Chapter 118: Puyin

Qizhou lay northeast of Zhending. In the late Tang it had been carved out of Dingzhou, with its seat at Wuji—a narrow, elongated strip running southwest to northeast, nearly a hundred li long but not large in territory. Situated on the frontier, it had never had many households, and after repeated ravages of war, the three counties under its jurisdiction now counted fewer than three thousand able-bodied men combined—and note, able-bodied men.

Liu Chengyou had appointed Bai Zairong, a former Jin general, as Defense Commissioner of Qizhou, stationed at Wuji with his old troops. When the Khitan raided southward, Bai sallied out to attack, courting battle on his own initiative—and lost. Of more than five hundred soldiers, over half were lost before he returned, and Wuji city was nearly overrun by a band of Bohai cavalry. A complete loss of face.

Still, no one wins every battle. A defeat here and there could even lower the Liao army's vigilance a little, put them at ease. But Bai Zairong—losing a battle was one thing, yet the man was utterly contemptible, insatiably rapacious and cruel. With barely a thousand soldiers and civilians in Wuji, he still managed to squeeze the very skin off the land.

Bullying and extorting until the people could hardly live, resentment boiled over, and the cries of grievance reached Liu Chengyou's ears. At this, Liu Chengyou could barely contain his fury. Since entering Zhending, he had painstakingly tried to build an image of closeness to the people and love for them—and then this tyrant Bai Zairong appeared, appointed by none other than Liu Chengyou himself, tarnishing his reputation to a degree. How could Liu Chengyou not be angry?

He even had some misgivings. He had appointed quite a few generals and officials earlier—if they all turned out to be like Bai Zairong, there was no point talking about winning hearts or pacifying the realm.

In the shabby government office of Wuji, Liu Chengyou directly stripped Bai Zairong of his military post, removed his armor, took his weapons, and sent him back to Zhending. His expression was calm, but Liu Chengyou's heart was filled with disgust. He lightly slapped the table—it did not vent his anger.

"This Bai Mada—how dare he still cry injustice!" he muttered softly.

By Liu Chengyou's original thinking, the man should have been killed, but Wei Renpu had dissuaded him. Thus, for the first time, Liu Chengyou showed displeasure toward Wei Renpu.

"Your Highness, men like Bai Zairong—brutish soldiers—are countless under heaven. Killing him might vent a moment's anger, but in the eyes of other former-dynasty generals, it would easily breed fear and suspicion, which does not bode well for the stability of the state!" Sensing Liu Chengyou's rage, Wei Renpu counseled calmly.

Wei Renpu's argument clearly failed to convince Liu Chengyou. He glared at him: "A vicious thief who cruelly abuses the people like that—would anyone still speak up for him? Kill one villain and win the hearts of Qizhou's people—why not do it?"

Wei Renpu fell silent for a moment, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, then clasped his hands and spoke slowly: "Your Highness, since the late Tang, military men have ruled the state. Men like Bai Zairong under heaven are as countless as the silt of the Yellow River. Yet these men hold troops and govern prefectures and counties—they are the very foundation of the state. What use is killing just one Bai Zairong? Can you kill them all?"

"If you do not kill Bai Zairong, Your Highness need only publicize his misdeeds and proclaim his crimes. If even such a man is allowed to live, how will others see it? They will feel Your Highness's and the court's benevolence and tolerance, and their resistance will dissolve. The state is newly founded, with a hundred things awaiting restoration—everything must prioritize the stability of the state."

Wei Renpu's words sounded very familiar to Liu Chengyou's ears. He remembered—back when he was still in Luzhou, because of that Wang Shou'en, Gao Fang had said something similar to him.

"Exaggeration! One Bai Zairong could throw the whole realm into chaos?" Liu Chengyou showed a trace of irritation and retorted: "Talk of benevolence and tolerance—would that work on these arrogant, violent brutes? I fear it would only make them more brazen and unscrupulous!"

Wei Renpu could sense that Liu Chengyou had seemed a bit impatient these past two days. Looking at that face cold and hard as iron, Wei Renpu spoke in a tone of heartfelt counsel: "I know Your Highness has the heart to sweep away deep-rooted ills and purify the realm, but this matter cannot be rushed, cannot be hurried. You must endure the anger of the moment and not fight over pride!"

Liu Chengyou took several deep breaths, calming the somewhat abnormal emotions within him, then waved his hand: "Enough. He's released already—no point saying more."

He closed his eyes. After a moment, when he opened them again, it was as if he had cast aside all negative emotions. He gave orders: "No need to linger in Wuji. Rest half a shichen, then on to Puyin."

"Who will handle the aftermath here in Wuji?"

"Li Yun, I suppose."

Puyin, at the far northeastern tip of Qizhou, was a small city, over a hundred and forty li from Zhending. This small city was now a salient point in Liu Chengyou's controlled territory—it could have been abandoned outright, but there was a temptation here that was hard to give up.

The city's medicinal herb resources were simply too abundant. Since it had been taken, organizing the villagers to gather herbs had supplied the Longqi Army with large quantities of medicine. However, Liu Chengyou had not come here, personally venturing into danger, just to take a stroll through this medicine city.

More than seven thousand Yan army infantry and cavalry had already been moved here in batches by Liu Chengyou. These men had all been carefully screened—mostly natives of Youyan, longing for their homeland, with no desire to go south, and had been incorporated into the new dynasty's imperial army.

Liu Chengyou had brought Zhao Yanshou along, personally leading him to inspect the troops. Sure enough, the Yan generals still gave him face enough, willingly submitting as his subordinates.

The news of the campaign northward had already spread through this Yan force. To boost morale and reduce their fear, the information that Youzhou was weakly defended was also leaked out. Liu Chengyou gave them a goal and a slogan: Go home!

Not to fight, not to deal with the Khitan—just to go home and reunite with their families. At the same time, Liu Chengyou had people spread word that in Youzhou, to take revenge for the Yan army's betrayal at Luancheng, the Khitan were persecuting their relatives in all manner of ways... In short, whatever would strengthen the Yan troops' resolve, that's what they did.

"Prince of Yan, what do you think?" On the watchtower, leaning on the railing and surveying the camp, Liu Chengyou asked Zhao Yanshou.

Reclad in armor, with a changed appearance, Zhao Yanshou was radiant with vigor, as if he had regained the old boldness of "looking down on the world."

Glancing at Liu Chengyou, gazing at that calm profile, Zhao Yanshou's feelings toward this youth were complicated—a measure of admiration, a measure of displeasure, and a measure of puzzlement.

His eyes rolled slowly twice, concealing a hint of cunning, and he asked: "Your Highness entrusts this army to me—do you truly trust me?"

Zhao Yanshou was deliberately using the royal "I" before Liu Chengyou, still proudly making one last probe.

Liu Chengyou turned his head to meet his gaze, his eyes as placid as still water, which rather embarrassed Zhao Yanshou.

"I entrust my very heart to the Prince of Yan—would the Prince betray me?" Liu Chengyou's tone was full of "emotion": "Things have come to this; I treat you with all sincerity, with no regret!"

Speaking barefaced lies had become quite smooth for Liu Chengyou, save for a slightly stiff expression. Of course, Zhao Yanshou wouldn't take it too seriously either.

"Your Highness's breadth of mind—I admire it." Zhao Yanshou replied.

"Prince of Yan, now we should think about how to take Youzhou!" Liu Chengyou's ears simply ignored these useless words as he spoke.

At this mention, Zhao Yanshou's expression also turned serious. Gazing northward, eyes narrowing, he said with some confidence: "So long as our army can reach the walls of Youzhou, Youyan can be taken!"