Chapter 17: A Hellish Beginning

At night, near the campfire.

Wei Gu sat upright in the center, with Pei Xiu, Guanqiu Xing, Jia Kui, and Liu Fu beside him. On the other side of the fire sat Zhao Ji, Wei Xing, Ximen Jian, and two leaders of the Tiger Guards who had arrived that afternoon.

Today, five more county units had joined, hailing from counties downstream of the Su and Fen Rivers.

Among them was Wang Fu from Yishi, already appointed as the second battalion commander; another was Xue Ming from Fenyin, whose position as third battalion commander or officer was yet to be decided after the arrival of the Pi and Puban units.

The ten men sat in a circle; most drank wine, except Zhao Ji and Jia Kui who abstained.

Zhao Ji favored this relatively democratic military atmosphere. The group was growing, yet danger loomed ever closer.

The number of Tiger Guards recruited from the counties far exceeded the quota—over five hundred had arrived just today.

This would surely provoke suspicion and hostility from the old Bai Bo generals. The closest garrison was that of Eastern Expedition General Han Xian, stationed south of Wenxi.

Han Xian and the Bai Bo old generals had answered Yang Feng’s call, raising troops to support the emperor and fighting fiercely at Hongnong, suffering severe losses.

Later, after falling out with Yang Feng, they had no choice but to withdraw from Anyi, garrisoning nearby in Wenxi County, keeping a close eye on Anyi’s movements.

Regarding the emperor’s return to Luoyang, most dared not travel south through Hongnong via Hangu Pass; crossing the river meant risking clashes with Li Jue and Guo Si, whose defeats had already instilled fear.

The original plan was to pass through Zhiguan and Xing, cross the river at Mengjin, and proceed to Luoyang.

Many were uninformed about the events of the past half year, their knowledge as vague as looking at flowers through mist.

They knew the outcomes but not the details.

Now, as the ten sat together, Wei Gu began recounting what had transpired.

Zhao Ji gradually grasped the true situation and felt the urgency deepen.

It all began with the killing of Fan Chou.

After Li Jue absorbed Fan Chou’s forces, Zhang Ji grew uneasy and moved east to Hongnong, resting and rebuilding strength for two years.

Then the internal strife between Li Jue and Guo Si erupted; when Guo Si gained the upper hand, Yang Feng unexpectedly reinforced Li Jue and counterattacked Guo Si. Meanwhile, Yang Feng schemed to betray and assassinate Li Jue’s officers to seize control.

When the plot failed, Yang Feng fled, and Li Jue’s power waned.

At this point, Zhang Ji led troops into Guanzhong to mediate between Li Jue and Guo Si. Temporarily, both sides agreed to the emperor’s eastward relocation. Zhang Ji then led forces alongside Yang Feng, Yang Ding, and Dong Cheng to escort the imperial convoy.

Guo Si, unable to defeat Li Jue, also joined the escort but soon realized they could not afford to lose the emperor.

The convoy moved haltingly. Upon reaching Huayin, Yang Ding, the official from Liangzhou who was part of the escort, had an old grudge with Huayin’s commander Duan Wei. Duan Wei, having cultivated rich fields over the past years, resisted Yang Ding’s attempts to annex his territory.

For over ten days, Duan Wei stubbornly defended his camp, delivering provisions daily to the emperor and officials but never launching an attack on the convoy.

Entering Hongnong under Zhang Ji’s command, Yang Ding grew uneasy, abandoned his troops, and fled to Jingzhou.

Guo Si suddenly attacked to seize the emperor but was defeated; five thousand of his soldiers were beheaded. He led the remnants into the Zhongnan Mountains and rejoined Li Jue’s faction.

Meanwhile, Dong Cheng and Zhang Ji clashed; Zhang Ji defected to Li Jue’s side, and together they besieged and slaughtered the emperor’s escort.

The Tiger Guards, Imperial Guards, and noble heirs who followed the emperor were almost wiped out.

Under these circumstances, they had to accept Yang Feng’s proposal: negotiate peace with Li Jue while sending envoys to the Bai Bo old generals and the Xiongnu Right Wise King Qu Bi for support.

Reinforced by several thousand elite cavalry, this loyalist army launched a surprise attack on Li Jue, beheading thousands and temporarily repelling him.

Li Jue pursued again, devastating the convoy and capturing officials and palace attendants.

At the most desperate moment, the emperor’s entourage was reduced to just a few dozen, forced to cross the Yellow River in small boats.

The riverbanks were steep cliffs; only by soldiers carrying the emperor on their backs and clinging to the rocks could they cross and reach shore.

Later, Wang Yi, governor of Hedong, welcomed the emperor to Anyi and sent envoys to Li Jue to negotiate peace. Li Jue ordered Zhang Ji to return the captured officials, registers, and palace attendants to Hedong.

Amidst constant battles and severe drought, the armies survived only by foraging and pillaging.

Zhang Ji, severely weakened, abandoned Hongnong in winter and took the Wuguan route to Nanyang in search of supplies.

At this time, Zhang Yang, governor of Henei, arrived with troops and provisions, allowing the convoy to catch its breath.

Afterward, the Bai Bo old generals, unwilling to follow the emperor east, defeated and expelled Dong Cheng. Zhang Yang cut off supplies, leading to consensus to resettle in Henei for provisions.

Delaying further risked famine in Hedong, and Li Jue’s recovery would mean renewed attacks.

They planned to leave once spring came, passing through Zhiguan and Xing.

These recruited Tiger Guards were essentially the vanguard.

Yet the problem was clear: if they really moved to Henei, Zhang Yang alone could make Yang Feng and the Bai Bo old generals restless.

Wei Gu said no more; Zhao Ji understood the implication.

Though the Bai Bo old generals had merits for defending the emperor, they would never relinquish control over him.

Unable to defeat Li Jue and Guo Si in the west, even Zhang Ji fled to Nanyang. He was shot and killed by defenders during an attack on Rangcheng in winter.

Yang Ding, who abandoned his troops, vanished on the Wuguan path—possibly killed by mountain tribes or guards.

Zhang Yang of Henei was as fierce as the renowned warlord Lü Bu, backed by Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan vying for Hebei.

South of the Yellow River lay the recently war-torn Yanzhou, ruled by Cao Cao, and the persistently aggressive Yuan Shu.

Even the prosperous Kingdom of Chen under Liu Chong was beyond the reach of the Bai Bo old generals.

The Xiongnu tribes gathered near Pingyang also surpassed the Bai Bo old generals in strength.

The Bai Bo old generals were so weak; the newly formed Tiger Guards were weaker still. Though the court wielded great authority, its military was at its weakest.

Thus, the challenges before them were even greater. To rescue the emperor, they would have to fight the Bai Bo old generals like Yang Feng, Li Le, Hu Cai, and Han Xian.

Victory would invite Li Jue and Guo Si to seize the opportunity and invade Hedong.

Whether warring with the Bai Bo old generals or resisting Li Jue and Guo Si, the prosperous Anyi and its surroundings would be reduced to ruins.

During the chaos, the Xiongnu would pillage and abduct the people.

This was fundamentally against Hedong’s interests. Protecting the emperor and sacrificing for the country was noble, but if their homeland became a wasteland and their families were slaughtered or violated like weeds, the cost was too high.

Therefore, relocating to Henei and luring the Bai Bo old generals there would free the Hedong Tiger Guards to act decisively.

Even if their forces were annihilated, their homeland would be spared.

This would honor both the emperor and their homeland.

Sending the emperor’s convoy away meant Li Jue and Guo Si would no longer covet Hedong.

Neither Wang Yi nor the families of Hedong wished to provoke Li Jue’s faction.

This was a hellish beginning: tied to the weakest court and without support from their elders.

Even so, those aware and unaware alike continued to enlist as Tiger Guards.

As Wei Gu spoke, he observed those around him.

Pei Xiu and Guanqiu Xing already knew everything; Jia Kui and Liu Fu wore serious expressions, fully informed.

But those with weaker backgrounds, connections, and understanding, like Zhao Ji, were previously unaware of the true enemies they faced.

Wei Xing, renowned for bravery in the counties, feared no death but dreaded disorderly troops harming his family.

Ximen Jian and others, respected county figures, maintained steady composure.

Oddly, it was Zhao Ji, living alone in the wilderness, whose attentive listening gave Wei Gu and Pei Xiu a sense of eager anticipation.

Wei Gu wiped his eyes with his sleeve, troubled: “The Bai Bo generals are as arrogant as Li Jue and Guo Si. Though our families have some standing, we dare not offer the emperor. We gathered in Jiangyi because to the north are the Xiongnu tribes and garrisons, which have made the Bai Bo generals wary. They fear if we march east, internal betrayal might occur, joining with Li and Guo to drag the emperor west into Guanzhong.”

Pei Xiu cleared his throat twice, noticing the firelight gleaming in Zhao Ji’s eyes, and asked, “The country faces great hardship. Aji, you have long dwelt in Jishan and mingled with many wanderers. Do you have any plans?”

All eyes turned to Zhao Ji. He glanced around and said, “I don’t know the situation in Guandong, but I’ve heard the warlords there fight endlessly. Across provinces and counties, many claim to escort the emperor, yet harbor malice, no different from Li and Guo. Even if there is some difference, it’s only more covert.”

He paused, then continued, “Since Bai Bo’s uprising, our county has been half-destroyed. The north is occupied by the growing Xiongnu. When their population expands, how could they live in peace with us?”

“My view is simple: whether we go to Henei or Luoyang, the treacherous warlords of Guandong will watch us greedily. If we cannot expel the Xiongnu here, our descendants will become their slaves, our fields and ancestral graves turned into their pastures. We won’t even be able to protect our lives, wives, and daughters.”

“When the sky is about to fall, there’s nowhere to hide. We either fight fiercely while strong or suffer humiliation when old.”

His voice low, he gazed at the night sky: “Living in such times, we cannot retreat. We must carve out a clear world for our descendants.”

Wei Xing, vexed, asked, “So, we kill?”

“Yes.”

Zhao Ji looked back at Wei Xing, placed a hand on his shoulder, and smiled: “They look down on us. This is our only chance. We must rally every possible ally, first rescue the emperor, then strike back at Li and Guo! Once the emperor enters Chang’an and restores the ancient lands of Qin, when Guandong grows weary, we can march forth and revive the Han dynasty. We will be remembered in history and earn our rightful titles.”

Jia Kui’s face showed doubt: “Easier said than done. These warlords are veteran soldiers, uncouth and brutal—they’re not easily defeated.”

Wei Gu added, “The Three Capitals are in chaos, nine out of ten households empty. How can we bring ruin to our hometown?”

Zhao Ji shrugged: “I’ve been clear. The enemy is countless. We’ve managed to escape ten or twenty years of peace, but soon there’ll be nowhere else to run. The court is weak; those who remain loyal are all heroes willing to sacrifice for the country. This is a rare opportunity.”

Wei Gu frowned; Pei Xiu asked, “Aji, traveling the Jishan mountain path, resting by day and moving by night, how many days to reach Anyi?”

“We can’t hide troop movements from them.”

Zhao Ji paused, then met Pei Xiu’s gaze: “Seventh brother, the court initially agreed on five hundred Tiger Guards. We keep five hundred in camp to pacify the Bai Bo generals. The rest, chosen from the brave, retreat to Wenxi as an ambush force. The five hundred Tiger Guards proceed along Zhiguan and Xing first. At that time, the court must cooperate to lure the Bai Bo old generals to Wenxi. If Pei’s family hosts a banquet to welcome the emperor, it might be bloodless. If not, we kill the traitor leaders.”

As long as no fighting occurred in Anyi, Wei Gu’s resistance softened.

Then Ximen Jian spoke: “We are willing to die for the court; the officials should act accordingly.”

Jia Kui proposed: “What of persuading Xu Huang?”

Wei Gu frowned: “Better to keep quiet. Yang Feng sent him back to recruit troops at home, intending to ambush, coerce, and manipulate us. He is Yang Feng’s trusted man; we must be cautious.”

Hearing this, Zhao Ji glanced at Jia Kui but said nothing.

Jia Kui caught Zhao Ji’s look and lowered his head, avoiding eye contact.