Chapter 193: Zhao Kuangzan Goes North

After making contact, Liu Chengyou discovered that Hou Yi, this old fellow, was truly clever. He lacked the arrogance typical of military men, or perhaps he was simply restraining it in Liu Chengyou's presence.

He was also eloquent and quick-witted. The grave crime of colluding with the enemy and betraying the state was, through casual conversation, casually diluted by him into a mere lapse of judgment. Along the way, he diverted Liu Chengyou's attention, bringing up Li Shouzhen to absorb the damage. Moreover, he voluntarily volunteered to don his armor and take the field, leading troops to campaign against the disobedient on behalf of the Son of Heaven and the court, so as to make amends for his faults...

In his desire to submit and show allegiance in order to beg for leniency, he carried his thoughts and actions to the extreme. From start to finish, Hou Yi maintained an exceptionally low posture—so low that even if Liu Chengyou wanted to kill him, he would have felt embarrassed to do so.

What's more, Liu Chengyou truly had no intention of killing him, and Hou Yi had discerned this as well. Otherwise, no matter how silver-tongued one might be, how could one escape punishment? After their conversation, Liu Chengyou's desire to even punish him had faded.

A wily old fox like this—knowing the times, understanding when to advance and retreat, skilled at self-preservation—even if his heart harbored duplicity, he posed absolutely no great threat to the imperial dynasty, especially after this lesson.

Not only would he not kill him, but raising high and setting down lightly, Liu Chengyou also decided to pardon and console him, appointing him Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince and Duke of Lu, keeping him in the Eastern Capital for consultation.

This old fellow truly had some insight. When Liu Chengyou asked him how the court should pacify Li Shouzhen, he directly advised: if Hezhong does not rebel, the court does not move. Time is on our side, not the rebels'. The longer the delay, the more prepared the court becomes, and the easier the future suppression will be—one might even subdue the enemy without fighting.

The situation with Li in Hezhong was completely different from the previous case of Du in Weibo. Moreover, the court could even issue an edict of amnesty to confuse Li Shouzhen.

This line of reasoning deeply pleased Liu Chengyou, and so he abandoned his original plan to send him to Luoyang to live out his days in retirement.

On the official road northeast of Kaifeng leading to Fengqiu, a column of some two hundred people traveled northward at an unhurried pace. They flew a banner bearing the character "Zhao." This was the party accompanying Zhao Kuangzan north to Youzhou. Upon arriving at the Eastern Capital, they had been granted an audience with Liu Chengyou at the earliest opportunity. After a "heart-to-heart" exchange, in addition to retaining his previous post, Liu Chengyou also conferred upon him the title of Grand Commandant before the court and invested him as Heir Apparent of the Prince of Yan. The very next day, he was released to return north.

"Heir Apparent, is the Han emperor really letting us go to Youzhou this easily?" Zhao Siwan rode his mount, sidling up beside Zhao Kuangzan. He glanced askance at the two Ministry of Rites officials in the traveling party and asked in a low voice.

"And why not?" Zhao Kuangzan's handsome face was calm as he asked mildly in return.

Under the warm sunlight, he appeared even more elegant. This man was actually a bit more handsome than Liu Chengyou.

Zhao Siwan said: "The Prince holds troops in the north. I originally thought that when the court summoned you to the Eastern Capital, it was to take you, the heir apparent, as a hostage."

"That's the thinking of a petty man!" Zhao Kuangzan glanced at Zhao Siwan and scolded him with a laugh, then said thoughtfully: "This Son of Heaven of the Han, though young in years, seems to be a man of accomplishment. Succeeding to the throne at a young age like the late Tang's Emperor Min, he is far more formidable. Barring any accidents, this Great Han dynasty should enjoy a fair measure of longevity."

Hearing this, Zhao Siwan was somewhat surprised and expressed doubt: "Is this young Son of Heaven really that formidable?"

"If he weren't formidable, could he have suppressed those old ministers and veteran generals in the Eastern Capital? Could he have routed the Liao emperor with a mere handful of troops?" Zhao Kuangzan said.

Looking at the fierce scar on Zhao Siwan's face, Zhao Kuangzan added: "You should also thank the Son of Heaven for his benevolence and be grateful that your head is still on your neck!"

"What do you mean?" Zhao Siwan was puzzled.

Zhao Kuangzan explained to him: "I only heard this from others after my audience with the Son of Heaven. That Wang Jun submitted a memorial to the court saying that although you, Zhao Siwan, are brave, you are fierce and cruel, savage and unkind. Without precautions, disaster would surely arise in the future. He recommended that the court kill you to prevent future trouble..."

"That villain Wang Jun, how narrow-minded he is! Stabbing from behind, spreading such slander, seeking to harm me in secret!" Upon hearing this, Zhao Siwan exploded on the spot, pointing westward and cursing loudly: "If I ever get the chance, I'll butcher him!"

"I've reminded you many times—you need to restrain your temper!" Zhao Kuangzan scolded Zhao Siwan: "That Wang Jun is an important minister of the Han court, trusted by the Son of Heaven. This time he also defeated the Shu army and rendered great merit. If he reported requesting your death, a mere yabing officer, and the Son of Heaven had not seen through everything with keen perception, do you think the court would begrudge using your head to appease Wang Jun?"

"Without us charging desperately into battle and breaking through the Shu camp, could he, Wang Jun, have built such merit? Not dying in defeat is already his good fortune! That fellow, he's truly a petty man!" Zhao Siwan still couldn't help cursing.

"But this Son of Heaven is indeed not bad—a man of reason, not swayed by his slanderous words..." As he spoke, Zhao Siwan actually praised Liu Chengyou.

"But once we return to Youzhou, the Prince of Yan holds his own territory. Even the Son of Heaven won't be able to do anything to us!"

Hearing his reckless words, Zhao Kuangzan's brows furrowed slightly. He gazed into the distance toward the north, his thoughts unsettled. After a long while, he suddenly said: "Do you think that once we reach Youzhou, we'll be free? Youzhou right now is a quagmire—the situation is hardly optimistic. The Han emperor is letting me and my father remain in Youyan precisely to use the Yan people as a shield, to block the Khitan for him and relieve the pressure on the northern border defenses!"

Zhao Kuangzan's mind was indeed quite clear-headed.

"This, I know as well. Since the Son of Heaven needs to rely on the Prince and the Heir Apparent, he surely would not dare to insult or oppress us. Otherwise, we could simply cooperate with the Khitan." Zhao Siwan said very "cleverly."

Zhao Kuangzan silently cursed him a boor and rebuked: "If you can think of that, do you think the Son of Heaven and the court can't?"

Zhao Siwan was slightly stunned: "What's going on?"

Zhao Kuangzan briefly explained the situation described in Zhao Yanshou's secret letter—the "slaughter of the Hu in Youzhou" and the "rumors of estrangement."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Siwan drew in a cold breath, blinking as he marveled: "I, Zhao, consider myself fierce, but I never imagined this Son of Heaven is even more ruthless, even more venomous! Isn't this forcing the Prince of Yan into a fight to the death with the Khitan?"

If he hadn't known Zhao Siwan's temperament, Zhao Kuangzan would have wanted to insult him—do you even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the Han emperor?

"Do you think the Son of Heaven let me go north so readily for no reason?"

"Isn't it because the Prince missed the Heir Apparent?" Zhao Siwan stated the surface situation.

Zhao Kuangzan then let out a heavy sigh: "My father is gravely ill! The Son of Heaven cannot find anyone to replace my father in guarding Youyan for him. He fears that if something happens to my father, the situation in Youyan will collapse, and the Khitan will seize the opportunity, ruining his plans!"

"Otherwise, with the Han Son of Heaven's depth of cunning, would he treat me so generously, directly investing me as Heir Apparent of the Prince of Yan, letting me go north so readily? Isn't it because he wants me to succeed my father and guard Youyan for him?"

"Not out of arrogance. Given the current situation in Youzhou, apart from me, it would be hard to find another person who, with my father gravely ill, could coordinate all parties and maintain the stability of the situation..."

After hearing Zhao Kuangzan's account, Zhao Siwan's mind couldn't quite wrap around it for a moment. After a long while, he finally sighed: "This Han Son of Heaven—could he really be so treacherous?"

"I wonder how my father's condition truly is?" Zhao Kuangzan was instead immersed in his own thoughts.

He turned his head to scan the traveling column, then immediately gave orders: "Too slow! Pass the order down—increase speed, head straight for Youzhou!"

Not in good form today; this chapter is hard to describe...