Chapter Forty-Four: Discussion (IV)

In the depths of night, even separated by hundreds of miles, there were still those who, like all sides in Cloud City, had not yet succumbed to sleep. Compared to Cloud City, which stood at the forefront, Shanyang County was the pivotal core of Mayi Prefecture’s defensive system.

Shanyang County occupied the most fertile region of Mayi, nestled along the Sanggan River. Advancing, it could ceaselessly supply the frontlines of Cloud City; retreating, it could connect to the counties east of the river, its back protected by the Inner Great Wall. Its weight within the Sui Empire’s frontier defense was even greater than that of Cloud City.

It could be said that if Cloud City fell, Sui would merely face unrest at its borders. But if Shanyang was lost, the Turks would press directly upon the Inner Great Wall; once that was breached, the heartland of the Central Plains would be exposed!

During the Northern Zhou, the predecessor of Sui, Shanyang was the seat of the Shuo Prefecture's administration. Now, it served as the administrative center of Mayi Prefecture. Even after Cloud City declined due to the abandonment of the Northern Wei capital, Shanyang retained its status as the regional hub, its prosperity and wealth far exceeding that of Cloud City.

Cloud City spanned only three or four miles, while Shanyang’s circumference was over seven miles, home to all manner of merchants and nearly eight thousand households. The latest fashions from Jinyang would reach Shanyang within two months.

The Sanggan River region was the richest in Mayi, and Shanyang’s stores were abundant. Even after last year’s great battle, following Wang Renqiong’s intensified requisitioning this year, the city held nearly two years' worth of grain and fodder.

Following the large-scale conscription of able-bodied men into the Mayi Eagle Regiment, Wang Renqiong’s forces had swollen to over ten thousand. Though not as elite as the Heng’an Eagle Regiment facing the Turks, they were formidable for a frontier county, battle-tested against the Turks and superior to inland garrisons.

With Cloud City at the front and Shanyang at the rear, the two formed a shield and a spear: a combination of seasoned commanders and elite troops, capable of rendering Mayi Prefecture impregnable, deterring the Turks from even casting a covetous glance. Yet now, these two crucial pillars of Mayi stood in opposition, on the verge of tearing each other apart—a disaster looming that could spell annihilation, as the flood of Turkic cavalry would sweep down like a storm.

History is littered with such events. One can only sigh, recalling the days when the Sui Emperor subdued the realm with unmatched might.

Everything has changed in a few short decades. Who is to blame?

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Tonight, Shanyang was shrouded in deathly silence. Unlike Cloud City, lively even into the second watch, Shanyang—as the prefectural seat—grew somber as soon as night fell.

The reason was simple: expanding Mayi’s military to ten thousand had brought unprecedented exploitation. Even the once-prosperous Sanggan River region was now exhausted and desolate. As the prefectural seat, how could Shanyang remain vibrant?

Wang Renqiong, now sixty, stood atop a small pavilion in the garden of his governor’s residence, gazing out at the darkness, growing ever more disgusted with this place.

At the threshold of old age, was he to end his days in this remote, uncouth land? The empire was in chaos—a pivotal moment for the great families to vie for dominance. Toiling here defending Sui’s frontier, while his clan missed its chance to rise among the elite, would be a true calamity!

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Wang Renqiong stroked his graying beard, steeped in reflection.

He hailed from the Wang clan of Taiyuan, one of the seventeen branches of the contemporary Taiyuan Wang. Though he grew up in Tianshui, the family’s prestige remained anchored in Taiyuan. His grandfather had served as a regional governor; at twenty, Wang Renqiong entered officialdom as a scion of the noble clans, starting as the prefectural registrar, rising steadily to high office and eventually founding his own administration.

This was the typical path of a noble family’s offspring—these clans were the pillars of dynastic cycles, supporting the once-mighty Sui Empire.

But from the reign of the Emperor Kaihuang, through the ascension of the Emperor Daye, two successive rulers sought to promote commoners and suppress the great families, culminating in Yang Xuangan’s rebellion during the eastern campaign against Goguryeo.

Wang Renqiong had served under the Emperor Kaihuang, but some of his sons and nephews joined Yang Xuangan’s rebels—a classic tactic of noble families, hedging their bets.

Yang Xuangan’s eventual defeat implicated Wang Renqiong, who was stripped of office. This rebellion, stirred by the great families, drained Sui’s vitality.

The Emperor Daye was no longer the ambitious monarch he had once been—wearied and eccentric, he fled to Jiangdu, losing his grip on the empire. The noble families staged a full restoration.

Li Yuan, Duke of Tang—long guarded against—became the governor of Jinyang, commanding the counties of the east. Wang Renqiong was reinstated as governor of Mayi.

The Sui had lost its prize; now, the noble families must pursue it together.

In such times, why should the Wang clan not rise further?

The Mayi troops were among the best in the realm. If they could march south to the river, seize this strategic vantage, gather the armies of the counties, turn west toward Chang’an, uniting the east and the central plains, then perhaps the balance of power could be tested.

Yet it was precisely this Liu Wuzhou, a man of humble origins, who commanded the Heng’an Eagle Regiment, blocking Wang Renqiong’s path to contest Li Yuan for supremacy in the east.

Why would this commoner not simply die? The noble families’ struggle for power—commoners should serve as loyal hounds and steeds, rewarded in due course. Why must he meddle?

Because of Liu Wuzhou, Wang Renqiong was desperately expanding his forces and stockpiling grain, awaiting the right moment to annex Liu Wuzhou’s troops, then turn south to advance his ambitions.

As for the internal strife, the fate of Mayi, the threat of Turkic incursions—such matters were beneath Wang Renqiong’s consideration. The survival of noble families outweighed all.

But could Li Yuan be trusted to let him deal with Liu Wuzhou unimpeded, before turning south to obstruct him?

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Li Yuan would inevitably intervene in Mayi, perhaps already had—he was governor of Jinyang, commander of the eastern counties, and held legitimate authority.

Wang Renqiong resolved: he could wait no longer!

He stood at the railing of the pavilion, clapped his hands softly.

At his signal, the man waiting below ascended swiftly.

The newcomer, in his thirties, wore a light robe and a square-collared tunic, his features closely resembling Wang Renqiong. He was the second son, Wang Zhongceng, prefectural registrar, and with the eldest son, Wang Zhongyi, commander of the Mayi Eagle Regiment, these two were Wang Renqiong’s closest confidants in governing the county.

In these times of broken law and order, entrusting kin with real power had become universal. The Sui’s restraints on the noble clans had vanished.

Wang Zhongceng stood respectfully by his father’s side. Without turning, Wang Renqiong asked in a low voice, “Have we heard back from Cloud City?”

Wang Zhongceng shook his head. “Not until after Cloud City’s autumn gathering.”

Wang Renqiong lowered his voice further. “Is the Zhibi tribe reliable?”

Wang Zhongceng smiled confidently. “With Cloud City’s promise, why wouldn’t the Zhibi tribe cooperate? They lost the last battle—your reputation has them terrified. How could they refuse your commands?”

Wang Renqiong was silent for a moment, then said coldly, “The Zhibi tribe are outsiders. The key is to rely on ourselves! After Cloud City’s autumn gathering, send someone; all tax revenues from the gathering must go to the county government. If they refuse, cut off their grain! Tell your elder brother: move the army north, monitor Liu Wuzhou’s forces, but do not rush into battle—wait till the Heng’an troops are starved, then deal with them!”

Wang Zhongceng accepted the orders respectfully and descended the stairs. His father had finally decided to join the contest for the realm! As a scion of the noble clans, he had had enough of this backwater—his stage belonged in the imperial heartlands of Chang’an and Luoyang!

Only Wang Renqiong remained at the pavilion, muttering softly, “The Turks… once I settle the great matter, I’ll sweep them away!”

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