit.