December 183 A.D.
Luoyang, Que Fei Palace.
Emperor Liu Hong, the lord over the Han Empire was sitting on his throne in this glorious, extravagant and imposing palace.
Liu Hong wore a red imperial attire anda crown with twelve black tassels. The beads hanging from them blocked his features, but not his pale complexion, somewhat ill.
No matter how sick though, he could never allow the ruler of an empire to show weakness.
On his sides were hundreds of officials in uniforms, standing at attention.
“Just what is going on? Yi State just lost half its lands in a matter of months, even the state city! A city with hundreds of thousands of people fell in one day! “
Liu Hong roared.
“Your Majesty need not be disturbed by a petty thief and his motley band. I shall send a general leading the court’s elite army and take back Yi State in just a few months.” Commander Chen Wen, one of the three dukes in the court answered.
“Who then will you chose to settle this matter?” Liu Hong was appeased.
“Huangfu Song, from the northern regions. He is stoic, knows military discipline, shrewd and swift.” Chen Wen replied with a prepared answer.
“Any other opinions? Is Huangfu Song ready to take this duty?” Liu Hong turned to the rest of the court. He had to see other generals’ opinions.
“Huangfu Song is familiar with the military and has a strategic approach.” Civil official Yuan Kui came in support, being from a clan himself. Thinking this was a prime chance to revive his clan’s glory.
“Huangfu Song always guarded the north, fighting many invading nomad tribes.” Wishing to get in a clan’s good books and break out of his background as butcher, He Jin was all in favor.
“I second the motion!” Many other official agreed with Chen Wen.
While most officials showed their approval, Liu Hong wanted his eunuchs’ opinions.
“Your Majesty, it is my humble opinion Huangfu Song of the north can undertake this responsibility.” Of the many versed in politics, the wise and fair Lu Qiang said.
The rest had to agree once Lu Qiang soke up, to faun and keep up his appearances.
“Summon Huangfu Song of the north to the capital to recieve the seal and suppress the rebels.” With everyone in accord over Huangfu Song, the emperor settled on him.
“Since we have a general to lead this matter, we must fill in the vacancy of his post and the officials for Yi State’s regions and counties.” The emperor addressed his officials once more.
“Your Majesty, my nephew Yuan Shao will make for a good governor for the north.” Yuan Kui said.
“Your Majesty, envoy Liu Yan may be the governor of Yi State.” Civil official Liu Yu said.
“Your Majesty…”
A string of recommendations came, all close relatives or friends that wanted to be placed in power.
The court soon came to an end, with the officials leaving in satisfied clamor.
Half a month later, the north’s governor Huangfu Song presented his official seal to the envoy and rushed back to Luoyang.
After a night of rest,he went to the imperial palace to answer the emperor’s call. He came out with the emperor’s tiger seal and went to the army camp.
The soldiers gathered to form an expedition of 300,000 men. They would train for three months in Luoyang and when the snow melted, they would go to Yi State and join the local resistance in crushing the rebellion.
Meanwhile, Zhong Yu used the 4,000 fortune he got after taking the state city, to summon scholars to fill the vacant posts in counties and regions.
He exchanged for some commanders as well. In a game like Three Kingdoms, they led 70-80 generals themselves. There were four notable figures, Wang Fang, Li Zhen, Han Kai and Zhao Ping. They had 80 generals and 5,000 men, tasked to conquer the counties of Guanghan Region, Hanjia Region, Wenshan Region and Qianwei Region bordering Shu Region.
Within a month, the generals had pacified Shu and Guanghan Regions, while also taking all the lands they conquered for himself.
It was now that Huangfu Song arrived at Luoyang, training his men to deal with him.
In the Yi state city’s imperial residence, Zhong Yu and his officials discussed in the meeting room.
After a month of battles, Zhong Yu had 20,000had on him 20,000 veteran soldiers. They were like the soldiers of the Han Dynasty, to assist the emperor in suppressing the nation.
In additionadition, he also drafted 200,000 from the six occupied regions for his next conquering needs.
Of Yi State’s north, only Yinping Region wasn’t in Zhong Yu’s control. While in the east, Baxi Region, Badong Region, Ba Region, Fuling Region and Jianyou Region were not his either. Because Yi State’s south was filled with barbarians and miasma, he didn’t touch them. While he had taken the western’s six regionsregion for himself.
After some deliberations with his men, he decided on four routes. Wang Fang would take 3,000 elites and 30,000 regulars to Yunnan Region, Yizhou Region and finally Yongchang Region.
Li Zhen would take 5,000 elites and 50,000 regulars for Zhudi Region, Zangke Region, Sianning Region and lastly Xinggu Region. The two armies would cooperate to pacify the south of Yi State.
Zhao Ping would take 5,000 elites to attack Yinping Region, then move to Hanzhong, to oversee Yinping Region, Wudu Region, Hanzhong Region, Xicheng Region and Fangling Region in Yi State to prevent the court army from attacking in the north.
Finally, Han Kai would take 3,000 system soldiers, 7,000 elites and 120,000 regulars to take the five western regions of Yi State.
With these four courses of action, he planned to have Yi State under his heel in three months.
