Chapter 1339: The Han Banner Must Fly Over the Liao Capital

"Your Majesty, the northeastern armies have basically completed their operational tasks according to the previous plan, and have even exceeded expectations. The Crown Prince and the two Dukes, Rong and An, have made the final adjustments to the northeastern military deployment, and the northern expeditionary forces will also be withdrawing successively by both land and water routes! Commissioner Cao requests instruction—are there any further edicts?" Zhang Yong asked.

"No need! Since the plan was set long ago, it should not be changed. The soldiers have worked hard—if it's time to withdraw, then withdraw!" Without much hesitation, Emperor Liu replied directly.

Of course, Emperor Liu knew full well that Cao Bin's request was merely symbolic. Regarding the withdrawal of the eastern route army, it was not only the Crown Prince's opinion but also the will of the soldiers. Even as forceful an emperor as he was, he could hardly go against the wishes of all and act obstinately.

Moreover, there was no reason to do so. Crown Prince Liu Yang had been managing border defense and withdrawal matters ever since he returned to Liaodong. Now that the initial operational plan had been more than fulfilled, how could Emperor Liu harbor insatiable greed, alter his edicts, and throw obstacles in the way? That would be too capricious.

"There is also this: the Xi king has pledged allegiance, and the Xi tribes have submitted, to be incorporated into our service. General Wang, the elder, is currently resting at the Xi royal city and has submitted a memorial requesting instruction—whether to continue northward and advance on Linhuang Prefecture!"

"What does Wang Yanchao think?" Emperor Liu asked while carefully perusing the content-rich memorial.

Zhang Yong: "General Wang, the elder, believes that the northern expeditionary soldiers, having campaigned through summer and autumn, are already weary and not fit for another long march. Moreover, the weather is turning cold, which is also unfavorable for operations. The Xi tribes have only just surrendered, but their people are not yet truly submissive at heart. With the Xi tribes unstable, advancing north rashly carries too great a hidden danger. Additionally, from the Xi royal city northward, even with smooth progress, the actual distance is some five to six hundred li—the road is very long..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu hesitated for a moment this time, then said in a low, thoughtful tone: "If the intelligence is accurate, the current Linhuang Prefecture should be quite empty, shouldn't it?"

"To answer Your Majesty, based on the intelligence gathered by the Military Virtue and Military Intelligence Bureaus, ever since the Liao sovereign led his army south, the area around the Liao capital has indeed been emptier than ever before!" Zhang Yong affirmed in response.

However, seeing the restless eagerness revealed in Emperor Liu's demeanor, Zhang Yong understood perfectly well where his interest lay. He had the mind to dissuade him from taking risks, but after hesitating, he did not dare speak directly.

Emperor Liu looked up and noticed his expression. He smiled slightly, then turned his head toward Liu Xi and said: "Do you still remember what I said before? If Yelu Xian dares to go south and strike at our undefended Shanyang, then I will send troops to strike at his capital—let's see who hurts more!"

"You did indeed say that!" Hearing Emperor Liu speak thus, Liu Xi nodded. After apparently considering how to phrase his response, he paused, then said: "However, the practical difficulties facing General Wang's army and the situation with the Xi tribes should still be taken into consideration and understood.

If the Xi king had surrendered earlier—even just half a month sooner—then there would be no need for hesitation, and troops could be dispatched directly. But as it stands, winter has already set in!"

"So you oppose sending troops to the capital?" Emperor Liu asked.

"Sending troops at this time would mean another lone army venturing deep into enemy territory, with outcomes and safety uncertain. Remember, the soldiers of the Mobei expedition are still unaccounted for to this day!" Liu Xi said this.

But no sooner had he spoken than Liu Xi regretted it. Sure enough, Emperor Liu's expression changed instantly. He turned and fixed his gaze on Liu Xi, his eyes extremely sharp, causing even the usually unperturbed Liu Xi to feel a tremor in his heart and instinctively lower his head.

The whereabouts of the Mobei soldiers had nearly become an obsession weighing on Emperor Liu's mind. After staring at him for a while, Emperor Liu finally withdrew his gaze. Slightly gathering the robe draped over his shoulders, he pointed into the distance toward the north and said in a deep voice: "Do you know what the Xi tribes' submission to the Great Han means for Liao?"

"I await Your Majesty's instruction!" Liu Xi resumed his usual low-key style.

Emperor Liu said directly: "For Liao, the Han, the Bohai, and those Tatars and Uyghurs on the grasslands are merely its wings, its branches and leaves. The Khitan's own tribes and the six Xi tribes—those are its very foundation!

The Qianyou northern campaign, which recovered the passes and mountains, only seized their fortune. This northern campaign, which recovered Liaodong and threw the northeast into chaos, was to clip their wings! But if the Xi submit, that is digging at their foundation, breaking the backbone of their territory.

Do not think that because it is only the Xi king surrendering and the Xi tribes submitting, the impact is limited to that highland pasture of Raole and Songshan. For Liao, the consequences are all-encompassing!

Even to this day, from the northeast to the capital and Mobei, even among the Liao sovereign's own personal guard, there are no shortage of Xi generals and soldiers serving! When they learn that the Xi have surrendered, how will they react, and how will the Khitan view them?

Moreover, since Yelu Abaoji established his capital at Linhuang, in the decades since, when has the capital ever faced an enemy invasion? Even if it is merely our Great Han's military banners raised outside the capital walls, how great a shock would that be to Liao and to the Khitan? It would directly strike at their will and wound their confidence.

On the Shanyang front, even if we cannot annihilate the Liao army entirely, even if we let the Liao sovereign escape, I still want Yelu Xian to realize just how severe the cost of leading his forces south truly is. I want him to realize that the Great Han's strikes against Liao are no longer limited to the Yan Mountains and Monan, nor are they the superficial scratching of Mobei—but that we can thrust straight into their heart, making him feel bone-deep pain...

A mere few hundred li, a bit of winter cold—what does that amount to!"

It was rare to see Emperor Liu speak at such length, but whenever he became eloquent like this, it usually meant his emotions were running high and his resolve was set. An Emperor Liu in such a state was very hard to dissuade. Had the Empress been there, she might have had some effect, but for one thing, the Empress was not present, and for another, the elder Lady Fu would not speak up on such matters.

However, Emperor Liu did not entirely ignore the attitudes and opinions of Liu Xi and Zhang Yong. The prospects might be promising, but the difficulties in achieving the goal were also real—they needed to be overcome, unavoidably.

After a moment of deliberation, Emperor Liu instructed: "Send an edict to Wang Yanchao, telling him to select a brave and resourceful general to lead an elite force northward. I do not require battle results—give him full authority to make decisions on the spot and adapt to circumstances! As for Wang Yanchao himself, let him remain stationed there for now, to maintain order and pacify the region, stabilizing the situation as quickly as possible! Also, since the Xi king has surrendered, it is time for him to show his sincerity and loyalty—have him mobilize the able-bodied among the surrendered Xi troops to serve as guides and accompany the army in operations, so that he does not harbor divided loyalties!"

"Dispatch the edict urgently, sending it to Wang Yanchao's army at the fastest speed!" Emperor Liu added emphatically: "By the time the order reaches the army, they should have had some time to rest, shouldn't they!"

"Yes!" Zhang Yong acknowledged.

Emperor Liu reviewed the memorials once more, with thoughts of the Xi tribes still floating in his mind. After considering for a while, he gave further instructions: "Draft another edict, replying to Liu Xu. I have no objection to the terms he reached with the Xi king. Tell Chouning that I agree to preserve his title as Xi king, and he shall continue to command the various Xi tribes. I will additionally enfeoff him as Military Governor of Raole! However, since the tribes under his jurisdiction have entered the Han, they must also obey Han laws and Han institutions, and bear the responsibilities they must bear.

Additionally, rename the Xi royal city to Dading City and establish a Prefect there! Tell Liu Xu that the establishment of prefectures and counties among the Xi can proceed, but should not be rushed—stability comes first. As for whether to implement the native chieftain system in Xi territory, I still need to deliberate...

That is all for now. Let Liu Xu first manage the pacification of the Xi people. Regarding the grain, tea, and salt they lack, they can communicate with the court to coordinate a portion as support. Other matters await further edict!"

"Oh, and once the situation is fully stabilized, have the Xi king Chouning come to Youzhou to see me!" Emperor Liu added one more item.

"Yes!"

"Let's go back!" Perhaps because he had been exposed to too much cold wind, Emperor Liu wiped his nose and gave the order.

On the way back to the temporary residence, Emperor Liu appeared completely preoccupied. The matter of post-surrender arrangements for the Xi tribes truly needed to be put on the agenda and given careful thought and deliberation.

The current decisions were only stopgap measures, meant to appease the Xi king and stabilize the Xi tribes. As for implementing the native chieftain system for the Xi people, Emperor Liu was not at all inclined toward it in his heart. What he wanted to do instead was to absorb them completely—even establishing prefectures and counties, appointing officials, and digesting them fully into the Great Han's local administrative system.

There was a foundation for this—it was something Liao had been doing all along, and had achieved to a certain degree. They were not far from completely swallowing up the Xi people's lands and tribes, only to have it forcibly interrupted by Yelu Jing's sudden death and by the Great Han's northern campaign.

As for why the Xi king Chouning turned against the Khitan at this juncture—on the one hand, under the influence of the Han-Liao war, the Xi tribesmen could no longer bear the burden, their livelihoods were hard-pressed, and it was increasingly difficult to sustain themselves.

But more importantly, he was driven to it by Liao's annexation policies and actions. No one would willingly see their power restricted or even stripped away.

And if one wished to undertake the same endeavor, it naturally required caution, with consideration for possible backlash from the nobles led by the Xi king. Fortunately, this was not an urgent matter at present—there was no need to rush, and the court would have ample time to operate.

Emperor Liu held such considerations, though who knew whether the Xi king Chouning would come to regret this in the future...