Chapter Eighty-Five: Troops Depart from Jiayu Pass

Not long after Li Wenyuan had dispatched Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin, a eunuch official arrived with an imperial edict. This official was none other than the same censor who, before Li Gui's rebellion, had conveyed the emperor's orders to Li Wenyuan to thoroughly investigate Li Gui’s corruption and treason. After receiving the edict, Li Wenyuan warmly invited the censor to stay for a meal in Wuwei Commandery. During the banquet, the censor raised his cup and said, “Your memorial to His Majesty some days ago seemed to have greatly pleased him. When I went to fetch this edict, I saw your memorial with a ‘good’ character inscribed in cinnabar by the emperor’s own hand. Clearly, His Majesty remains deeply concerned about Li Gui’s affair.”

Though censors answered solely to the emperor and were unwavering in their loyalty, money could move even ghosts. Having seized a large amount of Li Gui’s ill-gotten wealth for himself, Li Wenyuan now spared no expense in winning over influential people, hoping to remain constantly informed of the emperor’s intentions and the great affairs of the capital, even from the remote western frontier. Night Owl, his intelligence organization, had grown rapidly and now operated across many commanderies, yet its foundation remained shallow and it had not yet established effective networks in the capital or within the imperial palace. To make up for this deficiency, Li Wenyuan had bribed several of Yang Guang’s heralds at great cost; the censor before him was one of them.

“One who receives the ruler’s salary must naturally share in the ruler’s burdens,” Li Wenyuan replied, raising his cup to the censor with a smile. “Li Gui has flown the banner of rebellion for nearly half a year, and I have yet to extinguish him—this is my failure as a subject. However, the remaining commanderies have now returned to imperial rule, and I am preparing to march on Li Gui. I have here another memorial detailing my plan to deal with him. I would trouble you, Lord Censor, to deliver it to His Majesty, so he need no longer fret over Li Gui in the Western Regions.”

“Your unwavering service to the nation is truly a great blessing for our empire,” the censor replied, draining his cup and refilling one for Li Wenyuan. “If all officials were as devoted to easing His Majesty’s worries as you are, our sovereign would be filled with joy.”

The guests enjoyed themselves throughout the meal. The censor, having pressing matters to attend, did not stay overnight. When he departed, Li Wenyuan pointed to two wagon trains outside and said, “These are laden with melons and grape wine, specialties of the Western Regions. Please keep one for yourself, Lord Censor, and kindly present the other to His Majesty on my behalf.”

After seeing the censor off, Li Wenyuan headed straight to the headquarters of Night Owl in Wuwei and asked Qiu Niang, “Where are Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin now?”

“The military owls report they’ve reached Dangjin Mountain Pass and have already seized the checkpoint. Qin Qiong especially noted that the credit for this belongs to Cheng Yaojin, who led a team disguised as merchants,” she replied.

Under Li Wenyuan’s orders, Night Owl now planted its agents within the army as well. These agents, known as military owls, specialized in gathering intelligence on enemy forces, akin to scouts in later eras. They also maintained communication between the field army and the rear command. Selected from within Night Owl itself, the military owls used the same encryption methods as their parent organization. With the outbreak of hostilities, Li Wenyuan had simply chosen Qiu Niang’s office as the overall command post.

“Merchants? What merchants?” Li Wenyuan asked curiously.

“Here, Qin Qiong sent a military report—you can read it yourself,” Qiu Niang replied, pulling a volume from a stack and handing it to him.

Li Wenyuan opened the report and read the detailed account of the attack on Dangjin Mountain Pass: Originally, the pass was a border fortress meant to guard against sudden raids by the nomads. After Yang Guang established several more western commanderies, its defensive value diminished, and since it had always faced outward, its fortifications were weak against attacks from within the empire. After Li Gui took possession, he hastily constructed some simple defenses facing the interior—horse traps, chevaux-de-frise, and caltrop fields.

No one knew where Cheng Yaojin had learned it, but he heard that Dangjin Mountain Pass often suffered from severe shortages. So, he selected a few barrels of spirits and military rations from the supply trains, picked some shrewd and capable men, had them remove their armor, and disguised them as traveling merchants. Claiming to have benefited from Li Gui’s favor, they said they had escaped from Li Wenyuan’s territory and were bringing these supplies, purchased along the way, as a gift to encourage the troops. This ruse actually convinced the guards to open the gates and let Cheng Yaojin and his men in. When the guards gathered to divvy up the liquor and grain, Cheng Yaojin and his disguised soldiers suddenly drew their weapons, scattered the defenders, and seized the checkpoint with ease.

Closing the report, Li Wenyuan set it gently on the desk. Turning to Qiu Niang, who was busy sorting other intelligence, he said, “Now that Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin’s Second Corps controls Dangjin Mountain Pass, Xihe Commandery is secure. Fu Wen’s Third Corps has been shifted to the northern Great Wall to defend against the Turks. With the northern and southern flanks secured, I will personally lead Zhang Junta’s First Corps and Wudelu’s Fourth Corps on the campaign. This will be Junta’s first deployment with musketeers, and I have my concerns—if not used properly, a unit of musketeers can be less effective than traditional infantry. Once I march, all affairs of Zhangye and Wuwei commanderies will be left to you, Xue Renyue, and Qian Wentong.”

Qiu Niang nodded. “You need not worry. The central plains are stable, the bandits have been eradicated over the past half year, and your policies have won the people’s hearts. For now, these two commanderies remain secure. But you must beware of the Turks—the Night Owls report that their involvement goes beyond naming Li Gui as Khan. They have apparently dispatched their elite royal guards to reinforce his army. That’s likely why Li Gui had such success capturing Shanshan and Qiemo commanderies.”

Li Wenyuan nodded. “I have already accounted for this—there’s no need to worry. Simply wait here for news of my triumphant return.”

After leaving Qiu Niang, Li Wenyuan assembled the two corps and set out from Zhangye Commandery, heading toward Jiayu Pass to begin the campaign against Li Gui.