Chapter 1183: The Imperial Army Has Already Taken the Enemy Capital

"Your Highness, the carriage of the Duke of Qin has arrived!" A military aide in plain clothes walked in, cupped his hands, and reported.

Hearing this, Liu Yang, who had been chatting idly with Murong Defeng, immediately rose and waved his hand: "Come, accompany me to greet them!"

As they stepped out, the post station master was holding a ledger, hesitating as he prepared to present it. Seeing this, Liu Yang shot Murong Defeng a look, signaling him to take it, and instructed: "Go through it!"

"Yes!" Murong Defeng accepted the order.

"Station master!" Liu Yang then looked at the station master.

"This humble one is here! Please give your orders, Your Highness." The station master bowed deeply.

"Prepare a banquet!" Liu Yang ordered calmly.

"Yes!" Hearing this, the station master could not help but sigh in relief, and took the initiative to ask: "May I ask what requirements Your Highness has for the banquet?"

"Requirements?" Liu Yang sniffed the aroma of roasted mutton in the air and chuckled: "Just prepare a full mutton feast!"

Liu Yang, the Crown Prince, had not left the palace this time simply for an outing; rather, he had learned that Liu Xu and Liu Fang, the brothers on imperial inspection, along with Zhao Kuangzan, were about to return to court, and he had come specially to welcome them.

This was not an arrangement by Emperor Liu either; it was Liu Yang's own initiative. After all, they were brothers and had gotten along well since childhood.

By the post road, Liu Yang, guarded by some plain-clothed attendants, took his position early and stood in the cold wind, simply dressed, with only a cotton outer robe added.

The carriage approached slowly, dragon banners fluttering in the autumn wind, with riders guarding front and back. Noticing Liu Yang's party, three riders immediately galloped over to check the situation.

It was hard not to notice, after all, the men around Liu Yang were all stalwart and fierce, bearing swords and carrying blades. However, when the accompanying military officer stepped forward to announce their identity, one of the three riders turned back to report, while the remaining two respectfully dismounted and paid their respects, begging forgiveness for any offense of intrusion.

Liu Yang's heart was not so small; those who did not know were not at fault, and besides, they were only doing their duty. Before long, Liu Xu and Liu Fang, the brothers, along with the Prince of Dongping, Zhao Kuangzan, came forward together and saluted Liu Yang.

"Your servant pays respects to the Crown Prince! With such cold wind, how could we trouble the Crown Prince to greet us in person?" Liu Xu, standing in the center, bowed deeply.

Seeing this, Liu Yang also revealed a gentle smile and said: "Elder Brother, you and I are brothers, no need to stand on ceremony. I was also free and taking a spring outing, and when I heard you were returning from your northern inspection, it was only natural that I should come to welcome you!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Liu Xu still maintained an appearance of strictly observing his duties as a subject.

Looking at Liu Xu, Liu Yang sighed inwardly. The elder brothers among them had always had good relations since childhood, but as they grew older, as each established their own household, as they married, the relationships inevitably underwent some changes.

And the greatest change was the distinction between ruler and subject, and this chasm in their relationships only grew wider. Liu Xu was probably the most obvious among all the brothers in this regard, always adhering to ritual propriety, following the statutes, and viewing the relationship between ruler and subject and between brothers very clearly.

As for this change, Liu Yang personally did not know whether to be pleased or worried.

"Prince of Dongping, you have worked hard on the journey!" Liu Yang then turned to Zhao Kuangzan and bowed.

Seeing this, Zhao Kuangzan naturally dared not accept it and hurriedly said: "Your Highness's courtesy is too great; your servant does not deserve it!"

Compared to Liu Xu, Liu Fang was clearly much more at ease. He clasped his fists at Liu Yang: "Second Brother, let's catch up somewhere else. My stomach is completely empty—I wonder if there's a banquet prepared..."

Hearing this, Liu Yang could not help but laugh heartily: "I've already ordered it prepared. Come, follow me to Yanxi Post Station, to wash the dust from your journey! Please!"

"After you, Crown Prince!"

At Yanxi Post Station, in the old room, a sumptuous feast was being enjoyed by the four of them. The station was no longer as bustling as before; after their identities were revealed, the people outside consciously controlled themselves whether eating or moving about, reducing their noise so as not to disturb the honored guests.

The several of them drank and chatted, and the atmosphere finally became livelier. The most unrestrained was Liu Fang, who held a roasted golden-brown lamb spine in both hands, gnawing at it with his mouth covered in grease.

Noticing the others looking at him, Liu Fang took a silk handkerchief, wiped his mouth, and laughed: "It's still the mutton cooked in the Central Plains that's more delicious!"

With that, Liu Fang asked Liu Yang: "Second Brother, how goes the war in Dali? I heard the army has run into some trouble!"

Before Liu Yang could answer, Liu Fang continued: "But then again, you're busy with military and political affairs, handling a myriad of matters daily, yet you still found leisure to leave the palace—so it seems the war in the southwest must have made some progress!"

Liu Yang glanced at his fourth brother with slight surprise, seeing him look both confident and curious. Beside him, Liu Xu saw this and immediately said: "Fourth Brother is fond of military matters, but if it concerns military secrets, it may not be convenient to discuss..."

Liu Yang raised his hand to stop Liu Xu and chuckled: "It's not much of a secret! As Fourth Brother said, the Dali campaign has already achieved a major breakthrough. Ten days ago, the Bureau of Military Affairs received a report of victory from General Wang Renshan. Nongdong Prefecture, which had caused our army great trouble, has been taken—seven thousand enemies killed, and over ten thousand captured."

Scanning the three of them, Liu Yang continued with a slight smile on his lips: "Three days ago, the Bureau of Military Affairs received another memorial, this time from Wang Quanbin, the Pacification Commissioner of the Southwest. Before the breakthrough at Nongdong, Old General Wang led the western route army, spending a month and a half crossing the high mountains and deep valleys of north-central Dali, advancing over two thousand li, and striking directly at the walls of Yangxiemie, the capital of Dali.

The main military forces of Dali were deployed at Nongdong, leaving the capital empty. Faced with Old General Wang's divine troops descending from heaven, the ruler and ministers of Dali were caught completely off guard. Though they relied on the natural danger of Cangshan Mountain and organized stubborn resistance, in the end they were caught unprepared. Old General Wang personally took to the field, giving them no chance to catch their breath, holding nothing back, attacking fiercely day and night. After three days of resistance, Yangxiemie fell!"

"Old General Wang is old but vigorous—a true hero!" Hearing this, Liu Fang could hardly sit still and clapped his hands in high praise: "To undertake such a bold venture at such an advanced age and achieve such a remarkable feat—it makes one yearn to follow him, to trample the enemy capital flat and capture their ruler and ministers!"

Liu Fang's eyes sparkled with excitement. Once the thrill passed, he could not help but say: "If I had known the court was going to send troops south, I would never have gone on that tour of the northwest! Tell me, do you think Father deliberately sent me to the northwest because he was worried I would volunteer for the campaign..."

As soon as he said this, Liu Xu frowned and immediately rebuked him lightly: "Fourth Brother, do not be disrespectful!"

Liu Fang was not someone ignorant of propriety; he knew he had misspoken and gave an awkward smile, not talking back to his elder brother's admonishment.

Looking at Liu Fang, Liu Yang sighed softly: "The hardship of the southern campaign far exceeds your imagination. Even I would not easily agree to let you risk yourself in the mountains of the southwest!"

Hearing this, Liu Fang expressed his disagreement: "I know your concerns—tall mountains, dense forests, wild barbarian lands, poisonous insects and miasma... But back then, I also went to Lingnan and participated in the southern campaign. It wasn't that terrifying!"

Hearing his words, Liu Yang said with some seriousness: "Do you know how many soldiers of the southern campaign were lost by the time Yangxiemie fell?"

Noticing Liu Yang's serious expression, Liu Fang became more earnest and asked: "Were the casualties heavy?"

Liu Yang answered in a low voice: "According to the reports of the two princes, the soldiers killed, wounded, and missing number twenty thousand. Of these, half were lost without even engaging in battle. The western route army personally led by Old General Wang, marching day after day and then launching desperate assaults, set out with over twenty-five thousand men. By the time Yangxiemie was taken, only half remained..."

Liu Fang finally fell silent. The numbers seemed light and casual, yet his heart could not help but grow heavy—after all, they represented the blood and sacrifice of countless soldiers of the Great Han.

Liu Xu sighed softly: "One general's success costs ten thousand bones! The soldiers of the southern campaign have worked hard. They are all meritorious subjects, and those who sacrificed should all be enshrined in the Zhaolie Temple!"

Suddenly feeling that the meal had lost its flavor, Zhao Kuangzan, seeing the reactions of the brothers, took the initiative to speak: "Since Yangxiemie has fallen, Dali should be basically pacified, right?"

Liu Yang nodded, then shook his head: "A centipede dies but never stiffens. After the city fell, the ruler and ministers of Dali led their remaining troops and fled toward Shanzhan Prefecture in the southeast. The western route army broke the city, but their casualties were enormous and they were utterly exhausted, unable to give chase.

What the Great Han now controls is only a few prefectures and tribes in the central, eastern, and northern parts of Dali—still far from controlling the entire territory. Shanzhan Prefecture is also an important place in Dali; their ruler and ministers have fled there and are putting up stubborn resistance. The war will likely not end anytime soon.

However, now that the capital has fallen and the ruler and ministers have fled, the whole country is shaken, and the local powers of Dali will be even more afraid to oppose the Great Han. In the southeast, Lu Huaizhong has dispatched Pan Chongche to threaten them with troops.

It can be said that the situation in Dali is basically stabilized, awaiting only the subsequent mopping-up operations. The Hall of State Affairs has already received the imperial edict and begun making arrangements for the post-war governance of Dali..."

After Liu Yang finished speaking, Liu Fang rose and raised his cup: "I dedicate this cup to the soldiers of the southern campaign, and to honor the heroic spirits of those who died!"

Seeing this, Liu Yang, Liu Xu, and Zhao Kuangzan also rose in turn.

The Duke of Zhao, Liu Fang, was indeed a man of deep feeling.