Tang Dynasty Swordsman

Page 200

Li Sheng's view was no different from Li Ji's. They both believed that if the Fan army attacked Liang, then Qin and Wei would not need to be rescued; if they attacked Longyou, then Liangzhou would not need to be rescued. How should they rescue it? Should they take a long detour, causing the army to become exhausted, or should they first break through Lanzhou? If Longyou was attacked, they could only hope for help from within the pass; and if Liangzhou was attacked, they could only hope for help from Shuofang.

For example, if Liangzhou wanted to go south to provide relief, there were three routes they could take: the eastern route, first heading towards Shuofang, then west through Yuanzhou and the Liupan Passes—the first half of which was the same route Li Ji had taken with his light cavalry to relieve Pinggao last time—more than a thousand li away, by the time they arrived, it would be too late; the central route, going south through Huizhou and out of Huining Pass, was a treacherous and narrow road, difficult for a large army to traverse; the western route was an attempt to break through Lanzhou.

But Shang Jiexi wasn't stupid; he must have foreseen this. He figured that if he used a few thousand men to block the border at Pipa Mountain and Wucheng, even a massive army would find it difficult to cross. Li Ji wasn't afraid to test his troops' ability to attack fortified positions. The problem was that after breaking through this line of defense, there was still a 300-mile stretch to Lanzhou's capital, Jincheng, and further ahead were Kanglang Mountain, Changcheng Castle, and Didao City… Moreover, the barbarian armies from Shanzhou and Hezhou to the west could attack at any time and cut off their retreat.

Therefore, since they can't help each other, they shouldn't cause trouble and needlessly lose troops without helping the overall situation. Li Ji suggested that if Longyou was attacked, he would march west to Gansu and Su; if Liangzhou was attacked, he should ask Li Sheng to try crossing the Tao River. In short, the side with the free time should keep the initiative in the battle in its own hands and should not rush to the rescue, nor should it sit idly by and watch the outcome.

However, it is estimated that the court will not be so wise. The senior officials of the Council of State Affairs may simply measure the distance on the map with a ruler and then make a strategy. Currently, only Li Qiyun has served in the military, but Li Ji is not optimistic about this uncle's military ability because he has no real achievements in the army in the past ten years. It is very likely that the court will ask Liangzhou to send troops to aid Qin and Long.

Li Ji was unwilling to send troops, yet he was also unwilling to bear the name of disobeying the imperial order. Therefore, he thought, "I'd better leave first." When the imperial envoy arrived, he found that Guzang was already deserted. After the army had traveled hundreds of miles, he could only return to the capital in disappointment to report to the emperor.

Chapter Thirty-Five: Autumn Arrives Beyond the Great Wall

In October of that year, a young scholar traveled from Chang'an, a thousand miles away, to Liangzhou.

He set off from Chang'an in March, first heading west to Fengxiang, then north through Jingyuan, and then detouring through Huizhou. The journey took four months, during which he fell ill in Huating, delaying him by more than two months. He finally arrived at his destination with great difficulty. The scholar rode a lame donkey at a slow pace, enjoying the grassland scenery along the way. It wasn't until he passed Gansong County that he saw crisscrossing ditches and interconnected fields, with many farmers working diligently in the fields.

He couldn't help but sigh: "The champion conquered the northern deserts, and Emperor Wu of Han displayed his might—it has been eight hundred years since the Former Han Dynasty drove out the Xiongnu and established Wuwei Commandery. Hui and Ling are mostly inhabited by Hu people, but only the scenery here is so similar to that of the Central Plains..."

This scholar came from a poor family when he was young, and at one point he was so destitute that he had to live with his maternal uncle. Although he had never worked in the fields himself, he was not so lazy as to be ignorant of farming. Because the climate in the north is cold, the wheat ripens late. Even though it was October, there were still many golden ears of wheat in the fields that had not been harvested. He dismounted and picked up a handful of wheat, and the grains were quite plump.

Seeing this, several farmers nearby approached cautiously, sickles in hand—after all, the other party was wearing a long gown and didn't seem to be an ordinary person, so they dared not act rashly, but they thought, "Just take a handful, don't waste my grain too much."

The scholar smiled at them, then waved and asked, "I am a scholar from Hezhong, who has come from afar. May I ask how the harvest is in Liangzhou this year?"

A rather bold farmer, holding his sickle upside down, bowed deeply and replied, "Thank you for your advice, sir. This year the weather has been favorable, and the harvest is quite good—we expect several snowfalls before spring, which will moisten the soil." He then pointed eastward and said, "I heard that there was no rain in Baishan Garrison this summer, which may have harmed the crops. However, there isn't much fertile land there to begin with, so even if there is a complete crop failure... it has nothing to do with us."

The scholar understood his meaning: if the area around Baishan Garrison was an important grain-producing area with many farmers, then if there was a crop failure, tens of thousands of starving people would flock to the area around Guzang and Changsong, which would naturally affect the lives of the local people.

Then he asked, "Are the taxes levied on the regional governors still heavy?"

The farmer instinctively replied, "Quite heavy..."

His companion quickly reached out and nudged him, but the farmer flicked his sleeve and said impatiently, "Heavy is heavy, can't people even say it?" He then turned to the scholar and explained, "But under heavy taxes, we might not necessarily be unhappy."

"Oh?" The scholar raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What's the reason for that?"

"It would be best if the taxes were lighter, but now that Commander Li has just driven out the barbarian bandits and saved us from dire straits, the military governor will naturally have to collect taxes to support the army and prevent the barbarian bandits from coming again. So even if the taxes are heavier, if we can maintain peace and prevent the barbarian bandits from coming, it is better than when the prefecture fell to the bandits a few years ago—back then, what taxes were there? When the barbarian bandits ran out of food, they would come down to the countryside to plunder. We would either starve to death or be killed. There was almost no way to survive!"

The scholar nodded: "I see." He then inquired about the route, bid farewell to the farmers, and continued north, arriving at the city of Guzang two days later.

The city gate guards stopped him, inspected his residence, and inquired about his purpose. The scholar honestly replied, "I have come to Liangzhou to serve under General Li." The guards shook their heads: "Then you have come at an inopportune time, sir; General Li is not in the city."

"Excuse me, where has Commander Li gone, and when will he return?"

The guard laughed and said, "General Li is leading his troops to retake Ganzhou. He mustered his troops and set off last month. As for when he will return, I do not know."

The scholar frowned and asked, "Which official is currently in charge of Liangzhou?"

"The rear guard commander, General Xu, known for his loyalty and martial prowess."

"I dare not ask where General Xu resides, for I wish to go there to pay my respects."

Just as the guard was about to point out the way, a junior officer shoved him aside—"You're so ignorant! This is a scholar. How could General Xu distinguish between good and bad? If you go to pay respects to General Xu, isn't that... what was that again?"

The scholar interjected, "It's like playing the lute to a cow."

The junior officer's eyes widened: "You're saying General Xu is a cow?!"

The scholar was somewhat amused and exasperated, and could only bow deeply: "Since you are so insightful, please help me find a way out. To tell you the truth, I have come a thousand miles and my travel expenses are almost exhausted. I am afraid I cannot wait for General Li to return from defeating the barbarians. So if you know anyone capable of helping me, please let me know."

The young officer, with his right hand hanging halfway at his waist, moved his fingers slowly and asked, "Sir, are you truly running out of money and have not a single coin left in your purse?"

The scholar understood, but had no choice but to untie the cloth bag at his waist, take out a dozen or so coins and hand them over—"I am really short of money, so I can only offer you two bowls of wine... I hope you will not hesitate to give me your advice."

The junior officer roughly counted the money, frowned, and then unfolded his hand: "Fine, considering you are a scholar, I'll show you the right way—don't go looking for General Xu, just go directly to the military governor's office and hand over your calling card..."

"Is there any staff member or director in this department?"

The junior officer smiled slightly: "If your writings can catch the eye of the 'Inner Secretariat,' why worry that when the General returns, he will not be taken under his command and given a high salary? If that day ever comes, I hope you will not forget me."

The "inner secretary" he referred to was naturally Hongxian. Originally, Li Ji and his wife often had Hongxian polish their private letters. Since Li Ji took her as a concubine, he used her without restraint, even for many official documents of the government and memorials to the emperor. Hongxian had previously handled such matters for Xue Song in the Zhaoyi Army, so she was naturally adept at it, and her power grew daily. Within the town, she was respectfully called "inner secretary."

Theoretically, this would definitely affect her relationship with Cui Cuo—a concubine holding power outside the marriage, overshadowing the mistress, is that acceptable? Fortunately, Hongxian always remained respectful and deferential in front of the principal wife, daring not to overstep her bounds in the slightest, or even daring not to utter a harsh word. This wasn't because she was particularly sensible, but because—this mistress of the house was simply no match for her! Cui Cuo usually disciplined Qingluan with physical force, not words, but if Hongxian made a mistake, she might truly face family discipline…

When Li Ji went on this expedition, he entrusted the affairs of the rear to Xu Yu. However, Xu Yu was only mediocre in military matters and not good at governance. Therefore, whenever there was an important matter, the minor officials would report directly to the inner palace and ask the lady for instructions. The general respected the lady and did not hide anything from her in the army. Everyone knew this. Lady Cui would often discuss and make decisions with Hong Xian.

Cui Cuo once said to Li Ji, "The affairs of the prefecture still need someone to manage for you, sir. You cannot entrust them entirely to your wives and concubines. In Weibo, there was Yan Gong and Du Zunsu, and now Gao Gongchu is still alive. Can't we use them?"

Li Ji smiled bitterly and said, "Gong Chu has been following me in managing the army recently. The army cannot do without him, and apart from him, there is really no one who can assist in managing political affairs... Originally, Yang Gongnan could be used, but he is determined to return to the capital... For now, we still have to rely on Madam and Hongxian. To be honest, it would be of no use to invite ordinary people. It is better to rely on the family."

After the junior officer explained, the scholar thanked him profusely. He wasn't surprised that a concubine wielded such power, as this was commonplace in the Tang Dynasty—women interfering in politics was a long-standing practice, starting with Empress Wu Zetian, followed by Empress Wei, Princess Anle, Princess Taiping… and finally Empress Zhang of Emperor Suzong. Du Fu once wrote a poem: "The rebellion in Yecheng is no surprise, the children of Guanzhong have ruined the order, Empress Zhang is unhappy and the emperor is busy…"

For example, Shangguan Wan'er was in charge of drafting imperial edicts during Wu Zetian's reign and was appointed "Inner Attendant." Later, she became a Zhaorong (a high-ranking concubine) of Emperor Zhongzong, and her power and influence increased even further, earning her the title of "Female Prime Minister." The upper class always sets an example for the lower class; if the imperial family is like this, how much more so should ordinary people? Therefore, when Xue Song appointed Hongxian as "Inner Secretary," apart from a few pedantic scholars, no one dared to speak out; now, she still participates in important matters in Li Ji's household, and the military and civilians alike do not find it strange.

So the scholar, having received instructions, first found an inn in Guzang City to stay in. To be honest, in the vast city of Guzang, there were only two inns, one in the east and one in the west. There were many houses, but most were vacant and lacked sufficient residents. The market area was also large, but there were few merchants. He carefully organized his poems and essays, and then early the next morning, he went to the Jiedushi's office and submitted his visiting card.

Upon receiving the report, Hongxian was overjoyed and hurriedly brought the large stack of documents to Cui Cuo, saying, "My lord, your staff lacks scholars. In the past, even the likes of Du and Gao had to be personally invited. Speaking of which, this is the first time since the pacification of Liangzhou that a scholar has taken the initiative to come and join us." Cui Cuo curled his lip: "Even in Weibo and Shuofang, it was the same. Your staff were all recommended by various parties. When have any come to join us in person?"

He then instructed Hongxian: "I don't know if he is a suitable person. You should read his writings to me. If he has no real talent, there is no need to summon him. Otherwise, when the young master returns, it will be embarrassing for us. We will not be able to use him, but he is not suitable either."

Hongxian nodded, then unfolded a poem and began to read it aloud. After only four or five lines, Cuicuo waved his hand to stop him—"It's so obscure, it gives me a headache—is there a shorter one? For example, a five-character or seven-character one?"

Hongxian followed her instructions and examined the contents, then smiled and said, "There is indeed a poem, a five-character poem." She then recited: "An empty palace, an ancient corridor, the cold moon shines with the slanting rays. I lie listening to the melody of Weiyang, a chest full of songs and dance costumes."

Cui Cuo frowned and remained silent. Hong Xian recited a poem again: "I was born at the age of sixteen, and twice married a madman. My ill fate remains, but my steadfastness has been swept away."

Cui Cuo couldn't help but sneer: "How could he possibly have seen such a pitiful woman?"

Hongxian reads another poem: "The setting sun reflects on the towering mast, a returning monk heads towards Yueyang. The cold waves are still as he pours water from the bottle, the fragrance of the night boat is intoxicating as he reads the verses. Bitter fog sinks the mountain shadows, gloomy haze reveals the sea's light. How much have all living beings failed, so many sick people seek the king of physicians."

Cui Cuo flicked his sleeve: "Enough. It's either out of pity for a woman or to say goodbye to a monk. Such pointless whining will surely displease you, sir. Give him some travel expenses and invite him to go."

Hongxian tentatively asked, "Judging from his poems, he does have some real talent and learning."

Cui Cuo scoffed, "Then why don't you go take the imperial examination? Go to the capital and seek a high-ranking position? This border region has no use for his poetic talent." He paused, then asked again, "Are you sure he's not a graduate of the imperial examination?"

Hongxian shook her head and said, "Unless he took the imperial examination before he was ten years old, he would definitely be unknown." In the Tang Dynasty, at most twenty or thirty people passed the imperial examination each year. Once they passed, they would definitely be famous throughout the country. At the very least, Li Ji would send someone to copy the list. Hongxian had paid attention to this when she was in Xue Song's staff. Therefore, she knew all the names of the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) in the more than twenty years after Tianbao, and there was absolutely no such person on that list.

So he ordered his servants to bring out a tray of money, about five hundred coins, along with the petition, and send it out to return it to the scholar. The scholar panicked—I traveled a thousand miles to Liangzhou, and all I got was half a string of coins? This might not even be enough for the return trip. If I fell ill or was delayed on the way, as I did on the way there, I might starve to death on the road!

Besides, if I return empty-handed, how can I face my hometown elders or friends in Chang'an?

In a moment of quick thinking, he grabbed a handful of money, stuffed it into the servant's hand, and whispered, "The secretary must have something to say when he dismisses me. But what is wrong with my writing? I humbly request your guidance."

The servant, beaming with joy upon receiving the money, pointed at him and said, "It is the lady's words that such poetic talent is fit to take the imperial examination. I'm afraid we in the border military government would have no use for it."

The scholar returned to his inn in a daze, deep in thought on the way—what Commander Li and Madam Cui said made sense. As for polishing words and drafting official documents, they already had an "inner secretary," so my mediocre poems were of no concern. Commander Li loved war and had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle; otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered to travel thousands of miles to join him, just to easily rise in his ranks… I had heard of his poem "Sympathy for the Peasants" and assumed he had a fondness for five-character poems, so I presented him with my own five-character poems… But merely conforming to the rules of prosody was useless, and Commander Li wasn't even in the city. How could this content possibly catch the eye of Madam Cui and the inner secretary?

Heaven knows what those women like... I thought some of their poems might be interesting, but I forgot that they weren't noble ladies from the capital. After all, they were Li Shuai's wives and concubines, who had been in the army for a long time... It seems that perhaps writing a few frontier poems would give me a chance to strike it lucky.

So he worked hard all night, first closing his eyes to meditate—although he had never experienced military life, he had read a lot of frontier poems in the past, and along the way, the sky was high and the land was vast, the grass was long and the sheep were fat, and he had seen magnificent scenery that was not found in the Central Plains, which opened his heart to make achievements and establish a career. He already had some inspiration—then he wrote down his thoughts under the dim candlelight and finally produced six "Frontier Songs".

The next day, she went to the office again and presented the red thread to Cui Cuo. Cui Cuo laughed and said, "I suppose five hundred coins are not enough. I'll just add another five hundred—don't let people say that Liangzhou is stingy."

Hongxian said, "There are only six poems, all of which are four lines of five characters each. Why don't you listen to them, Madam?"

“Then read it to me.”

Hongxian unfurled the scroll and read aloud: "Golden eagle feathers, swallowtail embroidered bow. Alone, she issues a new decree, and a thousand camps respond in unison."

Cui Cuo nodded: "Finally, it's no longer just childish talk."

Hongxian reads the second poem again: "The forest is dark, the grass rustles in the wind, the general draws his bow at night. At dawn, he searches for the white feather, only to find it embedded in the stone's edge."

Cui Cuo asked in surprise, "Is this a homage to the story of General Han Fei, specifically to flatter my husband?"

Hongxian reads the third poem again: "The moon is dark, the wild geese fly high, the Xiongnu chieftain flees in the night. I want to pursue with light cavalry, but the snow fills my bow and sword."

Cui Cuo slapped his thigh: "This fellow has no talent other than writing poetry. If these poems were presented to him, the young master would surely love reading them! Luckily, I said goodbye yesterday, and he refused to leave!" He immediately ordered someone: "Bring that one first..."

Then it dawned on me that I had never asked the man's name before—"Sir, where are you from? What is your name? What is your resume?"

The relevant information was introduced in yesterday's business card and the letter of request. Hongxian, who has a good memory, immediately replied: "This person is from a branch of the Lu family of Fanyang, a native of Puxian County, Hezhong. His surname is Lu, his given name is Lun, and his courtesy name is Yunyan."

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Great Battle Against the Mighty Fortress

Lu Lun, also known as Lu Yunyan, is thirty years old this year. His life has been quite bumpy, and he has not achieved much success.

He lost his father at a young age and went to Poyang with his mother, relying on his maternal uncle's family. At the end of the Tianbao era, he failed the imperial examination and was forced to return to Poyang after the An Lushan Rebellion broke out. It was not until the first year of the Guangde era that he returned to the capital to register for the imperial examination—unfortunately, he failed again.

However, Lu Lun possessed considerable poetic talent. While in Poyang, he was praised by the senior poet Ji Zhongfu and his cousin Sikong Shu, who was also renowned for his poetry. After arriving in Chang'an, he traveled extensively, submitting his poems to various patrons. He also gained the approval of renowned poets such as Miao Fa and Cui Tong, and ultimately, through Cui Tong, he was introduced to the Prime Minister Yuan Zai. Yuan Zai also greatly admired Lu Lun's poetry and recommended him to the emperor, exceptionally appointing him as the magistrate of Wenxiang.

However, not long after, Yuan Zai was expelled from the Council of State, and many of his associates, such as Yang Yan and Han Hui, were demoted. Lu Lun was the most unfortunate, not only losing his official position but also being imprisoned in the Dali Temple for several years. After finally escaping imprisonment, he took the imperial examination again in the third and fourth years of the Dali era, but naturally, no one dared to hire him.

Ultimately, he has a criminal record. As long as Yuan Zai remains unpardoned, Lu Lun will be barred from any official career...

Disheartened, Lu Lun had no choice but to pack his bags, bid farewell to his friends, and prepare to leave Chang'an and return to Poyang. Although it was shameful for a grown man to still have to rely on his maternal uncle's family for survival, he had no money left and no hope for the future. What else could he do?

However, just as Lu Lun was about to leave the capital, one day he suddenly saw a group of people walking along Chunming Street towards Chunming Gate. Leading them was an official in purple robes, riding a fine horse from the north, who seemed somewhat familiar. Lu Lun asked his friend beside him, "Could it be Yang Gongnan of Fengxiang? When did he return to the capital, and where is he going?"

A friend went to inquire and returned to tell him: "Yang Gong has returned from Lingzhou in the south. The court has ordered him to be appointed as the governor of Chuzhou. He is about to take his leave of the emperor to assume his post."

Upon hearing this, Lu Lun frowned deeply and remained silent for a long time.

Yang Yan was also a follower of Yuan Zai—at least that's what the court believed—and therefore, after Yuan Zai's downfall, he was demoted to the position of Sima in Daozhou. It was originally thought that as long as Yuan Zai didn't rise again, Yang Yan would have no chance of returning to court. However, unexpectedly, after less than two years in Shuofang, he was recommended for his "strategic planning" and appointed as the Prefect of Chuzhou—Chuzhou was a crucial prefecture, and its prefect was a third-rank official, holding a position equivalent to a governor, a very prestigious status, far superior to ordinary officials of lower-ranking prefectures!

If Yang Yan can turn things around, why can't I?

Encouraged by this, Lu Lun temporarily abandoned his plan to return to Poyang. He repeatedly considered the powerful officials in the court, but most of them were beyond his reach. Only Lu Qi, the Left Assistant Secretary, was a relative of his—although they had separated long ago and their genealogy had not been recorded, they were still of the same lineage from Fanyang. So he went to pay his respects to Lu Qi, but Lu Qi refused to see him. He only ordered someone to bring out a tray of money, but under the money was a note that read:

"The military headquarters of the regional military governors, the path to Zhongnan Mountain."

That means if you want to enter officialdom through the imperial examination, there's no way you can, but if you go to a military post, you might be able to find a way out.

It was only then that Lu Lun made up his mind to leave Chang'an and head to Hexi.

The reason for choosing Hexi, rather than elsewhere, is mainly because the central plains have been mostly peaceful in recent years, with only occasional military disturbances and banditry, making it difficult to accumulate merits and seniority. The only places most likely to experience war and offer opportunities for advancement are the newly recovered Hexi and Longyou. Furthermore, the envoys to these two regions, Li Ji and Li Sheng, are favored generals of the emperor. If they could put in a good word for me, would the court still care about my past involvement in Yuan Zai's case?

Li Ji, in particular, was widely known in the capital for his poem "Sympathy for the Peasants." Although it was written in the ancient style and lacked embellishment, making it difficult to discern his true literary talent, it at least demonstrated that he loved and was skilled in poetry—after all, Li Ji was appointed to govern a region as a civil official. Yang Yan's reinstatement was largely due to Li Ji's influence, and Lu Qi also disembarked from Li Ji's ship…

Although the journey to Hexi was long and arduous, and the area was under the control of the barbarians, and there might be dangers along the way, Lu Lun thought to himself, "Fortune and honor are found in danger." He thought to himself, "My official career is almost over. If I don't take some risks, how can I possibly change my fate?" That's why he traveled all the way to Guzang to present his visiting card to the military governor's office.

Upon submitting his first poem, Lu Lun was met with rejection. He then racked his brains and composed six new "Frontier Ballads." As the poems were submitted, he paced anxiously outside the door, hands clasped behind his back, wondering what he would do if he misjudged the writer's intentions again and was still rejected. Should he return home? Was he destined to remain a commoner for the rest of his life?

Fortunately, it wasn't long before someone called out, "Mr. Lu, please come in with me."

The servant led Lu Lun to the inner hall, where he spoke with someone behind a screen—he guessed it was either Madam Cui or undoubtedly the "inner secretary." Sure enough, no sooner had they sat down than a woman's voice came from behind the screen:

"I am grateful for your kindness in granting my Liangzhou permission. I apologize for my neglect yesterday."

Lu Lun hurriedly bowed and said, "These are my old poems, mostly perfunctory and social ones, which did not please you, Madam... So, are these six five-character poems barely acceptable?"

The voice from behind the screen said, “Sir, you are so understanding, there is no need for me to say more. My Hexi region is a remote town, and we are right in the eye of the enemy’s attack. It is inevitable that we would prioritize military preparedness over literary pursuits. Even the preferences of the military governor are different from those of the prefectures and counties within the pass. I personally believe that the poems you have presented today will please the military governor. It is just a pity that the military governor is not yet back from his expedition, and I cannot presume to accept you into my staff and grant you an official title…”

Upon hearing this, Lu Lun was startled and then said from behind the screen, "I would like to invite you to stay in my residence for the time being, so that I may wait for the general's return. You may also familiarize yourself with the customs, geography, and people of Hexi. Of course, I will not neglect your needs in terms of food and clothing."

Lu Lun breathed a sigh of relief, his face beaming with joy: "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Madam, and will never forget it..."

Hongxian arranged a side room for Lu Lun in the front courtyard of the military headquarters for his daily living quarters. Although the room was small, he could have it all to himself, which naturally set him apart from the lower-ranking officials who had to share a dormitory with others. Hongxian was quite thoughtful; not only was the room fully furnished, but he also specially assigned an old soldier to serve Lu Lun and first provided him with two thousand coins' worth of food, as well as some silk and grain. In Lu Lun's mind, this treatment was quite good, especially since he had just entered the military headquarters and had no actual duties yet.

After settling down, he wandered around Guzang City under the guidance of the old soldier, wanting to quickly understand the local customs and culture of this major city in Hexi, so that he could present Li Ji with good strategies for enriching the people and strengthening the army after his triumphant return—after all, he had served as the magistrate of Wenxiang for a period of time and had some practical experience.

However, the situation in Guzang was very different from that in Wenxiang. Lu Lun had been traveling around for several days and felt that he had basically figured out the situation on the surface, but he was still empty-headed and did not know what good ideas he could come up with. One day, he saw a caravan coming from the east and went over to inquire. The reply was that they were merchants from Jingzhou who, at the request of Commander Li, were supplying two thousand large bamboo poles.

Lu Lun couldn't help but wonder, "What use is bamboo in the state?" The merchant laughed and said, "It's probably used to make arrows or fences... How would I know?" Lu Lun saw that the bamboo was more than ten feet long and thicker than an arm. If it were used to make fences or arrows, it would be a waste... He turned to ask the old soldier, but the soldier stammered and couldn't answer.

Following the caravan to the military headquarters, Xu Yu, who was stationed there, sent someone out to receive them. When Lu Lun asked again, the person replied, "As for the needs of the army, Mr. Lu does not yet have any duties, so it is inconvenient for him to inquire." After a pause, he added, "Even if you did have duties, it would still be inconvenient for you to ask, as this is a confidential matter within the army."

Lu Lun stroked his beard, utterly perplexed, wondering when Commander Li would finally return to Guzang.

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Li Ji's western expedition involved almost his entire force.

As promised, wealthy merchants like Yu Ling have been sending a considerable amount of supplies. If all of these supplies were used for civilian purposes, they would not be enough to be used within two or three years, let alone pay interest and repay debts. The only way to increase the value of these supplies as quickly as possible is to conquer cities and expand territory and population.

Secondly, he was certain that the main force of the barbarian bandits would be attacking Longshang this autumn and would not come to harass Liangzhou. Even if they did come, he had already deployed Li Fengguo's two thousand elite troops in Herong City and asked Hun Shizhi to send troops to help defend Xinquan. So, while it was not foolproof, the chances of the enemy army penetrating deep into the heart of Liangzhou were not high.

Therefore, he left Xu Yu and the elderly and weak to guard the city, while he himself led 14,000 Tang soldiers and recruited 5,000 light cavalry from the Qiang and Hu tribes who were allied with them. He set out from Guzang and Chiquan, passed through Fanhe, and headed straight for Ganzhou.

Not far past Fanhe County, Li Ji pointed ahead with his whip and asked the guide, "Is that Yanzhi Mountain ahead?"

The guide nodded: "Just as the commander said."

Li Ji pointed south again: "That place is the eastern branch of Yanzhi. There seem to be traces of a fortress on the mountain. What is that place?"

The guide replied, "It's Da Dou Jun." He then pointed north, "On the opposite mountain is Jiaocheng Garrison. The passage in the middle is called Da Dou Valley, from which Da Dou Jun got its name."

Li Ji nodded and immediately ordered his men, "Slow down the march for now. Set up camp ten miles ahead. All generals, come with me to see the old fortifications of Da Dou Army."

The Dadou Army was originally the second largest military garrison under the Hexi Jiedushi, second only to the Chishui Army, with 7,500 soldiers and 2,400 warhorses; in addition, the Jiaocheng Garrison in the north, with 1,000 soldiers, was also an auxiliary force of the Dadou Army.

Yanzhi Mountain is located at the border of Liang and Gan prefectures. The mountain range runs mainly east-west, with a slight deviation towards the northwest and southeast. Although it shares the same name, it is actually divided into three parts: north, south, and west. Between the north and south peaks, there is a valley road that is sixty li long and seven or eight li wide, connecting the two prefectures. The Dadou Army and the Jiaocheng garrison occupied this strategic location, guarding the valley from both sides, effectively making it the western gateway to Liang Prefecture.