Chapter 1516: The Value of Xiao Siwen

Emperor Liu's speech welcoming those from afar to return was not entirely empty courtesy. The Great Han of today had gone a step further than the Tang in assimilation and integration, claiming the flourishing of ten thousand peoples together. Under its rule there were not ten thousand ethnic groups—that would be an exaggeration—but a hundred or so there certainly were.

The Khitan were naturally one of the major peoples among them. Their population was not large, close to a hundred thousand, but bearing the name of Khitan, they could not be ignored. Among these Khitan who had submitted to the Great Han were prisoners taken in successive battles, those who had failed to retreat north during the northern expeditions to take Monan, and, of course, the majority were those who had led their tribes south to surrender for various reasons.

Xiao Siwen naturally did not fully believe Emperor Liu's words, but he still spoke up respectfully at the appropriate moment: "Your Majesty, I have a proposal. I wonder if Your Majesty would grant permission!"

"Speak!" Seeing that Xiao Siwen had more to say, Emperor Liu waved his hand generously and said.

Xiao Siwen remained reverent in demeanor and spoke calmly: "To answer Your Majesty, in the two years since I came south to the Great Han, I have continuously sent men north in secret to contact Khitan nobles and old acquaintances, wishing to draw them to court. Now, results are beginning to show. Recently, replies have come in succession, expressing willingness to lead their people south to submit. I believe that as long as the court actively accepts them and coordinates reception, the Great Han will welcome even more Khitan subjects!"

Hearing this memorial, Emperor Liu immediately perked up. Looking at Xiao Siwen with a pleased expression: "Oh? It seems Minister Xiao's work over these two years has indeed been remarkably effective! In the past, the Wude Office had tried to win them over, but the results were always less than satisfactory. If this matter succeeds, Minister Xiao will have rendered another great service!"

This task had been assigned to Xiao Siwen by Emperor Liu after he first came south. For such a long time, no notable results had been seen, and Emperor Liu had nearly forgotten about it. Now hearing of it by chance, it was an unexpected delight.

Xiao Siwen expressed: "This all relies on Your Majesty's majesty and virtue; it is truly not this old minister's merit. To accomplish this matter and attract their multitudes, I still need the support of Your Majesty and the court!"

"That naturally poses no problem!" Emperor Liu also stated his position, and after deliberating a moment, said: "For this matter, since the people were drawn in by Minister Xiao, let Minister Xiao take charge of it. I will have Wang Yinwu assist you with full effort. For matters requiring coordination from the court, you may seek help from Chancellor Zhao!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Siwen actually felt a sense of being favored beyond his expectations.

Having been south for so long, always shelved aside, not given important positions—that was one thing—but also having to endure all kinds of contemptuous looks and disdain. This was something Xiao Siwen could not tolerate. Now, finally, he had obtained an opportunity to display his talents and influence. Truly rare.

Zhao Pu stood silently to the side. Hearing Emperor Liu mention him, he also cupped his hands in acknowledgment, though his solemn expression showed he had reservations about the matter.

Emperor Liu continued: "Weapons should not be lightly moved, but dividing their tribes and alienating their hearts can equally dismantle their power. Subduing the enemy without fighting—that is the superior strategy!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Xiao Siwen responded.

"How many tribes and people does the Khitan still have now? How long can they withstand such methods?" Emperor Liu said with a smile, as if he had found the winning tactic.

Of course, population was indeed the Khitan's greatest weakness, and also the one thing with which they could never overcome the Central Plains. Now that they had moved to Mobei, under those harsh living conditions, things would only grow more difficult in the future.

Xiao Siwen answered: "After years of war, before I came south, all the Khitan armies and tribes combined numbered only a little over a million souls. If one counts the continuous turmoil and fleeing populations of the past two years, the entire Mobei now likely has less than a million—perhaps even fewer!"

"That is probably not even one-twentieth of the Khitan at their peak! Even less than the population of a single circuit of our Great Han!" Emperor Liu clicked his tongue in lament, seeming quite sympathetic to the Khitan's plight, and joked: "The Khitan have declined to such a state, and I still pursue and strike them relentlessly—does that make me seem insufficiently magnanimous, insufficiently kind?"

Though he knew Emperor Liu was joking, Xiao Siwen also responded swiftly, saying that this was all the Khitan's own choice, bringing it upon themselves...

Seeing Emperor Liu in good spirits, he continued to report: "Your Majesty, I believe the internal strife of the Khitan will absolutely not end here. On the contrary, it will intensify because of the death of Yelu Yansage.

Among the imperial clan, there is still the King of Yue, Yelu Bishe. He is the sole surviving son of Taizong Yelu Deguang. In the past he held the reins of government and enjoyed great prestige. In the succession struggle of that year, he was both compelled by public sentiment and voluntarily withdrew for the sake of the greater good. Otherwise, even with the army he commanded, even with the support of Yelu Xianshi, Yelu Xiezhen, and others, the Khitan ruler would not have ascended the throne so smoothly.

Yet since his accession, he has led the Khitan into its current state of decline, and it grows weaker by the day. I suspect that Yelu Bishe must now regret his decision of that time!"

"Even if Yelu Bishe had seized the throne back then, could he have avoided today's outcome?" Emperor Liu said indifferently.

"The might of the Great Han is impossible to match. The outcome was already destined; naturally there is no escape!" Xiao Siwen hurriedly said.

"But will this Yelu Bishe resist Yelu Xian? You also said that back then he could consider the greater good and voluntarily retreat. Now, how could he add frost to the Khitan's snow?" Emperor Liu was somewhat skeptical.

Xiao Siwen said: "Even if Yelu Bishe has no such intention, one cannot guarantee others do not. Moreover, the Khitan ruler can hardly avoid harboring suspicion toward him..."

As he said this, Xiao Siwen grew somewhat cautious, and his voice lowered considerably. Emperor Liu glanced at him and said softly: "Minister Xiao sees through the ruler's heart quite thoroughly!"

Xiao Siwen dared not respond to that. Emperor Liu did not pursue the topic either, but said: "Even so, once Yelu Xian deals with this Yelu Bishe, who else could challenge his position? Khitan infighting may hamper them, but if one hopes to collapse them through internal attrition alone, that may not be easy. The Khitan of today still have capable men!"

Seeing Emperor Liu's lament, Xiao Siwen said: "The Khitan succession struggle has already dragged on for decades. When the Khitan ruler first ascended the throne, he swore an oath with the various princes, dukes, and nobles, establishing succession by the eldest legitimate son to clarify the line of inheritance.

However, the Khitan ruler did not have sufficient time to perfect and consolidate it before the Great Han launched its northern expedition. Furthermore, the Khitan ruler only obtained a son at the beginning of this year. And from what this minister knows, because of the Huoshendian Rebellion back then, the Khitan ruler has carried a chronic ailment since childhood. His body is deficient, and long treatment has failed to cure it.

During the northern expedition that year, he taxed his mind and body to resist the Great Han's military might. As for leading troops south and personally experiencing military campaigns, that further aggravated his illness. This minister observes that the Khitan ruler is not a sovereign destined for long life. Should anything go wrong, where the Khitan situation will head is still unknown."

"If that is so, this is indeed something to look forward to!" A hint of a smile appeared on Emperor Liu's face, and a trace of contemplation flickered in his eyes.

Xiao Siwen's words reminded him of something. Those memories long buried in the depths of his mind, though already blurred, now found some sense of familiarity thanks to this prompting.

It seemed that the original Yelu Xian had not reigned for very long either, ultimately leaving behind an orphan and widow to guard the state, which also gave rise to the legend of a generation of Empress Dowager Xiao.

All in all, Xiao Siwen's journey east to Kaifeng this time had indeed brought Emperor Liu a certain surprise. This man's value to the Great Han was gradually revealing itself.

Zhao Pu had also come with matters to report. Considering that Xiao Siwen had traveled hard and was weary, Emperor Liu specially ordered him to withdraw and rest. Zhao Pu alone remained for a private talk with Emperor Liu.

"Minister Zhao, what do you think of this Xiao Siwen as a man?" Emperor Liu's attention was still on Xiao Siwen.

Upon the question, Zhao Pu mulled it over briefly before answering: "This minister believes that this man is too deferential toward Your Majesty, too loyal toward the court..."