Chapter 105: The Situation in Hebei

"Any new developments in the two capitals of the Central Plains?" After chatting for a while about the departed, Liu Chengyou snapped back to focus and asked.

"According to the latest reports, His Majesty has already sent troops east from Luoyang. The Eastern Capital is within easy reach, and the military governors, officials, and clerks of Henan are vying to submit. Once the imperial carriage enters the Eastern Capital, the Central Plains will be settled." Wei Renpu reported.

Liu Chengyou was not at all surprised by Liu Zhiyuan's progress in the south. If, under such circumstances, Liu Zhiyuan were still as slow and unhurried as before, then the spotlight would truly be focused entirely on Liu Chengyou. And that would not be a good thing.

What interested Liu Chengyou instead was that Xiao Han. He rubbed his chin with his fingers: "That Xiao Han—where has he gotten to?"

Wei Renpu answered crisply: "That Khitan imperial brother-in-law Xiao Han is leading the Hu troops of the Central Plains north in retreat. Calculating the time and estimating their pace, they should have already crossed the great river to the north. Your Highness, over this period, most of the Hu in the various prefectures of Hebei have withdrawn. Xiao Han's force should be the largest remnant of Hu troops remaining in the realm!"

"Then we can't let them withdraw so easily. He's the Khitan imperial brother-in-law, after all—we ought to see him off!" Liu Chengyou said calmly.

Ever since Yelu Deguang's sudden death and the news of the Battle of Luancheng spread, even though Hu remained in various places, their already-shaky rule over Hebei rapidly collapsed.

Military officers of the various prefectures successively killed Khitan generals and officials and surrendered their cities. On Liu Chengyou's desk, many memorials of submission had arrived. Liu Chengyou had already raised the banner of "Military Commissioner of Hebei." Relying on the prestige of the Battle of Luancheng alone was enough to overawe everything—at least for a short time, no one dared to test his edge.

As for those Hu, they either died or fled. Liu Chengyou did have the intention of keeping them all, but he was beset with affairs, lacked the strength, and had to keep an eye on Yelu Ruan to the north and pacify the various prefectures within the realm—his heart was willing but his strength was insufficient. Moreover, the Jin officers and officials of the various prefectures, having driven off the Hu, simply defended their cities behind closed gates. Those who truly fought the Hu to the death were ultimately few. If they used up all their troops, what would they use to beg for office from the new dynasty and seek glory and wealth?

"Your Highness, Xue Huairang, Prefect of Mingzhou, has led troops north, captured Xingzhou, and sent a dispatch reporting that he drove out and killed the Hu, requesting merit!" A civil clerk entered and reported to Liu Chengyou.

Liu Chengyou was momentarily taken aback. He took the official document and skimmed through it quickly. Though his mood darkened, there was no visible change on his face. He handed the document to Wei Renpu: "This Governor Xue is indeed a meritorious official in resisting the Liao. He's taken the initiative to march north and aid the army and people of Xingzhou!"

Xue Huairang had originally been Militia Commissioner of Mingzhou. After Yelu Deguang destroyed the Jin, following the Battle of Hutuo River, he surrendered. When Liu Zhiyuan proclaimed himself emperor and raised troops, calling on all Jin subjects to resist the Liao, he sat still. Only after news arrived one after another that Yelu Deguang had died, the Liao army had suffered a great defeat, and Liu Zhiyuan's troops had entered Heluo, could he no longer bear it. He decisively raised troops in Mingzhou, killed the Khitan generals and officials, and sent men to pledge his loyalty to Liu Chengyou.

As for the man Xue Huairang, through the descriptions of those two "know-it-alls," Feng Dao and Wei Renpu, Liu Chengyou had gained some understanding of him. His impression was not good. He was a thoroughgoing martial brute—and a martial brute who delighted in exorbitant levies and preying upon the common people.

But even though he was displeased at heart, Liu Chengyou had still gladly accepted him at the time, sending envoys to appoint him Prefect of Mingzhou and Commander of Infantry.

Xingzhou was very close to Mingzhou. It had originally been held by a Yan general named Liu Duo, who commanded a small force and was responsible for supervising grain transport for the Liao army. The Khitan's cause in China was already lost, and they had already expressed submission to Liu Chengyou. Yet Xue Huairang suddenly sent out troops, took the city, and killed people.

Noticing the faint anger in Liu Chengyou's tone, Wei Renpu showed nothing unusual—he had seen such matters too many times. He gently set down the document and said calmly: "Your Highness, since Xingzhou has already fallen into his hands, for now we may go along with the current. At present, stability is what matters most."

Stability overrides everything—Liu Chengyou naturally understood this principle. It was just that he felt a faint displeasure in his heart.

However, he quickly adjusted his mindset. This was merely a minor warlord, not even worthy of being called a separatist force. It was not worth mobilizing a great campaign over.

"Then let him be Surveillance Commissioner of Xing and Ming!" Liu Chengyou said, then added flatly: "I will remember this man."

"What's the situation at Yedu?" Setting aside the matter of Xing and Ming, Liu Chengyou's expression turned more serious as he asked.

Though Hebei was vast, with broad territory and numerous prefectures and counties, there were only three key strongholds. Youzhou's Lulong was still lost in Khitan hands; Chengde Command had successively submitted after Liu Chengyou entered Zhending; the only one remaining was Weibo. What was certain was that once Weibo submitted, Hebei would be settled.

Earlier, with righteous armies springing up across the Central Plains to attack Khitan troops and instability on all borders, Yelu Deguang had belatedly sent the various military governors back to their posts. The original surrender duo, Du Chongwei and Li Shouzhen, were respectively Military Governor of Tianxiong Army and Military Governor of Tianping Army.

Returning to garrison Yedu, Du Chongwei commanded over twenty thousand troops, cooperating with Yelu Bolide in defending the region and quickly suppressing what were then still minor disturbances. After the Khitan withdrew north, he gained complete control, commanding nearly thirty thousand troops, plus over two thousand Yan troops led by the Yan general Zhang Lian, all stationed together at Yedu.

The Yan troops truly were used as tools by the Liao sovereign—their figures could be seen everywhere.

At present, aside from the scattered Hu, only Du Chongwei's force was the most powerful and most worthy of attention—the obstacle to the new dynasty's Hebei strategy. While the various prefectures had submitted one after another with memorials of surrender, only Yedu remained silent. And Liu Chengyou was watching it closely as well.

Without hesitation, Wei Renpu answered: "It is said that Du Chongwei has already gathered troops at Yedu, amassed grain and fodder, and conscripted able-bodied men to repair the city walls. All such actions suggest he may be planning something!"

"Does Du Chongwei still hold the loyalty of the Jin army?" Liu Chengyou asked doubtfully, with some disdain.

Wei Renpu said: "The officers and men may despise him, but he has grain in hand and years of accumulated authority. With no external pressure for now, he can still hold on!"

"Looking at his actions—gathering troops, repairing city walls—is Du Chongwei trying to defy heaven?" Liu Chengyou said.

"Not necessarily." Wei Renpu shook his head slightly: "He may have some heart for stubborn resistance, but more likely, it is an act of self-preservation."

"Weibo is a key stronghold, cutting off north from south, and too close to the Eastern Capital. It must be held in our hands! The Son of Heaven will never tolerate Yedu remaining in Du Chongwei's hands for long!" Liu Chengyou said sternly, his tone resolute.

Wei Renpu also nodded in agreement.

"Does Master Wei have a plan to settle Weibo?"

"If we can persuade him to surrender without shedding blood, then find an opportunity to transfer him and appoint a trusted general in his place, that would be best." After thinking for a moment, Wei Renpu answered.

"Would Du Chongwei surrender?" Liu Chengyou asked doubtfully.

After some deliberation, Wei Renpu said: "He led his troops to surrender to the Khitan, failing his country. He likely harbors suspicion and fear, and will not easily offer surrender."

"It seems we'll still have to fight a battle!"

"Hebei is not yet pacified. With only the strength Your Highness currently holds, it would be difficult to accomplish. Moreover, this is not the time to launch an offensive—the Khitan to the north must still be guarded against!" Wei Renpu answered still calmly.

Liu Chengyou thought it over—he truly could not move easily. It came back to the same phrase: stability overrides everything.

In any case, the great momentum of the Liu family was already irreversible. Once the Central Plains was pacified, he could slowly deal with them.