Chapter 1322: Xiao Siwen Runs

"Great King!"

Urgent footsteps and calls interrupted Yelu Xiezhen's solitude. Shaking himself free from his melancholy thoughts, he was once again the Great King of the Southern Division and military commander, holding heavy troops and wielding great authority over the Eastern Capital Circuit of Liao.

Watching his subordinate hurry up the city wall with a face full of anxiety, Yelu Xiezhen's brows tightened slightly as he asked in a deep voice: "What is it?"

Drawing near, the man reported, his expression and tone unusually grave: "Reporting to the Great King, Director Xiao just led a squad of soldiers, forced their way out of the city, and headed straight west!"

At these words, the gloom between Yelu Xiezhen's brows deepened further, and the hand resting on the parapet involuntarily clenched, scraping up several streaks of dust.

"So he finally couldn't hold it in any longer!" Yelu Xiezhen sneered: "This Xiao Siwen! Why did the western gate commander not stop him, defying my military orders?"

"Director Xiao said he must return to the Supreme Capital to report on affairs. After all, he is an imperial envoy, and the gate commander dared not press him too hard, so he let him force his way out!" the subordinate replied.

Xiao Siwen — this relative of the imperial clan, this high court minister, this envoy of the Son of Heaven, this army supervisor — as the Liao army suffered two major defeats at Jinzhou and the Liao River, his contradictions and disagreements with Yelu Xiezhen had grown increasingly severe.

As the situation in the Eastern Capital Circuit grew ever more dire, Xiao Siwen had long harbored thoughts of extricating himself. By now, the struggle for power was secondary; more importantly, Xiao Siwen no longer wished to continue holding out alongside Yelu Xiezhen.

Xiao Siwen, deep and calculating, with keen instincts, had long since perceived the court's disappointment and dissatisfaction with Yelu Xiezhen, as well as the fate that awaited him after his series of frantic war preparations.

Toward this trapped beast, toward this sinking ship that was the Eastern Capital Circuit, Xiao Siwen was eager to escape. Previously, he had led thirty thousand troops eastward as reinforcements, participated in the counterattack at Yaozhou, won a great victory, and smashed the Han army. He had also supported Jinzhou, and in the great battle at the Liao River, he had still been a main force in the fighting.

After that series of campaigns, those thirty thousand troops had suffered heavy losses, which also left Xiao Siwen without much confidence when facing Yelu Xiezhen. What angered and dissatisfied Xiao Siwen even more was that Yelu Xiezhen, under the pretext of suppressing rebellion, had sent out the remaining ten thousand-plus Supreme Capital reinforcements, effectively stripping Xiao Siwen of his military command — which made Xiao Siwen feel even less secure.

Now, abandoning his troops and forcing his way out through the gate was a rebellion born of desperation. As for Xiao Siwen's little schemes and petty maneuvers, Yelu Xiezhen naturally saw through them like a blazing fire. After stripping him of military command, he had not paid him much further attention. But he never imagined that at a time like this, Xiao Siwen would recklessly choose to flee, forcibly heading west.

It was easy to imagine — if Xiao Siwen returned to the Supreme Capital, there would be no shortage of impeachments and accusations, and perhaps he would even claim that Yelu Xiezhen had driven him away...

As a trusted general and official of Yelu Xiezhen, knowing somewhat of the friction between the Great King and Xiao Siwen, seeing his cold expression, he could not help but say: "Great King, if Director Xiao returns to the Supreme Capital, he will inevitably bring impeachment and slander, shifting blame and evading responsibility. That would be even more disadvantageous to you. Better to send cavalry to chase him back while he has not gone far..."

Facing his subordinate's suggestion, Yelu Xiezhen thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly. His gaze turned westward, and he sighed with melancholy: "Enough. If a man wants to leave, why force him to stay! Since things have come to this, what do I still have to fear? I will do my utmost, fulfill my loyalty as a minister — that is all!"

"Great King, within Tongyuan City, the people are already panicked and the troops unsettled. With Director Xiao leaving like this, I fear it will only further damage morale!" the subordinate reported with deep worry.

"Back to the headquarters!" Yelu Xiezhen knew this all too well. With brows tightly knit, he waved his hand to leave. Before he had descended the city wall, his figure paused, he raised a hand, and ordered in a cold, stern tone: "Execute the western gate commander! Reissue the prohibition to all generals — anyone who dares violate my orders again, regardless of who they are, will be dealt with by military law, with no leniency whatsoever!"

Hearing this order, the surrounding officers and soldiers all turned solemn, but showed no further emotion. The Yelu Xiezhen of today — what humanity was left in him...

After returning to headquarters, sure enough, several Liao army generals had already arrived upon hearing the news, probing for information. Some even speculated whether a decision had been made to withdraw to the Supreme Capital — a clear sign of how unsettled morale had become. Facing these generals, Yelu Xiezhen could not avoid a round of reprimands, forcibly unifying their thinking. Of course, in the end, he still did his best to soothe them, and only then barely stabilized the morale.

Sitting alone in the hall, with only two sparse oil lamps flickering with dim light, the Liao army had fallen to such a state that even the lamps and candles for illumination had to be used sparingly.

"Great King, General Xiao requests an audience!"

"Let him in!"

The one who came was the young general Xiao Talin, who had earlier come east with Xiao Siwen. With a grave expression, he entered the hall, knelt directly, his facial muscles trembling slightly, yet carrying a resolute air.

Looking at Xiao Talin, Yelu Xiezhen concealed the fatigue and worry on his face, and asked lightly: "So you did not return to the Supreme Capital together with Xiao Siwen?"

At the question, Xiao Talin raised his head, his gaze clear, and said in a deep voice: "Reporting to the Great King, before the Director left, he did indeed summon me, but I refused! This general will not be a deserter!"

Noticing his demeanor, utterly without pretense, Yelu Xiezhen felt a slight surprise: "Director Xiao is a man of foresight. Even he has left — clearly he has completely given up on the situation in the Eastern Capital Circuit, eager to escape this mire. The Han army will soon march north again. You are of the Rear Four Tribes, a young talent. Would it not be a pity if you were trapped here?"

Hearing this, Xiao Talin's gaze held no trace of cowardice or worry. Instead of answering, he countered: "Is the Great King not also holding on here, leading the great army to resist the Han army?"

Yelu Xiezhen: "It is my duty. I have no other path!"

Xiao Talin replied calmly: "This general may lack great talent, but I have a body of courage and strength, enough to fight the Han army! At this moment of national crisis, as a Khitan tribesman, how could this general have any other path?"

Xiao Talin's words rang out with force, his attitude resolute, his gaze firm — even Yelu Xiezhen was stunned for a long moment. The appreciation in his eyes could no longer be suppressed, showing plainly. He nodded slightly, rose from his seat, stepped forward, and personally helped Xiao Talin to his feet, saying solemnly: "With loyal generals and brave warriors of such fervent devotion as General, the Great Liao still has hope for the future!"

Xiao Talin did not fully understand Yelu Xiezhen's meaning, but he replied earnestly: "I only wish to follow the Great King, and fight the enemy to the death!"

Patting him on the shoulder, Yelu Xiezhen affirmed: "There will surely be a time for you to fight!"

In the past months of war, the Liao army had lost too many of its backbone — whether generals or veterans. During this period of reorganizing troops, Yelu Xiezhen had promoted some officers, but none had satisfied him more than Xiao Talin.

"Great King! Good news!" At this moment, a clerk hurried in, shouting loudly, holding a military report in his hand.

"Speak!" Yelu Xiezhen's expression showed little change.

The clerk said excitedly: "Victory report from Huanglong Prefecture! General Yelu Xiuge has decisively broken the Jurchen allied forces, pursuing and annihilating the rebels on the banks of the Huntong River, killing over four thousand enemies, and capturing large quantities of warhorses and grain. The Jurchen fled in defeat, retreating north of the river to Huntong City. The crisis at Huanglong Prefecture has been resolved!"