kingnovel Chapter 1213 The Fertile Grounds of Yizhou: Open and Covert Competition
Chapter 1213 The Fertile Grounds of Yizhou: Open and Covert Competition
On the morning of the first day of the fifth year of Jian'an in 200 AD, as dawn broke through the clouds, a chilly wind swept through Chang'an. Ma Chao, dressed in a brocade robe, still reeking of the previous night's wine, leaned against the battlements, gazing at the empty fields outside the city. Suddenly, he burst into laughter: "Have you all seen that? Where are these refugee shacks? I've said it before, the administration of Xiliang is clean and efficient; how dare you spout such nonsense!"
Wang Lei's hand, which was supporting him on the city wall, trembled slightly. His fingertips touched the cold bricks and stones, and the chill seeped into his heart. The rows of shacks that he had clearly seen yesterday, and the figures wrapped in tattered clothes, had now vanished without a trace—the ground had been leveled, and even the ashes of the fires had been swept away, as if no one had ever stayed there.
Yang Biao closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, only a deep melancholy remained. He looked at the expressionless guards behind Ma Chao and suddenly understood something. His lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing, only feeling a chill creep down his back.
Feng Ji clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm. The cleanup was so thorough overnight. If it was a eviction, how could there not be a trace of dragging? If it was a resettlement, how could it be so quiet, without even a notice? He dared not think too deeply about the most terrifying possibility, only feeling that the laughing Liang King in front of him was even more chilling than the rumors.
The envoys remained silent, no one arguing further. The wind atop Chang'an seemed to grow colder, chilling their necks. Seeing their silence, Ma Chao's smile widened: "Why are you all so quiet? What happened to your harsh words the other day? Or perhaps you harbored malicious intent, unable to bear the prosperity of Xiliang?"
Cao Ang stood to the side, his brows furrowed. He had sensed something amiss last night, and now, seeing the city deserted, his suspicions deepened. However, he knew that saying anything now would be futile—there was no evidence, and further arguing would only escalate the conflict.
Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan, his gaze sweeping over the freshly turned earth at the foot of the city wall, then turning to Ma Chao, remaining silent. The acting had genuinely left Zhuge Liang momentarily dazed.
Sima Yi remained in the shadows, his eyelids half-closed, and no one could see his expression. Only when he turned to leave the city did he let out a very soft hum, a sound that seemed both mocking and knowing.
Wang Lei was the last to descend the city wall. He glanced back at the empty city walls and felt as if countless silent cries were buried beneath that flat land. He silently labeled Ma Chao as "bloodthirsty and tyrannical," a perception that froze him and made his heart ache.
The wind remained still, and the sunlight slowly climbed the city walls, yet it couldn't penetrate the gloom in anyone's heart. The "Qingming" festival in Xiliang was ultimately a self-deceiving illusion, created through unseen means.
Inside the Liang King's residence, Ma Chao, to celebrate New Year's Day, once again ordered a banquet to be held. Gilded candlesticks illuminated the table laden with delicacies, yet they could not warm the chill in the hall. Ma Chao, holding a wine cup, glanced at the envoys at the table. The displeasure of being refuted yesterday was still etched on his brow, but he deliberately put on a magnanimous demeanor and said loudly, "Envoy Wang, I will not hold yesterday's matter against you."
He slammed his wine cup down on the table, spilling wine over the rim: "But you judge a gentleman by the standards of a petty person. Go back and tell your lord Liu Zhang—I have remembered your slander yesterday. Once I have finished dealing with the trivial matters in Chang'an, I will personally lead a large army to Yizhou to demand an explanation!"
Wang Lei's heart was still preoccupied with the vanished refugees. When he passed by the city wall in the early morning, the old and weak who had been huddled there the night before were nowhere to be seen. Only a few piles of cold ashes remained on the ground, as if no one had ever stayed there. He looked up at Ma Chao, the monarch who was rumored to be ruthless in slaughtering entire tribes on the grasslands. At this moment, the "magnanimity" on his face was more chilling than his ferocity.
“Since Your Majesty is unwilling to dwell on yesterday’s events,” Wang Lei rose and cupped his hands, his tone calm yet undeniably firm, “it is not appropriate for your humble servant to linger. The people of Yizhou are of one mind. If Your Majesty truly wishes to raise an army to punish us, we will gladly accompany you to the end.”
Ma Chao narrowed his eyes and suddenly laughed: "Want to leave? What's the rush?" He tapped his knuckles on the table, making a dull sound. "On the fifth day of the first month, I will review the army outside Chang'an. Since you envoys are distinguished guests, why not stay and watch the ceremony? It will also let you see the might of my Xiliang cavalry."
These words carried an undeniable pressure, and the air in the hall instantly froze. Wang Lei saw the ruthlessness flash in Ma Chao's eyes and knew that this "observation" was nothing more than a demonstration. He wanted all the envoys to witness firsthand what kind of iron hooves those who dared to provoke him would face.
"Your subject... obeys." Wang Lei bowed slowly, his fingertips clenched white in his sleeves. He could almost hear the sound of horses' hooves outside Chang'an, trampling over countless wronged souls hidden in the darkness, approaching step by step.
Zhuge Liang lightly twirled his feather fan, his gaze falling on Wang Lei's tense profile, a knowing glint in his eyes. Wang Lei was in turmoil; the threat of Ma Chao, the disappearances of refugees, and the looming shadow of the Xiliang cavalry had woven a web of fear into his mind. In this state of mind, a mere nudge could shake his resolve to defend Yizhou under Liu Zhang.
"Although Yizhou is dangerous, it is not an impregnable fortress." Zhuge Liang pondered to himself, "Cao Cao and Lü Bu are vying for power in the Central Plains, Yuan Shao is eyeing Hebei, and Ma Chao has occupied Chang'an. The Central Plains is indeed a battleground on all sides. Liu Bei, who occupies Jingzhou, is also facing enemies on both sides. If we cannot take Yizhou as our base, we will be trapped and die in Jingzhou sooner or later."
He recalled his first meeting with Liu Bei, when Liu Bei had described Yizhou as "a land of strategic importance, fertile plains stretching for thousands of miles, a veritable paradise." Even then, he considered this region crucial to Liu Bei's development. Now, seeing Ma Chao's aggressive advances and Wang Lei's utter disarray, this was the perfect opportunity to persuade Liu Zhang to submit. If Liu Zhang refused, he could use Ma Chao's influence to sway those within Yizhou who were wavering, paving the way for Liu Bei's conquest of the province. With this in mind, Zhuge Liang's feather fan waved even more slowly, a confident smile playing on his lips.
Feng Ji paused slightly, his hand holding the wine glass pausing. His peripheral vision caught the exchange between Xu You and Zhang Song, and a barely perceptible smile curved his lips. He set down the glass, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table, his voice extremely low: "Ziyuan, look at Wang Lei's distraught state. After being so frightened by Ma Chao, he'll probably be crying tonight, clutching a map."
Xu You chuckled and leaned closer: "This is what you call reaping what you sow. Liu Zhang is indecisive to begin with, and he just had to send a hothead as an envoy, who offended Ma Chao to death with just a few words. Now Ma Chao has declared that he will 'personally lead an expedition to Yizhou,' do you think Liu Zhang can sit still?" He looked at Zhang Song, his eyes gleaming, "Zhang, do you think your lord is as anxious as an ant on a hot pan right now?"
Zhang Song stroked his beard, his face expressionless, but inwardly he was already chuckling. He looked up at Feng Ji and Xu You, his tone tentative: "Lord Yuan commands a million soldiers. If we could lend a helping hand, the entire Yizhou would be eternally grateful. However..."
"Is it just that old codger Liu Zhang is still hesitating?" Feng Ji sneered. "At this point, he's still thinking about 'protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people'? Ma Chao's iron cavalry won't stand on ceremony with him. Prefect Zhang, you're a smart man. You should know that the only way to protect Yizhou right now is to pledge allegiance to Lord Yuan."
Xu You chimed in, "That's right! Lord Yuan had planned this all along. As long as Liu Zhang surrendered, he would be treated as 'General Who Guards the South,' with no shortage of troops, provisions, and supplies. Then, they could attack Ma Chao from both the north and south, and the world... Hmph, wouldn't Lord Yuan be in charge? You, Zhang Biejia, made this happen; that's an immense achievement!"
Zhang Song was overjoyed. He recalled Liu Zhang's usual incompetence, how the King of Liang had manipulated these people, and then looked at the "blueprint" drawn up by these two men. He felt he couldn't help but burst out laughing. "This matter... let me think about it some more." He declined verbally, but his eyes met those of Feng Ji and Xu You. The three of them understood each other perfectly, seeing certainty in each other's eyes.
At this banquet, though seemingly filled with clinking glasses and lively conversation, undercurrents were surging beneath the surface. Liu Bei's men were calculating the strength and weaknesses of Yi Province, while Feng Ji and Xu You of Yuan Shao's camp were quietly weaving a net, taking advantage of the trouble caused by Wang Lei, waiting for Liu Zhang to lose his composure before dragging the entire Yi Province into Yuan Shao's territory.
Wang Lei was still troubled by his argument with Ma Chao, completely unaware that his impulsive act had become the pretext for various forces to covet Yizhou. And that "fat piece of meat" that everyone was eyeing was now lying in the center of the chessboard, waiting to be grasped by the first person to reach out.
After the banquet, Wang Lei returned to the embassy, his brow furrowed and his worries undiminished. He sat at his desk, his fingertips tapping the surface unconsciously, his mind filled with the argument at the banquet and his current predicament, unable to find peace of mind.
"Why are you so worried?" Zhang Song walked over with a cup of hot tea and gently placed it in front of Wang Lei, his face bearing his usual calm smile. "It's just an uncertain situation; there's no need to make yourself so distressed."
Wang Lei looked up at him, his tone tinged with doubt: "You make it sound so easy, but what did Feng Ji and Xu You promise you?"
Zhang Song took a sip of tea and said slowly, "The current situation is unclear. Ma Chao is gaining momentum in Xiliang, but what Yuan Shao wants is for Yizhou to submit to him. You've seen it yourself; Ma Chao is nothing more than a brave and fierce warrior. Although he's fierce for a time, he may not understand long-term planning." He then turned to Wang Lei, "Furthermore, the terrain of Xishu is complex and the roads are difficult to traverse. Zhang Ren has been fighting at Yangping Pass for so long without being able to break through, which shows that it is not invincible. If we're really talking about siege warfare, if he dares to come, he'll probably lose a few teeth and come out worse off."
Hearing Zhang Song's words, Wang Lei's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and his anxiety lessened a bit.
Just then, a servant came in to announce that Zhuge Liang had come to visit. Upon hearing this, Wang Lei's mind was no longer as chaotic as before, and he quickly said, "Please come in quickly!"
When Zhuge Liang entered, his expression was calm and composed, without the slightest hint of apprehension. He clearly did not consider Zhang Song, who was present, an outsider, and went straight to Wang Lei, saying bluntly, "Brother Wang, Ma Chao's power is now immense, and your lord Liu Zhang is in a perilous situation. If he relies solely on his own strength, I fear it will be difficult to hold out for long. My lord Liu Bei is known for his benevolence, and we are both members of the Han imperial family. He is willing to join forces with Liu, the governor of Yizhou, to resist Ma Chao and ensure the stability of Yizhou."
He paused, his gaze sincere: "Yuan Shao claims to be joining forces against Ma Chao, but in reality, he already sees Yizhou as his own. He merely wants to use the guise of an alliance to carry out his annexation. I'm sure you understand this, Brother Wang. As for my lord Liu Bei, he only seeks peace in his own region and has no desire for Yizhou. If we can join forces, he will treat you with sincerity."
Wang Lei listened quietly, his heart already churning with turmoil. He wasn't unaware of Yuan Shao's intentions, but he simply hadn't found a better option. Now, Zhuge Liang brought Liu Bei's goodwill, and every word he spoke resonated with him. In comparison, the superiority of Zhuge Liang was immediately apparent.
He looked at Zhuge Liang and slowly nodded: "What Mr. Kongming said is absolutely right. When I return, I will definitely persuade my lord to invite Liu Bei to enter Sichuan to fight against Ma Chao together."
Zhuge Liang rose and cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Wang is a man of great wisdom and righteousness. With you in Yizhou, we will surely overcome this difficulty."
Zhang Song witnessed all of this and kept it in mind. He held his teacup, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, as if he had already foreseen this outcome.