Chapter 1383: Good News Arrives

"I knew it, I knew it!" In Chuigong Hall, Emperor Liu's booming voice echoed among the beams. Standing before the imperial throne, he waved several memorials in his hand, joy written all over his face: "Generals who carved their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood—Mobei may be vast and perilous, but it is no place for them to fall! Yang Ye and Wang Yansheng—not one of them is a man of weak fortune! As for those two young whelps Liu Fang and Liu Min, surely they now know the ferocity of the battlefield!"

His inner joy was fully reflected in the smile spreading across Emperor Liu's lips. Zhang Yong, attending below, said: "This is all due to Your Majesty's grace and authority—only then could the soldiers turn misfortune into fortune and peril into safety!"

Indeed, after a long wait and tireless efforts dispatching men to search, news of the remnants of the Han army's distant expedition to Mobei finally reached Emperor Liu's ears.

Almost simultaneously, three memorials arrived from Hexi, sent respectively by the Hexi Wude Office, the Administration Commission, and the Chief Military Command—all six-hundred-li urgent dispatches. Though each reported according to its own function, their focus was the same, and their intent was to report good news to the court. Clearly, even thousands of li away, the civil and military officials inside and outside the capital were in full consensus on how to please Emperor Liu.

Emperor Liu browsed through them casually, while Zhang Yong, as usual, recounted the distilled key information to him, including the expeditionary army's course of battle, their survival ordeal, and the current condition of the soldiers.

He had anticipated the perilous nature of their arduous journey, so while he felt pity, there was little surprise. Still, when he learned that of the twenty thousand Han cavalry, only one in ten had survived, he could not help but sigh.

"Green hills everywhere bury loyal bones!" Emperor Liu temporarily set down the memorials and uttered a profound lament: "Survivors of a hundred battles, fighting their way across thousands of li—the soldiers of the expeditionary army have endured much!"

Of course, compared to ordinary soldiers, Emperor Liu was without question more concerned about his beloved son and his great generals. Suppressing his excitement, he directly asked Zhang Yong: "How are Yang Ye and the two princes, and the Liu Fang brothers? And Yang Yanzhao—are they all well?"

Zhang Yong naturally understood Emperor Liu's thoughts, so he quickly gave an affirmative answer: "Though not without wounds, they have recuperated fully. The two princes are completely unharmed—Your Majesty may rest assured. Only the old general Wang Yansheng, advanced in years and worn by fatigue, has found his body unable to hold up!"

"As long as they are safe, that is well. Issue the order—let the civil and military officials of Hexi make proper arrangements to receive them, and be certain to bring them back to the Great Han safely! Afterward, have Yang Ye and the others return to the capital—I will receive them personally and reward them!" Emperor Liu directly commanded.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yong hesitated slightly, then replied: "I report to Your Majesty—the expeditionary army is sheltering south of the Golden Mountains, separated from the Northern Court by only a stretch of desert. Upon learning of the situation in the Western Regions, they took the initiative to propose coordinating with the Western Regions army, striking from north and south together to annihilate the remnants of the Liao army. At present, they have likely already led their troops south to launch a surprise attack on the Northern Court city!

Furthermore, the two princes, Lord Zhao and Prince Wei, have already returned to Hexi ahead of the others, but have gone straight to Gaochang, wishing to participate in the Western Regions campaign, and to receive the expeditionary army's soldiers at Luntai and the Northern Court!"

Emperor Liu's brows immediately knit together. In his view, such actions were entirely unnecessary. He carefully read through the memorials once more, then set them down again with a light sigh: "Yang Ye and the others' actions here—they still harbor doubts, wanting to atone for their faults through merit! Why must they? Whether they return in glorious triumph or meet disaster on the field, they are warriors, meritorious servants of the Great Han. I would praise and reward them but find it insufficient—how could I speak of fault?"

"If the soldiers knew of Your Majesty's sentiments, they would be all the more fearless and without regret, serving the state with loyalty!" Zhang Yong said.

After a pause, he requested: "If Your Majesty yearns for his sons, should an edict be issued to recall the two princes first?"

"No! If I recall them now, I fear these two sons of mine would both resent me!" Emperor Liu shook his head and waved his hand, speaking softly: "Since they have gone, let them be. Wait until the Western Regions campaign has concluded! We have already waited through so long a time with their whereabouts unknown—what worry is there in waiting a while longer!"

"Draft a directive to the northwest—let all circuits give full support to the Western Regions army, end the campaign as soon as possible, and stabilize the situation!" Emperor Liu commanded.

"Yes!" Zhang Yong acknowledged the order.

After a moment's deliberation, Emperor Liu added: "Send a document to the Hall of State Affairs—prepare an envoy mission to travel west to Gaochang!"

Hearing this, Zhang Yong showed slight surprise. Though he had his guesses, he still requested: "What does Your Majesty intend?"

Emperor Liu spoke at leisure: "Over a decade and more, the Western Regions have suffered repeated devastation of war. Between the Uyghurs, Liao, the Kara-Khanids, and the Great Han, the clash of arms has never ceased—the land is already scorched for a thousand li, the people all but gone. The Great Han sent tens of thousands of troops on a distant campaign, exhausting men and resources for meager gain—hardly worth it.

At present, the Great Han's enemy remains chiefly Liao, and we should not launch new campaigns or create fresh complications. This time, had it not been for the remnants of the Liao army entrenched north of the Tianshan, I might not have ordered reinforcements.

As for that Kara-Khanid kingdom, after so many years of seesaw warfare, they must surely be unable to bear the burden any longer!"

Zhang Yong picked up the thread: "Though the Kara-Khanids claim to be a great power of the Western Regions, their state is weak and their people few. After more than a decade of eastward campaigns, they must certainly be utterly exhausted!"

Emperor Liu said: "I shall first release a bit of goodwill—dispatch envoys westward. Between our two states, there is neither hereditary enmity nor accumulated grievance. If the two states can mend relations and open communication, I too am willing to sheathe the sword and end the war, returning tranquility to the Western Regions!"

"Your Majesty's heart embraces the world, laying down arms and ceasing hostilities. Should a peace agreement be reached and amity restored, the merit and virtue would be immeasurable!" Zhang Yong said: "I believe the Kara-Khanid kingdom will certainly not refuse—they would not dare continue opposing the Great Han!"

Emperor Liu was entirely immune to such flattery, and said with certainty: "After the eighth year of Kaibao, apart from the north, the Great Han should have no other wars!"

As he spoke, Emperor Liu muttered another line: "The Great Han should also start winding down its operations and slowing its pace!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Zhang Yong said from the bottom of his heart.

In recent years, the Great Han Empire had expanded too rapidly. Many discerning men at court could see it, but previously the emperor had been in high spirits, thoroughly enjoying himself. Though they offered warnings, the situation was not yet dire, so they dared not remonstrate too forcefully.

As for Zhang Yong, thanks to his position, he too could see certain problems from the broader perspective, and had repeatedly offered indirect admonitions. However, compared to the courtiers' dissuasions, it was more fitting that Emperor Liu himself became self-aware and began to change course.

"By the way, it was men of the Wude Office who found the expeditionary army, was it not?" Emperor Liu suddenly changed the subject.

"Indeed—Wang Yinwu, the Hexi director of the Wude Office, ventured north of the Hexi desert three times, going to the Golden Mountains to search, and finally found them!" Zhang Yong said.

"Who is this man? He has worked hard—I owe him thanks!" Emperor Liu revealed a slight smile.

Wang Yinwu, a figure of some standing in the northwest, had left no impression on Emperor Liu at all. At this, Zhang Dejun, who was also attending in the hall, spoke up: "Your Majesty, this Wang Yinwu is also a capable officer under the Wude Office. When the envoy mission led by Commissioner Lu was dispatched west, he accompanied it, did not fail his mission, and returned to the state with merit!"

"I seem to have some recollection!" Emperor Liu nodded, and could not help glancing at Zhang Dejun: "You seem to know quite a bit about the affairs of the Wude Office!"

Hearing this, Zhang Dejun gave an awkward smile and said: "This humble one also sent some men to search for traces of the expeditionary army's soldiers, so the men below had some contact!"

Emperor Liu did not take it to heart, and asked Zhang Yong: "What of Li Chongju? This matter has always been his responsibility. Now that results have come, why has he not come to report in person?"

Zhang Yong clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Governor Li is ill!"

"Ill?" Emperor Liu raised an eyebrow, then said with a knowing tone: "The timing of this illness seems rather convenient!"

After pondering a moment, he commanded: "Notify the Imperial Medical Institute—send someone to his residence to take his pulse. If he is ill, it must be treated!"

"Yes!" Zhang Yong's heart tightened slightly upon hearing this.

Meanwhile, Zhang Dejun at the side had a flicker of a strange light in his eyes, and a faint curve unconsciously lifted the corner of his mouth.

"Yan Tuo!" Emperor Liu's attention quickly returned to the good news he had received, eager to share it.

"This humble one is here!"

"Send someone at once to Kunning Hall, and inform the Empress of the news that the Second Prince has been found—she can rest easy now!" Emperor Liu wore a face full of joy.

"Yes!"

"No!" Emperor Liu quickly rescinded the order, rising and walking outward: "I will go myself. Also summon the Worthy Consort, and—send word outside the palace to bring the Dowager of Prince Wei into the palace as well......"