Chapter 1258: Emperor Liu's Mind Remains Clear

Bureau of Military Affairs, War Planning Office.

On the vast map, the Great Han's northern military situation was laid out with perfect clarity. Emperor Liu and his civil and military ministers were all present, listening to Commissioner of Military Affairs Shi Shouxin explain the northern expedition strategy.

Emperor Liu leaned slightly back in a dragon throne, expressionless, his gaze fixed directly on the map. Around him, standing or seated, Liu Yang, Liu Chenghsun, Liu Xu, Zhao Pu, Song Qi, Gao Huaide, Xiang Xun, Zhao Kuangyin, Han Tong, Pan Mei, Cao Bin, and others all wore grave expressions, utterly focused.

"Your Majesty, Duke of Ying requests an audience!" Zhang Yong, Direct Academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs, came forward to report.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu was somewhat surprised. He sat up straight and instructed: "Go and welcome the Duke of Ying in!"

"Wait!" After a moment's thought, Emperor Liu added: "I shall go myself!"

At this, the ministers present were rather taken aback—both because of Emperor Liu's rare gesture of descending the steps to greet someone personally, and because Duke of Ying Guo Rong had gradually withdrawn from court affairs, showing signs of retiring. For nearly a year now, he had been residing at his mansion recuperating from illness, rarely going out.

Clearly, the northern expedition had shaken the entire court and country—even the ailing Duke Chai of Ying, bedridden at home, had been stirred to come out.

Before the main hall, Guo Rong stood in a stooped posture. Though he tried hard to straighten his back, he gave off an impression of frailty, as if a gust of wind might topple him. The Duke of Ying, once so spirited and dashing in his prime, had indeed reached such a twilight age.

The moment Emperor Liu stepped out of the hall, he saw Guo Rong's figure, and his stride visibly faltered for a beat. Guo Rong had only just crossed into his fifties—not an old age by any measure—yet white hairs streaked his temples, illness marked his face, and his body was exceptionally frail.

"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty!" Seeing Emperor Liu, Guo Rong immediately moved to perform the full ceremonial bow.

Emperor Liu hurried down the steps and firmly supported him: "Rise, quickly, no need for ceremony!"

"What virtue does your servant possess to deserve Your Majesty descending the steps for me!" Guo Rong's voice carried the weight of age.

"Say no more of such things!" Emperor Liu said with some concern: "Knowing your health was poor, I deliberately sent no one to disturb you. If you're ill, rest well—why trouble yourself to come to the palace..."

Though Guo Rong's body was unwell, his spirit remained high. A smile appeared on his pale face as he replied: "This servant thanks Your Majesty for your concern! Though I am aged and plagued by illness, for this great northern expedition—even if I can no longer raise a lance and ride into battle, I am still willing to offer Your Majesty my counsel and planning! Campaigning against the Khitan and sweeping the frontier beyond the passes—that is my wish as well!"

"Good!" Emperor Liu laughed heartily. Among the entire court, the man who suited Emperor Liu's temperament best was still Guo Rong. Taking his hand, he led him into the Bureau of Military Affairs, saying: "Let us, sovereign and minister, plan our strategy together and watch the Great Han's brave sons win glory in the northern expedition!"

"Yes!" Guo Rong respectfully disengaged from Emperor Liu and gave a solemn bow.

From Emperor Liu's words, one could also discern that he had no intention of personally leading the campaign this time.

Seeing Guo Rong somewhat unsteady on his feet, Emperor Liu frowned slightly, beckoned to Yan Tuo, and instructed: "Order the Gold Bureau to forge a dragon-headed walking cane and bestow it upon the Duke of Ying, to aid him in walking!"

"Your Majesty, this servant dare not accept!" Hearing this, surprise flickered across Guo Rong's aged face as he said gravely.

Emperor Liu smiled warmly: "I say you deserve it. Setting aside everything else—it's just a walking cane!"

Walking into the hall alongside Guo Rong, Emperor Liu said softly: "Only upon returning to the capital did I learn that Duke Yu is also ill. You are not merely great ministers of the Great Han—you are my good teachers and trusted friends. The Great Han has not yet reached its most powerful days; there is still a brighter future ahead. You must take good care of yourselves, to stay with me and witness the day when all the barbarian tribes submit and the rivers run clear and the seas are calm—to bear witness with me to the Great Han's glory!"

"Your servant firmly believes that day is not far off. If I can witness it with my own eyes, I shall die without regret!" Guo Rong declared.

"Your fourth son, Zongxun—how old is he now?" Emperor Liu asked.

"To answer Your Majesty, he is nearly eighteen!" Guo Rong replied.

Emperor Liu said: "I have a daughter just coming of age, and they are of similar years. Do you still remember the agreement from back then? I have not forgotten it. You—bring him to the palace one of these days, so the Empress can have a look..."

"This servant thanks Your Majesty!" Guo Rong said hastily.

The ministers who had accompanied Emperor Liu out saw the Duke of Ying being personally supported by the Emperor and conversing intimately with him, and could not help but sigh with emotion, many feeling envy.

Returning to the War Planning Office, Emperor Liu had Guo Rong sit down, then took a short stool for himself and gestured to Shi Shouxin: "Continue!"

"Yes!" After acknowledging the order, Shi Shouxin's face was full of gravity, and he continued his briefing:

"The border between Han and Liao stretches ten thousand li—far too long. Your servants believe that for this northern expedition, if we were to strike on all fronts, seeking to sweep across ten thousand li and crush Liao in one blow, even with the Great Han's current national strength and military power, it would be difficult to achieve complete success!

"Therefore, your servants suggest that if we dispatch troops, we need not aim for everything at once. We should focus our efforts, not seek a quick decisive victory, but rather leverage the Great Han's advantages in national strength, military power, and manpower—advance steadily, break them down step by step..."

Hearing this, Han Tong could not help but raise an objection: "Liao's ten-thousand-li grassland is boundless and open. If we follow Commissioner Shi's words and advance steadily, after crossing the frontier, how many years and months would it take to fight our way through? If the Liao army avoids battle and employs delaying tactics, our army would seek battle in vain—would that not waste national strength, and with the slightest misstep, plunge the main army into danger?"

With the Great Han's current strength, the balance of power between the two states was clear enough in the minds of the generals, and they had the confidence too—in a head-on confrontation, the Great Han might not completely crush the Liao army, but they would certainly hold the advantage. However, fighting beyond the frontier, the greatest concerns were the stretched supply lines, difficulties in transporting provisions, and the Liao army refusing to give battle.

To Han Tong's question, Shi Shouxin smiled faintly and replied: "The key to this northern expedition is not fighting beyond the frontier!"

Glancing at Emperor Liu, Shi Shouxin said calmly: "No matter how vast Liao's territory is, it has several places it must defend! First, the Supreme Capital Linhuang; second, the Eastern Capital Liaoyang.

"The Supreme Capital lies far beyond the northern frontier, across high mountains and long roads—not suitable for a hasty long-distance campaign. But Liaoyang is different. It is the seat of the Liaodong and Bohai regions, the very foundation of Liao's years of growth and expansion. Its population is relatively abundant, and the majority of its wealth, grain, and taxes come from there. Moreover, it is ancient Chinese territory.

"Therefore, your servants believe that if our main army advances east, seizes Liaodong, and takes Liaoyang, then uses it as a base to continue campaigning into the northeast, it would be a heavy blow to Liao.

"Strike where they must defend, and we need not fear their avoiding battle. For our army, taking cities and fortresses can also proceed more deliberately..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu smiled slightly and looked toward Guo Rong: "What does the Duke of Ying think of this strategy?"

Guo Rong had listened earnestly and thought earnestly. Upon being asked, he nodded and said: "To achieve everything in a single stroke and swallow Liao whole in one gulp—that would indeed be too difficult. Striking where they must defend is a sound strategy! Choosing Liaodong as the offensive target, your servant sees no problem with it!"

"What do the rest of you think?" Emperor Liu looked to the others.

They were all seasoned commanders with rich battlefield experience—Gao Huaide, Zhao Kuangyin, and several others had even participated in campaigns against Liao. Thus, they all expressed support for the Liaodong-focused plan.

Song Qi then stepped forward, pointing out: "Your Majesty, Liaodong is equally remote, separated by mountain passes, and Liao has managed it for a long time with deep roots. If they resist stubbornly behind strong city walls, taking it will still not be easy! Emperor Yang of Sui's eastern campaigns serve as a warning from history—I beg Your Majesty to deliberate carefully!"

Though Song Qi held a conservative attitude toward the northern expedition, after a frank exchange with Emperor Liu, they had reached a consensus. Otherwise, he would not have been allowed to attend this military conference at all.

Yet his words and thoughts remained so full of hesitation and anxiety that it truly vexed Emperor Liu. Looking at that stern face of his, Emperor Liu could not help but say with exasperation: "Song Qi, are you comparing me to Emperor Yang of Sui?"

"Your servant misspoke! I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!" Hearing this, Song Qi's expression changed, realizing his words were ill-considered, and he hastily begged pardon.

"Enough!" Emperor Liu waved his hand and said: "I know you are devoted to the state, and your words are those of an experienced elder. But I am not Emperor Yang of Sui, nor do I have such grandiosity divorced from reality. Throughout history, campaigns against Liaodong have had both victories and defeats, but the Great Han can make full preparations. I will not repeat Emperor Yang of Sui's mistakes!"

"Yes!" Song Qi bowed his head in acknowledgment.

Emperor Liu naturally approved of the northern expedition strategy drawn up by the Bureau of Military Affairs—the key was that it had focus. Swallowing Liao in one gulp and sweeping the northern frontier—Emperor Liu certainly wished for that too, but he knew full well it was unrealistic.

Therefore, a major northern expedition was acceptable, but an all-front assault was unnecessary. Emperor Liu never treated war as a game. When Han and Liao were to fight a great battle, Emperor Liu would choose the target and method that gave the Great Han the highest chance of victory.

Destroying Liao would have to be done step by step—first cut off its head and tail, and Liaodong was its head. Concentrate strength, sever the head, then dismember the body, and destroy it methodically—that would be far more secure.

After so many years of deep understanding, Emperor Liu knew very well how important the northeast region was to Liao. It was also the foundation of its sinicization and the maintenance of the current system of separate rule for Han and barbarian.

Destroying Liaodong would mean digging out its roots—and that would be the beginning of the collapse of the Khitan Liao Empire. Emperor Liu had a very clear understanding of this.

War—especially a full-scale war between two great empires—how could Emperor Liu act recklessly? Clear objectives, clear priorities—he knew exactly what he was doing!