Chapter 1349: They Are at Jinshan

At dawn, the sky was dim, and within the traveling palace, aside from a few faint lamps, little light could be seen. Now that the northern campaign had fully entered its mopping-up phase, Emperor Liu had once again extricated himself from the highly tense quagmire of military and political affairs, entrusting all manner of matters to the civil and military officials both inside and outside the court.

Though he harbored thoughts of resting well, he still woke early from his slumber, startled awake. Rising from the bed, he tucked the blanket around the still-sleeping Worthy Consort Zhe, whose eyes bore traces of tears, so that she would not catch cold. Taking the thick padded robe hanging from the clothes rack, he walked out of the inner bedchamber with soft, quiet steps.

"Your Majesty!" Seeing Emperor Liu emerge awake, the eunuchs and palace maids on night duty could not help but startle, hastily bowing in salute.

Emperor Liu immediately made a shushing gesture. Having slept through the night, his spirits had greatly improved, and the negative emotions that had been pent up within him had also dissipated considerably through comforting the Empress and Lady Zhe.

Stepping out of the palace hall and standing on the level corridor, the increasingly bitter winter wind kept burrowing into the gaps of his robes, causing Emperor Liu to shiver involuntarily. He instinctively drew his outer robe tighter, and his mind became considerably more alert.

The winter morning in Youzhou was dim and lightless, shrouded in a thick haze. Emperor Liu quietly surveyed the early-morning scene of the Youzhou traveling palace for a while, and his mood grew even more tranquil.

Mindful of the imperial physician's admonitions, Emperor Liu did not dare expose himself to the cold wind for too long, especially this early-morning chill, and soon could not bear it and returned to the hall. With the man gone from the bed, the woman soon awoke as well.

Seeing Lady Zhe dressing with the assistance of palace maids, Emperor Liu could not help but ask: "Why not sleep a while longer?"

"Since Your Majesty is already up, how could your concubine linger in bed!" Lady Zhe replied softly. Her complexion still looked somewhat haggard, but her spirits were considerably better.

"Go make preparations and attend to His Majesty's washing!" Having fastened her own sash, Lady Zhe gave her orders.

As more lamps and candles were added, the bedchamber grew bright. Lady Zhe, as was her custom, personally attended to Emperor Liu's morning preparations. On her face, little anxiety or sorrow could be discerned—though of course, it was quite possible she was merely concealing it.

The rhythm of the Youzhou traveling palace was not much different from that of the imperial palace in the capital. Once Emperor Liu, the master of the place, rose and began a new day, the entire traveling palace quickly awakened.

Taking the morning meal together with Lady Zhe, he chewed the flatbread clean, drank down the hot porridge in one go, set down his bowl and chopsticks, took the silk handkerchief handed over by a serving maid, and while wiping his mouth said to Lady Zhe: "I'll return to the front hall first! You needn't idle about in the palace—go visit the Empress and discuss Liu Yun's marriage. He's reached the right age. That boy has always been flighty and indolent by nature—find him a good match who can keep him in line!"

At the mention of the marriage of their fifth son Liu Yun, Lady Zhe was somewhat taken aback, but a smile finally bloomed on her face. Unbeknownst to herself, she too was now beginning to consider the marriage prospects of the two sons she had borne.

Emperor Liu was clearly trying to divert Lady Zhe's attention. Before leaving, he paused in his steps and, with a solemn expression, left one final remark: "Liu Fang will definitely come back!"

"Summon Li Chongju!" On the way to the front hall, Emperor Liu flicked his robe sleeve and coldly instructed Yan Tuo.

Perhaps having been prepared in advance, Li Chongju's audience at the palace was swift—within the space of two quarters of an hour, he was already bowing in attendance before the imperial presence. Emperor Liu did not deliberately keep a cold face as he had before. Looking at him, he asked in a calm and gentle tone: "Any further developments?"

Emperor Liu in this state—betraying neither joy nor anger—often inspired greater fear in his familiar ministers. Li Chongju was no exception. However, he had come prepared this time, and so was not overly terrified.

"Your Majesty, from among the Liao captives, your servant previously selected an interpreter who had served beside the Liao sovereign. After medical treatment, this man regained consciousness, and through interrogation, it was once again confirmed that the two armies of Yang and Wang were not annihilated.

Based on the various intelligence and information gathered by my subordinates during this period, your servant can now confirm that the two armies of Yang Ye and Wang Yansheng fled westward, and are presently most likely trapped in the northwest of the desert, having escaped into the region east of the Gold Mountains!"

"The Gold Mountains!" Emperor Liu had a rough impression of Liao territory. After a moment's thought, he said: "Wouldn't that mean they've gone to the northern edge of the Western Regions?"

"Exactly so!" Li Chongju nodded and said: "Through our analysis, after the expeditionary army was defeated at Wugu Mountain, facing pursuit by the Liao army, the northwest of the Liao desert was no place to remain. To the east were the pursuing troops, to the north were remnants of the northwestern desert forces, and to the south were deserts and gobi—only by going west could they find a path to survival!"

"What is the situation east of the Gold Mountains? Are there any powerful tribes there?" Emperor Liu immediately pressed further. Clearly, he was still more worried about their circumstances and safety.

Li Chongju said: "To answer Your Majesty, the active tribe east of the Gold Mountains is the Nianbage tribe, a tribe primarily descended from Uyghurs. They once submitted to the now-extinct Qocho Uyghur Kingdom, and later pledged allegiance to the Khitan!"

"Then their situation remains worrying!" Emperor Liu furrowed his brow.

Li Chongju, however, said: "Your Majesty, the Nianbage tribe is loosely organized, and Liao has only exercised a loose-rein policy over them—its rule is not firm. Back when the Liao army advanced into the Western Regions, they conscripted large numbers of their tribesmen as auxiliaries, who suffered heavy casualties in the bloody battles of the Western Regions. As a result, they have grown increasingly estranged from the Liao court.

Due to the great distances involved, Liao's rule over the northwestern desert is primarily exercised through the Northwestern Route Pacification Commission—that is, the very region the expeditionary army raided. As for the Nianbage people east of the Gold Mountains, Liao's control over them is very weak. Now that the Great Han's prestige spreads far and wide, with its military might reaching beyond the borders, while Liao has suffered repeated defeats and lost its momentum, those tribes that were already estranged may not dare to help the Khitan oppose the Great Han.

These tribes are not particularly powerful either. Therefore, if the defeated army retreats westward, there is indeed a possibility of turning danger into safety. And it has been over two months since the defeat at Wugu Mountain—if something had truly befallen them, word would have arrived by now.

On this basis, your servant ventures to guess that while they may have encountered some difficulties, the expeditionary army is in the Gold Mountains!"

Hearing Li Chongju's words, Emperor Liu nodded repeatedly. After pondering for a while, the vitality on his face seemed to revive somewhat. He said to Li Chongju: "In that case, continue investigating and searching in this direction!"

"Your servant has already given orders to follow up on this lead!" Li Chongju indicated. "However, if the defeated army truly is in the Gold Mountains region, the best way to establish contact would be to work through the Western Regions!"

"Oh?" At this, Emperor Liu's brow immediately arched, and his thoughts began to race. "Back then, when the Liao army marched west into the Western Regions, they went through the Gold Mountains and across the shifting sands, didn't they?"

"Exactly so!"

"This is getting farther and farther away!" Emperor Liu sighed. One had to know that from his current position, the straight-line distance from Youzhou to the Gold Mountains was at least four thousand li. Over such an immense distance, merely traveling would consume untold days, let alone the fact that the road was no smooth journey—barren deserts, trackless wastelands, high plateaus, mountains and rivers, and all manner of tribes were obstacles.

"As for matters of the Western Regions, I had originally planned to set them aside for the time being and deal with them later. Now it seems we must take them in hand as soon as possible!" Emperor Liu said.

Previously, situation reports from the Western Regions had several times reached Emperor Liu's desk. Both Guo Jin and Lu Duoxun had submitted memorials hoping that the court would relax restrictions and increase support, so as to exterminate the remnants of the Liao army, defeat the Kara-Khanid forces, and pacify the Western Regions. But because that was not the focus of attention, they had all been rejected.

Emperor Liu considered for a moment, then said to Li Chongju: "Very well. First, send people to make contact with the tribes in the region concerning the Gold Mountains. I want more precise information!"

"Yes!"

"It is already deep winter now. Even if they truly are in the Gold Mountains, it would be difficult to render aid in the short term!" Emperor Liu's gaze grew somewhat distant as he murmured: "I wonder how their situation truly is. I pray they are well!"