The Huai Yi uprising

Luo Cheng saw the Dukes of Jin and Zheng off.

Once outside the hall, the Dukes of Jin and Zheng were beaming. The Son of Heaven had granted them the authority to campaign against the disobedient-the legal right to annex smaller states. Jin State and Zheng State would now enter a period of explosive growth.

The three walked along the broad avenue through the palace. High walls rose on either side, with soldiers patrolling atop them, and their footsteps rang clearly through the passage.

Luo Cheng glanced at the narrow strip of sky overhead. Thinking of the Zhou State's current plight, he felt oppressed and said gravely, "Duke of Jin, Duke of Zheng, the royal house is crumbling, and the Yi and Di are stirring. Who will defend the realm?

"The lands of All Xia were won by hacking through thorns and brambles for more than two hundred years. If we lose them just like that, could you truly accept it?

"The authority of the regional lords comes from the Son of Heaven. Only if his throne remains secure can our descendants enjoy their honored positions forever.

"Of all the nobles of Yin Shang, only the line of Song State still endures. Was that because the other branches lacked ability?

"Of the hundreds of Ji regional lords throughout the realm, could every single one be virtuous?

"It is because we are kin to the royal house that the Ji name is honored, and that we have everything we possess today.

"Yet over these past years, the Rites of Zhou have declined in so many Marquisate States.

"Between ruler and subject, father and son, the lineage system has broken down. Subjects murdering their rulers and sons murdering their fathers-such crimes against the natural order have become endless.

"How powerful Qi State once was! Yet it changed rulers three times in twenty years, with members of its ruling house slaughtering one another. Now its strength has begun to ebb.

"Jin State and Zheng State are both great states with hundreds of li of territory, large populations, and powerful armies. They can certainly be called strong.

"For great states like yours, even several defeats in succession would mean no more than the loss of a city or a tract of land. With a little time to rest and recover, you could come sweeping back.

"But if your ruling houses begin slaughtering their own members, those houses will inevitably decline. However powerful a state may be, its strength can wither within a single generation.

"To repel threats without, you must first bring peace within. When you return this time, you must revive the Rites of Zhou in your states and choose your heirs carefully, not according to personal preference.

"You must establish your heirs' positions clearly and keep certain princes from harboring ambitions they should never have. This is what truly determines whether a state survives.

"If you cannot do that, then even if you two dukes are brave and wise, and your states flourish for a time, unworthy descendants will eventually lead them into decline.

"When their strength is exhausted and they fall to the Yi and Di or to other regional lords, you will become a laughingstock throughout the realm."

At these words, the smiles vanished from the faces of the two dukes of Jin and Zheng.

The Marquis of Jin, whose state had enjoyed friendly relations with Luo State since Luo Su's time, clasped his hands and said, "Luo State is a land of propriety. For nine generations, its succession has remained orderly. I ought to learn from you. Once I return, I will certainly act according to the Rites of Zhou."

Luo Cheng did not know how much either man had taken to heart. Had the strength of Jin and Zheng not been so vital to the All Xia states and the survival of the royal house, he would never have spoken so frankly to them.

Luo Cheng escorted the two dukes of Jin and Zheng out of the palace and said with feeling, "The Yi and Di are flourishing now, and a great war is not far off. Return and put your armies in order.

"If anything important arises, send a letter to Luoyi, and I will take care of it for you.

"With the three of us here, the Zhou State will surely stand as firm as Mount Tai."

The two dukes of Jin and Zheng voiced their agreement, then boarded their carriages and returned to their states to reorganize their armies. Luo Cheng went back to the Royal Palace to teach Ji Fu, while also handling the affairs of the Zhou State and the Royal Domain.

As time passed, the suspicious movements previously uncovered became military reports that swarmed toward the newly established Royal Domain.

"Your Majesty, the Lai Yi State has launched a full-scale invasion. The Marquis of Qi has already led troops out to resist."

"The Di People have also invaded. The Duke of Jin and the Marquis of Wei, along with the Marquises of Han, Xing, and Zhang and the earls, viscounts, and barons, have marched north with their troops. Their mobilization is considerable. I fear they have no attention to spare for the Royal Domain."

"The ruler of Xu State has presumptuously proclaimed himself king. The Duke of Song and the Marquis of Chen have joined forces and marched to the front. Xu's ruler is fierce and formidable, and the two states are retreating at every turn."

The Western Rong's capture of Haojing seemed to have sent a signal to the tribes on all four frontiers. The Zhou State's weakness had been laid bare before everyone, and its enemies on every side seized the opportunity to rise and attack.

The first to make trouble was the Lai Yi State.

Ever since the Sage King's Eastern Campaign, the Eastern Yi had been a primary target of the Zhou State.

Under repeated attacks by Qi State and Luo State, their power had steadily shrunk. Yet on the peninsula east of Qi, one large state still remained: Lai Yi.

It was Qi State's mortal enemy. This time, the ruler of the Lai Yi State had gathered almost every tribe of the Eastern Yi to wage war against Qi.

Qi State likewise took advantage of the Son of Heaven's delegation of authority to draw upon the forces of Ji State and the other eastern Marquisate States against the Lai Yi State.

Qi committed its entire strength, even cutting off the aid it had long provided to Yan State and leaving Yan to face the Di People and Hu People alone.

As military reports arrived one after another, Luo Cheng explained the situation throughout the realm to Ji Fu in the Royal Domain.

"Your Majesty, the more urgent the military reports, the more calmly we must examine them for weaknesses. Of the situations on all four fronts, for example, Qi State is the one we need worry about least.

"The Lai Yi State is powerful, but Qi holds favorable terrain. It can strike from the high ground or slowly draw out the conflict.

"The real danger lies with Yan State. Without Qi's assistance, Yan is remote and sparsely populated. This time, we will see just how much strength it truly possesses.

"If Yan cannot hold off the Hu People, Qi will face enemies both before and behind it. Only then will Qi find itself in a bitter struggle."

Jin, Wei, Han, and Xing faced the Di People advancing south from the north. Jin State in particular was the principal force defending the Royal Domain.

The enemies in those two directions were already an old, familiar story. After so many years of victories and defeats on both sides, Jin and the others merely needed to fight according to their established methods.

Ji Fu studied the map before him and asked, "Duke of Luo, can the Marquis of Western Zhou's state resist the Yi-Luo Rong alone? Could they follow the Yi River and Luo River to launch a direct surprise attack on the Royal Domain?

"Shen State and Ying State both border the Yi-Luo region, and Zheng State can reach it directly by large ships. Could we send them into battle?"

Luo Cheng shook his head. "None of those three states can move. Xu State has rebelled, and according to the reports, its ruler is a born commander. He utterly routed Song State's army, which is barely holding on with reinforcements from Chen State.

"If the allied armies of those two states are defeated, the southeastern approaches to the Royal Domain will lie wide open. We cannot allow that. Only by keeping the fighting outside the Royal Domain can we prevent unforeseen disasters.

"So we must immediately order the Duke of Zheng to lead a great army to reinforce Song State.

"The Duke of Zheng is brave in battle. With him there, Xu State's rebellion should not threaten the Royal Domain for the time being."

"What about Shen State and Ying State, then?"

Luo Cheng sighed. "The Zhou State is at its weakest. Chu State has always refused to submit to Zhou and bears a grudge against it. How could it stand by unmoved?

"Judging by the time that has passed, news of Chu's invasion should soon arrive from Shen State.

"What puzzles me is why there has been no movement from the Huai Yi.

"Did we not learn some time ago that they were preparing for war? Why has Xi State sent no news at all?

"Could they be preparing to attack Wu-Yue?

"That makes no sense."

Naturally, Ji Fu did not understand these matters. He asked, "Duke of Luo, are the Huai Yi powerful?"

Luo Cheng traced an area south of the Royal Domain on the map. "North of Wu-Yue, east and south from Xu State, all the way to Xi Territory-a thousand li of land lies within the Huai Yi's sphere of influence."

Ji Fu was startled. A thousand li!

His Royal Domain covered only six hundred li, yet the Huai Yi possessed a thousand li of territory.

Luo Cheng said solemnly, "The Huai Yi are skilled archers, and their fierce people make excellent soldiers. Along with the Western Rong, they have always been a dagger pointed at the Zhou State's heart.

"Dozens of Ji Marquisate States lie between the Royal Domain and the Huai Yi, but over the years, some have gradually been swallowed up.

"As the Huai Yi grow stronger, I fear these scattered Han-Yang Ji States can no longer shoulder the burden of resisting them.

"That is why I decided to follow the model of Jin defending the north and Qi defending the east, establishing a large state between Shen and Chen that would straddle the Ying River, specifically to block the Huai Yi's northward advance."

As Luo Cheng explained the Zhou State's current situation to Ji Fu, he also taught him how to handle affairs of state.

"Your Majesty, urgent military dispatches!"

A eunuch hurried into the hall, holding two sets of bamboo slips.

"To the king who has received Heaven's mandate:

"Your subject, the Marquis Shen, bows his head to the ground.

"I have committed no offense, yet the Viscount of Chu has raised an army against me.

"Chu is a state of the savage wilderness, while I am a Ji kinsman of the royal house. By attacking me without authorization, he shows that he holds neither the Rites of Zhou nor Your Majesty in his heart.

"Should such a subject not be punished?

"I beg you to dispatch the Royal Domain's troops, that the Chu Army may learn the unfathomable might of Heaven."

The Son of Heaven, Ji Fu, and Luo Cheng each took a dispatch to read. When Ji Fu finished, he said, "Duke of Luo, your prediction was indeed correct.

"Chu has raised troops on the pretext that Sui State and Shen State treated it disrespectfully. It claims an army of one hundred thousand, advancing along three routes at once.

"Shen State has conscripted every available soldier and intends to stop Chu on the Han River. Sui State has also begun fortifying its defenses and clearing the countryside, and has sent the Royal Domain a request for aid."

Since Luo Cheng had already told him that Chu would certainly mobilize, Ji Fu was not particularly alarmed.

Shen State was still quite strong and enjoyed favorable terrain. It had successfully repelled Chu's attacks many times; its request for aid was merely an attempt to obtain some benefits from the Royal Domain.

Luo Cheng was not very worried about Chu's invasion.

He knew that Chu's actions were chiefly intended to pin down the forces of Shen, Sui, and the other states, keeping the Ji states on the Han River plain occupied.

Chu's nobles simply wanted to see the Zhou royal house and the regional lords of the Central Plains suffer. Whoever attacked those lords, Chu would lend its support.

It most likely would not wage a genuine, full-scale war against the Zhou State, especially with him governing the Royal Domain. Chu's nobles already lived under the shadow of their fear of the Luo Clan.

The Lai Yi State, the Huai Yi, and Xu State might not believe the reports of snow falling in Haojing in the sixth month some time earlier, but Chu was certain to be caught between belief and doubt.

Xiong Dun's standing in Chu rivaled that of the Sage King in the hearts of the Zhou People.

He was a ruler who had single-handedly raised Chu into the ranks of the great states. If even he had suffered such a terrible loss, who could fail to harbor doubts?

"Report!

"Your Majesty, Duke of Luo, military intelligence from Ying State!"

A soldier covered in blood rushed into the hall. Luo Cheng's expression changed sharply, and he hurried to take the letter and unfold it.

"Your Majesty, the Huai Yi have invaded!

"It was not that they had failed to act. They broke through the Han-Yang Ji States' defenses in a single stroke.

"Xi State never managed to send word. Only when fleeing citizens and nobles from those Marquisate States reached the north did the news arrive through Ying State and Xu State.

"This is terrifying. The Huai Yi have vast numbers of warships, and they are sailing up the Ying River. Once Ying State and Xu State fall, they will be able to strike directly at the Yi-Luo region.

"To the north, they can link up with the Yi-Luo Rong; to the south, they can choke off the Han-Yang Ji States' supply routes.

"Even Shen State will face attacks from Chu, the Huai Yi, and the Yi-Luo Rong, while the Royal Domain will lie directly exposed to the Huai Yi.

"Disaster is upon us."

In the Sage King's time, there had been Four Regional Lords Commissioned by the King, responsible for regularly gathering the lords of their respective regions for military training and responding to attacks by the Yi and Di.

But as the power of All Xia expanded, the Yi and Di ceased waging large-scale wars against the regional lords.

The Son of Heaven was also dissatisfied with lords who wielded such sweeping regional authority, so these great regional appointments gradually ceased to be made.

The Han-Yang Ji States were all small states, and they did not advance or retreat together. Faced with a behemoth like the Huai Yi, they had thus fallen into their present miserable plight.

The moment he heard that even the Royal Domain was in danger, Ji Fu could no longer sit still. He had not forgotten that the Rong People had breached his father's Royal Domain. He hurriedly asked, "Duke of Luo, do you have a plan?"

"For now, we can only deploy the Royal Domain's troops to Ying State and Xu State. As long as we hold that area and prevent the Huai Yi, the Yi-Luo Rong, and Chu from linking up, the situation will remain under control.

"After the disaster at Haojing, I feared the Royal Domain lacked sufficient military strength, so I brought Luo State's troops here. They are among the finest soldiers in the realm. We will send them to Ying State and Xu State first.

"Your Majesty, we must issue a conscription decree throughout the Zhou State. Every regional lord and vassal must mobilize. Whoever fails to obey the decree will be called to account once this is over."

"Duke of Luo, I have only just ascended the throne and know nothing of great military and state affairs. I entrust this matter entirely to you. Whatever decrees are needed, issue them yourself."

Ji Fu was very different from his father, Ji Nie. He understood his own limitations and never interfered in matters beyond his abilities. He also faithfully observed the Way of Ruling: open and upright, kind by nature, considerate toward his subjects, and never quick to suspect them. At crucial moments, he possessed the resolve to entrust authority to those he believed in.

Such a ruler would become enlightened under worthy ministers and foolish under treacherous ones. Luo Cheng could hardly have been more satisfied with him.

The Huai Yi crisis was no small matter. Luo Cheng did not waste a moment, immediately issuing the highest-level conscription decree and ordering the High Minister Clans of the Royal Domain to provide troops.

Orders were also issued for Luo State's elite soldiers to advance first to Ying State and Xu State.

As he issued that decree, Luo Cheng felt his heart bleeding. The troops he had brought to Luoyi were true elites, and their commanders were the finest members of Luo State's ruling house and royal clan.

His eldest legitimate son and his own younger brother were among them.

Many of these soldiers belonged to lesser branches of the Luo Clan. This was an army of old Luo People, with exceptional loyalty and fighting strength.

Now he was sending them to the foremost battlefront to face the surging Huai Yi. He truly feared that something might go wrong, which would be a catastrophe capable of drowning Luo State.

Yet without sending them, he could not trust anyone else. If the Huai Yi truly managed to link up with the Yi-Luo Rong and Chu-

If the Zhou State's capital fell a second time and All Xia collapsed, ten thousand deaths could not absolve him of his guilt, and he would have no face to meet the Sage King after death.

In the early years of Eastern Zhou, the Zhou Dynasty faced the greatest crisis since its founding. Enemies from every direction simultaneously launched a lethal strike against a dynasty that had only just suffered a devastating blow.

In the face of this crisis, the enfeoffment system displayed tremendous vitality. These regional lords, who possessed exceptionally high autonomy, demonstrated a tenacious will to survive.

Faced with the loss of their titles and the abolition of their states if they failed, nearly every lord chose to resist to the death, greatly slowing the advance of the tribes on all four frontiers.

Those with lasting property had steadfast hearts. After the widespread adoption of the commandery-county system, this spirit of resistance could be seen only in a handful of loyal ministers with exceptional strength of will. It was, one had to admit, a regrettable thing.-"On the merits and flaws of the enfeoffment and commandery-county systems"

Cheng's moment of glory had arrived. Without Ancestors' Blessing, how would he squeeze out his own latent potential and climb to the heights of glory?