binnovel Chapter 1103 Zhang Liao organizes his army and departs for Luoyang
Chapter 1103 Zhang Liao organizes his army and departs for Luoyang
The remaining snow melted at the corner of the wall, revealing the gray brick seams. Icicles dripped water from under the eaves, tapping on the stone steps with a tinkling sound, as if counting down to the old year. The bell and drum towers of Chang'an City rang out the New Year's Eve bells, long and far-reaching, piercing through the thin mist that shrouded the city and also piercing through the rare moment of peace in this chaotic world.
The last rays of sunlight in 198 fell on the tracks of the returning Xiliang cavalry, on the still-warm bloodstains of the Central Plains battlefield, and finally sank into the dust of history with the last tick of the water clock. In that year, Ma Chao wielded his whip in the northern desert, trampling the wind and sand of the grasslands under his feet, returning to Chang'an covered in dust and reports of victory; in that year, the clash of swords among the warlords of the Central Plains never ceased, Yuan Shao's banners fluttered in Hebei, Cao Cao's iron cavalry roamed Xuzhou, Lü Bu held the emperor hostage in Xudu and commanded the warlords, Sun Quan of Jiangdong conquered Jiaozhou... The flames of war and the smoke of cooking fires intertwined, and killing and livelihood went hand in hand, forming the most vivid background of that year.
As the first rays of dawn pierced the sky of 199 years ago, casting their light upon the crenellations of Chang'an City, the soldiers guarding the city exhaled a puff of white breath. Looking up at the gradually unfolding rosy clouds on the horizon, they were momentarily stunned. The new year arrived so quietly, without earth-shattering drumbeats or the cheers of thousands thronging the streets. Only the crowing of roosters rose and fell throughout the city, and the newly replaced peachwood charms on every household's door trembled slightly in the cold wind.
Li Ru stood on the steps of his mansion, watching the servants sweep the remaining snow from the courtyard. He twirled the newly acquired almanac between his fingers, the ink still carrying its fragrance. He recalled his lord Ma Chao's words of "rest and recuperation" in the council hall, and the plans for Luoyang, Jiangdong, and the military settlements. Suddenly, he felt that the sunlight of this new year contained a more substantial strength than in previous years—no longer the unstoppable force of charging forward, but rather a more composed and strategic approach, and a deeper concern for his homeland and its people.
In the first month of the fourth year of Jian'an (200 AD), the land of Xiliang was covered with a thin layer of snow, yet it could not conceal the warmth of the festival. Lanterns and decorations adorned the city of Chang'an; wealthy households hung red lanterns, while ordinary people pasted newly cut paper-cuts on their windows. Even the street vendors wore smiles, their cries filled with the festive spirit of the New Year. Since Ma Chao's return from his northern expedition, this was the first peaceful year-end for Xiliang, free from the disturbances of war and the pressure of forced labor; even the cold wind carried a rare sense of relaxation.
Amidst the festive celebrations, Ma Chao's previously laid plans were quietly taking shape, like snow melting in spring. Grain was allocated from the imperial granaries to provide relief to the poor in the border regions; workshops opened their kilns to produce farm tools for distribution to the counties; the land reclamation policy overseen by Zao Zhi was implemented in Yongzhou, attracting displaced people, and once-abandoned fields gradually regained their human presence. The grand strategy of "rest and recuperation" was not merely an empty slogan, but a series of decrees that seeped into the fabric of Xiliang, slowly nourishing this war-torn land.
Another decree, however, stirred up a silent ripple among the powerful families of Liang and Yong provinces—Ma Chao ordered all the major families to open their book collections and establish "educational academies" in the counties, allowing poor students and ambitious individuals to borrow and study.
When the news spread, candlelight blazed late into the night in the mansions of those aristocratic families who had dominated the prefectures for generations. Throughout history, book collections and classic texts have been the foundation upon which these families maintained their status, the source of their monopoly on knowledge and control of discourse. To now make public the rare and secret manuscripts passed down from their ancestors, allowing even the poor and uneducated to glimpse their profound meaning, was tantamount to tearing out a piece of their hearts.
"What does Ma Mengqi mean by this?" The head of the Zhang family of Anding slammed his fist on the table at the clan elders. "My family's handwritten copy of the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals was passed down from the Jianwu era. How can we allow peddlers and laborers to casually look through it?"
“Indeed,” the old lady of the Gao family of Wuwei said, her voice heavy as she held her prayer beads. “The reason our Gao family has produced several scholars who have passed down their classics through generations is because of this. Now that the library is open to the public, even those from poor families can study the classics. In the future, will we, the sons of noble families, still have a place in the imperial court?”
Despite the complaints, no one dared to truly disobey orders. This ruler of Xiliang, now conquering the northern grasslands and intimidating Yizhou in the south, enjoyed immense prestige. His iron cavalry could raze the northern deserts; surely he could suppress a few powerful families?
A few days later, rows of bookshelves indeed appeared outside the educational institutions in various prefectures. The *Gongyang Commentary* by the Zhang family of Anding, the *Mathematical Classic* by the Gao family of Wuwei, the *Essentials of Military Strategy* by the Fu family of Beidi… though most were copies, and even the rarer ones were carefully guarded, they were ultimately displayed. Students from impoverished families, having heard the news, came, dressed in patched tunics and carrying rough earthenware water jugs, pausing before the bookshelves, their eyes shining brighter than lanterns.
As Ma Chao, disguised, passed by the Chang'an Education Bureau, he saw a thinly dressed young man tiptoeing to reach a copy of the *Records of the Grand Historian*, his fingers, red with cold, gently stroking the pages. Li Ru, following behind him, whispered, "My lord's move, though seemingly slow, is actually more crucial than conquering ten cities. Once knowledge is unleashed, there will be a continuous stream of capable individuals, and the foundation of the aristocratic families' monopoly will gradually loosen."
Looking at the throng of people, Ma Chao smiled faintly: "What I need is not a few virtuous and talented individuals, but the backbone that will truly make Xiliang stand tall. Among these children, perhaps some will be able to manage the river, train troops, or write history books in the future... They are the future of Xiliang."
A cold wind swept through the street corner, ruffling the hems of the young men's clothes, but it couldn't dispel the burning hope in their eyes. And in those tightly closed mansions of noble families, though there was still resentment, they gradually understood—this ruler of Xiliang wanted more than just territory; he wanted the true rebirth of this land.
The warm sun of January shone through the thin clouds, illuminating the pages of the books in the school and the subtly changing landscape of Xiliang. Behind this peaceful scene, February quietly arrived.
In the suburban farmlands, early risers had already begun tilling the frozen soil. The sound of iron plows cutting through the earth was exceptionally clear in the open fields. They might not know the turbulent events unfolding at court, but they knew that in the new year, taxes would be lighter, seeds plentiful, and with hard work, the granaries would be fuller, and their children would be less likely to suffer from hunger and cold. This simple hope, like tender spring shoots, was quietly peeking out from the frozen earth.
Deep within the military camp, Zhang Liao was leading his soldiers in polishing their armor; the armor plates reflected a cold gleam in the sunlight. Xu Huang wielded his spear in the drill ground, the tip slicing through the morning mist and creating a whistling sound. Dian Wei stood guard at the gate of the Prince's mansion, like an iron tower, his eyes scanning the passersby warily. They knew that the new year would not be peaceful; the passes of Luoyang, the waterways of Jiangdong, and the flames of war in the Central Plains all awaited them ahead. But at this moment, their hands gripping their weapons were more steady than ever, for behind them, Chang'an was slowly gathering the strength for revival.
The wind in mid-February still carried a biting chill, yet dust already billowed across the official road outside Tongguan. Ma Chao, draped in a black cloak, stood atop the pass, watching the slowly moving army below—Zhang Liao, clad in gleaming silver armor that shone coldly in the morning light, was riding alongside Gao Shun, Zhang Yan, and Jia Xu. Forty thousand soldiers stretched like a black dragon, winding eastward along the frozen banks of the Yellow River, eventually disappearing below the distant horizon.
“Wen Yuan’s journey will surely allow him to conquer Luoyang in one fell swoop.” Li Ru stood beside Ma Chao, watching the backs of the troops, his tone resolute.
Ma Chao nodded slightly, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the blue bricks of the crenellations: "Zhang Liao is prudent, Jia Xu is shrewd, Gao Shun is strict in his military discipline, and Zhang Yan is familiar with the mountain paths. The four complement each other, which is enough to deal with the variables around Luoyang. However..." He paused, his gaze turning eastward, "Cao Cao and Lü Bu are currently engaged in fierce fighting along the Xuchang line. They may not sit idly by and watch us take this strategic location. Send down the order to have scouts conduct encrypted reconnaissance. If there is any unusual activity in the Central Plains, report back immediately."
"Your subordinates have already made all the arrangements," Li Ru replied. "The provisions and military equipment have also been transported to Tongguan via the Wei River, enough to support them in capturing the three cities."
The sound of horses' hooves came from below the pass. Zhang Liao reined in his horse, dismounted, looked up at the figure on the pass, and gave a standard military salute. Gao Shun, Zhang Yan, and Jia Xu also stopped, and the four of them said in unison, "Please wait for the good news, my lord!"
Ma Chao raised his hand and waved, his voice carried on the wind: "Remember, less killing, more appeasement. Luoyang has suffered from war for a long time, and the people long for stability, not another war."
"This humble general will keep in mind the lord's teachings!" Zhang Liao replied loudly, mounted his horse, and without looking back, flicked his whip and led his army eastward at full speed.
Only when the last "horse" banner of the army disappeared from sight did Ma Chao turn and walk down the pass. The thin ice on the stone steps crunched under his feet. He suddenly stopped and said to his personal guards behind him, "Prepare some wine and send it to the remaining empty tents in Zhang Liao's camp—when they return in triumph, I will personally drink with them."
The guards responded and left. Li Ru looked at his lord's back and suddenly realized that this general, who never showed mercy on the battlefield, always cared for his soldiers in these small ways.
On the way back to Chang'an, farmers had already begun breaking the ice and turning the soil in the fields on both sides of the official road, and sporadic green shoots were peeking out from under the frozen earth. Ma Chao reined in his horse, looked at the new green shoots, and suddenly laughed: "By the time news from Luoyang arrives, it will probably be spring plowing season."
“Exactly,” Li Ru replied. “If Wen Yuan can capture the three cities by the end of March, it will be just in time for the busy spring planting season in Yongzhou. At that time, the people will be at peace and the military will be even more powerful.”
Horse hooves pounded the melting snow, splashing up tiny specks of mud. Ma Chao's cloak fluttered in the wind. He knew Zhang Liao's journey would be arduous—Luoyang, though in decline, remained the gateway to the Central Plains, coveted by various factions. But he had even more faith in the abilities of his soldiers, in the sharp edge of the Xiliang cavalry and the resilience of the Black Mountain Army hidden within his 40,000 troops.
Li Ru cupped his hands and said, "My lord, General Zhang Liao has led his troops eastward and made progress in Luoyang. Shouldn't we also prepare to set off for Qiao County and Jiangdong?"
Ma Chao, who was lost in thought, turned around upon hearing this and sighed, "Yes, now that the army has set off, it's time for me to follow." After a moment's thought, he said, "The journey is not short, so I've decided to take Dong Bai, Zhen Mi, and Zhang Fubao with me. Qi Ying and Wen Ji are steady and reliable, so they can stay behind to accompany the family members and keep things stable at home."
Li Ru stroked his beard and suddenly laughed, "My lord, in my humble opinion, we might as well bring Gongsun Rou along. Since she has already given her heart to you, and you are also willing to accept her, we can take advantage of this journey to spend more time together and deepen our friendship. Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao glanced at him with a hint of helplessness and reproach: "You, you are good in every way, but you always like to stuff people around me. A few days ago, Bai'er was complaining to me that Master keeps giving me 'bad ideas,' which has given her several sisters out of nowhere."
Li Ru gave a wry smile and helplessly spread his hands: "Your Majesty is wronging this old minister. Such a good girl is something others would beg for." He lowered his voice, with a hint of mischief, "But Dong Bai has pulled out a few hairs from this old minister's beard. From now on, this old minister will not easily meddle in the affairs of the harem. This old minister's bones cannot withstand her torment."
Ma Chao couldn't help but laugh at what he said, and waved his hand: "Alright, alright, I'll do as you say, take her with you."
“That’s right,” Li Ru said with a smile. “Love and affection between men and women and grand ambitions are not mutually exclusive. Having more caring people around you will make your lord feel more relaxed when he is away from battle.”
As the city walls of Chang'an gradually came into view, Ma Chao composed himself, straightening his back. Having seen off the expeditionary force, he had more pressing matters to attend to—preparations for the journey to Qiao County and Jiangdong were nearing completion. Xu Shu and Lu Su were organizing maps of the route in their residence, while Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu were already eager for action, and Dian Wei was stationed outside the palace without leaving his side.