My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 473 Zhang Ji Surrenders to Cao Cao
The atmosphere in the hall was heavy and subtle, with flickering candlelight reflecting the different expressions on everyone's faces.

Before Zhang Ji, Zhang Xiu, and Jia Xu could speak, Xi Lu cleared his throat, his voice steady and carrying an undeniable air: "It just so happens that Governor Liu of Jingzhou has sent an envoy to the court, earnestly requesting the court to mediate the conflict between Jing and Yang. When Cao Cao heard that Governor Liu had also sent someone to Zhang Zhendong for assistance, he immediately devised a plan to invite Zhang Zhendong to Jingzhou to help Governor Liu stabilize the situation. I wonder what Zhang Zhendong thinks?"

Xi Lu's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples. A barely perceptible glint flashed in Zhang Ji's eyes, and his heart was suddenly stirred. He sat up slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the armrest of his chair, his mind already conjuring up various scenes of his journey to Jingzhou.

Not only was Zhang Ji tempted, but Zhang Xiu was also unable to suppress his inner desire; his expression betrayed him. For Zhang Ji and his nephew Zhang Xiu, Yanzhou was far away, a strange land they had never set foot in, and naturally filled them with wariness. Nanyang, on the other hand, was close at hand; they had led their armies to raid and plunder there many times, and knew its geography intimately. Moreover, this was the most ideal settlement they had discussed with Jia Xu before.

“The angels have come from afar, and they must be exhausted from their journey.”

Zhang Ji was very pleased and couldn't help but smile broadly at Xi Lu, saying, "Tonight, I intend to host a banquet to welcome the angel back. I hope the angel will do me the honor of attending."

Upon hearing this, Xi Lu first bowed, gratefully thanking Zhang Ji for his kindness, but then changed the subject, his expression becoming serious: "Jingzhou is now in imminent danger. Both Jing and Yang provinces are ruled by princes of the imperial family, who are close relatives of the emperor. If the two provinces attack each other, neither of them will be harmed, and this is not a situation that the emperor, the court, or Cao Cao would like to see. The most urgent task is to resolve Jingzhou's predicament as soon as possible."

Zhang Ji blinked, not immediately grasping the deeper meaning behind Xi Lu's words, and turned to look at his good nephew Zhang Xiu. Zhang Xiu's clear eyes were also full of doubt. After confirming that neither of them understood, they both turned their gaze to Jia Xu, as if Jia Xu were their pillar of support and the key to solving the mystery.

Jia Xu stroked his beard and spoke slowly, "Since we have decided to serve the court, and the court now has Cao Cao as its regent, we will naturally follow Cao Cao's lead. But I wonder, where does Cao Cao intend to place us?"

When Xi Lu saw that Jia Xu had spoken, he knew there was no need to beat around the bush anymore, so he said directly: "My lord has learned about the situation in Jingzhou in detail today. He told me that Wan County was the former seat of Nanyang. It is located at the transportation hub of the Nanyang Basin and is also a waterway hub. Its geographical location is extremely important and it is essential to have a strong general stationed there."

Xi Lu, halfway through his sentence, secretly glanced at Zhang Ji, Zhang Xiu, and Jia Xu opposite him. He saw that the uncle and nephew Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu instantly revealed undisguised joy, clearly extremely satisfied with the terms, as if they could already see their stable life in Wan County. Jia Xu, however, remained calm and composed, his expression revealing nothing of his true thoughts, like a bottomless lake.

Wanxian, this ancient city, was once incredibly glorious. At its peak, its population was second only to Luoyang in the entire country, almost on par with Chang'an. This was certainly due to Wanxian's unique geographical advantages: fertile land, convenient transportation, and a network of rivers providing excellent conditions for agricultural development. However, the founding heroes of the Eastern Han Dynasty also played an indispensable role.

Nanyang, as the birthplace of Liu Xiu, was the cradle of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and more than half of its founding heroes hailed from there. To wrest control of the court from these powerful and influential figures, Emperor Guangwu (Liu Xiu) and Emperors Ming and Zhang meticulously planned and maneuvered until they were finally driven back to their fiefdoms. Their return brought with them vast wealth, a large population, and advanced production technologies, undoubtedly propelling Nanyang into its golden age.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the empire was in chaos, yet the power of Nanyang Commandery nearly overwhelmed two-thirds of the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty. Even after being brutally ruled by Yuan Shu, leaving nine out of ten households destitute and the people impoverished, Wan County gradually recovered some of its vitality after the Battle of Kuangting. Currently, Wan County has over four thousand households, with a population of thirty to forty thousand. Furthermore, within a fifty-mile radius of Wan County, there are eight or nine other counties, forming a sizable region that relies on and complements Wan County.

The land here is fertile, crisscrossed by rivers, and has extremely well-developed water conservancy. By simply accommodating some refugees, avoiding excessive taxation, reducing burdens and allowing the people to rest, it's believed that this land can be revitalized in just one or two years. Even with a short-sighted perspective, it's clear that the territory of Wan County, plus the surrounding nearly ten counties, is sufficient to supply Zhang Ji's 20,000 troops with food and drink for a year—far superior to this dilapidated place they're currently in, Shangcheng.

In contrast, the northwest corner of Nanyang, near Shangcheng, is severely desolate and dilapidated. The reasons are self-evident; Zhang Ji himself knows them all too well. For the past few years, he has entered the Nanyang Basin from there every year, ostensibly to "help with the autumn harvest," not to mention the burning, killing, and looting by Dong Zhuo's army a few years earlier.

This deal is done!
Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu exchanged a glance. If it weren't for Jia Xu sitting calmly to keep things under control, they probably would have already started shouting excitedly.

Xi Lu continued, "However, the Wuguan Pass is the barrier of Guanzhong and is related to the safety of the Guanzhong region. Naturally, it should be taken over by the imperial court. I hope the general will understand."

"Can……"

Zhang Ji had just opened his mouth with a look of delight when he stopped himself halfway through his sentence. He knew the matter was of great importance and was unsure of what to do. He turned to Jia Xu, his eyes full of inquiry and expectation: "What do you think, sir?"

"Yes!"

With a solemn expression and a firm tone, Jia Xu said, “Although Shangcheng is located in a strategic location, it has a small population and little farmland, and there are no caravans coming and going, resulting in a depressed economy that is difficult to develop in the long run. Although Wanxian has suffered from war and is somewhat devastated, it can fully utilize its superior geographical conditions to gather people, cultivate land, and develop production. Moreover, we have already surrendered to the court, so we must naturally obey the orders of the court and Cao Cao. This is the general trend.”

“What you say is very true, sir.”

Having received Jia Xu's approval, Zhang Ji was overjoyed, his face beaming with delight: "That's right, now that we have pledged allegiance to the court, we must naturally obey Lord Cao's orders. But I wonder when Lord Cao intends to dispatch our troops out of the pass?"

Xi Lu chuckled inwardly. He hadn't expected Zhang Ji to trust and rely on Jia Xu so much, to the point of being completely open and obedient. Seeing this, Xi Lu couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy and envy. He thought of himself under Cao Cao, where he was also highly valued, but he had never received such absolute trust.

"When to set off is naturally a matter for discussion with Lord Deng of Jingzhou."

Xi Lu smiled and teased, "I wonder when the general will invite Lord Deng to a gathering?"

Zhang Ji burst into laughter, but his laughter was tinged with embarrassment. He recalled the time he had placed Deng Yi under house arrest, and now that he had to invite Deng Yi over, he couldn't help but feel awkward. But since things had come to this, he could only bite the bullet and face it.

Soon, at Zhang Ji's command, the soldiers hurriedly went to fetch Deng Yi. On the way, someone instructed by Jia Xu had already informed Deng Yi of the details. Only then did Deng Yi understand why he was able to meet Zhang Ji.

However, Deng Yi was clear-headed and meticulous. He knew this was not the time to act impulsively. Instead of taking the opportunity to embarrass Zhang Ji, he made no mention of the previous house arrest, as if it had never happened. His understanding of the bigger picture and consideration for the overall situation instantly earned him great favor from the already embarrassed Zhang Ji. Upon learning that Zhang Ji had surrendered to Cao Cao, Deng Yi's expression changed slightly, and he was secretly surprised. Then, upon learning that Fu Xun had persuaded Cao Cao to come to Cao Cao's aid, Deng Yi gradually understood. He realized that behind this was a complex political game, and Cao Cao had cleverly exploited the contradictions among various parties to achieve his own goals.

But understanding something doesn't equate to having a solution. Deng Yi saw through Cao Cao's strategy of leveraging others' strength against him, and he also understood that Cao Cao had suddenly become the biggest winner. But this didn't mean he could turn the tide and change the current situation.

At the same time, Deng Yi, being from Nanyang, did not harbor any resentment towards Cao Cao. On the contrary, because Cao Cao had dealt a heavy blow to Yuan Shu in the Battle of Kuangting, causing Yuan Shu to flee in terror and sparing the people of Nanyang from Yuan Shu's brutal rule, he actually had a rather favorable impression of Cao Cao.

Of course, Deng Yi and his fellow Nanyang people also held a favorable view of Liu Bei and his son, who had defeated Yuan Shu and sent him to Luozhong to be handed over to the imperial court. They felt that Liu Bei and his son had rid Nanyang of a great scourge and were worthy of respect.

Therefore, Deng Yi, Han Song, and other members of the Nanyang gang actually supported the surrender in their hearts.

Firstly, they looked down on Liu Biao, believing him to be narrow-minded, incapable of achieving great things; secondly, they could accept Cao Cao in the north, Liu Feng in the south, or even Yuan Shao in Hebei.

In their view, as long as the people of Nanyang can live a peaceful life, it doesn't matter who rules.

With this in mind, when he heard Xi Lu issue an imperial edict ordering Zhang Ji's troops to relocate to Wan County, Deng Yi agreed without hesitation, saying he would go back and inform Liu Biao.

Seeing Deng Yi's "sensible and understanding" attitude, Xi Lu and Zhang Ji were overjoyed. Zhang Ji even hosted a grand banquet that evening to warmly entertain the two envoys, Xi Lu and Deng Yi. Inside the tent, everyone toasted and laughed, and the banquet continued until dawn, almost until daybreak.

The next morning, as the warm sun rose, its soft light streamed through the windows into the room where the group was discussing military matters. They sat around a long table, the atmosphere both serious and enthusiastic. After a heated discussion, they finally finalized a detailed strategy.

Zhang Ji accepted the order and was to quickly raise troops within five days, leave Wuguan Pass, and enter Nanyang. He sped along the banks of the Dan River, heading straight for Zhuyang County.

Zhuyang County is situated at the confluence of the Zhu and Dan rivers, making its geographical location extremely crucial. It is only a hundred miles away from Xiangyang, and its waterway transportation is convenient; it only takes two days to reach the city of Xiangyang by boat. This place can be considered the most suitable location for a coordinated attack, making it of extraordinary strategic significance.

If Liu Feng persists in his attack on Xiangyang, Zhang Ji's garrison there will pose a serious flank threat to Liu Feng's army besieging Xiangyang. This presents Liu Feng with a dilemma: either divide his forces to fight Zhang Ji, thus weakening his siege, or be constantly on edge during the attack, worried about threats from his flanks and rear, making it impossible for him to concentrate his full strength on the siege.

If Liu Feng were to seek peace, Zhang Ji could detour through Zhuyang County, pass through Xiangyang, head north, and eventually reach Wan County. Although this route is slightly longer, it relies entirely on waterways, making the transport of supplies more convenient and the march easier; in fact, it is more convenient.

As for Cao Cao, he will send troops to take over Shangcheng and Wuguan in ten days.

At that time, he would also send an elite force to enter the Nanyang Basin first and garrison Shunyang. As a strategic stronghold, this place could provide timely support to Zhang Ji's troops, ensuring that Zhang Ji's actions on the front line were worry-free.

**
The gaze slowly shifts back to Liu Feng's army south of Xiangyang.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the military was filled with tension and anticipation.

Liu Feng had previously given Zhou Bin a difficult task—to take Ruoguo County within seven days.

This seemingly difficult task was accomplished by Zhou Bin with astonishing speed and outstanding military talent, exceeding all expectations.

In just four and a half days, Zhou Bin led his troops to successfully break through the defenses of the Ruo Kingdom. In this battle, Zhou Bin demonstrated extraordinary strategic and command abilities. He cleverly deployed his forces, avoiding the enemy's frontal defenses and launching a surprise attack from the flank, catching the Ruo Kingdom's defenders completely off guard.

What's even more commendable is that he not only successfully conquered the State of Ruo, but also preserved the port and warehouse facilities within the city intact. This was undoubtedly a huge gain for subsequent military operations and material reserves. Furthermore, in this fierce battle, Zhou Bin's own troops suffered fewer than two hundred casualties, which is nothing short of a miracle, exceeding the task assigned by Liu Feng.

After conquering the State of Ruo, Liu Feng followed the same pattern and began to reorganize the local personnel. He focused on punishing those gentry, powerful clans, large families, and wealthy merchants who dared to resist.

These people have long held the political and economic lifeline of the region, controlled the lives of ordinary people, and openly defied the government, thus becoming an obstacle to Liu Feng's rule.

Now that Liu Feng's camp is brimming with talent and its strength has greatly increased, he naturally despises these wicked people. Now that he finally has a legitimate and reasonable opportunity to punish them, how could he let it go easily?

However, soon many people flocked to Liu Feng to plead for these powerful clans. Some pleaded earnestly, recounting the intricate connections these families had with the local area; others used threats and inducements, attempting to sway Liu Feng with various benefits.

(End of this chapter)