Chapter 1219: Full Mobilization

As late autumn approached, being beyond the frontier, the weather was already much colder than in the Central Plains, leaving Emperor Liu, accustomed to the Central Plains climate, quite uncomfortable. During the time spent awaiting Yelu Jing's reply, Emperor Liu had not been idle—he had inspected the frontier defenses north of Datong Prefecture in their entirety, traveling on foot and horseback for several hundred li, until Wang Zhaoyuan returned from his mission.

With the Great Wall at their backs, the field headquarters was established beside water. Inside the spacious imperial tent, two braziers burned, both using fine stone coal produced in Hedong. In recent years, both the Great Han government and its people had developed the use of stone coal on a considerable scale; for heating purposes, stone coal had far more advantages than the charcoal that required kiln-burning. Of course, ordinary commoners still rarely had access to it.

Emperor Liu sat cross-legged on a couch padded with two layers of cotton wadding. His instinctive fear of cold had acted up—even with thorough warmth measures in place, his two cold legs occasionally felt a faint pang of pain.

After hearing Wang Zhaoyuan's report, Emperor Liu said: "From what you say, the Liao sovereign responded quite positively to Our invitation?"

"Your Majesty speaks truly! Indeed so!" Wang Zhaoyuan replied: "Upon hearing Your Majesty's invitation, the Liao sovereign was most interested. He said he had long admired Your Majesty from afar, and without much hesitation or deliberation, he gave his answer! Now, the Khitan's tented court has already set out to keep the appointment, and Your servant hastened back ahead to report!"

"Long admired from afar?" Emperor Liu murmured, a faint inscrutable smile appearing on his face as he said leisurely: "In Our view, 'deeply detested' would be more fitting!"

"So long as he comes to the meeting, that's good enough—it won't have been in vain that We put on this show here!" Emperor Liu said.

Zhao Kuangyin, attending in the tent, could not help asking Wang Zhaoyuan: "How many troops does the Liao sovereign have accompanying him?"

Glancing at Zhao Kuangyin, Wang Zhaoyuan then looked toward Emperor Liu, and after receiving an affirmative response, said: "The exact number is hard to determine, but from Your servant's rough observation, there should be thirty to forty thousand men!"

At these words, the faces of all present immediately darkened somewhat. An army of this size was, for both the Great Han and Liao, a military force of strategic magnitude. For Liao especially, it was only natural—could the sovereign's personal guard be a weak force?

And if Yelu Jing were to come to the meeting leading such a force, then Emperor Liu's side would need to be all the more cautious. Of course, for the Great Han, even a hundred thousand Liao troops would be nothing to fear; the only concern was that the protective force currently around Emperor Liu was insufficient.

The accompanying imperial guards and imperial army, even counting the entire Fengyi Army, amounted to only a little over twenty thousand troops. Under such circumstances, to go to the meeting rashly—how could the Emperor's safety be guaranteed? This was a question that took precedence over all other matters.

Therefore, how could the ministers present not wear grave expressions? Scanning the room once, Emperor Liu could see their concerns, and so he looked toward Wang Zhaoyuan and said: "Minister Wang, you have returned from your mission, having traveled nearly a thousand li back and forth—quite arduous. Withdraw for now and rest a while!"

"Your servant takes his leave!" Wang Zhaoyuan was also a veteran minister, old in arms and legs; after this ordeal, the fatigue on his face was almost impossible to conceal, and so he respectfully bowed and withdrew.

After he had withdrawn, Emperor Liu looked toward Zhao Kuangyin and Li Chuyun and asked: "Minister Zhao still does not approve of going beyond the frontier for the meeting?"

At the question, Zhao Kuangyin made no attempt to hide his view, and answered firmly: "Indeed! Your Majesty's person is of inestimable worth, the very anchor of the state and the altars of the nation. Your servant still believes Your Majesty should not court danger. Should any mishap occur, ten thousand deaths could not atone for our guilt!"

Regarding Emperor Liu's journey beyond the frontier, most of the accompanying dukes and ministers held reservations and did not much approve, for that one reason: the son of a thousand gold does not sit beneath a hanging eave—Emperor Liu's safety was paramount.

"It's not that serious!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu waved his hand: "This matter was initiated by Us, and now the Liao sovereign has agreed. How could We go back on Our word and break the appointment? Would that not make Us a laughingstock before the world? Moreover, We are not venturing deep into the grasslands—you are all overthinking it!"

"Your Majesty, this truly cannot be treated lightly or neglected!" Li Chuyun also spoke up from the side: "The Liao sovereign comes with tens of thousands of troops. Should he harbor evil intentions, and with insufficient guards out beyond the frontier, how could we repel him!"

"We thank you for your loyal concerns. But We have charged through thousands upon thousands of troops and horses—this little display is nothing to fear! Moreover, with you loyal officers and soldiers guarding Us, how could We be cowed by the Khitan, hesitating and looking forward and back? That is not how We conduct Ourselves!" Emperor Liu declared.

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin immediately rose and clasped his hands: "Your servant will guard Your Majesty even at the cost of his life!"

With his declaration, the generals present—Luo Yangui, Liu Tinghan, Yao Jineng, and others—also vied to rise and pledge their loyalty. Though Emperor Liu knew that not a few of these displays were calculated, he was still quite satisfied.

"Whether to keep the appointment or not—there is no need for further debate!" Emperor Liu waved his hand: "Perhaps this time will be the last time We set foot beyond the frontier!"

Seeing Emperor Liu speak thus, Zhao Kuangyin immediately followed up: "If that is so, then Your Majesty's safety must be guaranteed—thorough preparations must be made!"

Li Chuyun also suggested: "At present, the field headquarters lacks sufficient troops; we should draw garrison soldiers from the frontier armies to strengthen the protective force!"

Though his attitude was firm and resolute, Emperor Liu still took his own safety very seriously, and so said: "As you all are concerned, necessary precautions should indeed be taken! Since the Liao sovereign comes with a great army, We naturally must respond in kind—We cannot appear at a disadvantage in show of force either!"

Looking at Liu Tinghan, Emperor Liu asked: "Is there time to muster troops on short notice? Is it convenient? How long will it take?"

To this, Liu Tinghan had in fact already been mulling it over in his heart; hearing the question now, fully prepared, he answered crisply: "The Fengyi Army can be assembled from nearby. To the west, the Baoning and Ningyuan armies; to the south, the Yongning Army; to the east, the Tiancheng Army—they can come with light cavalry. Three days will suffice. Your servant is confident of mustering twenty thousand foot and horse!"

"Adding the accompanying imperial guards, that makes thirty thousand in total—more than enough to guarantee His Majesty's complete safety!" Luo Yangui, who was in charge of field headquarters deployment, spoke up.

"But in that case, the garrisons in various places would be left hollow!" Emperor Liu said with a furrowed brow.

"Therefore, while moving the troops, we should also issue orders for the various armies at Shanyang to stand on alert, heighten vigilance, strengthen combat readiness, and be prepared to fight at any moment to respond to unexpected situations!" Zhao Kuangyin reminded.

Emperor Liu nodded slightly and made the decision decisively: "Then so be it!"

Looking at Liu Tinghan and Luo Yangui, he instructed: "The troop movements and training arrangements are entrusted to you two ministers! On the fifth day of the ninth month, We shall meet the Liao sovereign at Baishui Luo! Furthermore, We must not in any way diminish the martial might of the Great Han!"

Once Emperor Liu's tone turned stern, no one dared to be remiss. The two generals, already grave in demeanor, felt even more caution and urgency added to their hearts.

The others withdrew, but Liu Yang remained. Knowing roughly what he was about to say, Emperor Liu did not wait for him to speak and said directly: "You need not accompany Us. Remain behind to guard Yunzhong!"

"Your son wishes to go along!" Liu Yang said with a solemn expression, clasping his hands.

"What would you go there for!" Emperor Liu glared: "Stay properly in the rear and guard it for Us!"

"But—"

Liu Yang opened his mouth again but was immediately cut off by Emperor Liu: "No buts. Do you wish to defy Our command?"

When Emperor Liu displayed this attitude, Liu Yang truly had no backbone to resist. However, noticing his concerned gaze, Emperor Liu softened his tone and said: "This trip of mine is a whim. Though thorough preparations can be made, who can guarantee complete safety? Should anything unexpected happen, you, the Crown Prince, will be my most solid backing!"

These words were spoken by Emperor Liu with utter sincerity. Seeing this, Liu Yang sighed and had no choice but to bow in obedience. That was just how Emperor Liu was—thinking of the worst in all matters and making the fullest preparations.

Though he did not believe this trip carried very high risk, he still had to consider a path of retreat—this too was taking responsibility for the empire. He did not even plan to bring Liu Yang; among the princes accompanying him, he would only bring Duke of Zhao, Liu Fang. As for the four consorts accompanying the imperial carriage, he would only bring Consort Yelu. Consorts Gao, Zhe, and Guo earnestly begged to follow, but were forcibly left behind in Yunzhong by Emperor Liu.

As military orders flew out by galloping horse one after another, the entire northern frontier army, centered on Shanyang, was mobilized. The cavalry units that received the summons rapidly converged on Jiaoshan Pass, while the remaining garrison soldiers, under the leadership of their respective commanders, stood on alert.

In an instant, the entire Shanyang defense line entered a tense state of combat readiness. Such a great commotion was the first in the past ten years.

Those unaware of the circumstances, seeing such a display, all thought war was about to break out between the Han and Liao again. This grand show of force also carried the intent of intimidating the Liao army—the commotion here obviously could not be hidden from the Khitan. In fact, such an urgent large-scale mobilization was also a comprehensive test of the frontier army's quality; in preparations so close to actual combat, quality was best revealed and problems most easily spotted.

And while Emperor Liu's side was in full swing, within the Liao army's field headquarters coming from the west, there was naturally no shortage of debate...