Chapter 177: Secret Plans
As Xiongnu prisoners captured by the Chu army, Jin Chunbao and Jin Chunzhong did not want to be exchanged. After living among the Xiongnu, they beca increasingly convinced they were Chu people and hoped to stay and atone for their cris.
Han Ruzi refused, saying, “Negotiations are important. We agreed to exchange all prisoners, so none can be left behind. Moreover, prisoners have no choice. If you want to be Chu people, make that choice when you are free.”
The General of the Right of the Northern Army, Feng Shili, had returned. Leading five thousand Chu troops in pursuit, he was surrounded by the Xiongnu army, and only a little over a thousand survived. This experience had greatly affected him. After eting the other generals, he imdiately secluded himself, claiming illness.
After demonstrating mutual trust, the Chu army and the Xiongnu began discussing the details of the negotiations, sending increasingly high-ranking envoys. Finally, Chai Yue and a notable Xiongnu prince personally set the ti and place, finalizing it by the evening.
Three days later, Han Ruzi was set to negotiate with the Xiongnu Chanyu, prompting the Xiongnu army to retreat several miles.
Han Ruzi intended to use these three days to consolidate his position in Shattered Iron City, preparing for the arrival of fifty thousand Northern troops.
With repeated reinforcents, the Chu army in Shattered Iron City had grown to over thirty-four thousand. Han Ruzi could not and did not need to win over all the soldiers. He identified several “circles” around him.
The first circle had the fewest people, only ng E and Zhang Youcai, who were absolutely trustworthy but offered little help in controlling the entire army.
The second circle was composed of his personal army. Although not a monolithic group which had once hidden assassins with ulterior motives, Han Ruzi could rely on their protection in critical monts. They too offered little help in controlling the army but provided crucial security.
Han Ruzi ordered the wall separating the personal army camp and the General’s Residence to be broken down, rging the two areas, but disclosed nothing to the personal army soldiers.
The third circle consisted of the noble youths. Han Ruzi found that the key to success lay with these individuals.
The noble camp had fewer than three hundred n left. Including noble officers from other camps, the total was nearly five hundred. Only they dared to take risks and were willing to do so.
The first person Han Ruzi needed to persuade was Chai Yue.
Chai Yue, weather-beaten, ca to the General’s Residence to report. He had chosen the negotiation site, closer to the Chu army, and had even prepared a retreat route in case of ergency.
At this point, Chai Yue began to worry about another issue. “The Xiongnu army is at our doorstep, but the imperial court has not responded. General, will the decision to engage in negotiations cause trouble?”
Negotiating was different from defending a city. Defending the city was the established strategy of the Chu empire, and any general should prioritize it. Abandoning the city required imperial court approval. Engaging in negotiations was a more significant decision, typically requiring the general to relay the Xiongnu’s request to the imperial court and then to wait for an imperial decree, without showing any inclinations one way or the other.
Han Ruzi broke this norm. “The imperial court hasn’t approved any morials for so ti; there’s no need to wait.” He chuckled. “We’re already in enough trouble; one more won’t matter.”
Chai Yue also smiled. “With reinforcents imminent, what plans do you have?”
With the arrival of fifty thousand Northern troops, the Chu army would be evenly matched with the Xiongnu, possibly even superior. Traditionally, the commander should seize the opportunity for battle.
“I need you to devise an attack plan. If necessary, the Chu army must cross the river and fight. But I’m concerned the Xiongnu might have reinforcents too.”
“Understood.” Chai Yue hesitated, then spoke. “In fact, I already have a plan, but the reinforcents may refuse to follow it.”
Han Ruzi smiled slightly. This was exactly the issue he needed to address. He retrieved a docunt from the desk. “Grand General Han Xing has authorized
to oversee the military affairs of Shattered Iron City, Divine Hero Pass, and ten counties within the pass. Once the reinforcents from the Northern Army enter this area, they should follow my command, right?”
“Of course.” Chai Yue hesitated but took the docunt and read it, feeling sowhat reassured.
“But the Northern generals are notoriously arrogant, sotis defying even court orders. I’m not sure they’ll take the Grand General’s appointnt seriously.” Han Ruzi did not believe he could rest easy.
Chai Yue nodded. The General’s understanding of this issue reassured him further. He placed the docunt back on the desk. “With the enemy at our gates, even the most arrogant generals should behave. The Northern Army troops in Shattered Iron City are quite disciplined.”
To win soone’s support, one must shatter their illusions about other possibilities. Han Ruzi spoke seriously. “We’ve always been weaker. It was with the Northern Grand Marshal missing and the vice general incompetent that we had an opportunity. But with the arrival of fifty thousand reinforcents, the balance of power will shift. The Northern Army generals will certainly not accept our command.”
Chai Yue was skilled at crafting detailed battle plans but inexperienced in power struggles. Despite his concerns about the Northern Army troops’ obedience, he still hoped the generals would prioritize the common good. Only when the Northern Protection General pointed out the truth did he understand that once the Northern Army generals felt assured of victory, no outsider would be considered part of the “common good.”
“There are many famous generals in the Northern Army. If commanded properly… perhaps the court will issue an imperial decree in a few days, appointing you to command the Northern Army troops…” Chai Yue himself found this unlikely.
Han Ruzi stared at Chai Yue for a mont before asking, “General Chai, have you received any letters from ho recently?”
Chai Yue was taken aback. “Yes, my mother said… everything is fine.”
ntioning his mother in the Capital, Chai Yue felt a pang of sadness. His mother always reported good news and hid the bad, but Chai Yue could tell from her sparse words that life in the Chai residence was difficult for her and his younger brother, all because of him.
“If you kill , will Lady Hengyang forgive you? Will she keep her promise and let you inherit the marquisate?”
Chai Yue was startled and knelt. “Why does the General say such things? Lady Hengyang often speaks carelessly and rarely keeps her word. Besides, I am a concubine’s son, with elder brothers and legitimate nephews. Even if Lady Hengyang had great influence, she can’t change the imperial court’s decision on succession.”
“You can only earn your marquisate through military rit.”
“Yes, military rit is my only path to advancent.”
“If soone tries to take your military rit, will you endure it or fight back?”
Chai Yue slowly stood up. “I am of humble origin and usually endure everything. But stealing my military rit is intolerable.”
“What if a mber of the Chai family orders you to commit suicide as atonent?”
Chai Yue gritted his teeth. “The Northern Army Provost Marshal, Chai Zhi, is my elder brother and Chai Yun’s uncle. He will do everything to avenge Chai Yun and curry favor with Lady Hengyang. If the Northern generals don’t obey, he will be the one who leads the dissent. I no longer want to endure it. I am willing to fight!”
This was precisely what Han Ruzi wanted to hear. “Exactly. You and I must both fight back.”
“I am willing to serve the General with all my might.”
“I have a plan to take control of the Northern Army, but I need you to sow discord among their generals and create an opportunity for .”
“I am willing to try, but Chai Zhi and others are proud and may not listen to .”
“General Chai, you have two advantages. First, you have the support of the generals in Shattered Iron City. Rallying them can counter Chai Zhi and others. Second, you control General of the Right Feng Shili.”
“Feng Shili does have a grudge against Chai Zhi, but he…”
“Feng Shili’s reckless pursuit led to massive losses and his capture by the Xiongnu. According to Chu military law, what is his cri?”
“A capital offense. Even if he redeems himself with his rank and wealth, he will be demoted to commoner and imprisoned.” Chai Yue finally understood. He could plan battles and anticipate enemy movents but needed the Northern Protection General’s guidance in power struggles.
“I understand.” Chai Yue thought for a mont. “I understand. I can persuade Feng Shili to side with , and at least half of the Northern Army generals in Shattered Iron City will support . But taking the seal…”
“I will handle taking the seal. General Chai, just ensure the newly arrived Northern generals don’t get their way too easily.”
Chai Yue kowtowed and left the room, full of confidence, believing everything was under the Northern Protection General’s control and that he was rely a cog in a grand plan.
Han Ruzi did not know Chai Zhi’s plan but needed to seize control of the Northern Army. Only then would he have the qualifications to return to the Capital and reclaim his throne. This was his “grand plan.”
Over the next two days, Han Ruzi summoned almost all the noble scions, rewarding them based on their warti performance.
Chai Yue was not the only noble of concubine birth. In fact, more than half of the noble camp was like him. It was the hundred-plus n sent to their deaths by Prince Donghai who were of higher status but they did not survive.
Han Ruzi dissolved the noble camp, assigning the noble youths to various camps as officers, especially the various units not belonging to the Northern Army, which received several noble sons.
Even Zhang Yanghao and others received appointnts. Han Ruzi ranked them as having a lower threat level, deciding to deal with them later.
As for Prince Donghai and Lin Kunshan, Han Ruzi did not share his plans with them, only promising to return to the Capital imdiately after the negotiations with the Xiongnu.
Shattered Iron City was small but populous, and no one could monitor all the soldiers. While Han Ruzi was busy establishing an advantage for the upcoming power struggle, others were not idle.
Prince Donghai, unwilling to wait idly, noticed Han Ruzi’s various actions and began secretly seeking his supporters. Using his and Grand Tutor Cui’s nas, he promised nurous official positions and wealth, rebuilding his power. As for how to use this power, he had his own ideas.
The fifty thousand Northern troops had already passed through Divine Hero Pass and were about to reach Shattered Iron City. Chai Zhi had a detailed plan to avenge Chai Yun and defeat the Xiongnu. To him, negotiations were aningless. He needed significant military rit to avoid punishnt for killing the deposed emperor.
He did not consider killing the deposed emperor to be a major cri but needed to do sothing to give the imperial court a reason to be “rciful.”
Across the river, the Xiongnu camp was also in turmoil, and the Jin brothers faced another choice.
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