Chapter Forty: First Encounter with Wei Qing

Qiansang City, Governor’s Residence.

As Qin Cheng lingered at the rear of the welcoming party, listening to the conversation between Li Guang and the envoy from Chang’an, he found himself shaken for quite some time. He had not expected Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, to dispatch this particular man to Shanggu. Although the recent great battle at Qiansang City had resulted in a significant victory, if it were merely a matter of conferring rewards and titles upon those who had distinguished themselves, there would have been no need to send this man.

Having lived for over thirty years in the twenty-first century, Qin Cheng understood well the stature this man held in Emperor Wu’s mind. It could be said that Liu Che’s entire hope of defeating the Xiongnu was inseparable from this individual—his successes were Liu Che’s successes, and his failures would place the emperor’s war policy at grave risk. That such a figure, at a time when relations with the Xiongnu were so delicate and preparations for war so urgent, would leave behind the critical task of training the central cavalry in Chang’an and venture to this provincial outpost, could not possibly be for the sake of the recent battle alone.

This man was Wei Qing.

Wei Qing exchanged a brief greeting with Li Guang, then, surrounded by the senior generals and officials of Qiansang City, proceeded directly into the main hall of the governor’s residence. Standing before the assembly, he took from a nearby soldier a piece of imperial brocade, unfolded it impassively, and began to read aloud.

“This autumn, the Zuo Xian King of the Xiongnu led his forces in a raid upon our Han border, plundering and burning without restraint, rampaging through the Commanderies of Dai, Shanggu, and Yuyang, bringing great shame and humiliation to our Han. Fortunately, Governor Li Guang of Shanggu, commanding over ten thousand troops, engaged the Xiongnu in battle for two days, slew over five thousand of the enemy, killed the Xiongnu’s Zuo Guduhou, and drove off the invaders, demonstrating the might of Han arms and protecting our people—a deed of great merit, deserving of reward. Thus, the Imperial Court decrees as follows:

Li Guang, Governor and Commander of Shanggu, for timely engagement, effective command, and leading his troops to a decisive victory, is granted the title Marquis Within the Pass and an estate of two hundred households.

Qin Cheng of the heavy infantry, for slaying the Xiongnu’s Zuo Guduhou, defending the Yellow Banner, and taking fifteen enemy heads with unmatched valor, is promoted to the rank of Minor Superior.

Li Zhongji, Captain of the light infantry, for leading an ambush against the Xiongnu Zuo Xian King and taking three thousand enemy heads, is promoted to Minor Superior...

Ji Zhu, Captain of the cavalry, for leading from the front and taking thirty enemy heads, is promoted to Right Geng...

Yue Yi of the cavalry, for slaying twenty-seven enemy soldiers, is awarded the title of Fifth Gentleman...

All others who have rendered meritorious service shall also be rewarded according to their deeds!”

The lengthy list of rewards continued; Wei Qing switched from one piece of brocade to another, then to one bamboo slip after the next, reading for a full quarter of an hour before finishing the main list.

The assembled officers who had distinguished themselves alongside Li Guang and been named could not hide their delight, while those who had made little contribution could only stare enviously, already planning how to perform better next time.

Qin Cheng did not know what rank “Minor Superior” represented, but sensing the envious gazes of the other generals, he guessed it must be considerable. However, when Li Guang was first announced as Marquis Within the Pass, he could not help but feel his heart skip a beat. Anyone with a basic knowledge of history knew that Li Guang, though famed as the Flying General, had never been granted a marquisate in his lifetime! During Emperor Wu’s reign, marquises were as numerous as fish crossing a river, but Li Guang was always excluded. The reasons for this omission have puzzled and been debated by later generations, and almost everyone laments Li Guang’s misfortune.

Qin Cheng never imagined that, having just arrived in this era, he would already have shifted the course of history, erasing Li Guang’s lifelong regret of never being named a marquis—thanks to his own intervention! Not only that, but Li Guang was now likely the earliest general in the reign of Emperor Wu to be granted a marquisate. Perhaps, instead of being a figure of regret, Li Guang would now be celebrated in history for this very achievement. At this thought, Qin Cheng’s lips curled in quiet satisfaction.

Having finished with official matters, Wei Qing, whose expression had been solemn throughout, now broke into a smile, striding over to Li Guang to offer his congratulations: “Congratulations, General Li! Since the time of the High Ancestor, you are the first general in the Han to be named a marquis. Your valor is undiminished, and we all deeply admire you!”

“General Wei flatters me,” Li Guang replied modestly. “I owe today’s honor first to the bravery of my soldiers, who fought fiercely and fearlessly, and second to His Majesty’s favor. To be named a marquis—I truly feel unworthy of such reward.”

“There is no need for such humility, General Li,” Wei Qing replied. “This resounding victory over the Xiongnu Zuo Xian King is the greatest in the Han dynasty’s history. His Majesty is overjoyed. Were it not for the many affairs of state, he would have come himself to offer congratulations. Before I left Chang’an, His Majesty repeatedly urged me to learn from you!”

“In that case, I am truly unworthy,” Li Guang sighed. “I set out with five thousand men and returned with only a thousand. Four thousand brave souls gave their lives, and yet I alone receive such great honors. How can my heart be at peace?”

His words were sincere, and the others took them as genuine humility, offering him warm words of comfort.

After some time, Wei Qing asked, “Is Qin Lang, who killed the Xiongnu’s Zuo Guduhou and defended the Yellow Banner, present?”

“Qin Lang, come pay your respects to General Wei,” Li Guang called.

“Private Qin Cheng, at your service, General Wei,” Qin Cheng said, stepping forward and bowing.

“So you are Qin Lang?” Wei Qing regarded him with surprise, clearly not expecting the slayer of the Xiongnu Zuo Guduhou to be so close to his own age, perhaps even younger. “The exploits you have achieved would make any of us envious!”

“General Wei overpraises. I was merely fortunate,” Qin Cheng replied, neither arrogant nor servile.

“Fortunate? There is no need for such modesty!” Wei Qing said seriously. “Your deeds are already spread throughout the northern and southern armies; every soldier looks to you as a model. If General Li has become a legend in the army, you are the goal all young men aspire to surpass. A true man must brandish his sword and win immortal glory; this is precisely the spirit His Majesty wishes to see in his soldiers! Since you possess such talent, you must continue to serve His Majesty and the realm.”

Qin Cheng smiled and bowed. “With such encouragement, General Wei, I would be remiss to belittle myself.”

Qin Cheng knew well what kind of man Wei Qing was—he was the greatest general to campaign against the Xiongnu in Emperor Wu’s time, and the emperor’s most favored military leader. Had any of Liu Che’s four-pronged cavalry offensives failed without Wei Qing’s victories, the emperor’s war policy against the Xiongnu would have been impossible to sustain at court.

Although Dong Zhongshu had already submitted his “Three Strategies on Heaven and Man” and established Confucianism’s dominance, the Huang-Lao philosophy that had been prevalent for seventy years still held great influence. The ministers, accustomed to the policy of peace through marriage, naturally opposed Liu Che’s intent to abandon the old ways and launch a military campaign. Seizing military power after the Siege of Mayi, Liu Che began training cavalry in Chang’an, yet the Xiongnu’s decades-long dominance had left the court deeply pessimistic about any chance of victory; the memory of the disastrous encirclement at Baideng under the High Ancestor still haunted them. They took it for granted that Han forces could not defeat the Xiongnu cavalry.

At this critical juncture, Li Guang, commanding ten thousand border troops, routed fifteen thousand of the Xiongnu Zuo Xian King’s cavalry. Even though Gongsun He’s timely reinforcements were crucial and disaster was narrowly averted, the undeniable fact was that Li Guang had triumphed, taking five thousand heads—a victory that invigorated Liu Che like a tonic. Originally, Liu Che placed his hopes in the central cavalry, expecting to launch another campaign in three to five years, but now, with this victory by the border garrison, his war policy gained new momentum even before his central forces were fully trained. Thus, the emperor’s appreciation for Li Guang’s exploits could hardly be expressed by a single marquisate.

All the while, as Qin Cheng conversed with Wei Qing and Li Guang, he pondered the emperor’s true motives in sending Wei Qing to Shanggu. Considering all this, he could guess the general outline—if he was right, Wei Qing would be staying in Qiansang City for some time.

For Qin Cheng, this was a rare opportunity. If Li Guang was the bulwark of the provinces, Wei Qing was the heart of the central regime. With Li Guang, Qin Cheng could establish himself locally and gain experience; with Wei Qing’s favor, he could pave the way for his own future entry into Chang’an and the imperial core.

PS: Owed two thousand words today—will make up for it tomorrow.