Chapter 413 Seeking Advice from Liang Han
"Li Zhengyan and Cai Qinjun appeared aggressive on the surface, but in reality, the advantage lay with us."
"Oh? How did you arrive at that conclusion?"
Throughout history, in civil wars, when small forces rise to power, the most important thing has never been territory or manpower... These are secondary; what truly matters is the greater good.
"The greatest cause of the Kuangfu Army is to restore the lost territories. Everything else is superficial. No matter how much territory we conquer or how many soldiers we recruit in a short period of time, it is just adding flowers to brocade or cooking oil over a raging fire."
There are two reasons.
"Firstly, those who win the righteous cause win the hearts of the people. The righteous cause can undermine the will to resist in the prefectures and counties along the route of the uprising, and can also affect the morale of the imperial army. Once victorious, it can snowball and become unstoppable."
"Secondly, even if we are defeated and suffer setbacks, as long as we have a strong sense of righteousness, we can allow ourselves to lose and even lose several times. As long as we run away, our sense of righteousness remains, and we can always make a comeback. Like wildfire, we can never be extinguished, leaving the imperial army exhausted from dealing with us."
"On the contrary, the imperial army is more likely to suffer a defeat, and its morale will only decline with each battle."
"Even the weak can bully the strong!"
"On the contrary, if there is no great righteousness, or if the great righteousness is difficult to convince the masses, even if the army is strong, it is just a beautiful flower, too rigid and easily broken."
Ouyang Rong spoke with clear logic and calmly narrated under the watchful eyes of the crowd:
"When Li Zhengyan first started his rebellion, he raised the banner of the Prince of Xunyang and even adopted the Prince of Xunyang's original reign title. Even recently, after the Prince of Xunyang became the Grand Master of Pacification for Jiangnan on the imperial side, they have put forward a new banner of being the posthumous son of the former crown prince."
"But without a doubt, the fact that Prince Xunyang is the one who has sided with the court is something they cannot deny. They can only downplay it, because they cannot fool the people of the world on this point. Prince Xunyang is the most legitimate successor designated by Emperor Gaozong of the Great Gan Dynasty."
Ouyang Rong shook his head, thought for a moment, then nodded and sighed softly:
"Actually, Li Zhengyan and his subordinates did see this, and to be honest, they did try their best."
"One time, they used Wang Junzhi's affair to force the Xunyang Prince's Mansion into submission... It's a pity that the Prince and the Heir Apparent saw through their scheme."
Xie Lingjiang glanced at her senior brother, who was keeping his achievements hidden, while the latter stared intently at the tall old man and spoke eloquently:
"On another occasion, when soft tactics failed, they resorted to hard tactics. Cai Qin's army in Hongzhou took advantage of the insufficient military strength in Jiangzhou to prepare for a siege and attack, aiming to break through the city and control the Xunyang Prince's Mansion. Unfortunately, a traitor who had thrice served three masters appeared out of nowhere, secretly colluding with the Wei family and defecting at the last minute. The plan fell through, and Cai Qin returned defeated."
"Both times were good opportunities, but unfortunately both times we failed."
"This has led to a dilemma, or rather, a life-or-death choice, that Li Zhengyan and the Kuangfu Army are currently facing."
Qin Jingzhen had been listening with a smile, but as the flamboyant and confident young man in the white fox fur coat proceeded with his analysis, his smile gradually faded, and the wrinkles on his face deepened, resembling the weathered bark of an old tree.
"What predicament?"
Ouyang Rong said slowly and deliberately, "After conquering the southwest and arriving in Hongzhou, should we head north or southeast?"
North? Southeast?
"Yes, for a rebel group, strategy is more important than tactics. As long as they're not stupid, Li Zhengyan and his men can definitely see that there are two strategic routes in front of them."
All the onlookers saw the young man in the white fox fur coat raise his cup under the moonlight, take a sip, and then flick his sleeves:
"If they can't even figure this out, then they're not worth worrying about."
He continued his analysis:
"After joining forces with Cai Qin's army in Hongzhou, we will choose to head north. Under the slogan of restoring the Great Gan Dynasty and restoring the throne of Emperor Taizong's son, we will lead our army to advance north in a grand manner, regardless of whether it is Jiangnan Road or Huainan Road, and lead our army straight to Luoyang, the capital!"
"If we choose the southeast, then we will conquer Jiangzhou, enter the heart of Jiangnan, take Yangzhou, occupy Jinling, and monopolize the tax-rich southeast, just like cutting off half of the Great Zhou."
Qin Jingzhen nodded slightly.
Qin Ying suddenly interjected:
“That makes sense. Occupying the southeast, with the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, is enough to hold the fort. Moreover, according to Taoist feng shui, Nanjing has an aura of imperial power, which can serve as the foundation for establishing a hegemony... Then we can move north and slowly plan to seize the Central Plains.”
"This approach allows for both victory and a safe retreat, making it the most prudent strategy."
"Compared to that, the first path is far too risky..."
Qin Ying was speaking when she saw Ouyang Lianghan suddenly laugh. She shook her head slightly and frowned, "What are you laughing at? Did you say something wrong?"
Ouyang Rong didn't say anything, rolled up his sleeves, bent down and picked up a piece of food that was quite far away to eat.
Qin Jingzhen, who had been silent all along, suddenly asked a thoughtful question:
"According to your arguments about righteousness and civil war, if Li Zhengyan chooses to advance into the southeast, coveting the imperial grandeur of Nanjing, it would be a safer course of action, but it would also reveal his conservative intention to divide the country along the Yangtze River and remain confined to a corner of the country. In that case..."
He stroked his beard and analyzed: "Actually, it would undermine the great cause of restoration. People would wonder whether he truly wanted to restore the nation or simply wanted to establish himself independently."
“That makes sense.” Xie Xue’e rose slightly and personally poured a cup of wine for Ouyang Rong and Qin Jingzhen. She lowered her eyes and said, “Just like the Southern Dynasty when the elites fled south, it remained confined to a corner for three hundred years, rarely launching any northern expeditions.”
Ouyang Rong nodded, put down his chopsticks, and, with a serious expression, explained softly to Qin Ying:
"Miss Qin's analysis is correct, but she overlooked one point. External wars cannot be rushed, and internal wars cannot be delayed. Since you are upholding righteousness, then righteousness will push you forward, allowing no room for the slightest thought of cautious retreat or slow progress."
"Time waits for no one. On the surface, Li Zhengyan and the Kuangfu Army have two paths, but in reality, there is only one path: to go north. If they dare to go south of the Yangtze River, Li Zhengyan will surely die, and the Kuangfu Army will be destroyed."
He paused for a moment, then smiled sheepishly.
"I don't know how Li Zhengyan's advisors are debating and making choices. These are just my personal opinions, and it's hard to say for sure."
Qin Jingzhen seemed lost in thought, his eyes having long since left Ouyang Rong, now fixed on a plate of Guanghan cakes on the table. He reached out and grabbed a piece, eating as he asked, his words somewhat indistinct:
"Going south is a dead end, so is going north definitely safe? Hmm..."
"It's not safe, but it's a mix of risks and opportunities. Besides, we've already raised the flag and started an army, so why hesitate and look back? Why settle for comfort and enjoy life too soon?"
Ouyang Rong sat cross-legged, but leaned forward, and waved his sleeve, saying:
“If we raise an army and march north, making it seem like we are heading straight for Luoyang, the eastern capital, then everyone in the world will know that Li Zhengyan’s ambition is to restore the Li Gan regime and eliminate the tyrannical Wei. In this way, people from all directions will respond.”
"I have heard that many heroes east of Xiaoshan are angry and regretful because of the Wei family's autocracy. If they hear that the Kuangfu Army is coming, these hot-blooded heroes might prepare their own food and take up their hoes as weapons to wait for the Kuangfu Army to arrive."
"If Li Zhengyan does not take advantage of this situation to go north and make contributions, but instead retreats to the southeast and seeks to build his own stronghold, how can people far and near not be alienated when they hear this? Because the matter of the Prince of Xunyang and the little righteousness that remained will be completely destroyed!"
His tone was resolute.
Xie Lingjiang, Xie Xue'e, Qin Jingzhen, Qin Ying, and the others all widened their eyes and stared at the young man in the white fox fur coat in front of them.
"Insightful and logically sound... Well said, Lianghan, please continue."
Qin Jingzhen nodded, then reached out and grabbed a piece of pale gold pastry, putting it in his mouth and chewing.
Qin Ying glanced at the old man out of the corner of her eye, who had entered a familiar state.
The old man was eating Guanghan cake, which is actually osmanthus cake, made from the golden autumn osmanthus flowers from Qiantang in the southeast. Madam Xie had found out the old man's preferences clearly and prepared everything.
The name of this cake comes from the common name of the moon, "Guanghan Palace," because there is an old cassia tree in Guanghan Palace that cannot be cut down. "Toad Palace and Cassia" has become a synonym for winning the championship. Originally, scholars who were announced in autumn would give each other Guanghan cakes as a blessing. Later, the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty called this cake Guanghan cake.
Qin Ying remembered that when her grandfather was leading troops into battle, he liked to carry a large box of Guanghan cakes with him, the sweeter the better.
Whenever there is an important military matter or a major decision that requires concentration and deep thought, the old man would pick up a piece of food and chew it, eating and thinking at the same time. It was like a habit, or perhaps a way to replenish some kind of energy. Listening to him mutter, "If I don't eat some, I'm prone to dizziness and fatigue when I'm thinking."
Although Qin Ying didn't quite understand, she was familiar with the situation. Clearly, her grandfather was now completely absorbed in what Ouyang Lianghan was saying.
The slightly plump female Taoist pursed her lips, glancing out of the corner of her eye at the young man in the white fox fur coat who was still talking non-stop, stating his views. He exuded a spirited confidence, but also carried a sense of peace and tranquility, making him impossible to dislike.
It's like the morning light, not the glaring midday sun.
This is very rare.
In the past, many of his peers from prominent families, and even many middle-aged officials and generals, would stutter and panic under the stern gaze of the battle-hardened and renowned old man. It was truly rare for him to express his views so calmly and confidently, let alone earn his praise.
Is he really from a poor family? No wonder he was favored by that Xie family lady, accepted by the haughty Madam Xie, who even helped to make connections and create a stage for him to perform alone in front of his grandfather... The Xie family of Chenjun is a family of distinguished people.
Qin Ying recalled some of the words of advice Qin Jingzhen had given her in private.
The lingering displeasure she felt after being rejected by Ouyang Rong had dissipated considerably.
"In fact, whether it moves north or southeast in the future, it means that the subsequent war will expand."
Seeing this, Xie and Qin, the three women, shook their heads and sighed softly:
"It would have been one thing to send the uprising to the southeast to its end, but instead, it brought war to the heart of the southeast, causing immense suffering and affecting countless families."
"As for heading north, it's not a good thing either. It might be good for Li Zhengyan's restoration army to cause chaos and fish in troubled waters, but Guanzhong is too dangerous. If the north is in chaos, it will be the prelude to chaos throughout the country. And to quell this chaos, there will be a lot of deaths..."
Everyone turned to look at the young man in the white fox fur coat who suddenly started rubbing his face and muttering to himself.
"Fortunately, there is still a chance to control the scale of the war and confine the battle to the area south of the Yangtze River, within the borders of Hong and Jiang prefectures."
Qin Jingzhen slowly asked, "How do you intend to restrict them?"
Ouyang Rong raised his head and smiled broadly:
"The reason why we say that Li Zhengyan and his group appeared aggressive on the surface but were actually in a predicament is because they were actually in trouble."
"It is because after Li Zhengyan and Cai Qin joined forces in Hongzhou, if they were to take the dead-end route to Jiangnan, they would have to attack Jiangzhou and open this southeastern gateway."
"If we choose the other route, heading north, we can cross the river directly within Hongzhou and ignore Jiangzhou. However, this would not only expose our flanks to our troops stationed in Jiangzhou, but also block the best waterway into Huainan Road, forcing us to take a detour through the hilly Shannan Road..."
"Moreover, the failure to recruit the Prince of Xunyang has resulted in a deficiency in the righteousness of the Kuangfu Army. Allowing the Prince of Xunyang's mansion to continue to embarrass Jiangzhou is ultimately not a long-term solution."
"In this way, they become obstacles no matter which way you look at them, so it's best to overcome them. Then the problem returns to the starting point: how to take Jiangzhou. This has become the most important thing. Li Zhengyan was right back then; Jiangzhou does indeed have the aura of a king!"
Ouyang Rong sighed, his dark eyes clear and bright:
"How to restrict them? Now that we know Li Zhengyan and the Kuangfu Army's concerns and weaknesses, we also know how to deal with them."
"If I were the commander, the more they downplay the importance of the Prince of Xunyang, the more we should emphasize it, bring up the banner of the Prince of Xunyang, and undermine the righteousness of the Kuangfu Army. This is called 'harmony among the people,' which means the enemy's strength decreases while ours increases."
"At the same time, we will be setting out tomorrow. We can't wait any longer. We should immediately lead our troops to attack Hongzhou. Before Li Zhengyan arrives in Hongzhou, we should take the initiative to strike and catch Cai Qin's army in Hongzhou off guard. We can also look for opportunities to attack and besiege the enemy's reinforcements."
"Now it's autumn, the busy farming season is over, there's plenty of grain and the horses are fat, it's a good time to go on an expedition! Also, the Jiangzhou vanguard army that Zhu Lingxu left behind, which is almost ready, can be used temporarily."
"If we take Hongzhou, we will cut off all the routes for Li Zhengyan and the Kuangfu Army, blocking them in the southwest. Li Zhengyan can't afford to wait, but we can. Although the court is slow to react, the local garrison troops have been mobilized one after another."
"The Kuangfu Army, supplied only by the Southwest, could not withstand the continuous punitive expeditionary forces of the imperial court. It could neither march north nor go south of the Yangtze River, and could only waste its time with the imperial army in Hong and Jiang.
"Even if we don't capture Hongzhou and Li Zhengyan and Cai Qinjun join forces, we can still employ the strategy of outwitting the enemy. For example, we can use a divisive tactic to find out who advised Li Zhengyan to go north. These people must have relatives and clansmen. We can ask them to send letters to persuade him to surrender or go north, deliberately expressing our welcome to the Kuangfu Army... Such divisive tactics are effective, especially at crucial moments when people are more suspicious, particularly when it comes to something as risky as rebellion. This is human nature..."
"So, Uncle Qin, isn't this an advantage for us?"
Ouyang Rong asked calmly.
Qin Jingzhen picked up a piece of Guanghan cake, paused at her lips, remained silent for a moment, then put down the osmanthus cake and sighed softly:
"good."
The women exchanged glances, their gazes towards Ouyang Rong carrying a subtle, unusual quality.
Qin Jingzhen then picked up a piece of Dongpo pork, savored it carefully, and sighed:
"He's a good cook. We definitely made the right choice coming today."
The old man turned to Xie Xue'e and said enviously, "The Xie family is luckier than my Qin family. It is your family's good fortune to have this kitchen."
Xie Xue'e's eyes were complicated. Just as she was about to speak, Xie Lingjiang interrupted and earnestly corrected her:
"It is not just a blessing for one family, but a blessing for ten thousand families."
(End of this chapter)
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