Chapter 1514: Traitor to Liao

The autumn sun hung low, unable to dispel the desolation. In the bleak wind, a figure stood with hands bound and feet shackled, standing respectfully before Chongzheng Hall, as motionless as a bowed green pine.

Beneath the hall's eaves, palace eunuchs kept their eyes lowered while guards stood erect, indifferent to the man, simply holding their posts. The newcomer remained calm, waiting quietly, appearing quite composed.

When Zhao Pu arrived, he caught sight of this man and couldn't help but take a second look. The eunuchs, who had been meekly lowering their eyes, immediately sharpened their gazes. Spotting Zhao Pu, they perked up and hurried over obsequiously: "Greetings, Chancellor."

"Mm!" Zhao Pu did not put on the airs of a chancellor before these eunuchs who served at the imperial presence. He nodded with a smile and asked, "Is His Majesty in?"

Emperor Liu's whereabouts remained quite mysterious to the outer court. Zhao Pu knew that Emperor Liu had frequently left the palace these days, so he could not be certain that arriving would guarantee an audience.

Perhaps he knew this in his heart but could not show it. As a minister, one could not fail to pay attention to the emperor's movements, but knowing them too clearly would be taboo.

"To answer the Chancellor, His Majesty returned to the palace not long ago!" the eunuch replied. "This servant will go announce you at once!"

"Much obliged!" Zhao Pu nodded.

Then he stepped forward and stood before the hall, alongside the man who had been waiting. Seeing Zhao Pu, the man revealed a cordial smile, showing no resentment at the differential treatment. He clasped his hands and said, "This humble official greets Chancellor Zhao!"

Zhao Pu stood naturally, tilting his head to appraise this elder with a slightly swarthy complexion and a long beard, replying with a smile: "Vice Minister Xiao need not stand on ceremony. When did you arrive at the Eastern Capital?"

This man was none other than the Khitan defector Xiao Siwen. On this eastern tour, he had not been among those accompanying the imperial entourage. Now he had suddenly appeared, waiting for an audience before the hall. Naturally, Zhao Pu was curious and could hardly suppress a hint of inquisitiveness.

At the question, Xiao Siwen replied, "I arrived just after noon and came specifically to seek an audience with His Majesty."

"Has something happened in the north?" Zhao Pu asked.

A trace of admiration appeared on Xiao Siwen's face, wearing a look of genuine respect as he said, "Chancellor Zhao truly has keen eyes that see through all things like a blazing fire. As you have guessed, news has come from the Khitan. This humble official thought it might be of use to the court!"

After Xiao Siwen fled south to the Great Han, he had been granted the title of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, held up high but with not a shred of real power. Nevertheless, he was of considerable value to the Great Han. Without question, he was an expert on Khitan affairs, with genuine substance—far more formidable than the half-trained Wang Zhaoyuan.

Thus, Xiao Siwen's position in the Great Han court was that of an advisor on Khitan affairs, occasionally receiving summons from Emperor Liu to be consulted on steppe matters. Of course, to fully utilize his talents, Emperor Liu had also given him a post—Director of the Steppe Affairs Office within the Wude Office.

Of course, this remained a nominal position without real authority, and it was still under the surveillance of the Wude Office. But even so, Xiao Siwen, through his knowledge of steppe conditions and certain connections within the Khitan, had provided the court with considerable useful intelligence.

Since the Khitan had migrated north, fleeing far into Mobei, it had become even more difficult for the Great Han to spy on Khitan affairs. Xiao Siwen had opportunely filled the gap in the Great Han's Khitan intelligence operations. He was also quite enthusiastic—having entered Han service by morning, he swore never to turn back, walking ever further down the promising career path of a Liao traitor.

"Oh? What's the situation? Won't you give this old man a hint first?" Zhao Pu asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

At this critical juncture for the Great Han, he did not want any problems arising in the north. And the most important matter in northern affairs was the Khitan, whom Emperor Liu had always wished nothing more than to eradicate.

"Of course!" Xiao Siwen did not refuse. He sighed, then replied, "It is no great secret. Not long ago, the Khitan's Prince of Taiping, Yelu Yansage, died!"

"Is there something hidden behind this?" Zhao Pu immediately caught the key point. If it were merely the death of a Khitan imperial prince, it would not warrant Xiao Siwen making a special trip to the Eastern Capital to report.

Xiao Siwen's expression turned somewhat grave as he said, "According to intelligence reports, Yelu Yansage had gathered a group of imperial clansmen, ministers, and subordinates, intending to launch a rebellion, depose the Khitan ruler, and seize back the throne for the line of Taizong Yelu Deguang. But the plot was not kept secret enough and was discovered by the Khitan ruler, who suppressed it and ordered him to commit suicide. Though the matter was settled quickly and heavily suppressed, some news still leaked out. In this humble official's view, it must be true!"

Zhao Pu's brow furrowed even deeper—not from worry over the Khitan's internal situation, but from concern over how Emperor Liu would decide to react. After a moment's thought, he sighed: "It seems the Khitan's internal affairs remain unsettled! Mobei has not yet been fully pacified, and now the imperial clansmen have begun contending for the throne again."

In times of turmoil, internal problems tend to be magnified. If the Khitan could maintain its national fortune, then with Yelu Xian's abilities and methods, some internal issues could still be properly resolved. Even minor ripples could brew into great disasters. After all, even someone as unpopular as Yelu Jing had firmly remained on the throne.

But reality was precisely this: under the Great Han's unremitting and powerful pressure, the once-glorious Liao had fallen apart and collapsed with a thunderous crash, even fleeing to Mobei in great disgrace to avoid the sharp edge of the Han's might.

Under such circumstances, maintaining internal unity was an extremely difficult task. Back then, when Yelu Jing suffered defeat in the northern campaign, the Khitan's internal opponents had boldly raised armies and rebelled at the Supreme Capital.

And the situation under Yelu Xian's rule was even worse. Previously, during the chaos in Mobei, Emperor Liu had been curious why only the Mobei tribal forces had risen up in defiance and self-rule, while the Khitan imperial clansmen had remained silent. This was clearly abnormal and did not match their long-standing tradition of internal strife.

After all, Yelu Xian's rise to power back then had been a matter of favorable timing, popular support, and sheer fortune—full of contingencies. Even so, there remained suspicion of conspiracy and usurpation. How could Yelu Deguang's descendants truly accept it? Especially after Yelu Xian had led Liao into the abyss of decline, that dissatisfaction and resistance could only grow, never diminish.

Now it seemed that the imperial succession struggle that had plagued the Khitan for decades was still ongoing. Yelu Xian had not resolved it—it simply had not fully manifested, or perhaps Yelu Xian had suppressed it effectively.

Soon, a eunuch hurried out of the hall and loudly announced the names. Emperor Liu summoned Zhao Pu and Xiao Siwen for an audience. Inside the hall, Emperor Liu was in high spirits, having just returned from an outing to Daxiangguo Temple. As the ruler and ministers took their seats, he shared his observations from the outing with both of them, remarking with emotion on the growing prosperity of the Eastern Capital's markets and temple streets.

After a few pleasantries, Xiao Siwen concisely recounted the Khitan news and his own assessments. As expected, Emperor Liu showed genuine interest.

With a hint of schadenfreude in his tone, Emperor Liu said, "This news does resolve a trace of doubt in my mind. The Khitan's internal unrest makes it difficult for them to unite their strength—this is indeed good for the Great Han. This struggle between the descendants of Yelu Deguang and Yelu Bei seems to have no end!"

Hearing Emperor Liu's words, Xiao Siwen said, "Yelu Yansage was truly a man of great ambition but little ability. He could never bear to be beneath others and repeatedly attempted rebellion. Back when the previous Khitan ruler was on the throne, he had already plotted a deposition. After being demoted, he still refused to reform, secretly building up strength in Mobei—though he was always easily suppressed by the previous ruler."

"But wasn't that Yelu Yansage too useless? After biding his time for so long, he was easily dealt with, only stirring up such minor ripples. Over a decade ago, when Yelu Xiyin raised his rebellion, it caused chaos in the Supreme Capital with countless deaths and injuries!" Emperor Liu said, his tone filled with regret.

Xiao Siwen said, "When Yelu Xiyin raised his rebellion, it coincided with the Great Han's northern campaign. The Khitan suffered a disastrous defeat, and the court was left hollow and empty. Now, Yelu Yansage plotted rebellion right under the Khitan ruler's nose, and with his careless handling of the matter, failure was inevitable!"

"What a pity!" Emperor Liu remarked with feeling. Toward the Khitan, who were hiding in Mobei to recuperate and rebuild, Emperor Liu harbored constant vigilance. Anything that caused them distress brought him joy.

"Minister Xiao, if I remember correctly, this Yelu Yansage was your son-in-law, was he not?" Emperor Liu suddenly said with a look of realization, pointing it out.

At these words, Xiao Siwen's body immediately tensed, then a trace of bitterness appeared on his aged face. He sighed and said, "My eldest daughter, Hunian, was married to Yelu Yansage in her early years. After Yelu Yansage died, my daughter also passed away..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu's expression shifted slightly. Looking at Xiao Siwen, he said in a tone that retained its warmth: "In that case, this must have been difficult for you, Minister Xiao!"

"Having become a minister of Han, I have completely severed ties with the Khitan. I shall devote myself wholeheartedly to serving Your Majesty and the Great Han!" Xiao Siwen replied thus.

Even Zhao Pu could not help but look at this Khitan defector expressing loyalty to Emperor Liu with astonishment. Such magnanimity was truly extraordinary.

Had Emperor Liu not brought it up, he would have overlooked the matter entirely. And judging by Xiao Siwen's demeanor just now, there was not a trace of grief over losing his daughter. If a man like this did not rise to prominence, that would be the real wonder.