Chapter 586: Urgent News from Youzhou

On the last day of October, light snow fell steadily over Hebei Road. Many rivers had already begun to freeze—winter had arrived. Winter was a season of dormancy for all things: leaves withered, grass turned yellow, and life came to a halt, leaving the land desolate.

Winter was also a time for armies to rest. Armors were stored away, soldiers returned to their camps, and ordinary people busied themselves preparing for the New Year. No one could have imagined that war would break out in winter.

Inside the Southern Camp south of Youzhou City, the atmosphere was tense. All soldiers were confined inside their tents and not allowed to go outside. Teams of fully armed soldiers patrolled back and forth near the commander’s tent, with guards stationed every three steps and sentries every two steps—security was extremely strict.

Inside the commander’s tent, An Lushan, who rarely wore military uniforms, donned a golden helmet and armor. His bulky body almost strained the armor, and atop his pumpkin-like head sat a pointed golden helmet, making him resemble a large toad covered in gold powder. Though An Lushan’s appearance was comical, none of the advisors and generals around him dared laugh, for what he was saying involved the lives and fortunes of each of them. An Lushan had decided to raise an army.

It should be called “raising an army” rather than “rebellion,” as An Lushan had also installed an emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Though this emperor was locked in a dilapidated temple, spending his days catching crickets and grasshoppers, he was still the emperor of the Tang Dynasty—a pretext for An Lushan to seize power. What did it matter if no one recognized him now? As long as he had enough strength to conquer Guanzhong and force this “cricket emperor” to rule, who would dare say their actions were mere child’s play?

“I’ll say it again— I can’t wait until the Yellow River freezes before taking action. We must capture Xiangzhou before that happens, no matter what. Do you understand?”

An Lushan’s gaze was cold and sharp, sweeping over everyone in the tent like a knife. Everyone felt uneasy. They understood that An Lushan had originally planned to attack Xiangzhou after the Yellow River froze, then cross the river on ice to sweep through Hebei Road. There were few troops in Hebei Road—only scattered fighters like Xu Shuyi and Ji Guangchen, and Xu Shuyi had even secretly sided with them. Conquering Hebei would then be easy. But plans often fell through—Li Qing’an had taken action first, sweeping through Hebei Road and seizing it, while continuously reinforcing his forces. Now, Li Guangbi had over 200,000 troops under his command. If they waited until the river froze to act, it might not be them who controlled Hebei Road, but Li Guangbi crossing the river to attack Hebei. They might not even be able to capture Xiangzhou.

An Lushan’s gaze finally settled on Gao Shang, and he said to him, “Mr. Gao, what do you think?”
Gao Shang gently stroked his beard. His thoughts were different from others’ because he knew the truth. An Lushan had launched his attack early not out of fear of Li Guangbi. With their combined force of five hundred thousand troops, and given An Lushan’s arrogance, he certainly didn’t take Li Guangbi’s two hundred thousand troops seriously. Attacking Xiangzhou and then besieging it to cut off reinforcements seemed like the perfect plan. The reason An Lushan had to act early was due to pressure from the Khitans and Xixia tribes. They had lent their troops to him for so long with no payment or rewards, and these tribes could no longer wait. They both demanded withdrawal, leaving An Lushan with no choice but to agree to launch the attack immediately. Gao Shang knew this reason, but he couldn’t reveal it. Instead, he had to come up with the best excuse for An Lushan.
“I support His Highness the Prince of Yan’s decision. I just received news that Chang’an may plan another wave of migration to Hebei.”
He said this casually, but to the generals, it sounded like a loud bell, instantly sparking discussions inside the tent. These generals had followed An Lushan for many years; almost every family among them was powerful landowners. Which family didn’t possess tens of thousands of acres of fertile land? Which family didn’t have hundreds of tenant farmers? Yet during the last migration to Hebei, over four hundred thousand tenant farmers left, affecting almost every family. The most severely hit was Shi Siming’s household—half of his three thousand tenant farmers and two thousand slaves fled, leaving him without anyone to help with the harvest. He had to pay high prices to hire laborers, creating a similar dilemma for almost every family. Now, Li Qingan wanted to carry out another migration, which was like stirring up a hornet’s nest, causing an uproar in the camp.
“That Li Qingan is nothing but a scoundrel! How dare he interfere in Hebei’s affairs!”
Cai Xide was the first to lose his temper and start shouting. Li Huaixian, who looked gloomy, nudged him with his arm, and Cai Xide immediately fell silent. At that moment, Shi Siming stepped forward. He glanced at everyone and said sternly, “The commander-in-chief has made his decision. What objections do you still have?”
Silence filled the tent; no one dared speak again. Shi Siming bowed to An Lushan and said, “Commander-in-chief, please give your orders. We are ready to face any danger!”
An Lushan glanced at him, nodded, and said, “Good!”
He waved his hand and ordered, “Bring them in!”

The curtain was lifted, revealing nearly a hundred soldiers carrying in a massive object—a large platform four zhang long and three zhang wide, occupying almost half of the commander’s tent. Everyone stepped back, their eyes filled with surprise. It was a sand table. Li Qing’an was the first to use such tables, and soon other armies followed suit. An Lushan also made several large sand tables. The one he brought in today was for the Hebei region, complete with plains, cities, mountains, rivers, bridges, and official roads—almost everything one could imagine. There were also detailed records in thick volumes, including the population, officials, revenue from taxes and grain, fertile lands, and mulberry fields of each city. But none of this was important. What mattered were the small flags and icons on the sand table. Those who paid close attention could see that each flag bore the name of a general, with icons indicating what task that general was assigned to and by when it had to be completed.

Everyone immediately understood that this was their individual task. Without An Lushan’s reminder, they gathered around, staring at their tasks, their expressions ranging from joy to worry. Shi Siming looked grave—his task was to attack Xiangzhou, and he had to take it within ten days. An invisible pressure weighed heavily on his heart.

Cai Xide, on the other hand, looked depressed. It wasn’t that his task was too difficult, but rather too easy. His task was to launch a surprise attack on Jingxing, something he disliked—such petty skirmishes.

“Old Shi, let me take your task!” Cai Xide whispered to Shi Siming.

Shi Siming was stunned, then overjoyed. Cai Xide hadn’t realized An Lushan’s plan. Those who attacked Xiangzhou would eventually have to cross the river to confront Li Guangbi in Henan. Those who captured Jingxing would head to Hedong, where Guo Ziyi’s army was much easier to deal with than Li Guangbi’s forces in Longyou.

He quickly thought it through and said, “It doesn’t matter to me. I’m afraid the commander has already made a decision, and it’s hard to change it.”

“It doesn’t matter! If you’re willing, I’ll talk to the commander.”

At that moment, An Lushan spoke up, “I’ve arranged everyone’s tasks. Decide for yourselves when to set out and which route to take. You may attack cities and fortresses as you see fit. I won’t impose strict discipline. Don’t be stingy with rewards for your men. I have only one requirement: complete your tasks within the time I set. No matter how you do it, if you succeed, I’ll reward you generously. If not, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

An Lushan glanced at everyone and raised his voice, “Did you hear me?”

“I will obey the orders!”

“Generals, go back and make preparations. In three days, we’ll raise the flags and set out!”

“Understood!”

Roars from the large tent reached the heavens, and the weather over Hebei changed abruptly as clouds of war began to loom over the region.
……
The atmosphere in Youzhou City suddenly became tense. Checks at the city gates became extremely strict—what used to be barely noticed now involved thorough searches of everyone, as well as rigorous inspections of carriages and luggage, leaving no corner unexamined. Even carriages carrying fodder were poked with spears.
Not only were the city gates tightly guarded, but squads of soldiers also patrolled the city. Anyone acting suspiciously was immediately stopped for questioning. Those with foreign accents needed a local to vouch for them; those who couldn’t provide one were arrested on the spot. The same applied to inns, restaurants, and brothels—soldiers searched house by house, questioning and inspecting outsiders. From time to time, people were dragged away by soldiers, screaming in agony, turning Youzhou City into a chaotic mess.
At dusk, the light snow gradually stopped, covering the entire land of Youzhou in a layer of pale white, giving it an exceptionally serene and pure appearance. The weather remained cold, and most people stayed indoors rather than go outside. Then, the sound of loud drums rang out—signaling the start of a curfew. Squads of cavalry rushed through the streets, shouting, “Curfew in effect! No one may leave!”
At that moment, a carriage sped past, heading toward the west gate. Before it reached the gate, soldiers shouted, “Stop!”
The carriage slowed down, and soon a dozen soldiers surrounded it. The city gate was about to close, and no one was entering or leaving. The sudden arrival of a carriage caught the attention of the guards.
“Who wants to leave the city?” asked a lieutenant on horseback.
The window was opened, revealing a civil official in official robes inside. He bowed and smiled, saying, “I am Ma Jun, an officer in charge of military farmland under the Yan army. I’ve been ordered to inspect the farmland in Yizhou and collect rent.”
As an officer of lower rank, Ma Jun’s status wasn’t high. However, seeing that he was a civil official from the Yan army, the lieutenant’s expression softened significantly. He took the document and examined it. Though illiterate, he recognized the large red seal of the Yan army’s government. He returned the document to Ma Jun, glanced inside the carriage to confirm there was no one else, and then waved his hand, ordering, “Let them go!”
The city gate slowly opened, and the carriage drove out, speeding toward Yizhou…

Ma Jun was a former subordinate of Yan Zhuang and a trusted aide personally promoted by him. He had served as the Salt and Iron Commissioner of Fanyang, controlling the region’s economic lifelines. After Yan Zhuang disappeared, he gradually lost favor, especially when Gao Shang seized power and demoted all of Yan Zhuang’s former officials. Ma Jun was demoted to the position of Tuntian Commissioner, and a year later further reduced to a subordinate Tuntian official in charge of farming in Yizhou—a role akin to that of a low-ranking official. Previously, when Yan Zhuang secretly went to Youzhou to rally some of his old subordinates, Ma Jun was one of them. Having completely lost hope in An Lushan, he wanted to leave Youzhou immediately with Yan Zhuang, but Yan Zhuang advised him to stay in the Yan army, where he would have more opportunities to earn merits.

Now, an opportunity to earn merits had arrived. He had received accurate news that An Lushan would officially launch a rebellion in three days. Ma Jun was extremely anxious. He must inform the surrounding counties and even Chang’an, but An Lushan had already blocked all pigeon messages from Youzhou. He could only seek help in Yizhou.

Yizhou was located west of Youzhou. Two nights later, a dusty carriage arrived in Yixian County. It entered the county town and stopped at the side door of the government office. Before the carriage came to a complete stop, Ma Jun jumped out and rushed straight to the side door. In front of the government office were the main building and the back residence, with the governor’s private home behind. Two guards stood at the door. Seeing someone rushing in the darkness, they quickly picked up their red and black staffs and shouted, “Who goes there? How dare you intrude into the governor’s residence!”

“Don’t you recognize me?”

Ma Jun often visited Yizhou and was very familiar with the local government. The two guards were stunned for a moment before recognizing him. “Is that Ma, the Tuntian Commissioner?”

“It is indeed me. Is the governor here?”

“He is! I’ll go inform him right away. Please wait a moment.”

The guards hurried off. Ma Jun looked at the dark night, filled with anxiety. An Lushan would rebel the day after tomorrow, yet the counties in Hebei were unaware. A great disaster was approaching, bringing suffering to countless people.

At that moment, the guards came out and said, “Our governor asks Lord Ma to come in. Please follow me.”

“Thank you!” Ma Jun followed them into the residence.

The governor of Yizhou was surnamed Wu, named Wu Chongyi. He had risen from the position of county magistrate in Yixian to governor of Yizhou, serving there for seven years. He was in his fifties, dark-skinned and thin. Coming from a poor family, he passed the imperial examinations in the tenth year of the Kaiyuan era and became the chief clerk of Mian County. Because of his humble origins, he had a keen interest in money. Over nearly thirty years in office, he had amassed a fortune of tens of thousands of guan, owning large houses worth thousands of guan each in Chang’an and Luoyang.

That night, he was reading when he suddenly heard that Ma Jun had arrived. He was somewhat surprised—what could he be doing here so late?

“Sir, Lord Ma has arrived.”

“Let him in!”

Ma Jun strode into the room and, almost without thinking, said, “Does the governor still have the heart to read? An Lushan’s army is about to attack.”
Wu Chongyi was shocked and quickly asked, “What do you mean?”
Ma Jun then told him that An Lushan was about to raise an army, saying, “Governor Wu, you must inform the imperial court immediately. Also, organize the people right away—there’s no time to lose. Please act at once!”
A barely noticeable cold smile flashed in Wu Chongyi’s eyes. He patted his chest and said, “Rest assured. I’ll inform the imperial court right away and organize the people to evacuate. You’ve traveled far and are exhausted. Please go to the inn and rest.”
Ma Jun felt relieved. He had been running for two days and nights and was extremely tired. He nodded and said, “Alright! I’ll go to the inn. Please take this seriously, Governor.”
“I understand. Someone, take Lord Ma to the inn to rest.”
Two servants led Ma Jun away. Wu Chongyi sat down. His gaze flickered in the dim light. Then he took out a letter from a secret box in the drawer—it was a personal letter from An Lushan. He read it over and over again, thinking of his vast wealth and his beautiful wife and concubines. Under the flickering light, his face gradually became grotesque.
“Send Marshal Jiang here to see me at once!”
……
The inn was not far from the government office. It was a complex of forty rooms, essentially an official guesthouse. There were hardly any people inside. Ma Jun was housed in a separate courtyard. Exhausted, he soaked his feet in hot water and prepared to go to bed.
Just as he lay down on the bed, still half-asleep, sudden loud footsteps woke him up. He felt the footsteps approaching his courtyard. He sat up quickly and shouted in a low voice, “Who is there?”
With a loud bang, his door was kicked open. Two dark figures rushed in, each holding a gleaming sword. Without saying a word, they swung at Ma Jun, who was sitting by the bed in shock. He grabbed the bed frame to block them. Recognizing them as government officials, he shouted, “I’m Ma Jun, the supervisor of military farming. Why are you trying to kill me?”
“Stop!”

Someone in the yard shouted and stopped two bailiffs. Soon, a dozen shadowy figures entered the house. The lights came on, and all who entered were bailiffs armed with knives. The man at the head was someone Ma Jun recognized—Jiang Xiaotong, the military governor of Yizhou. He was a burly middle-aged man with a distinguished appearance. Jiang had originally been a lieutenant general in the Fanyang army, under Pei Kuan’s command. Later, he followed Pei Kuan to Hedong. When Pei Kuan went to the capital to become Minister of Rites, he recommended Jiang for a position as a local official. Since then, he had served as an official in Hebei. Due to his upright character, he had struggled to get promoted and was now the military governor of Yizhou.

He had just received orders from Governor Wu Chongyi to go to the post station and kill the envoy sent by An Lushan to persuade them to surrender. But when he heard it was Ma Jun inside, he immediately sensed something was wrong and stopped his men.

Jiang Xiaotong glanced at the still-shocked Ma Jun, frowned, and said, “How could it be Lord Ma?”

Although Jiang appeared rough on the outside, he was actually very perceptive. He knew Ma Jun was an honest man who often expressed concerns about An Lushan’s growing ambition and his impending rebellion. It was impossible for Ma Jun to act as An Lushan’s envoy.

“Lord Ma, what are you doing here?”

“An Lushan is about to rebel. I’m here to warn you, Governor, to report to the imperial court immediately and evacuate the people. Why do you want to kill me? Has Governor Jiang already surrendered to An Lushan?”

“What evidence do you have?”

“What evidence is needed?” Ma Jun snapped angrily. “I am a legitimate official of the Tang Dynasty. Would I risk my life for a traitor?”

“Damn it! I’ve been deceived!” Jiang Xiaotong slammed his fist against the door in anger. “It seems that Wu has surrendered to An Lushan. I must kill him.”

Ma Jun was shocked. “What? Has Governor Wu surrendered to An Lushan?”

“Apparently. There had been rumors that he was plotting with An Lushan, and it turns out to be true. There’s no time to lose. Please help me, Lord Ma.”

Ma Jun bowed deeply and said, “Ma Jun is at your service!”

……

In the study, Wu Chongyi took out several small boxes from behind a hidden wall. They were filled with gold, pearls, and jade—treasures he had amassed, worth tens of thousands of guan. An Lushan was about to rebel, and although he planned to surrender, he still wasn’t confident about those bandits. He wanted to send these treasures, along with his wife and children, to a safe place first.

Just as he placed the boxes on the table, he heard shouting outside: “The governor orders that no one may enter!”

“Get out!”

Wu Chongyi was startled. Before he could react, the door was kicked open with a bang. Jiang Xiaotong rushed in with a dozen bailiffs. They all drew their knives and glared at him angrily.

“You… what are you going to do?” Wu Chongyi stammered in terror.
Jiang Xiaotong immediately spotted the letter written by An Lushan to Wu Chongyi on the table. Filled with rage, he leaped over the table, pulled Wu Chongyi to the ground, grabbed his hair, and cursed, “You wretched traitor! How many people do you intend to kill?”
“Pity me! Please spare my life!”
“Die!”
Jiang Xiaotong raised his sword and beheaded Wu Chongyi. He picked up his head and said to the officials, “Wu Chongyi betrayed the court and deserves death. From now on, follow me and evacuate the people of Yizhou to Dingzhou and Hengzhou.”
Fifteen minutes later, several pigeons took off, carrying the news of An Lushan’s rebellion to Chang’an.