Chapter 65

Those few Jiezhou messengers did not travel far from the city before they were pursued and attacked by the Xiongnu cavalry. After several chases, only two managed to escape, both severely wounded. Ignoring their injuries, they rode their horses without rest, and fortunately, along the official road, there were newly established relay stations set up by Lord Yuanshi, which allowed them to change horses along the way. They traveled three hundred miles in a day and finally delivered the news of the Xiongnu's large-scale invasion to Jinyang by the next morning.

Upon receiving the report, Liu Kun immediately gathered his generals for a discussion. Apart from the Chief Secretary Wen Qiao, who was out of the border negotiating an alliance with Tuoba Yilu, all other civil and military officials arrived promptly.

Linghu Sheng spoke first. He was experienced and cautious, well aware of the insufficient military strength in Jinyang, and thus strongly advocated first summoning the troops from the various mixed tribes in Xinxing and Yanmen, as well as the strong men from local strongholds. Once all the troops were gathered, they could then engage the Xiongnu in a decisive battle.

After the entire winter's efforts, the total military strength of Jinyang had significantly increased compared to when they first entered Bingzhou, and it could be divided into three parts:

One part was the garrison troops stationed around Jinyang. Liu Kun established the Garrison Department in the provincial governor's office, with Xu Xian in charge. The Garrison Department recruited displaced civilians, reorganized them into military units, and had them cultivate wasteland while receiving military training. In case of an emergency, one able-bodied man from each household would be conscripted to form an army of ten thousand. This force was led by Linghu Sheng.

Another part was the garrison troops, which were mainly composed of the direct troops Liu Kun brought when he entered Bingzhou, supplemented by the remaining Bingzhou army and locally recruited soldiers. They were stationed in key military locations such as Jiezhou, Yangqu, Dalin, and Yangyi. The troops led by Lu Chang, who were fighting the Xiongnu in Jiezhou, belonged to this part of the army.

The third part was the main force of the Jinyang army, which included the direct troops Liu Kun brought when he entered Bingzhou, the elite troops selected from the remaining Bingzhou army, and many small mixed tribes that had joined the court, who were mixed and reorganized. This force, about eight thousand strong, was stationed inside and outside Jinyang, and the generals in command included Ding Miao, Xing Yan, Lu Bosheng, Pang Chun, Lu Yao, and Huang Su, all directly under Liu Kun's command.

These three parts of the army totaled nearly twenty thousand, which seemed sufficient for defense but not for offense. However, the problem was that Jinyang's food supplies were limited. If all the troops were mobilized, the stored food would be depleted in just half a month. Moreover, the garrison troops had been trained for too short a time, and their combat effectiveness was questionable. The garrison troops in various places needed to ensure local stability and could not be fully mobilized. Therefore, the only truly combat-ready force was the eight thousand mobile troops directly under Liu Kun. Compared to the tens of thousands of Xiongnu, this force was too thin.

Therefore, Linghu Sheng suggested not acting rashly and immediately mobilizing the troops and supplies from the subordinate powerful families, and then discussing other matters once the strength was solidified.

Liu Kun listened to Linghu Sheng's opinion but did not speak immediately. Instead, he turned to ask the other generals.

Ding Miao, young and impetuous, immediately said, "Lu Shize is facing the enemy alone, and he has been waiting day and night for our main force to come to his aid. Old General, how long will it take to mobilize the troops and supplies? Ten days? Fifteen days? In such a critical moment, how can we afford to wait?" Lu Chang's courtesy name was Shize, and he and Ding Miao were both top generals under Liu Kun, who respected each other.

The Deputy General Huang Su pondered and said, "General Ding, Lu Chang is besieged in Jiezhou, and we are all anxious. However..." He bowed and slowly said, "There are only a thousand troops in Jiezhou, facing an enemy many times their number. Can they really hold out until our reinforcements arrive?"

He was originally an officer in the Luoyang imperial guards and had only recently joined Liu Kun's command. He was unfamiliar with the capabilities of Liu Kun's generals and the combat strength of the troops, hence his question.

Ding Miao sneered and was about to respond when the General of the Vanguard, Lu Bosheng, stepped forward. Lu Bosheng was Lu Chang's nephew, and they were about the same age, with a deep bond. Hearing Huang Su's words, Lu Bosheng quickly said, "General Huang, you don't know that Jiezhou is guarded by our general, Lu Chang, Lu Shize. Lu Shize is brave and resolute, far beyond the ordinary. Moreover, Jiezhou's city walls are strong, and even if the enemy is numerous, it can hold out for a long time."

After saying this, he bowed to Liu Kun, "I hope the lord will send troops to rescue them soon!"

Before he finished speaking, the civil official Mo Han stepped forward from the ranks of the civil servants. He first believed that the Xiongnu were too powerful, and Jiezhou could not be defended. Rescuing it would only waste manpower. Furthermore, if Jiezhou fell, the natural defenses of the mountains and rivers would be insufficient, and Jinyang would not be safe. It would be necessary to move the troops to Yangqu to avoid the Xiongnu's sharp edge, and even prepare for a northern retreat.

Mo Han was a powerful figure in Yanmen, with deep roots in the area. Seeing the unfavorable situation, he planned to retreat to his family's homeland. He also believed that the Xiongnu's goal was only plunder and that they could not stay in Han territory for long. Therefore, after the Xiongnu retreated, the lost territory could be reclaimed without a fight.

These words immediately enraged Lu Bosheng, who raised his fist to strike Mo Han but was held back by his colleagues. Mo Han was about to continue, but suddenly heard a long sigh from the ranks of the military officers, "The enemy has not yet arrived, but our army is already in a panic... Mo Han, are you asking the lord to emulate the cowardly Sima Teng?"

Sima Teng abandoned the people and fled to Ye, and his reputation in the Jinyang army was extremely bad. These words made Mo Han turn red and retreat to the ranks of the civil servants, not daring to speak again.

The Secretary Xu Run lightly coughed and stepped forward, "The Xiongnu have many cavalry and are skilled in field battles. Our army should rely on the strength of the city walls, divide the troops to defend the various cities in the Taiyuan region, and clear the fields. When the Xiongnu's supplies run out, they will have no choice but to retreat."

Liu Yan nodded, "Secretary Xu's words are wise. The Xiongnu rely on their cavalry, and our army is at a disadvantage in field battles. We should fortify the cities and wait for the enemy to retreat."

Lu Yao slightly shook his head, thinking that Liu Yan, being a civil official turned military, was not yet familiar with the basics of military strategy. He stepped forward, "In spring, the horses are weak and in the breeding season, making large-scale cavalry operations unsuitable. The Xiongnu's attack at this time can indeed catch us off guard, but it also weakens their cavalry advantage. Moreover, the southern part of Taiyuan has many lakes and complex terrain, which is advantageous for our army to defeat them one by one. Why not engage in a field battle now? As for fortifying the cities..."

Before Lu Yao finished, Liu Kun's personal guard commander, Lin Jian, stepped forward, "The Xiongnu are indeed fierce, but our army is also a strong force. How can we admit defeat without a fight? No matter what, we must fight a battle and see the outcome!"

Liu Kun had been leaning on the couch, listening to everyone's opinions. At this moment, he lightly coughed, and the hall fell silent. Liu Kun pointed to Wang Ju with his white jade ruyi and asked, "What is your opinion, Chief Secretary?" Wang Ju was currently the Chief Secretary of Bingzhou, so Liu Kun addressed him as such.

Wang Ju was a descendant of Wang Yin, the former governor of Zhongshan in the Han dynasty, and a member of the Wang family of Qixian. He was about forty years old, with a handsome appearance and a tall, straight figure. Although his temples were slightly gray, he exuded a steady and elegant charm. He was cautious and never expressed his opinions lightly, so he had remained silent until now. Now that Liu Kun asked him directly, he quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said, "My opinion is the same as General Ding's. Our army should immediately send troops to rescue Jiezhou and not delay."

Liu Kun sat up straight, "Please elaborate, Chief Secretary."

"Jinyang controls the mountains and rivers, and is the key to Bingzhou. The state of Zhao became one of the seven major powers of the Warring States period by controlling this area. Throughout history, there has never been a case where someone could control Bingzhou without Jinyang. Therefore, abandoning Jinyang and retreating is a poor strategy, and wise people would not choose it."

"Since last year, when Bingzhou fell to the Xiongnu, they have burned, killed, and plundered wherever they went, causing countless atrocities that are too terrible to describe. Thanks to the lord's leadership, we have recruited the displaced, repaired the city walls, developed the garrison fields, and trained the troops, building a foundation for stability. If we defend Jinyang and the Xiongnu parade their strength under the city walls, how much of our hard-won foundation will remain? Even if we repel the enemy and rebuild, how much of our strength will be restored? And when the Xiongnu come again, what will we rely on to resist them? Therefore, defending Jinyang is also not a good strategy."

Wang Ju continued, "With the lord's ability to recognize talent, if he appointed General Lu Chang to defend Jiezhou, it is because he has the ability to hold it. Although Jiezhou is small, it has the advantage of high mountains to the south and a vast marsh to the north. As long as Jiezhou remains in our hands, the Xiongnu will be like a thorn in their throat, whether they advance or retreat. The surrounding terrain is complex, with mountains and marshes, which makes it difficult for the Xiongnu to fully utilize their numerical advantage. If Jinyang is the foundation of Bingzhou, then Jiezhou is the key to Taiyuan. We must do everything to rescue Jiezhou and block the enemy at its walls!"

Wang Ju's words first refuted the opinions of Xu Run, Mo Han, and Linghu Sheng, and then summarized the views of Ding Miao, Lu Bosheng, and Lu Yao. All the generals who advocated engaging the enemy nodded in agreement.

After listening to Wang Ju's opinion, Liu Kun pondered for a long time. In the hall, dozens of famous generals and high officials were silent, waiting with bated breath. The only sound was the tapping of Liu Kun's long fingers on the table.

After a long time, Liu Kun suddenly stood up. Everyone immediately looked at him, waiting for his final decision.

"Chief Secretary Wang's opinion is good, and the other views also have their merits, but none of them address the root of the matter," Liu Kun said calmly. "Why has our army been able to establish itself in Jinyang? Why have we gained the support of the local powerful families and the allegiance of the mixed tribes? It is because of our victory over the Xiongnu at the Battle of Banqiao, and because the people trust us to defeat the Xiongnu! The hearts of the people in Bingzhou are the foundation of our strength."

Liu Kun paused, seeing that his subordinates were deep in thought, and continued, "Now that the Xiongnu have launched a full-scale attack, the people are already terrified. If our army hesitates, and people think we are afraid to fight, the people's hearts will waver. If the people's hearts waver, our army will lose its foundation and quickly disintegrate! These powerful families and mixed tribes are like reeds in the wind. Today they can serve the court, but who knows if they won't turn to the Xiongnu? If that happens, even though Bingzhou is vast, where will we have a place to stand?"

He looked around at the people in the hall and emphasized, "In the current situation, we must immediately send troops to engage the enemy, intercept the Xiongnu at the walls of Jiezhou, and prove the court's determination to reclaim Bingzhou with a decisive battle! This battle, we will not return until we have defeated the Xiongnu!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ding Miao drew his saber and shouted, "We will not return until we have defeated the Xiongnu!"

Since Liu Kun had made his decision, the officers in the headquarters did not hesitate. The sound of swords being drawn echoed, and dozens of people shouted together, "We will not return until we have defeated the Xiongnu!"

Outside the hall, the personal guards of Lord Yuanshi also shouted, "We will not return until we have defeated the Xiongnu!"

Many people had seen the Jiezhou messenger, covered in blood, enter the provincial governor's office. When Lord Yuanshi gathered the generals for discussion, many soldiers were already waiting outside the office. Hearing the shouts from inside, everyone knew that the Xiongnu were coming and a bloody battle was imminent.

The Xiongnu, with their iron hooves, had almost destroyed the thousand-year-old northern fortress of Jinyang the last time they invaded. The unimaginable atrocities, the massacres, the looting, the rapes, the arson, and the destruction were still vivid in people's minds. Every soldier and civilian in Jinyang had a blood feud with the Xiongnu, and who wasn't thinking of avenging their families and clearing their names? Compared to the cautious officials, the soldiers had no hesitation and raised their arms in unison, shouting, "We will not return until we have defeated the Xiongnu!"

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