Chapter 242: Even If the Entire Court Opposes, It Will Not Avail

Meeting Liu Chengyou's gaze, Yang Bin said solemnly, "The Great Han has been established for but a short time, and Your Majesty has been on the throne for no more than half a year. State affairs have just begun to settle, and the hearts of the people are easily shaken. The traitor Li's rebellion in the west will surely stir the hearts of the petty and small. At this critical juncture, Your Majesty should not act lightly. Remain seated in the Eastern Capital and order the Grand General to pacify the rebellion—that will suffice!"

"Chancellor Yang knows well that the hearts of the people are easily shaken. If I go in person, it is precisely to settle the matter swiftly with the force of thunder. Otherwise, if the rebels' power is allowed to run rampant, even if I hide deep in the palace, can the hearts of the realm truly be steadied?" Liu Chengyou stared at Yang Bin without blinking, rebutting him.

"To swiftly settle Hezhong, must it be Your Majesty and no one else? Is the Great Han bereft of men?" Yang Bin countered.

"Last year, Du Chongwei rebelled from Yedu. The court sent a great army to campaign against him, but they stalled beneath the city walls, dragging on for days on end—sapping morale and wasting grain and coin. When the late Emperor arrived in person, the city fell in three days!" Liu Chengyou cited the example of pacifying Du Chongwei the previous year.

"How does Your Majesty's prestige compare to that of the late Emperor?" Yang Bin pressed bluntly.

Yang Bin's words carried a hint of striking at the heart. Before the assembled court, no answer Liu Chengyou gave would have been appropriate.

His brows twitching slightly, Liu Chengyou did not hide his anger. He glared at Yang Bin and demanded coldly, "Is Chancellor Yang mocking my youth and belittling me?"

Facing the Son of Heaven's imposing gaze, Yang Bin's expression did not change. With a hard, unyielding demeanor, he bowed his head and clasped his fists: "Your servant would not dare."

"The Khitan's several hundred thousand troops at Luancheng were still broken by me. Li Shouzhen's soldiers number no more than twenty thousand rabble, and his territory is but a corner of Hezhong. Killing him is like slaughtering a chicken!" Liu Chengyou invoked his past valor.

"If it is but slaughtering a chicken, why need the realm's blade, and why trouble Your Majesty to go in person?" After a brief pause, Yang Bin spoke, his tone still showing no sign of yielding.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou's gaze at Yang Bin grew even colder, yet Yang Bin did not flinch, meeting Liu Chengyou's eyes directly. With that attitude of his, even if his words were loyal and for the public good, how could Liu Chengyou tolerate him?

The atmosphere in the hall grew somewhat strained. After the sovereign and his minister faced off for a while, Liu Chengyou suddenly curled the corner of his mouth, his expression slowly relaxing. He leaned back slightly and asked the others, "On the matter of a personal campaign, what do all of you think?"

Liu Chengyou appeared magnanimous, but Yang Bin found it hard to relax. He withdrew his gaze and also looked at the other ministers.

Feng Dao rose, hunched over, and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, might we first see how the western armies fare in suppressing the rebellion before deciding how to proceed?"

Feng Dao's counsel was somewhat conservative. The implication was still that he did not approve of Liu Chengyou campaigning in person—he simply did not clash with Liu Chengyou as directly as Yang Bin had. This was consistent with Feng Dao's usual style. War concerns life and death, and a Son of Heaven's personal campaign concerns the fate of the state. To take such a risk for a mere "grass bandit" was not worth it. Staying in the Eastern Capital and directing affairs from afar was the safest course.

Following him, the chancellors Wang Zhang, Su Yugui, Dou Zhengu, Li Tao, and Zhao Ying each expressed their views in turn, all opposed to a personal campaign. The reasons they gave were largely the same as Yang Bin's. Seeing this, Yang Bin was surprised but also somewhat gratified. Clearly, he was right—otherwise, why would the entire court of chancellors be of "one mind" with him?

Take Vice Director of the Secretariat Li Tao, for instance. When Du Chongwei rebelled last year, he had strongly advocated for Liu Zhiyuan to campaign in person. Now that it was Liu Chengyou, his stance was diametrically opposed. When Liu Chengyou questioned him on this, Li Tao first begged forgiveness, then candidly explained: The late Emperor was the founder of the dynasty, his might and virtue known far and wide, and with the merit of saving the realm from distress, he was at that time sufficient to overawe the world. Moreover, the Battle of Yedu urgently required a powerful hand to break the deadlock. The present situation was entirely different...

He stopped mid-sentence, leaving the rest unsaid to save Liu Chengyou face.

Seeing the entire court voicing opposition, Liu Chengyou was somewhat surprised. By his estimate, given the growing grip he had established over the court in the past half year, there might be some opposition—but it should never have reached this extent.

The facts proved he had been somewhat optimistic. The western campaign was not like the previous western inspection tour. On matters such as this, these civil officials—old and new alike—could hardly avoid being conservative.

Rationally analyzed, the chancellors' concerns were not without merit—what they called mature counsel for the state. When the state faced rebellion and an army was sent to punish it, if the generals failed, there was still room to maneuver. But a Son of Heaven campaigning in person left no room at all. The risk was simply too great, especially given the Great Han's current circumstances. Though things had been barely calm for a few months, the slightest stir would set undercurrents churning.

However, as they said, behind the safe choice, the price paid was not necessarily small—it too carried hidden risks.

The most direct question: who would command? Several tens of thousands of elite Imperial Guard cavalry and infantry—to whom could they be entrusted such that Liu Chengyou could rest easy? The answer was: no one. Shang Hongqian served as commander of the Imperial Guard in the Eastern Capital, overseeing over a hundred thousand imperial troops, but that was within the capital, right under his nose.

As the saying goes, a general in the field may refuse the sovereign's orders. Several tens of thousands of elite troops suspended outside, held in another's hands—in an age like this, the risk was truly too great. Only by holding military power firmly in his own hands, with the supreme authority of the Emperor as the highest commander, was it truly the safest course.

At the same time, entrusting a single general to coordinate the various armies and jointly strike the rebels would likely consume considerable effort. They were all veteran generals with meritorious service, military governors of their own commands. With the arrogance of generals in this age, why would they listen to you? Once the campaign dragged on, Li Shouzhen's "allies" might well truly emerge to tear at the Great Han.

Moreover, Liu Chengyou's personal campaign was hardly for Li Shouzhen, that swine-dog, alone. Pacifying internal troubles was one goal; establishing authority to awe the realm was another. At the very least, scenes like this—where he made a proposal and was immediately opposed by a chorus—were something Liu Chengyou did not wish to see again.

"Your Majesty, what the chancellors have said is reasonable." His maternal uncle Li Hongxin stepped forward, clasping his fists: "Your servant is willing to lead troops, to pacify the rebels of Hezhong on behalf of Your Majesty and the court."

"Your Majesty, Commander Li is the state's maternal uncle and has commanded troops for many years. He can lead the army to strike the rebels." Someone immediately seconded. Liu Chengyou looked—it was Feng Dao. This old codger probably thought that compared to others, Liu Chengyou could trust his maternal uncle.

But at Li Hongxin's offer, Liu Chengyou's brows furrowed visibly. With this maternal uncle, it was not a matter of trust, but of ability.

In sum: those with strong ability, Liu Chengyou could not trust—and for now, dared not trust. Those with weak ability—how could he entrust a great army to them? Therefore, only by personally commanding the main force could Liu Chengyou avoid suspicion and doubt. But such words could not be brought to the table.

"Your Majesty!" Perceiving Liu Chengyou's predicament, Fan Zhi stepped forward, his face full of gravity, and reported: "The Great Han has the blood-debt of the Khitan to the north, enmity with the false Tang to the south, the Tangut harboring treacherous intentions in the northwest, and Western Shu's intentions uncertain—one could say we are surrounded by foes on all sides. The rebellion in Hezhong must be swiftly eradicated, or the situation will surely grow dire. To pacify it swiftly, one must have a person of prestige to coordinate the various armies, so that generals and commanders are of one mind in striking the rebels. The imperial army and the Guanyou region are full of veteran generals and meritorious officials. In this court, whose ability surpasses the might of the Son of Heaven to overawe and subdue all the generals? The discord among the generals at Yedu last year must never be repeated. I beg Your Majesty and all the gentlemen to consider this!"

Fan Zhi's words likewise cited precedent and left no room for argument. Who would dare propose a candidate whose authority could surpass the Son of Heaven? Who would dare step forward?

Casting a satisfied glance at Fan Zhi, Liu Chengyou looked toward Guo Wei, who had not yet spoken: "What does Commissioner Guo think?"

Guo Wei's expression was somewhat complex. Commanding troops to pacify the rebellion—he was rather tempted. But seeing the situation, even if the entire court opposed it, it would likely be difficult to stop the Son of Heaven's resolve. Moreover, analyzing the situation deeply, the Son of Heaven campaigning in person was not a bad choice, and the risk was not as great as it appeared on the surface—after all, preparations had been thoroughly made in advance. And the Son of Heaven was not ignorant of military affairs; he had experience leading troops in battle and had achieved an epic-scale victory...

"If Your Majesty campaigns in person, the rebels of Hezhong will surely be captured with ease!" His tone was resolute as Guo Wei reported directly.

Wei Renpu also stepped forward to express his support for Liu Chengyou: "Li Shouzhen's rebellion relies on nothing more than the support of the heroes of Hezhong and the Great Han's situation of being surrounded by enemies on all sides. But the court has responded properly. Your Majesty's personal campaign is precisely to smash his delusions with the force of thunder, and likewise to awe hostile states and the disloyal!"

Right after him, Shang Hongqian also voiced his agreement, saying simply: "Your servant is willing to accompany Your Majesty on the campaign."

With this support, Liu Chengyou finally put on a show of having made up his mind. He rose and, under everyone's peculiar gazes, issued his order sternly: "Let all of you speak no more. I have decided to campaign in person. In fifteen days, the army will march west!"

"Yes!" Seeing this, even those who still harbored objections could only bow their heads and obey. After all, not everyone was as stubborn as Yang Bin.

"Issue the edict: strip Li Shouzhen of all titles and ranks. Order Bai Wenke, Zhao Hui, Wang Yan, Song Yanwo, and Yao Yuanfu to dispatch troops to punish him. Make Bai Wenke, Military Governor of Yongxing, Commander-in-Chief of the Southwest Field Headquarters!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand and issued commands: "Additionally, decree that Hua and Tong prefectures supply troops and grain. Inform Lord Bai that if he hesitates, he may act at his own discretion!"

If Li Shouzhen was a chicken, then Hou Zhang and Xue Huairang were two chicks. Toward them, he likewise did not intend to pursue a policy of appeasement.

Gazing outside once more—the sky remained overcast—Liu Chengyou ordered the early meal to be prepared in advance, then said, "I must trouble you all to work a while longer and deliberate on the matters of the campaign."