Chapter Thirteen: Meng Tian, Aguda

Yanmen Commandery was a territorial division established during the Warring States period, instituted by King Wuling of Zhao. Under the Qin dynasty, its administrative center was located in Shanwu, covering areas that correspond to the northern part of present-day Ningwu in Shanxi’s former Daizhou, as well as the southern part of Shuoping and the eastern and northern parts of Datong. During the Han dynasty, Yanmen Commandery remained centered in Shanwu, situated south of modern Youyu County in Shanxi. The commandery then governed the counties of Shanwu, Woyang, Zhongling, Yinguang, Loufan, Wuzhou, Juyang, Guo, Pingcheng, Lie, Mayi, and Jiangyin.

Later, during the Eastern Han period, the commandery’s seat was moved to Yinguang, northwest of today’s Dai County in Shanxi. In the Three Kingdoms era, the Wei state relocated the administrative center to Guangwu, about fifteen li west of Dai County. Subsequently, the Northern Wei shifted it again to the ancient city of Shangguan, which corresponds to modern Dai County. In the early Sui dynasty, the commandery was abolished and replaced by Daizhou, but it was reinstated at the beginning of the Daye era. Throughout the Tang dynasty, it was abolished and restored multiple times. During the Song dynasty, it was known as Daizhou Yanmen Commandery, but the Jin dynasty eventually abolished the commandery altogether.

At this moment, amid Yanmen, thick smoke and raging flames from the fierce battles engulfed the entire city. The grand banner bearing the character "Li" flapped wildly in the wind, tattered and worn, seeming as though it might collapse at any instant. On the city walls, corpses lay sprawled, blood flowing endlessly, yet no one dared to clear them away. The heavy stench of blood mixed with sweat permeated the air, sharp and suffocating.

Atop the city tower, Li Ming and Meng Wu fixed their gaze unwaveringly upon the Xiongnu army beyond the walls. After leaving thousands of corpses on the battlefield, the Xiongnu finally retreated. Once again, they had successfully defended Yanmen Pass that day.

Eighteen days had passed—eighteen grueling days. Over this period, the Xiongnu forces had steadily increased, from ten thousand on the first day to a staggering eighty thousand by the fifth. By the eighth day, the enemy army had swelled to a formidable one hundred and fifty thousand. From the fifth day onward, fierce battles raged nearly every day, pushing both sides beyond their limits.

Of course, the Xiongnu no longer had a full one hundred and fifty thousand troops; their numbers had dwindled to less than one hundred and twenty thousand. The thirty thousand lost were left to rest beneath Yanmen Pass, as were the thirty thousand enemies felled by the defenders. The Yanmen forces themselves, initially fewer than twenty thousand, had been reduced to just eight thousand, nearly all wounded. To minimize casualties and better defend the city, Meng Tian had called upon the townsfolk days ago to assist in the defense: women helped transport supplies, while the able-bodied hurled burning logs and stones at the Xiongnu whenever they reached the walls. Meng Tian had squeezed every ounce of labor from within the pass, yet even so, Yanmen was nearing the end of its strength.

The city’s stockpile of arrows had long since been depleted; the daily production of new arrows was insufficient even for a few volleys. Nearly all the houses within the city had been dismantled, leaving only children sheltered in the few remaining structures. The rest rested near the walls, ready at any moment to repel the next assault.

Meng Tian was in command because Li Ming had demonstrated inadequate leadership early in the conflict. Had Meng Tian not promptly responded to seal a breach, Yanmen Pass might have fallen then. Though lacking in capability, Li Ming’s decisive actions brought a turning point: he had swiftly requested reinforcements when the enemy was still small and later handed full authority over Yanmen to Meng Tian, willingly subordinating himself. Thanks to his full support, Meng Tian’s orders were executed without fail, and Yanmen had held fast to this day.

Meng Tian did not disappoint. His commanding talents shone brilliantly despite the odds, skillfully deploying every soldier to maximize defensive strength while inflicting heavy casualties upon the Xiongnu.

Within the Xiongnu’s grand tent, the arrogant Khan Yufuluo sat on his throne, holding a large cup of sheep’s milk wine in one hand and embracing a young woman abducted from a nearby village in the other. Around him were the subordinate tribal chiefs who owed allegiance to him. Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the tent. Before Yufuluo could order someone to investigate, the tent flaps were thrown open, and a rebellious yet resolute middle-aged man strode in.

“Khan, our mighty Xiongnu warriors were on the verge of storming the city walls today. Why then did you order a retreat?” the man demanded.

“Enough, Aguda. Our losses today have been heavy. The warriors need rest,” Yufuluo replied dismissively.

This man was none other than Wanyan Aguda, a warrior balanced by fate and participant in the ongoing battle. Watching the Xiongnu warriors fall one by one before Yanmen Pass, even those not of his own Wanyan tribe, had pierced his heart with sorrow. The Xiongnu had been declining in recent years, suffering devastating losses during a harsh winter famine. Each able-bodied man was precious, yet they were all falling at the front lines. The blame lay with the drunken fools in the grand tent. Had his siege tactics been employed, not only could numerous unnecessary casualties have been avoided, but the cursed fortress might have fallen swiftly. Yet Yufuluo repeatedly rejected his counsel to prevent Aguda’s influence from growing.

Witnessing this decadence, Aguda felt a fierce impulse to tear Yufuluo apart. “Patience, I must endure. The Xiongnu cannot afford internal strife now. Once we survive this, I will eliminate these incompetents and lead the wolf god’s children to rise again under my way,” he vowed silently.

...

“Wolinu, Wushu, you two shall lead the next assault. Yanmen is on its last legs. A little more pressure will break the camel’s back,” Aguda spoke gravely as he surveyed the fortress.

“Father, fear not. The starving wolves of the steppe will tear every enemy to shreds,” came the resolute reply.

Wolinu and Wushu—known in history as Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zongbi—were among Aguda’s most talented sons. Another son, Wanyan Zonggan, was not present, instead remaining to guard the tribe. All three bore the identity of Aguda’s sons. It must be said that each of Aguda’s sons was a prodigious figure of their age, each playing a crucial role in the establishment and expansion of the Jin dynasty.

Among them, Wanyan Zongbi, better known to posterity as Jin Wushu, was the most famous, a lifelong rival to Yue Fei. Though repeatedly defeated by Yue Fei, the Jin still relied heavily on him, a testament to his formidable abilities. His losses to Yue Fei did not indicate weakness but rather the overwhelming strength of his adversary.

With a command given, the Xiongnu launched their assault anew.

Wanyan Zongwang led a cavalry unit encircling the city, firing arrows to suppress the Han defenders on the walls. Wanyan Zongbi wielded a massive axe, personally leading charges. Groups of Xiongnu warriors carried makeshift ladders, storming the walls with desperate valor.

Fortunately, the Xiongnu lacked the skill to manufacture proper siege engines, allowing Meng Tian to hold out this long. Otherwise, no matter how strong Meng Tian was, such overwhelming numbers would have crushed him.