Chapter 1224: The Liao Emperor, Provoked

Taking leave of the feast, each returned to their own camp. The drunken Yelu Jing actually chose to "drink and ride," and under the tight escort of his attendants and guards, headed back toward the Liao army.

"The Southern Court's designs on us are plain for all to see. A great war between Liao and Han is inevitable—there's no avoiding it. From this day forward, the Great Liao must prepare for battle!" Yelu Jing's eyes were somewhat reddened, but his gaze remained clear, and his tone was heavy.

Yelu Xian rode alongside him. Hearing this, his expression also turned especially grave as he replied: "The Han Emperor has already taken our Great Liao to be his final enemy!"

"If the two nations go to war, who wins and who loses?" After a moment of silence, Yelu Jing asked.

Yelu Xian thought for a while, then said: "Hard to say!"

"Hard to say?" Yelu Jing couldn't help but shoot him a glance and said: "Just now, before the Han Emperor, you spoke with firmness and candor, responding with composure, not diminishing our nation's prestige!"

Hearing Yelu Jing say this, Yelu Xian no longer concealed anything and spoke plainly: "To be frank with Your Majesty, as of today, the balance of strength between Liao and Han is already clear—the Southern Court's national power and military might have already far surpassed ours!"

How could Yelu Jing not be clear on this point himself? Thus, in his indignant tone carried a hint of severity: "I did not ask you about the relative strength of Liao and Han. Tell me—if the Han army marches north, can the Great Liao cope?"

Drawing a deep breath of the cool autumn air, Yelu Xian replied: "Your Majesty, in terms of national prosperity, military numbers, and wealth of resources, the Great Liao can never match the Southern Court!

However, the Great Liao's own advantages cannot be ignored either. If the Han army marches north, they will face our ten-thousand-li territory. Fighting on the desert and grassland, our Liao soldiers can command every advantage of timing, terrain, and unity—no matter how strong their troops or sharp their weapons, we need not fall behind.

The only cause for concern lies in western and eastern Liaoning—these are where the Great Liao's wealth and taxes come from, holding half our population; they are lands that cannot be abandoned. City warfare has always been our army's weakness, and the Han army also has the advantage of a navy, able to strike across the sea at any time, which greatly increases the difficulty of defending eastern Liaoning.

However, eastern Liaoning is after all remote, with inconvenient roads and transport. If we hold to a defensive posture, we still command the advantages of timing and terrain..."

Yelu Xian analyzed at length, said something, yet seemed to say nothing at all. In the end, he sighed: "Once the two nations go to war, fighting to the death, the changes in military intelligence and the situation are not something your servant can describe in a few words—we can only adapt as circumstances arise!"

Yelu Jing had no real intention of making things difficult for Yelu Xian. As he had said, when it came to a clash between two great empires, how could it be easily explained?

After a moment of silence, Yelu Jing said in a low voice: "Regardless, once war begins, it will surely be earth-shattering, a life-and-death struggle, concerning the very survival of our state and altars—there can be no further hesitation or retreat!"

"Your servant still says the same thing! If the Han army dares to invade, we swear to destroy them to the last!" Yelu Xian said solemnly.

Having said this, Yelu Xian thought a moment, then added on his own initiative: "Though the Southern Court's national power is strong, it is not without weaknesses. These years it has expanded in all directions, swallowing up a vast expanse of territory. In your servant's view, its momentum has reached its peak.

As they say, what reaches its zenith begins to decline. Its four northwestern circuits are regions of weak governance. If war breaks out, the Great Liao must not simply hunker down in pure defense—the Hexi region may be the key to breaking the deadlock..."

Yelu Jing's whole body slowly relaxed, his frame slightly hunched. After a long while, he said to Yelu Xian: "From now on, all military and political affairs of the Great Liao will be placed on preparing for war against Han. You and the others must plan carefully and produce a set of practical, workable countermeasures!"

"Yes!"

After returning to the formation, the Liao army maintained its vigilance, slowly withdrawing. After retreating ten li, they set up camp. By the time everything was properly arranged, night had already fallen.

Because the Han Emperor's field headquarters was to the south, the Liao army's field headquarters was on much higher alert than usual. As for Yelu Jing, affected by the alcohol, he still slept for over an hour before waking.

The night was dark and the wind cold, but the tent was brightly lit. Upon waking from his sleep, the bitterness in Yelu Jing's heart had not dissipated much. No matter how firm his attitude, when it came to war with the Great Han, Yelu Jing in truth did not have much confidence.

Over twenty years now, since the Great Han's rise began, there had been no shortage of battles great and small, and Liao had never gained much advantage. It was as if Liao's national fortune had been devoured.

To be fair, during Yelu Jing's reign, they had suffered that disastrous defeat in the great Han-Liao war with heavy losses, but overall, the national strength had improved considerably compared to the era of Yelu Deguang—especially the latter part of his rule.

By the sixth year of Kaibao, in terms of population alone, the subjects and commoners under their jurisdiction had surpassed five million. Compared to the Great Han, this counted for little, but for Liao, it was already quite remarkable.

However, the speed of the Great Han's rise and development was simply too fast. In terms of accumulated foundations, there was little comparison to be made between Liao and Han.

Yelu Jing did not fear the Great Han; it was just that the reality of the situation weighed heavily on him. The disastrous defeat of years past was still vivid before his eyes. To fight another national war against the Great Han, Yelu Jing could hardly avoid feeling uneasy.

If he could, Yelu Jing would have been willing to be a peaceful Son of Heaven—hunting his hunts, drinking his wine, sleeping his sleep. But Emperor Liu and the Han Empire clearly were not willing to grant him that, and he had no path of retreat.

Once war began, it would shake heaven and earth. Precisely because he had a clear understanding of this, the confusion and bitterness in his heart were hard to dispel. Yelu Jing also read history—whether it was the Xiongnu of the Han dynasty or the Turks of the Tang dynasty, their final fates were plainly laid out there.

Although Yelu Jing considered that the Khitan's Liao was far stronger than the likes of the Xiongnu and Turks, every time he looked south and saw that empire standing like a giant in the Central Plains, he felt his heart tremble.

Yelu Jing was bitter, his spirits low, his expression dark. Two close attendants, heads bowed and bodies bent, trembling with fear, carefully carried in wine and food, setting them on the dining table. The afternoon's drinking with Emperor Liu had not been satisfying in the least.

Lifting his eyelids slightly, Yelu Jing looked at these two palace eunuchs. Their cowering demeanor stirred a hint of irritability in his heart. Emperor Liu's remarks about close attendants suddenly floated back into his mind.

His gaze sharpening, Yelu Jing asked coldly: "Why are you so timid and restrained? Are you afraid I will punish you, or afraid I will kill you?"

At Yelu Jing's question, the two palace eunuchs were instantly panicked, their faces overflowing with tension and fear as they kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, spare our lives! Your Majesty, spare our lives!"

Over the years, because close attendants served poorly or made mistakes, Yelu Jing had beaten and killed too many people. Some were minor faults heavily punished, others were purely killing to vent his anger...

"So it's true after all!" Yelu Jing murmured, slightly dazed.

Faced with their pleas for mercy, Yelu Jing showed not the slightest tolerance or kindness—instead, his murderous aura only grew. His chilling gaze fell upon the two men, and Yelu Jing sneered coldly: "If I truly let the likes of you base slaves stay by my side for long, I fear my own safety would truly be in jeopardy!"

Having said this, Yelu Jing called for the guards before his tent and coldly ordered the two close attendants dragged out and beaten to death. Not only that—immediately after, he had the dozen or so close attendants accompanying him all seized and interrogated as to whether they had committed any crimes or offenses...

Yelu Jing's actions bordered on madness. Clearly, he had been provoked by Emperor Liu's words. When it came to striking at the heart, Emperor Liu was a master. Of course, it was also Yelu Jing venting after accumulating too much negative emotion.

The Emperor had killed again! This news spread quickly around the tent. Everyone fell silent, not daring to speak, and likewise everyone felt endangered. It wasn't just the close attendants and palace eunuchs—even the nobles, ministers, and guards, how could they not have their own thoughts, their own worries and concerns?

The attendants around him had been purged clean, but the Emperor's side could not go without attendants. So Yelu Jing ordered men to select several men of clean background and proven loyalty from the army to serve as attendants.

However, no matter how loyal a person was, how could they feel at ease facing Yelu Jing in this mental state? Yelu Jing simply did not realize, nor did he have the awareness, that the problem did not lie with the close attendants—the root of it was in himself.