Chapter 1003: The Edict to Pacify the South

Coming back to himself, he looked toward Murong Yanzhao and said in a concerned tone: "The Great Han has reached a critical moment for unification. State affairs have been heavy and complicated of late, and I rely greatly on ministers of both civil and military talent like yourself to share my burdens!"

Having served both as a general and a chancellor, Murong Yanzhao's political acumen had risen to a certain level—he naturally understood that the Emperor was expressing recognition and appreciation for his official work. His heart remained calm, but his mouth still spoke modest words: "Your Majesty overstates it. This is but my duty, my proper share. Moreover, to participate in such a grand undertaking, to assist a sage sovereign, to renew the realm, and to remake heaven and earth—that is our supreme honor!"

"Well said!" Liu Chengyou had always appreciated Murong Yanzhao's awareness. He stood up and said: "It is fitting that sovereign and minister join hands and work together to accomplish this great enterprise of unifying the realm!"

"I will follow wherever Your Majesty leads!" Murong Yanzhao clasped his hands. He looked very calm, his tone especially resolute.

Noticing Murong Yanzhao's somewhat haggard appearance, Liu Chengyou stepped forward, patted his back lightly, and said with feeling: "I hear your health has been declining of late. Amid your diligent service, you must also mind your rest! You are a banner of the Han army—you cannot fall!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, Murong Yanzhao's expression shifted slightly. This praise was too high—even in private, it was too high for him to dare accept.

His tone aged, his expression fully candid, Murong Yanzhao said to Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty's praise, I dare not accept! Thanks to Your Majesty's grace of recognition, I have had the opportunity to display martial merit. The reunification of the realm was originally an aspiration my generation could only look at but never reach. That it can now succeed fills me with excitement. These years of campaigning north and south have also left me weary in body and spirit. Once the achievement is complete, I would rather rest my horse at the southern hills, set aside my armor and return to the fields, and enjoy my remaining years in peace..."

A mere word of concern had drawn such a response from Murong Yanzhao, a pouring out of his heart—Liu Chengyou was genuinely surprised. Sensing the intent to retire in Murong Yanzhao's words, Liu Chengyou thought for a moment and then realized the problem lay in his own words; he had been somewhat carried away.

The generals and marshals of the Great Han now regarded Emperor Liu with both respect and fear. Had any other general heard his words, they would have laughed and let it pass. But this was Murong Yanzhao—he could not help but think more deeply.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou let out a few hearty laughs and said: "You are not yet fifty—why speak so readily of age? Beyond the northern frontier is not yet pacified, Hexi not yet recovered. There is still much need for generals and marshals. It is too early to speak of such things. Enough, let us not wander far afield. For now, we must focus single-mindedly on the pacification of the south!"

"Yes!" Seeing the Emperor speak thus, Murong Yanzhao bowed in response.

"Come, let us go together to the Bureau of Military Affairs and take a look!" Liu Chengyou issued the invitation.

……

Inside the Bureau of Military Affairs, busy as it was, everything from top to bottom was orderly. Whether Li Chuyun or Zhao Kuangyin, both were rare military-political talents of the Great Han court; under their management, how could there be chaos?

Zhao Kuangyin especially—though he always displayed the bearing of a hero, bold and magnanimous in daily life, he was in substance a ruthless man. Faults were always punished, disorder always investigated. His methods were formidable indeed.

In the hall, Liu Chengyou sat in the main seat, looked at Li and Zhao, and asked: "How goes the preparation? How is the progress on troop movements?"

To this, Li Chuyun said: "To answer Your Majesty, among the imperial army, the Xiaodi Army is scheduled to depart from the Eastern Capital in ten days, heading south to Jiangling. The Longjie, Longqi, and Fengguo armies are scheduled to move in early August, heading to Yangzhou.

As for regional troops, the Hunan armies have already concentrated in Gui and Lian prefectures. The Pingqian Army has also received orders to move south. The eastern Sichuan troops have already set out from Sichuan. The other circuits are also moving according to the previous plan. As for civilian laborers, we can only wait until after the autumn harvest before the government conscripts them.

Your ministers believe that the optimal date for dispatching the army is mid-September!"

Originally, there had been plans to move in mid-autumn. That would coincide with the busy farming season, greatly affecting Jiangnan's harvest and diminishing the fighting will of its soldiers and people. However, because of the disasters in the north, the Great Han court also needed to consider popular sentiment. In this year of reduced grain harvest, it was better not to forcibly delay the farming season.

On the other hand, the Jiangnan prefectures had already been regarded by Liu Chengyou and the court as goods in their pocket. Though war was unavoidable, Liu Chengyou still hoped to minimize destruction to that prosperous land of Jiangnan.

Therefore, later was fine—it could also accommodate the campaign in southern Yue. Although this pacification of the south was planned and executed as one integrated operation, in reality Jiangnan and Lingnan would be fought as separate campaigns.

"Is there any new movement from Jiangnan or the Yue state?" Liu Chengyou asked again.

This time it was Zhao Kuangyin who reported: "We have just received Cao Bin's report. The sovereign of Jiangnan has newly replaced the defending general of Ezhou."

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou showed some interest: "That old general Lu Jiang has been removed?"

Previously, after Liu Renshan's death, Ezhou as a key location needed a capable general to guard it. However, for the Jiangnan army, which was in a period of transition with no one to fill the gap, choosing a suitable person was far too difficult. One Lin Renzhao could not possibly cover multiple fronts.

But the danger of Ezhou—anyone even slightly clever could see it. Compared to Jianghuai, that was the place truly facing the imperial army head-on. The danger was unpredictable, and no one was willing to go.

It was only upon the recommendation of the old minister Chen Qiao that Li Yu finally ordered the old general Lu Jiang to serve as Military Governor of Ezhou. This Lu Jiang could be said to have lived through the entire chaos of the late Tang—he had some prestige and ability. However, he was now seventy-two years old, even older than Lian Po...

It was precisely for this reason—considering his excessive age and fearing he could not withstand the military pressure of the Great Han—that Li Yu, heeding Zhong Mo's advice, recalled him and selected instead a man in the prime of life to take charge. The one chosen was named Huangfu Jixun.

"Huangfu Jixun?" Liu Chengyou muttered.

"He is the son of Huangfu Hui!" Zhao Kuangyin explained—the one who had been captured alive on the Huaidong battlefield back then.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou also recalled. Back then, this man had displayed a famous general's bearing before him. The corner of his mouth curled slightly as he said: "That Huangfu Hui, though he lost the battle and was captured, did after all have some talent for commanding troops. How is his son?"

Zhao Kuangyin said simply: "He was promoted on the merit of his father's death in service. No battle achievements—he relies solely on family standing!"

The meaning in these words was already quite clear. Liu Chengyou said: "The Jiangnan army can be said to have no men left!"

"Your Majesty, there is still Lin Renzhao!" Zhao Kuangyin reminded him.

"Can one Lin Renzhao defend the river line alone?" Liu Chengyou said flatly.

"Certainly not!" Zhao Kuangyin affirmed again.

"However!" Liu Chengyou continued: "Since Li Yu can replace the Ezhou defender, if he could also replace Lin Renzhao, reducing trouble for our army—would that not be even better?"

Noticing Liu Chengyou's expression, it was clear he was pondering some scheme or stratagem.

"Has the Jiangnan army made no other moves?"

Li Chuyun answered: "Aside from the Jinling navy strengthening its patrols, there has been no other change. But that too is merely Lin Renzhao's arrangement—that man is indeed deeply wary of the court.

As for southern Yue, as always, even less movement!"

In truth, with the court's war preparations, it would have been unrealistic for the Jiangnan region to show no reaction at all. But whether Jiangnan or southern Yue, both appeared quite passive—the sovereigns of both states seemed not to care much.

Of course, even if they cared, they could produce no concrete effective measures to respond. Most of the "drunkards" cared not at all, simply going about their daily lives.

And among the few sober ones, the vast majority kept silent, merely waiting for the imperial army to march south and unify everything.

An even smaller number still had some feeling for the two states, harbored loyalty, and cried out with all their might—but utterly powerless. The tide was such; what could they do but sigh!

"You must strengthen your attention on the several army routes and adjust in a timely manner!" Liu Chengyou instructed Li and Zhao, ending his visit to the Bureau of Military Affairs with these words.

In the seventh month of the fifteenth year of Qianyou, Emperor Liu of Han, using the pretext of celebrating Empress Dowager Li's birthday, once again issued an invitation for the sovereign of Jiangnan, Li Yu, to come to the capital. The result was another polite refusal, with only a lavish gift sent in return. This time, Emperor Liu appeared exceptionally furious, dressing down the Jinling envoy directly in court.

On the tenth day of the eighth month, rumors spread in the capital that Jiangnan and southern Yue were colluding with each other, intending to rebel against the court. The Emperor was angered again, and repeatedly spoke at length about Jiangnan affairs before his ministers, seething with indignation.

On the twenty-third day of the eighth month, Li Gu, the Jianghuai Inspection Commissioner, submitted a memorial requesting the pacification of Jiangnan. It was kept in the palace without a reply.

In the ninth month, over a hundred Yue commoners traveled a thousand li to the capital and received a personal audience with the Emperor. From their mouths, Liu Chengyou learned of the fatuous cruelty of Liu Chang, sovereign of southern Yue, and of the suffering of the people of Lingnan. Deeply indignant, he furiously denounced the sovereign of southern Yue as unprincipled, declaring outright that he would dispatch troops to punish him and rescue the million people of Lingnan from their dire straits.

On the eleventh day of the ninth month, the Han Emperor formally issued an edict, appointing Li Gu, Commandery Duke of Ruyin, as Grand Marshal for the Pacification of the South and Commander-in-Chief of the Jianghuai Field Headquarters, commanding an army of three hundred thousand on the southern campaign, continuing to take firm steps toward unifying the realm.