Volume Three: The Hero Silent, the Heavens and Earth Aged, 4: Pan and Liu, Part I

Tomorrow, December 26th, marks the one-hundred and fifteenth anniversary of the birth of a great man. I take this moment to pay tribute to him and offer my deepest remembrance.

Tomorrow, December 26th, is also the day our People’s Navy will set sail, dispatching warships to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. This will be a historic maiden voyage—a red China is about to take its first steps toward the deep blue sea. I take this moment to pay tribute to the founder of the People’s Army, the great leader, and offer my deepest remembrance.

"Those people's heroes who sacrificed their lives in the People's Liberation War and the people's revolution over the past three years shall be immortal! Those people's heroes who sacrificed their lives in the People's Liberation War and the people's revolution over the past thirty years shall be immortal! And tracing back to 1840, those people's heroes who sacrificed their lives in the struggles of the past, opposing internal and external enemies to fight for national independence and the people's freedom and happiness, shall be immortal!"

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Three months ago, Chaghan Temür mobilized the armies of Qin and Jin. First, he dispatched light cavalry, moving south of the Bian River and east of the Bian River, while simultaneously advancing by water to seize key fortresses throughout Henan. Then, the Qin troops emerged from Hangu Pass and crossed Hulao, while the Jin troops marched out of the Taihang Mountains and crossed the Yellow River, converging beneath the walls of Bianliang. Liu Futong lost the initial engagement, and Chaghan Temür seized the outer city. His subordinates—generals Yan Sixiao, Li Keyi, Hulinchi, and Guanbao—built camps around the city, laying a tight siege.

The Little Ming King and Liu Futong fought desperately, refusing to surrender. Dozens of battles were fought, large and small. Although they could not break the siege, Chaghan Temür was also unable to take the city. During this time, Liu Futong sent several messengers to Shandong, Liaoyang, and Jiangnan, pleading for reinforcements.

However, Wang Shicheng and Tian Feng in Shandong, Guan Duo in Liaoyang, and Zhu Yuanzhang in Jiangnan, for various reasons—either because their footing was not yet stable, because they were too far away and blocked by cities occupied by Yuan forces, or because they were preoccupied with their own troubles—never sent an army to rescue them. This continued until the end of last month, when Chaghan Temür learned from his spies that the food supply in Bianliang was exhausted and the city could no longer be held. He spurred his generals to launch a massive assault. After a day of bloody combat, the city finally fell.

Fortunately, the Little Ming King was unharmed. The night the city fell, guarded by Liu Futong and accompanied by a few hundred horsemen, he escaped through the East Gate. The Little Ming King’s empress, his concubines, tens of thousands of soldiers' wives, five thousand officials, and countless seals, regalia, and treasures fell into the hands of Chaghan Temür. Although the captured officials were subjected to brutal torture, most refused to surrender. They were beheaded or buried alive, numbering in the thousands; for a time, the river water ran red.

The fall of Bianliang, much like the successful defense of Gaoyou years prior, shocked the world. If the failure of Tuotuo’s million-man army to take Gaoyou sparked the climax of the northern and southern rebel uprisings, then the fall of Bianliang inevitably dealt a heavy blow to the various rebel forces in the North and Jiangnan.

Deng She remained silent for a long moment. The first question that crossed his mind was not the danger the fall of Bianliang might pose to Liaodong or Goryeo, but rather how he could have been kept in the dark for months during the siege. Even allowing for the isolation of Shandong and the severed roads, one could not rule out the possibility that Guan Duo had deliberately blocked the news.

Stationed far away in Goryeo, before he took Pyongyang, he had lived in a corner north of the pass. Liaoxi, Shenyang, and Liaonan were all in the hands of the Mongol-Yuan. Aside from Liaoyang, there were almost no channels of communication with the outside world. While Chen Zhe had traveled to Liaoxi to trade and later sent Lady Wang, that had been months ago. It was reasonable to assume the news had not yet reached Liaodong.

But Guan Duo definitely knew, yet he had remained silent. Hong Jixun was right; his intention to use this opportunity to establish himself was now laid bare. Deng She then considered another question: where did the imperial decree ordering him to Liaoyang come from?

At first, he had wondered how the decree had arrived so quickly. Now it seemed clear: the decree had not come from Bianliang at all, but had been issued from Liaoyang. No wonder it arrived so fast!

Deng She looked up at Guan Duo. He suspected that forging the decree might not have been Guan Duo’s own idea, but was likely proposed by Yao Haogu. Yao Haogu’s daring, unscrupulous character was much like Hong Jixun’s. Could he truly have become such a threat in Yao Haogu’s eyes?

He wondered what Guan Duo was thinking. He became more guarded.

Guan Duo looked at him with a troubled expression, appearing as though he were deeply concerned for the country and the people, clearly waiting for Deng She to speak first. Deng She suppressed his turbulent thoughts and made a silent resolution: the intelligence work of the Bandit Suppression Bureau must be strengthened immediately. His composure grew deeper, and he did not let his thoughts show on his face. He frowned and said, "Though Bianliang has fallen, thanks to the protection of our ancestors, the Lord is safe. This is a blessing in misfortune. My Lord, do you know where the Lord has gone?"

Guan Duo did not answer immediately. He signaled for Mao Jujing to spread out a map and called everyone forward. Using a jade *ruyi* on the desk, he pointed and said, "I only received the news recently. The Lord’s whereabouts are unknown. When Liu Taibao broke through, he did not take many troops with him. The closest and safest place to Bianliang is Jiangbei. In my opinion, it is highly likely he went there." Jiangbei was the Henan-Jiangbei Province of the Mongol-Yuan. The Huai and Si rivers were the foundation of the Great Song, and Liu Futong had first raised the banner of rebellion in Yingshang—a place located in Jiangbei.

Deng She remained silent. The situation had changed abruptly, and he needed to weigh his options carefully. What was Guan Duo’s real intent in summoning him here? Guan Duo did not give him time to think and asked, "Director Yao has always praised your long-term vision. In your opinion, now that Chaghan has taken Bianliang, how will he act next?"

Deng She did not need to deliberate. He answered, "Using Bianliang as a base, he will campaign through Henan." Guan Duo asked, "Correct. Henan is where Chaghan built his power. With Bianliang captured, he will use his momentum to seize our Henan—that will not be difficult. And after that?" Deng She stared at the map for a long time and said, "Either move up into Shandong or down into Jiangbei." Guan Duo asked, "Which is it—Shandong or Jiangbei?"

The Jianghuai region, bounded by Shandong to the north, Henan to the west, and bordering Hubei, Liangzhe, and Jiangxi to the southwest and south, was a strategic hub and a place that every military strategist throughout history had fought to control. Whoever held this region from the north could strike south, and whoever held it from the south could strike north. It was the pivot connecting the North and the South.

Precisely because of its status as a hub, it was no exaggeration to call it a place of four-way combat. Once he advanced, to say nothing of whether he could successfully capture Yingshang, Chaghan would first have to face Xu Shouhui, Zhang Shicheng, and Zhu Yuanzhang of Hubei, Liangzhe, and Jiangxi. Although Zhang Shicheng had nominally surrendered to the Mongol-Yuan, everyone knew that could not be taken at face value.

In this way, he would fall into a position where he was surrounded by enemies on all sides. He would not be stupid enough to do that. Therefore, until Shandong was pacified, Chaghan would never march south. This was not a profound dilemma, and everyone present could see it. Deng She saw no need to feign ignorance and said, "He must move up to Shandong."

Guan Duo struck the table and said, "Correct. I also believe he must move to Shandong. Shandong is easy to attack but hard to defend. Commissioner Mao has recently died... Oh, are you aware of this?" Deng She replied, "I heard Director Yao mention it."

Guan Duo continued, "Commissioner Mao worked diligently and deeply won the hearts of the people of Shandong. He could have accomplished great things; it is a pity, a great pity. The young Commissioner Mao is still too young and lacks sufficient prestige. Although the two commanders, Wang and Xu, have led their troops back, I received a letter from them a few days ago. The newly appointed Chancellor of the Shandong Province, Tian Feng, is arrogant and conceited, believing his own merits to be great. He is highly incompatible with the two of them and has even gone so far as to style himself the 'King of the Flowery Horse'."

Deng She understood. In short, Wang and Xu recognized the young Commissioner Mao as their lord, but after Mao Gui died, Shandong was left without a leader. The former general Tian Feng refused to submit, set up his own faction, and intended to fight Wang and Xu for the actual control of Shandong.

Guan Duo said with a worried heart, "As the saying goes, the sky cannot have two suns, and the people cannot have two masters. In the single province of Shandong, there is now one commissioner and one chancellor—two heads of state—with infighting that never ceases. Once Chaghan enters Shandong with his victorious and valiant army, Shandong will surely fall. If Shandong is lost, my Liaoyang will be severed from an arm of support."

Deng She suddenly realized that although Wang Shicheng and Xu Jizude were returnees to Shandong and acted as guest forces, it was likely that Guan Duo had supported them. Why support them? Naturally, to get a share of the power. Linking this to the current situation, with Liaoyang in such peril, Guan Duo was still willing to let them go, which showed he had grander plans. Otherwise, he would not have spoken of "Liaoyang being severed from an arm of support."

Deng She thought to himself, "Shandong is truly a piece of fat meat." But it had little to do with him. He did not have Guan Duo’s strength and would not reach for things beyond his grasp. If he could use Lady Wang to establish a connection and acquire some urgently needed supplies, he would be satisfied.

Guan Duo asked, "If Shandong cannot be saved, do you see Liaoyang falling into turmoil because of it?" Deng She replied, "Just as you said, my Lord, if Shandong is lost, Liaoyang loses an arm of support. I believe the Tatars may launch a massive offensive against our army." Guan Duo said, "Not 'may,' but 'certainly.' The Tatars have been mobilizing troops and eyeing Liaodong for months. Their hesitation to strike has been due to concerns about their front and rear. Now that Bianliang has fallen and Shandong is about to be lost, I predict that in two months at most, or one month at least, the Tatar offensive will be right before our eyes."

He asked Deng She, "If the Tatars come, what is your plan?" The bearded general interrupted, "My Lord, the Tatars have been building momentum for a long time; once they strike, it will be unstoppable. Liaoyang has no outside reinforcements, and after the loss of Bianliang, the morale of the army is unstable. In my humble opinion, Liaoyang cannot be held to the death." Guan Duo’s face darkened, and he said, "To speak of defeat before the battle has begun—General Zheng, when did you develop the heart of a mouse?"

The bearded general said, "It is not that this subordinate is cowardly. My Lord, please consider: Nahachu in Shenyang, Gao Jianu in Gaizhou, and Shixiabao and Zhang Juying in Liaoxi can all be called fine generals. Unlike the *tamma* troops led by Shuosijian, Nangjiadai, and Fojianu coming from the west, these are generals tempered in battle with great combat strength. Once the news of the fall of Bianliang spreads, the Tatars will surely be emboldened. As an isolated city, we will be difficult to defend."

Deng She remained calm and listened to their exchange. The bearded general’s words hinted at a retreat. Where to? There was no other path but Goryeo. He had discussed this with Hong Jixun, but it was unlikely that Guan Duo would openly propose retreating the entire army into Goryeo. Compared to holding their ground, that was a desperate measure.

If the entire army retreated into Goryeo and handed over Liaoyang, the Mongol-Yuan would occupy Liaodong and press against the Yalu River. With the Goryeo dynasty to the south and the Mongol-Yuan to the north, Guan Duo would be trapped in one place and attacked from both sides, effectively cutting off his own path to survival. Even if he could save his life, it would be a lingering existence with no hope of rising again. Unless absolutely necessary, he would not take this step.