Chapter 1221: More Like War

In late autumn, grass and trees had withered to yellow; here beyond the northern frontier, heaven and earth seemed even more vast and open. A piercing eagle cry tore through the dome of the sky; the grey eagle beat its wings, soaring overhead for a while, its sharp, keen eyes surveying the boundless plains.

Perhaps tired from its flight, or perhaps having spotted its target, it folded its wings and dove down like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, straight toward the mighty army encamped by the shores of White Water Lake. Nearing the army, it suddenly slowed, then landed steadily on the thick, sturdy arm of the eagle keeper, folding away all its fierce edge.

By the shores of White Water Lake, tens of thousands of Liao troops had already deployed in battle formation, poised to meet the enemy. Warhorses stood in ranks, banners fluttered, and all was silent, releasing an awe-inspiring aura that displayed the Liao army's elite bearing to the fullest.

At the center, the Liao sovereign Yelu Jing also wore battle dress, seated astride a tall horse, showing off the best spirits he had displayed in recent years. Gazing into the distance, he raised a hand and ordered: "Send someone over!"

Soon, Xiao Husi, escorted by several riders, galloped toward the opposite side. In this open wilderness, five or six riders seemed utterly insignificant.

Several li away, in response, more than thirty thousand Han troops likewise deployed in formation, spears and blades like a forest, their martial might imposing. Infantry and cavalry were combined, with Han cavalry roaming on both flanks, the thunder of hooves rumbling without cease.

If one spoke of the tightness of the formation, it was in truth far from the Han army's peak—after all, this force had been hastily assembled, without long periods of coordination and drill. But this was precisely the basic quality of the current Han army on display: even a hastily organized force still showed a formidable, unmatched bearing.

From top to bottom, every officer and soldier was fully spirited. Earlier, the two generals Luo Yangui and Liu Tinghan had already passed down strict orders layer by layer: this expedition was both to guard the Son of Heaven and to display the might of the Great Han to the Khitan.

White Water Lake sat in a basin, surrounded by mountains on three sides—east, west, and south—with open sightlines. Choosing such a place was acceptable to both sides. Facing each other across the distance from north to south, the tribes, Han commoners, and traveling merchants living nearby trembled beneath the formations of the two armies. Had it not been for the earlier proclamation, they would surely have fled with their people and livestock long ago.

Emperor Liu still rode in his imperial carriage. Standing atop the vehicle, he likewise adopted a posture of gazing into the distance. Though the distance was great and his view limited, he could still feel the Liao army's imposing aura.

"It seems that in these ten years, Liao's military development has not slackened!" Emperor Liu remarked, his tone somewhat heavy.

"Minister Zhao, in your view, how many troops would be needed to annihilate that Liao army across the way?"

Among the accompanying ministers, Zhao Kuangyin held the highest rank, and so he was permitted to attend at the emperor's side. Upon hearing the question, he considered it seriously, then answered conservatively: "Our army and the Liao army have not fought a major battle in ten years; past precedents can no longer serve as reference. In my humble view, facing them head-on, fifty thousand elite cavalry might break them; if one wishes to annihilate them, double that would be needed!"

"Is what you say not too conservative?" Emperor Liu seemed somewhat dissatisfied upon hearing this, and said: "With the might of the Great Han's iron cavalry, the sturdiness of our armor, the sharpness of our weapons, we must still commit so many men and horses?"

Zhao Kuangyin said calmly: "Although our cavalry has been drilled for many years and its equipment grows ever finer, it has long been untested in battle and lacks experience in cavalry engagements. The Khitan are, after all, a people of the horseback, ranging beyond the frontier with much hunting and warfare—they truly cannot be underestimated!"

If there was anything Emperor Liu was dissatisfied with regarding Zhao Kuangyin, besides the suspicion of "forming cliques," it was this matter of strategic vision—the older he grew, the more conservative he became.

Emperor Liu tried not to show this feeling, but still remarked: "As you say, a hundred thousand iron cavalry—even if I gathered all the cavalry in the entire realm, I fear it would not suffice! If that is truly the case, how can we speak of destroying Liao, how can we speak of driving deep into the great desert?"

Over these ten years, the Great Han army's emphasis on cavalry had been plainly visible, and in fiscal matters, investment in horse administration had been continuous. By now, among officials and commoners alike, the number of horses of all kinds was considerable, and the arming and training of the imperial cavalry and frontier cavalry had never been interrupted.

Even so, totaling all the cavalry of the entire Great Han, army-wide, it fell far short of a hundred thousand. Stripping away the padding, what could truly be mobilized and committed to the northern theater was even less. Previously, when Li Chuyun was in office, he had made a report: if an army composed entirely of cavalry were to be organized for a northern expedition, one could only guarantee sixty thousand men, and even then they would have to be drawn from various places.

The cost of training a single cavalryman was truly exorbitant. It was not simply a matter of pairing one man with one horse; even the selection criteria for rider and warhorse were beyond what ordinary armies could match, not to mention the consumption of equipment, training, and fodder.

Because the expenditure on this item was enormous, it had already placed a heavy burden on the court's finances, and there was no lack of criticism at court. However, no one dared to submit a memorial opposing investment in cavalry development, but the reality of the situation could not be changed.

Therefore, when he heard Zhao Kuangyin's meaning—that a hundred thousand iron cavalry would be needed to annihilate the thirty or forty thousand troops across the way—how could Emperor Liu have no objections? By his expectations, even if one Han could not stand against five Hu, the standard of one against three, or one against two, should at least be met.

Facing Emperor Liu's counter-question, Zhao Kuangyin could not help but fall silent for a moment, then finally said: "The Han army's strengths and advantages over Liao lie in its sharp formations and in the combination of infantry and cavalry!"

"But if we are confined to that approach, can we range beyond the frontier and achieve the goal of destroying Liao?" Emperor Liu said.

Zhao Kuangyin replied: "As discussed previously, to venture beyond the frontier, besides cavalry, all infantry should be equipped with donkeys and horses to make up for the deficiency in mobility!"

"That is the only way!" Emperor Liu finally showed a hint of approval on his face.

In fact, this was also the result of discussions between Emperor Liu and the Bureau of Military Affairs and the generals: training a qualified cavalryman might be difficult, but training an infantryman who could ride a horse was comparatively simple, and the cost was less.

Over all these years, feeling the heavy fiscal pressure, Emperor Liu had long abandoned any notion of training several hundred thousand cavalrymen and then sweeping out beyond the frontier to scour the grasslands. There was no way around it—it cost too much. Given the Great Han's current scale, it was not that it could not bear the burden, but that there was no need to force it. Against the Khitan, combining infantry and cavalry was the way to stand in an undefeated position, and it was also the construction policy of the Great Han army. In these matters, Zhao Kuangyin in fact had deep understanding.

While the sovereign and minister conversed, Duke Zhao, Liu Fang, standing nearby in attendance, astride a fine steed and clad in gleaming armor, stared fixedly in the direction of the Liao army. In his heart there was inevitably a stirring, and at the same time, the image of the falcon soaring freely moments before still floated through his mind. He had taken a notion: he too wanted to keep such a fierce eagle...

"Your Majesty, the Liao army has sent someone!" Yang Yanzhao came forward to report.

He, along with young talents such as Li Jilong and Guo Yi, had also accompanied the imperial carriage. Besides guarding, they also handled sundry matters such as relaying orders and coordination.

Soon, Xiao Husi was brought before the imperial carriage. He performed a restrained bow and said: "The foreign minister Xiao Husi pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Commissioner Xiao! We may be called old friends—no need for such formality!" Emperor Liu said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Husi seemed to have no intention of exchanging pleasantries with Emperor Liu. Pointing solemnly at the Han army standing in readiness, he said: "The emperor of my Great Liao has come at your invitation, arriving for the appointed meeting on schedule—is this Your Majesty's way of treating a guest?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Liu casually sat down on the edge of the carriage shaft and said lightly: "Strong soldiers and fierce generals are merely for protection! But the Liao sovereign comes with such aggressive bearing—when Commissioner Xiao arrived, I thought it was to declare war!"

Emperor Liu spoke lightly, but Xiao Husi's face tightened, and he said sternly: "The Han army has crossbows, the Liao army has strong bows—that is all there is to it!"

Seeing him so unyielding, Emperor Liu could not help but be amused. Still, Xiao Husi had been sent to Han many times, and several peace agreements had been signed under his auspices. Toward this "old friend," Emperor Liu's attitude remained lenient.

His smile faded, and he said seriously: "You may reply to the Liao sovereign: that he could come to the meeting fills me with joy. But such a great display of force on both sides is too grim and murderous—it frightens the tribal folk and common people, startles the birds and beasts, and mars the beauty of the surroundings.

I invited him in all sincerity, with no other intent—merely that, on my northern tour reaching this place, I was moved by the moment. And while here, to consult together, for the friendship of our two nations, for the common people of the world, to seek some peace for tens of millions of subjects.

There is no need for us to be at daggers drawn like this. I have ordered a banquet to be set by the shore of this lake; each side may bring attendants and guards, and we shall drink and make merry, talk of heaven and earth—how does that sound?"

Emperor Liu wore a look of utter sincerity. Xiao Husi silently noted Emperor Liu's meaning, cupped his hands, and said: "What Your Majesty has said, this foreign minister will surely convey faithfully!"

Soon, feedback came from Yelu Jing's side: agreement. Thus, under the efficient work of the field headquarters' craftsmen, between the two armies on the shore of White Water Lake, a venue for the banquet was erected.

Emperor Liu and Yelu Jing each led their people to their seats—of course, under the close watch of both armies' camps. As the two emperors took their seats, the Han and Liao armies to the south and north grew even more taut. Far from relaxing, they were poised to strike, ready to move at any moment...