Chapter 1173: Target: Dali

Outside the hut, sentry posts stood in rows. Inside the hall, the sovereign and his two ministers took their seats. Lady He, Zhao Pu's second wife, personally served tea, and Emperor Liu thanked her with great courtesy—a demeanor that naturally stirred a warmth in Zhao Pu's heart.

Though Zhao Pu was nearing the age of fifty, his ambition for achievement and fame had not yet faded. In fact, he was eagerly pursuing it, wishing to continue accomplishing great deeds. How the Emperor treated him was naturally of utmost importance.

"The place you've chosen is excellent—a verdant hut atop the ridge, surrounded by dense woods and tall bamboo. It's a fine spot for cultivating one's character, quite befitting a reclusive sage!" Emperor Liu said with a smile, spouting nonsense with his eyes wide open.

Beside him, Liu Yang couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth—just moments ago, Emperor Liu had remarked that the place was mediocre. Zhao Pu, unaware of this, responded with humility and deference: "Your Majesty overpraises me; I am unworthy of such honor. I reside here for but three purposes: mourning, reading, and teaching..."

"I've heard of that!" Emperor Liu flashed a grin. "You've done quite well as a teacher, living at ease and leisure!"

After a few idle exchanges, Emperor Liu's expression turned serious, and the topic shifted to matters of state: "You have toured and governed the southwest for many years, traveling across various regions, coordinating military and civil affairs. That Chuanshu has achieved stability is due in no small part to your outstanding contributions!"

"Your Majesty has entrusted me with authority and charged me with heavy responsibilities. I naturally serve with diligence and must not fail Your Majesty's grace!" Zhao Pu said immediately.

Emperor Liu raised a hand to interrupt him: "Between sovereign and minister, there is no need for such modest pleasantries! When the pacification of Chuanshu was first completed, I valued the restoration of peace and order in the three circuits, the rebuilding of governance, and the implementation of institutions. You and the chief officials of the three circuits did well—especially in the rectification of finance and taxation.

In recent years, I have been more concerned with the various barbarian peoples of the southwest. In remote places, barbarians run rampant, their allegiance wavering between submission and rebellion, and public security is often a major problem. The ethnic situation in the southwest, though not as severe and tense as in the northwest, is equally complex.

Opening the trade route to the Tibetans, exchanging tea for horses, infiltrating the various tribes, and expanding territory by several hundred li—these achievements in expanding the realm also rely heavily on your management. As for the implementation of the native chieftain system, I am even more satisfied. Not long ago, I received the two chieftains of Bo and Qian, and the results were excellent..."

"Your hard work and accomplishments in the southwest—I have seen them all and kept them in my heart!" Emperor Liu's tone and demeanor were filled entirely with affirmation.

Hearing Emperor Liu enumerate his achievements one by one, Zhao Pu felt his heart warm and a sense of emotion well up. He cupped his hands and said solemnly: "To receive such trust from Your Majesty, I am deeply moved!"

Seeing him so bound by propriety, Emperor Liu picked up his teacup and raised it to him in a gesture of respect. After drinking, he said: "Regarding the situation in the southwest, over these many years, through local reports and imperial inspections, I believe I have a fair understanding. Even now, there remains one matter on which I must seek your counsel and hear your views!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu immediately cupped his hands and asked tentatively: "Is Your Majesty hesitating over the campaign against Dali?"

"You are indeed perceptive!" Emperor Liu revealed a hint of a smile.

Zhao Pu then said frankly: "Old General Wang has been stationed in the Qianzhong region, sharpening his blades, for nearly ten years now. His determination to campaign southward is resolute—I am well aware of that. Now that the southwest situation is stable, the various barbarians have submitted, and the Tibetans have come to pledge allegiance, the only matter that could give Your Majesty pause is surely this one!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu nodded and said directly: "A few days ago, I received another memorial from Wang Quanbin. He states that the time for the southern campaign has arrived and requests permission to attack Dali, to annihilate the Duan clan in one stroke and recover the old territories of Nanzhao!"

As he spoke, Emperor Liu could not help but sigh with emotion: "Wang Quanbin has garrisoned the southwest for ten years, dwelling long in barbaric wastelands, keeping company with caves, streams, and dense forests, enduring hardship without complaint. When I think of it, I am quite moved. Over these ten years, I have received several dozen memorials from him concerning Dali and the military situation in the southwest, yet I have never given a direct reply.

You have returned from the southwest, have gone deep into Qianzhong, and have had considerable exchanges with the kingdom of Dali. In your view, should we or should we not send troops against Dali?"

Hearing Emperor Liu seek his counsel, Zhao Pu wore a serious expression. After pondering for a moment, he cupped his hands and said: "I will venture to speak on where Your Majesty's doubts lie!"

"Speak freely!" Emperor Liu displayed an open-minded demeanor.

"First, Dali inherits the legacy of Nanzhao. The Duan clan has ruled for thirty years without tyranny or harsh governance—their foundation can be said to be deep and firm, making them difficult to conquer. Moreover, they have long maintained friendly relations with the court, offering humble words and generous gifts to forge ties of state friendship. If we raise an army against them, I fear we would lack just cause!" Zhao Pu said.

"Whether there is just cause or not—I am the one who decides. Why should I care about a few criticisms!" Emperor Liu declared immediately. Though he spoke thus, his expression showed that he acknowledged the validity of Zhao Pu's first point.

Zhao Pu continued: "Second, southern Chuanshu and the Qianzhong region are already remote, and Dali is even more so. With tall mountains and dense forests, difficult roads, and inconvenient transport of provisions and military equipment, rashly dispatching a large army would risk exhausting the troops. Should the campaign go poorly, it would waste the nation's resources. If it drags on, it would repeat the old affair of the Great Tang's campaign against Nanzhao, and the southwest would be hard to pacify thereafter.

If the two states were to war for two years, the current stability of the Qianzhong region would be destroyed, and even the entire southwest could descend into chaos. To seize a profitless Dali while plunging the court into a quagmire of war—such risks must be carefully weighed!"

"The Great Han is not the Great Tang, and I am not Emperor Xuanzong of Tang!" Emperor Liu said thus.

Glancing at Emperor Liu, Zhao Pu maintained his composed demeanor and continued: "Third, since the unification of north and south, though the Great Han has pursued a policy of resting the people, over these five or six years, military campaigns have never truly ceased. Hexi, the Tangut, Annam, Liuqiu—though these were only localized wars, they still consumed a great deal of manpower, wealth, and resources.

Especially since last year, when Annam finally saw an initial result, and less than a year later, we would again raise arms in the southwest—military action has been too frequent. Furthermore, in recent years, because the court has favored the people with reduced taxes, revenue has not grown significantly. Yet the court has undertaken many major projects—the direct roads, river works, the Western Capital, and other affairs—which have also consumed vast amounts of state funds and grain. Therefore, to move troops again would likely place a considerable burden on the state treasury..."

"These three points you raise seem to speak of my concerns, but in truth they are your own views!" After Zhao Pu finished, Emperor Liu pondered for a moment, then said with a slight smile: "By your reasoning, should I then reject Wang Quanbin and abandon the plan to attack Dali?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu shook his head again, but this time with great certainty: "Whenever the court attacks Dali, it will face these difficulties. But these obstacles are not insurmountable—especially with Old General Wang stationed in the southwest for so many years, knowing both the enemy and himself, he will surely overcome them.

Your Majesty and the court have long implemented policies to pacify and govern the southwest, causing the barbarians of southern Chuanshu to submit and achieve stability—this itself has been building a secure rear base for the campaign against Dali.

As for the kingdom of Dali, the Duan clan rose during the fragmentation of Nanzhao and largely inherited its institutions. The kingdom contains many tribes, and the Duan clan, as sovereign, does not exercise strong control over them—it remains a confederation of tribes.

Additionally, the succession system of Dali remains an unavoidable problem. The current king, Duan Sicong, inherited the throne from Duan Siliang, who had originally conspired with powerful ministers to usurp his nephew's position—a stain that cannot be erased. If the court attacks Dali, this matter can be exploited to sow division within the royal house.

Another problem in Dali lies in the rise of the noble clans. Their members pervade the court and the countryside, controlling state affairs and contending with the royal house for power, and Duan Sicong cannot restrain them. From the Dong clan in earlier years to the increasingly swollen Gao and Yang clans of today, this is a serious internal problem.

Finally, the thirty-seven tribes within Dali can hardly be said to be loyal to the Dali royal house. In our years of contact with them, quite a few have expressed willingness to defect to the court. If the Great Han's native chieftain system were implemented in Dali, given the clear disparity in strength, they could all be won over—even recruited as aids in our advance.

Therefore, in attacking Dali, the greatest difficulty lies only in the geographical constraints on military operations. As for the conduct of war itself, I believe Old General Wang will surely not fail Your Majesty's trust..."

After listening to Zhao Pu's lengthy exposition, Emperor Liu savored his words, chuckled, and appeared quite pleased, saying: "I understand your views, Minister Zhao!"

With that, Emperor Liu stood up, and Liu Yang and Zhao Pu hurriedly rose as well. Looking around, Emperor Liu asked: "Is there anything that needs to be packed? If not, Minister Zhao, come with me back to Luoyang!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu stepped back two paces and bowed deeply: "I thank Your Majesty!"