Chapter 1099: Making the Decision

"The balance of offense and defense, the path of life and death and survival—how could it be decided by your personal wishes?" Hearing Pule's words, Li Chuyun said bluntly: "As you say, even with the solidity of Gaochang's capital, it was still difficult to withstand the Khitan's military edge—you lost your army and territory, abandoned your state and fled. Now with only a single modest city of Kucha, how can you be so confident of holding out long? In my view, whether Kucha City can even be preserved is still unknown—perhaps you Uyghur rulers and ministers have already become captives of the Khitan!"

Li Chuyun's words were not polite, carrying even a hint of contempt, and his aggressive bearing made Pule somewhat uncomfortable. This was completely different from the feeling Emperor Liu gave him—the Emperor was lofty and exalted, beyond reach, while Li Chuyun's aggressiveness was far more pronounced.

Facing the gaze of the Great Han's ruler and ministers, Pule forcibly steadied his composure, pondered for a moment, and then said: "What this foreign minister says is no personal delusion—the grounds I rely upon number four in total!"

"Oh! Let's hear it!" Emperor Liu was somewhat intrigued.

Cupping his hands and bowing, Pule spoke slowly: "First, the Khitan brazenly marched west and launched a surprise attack on our state. Though they relied on schemes and ambushes to take our cities and slaughter our soldiers and people, from top to bottom our state's rulers and ministers all regard them as mortal enemies, resolved to resist firmly, never compromising, willing to fight to the last soldier and the last horse;

Second, the Khitan came from afar and have been locked in battle within our borders for over a year. Though they have achieved some results, with prolonged campaigning their troops and horses are weary, and they have suffered no small losses in strength before and after—their military momentum will only grow weaker, and fighting on for long, they may not be able to hold out much longer;

Third, though Gaochang City has fallen, the Kucha region still retains considerable strength. Kucha City, though not as vast and solid as Gaochang, can still be defended, and troops, horses, and provisions can still hold out. Moreover, in the Luntai region to the northwest, there remain over a hundred thousand soldiers and civilians—these are all strength for a counteroffensive;

Fourth, since the Khitan invaded, they have slaughtered lives, plundered goods and wealth, and committed heinous crimes. When the soldiers and people of our state hear of this, none are not enraged. Our state has a million tribal subjects, and the Khagan has already sent envoys to rouse the soldiers and people of the various cities, towns, and tribes to resist the Khitan. Though their army's fighting strength is formidable, their forces number only some twenty to thirty thousand—they will only dwindle the more they fight, and one day, we will be able to drive them out!"

Pule spoke endlessly, enumerating one by one the advantages of the Western Prefecture Uyghurs in a war of attrition, growing more confident as he spoke, sketching out a picture of resistance in the Western Regions, and pointing out that the final victors would be the Uyghurs.

However, how could the Great Han's ruler and ministers be easily deceived by such appearances? Li Chuyun calmly posed a question: "As the envoy says, though the situation in the Western Regions is worrying, it has not yet reached the point of peril and ruin. Since you are confident in your strategy to repel the enemy, why seek aid from all directions, and why need the Great Han dispatch troops on a distant rescue?"

One sentence left Pule speechless, and for a moment he did not know how to answer. Rethinking his own words, he felt the urge to slap himself twice—he had clearly been answering the question of confident defense, so how had it somehow turned into driving out the Khitan?

The inflated boast, punctured on the spot, made Pule's face burn somewhat. Seeing him stammering and unable to speak, Emperor Liu smiled slightly, looked at him, and said: "I observe that you are quite knowledgeable and eloquent. Having traveled all this way through hardships without forgetting your mission, you may be considered a capable talent. It would be a pity to remain in the Western Prefecture—would you be willing to serve as an official at court, to work for the Great Han?"

Faced with Emperor Liu's sudden recruitment, Pule did not react for a moment. After a daze, a look of excitement appeared on his rather handsome face, and he bowed: "The Great Han is the Celestial Dynasty of the Central Plains, and Your Majesty is the Heavenly Khagan. That Your Majesty should show me such favor is a blessing I have cultivated over several lifetimes, and I shall naturally serve with loyalty. But my homeland now suffers invasion, and my family and compatriots endure trampling. Whenever I think of this, my heart and liver ache as if torn, and I cannot contain myself. If the Great Han's heavenly troops could march west and save my homeland, I would repay it with death!"

In these words, Pule revealed a measure of genuine feeling. Emperor Liu nodded lightly, then said: "The Western Prefecture lies thousands of li away. Even if I wished to intervene, I would lack the strength—the whip cannot reach so far. Your request concerns matters of military and national strategy, and requires careful consideration. It should be discussed by the court, with everyone's opinions heard—I cannot decide it alone. For now, stay in the Eastern Capital, and once the court has deliberated and reached a conclusion, we shall give you an answer!"

Though Emperor Liu's words were somewhat perfunctory, they still gave the man face. Hearing this, Pule dared not press further and immediately prostrated himself in assent.

After Pule withdrew, only the Liu father and sons and the two men Zhao and Li remained in the hall. Briefly organizing what he had just learned, Liu Chengyou swept his gaze over the three of them, his eyes settling on Crown Prince Liu Yang: "Erlang, you've heard the situation in the Western Prefecture—what are your thoughts on the Liao army's western expedition?"

Though still young in years, after years of training Liu Yang had grown increasingly composed, his bearing proper—all said he had the look of a future sovereign. Summoned to accompany the Emperor, he had sat upright throughout, listening intently with pricked ears. Though he had not spoken a word, there was not a trace of impatience on his face—quietly playing the part of a handsome young man. Of course, ever since he had served as regent during Emperor Liu's northern expedition, such patience had already begun to be tempered.

In quick-wittedness, Liu Yang might not match Liu Fang, Liu Xu, Liu Xi, or even the Fifth Prince Liu Yun—he was even somewhat slow on the uptake—but what satisfied Emperor Liu was the cautious deliberation and resolute action displayed behind this temperament.

This time was no different. Facing Emperor Liu's question, Liu Yang did not answer directly but thought seriously for a moment before cupping his hands and saying: "I have some doubts. The Liao army advanced west with only a modest force of twenty to thirty thousand, crossing the Golden Mountains and traversing the shifting sands—truly a long and arduous expedition. Since the Uyghurs have a million people and cities to rely upon, why have they resisted so painfully, losing most of their territory in less than a year? If one says the Khitan army is strong, I find it hard to believe they are strong to such a degree. Moreover, all the gentlemen say that this Khitan western expedition did not dispatch many elite troops..."

At Liu Yang's question, Emperor Liu showed a satisfied expression. He liked to see his successor engage in such thinking, even if he could not work it all out.

Smiling slightly, Emperor Liu looked at Zhao Kuangyin and said: "Minister Zhao, you were a great general in the northern expedition back then and have fought the Khitan—can you resolve the Crown Prince's doubts?"

Zhao Kuangyin was naturally happy to offer his opinion. Cupping his hands, he said in a relaxed tone: "Your Majesty, Your Highness. I believe the Western Regions war has reached its current state for only two reasons.

First, though the Liao army marched on a distant expedition, their preparations were thorough, and the men dispatched were capable. Observing Yelu Xiezhen's use of troops—combining orthodox and unorthodox tactics, with clear objectives, playing to strengths and avoiding weaknesses;

Second, the Uyghurs reacted sluggishly. When the Liao army advanced west, there had long been warnings, yet they were negligent and careless. When battle came, they made blunder after blunder, binding their own hands and feet, unable to bring their advantages to bear, and were constrained by the Liao army—so that with a million people at their disposal, they could not make good use of them, and have come to this perilous state."

"Do you understand?" Liu Chengyou asked Liu Yang.

Liu Yang frowned slightly, thought again, then relaxed his brow and bowed to Zhao Kuangyin: "Thank you, Duke of Rong, for your instruction!"

Zhao Kuangyin hurriedly replied: "Your Highness is too kind!"

Letting out a light sigh, Emperor Liu asked the three again: "How should we respond to the matter of the Western Regions?"

He still let Liu Yang speak first. Liu Yang thought again, then tentatively expressed his view: "I believe, as Your Majesty said, the Western Regions are too far from the Great Han, with the Hexi Corridor in between. The matter of the Guiyi Army's submission has not yet been resolved, and the Ganzhou Uyghurs block the route—dispatching troops to rescue them is not advisable!"

He then looked at Zhao Kuangyin, who nodded in agreement with Liu Yang's words: "What the Crown Prince says is quite right. The matter of the Western Regions is ultimately not something the Great Han can attend to at present. Whether the Western Prefecture Uyghurs can hold out or not, the Great Han has no need to waste troops, horses, money, and grain on this affair!"

Li Chuyun's attitude was even more explicit. He petitioned Emperor Liu: "Your Majesty, I believe that the Khitan's rampage in the Western Regions has already affected Hexi. We should take this opportunity to resolve the Ganzhou Uyghurs in one stroke. Once the Hexi problem is settled, then in facing northwestern affairs, the Great Han can advance to attack or retreat to defend, seizing the initiative!"

"Do you all think it is time to march west?"

"The situation has reached this point—a decision must be made!" Li Chuyun answered affirmatively.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. Emperor Liu sat up straight and said calmly: "It seems it is time to consider marching west!"

In truth, from the moment he had received Guo Rong's memorial, Emperor Liu had already made up his mind.