Chapter 1338: News of Victories Pours In

The great battle was at its height, yet Emperor Liu, staying at Wild Fox Ridge, had gained a measure of leisure, letting Liu Xi accompany him as he toured the Great Wall, climbed the mountain passes, and surveyed the magnificent landscapes of the northern frontier.

In early winter on the frontier, the scene was bleak and desolate, the plains stretching without end, heaven and earth shrouded in vastness—though of course, the winding Great Wall still rose and fell across the layered mountain ridges, unafraid of the bitter cold.

Had this been the Emperor Liu of his younger years, he might have had the inclination to recite a verse of "Northern Scenery," but now, there was no need at all. For Emperor Liu, in the brief biographies posterity would write of him a thousand years later, it would suffice to label him a politician and a military strategist; as for the rest, there was no necessity. The achievements of reclaiming the rivers and mountains and unifying the realm were already sufficiently dazzling, and the significance of an emperor wielding absolute power overshadowed anything else.

"Look at this Great Wall—standing for a thousand years without falling, still so majestic and towering to this day. Every dynasty has added to it and repaired it, and our dynasty is no different. Yet when the Liao army came south, they still managed to break through the Great Wall's defense line and penetrate deep into Shanyang to cause trouble. This ten-thousand-li Great Wall—even if it stands a hundred years without collapsing, a thousand years without crumbling—what use is it?" Standing atop a beacon tower west of Peach Mountain, Emperor Liu gently stroked the mottled wall, sighing with emotion.

"What do you think?" Turning to look at his third son, who always seemed so nonchalant, Emperor Liu asked.

Liu Xi was clearly taken aback, then subconsciously said: "Your son is not well-versed in military affairs, but since every dynasty has spared no effort in building and maintaining it, there must be a reason! The wisdom of the ancients and sages is not something your son can compare to."

Hearing Liu Xi start playing dumb and deflecting again, Emperor Liu was amused despite his irritation, and immediately scolded: "Don't play the fool in front of your old man—tell me what you really think!"

At the rebuke, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Liu Xi's face. He chuckled awkwardly, then grew somewhat more serious and replied: "Your son believes that the Great Wall's defenses stretch for thousands of li. Against a powerful enemy, it may indeed be difficult to fully resist them, but without the Great Wall, the northern invaders would find it even easier to come south."

Emperor Liu smiled but did not pursue the discussion further. The pros and cons of the Great Wall were not worth continuing to debate as far as he was concerned—it still needed to be built and repaired, especially the passes, fortresses, and beacon towers densely scattered along its route. These were the pillars of the Great Han's control over the northern frontier.

"You brought a flute along on this tour?" Emperor Liu's attention was suddenly drawn to a flute tucked at Liu Xi's waist, and he asked curiously.

At the question, Liu Xi unfastened it—it was a short flute of emerald jade—and said: "This was a congratulatory gift from my maternal uncle when I married. Your son is very fond of it and brings it along on every outing."

"Can you play it?" Emperor Liu asked.

"If I couldn't, then your son would be nothing but a pretentious dabbler!" Liu Xi said with a light smile.

Seeing this, Emperor Liu gestured with his hand. Liu Xi didn't stand on ceremony either; after a moment's thought, he began to play. The melodious sound of the flute, carried by the winter wind, took on a quality of ethereal remoteness. The sky was high, the clouds vast, the wilderness boundless. Emperor Liu stood at the height, treading upon ten thousand li of rivers and mountains beneath his feet, gazing down at the territory of his empire. His eyes half-closed, a faint smile unconsciously curling at the corners of his mouth, utterly entranced.

When the tune ended, Emperor Liu roused himself from his self-indulgent reverie. Looking at Liu Xi, who was wiping the jade flute, he said: "I never expected you could play the flute—and quite pleasantly at that!"

Liu Xi replied: "It's merely a pastime of refined leisure. When it comes to musical skill, I'm far inferior to Seventh Brother!"

"Liu Hui? He only knows how to compose poetry and dabble in elegant pursuits!" Emperor Liu said indifferently. "That tune sounds somewhat familiar?"

Liu Xi said: "Father's ears are as sharp as ever. This is the 'Yellow Sand Tune' composed by my maternal uncle during the northern campaign back then!"

"Heh heh!" Emperor Liu chuckled lightly at this: "Our Duke of Anguo—not only is he skilled at galloping across the battlefield and leading troops in combat, he's also quite refined and cultured!"

"I wonder how the fighting at Laiyuan is progressing?" Emperor Liu murmured to himself. At present, Gao Huaide was leading troops against the northward-advancing Goryeo army.

While planning the counteroffensive at Shanyang, the Great Han's military operations on other fronts continued unabated, and with considerable intensity. In response to Goryeo's counterattack southeast of Liaodong, Guo Tingwei had led the naval forces in multiple landings on Goryeo's shores, raiding and plundering. On the Tongzhou front, facing Ma Renyu's hundred-thousand-strong army, Yelu Xiezhen was at a loss, growing increasingly weaker day by day, his position isolated and precarious. Even Wang Yanchao's northward-advancing army remained lukewarm, yet their desire to break the stalemate was exceptionally strong.

However, according to the previous plan, since winter had already set in, regardless of progress, it was time to halt operations. The withdrawal of the Liaodong army was imperative—it could no longer be delayed.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" While lost in thought, he suddenly heard a call.

It was Zhang Yong's voice. Turning to look, he saw Zhang Yong lifting the hem of his official robe—the same one he wore year-round, unchanged—holding a memorial in his hand, laboriously climbing up the beacon tower.

Emperor Liu simply watched him until Zhang Yong reached the top. Seeing him panting heavily, steam rising from his exertion, he laughed: "Minister Zhang, you need to exercise more. Climbing just these few stone steps has worn you out like this?"

It was clear that Emperor Liu was in a good mood. Zhang Yong had run so hard that once he stopped, he couldn't speak. To avoid breaching etiquette, he couldn't gasp openly either, so he held it in, quite uncomfortable.

Emperor Liu said: "Catch your breath first. Whatever it is, speak slowly!"

"Your servant, your servant has been discourteous! Please forgive me, Your Majesty!" Zhang Yong, after catching his breath, clasped his hands and bowed, speaking with proper formality.

"Still so hasty as ever—what urgent matter is there?" Emperor Liu asked.

"Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch from Commissioner Cao!" Zhang Yong respectfully presented the memorial with both hands, unable to conceal his excitement: "On the three fronts of Laiyuan, Hezhong, and Tongzhou, there have been breakthroughs in progress!"

"Oh? This must be what they call a meeting of minds—I was just mentioning it, and the memorial arrives!" Emperor Liu took the memorial and said: "What good news has Cao Bin brought me?"

During Emperor Liu's westward journey to Wild Fox Ridge, Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs Cao Bin had remained in Youzhou, handling military affairs on Emperor Liu's behalf.

As he flipped through the pages, Zhang Yong said with barely contained excitement: "The Duke of Anguo, on the twenty-sixth day of the ninth month, decisively defeated Goryeo at Laiyuan City, pursuing them for over seventy li, beheading over ten thousand enemies, capturing over ten thousand prisoners, and countless more drowned or frozen to death in the Yalu River. Goryeo's seventy-thousand-strong army has completely collapsed! He has now withdrawn his troops, leaving garrisons behind, and is returning with the spoils of war and prisoners!"

The first item was excellent news. Emperor Liu was overjoyed to hear it. For some reason, defeating the Liao army hadn't excited him much, but hearing of the crushing blow dealt to Goryeo brought him visceral satisfaction. Perhaps, deep down, Emperor Liu harbored a grudge against Goryeo.

"Hahaha!" The laughter was somewhat unrestrained and unbridled. Emperor Liu couldn't help but mock and jest: "This Goryeo army doesn't seem to have improved at all, does it? Their weapons, equipment, and training have all been upgraded—so why are they so pathetically easy to defeat? Is it that our army is too strong, or that they're too weak?"

Zhang Yong reported: "That petty Goryeo, arrogant and self-important, daring to cross the border and invade the north, naturally deserves this defeat! Before the attack, the Duke of Anguo proclaimed to the soldiers that once this battle was fought, they would withdraw and settle in for the winter. To secure a peaceful winter, the soldiers' fighting spirit was high, and they fought with great valor, breaking the Goryeo army in a single battle..."

"In that case, the Goryeo threat can be considered temporarily resolved!" Emperor Liu's smile faded.

Zhang Yong said: "Commissioner Cao reports that at present, our East Sea naval forces are still raiding Goryeo's coastline, plundering their territory extensively. With their navy destroyed, they have no way to counter us. Thus, after the disastrous defeat at Laiyuan, even though they can still arm troops domestically, they absolutely lack the strength to invade northward again!"

"Good!" Emperor Liu's gaze remained fixed on the memorial.

Zhang Yong continued to report: "Tongzhou reports that Ma Renyu's army has captured Tongyuan City, annihilating a total of ten thousand enemies. Yelu Xiezhen has been forced to retreat once again, fleeing north to Huanglong Prefecture. The four cities around Tongzhou have all been taken by our forces!"

"The Duke of Qinguo reports that the Xi King Chouning has raised the banner of righteousness and submitted to the court. He has led his followers to strike Gao Xun from behind, assisting our army in breaching Hezhong City. At present, our forces have advanced to the Xi King's city. The rebel general Gao Xun has been captured by General Wang's forces and is being sent to Youzhou to be presented as a captive to Your Majesty..."

"Hahaha!" Emperor Liu laughed heartily once more, the sound echoing among the beacon towers of the Great Wall. Looking at Liu Xi and Zhang Yong, he waved the memorial in his hand with great pride: "Have all my generals and marshals conspired together to delight me to death?"

"It seems this winter will be a peaceful one!"