Chapter 46: World Three [6] Part 1

Shu Heng blinked and only realized after she came back to her senses that she was holding Li Jianwei’s hand, with all the surrounding personal guards staring at her.

The thin-skinned Shu Heng couldn’t help blushing. She hurriedly dismounted and even stumbled as a result.

“Cough cough, is the general here to replenish grain supplies?” Shu Heng masked her embarrassment with a light cough.

“We’re not short on grain, but the grain prices here have already risen to two taels of silver for one shi of grain,” Li Jianwei said. “I plan to take out one-third of the grain from the granary and sell it to the common folk at a relatively low price.”

“One person limited to three jin,” Li Jianwei added.

Shu Heng grew serious. “The general treats the people like her own children. The people will understand the general’s intentions.”

“It’s just to keep fewer people from starving to death because they can’t afford food,” Li Jianwei said leisurely. She let go of Shu Heng’s hand and strode up to the locked granary door.

The granary guards hadn’t received any notice yet, but he was sharp-eyed and perceptive. He simply stood at his post without obstructing Li Jianwei in the slightest.

He even pretended not to see when Li Jianwei drew her sword and hacked off the lock on the granary.

Out of kindness, Shu Heng explained a couple things to the guarding soldiers. “The prefect has already opened the city gates to welcome the Northern Pacifying General. From today onward, you all need only follow the general’s orders.”

The guards exchanged glances before saluting in unison. “Greetings, General.”

“Mm, at ease. Who’s in charge of managing the granary?” Li Jianwei asked as she sheathed her longsword.

“Replying to the general, this lowly one is the steward here,” he replied. “The granary holds a total of eighty thousand shi of grain in all—thirty thousand shi in stored reserves and the remaining fifty thousand from this year’s summer tax collections.”

The steward didn’t dare falsify anything and laid all his cards on the table.

“Why so little stored grain? Pingyang Prefecture’s granary should have no less than a hundred thousand shi,” Shu Heng said with a frown. “I remember not purchasing any grain here last year.”

The steward looked terrified. “Milady may not be aware, but starting the year before last, the stored grain has fallen below fifty thousand shi. Taxes have grown heavier these past two years. To keep the people from going without even seed grain, the prefect granted leniency on many fields’ taxes, letting them carry the debt for now.”

“But the grain tribute to the court couldn’t fall short, so the prefect had no choice but to dip into the reserves to make up the difference—lest the people who couldn’t pay their taxes suffer the consequences.”

Li Jianwei nodded. “Tell the people of Pingyang Prefecture that as long as the Northern Border Army is here—and as long as I, Li Jianwei, am here—they won’t have to hand over this year’s autumn grain. And starting next year, field taxes will be collected at a rate of one in ten.”

The steward was shocked to his core. Taxes were the emperor’s domain! For this general to declare such a thing so boldly, anyone with half a brain could tell what she was up to.

But the steward didn’t dare show a hint of it on his face. Instead, he covered his face and burst into sobs before dropping to his knees with a thud.

“The general treats the people like her own children and has saved the folk of Pingyang Prefecture from the depths of misery!” he wailed tearfully.

Whatever. Right now, it was General Li who had taken over Pingyang Prefecture at the head of an army. He’d do whatever she commanded. Besides, even the prefect who had opened the gates couldn’t escape blame.

Pleased with the steward’s cooperation, Li Jianwei wasted no time. She immediately put her personal guards in charge of watching the granary.

“Little Shu Daren, tomorrow I’ll trouble you to take them and sell this grain to the people,” Li Jianwei said. “It’ll take time for word of the low prices to spread, so try to save as much as possible for the stragglers arriving later.”

“Does the general plan to station here in Pingyang Prefecture?” Shu Heng asked.

Li Jianwei shook her head. “Tomorrow, I’ll take fifty thousand soldiers and press onward. I need to seize the Taiyuan region before the court can muster its armies—that way, we can rest easy.”

Taking Taiyuan meant Li Jianwei would control the easily defended, hard-to-attack strongholds near the capital. From there all the way to the capital itself, there would be no natural barriers in the way. With sufficient troops, toppling the capital would be no issue.

“General, you…” Shu Heng started to say, only for her shoulder to be patted twice.

“It’s not that I don’t trust your abilities—Pingyang Prefecture is simply a better fit for you,” Li Jianwei cut in preemptively. “Didn’t you say it yourself? Your delicate frame isn’t suited for frontline combat.”

Shu Heng frowned slightly. “But I can serve as the general’s envoy, just like today.”

“If I were heading for Deshun Prefecture instead of taking Taiyuan, I wouldn’t leave you behind,” Li Jianwei reminded her. “Taiyuan’s prefect is a foolhardily loyal sort. If you went as envoy, he’d have your head.”

Shu Heng tried to press the point. “But…”

“Enough. Little Shu Daren, you’re in charge of all granary matters here in Pingyang Prefecture. I’ll have General Liu lead twenty thousand soldiers to rest and recuperate here.” Li Jianwei cut her off again. “That’s an order.”

“Yes…” Shu Heng had no choice but to acquiesce.

–

Taiyuan Prefecture’s prefect was one of the emperor’s trusted confidants. The moment he learned of Li Jianwei’s rebellion, he assembled every soldier he could muster and gave them a death order: stand or fall with Taiyuan.

After two days of forced marches, Li Jianwei arrived beneath the city walls at the head of fifty thousand soldiers.

The local garrisons around Taiyuan were few in number. Even after drawing guards from nearby cities, they couldn’t scrape together fifteen thousand men. Defending the city would mean filling the gap with lives.

As usual, Li Jianwei extended courtesy before force. She sent the loud-voiced General Han forward to deliver the parley.

“The general has no desire to make things hard for fellow soldiers standing here to protect the people. Simply open the gates and let us rest temporarily.”

“The general isn’t rebelling or causing chaos. She seeks justice for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives guarding the borders and petitions Your Majesty on behalf of the people crushed by taxes!”

“The people of Pingyang Prefecture no longer need to pay autumn grain taxes—and they can buy grain for just one tael per shi! This is the justice the general seeks for the people from Your Majesty!”

“The general cannot bear to see Your Majesty deceived by treacherous ministers, ignoring the people afflicted by drought and famine! Willfully hiking taxes to build palaces and indulge in boundless luxury!!”

“The general acts to remove treacherous ministers! To purge the king’s side! To seek welfare for the people!”

“Remove treacherous ministers! Purge the king’s side! Seek welfare!” the soldiers roared in unison.

The unified shouts of tens of thousands carried far and wide. Quite a few soldiers atop the walls couldn’t help but think of their own circumstances upon hearing them.

Military pay never came in full, and taxes and corvée grew heavier year after year. Sure, soldiers got exemptions on some field taxes—but they had family and friends. How could they not know how harsh and numerous the court’s exactions were?

“Utter nonsense!” The Taiyuan prefect was livid. “Men! Loose arrows!”

The soldiers harbored their own grievances, but obedience drilled into their bones had them nocking arrows and raising weapons against General Han and the troops.

General Han was prepared for this. He had his men raise shields, then kept up the slogans.

Half a shichen later—once the defenders’ arrows were mostly spent—General Han ordered the cloud ladders brought up to assault the walls.

The enemy morale had crumbled. It was the perfect moment to strike!

“Prefect, a great army is assaulting the south walls! The soldiers can’t hold much longer!” The chiliarch rushed over to report, his face streaked with dust.

“How is there an army on the south side too?” The prefect was stunned. He couldn’t help glancing at the dense mass of troops beneath the west walls.

“Prefect, the south seems to be the Northern Pacifying General leading in person. Without reinforcements, we won’t last half a shichen!” the chiliarch said.

“Get the yamen runners on the walls from the prefectural offices! Conscript every able-bodied youth in the city—get them guarding the walls! We must hold at all costs!” the prefect bellowed.

The Taiyuan prefect wasn’t entirely brainless. He knew full well how vital his city’s position was. Once word spread that Taiyuan was under siege, court reinforcements would arrive in at most three days.

“No one retreats! Execute any deserters on the spot!” the Taiyuan prefect commanded.

The chiliarch gritted his teeth. “Yes, sir. I’ll see to it at once.”

Taxes never went down, rations and pay were never issued in full—if they died here, would their families truly receive pensions?

As a chiliarch, he had access to more information than common folk. He’d heard how the Northern Pacifying Grand General had been wronged and slain. He knew the current Northern Pacifying General had smashed the Xiongnu and defended Great Jin’s borders.

He even knew the emperor still hadn’t issued pensions to the fallen soldiers of the Northern Border Army. He only delayed pay again and again while piling on more taxes and corvée.

“What? Have untrained civilians guard the walls? Impossible!” The general in charge of the south walls rejected the order outright.

“Never mind lack of armor and weapons—even if we had them, civilians wouldn’t understand bugle calls or war drums. How could they hold a wall? By blocking enemy blades with their bodies? That’s madness!”

“But at this rate, the lads won’t hold out much longer,” the chiliarch said hesitantly. “It’s a direct order from the prefect. We hold or die.”

“The prefect has no authority over us in the first place. We’re only here to protect the people,” the general said coolly. “Tell the prefect I’ll hold to the death.”

“Send our fastest runners to warn the city folk: if the Northern Border Army enters, don’t panic. Just bar your doors and windows and wait for things to settle.”

“I know General Li’s character well. He’s the epitome of uprightness. General Li surely can’t be much different.”

“But general, if that’s the case, why not open the gates and surrender?” The chiliarch couldn’t understand. If the Northern Pacifying General was truly fighting for the people, why block her with their lives?

“Right and wrong have nothing to do with it. Duty calls,” the general said with a long sigh. “If we truly can’t hold, I’ll lead the charge myself. If I fall, you surrender in my stead—and see that I’m buried back home.”

The chiliarch wanted to say more, but the general had already turned and left, leaving only his back in view.

The moment she saw the gates swing open, Li Jianwei knew the clash of armies had arrived. Without a word, she hefted her spear and led the charge.

With the commanding general at the fore, the soldiers’ morale soared as they surged forward. They didn’t hesitate even when comrades fell beside them.