Chapter 1351: The Xi King Comes to Court

The north wind carried the chill, and the land of Youyan lay covered under a thin layer of frost and snow. Grasses and trees had withered, and all was desolate. On the official road leading from Tanzhou to Youzhou, a procession slowly made its way forward—armored guards escorting, tasseled banners fluttering. The road was extremely quiet; apart from this solitary convoy, few travelers were seen ahead or behind.

As the various armies of the northern expedition gradually withdrew, the Great Han also began to pull away from the track of war and return to normalcy. Especially in the prefectures of the Central Plains and the north, policies of rest and recovery for the people had already begun to be adjusted before winter set in.

the Yan Mountains, as a circuit deeply involved in the northern expedition and the main logistical base for the great army, had adjusted its policies early due to its proximity to Emperor Liu's coordinating center. But the progress was clearly not fast enough—too many matters of aftermath required cooperation from this side. Whether it was the border troops on garrison duty or the conscripted laborers, their resettlement all lagged somewhat behind.

Still, the war was finally over. This clear piece of news was enough to soothe people's hearts—no more bearing the dangers of military service or the endless bitter corvée labor. Those who had survived the war could even look forward to the court's subsequent compensation and relief.

Though still far from returning to pre-war life, hope could at least be seen. For the Yan Mountains Circuit, nearly a hundred thousand able-bodied laborers had been pulled out of the mire of war, returning home to reunite with their families, bringing much warmth to this cold winter.

War had spurred a kind of distorted prosperity, but in the end it lacked staying power. After the revelry, things settled back into silence. Compared to past winters, this year's Youyan region was noticeably more subdued—desolation could be seen everywhere. This was also the most direct impact of the war.

The convoy advanced at a steady pace. Wide carriage wheels ground over the frost and ice on the stone-paved road, leaving behind a trail of messy wheel ruts and producing clear sounds as they silently headed south.

Inside the most tightly guarded carriage sat two people: one was the Grand Prince, Duke of Qin, Liu Xu; the other was the Xi King, Chouning.

Liu Xu did not maintain the dignity and bearing of an imperial prince as he did before others. He had wrapped himself in a thick set of padded clothing, but even so it was not enough—his whole body was hunched and shivering.

Liu Xu was born in Kaifeng and raised in Kaifeng, familiar with the climate of the Central Plains. Thus, the winter cold beyond the northern frontier was just as hard for him to endure.

"Your Highness, have some wine to warm your body—it will make you feel better!" Seeing Liu Xu's flushed face, the Xi King Chouning personally poured him a bowl of strong liquor.

"I've never been much of a drinker and rarely touch it. I never expected that after one trip to Dading City, I'd find it hard to part with this stuff!" Liu Xu took the bowl, stared at the slightly yellow liquid within, and gave a wry smile.

"The mountains beyond are remote and cold—I've made Your Highness's precious body suffer!" The Xi King Chouning said with feeling: "That Your Highness would brave the wind and cold to personally come to the northern lands to win over our people truly shows your sincerity. This old man is deeply grateful!"

"The King need not be so formal. I am merely carrying out the Son of Heaven's decree to win over the Xi people—it is also the court's intention. The Xi and the Central Plains share deep ties. Had the Khitan not run rampant beyond the frontier and enslaved all the peoples, the Han and Xi common folk would long have lived in harmony and friendly exchange.

Now, the King has led your people in righteous uprising and come to submit—this is a benevolent act of setting things right, of immeasurable merit. His Majesty's earlier decree has already made clear that all previous conflicts between the Han and Xi peoples are to be wiped away. The several hundred thousand Xi people shall henceforth be citizens of the Great Han, subjects of the Son of Heaven, treated with equal regard, never bullied or wronged..." After drinking some wine, Liu Xu's face grew even redder as he looked at the Xi King and spoke.

Words like these, Liu Xu had been repeating to the Xi King ever since the Xi surrendered and the Han army entered the Xi royal city, as a means of reassurance. What he brought up was nothing more than the ties between the Xi and the Central Plains, the relationship between the two sides, and the Emperor's attitude toward them.

Though words alone were hard to guarantee, as long as one was willing to believe, it could still put one's mind at ease considerably. However, the Xi King Chouning, though aged, was not muddle-headed. He did not take all of Liu Xu's words at face value. But things had come to this point—he, as Xi King, along with the several hundred thousand Xi tribesmen who had submitted to the Great Han, had little room for choice.

They could only hope that the Great Han's Son of Heaven and court would treat their Xi people well, as promised before their submission. Of course, for the Xi King Chouning, what mattered more was that his status and authority as Xi King could be guaranteed.

This time, coming south with Liu Xu to Youzhou to have an audience with the Son of Heaven, Chouning was in his heart not at all willing to come. But he dared not not come—circumstances were stronger than the man.

"The Son of Heaven's renown spreads across the entire realm. Though I am old and dim-witted, I have often heard of it. Now, to have the opportunity to meet the Great Han's Son of Heaven in person—I feel greatly honored!" Chouning said with emotion, his withered old face full of moved expression, as if he truly held Emperor Liu in great admiration.

"The King need not have any concerns. The Son of Heaven has always been magnanimous and open-minded, treating others with sincerity, and is warm and hospitable. This audience will surely make the King feel at home—you may rest easy!" Liu Xu could also sense the unease that lingered in Chouning's heart, and said with a light smile.

Looking at Liu Xu's gentle expression, that smile soothing the heart like a spring breeze, Chouning subconsciously felt considerably more settled, yet still said somewhat insincerely: "I grow ever more eager to meet His Majesty and behold the imperial countenance!"

After speaking, Chouning slowly realized something, a sudden clarity dawning in his mind. He felt that this Grand Prince was formidable—for all his warm and jade-like bearing, his modest and courteous manner, talking with him always left a pressure pent up in one's chest that was hard to release.

"The King enjoys fine wine. In the Son of Heaven's traveling court, there should be no shortage of imperial liquor—all fine brews and rare vintages purchased by the palace. When the time comes, the King may drink to his heart's content!" This time it was Liu Xu who poured wine for Chouning, his tone still gentle as ever.

"Better than this wine?" Hearing this, Chouning indeed perked up with interest. A glint of brightness flashed even in his cloudy old eyes as he pointed at the wine in his bowl and asked.

Liu Xu smiled lightly: "The Great Han spans ten thousand li, vast in territory and rich in resources. Its wines and brews are likewise numerous in variety, each with its own character and flavor. This wine is merely the military ration liquor supplied to the northern expedition troops—strong liquor that burns the throat and warms the body, but hardly worthy of being called fine wine!"

Hearing Liu Xu say this, Chouning immediately declared: "If there is an opportunity, this old man will certainly indulge his palate!"

"The King may rest assured! There will certainly be an opportunity!" Liu Xu said with a beaming smile.

The quiet journey was somewhat dull, but within the carriage, the young and the old—Liu Xu and Chouning—conversed with great harmony and ease. Of course, the rhythm of the conversation remained firmly in Liu Xu's hands.

Though Chouning was the Xi King, this kind of barbarian minor king had little real standing. Moreover, he had not even been formally enfeoffed by Emperor Liu. Even if he were enfeoffed, he would be an anomaly within the Great Han's system of ranks and titles. Just like Fu Yantong, the Xu King of the Yao barbarians back then—in the eyes of many ministers, he was not even worth as much attention as Qin Zaihong, the Yao chieftain who held the title of Marquis of Hongjiang.

The convoy moved slowly. As it neared Youzhou city, the road finally became livelier, and denser signs of habitation appeared. To this day, Youzhou city still maintained its bustle. Large quantities of supplies were still being transported up from the various southern prefectures, though this time mainly through civilian channels. At the same time, a great number of merchants were arriving, with large volumes of trade taking place every day.

"Has the King ever been to Youzhou?" Seeing Chouning constantly leaning out of the carriage to gaze at the scenery outside, Liu Xu asked in a low voice.

At the question, Chouning withdrew his gaze, turned to Liu Xu's young face, nodded, and said: "I have been here before! But that was a very long time ago!"

"The last time was also twenty-five years ago!" Chouning's tone was full of emotion, and a look of reminiscence rose in his old eyes as he said: "In those days, the Jin dynasty still stood. This old man accompanied the Khitan Taizong Emperor on his southern campaign and once stopped at Youzhou!"

Hearing Chouning say this, Liu Xu was clearly intrigued. He sat up straight and said: "The King has indeed seen much of the world. Twenty-five years ago is truly distant—at that time, my ancestor Gaozu was still lying low in Hedong, the Great Han had not yet been established, and as for me, I had not even been born..."

Chouning said: "What Your Highness says is correct. At that time, the Liao army marched south in force and seized the Central Plains, but the very next year they were driven out by the righteous armies of the Central Plains and fled north in disgrace. Afterwards, passing through Luancheng, the Liao Emperor fell ill and died, and was pursued and attacked by the Great Han's Son of Heaven leading his troops, suffering a great defeat..."

"The King also took part in the Battle of Luancheng!" Liu Xu was genuinely surprised and asked.

Chouning nodded, the emotion in his voice growing thicker: "Yes, at that time this old man was in the Liao army. Like all the Liao troops, I experienced a crushing defeat unlike anything encountered since marching south. In the chaos, we fled north in panic, utterly disgraced.

At the time, like many others, I thought it was because the Han army caught us unprepared, compounded by the Liao Emperor's death. Now that I think of it—with the current Son of Heaven commanding the troops, favored by Heaven's mandate, even if the Liao army had superior numbers and strength, it could hardly escape defeat. And the Liao Emperor's sudden death—perhaps it was because his virtue was insufficient, and his presumption in claiming the imperial title brought Heaven's punishment upon him!"

Chouning's flattery was so blatant that even Liu Xu found it amusing, and it was pleasant to hear. Seeing that the old Xi King seemed somewhat lost in his reminiscences of the past, Liu Xu reminded him in a low voice: "King, when we reach Youzhou, do not mention the details of the Battle of Luancheng to anyone!"

"Why is that?" Chouning snapped back to attention, somewhat puzzled.

At this, Liu Xu was momentarily at a loss for how to explain. After thinking it over, he met Chouning's gaze and said: "Regarding the course of the Battle of Luancheng, the Great Han court has already reached a conclusion, recorded it in the histories, and spread it among the people. Therefore, anything that does not harmonize with the Son of Heaven's virtue and prestige should not be brought up!"

In the end, as an unavoidable grand spectacle in the deification of Emperor Liu, the Battle of Luancheng had once had various versions. But now, from the officials to the common folk, only one version circulated—and that version clearly conflicted with what Chouning had just described...