Chapter 71: Appointed as the Commander of East City

Within the Eagle Command Headquarters.

With a sword at his side, Fu Zihou entered the main officers’ council chamber, where several middle-aged men stood before a large map hanging on the wall.

“General, the Martial Guard has been brought!”

A soldier addressed the middle-aged man standing closest to the map, who then gestured for the soldier to withdraw.

“Martial Guard, Fu Zihou, pays respects to General Pan!”

Understanding at once that this man was Pan Changwen, Fu Zihou raised his hand, bowed his head slightly, and saluted him.

“No need for excessive ceremony,” came Pan Changwen’s calm reply. Fu Zihou straightened, lowering his hand, and turned his gaze to the others in the chamber.

“Cavalry Captain of the Imperial Guards, Wen Dayou,” introduced the first, a man nearing forty, raising his hand in greeting. Next to him was Zhang Gaoping.

“Eagle Command Captain, Zhang Gaoping!” This man, older than Wen Dayou, wore a long beard, and his countenance was stern and reserved.

The other officers now followed suit, offering their names and salutations.

“Xu Shixu, Sima of the Eagle Command!”

“Zhao Wenke, Sima of the Eagle Command!”

“Liu Zhenghui, Sima of the Eagle Command!”

These three, Xu Shixu, Zhao Wenke, and Liu Zhenghui, were all core officials of the Eagle Command, while those of lesser rank—like company and unit leaders—were not present.

“Fu Zihou, pays respects to all the esteemed gentlemen!” Fu Zihou saluted, and then Pan Changwen’s voice sounded again.

“I have heard that, while in Qinghe Commandery, you led convicts to defeat the rebel Zhang Jincheng?”

Pan Changwen regarded Fu Zihou, his tone mild, his expression betraying neither approval nor displeasure—impossible to guess whether he felt any favor or disdain.

“When the rebels attacked the city and our reinforcements battled them for several days, I merely seized upon their exhaustion to secure a fortunate victory. It is nothing to be proud of,” Fu Zihou replied humbly, unsure of Pan Changwen’s disposition.

In history, little was recorded about Pan Changwen—only that he was the military governor of Taiyuan and commander of the Eagle Guard, and that in the twelfth year of the Daye era, on the seventh day of the fourth month, he died in battle when Zhen Zhaier led a hundred thousand men to attack Taiyuan.

“To win such a victory at your age is the mark of a youthful hero! There is no need for undue modesty,” Pan Changwen said, then turned back to the map with the others to discuss pressing matters.

Fu Zihou remained silent, standing beside Xu Shixu and Liu Zhenghui, gazing at the map with them.

Only then, upon seeing the detailed map, did Fu Zihou realize that there were actually two cities comprising Jinyang, separated north to south by the Fen River.

Both cities lay beside the Fen River. The larger, where they now stood, was on the western bank—a great city, once called Longshan, but now known to all as Jinyang because of the palace within.

Across the river lay the East City, smaller in scale on the map than the West City.

The entire Jinyang region, with its two cities, was ringed on three sides by mountains—whether to the east or west, great ranges stretched nearby.

Compared to the East City across the Fen, Fu Zihou saw that the terrain of the West City was exceptionally suited for defense.

To the north of the West City, just beyond the walls of the Jinyang palace, lay a vast lake, making the deployment of large siege forces impossible there.

To the east was the Fen River, to the west the Longshan mountains, and to the south, as he noticed when passing by in a carriage, was a wide expanse of marshland stretching for miles—a detail he had missed while idly chatting with Wu Shiyue.

Such natural advantages rendered this great city virtually impregnable.

No wonder it was always said that Jinyang was a stronghold difficult to besiege—a key military post since ancient times: from Zhao Xiangzi’s legendary defense that toppled the Zhi clan, to Liu Kun’s nine-year holdout, and the countless rulers who, wary of its power, later ordered its demolition.

Indeed, the West City was a true fortress.

In contrast, the East City across the Fen seemed almost abandoned, utterly lacking in strategic defenses.

Inside the council chamber.

As Pan Changwen, Wen Dayou, Zhang Gaoping, and the others discussed the defense of Taiyuan, Fu Zihou listened quietly, never interjecting.

After a long time, as the meeting drew to a close, Pan Changwen finally turned to him. “Captain Fu!”

“Yes, sir!” Fu Zihou saluted.

“From today, you shall command the infantry and hold the East City at all costs!”

With this order, Pan Changwen assigned Fu Zihou his duties within the Eagle Command.

At these words, Wen Dayou, Zhang Gaoping, and the others glanced at Fu Zihou, but said nothing. Xu Shixu, Zhao Wenke, and Liu Zhenghui exchanged silent looks, all understanding Pan Changwen’s intent.

In any battle—be it against rebels or in northern campaigns—the infantry always suffered the highest casualties; thus, command of the infantry was the most dangerous and thankless post.

This explained why, in all of Taiyuan Eagle Command, only the cavalry captains Wen Dayou and Zhang Gaoping were present, while the infantry captain’s position remained vacant.

Clearly, Pan Changwen intended to put Fu Zihou in his place.

Realizing this, Xu Shixu, Zhao Wenke, and Liu Zhenghui remained silent. They had no connection to the young Fu Zihou, and as Simas, would have little contact with him in the future.

“Understood!” Fu Zihou was momentarily taken aback by the order, but quickly regained his composure, raised his hand, and accepted the command.

Pan Changwen nodded in satisfaction and dismissed the assembly.

Watching Zhang Gaoping and the others depart, Fu Zihou left the council chamber as well.

“Master Wen!” he called out in the courtyard.

Seeing the other officials mounting their horses and leaving with attendants, Fu Zihou hurried to Wen Dayou’s side.

“Is there something else, Martial Guard?” Wen Dayou asked, his expression stern.

Fu Zihou took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to him.

Puzzled, Wen Dayou dismounted, took the letter, and opened it. His face changed instantly upon reading.

“So you are Elder Li’s grandson-in-law?” Wen Dayou looked at Fu Zihou in astonishment. He had never imagined this young man was married to Elder Li’s granddaughter.

“Zihou pays respects to Uncle Wen!” Fu Zihou saluted.

Wen Dayou quickly reached out to help him up, signaling that there was no need for such formality, and looked back toward the council chamber.

“This is no place to speak. Come with me, nephew,” Wen Dayou said, putting the letter away and leading Fu Zihou to his own residence.

Now that he knew Fu Zihou was Elder Li’s grandson-in-law, Wen Dayou’s attitude was utterly transformed.

Soon, with Wen Dayou as his guide, Fu Zihou arrived at the Wen family residence.

The Wen clan was a prominent family in Taiyuan, and Wen Dayou, being established there for many years, lived in a private mansion.

In the main hall, after the attendants withdrew, Wen Dayou turned to Fu Zihou.

“Years ago, the Pan clan rose to prominence thanks to Emperor Wen. After Pan Changwen’s father died, he inherited the title and was stationed in Taiyuan. Over a year ago, when Liu Long’er stirred rebellion in Lishi Commandery, General Pan went to suppress it as governor, but the Eagle Command’s troops suffered heavy losses and achieved nothing. Last year, when His Majesty was besieged by the Turks at Yanmen, General Pan led his men to the rescue, again at great cost…”

Wen Dayou shook his head.

“Pan Changwen is an incompetent and jealous man. Nephew, you have earned your title at a young age, so he sought to suppress you in the council chamber. Most of the great families of Taiyuan reside in this western city by the Fen River; across the river in the East City are mostly commoners and rural folk.”

Wen Dayou sighed. Had he known earlier that Fu Zihou was Elder Li’s grandson-in-law, he would have stood by his side in the council and made Pan Changwen think twice. But now it was too late—Fu Zihou had already accepted the post.

“I see,” Fu Zihou murmured.

He was no fool. In the council, he had already sensed that Pan Changwen bore him some ill will. Now, with Wen Dayou’s explanation, he understood why.

Since Pan Changwen was both incompetent and jealous, Fu Zihou knew that his assignment to guard the East City across the river could not be changed in the short term.

Fortunately, he was not anxious. As he had thought in the council, there was still ample time; in a couple of months, he might find a way to return to the West City.

Knowing that rebels would attack Jinyang in April, he would feel uneasy remaining here in the West City, watching the defenseless East City across the river, ill-prepared for any assault.

As Wen Dayou had said, the East City was home mostly to commoners and local villagers.

Fu Zihou was no scion of a great family; he remembered being surrounded by desperate refugees, the profound sense of hopelessness he had once endured.

Going to the East City, he did not seek glory—only to do what little he could.

With that in mind, recalling the map he had seen in the council chamber, he turned to Wen Dayou.

“Uncle Wen, I am to take command in the East City, but know nothing of its current state. Could you tell me how much grain and armor are stored there?”

Against a rebel army a hundred thousand strong, the reserves in the East City would be crucial.

“As far as I know, the vast majority of arms and provisions are stored here in the West City’s granary. The East City holds only what’s needed for the garrison—no more than three thousand sets of armor, and no more than two thousand hu of grain…”

Wen Dayou thought for a moment and shared what he knew.

“So little?” Fu Zihou frowned.

Ten thousand hu of grain was about six hundred thousand catties of rice or millet; so the East City’s stores amounted to only around one hundred twenty thousand catties.

That sounded much, but in a siege, when the city could be surrounded and cut off for months, once the people’s own supplies ran out, this grain would not last long.

“You’re worried about a rebel assault?” Wen Dayou guessed at Fu Zihou’s concern and smiled.

“I will not conceal my thoughts, Uncle. Jinyang has always been a key military post. With rebels everywhere now, it’s only a matter of time before someone tries to seize it,” Fu Zihou said earnestly.

He had hoped Wen Dayou would take his words to heart, but the older man only smiled and shook his head.

“You need not worry, nephew. Did you not see the map in the council? Jinyang is naturally impregnable—what can mere rebels do? Who would dare attack it?”

Wen Dayou regarded Fu Zihou’s anxiety as needless. Having commanded troops in Taiyuan for years, he believed the city’s very terrain would deter any invader.

“These so-called rebels are nothing but wandering bandits,” he added.

In the Wen family’s main hall, Fu Zihou chose not to argue further.

Around Taiyuan, except for Lishi Commandery to the west—where Liu Long’er led tens of thousands of rebels—the southern, northern, and neighboring counties all had Sui troops stationed in force.

Before Zhen Zhaier marched his army, who would have believed anyone would dare attack Taiyuan at the empire’s very heart?

Recalling Wu Shiling and Wu Shiyue, who had traveled to Jinyang with him, Fu Zihou told Wen Dayou all about his encounter with Wu Shiyue, especially the persons Wu Shiyue had mentioned on the journey.

“It seems the Wu family holds you in high regard,” Wen Dayou nodded thoughtfully.

He then explained that Wu Shiyue had spoken true: the three men he mentioned were indeed significant figures in Taiyuan.

Seeing that Fu Zihou had been suppressed by Pan Changwen upon arrival, Wen Dayou worried he might be disheartened.

“As for Pan Changwen, do not fret. I will find an opportunity to make your identity and your connection to the Wen family known to him. While I cannot change his mind, you need not fear further suppression—our family still holds some influence in Taiyuan,” Wen Dayou said reassuringly.

“Thank you, Uncle Wen,” Fu Zihou replied, bowing with heartfelt gratitude.