Chapter 227: Settling Final Affairs

"Father." Zhao Kuangzan stepped forward quickly and crouched beside the couch.

"You're back." Zhao Yanshou looked frail and weak; seeing his beloved son, his body visibly relaxed.

He reached a hand toward him, and Zhao Kuangzan took it naturally. Zhao Yanshou's hand was somewhat cold, and he asked with concern: "Your health..."

"Zhang Mengchen is gone!" Zhao Yanshou shook his head, his eyes clouded with sorrow, his faint voice full of emotion and a trace of grief: "In the end, he couldn't survive this summer!"

In saying this, Zhao Yanshou was grieving for Zhang Li, but also for himself. He sighed with feeling: "Who knows how many more days I have to live!"

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangzan was moved, and the worry on his face deepened, but he still tried to suppress his emotions and comforted him: "Father only needs to rest and recuperate, and you will surely enjoy longevity and peace!"

"I know my own body!" Zhao Yanshou's breath was somewhat feverish as he said slowly: "Zhang Mengchen was a man of great talent. Had he been able to assist you, he would have saved you much trouble. It's a pity he went before me—what can be done."

Zhao Kuangzan fell silent.

Closing his eyes slightly and taking a few deep breaths, Zhao Yanshou asked: "What are the Khitan up to?"

"The Xi in western Liaoning have rebelled; that Khitan cavalry force should be for suppressing the revolt. For now, they likely have no intention of invading south." Mentioning this, Zhao Kuangzan responded immediately to reassure his father.

Over the past year, the Khitan had also been unsettled, with rebellions without end—all aftereffects of last year's defeat in the south and the succession to the throne. Although Yelu Ruan had successfully ascended the throne with the support of a number of nobles, his situation was hardly better than Liu Chengyou's; it was only that he held greater strength in his hands.

Under such circumstances, Yelu Ruan continually suppressed the nobles, ministers, and tribes of Taizong Yelu Deguang's faction while promoting his own men, causing the ruling core of Liao to split. Many nobles were dissatisfied, and with differing views on governance, plots and rebellions within Khitan territory never ceased.

Add to that the collapse of the domestic economy and famines breaking out everywhere, and the various peoples who had submitted to the Khitan grew increasingly unstable—including the former Bohai lands, where disturbances broke out from time to time. When it came to rebellion, the Hu barbarians were no less adept than the military provinces of the Central Plains today.

In the Great Han, Liu Chengyou was like a tinker, patching leaks and filling gaps; the Liao emperor to the north, Yelu Ruan, was no different. But under the decades of management by Yelu Abaoji and his son, even after last year's heavy blow, the foundation remained. Yelu Ruan still held formidable strength, giving him the confidence to gradually eliminate those troubles, and even leaving him surplus power to strike at Youzhou.

It was precisely because of the internal power struggles and constant constraints that the Yan army was able to catch its breath.

However, there was not a trace of ease on Zhao Yanshou's face; he still worried: "I don't fear the summer, but I dread the autumn!"

Zhao Kuangzan understood his father's meaning. If the Hu barbarians were to move their troops, they would choose the season of high autumn skies and fat horses—and at that time, Youyan would be in the midst of the autumn harvest. As with the court, nothing in Youzhou's military and civil affairs was more urgent than agriculture, and being on the frontier, constantly facing harassment by Hu cavalry, farming was all the more difficult.

"I have ordered the northern garrison forts to keep close watch on the Khitan's movements, so they cannot take us by surprise!" Zhao Kuangzan said.

Though Zhao Yanshou was ill, his mind was clearly still sharp. He hinted: "The external threat is grave, but it can wait for another time. The internal urgency is right before our eyes. Youyan, too, is in a season of troubles!"

"Father has heard?" Zhao Kuangzan asked.

"Help me up!" After giving the order, Zhao Yanshou sat up and said: "The people's hearts are unsteady, the army's morale is wavering, and public sentiment is surging. How can your father's sickbed find any peace!"

"The people's hearts are already scattered and disordered." Zhao Kuangzan sighed, a bitter look on his handsome face: "Lately, rumors have been spreading through the army. Though I have ordered them suppressed, the effect has been minimal. If we don't rectify this, I fear there will be trouble!"

"Those people can't hold out any longer!" Zhao Yanshou's voice was hoarse, full of contempt: "They are base and short-sighted, blind to the greater picture. With the situation so difficult, it is inevitable that disloyal thoughts arise!"

Zhao Yanshou was of course referring to a portion of the officers in the Yan army—men who had risen as military meritocrats and landlord-officials since the days of the "Jie Yan" regime. They were no small force. Previously, the Khitan had relied heavily on them to govern the lands of Youyan.

Last year, when the situation changed drastically and the contradictions between Hu and Han exploded, those men, compelled by the tide of events, had "muddled-headedly" joined the cause of resisting Liao. In the early period, especially in the plundering of the Hu in Youzhou, they had profited greatly.

But in nearly a year of confrontation with the Liao army since then, life had become hard. Retainers killed or wounded, lands left barren, tenant farmers fleeing—their losses were severe. Compared to their days under Khitan rule, the difference was more than a little.

Add to that the desolation of Youzhou's livelihood and the ever-worsening situation, and knowing in their hearts how powerful the Khitan were, their resentment accumulated and showed signs of erupting. National interest, ethnic righteousness, Hu-Han contradictions—at this time and in this place, these were no longer great concerns in their eyes...

"Don't they think about whether such blood feuds can be erased in a short time? Our people who failed to withdraw from western and eastern Liaoning are now being driven like cattle and horses by the Hu. If the Khitan take Youzhou again, what kind of fate awaits them? I say, they'd be worse off than savages in the deep mountains and foul waters!" Zhao Yanshou's tone carried anger.

"How many mediocrities there are in this world! And among the army's officers, even more are base men. The affairs of the world are hard to predict—how many can truly see the situation and glimpse the future?" Zhao Yanshou sighed, somewhat weary.

After several rapid, labored breaths, Zhao Yanshou slowly calmed down. Suddenly he looked at his son and said with a serious, solemn tone: "Kuangzan, I'll say it again—their hearts are unsteady, but you must be steadfast. Never let them sway you into playing both sides. The Khitan hate our father and son deeply. If Youyan is lost, they might become slaves, but our Zhao family can only end in death and annihilation."

The scene was somewhat ironic. When he had first gone north, Zhao Yanshou had harbored intentions of playing both sides and currying favor with all parties—and now he was using this to educate his son.

"Your son understands."

"We are cut off from the Khitan; we must rely on the Han court. Though the Great Han is not very stable, I have seen the Son of Heaven—young in years, but no ordinary fish in a shallow pond. In breaking the Khitan and scheming for Youyan, he has shown the bearing of a great sovereign since his ascension."

"He wants to use our Zhao family to hold Youyan against the Khitan and end the northern threat. He will surely support and court us vigorously."

"And one more thing you must remember. Youyan has lost its northern defenses, and Hu cavalry come and go freely. Though the city is large and strong, it cannot hold out against the Khitan for long. If their main army comes out and the Han court has no strength to march north, hold Youzhou if you can; if you cannot, abandon it. Lead the army and people south, and above all, keep the army firmly in your hands."

"If the Han Son of Heaven can successfully restore the court's authority, strengthen the state, and inspire the soldiers, then one day he will surely turn north—and he will rely on the Zhao family and the Yan army. But if his talent and virtue prove insufficient, or if great upheaval strikes the Central Plains again, then you may use the soldiers and people of Youyan to seek another path to achievement..."

This conversation had the feel of settling one's final affairs. Seeing his old father forcing himself through his illness to give earnest instructions, Zhao Kuangzan's nose stung with emotion. He indicated his understanding and urged: "Father, you should rest and recuperate. Matters of Youzhou, your son will handle himself."

With Zhao Kuangzan's assistance, Zhao Yanshou lay back down. After a moment, he looked at Zhao Kuangzan and instructed: "Zhang Mengchen's funeral arrangements must not be sloppy. Go personally to the Zhang residence to help with the preparations, to show our respect."

Zhao Kuangzan was slightly taken aback. Though Zhang Li's reputation was high, he was after all already dead. Given the tense situation in Youzhou at this critical juncture, he should be winning hearts, stabilizing the situation, and grasping military and civil power.

Clearly understanding Zhao Kuangzan's doubt, Zhao Yanshou added another sentence: "Pass my order—all officers of commander rank and above in every army shall go together to the Zhang residence to pay their respects and see off Administrative Assistant Zhang. Later, I will go in person to mourn Zhang Mengchen!"

"But your health... Your son can handle this matter!" Zhao Kuangzan said instinctively. But soon, a look of deep thought appeared on his face, and he fixed his gaze on his old father: "Father, do you have other plans?"

Seeing his alertness, Zhao Yanshou was comforted in his old age. He let out a heavy breath and said in a grim tone: "The Yan army must not be thrown into chaos, and Youzhou must not be thrown into chaos either. I must take advantage of the situation while it is still calm and while I still have breath in me to clear away some troubles for you."