Chapter 1550: The Shiwei–Jurchen War Ends; No Privileges for the Imperial Clan

Outside the Yellow Dragon Prefecture in the northeast, in the Tieli region that had long been unknown to most in the court, the "conflict" between the Shiwei and the Wanyan Jurchen finally came to an end with a result that was hardly spectacular.

The news arrived in late June, when the Eastern Capital was entering its hottest season, and it proved that the deductions made between Emperor Liu and his son had been a complete waste of effort.

The battle situation basically did not follow their deductions at all. There were no brilliant stratagems, no strategic considerations, and the process was not so breathtaking either—it even seemed rather plain and unadorned.

A prolonged war was unfavorable to both the Shiwei and the Jurchen alike. Even if it was merely a tribal conflict in the eyes of the Great Han's soldiers, for the tribes struggling to survive in the northeast, the impact was enormous—especially on their nomadic production.

The Shiwei did not recklessly storm Tieli City. Instead, they intensified their search-and-destroy operations against the roaming Jurchen cavalry, putting enormous pressure on Wanyan Bahai.

After half of the Shiwei forces had been drawn away from Tieli City, Wanyan Bahai finally executed a tactical withdrawal. He left over three thousand men as decoys to continue drawing the Shiwei army's attention and to feign an attack deep into the western Shiwei tribal territories, while Wanyan Bahai himself concentrated and concealed all his remaining cavalry.

Fewer than four thousand men, yet they were the most elite and best-equipped force of the Wanyan Jurchen—the very foundation of the Wanyan tribe. Led personally by Wanyan Bahai, they rapidly turned around and once again launched a surprise attack on Tieli City, striking with the desperation of burning their boats.

However, this time, Tieli City was in Jurchen hands, and the Shiwei miscalculated once again. They had defenses, to be sure, but facing this sudden assault and the predicament of being caught between the Jurchen inside and outside, the Shiwei stationed around Tieli City still fell into chaos.

Still, this battle was not easy for the Jurchen. Even with their forces halved, the Shiwei still outnumbered the attacking Jurchen, but once the real fighting began, their numerical advantage was whittled down to almost nothing, and the Jurchen seized control of the initiative from start to finish.

The Battle of Tieli City was perhaps the largest war to occur in the northeast since the Han army pacified Yellow Dragon Prefecture, and it ended in a Jurchen victory.

The Shiwei outside Tieli City, after failing to resist, scattered westward. The Jurchen seized the opportunity to pursue and annihilate them, expanding their gains—they claimed over seven thousand kills and captured several thousand horses along with over ten thousand cattle and sheep.

But likewise, the Jurchen paid a considerable price. In the bloody battle, they suffered nearly two thousand casualties. At the same time, the decoy force they had left behind was caught in a pincer attack by the Tulubu Shiwei and the Nielanagu tribe in the west, surrounded, and completely wiped out.

Still, with the conclusion of the Battle of Tieli City, the war between the Shiwei and the Jurchen came to a temporary end. Both sides had been fighting for so long that they were exhausted and unable to continue, desperately in need of rest and recovery.

This could be seen as the Wanyan Jurchen's challenge to the Tulubu Shiwei and the Nielanagu tribe. Judging by the results, the Wanyan Jurchen had won—at least they had successfully wrested the meat of Tieli from the Shiwei's mouths, and the basic objectives of the war had been achieved.

But likewise, one battle did not mean the end—rather, it was the beginning of even fiercer confrontation and hostility between the two sides. The Shiwei would not be reconciled. Having suffered heavy losses and been provoked, what kind of revenge they would take next was something no one could predict.

For the Wanyan Jurchen, how to respond to the Shiwei's next counterattack was even more critical. The Shiwei were clearly not easy to fight. The Wanyan tribe had prepared for so long and racked their brains just to secure one hard-won victory. In the Battle of Tieli, Wanyan Bahai lost two sons, and he himself had nearly perished.

Precisely because they had paid such a heavy price, what they had gained could not be given up. As for how to face the still-powerful Shiwei—setting aside other matters for now—one thing was perfectly clear: they still had to rely on the imperial court.

Therefore, in the first moment after securing victory at the Battle of Tieli City, while busy stabilizing their hard-won position, Wanyan Bahai had already carefully selected a batch of fine horses from the spoils and dispatched envoys southward—one to report to the Liaodong authorities and request aid, and another planning to go to the capital to seek continued support from the imperial court.

It had to be said that at this time, the Wanyan Jurchen were truly pitifully humble.

In comparison, Emperor Liu's attitude toward the Battle of Tieli was far more indifferent. His reaction was quite flat—he merely issued an edict telling Ma Renyu to remain vigilant and ensure peace in Liaodong.

Of course, in Emperor Liu's heart, the outcome of the Wanyan Jurchen's push north was still acceptable. The Shiwei had clearly been badly mauled, and the Jurchen had also paid no small price. Regardless of the process, the result suited his wishes well enough—at least it did not contradict his original intentions.

Still, he had taken in the suggestions of the Great Han's ministers, and he now had more thoughts about the future direction of the northeast. Playing the balance game indeed did not seem suitable for the Great Han, nor was there any need for it.

Of course, before the court clarified its next policy direction, continuing to stir up tribal conflicts and let them wear each other down should still go on. The weaker the various tribes were, the more advantageous it was for the court—that was obvious.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!" Prince Xu, Liu Chengyun, entered the hall to pay his respects.

Emperor Liu was concentrating on practicing calligraphy. Hearing the voice, he looked up, and seeing Prince Xu, a smile immediately spread across his face. He beckoned to him: "Brother Yun, no need for ceremony! Come, take a look—how is this piece of mine?"

Liu Chengyun stepped forward, pretended to appreciate it for a moment, then naturally let out a string of flattering words, at which Emperor Liu was naturally delighted.

When you ask someone to appreciate your work, isn't it just to hear nice things—even naked flattery? Of course, Emperor Liu's calligraphy did have some skill to it, but just how much skill was hard to say. At the very least, he had studied under the late great calligrapher Yang Ningshi.

Putting down his brush, he invited Liu Chengyun to sit beside him. A palace eunuch served tea, and Emperor Liu looked at him and asked: "Brother Yun, you're a rare guest here! When you have time, you should come more often—even just to keep me company in conversation!"

"Yes!" Liu Chengyun smiled along, extremely deferential and cautious, but in his heart he did not take it seriously. Even Prince Yong, Liu Chenghsun, his own blood brother, did not dare visit too frequently—let alone himself, who was in fact only a cousin.

"Your subject has come today to report one matter!" Liu Chengyun quickly got to business.

"Speak!" Emperor Liu's manner was mild.

Liu Chengyun, with a hint of caution, said in a low voice: "Brother Jun wrote to say that his health is failing and he can hardly manage his duties. He hopes to return to the capital to recuperate for a while."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu did not react at first. He was stunned for a moment before realizing he meant Liu Chengjun. In recent years, Emperor Liu had promoted many members of the imperial clan to posts in the provinces, and Liu Chengjun, this cousin of his, was a fairly representative example—he had been serving in Lingnan all these years.

Hearing his purpose, Emperor Liu's brow furrowed involuntarily as he said: "If that's the case, why not simply submit a petition directly to the Ministry of Personnel? Would the court not show consideration? How did he find you, and have you report it on his behalf?"

Emperor Liu's words were spoken flatly, but the slight hint of suspicion in his tone made Liu Chengyun's heart skip a beat. He hesitated for a moment, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Liu Chengyun had not expected Emperor Liu's attention to land on this point. At the same time, he sighed inwardly—Emperor Liu was still as stern with them, the imperial clansmen, as ever.

Compared to Liu Chengyun's heavy and complicated mood, Emperor Liu was thinking even more. He felt that Liu Chengjun's move was a matter of relying on his status as an imperial kinsman—a manifestation of a desire for privilege. He even suspected whether Liu Chengjun was truly ill, or whether it was just an excuse to leave Lingnan and return to the capital.

Thinking this in his heart, his face returned to a calm and carefree expression. Looking at Prince Xu, who was slightly bowing his head, he smiled: "Still, since Brother Yun has come forward on his behalf, I must show face. Have him write a memorial and submit it to the Ministry of Personnel! Since his health is poor, let him rest and recuperate well. When he's fully recovered, arrangements will be made then!"

"Yes!" Liu Chengyun bowed his head even lower, vaguely grasping Emperor Liu's meaning.

Clearly, Emperor Liu was somewhat displeased that Liu Chengjun had gone directly to him. And the result was that he agreed to let him rest due to illness—but when his recuperation would be complete was no longer something Liu Chengjun could decide. That would depend on Emperor Liu's wishes.

Perhaps he would be "recuperating" until he died! And thinking of all this, Liu Chengyun's mood immediately grew heavy, and he could not help but regret his own rashness.

In the final analysis, it was because he had been misled by Emperor Liu's relaxed attitude toward the imperial clansmen in recent years. From this matter, one could see that while Emperor Liu employed clansmen as officials to consolidate the Liu family's rule, he had never intended to grant them special treatment beyond that of ordinary ministers.

And they, aside from bearing the surname Liu, were not much different from the bureaucrats within the Great Han's court—at least in Emperor Liu's eyes.