Volume One: The Southern River Command Chapter 19: Impossible

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Wei Fufeng was slightly surprised to hear the news; that old official was actually willing to relinquish the position of governor. He understood that Li Song’s departure after handing over his official seal was the wisest choice.

After some deliberation, Wei Fufeng decided to appoint Yang He, the judicial officer, as the governor of Chang Prefecture. Yang He accepted the command, took the military order, and followed procedure; five cavalry commanders each led a thousand soldiers and, under Yang He’s command, set out for Changyuan County.

Before their departure, Wei Fufeng made it clear that the land of Chang Prefecture would become the decisive battlefield between southern Sichuan and eastern Sichuan, and that the main army would steadily arrive at Chang Prefecture to confront the enemy.

After Yang He led his troops away, Wei Fufeng sent messengers south of the great river, ordering Wang Dahu and Liu Yi to return with all the army’s bows and crossbows.

Adding to this force the other six cavalry commanders, he led eight thousand troops back to Luxian County, while Commander Li Chengang was ordered to remain south of the river to handle the aftermath.

After the messengers departed, Wei Fufeng reviewed the records of Yang He’s household soldiers and martial men. Based on their backgrounds and positions among the household troops, he selected over a hundred to serve as squad leaders among the two thousand men. This time, Wei Fufeng planned to take an army of ten thousand.

Even after taking away ten thousand, Luzhou would still be left with forty thousand troops, mainly thanks to the absorption of the household soldiers of the powerful clans, nearly two thousand garrison troops, and the dependent serfs of the southern gentry who had joined the army.

For those who joined, land was granted; for those who did not, they remained tenant farmers without land.

After giving his orders, Wei Fufeng fell into contemplation, mainly over the matter of military equipment.

The troops returning from south of the river were well equipped with standard arms, whereas those north of the river mostly lacked military-grade weapons, let alone bows and armor.

After much thought, Wei Fufeng made his decision. He could not, for his own interests, neglect old Feng. Even though the chances of holding Luzhou were slim, he should still do his utmost to support old Feng.

Of the eight thousand troops returning from south of the river, there were about a thousand standard military bows and two thousand hunting bows.

Wei Fufeng took only three hundred standard bows and all eighty-three military crossbows for himself.

Once his decision was made, relief washed over him, and his thoughts returned to the stash of treasure.

He mused to himself, “Those riches are enough to make me a man of means, never again worrying about food or clothes. If things go awry in western Sichuan, I’ll take Xiaoxue and head for Chang’an. Later, I can search for my elder sister. If I’m no longer a military governor, perhaps my sister will no longer be angry.”

Lost in these musings, he was interrupted by a guardsman at the door who announced, “Sir, Governor Gao requests an audience.”

Wei Fufeng was taken aback but ordered him to be admitted, summoning two guards to accompany him in the main hall.

Moments later, Governor Gao entered the hall dressed in a round-collared brocade robe, offering a respectful salute. Wei Fufeng smiled and invited him to sit.

Once seated, Wei Fufeng asked gently, “What brings you here, Lord Gao?”

Governor Gao hesitated a moment and replied, “Sir, I am willing to serve under you. However, with the perils of war looming, I beg you to allow the younger members of the Gao clan to leave Luzhou.”

Wei Fufeng nodded without hesitation. “You may.”

Governor Gao seemed somewhat surprised, quickly rising to bow deeply. “Thank you for your understanding, sir.”

Wei Fufeng waved him back to his seat and said kindly, “There’s no need to be overly pessimistic, Lord Gao. The military governor of Eastern Sichuan may not dare send a large force to invade southern Sichuan, for Lord Yang of the Western Route Command is watching Eastern Sichuan with covetous eyes.”

Governor Gao looked surprised and asked, “Does your Lordship have an alliance with Lord Yang of the Western Route?”

Wei Fufeng smiled. “Strictly speaking, my grandfather Wei Zhaodu, the West Sichuan Commander-in-Chief, has alliances with both the military governors of Eastern Sichuan and the Western Route. However, Lord Yang’s foster father, Yang Fugong, although willing to establish a new military governorship in southern Sichuan, has designs to control the region. Meanwhile, my grandfather, needing military support in western Sichuan, has contributed to the complex situation in southern Sichuan.”

Governor Gao nodded, and Wei Fufeng continued, “This time, it is the Eastern Sichuan governor who has been outmaneuvered. War may be unavoidable. If we can withstand the attack, the situation in southern Sichuan will be settled.”

Governor Gao nodded again. “I will do my utmost to support you, sir.”

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Wei Fufeng smiled. “It is enough that you remain impartial. If the Eastern Sichuan army fails in its assault, I want you to write, on behalf of our army, to the governor of Yuzhou, urging him to recognize our authority.”

“I understand,” Governor Gao replied, rising respectfully.

“I am weary, Lord Gao. Please, return and rest as well,” Wei Fufeng said gently. Governor Gao took his leave.

Wei Fufeng ordered his guards to permit the Gao clan to leave Luzhou, keeping some members in office as a way to disguise the execution of other powerful clans and stabilize the hearts of the people.

His concern was that if he gained a reputation for exterminating the gentry, he would provoke a united backlash among the aristocracy of Shu, and the Eastern Sichuan army would receive their full support in men and provisions.

The continued presence and official role of the Gao clan created the impression of infighting among the gentry. Outsiders might assume that Gao of Luzhou had joined hands with Wei Fufeng to bring about the downfall of the other two powerful families.

...

Two days later, Wei Fufeng set out with his army, heading west.

Before departure, he summoned the chief officers north of the river, informing them that he would personally oversee matters in Rong Prefecture, and that affairs in Luzhou would henceforth be divided between internal and external military matters.

Internal affairs would be managed according to law, external military affairs by joint deliberation among the chief secretary of the governor’s office, the chief of the logistics bureau, and old Feng of the White Tiger Hall.

With these arrangements in place, Wei Fufeng led his force of ten thousand toward Rong Prefecture.

He trusted old Feng deeply, but rationally limited his authority, not allowing him to become the sole, unchallenged ruler.

Wei Fufeng’s approach was both selfish and public-spirited. He could have trusted old Feng with full military governor powers, but that would have left Luzhou’s officials outwardly united yet inwardly divided, with no personal stake in the cause and, thus, no loyalty.

By establishing an official system in Luzhou, Wei Fufeng ensured that every official, from top to bottom, held real power and tangible interests.

With interests at stake, at the very least officials and soldiers would hope, in their hearts, for the continued existence of the Southern Sichuan governorship.

...

The army wound its way westward. The road was far from easy—there was no official highway.

To steady the troops’ morale, Wei Fufeng donned fine scale armor and marched on foot like a martial general, granting only Xiaoxue the comfort of a sedan chair.

At noon, the army camped on a hillside thick with bamboo.

During the rest, five of Wei Fufeng’s personal guards returned to report on the state of the army.

“Sir, there are few deserters, but morale is very low,” reported Wang Qiong, one of the guards.

Wei Fufeng nodded calmly and turned to Zhang Li, another guard, who rose and said, “Sir, the men are very unhappy about leaving the farmland they were just given.”

Wei Fufeng nodded and looked to another guard, Gao Shan, who rose and said, “Sir, though Rong Prefecture is under Western Sichuan’s jurisdiction, it is dominated by the Boren, the fiercest and most intractable of the Liao-Yi tribes. The men do not wish to fight them.”

Wei Fufeng nodded. He knew that Rong Prefecture was the domain of the Boren, a peculiar people with the custom of hanging coffins upon cliffs for burial.

The seat of government in Rong Prefecture was in Bodaoxian (Yibin), with subordinate counties including Pingshan, Suijiang, Gao, Gong, Nanxi, and Yanjin.

Wei Fufeng’s westward route would take him through Jiang’an County under Luzhou’s control, into Nanxi County under Rong Prefecture, and then on to Bodaoxian.

It was understood that Nanxi and Bodaoxian were predominantly under Han Chinese rule.

South of the great river, in the counties of Yanjin, Gao, Gong, and neighboring Xingwen under Luzhou’s administration, the Boren held sway.

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At the southernmost tip, Yanjin County boasted the narrow pass of Dousha, which led to the Five-Chi Road and the border of the Nanzhao Kingdom (modern-day Yunnan).

Wei Fufeng listened to the reports from Wang Ping and Zhao Yidou, which were much the same as the others. He dismissed the guards to rest and eat, and gazed into the distance, lost in thought.

“It seems I was too optimistic. An army with unsettled morale is unusable. The reason for so few deserters is their attachment to the land, but that very attachment makes them unwilling to leave. I may be able to control this force of ten thousand en route to Rong Prefecture, but if I tried to take them to Chengdu, a mutiny would almost certainly erupt,” Wei Fufeng thought warily. In truth, he doubted his own ability to hold sway over such a large force.

His original plan began to waver. An uncontrolled army was nothing but a pack of rebellious wolves. He had come to power in Luzhou through deception and manipulation.

In reality, Wei Fufeng had little true prestige.

“Summon the cavalry commanders,” he ordered after some thought, abandoning the idea of moving his entire force to Chengdu. An army was not an object, but a collective with its own will and strength.

Ten cavalry commanders soon assembled. Even in the field, Wei Fufeng maintained the structure of the mobile governor’s office and the logistics bureau.

The cavalry commanders had only command authority; the soldiers themselves were assigned by the logistics bureau’s adjutants, and could be rotated as necessary—simple enough, as orders could be issued directly to the squad leaders for exchange.

After the formal salutes, Wei Fufeng swept his gaze over them and said calmly, “In thirty more li, the army will reach Jiang’an County, and then proceed to Nanxi in Rong Prefecture. Do any of you have something to say to me?”

The commanders looked at each other in surprise.

Wang Dahu spoke up. “Sir, I’ve heard it suggested we should not go to Rong Prefecture at this time, but should focus all our efforts on defending against the Eastern Sichuan army. I find this reasonable.”

“Oh? Who suggested this?” Wei Fufeng asked calmly.

“One of my personal guards, Li Qing. He is literate,” Wang Dahu replied.

Wei Fufeng nodded and looked to the other commanders. “What are your thoughts? Speak freely.”

“Sir, I think dividing our forces to Rong Prefecture right now is unwise. It would be better to maneuver and join in the defense of Luzhou,” said Commander Zhou He.

Wei Fufeng nodded. “You make a good point. My leading ten thousand men away from Luzhou is merely a ruse to mislead the enemy, to make them believe our forces are weak and thus prompt a rash assault.”

The commanders all nodded in sudden understanding. Wei Fufeng continued, “We are the surprise force; those left behind in Luzhou are the main army. Because we are the surprise force, our hardships will be greater.”

“Sir, as long as we can win, no hardship is too great!” Wang Tao exclaimed, a note of excitement in his voice.

“Lower your voice; this is a military secret,” Wei Fufeng chided with a smile, and Wang Tao instantly saluted in apology.

Wei Fufeng nodded approvingly and continued, “To deceive enemy spies, you must not divulge our plans. Our army will proceed to Nanxi in Rong Prefecture. Only after capturing Nanxi can we turn back as the surprise force.”

“Yes, sir!” the commanders chorused in military salute.

Wei Fufeng turned to Wang Dahu. “Wang Dahu, you must be cautious in word and deed. Do not let anything slip.”

Wang Dahu started, then solemnly replied, “Rest assured, sir. If I reveal anything, I will offer my head in atonement.”

Wei Fufeng nodded. “Good. You are all dismissed.”

As the commanders departed, a wry, helpless smile touched Wei Fufeng’s lips.

He lacked the authority and confidants to enforce rigid discipline; he had no choice but to go along with the will of the many, hoping to gain advantage from it. For now, this force of ten thousand could not be taken to Chengdu.