Chapter 1257: A Private Deliberation Between Sovereign and Ministers

That night, Emperor Liu did not stay at Kunming Hall. After taking the evening meal with the elder Lady Fu, he returned to Chongzheng Hall. The officials in the capital, learning that the Emperor had returned, rushed eagerly to seek an audience, but all were refused.

However, though others were not received, Zhao Pu, the chancellor, had prepared a large batch of memorials to present to Emperor Liu. He deliberately worked overtime at the Hall of State Affairs, and indeed, he soon received word of a summons from Emperor Liu.

"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty! Pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Inside Chongzheng Hall, Zhao Pu performed the rites of greeting, and the Crown Prince Liu Yang had also been summoned by Emperor Liu.

"Rise!" Emperor Liu's expression was entirely serene, and he gestured for the two to sit, saying to Zhao Pu: "During the time I was away from the capital, Chancellor Zhao has led the government, the court's affairs have operated in good order, both within and without, all has been methodical. The facts prove that I entrusted the right man!"

Hearing this, Zhao Pu's furrowed brow relaxed, and he rose to clasp his hands, saying modestly: "This servant thanks Your Majesty for his trust!"

"Sit, no need for such formality!" Perhaps because they had not seen each other for a long time, some distance had grown between them; seeing his restraint, Emperor Liu's smile grew even warmer, and he said: "You haven't had your evening meal yet! Yan Tuo, instruct the Imperial Kitchen to prepare some hot food and wine!"

"Yes!"

"This servant thanks Your Majesty!" Zhao Pu felt honored—such concern from the Emperor was rare at court.

Zhao Pu, for his part, took the opportunity to report on some important affairs that the Hall of State Affairs had handled during Emperor Liu's absence. Emperor Liu, for his part, made no criticisms and listened attentively.

In truth, with Zhao Pu as chancellor, finding fault in the government affairs he managed was rather difficult. After a while, the palace eunuchs set out the prepared food and wine, and the sovereign and his two ministers took their seats.

Having already eaten, Emperor Liu only drank wine, and at the same time asked about the matter he truly cared about: "How is the preparation for the northern expedition proceeding?"

Zhao Pu, of course, had long been prepared on this matter. Upon the question, he answered with composure: "To answer Your Majesty, after receiving the imperial edict, your servant convened his subordinates and the relevant offices and bureaus to begin arrangements. Up to the present, the Finance Commission has already allocated five million strings of cash for the purchase of clothing, tents, rain gear, and other supplies. The Ministry of War has urgently arranged for the forging of weapons and has been transferring them northward from the various circuits' armories. Military grain, fodder, and other supplies have also begun to be transported..."

Listening to Zhao Pu's capable report, Emperor Liu instinctively felt at ease, nodding as he asked: "I know the edict was somewhat hasty—have there been any problems or difficulties?"

Upon the question, Zhao Pu still gave a calm smile and replied: "Problems naturally exist! The Bureau of Military Affairs has already begun planning the dispatch of troops, but as for this northern expedition—what scale it will take, how many troops will be mobilized—no final decision has been made. How much military supply the court needs to raise and allocate is also not yet clear. What has been prepared thus far draws mostly on the reserves of the internal and external government granaries.

Furthermore, supplying a great army on a northern expedition—the transport of grain, fodder, and equipment—cannot be done without labor. How many able-bodied men and corvée laborers are to be conscripted from the prefectures of the various circuits still requires careful calculation. Moreover, it is now the spring plowing season; conscripting large numbers of able-bodied men will certainly delay the farming calendar and also stir unrest among the people. Therefore, no decree has yet been issued for large-scale conscription..."

Hearing his explanation, Emperor Liu nodded and asked: "Is one month too rushed?"

Zhao Pu shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, once troops are mobilized, large-scale conscription is unavoidable, and the impact on agriculture and the people is likewise unavoidable—it is only a matter of how high the cost. Thanks to the court's long-standing system of reserves, your servant and the Finance Commissioner have calculated carefully: with what the granaries of the entire Great Han now hold, while satisfying the normal consumption of officials and commoners, as long as the allocation is managed properly, it is sufficient to supply an army of three hundred thousand for a full year! Especially at key strongholds like Youzhou, Taiyuan, and Datong, grain reserves of over a million dan have long been maintained..."

Emperor Liu's eyes visibly brightened, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. He turned his head to the Crown Prince Liu Yang and said: "Without this foundation, how could I have the confidence for a great northern expedition!"

"This too is the fruit of Your Majesty's painstaking management over more than a decade!" Zhao Pu said.

"I have heard that the northern expedition has stirred considerable reaction at court!" Emperor Liu took another drink of wine and said unhurriedly: "Before I returned to the capital, I received Song Qi's memorial. His stance was very clear—he advised against it. He believes that the situation in Liao is unclear, and that a hasty northern expedition does not bode well for the campaign..."

"If people's hearts are unsettled, if thinking is not unified, matters will surely be mishandled, and in executing a grand strategy, confusion will more easily arise. You are the chancellor who commands all the ministries, bureaus, courts, and the prefectures and counties—much depends on you to manage. What is your view?"

Emperor Liu's tone was very flat, impossible to read as pleased or displeased, and Zhao Pu could discern nothing from his face either. But facing the imperial inquiry, he dared not be negligent, and simply laid out his own considerations in full:

"Your Majesty, Chancellor Song's concerns may be called the mature counsel of an old statesman, yet they are somewhat overanxious. The situation in the north is admittedly not yet clear, but compared to now, could there be a more favorable moment for the Great Han to dispatch troops? Even if there were, how long would we have to wait for it?

Duke Xue Ji of the State of Ji has a passage in the *History of the Three Dynasties* that your servant still remembers vividly: 'Reverently acknowledging wisdom, deeply considering the concealment of flaws—yet Heaven's Way and the people's hearts are difficult to defy. Know that opportunity must not be lost, for time will not come again.'

As for the cost of dispatching troops, there is no need to avoid it. As long as the strategy of the northern expedition remains unchanged, no matter when, troops, money, grain, and corvée must all be fully prepared, and bloodshed and casualties are unavoidable.

Preparing for war this spring will certainly affect agriculture, but for Liao, it will likewise bring them trouble—and compared to the Great Han, their troubles and difficulties will be even greater!

When the northern expedition was launched in those years, north and south were not yet unified, and still the Great Han was able to smash the Khitan with overwhelming force and recover the passes and mountains. How much more so now, when the Great Han has gained another decade of accumulation and growth.

Though dispatching troops because of the upheaval in Liao appears hasty, preparations for war against Liao have actually been underway for many years—we have merely been waiting for the right moment. Therefore, the haste is only temporary!

The Great Han previously bore the costs of the southern campaign, but the troops, labor, money, and grain it consumed were confined to the southwest and Huguang! Liao, in the past few years, has likewise suffered the expenses of its western campaign!

In summary, your servant believes that at this juncture of Liao's imperial succession, no matter how its situation develops, for the Great Han it is a rare opportunity to dispatch troops!"

Watching Zhao Pu speak with such eloquence, Emperor Liu's demeanor grew increasingly cordial—one could say that every word he spoke struck exactly what Emperor Liu wanted to hear. Of course, the possibility of deliberate flattery could not be ruled out.

"Chancellor Zhao's views strike deep into my heart!" Emperor Liu expressed his approval, yet sighed: "A pity that there are still too few at court who hold such views!"

Zhao Pu said: "A full eleven years have passed since the last northern expedition. Peace has prevailed for a long time. Should we launch another northern expedition, it would require a long-distance campaign with great exertion. Too few troops and it would be hard to overcome the enemy; too many and the losses and expenses would be enormous. That the officials have reservations is understandable!"

"If one worries over every matter and frets over risk at every step, then I would never have come this far, and the Great Han would not have its present glory!" Emperor Liu said coldly, making Liu Yang and Zhao Pu both grow cautious—they did not even dare to move their chopsticks.

After a moment of deliberation, Emperor Liu said: "On the road back to the capital, I received the latest news. On the Liao side, a new emperor has been established and has won the support of most of the people. The new ruler of Liao appears to have considerable skill and knows well how to win people's hearts. If the Great Han continues to delay, giving him time to pacify the hearts of his people and put military and civil affairs in order, then in the future, should we wish to launch a northern expedition, the price we would pay would likely be even greater!"

Hearing this, Zhao Pu was clearly taken aback: "So quickly?"

"Therefore, we cannot only consider our own difficulties—we must also stand on the overall situation and look to the future!" Emperor Liu said with deep feeling: "It has only been how many years, and already people are beginning to hesitate and waver? If we wait another decade, I fear they will be even more unwilling to undertake a northern expedition!"

"What Your Majesty worries over is most proper!" Zhao Pu said.

"In that case, send word that at tomorrow's court assembly, all dukes and court officials of the third rank and above, along with the principal officers of the various ministries, bureaus, and courts, are to enter the palace for deliberation. I want to have a good talk with them!" Emperor Liu instructed.

Zhao Pu acknowledged the order.

Emperor Liu then looked toward Liu Yang and instructed: "Tomorrow, on my behalf, make a circuit of the Three Bureaus of the imperial army, review the officers and men, see what their morale is like, and on my behalf ask them—having spent so long in the capital, do they still dare to go to the battlefield, are they still willing to sacrifice life and limb for the Great Han, and do they still have the ambition to render distinguished service!"

"Yes!"