Chapter 21: Martial Prowess

Having resolved these most troublesome matters, the rest would be a mere trifle.

Yet today’s events left Gao Yin quite displeased with these clerks.

When the princes of Qi selected assistants for the National Ministers’ Office, they often chose sons or nephews of wealthy merchants or reckless scoundrels. The Grand Governor’s Office was similarly filled with many such individuals.

The previous officeholder focused solely on scholarship and paid little heed to such affairs. But now that Gao Yin wished to accomplish something, these clerks found every excuse to shirk their duties, much to his frustration.

One must understand: serving alongside the Crown Prince in the Grand Governor’s Office was an honor; these officials would one day become senior ministers of the state. Yet now they dared to dodge work with feeble pretexts?

If this continued, what sort of people would fill the halls of the Great Qi court in the future? Would they become the greatest internal threat to the realm?

After the council adjourned and everyone dispersed, Gao Yin privately asked Gao Rui, “Uncle Tang, could you compile a roster of filial and outstanding talents from each province and district?”

Hearing the request and understanding its deeper intent, Gao Rui agreed to undertake a significant endeavor. Indeed, the current personnel were hardly suitable for great tasks: “Please allow a few days; I will respond.”

Gao Yin nodded and ordered his attendants to prepare for departure.

As Crown Prince, no one supervised his work; he could leave whenever he wished. Moreover, he had already set the administrative direction, and his subordinates only needed to follow his instructions. Gao Rui was there as a backup.

His father, Emperor Gao Yang, was destined to perish by next year’s tenth day of the tenth month. There were many tasks Gao Yin needed to complete before then.

With Kang Huer supporting him at his side, Gao Yin swiftly mounted his horse and, with a whistle of triumph to Gao Rui behind him, rode off with his retinue.

Gao Rui clicked his tongue in admiration: “Compared to before, the Crown Prince truly is much more spirited and unrestrained!”

As long as he did not become as tyrannical as his father, following such a young lord would not be so bad.

Gao Yin ordered his troops to advance toward the left sector of the capital city, where the relocated Xianbei warriors of the Six Wards had gathered.

The Six Wards differed from the Six Towns. The Six Towns—Woye, Huaishuo, Wuchuan, Fuming, Rouxuan, and Huaihuang—were six military strongholds established north of the old capital Pingcheng in the early Northern Wei era, tasked with guarding the borders. Initially, the border troops stationed there enjoyed considerable privileges.

However, with the passage of time and the reforms implemented by Emperor Xiaowen, including the policy of sinicization and the capital’s relocation to Luoyang, the status of the Six Towns sharply declined. Their economies withered, and they became relics of a bygone era.

The composition of their personnel also shifted—from noble scions of powerful clans to exiled criminals and convicts—breeding resentment and hatred toward the court, eventually leading to rebellion. They transformed from guardians of the realm into its destroyers.

They endured many trials until, at last, Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai divided the Six Towns, leading their forces respectively from Huaishuo and Wuchuan, re-entering the political arena as formidable players.

Two hundred thousand displaced townsfolk followed Gao Huan; most were Xianbei or sinicized Han people. Gao Huan relied on them to establish the Jinyang Hegemon’s Mansion and enthroned Prince Pingyang Yuan Xiu as emperor, ruling the court as chancellor.

Yet Yuan Xiu’s growing imperial ambitions clashed structurally with Gao Huan’s overwhelming prime ministerial power. Eventually, Yuan Xiu fled west to seek refuge with Yuwen Tai, splitting Northern Wei into Eastern and Western Wei.

Though Yuan Xiu departed, the Luoyang garrison—the central army of Northern Wei’s court—remained nearby, later falling under Gao Huan’s control.

These ward soldiers, non-productive professional soldiers, were Northern Wei’s last elite forces. Their submission to Gao Huan ensured that Eastern Wei, under his control, would face no chance of reversal.

The Six Towns, the Six Wards, and some powerful families from Hebei formed Gao Huan’s military base.

Despite sharing the numeral “six,” the Six Towns and Six Wards were utterly hostile. The Six Towns, exiled border troops, were regarded as barbarians by the sinicized soldiers of the Six Wards, who considered themselves the elite central army—the masters of Luoyang. To the Six Towns, the Six Wards were the capital’s privileged lords who had stolen their prosperous lives.

Thus, the two sides were not merely enemies but irreconcilable foes. Interestingly, many Han people were among the Six Towns, but having been sinicized to Xianbei culture, they identified as Xianbei, Gao Huan being a prime example. The Six Wards, though Xianbei by ethnicity, had deeply embraced Han culture in Luoyang, with many Xianbei soldiers highly appreciating Han cultural values.

After consciously excluding the Hebei aristocracy, military reliance shifted to the Six Wards and Six Towns.

Gao Huan attempted to reorganize them, but personal enmities ran deeper than ethnic or national bonds. Ultimately, these efforts failed. The displaced townsfolk and Xianbei nobles stemming from Gao Huan’s old retainers congregated in Jinyang, while the Six Ward soldiers gathered in the more sinicized city of Ye, forming the dual military-political system of Great Qi.

Because of this, Gao Yang conscripted the strongest from the Six Wards to form the “Hundred Bodyguard Xianbei.” They were formidable fighters, fewer in number than the Six Towns but more elite. Additionally, using Xianbei troops to suppress Xianbei insurgents mitigated ethnic tensions, as employing Han soldiers might provoke ethnic nationalism.

If Gao Yin viewed Qi solely from the crown prince’s perspective, many complexities would vanish—he could simply enjoy good food and rest until the emperor’s passing. His main duty would be to watch over Gao Guiyan, preventing him from defecting and thus barring Gao Yan and Gao Zhan from seizing the palace and staging a coup.

Even if they broke into the palace, Emperor Gao Yang had reserved General E Yongle and two thousand elite guards—the Hundred Bodyguard Xianbei—to shred Gao Yan and Gao Zhan on the spot.

Yet, such an inheritance would be a realm of inherent illegitimacy, plagued by the defects left by Gao Yang’s reckless manipulations, and relations with the Jinyang nobility would remain strained.

The two princes were merely figureheads; behind them, the Jinyang nobility would continue to raise their price, propping up the next claimant to challenge imperial power. Having monopolized military force, they possessed the means to confront the throne.

Therefore, now, while still backed by Emperor Gao Yang, it was imperative to develop a new, reliable military force.

Gao Yang was strict: recruits had to be capable of facing a hundred enemies alone. To date, only three thousand “Hundred Bodyguard Xianbei” had been recruited from the Six Wards, out of a total of one hundred thousand Xianbei soldiers—only a three percent qualification rate.

Gao Yin believed that if a soldier could hold his own against ten foes, five thousand such men would suffice.

Besides these, there remained the overlooked Hebei aristocracy.

Gao Huan’s exclusion of them stemmed from his humble origins.

Because of his low birth, Gao Huan needed support from his wife Lou Zhaojun’s family to rise. The Lou clan wielded considerable influence in his regime; Empress Dowager Lou could even sway imperial succession. The Bohai Gao clan was also recognized by Gao Huan himself, though some privately doubted its authenticity.

Thus, although Gao Huan was the group’s leader, others did not treat him with deference. Despite being ennobled as king, he was still a subject. Only after Gao Yang usurped the Wei throne did the emperor-subject relationship gain formal legitimacy.

The displaced townsfolk held influence, and Gao Huan had to weigh his childhood friends and in-laws carefully. Even the Hebei gentry possessed deep prestige and wealth. Coupled with repeated military failures, Gao Huan’s bargaining chips dwindled, casting doubt on his personal ability and charisma.

To solidify his position, Gao Huan had to act. The first two bases were immovable, so he had to court the Hebei aristocracy, who were Han. This not only gained support from the Xianbei but also removed potential rivals.

Hence, Gao Ang was assassinated, and his assassin Gao Yongle was dismissed, though some time later, Gao Yongle was reinstated as governor.

Since ascending the throne, Gao Yang suppressed the Xianbei nobility and favored Han ministers. Yet no Han general had risen to high rank, as Gao Yang relied on his own clan and Xianbei troops for military power, needing Han officials only for political influence.

Gao Yin found this problematic. His own clan and the Xianbei were now indistinguishable; he must unearth new forces, beginning with the suppressed and forsaken Hebei aristocracy.