Inviting a wolf into the house

Indeed, to the east of Luoyang stood the formidable passes of Chenggao and Hulao; to the south, the perilous defenses of Guangcheng Pass and Xuanyuan Pass; and at the very least, to the north, there were the strategic strongholds of Ji Pass and Mengjin Ferry, all of which could be stoutly defended. With the battle-hardened ranks of the Xiliang Army, numbering in the tens of thousands, their valor honed by blood and strife, they were more than capable of standing against coalition forces many times their size. But what of the west of Luoyang?

Yes, there remained Hangu Pass as a bulwark! Yet, should matters deteriorate to that point, disaster would be at hand. To say nothing of the demoralizing effect on the Xiliang Army, encircled on all sides, the supply of provisions to the garrison of over a hundred thousand would be cut off, not to mention the sustenance needed for the city's vast populace. How long could Luoyang's existing granaries sustain them? Could the people simply be left to starve? Who then would recognize the authority of the Grand Chancellor?

Though Luoyang bloomed with splendor, her stores brimming with jewels and beauties beyond count, the essential lifeblood—grain—was still largely dependent on the tributes, taxes, and commerce flowing in from the Three Adjuncts and beyond. Should war break out, trade would surely be severed, and tax revenues would cease. If, on top of that, the White Wave bandits were to cut off the fertile Three Adjuncts...

“Grand Chancellor, the Three Adjuncts and Liangzhou are the very root of our Xiliang Army; they must not be lost!” Even as Dong Zhuo's mind raced, two men, Dong Min and Dong Yue, stepped forth from the crowd and knelt, voices urgent. Immediately, other generals such as Niu Fu and Dong Huang also fell to their knees in agreement.

“Indeed, Wenyou's concerns are most valid. What countermeasures do you propose?” Dong Zhuo ignored the kneeling men. The panic in his eyes flashed and was gone, and he steadied himself before turning to Li Ru.

“Grand Chancellor and generals, there is no need for undue alarm! We need only guard against this eventuality. Even if the White Wave bandits collude with the traitors, it will take time, and we will still have the opportunity to respond. Moreover, Qiao Mao and the Yuan brothers, having styled themselves as champions of justice, cannot easily consort with the likes of the White Wave bandits without losing face.” Li Ru, having startled the assembly, now adopted a tone of calculated wisdom.

“Yet the White Wave bandits remain a thorn in our side. If left unchecked, when war breaks out, will they not act with impunity and bring chaos to our cause?” Perhaps it was that the overwhelming power he now possessed had not come easily, but Dong Zhuo was loath to risk even the slightest threat, eager to nip any danger in the bud.

Seeing Dong Zhuo’s anxious gaze, Li Ru suppressed his satisfaction and spoke unhurriedly, “I have pondered this matter for days and devised a stratagem for your consideration.”

“What plan have you, Wenyou? Speak freely.”

“Thank you, Grand Chancellor.” After bowing, Li Ru pointed to the great Han map held by a serving girl and declared, “The means to break this predicament lies here!”

All present stared, Dong Zhuo among them, their faces registering confusion.

“Wang Boyuan of the Han Restoration Army is a thousand miles away and has no dealings with our Xiliang Army. How could he be involved...?”

“Have you forgotten the envoy we dispatched to him?”

“Oh? And what of it? Did Wang Bo ever respond?”

Li Ru smiled faintly. “He did not respond, nor did he refuse. Is this not clear proof that he is biding his time? In my view, any man of true talent among the eastern lords would have sought to treat with the Han Restoration Army, yet Wang Bo remains silent. If he disdains the Han Restoration Army as mere Yellow Turban remnants, does this not provide the Grand Chancellor with a perfect opportunity?”

Seeing Dong Zhuo still somewhat perplexed, Li Ru continued, “Wang Bo ignores all parties simply because he is waiting for the highest bidder. The Grand Chancellor wields power at court and commands the Son of Heaven—how could the petty warlords of the east compare? Let it be known: Wang Bo and his followers all hail from the Yellow Turbans; their rebellion was born of a lust for power and wealth. If the Grand Chancellor offers great rewards, how could they not be moved? Reputation means little to such men!”

“I have already issued an edict, appointing Wang Bo as Inspector of Bingzhou. Why has he not acknowledged it?”

“Heh, pardon my bluntness, Grand Chancellor, but the position of Inspector of Bingzhou is hardly enough to tempt him or satisfy his ambition! Half of Bingzhou is already in the hands of the Han Restoration Army. The remaining prosperous lands of Taiyuan and Shangdang are surely considered by Wang Bo as his own, whether granted by you or not. The Han Restoration Army will not brook interference from others!”

Li Ru watched Dong Zhuo’s face as he spoke. Seeing no sign of displeasure, he continued, “The envoy you sent reported that Wang Bo wished to meet you. Does this not reveal his greater designs?”

“Hm... Wenyou, your words have merit. Yet how should I deal with such an insatiable character? And how does this resolve our current predicament?” Dong Zhuo, thoroughly befuddled, frowned and asked directly.

Sensing Dong Zhuo's impatience, Li Ru dropped all pretense, answering gravely, “Since Wang Bo has ambitions, he is easily handled. My plan is to set a tiger against a wolf—solving our dilemma in one stroke! All you must do is ally with the Han Restoration Army, promise Wang Bo rich rewards, and lure him south to destroy the White Wave bandits. Is this not killing two birds with one stone? And if he can be induced to attack the eastern traitors...”

“Hahahaha!” Dong Zhuo laughed heartily, slapping his desk. “Wenyou, you are truly a man of great talent! This is a brilliant plan!” The generals, suddenly enlightened, broke into smiles and praised the scheme, except for Lü Bu, who looked sullen, and the gloomy Li Su, who forced a smile.

“Is this not inviting a wolf into the house?” After a long silence, a chilling voice sounded. As Li Ru glanced over, he was unsurprised to see it was his old adversary, Li Su.

“To my knowledge, the Han Restoration Army is formidable, cutting down the Hu nomads as easily as harvesting wheat! Even if this plan lures them to eradicate the White Wave bandits, who can predict Wang Bo’s actions afterward? Should he have ill intent and march south on Hongnong, would he not become an even greater threat than the White Wave bandits?” Li Su ignored Dong Zhuo’s frown and pressed on.

Li Ru patiently waited for Li Su to finish, then turned to Dong Zhuo, who seemed to expect an answer. Without sparing a glance for Li Su, Li Ru bowed and answered confidently, “I have two reasons for not fearing this. First, even if the Han Restoration Army is as formidable as Li General suggests, do you think our Xiliang cavalry is so weak and helpless? After crushing the White Wave bandits, would their strength remain undiminished? And what of the bandits' ally, Yufuluo? Would he not intervene on their behalf? Regardless of the Han Restoration Army’s condition after victory, even if their strength is untouched, could they dare challenge our battle-hardened Xiliang troops, so far from home with precarious supply lines?”

With these few words, the generals’ uncertainty turned to anger, their glares fixed on Li Su.

“Second: Wang Bo, as leader of the Han Restoration Army, must have some self-awareness. Even you, Grand Chancellor, have provoked a host of rebels despite your achievements. What virtue or ability does Wang Bo possess, he whose followers are but Yellow Turban remnants, that he would dare incur the wrath of the whole realm by coveting the throne? Even if he were to defeat us by some fluke, what strength would remain to resist the vengeful warlords of the east?”

The flurry of questions left Li Su’s face shifting from blue to white and back again. Though he acknowledged to himself the force of Li Ru’s logic, he stubbornly retorted, “But how can Wenyou be so certain that the Han Restoration Army and the White Wave bandits must clash? Why may they not become allies?”

“Hahaha!” Anticipating this, Li Ru, forgetting all pretense of humility before Dong Zhuo, laughed aloud and adopted an air of inscrutable wisdom. “What difficulty is there? A small stratagem is all that’s needed!” Without waiting for further inquiry, he launched into an enthusiastic exposition of his plan.

When he finished, even Dong Zhuo could not suppress his delight, clapping his hands and dispelling the shadow cast by the coalition’s advance.

But let us set aside the question of how Dong Zhuo and his Xiliang Army would respond to the storm gathering against him, and speak instead of the Han Restoration Army’s great march south.

Over ten days earlier, the Han Restoration Army had assembled before Mayi in the Yanmen Pass, fully prepared for the campaign. At Wang Bo’s command, tens of thousands of troops moved in grand procession through the newly restored Gouzhu Fortress, entering the vast expanse of the Guji Mountains.

Wang Bo personally led twenty thousand Green Wolf cavalry as the vanguard. Here, the advantage of controlling Yunzhong and Wuyuan became apparent: every cavalryman was mounted on two horses, all of them tall and sturdy, presenting an awe-inspiring sight. Behind them, thirty thousand Red Tiger infantry advanced in shifts, lightly equipped, their ranks interspersed with sturdy iron-bound wagons drawn by teams of horses. The rear guard, composed of reserves and supply trains, followed in orderly, well-armored, and high-spirited formation.

The Guji Mountains ran north to south across Bingzhou, almost parallel to the western Pangu Mountains, enclosing the commanderies of Yanmen, Taiyuan, and Shangdang between their flanks, creating a landscape of high mountains to the north and south and a broad plain in the center. The fertile flatlands of Taiyuan stretched southward all the way to Hedong in the Imperial Domain.

Beyond Gouzhu Fortress to the north lay a wide mountain road, carved over millennia by floods from the Fen River and the contours of the mountains themselves. Though the Gouzhu Mountains were not broad, the towns of Mayi and Yinguan before Yanmen Pass, and Guangwu behind the mountains—also part of Yanmen Commandery—were separated by no more than a single ridge. Yet, the mountains were so rugged that only a handful of narrow paths connected them, making passage of troops nearly impossible. Thus, the wide road through the Guji Mountains became the only viable route linking the north and south of Yanmen Commandery.

Centuries of human effort had rendered this road reasonably smooth. Even the rougher stretches yielded before the brawny laborers of the Han Restoration Army. Supported by animal-drawn transport, the army’s march was swift—hundreds of miles of mountain road covered in less than five days, the exit of the pass already in sight. This rate of advance left the other Han armies far behind; within their own territory, they would move even faster.

Unlike the slow-moving Red Tiger infantry, the Green Wolf cavalry, led by Wang Bo, had little time to appreciate the mountains’ beauty or the songs of birds. They had already passed the solidly built capital of Taiyuan Commandery, Jinyang, and set up camp at the foot of Wen Mountain by the banks of the Fen River for a brief rest.

Since the death of Inspector Ding Yuan, who had been summoned to Luoyang, the position of Bingzhou’s governor had been neglected. Dong Zhuo, too, was preoccupied with seizing power and had no mind for the administration of this rich yet chaotic region. The nobleman hastily appointed as acting inspector had vanished—perhaps even Dong Zhuo himself no longer remembered whom he had named. The south of Bingzhou was thus in turmoil, divided among competing powers.

In Shangdang, Ding Yuan’s former subordinate Zhang Yang held sway; Xihe Commandery was under the rebel White Wave Army; the great Taiyuan Commandery was itself split in two: the southern counties, such as Zhongjun and Jieqiu, were held by the exiled Yufuluo and his remnants, while the northern districts of Jinyang, Yangyi, and Yu County were controlled by the Wang, Wen, and Linghu clans, either singly or in alliance.

Before setting out, Wang Bo had sent secret letters to the Wang clan, who were on friendly terms with the Han Restoration Army and now held Jinyang in their grasp. Still, the residents of Jinyang, unaware of the army’s arrival, were struck with terror at the sight of so many mounted troops—a vivid memory of the depredations of nomad horsemen still fresh in their minds. Panic gripped the populace, who rushed to the city gates in a tumult, only calming down after the army skirted the city and officials and retainers from the Wang clan intervened, though not before dozens had been injured or killed.

Wang Bo, intending to use this opportunity to pay his respects to the Wang patriarch, was moved by the sight and decided to postpone his visit. Unexpectedly, the Wang family called upon him early the next morning.

Since the time of the Han’s founding Emperor Gaozu, the Wang clan had put down roots in Taiyuan, growing over generations into the largest and most powerful family in the region and all of Bingzhou. They had risen from humble agricultural beginnings to become a scholarly and influential aristocracy, their network entwined with every facet of Taiyuan life. Wang Yun, the current Minister over the Masses, was but one of many illustrious sons of the house.

Though the Wangs were local gentry, their dealings in agriculture and trade were always just, their treatment of tenants and neighbors generous; apart from a few miscreants, their reputation was generally good—certainly better than the Wei family in Hedong, whose extortions and abuses had disgraced the name of their ancestor, Wei Qing. This was why Wang Bo maintained friendly relations with them, and relied on their trade network for intelligence that served as the Han Restoration Army’s eyes and ears in Bingzhou.

Wang An, shrewd and capable, had become a favorite of the Wang patriarch thanks to the Han Restoration Army’s rise. He now managed all external affairs for the family and, early that morning, arrived with dozens of carts laden with gifts, seeking an audience with Wang Bo.

Upon entering, Wang An’s initial anxiety—brought on by the army’s stern discipline—quickly gave way to delight. His now-plump face bore little trace of its former weathering. He respectfully paid homage to Wang Bo, apologized on behalf of the ailing family head, and then cautiously began to converse.

Wang Bo, in truth, was grateful to Wang An and the Wang trading caravans. Without their help when he first arrived in Dingxiang, the Han Restoration Army could never have established itself in the north, where the Hu cavalry once roamed unchecked. Their current strength was in no small part due to Wang An’s efforts. Thus, though Wang Bo accepted his homage, he quickly rose, warmly offered tea and a seat, and treated him as an old friend—which left Wang An, once a humble retainer, both flattered and even more deferential.

During their conversation, Wang Bo mentioned that he had been appointed Inspector of Bingzhou by the Emperor and was marching south to restore order, drive out the marauding Yufuluo, and pacify the White Wave Army, thus ending the suffering of the people and restoring peace. He concluded with a subtle admonition that the Wang clan should not oppose his efforts.

Wang An, having heard this, praised the Han Restoration Army’s benevolence and Wang Bo’s wisdom. He explained that the Wang patriarch had expressly instructed all to cooperate fully with the Han Restoration Army, and that a large supply of provisions had already been prepared for their advance south. At the end, he carefully inquired how Wang Bo intended to administer Taiyuan and Shangdang—would he follow the model of Dingxiang and Yunzhong?

Wang Bo was well prepared for this question and replied with a slight smile, “Such matters will be discussed after we have restored all of Bingzhou. Tell your patriarch not to worry unduly! The Han Restoration Army is ruthless to its enemies but full of goodwill to its friends—we would never burn our bridges. However, any past behavior involving seizing land in chaos, mistreating the people, or raising private armies of assassins will not be tolerated.”